Case: EEOC v. Wolverine Bronze Company

2:04-cv-73813 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: Sept. 29, 2004

Closed Date: Dec. 12, 2005

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 29, 2004 the EEOC filed complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of an individual employee and others similarly situated. The complaint alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 committed by the Wolverine Bronze Company, Inc. for allowing racial harassment which created a hostile work environment. Additionally, the EEOC claimed the defendant failed to take action to stop the harassment.

On November 9, 2005, Judge George Caram Steeh approved a consent decree. The charging party was awarded $100,000 in affirmative relief as damages. Additionally, the defendant agreed to set up an entirely new system of reporting, record keeping, discipline, and employee training in regards to harassment. Also, a non-retaliation provision was included along with a posting of notice at the workplace. The decree had a two year duration and closed the case.

Summary Authors

David Miller (9/1/2010)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4291078/parties/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-wolverine-bronze-co-inc/

Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Dawkins, Robert (Michigan)

INACTIVE, Adele Rapport (Michigan)

INACTIVE, Jeffrey R. (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

INACTIVE, Karin M. (Michigan)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Fagan, Barry S. (Michigan)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:04-cv-73813

Docket

Dec. 12, 2005

Dec. 12, 2005

Docket
1

2:04-cv-73813

Complaint

Sept. 29, 2004

Sept. 29, 2004

Complaint
7

2:04-cv-73813

Stipulation and Order Permitting Intervention

Dec. 28, 2004

Dec. 28, 2004

Order/Opinion
30

2:04-cv-73813

Consent Decree

Nov. 9, 2005

Nov. 9, 2005

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4291078/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-wolverine-bronze-co-inc/

Last updated April 4, 2025, noon

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(NHoll, ) (Entered: 09/30/2004)

Sept. 29, 2004

Sept. 29, 2004

RECAP
2

MOTION to Intervene by Tony B. Smith. (NHoll, ) (Entered: 12/15/2004)

Dec. 7, 2004

Dec. 7, 2004

3

ANSWER to Complaint with Affirmative Defenses by Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(PPaul, ) (Entered: 12/17/2004)

Dec. 14, 2004

Dec. 14, 2004

4

NOTICE TO APPEAR: Scheduling Conference set for 1/24/2005 11:00 AM before Honorable George Caram Steeh. (MBea, ) (Entered: 12/20/2004)

Dec. 20, 2004

Dec. 20, 2004

5

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Tony B. Smith, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission re 2 MOTION to Intervene. (NHoll, ) (Entered: 12/27/2004)

Dec. 20, 2004

Dec. 20, 2004

6

INTERVENOR COMPLAINT with Jury Demand by Tony B. Smith. (NHoll, ) (Entered: 12/30/2004)

Dec. 28, 2004

Dec. 28, 2004

7

STIPULATION AND ORDER Permitting Intervention. Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (NHoll, ) (Entered: 12/30/2004)

Dec. 28, 2004

Dec. 28, 2004

Set Deadlines/Hearings: Scheduling Conference re−set for 2/22/2005 03:00 PM before Honorable George Caram Steeh. (MBea, ) (Entered: 01/05/2005)

Jan. 5, 2005

Jan. 5, 2005

8

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Tony B. Smith re 7 Stipulation and Order. (KGeha, ) (Entered: 01/07/2005)

Jan. 6, 2005

Jan. 6, 2005

9

SUMMONS Returned Executed. William Smith served on 1/12/2005, answer due 2/1/2005 (NHoll, ) (Entered: 01/21/2005)

Jan. 20, 2005

Jan. 20, 2005

10

SUMMONS Returned Executed. Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated served on 1/12/2005, answer due 2/1/2005 (NHoll, ) (Entered: 01/21/2005)

Jan. 20, 2005

Jan. 20, 2005

11

DISCOVERY plan jointly filed pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26(f).(NHoll, ) (Entered: 02/11/2005)

Feb. 10, 2005

Feb. 10, 2005

12

ANSWER to Intervenor Complaint by all defendants.(Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 02/14/2005)

Feb. 14, 2005

Feb. 14, 2005

13

AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 02/14/2005)

Feb. 14, 2005

Feb. 14, 2005

14

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated re 12 Answer to Intervenor Complaint, 13 Affirmative Defenses. (Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 02/14/2005)

Feb. 14, 2005

Feb. 14, 2005

15

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated relative to Defendants' Interrogatories, Request for Production of Documents, and Notice of Taking Deposition to Plaintiff-Intervenor Tony Smith. (Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 02/14/2005)

Feb. 14, 2005

Feb. 14, 2005

16

ANSWER (Reply) to Defendants' Answer to Complaint in Intervention and Affirmative Defenses; Reliance on Jury Demand; and Proof of Service by Tony B. Smith. (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 02/16/2005)

Feb. 16, 2005

Feb. 16, 2005

Minute Entry −Scheduling Conference held on 2/22/2005 before Honorable George Caram Steeh. (MBea, ) (Entered: 02/22/2005)

Feb. 22, 2005

Feb. 22, 2005

17

SCHEDULING ORDER: Final Pretrial Conference set for 2/14/2006 09:00 AM; Jury Trial set for 2/21/2006 09:00 AM before Honorable George Caram Steeh. Dispositive Motion Cut-off set for 11/3/2005 Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (Refer to image for additional dates)(MBea, ) (Entered: 02/22/2005)

Feb. 22, 2005

Feb. 22, 2005

18

MOTION for Leave to File First Amended Complaint in Intervention by Tony B. Smith. (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 03/31/2005)

March 31, 2005

March 31, 2005

19

RESPONSE to 18 MOTION for Leave to File First Amended Complaint in Intervention filed by all defendants. (Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 04/14/2005)

April 14, 2005

April 14, 2005

20

REPLY to Response re 18 MOTION for Leave to File First Amended Complaint in Intervention filed by Tony B. Smith. (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 04/19/2005)

April 19, 2005

April 19, 2005

21

ORDER granting 18 Motion for leave to file first-amended complaint in intervention to add a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress.Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (DPer, ) (Entered: 04/27/2005)

April 27, 2005

April 27, 2005

RECAP
22

AMENDED COMPLAINT filed by Tony B. Smith against William Smith and Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(DPer, ) (Entered: 04/29/2005)

April 28, 2005

April 28, 2005

23

STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER regarding plaintiff-intervenor's medical records. Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (DPer, ) (Entered: 05/06/2005)

May 5, 2005

May 5, 2005

24

ANSWER to Amended Complaint by all defendants.(Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 05/12/2005)

May 12, 2005

May 12, 2005

25

AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 05/12/2005)

May 12, 2005

May 12, 2005

26

REPLY to 24 Answer to Amended Complaint, 25 Affirmative Defenses by Tony B. Smith. (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 05/12/2005)

May 12, 2005

May 12, 2005

27

Plaintiff-Intervenor's WITNESS LIST by Tony B. Smith (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 08/31/2005)

Aug. 31, 2005

Aug. 31, 2005

28

Plaintiff's WITNESS LIST by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Price, Dale) (Entered: 08/31/2005)

Aug. 31, 2005

Aug. 31, 2005

29

Initial WITNESS LIST by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated (Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 08/31/2005)

Aug. 31, 2005

Aug. 31, 2005

30

CONSENT DECREE. Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (DPer, ) (Entered: 11/09/2005)

Nov. 9, 2005

Nov. 9, 2005

RECAP
31

STIPULATED ORDER dismissing plaintiff's claims with prejudice. Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (DPer, ) (Entered: 12/12/2005)

Dec. 12, 2005

Dec. 12, 2005

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Michigan

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 29, 2004

Closing Date: Dec. 12, 2005

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

EEOC on behalf of employee of Wolverine Bronze Company subjected to a hostile work environment on account of racial harassment

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

Wolverine Bronze Company (Roseville, Wayne), Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Retailer

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Michigan 2:04-cv-73813

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Monetary Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Relief Granted:

Damages

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Monitoring

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Recordkeeping

Reporting

Retaliation Prohibition

Amount Defendant Pays: $100,000

Order Duration: 2005 - 2007

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Race, unspecified

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits