Case: EEOC v. Hugh O'Kane Electric

8:02-cv-02503 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: July 30, 2002

Closed Date: 2003

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On July 30, 2002, the Baltimore District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission brought this action in the District of Maryland under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against Hugh O'Kane Electric Co. (HOK), an electric and telecommunications company. The EEOC alleged that HOK had violated Title VII by by subjecting numerous employees to harassment based on their race (black) and their national origin (Afghan, Nigerian, Sudanese, and Cameroonian) and by retaliating agains…

On July 30, 2002, the Baltimore District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission brought this action in the District of Maryland under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against Hugh O'Kane Electric Co. (HOK), an electric and telecommunications company. The EEOC alleged that HOK had violated Title VII by by subjecting numerous employees to harassment based on their race (black) and their national origin (Afghan, Nigerian, Sudanese, and Cameroonian) and by retaliating against and discharging its employees on the basis of race and national origin.

On November 12, 2002, a former employee of HOK sought to intervene in the lawsuit. His motion was dismissed as moot on July 31, 2003 as he was participating in settlement proceedings.

On November 19, 2002, this case was consolidated for the purpose of discovery with an action against the same defendant. That action was brought by nine former employees of HOK who accused HOK of discrimination on the basis of race and national origin. See Nestor v. Hugh O'Kane Electric, docket number 8:02-cv-01786.

The case then settled; a Consent Decree was signed on August 8, 2003 and applied to this case as well as Nestor v. Hugh O'Kane Electric. HOK was enjoined against violating Title VII by discriminating against any person based on race or national origin, and were further enjoined against retaliating against individuals who complained of discriminatory practices. HOK was also required to implement a written policy on race and national origin harassment as well as train its management and employee workforce on discrimination laws. Twenty individual employees were awarded a total of $1,100,000.

Summary Authors

Jennifer Gitter (3/20/2013)

People

Judge(s)

Legg, Benson Everett (Maryland)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Henry, Jeanett Palacios (Maryland)

Temple, Donald Melvin (Maryland)

Attorney for Defendant

Petkovich, Michael N (Maryland)

Remy, John Michael (Maryland)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

8:02-cv-02503

Docket (PACER)

Equal Employment v. Hugh O'Kane Electric

Aug. 8, 2003

Aug. 8, 2003

Docket
7

8:02-cv-02503

Order Granting Defendant's Motion to Consolidate for Purposes of Discovery

EEOC v. Hugh O'Kane Electric Co, LLC

Nov. 18, 2002

Nov. 18, 2002

Order/Opinion
18

8:02-cv-02503

Consent Decree

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Ervin Riddick v. Hugh O'Kane Electric Co., LLC

Aug. 8, 2003

Aug. 8, 2003

Settlement Agreement

8:02-cv-02503

EEOC Litigation Settlement Report (July 2003)

EEOC v. Hugh O'Kane Electric Co., LLC

No Court

Aug. 8, 2003

Aug. 8, 2003

Press Release

8:02-cv-01786

Settlement Order

Nestor v. Hugh O'Kane Electric

Oct. 30, 2003

Oct. 30, 2003

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2025, 8:22 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed; (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/31/2002)

July 30, 2002

July 30, 2002

1

DEMAND for jury trial by Equal Employment (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/31/2002)

July 30, 2002

July 30, 2002

2

SUMMONS(20 days) issued for Hugh O'Kane Electric (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/31/2002)

July 31, 2002

July 31, 2002

3

JOINT STIPULATION AND ORDER EXTENDING Time for Defendant to Answer Complaint SET Answer deadline to 11/14/02 for Hugh O'Kane Electric . ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg 9/27/02 ) (c/i 9/30/02) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/30/2002)

Sept. 30, 2002

Sept. 30, 2002

4

MOTION by Equal Employment for Ronald L Phillips to Appear Pro Hac Vice . (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/03/2002)

Oct. 3, 2002

Oct. 3, 2002

4

ORDER GRANTING [4-1] motion of Plaintiff for Ronald L Phillips to Appear Pro Hac Vice. ( signed by Clerk of the Court 10/3/02) (c/i 10/3/02) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/03/2002)

Oct. 3, 2002

Oct. 3, 2002

5

MOTION to Intervene by Ervin Riddick and Proposed Intervention Complaint. (c/s)a (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/13/2002)

Nov. 12, 2002

Nov. 12, 2002

6

ANSWER to Complaint by Hugh O'Kane Electric (Attorney John M Remy). (c/s) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/14/2002)

Nov. 14, 2002

Nov. 14, 2002

7

UNOPPOSED MOTION with memorandum in support by Hugh O'Kane Electric to Consolidate Cases L-02-2503 and L-02-1786 for Purposes of Discovery . (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/20/2002)

Nov. 19, 2002

Nov. 19, 2002

7

ORDER GRANTING [7-1] motion of Defendant to Consolidate Cases L-02-2503 and L-02-1786 for Purposes of Discovery. ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg 11/18/02 ) (c/i 11/20/02) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/20/2002)

Nov. 19, 2002

Nov. 19, 2002

8

ORDER SETTING date for in-court scheduling conference ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg 11/26/02) (c/i 12/2/02) (jnl, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/02/2002)

Nov. 27, 2002

Nov. 27, 2002

Scheduling conference/hearing held open Court before Judge Benson Everett Legg. (Court Reporter: Ned Richardson) (kam, Deputy Clerk) Modified on 12/06/2002 (Entered: 12/06/2002)

Dec. 6, 2002

Dec. 6, 2002

9

ORDER CONFIRMING the substance of the Court's decisions during in-court scheduling conference. ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg 12/9/02 ) (c/i 12/11/02) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/11/2002)

Dec. 10, 2002

Dec. 10, 2002

11

ORDER GRANTING [10-1] motion to Extend Time to Answer Intervention Complaint to 1/15/03. ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg 12/23/02 ) (c/i 12/23/02) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/23/2002)

Dec. 23, 2002

Dec. 23, 2002

12

NOTICE of attorney appearance for Hugh O'Kane Electric by Teresa Burke Wright. (c/s) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/15/2003)

Jan. 15, 2003

Jan. 15, 2003

13

ANSWER to Intervener Ervin Riddick's Complaint by Hugh O'Kane Electric. (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/15/2003)

Jan. 15, 2003

Jan. 15, 2003

14

MOTION by Hugh O'Kane Electric for Michael N. Petkovich to Appear Pro Hac Vice . (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/17/2003)

Jan. 17, 2003

Jan. 17, 2003

14

ORDER GRANTING [14-1] motion of Defendant for Michael N. Petkovich to Appear Pro Hac Vice. ( signed by Clerk of Court 1/17/03 ) (c/i 1/17/03) (Fee Paid) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/17/2003)

Jan. 17, 2003

Jan. 17, 2003

15

MOTION by Hugh O'Kane Electric for John M. Remy to Appear Pro Hac Vice . (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/17/2003)

Jan. 17, 2003

Jan. 17, 2003

15

ORDER GRANTING [15-1] motion of Defendant for John M. Remy to Appear Pro Hac Vice. ( signed by Clerk of Court 1/17/03 ) (c/i 1/17/03 ) (Fee Paid) (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/17/2003)

Jan. 17, 2003

Jan. 17, 2003

16

ORDER "ADVISING" Settlement Conference has been scheduled ( signed by Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day 2/11/03) (c/m 2/12/03) (c/i 2/13/03) (mib, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/13/2003)

Feb. 12, 2003

Feb. 12, 2003

Telephone Conference held before Judge Charles B. Day. (bab, Chambers) (Entered: 04/30/2003)

April 30, 2003

April 30, 2003

17

ORDER DISMISSING [5] Motion of Mr.Riddick to Intervene as Moot, without prejudice to refiling if the parties are unable to consummate settlment. Signed by Judge Benson E Legg on 07/31/03. (jlb, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/04/2003)

Aug. 4, 2003

Aug. 4, 2003

18

CONSENT DECREE and approval. Signed by Judge Benson E Legg on 8/7/03. (hml, Deputy Clerk) Additional attachment(s) added on 8/11/2003 (hml, Deputy Clerk). (Entered: 08/11/2003)

Aug. 8, 2003

Aug. 8, 2003

Case Details

State / Territory: Maryland

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 30, 2002

Closing Date: 2003

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and former employees of Hugh O'Kane Electric who accused the company of engaging in discrimination based on race and national origin.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

EEOC Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Hugh O'Kane Electric Co. , Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Retailer

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

Content of Injunction:

Expungement of Employment Record

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Provide antidiscrimination training

Amount Defendant Pays: 1,100,000

Order Duration: 2003 - 2005

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

Training

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):

Arab/Afgani/Middle Eastern

Affected Race(s):

Black

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

Male

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit