Filed Date: Sept. 7, 2005
Closed Date: 2008
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On September 7, 2005, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission brought this action in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against Eastern Engineered Wood Products (EEWP). The charging party (who had complained to the EEOC) was the Vice President of EEWP. The EEOC asked the court for injunctive relief and monetary damages, claiming that the defendant's employees had engaged in sexual harassment and retaliation. Specifically, the EEOC alleged that the charging party was subjected to unwelcome sexual advances from one of company's owners, and when he complained of sexual harassment, he was harassed by co-workers. Because of the hostile work environment, the Vice President was constructively discharged.
On November 9, 2005, the court granted the former Vice President's motion to intervene in the suit. A separate action filed by the EEOC against EEWP on behalf of the company's former President, who was discharged after he investigated the discrimination claims discussed in the present action, was consolidated with this case on February 10, 2006 for trial purposes.
The court dismissed the case with prejudice on May 24, 2006 as parties had reached a settlement agreement. The Consent Decree, which took effect on May 26, 2006, resolved both the case brought by the EEOC on behalf of the EEWP's former Vice President and the consolidated case brought on behalf of the EEWP's former President. The settlement stipulated that EEWP would be enjoined from violating Title VII and from retaliating against any person because of their cooperation with the EEOC's investigation. EEWP was also required to implement a sexual harassment and retaliation training program for its employees. EEWP's former President was awarded $1,900,000 and EEWP's former Vice President was awarded $1,200,000. The settlement term was two years. The docket sheet does not show any further enforcement; the case was presumably closed in 2008.
Summary Authors
Jennifer Gitter (3/20/2013)
Last updated Feb. 23, 2024, 3:07 a.m.
State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 7, 2005
Closing Date: 2008
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the former Vice President of a wood products company that was a victim of sexual harassment and retaliation.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Eastern Engineered Wood Products (Bethlehem), Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Amount Defendant Pays: 3,100,000
Order Duration: 2006 - 2008
Content of Injunction:
Develop anti-discrimination policy
Provide antidiscrimination training
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Discrimination-basis:
Affected Sex or Gender:
EEOC-centric: