Case: EEOC v. Barnhill's Buffet

3:01-cv-00210 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Filed Date: June 29, 2001

Closed Date: 2002

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In June 2001, the EEOC's Little Rock Area Office (with participation from the Memphis District Office) brought this suit against Barnhill's Buffet, Inc., d/b/a Barnhill's Country Buffet, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas alleging discrimination on the basis of race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the charging party, a black employee, complained to her manager that her hours were being reduced because of her race, and the de…

In June 2001, the EEOC's Little Rock Area Office (with participation from the Memphis District Office) brought this suit against Barnhill's Buffet, Inc., d/b/a Barnhill's Country Buffet, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas alleging discrimination on the basis of race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the charging party, a black employee, complained to her manager that her hours were being reduced because of her race, and the defendant then retaliated against her for her complaint by terminating her. The parties participated in a settlement conference in March 2002 which resulted in a settlement in April 2002 through a consent decree.

The two-year decree contained non-discrimination and non-retaliation provisions and required the defendant to pay the charging party $29,000. In addition, the defendant agreed to: post a Title VII poster, provide the charging party with a neutral reference, and provide Title VII training for its supervisors and managers.

Summary Authors

Michele Marxkors (6/11/2007)

People

Judge(s)

Forster, John F. Jr. (Arkansas)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:01-cv-00210

Docket

April 5, 2002

April 5, 2002

Docket
1

3:01-cv-00210

Complaint

June 29, 2001

June 29, 2001

Complaint
10

3:01-cv-00210

Consent Decree

April 5, 2002

April 5, 2002

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2025, 8:16 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT w/jury demand, no summons issued (tlw) Modified on 07/30/2001 (Entered: 06/29/2001)

June 29, 2001

June 29, 2001

2

WAIVER OF SERVICE OF SUMMONS upon defendant Barnhill's Buffet on 7/10/01; ans ddl set for 9/08/01. (mkf) (Entered: 07/24/2001)

July 24, 2001

July 24, 2001

3

ANSWER by deft Barnhill's Buffet; no jury demand (jct) (Entered: 09/07/2001)

Sept. 7, 2001

Sept. 7, 2001

4

INITIAL SCHEDULING ORDER (DOC): Rule 26(f) report due 11/29/01; Rule 16(b) conference, if needed, will be 12:45 p.m. on 12/4/01 (cc: all counsel) (jct) (Entered: 09/19/2001)

Sept. 19, 2001

Sept. 19, 2001

5

RULE 26(f) REPORT filed by all parties (tlw) (Entered: 11/28/2001)

Nov. 28, 2001

Nov. 28, 2001

6

FINAL SCHEDULING ORDER by Chief Judge Susan W. Wright; jury trial set for 1:30 on 7/22/02 in Jonesboro; discovery due 5/10/02; pretrial info sheet due 6/21/02. (cc: all counsel) (mkf) Modified on 12/03/2001 (Entered: 12/03/2001)

Dec. 3, 2001

Dec. 3, 2001

7

PROTECTIVE ORDER by Chief Judge Susan W. Wright with regard to discovery responses by defendant containing information about deft's employees and former employees. (cc: all counsel) (mkf) (Entered: 12/06/2001)

Dec. 6, 2001

Dec. 6, 2001

8

ORDER by Chief Judge Susan W. Wright referring the matter of a settlement conference to Magistrate Judge John F. Forster, Jr. (cc: all counsel) (tlw) (Entered: 02/19/2002)

Feb. 19, 2002

Feb. 19, 2002

9

ORDER (DOC) scheduling a settlement conference for 3/07/02 at 10:00 a.m. before Magistrate Forster in Little Rock, AR Settlement/Obj Hrg set for 10:00 a.m. on 3/7/02 (cc: all counsel by C. Norwood) (tlw) (Entered: 02/21/2002)

Feb. 21, 2002

Feb. 21, 2002

CLERK'S MINUTES: settlement conference held before Judge Forster in LR; William Cash, Terry Beck and Pam Dixon present with pltf; Kathy Graves present for dft; settlement reached and read into the record; ERO Cecilia Norwood (mcn) Modified on 03/12/2002 (Entered: 03/12/2002)

March 7, 2002

March 7, 2002

10

CONSENT DECREE by Chief Judge Susan W. Wright directing deft to deliver $29,000 to Brenda L. Jones within 10 days of this order and directing deft to provide a neutral reference to any potential employers of Brenda L. Jones; each of the parties shall bear their own costs, including attorneys' fees terminating case (cc: all counsel) (tlw) (Entered: 04/05/2002)

April 5, 2002

April 5, 2002

Case Details

State / Territory: Arkansas

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 29, 2001

Closing Date: 2002

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

Barnhill's Buffet, Inc. (Jonesboro, AR), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Monetary Relief

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Neutral/Positive Reference

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Amount Defendant Pays: 29000

Order Duration: 2002 - 2004

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

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

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Disparate Treatment

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Black

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits