Filed Date: Sept. 9, 2008
Closed Date: 2022
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On September 9, 2008, in response to charges filed by 18 women, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed this lawsuit against Sterling Jewelers, alleging violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 based on discriminatory employment practices. Specifically, the EEOC claimed that Sterling Jewelers intentionally discriminated against female sales employees by maintaining a system of excessively subjective promotion and compensation decisions and thereby permitting or encouraging managers to deny equal access to promotion and compensation to female employees. The EEOC claimed in the alternative that Sterling Jewelers maintained an excessively subjective system that had an illegal disparate impact on female retail sales employees. The EEOC sought injunctive and monetary relief, including back pay, promotion, compensation for lost benefits and emotional suffering, and development of policies and programs to provide equal opportunities to women and eliminate the effects of past discrimination. The EEOC also sought to recoup the cost of its litigation. The litigation was brought on behalf of the 18 charging parties and all other similarly situated female employees.
The progress of the case was slow because of numerous disputes over procedure and discovery.
On January 6, 2010, the Court (Judge Richard J. Arcara) denied Sterling's motion to dismiss all claims for conduct preceding the statute of limitations period for the first party to file charges with the EEOC, holding that the EEOC was not bound by the statute of limitations, which applied only to individuals. 2010 WL 86376 (W.D.N.Y. 2010).
On July 15, 2010, the Court (Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy), among other things, allowed the charging parties to intervene in the proceedings to participate in argument over the scope of a protective order. 2010 WL 2803017 (W.D.N.Y. 2010). For contractual reasons the charging parties were pursuing their claims separately in a class-action arbitration and wanted to be able to receive discovery information from the EEOC, though they were prohibited from sharing information with the EEOC. See Jock v. Sterling Jewelers, Inc.. The protective order was issued on July 23, 2011.
On April 25, 2011, the Court (Judge Richard J. Arcara) bifurcated the trial and discovery into two phases, liability (Stage I) and damages (Stage II). Stage I generally covered the issue of whether there was a disparate impact on female retail employees at Sterling to establish a pattern or practice of discrimination, while Stage II would occur only if the EEOC prevailed at phase I and covered the individual aspects of each employee's case along with whether there was a legitimate business reason for the disparity. The EEOC sought to have the punitive damages determination included in phase I, but the Court rejected that approach. 788 F.Supp.2d 83 (W.D.N.Y. 2011).
The bifurcation was followed by extensive discovery disputes from 2011 to 2012.
On September 25, 2013, Sterling moved for partial summary judgment on the grounds that the EEOC failed to satisfy its obligation to conduct an adequate, nationwide investigation of Sterling's employment practices. To this, the EEOC stated that courts need not inquire into the sufficiency of the investigation itself.
On March 10, 2014, the Court adopted the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation, which granted in part and denied in part the motion for summary judgment. The court granted partial summary judgment on the claim that the EEOC failed to prove that it satisfied its statutory obligation to conduct a pre-suit investigation, and it denied Sterling’s motion to strike portions of the EEOC’s Statement of Facts for the reason that it contained “statement[s] that rely on an admissible evidence not in the record, as well as legal argument and generalized conclusory statements.” 3 F.Supp.3d 57.
On May 15, 2014, the EEOC filed an appeal, arguing that the district court erred in granting summary judgment because the magistrate judge improperly reviewed the sufficiency of the EEOC's investigation, rather than whether there was an investigation or not.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and decided on September 9, 2015, to vacate the district court's summary judgment order, thus remanding the case for further proceedings. 801 F.3d 96.
On May 4, 2017, the EEOC and Sterling entered into a consent decree, under which the court would maintain jurisdiction for a period of three years and three months. Provisions included enjoining Sterling's conduct, the appointment of an employment practice expert to oversee and recommend changes within Sterling, training, and further additional internal procedures for implementing equal employment practices. While there was no award of attorney's fees, Sterling agreed to bear all expenses that it would incur to implement the provisions of the consent decree.
In 2018, a dispute arose between Sterling and the EEOC regarding Sterling's rejection of a merit pay program that the EEOC had proposed pursuant to the consent decree. The EEOC claimed that Sterling had not provided a legitimate business reason for rejecting the proposal. The parties submitted the issue to Fred Alvarez through their mutually agreed upon dispute resolution mechanism. Mr. Alvarez issued a decision on June 19, 2019, holding that Sterling had not demonstrated that its alternative merit pay program would be less adversely impactful to their female retail sales employees than the EEOC's proposal.
After the EEOC sought relief from Sterling, the parties agreed to extend the term of the decree for 15 more months until November of 2021 in order to verify Sterling's implementation of the new merit pay compensation program. On March 11, 2020, Judge Arcara granted the extension. The consent decree remained in force.
On November 3, 2021, based on the parties' agreement, the court extended the consent decree expiration date and the reporting deadline by 30 days while the parties negotiated the reporting requirements. Subsequently, on April 15, 2022, the parties filed a joint motion to change some provisions of the consent decree and extend it, and the court granted the motion a week later. Under the new amendment, the Consent Decree's provisions that had previously been extended would be extended by six more months from the date that Sterling retained a labor economist to analyze compensation. The court could extend the decree further and would retain jurisdiction until all disputes were resolved.
As of March 5, 2024, there have been no further updates, and the decree has presumably expired.
Summary Authors
Kenneth Gray (6/14/2013)
Jennifer Huseby (10/11/2018)
Jonah Feitelson (4/17/2020)
Venesa Haska (4/5/2024)
Jock v. Sterling Jewelers, Inc., Southern District of New York (2008)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4358076/parties/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-sterling-jewelers-inc/
Abel, Natasha L. (Pennsylvania)
Abuhaidar, Maggie H. (New York)
Adams, Raechel L. (New York)
Adewale-Mendes, Rose (New York)
Aguirre, Alma J. (New York)
Abel, Natasha L. (Pennsylvania)
Abuhaidar, Maggie H. (New York)
Adewale-Mendes, Rose (New York)
Alfred-George, Pamela A (New York)
Altmeyer, Helen Campbell (New York)
Anderson, Suzanne M (New York)
Anderson, Kenneth P. (New York)
Andre, Beatriz Biscardi (New York)
Andrew, Regina Maria (New York)
Arendes, Jennifer L. (New York)
Backhaus, William C (New York)
Bailey, Terri Hearn (New York)
Bean, Julie Steptoe (New York)
Biltekoff, Judith Ann (New York)
Biscardi-Andre, Beatriz (New York)
Boehringer, Maria K. (New York)
Brennan, Noelle Christine (New York)
Brown, Bobby Dewayne (New York)
Burstein, Jeffrey C. (New Jersey)
Butler, Michelle T. (New York)
Cadle, Delia Dianna (New York)
Caiola, Michelle Anne (New York)
Calhoun, June Wallace (New York)
Christensen, Carlie (New York)
Cole, Holly Waldron (New York)
Coleman, Charles Franklin (New York)
Correia, Cristina Maria (New York)
Crowder, Kenneth D. (New York)
Davis, Chandra Cain (New York)
DeCamp, Aaron Rutledge (New York)
Dominguez, Francisco X (New York)
Dreilinger, Lauren Gayle (New York)
Driscoll-MacEachron, James P (New York)
Duckett, Lakisha C. (New York)
Edwards, Ottrell Ferrell (New York)
Esparza-Cervantes, Elizabeth (New York)
Fiorito, Bradley S. (New York)
Fitzpatrick, Kevin D. (New York)
Flegal, Robyn Margaret (New York)
Foslid, Kristen Marie (New York)
Foster, Nathan Dean (New York)
Garber, Amy Elizabeth (New York)
Garcia-Bautista, Lorena (New York)
Gatlin, Connie Wilhite (New York)
Gochanour, Gregory M (New York)
Golson, Aarrin Benatra (New York)
GOVT, Rumduol Vuong (New York)
Graham, Nancy Eleanor (New York)
Grossman, Elizabeth (New York)
Guerrier, Charles E. (New York)
Hamilton, Deborah L (New York)
Haynes, Derek Joseph (New York)
Hendrickson, John C (New York)
Hernandez, Evangelina Patricia (New York)
Hernandez, Lisa Hope (Pennsylvania)
Hinojos-Fall, Zulema (New York)
Hope, Jennifer Lynn (Pennsylvania)
Houk, Christopher Robert (New York)
Imdieke, Michael H. (New York)
Jaeckel, Lauren Golden (New York)
Johnson, Amy Victoria (New York)
Johnson, Johnnie L. (New York)
Jones, Stephanie Michelle (New York)
Kasperson, Kaleb M. (New York)
Kennebrew, Delora L. (New York)
Kingsley, Andrew Burke (New York)
Kittle, Rita Byrnes (New York)
Krivonyak, J. Christopher (New York)
Kuelbs, Meaghan Leigh (New York)
Lee, Damien Anthony (New York)
Lepak, Thomas Scott (New York)
Lopez, Patrick David (New York)
Loughlin, Edward O'Farrell (New York)
Lucero, A.Luis Lucero (New York)
Macy, James Douglas (New York)
Mallison, Stanley S. (New York)
Malloy, Margaret Ann (New York)
Marshall, Michelle G. (New York)
Martinez, Ana Consuelo (New York)
McClinton, Gregory Lee (New York)
McCord, Stacey Elise (New York)
McCoy, Kimberly Anne (New York)
McCoy-Cruz, Kimberly A. (New York)
McFerren, Aimee Lynn (New York)
McMillan, Solvita A (New York)
McNair, Jacqueline H. (New York)
Meredith, Brandi Lorraine (New York)
Mitchell, Marcia Lynne (New York)
Montesino, Sairalina (New York)
Mundell, Melissa Stebbins (New York)
Naccarato, Elizabeth A (New York)
Navarre-Davis, Alexandra (New York)
Nyfeler, Suzanne Lenahan (New York)
O'Brien, Michael J. (New York)
Offen-Brown, David F. (New York)
Olson, Kathryn Blaire (New York)
Oppenheim, Harriett F (New York)
Ordonio-Dixon, Linda Susan (New York)
Padegimas, Sandra J. (New York)
Palmer-Denig, Jessica Ann (New York)
Pearson, Gina Elaine (New York)
Peters, Kirsten Jennifer (New York)
Peterson, Melanie M. (New York)
Phillips, Ronald L. (New York)
Pittard, Robert Christan (New York)
Pladson, Nicholas J (New York)
Pohl, Anna Marie (District of Columbia)
Ranis, Michael Bruce (New York)
Reams, Gwendolyn Young (New York)
Riccardi, Sebastian (New York)
Rivera, Jadhira Virginia (New York)
Roberts, Monique Joy (New York)
Robertson, Michelle M (New York)
Robinson, Antonio D. (New York)
Rodriguez, Blanca E (New York)
Rucker, Marsha Lynn (New York)
Savage, Markeisha Katera (New York)
Schmitt, Suzanne Julia (New York)
Schnitzel, Andrew Marten (New York)
Shanley, Sally Clifford (New York)
Shepard, Meaghan Leigh (New York)
Sorenson, Stephen J. (New York)
Sorokin, Mark Jacob (New York)
Standal, Barbara Joan (New York)
Sustaita, Rodolfo Lucio (New York)
Sylvertooth, D'Ontae (New York)
Szromba, Jeanne Bowman (New York)
Thanasombat, Sirithon (New York)
Thomas, Gillian Lathrop (New York)
Thomas, Kelley Renee (New York)
Thornton, Gerald L. (New York)
Tomlinson, Robert F (New York)
Trujillo, Richard R (New York)
Turnage, Edwin Lake (New York)
Valderrama, Hillary K (New York)
Vance, Carrie Noelle (New York)
Viramontes, Victor Garcia (New York)
Wagner, Steven Andrews (New York)
Walter, Nicholas Glen (New York)
Weisberg, Robert E. (New York)
Wilhite, Connie Kay (New York)
Winston, David Andrew (New York)
Witherspoon, Sandra Denise (New York)
Barrie, Michael Jason (New York)
Bennett, Rebecca J. (New York)
Childs, Tracie Lynn (New York)
Crowley, Sean Michael (New York)
Dugan, William Francis (Illinois)
Ferrantella, Jesse C (New York)
Garroway, Nathan Lewis (New York)
Grimes, Cynthia Day (New York)
Horton, Scott Patrick (New York)
Janice, Christina M. (Illinois)
Karnaszewski, Erika Jensene (New York)
Kennedy, Peter Joseph (New York)
Kinson, Francis Patrick (Illinois)
Klein, Daniel B. (Massachusetts)
Lacks, Monica Levine (New York)
Ledsky, Jonathan N. (New York)
Maatman, Gerald L Jr. (Illinois)
McDaniel, Petrina Ann (New York)
Murphy, Brian Daniel (New York)
Pastore, Michael E. (New York)
Polito, Jacqueline P. (New York)
Quick, Jonathan Derek (New York)
Scharlat, Richard Ira (New York)
Tambone, Jacqueline E. (New York)
Tarkowski, Dara Chevlin (New York)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4358076/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-sterling-jewelers-inc/
Last updated Feb. 16, 2026, 1:27 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Multi-LexSum (in sample)
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 9, 2008
Closing Date: 2022
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
EEOC filing on behalf of 18 female retail sales employees and all other similarly situated female employees.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Sterling Jewelers, Inc., Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Other Dockets:
Western District of New York 1:08-cv-00706
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit 14-01782
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Develop anti-discrimination policy
Follow recruitment, hiring, or promotion protocols
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Other requirements regarding hiring, promotion, retention
Provide antidiscrimination training
Utilize objective hiring/promotion criteria
Order Duration: 2017 - 2022
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
EEOC-centric: