Case: EEOC v. NORWEGIAN AMERICAN HOSPITAL

1:03-cv-02360 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: April 7, 2003

Closed Date: Jan. 24, 2005

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In April 2003, the EEOC's Chicago District Office brought this suit against Norwegian American Hospital in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint alleged that the defendant subjected the charging party, a female employee, to a hostile work environment because of her religion, Islam, by making offensive religious comments to her and subjecting her to different terms and conditions of employment…

In April 2003, the EEOC's Chicago District Office brought this suit against Norwegian American Hospital in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint alleged that the defendant subjected the charging party, a female employee, to a hostile work environment because of her religion, Islam, by making offensive religious comments to her and subjecting her to different terms and conditions of employment. In addition, the defendant retaliated against the charging party for reporting the religious discrimination. The parties began negotiating a settlement in February 2004 and reached a final agreement in January 2005.

Under the terms of the eighteen-month decree, which contained both non-discrimination and non-retaliation clauses, the defendant agreed to: pay the charging party $40,000; post an EEOC-provided notice; maintain records of all religious discrimination complaints; provide semi-annual written reports to the EEOC; provide Title VII training to the Human Resource Director, Vice President of Patient Services, and all certified midwives; and distribute an anti-discrimination policy regarding religious discrimination to all employees.

Summary Authors

Michele Marxkors (6/4/2007)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:03-cv-02360

Docket

EEOC v. Norwegian American Hospital

Jan. 24, 2005

Jan. 24, 2005

Docket
1

1:03-cv-02360

Complaint

EEOC v. Norwegian American Hospital

April 7, 2003

April 7, 2003

Complaint

2003 WL 23667815

EEOC Press Release

EEOC v. Norwegian American Hospital

No Court

April 7, 2003

April 7, 2003

Press Release
21

1:03-cv-02360

Consent Decree

EEOC v. Norwegian American Hospital

Jan. 24, 2005

Jan. 24, 2005

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 23, 2025, 9:23 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT; jury demand - Civil cover sheet - Appearance(s) of Lauren G. Dreilinger, Noelle Christine Brennan, John C. Hendrickson as attorney(s) for plaintiff (No summons(es) issued.) (Documents: 1-1 through 1-3) (hp) (Entered: 04/08/2003)

April 7, 2003

April 7, 2003

2

WAIVER of service of summons as to defendant sent on 4/21/03 (ntf) (Entered: 05/23/2003)

May 22, 2003

May 22, 2003

3

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendant by Tom H. Luetkemeyer, Linda Kay Horras (ntf) (Entered: 06/06/2003)

June 5, 2003

June 5, 2003

4

ANSWER by defendant to complaint [1-1]. (ntf) (Entered: 06/06/2003)

June 5, 2003

June 5, 2003

5

WAIVER of service of summons as to defendant sent on 4/21/03 (ntf) (Entered: 06/10/2003)

June 9, 2003

June 9, 2003

7

MOTION by plaintiff to quash subpoenas ; Memorandum in support; (Attachments); Notice (ntf) (Entered: 10/06/2003)

Sept. 19, 2003

Sept. 19, 2003

6

RESPONSE by defendant to EEOC's motion to quash (Attachments). (ntf) (Entered: 09/25/2003)

Sept. 25, 2003

Sept. 25, 2003

9

MOTION by defendant for leave to amend affirmative defenses ; Notice (ntf) (Entered: 10/17/2003)

Oct. 7, 2003

Oct. 7, 2003

10

MINUTE ORDER of 10/14/03 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Defendant's motion for leave to amend affirmative defenses is granted [9-1]. Telephoned notice (ntf) (Entered: 10/17/2003)

Oct. 14, 2003

Oct. 14, 2003

11

ANSWER and amended affirmative defenses by defendant to complaint [1-1]; Notice. (ntf) (Entered: 10/21/2003)

Oct. 20, 2003

Oct. 20, 2003

12

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for plaintiff by Richard John Mrizek; Notice. (ntf) (Entered: 11/06/2003)

Nov. 5, 2003

Nov. 5, 2003

13

WITHDRAWAL by plaintiff of appearance of Noell C. Brennan; Notice. (ntf) (Entered: 12/04/2003)

Dec. 3, 2003

Dec. 3, 2003

14

MINUTE ORDER of 12/10/03 by Hon. James B. Zagel: The appearance of Noelle C. Brennan is withdrawn on behalf of plaintiff. withdrawing attorney oelle Christine Brennan for EEOC Mailed notice (vmj) (Entered: 12/11/2003)

