Case: EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP INC

2:04-cv-00326 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Filed Date: March 31, 2004

Closed Date: Aug. 11, 2006

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In March 2004, the Milwaukee District Office of the EEOC filed this suit against Journal Community Publishing Group, Inc., a printing company that publishes community newspapers, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The complaint alleged that the defendant violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by subjecting the charging party, a female employee, to sexual harassment and retaliation which resulted in her constructive discharge. Specifically, two male c…

In March 2004, the Milwaukee District Office of the EEOC filed this suit against Journal Community Publishing Group, Inc., a printing company that publishes community newspapers, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The complaint alleged that the defendant violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by subjecting the charging party, a female employee, to sexual harassment and retaliation which resulted in her constructive discharge. Specifically, two male coworkers of the charging party sexually harassed her on a continual basis by making inappropriate sexual comments to her and offensively touching her. In July 2004, the charging party intervened in the lawsuit. In May 2005, the defendant filed a motion for summary judgment which was granted in March 2006. According to the judgment, the plaintiffs failed to prove that there was a basis for employer liability for the harassment. Therefore, the case was dismissed. We do not know whether the dismissal involved a settlement agreement.

Summary Authors

Kevin Wilemon (6/5/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4646560/parties/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-journal-community-publishing/


Judge(s)

Stadtmueller, Joseph Peter (Wisconsin)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

2:04-cv-00326

Docket

EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

Dec. 26, 2006

Dec. 26, 2006

Docket
1

2:04-cv-00326

Complaint

EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

March 31, 2004

March 31, 2004

Complaint
47

2:04-cv-00326

Order Granting Summary Judgment

EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

March 28, 2006

March 28, 2006

Order/Opinion

2006 WL 801024

06-02536

Court of Appeals Dismissal

EEOC v. JOURNAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Aug. 9, 2006

Aug. 9, 2006

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4646560/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-journal-community-publishing/

Last updated April 5, 2025, 11:18 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 March 31, 2004

COMPLAINT with jury demand; consent forms distributed for Magistrate Judge Goodstein. E-File Notification Distributed. (vlh, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 4/2/2004 (vlh, ).

Clearinghouse
2 April 2, 2004

REFUSAL of Consent to Jurisdiction by US Magistrate Judge by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (vlh, )

PACER
3 April 2, 2004

INCORRECT DUPLICATE - SEE ENTRY AT NO. 2 - [Refusal to Jurisdiction by US Magistrate Judge by all plaintiffs (Attachments: # 1 Consent to Proceed Before a U.s. Magistrate Judge)(McBride, Dennis)] Modified on 4/5/2004 (vlh, ).

PACER
4 April 29, 2004

REFUSAL of Consent to Jurisdiction by US Magistrate Judge by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc (vlh, )

PACER
5 April 29, 2004

PDF document requirement letter & request for certificate of interest mailed to attorney Jason R. Bent. (vlh, ) Modified on 4/29/2004 -- incorrect case no. corrected on hard copy of letter (vlh, ).

PACER
6 June 1, 2004

ANSWER to Complaint by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

PACER
June 1, 2004

Attorney Bennett L Epstein for Journal Community Publishing Group Inc added. (jld, ) (Entered: 06/09/2004)

PACER
7 June 2, 2004

ORDER directing parties to confer within 21 days of the date of this order and on or before 7/16/04 file with the court a joint report and a proposed scheduling order for the court's signature. (cc: all counsel) (Blackburn, Pat)

PACER
8 June 14, 2004

Rule 7.4 MOTION to Intervene by Karen Bombaci. (vlh, )

PACER
9 June 14, 2004

AFFIDAVIT of Curry First (vlh, )

PACER
10 June 14, 2004

PDF document requirement letter mailed to attorney Curry First regarding motion to intervene and affidavit filed on June 14, 2004. (vlh, )

PACER
11 July 12, 2004

ORDER granting Karen Bombaci's [8]Motion to Intervene. (cc: all counsel) (Blackburn, Pat)

PACER
12 July 13, 2004

Second PDF document requirement letter mailed to attorney Curry First regarding motion to intervene and affidavit filed on June 14, 2004. (vlh, )

PACER
13 July 13, 2004

REPORT of Rule 26(f) Plan by all plaintiffs (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
14 Aug. 18, 2004

SCHEDULING ORDER: Discovery due by 3/31/2005. Plaintiffs Expert Witness List due by 11/1/2004. Defendants Expert Witness List due by 12/15/2004. Motions due by 5/16/2005. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

PACER
15 Oct. 8, 2004

MOTION for Protective Order by all parties. (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
16 Oct. 8, 2004

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
17 Oct. 8, 2004

[WRONG EVENT SELECTED. ATTACHMENT IS A STIPULATION & PROPOSED ORDER.] MOTION for Protective Order by all parties. (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 10/8/2004 (vlh, ).

