Case: EEOC v. CELANESE ACETATE LLC

0:00-cv-03076 | U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina

Filed Date: Sept. 29, 2000

Closed Date: Dec. 3, 2004

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 29, 2000 the EEOC filed this complaint against Celanese Acetate LLC. in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. It was assigned to Judge Cameron M. Currie. The EEOC alleged that the defendant discriminated against employees on the basis of race, in violation of Section 706(f) of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 102 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991. A Black employee of that company, represented by private counsel, intervened pursuant …

On September 29, 2000 the EEOC filed this complaint against Celanese Acetate LLC. in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. It was assigned to Judge Cameron M. Currie. The EEOC alleged that the defendant discriminated against employees on the basis of race, in violation of Section 706(f) of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 102 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991. A Black employee of that company, represented by private counsel, intervened pursuant to the same statutes and South Carolina common law on February 5, 2001, and the motion was granted on February 20. We don't have access to the pleadings in this case and as such, we don't have more specific information about the plaintiff's allegations.

After some litigation over discovery issues, which produced a May 14, 2001 order by the assigned Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant, the defendants moved for summary judgment on September 28, 2001. However, before the court ruled, the parties entered into a consent decree on December 3, 2001.

The agreement provided that the defendant pay the individual plaintiff $75,000 and take various measures to prevent racial discrimination in its Rock Hill, South Carolina facility, including: trainings on federal anti-discrimination law, modifications to the company’s processes for investigating complaints of harassment, posting notices of the consent decree in facilities, and reporting of discrimination complaints and other monitoring by EEOC. The defendant also agreed to pay the individual plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees. The consent decree ran for three years, expiring on December 3, 2004. There have been no updates on the docket since that date and the case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Jonah Hudson-Erdman (9/29/2020)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11380479/parties/equal-employment-v-celanese-acetate/


Judge(s)

Currie, Cameron McGowan (South Carolina)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Sumter, Geraldine (North Carolina)

Turnage, Edwin Lake (South Carolina)

Attorney for Defendant

Brinson, K Kennedy (South Carolina)

Morse, Clinton S (Virginia)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

0:00-cv-03076

Docket [PACER]

EEOC v. Celanese Acetate

Dec. 3, 2001

Dec. 3, 2001

Docket

0:00-cv-03076

Docket

Equal Employment v. Celanese Acetate

Dec. 3, 2001

Dec. 3, 2001

Docket
27

0:00-cv-03076

Order [Regarding Plaintiff's Motion to Compel]

EEOC v. Celanese Acetate LLC

May 14, 2001

May 14, 2001

Order/Opinion
70

0:00-cv-03076

Consent Decree

EEOC v. Celanese Acetate LLC

Dec. 3, 2001

Dec. 3, 2001

Settlement Agreement

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11380479/equal-employment-v-celanese-acetate/

Last updated March 29, 2024, 3:13 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT; Scheduling order due by 1/5/01 Service due by 1/27/01 for Celanese Acetate (jsmi) (Entered: 09/29/2000)

Sept. 29, 2000

Sept. 29, 2000

PACER
2

SUMMONS issued for defendant Celanese Acetate (jsmi) (Entered: 09/29/2000)

Sept. 29, 2000

Sept. 29, 2000

PACER
3

Answers to 16B Interrogatories by plaintiff Equal Employment; jury demand (jsmi) (Entered: 09/29/2000)

Sept. 29, 2000

Sept. 29, 2000

PACER

CASE reassigned from Judge J. Anderson, Jr. to Judge Cameron M. Currie (glev)

Oct. 13, 2000

Oct. 13, 2000

PACER
4

ANSWER to Complaint by defendant Celanese Acetate (Attorney K Kennedy Brinson), (former empl) (Entered: 10/24/2000)

Oct. 23, 2000

Oct. 23, 2000

PACER
5

SCHEDULING ORDER set amended pleadings due for 12/19/00, set discovery due for 3/19/01, set dispositive motion filing deadline 4/9/01, set briefing of dispositive motins due for 4/24/01; mediation form attached ( signed by Judge Bristow Marchant ) (bwil) (Entered: 11/21/2000)

Nov. 20, 2000

Nov. 20, 2000

PACER
6

Answers to 16B Interrogatories by defendant Celanese Acetate (bwil) (Entered: 11/27/2000)

Nov. 22, 2000

Nov. 22, 2000

PACER
7

MOTION by defendant Celanese Acetate for Heather H.P. Vovakes to appear pro hac vice FILING FEE AMOUNT $75.00 Receipt # 300 36175 (bwil) (Entered: 12/07/2000)

Dec. 5, 2000

Dec. 5, 2000

PACER
8

MOTION by defendant Celanese Acetate for Clinton S. Morse to appear pro hac vice FILING FEE AMOUNT $75.00 Receipt # 300 36176 (bwil) (Entered: 12/07/2000)

Dec. 5, 2000

Dec. 5, 2000

PACER
9

ORDER granting [8-1] motion for Clinton S. Morse to appear pro hac vice FILING FEE AMOUNT $75.00 Receipt # 300 36176 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) (bwil) (Entered: 12/08/2000)

Dec. 7, 2000

Dec. 7, 2000

PACER
10

ORDER granting [7-1] motion for Heather H.P. Vovakes to appear pro hac vice FILING FEE AMOUNT $75.00 Receipt # 300 36175 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) (bwil) (Entered: 12/08/2000)

Dec. 7, 2000

Dec. 7, 2000

PACER
11

MOTION by movant Anthony T Dixon to intervene as Plaintiff by Anthony Dixon (bwil) (Entered: 02/06/2001)

Feb. 5, 2001

Feb. 5, 2001

PACER
12

MEMORANDUM with attached Complaint in Intervention by movant Anthony T Dixon in support of [11-1] motion to intervene as Plaintiff by Anthony Dixon (bwil) (Entered: 02/06/2001)

Feb. 5, 2001

Feb. 5, 2001

PACER
13

Supplemental Answers to 16B Interrogatories by plaintiff Equal Employment (awil) (Entered: 02/13/2001)

Feb. 12, 2001

Feb. 12, 2001

PACER
14

ANSWER to Interrogatories by movant Anthony T Dixon (bwil) (Entered: 02/13/2001)

Feb. 12, 2001

Feb. 12, 2001

PACER
15

CONSENT PROTECTIVE ORDER ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 2/14/01 (bwil) (Entered: 02/14/2001)

Feb. 14, 2001

Feb. 14, 2001

PACER
16

RESPONSE by defendant Celanese Acetate to [11-1] motion to intervene as Plaintiff by Anthony Dixon (bwil) (Entered: 02/15/2001)

Feb. 15, 2001

Feb. 15, 2001

PACER
17

UNREPORTED DECISIONS CITED MEMORANDUM by defendant Celanese Acetate in support of [16-1] motion response (bwil) (Entered: 02/15/2001)

Feb. 15, 2001

Feb. 15, 2001

PACER
18

ORDER granting [11-1] motion to intervene as Plaintiff by Anthony Dixon set proposed Scheduling Order due for 3/12/01 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) (kbos) (Entered: 02/22/2001)

Feb. 20, 2001

Feb. 20, 2001

PACER
19

ANSWER to Complaint in Intervention by defendant Celanese Acetate (bwil) (Entered: 03/06/2001)

March 6, 2001

March 6, 2001

PACER
20

AMENDED SCHEDULING ORDER reset discovery due for 6/18/01, reset motion filing deadline for 7/9/01, reset briefing of dispositive motions due for 7/27/01 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 3/7/01 (bwil) (Entered: 03/07/2001)

March 7, 2001

March 7, 2001

PACER
21

CONSENT ORDER: Plaintiff has until 3/22/01 to file motion to compel if necessary ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 3/14/01 (bwil) (Entered: 03/14/2001)

March 14, 2001

March 14, 2001

PACER
22

CONSENT ORDER Intervenor Anthony T. Dixon prohibited from Disclosure of private data re. coworkers ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 3/14/01 (bwil) (Entered: 03/14/2001)

March 14, 2001

March 14, 2001

PACER
23

ORDER extending time for EEOC to file its motion to compel if necessary to 3/26/01 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) (bwil) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 22, 2001

March 22, 2001

PACER
24

MOTION by plaintiff Equal Employment to compel dft to produce materials sought in EEOCs requests to Produce nos 11 -13 and 14 (dnap) (Entered: 04/10/2001)

April 9, 2001

April 9, 2001

PACER
25

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff Equal Employment in support of [24-1] motion to compel dft to produce materials sought in EEOCs requests to Produce nos 11 -13 and 14 (dnap) (Entered: 04/10/2001)

April 9, 2001

April 9, 2001

PACER
26

MEMORANDUM by defendant Celanese Acetate in opposition to [24-1] motion to compel dft to produce materials sought in EEOCs requests to Produce nos 11 -13 and 14 (former empl) (Entered: 04/30/2001)

April 27, 2001

April 27, 2001

PACER
27

ORDER granting in part, denying in part [24-1] motion to compel dft to produce materials sought in EEOCs requests to Produce nos 11 -13 and 14 Specific Document Filing 5/24/01 for Celanese Acetate to present to the Court for incamera review personnel records and determination extent of disclosure; Defendant to provide documents requested in Request to Produce No. 14 within 10 days of this order ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 5/14/01 (bwil) (Entered: 05/14/2001)

May 14, 2001

May 14, 2001

PACER
28

SUPPLEMENTAL RESPONSE TO STANDARD INTERROGATORIES by plaintiff Equal Employment, plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to [13-1] interrogatory(s) (dnap) (Entered: 05/15/2001)

May 15, 2001

May 15, 2001

PACER
29

MOTION by defendant Celanese Acetate to compel medical examination (ahen) (Entered: 05/24/2001)

May 23, 2001

May 23, 2001

PACER
30

MEMORANDUM by defendant Celanese Acetate in support of [29-1] motion to compel medical examination (ahen) (Entered: 05/24/2001)

May 23, 2001

May 23, 2001

PACER
31

AFFIDAVIT of Heather Polzin by defendant Celanese Acetate in support of [29-1] motion to compel medical examination (ahen) (Entered: 05/24/2001)

May 23, 2001

May 23, 2001

PACER
32

ORDER to produce documents from Eddie Dawkins, Dewey Dixon's and Glenn Comer's personnel file that were received for in camera inspection within five days of this order. ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant )eod 5/30/01 mld (ahen) (Entered: 05/30/2001)

May 30, 2001

May 30, 2001

PACER
33

MOTION by defendant Celanese Acetate to compel answer to Interrogatory #10 (bwil) (Entered: 05/31/2001)

May 30, 2001

May 30, 2001

PACER
34

JOINT MOTION by plaintiff Equal Employment, defendant Celanese Acetate, plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to extend time for filing motions to facilitate mediation (bwil) (Entered: 06/07/2001)

June 7, 2001

June 7, 2001

PACER
35

RESPONSE by plaintiff Equal Employment to [29-1] motion to compel medical examination (dnap) (Entered: 06/12/2001)

June 11, 2001

June 11, 2001

PACER
36

ORDER granting [34-1] joint motion to extend time for filing motions to facilitate mediation set advise court of settlement due for 9/15/01 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 6/12/01 (bwil) (Entered: 06/12/2001)

June 12, 2001

June 12, 2001

PACER
37

ORDER granting [29-1] motion to compel medical examination without opposition being filed ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 6/12/01 (bwil) (Entered: 06/12/2001)

June 12, 2001

June 12, 2001

PACER
38

RESPONSE by plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to [29-1] motion to compel medical examination (bwil) (Entered: 06/12/2001)

June 12, 2001

June 12, 2001

PACER
39

JOINT MOTION by plaintiff Equal Employment, defendant Celanese Acetate, plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to extend time for discovery (bwil) (Entered: 06/15/2001)

June 15, 2001

June 15, 2001

PACER
40

SUPPLEMENTAL RESPONSES BY Platintiff Equal Employment Opportunity to [13-1] interrogatory(s) (dnap) (Entered: 06/18/2001)

June 15, 2001

June 15, 2001

PACER
41

ORDER granting [39-1] joint motion to extend time for discovery reset discovery due for 8/17/01 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) mld (ahen) (Entered: 06/19/2001)

