On September 19, 2007, the EEOC filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title I of the Civil Rights Act of 1991. The EEOC claimed that Defendant, Putnam Stone & Mason Supply, Inc., failed to provide appropriate relief to an individual as was required by a mediation settlement through the EEOC in regards to a sexual harassment charge. The agreement required that Defendant pay the individual $45,000 through a series of monthly installments, and the EEOC alleged that Defendant failed to make any of the payments. The EEOC sought monetary damages, including punitive damages for the alleged breach of the mediation agreement.

The EEOC then amended its complaint on September 26, 2007, to include a copy of the original mediation agreement.

On January 27, 2008, the District Court (Judge Kenneth M. Karas) dismissed all claims and approved a settlement between the parties under a consent decree. The decree generally enjoined Defendant from future discrimination based on sex and from retaliation for asserting one's rights under Title VII. Defendant was further required to (1) implement and distribute to its employees an employment discrimination policy, (2) place an EEOC poster in its offices, and (3) display this consent decree for its employee's to see. Defendant was also required to provide at least two hours of training to each of its employees on employment discrimination laws, as well as an additional three hours plus two hours annually of such training for its management and supervisory employees. Finally, Defendant was required to pay $45,000 to the aggrieved party. The decree was to remain in effect for a period of three years.

Adam Teitelbaum - 03/20/2010


compress summary