Tables Turned on the EEOC
The EEOC in Iowa was recently fined $4.5 MM in attorney fees to a trucking company, against whom the EEOC filed suit. The EEOC’s suit alleged that the trucking company subjected 270 females to sex discrimination, but it did not make all of the women available for deposition, thereby denying the defendant the opportunity to provide relief for them. Of the 150 women who were made available, the lower court held that the defendant could not be held liable for all but 67 of them. The EEOC then failed to conduct any investigation into the claims of the remaining 67 women, or issue a reasonable cause determination. On appeal, the District Court of the Northern District of Iowa court held that the EEOC’s “sue first and ask questions later” approach was improper. They also allowed the defendant trucking company to file a Motion for attorney fees, which resulted in the $4.5MM award.