Case: EEOC v. STOWE-PHARR MILLS INC (d/b/a PHARR YARNS)

3:97-cv-00150 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina

Filed Date: April 1, 1997

Closed Date: Jan. 14, 2002

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Case Summary

In April 1997, the Charlotte District Office of the EEOC brought this suit against Stowe-Pharr Mills, Inc. (d/b/a Pharr Yarns), a textile manufacturer, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. We do not have a copy of the complaint. However, according to the consent decree, the complaint alleged that the defendant violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA") by failing to reasonably accommodate the charging party's disability, osteoarthritis, and by terminating her as a result of her disability. In July 1998, the defendant filed a motion for summary judgment. The motion was granted in November 1998, and a judgment was entered in favor of the defendant dismissing the case. The EEOC filed a notice of appeal in January 1999, and the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the case in August 2000. See E.E.O.C. v. Stowe-Pharr Mills, Inc., 216 F.3d 373 (4th Cir. 2000). The defendant then filed another motion for summary judgment which was denied in April 2001. The parties finally settled in September 2001 through a consent decree.

The two-year decree contained a non-discrimination clause and required the defendant to: expunge the charging party's personnel file from all references to the charge of discrimination, provide her with a neutral job reference, and pay her $20,000. In addition, the defendant agreed to: post an employee notice, provide ADA training for all its supervisors and managers, and report to the EEOC annually.

Summary Authors

Kevin Wilemon (6/19/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13818911/parties/equal-empl-opportuni-v-stowe-pharr-mills-in/

Judge(s)

Mullen, Graham Calder (North Carolina)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Angel, Kirk J. (North Carolina)

Brodeur, Laura A. (North Carolina)

Haden, Kara Gibbon (North Carolina)

Attorney for Defendant

VanHoy, Philip M. (North Carolina)

Judge(s)

Mullen, Graham Calder (North Carolina)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Angel, Kirk J. (North Carolina)

Brodeur, Laura A. (North Carolina)

Haden, Kara Gibbon (North Carolina)

Attorney for Defendant

VanHoy, Philip M. (North Carolina)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

3:97-cv-00150	Docket (PACER) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Stowe-Pharr Mills, Inc.	Oct. 15, 2003	Oct. 15, 2003 Docket
99-01040	Opinion [Court of Appeals] Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Stowe-Pharr Mills, Inc. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit	June 19, 2000	June 19, 2000 Order/Opinion 216 F.3d 373
43 3:97-cv-00150	Order [Regarding Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment] Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Stowe-Pharr Mills, Inc.	April 24, 2001	April 24, 2001 Order/Opinion
50 3:97-cv-00150	Consent Decree Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Stowe-Pharr Mills, Inc.	Sept. 28, 2001	Sept. 28, 2001 Settlement Agreement

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Resources

Resources related to this case
Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
Under the Radar: Visibility and the Effects of Discrimination Lawsuits in Small and Large Firms Carly Knight, Frank Dobbin, Alexandra Kalev	Research on how discrimination lawsuits affect corporate diversity has yielded mixed results. Qualitative studies highlight the limited efficacy of lawsuits in the typical workplace, finding that lit…	March 2022	April 1, 2022 https://cris.tau.ac.il/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13818911/equal-empl-opportuni-v-stowe-pharr-mills-in/

Last updated Nov. 4, 2026, 7:24 p.m.

