Case: EEOC v. ERNST & YOUNG, LLP

2:03-cv-04277 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Filed Date: Sept. 10, 2003

Closed Date: 2007

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Case Summary

The Philadelphia office of the EEOC brought this suit against Ernst & Young LLP, an accounting firm, in September 2003, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The complainant alleged that the defendant engaged in hostile work environment and quid pro quo sexual harassment (under Title VII and NJ state law), retaliation, defamation, and invasion of her privacy. Specifically, complainant alleges that her supervisor, a lesbian, repeatedly retaliated against her because she declined her supervisor's repeated advances and reported the sexual harassment events to human resources. The complainant intervened in the EEOC's suit several months later (after the court granted and vacated the initial motion to intervene). After the court issued a protective order limiting disclosure of confidential information produced in discovery to the parties, the parties settled the case. The court entered a consent decree in March 2005. The two-year consent decree includes an anti-retaliation provision, a notice provision (notice must be posted for one year), and a training program for all managers and supervisors at complainant's facility within one year of filing the Decree on employee rights and employer obligation under Title VII and relevant state or local anti-discrimination laws. In addition to the injunctive relief, defendant is to pay complainant $125,000 in damages. The decree was entered in 2005 and scheduled to last 2007. No further docket entries exist, so the case is closed.

Summary Authors

Lionel Joiner (5/29/2007)

Clearinghouse (12/23/2018)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11916897/parties/equal-employment-opp-v-ernst-young-llp/

Judge(s)

Walls, William H. (New Jersey)

Judge(s)

Walls, William H. (New Jersey)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

2:03-cv-04277	Docket [PACER] EEOC v. Ernst & Young, LLP	March 4, 2005	March 4, 2005 Docket
21 2:03-cv-04277	Second Complaint in Intervention EEOC v. Ernst & Young, LLP	April 26, 2004	April 26, 2004 Complaint
29 2:03-cv-04277	Order of Dismissal EEOC v. Ernst & Young, LLP	Dec. 27, 2004	Dec. 27, 2004 Order/Opinion
30 2:03-cv-04277	Order [Modifying Order of Dismissal] EEOC v. Ernst & Young, LLP	Jan. 26, 2005	Jan. 26, 2005 Order/Opinion
32 2:03-cv-04277	Order of Dismissal with Prejudice EEOC v. Ernst & Young, LLP	Feb. 17, 2005	Feb. 17, 2005 Order/Opinion
34 2:03-cv-04277	Consent Decree EEOC v. Ernst & Young, LLP	Feb. 22, 2005	Feb. 22, 2005 Settlement Agreement
35 2:03-cv-04277	Order of Dismissal with Prejudice EEOC v. Ernst & Young, LLP	Feb. 23, 2005	Feb. 23, 2005 Order/Opinion
	EEOC Litigation Settlement Report (March 2005) EEOC v. Ernst & Young, LLP No Court	March 5, 2005	March 5, 2005 Press Release

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Resources

Resources related to this case
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/11916897/equal-employment-opp-v-ernst-young-llp/

Last updated Sept. 18, 2026, 12:07 a.m.

Docket for: EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPP v. ERNST & YOUNG, LLP

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Sept. 10, 2003	COMPLAINT filed; jury demand FILING FEE $ wv (MD) (Entered: 09/12/2003)	PACER
2	Sept. 12, 2003	NOTICE of Allocation and Assignment filed. ( Newark - Judge Walls - Magistrate Judge Wigenton) (NM) (MD) (Entered: 09/12/2003)	PACER
	Sept. 12, 2003	SUMMONS(ES) issued for ERNST & YOUNG, LLP ( 20 Days) (Mailed to Counsel) (MD) (Entered: 09/12/2003)	PACER
3	Nov. 10, 2003	Notice of MOTION to intervene by JILL FITZPATRICK by JILL FITZPATRICK, Motion set for 12/8/03 on [3-1] motion w/cert of service attached (Brief/PO Subm) (jd) (Entered: 11/12/2003)	PACER
5	Nov. 24, 2003	RETURN OF SERVICE executed as to ERNST & YOUNG, LLP 11/3/03 Answer due on 11/24/03 for ERNST & YOUNG, LLP (jd) (Entered: 12/01/2003)	PACER
6	Dec. 9, 2003	ANSWER to Complaint by ERNST & YOUNG, LLP w/cert of servixe attached (jd) (Entered: 12/10/2003)	PACER
7	Dec. 9, 2003	Corporate Disclosure STATEMENT by ERNST & YOUNG, LLP (jd) (Entered: 12/10/2003)	PACER
8	Dec. 9, 2003	ORDER granting [3-1] motion to intervene by JILL FITZPATRICK; terminating [3-2] hearing Motion set for 12/8/03 on [3-1] motion ( signed by Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton ) (NM) (jd) (Entered: 12/10/2003)	PACER
9	Dec. 19, 2003	ORDER, setting scheduling conference for 11:00 3/26/04 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton ) (NM) (jd) (Entered: 12/19/2003)	PACER
10	Dec. 24, 2003	Intervenor's COMPLAINT w/jury demand by JILL FITZPATRICK against ERNST & YOUNG, LLP, Peter Cahill and Beatrice Fernandez (jd) (Entered: 12/24/2003)	PACER
11	Dec. 29, 2003	Amended ORDER, setting scheduling conference for 11:00 3/26/04 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton ) (NM) (jd) Modified on 12/29/2003 (Entered: 12/29/2003)	PACER
	Jan. 9, 2004	Summons Issued as to PETER CAHILL, ERNST & YOUNG, LLP, BEATRICE FERNANDEZ.(Intervenor)Days Due - 20.(Directly to Counsel) (MD, ) (Entered: 01/09/2004)	PACER
12	Jan. 12, 2004	MOTION for pro hac vice admission of Marcia E. Goodman and Maritoni D. Kane by ERNST & YOUNG, LLP. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of Patrick C. Brady# 2 declaration of Maritoni D. Kane# 3 Declaration of Marcia E. Goodman# 4 prposed order# 5 cert of service)(jd, ) (Entered: 01/13/2004)	PACER
	Jan. 12, 2004	Set Deadlines as to 12 MOTION for pro hac vice admission Motion Hearing set for 2/9/2004 10:00 AM in Newark - Courtroom 2D before Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton. (jd, ) (Entered: 01/13/2004)	PACER
13	Jan. 20, 2004	ORDER granting re 12 MOTION for pro hac vice admission of Marcia E.Goodman and Maritoni D. Kane filed by ERNST & YOUNG, LLP. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 1/20/04. (jd, ) (Entered: 01/26/2004)	PACER
14	Jan. 22, 2004	ORDER vacating the order granting the motion to intervene, filed by Jill Fitzpatrick and entered on 12/9/03. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 1/22/04. (jd, ) (Entered: 01/27/2004)	PACER
15	Feb. 13, 2004	SCHEDULING ORDER: Settlement Conference set for 3/31/2004 12:30 PM in Newark - Courtroom 2D before Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton. Discovery due by 8/30/2004; etc.. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 1/13/04. (sr, ) (Entered: 02/17/2004)	PACER
16	Feb. 13, 2004	MOTION to Intervene w/brief and cert of service attached by JILL FITZPATRICK. (jd, ) (Entered: 02/25/2004)	PACER
17	Feb. 27, 2004	BRIEF in partial Opposition re 16 MOTION to Intervene filed by ERNST & YOUNG, LLP. (jd, ) (Entered: 03/02/2004)	PACER
18	March 2, 2004	Letter-BRIEF w/proposed complaint in intervention attached filed by JILL FITZPATRICK. (jd, ) (Entered: 03/04/2004)	PACER
19	March 31, 2004	ORDER Status Conference set for 7/13/2004 02:30 PM before Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton.. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 3/31/04. (jd, ) (Entered: 04/01/2004)	PACER
