Case: EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP INC

2:04-cv-00326 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Filed Date: March 31, 2004

Closed Date: Aug. 11, 2006

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In March 2004, the Milwaukee District Office of the EEOC filed this suit against Journal Community Publishing Group, Inc., a printing company that publishes community newspapers, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The complaint alleged that the defendant violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by subjecting the charging party, a female employee, to sexual harassment and retaliation which resulted in her constructive discharge. Specifically, two male c…

In March 2004, the Milwaukee District Office of the EEOC filed this suit against Journal Community Publishing Group, Inc., a printing company that publishes community newspapers, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The complaint alleged that the defendant violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by subjecting the charging party, a female employee, to sexual harassment and retaliation which resulted in her constructive discharge. Specifically, two male coworkers of the charging party sexually harassed her on a continual basis by making inappropriate sexual comments to her and offensively touching her. In July 2004, the charging party intervened in the lawsuit. In May 2005, the defendant filed a motion for summary judgment which was granted in March 2006. According to the judgment, the plaintiffs failed to prove that there was a basis for employer liability for the harassment. Therefore, the case was dismissed. We do not know whether the dismissal involved a settlement agreement.

Summary Authors

Kevin Wilemon (6/5/2007)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:04-cv-00326

Docket

EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

Dec. 26, 2006

Dec. 26, 2006

Docket
1

2:04-cv-00326

Complaint

EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

March 31, 2004

March 31, 2004

Complaint
47

2:04-cv-00326

Order Granting Summary Judgment

EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

March 28, 2006

March 28, 2006

Order/Opinion

2006 WL 2006

06-02536

Court of Appeals Dismissal

EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Aug. 9, 2006

Aug. 9, 2006

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4646560/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-journal-community-publishing/

Last updated April 11, 2024, 3:11 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT with jury demand; consent forms distributed for Magistrate Judge Goodstein. E-File Notification Distributed. (vlh, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 4/2/2004 (vlh, ).

March 31, 2004

March 31, 2004

Clearinghouse
2

REFUSAL of Consent to Jurisdiction by US Magistrate Judge by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (vlh, )

April 2, 2004

April 2, 2004

3

INCORRECT DUPLICATE - SEE ENTRY AT NO. 2 - [Refusal to Jurisdiction by US Magistrate Judge by all plaintiffs (Attachments: # 1 Consent to Proceed Before a U.s. Magistrate Judge)(McBride, Dennis)] Modified on 4/5/2004 (vlh, ).

April 2, 2004

April 2, 2004

4

REFUSAL of Consent to Jurisdiction by US Magistrate Judge by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc (vlh, )

April 29, 2004

April 29, 2004

5

PDF document requirement letter & request for certificate of interest mailed to attorney Jason R. Bent. (vlh, ) Modified on 4/29/2004 -- incorrect case no. corrected on hard copy of letter (vlh, ).

April 29, 2004

April 29, 2004

6

ANSWER to Complaint by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

June 1, 2004

June 1, 2004

Attorney Bennett L Epstein for Journal Community Publishing Group Inc added. (jld, ) (Entered: 06/09/2004)

June 1, 2004

June 1, 2004

7

ORDER directing parties to confer within 21 days of the date of this order and on or before 7/16/04 file with the court a joint report and a proposed scheduling order for the court's signature. (cc: all counsel) (Blackburn, Pat)

June 2, 2004

June 2, 2004

8

Rule 7.4 MOTION to Intervene by Karen Bombaci. (vlh, )

June 14, 2004

June 14, 2004

9

AFFIDAVIT of Curry First (vlh, )

June 14, 2004

June 14, 2004

10

PDF document requirement letter mailed to attorney Curry First regarding motion to intervene and affidavit filed on June 14, 2004. (vlh, )

June 14, 2004

June 14, 2004

11

ORDER granting Karen Bombaci's [8]Motion to Intervene. (cc: all counsel) (Blackburn, Pat)

July 12, 2004

July 12, 2004

12

Second PDF document requirement letter mailed to attorney Curry First regarding motion to intervene and affidavit filed on June 14, 2004. (vlh, )

July 13, 2004

July 13, 2004

13

REPORT of Rule 26(f) Plan by all plaintiffs (McBride, Dennis)

July 13, 2004

July 13, 2004

14

SCHEDULING ORDER: Discovery due by 3/31/2005. Plaintiffs Expert Witness List due by 11/1/2004. Defendants Expert Witness List due by 12/15/2004. Motions due by 5/16/2005. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

Aug. 18, 2004

Aug. 18, 2004

15

MOTION for Protective Order by all parties. (McBride, Dennis)

Oct. 8, 2004

Oct. 8, 2004

16

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (McBride, Dennis)

Oct. 8, 2004

Oct. 8, 2004

17

[WRONG EVENT SELECTED. ATTACHMENT IS A STIPULATION & PROPOSED ORDER.] MOTION for Protective Order by all parties. (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 10/8/2004 (vlh, ).

