Case: United States v. City of Newton

5:99-cv-00189 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina

Filed Date: Dec. 8, 1999

Closed Date: July 6, 2000

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On December 8th, 1999, the United States Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against the City of Newton in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The DOJ sought injunctive relief and demanded a trial by jury, alleging that the defendant violated Title VII by discriminating against a white male formerly employed as a sanitation worker in the City's Department of Public Works and Utilities, because of …

On December 8th, 1999, the United States Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against the City of Newton in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The DOJ sought injunctive relief and demanded a trial by jury, alleging that the defendant violated Title VII by discriminating against a white male formerly employed as a sanitation worker in the City's Department of Public Works and Utilities, because of his race, white, and his association with a black person.

The DOJ alleged that the discrimination against the former employee took the form of subjecting him to racial harassment, discharging him from his employment as a sanitation worker and failing or refusing to take appropriate action to remedy the effects of the discrimination against him.

His motion for intervention having been granted by the Court, the plaintiff-intervenor alleges similar claims of discrimination in a complaint dated April 5, 2000.

Though the defendant denied the allegations, the parties resolved all issues raised in the complaints amicably.

On July 6th, 2000, the Court (Richard L. Voorhees) entered a Consent Decree between the United States and the defendant. The Decree ordered injunctive relief, including the harassment training, monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting. The Court maintained jurisdiction for three years pursuant to the entry of the decree.

Summary Authors

Jennifer Hau (10/21/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/24071798/parties/united-states-v-city-of-newton/

Judge(s)

McKnight, Harold Brent (North Carolina)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Burrows, Charlotte (District of Columbia)

Calloway, Mark Timothy (North Carolina)

Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Lawrence, Paul C. (North Carolina)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Documents in the Clearinghouse

5:99-cv-00189

Docket

July 31, 2000

July 31, 2000

Docket
1

5:99-cv-00189

Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

Complaint
4

5:99-cv-00189

Answer to Complaint

Jan. 3, 2000

Jan. 3, 2000

Pleading / Motion / Brief
13

5:99-cv-00189

Complaint of Intervenor and Demand for Jury Trial

April 5, 2000

April 5, 2000

Complaint
16

5:99-cv-00189

Consent Decree Between the United States and the City of Newton, North Carolina

July 6, 2000

July 6, 2000

Settlement Agreement

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/24071798/united-states-v-city-of-newton/

Last updated July 21, 2026, 5:49 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Dec. 8, 1999

COMPLAINT (ssh) (Entered: 12/21/1999)

Clearinghouse
2 Dec. 8, 1999

CONSENT/REFUSAL to Magistrate Jurisdiction by USA - refusal (ssh) (Entered: 12/21/1999)

RECAP
Dec. 8, 1999

SUMMONS(ES) issued for City of Newton (ssh)

3 Dec. 27, 1999

RETURN OF SERVICE Executed as to City of Newton 12/13/99 served with personal service by USM Answer due on 1/2/00 for City of Newton (cbb) (Entered: 01/05/2000)

RECAP
4 Jan. 3, 2000

ANSWER to Complaint by City of Newton (Attorneys Paul C. Lawrence, Larry W. Pitts); w/cs (cbb) (Entered: 01/06/2000)

Clearinghouse
5 Jan. 3, 2000

CONSENT/REFUSAL to Magistrate Jurisdiction by City of Newton - Consent (cbb) (Entered: 01/06/2000)

RECAP
7 Jan. 10, 2000

Certificate of I.A.C. by plaintiff USA, defendant City of Newton cc: HBM (cbb) (Entered: 01/24/2000)

RECAP
6 Jan. 18, 2000

MOTION by USA for Barbara J. Meacham to Appear Pro Hac Vice w/cs referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight cc: HBM (cbb) (Entered: 01/19/2000)

RECAP
8 Jan. 27, 2000

ORDER granting [6-1] motion for Barbara J. Meacham to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 1/27/00] cc: attys of record (cbb) (Entered: 01/27/2000)

RECAP
9 Feb. 9, 2000

MOTION (with Memo incorporated) to Intervene by Donald R. Stokely w/cs referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight cc: HBM (cbb) (Entered: 02/09/2000)

RECAP
10 Feb. 22, 2000

ORDER, set for IPC at 9:30 3/10/00 before Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 2/23/00] cc: attys of record (cbb) (Entered: 02/23/2000)

RECAP
March 9, 2000

Case file sent to Magistrate McKnight's office (cbb)

11 March 13, 2000

ORDER granting [9-1] motion to Intervene by Donald R. Stokely ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 3/14/00] cc: attys of record (cbb) (Entered: 03/14/2000)

RECAP
12 March 27, 2000

INITIAL PRETRIAL ORDER IPC held 9:30 3/10/00 Discovery deadline is 12/15/00 Motion filing deadline is 1/15/01 Jury trial scheduled nfor 9/10/01 term Report of Mediator due: 7/15/00 ETT: 4 days ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) cc: attys of record (cbb) (Entered: 03/29/2000)

RECAP
March 27, 2000

Deadline updated; set Calendar Call for 10:00 9/10/01 (cbb)

13 April 5, 2000

Intervenor's COMPLAINT by Donald R. Stokely against City of Newton; jury trial demanded (cbb) (Entered: 04/05/2000)

Clearinghouse
14 April 25, 2000

ANSWER by City of Newton to [13-1] intervenor complaint; w/cs (cbb) (Entered: 04/27/2000)

RECAP
15 June 8, 2000

JOINT MOTION by USA, City of Newton for Entry of Judgment/consent decree between USA and City of Newton referred to: Judge Richard L. Voorhees (bsw) (Entered: 06/09/2000)

RECAP
16 July 6, 2000

CONSENT DECREE by plaintiff USA, defendant City of Newton Judgment Vol: 41 Page: 46 (cbb) (Entered: 07/10/2000)

RECAP
July 6, 2000

Case closed (cbb)

July 31, 2000

Case file returned to Clerk's office, Statesville (cbb)

Case Details

State / Territory:

North Carolina

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 8, 1999

Closing Date: July 6, 2000

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States, on behalf of white male

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

City

City of Newton

Defendant Type(s):

Sanitation/Public Works

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Western District of North Carolina 5:99-cv-00189

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2000 - 2003

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

White

Recommended Citation