Filed Date: Feb. 8, 2025
Closed Date: March 5, 2025
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In this case, a supervisory attorney-advisor at the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (“EEOC”) alleged that her EEOC supervisors discriminated against her on the basis of race and disability.
The plaintiff filed suit against the EEOC on February 8, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The plaintiff sued the Acting Chair of the EEOC, in their official capacity. The case was assigned to District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal.
The plaintiff alleged that the EEOC engaged in a multi-year campaign of retaliatory harassment and discrimination against her, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (prohibiting discrimination based on disability broadly), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibiting discrimination based on disability in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance).
The plaintiff’s lawsuit asserts that, in January 2023, the plaintiff filed an internal “EEO complaint,” seeking a workplace accommodation for an unspecified “mental disability.” In March 2023, EEOC granted the plaintiff an “accommodation which allowed her to situationally telework.” In the months following the resolution of her EEO complaint, the plaintiff’s lawsuit alleges that she was subjected to “repeated acts of non-sexual harassment and reprisal” from her supervisor, was denied job promotion opportunities in favor of less-qualified candidates, was not nominated for an Honor Award she was qualified for, and was refused an additional reasonable accommodation she requested—all in retaliation for filing her EEO Complaint and receiving her accommodation.
Additionally, the plaintiff’s lawsuit contended that the plaintiff herself was the respondent of an EEO complaint from 2021, filed by a white coworker who “alleged that [Grider] created a hostile work environment based on . . . race.” The plaintiff’s lawsuit alleged that the EEOC discriminated on the basis of race by rewarding the 2021 complainant (a white woman, who received a transfer to a different office) for filing an EEO complaint, but retaliating against the plaintiff (a black woman) for filing an EEO complaint.
In this lawsuit, the plaintiff sought back pay and benefits, lost wages, “front pay and benefits,” compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees, and unspecified injunctive relief.
In this case’s early stages, the plaintiff and the EEOC agreed to resolve the case on undisclosed terms. On March 3, 2025, the parties filed a joint stipulation of dismissal, agreeing that the lawsuit would be dismissed with prejudice (meaning it could not be refiled). Two days later, the district court formally dismissed the case. The case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Gordon Pignato (4/18/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624087/parties/grider-v-andrea-r-lucas/
Rosenthal, Lee Hyman (Texas)
Bail, Ashok (Texas)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624087/grider-v-andrea-r-lucas/
Last updated Oct. 12, 2025, 9:43 p.m.
State / Territory: Texas
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Feb. 8, 2025
Closing Date: March 5, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A supervisory attorney-advisor at the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (- United States (national) -), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701
Title IV, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000c et seq.
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Disability and Disability Rights:
Discrimination Area:
Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Discrimination Basis:
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
Affected Race(s):