Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer - discrimination - Most Commented

Supreme Northwest Settles National EEOC Discrimnation Lawsuit

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:37:07 GMT

A national discrimination lawsuit brought against Supreme Corporation and Northwest LLC, by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), has reached a settlement.

The EEOC had charged the Indiana-based automotive manufacturer harassed and subjected seven employees at its Woodburn, Ore., facility to disparate treatment (demotion, discriminatory termination, and/or involuntary resignation) by the plant manager because of their national original, Hispanic/Mexican.

The EEOC's suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Supreme Corporation and Supreme Northwest LLC, CV 07-1047 MO).

The alleged conduct is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed a lawsuit after failing to reach a voluntary settlement with the company.

The settlment terms include: Supreme Northwest agreeing to pay $427,000; review its discrimination, harassment and retaliation policies, train its managers, employees and supervisors about harassment, discrimination and other such relief.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Indiana Realtors Take a Stand Against Discrimination

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:30:48 GMT

The Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors is taking a stand against discrimination in housing, in Northwest Indiana, and says they will provide equal opportunity to anyone and everyone.

Discrimination complaints logged by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development increased 12% from last year to over 10,000 throughout the country. This is the highest increase since 1990, when the agency started tracking them.

The Realtors adopted a code on inclusiveness that was developed by the Race Relations Council of Northwest Indiana, which works to fight racism within the region.

Darren Washington, co-chairman of the council, says the two groups came together after a Lake County real estate agent last year distributed letters to north Merrillville homeowners suggesting they sell their properties because Gary planned to annex their neighborhoods. Gary and Merrillville officials complained, the agent was fired and the state Attorney General's Office suspended her license.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

City to Pay Fire Captain $350,000 to Settle Discrimination Lawsuit

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:15:33 GMT

The city has agreed to pay a female fire captain $350,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit that claimed she was ridiculed, unfairly disciplined and wrongly passed over for promotion in a male-dominated fire department.

The lawsuit was set to go to trial in U.S. District Court, Wednesday, in Indianapolis, prior to the deal being reached.

"What happened to the Captain was bad and unfortunate and an unacceptable situation, and she should not have been subjected to the behavior she was subjected to," said, the city and county's lead attorney. "That behavior was not consistent with the city's policy of equal opportunity employment or the values it requires of its employees."

Along with the settlement, disciplinary action will be brought against Indianapolis Fire Department employees that were involved in the discrimination. It is unknown who will be disciplined at this time.

While gender sensitivity training is in place, the settlement requires the city to increase awareness and training. The Captain is one of 59 women out of 989 firefighters.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Workers Compensation & Workplace Discrimination.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Justice Department Files Discrimination Lawsuit Against Indianapolis

Chrissie Cole — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:59:09 GMT

A discrimination lawsuit has been filed against the City of Indianapolis by The U.S. Justice Department, alleging several Indianapolis police officers were discriminated against on the basis of gender or race.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

In the suit, the officers, white males, allege in 2005 black male officers and white female officers listed on promotions eligibility lists were promoted before other officers ranked higher on the list.

Eight officers claim they were discriminated against.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Mother Files Racial Discrimination Complaint Against School

Chrissie Cole — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:13:15 GMT

The mother of a Penn High School freshman has filed a racial discrimination complaint against the school alleging her daughter was treated unfairly by high school administrators after an altercation in April.

The Mother contends the school treated her daughter differently than the white female student with whom she fought, after the student allegedly called her the "n-word." Her daughter was suspended for five days while the other student was not.

The complaint was filed with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission through the South Bend Human Rights Commission.

In a response to the complaint, the district admits that "a daughter was suspended for five days due to her involvement in a physical altercation and that the white female student referenced in the complaint was not suspended."

Another Penn High School parent, whose daughter was also involved in the altercation was suspended and has also filed a discrimination complaint against the school district with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

School District Discrimination Case Under Review by Justice Department

Christina Cole — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:37:40 GMT

The Justice Department is deciding whether or not to pursue a discrimination case against an Indiana school district that is being accused of discriminating against women.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, ruled last month, that East Allen County Schools may have discriminated by announcing it will no longer negotiate contracts with food service workers, nurses, paraprofessionals and secretaries.

The Justice Department may sue the school district or they could send the case back to the four women to file suit. A deputy director with the Indianapolis EEOC Office said he can't talk about any of the complaints. He did say the commission attempts to meet with accused parties prior to sending cases to the Justice Department.

The district has continued negotiating with maintenance workers, custodians and bus drivers, whose workers are mostly male.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Auto Dealer to Pay $2.3 Million in Discrimination Lawsuit

Christina Cole — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 17:07:34 GMT

One of the biggest car dealerships in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky has agreed to pay out $2.3 million to 39 women who claim sex discrimination because they were not hired for any sales positions, said the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The consent decree in federal court, resolved an EEOC lawsuit from 2003 alleging 11 of their dealerships owned by Jeff Wyler had discriminated against women. The companies which are privately owned sells 15,000 new automobiles annually at nearby dealerships in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

The settlement further requires the dealerships to provide anti-discrimination training to their managers and supervisors while also proving a written explanation if a man is hired, not a woman, for a sales position over the next three years.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Dealership did not admit to any wrongdoings.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Former Indiana CU Employee Suing for Discrimination

Christina Cole — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 01:53:37 GMT

A former Teachers Credit Union employee is currently suing the South Bend, Indiana based credit union for discrimination.

The woman, who worked for the Teachers Credit Union from 1993 to 2003, claims in the lawsuit that her former supervisor physically and verbally harassed her on many occasions by calling her names and throwing office supplies at her during various times of frustration. A mental health center has since declared the woman unable to work in her current condition.

In the lawsuit the woman is seeking benefits and back pay as well as attorney fees and damages.

If at anytime you feel that you have been discriminated against, you can contact a lawyer free of charge by using the form on the right.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

City Being Sued for Sex Discrimination

Christina Cole — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:25:42 GMT

The City of Crawfordville, the police department in specific, is being sued by a Crawfordsville Police detective in a federal lawsuit. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis last week.

The complaint notes "employment discrimination based upon sex, a hostile work environment and retaliation by the defendant."

A 17-year veteran of the department, detective of six years, said in a complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that she has been harassed continually.

"On or around Sept. 15, 2004, I complained to the City that I was being discriminated against because of my sex," Ford said in the complaint. "Specifically, I complained about the Chief Knecht. Chief Knecht has harassed and continued to harass me, which has resulted in a hostile work environment. Chief Knecht has also continued to discriminate against me because of my sex and has retaliated against me because of my initial complaint to the City."

According to court records, In November 2006, the EEOC issued a charge dismissal and did not take a stand.

The suit, filed Feb. 20, indicated seven instances between August 2004 and February 2006 leading Ford to file the complaint with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission and EEOC.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Indiana Suing Automotive Glass Business

Christina Cole — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:53:32 GMT

A local automotive shop is being sued by the Indiana Department of Labor for allegedly firing two employees for complaining about unsafe working conditions.

Recently filed in St. Joseph Circuit Court, the lawsuit claims that Ziebart Speedy Auto Glass franchise owner Jeff Miller fired Debra Derbin and Deb Harvey on September 11 in retaliation for complaints that they filed with the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The business repairs and sells cars and offers other automotive aftermarket services and products, such as undercoating, the suit states.

Then a sales representative, Harvey, in August filed a complaint with IOSHA alleging defective vehicle lifts posed a crushing hazard for employees and there was insufficient ventilation for the workers. She also reported employees were made to wear dust masks without training and employees were medically evaluated for employee respirator use.

After receiving the complaint an IOSHA inspector visited the Goshen shop and "legitimized" Harvey's complaint states the lawsuit.

Derbin, the office manger, reported to IOSHA that an employee was suffering with breathing problems due to the poor ventilation.

Miller said he fired Derbin and Harvey "based upon their respective attitudes and insubordination to Miller in separate conversations," on September 11th, alleges the lawsuit.

After being fired, the women filed a discrimination complaint with IOSHA.

Staci Schneider, spokeswoman for the Indiana attorney general's office, declined to disclose details regarding why the state believes the firings were retaliatory.
"I won't share the evidence with you ... but we have looked at the case, and based on the evidence and the information from the individuals we've spoken to, we believe there is sufficient evidence to proceed in court," Schneider said.
Miller, the owner, had yet to file a response in court.

A jury trial has been requested by the state. Harvey and Derbin seek cash damages to compensate them for back pay, benefits and expenses incurred as a result from being fired, as well as punitive damage which is intended to punish the defendant.

Additionally, the lawsuit asks Judge Gotsch to order the company to destroy all records relating to the firings and to enter an injunction that prohibits it from discriminating against employees that file safety complaints.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole