Case: EEOC v. American Eagle Airlines

1:02-cv-09315 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Dec. 23, 2002

Closed Date: Sept. 2, 2003

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In December 2002, the Chicago District Office of the EEOC brought this lawsuit against American Eagle Airlines, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging discrimination on the basis of race, black, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the defendant paid African-American ramp supervisors at O'Hare Airport less than non-African-American ramp supervisors. The complainants intervened in June 2003. Following a string of settlement conferences and status hearings, the EEOC settled the lawsuit with the defendant in August 2003, and the complainants agreed to dismiss the case in September 2003. We do not have a copy of either settlement; therefore, the exact settlement arrangements are unknown.

Summary Authors

David Friedman (10/23/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4251150/parties/meeks-v-amer-eagle-airlines/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Gochanour, Gregory M. (Illinois)

Hendrickson, John C. (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Gangemi, Columbus R. (Illinois)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Chatman, Linda C. (Illinois)

Hooks, William H. (Illinois)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:02-cv-09315

Docket (PACER)

Meeks v. Amer Eagle Airlines

Sept. 2, 2003

Sept. 2, 2003

Docket
1

1:02-cv-09315

Complaint

EEOC v. Eagle Airlines, Inc.

Dec. 23, 2002

Dec. 23, 2002

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4251150/meeks-v-amer-eagle-airlines/

Last updated Jan. 3, 2026, 4:34 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT; jury demand - Civil cover sheet - Appearance(s) of John C. Hendrickson, Gregory M. Gochanour, Gordon G. Waldron as attorney(s) for plaintiff ( no summons(es) issued.) ( Documents: 1-1 through 1-3) (yap) (Entered: 12/24/2002)

Dec. 23, 2002

Dec. 23, 2002

RECAP
2

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendant by Columbus R. Gangemi Jr., Mohamed Faiyaz Hussain, Cheryl Tama Oblander. (vmj) (Entered: 01/17/2003)

Jan. 15, 2003

Jan. 15, 2003

3

WAIVER of service of summons as to defendant sent on 12/24/02. (vmj) (Entered: 01/17/2003)

Jan. 15, 2003

Jan. 15, 2003

4

MINUTE ORDER of 1/24/03 by Hon. Amy J. St. Eve: Status hearing set before Judge Amy St. Eve in Courtroom 1241 on 2/24/03 at 9:00 a.m. The parties are directed to file an initial status report as provided by this order no later than 2/19/03. (See reverse of minute order) Notices mailed by judge's staff (vmj) (Entered: 01/27/2003)

Jan. 24, 2003

Jan. 24, 2003

5

ADDITIONAL ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendant by Cardelle Bratton. (vmj) (Entered: 02/03/2003)

Jan. 30, 2003

Jan. 30, 2003

6

ADDITIONAL ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendant by Gerald C. Peterson. (vmj) (Entered: 02/10/2003)

Feb. 7, 2003

Feb. 7, 2003

7

ANSWER and defenses by defendant to plaintiff's complaint [1-1] (vmj) (Entered: 02/25/2003)

Feb. 24, 2003

Feb. 24, 2003

8

REFERRAL ORDER: Case referred to Honorable Michael T. Mason for settlement conference Mailed notice. (tmh) (Entered: 05/14/2003)

May 14, 2003

May 14, 2003

9

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for unknown Karl Meeks by Linda C. Chatman, William H. Hooks. (vmj) (Entered: 06/12/2003)

June 6, 2003

June 6, 2003

10

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for unknown Calvin Lewis by Linda C. Chatman, William H. Hooks. (vmj) (Entered: 06/12/2003)

June 6, 2003

June 6, 2003

11

MOTION by Karl Meeks to intervene (Attachment); Notice. (vmj) (Entered: 06/18/2003)

June 6, 2003

June 6, 2003

12

MOTION by Calvin Lewis to intervene (Attachment); Notice. (vmj) (Entered: 06/18/2003)

June 10, 2003

June 10, 2003

13

MOTION by Cedric Turner to intervene (Attachment); Notice. (vmj) (Entered: 06/18/2003)

June 10, 2003

June 10, 2003

14

MOTION by Sonia Manso to intervene (Attachment); Notice. (vmj) (Entered: 06/18/2003)

June 17, 2003

June 17, 2003

15

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for intervenor Sonia Manso by Linda C. Chatman, William H. Hooks (vmj) (Entered: 06/18/2003)

June 17, 2003

June 17, 2003

16

MINUTE ORDER of 6/17/03 by Hon. Amy J. St. Eve: Intervenors' Karl Meeks, Calvin Lewis, Cedric Turner and Sonia Manso's motions to intervene and appearance are granted [11-1], [12-1], [13-1], [14-1]. Mailed notice (vmj) (Entered: 06/18/2003)

June 17, 2003

June 17, 2003

17

NOTICE by Linda C Chatman of change of address. (vmj) (Entered: 06/23/2003)

June 20, 2003

June 20, 2003

18

ANSWER and defenses to Plaintiff Karl Meeks complaint by defendant [1-1]. (vmj) (Entered: 07/09/2003)

July 8, 2003

July 8, 2003

19

ANSWER and defenses by defendant to plaintiff Calvin Lewis' complaint [1-1]. (vmj) (Entered: 07/09/2003)

July 8, 2003

July 8, 2003

20

ANSWER and defenses by defendant to plaintiff Sonia Manso's complaint [1-1]. (vmj) (Entered: 07/09/2003)

July 8, 2003

July 8, 2003

21

ANSWER and defenses by defendant to plaintiff Cedric Turner's complaint [1-1]. (vmj) (Entered: 07/09/2003)

July 8, 2003

July 8, 2003

22

MINUTE ORDER of 7/15/03 by Hon. Amy J. St. Eve: Status hearing held and continued to 8/14/03 at 9:00 a.m. Rule 26(a)(1) disclosures due 7/31/03. Written fact discovery to be issued by 8/14/03. Fact discovery to close on 11/14/03. Parties are directed to meet pursuant to Rule 26(f) and exhaust all settlement possibilities prior to the next status hearing. Mailed notice (vmj) (Entered: 07/15/2003)

July 15, 2003

July 15, 2003

23

ANSWER by plaintiff-intervenor Calvin Lewis to defendant's affirmative defenses. (vmj) (Entered: 07/29/2003)

July 29, 2003

July 29, 2003

24

REPLY by plaintiff-intervenor Karl Meeks to defendant's affirmative defenses. (vmj) (Entered: 07/29/2003)

July 29, 2003

July 29, 2003

25

REPLY by plaintiff-intervenor Sonia Manso to defendant's affirmative defenses. (vmj) (Entered: 07/29/2003)

July 29, 2003

July 29, 2003

26

ANSWER by plaintiff-intervenor Cedric Turner to defendant's affirmative defenses. (vmj) (Entered: 07/29/2003)

July 29, 2003

July 29, 2003

27

MINUTE ORDER of 8/22/03 by Honorable Michael T. Mason: Third settlement conference held. Parties were able to reach an agreement to settle the case. Parties consent to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge. Plaintiff EEOC's oral motion to dismiss the complaint against defendant with prejudice and without costs and fees is granted. Plaintiff EEOC's oral motion to have the caption of the case changed to replace the EEOC with the intervenor plaintiffs is granted. The Clerk of Court is directed to replace plaintiff EEOC with intervenor plaintiffs Karl Meeks, Calvin Lewis, Cedric Turner and Sonia Manso so the caption now reads Meeks et al vs. American Eagle Airlines. Status hearing set for 9/3/03 at 9:00 a.m. If the intervenor plaintiffs and defendant submit a stipulation to dismiss prior to 9/3/03, no appearance will be required at the 9/3/03 status. All other pending dates and deadlines set by the District Judge are stricken. Notices mailed by judge's staff (vmj) (Entered: 08/25/2003)

Aug. 22, 2003

Aug. 22, 2003

28

CONSENT by defendant Amer Eagle Airlines to exercise of jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge. (vmj) (Entered: 08/26/2003)

Aug. 22, 2003

Aug. 22, 2003

29

CONSENT by intervenor EEOC to exercise of jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge. (vmj) (Entered: 08/26/2003)

Aug. 22, 2003

Aug. 22, 2003

30

CONSENT by intervenors to exercise of jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge. (vmj) (Entered: 08/26/2003)

Aug. 22, 2003

Aug. 22, 2003

31

REASSIGNMENT ORDER of 8/25/03 This case is reassigned to the Honorable Michael T. Mason pursuant to Local Rule 73.1 . (For further detail see order) Mailed notice (vmj) (Entered: 08/26/2003)

Aug. 25, 2003

Aug. 25, 2003

32

MINUTE ORDER of 9/2/03 by Honorable Michael T. Mason: Pursuant to the parties' stipulations to dismiss, this case is dismissed with prejudice, with each side to bear its own attorneys' fees and costs. Status hearing set for 9/3/03 is stricken. (Entered Stipulations) terminating case Notices mailed by judge's staff (vmj) (Entered: 09/03/2003)

Sept. 2, 2003

Sept. 2, 2003

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: Dec. 23, 2002

Closing Date: Sept. 2, 2003

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

American Eagle Airlines, Inc. (Chicago, Illinois), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Illinois 1:02-cv-09315

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Treatment

Pay / Benefits

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Black

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit