Case: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Equinox Holdings, Inc.

1:24-cv-03597 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Dec. 23, 2024

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

In this case, a woman with endometriosis alleged that Equinox Holdings, a company that runs gyms and fitness centers, refused to hire her as a front desk associate due to potential complications from her monthly cycle. The woman filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), which found reasonable cause to believe that Equinox Holdings violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). After failing to secure an acceptable conciliation agreement from Equinox Holdings, the EEOC sued Equinox Holdings on December 23, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint alleged that the defendant violated the ADA by failing to hire the woman on the basis of her perceived disability and by failing to make a reasonable accommodation for her endometriosis during the hiring process. The complaint also alleged that the defendant violated Title VII by failing to hire her due to the innately sex-based characteristic of menstruation. The EEOC sought injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Randolph D. Moss.

As of February 11, 2025, the case was ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Maddie Turk (2/11/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69494789/parties/us-equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-equinox-holdings-inc/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Johnson, Christine Thomas (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Speights, Grace E. (District of Columbia)

Threet, Andrea N. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Johnson, Christine Thomas (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Speights, Grace E. (District of Columbia)

Threet, Andrea N. (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:24-cv-03597	Complaint	Dec. 23, 2024	Dec. 23, 2024 Complaint

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Resources

Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
Under the Radar: Visibility and the Effects of Discrimination Lawsuits in Small and Large Firms Carly Knight, Frank Dobbin, Alexandra Kalev	Research on how discrimination lawsuits affect corporate diversity has yielded mixed results. Qualitative studies highlight the limited efficacy of lawsuits in the typical workplace, finding that lit…	March 2022	April 1, 2022 https://cris.tau.ac.il/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69494789/us-equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-equinox-holdings-inc/

Last updated Aug. 7, 2025, 4:21 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC. with Jury Demand (Fee Status:Filing Fee Waived) filed by U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Johnson, Christine) (Entered: 12/23/2024) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	Dec. 23, 2024	Dec. 23, 2024 Clearinghouse
	Notice of Error- New Case	Dec. 26, 2024	Dec. 26, 2024 PACER
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	Dec. 26, 2024	Dec. 26, 2024 PACER
	Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (zmtm)	Dec. 26, 2024	Dec. 26, 2024 PACER
	NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Missing summonses. Please locate the summons applicable to your case at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms and file using the event Request for Summons to issue. (zmtm)	Dec. 26, 2024	Dec. 26, 2024 PACER
2	STANDING ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives set forth in the attached Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/27/2024. (lcrdm3) (Entered: 12/27/2024)	Dec. 27, 2024	Dec. 27, 2024 PACER
3	WAIVER OF SERVICE. EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC. waiver sent on 12/23/2024, answer due 2/21/2025. (Johnson, Christine) (Entered: 02/13/2025)	Feb. 13, 2025	Feb. 13, 2025 PACER
4	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint by EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Speights, Grace) (Entered: 02/14/2025)	Feb. 14, 2025	Feb. 14, 2025 PACER
	RESOLVED.....NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 4 Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint by EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Speights, Grace).Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 2/21/2025. (zhcn) 3/4/2025 (zapb).	Feb. 14, 2025	Feb. 14, 2025 PACER
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines	Feb. 17, 2025	Feb. 17, 2025 PACER
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Equinox Holdings' motion for extension of time to file answer, Dkt. 4, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Equinox Holdings shall answer the complaint on or before March 7, 2025. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 2/17/2025. (lcrdm3)	Feb. 17, 2025	Feb. 17, 2025 PACER
	Notice of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status	Feb. 18, 2025	Feb. 18, 2025 PACER
5	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Answer or Otherwise Respond to Plaintiff's Complaint by EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC.. (Speights, Grace) (Entered: 03/05/2025)	March 5, 2025	March 5, 2025 PACER
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines	March 5, 2025	March 5, 2025 PACER
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Equinox Holdings' consent motion for extension of time to answer, Dkt. 5, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Equinox Holdings shall respond to the complaint on or before April 7, 2025. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/5/2025. (lcrdm3)	March 5, 2025	March 5, 2025 PACER
6	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Answer or Otherwise Respond to Plaintiff's Complaint by EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Speights, Grace) (Entered: 04/03/2025)	April 3, 2025	April 3, 2025 PACER
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines	April 4, 2025	April 4, 2025 PACER
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Equinox Holdings' consent motion for extension of time to answer, Dkt. 6, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Equinox Holdings shall respond to the complaint on or before May 7, 2025. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 4/4/2025. (lcrdm3)	April 4, 2025	April 4, 2025 PACER
7	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Answer or Otherwise Respond to Plaintiffs Complaint by EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC.. (Speights, Grace) (Entered: 05/07/2025)	May 7, 2025	May 7, 2025 PACER
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines	May 7, 2025	May 7, 2025 PACER
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Equinox Holdings' consent motion for extension of time to answer, Dkt. 7, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Equinox Holdings shall respond to the complaint on or before June 6, 2025. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 5/7/2025. (lcrdm3)	May 7, 2025	May 7, 2025 PACER
8	NOTICE of Appearance by Andrea N. Threet on behalf of EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC. (Threet, Andrea) (Entered: 06/02/2025)	June 2, 2025	June 2, 2025 PACER
9	NOTICE of Settlement and Motion for Entry of Consent Decree by U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1- Consent Decree)(Johnson, Christine) (Entered: 06/04/2025)	June 4, 2025	June 4, 2025 PACER
	Motion For Order	June 4, 2025	June 4, 2025 PACER
10	MOTION for Order Entry of Consent Decree by U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. (See docket entry 9 to view document) (zdp) (Entered: 06/04/2025)	June 4, 2025	June 4, 2025 PACER
11	ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' notice of settlement and motion for entry of Consent Decree, Dkt. 10, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. See document for details. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the case. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/4/2025. (lcrdm3) (Entered: 06/04/2025)	June 4, 2025	June 4, 2025 PACER

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Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Disability Rights

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 23, 2024

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed this suit on behalf of a woman with endometriosis who was denied a Front Desk Associate position for Equinox Holdings.

Plaintiff Type(s):

EEOC Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Equinox Holdings, Inc. (District of Columbia), Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Retailer