Filed Date: May 18, 1998
Closed Date: 2006
Clearinghouse coding complete
On May 18, 1998, the Republic of Mexico and several individual employees filed a lawsuit against the DeCoster egg farm under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and the Migrant and Seasonal Worker Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq., in the United States District Court for the District of Maine. The plaintiffs sought damages for breach of contract and fraudulent inducement. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for compensatory and punitive damages, alleging racial discrimination. Specifically, the plaintiffs claimed that DeCoster had purposefully recruited Mexican laborers under false pretenses, prompted them to travel a great distance to Maine, and then discriminated against them on-site in terms and conditions of employment and housing.
On August 9, 1999 the court (Judge D. Brock Hornby) ruled that the Republic of Mexico did not have standing in court. Ramirez v. DeCoster, 59 F. Supp. 2d 120, (D. Me. 1999). On March 31, 2000, the court (Judge Hornby) denied the plaintiff's motion for class certification. The court also granted DeCoster's motion for summary judgment on all claims except those for racial discrimination in housing and employment discrimination. Ramirez v. DeCoster, 194 F.R.D. 348 (D. Me. 2000). However, at the time of this class certification decision a settlement agreement was already underway between the parties. As a result, on July 7, 2000, the plaintiffs brought a motion to enforce the settlement agreement.
On October 15, 2001, the court (Judge Hornby) found that there was an enforceable agreement as of February 21, 2000, and also certified a settlement class for all claims in the amended complaint. In the settlement agreement the defendants agreed to pay the plaintiffs a sum of $6 million and to consider rehiring certain former employees. Ramirez v. DeCoster, 203 F.R.D. 30 (D. Me. 2001). The case is closed.
Summary Authors
Emily Kuznick (7/25/2010)
Cohen, David Michael (Maine)
Hornby, David Brock (Maine)
Friedman, Harold J (Maine)
Knowles, William C. (Maine)
Guiliani, Benjamin J. (Maine)
Cohen, David Michael (Maine)
Hornby, David Brock (Maine)
Last updated Feb. 16, 2024, 3:05 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Maine
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Private Employment Class Actions
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 18, 1998
Closing Date: 2006
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Mexican and Hispanic employees of DeCoster egg farms alleging racial discrimination
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
DeCoster, Private Entity/Person
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Amount Defendant Pays: $6,000,000.00
Content of Injunction:
Follow recruitment, hiring, or promotion protocols
Issues
Discrimination-area:
Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)
Discrimination-basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected Sex or Gender:
National Origin/Ethnicity: