Case: United States v. City of Belen, New Mexico

6:99-cv-00404 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico

Filed Date: April 8, 1999

Closed Date: April 7, 2004

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On April 8th, 1999, the United States Department of Justice ("D.O.J") filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against the City of Belen in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. The DOJ sought injunctive relief and demanded a trial by jury, alleging that the defendant violated Title VII by discriminating against female police officers on the basis of their sex. The DOJ alleged that the discrimination against women took the form of creating, mainta…

On April 8th, 1999, the United States Department of Justice ("D.O.J") filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against the City of Belen in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. The DOJ sought injunctive relief and demanded a trial by jury, alleging that the defendant violated Title VII by discriminating against female police officers on the basis of their sex.

The DOJ alleged that the discrimination against women took the form of creating, maintaining, and condoning sexual harassment and a sexually hostile work environment at the Belen Police Department ("BPD"), and failing or refusing to promptly and effectively investigate such claims. Furthermore, the DOJ contends that the defendant specifically discriminated against a female employee by suspending and eventually terminating her employment as a Sergeant because of her sex and because she assisted in bringing sexual harassment complaints of other female employees to the attention of management.

On June 21, 2000, the Court (Judge Paul Kelly Jr.) approved and entered a settlement agreement upon joint motion of the parties. General injunctive relief included a prohibition from discriminating on the basis of sex, retaliating, or failing to take prompt and effective steps to remedy and prevent conduct committed by employees in the BPD that constitutes sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or retaliation. The settlement agreement also detailed more specific forms of relief, such as the issuance and posting of the city's sexual harassment policies, amendment of performance evaluation, and equal employment opportunity training program.

Additionally, the settlement agreement appointed an Equal Employment Opportunity Monitor to evaluate the City's effectiveness in preventing sex discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and assist in investigating and filing all complaints.

On April 7, 2004, the court dissolved the settlement agreement. This case does not appear to be ongoing.

Summary Authors

Jennifer Hau (10/21/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4915876/parties/united-states-v-belen-city-of/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Danis, Jodi B (District of Columbia)

Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Anderman, Virginia (New Mexico)

Duddleston, David J (Minnesota)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Arbuckle, Barbara Stiles (New Mexico)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

6:99-cv-00404

Docket (PACER)

United States v. Belen, City of

April 7, 2004

April 7, 2004

Docket
1

6:99-cv-00404

Complaint

United States v. The City of Belen, New Mexico

April 8, 1999

April 8, 1999

Complaint
83

6:99-cv-00404

Settlement Agreement

United States v. The City of Belen, New Mexico

June 21, 2000

June 21, 2000

Settlement Agreement
103

6:99-cv-00404

Order

United States v. City of Belen

April 7, 2004

April 7, 2004

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4915876/united-states-v-belen-city-of/

Last updated Feb. 15, 2024, 3:21 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
41

MEMORANDUM, OPINION, AND ORDER: by Circuit Judge Paul Kelly Jr. denying motion to consolidate cases [28-1] by plaintiff-in-intervention Terry Piersol (cc: all counsel) (mjr)

Sept. 9, 1999

Sept. 9, 1999

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: New Mexico

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 8, 1999

Closing Date: April 7, 2004

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States, on behalf of female employees

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

The City of Belen (Belen, Santa Fe), City

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2000 - 2004

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

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

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female