Filed Date: Aug. 15, 1997
Closed Date: June 12, 2007
Clearinghouse coding complete
On August 15, 1997 plaintiffs filed suit against their employer, the Arizona Department of Transportation, alleging that it had racially discriminated against Hispanics in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and Title VII (42 U.S.C. § 2000e) in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Specifically they alleged that the defendant had engaged in discrimination by using unfair hiring and promotion practices, engaging in inadequate training, and creating a hostile work environment for Hispanic employees.
On March 15, 1999 the district court (Judge Roger Strand) certified a plaintiff class consisting of all applicants to and employees of the defendants. On December 19, 2000 the district court (Judge Strand) approved and entered a consent decree between the parties. The consent decree provided that the defendant would use neutral hiring and promoting protocols and make opportunities available to Hispanics, conduct employee evaluations in a neutral manner, forbid discrimination and any creation of a hostile work environment, hire an outside consultant to train employees on how to best implement the decree, accept a monitor, and institute a complaint resolution procedure. It also provided that the defendant would pay plaintiffs' attorneys fees and that the named class representatives could seek damages for past discrimination.
Five of the class representatives sought damages and bench trials were held by Magistrate Judge Virginia Mathis in 2003. Reports and recommendations in favor of the defendant were issued in all five cases. On April 10 and 11, 2007 the district court (Judge Strand) entered final judgment on these claims. The court adopted the Magistrate's Report in favor of the defendant regarding four of the individual claims, making minor changes to three of them. On the fifth claim the court adopted the Report in favor of the defendant in part put entered judgment in favor of the plaintiff regarding allegations of creating a hostile work environment. This plaintiff was awarded $18,000 plus fees.
Summary Authors
Michael Perry (10/9/2010)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4700707/parties/puente-v-arizona-state-of/
Bolton, Susan Ritchie (Arizona)
Mathis, Virginia A. (Arizona)
Bonnett, Daniel Lee (Arizona)
Pochoda, Daniel Joseph (Arizona)
Hudson, Lisa Kaye (Arizona)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4700707/puente-v-arizona-state-of/
Last updated April 19, 2025, 2:12 p.m.
State / Territory: Arizona
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Private Employment Class Actions
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 15, 1997
Closing Date: June 12, 2007
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Hispanic applicants to and employees of the Arizona Department of Transportation
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Arizona Department of Transportation (Phoenix, Maricopa), State
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
Content of Injunction:
Utilize objective hiring/promotion criteria
Follow recruitment, hiring, or promotion protocols
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Amount Defendant Pays: $272,000
Order Duration: 2000 - 2002
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):