In January 1998, the Dallas District Office of the EEOC brought this suit against Premier Operator Services, Inc. and Digital Network Services, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. We do not have a copy of the complaint. However, according to an EEOC press release, the complaint alleged discrimination on the basis of national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In particular, the defendant enforced an English-only policy, requiring all employees, including the thirteen Hispanic charging parties, to speak English only at all times in the workplace. Many of the employees were hired because of their ability to speak Spanish, and those who opposed the policy were terminated or retaliated against.

In April 1999, the EEOC filed a motion for partial summary judgment, and the defendant filed a motion for complete summary judgment. After some discovery disputes, the plaintiff's motion was granted and the defendant's motion was granted in part and denied in part in October 1999. E.E.O.C. v. Premier Operator Services, Inc., 75 F. Supp. 2d. 550 (N.D. Tex. 2000). In July 2000, a bench trial was held, resulting in a judgment for the EEOC. The judgment awarded the charging parties a total of $709,284.56 and enjoined the defendant from discriminating, retaliating, or enforcing an English-only policy. E.E.O.C. v. Premier Operator Services, Inc., 113 F. Supp. 2d. 1066 (N.D. Tex. 2000).

Kevin Wilemon - 06/13/2007


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