Case: EEOC v. STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.
2:01-cv-00703 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Filed Date: May 16, 2001
Closed Date: May 30, 2004
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Case Summary
In May 2001, the Seattle District Office of the EEOC brought this suit against Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., d/b/a W Seattle Hotel, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The defendant allegedly subjected the charging parties and other similarly situated individuals to a sexually hostile work environment consisting of both verbal and physical abuse. In addition, the defendant retaliated against several employees by further harassing them, resulting in the constructive discharge of some of them.
In October 2001, five of the charging parties intervened in the suit. In March 2002, the defendant made offers of judgment to some of the intervening parties. Two of the charging parties accepted the offers, and the court entered a judgment against the defendant in their favor for a total of $200,000 in early April. Later that month, the EEOC and the defendant settled their claims through a consent decree. The remaining parties seemed to have settled with the defendant at a later date, voluntarily dismissing their claims in late May 2002.
The two-year consent decree between the EEOC and the defendant contained non-discrimination and non-retaliation clauses and required the defendant to: obtain a sexual harassment consultant to conduct an audit of its sexual harassment policies and procedures, expunge the charging parties' personnel files of all references to the charges of discrimination, provide the charging parties with neutral employment references, develop a complaint procedure, provide annual Title VII training for all employees, report to the EEOC every six months, and pay $100,000 to be divided among three class members.
Summary Authors
Jason Chester (7/25/2007)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11484338/parties/eeoc-v-starwood-hotels/
Zilly, Thomas Samuel (Washington)
Flores, Carmen (Washington)
Jr, A Luis (Washington)
Lombardi, Vincent T (Washington)
Reeve, Elizabeth K (Washington)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Resources
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11484338/eeoc-v-starwood-hotels/
Last updated Sept. 29, 2026, 8:57 p.m.
Docket for: EEOC v. Starwood Hotels
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 16, 2001
Closing Date: May 30, 2004
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, on behalf of one or more workers.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Private Entity/Person
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Other Dockets:
Western District of Washington 2:01-cv-00703
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Develop anti-discrimination policy
Expungement of Employment Record
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law
Provide antidiscrimination training
Order Duration: 2002 - 2004
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)
Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
EEOC-centric:
Private Party intervened in EEOC suit
Case Summary of EEOC v. STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC., Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/7960/ (last updated 7/25/2007).