Case: EEOC v. PATTERSON COMPANIES INC

6:04-cv-01423 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Filed Date: Sept. 28, 2004

Closed Date: 2008

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In September 2004, the Tampa and Miami offices of the EEOC brought this Title VII suit against Patterson Companies, Inc. and Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The complaint alleged that the defendant subjected the claimant to sexual harassment and retaliation because of her sex. More specifically, one of the claimant's co-workers sexually harassed the claimant and the defendant did not take prompt corrective action for harassment that …
In September 2004, the Tampa and Miami offices of the EEOC brought this Title VII suit against Patterson Companies, Inc. and Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The complaint alleged that the defendant subjected the claimant to sexual harassment and retaliation because of her sex. More specifically, one of the claimant's co-workers sexually harassed the claimant and the defendant did not take prompt corrective action for harassment that they were aware or should have been aware of its occurrence. The defendant retaliated against the claimant for complaining of the sexual harassment by placing her on a "performance plan" which caused her constructive discharge. The case settled by entry of a consent decree in December 2005. The three year consent decree required the defendant to refrain from discrimination and retaliation; establish a written policy against sexual harassment; provide training for all of its employees; post notice of the defendant's compliance with Title VII; keep all employment and/or investigative records relating to any complaint of sexual harassment; give the EEOC annual reports on compliance with the decree; and pay the claimant $150,000 in back pay, damages, and attorney's fees.The docket sheet does not show any further enforcement took place; the case was presumably closed in 2008.

Summary Authors

Kevin Wilemon (6/18/2007)

Clearinghouse (6/10/2017)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14089263/parties/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-patterson-companies-inc/


Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

6:04-cv-01423

Docket (PACER)

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Patterson Companies, Inc.

Dec. 5, 2005

Dec. 5, 2005

Docket
1

6:04-cv-01423

Complaint

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Patterson Companies Inc. f/k/a Patterson Dental Company d/b/a Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Sept. 28, 2004

Sept. 28, 2004

Complaint
8

6:04-cv-01423

Amended Complaint

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Patterson Companies Inc. f/k/a Patterson Dental Company, and Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Nov. 22, 2004

Nov. 22, 2004

Complaint
13

6:04-cv-01423

Amended Complaint [Terri Wallace]

U.S. EEOC and Terri Wallace v. Patterson Companies Inc. f/k/a Patterson Dental Company, and Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Dec. 23, 2004

Dec. 23, 2004

Complaint
41

6:04-cv-01423

Consent Decree

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Terri Wallace v. Patterson Companies Inc. d/b/a Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Dec. 5, 2005

Dec. 5, 2005

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14089263/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-patterson-companies-inc/

Last updated Sept. 17, 2026, 11:06 p.m.

Docket for: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Patterson Companies, Inc.
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Sept. 28, 2004

COMPLAINT against Patterson Companies, Inc.; jury demand filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.(JRM) (Entered: 09/29/2004)

PACER
2 Sept. 29, 2004

Summons issued as to Patterson Companies, Inc. (JRM) (Entered: 09/29/2004)

PACER
3 Oct. 10, 2004

RELATED CASE ORDER AND NOTICE of designation under Local Rule 3.05 - track 2 Notice of pendency of other actions due within 11 days from the date of this order. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 10/5/04. (DJD, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 10/20/2004 (AKJ, ). Modified on 10/20/2004 to delete wrong document and add the correct one(AKJ, ). (Entered: 10/10/2004)

PACER
4 Oct. 10, 2004

INTERESTED PERSONS ORDER Certificate of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement due within 11 days from the date of this order. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 10/5/04. (DJD, ) (Entered: 10/10/2004)

PACER
5 Oct. 14, 2004

CERTIFICATE of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 10/14/2004)

PACER
6 Oct. 14, 2004

NOTICE of pendency of other actions re order of compliance to Local Rule by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Related case(s): No (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 10/14/2004)

PACER
7 Oct. 26, 2004

MOTION to intervene by Terri Wallace. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit "A" Intervenor Complaint with Intervenor Plaintiff Exhibit "A"# 2 Exhibit "B" Letter of Determination)(Wedmore, Andrew) (Entered: 10/26/2004)

PACER
8 Nov. 22, 2004

AMENDED COMPLAINT Adding Defendant against all defendants, filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.(Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 11/22/2004)

Clearinghouse
9 Nov. 23, 2004

ORDER granting 7 Motion to intervene. Intervenor is instructed to file complaint as a document and not an attachment to motion. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 11/23/2004. (EMW) (Entered: 11/23/2004)

PACER
10 Nov. 26, 2004

Summons issued as to Patterson Companies, Inc., Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. (JRM) (Entered: 11/26/2004)

PACER
11 Dec. 14, 2004

INTERESTED PERSONS ORDER. Certificate of interested persons due by Terri Wallace within 11 days from the date of this order. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 12/14/2004. (DJD, ) (Entered: 12/14/2004)

PACER
12 Dec. 20, 2004

RETURN of service unexecuted by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as to Patterson Companies, Inc. (IGC) (Entered: 12/20/2004)

PACER
13 Dec. 23, 2004

AMENDED COMPLAINT against all defendants, filed by Terri Wallace (jury demand) (Wedmore, Andrew). (Entered: 12/23/2004)

