Case: Bacon v. Honda of America Manufacturing. Inc.

2:99-cv-00803 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Filed Date: Aug. 19, 1999

Closed Date: 2002

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On August 19, 1999, two employees filed a lawsuit against their employer, Honda of American Manufacturing Inc., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4112.99, and Ohio common law. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, alleged that the defendant engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination, resulting in disparate impact and disparat…

On August 19, 1999, two employees filed a lawsuit against their employer, Honda of American Manufacturing Inc., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4112.99, and Ohio common law. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, alleged that the defendant engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination, resulting in disparate impact and disparate treatment, and asked the court for injunctive and declaratory relief. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the employer discriminated against African Americans by denying them favorable positions, skilled positions, transfers and promotions, through the operation of a "buddy system," and through the use of both objective and subjective employment criteria. They asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, promotion to desired positions, the implementation of sensitivity, training, an employee grievance system and an equal employment opportunity program under the supervision of a court-appointed expert for two years, compensatory damages, and back pay. Bacon v. Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 205 F.R.D. 466, (S.D. Ohio 2001).

On September 29, 2000, the plaintiffs moved for class certification. They sought a class consisting of all current and former African-American employees who had been employed by the defendant since 1977. On March 7, 2001, the court denied class certification, holding that commonality had not been established. Bacon v. Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 205 F.R.D. 466, (S.D. Ohio 2001). The plaintiffs appealed this ruling, yet on May 27, 2004 the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Judge Boggs) affirmed the District Court's denial of class certification and granted summary judgment to Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.

Additionally, on January 26, 2001, the defendant moved for summary judgment against the named plaintiff and on February 16, 2001, the defendant moved for summary judgment against another plaintiff. On April 4, 2001, the court (Judge Graham) granted the motions for summary judgment.

On May 3, 2001, the plaintiffs appealed the judgment. Summarily, on May 16, 2001, the court (Judge Graham) issued an order directing a final judgment in favor of the defendant.

On February 13, 2002, the defendant moved to strike the plaintiffs' class claims and on March 26, 2002, the court (Judge Graham) granted the motion. On December 18, 2002, the court (Judge Graham) granted defendant's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the case.

On January 15, 2003, the plaintiffs issued an appeal notification. On March 26, 2005, the Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs certiorari. On May 12, 2005, the United States Court of Appeals granted the stipulation and dismissed the appeal.

According to PACER documents, on February 14, 2005, the court (Judge Graham) held that an award of costs, $51,770.48, against the plaintiffs and in favor of the defendant was appropriate, denying the plaintiffs' motion to deny or reduce costs.

Summary Authors

Emily Kuznick (5/1/2008)

People


Judge(s)

Abel, Mark R. (Ohio)

Boggs, Danny Julian (Kentucky)

Edmunds, Nancy Garlock (Michigan)

Graham, James L. (Ohio)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Fairfield, Mary Ellen (Ohio)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other
Judge(s)

Abel, Mark R. (Ohio)

Boggs, Danny Julian (Kentucky)

Edmunds, Nancy Garlock (Michigan)

Graham, James L. (Ohio)

Guy, Ralph B. Jr. (Michigan)

Moore, Karen Nelson (Ohio)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:99-cv-00803

Docket

Bacon v. Honda of America

May 30, 2007

May 30, 2007

Docket
138

2:99-cv-00803

Order

Bacon v. Honda of America Mfg. Inc.

March 2, 2001

March 2, 2001

Order/Opinion

2001 WL 2001

140

2:99-cv-00803

Class Certification Denied

Bacon v. Honda of America Mfg. Inc.

March 7, 2001

March 7, 2001

Order/Opinion

205 F.R.D. 205

01-03520

Opinion (USCA)

Bacon v. Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

May 27, 2004

May 27, 2004

Order/Opinion

370 F.3d 370

307

2:99-cv-00803

Opinion and Order

Bacon v. Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.

Feb. 14, 2005

Feb. 14, 2005

Order/Opinion

04-00842

Opinion

Bacon v. Honda of America Mfg. Inc.

Supreme Court of the United States

Feb. 22, 2005

Feb. 22, 2005

Order/Opinion

543 U.S. 543

03-03213

Opinion [Affirming District Court Judgment]

Bacon v. Honda of America Mfg. Inc.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

July 13, 2006

July 13, 2006

Order/Opinion

192 Fed.Appx. 192

324

2:99-cv-00803

Opinion and Order

Bacon v. Honda of America Mfg. Inc.

Oct. 30, 2006

Oct. 30, 2006

Order/Opinion

2006 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 2006

Docket

Last updated March 14, 2024, 3:23 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Ohio

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 19, 1999

Closing Date: 2002

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

African American employee for Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Denied

Defendants

Honda of American Manufacturing Inc., Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1981

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Confession of Judgment

Issues

General:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

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

Promotion

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black