Case: EEOC v. Fresh Express Farms Inc.

5:02-cv-04614 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Sept. 24, 2002

Closed Date: 2007

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In September 2002, the EEOC district office of San Francisco, California brought this suit against Fresh Express, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleged that a defendant maintained a sexually hostile work environment when it failed to discipline a supervisor who refused to stop making unwanted sexual advances. The complaint also alleged that the defendant retaliated against the aggrieved employee when she complained about the harassment.The charging party intervened as a plaintiff in the suit. In May of 2004, the case was resolved; the intervenor-plaintiff reached a separate and confidential settlement agreement, while the EEOC settled its suit with a consent decree. The consent decree stated that the defendant must (1) comply with the nondiscrimination objectives of Title VII; (2) not retaliate against employees who bring discrimination to its attention; (3) establish a "no tolerance" policy concerning sex discrimination; (4) establish compliant procedures; (5) give one hour of anti-sex discrimination training to all of its employees annually; (6) train all its supervisors in the art of investigating sex discrimination; (7) and retain all records of training for EEOC inspection.The decree was entered in 2004 and scheduled to last 2007. No further docket entries exist, so the case is presumably closed.

Summary Authors

Jason Chester (5/30/2007)

Clearinghouse (12/2/2018)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4183173/parties/us-equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-fresh-express-inc/

Judge(s)

Fogel, Jeremy D. (California)

Judge(s)

Fogel, Jeremy D. (California)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

5:02-cv-04614	Docket (PACER) U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Fresh Express, Inc.	May 12, 2004	May 12, 2004 Docket
1 5:02-cv-04614	Complaint U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Fresh Express, Inc.	Sept. 24, 2002	Sept. 24, 2002 Complaint
18 5:02-cv-04614	Complaint In Intervention U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Fresh Express, Inc.	April 23, 2003	April 23, 2003 Complaint
33 5:02-cv-04614	Consent Decree U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Fresh Express, Inc.	May 12, 2004	May 12, 2004 Settlement Agreement

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Resources

Resources related to this case
Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
Under the Radar: Visibility and the Effects of Discrimination Lawsuits in Small and Large Firms Carly Knight, Frank Dobbin, Alexandra Kalev	Research on how discrimination lawsuits affect corporate diversity has yielded mixed results. Qualitative studies highlight the limited efficacy of lawsuits in the typical workplace, finding that lit…	March 2022	April 1, 2022 https://cris.tau.ac.il/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4183173/us-equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-fresh-express-inc/

Last updated March 23, 2026, 4:14 a.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
1	Sept. 24, 2002	Complaint	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
2	Sept. 24, 2002	ADR Scheduling Order	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
3	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
4	Oct. 15, 2002	Motion to Intervene 2 Declaration of Michael Meuter in Support View on PACER 4 Proof of Service 1) Notice of Motion; Memo of P&A; Dec. of M. Meuter in Suppor View on PACER	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
5	Nov. 7, 2002	Statement of Non-Opposition	RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
6	Nov. 7, 2002		RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP
7	Nov. 12, 2002	Order on Motion to Intervene	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 24, 2002

Closing Date: 2007

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

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

Plaintiff Type(s):

EEOC Plaintiff

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

EEOC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Private Entity/Person

Fresh Express, Inc.

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State Anti-Discrimination Law

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

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 5:02-cv-04614

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Monetary Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Damages

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Discrimination Prohibition

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Recordkeeping

Reporting

Retaliation Prohibition

Order Duration: 2004 - 2007

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

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

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Private Party intervened in EEOC suit

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of EEOC v. Fresh Express Farms Inc., Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/5632/ (last updated 12/2/2018).