Clearinghouse
14 Dec. 23, 2004

CERTIFICATE of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement by Terri Wallace re 4 Interested Persons Order. (Wedmore, Andrew) Modified on 12/27/2004 (IGC). (Entered: 12/23/2004)

PACER
15 Dec. 23, 2004

NOTICE of pendency of other actions re order of compliance to Local Rule by Terri Wallace Related case(s): no: re 3 Related Case Order (Wedmore, Andrew) Modified on 12/27/2004 (IGC). (Entered: 12/23/2004)

PACER
16 Dec. 23, 2004

RETURN of service executed on 12/15/04 by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as to Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., by Service on Anne Boutilier at CT Corporation. (JET) (Entered: 12/27/2004)

PACER
17 Jan. 3, 2005

RETURN of service executed on 12/21/04 by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as to Patterson Companies, Inc. (JRM) (Entered: 01/03/2005)

PACER
18 Jan. 4, 2005

ANSWER to amended complaint and Statement of Affirmative Defenses by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc..(Brown, Lori) (Entered: 01/04/2005)

PACER
19 Jan. 4, 2005

NOTICE of pendency of other actions re order of compliance to Local Rule by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. Related case(s): No (Brown, Lori) (Entered: 01/04/2005)

PACER
20 Jan. 4, 2005

CERTIFICATE of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.. (Brown, Lori) (Entered: 01/04/2005)

PACER
21 Jan. 10, 2005

ANSWER to amended complaint by Patterson Companies, Inc..(Martin, Patrick) (Entered: 01/10/2005)

PACER
22 Jan. 10, 2005

NOTICE of pendency of other actions re order of compliance to Local Rule by Patterson Companies, Inc. Related case(s): No (Martin, Patrick) (Entered: 01/10/2005)

PACER
23 Jan. 14, 2005

CERTIFICATE of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement by Patterson Companies, Inc. re: 4 Interested Persons Order (Martin, Patrick) Modified on 1/18/2005 (IGC). (Entered: 01/14/2005)

PACER
24 Jan. 26, 2005

Unopposed MOTION to Attend The Case Management Conference Via Telephone by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., Patterson Companies, Inc.. (Martin, Patrick) (Entered: 01/26/2005)

PACER
25 Jan. 26, 2005

ENDORSED ORDER granting 24 Motion to Attend Case Management Conference by Telephone. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 1/26/2005. (EMW) (Entered: 01/26/2005)

PACER
26 Jan. 28, 2005

MOTION unopposed To Attend Case Management Conference Via Telephone by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 01/28/2005)

PACER
27 Jan. 28, 2005

ENDORSED ORDER granting 26 Motion to attend case management conference by telephone. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 1/28/2005. (EMW) (Entered: 01/28/2005)

PACER
28 Feb. 11, 2005

NOTICE of unavailability of counsel byPatterson Dental Supply, Inc., Patterson Companies, Inc. from 03-30-05 to 04-01-05. (Brown, Lori) (Entered: 02/11/2005)

PACER
29 Feb. 14, 2005

CASE MANAGEMENT REPORT. (Wedmore, Andrew) (Entered: 02/14/2005)

PACER
30 Feb. 15, 2005

CASE MANAGEMENT AND SCHEDULING ORDER. Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 2/15/2005. (EMW) (Entered: 02/15/2005)

PACER
32 March 4, 2005

NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Scheduling Mediation for 9/15/05 with Jay Cohen, Mediator. (Von Greiff, Carla) Modified on 3/7/2005 (JRM) (Entered: 03/04/2005)

PACER
33 March 21, 2005

ANSWER to amended complaint by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., Patterson Companies, Inc..(Martin, Patrick) (Entered: 03/21/2005)

PACER
34 April 4, 2005

NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Substitution of Counsel (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 04/04/2005)

PACER
35 April 18, 2005

NOTICE of unavailability of counsel byEqual Employment Opportunity Commission from May 27, 2005 to June 13, 2005. (Von Greiff, Carla) Modified on 4/19/2005 (JRM). (Incorrect document attached; attorney refiling) (Entered: 04/18/2005)

PACER
36 April 19, 2005

NOTICE of unavailability of counsel byEqual Employment Opportunity Commission from May 27, 2005 to June 13, 2005. (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 04/19/2005)

PACER
37 Aug. 16, 2005

NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Withdrawal of Michael Farrell As Counsel of Record (Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 08/16/2005)

PACER
38 Aug. 17, 2005

ORDER granting 37 motion to withdraw. Attorney Michael Farrell is no longer counsel of record in this case.Signed by Judge Karla R. Spaulding on 8/17/2005. (SDT) (Entered: 08/17/2005)

PACER
40 Nov. 25, 2005

NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of Filing Consent Decree (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A Consent Decree)(Von Greiff, Carla) (Entered: 11/25/2005)

PACER
41 Dec. 5, 2005

Consent Decree.Signed by Judge John Antoon II on 12/5/2005. (EMW) (Entered: 12/05/2005)

Clearinghouse

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: Sept. 28, 2004

Closing Date: 2008

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

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

Plaintiff Type(s):

EEOC Plaintiff

Private 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

Patterson Companies, Inc.

Patterson Dental Supply, Inc.

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State Anti-Discrimination Law

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

Other Dockets:

Middle District of Florida 6:04-cv-01423

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

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Recordkeeping

Reporting

Retaliation Prohibition

Amount Defendant Pays: 150000

Order Duration: 2005 - 2008

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

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

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit

Recommended Citation