PACER
18 Oct. 12, 2004

Docket Annotation - E-mail sent to attorney Dennis R. McBride regarding proposed order at no. 17. (vlh, )

PACER
19 Oct. 21, 2004

PROTECTIVE ORDER signed by Judge J P Stadtmueller on 10/21/04. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

PACER
20 Jan. 5, 2005

MOTION for Extension of Time for Discovery Deadline by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

PACER
Jan. 21, 2005

MARGIN ORDER granting 20 defendant's motion to extend the discovery deadline to 2/28/05. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

PACER
21 Feb. 14, 2005

MOTION to Modify Discovery Schedule by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Bent, Jason)

PACER
22 Feb. 22, 2005

ORDER granting 21 Motion to Modify expert discovery schedule. (cc: all counsel) (Blackburn, Pat)

PACER
23 Feb. 25, 2005

STIPULATION by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc (Bent, Jason)

PACER
March 1, 2005

MARGIN ORDER granting parties stipulation to extend the fact discovery deadline from 2/28/05 to 3/31/05. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

PACER
24 May 16, 2005

MOTION for Summary Judgment by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

25 May 16, 2005

BRIEF in Support re 24 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

PACER
26 May 16, 2005

Proposed Findings of Fact by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit # 2 Exhibit # 3 Exhibit # 4 Exhibit # 5 Exhibit # 6 Exhibit # 7 Exhibit # 8 # 9 Exhibit # 10 Exhibit # 11 Exhibit # 12 # 13 Exhibit # 14 Exhibit)(Bent, Jason)

PACER
27 May 17, 2005

Docket Annotation - E-mail sent to attorney Jason R. Bent regarding entry found at no. 24 (and also applies to entries 25 & 26). (vlh, )

PACER
28 June 16, 2005

MOTION for Extension of Time by all parties. (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
29 June 16, 2005

STIPULATION [for extension of time to respond & reply to motion for summary judgment and [Proposed] Order by all parties (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 4/27/2006 (vlh, ).

PACER
30 June 17, 2005

Docket Annotation - E-mail sent to attorney Dennis R. McBride regarding entry at no. 29. (vlh, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 6/20/2005 (vlh, ).

PACER
31 June 22, 2005

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by all parties (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
32 June 22, 2005

BRIEF in Opposition re 24 MOTION for Summary Judgment Plaintiff's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment filed by all plaintiffs. (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
33 June 22, 2005

Proposed Findings of Fact by all plaintiffs. (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
34 June 22, 2005

STATEMENT OF FACT by all plaintiffs Plantiff's Statement of Material Facts in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
35 June 22, 2005

[Unsigned, undated] DECLARATION of Karen Bombaci (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 6/23/2005 (vlh, ).

PACER
36 June 22, 2005

[Unsigned] AFFIDAVIT of Dennis R. McBride in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgement (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 6/23/2005 (vlh, ).

PACER
37 June 22, 2005

[Unsigned, undated] DECLARATION of Drake Van Thiel in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 6/23/2005 (vlh, ).

PACER
38 June 22, 2005

DECLARATION of Mary Louise Bell, Ph.D. with attached exhibits [PAPER FORMAT ONLY] (vlh, ) (Entered: 06/23/2005)

PACER
39 June 22, 2005

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT re: 37 declaration of Drake Van Thiel; exhibits attached [PAPER FORMAT ONLY](vlh, ) (Entered: 06/23/2005)

PACER
40 June 22, 2005

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT re: 36 affidavit of Dennis R. McBride; exhibits attached [PAPER FORMAT ONLY] (vlh, ) (Entered: 06/23/2005)

PACER
41 June 24, 2005

RESPONSE to Motion re 24 MOTION for Summary Judgment Plaintiff's Response to Defendant's Proposed Findings of Fact in Oppositino to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment filed by all parties. (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
42 June 24, 2005

[MOTION for Summary Judgment] ATTACHMENT IS Plaintiff's Statement of Material Facts in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgement by all parties. (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 6/24/2005 (vlh, ).

