EEOC Punished for Meritless Suit
The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona has ordered the EEOC to pay more than $100,000 in attorneys’ fees as punishment for pursuing a baseless age discrimination suit.
“The record in this case supports more than merely a finding that the EEOC pursued this case without substantial justification,” the court said. “It is apparent that the EEOC’s conduct is indicative of bad faith.”
The lawsuit was originally filed in 2002 against Maricopa County by a woman alleging age discrimination. The EEOC insisted from the outset that the plaintiff had evidence of age-ist comments made by the County and other evidence in support of her claims. Despite those assertions, such proof never materialized. Nevertheless, the EEOC pursued the claims, ultimately losing on summary judgment and then on appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
The court had strong words for the EEOC: “The court concludes that the EEOC pressed forward with an age discrimination claim that was clearly without any foundation. Certainly, refusing to drop a claim known to be baseless, thereby forcing the other party to file a costly motion for summary judgment is sufficient misconduct to support a fee award.”
The EEOC has yet to comment.
