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)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

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

Last updated March 19, 2024, 3:09 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

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

Sept. 28, 2001

Sept. 28, 2001

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

Sept. 28, 2001

Sept. 28, 2001

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

Sept. 28, 2001

Sept. 28, 2001

2

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)

Nov. 7, 2001

Nov. 7, 2001

3

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)

Dec. 28, 2001

Dec. 28, 2001

4

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)

Jan. 24, 2002

Jan. 24, 2002

5

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)

Feb. 21, 2002

Feb. 21, 2002

7

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)

April 12, 2002

April 12, 2002

8

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)

June 10, 2002

June 10, 2002

9

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)

June 27, 2002

June 27, 2002

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

Lowe's Home Centers, Inc. (Houma, LA), Private Entity/Person

Lowe's Home Improvement Centers, Inc. (Houma, LA), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

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

Amount Defendant Pays: 47419.1

Order Duration: 2002 - 2007

Content of Injunction:

Neutral/Positive Reference

Discrimination Prohibition

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits