Case: VASZLAVIK v. STORAGE TEK CORP

1:95-cv-02525 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: Oct. 2, 1995

Closed Date: 2000

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On October 2, 1995, former employees of Storage Tek Corporation filed a lawsuit under ERISA, the ADEA, and the ADA, against Storage Tek in the United States District Court, District of Colorado. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for injunctive, declaratory, and compensatory relief, claiming that they were wrongfully discharged. Specifically, plaintiffs claimed that they were treated less favorably than younger employees as a result of a company-wide strategy to r…

On October 2, 1995, former employees of Storage Tek Corporation filed a lawsuit under ERISA, the ADEA, and the ADA, against Storage Tek in the United States District Court, District of Colorado. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for injunctive, declaratory, and compensatory relief, claiming that they were wrongfully discharged. Specifically, plaintiffs claimed that they were treated less favorably than younger employees as a result of a company-wide strategy to reduce costs and its older workforce.

On November 26, 1997, the District Court (Judge Lewis Babcock) granted Plaintiffs' motion to certify an ADEA collective action but denied the motion to certify an ERISA class action. The Court found that conditional certification of an ADEA action was appropriate because Plaintiffs had shown that members of the proposed class were negatively impacted by Defendant's "Strategic Plan." However, the Court declined to certify an ERISA class action because Plaintiffs' proposed class definition was over-inclusive. Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corp., 175 F.R.D. 672 (D. Col. 1997).

The Court granted Plaintiffs' second motion to certify an ERISA class action on November 9, 1998. The Court found that Plaintiffs' revised class definition was adequate to define the class. The ERISA class was defined as: "all employees who were over the age of 40 at the time of their layoffs by employer, between April 13, 1993, and Dec. 31, 1996, because of their perceived above-average use or perceived anticipated above-average use of company benefits." Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corp., 183 F.R.D. 264 (D. Col. 1998).

On March 9, 2000, the Court approved the parties' settlement and dismissed the case. The settlement provided $5 million to members of the ADEA class and injunctive and declaratory relief to members of the ERISA class. Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corp., 2000 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 21129 (D. Col. Mar. 9, 2000). On the same day, the Court also granted Plaintiffs' counsel approximately $1.8 million in fees and costs.

The case has thus been resolved and was closed in March 2000.

Summary Authors

Haley Waller (8/19/2010)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4695122/parties/vaszlavik-v-storage-tek-corp/


Judge(s)

Babcock, Lewis Thornton (Colorado)

Judge(s)

Babcock, Lewis Thornton (Colorado)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:95-cv-02525

Docket

Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corporation

July 26, 2005

July 26, 2005

Docket
178

1:95-cv-02525

MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER (Granting motion to certify ADEA collection action and denying motion to certify ERISA class action)

Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corporation

Nov. 26, 1997

Nov. 26, 1997

Order/Opinion

175 F.R.D. 175

297

1:95-cv-02525

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (Granting second motion to certify ERISA class action)

Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corporation

Nov. 9, 1998

Nov. 9, 1998

Order/Opinion

183 F.R.D. 183

528

1:95-cv-02525

ORDER GRANTING CLASS COUNSEL’S PETITION FOR ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS

Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corporation

March 9, 2000

March 9, 2000

Order/Opinion

2000 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 2000

527

1:95-cv-02525

ORDER APPROVING CLASS SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSING CLASS CLAIMS WITH PREJUDICE

Vaszlavik v. Storage Tek Corporation

March 9, 2000

March 9, 2000

Order/Opinion

2000 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 2000

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4695122/vaszlavik-v-storage-tek-corp/

Last updated March 20, 2024, 3:10 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
537

ORDER Transferring Monies to the Traesury in the Name to the Credit of the United States in the amt of $885.39, Signed by Judge Lewis T. Babcock on 6/28/05. (erv, )

June 28, 2005

June 28, 2005

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Colorado

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Private Employment Class Actions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 2, 1995

Closing Date: 2000

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Former employees of Storage Tek Corporation alleging wrongful termination as a result of company-wide age discrimination.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Storage Tek Corporation, Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Retailer

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. § 1001

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 et seq.

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Monetary Relief

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

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: $5 million

Issues

General:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Discrimination-basis:

Age discrimination