Preview:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND, NORTHERN DIVISION * MELVIN NEWSOME, et al., Plaintiffs, v. UP-TO-DATE LAUNDRY, INC., et al., * * * * * CIVIL ACTION NO: WDQ-01-2257

Defendants. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * MEMORANDUM OPINION Pending are defendants' motion for partial summary judgment and plaintiffs' motion for class certification. For the following

reasons, class certification will be granted as to the liability phase of plaintiffs' pattern or practice claims, and conditionally granted as to the remedial phase of the trial pending Up-To-Date Laundry's ("UTD") completion of class-based discovery. motion for summary judgment will be denied. I. Background UTD's

UTD is a commercial laundry that cleans hospital linens. Work conditions at UTD, especially in the soil room where bloody and soiled linens are sorted, are difficult. The workers at UTD are

primarily unskilled African Americans and Latinos. Defendant Nancy Stair and her two sons, Defendants Brad Minetree and David Minetree, run UTD.1 Stair has made racist

1

David Minetree has not been served.

remarks to employees, including comments that the Latinos worked harder than the African American employees. Brad and David

Minetree have openly used "Nigger" and other racial slurs to refer to African American employees. In addition to direct evidence of racial animus, plaintiffs have submitted statistical evidence that African American workers are subjected to less favorable terms and conditions of employment than their Latino counterparts. This evidence indicates that,

relative to their Latino co-workers, the African American employees have: 1) been paid less; 2) been given fewer hours, including overtime hours; and 3) received less favorable job assignments. The plaintiffs also assert that UTD is permeated with racial hostility. In 2001, the Maryland Commission on Human Relations

found probable cause that UTD had systematically discriminated against African American Employees. The plaintiffs filed actions under Title 42 U.S.C.

Download Melvin Newsome, et al. v. Up-To-Date Laundry, Inc., et al..pdf

Maryland Law