Case: EEOC v. DENNY'S INC.

2:99-cv-01548 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: Sept. 28, 1999

Closed Date: Jan. 24, 2003

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Case Summary

In September 1999, the EEOC district office in Seattle, Washington brought this suit against Denny's, Inc., a national restaurant chain, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 based on sex. Specifically, the suit alleged that the defendant maintained a sexually hostile work environment and retaliated against women for complaining. The case was settled and a settlement agreement was entered in January …

In September 1999, the EEOC district office in Seattle, Washington brought this suit against Denny's, Inc., a national restaurant chain, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 based on sex. Specifically, the suit alleged that the defendant maintained a sexually hostile work environment and retaliated against women for complaining.

The case was settled and a settlement agreement was entered in January 2000. The parties agreed that the defendant would pay the women $252,902.99 in damages, $171,097.01 in attorney's fees, make a $50,000 donation to the YWCA, refrain from retaliating and discriminating on the basis of sex, post a settlement notice, implement and distribute an anti-sexual harassment policy, provide EEO training, expunge the women's employee records of all mention of this litigation, implement a complaint procedure, and conduct an audit of the impact of the new policies. The terms of the agreement ran for three years.

Summary Authors

Jason Chester (7/2/2007)

People

Attorney for Plaintiff

Cordon, Claire (Washington)

Lucero, A. Luis Jr. (Washington)

Olson, Kathryn Blaire (Washington)

Reams, Gwendolyn Young (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Reiss, Michael (Washington)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:99-cv-01548

Docket

EEOC v. Denny's, Inc.

Jan. 24, 2000

Jan. 24, 2000

Docket
15

2:99-cv-01548

Settlement Agreement and (Proposed) Order of Dismissal

EEOC v. Denny's Inc.

Jan. 21, 2000

Jan. 21, 2000

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

Last updated April 2, 2024, 3:15 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT JURY TRIAL DEMANDED (Summons(es) issued) Receipt # fee waived (PM) (Entered: 10/02/1999)

Sept. 28, 1999

Sept. 28, 1999

2

MOTION to intervene by April McCready, Monique Waldenstrom, Kim Kircher, Heidi Cullen, Shelby Swearinger, Kelli Irish, & Sabrina Price NOTED FOR 10/15/99 (dktclk) (Entered: 10/03/1999)

Sept. 29, 1999

Sept. 29, 1999

3

MEMORANDUM of points & authorities in support of motion to intervene by April McCready, Monique Waldenstrom, Kim Kircher, Heidi Cullen, Shelby Swearinger, Kelli Irish, & Sabrina Price [2-1] (dktclk) (Entered: 10/03/1999)

Sept. 29, 1999

Sept. 29, 1999

4

DECLARATION of Counsel re motion to intervene by April McCready, Monique Waldenstrom, Kim Kircher, Heidi Cullen, Shelby Swearinger, Kelli Irish, & Sabrina Price [2-1] (dktclk) (Entered: 10/03/1999)

Sept. 29, 1999

Sept. 29, 1999

LODGED ORDER: re: motion to intervene by April McCready, Monique Waldenstrom, Kim Kircher, Heidi Cullen, Shelby Swearinger, Kelli Irish, & Sabrina Price [2-1] (dktclk) (Entered: 10/03/1999)

Sept. 29, 1999

Sept. 29, 1999

PROPOSED Complaint In Intervention re: motion to intervene by April McCready, Monique Waldenstrom, Kim Kircher, Heidi Cullen, Shelby Swearinger, Kelli Irish, & Sabrina Price [2-1] (dktclk) (Entered: 10/03/1999)

Sept. 29, 1999

Sept. 29, 1999

5

RETURN OF SERVICE of summons and complaint executed upon defendant Denny's Inc on 9/28/99 (dktclk) (Entered: 10/03/1999)

Sept. 30, 1999

Sept. 30, 1999

6

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendant Denny's Inc by Michael Reiss, Tahl Tyson (dktclk) (Entered: 10/18/1999)

Oct. 12, 1999

Oct. 12, 1999

7

RETURN OF SERVICE of proposed intervenor's complaint executed upon defendant Denny's Inc on 9/30/99 (dktclk) (Entered: 10/18/1999)

Oct. 12, 1999

Oct. 12, 1999

8

NOTICE OF HEARING: ; status hrg set for 9:00 1/4/00 (cc: all counsel) (dktclk) (Entered: 10/19/1999)

Oct. 18, 1999

Oct. 18, 1999

9

ORDER re: DISCOVERY and DEPOSITIONS by Chief Judge John C. Coughenour (cc: counsel, Judge) (dktclk) (Entered: 10/19/1999)

Oct. 18, 1999

Oct. 18, 1999

10

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL of motion to intervene by April McCready, Monique Waldenstrom, Kim Kircher, Heidi Cullen, Shelby Swearinger, Kelli Irish, & Sabrina Price [2-1] (dktclk) (Entered: 10/25/1999)

Oct. 21, 1999

Oct. 21, 1999

PROPOSED Stipulation & Order Enlarging time for Deft Denny's to Answer or Otherwise Respond (dktclk) (Entered: 11/09/1999)

Nov. 5, 1999

Nov. 5, 1999

11

STIPULATION and ORDER ENLARGING TIME FOR DEFT DENNY'S TO ANSWER OF OTHERWISE PLEAD by Chief Judge John C. Coughenour : Deft Denny's Inc shall be allowed through 11/30/99 to answer or othwerwise respond to pltf's complaint. (cc: counsel, JCC) (PM) (Entered: 11/12/1999)

Nov. 10, 1999

Nov. 10, 1999

LODGED ORDER: second stipulation and order enlarging time for dft Denny's to answer or otherwise respond (MH) (Entered: 11/24/1999)

Nov. 24, 1999

Nov. 24, 1999

12

STIPULATION and ORDER enlarging time for dft Denny's to answer or otherwise respond by Chief Judge John C. Coughenour; dft Denny's shall be allowed through 12/17/99 to answer or otherwise respond to pla's complaint (cc: counsel, Judge) (MH) (Entered: 12/06/1999)

Dec. 6, 1999

Dec. 6, 1999

LODGED ORDER: Third stipulation and order enlarging time for dft Denny's to answer or otherwise respond (MH) (Entered: 12/20/1999)

Dec. 17, 1999

Dec. 17, 1999

13

THIRD STIPULATION and ORDER by Chief Judge John C. Coughenour extending time for dft Denny's to answer or otherwise respond to 1/10/00 (cc: counsel, Judge) (MH) (Entered: 12/20/1999)

Dec. 20, 1999

Dec. 20, 1999

14

MINUTES OF STATUS HEARING: JCC; Dep Clerk: J Mahnke; CR: Laurene Kelly; cnsl Olson, Reiss and Theisen present. Cnsl advise ct that this action should settle. Further conf set for 2/1/00 at 9am (RS) (Entered: 01/07/2000)

Jan. 4, 2000

Jan. 4, 2000

LODGED ORDER: settlement agreement and proposed order of dismissal (MH) (Entered: 01/18/2000)

Jan. 14, 2000

Jan. 14, 2000

15

STIPULATION and ORDER by Chief Judge John C. Coughenour: action dismissed with prejudice and without costs or fees and case termed (cc: counsel, Judge, JM) (VK) (Entered: 01/24/2000)

Jan. 24, 2000

Jan. 24, 2000

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Case Details

State / Territory: Washington

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 28, 1999

Closing Date: Jan. 24, 2003

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

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

Plaintiff Type(s):

EEOC Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Denny's, Inc., Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1981

State law

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

State Anti-Discrimination Law

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Monetary Relief

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Amount Defendant Pays: 475000

Order Duration: 2000 - 2003

Content of Injunction:

Expungement of Employment Record

Discrimination Prohibition

Retaliation Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Comply with advertising/recruiting requirements

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Auditing

Monitoring

Issues

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

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits