In September 2004, the EEOC's Charlotte office filed this suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina against Carmike Cinemas, Inc., alleging multiple violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC alleged that the defendant, an large operator of over 300 movie theaters in 36 states, had allowed a twice convicted male sex offender to remain in a supervisory position over minor boys despite receiving numerous and documented complaints from the minor boys about a pervasive and continuous pattern on of verbal and physical sexual harassment. The supervisor often brought the boys into the "candy closet," blocked the exit, and subjected the boys to lewd comments and propositions as well as unwanted touching. Over ten aggrieved minors intervened, as well as several adults, into the EEOC's action. The case eventually settled through mediation in August 2005, which resulted in a court-approved consent decree in September 2005. The decree awarded $765,000 to the class of aggrieved boys and men as well as enjoined the defendant from discriminating or retaliating in the future. The decree also ordered the defendant to amend its anti-discrimination policy, provide equal employment opportunity training to its managers and supervisors, and created a process whereby the EEOC could monitor compliance. The settlement term was three years. The docket sheet does not show any further enforcement; the case was presumably closed in 2008.

Tony Friedman - 08/13/2007


compress summary