In August 2004, the Denver District Office of the EEOC filed a class-wide suit in U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, against Home Depot, a nationwide hardware chain store. The complaint alleged that Home Depot engaged in a pattern or practice violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by discriminating against women, blacks, and Hispanics, creating a hostile work environment, and retaliating against those who complained.

The case, which was consolidated with another suit filed by a private party against Home Depot (1:03-cv-00126), was settled concurrently with its being filed, and in September of 2004 a consent decree was entered, resolving the case. Home Depot agreed to pay a total of $5.5 million in compensatory damages, and all Home Depot stores in Colorado were required to implement complaint procedures and training in anti-discrimination law.

In September of 2006 the EEOC filed an unopposed motion to amend the consent decree between the parties. The EEOC sought to extend the amount of time the defendant had to notify claimants of decisions made by the EEOC and to require that all claimants requests for review be sent immediately to the EEOC rather than forwarded to an Administrator. The court granted the motion the following day. Subsequently, the EEOC again sought an extension of time, which was granted.

Keri Livingston - 06/05/2008


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