EEOC Wins Sweeping Injunctive Relief Following Illinois ADA Trial

It is a fact of workplace litigation that trials of employment discrimination cases are rare - only an extremely small number of cases filed in federal district courts ever go to a jury. Most are disposed of by motions or out-of-court settlements. Given scarce funding and a dwindling government headcount, trials of EEOC-initiated lawsuits is even more of a rarity.  Earlier this month, however, the EEOC tried and won a high-profile ADA case that was once dead but resurrected on appeal. The case - EEOC v. Autozone, No. 07-CV-1154 (C.D. Ill. Nov. 8, 2011) - shows the unique risk factors in EEOC litigation whereby a trial loss ultimately translates into implementation of injunctive relief measures on top of a jury's verdict of monetary damages. The Court's post-trial injunctive relief order is a cautionary tale for employers.

 

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