Case: EEOC v. Renters Choice, Inc.

9:00-cv-08888 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Filed Date: Sept. 27, 2000

Closed Date: June 25, 2002

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The Miami Office of the EEOC filed this action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Defendant was Renter's Choice, Inc., a furniture, electronic, and appliance retailer now known as Rent-a-Center. The controversy involved alleged harassment, demotion, constructive discharge, and retaliation against three complainants based on race and national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The lawsuit was filed in September 2000 and was resolved by consent decree in June 2002. The complainants, who intervened in the case, were awarded $76,666.66 each and their attorney received an additional $40,000 from the defendant. In addition, the company was required to provide training, to post and distribute a Notice, and to submit semi-annual reports to the EEOC. The decree was to last for three years.

Summary Authors

Kevin Wilemon (8/11/2007)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

9:00-cv-08888

Docket (PACER)

EEOC v. Renter's Choice, Inc.

June 25, 2002

June 25, 2002

Docket
1

9:00-cv-08888

Complaint

EEOC v. Renter's Choice, Inc.

Sept. 27, 2000

Sept. 27, 2000

Complaint
30

9:00-cv-08888

[Intervenors'] Complaint and Demand for Trial by Jury

EEOC v. Renter's Choice, Inc.

March 20, 2001

March 20, 2001

Complaint
40

9:00-cv-08888

Stipulation for Dismissal with Prejudice

EEOC v. Renter's Choice, Inc.

June 10, 2002

June 10, 2002

Settlement Agreement
41

9:00-cv-08888

Consent Decree

EEOC v. Renter's Choice, Inc.

June 26, 2002

June 26, 2002

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 11, 2024, 3:09 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed; A-7 LSS: FILING FEE: Waived (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/28/2000)

Sept. 27, 2000

Sept. 27, 2000

2

SUMMONS() issued for Renter's Choice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/28/2000)

Sept. 27, 2000

Sept. 27, 2000

Magistrate identification: Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/28/2000)

Sept. 27, 2000

Sept. 27, 2000

3

NOTICE of filing waiver of service of summons by U.S. - EEOC (dp, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/22/2000)

Nov. 21, 2000

Nov. 21, 2000

4

Waiver of service executed by Renter's Choice (Attorney Lisa Winston Sorrell) 10/23/00 Answer due by 12/22/00 for Renter's Choice (dp, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/22/2000)

Nov. 21, 2000

Nov. 21, 2000

5

ANSWER to Complaint by Renter's Choice (Attorney Irving M. Miller) (dp, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/08/2000)

Dec. 7, 2000

Dec. 7, 2000

6

ORDER OF RECUSAL ( Signed by Judge Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. on 12/14/00) CCAP [EOD Date: 12/18/00] (dp, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/18/2000)

Dec. 15, 2000

Dec. 15, 2000

CASE reassigned to Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley (dp, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/18/2000)

Dec. 15, 2000

Dec. 15, 2000

7

ORDER REQUIRING COUNSEL TO MEET & FILE JOINT SCHEDULING REPORT: SEE ORDER FOR ALL OTHER DETAILS ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 12/19/00) CCAP [EOD Date: 12/20/00] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/20/2000)

Dec. 20, 2000

Dec. 20, 2000

8

MOTION by Renter's Choice for Franklin E. Wright to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

Filing Fee Paid; FILING FEE $ 75.00 RECEIPT # 713783 for Franklin E. Wright to appear PHV (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

9

Statement of Irving M. Miller Renter's Choice re: [8-1] motion for Franklin E. Wright to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

10

AFFIDAVIT OF FRANKLIN E. WRIGHT by Renter's Choice Re: [8-1] motion for Franklin E. Wright to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

11

MOTION by Renter's Choice for Jerry Hicks to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

Filing Fee Paid; FILING FEE $ 75.00 RECEIPT # 713785 for Jerry Hicks to appear PHV (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

13

AFFIDAVIT OF JERRY HICKS by Renter's Choice Re: [11-1] motion for Jerry Hicks to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

14

MOTION by Renter's Choice for Steven A. Siegel to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

Filing Fee Paid; FILING FEE $ 75.00 RECEIPT # 713784 for Steven A. Siegel to appear PHV (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

15

Statement of Irving M. Miller by Renter's Choice re: [14-1] motion for Steven A. Siegel to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

16

AFFIDAVIT OF STEVEN A. SIEGEL by Renter's Choice Re: [14-1] motion for Steven A. Siegel to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

17

MOTION by Renter's Choice for Lisa Winston Sorrell to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

Filing Fee Paid; FILING FEE $ 75.00 RECEIPT # 713782 for Lisa Winston Sorrell to appear PHV (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

18

Statement of Irving M. Miller by Renter's Choice re: [17-1] motion for Lisa Winston Sorrell to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

19

AFFIDAVIT OF LISA WINSTON SORRELL by Renter's Choice Re: [17-1] motion for Lisa Winston Sorrell to appear pro hac vice (at, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

Jan. 16, 2001

Jan. 16, 2001

20

MOTION with memorandum in support to intervene by Linden Lee, Syed Rizvi, Brian Wolin (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/22/2001)

Jan. 19, 2001

Jan. 19, 2001

21

ORDER granting [11-1] motion for Jerry Hicks to appear pro hac vice ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 1/22/01) CCAP [EOD Date: 1/22/01] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/22/2001)

Jan. 22, 2001

Jan. 22, 2001

22

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE; granting [8-1] motion for Franklin E. Wright to appear pro hac vice ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 1/22/01) CCAP [EOD Date: 1/24/01] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/24/2001)

Jan. 23, 2001

Jan. 23, 2001

23

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE; granting [14-1] motion for Steven A. Siegel to appear pro hac vice ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 1/22/01) CCAP [EOD Date: 1/24/01] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/24/2001)

Jan. 23, 2001

Jan. 23, 2001

24

ORDER GRANTING MOTON TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE; granting [17-1] motion for Lisa Winston Sorrell to appear pro hac vice ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 1/22/01) CCAP [EOD Date: 1/24/01] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/24/2001)

Jan. 23, 2001

Jan. 23, 2001

25

RESPONSE by Renter's Choice to [20-1] motion to intervene by Linden Lee, Syed Rizvi, Brian Wolin (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/31/2001)

Jan. 30, 2001

Jan. 30, 2001

27

ORDER setting Jury trial for 5/6/02 before Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley , and setting calendar call for 1:30 4/26/02 before Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley (see order for additional dates) ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 2/6/01) CCAP [EOD Date: 2/7/01] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/07/2001)

Feb. 7, 2001

Feb. 7, 2001

27

ORDER referring case to mediation. 15 days to appoint mediator ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 2/6/01) CCAP [EOD Date: 2/7/01] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/07/2001)

Feb. 7, 2001

Feb. 7, 2001

Magistrate identification: Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch, Jr. (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/09/2001)

Feb. 7, 2001

Feb. 7, 2001

27

ORDER REFERRING DISCOVERY MATTERS to Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch, Jr. ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 2/6/01) CCAP [EOD Date: 2/9/01] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/09/2001)

Feb. 7, 2001

Feb. 7, 2001

28

NOTICE of Change of Address of attorney Kenneth Lawrence Gillespie by U.S. - EEOC (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/06/2001)

March 5, 2001

March 5, 2001

30

Intervenor's COMPLAINT by Linden Lee, Syed Rizvi, Brian Wolin against Renter's Choice (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/22/2001)

March 20, 2001

March 20, 2001

29

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO INTERVENE:ORDER granting [20-1] motion to intervene by Linden Lee, Syed Rizvi, Brian Wolin ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 3/20/01) CCAP [EOD Date: 3/22/01] (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/22/2001)

March 21, 2001

March 21, 2001

31

NOTICE of Counsel's Unavailability by Linden Lee, Syed Rizvi, Brian Wolin for dates of: May 18 through and including May 28, 2001 (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/12/2001)

April 11, 2001

April 11, 2001

32

ANSWER by Renter's Choice to [30-1] intervenor complaint (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/25/2001)

April 23, 2001

April 23, 2001

33

STIPULATION by Renter's Choice In Re: substitution of counsel (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/25/2001)

June 25, 2001

June 25, 2001

34

MOTION by U.S. - EEOC to continue scheduling order deadlines (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/07/2001)

Dec. 6, 2001

Dec. 6, 2001

35

NOTICE of attorney appearance for U.S. - EEOC by Rachel H. Shonfield (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/07/2001)

Dec. 6, 2001

Dec. 6, 2001

36

RETURN OF SERVICE executed for Renter's Choice on 11/26/01 Answer due on 12/17/01 for Renter's Choice (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/07/2001)

Dec. 7, 2001

Dec. 7, 2001

37

SCHEDULING ORDER setting Deadline for filing of all motions by 6/3/02 Memos of law due on or before 6/3/02 Jury trial set for 8/5/02 Pretrial Stipulation due on or before 6/24/02 Discovery cutoff 5/6/02 ; ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 12/11/01) [EOD Date: 12/12/01] CCAP (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/12/2001)

Dec. 12, 2001

Dec. 12, 2001

39

ORDER DENYING AS MOOT; mooting [34-1] motion to continue scheduling order deadlines ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 2/14/02) [EOD Date: 2/19/02] (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/19/2002)

Feb. 15, 2002

Feb. 15, 2002

40

STIPULATION FOR DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE AS TO CLAIMS OF PLAINTIFFS-INTERVENERS LEE, RIZVI AND WOLIN ORDER ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 6/9/02) [EOD Date: 6/11/02] (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/11/2002)

June 10, 2002

June 10, 2002

41

CONSENT DECREE for U.S. - EEOC against Renter's Choice for amount of $ 270,000.00 ( Signed by Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley on 6/25/02) [EOD Date: 6/26/02] (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/26/2002)

June 25, 2002

June 25, 2002

CASE CLOSED. Case and Motions no longer referred to Magistrate. [34-1] motion to continue scheduling order deadlines, [20-1] motion to intervene by Linden Lee, Syed Rizvi, Brian Wolin, [17-1] motion for Lisa Winston Sorrell to appear pro hac vice, [14-1] motion for Steven A. Siegel to appear pro hac vice, [11-1] motion for Jerry Hicks to appear pro hac vice, [8-1] motion for Franklin E. Wright to appear pro hac vice (kw, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/26/2002)

June 25, 2002

June 25, 2002

Case Details

State / Territory: Florida

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: Sept. 27, 2000

Closing Date: June 25, 2002

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: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Renter's Choice, Inc. (West Palm Beach, FL), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

42 U.S.C. § 1981

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

Amount Defendant Pays: 270000

Order Duration: 2002 - 2005

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Demotion

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination-basis:

National origin discrimination

Race discrimination

Religion discrimination

Race:

Black

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit

National Origin/Ethnicity:

Arab/Afgani/Middle Eastern