Case: EEOC v. Wolverine Bronze Company

2:04-cv-73813 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: Sept. 29, 2004

Closed Date: Dec. 12, 2005

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 29, 2004 the EEOC filed complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of an individual employee and others similarly situated. The complaint alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 committed by the Wolverine Bronze Company, Inc. for allowing racial harassment which created a hostile work environment. Additionally, the EEOC claimed the defendant failed to take action to stop the harassment.

On November 9, 2005, Judge George Caram Steeh approved a consent decree. The charging party was awarded $100,000 in affirmative relief as damages. Additionally, the defendant agreed to set up an entirely new system of reporting, record keeping, discipline, and employee training in regards to harassment. Also, a non-retaliation provision was included along with a posting of notice at the workplace. The decree had a two year duration and closed the case.

Summary Authors

David Miller (9/1/2010)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4291078/parties/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-wolverine-bronze-co-inc/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Dawkins, Robert (Michigan)

INACTIVE, Adele Rapport (Michigan)

INACTIVE, Jeffrey R. (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

INACTIVE, Karin M. (Michigan)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Fagan, Barry S. (Michigan)

Judge(s)

Steeh, George Caram III (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Dawkins, Robert (Michigan)

INACTIVE, Adele Rapport (Michigan)

INACTIVE, Jeffrey R. (Michigan)

Price, Dale (Michigan)

Rapport, Adele (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

INACTIVE, Karin M. (Michigan)

Sutton, Kevin T. (Michigan)

Young, Karin M. (Michigan)

Other

Fagan, Barry S. (Michigan)

Milligan, Jeffrey R. (Michigan)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

2:04-cv-73813	Docket	Dec. 12, 2005	Dec. 12, 2005 Docket
1 2:04-cv-73813	Complaint	Sept. 29, 2004	Sept. 29, 2004 Complaint
7 2:04-cv-73813	Stipulation and Order Permitting Intervention	Dec. 28, 2004	Dec. 28, 2004 Order/Opinion
30 2:04-cv-73813	Consent Decree	Nov. 9, 2005	Nov. 9, 2005 Order/Opinion

show / hide documents

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4291078/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-wolverine-bronze-co-inc/

Last updated April 4, 2025, noon

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Sept. 29, 2004	COMPLAINT filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(NHoll, ) (Entered: 09/30/2004)	RECAP
2	Dec. 7, 2004	MOTION to Intervene by Tony B. Smith. (NHoll, ) (Entered: 12/15/2004)	RECAP
3	Dec. 14, 2004	ANSWER to Complaint with Affirmative Defenses by Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(PPaul, ) (Entered: 12/17/2004)	RECAP
4	Dec. 20, 2004	NOTICE TO APPEAR: Scheduling Conference set for 1/24/2005 11:00 AM before Honorable George Caram Steeh. (MBea, ) (Entered: 12/20/2004)	RECAP
5	Dec. 20, 2004	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Tony B. Smith, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission re 2 MOTION to Intervene. (NHoll, ) (Entered: 12/27/2004)	RECAP
6	Dec. 28, 2004	INTERVENOR COMPLAINT with Jury Demand by Tony B. Smith. (NHoll, ) (Entered: 12/30/2004)	RECAP
7	Dec. 28, 2004	STIPULATION AND ORDER Permitting Intervention. Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (NHoll, ) (Entered: 12/30/2004)	RECAP
	Jan. 5, 2005	Set Deadlines/Hearings: Scheduling Conference re−set for 2/22/2005 03:00 PM before Honorable George Caram Steeh. (MBea, ) (Entered: 01/05/2005)	PACER
8	Jan. 6, 2005	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Tony B. Smith re 7 Stipulation and Order. (KGeha, ) (Entered: 01/07/2005)	RECAP
9	Jan. 20, 2005	SUMMONS Returned Executed. William Smith served on 1/12/2005, answer due 2/1/2005 (NHoll, ) (Entered: 01/21/2005)	RECAP
10	Jan. 20, 2005	SUMMONS Returned Executed. Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated served on 1/12/2005, answer due 2/1/2005 (NHoll, ) (Entered: 01/21/2005)	RECAP
11	Feb. 10, 2005	DISCOVERY plan jointly filed pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26(f).(NHoll, ) (Entered: 02/11/2005)	RECAP
12	Feb. 14, 2005	ANSWER to Intervenor Complaint by all defendants.(Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 02/14/2005)	RECAP
13	Feb. 14, 2005	AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 02/14/2005)	RECAP
14	Feb. 14, 2005	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated re 12 Answer to Intervenor Complaint, 13 Affirmative Defenses. (Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 02/14/2005)	RECAP
15	Feb. 14, 2005	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated relative to Defendants' Interrogatories, Request for Production of Documents, and Notice of Taking Deposition to Plaintiff-Intervenor Tony Smith. (Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 02/14/2005)	RECAP
16	Feb. 16, 2005	ANSWER (Reply) to Defendants' Answer to Complaint in Intervention and Affirmative Defenses; Reliance on Jury Demand; and Proof of Service by Tony B. Smith. (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 02/16/2005)	RECAP
	Feb. 22, 2005	Minute Entry −Scheduling Conference held on 2/22/2005 before Honorable George Caram Steeh. (MBea, ) (Entered: 02/22/2005)	PACER
17	Feb. 22, 2005	SCHEDULING ORDER: Final Pretrial Conference set for 2/14/2006 09:00 AM; Jury Trial set for 2/21/2006 09:00 AM before Honorable George Caram Steeh. Dispositive Motion Cut-off set for 11/3/2005 Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (Refer to image for additional dates)(MBea, ) (Entered: 02/22/2005)	RECAP
18	March 31, 2005	MOTION for Leave to File First Amended Complaint in Intervention by Tony B. Smith. (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 03/31/2005)	RECAP
19	April 14, 2005	RESPONSE to 18 MOTION for Leave to File First Amended Complaint in Intervention filed by all defendants. (Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 04/14/2005)	RECAP
20	April 19, 2005	REPLY to Response re 18 MOTION for Leave to File First Amended Complaint in Intervention filed by Tony B. Smith. (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 04/19/2005)	RECAP
21	April 27, 2005	ORDER granting 18 Motion for leave to file first-amended complaint in intervention to add a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress.Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (DPer, ) (Entered: 04/27/2005)	RECAP
22	April 28, 2005	AMENDED COMPLAINT filed by Tony B. Smith against William Smith and Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(DPer, ) (Entered: 04/29/2005)	RECAP
23	May 5, 2005	STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER regarding plaintiff-intervenor's medical records. Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (DPer, ) (Entered: 05/06/2005)	RECAP
24	May 12, 2005	ANSWER to Amended Complaint by all defendants.(Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 05/12/2005)	RECAP
25	May 12, 2005	AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated.(Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 05/12/2005)	RECAP
26	May 12, 2005	REPLY to 24 Answer to Amended Complaint, 25 Affirmative Defenses by Tony B. Smith. (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 05/12/2005)	RECAP
27	Aug. 31, 2005	Plaintiff-Intervenor's WITNESS LIST by Tony B. Smith (Fagan, Barry) (Entered: 08/31/2005)	RECAP
28	Aug. 31, 2005	Plaintiff's WITNESS LIST by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Price, Dale) (Entered: 08/31/2005)	RECAP
29	Aug. 31, 2005	Initial WITNESS LIST by William Smith, Wolverine Bronze Company, Incorporated (Sutton, Kevin) (Entered: 08/31/2005)	RECAP
30	Nov. 9, 2005	CONSENT DECREE. Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (DPer, ) (Entered: 11/09/2005)	RECAP
31	Dec. 12, 2005	STIPULATED ORDER dismissing plaintiff's claims with prejudice. Signed by Honorable George Caram Steeh. (DPer, ) (Entered: 12/12/2005)	RECAP

show / hide docket entries

Case Details

State / Territory:

Michigan

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 29, 2004

Closing Date: Dec. 12, 2005

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

EEOC on behalf of employee of Wolverine Bronze Company subjected to a hostile work environment on account of racial harassment

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

Private Entity/Person

Wolverine Bronze Company

Defendant Type(s):

Retailer

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Michigan 2:04-cv-73813

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

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:

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Monitoring

Post/Distribute Notice of Rights / EE Law

Provide antidiscrimination training

Recordkeeping

Reporting

Retaliation Prohibition

Amount Defendant Pays: $100,000

Order Duration: 2005 - 2007

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Race, unspecified

EEOC-centric:

Direct Suit on Merits

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of EEOC v. Wolverine Bronze Company, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/7626/ (last updated 9/1/2010).