Filed Date: June 3, 1994
Closed Date: 2000
Clearinghouse coding complete
On June 3, 1994, an individual employee filed a lawsuit against her employer, the Cleveland Psychiatric Institute ("CPI"), as well its director, CEO, and the alleged co-conspirators, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. She alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.; 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985; of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution; and of Ohio's anti-discrimination statute, O.R.C. § 4112. The plaintiff, who was represented by private counsel, alleged sex discrimination, a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, defamation, tortious interference with contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery, and false imprisonment. She asked the court for damages and injunctive relief. Specifically, the plaintiff contended that she and other female staff members were sexually harassed by male coworkers throughout the entirety of her employment, in the form of threats, physical intimidation, sexual jokes, and unwanted touching and groping. She claimed that the harassment was reported, yet CPI took no action, and further alleged that CPI never addressed the issue of sexual harassment, not even during equal employment opportunity ("EEO") orientation. The plaintiff was terminated after a reported incident in which she was harassed at gunpoint, and she claimed that it was easier to fire her than the perpetrator because she was a non-union employee. The EEOC gave the plaintiff the right to sue.
On January 12, 1995, the court (Judge Oliver) granted in part and denied in part the defendants' motion to dismiss the claims. The court allowed the suit to proceed with respect to damages only against the individual co-workers, finding that CPI, as a state-run agency, was immune from suit under the 11th Amendment. The court denied the motion to dismiss as to the plaintiff's claims against CPI under Title VII, as well as the plaintiff's claims against individual defendants under U.S.C. § 1983 and 1985. This same day the court granted class certification to all the women subject to sexual harassment and whose claims were ignored by CPI between Feburary 4, 1993, and the date of the trial.
On February 29, 2000, the court (Judge Oliver) denied the defendants' motion to decertify the class and granted in part and denied in part the defendants' motion for summary judgment, holding that that the plaintiff's sexual harassment and equal protection claims should be tried as a class, but the retaliation claim must be tried as an individual.
On December 18, 2000, the court (Judge Oliver) approved a settlement agreement. The named plaintiff received $1,251,240 on back pay and other damages, and other class members were awarded damages as well, adding up to $2,630,628. Additionally, the defendants agreed to pay the plaintiffs' attorney fees, totaling over $600,000.
Summary Authors
Emily Kuznick (4/10/2008)
Bloom, Steven E. (Ohio)
Crist, Karen Marie (Ohio)
Anderson, Carl E. (Ohio)
Foley, Mary Beth (Ohio)
Friedell, Katherine Anderson (Ohio)
Last updated April 15, 2024, 3:05 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Ohio
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Private Employment Class Actions
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 3, 1994
Closing Date: 2000
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Women employees at the Cleveland Psychiatric Institute with claims of sexual harassment and discrimination which accrued between February 4, 1993 and December 1, 1993.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Cleveland Psychiatric Institute, State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Amount Defendant Pays: $2,630,628
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)
Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):
Affected Sex/Gender(s):