Case: EEOC v. HAMILTON COMMUNICATIONS

1:03-cv-06062 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Aug. 28, 2003

Closed Date: 2007

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In August 2003, the Chicago Office of the EEOC filed this lawsuit against Hamilton Communications Group in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging discrimination on the basis of sex and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the defendant subjected the charging parties, eleven female employees, to a sexually hostile work environment and retaliating against one charging party for opposing suc…

In August 2003, the Chicago Office of the EEOC filed this lawsuit against Hamilton Communications Group in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging discrimination on the basis of sex and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the defendant subjected the charging parties, eleven female employees, to a sexually hostile work environment and retaliating against one charging party for opposing such practices, resulting in the constructive discharge at least one of the charging parties.

The one charging party intervened in the lawsuit in September 2003. Following some discovery an unsuccessful motion by the defendant to dismiss the case in October 2003, the parties settled the lawsuit through a consent decree in February 2005. The two-year decree, containing a non-discrimination and non-retaliation clause, required the defendant to: report on complaints and make other compliance reporting, keep records of complaints, allow the EEOC access for monitoring, post notice of employee rights, provide EEO training to all management employees, and pay $140,000 to be distributed among 11 complaining parties.

The decree was entered in 2005 and scheduled to last until 2007. No further docket entries exist, so the case is closed.

Summary Authors

David Friedman (12/8/2007)

Clearinghouse (12/20/2018)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:03-cv-06062

Docket (PACER)

EEOC v. Hamilton Communications Group

Feb. 3, 2005

Feb. 3, 2005

Docket
1

1:03-cv-06062

Complaint

EEOC v. Hamilton Communications Group

Aug. 28, 2003

Aug. 28, 2003

Complaint
6

1:03-cv-06062

Intervenor's Complaint

EEOC & Jones v. Hamilton Communications Group

Oct. 3, 2003

Oct. 3, 2003

Complaint
13

1:03-cv-06062

Minute Order [Denying Defendant's Motion to Dismiss]

EEOC v. Hamilton Communications Group

Sept. 20, 2004

Sept. 20, 2004

Order/Opinion
25

1:03-cv-06062

Consent Decree

EEOC & Jones v. Hamilton Communications Group

Feb. 3, 2005

Feb. 3, 2005

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 30, 2024, 3:16 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT; jury demand - Civil cover sheet - Appearance(s) of June Wallace Carson, Gregory M. Gochanour, John C. Hendrickson as attorney(s) for plaintiff ( No summons(es) issued.) ( Documents: 1-1 through 1-3) (ar) (Entered: 08/28/2003)

Aug. 28, 2003

Aug. 28, 2003

2

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for Hamilton Commc Grp by Arthur B. Sternberg, James Robert Ahler (ar) (Entered: 09/02/2003)

Aug. 29, 2003

Aug. 29, 2003

4

MOTION by Leslie A Jones for leave to intervene ; Notice (ar) (Entered: 10/07/2003)

Sept. 29, 2003

Sept. 29, 2003

5

MINUTE ORDER of 10/3/03 by Hon. Joan B. Gottschall : Leslie Jones' motion for leave to intervene is granted [4-1]. Defendant to answer or otherwise pled to intervenors' complaint by 10/27/03. Mailed notice (ar) (Entered: 10/07/2003)

Oct. 3, 2003

Oct. 3, 2003

6

INTERVENOR'S COMPLAINT by Leslie A Jones (ar) (Entered: 10/07/2003)

Oct. 3, 2003

Oct. 3, 2003

SCHEDULE set on 10/6/03 by Hon. Joan B. Gottschall : Status hearing set to 9:30 11/13/03. Plaintiff is directed to advise the defendants of the status hearing forthwith. Parties are directed to discuss settlement of case, consent to proceed before the Magistrate Judge and a proposed discovery plan. See Judge Gottschall's civil case management packet for important information about pretrial case management procedures. This information is also located on the court's website: http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov. Mailed notice (rj) (Entered: 10/06/2003)

Oct. 6, 2003

Oct. 6, 2003

7

MOTION by Hamilton Commc Grp to dismiss EEOC's and Jones' complaints ; Memorandum of law in support; Notice (ar) (Entered: 11/05/2003)

Oct. 27, 2003

Oct. 27, 2003

8

MINUTE ORDER of 10/31/03 by Hon. Joan B. Gottschall : Answer brief to defendant Hamilton's motion to dismiss is due by 11/21/03 [7-1]. Reply to answer brief due 12/8/03. Status hearing set for 11/13/03 is vacated. Mailed notice (ar) (Entered: 11/05/2003)

Oct. 31, 2003

Oct. 31, 2003

9

RESPONSE by plaintiff to defendant's 12(b0(6) motion to dismiss EEOC's and Jones' complaints [7-1]; Notice. (air) (Entered: 11/21/2003)

Nov. 20, 2003

Nov. 20, 2003

10

RESPONSE by intervenor plaintiff Leslie A Jones in opposition to defendant's motion to dismiss EEOC's and Jones' complaints [7-1]; Notice. (aga) (Entered: 11/24/2003)

Nov. 21, 2003

Nov. 21, 2003

11

MEMORANDUM by intervenor plaintiff Leslie A Jones in support opposition [10-1] to defendant's motion to dismiss. (aga) (Entered: 11/24/2003)

Nov. 21, 2003

Nov. 21, 2003

12

REPLY by defendant in support of motion to dismiss [7-1] (ar) (Entered: 12/09/2003)

Dec. 8, 2003

Dec. 8, 2003

13

MINUTE ORDER of 9/20/04 by Hon. Joan B. Gottschall: Enter order. Defendant's motion to dismiss EEOC's and Jones' complaints is denied [7-1]. Status hearing set for Wednesday, 10/27/04 at 9:30 a.m. (See reverse of minute order.) Mailed notice (gma) (Entered: 09/28/2004)

Sept. 20, 2004

Sept. 20, 2004

14

REFERRAL ORDER: Case referred to Hon. Arlander Keys for settlement conference Mailed notice. (rj) (Entered: 10/12/2004)

Oct. 12, 2004

Oct. 12, 2004

15

ANSWER by defendant to intervener's complaint [6-1]. (gma) (Entered: 10/13/2004)

Oct. 12, 2004

Oct. 12, 2004

16

ANSWER by defendant to EEOC complaint [1-1]. (gma) (Entered: 10/13/2004)

Oct. 12, 2004

Oct. 12, 2004

18

MINUTE ORDER of 10/20/04 by Hon. Arlander Keys: Pursuant to the request of the parties, settlement conference set for 11/12/04 is reset to 11/17/04 at 10:00 a.m. All parties are to be represented at the settlement conference by an individual (other than their attorneys) with full authority to settle. The parties are to exchange (but not file) written settlement offers, copies of which are to be submitted to the court by 11/12/04. Mailed notice (gma) (Entered: 10/21/2004)

Oct. 20, 2004

Oct. 20, 2004

SCHEDULE set on 10/27/04 by Hon. Joan B. Gottschall : Status hearing set for 10/27/04 is vacated. No notice (rj) (Entered: 10/27/2004)

Oct. 27, 2004

Oct. 27, 2004

19

MINUTE ORDER of 11/17/04 by Hon. Arlander Keys : Settlement conference held. The case settled, which will involve a consent decree. The parties will need additional time to prepare the settlement documents. A status hearing is set for 12/17/04 at 9:00 a.m. If plaintiff files the consent decree with this Court prior to the next status hearing, the status will be stricken and parties will not need to appear. Mailed notice (gcy) (Entered: 11/19/2004)

Nov. 17, 2004

Nov. 17, 2004

20

MINUTE ORDER of 12/17/04 by Hon. Arlander Keys: The parties will need additional time to prepare the settlement documents. A status hearing is set for 1/19/05 at 9:00 a.m. If plaintiff files the consent decree with this court prior to the next status hearing, the status will be stricken and parties will not need to appear. Mailed notice (gma) (Entered: 12/21/2004)

Dec. 17, 2004

Dec. 17, 2004

21

MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys : Status hearing held on 1/19/2005. The parties are in agreement with the terms of a consent decree which they will submit to the district judge. Judge Arlander Keys no longer referred to the case. Notices mailed by judge's staff (ac ) (Entered: 01/19/2005)

Jan. 19, 2005

Jan. 19, 2005

22

MOTION by Plaintiff U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for entry of consent decree (gma, ) (Entered: 01/27/2005)

Jan. 26, 2005

Jan. 26, 2005

23

NOTICE of Motion by June Wallace Carson for presentment of MOTION by Plaintiff U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for entry of consent decree 22 before Honorable Joan B. Gottschall on 2/3/2005 at 09:30 AM. (gma, ) (Entered: 01/27/2005)

Jan. 26, 2005

Jan. 26, 2005

24

MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall : Plaintiff's motion for entry of consent decree 22 is granted. Enter Consent Decree. Each party to this consent decree shall bear its own expenses, costs and attornneys fees. Case terminated. Docketing to mail notices (lxs, ) (Entered: 02/09/2005)

Feb. 3, 2005

Feb. 3, 2005

25

CONSENT Decree Signed by Judge Joan B. Gottschall on 2/3/2005; Exhibits. (lxs, ) Modified on 12/5/2005 (ym, ). (Entered: 02/09/2005)

Feb. 3, 2005

Feb. 3, 2005

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 28, 2003

Closing Date: 2007

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, on behalf of one or more workers.

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

Hamilton Communications Group, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Monetary Relief

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: 140000

Order Duration: 2005 - 2007

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Monitoring

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit