Case: EEOC v. Lowe's Home Centers, Inc.

2:01-cv-02982 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Sept. 28, 2001

Closed Date: 2007

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In September 2001, the New Orleans EEOC office brought this Title VII action against Lowe's Home Improvement Centers, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The complaint alleged that defendant subjected the Black complainants to a racially offensive work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The events in question took place at the Houma, Louisiana Lowe's location. Defendant did not file an answer to the complaint, and the case …
In September 2001, the New Orleans EEOC office brought this Title VII action against Lowe's Home Improvement Centers, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The complaint alleged that defendant subjected the Black complainants to a racially offensive work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The events in question took place at the Houma, Louisiana Lowe's location. Defendant did not file an answer to the complaint, and the case was settled by consent decree in June 2002.In the consent decree, defendant was required to pay $47,419.10 in damages to the plaintiffs, give them appropriate references, discipline certain employees of the Houma store, distribute the store's anti-harassment policy to employees, and to provide Title VII training to all employees at the Houma store. Additionally, defendant was required to provide anti-harassment training to its employees at nine other Lowe's locations in Louisiana.The decree was entered in 2002 and scheduled to last until 2007. No further docket entries exist, so the case is closed.

Summary Authors

Kevin Wilemon (9/24/2007)

Clearinghouse (12/27/2018)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11393062/parties/eeoc-v-lowes-home-impr-ctr/

Judge(s)

Lemelle, Ivan L. R. (Louisiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Butler, Michelle T. (Louisiana)

Carter, Yancy A. (Louisiana)

Hill, Keith T. (Louisiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Mallery, Mark N. (Louisiana)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

2:01-cv-02982

Docket [PACER]

June 27, 2002

June 27, 2002

Docket
1

2:01-cv-02982

Complaint

Sept. 28, 2001

Sept. 28, 2001

Complaint
2

2:01-cv-02982

Amended Complaint

Nov. 7, 2001

Nov. 7, 2001

Complaint
9

2:01-cv-02982

Consent Decree

June 27, 2002

June 27, 2002

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11393062/eeoc-v-lowes-home-impr-ctr/

Last updated Sept. 29, 2026, 7:05 p.m.

Docket for: EEOC v. Lowe's Home Impr Ctr
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Sept. 28, 2001

COMPLAINT; 1 summons issued (gw) (Entered: 10/02/2001)

RECAP
Sept. 28, 2001

Payment of filing fee by plaintiff EEOC in amount of $150.00 (gw) (Entered: 10/02/2001)

PACER
Sept. 28, 2001

Automatic Referral (Utility Event) to Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan (gw) (Entered: 10/02/2001)

PACER
Sept. 28, 2001

Payment of filing fee by plaintiff EEOC in amount of $150.00 (gw)

Sept. 28, 2001

Automatic Referral (Utility Event) to Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan (gw)

2 Nov. 7, 2001

PLAINTIFF'S AMENDED complaint [1-1] terminating party Lowe's Home Impr Ctr; adding Lowe's Home Ctr Inc; jury demand; 1 summons(es) issued (pck) Modified on 11/08/2001 (Entered: 11/08/2001)

RECAP
3 Dec. 28, 2001

Motion by defendant Lowe's Home Impr Ctr and ORDER extending time to answer pla's complaint until 1/24/02 by Judge Ivan L. Lemelle Date Signed: 1/2/02 (pck) (Entered: 01/03/2002)

RECAP
4 Jan. 24, 2002

Motion by defendant Lowe's Home Ctr Inc and ORDER extending time until 2/22/02 to serve responsive pleadings to the pla's cmp by Judge Ivan L. Lemelle Date Signed: 1/24/02 (pck) (Entered: 01/28/2002)

RECAP
5 Feb. 21, 2002

Motion by defendant Lowe's Home Ctr Inc and ORDER extending time until 3/13/02 to answer pla's complaint by Judge Eldon E. Fallon Date Signed: 2/22/02 (pck) (Entered: 02/25/2002)

RECAP
6 March 13, 2002

Motion by defendant Lowe's Home Ctr Inc and ORDER extending time until 4/12/02 to answer pla's complaint by Judge Ivan L. Lemelle (gw) (Entered: 03/15/2002)

RECAP
7 April 12, 2002

Motion by defendant Lowe's Home Impr Ctr and ORDER for 5th ext of time until 6/11/02 to serve its response to pla's cmp by Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan Date Signed: 4/16/02 (gw) Modified on 06/12/2002 (Entered: 04/17/2002)

RECAP
8 June 10, 2002

Motion by defendant Lowe's Home Ctr Inc and ORDER for sixth extension of time until 7/1/02 to serve its response to pla's complaint by Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan Date Signed: 6/11/02 (bc) (Entered: 06/12/2002)

RECAP
9 June 27, 2002

Consent Decree by plaintiff EEOC, defendant Lowe's Home Ctr Inc and ORDERED that this matter is settled as specified herein, each pty to bear their own attorney fees & costs by Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan (CASE CLOSED) (bc) (Entered: 06/27/2002)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 28, 2001

Closing Date: 2007

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

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

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

Private Entity/Person

Lowe's Home Centers, Inc.

Lowe's Home Improvement Centers, Inc.

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Louisiana 2:01-cv-02982

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Monetary Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Damages

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Neutral/Positive Reference

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Amount Defendant Pays: 47419.1

Order Duration: 2002 - 2007

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Black

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Recommended Citation