On October 29, 2008, plaintiffs filed a class action complaint in United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (Austin) against Dell Inc. alleging the defendant violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by systematically discriminating against female employees in pay, promotions, terminations, and other terms and conditions of employment. Plaintiffs Jill Hubley and Laura Guenther sought to represent a class of "all women employed by Dell between February 1, 2003 and the present, whether based in the United States or worldwide".

Plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages for the individual plaintiffs and the class they represent as well as a permanent injunction requiring Dell to adopt policies in accord with the requirements of Title VII prohibiting gender discrimination in employment.

On July 23, 2009 the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (Austin)(Judge James R. Nowlin) gave preliminary approval to a $9.1 million settlement, and certified a settlement class of "all women employed in the United States by Dell at any time between Feb. 14, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2008, in its C1 through D3 pay grades," excluding any employee who had previously signed a release as part of earlier litigation or settlement. The monetary settlement included $1.1 million in attorney fees and set up a back pay settlement fund of $4.5 million and a pay equity settlement fund of $3.5 million to account for salary adjustments and pay equity review.

On November 11, 2009 Judge James R. Nowlin issued a final order and judgment approving the class action settlement.

David Miller - 03/28/2010


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