Case: EEOC v. STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.

2:01-cv-00703 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: May 16, 2001

Closed Date: May 30, 2004

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In May 2001, the Seattle District Office of the EEOC brought this suit against Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., d/b/a W Seattle Hotel, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The defendant allegedly subjected the charging parties and other similarly situated individuals to a sexually hostile work environment consisting of both verbal and physical abuse. In addition, the defendant retaliated against several employees by further harassing them, resulting in …

In May 2001, the Seattle District Office of the EEOC brought this suit against Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., d/b/a W Seattle Hotel, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The defendant allegedly subjected the charging parties and other similarly situated individuals to a sexually hostile work environment consisting of both verbal and physical abuse. In addition, the defendant retaliated against several employees by further harassing them, resulting in the constructive discharge of some of them.

In October 2001, five of the charging parties intervened in the suit. In March 2002, the defendant made offers of judgment to some of the intervening parties. Two of the charging parties accepted the offers, and the court entered a judgment against the defendant in their favor for a total of $200,000 in early April. Later that month, the EEOC and the defendant settled their claims through a consent decree. The remaining parties seemed to have settled with the defendant at a later date, voluntarily dismissing their claims in late May 2002.

The two-year consent decree between the EEOC and the defendant contained non-discrimination and non-retaliation clauses and required the defendant to: obtain a sexual harassment consultant to conduct an audit of its sexual harassment policies and procedures, expunge the charging parties' personnel files of all references to the charges of discrimination, provide the charging parties with neutral employment references, develop a complaint procedure, provide annual Title VII training for all employees, report to the EEOC every six months, and pay $100,000 to be divided among three class members.

Summary Authors

Jason Chester (7/25/2007)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:01-cv-00703

Docket [PACER]

EEOC v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

May 30, 2002

May 30, 2002

Docket
19

2:01-cv-00703

[Intervenor] Complaint for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation; Failure to Provide Safe Environment; Negligent Retention and Supervision; Outrage; Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress; Violation of Wage and Hour Laws, Breach of Contract

EEOC v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Nov. 1, 2001

Nov. 1, 2001

Complaint
29

2:01-cv-00703

Judgment [in part]

EEOC v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

April 1, 2002

April 1, 2002

Order/Opinion
30

2:01-cv-00703

Consent Decree and Order of Dismissal

EEOC v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

April 29, 2002

April 29, 2002

Settlement Agreement
32

2:01-cv-00703

Stipulation and Order of Dismissal [in part]

EEOC v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

May 30, 2002

May 30, 2002

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 26, 2024, 3:13 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
2

RETURN OF SERVICE of summons and complaint executed upon defendant Starwood Hotels on 5/16/01 (MD) (Entered: 05/25/2001)

May 18, 2001

May 18, 2001

3

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendant Starwood Hotels by Elizabeth K Reeve (MD) (Entered: 06/05/2001)

June 4, 2001

June 4, 2001

4

ANSWER to complaint [1-1] by defendant Starwood Hotels (VB) (Entered: 06/06/2001)

June 5, 2001

June 5, 2001

5

ORDER REGARDING INITIAL DISCLOSURES, JOINT STATUS REPORT AND EARLY SETTLEMENT by Judge Thomas S. Zilly ; joint status report ddl set for 7/23/01 (cc: counsel, Judge) (MD) (Entered: 06/13/2001)

June 12, 2001

June 12, 2001

6

JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN filed by all parties. Est. Trial Days: 10 days (MD) (Entered: 07/06/2001)

July 5, 2001

July 5, 2001

7

ORDER REGARDING SCHEDULING Other Pretrial Matters by Judge Zilly: Jury trial set for 9/9/02 ; Deadline to Join Additional Parties is 8/13/01 ; Disclosure of expert testimony due: 3/13/02 ; Discovery Motion filing ddl 4/12/02 ; Discovery deadline set for 5/12/02 ; Dispositive Motions to be filed by 6/11/02 ; Settlement conf. per CR 39.1(c)(2) by 7/11/02 ; 39.1 designation effective 8/10/02 ; Motions in Limine du 8/12/02 ; Agreed Pretrial Order set for 8/28/02 ; Pretrial Conference set for 3:00 8/30/02 ; Trial briefs and exhibits to be submitted by 9/4/02 ; Proposed Voir dire/jury instructions 9/4/02 ; Length of Trial: 10 days (cc: counsel, Judge) (MD) (Entered: 07/17/2001)

July 17, 2001

July 17, 2001

PROPOSED proposed complaint by intvp re: motion to intervene/join Brandi McGuire, Clare McFadden, Rachel Beals, Kasie Barker, Steven Sloan, OA req'd [8-1] (CL) (Entered: 10/10/2001)

Oct. 4, 2001

Oct. 4, 2001

LODGED ORDER: re: motion to intervene/join Brandi McGuire, Clare McFadden, Rachel Beals, Kasie Barker, Steven Sloan, OA req'd [8-1] (CL) (Entered: 10/10/2001)

Oct. 4, 2001

Oct. 4, 2001

8

MOTION to intervene/join Brandi McGuire, Clare McFadden, Rachel Beals, Kasie Barker, Steven Sloan, OA req'd NOTED FOR 10/19/01, and memorandum in support (CL) (Entered: 10/10/2001)

Oct. 5, 2001

Oct. 5, 2001

9

MOTION by intervenor-plaintiffs for admission of Eve H. Wagner pro hoc vice (ZG) (Entered: 10/15/2001)

Oct. 11, 2001

Oct. 11, 2001

10

DECLARATION of Gretchen Graham by intervenor-plaintiffs re: motion for pro hac vice [9-1] (ZG) (Entered: 10/15/2001)

Oct. 11, 2001

Oct. 11, 2001

11

APPLICATION for order for Eve H. Wagner to appear pro hac vice by intervenor-plaintiffs; receipt # 601825 (ZG) Modified on 10/15/2001 (Entered: 10/15/2001)

Oct. 11, 2001

Oct. 11, 2001

13

MOTION by intervenor-plaintiffs for admission of Gerald L. Sauer pro hac vice (ZG) (Entered: 10/15/2001)

Oct. 11, 2001

Oct. 11, 2001

14

DECLARATION of Gretchen Graham by intervenor-plaintiffs re: motion [13-1] (ZG) (Entered: 10/15/2001)

Oct. 11, 2001

Oct. 11, 2001

15

APPLICATION for order granting leave to appear pro hac vice by intervenor-plaintiffs (ZG) (Entered: 10/15/2001)

Oct. 11, 2001

Oct. 11, 2001

16

ORDEER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION OF Gerald L. Sauer pro hac vice by intervenor-plaintiff Brandi McGuire, intervenor- plaintiff Clare McFadden, intervenor-plaintiff Rachel Beals, intervenor- plaintiff Kasie Barker and intervenor-plaintiff Steven Sloan Receipt # 601825 (cc: counsel, Judge) (ZG) (Entered: 10/15/2001)

Oct. 11, 2001

Oct. 11, 2001

17

STATEMENT by defendant re motion to intervene by Brandi McGuire, Clare McFadden, Rachel Beals, Kasie Barker, Steven Sloan [8-1] (RS) (Entered: 10/22/2001)

Oct. 18, 2001

Oct. 18, 2001

18

ORDER by Judge Thomas S. Zilly GRANTING motion to intervene/join by Brandi McGuire, Clare McFadden, Rachel Beals, Kasie Barker, Steven Sloan [8-1] (cc: counsel, Judge) (RS) (Entered: 10/23/2001)

Oct. 23, 2001

Oct. 23, 2001

19

COMPLAINT: Intervention by intervenor-plaintiffs with jury demand (RS) (Entered: 11/05/2001)

Nov. 1, 2001

Nov. 1, 2001

20

RETURN OF SERVICE of summons and complaint executed upon defendant Starwood Hotels on 11/5/01 (KERR) (Entered: 11/14/2001)

Nov. 8, 2001

Nov. 8, 2001

21

ANSWER to complaint by defendant (RS) (Entered: 12/04/2001)

Nov. 28, 2001

Nov. 28, 2001

22

SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL on behalf of Starwood Hotels adding atty Elizabeth Reeve for withdrawing cnsl Sigurd Borgersen (RS) (Entered: 12/05/2001)

Nov. 30, 2001

Nov. 30, 2001

23

AGREED MOTION/STIPULATION TO MODIFY MINUTE ORDER SETTING TRIAL DATE & RELATED DATES (CL) (Entered: 03/07/2002)

March 7, 2002

March 7, 2002

LODGED ORDER: re: stipulation [23-1] (CL) (Entered: 03/07/2002)

March 7, 2002

March 7, 2002

24

ORDER by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. discovery ddl set 7/9/02 Disclose Expert Witnesses by 7/9/02 ; Disclose Rebuttal Expert Witnesses by 6/9/02 ; (cc: counsel, Judge) (CL) (Entered: 03/11/2002)

March 11, 2002

March 11, 2002

25

OFFER OF JUDGMENT upon pltf Brandi McGuire filed by defendant Starwood Hotels (CL) (Entered: 03/20/2002)

March 19, 2002

March 19, 2002

26

OFFER OF JUDGMENT upon pltf Steve Sloan filed by defendant Starwood Hotels (CL) (Entered: 03/20/2002)

March 19, 2002

March 19, 2002

27

ACCEPTANCE by intervenor-plaintiff Brandi McGuire of offer of judgment [25-1] (CL) (Entered: 03/20/2002)

March 19, 2002

March 19, 2002

28

ACCEPTANCE by intervenor-plaintiff Steven Sloan of offer of judgment [26-1] (CL) (Entered: 03/20/2002)

March 19, 2002

March 19, 2002

LODGED ORDER: re: judgment [28-1], re: judgment [27-1] (CL) (Entered: 03/20/2002)

March 19, 2002

March 19, 2002

29

JUDGMENT by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that jgm be entered in favor of Brandi McGuire and against dft Starwood Hotels and Resort Worldwide dba W Hotel Seattle in the amount of $180,000 and that jgm be entered in favor of Steven Sloan against dft Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide in the amount of $10,000. No attys' fees, costs or pre-jgm interest shall be awarded to any party. (cc: counsel, Judge, Jgm. Book) Entered on: 4/2/02 (CL) (Entered: 04/02/2002)

April 1, 2002

April 1, 2002

LODGED CONSENT DECREE AND PROPOSED ORDER OF DISMISSAL (CL) (Entered: 04/26/2002)

April 25, 2002

April 25, 2002

30

CONSENT DECREE by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. This lawsuit is hereby dismissed with prejudice and without costs or attys' fees to any party. The Court retains jurisdiction of this matter for purposes of enforcing this consent decree. (cc: counsel, Judge, Jgm. Book, CC) Entered on: 4/29/02 (CL) (Entered: 04/29/2002)

April 29, 2002

April 29, 2002

31

SATISFACTION OF JUDGMENT as to defendant Starwood Hotels (cc: Sat. Jgm. Bk., Finance) (CL) (Entered: 05/28/2002)

May 24, 2002

May 24, 2002

LODGED STIPULATION AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE AS TO CLARE MCFADDEN, RACHEL BEALS & KASIE BARKER (CL) (Entered: 05/28/2002)

May 24, 2002

May 24, 2002

32

STIPULATION and ORDER by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. Pursuant to the Stipulation of the parties, it is hereby ORDERED: dismissing with prejudice intervenor-plaintiff Kasie Barker, intervenor-plaintiff Rachel Beals, intervenor-plaintiff Clare McFadden . (cc: counsel, Judge) (dktclk) (Entered: 05/30/2002)

May 30, 2002

May 30, 2002

Case Details

State / Territory: Washington

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 16, 2001

Closing Date: May 30, 2004

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: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

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

Order Duration: 2002 - 2004

Content of Injunction:

Expungement of Employment Record

Neutral/Positive Reference

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Reporting

Auditing

Monitoring

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