Armstrong Teasdale’s Employment and Labor Law practice group scored a major victory when a federal judge for the Western District of Missouri granted summary judgment in favor of our client, a Fortune 500 company, on all claims and issues in a complex nine-count lawsuit filed by two discharged employees. The plaintiffs alleged breach of contract claims under Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act, race and age discrimination/harassment claims under Title VII, the ADEA, and Missouri and Kansas anti-discrimination statutes. One of the plaintiffs also alleged that he was discharged for whistle-blowing in violation of Kansas law.
The lawsuit lasted more than two years. The parties took 50 depositions and produced nearly 75,000 documents. The plaintiffs sought $1,000,000 each to settle the lawsuit. Plaintiffs had identified nearly 1,000 witnesses who allegedly had information supporting their claims. After extensive discovery, separate summary judgment motions directed to each plaintiff’s claims were filed. The plaintiffs filed a 500 page opposition to summary judgment motions. In addition to granting summary judgment as to all of plaintiffs’ claims, the district court entered an order requiring plaintiffs’ counsel to “show cause” as to why he should not be sanctioned under Rule 11 for his vexatious conduct in response to the summary judgment motions.
Our team consisted of Jennifer Arendes and Dan O’Toole with assistance from Joan Cohen. Congratulations to all involved in this significant victory.