Case: Ellis v. Elgin Riverboat Resort

1:98-cv-07093 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Nov. 5, 1998

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Four African-American prospective casino employees filed a class action complaint against Elgin Riverboat Resort d/b/a Grand Victoria Riverboat, Nevada Landing Partnership, and RBG, Ltd. (collectively referred to as "Elgin") under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et. seq. in the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for both declaratory and injunctive relief, charging Elgin w…

Four African-American prospective casino employees filed a class action complaint against Elgin Riverboat Resort d/b/a Grand Victoria Riverboat, Nevada Landing Partnership, and RBG, Ltd. (collectively referred to as "Elgin") under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et. seq. in the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois.

The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for both declaratory and injunctive relief, charging Elgin with engaging in a pattern and practice of discriminatory hiring based on race.

On July 7, 1999, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification. On March 27, 2000, the court (Judge Joan B. Gottschall) granted this motion, certifying the class as "those African-Americans who were qualified for employment as 'dealers' and applied for work as 'dealers' at the Grand Victorial casino, but were not hired from December 25, 1997 to the present." On February 7, 2003, after nearly three years of discovery, the defendants filed a motion to decertify or, in the alternative, modify the class. On August 21, 2003, the court (Judge Martin C. Ashman) granted the defendant's motion to decertify the class.

When the plaintiffs were stripped of their class certification, their lawyers withdrew from the case, and the plaintiffs decided to proceed pro se. On September 21, 2004, the court (Judge Ashman) granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment, thus dismissing and terminating the case. On October 26, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal, and the appeal was denied and dismissed on February 17, 2005.

Summary Authors

Nathaniel Koslof (4/24/2008)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5295541/parties/ellis-v-grand-victoria/

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:98-cv-07093

Docket

Ellis, et al v. Grand Victoria, et al

April 20, 2006

April 20, 2006

Docket
10

1:98-cv-07093

Amended Complaint

July 7, 1999

July 7, 1999

Pleading / Motion / Brief
26

1:98-cv-07093

Order (Granting class certification)

March 29, 2000

March 29, 2000

Order/Opinion
81

1:98-cv-07093

Defendant's Motion to Decertify Class

Feb. 6, 2003

Feb. 6, 2003

Pleading / Motion / Brief
98

1:98-cv-07093

Order (Decertifying the class)

Ellis, et al v. Grand Victoria, et al

Aug. 21, 2003

Aug. 21, 2003

Order/Opinion

217 F.R.D. 415

109

1:98-cv-07093

Memorandum Opinion and Order (Advising plaintiffs of the consequences of failing to respond to a motion for summary judgment)

Feb. 18, 2004

Feb. 18, 2004

Order/Opinion

2004 WL 434203

124

1:98-cv-07093

Opinion (Granting defendant summary judgment)

Sept. 22, 2004

Sept. 22, 2004

Order/Opinion

2004 WL 2125122

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5295541/ellis-v-grand-victoria/

Last updated Aug. 19, 2025, 4:04 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
98

MINUTE ORDER of 8/21/03 by Hon. Martin C. Ashman : Defendants' motion to decertify the class is granted [81-1]. Defendants' motion to amende the class definition is denied [80-1] to include only those applicants who auditioned is denied as moot. Entered Memorandum Opinion and Order. Mailed notice by judge's staff (lc)

Aug. 21, 2003

Aug. 21, 2003

RECAP
109

MINUTE ORDER of 2/18/04 by Hon. Martin C. Ashman : Entered Memorandum Opinion and Order. Mailed notice by judge's staff (lc)

Feb. 18, 2004

Feb. 18, 2004

RECAP
124

MINUTE ORDER of 9/21/04 by Hon. Martin C. Ashman : Defendant Elgin Riverboat Resort's motion for summary judgment is granted [103-1] and this case is dismissed terminating case. Entered Memorandum Opinion and Order. Mailed notice by judge's staff (lc)

Sept. 21, 2004

Sept. 21, 2004

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 5, 1998

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Those African-Americans who were qualified for employment as ‘dealers’ and applied for work as ‘dealers’ at the Grand Victorial casino, but were not hired from December 25, 1997 to the present.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Grand Victoria Riverboat, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

General/Misc.:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination Area:

Hiring

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Black