Case: Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods, Inc.

1:95-cv-01666 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: March 16, 1995

Closed Date: 2000

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On March 16, 1995, two employees filed a lawsuit against their employer, Dominick's Finer Foods Inc., in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Six other plaintiffs were later added. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, alleged employment discrimination based on sex and race, and asked the court for injunctive and declaratory relief, back pay, and damages…

On March 16, 1995, two employees filed a lawsuit against their employer, Dominick's Finer Foods Inc., in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Six other plaintiffs were later added. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, alleged employment discrimination based on sex and race, and asked the court for injunctive and declaratory relief, back pay, and damages. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendant had discriminated against them in promotions, job assignments, hours of work, and training.

According to the PACER docket, on July 18, 1996, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification. On March 31, 1997, the court (Judge Elaine E. Bucklo) granted in part the plaintiffs' motion for class certification. On April 8, 1997 the court (Judge Bucklo) held that it would certify a subclass of female employees but it would not certify a subclass of Hispanic employees. The class consisted of all females employed by Dominick's Finer Foods Inc. between September 23, 1993, and the date of the case. Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods, Inc., 172 F.R.D. 370 (N.D. Ill. 1997).

According to the PACER docket, on March 29, 2000, the parties filed a joint motion for final approval of the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement included a settlement fund of $7,650,000 for over 12,000 class members and provided that the defendant would pay $1,900,000 to class counsel. The settlement also provided injunctive relief and stated that the defendant would not engage in practices that have a disparate impact upon female employees or practices of retaliation against any of the class members. The defendant agreed to institute non-discrimination and diversity training, as well as a Career Connection Program to assist employees and applicants in attaining their goals and to ensure equal employment opportunities. It stated that the provisions of the agreement would remain in effect for three years. On March 31, 2000, the court (Judge Bucklo) approved the settlement agreement and dismissed the case.

Summary Authors

Emily Kuznick (5/1/2008)

People


Judge(s)

Bucklo, Elaine E. (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Arimond, Bridget (Illinois)

Cummings, Jeffrey Irvine (Illinois)

Fisher, Ian Howard (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Boylan, Michael J. (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:95-cv-01666

Docket

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

April 7, 2005

April 7, 2005

Docket
52

1:95-cv-01666

Opinion

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

Aug. 22, 1995

Aug. 22, 1995

Order/Opinion

1995 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 1995

57

1:95-cv-01666

Order (denying motion for reconsideration and granting the motion for clarification)

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

Sept. 7, 1995

Sept. 7, 1995

Order/Opinion

1995 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 1995

108

1:95-cv-01666

Opinion

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

Aug. 9, 1996

Aug. 9, 1996

Order/Opinion

937 F.Supp. 937

166

1:95-cv-01666

Opinion (Granting in part class certification)

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

Feb. 21, 1997

Feb. 21, 1997

Order/Opinion

1997 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 1997

195

1:95-cv-01666

Opinion (Plaintiffs' certification granted in part and denied in part)

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

April 8, 1997

April 8, 1997

Order/Opinion

172 F.R.D. 172

273

1:95-cv-01666

Judge Keys' Order Affirmed

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

Jan. 15, 1998

Jan. 15, 1998

Order/Opinion

1998 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 1998

293

1:95-cv-01666

Opinion

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

March 30, 1998

March 30, 1998

Order/Opinion

1998 WL 1998

372

1:95-cv-01666

Settlement Agreement

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

March 31, 2000

March 31, 2000

Settlement Agreement
377

1:95-cv-01666

Class Counsel's Final Accounting Regarding the Class Action Settlement Fund and Request for Distribution of the Residual Funds to Class Counsel

Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods Inc.

Feb. 8, 2002

Feb. 8, 2002

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

Last updated March 21, 2024, 3:05 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Private Employment Class Actions

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 16, 1995

Closing Date: 2000

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

All females employed by Dominick’s Finer Foods Inc.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Dominick's Finer Foods, Inc., Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1981

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

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

Order Duration: 2000 - 2003

Issues

General:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination-area:

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

Promotion

Training

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

National Origin/Ethnicity:

Hispanic