20	April 12, 2004	ORDER granting 16 Motion to Intervene . Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 4/12/04. (jd, ) (Entered: 04/13/2004)	PACER
21	April 26, 2004	Second Intervenor COMPLAINT agst Ernst & Young, LLP and Beatrice Fernandez; jury demand , filed by JILL FITZPATRICK.(jd, ) (Entered: 04/26/2004)	PACER
22	June 11, 2004	WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by ERNST & YOUNG, LLP. EQUAL EMPOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION waiver sent on 6/7/2004, answer due 8/6/2004. (GILL, CYNTHIA) (Entered: 06/11/2004)	PACER
23	June 11, 2004	WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by BEATRICE FERNANDEZ. EQUAL EMPOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION waiver sent on 6/7/2004, answer due 8/6/2004. (GILL, CYNTHIA) (Entered: 06/11/2004)	PACER
24	June 25, 2004	ANSWER to Intervenor Complaint by ERNST & YOUNG, LLP, BEATRICE FERNANDEZ.(BIGOSINSKI, THOMAS) (Entered: 06/25/2004)	PACER
25	July 7, 2004	ORDER Status Conference set for 9/13/2004 10:30 AM before Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton. The conference scheduled for 7/13/04 is canceled. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 7/6/04. (jd, ) (Entered: 07/07/2004)	PACER
26	Sept. 13, 2004	ORDER Settlement Conference set for 10/15/2004 12:30 PM before Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton.. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 9/13/04. (jd, ) (Entered: 09/13/2004)	PACER
	Sept. 13, 2004	Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Susan D. Wigenton : Telephone Status Conference held on 9/13/2004. (em, ) (Entered: 09/13/2004)	PACER
	Oct. 15, 2004	Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Susan D. Wigenton : Settlement Conference held on 10/15/2004. (em, ) (Entered: 10/18/2004)	PACER
27	Oct. 18, 2004	ORDER Discovery due by 12/30/2004. Final Pretrial Conference set for 3/23/2005 12:00 PM before Magistrate Judge Susan D. Wigenton, etc.. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 10/15/04. (sr, ) (Entered: 10/18/2004)	PACER
28	Nov. 23, 2004	PROTECTIVE ORDER is to limit the disclosure of confidential information produced during discovery to the parties and certain other necessary persons as described herein. etc.. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 11/17/04. (JB, ) (Entered: 11/24/2004)	PACER
29	Dec. 27, 2004	ORDER DISMISSING CASE as settled, w/out prejudice and w/out costs. Signed by Judge William H. Walls on 12/27/04. (jd, ) (Entered: 12/27/2004)	PACER
30	Jan. 26, 2005	ORDER that the order of dismissal entered 1/5/05 is hereby Modified. The parties are granted an extension of time, until 2/24/05 in which to consummate the settlement, etc.. Signed by Judge William H. Walls on 1/24/05. (jd, ) (Entered: 01/27/2005)	PACER
31	Feb. 17, 2005	APPLICATION/Motion for dismissal, w/prejudice any and all claims agst deft Beatrice Fernandez for by JILL FITZPATRICK. (jd, ) (Entered: 02/18/2005)	PACER
32	Feb. 17, 2005	ORDER that any and all claims in the Second Complaint in Intervention agst deft Beatrice Fernandez be dismissed w/prejudice, etc.. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 2/15/05. (jd, ) (Entered: 02/18/2005)	PACER
33	Feb. 17, 2005	APPLICATION/Motion for dismissal w/prejudice any and all claims agst deft Ernst & Young LLP by JILL FITZPATRICK. (jd, ) (Entered: 02/18/2005)	PACER
34	Feb. 22, 2005	SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT Consent Decree by EQUAL EMPOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. (COOK, TERRENCE) (Entered: 02/22/2005)	PACER
35	Feb. 23, 2005	ORDER dismissing w/prejudice any and all claims in the Second Complaint in Intervention agst deft Ernst & Young LLP . Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 2/23/05. (jd, ) (Entered: 02/24/2005)	PACER
36	March 4, 2005	ORDER/CONSENT DECREE; case is dimissed w/prejudice, subject to this court's jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Consent Decree, etc. . Signed by Judge William H. Walls on 3/3/05. (jd, ) (Entered: 03/04/2005)	PACER