The Detroit office of the EEOC brought this action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division, against Seelye-Wright of South Haven, Inc., a car dealership in South Haven, Michigan. The complaint, filed in September 2005, alleged sex discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Defendant had retaliated against the charging party by filing a complaint against him for libel and slander in response to his claim for sexual harassment. In December 2005, the charging party intervened.

Defendant filed for partial summary judgment on the issue of punitive damages stating that it had settled all other claims with the charging party. In October 2006, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division, granted Defendant's motion. All other matters were resolved through a consent decree. The decree, which was good for one year, contained non-discrimination and non-retaliation provisions, and required Defendant to provide a training seminar regarding discrimination and retaliation for its employees. The EEOC retained the right to review Defendant's compliance with the decree and, if the EEOC found a violation, Defendant had thirty days to investigate and respond to the allegation. The decree was signed in November 2006.

Elizabeth Glassman - 05/31/2007


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