Oct. 8, 2004

Oct. 8, 2004

18

Docket Annotation - E-mail sent to attorney Dennis R. McBride regarding proposed order at no. 17. (vlh, )

Oct. 12, 2004

Oct. 12, 2004

19

PROTECTIVE ORDER signed by Judge J P Stadtmueller on 10/21/04. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

Oct. 21, 2004

Oct. 21, 2004

20

MOTION for Extension of Time for Discovery Deadline by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

Jan. 5, 2005

Jan. 5, 2005

MARGIN ORDER granting 20 defendant's motion to extend the discovery deadline to 2/28/05. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

Jan. 21, 2005

Jan. 21, 2005

21

MOTION to Modify Discovery Schedule by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bent, Jason)

Feb. 14, 2005

Feb. 14, 2005

22

ORDER granting 21 Motion to Modify expert discovery schedule. (cc: all counsel) (Blackburn, Pat)

Feb. 22, 2005

Feb. 22, 2005

23

STIPULATION by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc (Bent, Jason)

Feb. 25, 2005

Feb. 25, 2005

MARGIN ORDER granting parties stipulation to extend the fact discovery deadline from 2/28/05 to 3/31/05. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

March 1, 2005

March 1, 2005

24

MOTION for Summary Judgment by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

May 16, 2005

May 16, 2005

25

BRIEF in Support re 24 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

May 16, 2005

May 16, 2005

26

Proposed Findings of Fact by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit # 2 Exhibit # 3 Exhibit # 4 Exhibit # 5 Exhibit # 6 Exhibit # 7 Exhibit # 8 # 9 Exhibit # 10 Exhibit # 11 Exhibit # 12 # 13 Exhibit # 14 Exhibit)(Bent, Jason)

May 16, 2005

May 16, 2005

27

Docket Annotation - E-mail sent to attorney Jason R. Bent regarding entry found at no. 24 (and also applies to entries 25 & 26). (vlh, )

May 17, 2005

May 17, 2005

28

MOTION for Extension of Time by all parties. (McBride, Dennis)

June 16, 2005

June 16, 2005

29

STIPULATION [for extension of time to respond & reply to motion for summary judgment and [Proposed] Order by all parties (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 4/27/2006 (vlh, ).

June 16, 2005

June 16, 2005

30

Docket Annotation - E-mail sent to attorney Dennis R. McBride regarding entry at no. 29. (vlh, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 6/20/2005 (vlh, ).

June 17, 2005

June 17, 2005

31

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by all parties (McBride, Dennis)

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

32

BRIEF in Opposition re 24 MOTION for Summary Judgment Plaintiff's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment filed by all plaintiffs. (McBride, Dennis)

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

33

Proposed Findings of Fact by all plaintiffs. (McBride, Dennis)

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

34

STATEMENT OF FACT by all plaintiffs Plantiff's Statement of Material Facts in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (McBride, Dennis)

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

35

[Unsigned, undated] DECLARATION of Karen Bombaci (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 6/23/2005 (vlh, ).

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

36

[Unsigned] AFFIDAVIT of Dennis R. McBride in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgement (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 6/23/2005 (vlh, ).

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

37

[Unsigned, undated] DECLARATION of Drake Van Thiel in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 6/23/2005 (vlh, ).

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

38

DECLARATION of Mary Louise Bell, Ph.D. with attached exhibits [PAPER FORMAT ONLY] (vlh, ) (Entered: 06/23/2005)

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

39

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT re: 37 declaration of Drake Van Thiel; exhibits attached [PAPER FORMAT ONLY](vlh, ) (Entered: 06/23/2005)

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

40

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT re: 36 affidavit of Dennis R. McBride; exhibits attached [PAPER FORMAT ONLY] (vlh, ) (Entered: 06/23/2005)

June 22, 2005

June 22, 2005

41

RESPONSE to Motion re 24 MOTION for Summary Judgment Plaintiff's Response to Defendant's Proposed Findings of Fact in Oppositino to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment filed by all parties. (McBride, Dennis)

June 24, 2005

June 24, 2005

42

[MOTION for Summary Judgment] ATTACHMENT IS Plaintiff's Statement of Material Facts in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgement by all parties. (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 6/24/2005 (vlh, ).

June 24, 2005

June 24, 2005

43

Docket Annotation - E-mail sent to attorney Dennis McBride regarding entry at no. 42. (vlh, )

June 24, 2005

June 24, 2005

44

ORDER entered granting stipulation of parties that the plaintiff and plaintiff-intervenor shall hve until close of business on 6/22/05 to respond to the defendant's motion for summary judgment; and the defendant has until close of business on 7/13/05 to file a reply. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

June 27, 2005

June 27, 2005

45

REPLY BRIEF in Support re 24 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

July 13, 2005

July 13, 2005

46

RESPONSE to Plaintiffs' Statement of Material Facts filed by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

July 13, 2005

July 13, 2005

48

JUDGMENT signed by Deputy Clerk on 3/28/06 granting defendant's motion to strike the EEOC investigator's interview notes and granting defendant's motion for summary judgment. (cc: all counsel) (Monzingo, Nancy)

March 28, 2006

March 28, 2006

47

ORDER signed by Judge J P Stadtmueller on 3/28/06 granting defendant's motion to strike the EEOC investigator's interview notes and granting 24 defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. (cc: all counsel)

March 28, 2006

March 28, 2006

RECAP
49

INCORRECTLY FILED IN WRONG CASE LETTER from Dennis R. McBride regarding Consent Decree and Order (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 4/18/2006 (vkb)

April 18, 2006

April 18, 2006

50

INCORRECTLY FILED IN WRONG CASE MOTION for Settlement Consent Decree and Order by all plaintiffs. (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 4/18/2006 (vkb)

April 18, 2006

April 18, 2006

51

NOTICE OF APPEAL by Karen Bombaci from 48 3/28/06 Judgment. $455.00 appeal fee paid, receipt no. 102 119059. (cc: all counsel) (vlh, )

April 26, 2006

April 26, 2006

52

Docketing Statement by Karen Bombaci re: 51 Notice of Appeal (cc: all counsel) (vlh, )

April 26, 2006

April 26, 2006

Transmission of Notice of Appeal and Docket Sheet to US Court of Appeals re: 51 Notice of Appeal (vlh, )

April 26, 2006

April 26, 2006

Appeal record prepared consisting of 1 bound vol. pldgs. & 4 loose pldgs. (nos. 26, 40, 42, & 46) re: 51 Notice of Appeal (vlh, )

April 27, 2006

April 27, 2006

USCA Case Number 06-2222 re: 51 Notice of Appeal filed by Karen Bombaci (vlh, )

May 5, 2006

May 5, 2006

53

SEE ENTRY #54; NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 5/31/2006 to correct text (cms, ).

May 30, 2006

May 30, 2006

54

NOTICE OF APPEAL as to 48 Judgment by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (cc: all counsel) (cms, ) (Entered: 05/31/2006)

May 30, 2006

May 30, 2006

Transmission of Notice of Appeal and Docket Sheet to US Court of Appeals re 54 Notice of Appeal (cms, )

May 31, 2006

May 31, 2006

55

LETTER from Seventh Circuit Transcript Information Sheet from Dennis R. McBride Seventh Circuit Transcript Information Sheet (McBride, Dennis)

June 2, 2006

June 2, 2006

USCA Case Number 06-2536 re: 54 Notice of Appeal filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (vlh, )

June 8, 2006

June 8, 2006

56

USCA Mandate (certified copy) as to 54 Notice of Appeal filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, USCA Number 06-2536, dismissing appeal pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 42(b) (vlh, )

Aug. 11, 2006

Aug. 11, 2006

57

Appeal record request received from attorney Bennett L. Epstein re: USCA Case No. 06-2222 (Attachment: # 1 Receipt for Record on Appeal)(vlh)

Oct. 12, 2006

Oct. 12, 2006

Appeal record returned consisting of 1 bound vol. pldgs. & 4 loose pldgs. (nos. 26, 40. 42, & 46) re: 51 Notice of Appeal (vlh)

Oct. 24, 2006

Oct. 24, 2006

58

NOTICE of oral argument, construed as appeal record request, received from 7th Cir. re: USCA Case Number 06-2222. (vlh) (Entered: 12/27/2006)

Dec. 26, 2006

Dec. 26, 2006

Case Details

State / Territory: Wisconsin

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 31, 2004

Closing Date: Aug. 11, 2006

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

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

Journal Community Publishing Group, Inc. (Hartland), Private Entity/Person

Journal Community Publishing Group, Inc., Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Unknown

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Unknown

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit