On April 8, 1992, a former female employee of defendant filed a lawsuit against defendant under the Equal Pay Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago Division. The plaintiff, represented by private counsel, asked the court for monetary and injunctive relief, alleging discriminatory compensation and discriminatory termination based on sex. Later on, other former female employees of defendant joined the action as plaintiffs.

Defendant argued that plaintiffs could not maintain a cause of action because each signed a release in which they knowingly and voluntarily released defendant from any and all claims arising from their employment or separation of employment. On October 17, 1994, the court (Judge Castillo) held that the plaintiffs' failure to tender redeployment pay barred their claims. Moreover, the court denied the plaintiffs' motion for class certification on the ground that the proposed class failed to meet the typicality and commonality requirements.

On August 29, 1995, the court (Judge Castillo) granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment, holding that evidence did not support the plaintiff's discriminatory compensation and gender discrimination claim.

The plaintiffs appealed. On September 5, 1996, the 7th Circuit (Judge Wood) affirmed part of the district court's decision, but vacated the order denying request for class certification.

In light of the appellate opinion, on January 1997, the district court (Judge Castillo) granted the plaintiffs' motion for class certification. However, on June 15, 1998, the parties reached a settlement, and the court (Judge Castillo) approved the settlement. The terms of the settlement are not available.

Kunyi Zhang - 11/23/2010


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