Docket for: Equal Empl Opportuni v. Stowe-Pharr Mills In

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	April 1, 1997	COMPLAINT (clc) (Entered: 04/14/1997)	RECAP
2	April 1, 1997	NOTICE of lawsuit and request for waiver of svc of summons by Equal Empl Opportuni (clc) (Entered: 04/14/1997)	RECAP
3	June 3, 1997	ANSWER to Complaint by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (Attorney Philip M. Van Hoy), (clc) (Entered: 06/03/1997)	RECAP
4	June 3, 1997	ANSWER to Complaint by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (clc) (Entered: 06/05/1997)	RECAP
	June 9, 1997	Memo from Clerk re: CJRA Plan - Last Answer recv'd: 6/3/97, Initial Atty Conf Due: 6/24/97 , Certificate of Atty Conf Due: 7/1/97 (clc) (Entered: 06/09/1997)	PACER
	June 9, 1997	Memo from Clerk re: CJRA Plan - Last Answer recv'd: 6/3/97, Initial Atty Conf Due: 6/24/97, Certificate of Atty Conf Due: 7/1/97 (clc)
6	June 11, 1997	Decision to "OPT OUT" of Proceeding Before a Magistrate Judge (clc) (Entered: 06/13/1997)	RECAP
	June 11, 1997	CASE reassigned to Judge Graham C. Mullen due to filing of "opt out" (clc)
5	June 12, 1997	WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed as to Stowe-Pharr Mills In 4/8/97 Answer due on 6/7/97 for Stowe-Pharr Mills In (clc) (Entered: 06/12/1997)	RECAP
7	June 18, 1997	Certificate of I.A.C. by plaintiff Equal Empl Opportuni, defendant Stowe-Pharr Mills In (former emp) (Entered: 06/18/1997)	RECAP
8	July 31, 1997	IPC ORDER Discovery deadline is 4/17/98 Motion filing deadline is 5/17/98 Jury Trial set for 9/1/98; suitalbe for mediation ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) (former emp) (Entered: 07/31/1997)	RECAP
	July 31, 1997	Case assigned to the Standard Track pursuant to the Case Mgmt Plan and Pretrial Order. (former emp) (Entered: 07/31/1997)	PACER
	July 31, 1997	Case assigned to the Standard Track pursuant to the Case Mgmt Plan and Pretrial Order. (former emp)
9	Aug. 20, 1997	IPC ORDER setting case management plan and case ddls ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) - This is a duplicate IPC order. (bsw) (Entered: 09/05/1997)	RECAP
10	Aug. 25, 1997	ORDER, Vacating the pre-trial Order issued on August 20, 1997 ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) (chh) Modified on 09/05/1997 (Entered: 08/26/1997)	RECAP
11	Feb. 17, 1998	MEMORANDUM by Stowe-Pharr Mills In in support of [11-1] motion for Leave to File Amended Answer by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (chh) (Entered: 02/18/1998)	RECAP
12	Feb. 23, 1998	ORDER granting [11-1] motion for Leave to File Amended Answer ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) (chh) (Entered: 02/24/1998)	RECAP
13	Feb. 24, 1998	AMENDED ANSWER to Complaint by Stowe-Pharr Mills In : amends [4-1] answer by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (chh) (Entered: 02/24/1998)	RECAP
14	Feb. 24, 1998	ORDER referring case to ADR. Gary Hemric appointed. ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) (bsw) (Entered: 03/03/1998)	RECAP
15	April 8, 1998	MOTION by Stowe-Pharr Mills In to Extend to 60 days for the present ddls for discovery and for the filing of dispositive motions. referred to: Judge Graham C. Mullen (chh) (Entered: 04/09/1998)	RECAP
16	April 10, 1998	ORDER granting [15-1] motion to Extend to 60 days for the present ddls for discovery and for the filing of dispositive motions., reset Discovery deadline to 6/16/98, and reset Motion Filing deadline to 7/16/98 ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) (chh) (Entered: 04/13/1998)	RECAP
17	July 16, 1998	MOTION by Stowe-Pharr Mills In for Summary Judgment referred to: Judge Graham C. Mullen (jlk) (Entered: 07/16/1998)	RECAP
18	July 16, 1998	MEMORANDUM by Stowe-Pharr Mills In in support of [17-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (jlk) (Entered: 07/16/1998)	RECAP
	July 16, 1998	Jury Trial set at 9:30 9/8/98 (chh) (Entered: 07/16/1998)	PACER
	July 16, 1998	Jury Trial set at 9:30 9/8/98 (chh)
19	July 29, 1998	MOTION w/prop Order by Stowe-Pharr Mills In to Continue trial referred to: Judge Graham C. Mullen (chh) (Entered: 07/29/1998)	RECAP
20	July 30, 1998	ORDER granting [19-1] motion to Continue trial from the September 1998 term to a subsequent civil jury term. ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) (chh) (Entered: 07/31/1998)	RECAP
21	Aug. 10, 1998	RESPONSE by EEOC to [17-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (chh) (Entered: 08/12/1998)	RECAP
22	Aug. 10, 1998	AFFIDAVIT of Catherine Treece filed by EEOC re: [17-1] motion for Summary Judgment (chh) (Entered: 08/12/1998)	RECAP
23	Aug. 10, 1998	AFFIDAVIT w/exhibits of Michel D. Vaughan filed by EEOC re: [17-1] motion for Summary Judgment (chh) (Entered: 08/12/1998)	RECAP
24	Aug. 21, 1998	REPLY by Stowe-Pharr Mills In to response to [17-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (chh) (Entered: 08/24/1998)	RECAP
25	Oct. 21, 1998	ORDER, Continuing to the March 1999 civil term of Court ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) (chh) (Entered: 10/21/1998)	RECAP
26	Nov. 9, 1998	ORDER granting [17-1] motion for Summary Judgment ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) Judgment Volume: 44B Page: 201 (former emp) (Entered: 11/10/1998)	RECAP
27	Nov. 9, 1998	JUDGMENT for Stowe-Pharr Mills In against EEOC dismissing case in accordance w/ the Court's order of 11/9/98; ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) Judgment Volume: 44B Page: 201 (former emp) (Entered: 11/10/1998)	RECAP
	Nov. 10, 1998	Case closed (former emp) (Entered: 11/10/1998)	PACER
	Nov. 10, 1998	Case closed (former emp)
28	Jan. 5, 1999	NOTICE OF APPEAL by EEOC . Order appealed: 11/9/98, Appeal pkg sent to atty. (former emp) (Entered: 01/05/1999)	RECAP
	Jan. 5, 1999	Transmitted Notice of Appeal to USCA with certified copy of docket sheet and order re: [28-1] appeal by EEOC (former emp) (Entered: 01/05/1999)	PACER
	Jan. 5, 1999	Transmitted Notice of Appeal to USCA with certified copy of docket sheet and order re: [28-1] appeal by EEOC (former emp)
	Jan. 21, 1999	Transmitted Clerk's Certificate to USCA certifying record is complete re: [28-1] appeal by EEOC (former emp) (Entered: 01/21/1999)	PACER
	Jan. 21, 1999	Transmitted Clerk's Certificate to USCA certifying record is complete re: [28-1] appeal by EEOC (former emp)
29	June 21, 2000	Published Opinion from Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Reversing and remanding (former emp) (Entered: 07/13/2000)	RECAP
30	Aug. 25, 2000	JUDGMENT OF USCA (certified copy) Re: reversing [28-1] appeal and remanding to the District Ct for further proceedings (former emp) (Entered: 08/28/2000)	RECAP
	Aug. 25, 2000	Case reopened (former emp) (Entered: 08/28/2000)	PACER
	Aug. 25, 2000	Case reopened (former emp)
31	Oct. 26, 2000	NOTICE of Attorney Appearance for EEOC by Erania M. Ebron-Fubara, Laura A. Brodeur (former emp) (Entered: 10/30/2000)	RECAP
32	Oct. 26, 2000	MOTION by EEOC for Michael D. Vaughan to Withdraw as Attorney (former emp) (Entered: 10/30/2000)	RECAP
33	Nov. 2, 2000	ORDER granting [32-1] motion for Michael D. Vaughan to Withdraw as Attorney (Terminated attorney Michel D. Vaughan for EEOC ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 11/6/00] (former emp) (Entered: 11/06/2000)	RECAP
34	Dec. 14, 2000	ORDER, set Status Report deadline to 1/31/01, set Motion Filing deadline to 2/28/01 ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 12/17/00] (former emp) (Entered: 12/17/2000)	RECAP
35	Jan. 22, 2001	Joint STATUS REPORT by EEOC, Stowe-Pharr Mills In (former emp) (Entered: 01/26/2001)	RECAP
36	Jan. 22, 2001	STIPULATION by EEOC, Stowe-Pharr Mills In regarding calculation of back pay (former emp) (Entered: 01/26/2001)	RECAP
37	Feb. 28, 2001	MOTION by Stowe-Pharr Mills In for Summary Judgment (former emp) (Entered: 03/06/2001)	RECAP
38	Feb. 28, 2001	MEMORANDUM by Stowe-Pharr Mills In in support of [37-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (former emp) (Entered: 03/07/2001)	RECAP
39	March 20, 2001	RESPONSE by EEOC to [37-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (former emp) (Entered: 03/26/2001)	RECAP
40	March 29, 2001	MOTION by Stowe-Pharr Mills In to Extend Time until 4/13/01 to file reply in support of motion for summary jgmt (former emp) (Entered: 04/04/2001)	RECAP
41	April 2, 2001	ORDER granting [40-1] motion to Extend Time until 4/13/01 to file reply in support of motion for summary jgmt ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 4/9/01] (former emp) (Entered: 04/09/2001)	RECAP
42	April 12, 2001	REPLY by Stowe-Pharr Mills In to response to [37-1] motion for Summary Judgment by Stowe-Pharr Mills In (clc) (Entered: 04/18/2001)	RECAP
43	April 24, 2001	ORDER denying [37-1] motion for Summary Judgment ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 4/26/01] (former emp) (Entered: 04/26/2001)	RECAP
44	May 9, 2001	ORDER, set Jury Trial for 9:30 9/10/01 before Judge Graham C. Mullen ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 5/15/01] (former emp) (Entered: 05/15/2001)	RECAP
	July 24, 2001	Deadline updated; reset Jury Trial for 9:30 9/18/01 before Judge Graham C. Mullen GCM conflict (jlk) (Entered: 07/24/2001)	PACER
	July 24, 2001	Deadline updated; reset Jury Trial for 9:30 9/18/01 before Judge Graham C. Mullen GCM conflict (jlk)
45	Aug. 6, 2001	MOTION by EEOC for Erania Ebron-Fubara to Withdraw as Attorney (former emp) (Entered: 08/09/2001)	RECAP
46	Aug. 6, 2001	NOTICE of Attorney Appearance for EEOC by Kara L. Gibbon Haden, Kirk J. Angel (former emp) (Entered: 08/09/2001)	RECAP
47	Aug. 7, 2001	ORDER granting [45-1] motion for Erania Ebron-Fubara to Withdraw as Attorney (Terminated attorney Erania M. Ebron-Fubara for EEOC ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 8/10/01] (former emp) (Entered: 08/10/2001)	RECAP
48	Aug. 20, 2001	JOINT MOTION by EEOC, Stowe-Pharr Mills In to Continue matter past the 9/8/01 trial term referred to: Judge Graham C. Mullen (former emp) (Entered: 08/24/2001)	RECAP
49	Aug. 22, 2001	ORDER granting [48-1] joint motion to Continue matter past the 9/8/01 trial term, reset Jury Trial for 9:30 3/4/02 before Judge Graham C. Mullen ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 8/27/01] (former emp) (Entered: 08/27/2001)	RECAP
50	Sept. 28, 2001	ORDER, Consent Decree ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 10/3/01] (former emp) (Entered: 10/03/2001)	RECAP
	Jan. 14, 2002	Case closed (former emp) (Entered: 01/14/2002)	PACER
	Jan. 14, 2002	Case closed (former emp)
51	Aug. 7, 2002	Ltr from Philip Van Hoy to Pltf's cnsl re: reporting requiremts of 9/29/01 consent decree (bsw) (Entered: 08/09/2002)	RECAP
52	Oct. 14, 2003	MOTION by Stowe-Pharr Mills In to terminate jurisdiction over this case (clc) (Entered: 10/15/2003)	RECAP
53	Oct. 15, 2003	ORDER granting [52-1] motion to terminate jurisdiction over this case ( signed by Judge Graham C. Mullen ) [EOD DATE: 10/15/03] (clc) (Entered: 10/15/2003)	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

North Carolina

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 1, 1997

Closing Date: Jan. 14, 2002

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

Stowe-Pharr Mills, Inc.

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.

Other Dockets:

Western District of North Carolina 3:97-cv-00150

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 99-01040

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

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

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Expungement of Employment Record

Monitoring

Neutral/Positive Reference

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Amount Defendant Pays: 20000

Order Duration: 1998 - 2000

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Accommodation / Leave

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Disparate Treatment

Discrimination Basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of EEOC v. STOWE-PHARR MILLS INC (d/b/a PHARR YARNS), Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/9223/ (last updated 6/19/2007).