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Case Name
Leonard v. Southtec, LLC
EE-TN-0141
Docket / Court
3:04-cv-00072 ( M.D. Tenn. )
State/Territory
Tennessee
Case Type(s)
Equal Employment
Special Collection
IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study
Private Employment Class Actions
Case Summary
On January 27, 2004, employees filed a lawsuit under under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Tennessee Human Rights Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-01 et seq., and Tennessee state law concerning retaliatory discharge, Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-3 ...
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On January 27, 2004, employees filed a lawsuit under under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Tennessee Human Rights Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-01 et seq., and Tennessee state law concerning retaliatory discharge, Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-304, against their employer, Southtec LLC, an automotive supplier, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, alleged racial discrimination and asked the court for injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys' fees. Specifically, plaintiffs contended that Southtec LLC had committed intentional and subjective discrimination in which employees and potential employees were discriminated against on the basis of race and national origin in hiring decisions, pay increases, promotion decisions, and in their working environment.
On October 15, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a motion to certify their class action claims and on September 8, 2005, the court (Judge John T. Nixon) granted class certification. The class consisted of all former, present, and future employees at the Southtec plant in Lebanon, Tennessee. Leonard v. Southtec, LLC., 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32751 (M.D. Tenn. 2005). On January 31, 2006, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the defendant's petition for interlocutory appeal and vacated the district court's decision to grant class certification.
The parties subsequently reached a settlement. On March 2, 2007, the plaintiffs entered a settlement agreement and consent decree with the court. On May 15, 2007, the court issued a consent decree and a final order of class action settlement. The settlement class for purposes of monetary relief included all African-American and Hispanic individuals who applied for employment at Southtec's Lebanon, Tennessee facility from January 1, 2002, through the time of the settlement, but who were not hired or re-hired. The settlement class for purposes of equitable and declaratory relief consisted of all African-American and Hispanic individuals who were employed at Southtec's Lebanon, Tennessee facility at any time, for any length of time, between the commencement date and expiration of the decree. Additionally, the plaintiffs' counsel was awarded $315,000 in attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses. Overall, defendants agreed to pay $900,000, to not make hiring decisions on the basis of race or national origin, and to provide training prohibiting discrimination and harassment.
Emily Kuznick - 04/08/2008
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Affected Gender
Female
Male
Discrimination-area
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Hiring
Pay / Benefits
Promotion
Discrimination-basis
Race discrimination
General
Disparate Treatment
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Race
Race, unspecified
Causes of Action
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
42 U.S.C. § 1981
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
Southtec, LLC, et al
Plaintiff Description
Former, present, and future minority employees at the Southtec plant in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Class action status sought
Yes
Class action status granted
Yes
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
No
Nature of Relief
Damages
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Settlement
Form of Settlement
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Filed
01/27/2004
Case Closing Year
2007
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
M.D. Tenn.
05/15/2007
3:04-cv-00072
EE-TN-0141-9000.pdf
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Detail
General Documents
M.D. Tenn.
09/08/2005
Opinion [ECF# 46]
(2005 WL 2177013 / 2005 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 32751)
EE-TN-0141-0004.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
U.S. Court of Appeals
01/31/2006
Class Certification Vacated
EE-TN-0141-0001.pdf
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Detail
M.D. Tenn.
03/02/2007
Consent Decree and Settlement Agreement [ECF# 87]
EE-TN-0141-0002.pdf
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Detail
M.D. Tenn.
05/15/2007
Final Order of Class Action Settlement [ECF# 96]
EE-TN-0141-0003.pdf
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Detail
People
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Judges
Griffin, Juliet E.
(M.D. Tenn.)
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EE-TN-0141-0002 | EE-TN-0141-0003 | EE-TN-0141-0004
Guy, Ralph B. Jr.
(FISCR, E.D. Mich., Sixth Circuit)
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EE-TN-0141-0001
McKeague, David William
(W.D. Mich., Sixth Circuit)
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EE-TN-0141-0001
Nixon, John Trice
(M.D. Tenn.)
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EE-TN-0141-0001 | EE-TN-0141-0002 | EE-TN-0141-0003 | EE-TN-0141-0004 | EE-TN-0141-9000
Sutton, Jeffrey S.
(Sixth Circuit)
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EE-TN-0141-0001
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Fentonmiller, Laura C.
(District of Columbia)
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EE-TN-0141-9000
Gonzalez, Jerry
(Tennessee)
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EE-TN-0141-0001 | EE-TN-0141-0002 | EE-TN-0141-0004 | EE-TN-0141-9000
Sanford, David W.
(District of Columbia)
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EE-TN-0141-0002 | EE-TN-0141-9000
Defendant's Lawyers
Frazier, Keith D.
(Tennessee)
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EE-TN-0141-0002 | EE-TN-0141-9000
Harris, Jonathan O.
(Tennessee)
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EE-TN-0141-0001 | EE-TN-0141-0002 | EE-TN-0141-0004 | EE-TN-0141-9000
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