Case: EEOC v. R & J ENTERPRISES (d/b/a IHOP)

2:02-cv-02314 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

Filed Date: Sept. 19, 2002

Closed Date: April 22, 2004

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In September 2002, the Birmingham, Alabama office of the EEOC brought this suit against R&J Enterprises d/b/a International House of Pancakes; AJM Inc. d/b/a International House of Pancakes; and Strategic Outsourcing, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The complaint alleged that the defendants subjected the four charging parties, female employees of IHOP, to a sexually hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.In March …

In September 2002, the Birmingham, Alabama office of the EEOC brought this suit against R&J Enterprises d/b/a International House of Pancakes; AJM Inc. d/b/a International House of Pancakes; and Strategic Outsourcing, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The complaint alleged that the defendants subjected the four charging parties, female employees of IHOP, to a sexually hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In March 2003, the four charging parties intervened in the suit. In addition to the claim of sexual harassment, the complaint in intervention alleged that three of the women, who were African-American, had been subjected to racial discrimination as well. The parties eventually settled the case in October 2003 through a consent decree. The consent decree awarded a total of $180,000.00 to the aggrieved parties. From that amount, a total of $30,000.00 was to be distributed to eleven other individuals not specifically named in the decree; the remaining amount was to be distributed to the four charging parties. The decree also required the defendant to refrain from retaliation, to post its anti-discrimination policy and complaint procedure, and to provide sexual harassment training to its owners, managers, and all other employees.

Summary Authors

Kevin Wilemon (9/26/2007)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:02-cv-02314

Docket [PACER]

EEOC v. R & J Enterprises

Oct. 22, 2003

Oct. 22, 2003

Docket
1

2:02-cv-02314

Complaint

EEOC v. R & J Enterprises

Sept. 19, 2002

Sept. 19, 2002

Complaint
17

2:02-cv-02314

Complaint-in-Intervention

EEOC v. R & J Enterprises

March 14, 2003

March 14, 2003

Complaint
26

2:02-cv-02314

Consent Decree

EEOC v. R & J Enterprises

Oct. 22, 2003

Oct. 22, 2003

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:16 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed, Fee N/A, (DWC) (Entered: 09/20/2002)

Sept. 19, 2002

Sept. 19, 2002

2

WAIVER of Service of Summons by dft Strategic Outsourcin filed (DWC) (Entered: 11/13/2002)

Nov. 13, 2002

Nov. 13, 2002

3

ANSWER by dft Strategic Outsourcin w/appear by atty(s) Steadman S Shealy Jr filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 12/12/2002)

Dec. 12, 2002

Dec. 12, 2002

5

ANSWER by dfts R & J Enterprises, AJM Inc. w/appear by atty(s) Sid Hughes filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 12/16/2002)

Dec. 16, 2002

Dec. 16, 2002

6

MOTION by dft AJM Inc. to dismiss this action against dft AJM Inc filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 12/16/2002)

Dec. 16, 2002

Dec. 16, 2002

7

WAIVER of Service of Summons by defendant AJM Inc. filed (DWC) (Entered: 12/19/2002)

Dec. 18, 2002

Dec. 18, 2002

8

6 - ORDER denying dft AJM Inc's motion to dismiss this action [6-1] ( by Chief Judge U W. Clemon ) entered cm (DWC) (Entered: 01/06/2003)

Jan. 6, 2003

Jan. 6, 2003

9

Report of Parties (form 35) of compliance with FRCP 26 filed (DWC) (Entered: 02/04/2003)

Feb. 4, 2003

Feb. 4, 2003

10

ORDER (Scheduling) that the dates agreed to by the parties in their Planning Meeting are ADOPTED & binding on the parties by Chief Judge U W. Clemon entered cm (DWC) (Entered: 02/07/2003)

Feb. 7, 2003

Feb. 7, 2003

11

MOTION by dft Strategic Outsourcin for leave to amend answer filed cs [amdans atta] (DWC) Modified on 02/28/2003 (Entered: 02/28/2003)

Feb. 27, 2003

Feb. 27, 2003

12

MOTION by movant Quontae Bolton, Carolyn Burrell, Peggy Sherman and Enica Daniels to intervene filed cs (MAA) (Entered: 03/03/2003)

March 3, 2003

March 3, 2003

13

11 - ORDER granting motion for leave to amend answer [11-1] ( by Chief Judge U W. Clemon ) entered cm (DWC) (Entered: 03/10/2003)

March 9, 2003

March 9, 2003

14

AMENDED ANSWER by dft Strategic Outsourcin filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 03/10/2003)

March 10, 2003

March 10, 2003

15

AMENDED ANSWER by dft Strategic Outsourcin filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 03/12/2003)

March 12, 2003

March 12, 2003

16

12 - ORDER granting motion to intervene [12-1] Carolyn . Burrell, Peggy Sherman, Enica Daniels ( by Chief Judge U W. Clemon ) entered cm (DWC) (Entered: 03/14/2003)

March 14, 2003

March 14, 2003

17

INTERVENOR complaint filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 03/14/2003)

March 14, 2003

March 14, 2003

18

ANSWER by dft Strategic Outsourcin to complaint in intervention filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 03/19/2003)

March 19, 2003

March 19, 2003

19

NOTICE of appearance for pla by J Mark Graham filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 04/22/2003)

April 22, 2003

April 22, 2003

20

MOTION by dfts R & J Enterprises, AJM Inc. to amend its answer filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 05/02/2003)

May 1, 2003

May 1, 2003

21

AMENDED ANSWER by dfts R & J Enterprises, AJM Inc. filed cs (DWC) (Entered: 05/02/2003)

May 1, 2003

May 1, 2003

22

20 - ORDER granting dft R&J Enterprises' motion to amend its answer [20-1] ( by Chief Judge U W. Clemon ) entered cm (DWC) (Entered: 05/06/2003)

May 6, 2003

May 6, 2003

24

REQUEST by intervenor-plaintiff for withdrawal of document #23 filed cs (KWC) Modified on 10/10/2003 (Entered: 10/10/2003)

Oct. 8, 2003

Oct. 8, 2003

25

23 - ORDER finding the motion to enforce terms of settlement [23-1] moot ( by Chief Judge U W. Clemon ) entered cm (BST) (Entered: 10/14/2003)

Oct. 10, 2003

Oct. 10, 2003

26

ORDER -Consent Decree; this court expressly retains jurisdiction for nex 6 months to ensure compliance; dfts agree to pay total of $180,000.00 in full settlement of claims; see terms and ddls set out in order; terminating case filed ( by Chief Judge U W. Clemon ) cm (KWC) (Entered: 10/22/2003)

Oct. 22, 2003

Oct. 22, 2003

Case Details

State / Territory: Alabama

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 19, 2002

Closing Date: April 22, 2004

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

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

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

R & J Enterprises, Private Entity/Person

Strategic Outsourcing, Inc., Private Entity/Person

AJM Inc., Private Entity/Person

R & J Enterprises, 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: 180000

Order Duration: 2003 - 2004

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Demotion

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Discipline

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Sex discrimination

Race:

Black

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit