Case: United States v. Mecklenburg County

3:99-cv-00353 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina

Filed Date: Aug. 26, 1999

Closed Date: Jan. 10, 2001

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On August 26th, 1999, the United States Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against Mecklenburg County of North Carolina 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 female formerly employed as a temporary social worker assistant in the Division of Youth and Family Se…

Specifically, the DOJ alleged in the complaint that the discrimination took the form of sexual harassment and failing or refusing to take appropriate action to remedy the effects of the discriminatory treatment.

Her motion having been granted, the intervenor filed her own complaint on October 26th, 1999. In the complaint, she makes similar allegations of sexual harassment subsequent retaliation for rejecting unwanted advances. The complaint also makes three claims for relief: violation of Title VII, wrongful discharge, and negligent supervision and retention of an employee).

On January 31st, 2000, a Consent Settlement Agreement was entered. It orders that the defendant continue Mecklenburg County's current policy of not engaging in any act or practice that has the purpose or effect of unlawfully discriminating against any employee because of sex, and of not retaliating. The agreement also requires that the defendant revise their sexual harassment policy, and distribute it to all permanent and temporary employees. The defendant was also ordered to keep records during the life of the agreement. Additionally, the agreement awards monetary damages to the intervenor. The court maintained jurisdiction for eighteen (18) months after entry of said decree.

However, on May 17th 2000, the case was reopened, and on July 12th, 2000, the intervenor submitted an amended complaint. The amendment was a provision that states that the defendant has waived governmental immunity to the extent that it has purchased liability insurance coverage applicable to the plaintiff-intervenor's claims.

On October 4th, 200, the defendant filed a sealed memorandum in support of a motion for Summary Judgment. On December 7th, 2000, the Court (Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight) submitted an order granting the Intervenor's Motion to Seal Response and Memorandum.

On January 10th, 2001, a Stipulation of Dismissal states that all claims made by or on behalf of the intervenor shall be dismissed with prejudice. The case was consequently closed on the same day.

Summary Authors

Jennifer Hau (11/26/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/10982001/parties/united-states-v-mecklenburg-county/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

AUSA, Mark Timothy (North Carolina)

AUSA, Clifford C. (North Carolina)

Brinkley, Joseph L. (North Carolina)

Burrows, Charlotte (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Calame, Parmele P. (North Carolina)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Judge(s)

Voorhees, Richard Lesley (North Carolina)

Attorney for Plaintiff

AUSA, Mark Timothy (North Carolina)

AUSA, Clifford C. (North Carolina)

Brinkley, Joseph L. (North Carolina)

Burrows, Charlotte (District of Columbia)

Calloway, Mark Timothy (North Carolina)

Curran, Stephen J. (District of Columbia)

Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)

Lee, Bill Lann (District of Columbia)

Marshall, Clifford C. Jr. (North Carolina)

Attorney for Defendant

Calame, Parmele P. (North Carolina)

Cobb, James O. (North Carolina)

Dowds, Patricia E. (North Carolina)

Kelly, John P. (Georgia)

Rainey, Richard Lee (North Carolina)

Snelling, John S. (Georgia)

Other

Roberts, Thomas DuBose (North Carolina)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

3:99-cv-00353	Docket	Jan. 18, 2001	Jan. 18, 2001 Docket
1 3:99-cv-00353	Complaint	Aug. 26, 1999	Aug. 26, 1999 Complaint
11 3:99-cv-00353	Intervenor's Complaint	Oct. 26, 1999	Oct. 26, 1999 Complaint
28 3:99-cv-00353	Consent Decree	Jan. 31, 2000	Jan. 31, 2000 Settlement Agreement
39 3:99-cv-00353	Intervenor's Amended Complaint	July 12, 2000	July 12, 2000 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/10982001/united-states-v-mecklenburg-county/

Last updated July 20, 2026, 5:05 a.m.

Docket for: United States v. Mecklenburg County

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Aug. 26, 1999	COMPLAINT (clc) (Entered: 08/31/1999)	Clearinghouse
2	Aug. 26, 1999	CONSENT/REFUSAL to Magistrate Jurisdiction by USA - Refusal (clc) (Entered: 08/31/1999)	RECAP
	Aug. 26, 1999	SUMMONS(ES) issued for Mecklenburg County (clc)
3	Sept. 9, 1999	RETURN OF SERVICE Executed as to Mecklenburg County 9/2/99 served with s&c Answer due on 9/22/99 for Mecklenburg County (clc) (Entered: 09/13/1999)	RECAP
4	Sept. 17, 1999	ORDER granting [4-1] motion to Extend Time up to and including 10/12/99 to ans cmplt, and reset Answer deadline to 10/12/99 for Mecklenburg County () [EOD DATE: 9/22/99] (clc) (Entered: 09/22/1999)	RECAP
5	Sept. 30, 1999	MOTION by Ruth Annette Harris to Intervene as Pltf by Ruth Annette Harris referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (clc) (Entered: 09/30/1999)	RECAP
6	Oct. 12, 1999	ANSWER to Complaint by Mecklenburg County (clc) (Entered: 10/12/1999)	RECAP
7	Oct. 12, 1999	THIRD-PARTY COMPLAINT by Mecklenburg County against Accustaff, Inc (clc) (Entered: 10/12/1999)	RECAP
8	Oct. 12, 1999	CONSENT/REFUSAL to Magistrate Jurisdiction by Mecklenburg County, Mecklenburg County - Refusal (clc) (Entered: 10/12/1999)	RECAP
	Oct. 12, 1999	SUMMONS(ES) issued for Accustaff, Inc (clc)
9	Oct. 18, 1999	RETURN OF SERVICE Executed as to Accustaff, Inc 10/13/99 served with s&c Answer due on 11/2/99 for Accustaff, Inc (clc) (Entered: 10/19/1999)	RECAP
10	Oct. 26, 1999	ORDER granting [5-1] motion to Intervene as Pltf by Ruth Annette Harris ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 10/27/99] (clc) (Entered: 10/27/1999)	RECAP
11	Oct. 26, 1999	Intervenor's COMPLAINT by Ruth Harris against Mecklenburg County (clc) (Entered: 10/27/1999)	Clearinghouse
12	Nov. 2, 1999	ANSWER by Accustaff, Inc (Attorney Parmele P. Calame, John S. Snelling, John P. Kelly) to [7-1] third-party complaint by Mecklenburg County (clc) (Entered: 11/04/1999)	RECAP
13	Nov. 2, 1999	CONSENT/REFUSAL to Magistrate Jurisdiction by Accustaff, Inc - Refusal (clc) (Entered: 11/04/1999)	RECAP
14	Nov. 12, 1999	ORDER entered by Clerk granting [14-1] motion to Extend Time to 12/6/99 to resp to intervenor complt, set Answer deadline to 12/6/99 for Mecklenburg County [EOD DATE: 11/12/99] (bsw) (Entered: 11/12/1999)	RECAP
15	Nov. 24, 1999	Certificate of I.A.C. by plaintiff USA, defendant Mecklenburg County, intervenor-plaintiff Ruth Annette Harris, third-party defendant Accustaff, Inc (clc) (Entered: 11/29/1999)	RECAP
16	Nov. 29, 1999	ANSWER by Mecklenburg County to [11-1] intervenor complaint (clc) (Entered: 12/02/1999)	RECAP
17	Dec. 6, 1999	Substitution of Counsel terminating attorney Mark T. Calloway for USA and substituting Joseph L. Brinkley (clc) (Entered: 12/08/1999)	RECAP
18	Dec. 30, 1999	MOTION by AccuStaff to Extend Time up to and including 2/2/00 to resp to interrogatories and request for production of docs referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (clc) Modified on 01/07/2000 (Entered: 01/04/2000)	RECAP
19	Jan. 5, 2000	MOTION by Accustaff, Inc to Extend Time up to and including 2/18/00 to resp to interrogatories and request for production of docs referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (clc) (Entered: 01/06/2000)	RECAP
20	Jan. 6, 2000	ORDER granting [18-1] motion to Extend Time up to and including 2/2/00 to resp to interrogatories and request for production of docs ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 1/7/00] (clc) (Entered: 01/07/2000)	RECAP
21	Jan. 6, 2000	ORDER granting [19-1] motion to Extend Time up to and including 2/24/00 to resp to interrogatories and request for production of docs ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 1/7/00] (clc) (Entered: 01/07/2000)	RECAP
23	Jan. 7, 2000	ORDER, set for IPC at 10:40 1/20/00 before Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 1/11/00] (clc) (Entered: 01/11/2000)	RECAP
22	Jan. 10, 2000	NOTICE of Appearance for Mecklenburg County, Mecklenburg County, Mecklenburg County by Richard L. Rainey, Patricia E. Dowds (clc) (Entered: 01/11/2000)	RECAP
24	Jan. 13, 2000	ORDER granting [19-1] motion to Extend Time up to and including 2/18/00 to resp to Meck Co's interrogatories and request for production of docs ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 1/14/00] (clc) (Entered: 01/14/2000)	RECAP
25	Jan. 14, 2000	RESPONSE by USA to [19-1] motion to Extend Time up to and including 2/18/00 to resp to interrogatories and request for production of docs by Accustaff, Inc, [18-1] motion to Extend Time up to and including 2/2/00 to resp to interrogatories and request for production of docs by Accustaff, Inc (clc) (Entered: 01/21/2000)	RECAP
26	Jan. 14, 2000	NOTICE of Appearance for USA by Stephen J. Curran (clc) (Entered: 01/21/2000)	RECAP
27	Jan. 26, 2000	RETURN OF SERVICE Executed 1/19/00 served with Subpoena (clc) (Entered: 01/31/2000)	RECAP
28	Jan. 31, 2000	CONSENT ORDER, for Protective Order ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 2/1/00] (clc) (Entered: 02/01/2000)	Clearinghouse
29	Jan. 31, 2000	INITIAL PRETRIAL ORDER IPC held 10:40 1/20/00 Discovery deadline is 8/24/00 Motion filing deadline is 9/29/00 Mediation due: 5/15/00 Report of Mediator due: 5/15/00 Jury Trial set for 9:30 1/8/01 ETT: 10 days ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) (clc) (Entered: 02/01/2000)	RECAP
30	March 8, 2000	RETURN OF SERVICE Executed as to Mecklenburg County 3/1/00 served with Subpoena (clc) (Entered: 03/13/2000)	RECAP
32	April 12, 2000	MOTION by Accustaff Inc to excuse appearance at mediated settlement conf (former emp) (Entered: 04/17/2000)	RECAP
	April 12, 2000	Deadline updated; set Calendar Call for 10:00 1/8/01 before Judge Richard L. Voorhees, set Jury Trial for 10:00 1/8/01 before Judge Richard L. Voorhees (dcap)
31	April 13, 2000	ORDER excusing 3rd pty deft Randstad US, LL d/b/a accustaff from attending mediation conf sched for 4/14/00 ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 4/14/00] (former emp) (Entered: 04/14/2000)	RECAP
33	May 2, 2000	JOINT MOTION by USA, Mecklenburg County for entry of consent Settlement agreement referred to: Judge Richard L. Voorhees (former emp) (Entered: 05/09/2000)	RECAP
34	May 9, 2000	ORDER granting [33-1] joint motion for entry of consent Settlement agreement ( signed by Judge Richard L. Voorhees ) [EOD DATE: 5/15/00] (former emp) (Entered: 05/15/2000)	RECAP
35	May 9, 2000	ORDER granting [33-1] joint motion for entry of consent Settlement agreement ( signed by Judge Richard L. Voorhees ) [EOD DATE: 5/15/00] (former emp) (Entered: 05/15/2000)	RECAP
	May 9, 2000	Case closed (former emp) Modified on 08/09/2000
36	May 16, 2000	MOTION by Ruth Annette Harris to Amend [11-1] intervenor complaint by interlineation referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (former emp) (Entered: 05/19/2000)	RECAP
	May 17, 2000	Case reopened (former emp)
37	May 19, 2000	STIPULATION of dismissal of third-party complaint (former emp) (Entered: 05/22/2000)	RECAP
38	May 24, 2000	ORDER granting [36-1] motion to Amend [11-1] intervenor complaint by interlineation ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 5/25/00] (former emp) (Entered: 05/25/2000)	RECAP
39	July 12, 2000	AMENDED intervenor's COMPLAINT by Ruth Annette Harris: amending [11-1] intervenor complaint (former emp) (Entered: 07/17/2000)	Clearinghouse
40	July 24, 2000	ANSWER by Mecklenburg County to [39-1] intervenor complaint by Ruth Annette Harris (former emp) (Entered: 07/28/2000)	RECAP
41	Sept. 29, 2000	MOTION by Mecklenburg County to Seal motion for summary judgment referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (former emp) (Entered: 10/03/2000)	RECAP
42	Sept. 29, 2000	Sealed MOTION by Mecklenburg County for Summary Judgment referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (former emp) (Entered: 11/01/2000)	RECAP
43	Sept. 29, 2000	Sealed MEMORANDUM by Mecklenburg County in support of [42-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Mecklenburg County (former emp) (Entered: 11/01/2000)	RECAP
44	Oct. 4, 2000	Sealed MEMORANDUM by Mecklenburg County in support of [42-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Mecklenburg County (former emp) (Entered: 11/01/2000)	RECAP
45	Oct. 17, 2000	MOTION by Ruth Annette Harris to Extend Time until 10/30/00 to respond to motion for summary judgment referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (former emp) (Entered: 10/18/2000)	RECAP
46	Oct. 18, 2000	ORDER granting [45-1] motion to Extend Time until 10/30/00 to respond to motion for summary judgment, Response to Motion reset to 10/30/00 for [42-1] motion for Summary Judgment ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 10/26/00] (former emp) (Entered: 10/26/2000)	RECAP
47	Oct. 26, 2000	Mecklenburg Countys notification of subsequent case history (former emp) (Entered: 10/30/2000)	RECAP
48	Oct. 30, 2000	MOTION by Ruth Annette Harris to Seal response and memorandum briefa referred to: Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (former emp) (Entered: 11/03/2000)	RECAP
49	Oct. 30, 2000	SEALED RESPONSE by Ruth Annette Harris to [42-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Mecklenburg County (former emp) (Entered: 11/03/2000)	RECAP
50	Nov. 7, 2000	SEALED DOCUMENT reply to response to motion for summary jgm (former emp) (Entered: 11/09/2000)	RECAP
51	Dec. 7, 2000	ORDER granting [48-1] motion to Seal response and memorandum briefa ( signed by Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight ) [EOD DATE: 12/11/00] (former emp) (Entered: 12/11/2000)	RECAP
	Jan. 4, 2001	Deadline updated; reset Calendar Call for 9:29 1/22/01 before Judge Richard L. Voorhees re: (ssh)
52	Jan. 10, 2001	STIPULATION of dismissal by and between parties w/prej (former emp) Modified on 01/18/2001 (Entered: 01/16/2001)	RECAP
	Jan. 10, 2001	Case closed (former emp) Modified on 01/18/2001
	Jan. 18, 2001	CASE NO LONGER REFERRED TO Magistrate Judge H. B. McKnight (former emp)

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Case Details

State / Territory:

North Carolina

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 26, 1999

Closing Date: Jan. 10, 2001

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States on behalf of a female

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

County

Mecklenburg County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Western District of North Carolina 3:99-cv-00353

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Damages

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2000 - 2002

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of United States v. Mecklenburg County, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/10351/ (last updated 11/26/2007).