FORT LAUDERDALE DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) CASE NO.
)
CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, )
FLORIDA, )
)
Defendant. )
____________________________________)
Plaintiff, United States of America, alleges:
1. This action is brought by the United States to enforce the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII").
2. This Court has jurisdiction over the action under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f) and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1345.
3. Defendant, the City of Fort Lauderdale ("Defendant"), is a political subdivision of the State of Florida, created pursuant to Florida law.
4. Defendant is a person within the meaning of 42 U.S.C.§ 2000e(a), and an employer within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(b).
5. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") received a timely charge filed by Elgin O. Jones (Charge No. 15A-98-0317), a black male employed in the City's Public Services Department, which alleged that the City discriminated against Mr. Jones on the basis of his race and in retaliation for opposing practices he reasonably believed to be discriminatory.
6. Pursuant to Section 706 of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5, the EEOC investigated the charge, found reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Jones' allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation were true, attempted unsuccessfully to achieve through conciliation a voluntary resolution of the charge, and subsequently referred the charge to the Department of Justice.
7. All conditions precedent to the filing of suit have been performed or have occurred.
FIRST COUNT
8. Defendant Fort Lauderdale has discriminated against Elgin O. Jones, because of his race, black, in violation of Section 703(a) of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a), among other ways, by:
a. failing or refusing to promote Mr. Jones to the position of Engineering Inspector I in February 1998; and
b. failing or refusing to take appropriate action to remedy fully the effects of the discrimination against Mr. Jones.
SECOND COUNT
9. Defendant has discriminated against Mr. Jones in violation of Section 704(a) of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a) by:
a. subjecting Mr. Jones to harassment that adversely affected the terms, conditions, and privileges of his employment because he opposed employment practices by Defendant that he reasonably believed to be unlawful practices on the basis of race, filed an internal complaint of discrimination with the City, and filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, EEOC Charge No. 15A-98-0317; and
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, the United States, prays that this Court grant the following relief:
(i) provide sufficient remedial relief to make whole the charging party, Mr. Jones, for the individual loss he has suffered as a result of the discrimination against him as alleged in this complaint;
(ii) adopt a clear, meaningful, and well-publicized written policy prohibiting retaliatory harassment against any City employee; and
(iii) take other appropriate nondiscriminatory measures to overcome the effects of the discrimination alleged in this complaint.
b. Award compensatory damages to Elgin O. Jones for mental and/or physical injuries incurred as a result of the discrimination against him as alleged in this complaint, pursuant to and within the statutory limitations of Section 102 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. § 1981a.
Plaintiff prays for such additional relief as justice may require.
JURY DEMAND
The United States hereby demands a trial by jury of all issues so triable pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Section 102 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. § 1981a.
JOHN ASHCROFT
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
By:
_________________________________
RALPH F. BOYD, JR.
Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
_________________________________
MARYBETH MARTIN
D.C. Bar No. 244202
CHARLOTTE BURROWS
Member N.Y. Bar (no number issued)
CAROLYN CLARK
MA Bar No. 633142
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Employment Litigation Section, Room 4613
Washington, D.C. 20035-5968
Telephone: (202) 514-3862
Facsimile: (202) 514-1105
Electronic Mail: cburrows@usdoj.gov
MARCOS DANIEL JIMENEZ
United States Attorney
Southern District of Florida
By:
_________________________________
ROBYN HERMANN
Florida Bar No. _______________
Civil Chief
99 Northeast Fourth Street
Miami, Florida 33132
Telephone: (305) 961-9332
Facsimile: (305) 530-7976