Filed Date: Oct. 2, 1995
Closed Date: 2000
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On October 2, 1995, former employees of Storage Tek Corporation filed a lawsuit under ERISA, the ADEA, and the ADA, against Storage Tek in the United States District Court, District of Colorado. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for injunctive, declaratory, and compensatory relief, claiming that they were wrongfully discharged. Specifically, plaintiffs claimed that they were treated less favorably than younger employees as a result of a company-wide strategy to reduce costs and its older workforce.
On November 26, 1997, the District Court (Judge Lewis Babcock) granted Plaintiffs' motion to certify an ADEA collective action but denied the motion to certify an ERISA class action. The Court found that conditional certification of an ADEA action was appropriate because Plaintiffs had shown that members of the proposed class were negatively impacted by Defendant's "Strategic Plan." However, the Court declined to certify an ERISA class action because Plaintiffs' proposed class definition was over-inclusive. Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corp., 175 F.R.D. 672 (D. Col. 1997).
The Court granted Plaintiffs' second motion to certify an ERISA class action on November 9, 1998. The Court found that Plaintiffs' revised class definition was adequate to define the class. The ERISA class was defined as: "all employees who were over the age of 40 at the time of their layoffs by employer, between April 13, 1993, and Dec. 31, 1996, because of their perceived above-average use or perceived anticipated above-average use of company benefits." Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corp., 183 F.R.D. 264 (D. Col. 1998).
On March 9, 2000, the Court approved the parties' settlement and dismissed the case. The settlement provided $5 million to members of the ADEA class and injunctive and declaratory relief to members of the ERISA class. Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corp., 2000 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 21129 (D. Col. Mar. 9, 2000). On the same day, the Court also granted Plaintiffs' counsel approximately $1.8 million in fees and costs.
The case has thus been resolved and was closed in March 2000.
Summary Authors
Haley Waller (8/19/2010)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4695122/parties/vaszlavik-v-storage-tek-corp/
Babcock, Lewis Thornton (Colorado)
Benezra, Seth J. (Colorado)
Culver, John A. (Colorado)
Bland, Richard Len (Colorado)
Ferguson, Nancy K. (Colorado)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4695122/vaszlavik-v-storage-tek-corp/
Last updated April 19, 2025, 2:12 p.m.
State / Territory: Colorado
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Private Employment Class Actions
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 2, 1995
Closing Date: 2000
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Former employees of Storage Tek Corporation alleging wrongful termination as a result of company-wide age discrimination.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Storage Tek Corporation, Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. § 1001
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 et seq.
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: $5 million
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff
Discrimination Basis: