Case: EEOC v. Blackwell's Book Services

1:04-cv-02589 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Filed Date: June 3, 2004

Closed Date: 2005

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On June 3, 2004, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit in the Camden U.S. district court for the District of New Jersey against Blackwell's Book Services on behalf of a black employee. After joining a company committee called the Staff Quality Forum, the employee received racial discrimination and harassment complaints about a white supervisor, which she passed on to the company vice president and the human resources officer. Investigation resulted in the supervisor's fi…

On June 3, 2004, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit in the Camden U.S. district court for the District of New Jersey against Blackwell's Book Services on behalf of a black employee. After joining a company committee called the Staff Quality Forum, the employee received racial discrimination and harassment complaints about a white supervisor, which she passed on to the company vice president and the human resources officer. Investigation resulted in the supervisor's firing. The EEOC alleged that the employee was advised to resign from the committee and abruptly fired in retaliation for bringing forth those complaints, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et. seq.). The EEOC sought its costs and monetary and injunctive relief for the employee, including a retaliation prohibition, back pay, job search expenses, compensation for emotional harm, and punitive damages.

The Court (Judge Joel B. Rosen) granted the employee's motion to intervene on October 20, 2004. The employee brought further claims for a racially hostile work environment, for racially discriminatory impairment of a contractual relationship in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and for violation of New Jersey law.

The employee voluntarily dismissed her claims with prejudice on May 25, 2005. The parties reached a settlement agreement, which the Court (Judge Freda L. Wolfson) entered as a consent decree on the same day. The employee received $65,000, subject to the execution of a release agreement. The 2-year decree required Blackwell's not to retaliate against employees for making claims or participating in investigations of unlawful discrimination, to post a notice of the lawsuit and its resolution, to provide Title VII training to all managers, supervisors, and Human Resources employees, and to maintain records of all complaints of discrimination or harassment and their resolution. Blackwell's also had to make the complaint records available to the EEOC for inspection and copying upon request. The docket shows no further activity and the case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Kenneth Gray (7/23/2013)

People


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Dreiband, Eric S. (District of Columbia)

Edge, Dawn M (Pennsylvania)

Lee, James L. (District of Columbia)

McNair, Jacqueline H. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Defendant
Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Daily, F Michael Jr. (New Jersey)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:04-cv-02589

Docket [PACER]

June 1, 2005

June 1, 2005

Docket
1

1:04-cv-02589

Complaint

June 3, 2004

June 3, 2004

Complaint
8

1:04-cv-02589

Complaint of Plaintiff / Intervenor Darlene Vaughan

Nov. 1, 2004

Nov. 1, 2004

Complaint
17

1:04-cv-02589

Consent Decree

May 25, 2005

May 25, 2005

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated Feb. 20, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against BLACKWELL'S BOOK SERVICES JURY DEMAND, filed by EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.(TH, ) (Entered: 06/04/2004)

June 3, 2004

June 3, 2004

Summons Issued as to BLACKWELL'S BOOK SERVICES.Days Due - 20. (TH, ) (Entered: 06/04/2004)

June 4, 2004

June 4, 2004

2

ANSWER to Complaint by BLACKWELL'S BOOK SERVICES. (Attachments: # 1 Cert of Svc)(ar1, ) (Entered: 06/29/2004)

June 29, 2004

June 29, 2004

3

ORDER Setting Initial Scheduling Conference for 8/25/2004 2:30 PM before Magistrate Judge Joel B. Rosen. Signed by Judge Joel B. Rosen on 6/29/04. (ar1, ) (Entered: 06/29/2004)

June 29, 2004

June 29, 2004

4

MOTION to Intervene by Darlene Vaughan. (DAILY, F.) (Entered: 08/26/2004)

Aug. 26, 2004

Aug. 26, 2004

5

BRIEF in Support re 4 MOTION to Intervene filed by Darlene Vaughan. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A# 2 Exhibit Exhibit B# 3 Exhibit Exhibit C# 4 Text of Proposed Order Order and Proof of Service)(DAILY, F.) (Entered: 08/26/2004)

Aug. 26, 2004

Aug. 26, 2004

Setting Deadlines as to 4 MOTION to Intervene. Motion returnable date set for 10/1/2004 before Magistrate Judge Joel B. Rosen. PLEASE BE ADVISED THIS MOTION SHALL BE DECIDED ON THE PAPERS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED BY THE COURT. (MB) (Entered: 08/27/2004)

Aug. 27, 2004

Aug. 27, 2004

6

SCHEDULING ORDER: Settlement Conference set for 12/9/2004 at 2:00 PM before Magistrate Judge Joel B. Rosen. Signed by Judge Joel B. Rosen on 9/23/04. (js) (Entered: 09/23/2004)

Sept. 23, 2004

Sept. 23, 2004

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Joel B. Rosen : Scheduling Conference held on 9/23/2004. (bb, ) (Entered: 09/24/2004)

Sept. 23, 2004

Sept. 23, 2004

7

ORDER granting 4 Motion to Intervene. Signed by Judge Joel B. Rosen on 10/20/04. (ar1, ) (Entered: 10/22/2004)

Oct. 20, 2004

Oct. 20, 2004

8

Intervenor COMPLAINT of Plaintiff , filed by Darlene Vaughan.(DAILY, F.) (Entered: 11/01/2004)

Nov. 1, 2004

Nov. 1, 2004

9

AFFIDAVIT of Service for Complaint of Intervener Darlene Vaughan served on John P. Quirke, Esq. on November 2, 2004, filed by Darlene Vaughan. (DAILY, F.) (Entered: 11/02/2004)

Nov. 2, 2004

Nov. 2, 2004

CLERKS OFFICE QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE - The Answer to Intervenor Complaint submitted by T. WOLAK on 11/10/04 did not contain a proper signature on the Certificate of Service. Only Registered Users are permitted to sign electronically filed documents with an s/. PLEASE RESUBMIT THE DOCUMENT WITH A PROPER ELECTRONIC OR SCANNED SIGNATURE BY 11/18/04. This submission will remain on the docket unless otherwise ordered by the court. (ar1, ) (Entered: 11/15/2004)

Nov. 15, 2004

Nov. 15, 2004

11

Letter from Tracy Asper Wolak, Esquire; Re: Clerk's Quality Control Message concerning signature on Certificate of Service on Answer was made in error. (ar1, ) (Entered: 11/22/2004)

Nov. 19, 2004

Nov. 19, 2004

12

AMENDED SCHEDULING ORDER: Settlement Conference set for 6/9/2005 at 11:00 AM before Magistrate Judge Joel B. Rosen. Discovery due by 6/30/2005. Dispositive Motions due by 6/29/2005. Signed by Judge Joel B. Rosen on 2/8/05. (ar1, ) (Entered: 02/09/2005)

Feb. 8, 2005

Feb. 8, 2005

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Joel B. Rosen : Settlement Conference held on 2/8/2005. (sa, ) (Entered: 02/09/2005)

Feb. 8, 2005

Feb. 8, 2005

13

AMENDED SCHEDULING ORDER: Settlement Conference set for 6/9/2005 at 11:00 AM before Magistrate Judge Joel B. Rosen. Discovery due by 6/30/2005. Dispositive Motions due by 7/29/2005. Signed by Judge Joel B. Rosen on 2/10/05. (ar1, ) (Entered: 02/10/2005)

Feb. 10, 2005

Feb. 10, 2005

14

RE-SCHEDULING ORDER:Rescheduling the Settlement Conference for 6/30/2005 at 11:30 AM before Magistrate Judge Joel B. Rosen. Signed by Judge Joel B. Rosen on 4/28/05. (ar1, ) (Entered: 04/28/2005)

April 28, 2005

April 28, 2005

15

ORDER REASSIGNING CASE. Case reassigned to Judge Freda L. Wolfson for all further proceedings. Judge Stanley S. Brotman no longer assigned to case. Signed by Judge John W. Bissell on 5/9/05. (sb) (Entered: 05/10/2005)

May 9, 2005

May 9, 2005

16

STIPULATION of Dismissal with prejudice and without costs. (ar1, ) (Entered: 05/31/2005)

May 25, 2005

May 25, 2005

17

CONSENT DECREE. Signed by Judge Freda L. Wolfson on 5/25/05. (ar1, ) (Entered: 05/31/2005)

May 25, 2005

May 25, 2005

***Civil Case Terminated. (ar1, ) (Entered: 06/01/2005)

June 1, 2005

June 1, 2005

Case Details

State / Territory: New Jersey

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 3, 2004

Closing Date: 2005

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, on behalf a black employee

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

Blackwell's Book Services, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1981

State law

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

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

Voluntary Dismissal

Amount Defendant Pays: $65,000

Order Duration: 2005 - 2007

Content of Injunction:

Retaliation Prohibition

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Recordkeeping

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit