Case: Binion v. Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority

1:94-cv-03814 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: June 22, 1994

Closed Date: 1997

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Case Summary

On June 22, 1994, four black employees working as janitors in the housekeeping department of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and 42 U.S.C. § 1981 against their employer, a municipal corporation that manages convention and exposition activities at Chicago's Navy Pier and McCormick Place, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, alleged racial discrimination. They specifically alleged that they were subject to a discriminatory disciplinary policy and sought injunctive relief and damages. They also alleged unequal employment opportunities in transfers, hours, and assignments as unscheduled walk-ins. Finally, they alleged verbal abuse and racial harassment.

On September 13, 1995, the court (Judge Brian Barnett Duff) granted the plaintiffs' motion for class certification. The class consisted of black janitors, with membership opening date of October 2, 1990 for Title VII claims and July 14, 1991 for Section 1981 claims. While conducting discovery the parties pursued settlement negotiations and on February 21, 1997, the court (Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr.) approved a settlement agreement. Under the agreement the class members, the class representatives, and their attorneys received a total of $1.2 million.

Summary Authors

Michael Perry (8/5/2010)

People

Judge(s)

Duff, Brian Barnett (Illinois)

Norgle, Charles Ronald Sr. (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Patner, Marshall (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Abram, Thomas G. (Illinois)

Nicolai, Michael Paul (Illinois)

Judge(s)

Duff, Brian Barnett (Illinois)

Norgle, Charles Ronald Sr. (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Patner, Marshall (Illinois)

Seliger, Stephen G (Illinois)

Sonderby, Peter Robert (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Abram, Thomas G. (Illinois)

Nicolai, Michael Paul (Illinois)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1:94-cv-03814	Docket Binion v. Metropolitan Pier And Exposition Authority	May 29, 1997	May 29, 1997 Docket
14 1:94-cv-03814	Opinion (Granting motion to certify the class)	Sept. 12, 1995	Sept. 12, 1995 Order/Opinion 163 F.R.D. 517

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Docket

Last updated March 23, 2025, 9:16 a.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	June 22, 1994	COMPLAINT - Civil cover sheet - Appearance(s) of Marshall Patner, Stephen G. Seliger, Peter Robert Sonderby as attorney(s) for plaintiffs with Rule 39 affidavits ( 1 summons(es) issued.) ( Documents: 1-1 through 1-6) (fce) (Entered: 06/23/1994)	PACER
	June 22, 1994	RECEIPT regarding payment of filing fee paid; on 6/22/94 in the amount of $ 120.00, receipt # 437571. (fce) (Entered: 06/23/1994)	PACER
2	July 11, 1994	MINUTE ORDER of 7/11/94 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing set for 08/25/94 at 9:30 a.m. Plaintiff's counsel to inform all other parties of the scheduled status. Mailed notice (tlm) (Entered: 07/12/1994)	PACER
3	July 12, 1994	ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for Metro Pier by Thomas G. Abram, Michael Paul Nicolai (tlm) (Entered: 07/14/1994)	PACER
4	July 12, 1994	RULE 39 Affidavit of Thomas G. Abram (tlm) (Entered: 07/14/1994)	PACER
5	July 12, 1994	RULE 39 Affidavit of Michael Paul Nicolai (tlm) (Entered: 07/14/1994)	PACER
6	July 19, 1994	MOTION by defendant to extend time to answer or otherwise plead to the complaint ; Notice of motion. (tlm) (Entered: 07/21/1994)	PACER
7	July 19, 1994	MINUTE ORDER of 7/19/94 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Granting defendant's motion for an extension of time to 08/08/94 in which to answer or otherwise plead. [6-1] No notice (tlm) (Entered: 07/21/1994)	PACER
8	Aug. 8, 1994	ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT by Metro Pier. (tlm) (Entered: 08/09/1994)	PACER
9	Aug. 10, 1994	NOTICE by plaintiffs of change of address; Notice of filling and proof of service. (tlm) (Entered: 08/15/1994)	PACER
10	Sept. 8, 1994	MOTION by plaintiff for class certification . (tlm) (Entered: 09/09/1994)	PACER
11	Sept. 8, 1994	MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs in support of class certification (Exhibits); Notice of filing and certificate of service. [10-1] (tlm) (Entered: 09/09/1994)	PACER
12	Sept. 22, 1994	MEMORANDUM of law by Defendant Metro Pier and Exposition Authority in opposition to motion for class certification (Exhibits). [10-1] (tlm) (Entered: 09/23/1994)	PACER
13	Sept. 29, 1994	REPLY MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs in support of their motion for class certification (Exhibits); Notice of filing. [10-1] (tlm) (Entered: 09/30/1994)
	June 14, 1995	SCHEDULE set on 6/14/95 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Settlement conference set for 3:00 7/11/95 . Mailed notice (ac) (Entered: 06/14/1995)	PACER
	July 11, 1995	SCHEDULE set on 7/11/95 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Settlement reset to conference set for 3:00 7/26/95 . Telephone notice (ac) (Entered: 07/11/1995)	PACER
	July 26, 1995	SCHEDULE set on 7/26/95 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Settlement conference held. Status hearing set to 9:30 9/11/95 . Telephoned notice (ac) (Entered: 07/27/1995)	PACER
	Aug. 27, 1995	SCHEDULE set on 8/27/95 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing reset to 9:30 9/14/95 . Mailed notice (ac) (Entered: 08/27/1995)	PACER
14	Sept. 12, 1995	MEMORANDUM OPINION (rmm) (Entered: 09/15/1995)	Clearinghouse
15	Sept. 13, 1995	MINUTE ORDER of 9/13/95 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Plaintiff's motion to certify the class [10-1] is granted. The class membership opening date is 10/02/90 for the Title VII claims and 07/14/91 for the section 1981 claims. Mailed notice (rmm) (Entered: 09/15/1995)	PACER
	Sept. 14, 1995	SCHEDULE set on 9/14/95 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing held and continued to 9:30 11/20/95. Parties to file a joint status report before the next scheduled status date . No notice (ac) (Entered: 09/17/1995)	PACER
16	Nov. 17, 1995	JOINT STATUS REPORT by plaintiffs, defendant (smm) (Entered: 11/21/1995)	PACER
	Nov. 20, 1995	SCHEDULE set on 11/20/95 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing held and continued to 9:30 2/20/96. The court adopts the discovery plan as presented by parties . No notice (ac) (Entered: 11/20/1995)	PACER
	Feb. 21, 1996	SCHEDULE set on 2/21/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing held and continued to 9:00 4/22/96 . No notice (ac) (Entered: 02/21/1996)	PACER
17	April 3, 1996	JOINT MOTION to extend discovery schedule by 60 days (Attachment); Notice of motion (ar) (Entered: 04/04/1996)	PACER
18	April 3, 1996	MINUTE ORDER of 4/3/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Joint motion to extend discovery schedule by 60 days [17-1] is granted. Discovery cut off date is extended to 05/30/96 and expert discovery to be completed by 7/31/96. Telephoned notice (ar) (Entered: 04/04/1996)	PACER
	April 22, 1996	SCHEDULE set on 4/22/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing reset to 9:00 6/8/96 . Telephoned notice (ac) (Entered: 04/22/1996)	PACER
23	May 9, 1996	MOTION by plaintiffs for preliminary injunctive relief to prevent closure of defendant's Housekeeping Department . (Temporarily unavailable for docketing). (ar) Modified on 06/06/1996 (Entered: 06/06/1996)	PACER
24	May 9, 1996	MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs in support of motion for preliminary injunctive relief to prevent closure of defendant's Housekeeping Department [23-1]. (Temporarily unavailable for docketing). (ar) (Entered: 06/06/1996)	PACER
25	May 9, 1996	APPENDIX filed by plaintiff to their memorandum in support [24-1] of motion for preliminary injunctive relief to prevent closure of Housekeeping Department (1 vol.) (Temporarily unavailable for docketing). (ar) (Entered: 06/06/1996)	PACER
19	May 21, 1996	REPLY MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs in support of plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunctive relief to prevent closure of Housekeeping Department (Attachments); Notice of filing (ar) (Entered: 05/21/1996)	PACER
26	May 28, 1996	MOTION by defendant for leave to file instanter its memorandum in excess of 15 pages ; Notice of motion. (Temporarily unavailable for docketing). (ar) Modified on 06/06/1996 (Entered: 06/06/1996)	PACER
27	May 28, 1996	MINUTE ORDER of 5/28/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Granting defendant's motion for leave to file instanter its memorandum in excess of 15 pages [26-1]. No notice (ar) (Entered: 06/06/1996)	PACER
28	May 28, 1996	MEMORANDUM of law by defendant in opposition to motion for preliminary injunction [23-1]. (Temporarily unavailable for docketing). (ar) (Entered: 06/06/1996)	PACER
29	May 28, 1996	APPENDIX filed by defendant to its memorandum of law in opposition [28-1] to motion for preliminary injunction (1 vol.) (Temporarily unavailable for docketing). (ar) (Entered: 06/06/1996)	PACER
30	May 28, 1996	MINUTE ORDER of 5/28/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Hearing held on plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction to prevent closure of defendant's Housekeeping Department [23-1]. The motion [23-1] is denied. No notice (ar) (Entered: 06/06/1996)	PACER
20	May 30, 1996	MOTION by defendant for leave to file affidavit of Thomas Mobley ; Notice of motion (ar) (Entered: 06/04/1996)	PACER
21	May 30, 1996	MINUTE ORDER of 5/30/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Granting defendant's motion for leave to file affidavit of Thomas Mobley [20-1]. No notice (ar) (Entered: 06/04/1996)	PACER
22	May 30, 1996	AFFIDAVIT of Thomas Mobley (Exhibits) (ar) (Entered: 06/04/1996)	PACER
31	July 8, 1996	MOTION by plaintiffs James Binion, Sheridan Clark, Willie Cousins, Oddie Greene, defendant Metro Pier to reschedule completion of discovery ; Notice of motion (smm) (Entered: 07/11/1996)	PACER
32	July 9, 1996	MINUTE ORDER of 7/9/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : The motion to reschedule completion of discovery is granted [31-1] and status set for 7/30/96 at 9:30 a.m. to report the status of settlement. No notice (smm) (Entered: 07/11/1996)	PACER
	July 29, 1996	SCHEDULE set on 7/29/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing reset to 9:00 8/21/96 . Telephoned notice (ac) (Entered: 07/29/1996)	PACER
	Aug. 21, 1996	SCHEDULE set on 8/21/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing held and continued to 9:00 9/23/96 . No notice (ac) (Entered: 08/23/1996)	PACER
33	Sept. 19, 1996	NOTICE by counsel for plaintiffs of change of address (ar) (Entered: 09/24/1996)	PACER
	Sept. 23, 1996	SCHEDULE set on 9/23/96 by Hon. Brian Barnett Duff : Status hearing held. Settlement conference set for 4:30 10/21/96 . No notice (ac) (Entered: 09/23/1996)	PACER
	Oct. 10, 1996	EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ORDER of 10/10/96: Case reassigned to Hon. Charles R. Norgle. (nlf) (Entered: 10/11/1996)	PACER
	Oct. 22, 1996	SCHEDULE set on 10/22/96 by Hon. Charles R. Norgle Sr : Status hearing set for 9:30 10/31/96 . Mailed notice (ewf) (Entered: 10/22/1996)	PACER
	Oct. 31, 1996	SCHEDULE set on 10/31/96 by Hon. Charles R. Norgle Sr : Status hearing held and continued to 9:30 12/11/96 for report on settlement. No notice (ewf) (Entered: 11/01/1996)	PACER
	Dec. 9, 1996	SCHEDULE set on 12/9/96 by Hon. Charles R. Norgle Sr : Status hearing reset to to 9:30 12/13/96 . NO notice (ewf) (Entered: 12/09/1996)	PACER
36	Dec. 12, 1996	AGREED MOTION for order preliminarily approving settlement and approving notice and claim form to class members (Exhibits); Notice of motion (ar) (Entered: 01/02/1997)	PACER
34	Dec. 13, 1996	ORDER preliminarily approving settlement and notice and claim form to class members (ar) (Entered: 12/18/1996)	PACER
35	Dec. 13, 1996	MINUTE ORDER of 12/13/96 by Hon. Charles R. Norgle Sr : Agreed motion for order preliminarily approving settlement and approving notice and claim form to class members is granted. Fairness hearing set for 10:30 am on 2/21/97. Mailed notice (ar) Modified on 12/19/1996 (Entered: 12/18/1996)	PACER
37	Dec. 16, 1996	MOTION by plaintiffs for attorneys' fees and costs (1 vol.) (Exhibits); Notice of filing. (Temporarily unavailable for docketing.) (ar) Modified on 01/08/1997 (Entered: 01/08/1997)	PACER
38	Feb. 21, 1997	FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER approving settlement agreement [36-1] (eav) (Entered: 02/25/1997)	PACER
39	Feb. 21, 1997	MINUTE ORDER of 2/21/97 by Hon. Charles R. Norgle Sr : Enter final judgment and order approving settlement agreement. Status hearing (for deaf class members) set for 03/28/97 at 10:30 a.m. , terminating case Mailed notice (eav) (Entered: 02/25/1997)	PACER
40	Feb. 21, 1997	WRITTEN communication between counsel and deaf claimants (Grammar Cook and Michael Denton) (Attachment) (ar) (Entered: 02/25/1997)	PACER
41	Feb. 21, 1997	AGREED MOTION by plaintiffs for entry of final judgment (Exhibits); Notice of motion. (1 vol.) (ar) (Entered: 02/25/1997) shows the plaintiff's agreed order for a final judgment [41-1] as still pending. The motion was granted on 04/21/97 [39-1]. The clerk shall correct the record to so reflect. No notice (ar) (Entered: 05/14/1997)	PACER
42	May 9, 1997	MINUTE ORDER of 5/9/97 by Hon. Charles R. Norgle Sr : The clerk's docket shows the plaintiff's agreed order for a final judgment [41-1] as still pending. The motion was granted on 04/21/97 [39-1]. The clerk shall correct the record to so reflect. No notice (ar) (Entered: 05/14/1997)
43	May 29, 1997	TRANSCRIPT of proceedings for the following date(s): 05/29/97 Before Honorable Charles Ronald Norgle, Sr. (hp) (Entered: 05/30/1997)	PACER

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Illinois

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Private Employment Class Actions

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 22, 1994

Closing Date: 1997

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Black janitors who worked for or continued to work for the defendant.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Other

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1981

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

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Illinois 1:94-cv-03814

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Amount Defendant Pays: $1,200,000

Issues

General/Misc.:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination Area:

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

Discipline

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Black

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Binion v. Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/10757/ (last updated 8/5/2010).