Cadillac Jack Pays $87,200 to Settle EEOC Lawsuit
Federal Agency Charged Employee Was Fired in Retaliation for Complaining About Race and Gender Discrimination
Cadillac Jack, Inc., a supplier of innovative games and systems based in Duluth, Ga., will pay $87,200 to settle a lawsuit for retaliation filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced yesterday.
In its lawsuit filed on Sept. 2, 2011 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Civil Action No. 1:11-cv-02953), the EEOC charged that Cadillac Jack fired Tracey Tucker, an African-American, from her position as contracts manager in retaliation for her complaining about race and gender discrimination. Tucker, who had worked for the employer since October 2006, was terminated one day after lodging the discrimination complaint.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from subjecting employees to discrimination due to race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It also prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee for complaining about discriminatory conduct.
The consent decree settling the suit, in addition to the monetary relief, includes provisions for equal employment opportunity training, reporting, and posting of anti-discrimination notices. In the suit and consent decree, Cadillac Jack denied any liability or wrongdoing.
"The EEOC filed this lawsuit in large part due to the timing of the complaint and termination," said Robert Dawkins, regional attorney for the EEOC's Atlanta District Office. "Fortunately, the parties were able to arrive at a solution designed to prevent similar occurrences in the future."
Bernice Williams Kimbrough, EEOC district director in Atlanta, noted, "This agency is pleased that the employer in this case made an effort to resolve the matter quickly. Such resolutions usually signify an earnest effort to comply with Title VII's requirements going forward."
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. Further information is available at www.eeoc.gov .