On September 29, 2006, the Los Angeles District Office of the EEOC filed this suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The plaintiffs sued Hometown Buffet Inc. under for violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. The plaintiffs sought injunctive relief, back pay, and punitive damages.

The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment or, alternatively, a motion for partial summary judgment. The EEOC filed a cross motion for summary judgment or, alternatively, a motion for partial summary judgment. On March 7, 2007, the court denied the defendant's motions and granted the EEOC partial summary judgment on the issue of the EEOC discharging its statutory obligation to conciliate before filing suit. 481 F. Supp. 2d 1110 (S.D. Cal. 2007).

The parties proceeded with discovery. On January 23, 2008, the defendant notified the court that it had started Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Six months later, the defendant filed another motion for summary judgment, and the EEOC responded with a motion for partial summary judgment. The court set multiple dates to hear these motions, but they were continued at the parties' request. On July 21, 2009, the parties submitted a proposed consent decree to the court.

The next day, Judge Michael M. Anello approved the proposed consent decree put forth by the parties. The consent decree included monetary damages ranging from $25,000-$35,000 for each plaintiff and injunctive relief enjoining the defendant from future discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Its effective period was two years, and there is nothing more on the docket - so presumably the matter ended in 2011.

Kevin Wilemon - 05/23/2008
Gabriela Hybel - 10/24/2016


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