Dec. 10, 2003

Dec. 10, 2003

SCHEDULE set on 1/6/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Status hearing held and continued to 10:00 2/3/04 . No notice (drw) (Entered: 01/06/2004)

Jan. 6, 2004

Jan. 6, 2004

SCHEDULE set on 2/3/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Status hearing held and continued to 10:00 2/17/04 . Settlement offer made. No notice (drw) (Entered: 02/03/2004)

Feb. 3, 2004

Feb. 3, 2004

SCHEDULE set on 2/17/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Status hearing reset to 10:00 3/16/04 . No notice (drw) (Entered: 02/17/2004)

Feb. 17, 2004

Feb. 17, 2004

15

REFERRAL ORDER: Case referred to Hon. Arlander Keys for settlement conference Mailed notice. (tlp) (Entered: 03/16/2004)

March 16, 2004

March 16, 2004

SCHEDULE set on 3/16/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Status hearing held and continued to 10:00 4/26/04 . This case is referred to Magistrate Judge Keys for settlement conference. No notice (tlp) (Entered: 03/16/2004)

March 16, 2004

March 16, 2004

16

MINUTE ORDER of 3/23/04 by Hon. Arlander Keys : Settlement conference set for 5/7/04 at 10:00 a.m. All parties are to be represented at the settlement conference by an individual (other than their attorneys) with full authority to settle. The parties are to exchange (but not file) written settlement offers, copies of which are to be submitted to the court by 05/03/04. Mailed notice (ntf) (Entered: 03/25/2004)

March 23, 2004

March 23, 2004

SCHEDULE set on 4/20/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Status hearing reset to 10:00 5/20/04 from 4/26/04. Mailed notice (drw) (Entered: 04/20/2004)

April 20, 2004

April 20, 2004

17

MINUTE ORDER of 4/30/04 by Hon. Arlander Keys : Settlement conference set for 05/07/04 at 10:00 a.m. is reset to 5/26/04 at 1:30 p.m. All parties are to be represented at the settlement conference by an individual (other than their attorneys) with full authority to settle. The parties are to exchange (but not file) written settlement offers, copies of which are to be submitted to the court by 05/21/04. Mailed notice (ntf) (Entered: 05/04/2004)

April 30, 2004

April 30, 2004

SCHEDULE set on 5/19/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Status hearing reset to 10:00 6/14/04 from 5-20-04. Telephone notice (drw) (Entered: 05/19/2004)

May 19, 2004

May 19, 2004

18

MINUTE ORDER of 5/26/04 by Hon. Arlander Keys : Settlement conference held. The case settled; the terms of which were stated on the record. The parties are scheduled for status before the district judge on 06/14/04. The settlement agreement will include a consent decree. All matters relating to the referral of this action having been resolved, the case is returned to the assigned judge Terminating the case referral to Hon. Arlander Keys . Mailed notice (ntf) (Entered: 06/02/2004)

May 26, 2004

May 26, 2004

SCHEDULE set on 6/14/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Status hearing reset to 10:00 7/14/04 . No notice (drw) (Entered: 06/14/2004)

June 14, 2004

June 14, 2004

19

MINUTE ORDER of 7/13/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : This case is dismissed with prejudice and without costs by agreement terminating case . Mailed notice (ntf) (Entered: 07/21/2004)

July 13, 2004

July 13, 2004

SCHEDULE set on 7/13/04 by Hon. James B. Zagel : Status hearing set for 7-14-04 is stricken. Case is settled. Telephone notice (drw) (Entered: 07/13/2004)

July 13, 2004

July 13, 2004

20

MINUTE entry before Judge James B. Zagel: Enter consent decree. (ntf, ) (Entered: 02/02/2005)

Jan. 24, 2005

Jan. 24, 2005

21

CONSENT DECREE Signed by Judge James B. Zagel on 1/24/2005: (ntf, ) (Entered: 02/03/2005)

Jan. 24, 2005

Jan. 24, 2005

Case Details

State / Territory:

Illinois

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 7, 2003

Closing Date: Jan. 24, 2005

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

Norwegian American Hospital

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Illinois 1:03-cv-02360

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:

Discrimination Prohibition

Neutral/Positive Reference

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Recordkeeping

Reporting

Retaliation Prohibition

Amount Defendant Pays: 40000

Order Duration: 2005 - 2006

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

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

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Religion discrimination

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Recommended Citation