On October 24, 2000, eight black individuals filed a class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis), alleging that their employer, Enterprise Leasing Company of St. Louis and its parent company, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, engaged in racially discriminatory practices in promotion and hiring. The plaintiffs claimed that Enterprise was in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. § 2000e), The Civil Rights Act of 1866 (42 U.S.C. § 1981) and portions of the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA).

On May 3, 2002, Judge Jean C. Hamilton of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis) certified two sub-classes, a "Promotion Sub-Class" (all African American individuals employed by the company at any time between October 1, 1995 and December 31, 2001) and a "Hiring Sub-Class" (all African Americans who unsuccessfully applied for positions with the company between October 1, 1995 and December 31, 2001.)



On May 3, 2002, Judge Hamilton signed a consent decree which required the defendants to pay $2.3 million in damages to the two sub-classes and the named plaintiffs, and included injunctive relief requiring the company to make changes in the way it advertises and publicizes available jobs as well as how it communicates with those who are turned down jobs within the company.

The consent Decree has a three year term, beginning May 3, 2002.

David Miller - 04/14/2010


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