EMPLOYMENT LAW: Company Held in Contempt for Failing to Comply with EEOC Consent

October 14, 2010

Phoenix, Arizona – A federal court has held in contempt Cannon & Wendt Electric Co., Inc. for failing to comply with the terms of a consent decree issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over a discrimination case, the agency statement said.

The court has also ordered the company to pay $20,000 in back pay to employee Victor Cortez, as previously agreed, and declined the company’s demand that the victim submit a new employment eligibility verification form (I-9) as a precondition.

Court records showed that Victor Cortez was unlawfully harassed because of his Mexican national origin by his supervisor. When Cortez complained about the harassment, he was later terminated.

Further, the court also urged the company to undertake a training program on national origin discrimination and retaliation under an instructor approved by the EEOC as required by the decree.

The company signed the decree in April 2010 and submitted to the court by both the EEOC and the company on the same month.