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EEOC Litigation Statistics, FY 1992 through FY 1996

The table below reflects EEOC enforcement suits filed and resolved in the federal district courts over the period from FY 1992 to FY 1996. The table divides the suits by the various statutes enforced by the EEOC and provides aggregate data on monetary relief obtained. Note that many EEOC suits are brought on behalf of multiple aggrieved individuals. The lawsuits are filed under the various statutes enforced by the Commission:

FY 1992 FY 1993 FY 1994 FY 1995 FY 1996
Filings
All Suits Filed 450 478 425 354 183
Merits Suits 352 414 373 320 158
Suits with Title VII Claims 265 295 261 201 108
Suits with ADA Claims1 0 3 35 82 38
Suits with ADEA Claims 97 120 89 43 14
Suits with EPA Claims 12 15 4 9 6
Suits filed under multiple statutes2 21 19 16 14 8
Subpoena and Preliminary Relief Actions 98 64 52 34 25
Resolutions
All Resolutions 638 435 490 385 318
Merits Suits 530 363 439 343 285
Suits with Title VII Claims 390 268 316 241 194
Suits with ADA Claims 0 1 9 31 55
Suits with ADEA Claims 149 103 124 78 45
Suits with EPA Claims 24 17 12 7 7
Suits filed under multiple statutes 32 26 22 14 15
Subpoena and Preliminary Relief Actions 108 72 51 42 33
Monetary Benefits ($ in millions)3 71.1 36.4 39.6 18.9 50.8
Title VII 14.7 7 23.6 9 18.8
ADA   0.2 0.4 1.4 2.5
ADEA 55.5 26.6 0.2 8 10.5
EPA 0.2 0.1 0.04 0.2 0
Suits filed under multiple statutes 0.7 2.5 0.5 0.3 19

1 The employment discrimination provisions of the ADA became effective in July 1992.
2 Suits filed under multiple statutes are also included in the tally of suits filed under the particular statutes.
3 Monetary benefits recovered in suits filed under multiple statutes are counted separately and are not included in the tally of suits filed under any particular statute.

Note that to improve the clarity and completeness of the data on our litigation activities, we have changed the format for presenting the count of cases filed and resolved by statute. Previously, cases were included in a statute's count only if that statute was the only statute involved. Suits filed under multiple statutes were listed in a separate "concurrent" category. The new format includes suits under each statute alleged, resulting in some suits being counted in more than one statute. There is no longer a concurrent category.

In addition, recent data validation efforts have caused changes in some of the counts.


Definitions

Merits suits include direct suits and interventions alleging violations of the substantive provisions of the statutes enforced by the Commission and suits to enforce administrative settlements.

Intervention is where the EEOC joins a lawsuit that has been filed by a private plaintiff.

Subpoena enforcement actions are filed during the course of the investigation of a charge of discrimination where the Respondent refuses to provide information relevant to the charge.

Suits to enforce administrative settlements involve a Respondent's breach of an agreement with the EEOC to settle a charge during the administrative process.