Case: EEOC v. Trans Bay Steel, Inc.

2:06-cv-07766 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: Dec. 7, 2006

Closed Date: 2006

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On December 07, 2006, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") filed a lawsuit against Trans Bay Steel Inc., a small construction company, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division - Los Angeles. The EEOC charged that Defendant Trans Bay discriminated against Thai nationals in recruitment, hiring, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment and harassed them based on their national o…

On December 07, 2006, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") filed a lawsuit against Trans Bay Steel Inc., a small construction company, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division - Los Angeles. The EEOC charged that Defendant Trans Bay discriminated against Thai nationals in recruitment, hiring, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment and harassed them based on their national origin.

Trans Bay contracted with an employment agency to bring skilled welders into the United States from Thailand under guest worker visas. The visas required that the welders be paid the prevailing wage. Nine of the Thai welders sponsored by Trans Bay went to work for the company, but they were not paid the promised wages. The remaining sponsored Thai welders (about 40) were transported by the employment agency to other cities and forced to work long hours for no pay at restaurants, homes, and apartments owned by the agency's owner (a Thai.) The agency confiscated the welders' passports, held them against their will (confining some to cramped apartments without electricity, water, or gas), and threatened to call police and immigration authorities if they tried to escape. Eventually several escaped and were put into contact with a Thai nonprofit organization that works with victims of slavery and trafficking. The nonprofit organization filed a charge with the EEOC on the welders' behalf.

On December 08, 2006, District Judge Christina A. Snyder approved a Consent Decree submitted by the parties. Under the Consent Decree, the parties entered the Decree for the following purposes: 1) To provide agreed upon monetary and injunctive relief; 2) To ensure that Trans Bays employment practices comply with federal law; 3) To ensure work environment free from discrimination due to national origin; 4) To ensure that Trans Bay maintains a workforce free of discrimination so as to allow employees the equal employment opportunities required under Title VII; 5) To ensure that employees are protected from retaliation for engaging in a protected activity; and 6) To provide an appropriate and effective mechanism for handling harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaints in the workplace.

Under the Consent Decree, 48 Thai welders shared in relief from Trans Bay valued at approximately $1 million (the employment agency was out of business and its owner could not be located). In addition, Trans Bay is required to employ a number of the Thai welders, help them obtain jobs with other employers, and sponsor some of them for guest worker visas if appropriate.

Summary Authors

Xin Chen (8/28/2011)

People


Judge(s)

Lum, Jennifer T. (California)

Snyder, Christina A. (California)

Judge(s)

Lum, Jennifer T. (California)

Snyder, Christina A. (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:06-cv-07766

Docket

Dec. 19, 2006

Dec. 19, 2006

Docket

2:06-cv-07766

EEOC Resolves Slavery and Human Trafficking Suit Against Trans Bay Steel For an Estimated $1 Million

No Court

Dec. 8, 2006

Dec. 8, 2006

Press Release
4

2:06-cv-07766

Consent Decree

Dec. 8, 2006

Dec. 8, 2006

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated Jan. 22, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against defendant Trans Bay Steel Inc.(No fee required) Jury Demanded. , filed by plaintiff US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.(rrey, ) (Entered: 12/14/2006)

Dec. 7, 2006

Dec. 7, 2006

20 Day Summons Issued re Complaint − (Discovery) 1 as to Trans Bay Steel Inc. (rrey, ) (Entered: 12/14/2006)

Dec. 7, 2006

Dec. 7, 2006

2

CERTIFICATION of Interested Parties filed by Plaintiff US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (rrey, ) (Entered: 12/14/2006)

Dec. 7, 2006

Dec. 7, 2006

3

NOTICE TO PARTIES OF ADR PILOT PROGRAM filed.(rrey, ) (Entered: 12/14/2006)

Dec. 7, 2006

Dec. 7, 2006

FAX number for Attorney Anna Y Park is 213−894−1301. (rrey, ) (Entered: 12/14/2006)

Dec. 7, 2006

Dec. 7, 2006

4

CONSENT DECREE by Judge Christina A. Snyder in favor of US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and against Defendant Trans Bay Steel Inc. The parties have agreed into this Decree for the following purposes: 1) To provide agreed upon monetary and injunctive relief; 2) To ensure that Trans Bays employment practices comply with federal law; 3) To ensure work environment free from discrimination due to national origin; 4) To ensure that Trans Bay maintains a workforce free of discrimination so as to allow employees the equal employment opportunities required under Title VII; 5) To ensure that employees are protected from retaliation for engaging in a protected activity; and 6) To provide an appropriate and effective mechanism for handling harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaints in the workplace. (See document for details). The Court hereby retains jurisdiction and the provisions of the foregoing Consent Decree are hereby approved and compliance with all provisions thereof is fair and adequate. (mg, ) (Entered: 12/14/2006)

Dec. 8, 2006

Dec. 8, 2006

5

NOTICE TO COUNSEL AND ORDER regarding compliance with Local and Federal Rules and other requirements; service of this order by plaintiff on all defendants or if case came to court via Noticed removal, removing defendant to serve order on all parties of record. (hh, ) (Entered: 12/14/2006)

Dec. 13, 2006

Dec. 13, 2006

6

MINUTES (IN CHAMBERS ORDER) held before Judge Christina A. Snyder: The Court approved the parties proposed Consent Decree filed 12/8/06. The case should have been closed on entry date of 12/8/06. (Made JS−6. Case Terminated.)Court Reporter: N/A. (mg, ) (Entered: 12/20/2006)

Dec. 19, 2006

Dec. 19, 2006

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 7, 2006

Closing Date: 2006

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

EEOC on behalf of 48 welders of Thai descent who were discriminated against and exploited due to their national origin.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Trans Bay Steel, Inc., Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

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: $1 million

Order Duration: 2006 - 2009

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Follow recruitment, hiring, or promotion protocols

Other requirements regarding hiring, promotion, retention

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Hiring

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

Pay / Benefits

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

National Origin/Ethnicity:

Other