Media Mentions

Apr 13, 2012

Christopher DeGroff quoted in Detroit Free Press
"Bias cases hit record numbers at EEOC"

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Labor and Employment Partner Christopher DeGroff was quoted in a Detroit Free Press article on April 9. The article highlights a number of discrimination and retaliation suits brought by the EEOC on behalf of aggrieved employees who filed claims with the agency. Last year, the agency received a record of 99,947 complaints - an increase of more than 20% since 2007; one-third of which involved race discrimination or retaliation. While the article describes several ways that the EEOC helps its clients, it also sheds light on some of  the agency's weaknesses.

Chris says, "EEOC practices differ from region to region and sometimes within the same office, making it difficult for employers to know where they stand on employment issues." He adds that federal judges are increasingly holding the EEOC accountable, citing last year's decision by a federal judge in Detroit who ordered the agency to pay an Ohio company more than $2.6 million in legal fees and costs for needlessly prolonging an 11-year gender discrimination case.

Click here to read the full article: http://www.freep.com/article/20120409/NEWS06/204090350