June 18, 2001

June 18, 2001

PACER
42

OBJECTION by plaintiff Equal Employment to [37-1] order (dnap) (Entered: 06/27/2001)

June 26, 2001

June 26, 2001

PACER
43

ORDER granting [33-1] motion to compel answer to Interrogatory #10 ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ); no opposition filed (bwil) (Entered: 06/29/2001)

June 28, 2001

June 28, 2001

PACER
44

CONSENT ORDER compelling medical examination ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) (bwil) (Entered: 07/25/2001)

July 24, 2001

July 24, 2001

PACER
45

MOTION by defendant Celanese Acetate to compel medical tests (bwil) (Entered: 07/30/2001)

July 30, 2001

July 30, 2001

PACER
46

AFFIDAVIT of Ervin Batchelor, Ph.D by defendant Celanese Acetate Re: [45-1] motion to compel medical tests (bwil) (Entered: 07/30/2001)

July 30, 2001

July 30, 2001

PACER
47

RESPONSE by plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to [45-1] motion to compel medical tests (bwil) (Entered: 08/03/2001)

Aug. 3, 2001

Aug. 3, 2001

PACER
48

RESPONSE by plaintiff Equal Employment to [45-1] motion to compel medical tests (dnap) (Entered: 08/14/2001)

Aug. 13, 2001

Aug. 13, 2001

PACER

TELEPHONE CONFERENCE/Minute entry: Lisa Alexander, Judge Marchant's Law Clerk, held a telephone conference with Edwin Turnage (counsel for EEOC), Geraldine Sumter (counsel for Plaintiff), and Heather Polzin (counsel for Defendant). Defendant had previously submitted in camera the names of two tests that it seeks to have the Plaintiff perform. Defendant has requested that Plaintiff not be informed of the nature of the tests prior to testing. Judge Marchant instructed Defendant's expert to submit an affidavit describing what the tests are, what the tests are designed to do, the nature of the tests, whether the tests are generally accepted in the field by psychiatrists, whether the tests are used widespread, information concerning the validity of the tests, and how the tests are accepted and recognized in the field. The Court offered to have the Defendant disclose the names of the tests to counsel for the Plaintiff and EEOC provided that the names of the tests were not disclosed to the Plaintiff without further order of the Court. If counsel agreed, then Plaintiff's counsel and the EEOC's counsel could submit an affidavit from their expert on the same issues outlined above. Counsel for the EEOC and Plaintiff will notify the Court by August 21 as to whether they wish to be informed of the names of the tests and whether they intend to submit an affidavit. Affidavits from all parties on this matter should be filed on or before August 27, 2001. (Specific Document Filing 8/27/01 for Anthony T Dixon, for Celanese Acetate, for Equal Employment (entered at Direction of the Court/not recorded) (bwil)

Aug. 17, 2001

Aug. 17, 2001

PACER
49

JOINT MOTION by plaintiff Equal Employment, defendant Celanese Acetate, plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to extend time for obtaining specific discovery (bwil) (Entered: 08/21/2001)

Aug. 17, 2001

Aug. 17, 2001

PACER
50

SUPPLEMENTAL MOTION by defendant Celanese Acetate in support of [45-1] motion to compel medical tests (bwil) (Entered: 08/27/2001)

Aug. 27, 2001

Aug. 27, 2001

PACER
51

26.03 Supplemental Responses to Standard Interrogatories by Equal Employment Opportunity. (dnap) (Entered: 08/27/2001)

Aug. 27, 2001

Aug. 27, 2001

PACER
52

SUPPLEMENTAL RESPONSE by plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to [45-1] motion to compel medical tests (bwil) (Entered: 09/07/2001)

Sept. 7, 2001

Sept. 7, 2001

PACER
53

MOTION by plaintiff Equal Employment to extend time to respond to defendant's motions to compel additional medical tests (dnap) (Entered: 09/10/2001)

Sept. 7, 2001

Sept. 7, 2001

PACER
54

SUPPLEMENTAL RESPONSE by plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to [45-1] motion to compel medical tests (bwil) (Entered: 09/12/2001)

Sept. 11, 2001

Sept. 11, 2001

PACER
55

ORDER denying [53-1] motion to extend time to respond to defendant's motions to compel additional medical tests, granting [49-1] joint motion to extend time for obtaining specific discovery, granting [45-1] motion to compel medical tests ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 9/17/01 (bbro) (Entered: 09/17/2001)

Sept. 17, 2001

Sept. 17, 2001

PACER
56

MOTION by defendant Celanese Acetate for leave to exceed page limit (bwil) (Entered: 09/25/2001)

Sept. 25, 2001

Sept. 25, 2001

PACER
57

ORDER granting [56-1] motion for leave to exceed page limit ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 9/26/01 (bwil) (Entered: 09/26/2001)

Sept. 26, 2001

Sept. 26, 2001

PACER
58

MOTION by defendant Celanese Acetate for summary judgment (bwil) (Entered: 09/28/2001)

Sept. 28, 2001

Sept. 28, 2001

PACER
59

MEMORANDUM by defendant Celanese Acetate in support of [58-1] motion for summary judgment with Bound Volumes I and II (bwil) (Entered: 09/28/2001)

Sept. 28, 2001

Sept. 28, 2001

PACER
60

MOTION by plaintiff Equal Employment, plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to extend time to respond to motion for summary judgment (bwil) (Entered: 10/12/2001)

Oct. 12, 2001

Oct. 12, 2001

PACER
61

ORDER granting [60-1] motion to extend time to respond to motion for summary judgment Response to motion reset to 10/29/01 for [58-1] motion for summary judgment ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 10/15/01 (bwil) (Entered: 10/15/2001)

Oct. 15, 2001

Oct. 15, 2001

PACER
62

MOTION by plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to extend time for response to motion for summary judgment to 11/5/01 (bwil) (Entered: 10/25/2001)

Oct. 24, 2001

Oct. 24, 2001

PACER
63

ORDER granting [62-1] motion to extend time for response to motion for summary judgment to 11/5/01 Response to motion reset to 11/5/01 for [58-1] motion for summary judgment ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 10/25/01 (bwil) (Entered: 10/25/2001)

Oct. 25, 2001

Oct. 25, 2001

PACER
64

ORDER Response to motion reset to 11/9/01 on letter/motion from Attorney Heather Polzin for [58-1] motion for summary judgment ( signed by Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant ) eod 11/5/01 (bwil) (Entered: 11/05/2001)

Nov. 5, 2001

Nov. 5, 2001

PACER
65

MOTION by plaintiff Anthony Dixon to amend [1-1] complaint (former empl) Modified on 11/20/2001 (Entered: 11/19/2001)

Nov. 16, 2001

Nov. 16, 2001

PACER
66

AMENDED MOTION by plaintiff Anthony T Dixon to amend [65-1] motion to amend [1-1] complaint referring to [65-1] motion to amend [1-1] complaint (former empl) (Entered: 11/20/2001)

Nov. 19, 2001

Nov. 19, 2001

PACER
67

ORDER granting [66-1] amended motion to amend [65-1] motion to amend [1-1] complaint (mooting [65-1] motion to amend [1-1] complaint) ( signed by Judge Cameron M. Currie ) EOD 11-21-01 (former empl) (Entered: 11/21/2001)

Nov. 21, 2001

Nov. 21, 2001

PACER
68

AMENDED COMPLAINT by plaintiff Anthony T Dixon, amending [1-1] complaint (former empl) (Entered: 11/26/2001)

Nov. 26, 2001

Nov. 26, 2001

PACER
69

NOTICE of voluntary dismissal by Plaintiff-Intervenor Anthony Dixon (former empl) (Entered: 12/03/2001)

Nov. 29, 2001

Nov. 29, 2001

PACER
70

CONSENT DECREE in re:settlement ( signed by Judge Cameron M. Currie ) eod 12/3/01 (former empl) (Entered: 12/03/2001)

Dec. 3, 2001

Dec. 3, 2001

PACER

Case closed (former empl)

Dec. 3, 2001

Dec. 3, 2001

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: South Carolina

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 29, 2000

Closing Date: Dec. 3, 2004

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

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

Plaintiff Type(s):

EEOC Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Unknown

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

Celanese Acetate LLC, 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

Monetary Relief

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Attorneys fees

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2001 - 2004

Content of Injunction:

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Monitoring

Training

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit