In September 2003, the Los Angeles and New York District Offices and San Diego Office of the EEOC filed this lawsuit against the collective enterprises making up Universal Pictures (Vivendi Universal SA, Vivendi Universal Group LLP, Universal Pictures, Universal Studios LLLP, Vivendi Universal Entertainment LLLP, Universal City Studios LLLP, Universal Pictures Inc.) in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging discrimination on the basis of race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

We do not have a copy of the complaint; therefore, the exact allegations involved are unknown. However, it appears the EEOC's 2006 press release that the defendant allegedly terminated the employment of the complainant from his position as first assistant director on the film "2 Fast 2 Furious" based upon his race. The complainant intervened in the lawsuit in March 2005. Following extensive discovery, a failed motion for summary judgment by the defendant, and defendant's successful motion to dismiss breach of contract and fraud claims by the intervenor-plaintiff upheld by the 9th Circuit, the lawsuit was tried before a jury in June 2007, and before the judge in June 2007. The intervenor and defendant reached a confidential settlement on June 13, 2006.

The defendant's motion for judgment as a matter of law was granted in October 10, 2007. The court found that there was no basis for injunctive relief because the defendant had not committed an unlawful employment practice and they were unlikely to engage in future unlawful employment practices (Judge Gary A. Feess). The Court billed the EEOC $54,313.07 in costs for the lawsuit.

The EEOC appealed this judgment to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 5, 2007. On June 25, 2008, the EEOC voluntarily dismissed their appeal.

The case is closed.

Daisy Manning - 04/14/2008
Cedar Hobbs - 11/17/2019


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