PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Midwest Freight Systems Corporation, a freight transportation company, noting allegations of failing to comply with its obligations under a mediation settlement agreement that had resolved two employment discrimination charges.
According to the EEOC, the company entered an agreement with the agency and the alleged discrimination victim, Max Doggett. The mediation agreement resolved charges of race-based and age-based discrimination and retaliation. Midwest Freight Systems allegedly promised Doggett $7,500 in monetary relief, but later told EEOC that it would not honor the agreement. According to the EEOC, this is a breach of the settlement.
EEOC’s suit seeks an enforcement of all terms of the original mediation agreement. This includes the company’s obligation to pay Doggett $7,500.
"An employer's refusal to honor a voluntary mediation agreement is a rare occurrence," EEOC senior trial attorney Omar Weaver said. "After reasonable efforts to obtain voluntary compliance, EEOC had no choice but to seek court intervention to enforce the agreement."