Filed Date: May 10, 2002
Closed Date: 2007
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On May 10, 2002, eight Hispanic Special Agents filed a class action complaint against the United States Customs Service ("Customs Service"), in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel asked the court for equitable relief, compensatory damages, a declaratory judgment, and injunctive relief. The plaintiffs contended that there was a pattern and practice of discrimination on the basis of national origin by the Department of Treasury's United States Customs Service. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the Customs Service's personnel policies, practices, and procedures discriminated against Hispanic Special Agents regarding selections for competitive positions and promotions, assignment to undercover work, discipline, awards and bonuses, foreign language proficiency awards, training, harassment and hostile work environment, systemic retaliation, and other terms and conditions of employment. The plaintiffs requested to act on behalf of a class consisting of all current or former Hispanic Special Agents (Criminal Investigators GS-1811) who had served with the Customs Service from January 1, 1974 or January 1, 1977 to the present.
On March 20, 2003, the defendant filed a motion for summary judgment. The defendant argued that the court should dismiss class claims due to failures by the plaintiffs to timely exhaust administrative class remedies, to assert adverse employment actions, and/or to establish a prima facie case of discrimination. The defendant also argued that the individual claims should be dismissed as well because the plaintiffs failed to exhaust administrative remedies and/or to allege actionable adverse employment actions. Subsequently, on February 26, 2004, the court (Judge James Robertson) granted in part and denied in part the motion for summary judgment. In this judgment, the court (Judge Robertson) held that the plaintiffs had failed to exhaust claims of hostile work environment and foreign language proficiency awards. Contreras v. Ridge, 305 F. Supp. 2d 126 (D.D.C. 2004).
On May 5, 2006, following a denial of the defendant's motion to dismiss the pattern or practice claims, the defendant renewed its motion. On March 20, 2007 the court (Judge Robertson) granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment, finding the plaintiffs' evidence insufficient, and thus terminating the case.
Summary Authors
Emily Kuznick (4/14/2008)
Stewart v. Rubin, District of Columbia (1990)
Moore v. Chertoff, District of Columbia (2000)
Moore v. Summers, District of Columbia (2000)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4706750/parties/contreras-v-ridge/
Barer, Garvey Schubert (District of Columbia)
Chambers, Felicia L. (District of Columbia)
Clark, Kaija (District of Columbia)
Cook, Shayna Susanne (District of Columbia)
Courey, M. Bennett (District of Columbia)
Lamberth, Royce C. (District of Columbia)
Robertson, James (District of Columbia)
Chambers, Felicia L. (District of Columbia)
Clark, Kaija (District of Columbia)
Cook, Shayna Susanne (District of Columbia)
Courey, M. Bennett (District of Columbia)
Howard, Roscoe (District of Columbia)
Keisler, Peter D. (District of Columbia)
Kirschner, Adam D. (District of Columbia)
Kraus, William R. (District of Columbia)
Lepley, Richard G (District of Columbia)
Licht, Stuart A. (District of Columbia)
McCallum, Robert D. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Richardson, Karen Kathleen (District of Columbia)
Schwartz, James J. (District of Columbia)
Tannenbaum, Andrew H. (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4706750/contreras-v-ridge/
Last updated Feb. 15, 2024, 3:12 a.m.
State / Territory: District of Columbia
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 10, 2002
Closing Date: 2007
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Putative class of Hispanic Special Agents of the U.S. Customs Service in the GS-1811 series who have been employed as GS-1811’s at any time from either January 1, 1974 to the present or from January 1, 1977 to the present.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Denied
Defendants
U.S. Department of Treasury's United States Customs Service, Federal
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)
Discrimination-basis:
National origin discrimination
National Origin/Ethnicity: