Case: EEOC v. House of Philadelphia Center, Inc.

1:05-cv-00530 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama

Filed Date: Sept. 15, 2005

Closed Date: 2010

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 15, 2005, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit against House of Philadelphia, Inc., on behalf of an employee who was allegedly fired because she was pregnant. Seeking monetary and injunctive relief for the employee (including economic damage, compensation for emotional harm, and punitive damages), the EEOC brought suit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex. The EEOC also sought to recover its costs.V…

On September 15, 2005, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit against House of Philadelphia, Inc., on behalf of an employee who was allegedly fired because she was pregnant. Seeking monetary and injunctive relief for the employee (including economic damage, compensation for emotional harm, and punitive damages), the EEOC brought suit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex. The EEOC also sought to recover its costs.

Via private counsel, the employee filed a motion to intervene in the suit, which was automatically granted after the period for filing objections passed without incident. The employee brought claims under Title VII and state law and sought substantially the same relief as the EEOC, except that the complaint specifically sought reinstatement.

Eventually the parties came to a settlement agreement, which the Court (Judge Kristi K. DuBose) entered as a consent decree on Jan 10, 2009. The terms of the decree, which lasted 3 years, provided monetary and injunctive relief. The employee received $8,000, while House of Philadelphia, Inc., was required to institute and follow policies to eliminate sex discrimination and pregnancy discrimination from the workplace and to post and distribute the policies to employees. House of Philadelphia also had to provided yearly training to its employees explaining pregnancy and sex discrimination, informing them of its illegality, and explaining how to avoid it, who to file complaints with, and that managers would be evaluated for enforcing the anti-discrimination policies. House of Philadelphia was further required to investigate complaints adequately and report the results of each investigation to the EEOC. The 3-year decree period passed without court involvement and the case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Kenneth Gray (7/14/2013)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:05-cv-00530

Docket [PACER]

Jan. 10, 2007

Jan. 10, 2007

Docket
1-1

1:05-cv-00530

Complaint

Sept. 19, 2005

Sept. 19, 2005

Complaint
9-t

1:05-cv-00530

Complaint in Intervention

Feb. 21, 2006

Feb. 21, 2006

Complaint
19

1:05-cv-00530

Consent Decree

Jan. 10, 2007

Jan. 10, 2007

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against House of Philadelphia Center, Inc., filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(jlr) (Entered: 09/20/2005)

Sept. 19, 2005

Sept. 19, 2005

2

REQUEST FOR WAIVER of Service sent to Mamie H. Mackey as registered agent of House of Philadelphia Center, Inc. on 10/4/05 by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Waiver of Service due by 11/4/2005. (mca, ) (Entered: 10/07/2005)

Oct. 7, 2005

Oct. 7, 2005

3

Summons Issued as to House of Philadelphia Center, Inc.; summons mailed to counsel for service (mca, ) (Entered: 12/02/2005)

Dec. 2, 2005

Dec. 2, 2005

4

RETURN OF SERVICE of Summons and Complaint served 12-31-2005 as to House of Philadelphia Center, Inc. (Barrett, Mason) (Entered: 01/10/2006)

Jan. 10, 2006

Jan. 10, 2006

Answer due from House of Philadelphia Center, Inc. on 1/20/2006. (cmj, ) (Entered: 01/11/2006)

Jan. 11, 2006

Jan. 11, 2006

5

ANSWER to Complaint with Jury Demand by House of Philadelphia Center, Inc..(Bell, Raymond) (Entered: 01/13/2006)

Jan. 13, 2006

Jan. 13, 2006

6

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULING ORDER entered Rule 26 Meeting Report due by 3/3/2006.. Signed by Judge Bert W. Milling Jr. on 1/17/06. (cmj, ) (Entered: 01/17/2006)

Jan. 17, 2006

Jan. 17, 2006

7

MOTION to Intervene by Sharonda Griffin. (Attachment #1 Complaint in Intervention; Attachment #2 Exhibit 1; Attachment #3 Exhibit 2; Attachment #4 Exhibit 3 (Hannan, Daniel) (Entered: 02/09/2006)

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

REFERRAL OF 7 MOTION to Intervene to Judge DuBose. (mca, ) (Entered: 02/10/2006)

Feb. 10, 2006

Feb. 10, 2006

8

Order re: 7 MOTION to Intervene filed by Sharonda Griffin. Response to Motion due by 2/17/2006. Any party objecting to the proposed relief shall file an objection no later than 2/17/06. If no objections are received by that date, Sharonda Griffin's motion will be automatically GRANTED and she will be allowed to intervene as a pltf without further order of the court. Signed by Judge Kristi K. DuBose on 2/10/06. (mca, ) (Entered: 02/10/2006)

Feb. 10, 2006

Feb. 10, 2006

10

REPORT of Rule 26(f) Planning Meeting. (Hannan, Daniel) (Entered: 03/03/2006)

March 3, 2006

March 3, 2006

REFERRAL OF 10 Report of Rule 26(f) Planning Meeting to Judge Milling. (mca, ) (Entered: 03/03/2006)

March 3, 2006

March 3, 2006

11

ANSWER to Intervenor Complaint by House of Philadelphia Center, Inc..(Bell, Raymond) (Entered: 03/10/2006)

March 10, 2006

March 10, 2006

12

SCHEDULING ORDER: Pretrial Conference set for 3/8/2007 01:30 PM in Chambers before Judge Kristi K. DuBose. Amended Pleadings due by 5/5/2006. Discovery cutoff 10/6/2006. Motions due by 10/27/2006. Jury Selection set for 4/3/2007 08:45 AM in Courtroom 5A before Judge Kristi K. DuBose. Trial will be set for April, 2007. Position Regarding Settlement due by 10/6/2006. Defendant's narrative statement is stricken. Not later than 3/23/06, defendant is to supplement Report of Parties as set out. Signed by Judge Bert W. Milling Jr. on 3/13/06. (Attachments:, # 1 Standing Pretrial Order)(cmj, ) (Entered: 03/13/2006)

March 13, 2006

March 13, 2006

13

RESPONSE to 12 Scheduling Order,, Initial Disclosures filed by Sharonda Griffin. (Hannan, Daniel) (Entered: 03/22/2006)

March 22, 2006

March 22, 2006

14

RESPONSE TO ORDER re: 12 Scheduling Order,, by House of Philadelphia Center, Inc. filed by House of Philadelphia Center, Inc.. (Bell, Raymond) (Entered: 03/22/2006)

March 22, 2006

March 22, 2006

REFERRAL OF 13 Response, 14 Response to Order to Judge Milling. (mca, ) (Entered: 03/22/2006)

March 22, 2006

March 22, 2006

15

RESPONSE TO ORDER re: 12 Scheduling Order,, by House of Philadelphia Center, Inc. filed by House of Philadelphia Center, Inc.. (Bell, Raymond) (Entered: 03/24/2006)

March 24, 2006

March 24, 2006

REFERRAL OF 15 Response to Order to Judge Milling. (mca, ) (Entered: 03/24/2006)

March 24, 2006

March 24, 2006

16

Document endorsed NOTED by Judge Bert W. Milling Jr.: Response to Order15 filed by House of Philadelphia Center, Inc., (vlh, ) (Entered: 03/27/2006)

March 27, 2006

March 27, 2006

17

Proposed Consent Decree by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Barrett, Mason) (Entered: 01/04/2007)

Jan. 4, 2007

Jan. 4, 2007

18

MOTION for Consent Decree by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Barrett, Mason) (Entered: 01/04/2007)

Jan. 4, 2007

Jan. 4, 2007

MOTIONS REFERRED: 18 MOTION for Consent Decree to Judge DuBose (cmj) (Entered: 01/04/2007)

Jan. 4, 2007

Jan. 4, 2007

REFERRAL OF 17 Proposed Consent Decree to Judge DuBose. (cmj) (Entered: 01/04/2007)

Jan. 4, 2007

Jan. 4, 2007

19

CONSENT DECREE entered between EEOC and House of Philadelphia Center, Inc.. Signed by Judge Kristi K. DuBose on 1/9/07. (mca) (Entered: 01/10/2007)

Jan. 10, 2007

Jan. 10, 2007

Case Details

State / Territory: Alabama

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 15, 2005

Closing Date: 2010

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filing on behalf of an employee fired she was pregnant

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

EEOC Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

House of Philadelphia, Inc., Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Amount Defendant Pays: $8,000

Order Duration: 2007 - 2010

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Discrimination-basis:

Pregnancy discrimination

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit