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Case Name
Binion v. Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
EE-IL-0291
Docket / Court
1:94-cv-03814 ( N.D. Ill. )
State/Territory
Illinois
Case Type(s)
Equal Employment
Special Collection
Private Employment Class Actions
Case Summary
On June 22, 1994, four black employees working as janitors in the housekeeping department of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and 42 U.S.C. § 1981 against their employer, a municipal ...
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On June 22, 1994, four black employees working as janitors in the housekeeping department of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and 42 U.S.C. § 1981 against their employer, a municipal corporation that manages convention and exposition activities at Chicago's Navy Pier and McCormick Place, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, alleged racial discrimination. They specifically alleged that they were subject to a discriminatory disciplinary policy and sought injunctive relief and damages. They also alleged unequal employment opportunities in transfers, hours, and assignments as unscheduled walk-ins. Finally, they alleged verbal abuse and racial harassment.
On September 13, 1995, the court (Judge Brian Barnett Duff) granted the plaintiffs' motion for class certification. The class consisted of black janitors, with membership opening date of October 2, 1990 for Title VII claims and July 14, 1991 for Section 1981 claims. While conducting discovery the parties pursued settlement negotiations and on February 21, 1997, the court (Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr.) approved a settlement agreement. Under the agreement the class members, the class representatives, and their attorneys received a total of $1.2 million.
Michael Perry - 08/05/2010
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Discrimination-area
Discipline
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)
Discrimination-basis
Race discrimination
General
Disparate Treatment
Pattern or Practice
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Race
Black
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)
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Plaintiff Description
Black janitors who worked for or continued to work for the defendant.
Class action status sought
Yes
Class action status granted
Yes
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Mixed
Public Int. Lawyer
No
Nature of Relief
Damages
Source of Relief
Settlement
Form of Settlement
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Filed
06/22/1994
Case Closing Year
1997
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
N.D. Ill.
05/29/1997
1:94-cv-03814
EE-IL-0291-9000.pdf
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Detail
General Documents
N.D. Ill.
09/15/1995
Opinion (Granting motion to certify the class)
(163 F.R.D. 517)
EE-IL-0291-0001.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Google Scholar
People
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Judges
Duff, Brian Barnett
(N.D. Ill.)
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EE-IL-0291-0001
Norgle, Charles Ronald Sr.
(N.D. Ill.)
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EE-IL-0291-9000
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Patner, Marshall
(Illinois)
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EE-IL-0291-9000
Seliger, Stephen G
(Illinois)
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EE-IL-0291-9000
Sonderby, Peter Robert
(Illinois)
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EE-IL-0291-9000
Defendant's Lawyers
Abram, Thomas G.
(Illinois)
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EE-IL-0291-9000
Nicolai, Michael Paul
(Illinois)
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EE-IL-0291-9000
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