Case: EEOC v. PATTERSON COMPANIES INC

6:04-cv-01423 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Filed Date: Sept. 28, 2004

Closed Date: 2008

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In September 2004, the Tampa and Miami offices of the EEOC brought this Title VII suit against Patterson Companies, Inc. and Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The complaint alleged that the defendant subjected the claimant to sexual harassment and retaliation because of her sex. More specifically, one of the claimant's co-workers sexually harassed the claimant and the defendant did not take prompt corrective action for harassment that …

In September 2004, the Tampa and Miami offices of the EEOC brought this Title VII suit against Patterson Companies, Inc. and Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The complaint alleged that the defendant subjected the claimant to sexual harassment and retaliation because of her sex. More specifically, one of the claimant's co-workers sexually harassed the claimant and the defendant did not take prompt corrective action for harassment that they were aware or should have been aware of its occurrence. The defendant retaliated against the claimant for complaining of the sexual harassment by placing her on a "performance plan" which caused her constructive discharge. The case settled by entry of a consent decree in December 2005.

The three year consent decree required the defendant to refrain from discrimination and retaliation; establish a written policy against sexual harassment; provide training for all of its employees; post notice of the defendant's compliance with Title VII; keep all employment and/or investigative records relating to any complaint of sexual harassment; give the EEOC annual reports on compliance with the decree; and pay the claimant $150,000 in back pay, damages, and attorney's fees.

The docket sheet does not show any further enforcement took place; the case was presumably closed in 2008.

Summary Authors

Kevin Wilemon (6/18/2007)

Clearinghouse (6/10/2017)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

6:04-cv-01423

Docket (PACER)

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Patterson Companies, Inc.

Dec. 5, 2005

Dec. 5, 2005

Docket
1

6:04-cv-01423

Complaint

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Patterson Companies Inc. f/k/a Patterson Dental Company d/b/a Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Sept. 28, 2004

Sept. 28, 2004

Complaint
8

6:04-cv-01423

Amended Complaint

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Patterson Companies Inc. f/k/a Patterson Dental Company, and Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Nov. 22, 2004

Nov. 22, 2004

Complaint
13

6:04-cv-01423

Amended Complaint [Terri Wallace]

U.S. EEOC and Terri Wallace v. Patterson Companies Inc. f/k/a Patterson Dental Company, and Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Dec. 23, 2004

Dec. 23, 2004

Complaint
41

6:04-cv-01423

Consent Decree

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Terri Wallace v. Patterson Companies Inc. d/b/a Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Dec. 5, 2005

Dec. 5, 2005

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated April 5, 2024, 3:02 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Patterson Companies, Inc.; jury demand filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.(JRM) (Entered: 09/29/2004)

Sept. 28, 2004

Sept. 28, 2004

2

Summons issued as to Patterson Companies, Inc. (JRM) (Entered: 09/29/2004)

Sept. 29, 2004

Sept. 29, 2004

3

RELATED CASE ORDER AND NOTICE of designation under Local Rule 3.05 - track 2 Notice of pendency of other actions due within 11 days from the date of this order. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 10/5/04. (DJD, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 10/20/2004 (AKJ, ). Modified on 10/20/2004 to delete wrong document and add the correct one(AKJ, ). (Entered: 10/10/2004)

Oct. 10, 2004

Oct. 10, 2004

4

INTERESTED PERSONS ORDER Certificate of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement due within 11 days from the date of this order. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 10/5/04. (DJD, ) (Entered: 10/10/2004)

Oct. 10, 2004

Oct. 10, 2004

5

CERTIFICATE of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 10/14/2004)

Oct. 14, 2004

Oct. 14, 2004

6

NOTICE of pendency of other actions re order of compliance to Local Rule by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Related case(s): No (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 10/14/2004)

Oct. 14, 2004

Oct. 14, 2004

7

MOTION to intervene by Terri Wallace. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit "A" Intervenor Complaint with Intervenor Plaintiff Exhibit "A"# 2 Exhibit "B" Letter of Determination)(Wedmore, Andrew) (Entered: 10/26/2004)

Oct. 26, 2004

Oct. 26, 2004

8

AMENDED COMPLAINT Adding Defendant against all defendants, filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.(Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 11/22/2004)

Nov. 22, 2004

Nov. 22, 2004

Clearinghouse
9

ORDER granting 7 Motion to intervene. Intervenor is instructed to file complaint as a document and not an attachment to motion. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 11/23/2004. (EMW) (Entered: 11/23/2004)

Nov. 23, 2004

Nov. 23, 2004

10

Summons issued as to Patterson Companies, Inc., Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. (JRM) (Entered: 11/26/2004)

Nov. 26, 2004

Nov. 26, 2004

11

INTERESTED PERSONS ORDER. Certificate of interested persons due by Terri Wallace within 11 days from the date of this order. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 12/14/2004. (DJD, ) (Entered: 12/14/2004)

Dec. 14, 2004

Dec. 14, 2004

12

RETURN of service unexecuted by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as to Patterson Companies, Inc. (IGC) (Entered: 12/20/2004)

Dec. 20, 2004

Dec. 20, 2004

13

AMENDED COMPLAINT against all defendants, filed by Terri Wallace (jury demand) (Wedmore, Andrew). (Entered: 12/23/2004)

Dec. 23, 2004

Dec. 23, 2004

Clearinghouse
14

CERTIFICATE of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement by Terri Wallace re 4 Interested Persons Order. (Wedmore, Andrew) Modified on 12/27/2004 (IGC). (Entered: 12/23/2004)

Dec. 23, 2004

Dec. 23, 2004

15

NOTICE of pendency of other actions re order of compliance to Local Rule by Terri Wallace Related case(s): no: re 3 Related Case Order (Wedmore, Andrew) Modified on 12/27/2004 (IGC). (Entered: 12/23/2004)

Dec. 23, 2004

Dec. 23, 2004

16

RETURN of service executed on 12/15/04 by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as to Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., by Service on Anne Boutilier at CT Corporation. (JET) (Entered: 12/27/2004)

Dec. 23, 2004

Dec. 23, 2004

17

RETURN of service executed on 12/21/04 by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as to Patterson Companies, Inc. (JRM) (Entered: 01/03/2005)

Jan. 3, 2005

Jan. 3, 2005

18

ANSWER to amended complaint and Statement of Affirmative Defenses by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc..(Brown, Lori) (Entered: 01/04/2005)

Jan. 4, 2005

Jan. 4, 2005

19

NOTICE of pendency of other actions re order of compliance to Local Rule by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. Related case(s): No (Brown, Lori) (Entered: 01/04/2005)

Jan. 4, 2005

Jan. 4, 2005

20

CERTIFICATE of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.. (Brown, Lori) (Entered: 01/04/2005)

Jan. 4, 2005

Jan. 4, 2005

21

ANSWER to amended complaint by Patterson Companies, Inc..(Martin, Patrick) (Entered: 01/10/2005)

Jan. 10, 2005

Jan. 10, 2005

22

NOTICE of pendency of other actions re order of compliance to Local Rule by Patterson Companies, Inc. Related case(s): No (Martin, Patrick) (Entered: 01/10/2005)

Jan. 10, 2005

Jan. 10, 2005

23

CERTIFICATE of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement by Patterson Companies, Inc. re: 4 Interested Persons Order (Martin, Patrick) Modified on 1/18/2005 (IGC). (Entered: 01/14/2005)

Jan. 14, 2005

Jan. 14, 2005

24

Unopposed MOTION to Attend The Case Management Conference Via Telephone by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., Patterson Companies, Inc.. (Martin, Patrick) (Entered: 01/26/2005)

Jan. 26, 2005

Jan. 26, 2005

25

ENDORSED ORDER granting 24 Motion to Attend Case Management Conference by Telephone. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 1/26/2005. (EMW) (Entered: 01/26/2005)

Jan. 26, 2005

Jan. 26, 2005

26

MOTION unopposed To Attend Case Management Conference Via Telephone by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 01/28/2005)

Jan. 28, 2005

Jan. 28, 2005

27

ENDORSED ORDER granting 26 Motion to attend case management conference by telephone. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 1/28/2005. (EMW) (Entered: 01/28/2005)

Jan. 28, 2005

Jan. 28, 2005

28

NOTICE of unavailability of counsel byPatterson Dental Supply, Inc., Patterson Companies, Inc. from 03-30-05 to 04-01-05. (Brown, Lori) (Entered: 02/11/2005)

Feb. 11, 2005

Feb. 11, 2005

29

CASE MANAGEMENT REPORT. (Wedmore, Andrew) (Entered: 02/14/2005)

Feb. 14, 2005

Feb. 14, 2005

30

CASE MANAGEMENT AND SCHEDULING ORDER. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 2/15/2005. (EMW) (Entered: 02/15/2005)

Feb. 15, 2005

Feb. 15, 2005

32

NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Scheduling Mediation for 9/15/05 with Jay Cohen, Mediator. (Von Greiff, Carla) Modified on 3/7/2005 (JRM) (Entered: 03/04/2005)

March 4, 2005

March 4, 2005

33

ANSWER to amended complaint by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., Patterson Companies, Inc..(Martin, Patrick) (Entered: 03/21/2005)

March 21, 2005

March 21, 2005

34

NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Substitution of Counsel (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 04/04/2005)

April 4, 2005

April 4, 2005

35

NOTICE of unavailability of counsel byEqual Employment Opportunity Commission from May 27, 2005 to June 13, 2005. (Von Greiff, Carla) Modified on 4/19/2005 (JRM). (Incorrect document attached; attorney refiling) (Entered: 04/18/2005)

April 18, 2005

April 18, 2005

36

NOTICE of unavailability of counsel byEqual Employment Opportunity Commission from May 27, 2005 to June 13, 2005. (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 04/19/2005)

April 19, 2005

April 19, 2005

37

NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Withdrawal of Michael Farrell As Counsel of Record (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 08/16/2005)

Aug. 16, 2005

Aug. 16, 2005

38

ORDER granting 37 motion to withdraw. Attorney Michael Farrell is no longer counsel of record in this case.Signed by Judge Karla R. Spaulding on 8/17/2005. (SDT) (Entered: 08/17/2005)

Aug. 17, 2005

Aug. 17, 2005

40

NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Filing Consent Decree (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A Consent Decree)(Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 11/25/2005)

Nov. 25, 2005

Nov. 25, 2005

41

Consent Decree.Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 12/5/2005. (EMW) (Entered: 12/05/2005)

Dec. 5, 2005

Dec. 5, 2005

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Case Details

State / Territory: Florida

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 28, 2004

Closing Date: 2008

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, on behalf of one or more workers.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

EEOC Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. (Orlando), Private Entity/Person

Patterson Companies, Inc. (Orlando), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

State Anti-Discrimination Law

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Monetary Relief

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Amount Defendant Pays: 150000

Order Duration: 2005 - 2008

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit