Filed Date: Oct. 26, 2000
Closed Date: 2000
Clearinghouse coding complete
On October 26, 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against the Arkansas Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The D.O.J. sought injunctive relief, specifically requesting that the defendant be enjoined from continuing its discriminatory hiring practices, that the defendant be forced to provide remedial damages, and that the court order defendant to take appropriate nondiscriminatory measures to overcome the effects of the discrimination.
The D.O.J. specifically alleged that the defendant discriminated against two employees who were Seventh-Day Adventists on the basis of religion. The D.O.J. claimed that the defendant discriminated by failing or refusing to hire one employee on the basis of her religion and that the defendant discriminated against the second employee by terminating her on the basis of her religion.
On November 1, 2000, the district court (Judge George Howard) accepted a settlement agreement agreed to by both parties. The agreement stated that the defendant did not accept the allegations of the D.O.J., however it agreed to take measures to ensure that no discriminatory practices were continued in the Department of Corrections. The defendant agreed to employ practices that would reasonably accommodate an employee's religious beliefs. The defendant specifically agreed to inform employees who are Seventh Day Adventists that they have the opportunity to swap their shift with another worker in order to observe the Sabbath. In addition, the defendant agreed to pay the employee it terminated $9000 in damages.
This case is closed and we have no further information at this time.
Summary Authors
Janani Iyengar (11/21/2007)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13935279/parties/united-states-v-arkansas-corr-dept/
Howard, George Jr. (Arkansas)
Burrows, Charlotte (District of Columbia)
Casey, Paula J. (Arkansas)
Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)
Freno, Lori (Arkansas)
Howard, George Jr. (Arkansas)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13935279/united-states-v-arkansas-corr-dept/
Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:19 a.m.
State / Territory: Arkansas
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 26, 2000
Closing Date: 2000
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S. Department of Justice suing on behalf of two Seventh Day Adventist employees
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 2000 - 2001
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff
Discrimination-basis: