Case: LAKE v. AK STEEL CORPORATION

2:03-cv-00517 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: April 15, 2003

Closed Date: 2010

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Case Summary

On April 15, 2003, two African American employees of AK Steel Corporation brought this action in the Western District of Pennsylvania under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief, claiming that AK Steel had discriminated against them because of their race. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that AK Steel had permitted its employees to use racial slurs and display racially divisive symbols without punishment. Plaintiffs further claimed they were denied opportunities for promotions and training that were not denied to their white coworkers, and that their supervisors discriminated on the basis of performance demands, job assignments, personal deportment, and other conditions of employment. Finally, Plaintiffs accused AK Steel of being willfully blind to their complaints and retaliating against African American employees through forced suspensions from employment or discharge for complaining about the work environment.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission instituted a related action on September 8, 2003 against AK Steel, seeking relief for eight employees, including the plaintiffs in the instant case (see EEOC v. AK Steel Corporation). The cases were consolidated on August 26, 2004. One of the named plaintiffs in this action filed an additional complaint against AK Steel on May 21, 2005. That action was consolidated with this case on September 11, 2006.

On May 1, 2006, the District Court (Judge Cercone) denied AK Steel's motion for summary judgment. Lake v. AK Steel Corp., 2006 WL 1158610 (W.D. Pa. 2006). The parties reached a settlement agreement on January 31, 2007. The three-year settlement agreement includes anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation clauses, and a confidentiality clause regarding the private plaintiffs' and complainants' involvement in the case. The agreement requires AK Steel Corporation to post notice of the agreement in its Butler location, maintain records of all incidents of racial harassment, and make these records available to the EEOC within ten days of request. The EEOC is also permitted to interview any employee of AK Steel Corporation after five days notice. AK Steel Corporation must provide a training session for all employees, including separate training for supervisory and managerial personnel. New employees must receive training during new employee orientation. Training sessions must be conducted by an EEOC approved trainer. The decree includes a "notice and chance to remedy" dispute resolution process. AK Steel Corporation agreed to pay a total of $550,000. One private plaintiff was awarded $360,000 and the other private plaintiff was awarded $100,000. One non-party complainant was awarded $100,000 and 5 other non-party complainants were each awarded $38,000. The docket sheet does not show any further enforcement; the case was presumably closed in 2010.

Summary Authors

Jennifer Gitter (3/20/2013)

EEOC v. AK Steel Corporation, Western District of Pennsylvania (2003)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4778232/parties/lake-v-ak-steel-corporation/

Judge(s)

Cercone, David S. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Clickner, M. Jean (Pennsylvania)

McNair, Jacqueline H. (Pennsylvania)

O'Boyle, Judith A. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Defendant

Bissoon, Cathy (Pennsylvania)

Judge(s)

Cercone, David S. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Clickner, M. Jean (Pennsylvania)

McNair, Jacqueline H. (Pennsylvania)

O'Boyle, Judith A. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Defendant

Bissoon, Cathy (Pennsylvania)

Zak, Colleen A. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

2:03-cv-00517	Docket (PACER) Lake v. AK Steel Corporation	Feb. 2, 2007	Feb. 2, 2007 Docket
72 2:03-cv-00517	Opinion [Regarding Defendant's Motions for Summary Judgment] Lake v. AK Steel Corporation	May 1, 2006	May 1, 2006 Order/Opinion 2006 WL 1158610
104 2:03-cv-00517	Settlement Agreement Lake v. AK Steel Corporation	Jan. 31, 2007	Jan. 31, 2007 Settlement Agreement
	EEOC Press Release: "AK Steel Corporation to Pay $600,000 to Settle EEOC Race Harassment Lawsuit" EEOC v. AK Steel Corporation No Court	Jan. 31, 2007	Jan. 31, 2007 Press Release

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Resources

Resources related to this case
Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
Under the Radar: Visibility and the Effects of Discrimination Lawsuits in Small and Large Firms Carly Knight, Frank Dobbin, Alexandra Kalev	Research on how discrimination lawsuits affect corporate diversity has yielded mixed results. Qualitative studies highlight the limited efficacy of lawsuits in the typical workplace, finding that lit…	March 2022	April 1, 2022 https://cris.tau.ac.il/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4778232/lake-v-ak-steel-corporation/

Last updated April 5, 2025, 10:39 a.m.

Docket for: LAKE v. AK STEEL CORPORATION

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	May 21, 2004	COMPLAINT with summons issued; jury demand Filing Fee $ 150.00 Receipt # 4319 (ces) (Entered: 05/24/2004)	PACER
2	July 14, 2004	ANSWER to Complaint by AK STEEL CORPORATION (Attorneys Cathy Bissoon, Colleen A. Zak); jury demand (ces) (Entered: 07/15/2004)	PACER
3	July 14, 2004	DISCLOSURE statement by AK STEEL CORPORATION (ces) (Entered: 07/15/2004)	PACER
4	July 27, 2004	ORDER, set Case Management Conference for 10:00 9/1/04 ( signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 7/27/04 ) CM all parties of record. (ces) (Entered: 07/28/2004)	PACER
5	Aug. 27, 2004	PROPOSED DISCOVERY PLAN pursuant to Rule 26(f) by JEFFREY C. LAKE (ces) (Entered: 08/27/2004)	PACER
6	Aug. 30, 2004	Case Management Conference set for 10:00 9/7/04 (ces) (Entered: 08/31/2004)	PACER
7	Sept. 1, 2004	Case Management Conference set for 11:00 9/10/04 (rescheduled from 9/7/04 at 10:00AM) (ces) (Entered: 09/01/2004)	PACER
8	Sept. 10, 2004	Case Management Conference held 9/10/04 before Judge David S. Cercone [ Reporter: none ] (Ct. met with counsel to explore avenues for amicable resolution of parties' dispute. Parties agreed on entry of CMO with 120 days discovery) (ces) Modified on 09/14/2004 (Entered: 09/13/2004)	PACER
9	Sept. 13, 2004	CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER setting Joining of parties amending of pleadings by 12/9/04 ; Discovery cutoff on 1/8/05 ; Pretrial Statements for Plaintiffs due 2/7/05 ; Pretrial Statements for Defendants due 3/9/05 ; Pretrial Stipulation due 3/19/05 ; ( signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 9/13/04 ) CM all parties of record. (ces) Modified on 09/14/2004 (Entered: 09/13/2004)	PACER
10	Dec. 20, 2004	JOINT MOTION by JEFFREY C. LAKE, AK STEEL CORPORATION to Extend Time for Discovery and Other Pretrial Deadlines with Proposed Order. (ces) (Entered: 12/21/2004)	PACER
	Jan. 3, 2005	ORDER upon motion granting [10-1] joint motion to Extend Time for Discovery and Other Pretrial Deadlines, to reset Case Management Order Deadlines: Discovery cutoff to 2/7/05 Pretrial Statements for Plaintiffs due 3/9/05; Pretrial Statements for Defendants due 4/8/05; Pretrial due 4/18/05 ; all dispositive motions shall be filed within 30 days of the filing of the pretrial stipulation. ( signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 1/3/05 ) CM all parties of record. (plh) (Entered: 01/03/2005)	PACER
11	March 9, 2005	PRETRIAL STATEMENT by JEFFREY C. LAKE (ces) (Entered: 03/09/2005)	PACER
12	April 6, 2005	PRETRIAL STATEMENT by AK STEEL CORPORATION (ces) (Entered: 04/07/2005)	PACER
13	April 18, 2005	Pretrial stipulation by JEFFREY C. LAKE, AK STEEL CORPORATION (ces) (Entered: 04/18/2005)	PACER
14	May 18, 2005	MOTION by AK STEEL CORPORATION for Summary Judgment with Proposed Order. (ces) (Entered: 05/18/2005)	PACER
15	May 18, 2005	BRIEF by AK STEEL CORPORATION in support of [14-1] motion for Summary Judgment by AK STEEL CORPORATION (ces) (Entered: 05/18/2005)	PACER
16	May 18, 2005	STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS by AK STEEL CORPORATION In Support of Deft's Motion for Summary Judgment (ces) (Entered: 05/18/2005)	PACER
17	June 9, 2005	MOTION by JEFFREY C. LAKE to Extend Time to File Response in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment with Proposed Order. (jsp) (Entered: 06/10/2005)	PACER
	June 13, 2005	ORDER upon motion granting [17-1] motion to Extend Time to File Response in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment; Pltf's Response to Motion reset to 7/19/05 for Deft's [14-1] motion for Summary Judgment . ( signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 6/13/05 ) CM all parties of record. (tt) (Entered: 06/13/2005)	PACER
18	July 18, 2005	RESPONSE to Motion re [14] Motion for Summary Judgment filed by JEFFREY C. LAKE. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order Denying Summary Judgment)(Murtagh, John) (Entered: 07/18/2005)	PACER
19	July 18, 2005	REPLY BRIEF by JEFFREY C. LAKE re [14] Motion for Summary Judgment Memorandum of Law filed by JEFFREY C. LAKE. (Murtagh, John) (Entered: 07/18/2005)	PACER
20	July 18, 2005	RESPONSE to [16] Statement of Material Facts filed by JEFFREY C. LAKE. (Attachments: # 1 Appendix Part 1# 2 Appendix Part 2# 3 Appendix Part 3# 4 Appendix Part 4# 5 Appendix Part 5)(Murtagh, John) (Entered: 07/18/2005)	PACER
21	July 20, 2005	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 19 Reply Brief, 18 Response to Motion, 20 Response To Plaintiff's Opposition by AK STEEL CORPORATION. (Attachments: # 1)(Bissoon, Cathy) (Entered: 07/20/2005)	PACER
22	July 20, 2005	Errata re 19 Reply Brief Memorandum of Law by JEFFREY C. LAKE Reason for Correction: Correction of Duplicative filing of Response to Motion RE: [14] Motion for Summary Judgment. (Murtagh, John) (Entered: 07/20/2005)	PACER
	July 20, 2005	CORRECTIVE ENTRY re 19 Reply Brief (duplicate of document 18) attached by filer in error. Pleading to be refiled. (ces, ) (Entered: 07/20/2005)	PACER
23	July 25, 2005	ORDER granting 21 Defendant's Motion for Extension of Time to File Reply re [14] Motion for Summary Judgment. Defendant's Reply Brief is due by 8/19/2005. Signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 7/25/05. (njt) (Entered: 07/25/2005)	PACER
24	Aug. 5, 2005	NOTICE by AK STEEL CORPORATION OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL (Bissoon, Cathy) (Entered: 08/05/2005)	PACER
25	Aug. 19, 2005	REPLY BRIEF by AK STEEL CORPORATION re [14] Motion for Summary Judgment filed by AK STEEL CORPORATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A# 2 Exhibit B# 3 Exhibit C# 4 Exhibit D# 5 Exhibit E)(Bissoon, Cathy) (Entered: 08/19/2005)	PACER
26	Aug. 19, 2005	STATEMENT OF FACTS COUNTERSTATEMENT by AK STEEL CORPORATION.. (Bissoon, Cathy) (Entered: 08/19/2005)	PACER
27	Aug. 22, 2005	First MOTION for Leave to File Plaintiff's Motion For Leave to File Surreply to Def Mtn for Summary Judgment by JEFFREY C. LAKE. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Murtagh, John) (Entered: 08/22/2005)	PACER
28	Aug. 30, 2005	ORDER granting 27 Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File Surreply re [14] Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Surreply due by 9/19/2005. Signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 8/26/05. (njt) (Entered: 08/30/2005)	PACER
29	Sept. 19, 2005	BRIEF in Opposition re [14] Motion for Summary Judgment Surreply in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment filed by JEFFREY C. LAKE. (Attachments: # 1Affidavit of Lake # 2 Affidavit of Gallagher)(Murtagh, John) Modified on 9/20/2005 to correct Atty. Murtagh's lack of description of attachments (ces, ). (Entered: 09/19/2005)	PACER
	Sept. 20, 2005	CLERK'S OFFICE QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE. re 29 Brief in Opposition to Motion. ERROR: Attachments not described. CORRECTION: Attachment description corrected. This message is for informational purposes only. (ces, ) (Entered: 09/20/2005)	PACER
72	May 1, 2006	OPINION resolving defendant's motions for summary judgement. Signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 4/27/06. (mwm)	RECAP
30	July 28, 2006	MOTION to Consolidate Cases Civil Action No. 03-0517 and Civil Action No. 04-0764 by JEFFREY C. LAKE. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order to Motion to Consolidate)(Murtagh, John) (Entered: 07/28/2006)	PACER
31	Aug. 31, 2006	ORDER denying [14] Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Material issues of fact remain. Signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 8/31/06. (mwm) (Entered: 08/31/2006)	PACER
32	Sept. 11, 2006	ORDER granting 30 Plaintiff's Motion to Consolidate Cases. Civil Action No. 04-764 is consolidated with Civil Action No. 03-517, which is hereby designated the lead case. All subsequent pleadings shall be filed only at Civil Action No. 03-517. The Clerk shall close Civil Action No. 04-764. Signed by Judge David S. Cercone on 9/11/06. (mwm) (Entered: 09/11/2006)	PACER