A Washington, DC-based steak and seafood restaurant violated federal law by subjecting two employees to a hostile work environment based on their religion and national origin, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.  According to the EEOC's complaint, Faissal Chtaiti, who is Moroccan and Hilal Suboh, who is Palestinian, were subjected to harassment based on their religion and national origin by Deauville, Inc. d/b/a Monocle Restaurant ("Monocle Restaurant").  Both men are Muslim.

A federal judge in Minneapolis has ruled that the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) violated federal age discrimination law by maintaining an early retirement incentive plan (ERIP) that reduced benefits for persons over age 55, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today.

The Bayville Fire Company on Long Island has agreed to settle a class age discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The fire company, as well as the Villages of Bayville, Mill Neck, and Centre Island, will pay a group of about 15-18 firefighters lost pension money and provide increased monthly pension amounts going forward to several firefighters. Depend­ing on how many class members are finally definitively identified and the exact damages established for each one, the final total damages should be $180,000 to $240,000.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a disability discrimination lawsuit against Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. for $20,000 and significant injunctive relief on behalf of a clerk with arthritis who was allegedly fired for walking too slowly on the job. Pinnacle is a Memphis, Tenn.-based airlines carrier operating out of the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Professional Building Systems of North Carolina, LLC, of Mt. Gilead, N.C., will pay $118,000to six African American employees who filed charges of racial harassment with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and six more African Americans who were also subjected to racial harassment, the agency announced today. Additionally, the company agreed to significant non-monetary relief to settle the lawsuit brought by the EEOC.

A Sonic Drive-In in Grapevine, Texas, has agreed to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), for $31,000, the agency announced today. The EEOC's suit charged that SDI of Grapevine [2240 Hall Johnson Road], A Texas Partnership, subjected 17-year-old carhop Erin Schwarzbach to a sexually hostile work environment created by the general manager of the restaurant.

Celestica Inc., a Canadian electronics manufacturer service company doing business in the United States as Celestica Corporation, will pay $102,100 and provide other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

David Lopez, un veterano con 15 años de experiencia en la agencia, fue juramentado hoy como Asesor General de la Comisión para la Igualdad de Oportunidades en el Empleo de EE.UU. (EEOC, por sus siglas en inglés), en una ceremonia realizada en la Oficina de la Agencia del Distrito de Phoenix.  Con esta designación, se convierte en el primer Asesor General proveniente de los rangos de los abogados especializados.

David Lopez, a 15-year agency veteran, was sworn in today as General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in a ceremony at the agency's Phoenix District Office.  He becomes the first General Counsel to be appointed from the ranks of field attorneys.

Chai Feldblum, a former Georgetown University law professor, was sworn in today as a Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  Jacqueline A. Berrien, who became Chair of the EEOC earlier that morning, administered the oath of office.