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PHOENIX -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that Wheeler Construction, Inc., a Phoenix-based construction company, has agreed to settle a national origin harassment lawsuit for $325,000 and other relief on behalf of Mexican workers.

The EEOC's complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona charged that employees Leonard Lopez and Juan Campos were subjected to harassment based on their national origin (Mexican) and

Company Refused to Hire Man with Cerebral Palsy for Sales Job, Federal Agency Charged

BIG  STONE GAP, Va. —Advance Stores Company, Inc., doing business as Advance Auto  Parts, will pay $50,000 and provide other affirmative relief to settle a  disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment  Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

According  to the EEOC’s suit, Advance Auto Parts refused to hire Jeffrey Scott Sanders

Commission Embarks on Historic New Area of Jurisdiction

WASHINGTON – Embarking on an historic new area of jurisdiction, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today presented a Notice of Proposed Rule Making implementing employment provisions of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), and urged public comment.

"The addition of genetic information discrimination to the EEOC's mandate is historic, and represents the first legislative expansion of the EEOC's jurisdiction since the Americans with

Agency Says Manager Harassed and Fired Because of His Age

CLEVELAND – Ashland, Inc., an international chemical giant, and its subsidiary Valvoline, violated federal law when it fired a 52-year-old manager because of his age, according to a lawsuit filed today by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). 

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, Michael Roach began working for Ashland in 1989, and most recently held the position of service

Defendant Autozone Denied Leave to Contend That EEOC 'Estopped' by Individual Proceedings Before SSA

CHICAGO – A federal court in Peoria, Ill., decided today that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) could not be blocked from continuing its pursuit of relief on behalf of a disabled sales manager employee of Autozone, Inc. because the employee had applied for and obtained Social Security disability benefits.

Autozone, one of the nation's largest retailers of auto parts

Agency to Invite Comment on Draft Rule Implementing Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting on the subject of genetic discrimination at 10 a.m. (Eastern Time) Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the agency's new headquarters, 131 M Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.  In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations. 

Flight School Fired Female Instructor for Complaining About Gender Bias, Federal Agency Charged

TULSA, Okla. – Spartan Aeronautics College will pay $32,500 to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

In its lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (Case No. 707-cv-00544 ), the EEOC charged that the college's management treated

EEOC Says Building Materials Supplier Underpaid Women Due to Gender

SEATTLE – Glacier Northwest Inc. has agreed to pay $20,000 in back wages to two women to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.  According to company information, Glacier Northwest is the largest supplier of ready mixed concrete, sand, gravel, rock, cement and building materials in the Pacific Northwest. 

Trash Removal Company Hired Less Qualified Males, EEOC Charged

ATLANTA – Robertson Sanitation, a Phoenix-based trash hauling, recycling and disposal company that operates in Georgia, will pay $475,000 to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

According to the EEOC's suit, Jeanine Moore applied for a truck driver position with Robertson at its Winder, Ga., facility in August 2005. 

'Stranger Than Fiction' Production Companies to Pay $75,000 to Pregnant Job Applicant

CHICAGO – Crick Pictures, L.L.C., and Mandate Pictures, L.L.C., will pay $75,000 to settle a federal pregnancy discrimination suit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.  The EEOC's suit had charged that movie production companies Crick and Mandate refused to hire a pregnant job applicant, Cynthia Castillo-Hill, for a position as an extras casting assistant

Company Will Pay Additional Amount to Settle Retaliation Claim

MILWAUKEE – Georgia-Pacific Gypsum LLC will pay more than $75,000 to settle sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuits brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and former GP-Gypsum employee Tina Hammer, the EEOC announced today. 

The EEOC had alleged that GP-Gypsum violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by permitting

EEOC Says Car Dealership Refused to Hire a Salesperson Due to Perceived Mental Disability

HONOLULU – Valley Isle Motors, Ltd., a car dealership in Maui, unlawfully discriminated against an employee by failing to hire him for a salesperson position because of a perceived mental disability, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.

The EEOC charged in its suit, (EEOC

Seventh Circuit Says Attempted Withdrawal of Charge of Discrimination  'Does Not Diminish Agency's Authority to Investigate'

CHICAGO  — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, in a decision by Chief  Judge Frank H. Easterbrook, Friday ordered a District Court to enforce a  subpoena issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commis­sion (EEOC).  The court ruled that the EEOC had the authority to refuse to allow an  individual to withdraw a charge of

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that President Barack Obama has appointed Stuart J. Ishimaru as Acting Chairman of the EEOC and Christine M. Griffin as Acting Vice Chair.

Ishimaru, whose term expires on July 1, 2012, has been a Commissioner since November 2003. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a second term at the EEOC in December 2007.  During his tenure, Ishimaru has primarily focused on large

Trucking Company Refused Class of Women Driver and Dockworker Jobs, Federal Agency Charged

CLEVELAND – An interstate trucking firm has agreed to pay $2.43 million and provide other remedial relief to a class of women to settle a major sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. 

The EEOC had charged in the litigation that Pitt Ohio Express Inc. denied a class of qualified female applicants

Orrington Firm Subjected Employees to Sexual Advances and Scientology Indoctrination and Fired Those Who Complained, Federal Agency Charged

CHICAGO – A Chicago dental practice will pay $462,500 to settle a class sexual and religious harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

In its lawsuit, the EEOC alleged that James L. Orrington, D.M.D., Ltd. discriminated against 18 employees by

Universal Agreement in Florida Covers 56 'Old Country Store' Locations Statewide

TAMPA – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Cracker Barrel) today announced the signing of a Universal Agreement to Mediate (UAM) to informally resolve workplace disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) prior to an EEOC investigation or potential litigation.  The UAM applies to 56 Cracker Barrel establishments throughout Florida.

EEOC Says Three Women Subjected to Vulgar Sexual Comments, Unwanted Touching, Propositioning

SEATTLE – Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. (Fred Meyer) will  pay $485,000 to three female victims of sexual harassment and retaliation to  settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  (EEOC), the EEOC announced today.

According to the EEOC’s suit (EEOC, et. al. v. Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. No. CV08-0208 HA, United States District Court of Oregon), the company’s

OPM and EEOC Partner to Co-sponsor Session

Washington, D.C.  – The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  (EEOC)today co-hosted a meeting of the Chief Human Capital  Officers (CHCO) Council  Training Academy  focusing on how agencies can provide assistance to Americans with disabilities  who want to join the Federal Government.  Presentations were made from four agencies, including OPM, EEOC, the  Department of Treasury and the Department of Veterans

Federal Agency Charged Cell Phone Refurbishing Company With Paying Hispanic Workers Less Than Others and Firing Employees Who Complained

NEW YORK – A New York-based  company that refurbishes cell phones at its factory in Long  Island will pay $435,000 to settle a wage discrimination and  retaliation suit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC),  the agency announced today.

The EEOC  had charged that First Wireless Group, Inc. engaged in a pattern or

EEOC Says County Attempted to Force Out Senior Marine Bureau Police Officers

NEW YORK - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that Nassau County on Long Island will pay $450,000 and agree to significant injunctive relief to settle an age discrimination lawsuit on behalf of several police officers in the Marine Bureau. 

In its lawsuit, the EEOC asserted that Nassau County discriminated against

WASHINGTON – Peggy R. Mastroianni, Associate Legal Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), has received the "Mary C. Lawton Outstanding Government Service Award for 2008" from the American Bar Association (ABA), the EEOC announced today.

Mastroianni was selected for the award by the ABA's Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice.  The distinguished award recognizes government lawyers at the federal and state levels for outstanding contributions to the development, implementation, or improvement

Justices Decline to Review Jury Award in EEOC Case on Behalf of Deaf Worker

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission (EEOC) today announced that the Supreme Court has denied a petition  for review by Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) of a ruling by the U.S. Court  of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upholding a $100,000 punitive damages award  in an EEOC lawsuit under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) on behalf of  a

EEOC Says Retail Giant Requires Employees to Reveal Confidential Medical Information

SAN DIEGO – Dillard Store Services, Inc.  (Dillard’s), the nationwide chain of department stores, unlawfully discrimin­ates  against employees by requiring them to disclose personal and confidential  medical information or face disciplinary action including termination, the U.S.  Equal Employ­ment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges in a class lawsuit  filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The EEOC states in the litigation  that the Dillard’s