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.

Jennifer Gitter - 03/20/2013


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