Case: EEOC v. Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC

1:05-cv-05445 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Sept. 21, 2005

Closed Date: 2008

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Case Summary

On September 21, 2005 the Chicago District Office of the EEOC filed this suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiff sued Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The plaintiffs, representing Hispanic and African American employees of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC, asked the court for injunctive and monetary relief. The plaintiff claimed that African American and Hispanic employees were subjected to different terms and conditions of employment and were subjected to a hostile work environment because of their race and national origin. The plaintiff also alleged that one employee was discharged in retaliation for complaining about the discrimination.

On August 21st, 2006, the plaintiffs and defendants jointly moved for a protective order to maintain confidentiality over certain information and documents. On September 6, 2006, Judge Joan B. Gottschall entered the agreed protective order. Specifically, the order stated information and documents such as wage, financial, or tax information; social security numbers; physical and mental health information; trade secrets; performance evaluations; employee complaints; proprietary business processes and procedures; and defendant's affirmative action plans were to remain confidential.

Between 2007 and 2008 the parties conducted multiple settlement conferences. On April 4, 2008, both parties consented to transferring the case to Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys. On April 9, 2008, Chief Judge James F. Holderman signed an Executive Committee Order transferring the case to Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys.

On May 21, 2008 the Honorable Arlander Keys signed a consent decree. The decree included injunctive and monetary relief. The injunctive relief enjoined the defendant from discriminating against employees on the basis of race; required the defendant to create a policy prohibiting discrimination in the workplace; and required posting, record keeping, and training. The monetary relief totaled $425,000 to be distributed among 17 class members.

	Document
1:05-cv-05445	Docket [PACER]	May 21, 2008	May 21, 2008 Docket
1 1:05-cv-05445	Complaint	Sept. 21, 2005	Sept. 21, 2005 Complaint
23 1:05-cv-05445	Agreed Protective Order	Sept. 6, 2006	Sept. 6, 2006 Order/Opinion
41 1:05-cv-05445	Transfer of Case to the Executive Committee for a Reassignment to Magistrate Judge EEOC v. Bridgestone/Firestone North America	April 9, 2008	April 9, 2008 Order/Opinion
45 1:05-cv-05445	Consent Decree EEOC v. Bridgestone/Firestone North America Tire, LLC	May 21, 2008	May 21, 2008 Settlement Agreement

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Jury Demand.(vmj, ) (Entered: 09/22/2005)	Sept. 21, 2005	Sept. 21, 2005 RECAP
2	CIVIL Cover Sheet (vmj, ) (Entered: 09/22/2005)	Sept. 21, 2005	Sept. 21, 2005 PACER
3	ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Laurie S. Elkin, Gregory M. Gochanour, John C. Hendrickson (vmj, ) (Entered: 09/22/2005)	Sept. 21, 2005	Sept. 21, 2005 PACER
5	ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Justin Mulaire (Mulaire, Justin) (Entered: 11/02/2005)	Nov. 2, 2005	Nov. 2, 2005 PACER
6	ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC by Todd David Steenson (Steenson, Todd) (Entered: 11/21/2005)	Nov. 21, 2005	Nov. 21, 2005 PACER
7	ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC by Naomi Felicia Katz (Katz, Naomi) (Entered: 11/21/2005)	Nov. 21, 2005	Nov. 21, 2005 PACER
8	ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC by Robert William Vyverberg, Jr (Vyverberg, Robert) (Entered: 11/21/2005)	Nov. 21, 2005	Nov. 21, 2005 PACER
9	Defendant's Answer and Affirmative Defenses ANSWER to Complaint by Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC(Vyverberg, Robert) (Entered: 11/21/2005)	Nov. 21, 2005	Nov. 21, 2005 PACER
10	Defendant's Corporate Disclosure Statement by Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (Vyverberg, Robert) (Entered: 11/28/2005)	Nov. 28, 2005	Nov. 28, 2005 PACER
11	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall : Status hearing set for 12/7/2005 at 09:30 AM. Plaintiff is directed to advise the defendants of the status hearing forthwith. Parties are directed to discuss settlement of case, consent to proceed before the Magistrate Judge and a proposed discovery plan. Mailed notice (rj, ) (Entered: 11/29/2005)	Nov. 29, 2005	Nov. 29, 2005 PACER
12	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall : Status hearing held on 12/7/2005. Rule 26 disclosures exchanged by 12/19/2005. Written discovery shall be served by 1/19/2006. Status hearing set for 3/1/2006 at 09:30 AM. Parties are required to present an agreed discovery plan. Mailed notice (rj, ) Modified on 12/22/2005 (rj, ). (Entered: 12/07/2005)	Dec. 7, 2005	Dec. 7, 2005 PACER
13	ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Richard John Mrizek (Mrizek, Richard) (Entered: 02/24/2006)	Feb. 24, 2006	Feb. 24, 2006 PACER
14	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall : Status hearing set for 3/1/2005 is stricken and reset to 3/8/2006 at 09:30 AM by request of the parties. Mailed notice (rj, ) (Entered: 02/25/2006)	Feb. 25, 2006	Feb. 25, 2006 PACER
15	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall : Status hearing held on 3/8/2006. Status hearing continued to 9/6/2006 at 09:30 AM. Mailed notice (rj, ) (Entered: 03/08/2006)	March 8, 2006	March 8, 2006 PACER
16	MOTION by Plaintiff Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Defendant Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC for protective order (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Agreed Protective Order)(Mrizek, Richard) (Entered: 08/21/2006) 2 Text of Proposed Order Agreed Protective Order View on PACER	Aug. 21, 2006	Aug. 21, 2006 PACER
17	Joint NOTICE of Motion by Richard John Mrizek for presentment of motion for protective order 16 before Honorable Joan B. Gottschall on 8/24/2006 at 09:30 AM. (Mrizek, Richard) (Entered: 08/21/2006)	Aug. 21, 2006	Aug. 21, 2006 PACER
18	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall : Agreed motion for entry of agreed protective order 16 is denied without prejudice for failure to comply with Judge Gottschall's standing order regarding delivery of courtesy copies. Mailed notice (rj, ) (Entered: 08/30/2006)	Aug. 24, 2006	Aug. 24, 2006 PACER
19	MOTION by Plaintiff Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Defendant Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC for protective order Joint Agreed Motion (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Agreed Protective Order)(Mrizek, Richard) (Entered: 09/01/2006) 2 Text of Proposed Order Agreed Protective Order View on PACER	Sept. 1, 2006	Sept. 1, 2006 PACER
20	Joint NOTICE of Motion by Richard John Mrizek for presentment of motion for protective order 19 before Honorable Joan B. Gottschall on 9/7/2006 at 09:30 AM. (Mrizek, Richard) (Entered: 09/01/2006)	Sept. 1, 2006	Sept. 1, 2006 PACER
21	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall :Status hearing held on 9/6/2006 and continued to 1/10/2007 at 09:30 AM. The court intends to set a fact discovery closure date at schdeduled status hearing. Mailed notice(rj, ) Modified on 9/6/2006 (rj, ). (Entered: 09/06/2006)	Sept. 6, 2006	Sept. 6, 2006 PACER
22	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall : Motion by plaintiff Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Defendant Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC for protective order 19 is granted. Enter Agreed Protective order. (For further detail see separate order.) Mailed notice (hp, ) (Entered: 09/08/2006)	Sept. 6, 2006	Sept. 6, 2006 PACER
23	AGREED PROTECTIVE Order Signed by Judge Joan B. Gottschall on 9/6/2006:Mailed notice(hp, ) (Entered: 09/08/2006)	Sept. 6, 2006	Sept. 6, 2006 PACER
24	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall : Status hearing set for 1/10/2007 is stricken and reset to 1/31/2007 at 09:30 AM due to scheduling conflict of the Court.Mailed notice (rj, ) (Entered: 12/19/2006)	Dec. 19, 2006	Dec. 19, 2006 PACER
25	MINUTE entry before Judge Joan B. Gottschall :Status hearing held on 1/31/2007. This matter is referred to Magistrate Judge Keys for discovery supervision and settlement conference. Mailed notice (rj, ) (Entered: 01/31/2007)	Jan. 31, 2007	Jan. 31, 2007 PACER
26	Pursuant to Local Rule 72.1, this case is hereby referred to the calendar of Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys for the purpose of holding proceedings related to: discovery supervision and settlement conference.(rj, )Mailed notice. (Entered: 01/31/2007)	Jan. 31, 2007	Jan. 31, 2007 PACER
27	MINUTE entry Magistrate Judge Status hearing set for 3/19/2007 at 09:00 AM. in courtroom 2230.(ac, ) (Entered: 02/15/2007)	Feb. 15, 2007	Feb. 15, 2007 PACER
28	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Magistrate Judge Status hearing held on 3/19/2007; continued to 5/21/2007 at 9:00 a.m. All discovery custs off on 12/31/07. Discovery is proceeding.Mailed notice (eav, ) (Entered: 03/22/2007)	March 19, 2007	March 19, 2007 PACER
29	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Status hearing held; continued to 7/23/07 at 9:00 a.m. The parties are reminded that discovery cuts off on 12/31/2007. Discovery is proceeding satisfactorily.Mailed notice (smm) (Entered: 05/24/2007)	May 21, 2007	May 21, 2007 PACER
30	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Status hearing held; continued to 9/24/2007 at 9:00 A.M. Counsel for defendant only appeared and informed the Court that discovery is proceeding. The parties ar reminded that discovery cuts off on 12/31/07.Mailed notice (smm) (Entered: 07/25/2007)	July 23, 2007	July 23, 2007 PACER
31	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys : Status hearing held; continued to 11/26/2007 at 9:00 a.m. The Parties appeared and informed the Court that discovery is proceeding. The Parties are reminded that discovery cuts off on 12/31/2007. Mailed notice (hp, ) (Entered: 09/26/2007)	Sept. 24, 2007	Sept. 24, 2007 PACER
32	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Magistrate Judge Status hearing held on 11/26/2007 and continued to 1/7/08 at 9:00 a.m. Fact discovery cutoff is extended to 2/15/08 due to the fact that parties are discussing the possibility of resolving this case. (kef, ) (Entered: 11/26/2007)	Nov. 26, 2007	Nov. 26, 2007 PACER
33	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Settlement Conference set for 1/25/2008 at 10:00 AM. All parties are to be represented at the settlement conference by an individual (other than their attorneys) with full authority to settle. The parties are to exchange (but not file) written settlement offers, copies of which are to be submitted to the court by 1/18/08. This is a requirement, not an option and no follow up calls for this information will be made by the court's staff. Failure to comply with this requirement is sanctionable (ac, ) (Entered: 01/02/2008)	Jan. 2, 2008	Jan. 2, 2008 PACER
34	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Pursuant to the parties request, settlement conference set for 1/25/08 is reset to 1/30/2008 at 01:30 PM. All parties are to be represented at the settlement conference by an individual (other than their attorneys) with full authority to settle. The parties are to exchange (but not file) written settlement offers, copies of which are to be submitted to the court by 1/24/08. This is a requirement, not an option and no follow up calls for this information will be made by the court's staff. Failure to comply with this requirement is sanctionable. (ac, ) (Entered: 01/02/2008)	Jan. 2, 2008	Jan. 2, 2008 PACER
35	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Status hearing held. Settlement conference set for 1/30/08 at 1:30 p.m. to remain firm.Mailed notice (smm) (Entered: 01/09/2008)	Jan. 7, 2008	Jan. 7, 2008 PACER
36	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Settlement conference held. A great deal of progress was made toward settlement. However, the case did not settle at this time. The fact discovery cut off date is extended to 3/31/08. Status hearing set for 2/20/2008 at 9:00 A.M.Mailed notice (smm) (Entered: 02/04/2008)	Jan. 30, 2008	Jan. 30, 2008 PACER
37	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys : Status hearing held; continued to 3/5/2008 at 9:00 a.m. The Parties appeared and informed the Court that they are closer to a resolution of this case. Mailed notice (hp, ) (Entered: 02/22/2008)	Feb. 20, 2008	Feb. 20, 2008 PACER
38	MINUTE entry before Judge Arlander Keys :Status hearing held; continued to 4/4/2008 at 9:00 A.M. The parties appeared and informed the Court that they need additional time to prepare the settlement documents and to finalize the language in the consent decree. If plaintiff files a stipulation to dismiss prior to the next status hearing, the status will be stricken and parties will not need ti appear. The parties to submit the consent decree to Judge Gottschall.Mailed notice (smm) (Entered: 03/07/2008)	March 5, 2008	March 5, 2008 PACER
39	MINUTE entry before Judge Honorable Arlander Keys:Status hearing held; continued to 5/5/08 at 9:00 a.m. The Parties appeared and informed the Court that they are close to finalizing the language in the consent decree. The Parties also will consent to the jurisdiction of this Court for all further proceedings. The Parties are to submit the consent decree to this Court prior to the next status hearing. (ac, ) (Entered: 04/09/2008)	April 4, 2008	April 4, 2008 PACER
40	JOINT CONSENT by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC to Exercise of Jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge. (smm) (Entered: 04/14/2008)	April 4, 2008	April 4, 2008 PACER
41	EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ORDER: Case reassigned to the Honorable Arlander Keys for all further proceedings. Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1. Signed by Executive Committee on 4/9/08. (smm) (Entered: 04/14/2008)	April 9, 2008	April 9, 2008 PACER
42	MINUTE entry before Judge Honorable Arlander Keys:Pursuant to the telephonic request of the Parties, the status hearing set for 5/5/08 is reset to 5/21/2008 at 09:00 AM.) (ac, ) (Entered: 05/01/2008)	May 1, 2008	May 1, 2008 PACER
43	MINUTE entry before the Honorable Arlander Keys:Status hearing held. The Parties appeared and informed the Court that they have come to a resolution of this case and submitted to the Court a consent decree. This case is hereby dismissed with prejudice and without costs to either party. (ac, ) (Entered: 05/23/2008)	May 21, 2008	May 21, 2008 PACER
44	MINUTE entry before the Honorable Arlander Keys: Enter Consent Decree.Mailed notice (vcf, ) (Entered: 05/29/2008)	May 21, 2008	May 21, 2008 PACER
45	CONSENT DECREE Signed by the Honorable Arlander Keys on 5/21/2008.(vcf, ) (Entered: 05/29/2008)	May 21, 2008	May 21, 2008 RECAP

Case: EEOC v. Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC

1:05-cv-05445 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

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