PACER
43 June 24, 2005

Docket Annotation - E-mail sent to attorney Dennis McBride regarding entry at no. 42. (vlh, )

PACER
44 June 27, 2005

ORDER entered granting stipulation of parties that the plaintiff and plaintiff-intervenor shall hve until close of business on 6/22/05 to respond to the defendant's motion for summary judgment; and the defendant has until close of business on 7/13/05 to file a reply. (cc: all counsel)(Blackburn, Pat)

PACER
45 July 13, 2005

REPLY BRIEF in Support re 24 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

PACER
46 July 13, 2005

RESPONSE to Plaintiffs' Statement of Material Facts filed by Journal Community Publishing Group Inc. (Bent, Jason)

PACER
47 March 28, 2006

ORDER signed by Judge J P Stadtmueller on 3/28/06 granting defendant's motion to strike the EEOC investigator's interview notes and granting 24 defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. (cc: all counsel)

RECAP
48 March 28, 2006

JUDGMENT signed by Deputy Clerk on 3/28/06 granting defendant's motion to strike the EEOC investigator's interview notes and granting defendant's motion for summary judgment. (cc: all counsel) (Monzingo, Nancy)

PACER
49 April 18, 2006

INCORRECTLY FILED IN WRONG CASE LETTER from Dennis R. McBride regarding Consent Decree and Order (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 4/18/2006 (vkb)

PACER
50 April 18, 2006

INCORRECTLY FILED IN WRONG CASE MOTION for Settlement Consent Decree and Order by all plaintiffs. (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 4/18/2006 (vkb)

PACER
51 April 26, 2006

NOTICE OF APPEAL by Karen Bombaci from 48 3/28/06 Judgment. $455.00 appeal fee paid, receipt no. 102 119059. (cc: all counsel) (vlh, )

PACER
52 April 26, 2006

Docketing Statement by Karen Bombaci re: 51 Notice of Appeal (cc: all counsel) (vlh, )

PACER
April 26, 2006

Transmission of Notice of Appeal and Docket Sheet to US Court of Appeals re: 51 Notice of Appeal (vlh, )

PACER
April 27, 2006

Appeal record prepared consisting of 1 bound vol. pldgs. & 4 loose pldgs. (nos. 26, 40, 42, & 46) re: 51 Notice of Appeal (vlh, )

PACER
May 5, 2006

USCA Case Number 06-2222 re: 51 Notice of Appeal filed by Karen Bombaci (vlh, )

PACER
53 May 30, 2006

SEE ENTRY #54; NOTICE by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (McBride, Dennis) Modified on 5/31/2006 to correct text (cms, ).

PACER
54 May 30, 2006

NOTICE OF APPEAL as to 48 Judgment by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (cc: all counsel) (cms, ) (Entered: 05/31/2006)

PACER
May 31, 2006

Transmission of Notice of Appeal and Docket Sheet to US Court of Appeals re 54 Notice of Appeal (cms, )

PACER
55 June 2, 2006

LETTER from Seventh Circuit Transcript Information Sheet from Dennis R. McBride Seventh Circuit Transcript Information Sheet (McBride, Dennis)

PACER
June 8, 2006

USCA Case Number 06-2536 re: 54 Notice of Appeal filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (vlh, )

PACER
56 Aug. 11, 2006

USCA Mandate (certified copy) as to 54 Notice of Appeal filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, USCA Number 06-2536, dismissing appeal pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 42(b) (vlh, )

PACER
57 Oct. 12, 2006

Appeal record request received from attorney Bennett L. Epstein re: USCA Case No. 06-2222 (Attachment: # 1 Receipt for Record on Appeal)(vlh)

PACER
Oct. 24, 2006

Appeal record returned consisting of 1 bound vol. pldgs. & 4 loose pldgs. (nos. 26, 40. 42, & 46) re: 51 Notice of Appeal (vlh)

PACER
58 Dec. 26, 2006

NOTICE of oral argument, construed as appeal record request, received from 7th Cir. re: USCA Case Number 06-2222. (vlh) (Entered: 12/27/2006)

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory:

Wisconsin

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

EEOC Study — in sample

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 31, 2004

Closing Date: Aug. 11, 2006

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

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

Journal Community Publishing Group, Inc.

Journal Community Publishing Group, Inc.

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Wisconsin 2:04-cv-00326

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 06-02536

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Unknown

Relief Granted:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Unknown

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