Filed Date: 2007
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding in progress
On August 7, 2007, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against the University of North Carolina in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The DOJ, alleging that the defendant discriminated against two female employees by subjecting them to sexual harassment. The DOJ sought injunctive relief to enjoin the defendant from failing or refusing to take appropriate nondiscriminatory measures to combat the effects of discrimination, including an effective program to address and prevent sexual harassment; and monetary relief for the two female employees. The DOJ alleged this sexual harassment created a hostile work environment for the female employees.
On August 17, 2007, the two female employees of UNC and its component institution, North Caroline Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T) filed a motion to intervene. On October 1, 2007, the Court (Judge Wallace Dixon) granted the motion to intervene as plaintiff-intervenors, and both plaintiffs filed intervenor complaints. The first intervenor plaintiff alleged she was subjected to sexual harassment by her supervisor, including conditioning her employment on agreeing to his advances and lewd, offensive remarks; and that her employer knew of the harassment, did not take any action and even promoted the supervisor. The second intervenor plaintiff alleged similar facts of sexual harassment, but she also alleged that she was retaliatory discharged after making complaints about the supervisor's conduct. She sought damages for discrimination and retaliation.
On October 24, 2007, the case was reassigned to Judge James A. Beaty Jr.
On December 27, 2007, the intervenor plaintiffs filed a motion to consolidate the present case with Gloria Adams Smoot v. The University of North Carolina, Case No. 1:07-CV-00812. The plaintiff in that case also alleged sexual harassment on the hands of the same supervisor with knowledge of the employer, and discharge in retaliation. The motion was granted on January 9, 2008.
Summary Authors
Janani Iyengar (11/21/2007)
Dixon, Wallace W. (North Carolina)
Grant, Elaine J. (District of Columbia)
Blutter, Sarah C (District of Columbia)
Puryear, David (North Carolina)
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 2007
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of female employees
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
State
State of North Carolina
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Other Dockets:
District of South Carolina 1:07-cv-00592
District of South Carolina 1:07-cv-00812
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Case Summary of United States v. University of North Carolina, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/10406/ (last updated 11/21/2007).