Personal Injury Litigation Settlement In Job Discrimination

EEOC v. Health Help, Inc. :  No. CIV -3-1204 PHX RGS

The Phoenix District Office filed this Title VII case alleging that defendant, a radiology benefits management service with headquarters in Houston, terminated three charging parties from the Quality Assurance Department in Phoenix for opposing discriminatory practices. Defendant set up a new Quality Assurance (QA) Department in Phoenix, headed by a Vice President for Quality Assessment and Provider Education (VP-QA) hired in October 2000, and staffed by two managers hired in January 2001.

Before the VP-QA started her job, defendant sent her a letter stating that if defendant found it necessary to move the QA Department to Houston, it would pay her relocation expenses. In May 2001, defendant's Executive Director of Corporate Development directed the two QA managers not to hire "blacks or Jews" for an Oregon client.

They relayed the directive to the VP-QA, who in turn told the HR Director/VP that neither she nor her staff would participate in discriminatory practices. Defendant terminated all three employees the following month, telling them their jobs were being eliminated. Defendant then started a new QA Department in Houston, but did not offer to relocate the VP-QA to Houston. Under the 24-month consent decree resolving this case, the three CPs will share $450,000 in monetary relief. Defendant is enjoined for the duration of the decree from retaliating against any employee in violation of Title VII.