Case: EEOC v. MEARS TRANSPORTATION GROUP, INC., and A-1 LIQUIDAT

1:97-cv-04375 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Filed Date: Dec. 23, 1997

Closed Date: July 14, 1999

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Case Summary

The EEOC's Miami district office sued Mears Transportation Group, Inc., a Florida personal transportation company, and A-1 Liquidating Corporation, a Florida corporation, on December 23, 1997 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The EEOC's claim alleged that these two companies violated Title VII when they discriminated against her based on sex (female) when the company paid for one hotel room and told her to share it with a male driver or purchase her own and when it failed to rehire her in retaliation for her filing a claim with the EEOC. A-1 filed a motion to dismiss the alleged act of discrimination in July 1998, which was not resolved. The parties were referred to mediation in August 1998, which resulted in settlement between all of the parties. The EEOC and A-1 entered into a consent decree on March 11, 1999, while the EEOC and Mears entered into a consent decree on July 14, 1999.

The A-1 consent decree stipulated that A-1 would refrain from discriminating in the future, train its employees in Title VII compliance, post a notice of compliance with Title VII, monitor any complaints of discrimination, and that A-1's president would attend EEOC training. Furthermore, the decree provided for $10,000 in damages to be paid to the aggrieved employee. The Mears consent decree was essentially the same as the A-1 consent decree and also required Mears to pay $10,000 in damages for the aggrieved employee, but did not require the Mears president to attend special training.

Summary Authors

Justin Kanter (6/1/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/10910834/parties/equal-employment-v-mears-transportation/

Judge(s)

Moore, Kevin Michael (Florida)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Henderson, Kelly James (Florida)

Attorney for Defendant

Cabada, Ramon De (Florida)

Cox, Joyce Ackerbaum (Florida)

Fernandez, George Louis (Florida)

Judge(s)

Moore, Kevin Michael (Florida)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Henderson, Kelly James (Florida)

Attorney for Defendant

Cabada, Ramon De (Florida)

Cox, Joyce Ackerbaum (Florida)

Fernandez, George Louis (Florida)

Shaughnessy, Kevin William (Florida)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1:97-cv-04375	Docket (PACER) Equal Employment v. Mears Transportation	July 14, 1999	July 14, 1999 Docket
1 1:97-cv-04375	Complaint Equal Employment v. Mears Transportation	Dec. 23, 1997	Dec. 23, 1997 Complaint
37 1:97-cv-04375	Order Equal Employment v. Mears Transportation	Sept. 28, 1998	Sept. 28, 1998 Order/Opinion
53 1:97-cv-04375	Consent Decree Equal Employment v. Mears Transportation	March 10, 1999	March 10, 1999 Settlement Agreement
58 1:97-cv-04375	Consent Decree Equal Employment v. Mears Transportation	July 14, 1999	July 14, 1999 Settlement Agreement

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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/10910834/equal-employment-v-mears-transportation/

Last updated Oct. 6, 2026, 9:15 p.m.

Docket for: Equal Employment v. Mears Transportation

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Dec. 23, 1997	COMPLAINT and juryu trail demand injunctive relief sought filed; FILING FEE waived; STB; A-7 (gz, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/29/1997)	RECAP
2	Dec. 23, 1997	SUMMONS(ES) issued for Mears Transportation (gz, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/29/1997)	RECAP
3	Dec. 23, 1997	SUMMONS(ES) issued for A-1 Liquidating Corp (gz, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/29/1997)	RECAP
	Dec. 23, 1997	Magistrate identification: Magistrate Judge Stephen T. Brown (gz, Deputy Clerk)
	Dec. 23, 1997	Magistrate identification: Magistrate Judge Stephen T. Brown (gz, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/29/1997)	PACER
4	April 2, 1998	SUMMONS(ES) issued for A-1 Liquidating Corp (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/07/1998)	RECAP
5	May 20, 1998	MOTION with memorandum in support by A-1 Liquidating Corp for Ramon de la Cabada to appear pro hac vice (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/22/1998)	RECAP
6	May 20, 1998	AFFIDAVIT of Ramon de la Cabada by A-1 Liquidating Corp Re: [5-1] motion for Ramon de la Cabada to appear pro hac vice (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/22/1998)	RECAP
	May 20, 1998	Filing Fee Paid; FILING FEE $ 75.00 RECEIPT # 692442 (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/22/1998)	PACER
	May 20, 1998	Filing Fee Paid; FILING FEE $ 75.00 RECEIPT # 692442 (lk, Deputy Clerk)
7	May 21, 1998	MOTION with memorandum in support by A-1 Liquidating Corp to dismiss this action for the failure of the plaintiff to obtain service of process within 120 days after the filing of the Complaint (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/28/1998)	RECAP
8	May 27, 1998	MOTION by Equal Employment for entry of default as to Mears Transportation (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/29/1998)	RECAP
9	May 27, 1998	AFFIDAVIT by Equal Employment Re: [8-1] motion for entry of default as to Mears Transportation (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/29/1998)	RECAP
10	June 1, 1998	ORDER granting [5-1] motion for Ramon de la Cabada to appear pro hac vice (signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 5/29/98) CCAP (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/03/1998)	RECAP
11	June 5, 1998	RESPONSE by Equal Employment to [7-1] motion to dismiss this action for the failure of the plaintiff to obtain service of process within 120 days after the filing of the Complaint (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/08/1998)	RECAP
12	June 5, 1998	NOTICE of withdrawal of motion for Clerk's entry of default by Equal Employment (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/08/1998)	RECAP
13	June 9, 1998	Answer and affirmative defenses by Mears Transportation (Attorney Kevin William Shaughnessy), (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/10/1998)	RECAP
14	June 22, 1998	MOTION with memorandum in support by A-1 Liquidating Corp for leave to file reply to plaintiff's request to extend 120 day service deadline [pldg in pod 1] (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/26/1998)	RECAP
15	June 26, 1998	OMNIBUS ORDER granting [14-1] motion for leave to file reply to plaintiff's request to extend 120 day service deadline, denying [7-1] motion to dismiss this action for the failure of the plaintiff to obtain service of process within 120 days after the filing of the Complaint ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 6/26/98) CCAP (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/08/1998)	RECAP
16	June 26, 1998	REPLY by A-1 Liquidating Corp to [11-1] motion response (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/09/1998)	RECAP
17	July 6, 1998	MOTION with memorandum in support by A-1 Liquidating Corp to dismiss the act of discrimination alleged by the plaintiff (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/16/1998)	RECAP
18	July 6, 1998	Answer and affirmative defenses by A-1 Liquidating Corp (tb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/17/1998)	RECAP
19	July 6, 1998	ORDER that counsel for all parties are directed to meet before 7/22/98 and file a scheduling report on or before 8/5/98 ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 7/3/98) CCAP (tb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/17/1998)	RECAP
20	July 16, 1998	MOTION with memorandum in support by Equal Employment to extend time to respond to motion to dismiss (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/22/1998)	RECAP
21	July 17, 1998	PRETRIAL ORDER filed: Scheduling Conference deadline: 8/6/98 Scheduling Meeting Report due 8/20/98 ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 7/17/98) CCAP (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/22/1998)	RECAP
22	Aug. 6, 1998	Case Scheduling Report of Scheduling Meeting by A-1 Liquidating Corp, Mears Transportation, Equal Employment 8/20/98 (wc, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/10/1998)	RECAP
23	Aug. 7, 1998	ORDER granting [20-1] motion to extend time to respond to motion to dismiss ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 8/6/98) CCAP (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/12/1998)	RECAP
24	Aug. 7, 1998	RESPONSE by Equal Employment to [17-1] motion to dismiss the act of discrimination alleged by the plaintiff (cp, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/14/1998)	RECAP
25	Aug. 14, 1998	INITIAL disclosure Witness list by Mears Transportation (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/18/1998)	RECAP
26	Aug. 18, 1998	NOTICE to take deposition duces tecum of Harriet Quarles 10/15/98 at 9:00 (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/20/1998)	RECAP
27	Aug. 21, 1998	ORDER REFERRING DISCOVERY MATTERS to Magistrate Judge Stephen T. Brown ( Signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 8/21/98) CCAP (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/26/1998)	RECAP
28	Aug. 21, 1998	ORDER referring case to mediation. 15 days to appoint mediator ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 8/21/98) CCAP (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/26/1998)	RECAP
29	Aug. 21, 1998	ORDER set Jury trial for 9:00 5/10/99 before Judge K. M. Moore, c set calendar call for 1:30 5/6/99, set pretrial conference for 9:00 4/26/99 ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 8/21/98) CCAP (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/26/1998)	RECAP
30	Aug. 25, 1998	MOTION with memorandum in support by A-1 Liquidating Corp to extend time to respond to plaintiff's response to defendant's motion to dismiss (tb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/28/1998)	RECAP
33	Aug. 27, 1998	ORDER granting [30-1] motion to extend time to respond to plaintiff's response to defendant's motion to dismiss Response to motion reset to 8/28/98 for [17-1] motion to dismiss the act of discrimination alleged by the plaintiff (signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 8/27/98) CCAP (ra, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/31/1998)	RECAP
31	Aug. 28, 1998	RESPONSE by A-1 Liquidating Corp to response to [17-1] motion to dismiss the act of discrimination alleged by the plaintiff (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/31/1998)	RECAP
32	Aug. 28, 1998	ORDER granting [30-1] motion to extend time to respond to plaintiff's response to defendant's motion to dismiss Response to motion reset to 8/31/98 for [17-1] motion to dismiss the act of discrimination alleged by the plaintiff ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 8/28/98) CCAP (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/31/1998)	RECAP
34	Aug. 28, 1998	AMENDED Rule 26 Initial Disclosure of by Equal Employment (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/01/1998)	RECAP
35	Sept. 9, 1998	NOTICE of Mediation Hearing on 2/5/99 Jay Cohen added as mediator (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/11/1998)	RECAP
36	Sept. 17, 1998	MOTION with memorandum in support by Mears Transportation to amend [29-4] order, or alternatively to continue trial (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/21/1998)	RECAP
37	Sept. 21, 1998	ORDER denying [36-1] motion to amend [29-4] order, denying [36-2] motion to continue trial ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 9/21/98) CCAP (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/28/1998)	RECAP
38	Sept. 23, 1998	MOTION with memorandum in support by Mears Transportation for Joyce Ackerbaum Cox to appear pro hac vice (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/30/1998)	RECAP
39	Sept. 23, 1998	AFFIDAVIT by Mears Transportation Re: [38-1] motion for Joyce Ackerbaum Cox to appear pro hac vice (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/30/1998)	RECAP
	Sept. 23, 1998	Filing Fee Paid; FILING FEE $ 75.00 RECEIPT # 698467 (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/30/1998)	PACER
	Sept. 23, 1998	Filing Fee Paid; FILING FEE $ 75.00 RECEIPT # 698467 (dg, Deputy Clerk)
40	Sept. 29, 1998	NOTICE of service of Defendant's first set of interogatories to Plaintiff by Mears Transportation (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/02/1998)	RECAP
41	Sept. 29, 1998	MOTION by Mears Transportation to production of documents (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/02/1998)	RECAP
42	Sept. 29, 1998	ORDER granting [38-1] motion for Joyce Ackerbaum Cox to appear pro hac vice ( signed by Judge Donald L. Graham on 9/29/98) CCAP (Former Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/02/1998)	RECAP
