Case: EEOC v. U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES INC

3:06-cv-00209 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: Sept. 29, 2006

Closed Date: 2010

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The EEOC brought this suit against U.S. Investigations Services, Inc. in September 2006 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Johnstown). The complaint alleged sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The intervenor-plaintiffs alleged sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Very little activity occurred …

The EEOC brought this suit against U.S. Investigations Services, Inc. in September 2006 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Johnstown). The complaint alleged sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The intervenor-plaintiffs alleged sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Very little activity occurred before the case was settled by consent decree in November 2007. The intervenor-plaintiffs entered into separate settlement agreements and general releases with U.S. Investigation Services, the terms of which were incorporated into the consent decree. The case closed in February 2008 upon a stipulation of dismissal by the intervenor-plaintiffs and U.S. Investigations Services.

The three-year consent decree included non-discrimination and non-retaliation clauses and requires U.S. Investigations Services to mail notice of the consent decree to all of its former employees who were employed on June 15, 2007. It requires U.S. Investigations Services to draft and implement policies against discrimination, harassment and retaliation in violation of Title VII and a complaint procedure, including a toll-free number for reporting violations of the policies. The decree includes a "notice and chance to remedy" dispute resolution process and it automatically extends if any material disputes remain unresolved after the term of the decree. U.S. Investigations Services was required to pay a total of $360,000. Two intervenor-plaintiffs were each awarded $115,250, minus $46,248.30 for attorney's fees and costs. One intervenor-plaintiff was awarded $129,500, minus $51,930.02 for attorney's fees and costs. The docket sheet does not show any further enforcement; the case was presumably closed in 2010.

Summary Authors

Daisy Manning (6/4/2008)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:06-cv-00209

Docket (PACER)

EEOC v. U.S. Investigations Services Inc

Feb. 11, 2008

Feb. 11, 2008

Docket
132-1

3:06-cv-00209

Complaint and Jury Trial Demand

EEOC v. U.S. Investigations Services Inc

Sept. 29, 2006

Sept. 29, 2006

Complaint
11-1

3:06-cv-00209

Intervenors' Complaint

EEOC v. U.S. Investigations Services Inc

Feb. 14, 2007

Feb. 14, 2007

Complaint
19

3:06-cv-00209

Consent Decree

EEOC v. U.S. Investigations Services Inc

Nov. 29, 2007

Nov. 29, 2007

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:14 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC. (Filing fee waived) , filed by EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(cen ) (Entered: 10/02/2006)

Sept. 29, 2006

Sept. 29, 2006

2

Summons Issued as to U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC. (cen) (Entered: 10/02/2006)

Sept. 29, 2006

Sept. 29, 2006

3

ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Keith A. Pesto for all pretrial proceedings in accordance with the Magistrates Act, 28 U.S.C. Section 636(b)(1)(A) and (B) and the Local Rules 72.1.3 and 72.1.4; and it is further Ordered that on each document which is filed, the parties shall add to the caption under the Civil Action No. "Judge Kim R. Gibson/Magistrate Judge Keith A. Pesto" using the name of the assigning Judge and the Magistrate Judge handling the case. Signed by Judge Kim R. Gibson on 10/11/2006. (krt) (Entered: 10/11/2006)

Oct. 11, 2006

Oct. 11, 2006

4

MOTION to Intervene by ANGEL BUTTERBAUGH, CINDY DOUGLAS, Kristina Starr. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit to Motion - Proposed Complaint# 2 Exhibit 1 to proposed complaint# 3 Exhibit 2 to proposed complaint# 4 Proposed order to Motion)(Kotler, Helen) Modified on 10/16/2006 (cen). (Entered: 10/13/2006)

Oct. 13, 2006

Oct. 13, 2006

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Douglas G. Smith on behalf of U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC. (Smith, Douglas) (Entered: 10/30/2006)

Oct. 30, 2006

Oct. 30, 2006

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Craig W. Snethen on behalf of U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC. (Snethen, Craig) (Entered: 10/30/2006)

Oct. 30, 2006

Oct. 30, 2006

7

Stipulation for Extension of Time to Answer by U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC. Answer due from U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC. on 11/29/2006. (Smith, Douglas) (Entered: 10/30/2006)

Oct. 30, 2006

Oct. 30, 2006

8

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by ANGEL BUTTERBAUGH, CINDY DOUGLAS, Kristina Starr re 4 MOTION to Intervene (Kotler, Helen) (Entered: 10/31/2006)

Oct. 31, 2006

Oct. 31, 2006

9

ANSWER to Complaint filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC..(Snethen, Craig) (Entered: 11/28/2006)

Nov. 28, 2006

Nov. 28, 2006

CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER: Discovery shall be completed by 5/30/2007; plaintiffs' pretrial statement due by 6/27/2007; defendant's pretrial statement due by 7/11/2007; Motions for summary judgment shall be filed on or before 6/13/2007 and as more fully stated in said order . Signed by Judge Keith A. Pesto on 2/14/07. (w/document #10)(plp) (Entered: 02/14/2007)

Feb. 14, 2007

Feb. 14, 2007

11

Intervenor COMPLAINT, filed by ANGEL BUTTERBAUGH, CINDY DOUGLAS, KRISTINA STARR. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1# 2 Exhibit 2)(plp) (Entered: 02/14/2007)

Feb. 14, 2007

Feb. 14, 2007

12

Stipulation for Extension of Time to Answer by U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC.; Answer due from U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC. on 3/13/2007. (Snethen, Craig) Modified on 3/5/2007 (cen). (Entered: 03/05/2007)

March 5, 2007

March 5, 2007

13

ANSWER to Intervenor Complaint by U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC..(Smith, Douglas) (Entered: 03/13/2007)

March 13, 2007

March 13, 2007

14

STIPULATION for Enlargement of Period For Discovery by U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC.. (Smith, Douglas) (Entered: 03/15/2007)

March 15, 2007

March 15, 2007

15

ORDER re 14 Stipulation, that the current discovery deadline is extended to 8/31/07. Signed by Judge Keith A. Pesto on 3/29/07. (plp) (Entered: 03/29/2007)

March 29, 2007

March 29, 2007

Update Deadlines: Text-only entry; no PDF document will issue. This text-only entry constitutes the Courts order or notice on the matter. Discovery due by 8/31/2007 (plp) (Entered: 03/29/2007)

March 29, 2007

March 29, 2007

16

STIPULATION for Enlargement of Period for Discovery to Permit Mediation by U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC.. (Smith, Douglas) (Entered: 04/17/2007)

April 17, 2007

April 17, 2007

17

ORDER re 16 Second Stipulation for Enlargement of Period for Discovery to Permit Mediation filed by U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC., that the current discovery deadline is extended to 10/31/07. Signed by Judge Keith A. Pesto on 4/18/07. (plp) (Entered: 04/18/2007)

April 18, 2007

April 18, 2007

Update Deadlines: Text-only entry; no PDF document will issue. This text-only entry constitutes the Courts order or notice on the matter. Discovery due by 10/31/2007. (plp) (Entered: 04/18/2007)

April 18, 2007

April 18, 2007

18

ORDER FOR STATISTICAL CLOSING. Signed by Judge Keith A. Pesto on 6/26/2007. (plp) (Entered: 06/26/2007)

June 26, 2007

June 26, 2007

19

Approved Consent Decree. Signed by Judge Kim R. Gibson on 11/28/2007. (dlg) (Entered: 11/29/2007)

Nov. 29, 2007

Nov. 29, 2007

20

STIPULATION of Dismissal by ANGEL BUTTERBAUGH, CINDY DOUGLAS, Kristina Starr, U.S. INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES, INC.. (Smith, Douglas) (Entered: 01/24/2008)

Jan. 24, 2008

Jan. 24, 2008

Case Details

State / Territory: Pennsylvania

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 29, 2006

Closing Date: 2010

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

U.S. Investigations Services, Inc. (Altoona), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

State Anti-Discrimination Law

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: 360000

Order Duration: 2007 - 2010

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

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