Filed Date: March 16, 1995
Closed Date: 2000
Clearinghouse coding complete
On March 16, 1995, two employees filed a lawsuit against their employer, Dominick's Finer Foods Inc., in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Six other plaintiffs were later added. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, alleged employment discrimination based on sex and race, and asked the court for injunctive and declaratory relief, back pay, and damages. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendant had discriminated against them in promotions, job assignments, hours of work, and training.
According to the PACER docket, on July 18, 1996, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification. On March 31, 1997, the court (Judge Elaine E. Bucklo) granted in part the plaintiffs' motion for class certification. On April 8, 1997 the court (Judge Bucklo) held that it would certify a subclass of female employees but it would not certify a subclass of Hispanic employees. The class consisted of all females employed by Dominick's Finer Foods Inc. between September 23, 1993, and the date of the case. Orlowski v. Dominick's Finer Foods, Inc., 172 F.R.D. 370 (N.D. Ill. 1997).
According to the PACER docket, on March 29, 2000, the parties filed a joint motion for final approval of the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement included a settlement fund of $7,650,000 for over 12,000 class members and provided that the defendant would pay $1,900,000 to class counsel. The settlement also provided injunctive relief and stated that the defendant would not engage in practices that have a disparate impact upon female employees or practices of retaliation against any of the class members. The defendant agreed to institute non-discrimination and diversity training, as well as a Career Connection Program to assist employees and applicants in attaining their goals and to ensure equal employment opportunities. It stated that the provisions of the agreement would remain in effect for three years. On March 31, 2000, the court (Judge Bucklo) approved the settlement agreement and dismissed the case.
Summary Authors
Emily Kuznick (5/1/2008)
Bucklo, Elaine E. (Illinois)
Arimond, Bridget (Illinois)
Cummings, Jeffrey Irvine (Illinois)
Fisher, Ian Howard (Illinois)
Boylan, Michael J. (California)
Bucklo, Elaine E. (Illinois)
Keys, Arlander (Illinois)
Last updated July 4, 2023, 3:07 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Illinois
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study
Private Employment Class Actions
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 16, 1995
Closing Date: 2000
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
All females employed by Dominick’s Finer Foods Inc.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Dominick's Finer Foods, Inc., Private Entity/Person
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
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
Order Duration: 2000 - 2003
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)
Discrimination-basis:
Affected Sex or Gender:
National Origin/Ethnicity: