Filed Date: March 16, 1999
Closed Date: 2001
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On March 16, 1999, the United States Attorney's Office filed a lawsuit against Columbus County under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The Attorney's Office asked the court for injunctive and monetary relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII, by discriminating against the charging party on the basis of gender.
Specifically, the United States alleged that the Columbus County Department of Aging assigned a female employee to work which would subject her to unwelcome and offensive touching of a sexual nature. The Department of Aging, likewise, refused to assign her alternative work or take appropriate actions to remedy the discriminatory treatment.
On March 23, 2006, the plaintiff and defendant filed a Settlement Agreement in which the County agreed that it would not practice any further unlawful discrimination or retaliation on employees based on sex, which was entered by the court (Judge James C. Fox). The defendant was further ordered to pay the charging party back pay and compensatory damages. The female employee declined to return to her position at the Department of Aging, therefore it was not required she be offered a job. However, she must be considered on the same basis should she apply for any future positions with the agency.
We have no further information.
Summary Authors
Jane Wu (10/16/2007)
Fox, James Carroll (North Carolina)
Acker, G Norman III (North Carolina)
Cole, Janice McKenzie (North Carolina)
Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)
Hill, James Earl Jr. (North Carolina)
Last updated March 25, 2025, 8:20 a.m.
State / Territory: North Carolina
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 16, 1999
Closing Date: 2001
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S. on behalf of a female employee.
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
Columbus County (Columbus), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1999 - 2001
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Sex/Gender(s):