On September 19 2007, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) filed suit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title I of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of an African-American employee. The complaint alleged that defendant AT&T, Inc. engaged in unlawful employment practices, including the denial of the employee's promotion on the basis of her race. Plaintiff sought injunctive and declaratory relief, as well as monetary relief for the aggrieved employee.

On August 18, 2008 the parties settled under a consent decree issued by the District Court (Judge Charles R. Breyer). The settlement called for a monetary payment of $78,000 for the employee, as well as for her promotion upon the next available position. It also required the defendant to revise its equal opportunity policies to affirm compliance with Title VII and to provide means for employees to report disparate hiring practices. Furthermore, the defendant had to post notice of this settlement for its employees to see. Finally, the settlement required AT&T to conduct a half-day training seminar for its California staffing managers regarding equal employment hiring and promotion practices. The decree was to remain in effect for a one year period.

Adam Teitelbaum - 03/14/2010


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