43	Dec. 7, 1998	AMNEDED NOTICE by A-1 Liquidating Corp to take deposition of Harriet Quarles 1/6/99 at 10:00 (tb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/09/1998)	RECAP
44	Dec. 7, 1998	AGREED MEDIATION NOTICE by A-1 Liquidating Corp, Mears Transportation, Equal Employment (tb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/09/1998)	RECAP
45	Dec. 11, 1998	2ND AMENDED NOTICE by A-1 Liquidating Corp to take deposition of Harriet Quarles on 1/13/99 at 10:00 (dg, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/14/1998)	RECAP
46	Dec. 29, 1998	JOINT MOTION with memorandum in support by A-1 Liquidating Corp to substitute Ramon de la Cabada as Attorney (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/30/1998)	RECAP
47	Jan. 4, 1999	ORDER granting [46-1] motion to substitute Ramon de la Cabada as Attorney (Terminated: attorney Ladd Hiram Fassett for A-1 Liquidating Corp Added: Ramon de la Cabada) ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 12/31/98) CCAP (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/07/1999)	RECAP
48	Jan. 15, 1999	THIRD AMENDED NOTICE by A-1 Liquidating Corp to take deposition of Harriet Quarles 2/5/99 at 10:00 (tb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/20/1999)	RECAP
49	Feb. 1, 1999	NOTICE by A-1 Liquidating Corp to take deposition duces tecum of Craige Jean 2/12/99 at 9:00 (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/04/1999)	RECAP
50	Feb. 1, 1999	NOTICE by A-1 Liquidating Corp to take deposition of Leonard Quarles 2/12/99 at 1:30 (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/04/1999)	RECAP
51	March 9, 1999	NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT filed by A-1 Liquidating Corp, Equal Employment (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/16/1999)	RECAP
52	March 11, 1999	ORDER granting [36-1] motion to amend [29-4] order, granting [36-2] motion to continue trial Jury trial for 8/30/99, setting pretrial conference for 9:00 8/16/99 ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 3/11/99) CCAP (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/16/1999)	RECAP
53	March 11, 1999	CONSENT DECREE (signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 3/11/99) CCAP (ra, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/18/1999)	RECAP
54	March 17, 1999	CONSENT ORDER each party shall bear its own costs and attorneys' fees. ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 3/17/99) CCAP (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/19/1999)	RECAP
55	March 17, 1999	ORDER denying as moot [17-1] motion to dismiss the act of discrimination alleged by the plaintiff. ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 3/17/99) CCAP (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/19/1999)	RECAP
56	April 28, 1999	ORDER OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE REASSIGNMENT transferring case to Magistrate Judge John J. O'Sullivan ( signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 4/28/99) CCAP (ra, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/30/1999)	RECAP
	April 28, 1999	Magistrate identification: Magistrate Judge John J. O'Sullivan (ra, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/30/1999)	PACER
	April 28, 1999	Magistrate identification: Magistrate Judge John J. O'Sullivan (ra, Deputy Clerk)
57	July 2, 1999	NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT filed by Mears Transportation, Equal Employment (lk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/08/1999)	RECAP
58	July 14, 1999	CONSENT DECREE (Signed by Judge K. M. Moore on 7/14/99) CCAP [EOD Date: 7/21/99] (ra, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/21/1999)	RECAP
	July 14, 1999	CASE CLOSED per [58-1]. Case and Motions no longer referred to Magistrate. (ra, Deputy Clerk)

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Florida

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 23, 1997

Closing Date: July 14, 1999

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, on behalf of one or more workers.

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

Private Entity/Person

A-1 Liquidating Corporation

Mears Transportation Group, Inc.

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Other Dockets:

Southern District of Florida 1:97-cv-04375

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Monetary Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Damages

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Discrimination Prohibition

Monitoring

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Recordkeeping

Reporting

Retaliation Prohibition

Amount Defendant Pays: 20000

Order Duration: 1999 - 2002

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)

Disparate Treatment

Hiring

Discrimination Basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of EEOC v. MEARS TRANSPORTATION GROUP, INC., and A-1 LIQUIDAT, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/5671/ (last updated 6/1/2007).