Case: EEOC v. Holiday Inn Huntsville

5:99-cv-02438 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

Filed Date: Sept. 14, 1999

Closed Date: Nov. 2, 2003

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Case Summary

In September 1999, the Birmingham District Office of the EEOC brought this suit against Charles W. "Woody" Anderson (d/b/a Holiday Inn Huntsville West, Hampton Inn Madison and Hampton Inn University) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. We do not have a copy of the complaint. However, it appears from the consent decree that the complaint alleged that the defendant terminated the charging party, a female employee, in retaliation for her complaints of sexual harassme…

In September 1999, the Birmingham District Office of the EEOC brought this suit against Charles W. "Woody" Anderson (d/b/a Holiday Inn Huntsville West, Hampton Inn Madison and Hampton Inn University) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. We do not have a copy of the complaint. However, it appears from the consent decree that the complaint alleged that the defendant terminated the charging party, a female employee, in retaliation for her complaints of sexual harassment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The defendant filed a motion to dismiss in November 1999 which was denied in early December. The charging party intervened in the suit that same month. After some scheduling orders, the parties settled in November 2000 through a consent decree.

The three-year decree, containing a non-retaliation clause, required the defendant to: post its anti-retaliation policy, distribute its EEO and sexual harassment policies, provide the charging party with a neutral employment reference, provide anti-retaliation training for all its employees, report to the EEOC on a semi-annual basis, and pay $70,545.

Summary Authors

Michele Marxkors (7/23/2007)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

5:99-cv-02438

Docket [PACER]

Nov. 2, 2000

Nov. 2, 2000

Docket
6

5:99-cv-02438

Order [Regarding Motion to Dismiss]

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

Order/Opinion
15

5:99-cv-02438

Order [Regarding Motion to Dismiss Jeannie Miller as a Defendant]

Jan. 27, 2000

Jan. 27, 2000

Order/Opinion
35

5:99-cv-02438

Consent Decree

Nov. 2, 2000

Nov. 2, 2000

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 20, 2024, 3:06 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed, amount paid $ wv, receipt # n/a (KAM) (Entered: 09/14/1999)

Sept. 14, 1999

Sept. 14, 1999

2

MOTION by intervenor-plaintiff Ingrid Watkins to intervene filed cs (w/complaint in intervention attach) (Former Employee) Modified on 10/22/1999 (Entered: 10/22/1999)

Oct. 21, 1999

Oct. 21, 1999

SUMMONS and complaint issued del to pla (Former Employee) (Entered: 10/26/1999)

Oct. 25, 1999

Oct. 25, 1999

3

SUMMONS and complaint returned executed: upon defendant Holiday Inn Huntsvil on 11/2/99 filed (KAM) (Entered: 11/10/1999)

Nov. 10, 1999

Nov. 10, 1999

4

ACCEPTANCE of service for defendant Holiday Inn Huntsvil by Michael L Fees, Allen L Anderson on 11/17/99 filed (KAM) (Entered: 11/23/1999)

Nov. 17, 1999

Nov. 17, 1999

5

MOTION by defendant Holiday Inn Huntsvil to dismiss , or, in the alternative for more definite statement filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 11/23/1999)

Nov. 22, 1999

Nov. 22, 1999

6

ORDER denying motion to dismiss [5-1], granting motion for more definite statement [5-2]; pla shall file an amended complaint by 12/21/99; granting motion of Ingrid Watkins to intervene [2-1] ; Pretrial scheduling conf set for 10:00 1/14/00 filed ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) cm (KAM) (Entered: 12/08/1999)

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

Clearinghouse
7

BRIEF by defendant Holiday Inn Huntsvil in support of motion to dismiss or in the alternative for more definite statement filed cs (deemed filed 11/22/99 - filed pursuant to order [6-1] (KAM) (Entered: 12/08/1999)

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

8

INTERVENOR complaint by Ingrid F. Watkins against Holiday Inn Huntsville, West and Jeannie Miller filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 12/08/1999)

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

9

AMENDED complaint filed by plaintiff EEOC [1-1]; jury demand filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 12/14/1999)

Dec. 14, 1999

Dec. 14, 1999

10

NOTICE of appearance for plaintiff EEOC by Pamela Karen Agee filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 12/15/1999)

Dec. 14, 1999

Dec. 14, 1999

11

ANSWER by intervenor-defendant Holiday Inn Huntsvil w/appear by atty(s) Michael L Fees, Allen L Anderson filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 12/29/1999)

Dec. 27, 1999

Dec. 27, 1999

12

ANSWER by defendant Holiday Inn Huntsvil w/appear by atty(s) filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 12/29/1999)

Dec. 27, 1999

Dec. 27, 1999

13

Report of Parties (form 35) of compliance with FRCP 26 filed (CJV) (Entered: 01/06/2000)

Jan. 6, 2000

Jan. 6, 2000

15

ORDER granting motion to dismiss Jeannie Miller as a dft [14-1] filed ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) cm (KAM) (Entered: 01/27/2000)

Jan. 27, 2000

Jan. 27, 2000

Clearinghouse

DOCKET modification (utility event) to dismiss party Jeannie Miller see order #15 dismissing Miller without prejudice (KAM) (Entered: 01/27/2000)

Jan. 27, 2000

Jan. 27, 2000

16

ORDER scheduling that certain time limits apply as set out in this order ;discovery cutoff 7/31/00 ;dispostive motions by 8/31/00; pretrial needed; mediation 5/22/00; jury trial set 9:00 10/16/00 in Huntsville, AL by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn entered cm (KAM) (Entered: 01/27/2000)

Jan. 27, 2000

Jan. 27, 2000

17

MOTION by plaintiff EEOC, intervenor-plaintiff Ingrid F Watkins for order for partial relief from the scheduling order filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 02/28/2000)

Feb. 28, 2000

Feb. 28, 2000

18

ORDER granting motion for order for partial relief from the scheduling order [17-1]; pla and intv pla may take 20 depositions and dft/intv dft may take 20 depositions; pla is allowed until 4/28/00 to add parties; dft is allowed until 5/29/00 filed ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) cm (KAM) (Entered: 03/01/2000)

March 1, 2000

March 1, 2000

19

MOTION by plaintiff EEOC to amend complaint to accurately name the dft filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 04/25/2000)

April 25, 2000

April 25, 2000

20

19 - ORDER granting motion to amend complaint to accurately name the dft [19-1] dismissing dfts Holiday Huntsvil, Holiday Inn Huntsvil ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) entered cm (DWC) (Entered: 04/26/2000)

April 26, 2000

April 26, 2000

21

AMENDED complaint filed by pla EEOC [9-1], [8-1], [1-1]; jury demand; adding dft Charles W "Woody" Anderson filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 04/26/2000)

April 26, 2000

April 26, 2000

22

MOTION by intvp Ingrid F Watkins to amend complaint to add Charles "Woody" Anderson, d/b/a Holiday Inn West, Hampton Inn Madison & Hampton Inn University as dft filed cs amended complaint atta (DWC) (Entered: 04/28/2000)

April 28, 2000

April 28, 2000

23

ANSWER by defendant Charles W "Woody" Anderson w/appear by atty(s) Michael L Fees, Allen L Anderson filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 05/10/2000)

May 9, 2000

May 9, 2000

24

22 - ORDER granting motion to amend complaint to add Charles "Woody" Anderson, d/b/a Holiday Inn West, Hampton Inn Madison & Hampton Inn University as dft [22-1] ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) entered cm (KAM) (Entered: 05/11/2000)

May 11, 2000

May 11, 2000

25

AMENDED complaint filed by plaintiff EEOC [21-1], [9-1], [8-1], [1-1]; jury demand filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 05/11/2000)

May 11, 2000

May 11, 2000

26

Notice of intervenor-plaintiff Ingrid F Watkins of filing of attorney time records in response to order # [16-1] w/sealed envelope of time records attached filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 05/16/2000)

May 15, 2000

May 15, 2000

27

ANSWER by defendant Charles W "Woody" Anderson w/appear by atty(s) filed cs (KAM) (Entered: 05/18/2000)

May 17, 2000

May 17, 2000

29

ORDER that this case is appropriate for mediation, parties are DIRECTED to proceed forthwith to select a mediator from the Court Panel of Neutrals in accord with the requirements of the Plan; written obj to the referral within (10) days fo the date of this Order; if no agreement reached, trial will proceed on 10/16/00, Huntsville, AL as further set out in this order filed ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) cm (DWC) (Entered: 05/25/2000)

May 25, 2000

May 25, 2000

30

ORDER that the parties have selected John Falkenberry as mediator in this case filed ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) cm (KAM) (Entered: 06/20/2000)

June 20, 2000

June 20, 2000

31

MOTION by pla EEOC to withdraw attorney Elizabeth J Hubertz filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 07/17/2000)

July 17, 2000

July 17, 2000

32

31 - ORDER granting motion to withdraw attorney Elizabeth J Hubertz [31-1] ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) entered cm (KAM) (Entered: 07/24/2000)

July 24, 2000

July 24, 2000

UTILITY event: terminates attorney Elizabeth J Hubertz for Charles W "Woody" Anderson (KAM) (Entered: 07/24/2000)

July 24, 2000

July 24, 2000

33

ORDER that Ingrid F. Watkins, Charles W. Woody Anderson and/or an authorized representative of the dft and a representative fo the EEOC, having all authority to enter into a binding settlement agreement, must personally attend the second mediation conference within the next 30 days filed ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) cm (KAM) (Entered: 08/11/2000)

Aug. 11, 2000

Aug. 11, 2000

34

ORDER that the court has been advised by counsel that this case has been settled dismissing case without prejudice to the right of any party to reopen within 60 days or submit a stipulated form of final judgment filed ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) cm (KAM) (Entered: 08/31/2000)

Aug. 31, 2000

Aug. 31, 2000

35

ORDER (CONSENT DECREE) relief shall be granted as set out in this order filed ( by Judge Sharon L. Blackburn ) cm (KAM) (Entered: 11/02/2000)

Nov. 2, 2000

Nov. 2, 2000

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Case Details

State / Territory: Alabama

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 14, 1999

Closing Date: Nov. 2, 2003

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

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

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

EEOC Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Unknown

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

Charles W. "Woody" Anderson, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

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

Amount Defendant Pays: 70545

Order Duration: 2000 - 2003

Content of Injunction:

Neutral/Positive Reference

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit