Case: Settlement agreement between United States (on behalf of Michelle Sparling) and Metropolitan School District of Wabash County (IN)

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Case Summary

In 2001, a female teacher filed charges with the Indianapolis District Office of EEOC against her employer, the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County (MSD), under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. The complainant alleged gender discrimination against her and other female teachers of MSD. Specifically, she alleged that under the teachers' 1995 and 2000 Collective Bargaining Agreements, only male teachers were entitled to paid parental leave…

In 2001, a female teacher filed charges with the Indianapolis District Office of EEOC against her employer, the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County (MSD), under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. The complainant alleged gender discrimination against her and other female teachers of MSD. Specifically, she alleged that under the teachers' 1995 and 2000 Collective Bargaining Agreements, only male teachers were entitled to paid parental leave under a provision called "Paternity Days". According to the Wabash Plain Dealer, female teachers were not entitled to paid maternity leave and they were prevented from using accumulated sick leave for their days off. The dispute arose in February 1999, when the plaintiff was pregnant and a member of the teacher organization's contract negotiating team.

In September 2001, the EEOC issued a determination letter stating that reasonable cause existed to believe that MSD discriminated against the plaintiff on the basis of sex. The EEOC was unable to secure an acceptable conciliation agreement and the charges were referred to the DOJ to seek compliance.

According to the Wabash Plain Dealer, the MSD came into compliance with the EEOC findings no later than 2003, when a new Collective Bargaining Agreement was entered. Under provisions labeled "Parental Days" in the 2003 Agreement, all teachers were entitled to two days of paid leave at the time of giving birth or teacher's wife giving birth.

On November 29, 2005, the DOJ, MSD, and the complainant settled the matter. Under the settlement agreement, no party made any admissions. The MSD agreed to give two days' pay to the complainant and each other female teachers who had given birth prior to 2003. The MSD agreed to give notice to all female and former teachers, who gave birth in the period above, of the details of the offer and the settlement agreement. The settlement preserved the DOJ's right to monitor compliance with the agreement by the MSD, and if necessary to sue to enforce it.

Summary Authors

Zhandos Kuderin (7/7/2014)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Barksdale, Antoinette (District of Columbia)

Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)

Schlozman, Bradley (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Tiede, Charles (Indiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Settlement Agreement

United States and Michelle Sparling v. Metropolitan School District of Wabash County

Nov. 29, 2005

Nov. 29, 2005

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:38 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Indiana

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Key Dates

Closing Date: 2005

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States government on behalf of a female school teacher, discriminated against on the basis of her sex.

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

Metropolitan School District of Wabash County (Wabash), School District

Defendant Type(s):

Elementary/Secondary School

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

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:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 2005 - 2005

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Accommodation / Leave

Pay / Benefits

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female