Aungst v. JC Penney Co., Inc.

456 F. Supp. 370, 19 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 673, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15895, 18 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 8772
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedAugust 23, 1978
DocketCiv. A. 77-1287
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 456 F. Supp. 370 (Aungst v. JC Penney Co., Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aungst v. JC Penney Co., Inc., 456 F. Supp. 370, 19 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 673, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15895, 18 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 8772 (W.D. Pa. 1978).

Opinion

OPINION

WEBER, Chief Judge.

This action was instituted to redress a pattern and practice of sex discrimination in employment allegedly fostered by defendant. Plaintiff purports'to act on her own behalf and on behalf of a class delineated as “. . . all women employed by the defendant since October, 1967, all women- presently employed by the defendant and all women who may be employed by the defendant in the future who were, are or will be affected in the future by the policies of the defendant which unlawfully discriminate against women.” Defendant is charged, generally, with violating the rights of plaintiff and the class as defined under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, 29 U.S.C. §§ 206(d) and 216(d); 42 U.S.C. §§ 1985, 1986, and 1988; the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 Pa.Stat.Ann. § 951 et seq., and Article I, Section 28 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. Jurisdiction is asserted under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f); 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332,1337 and 1343; 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202; as well as pendent jurisdiction.

The Court is presently concerned with defendant’s motion to dismiss and/or entry for summary judgment. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b) and 56(b). Additionally, we shall address plaintiff’s motion for class action determination. Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a) and (b)(2).

BACKGROUND

The record reveals that plaintiff is Maxine Aungst (“Aungst”); defendant is J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (“J. C. Penney”). From approximately October, 1967 until April 25, 1974, Aungst was employed as a salesperson in the furniture department of J. C. Penney’s Logan Valley Mall retail facility located in Altoona,. Pennsylvania. Subsequent to her termination, Aungst filed a charge of sex discrimination with the-Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), to-wit,

“Female associates on the selling floor have an enforced dress code of navy blue, black, or brown or grey [sic]. .1 was told to dress ‘more professionally’ (even tho I did abide by the dress code color) because of the dept. I worked in. Family Benefits are denied female employeess ie. hospitalization etc unless they fill out a form ‘head of household’ (# 1604-9(c)) (I did this & my family was covered) but, the company practices this. Men are required to wear suits or sport jackets but no color is specified. Females are not allowed to work more than 40 hours— men are — example—to cover floor for hours when others are sick or on vacation. I worked w/J. C. Penney Co. 6 years & 6 mo but just recently during a time when my performance was down — which I feel was due to illness, for which I was under a Dr’s care, — was harrassed about these things.
I could answer questions or go into detail in a conversation with someone easier than write it all down. *373 I feel I was given a ‘constructive dismissal’ because I didn’t quit — but am not working at this time because of a ‘misinterpretation’ of a statement during a phone conversation with the personel [sic] supervisor. There is a 4 page statement on file with the Pa. state employment office at this time & I’m waiting to be notified of a date for a hearing in relation to my dissatisfaction with the decision given at a predetermination hearing for unemployment. They say I quit — I didn’t but I haven’t been allowed to return to work but I have been terminated from the payroll—
The company explains away the dress code for women by saying it is easier for a customer to tell which are clerks but each one has to wear a Penney name tag at all times. This is not a company policy but is entirely at the manager’s discretion.” (EEOC Charge)

We repeat this charge in full because of the disparity between the administrative charge and the allegations of the complaint. In due course, the EEOC issued a right to sue letter and Aungst timely instituted suit in this Court.

The complaint alleges that J. C. Penney has maintained and continues to maintain á pattern and practice of discrimination against women in terms and conditions of employment and employment opportunities in the following particulars:

“23. Defendant has wilfully and intentionally denied equal employment to the plaintiff and the class and has discriminated, continues to discriminate and will discriminate in the future against the plaintiff and the class in the following ways:
(a) In failing and refusing to hire, recruit and place women on the same terms and conditions as comparably qualified men;
(b) In failing and refusing to compensate women employees on the same terms and conditions as comparably qualified men;
(c) In failing and refusing to promote women employees in the same manner and at the same rate as comparably qualified men;
(d) In failing and refusing to provide women employees with fringe benefits on the same terms and conditions as such fringe benefits are made available to comparably qualified men employees;
(e) In requiring that an employee qualify as a “Head of Household” before providing medical insurance coverage for the spouse and dependents of such employee;
(f) In failing and refusing to assign women employees to overtime work on the same terms and conditions as such assignments are made with respect to comparably qualified men employees;
(g) In imposing a dress code for women employees which is not applicable to similarly situated male employees;
(h) In otherwise discriminating against women employees with respect to the terms and conditions of employment.
24. The aforesaid practices of the defendant are not job related and are based solely on the sex of the defendant’s employees.” (Complaint, paragraphs 23 & 24).

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Related

Diane Colby v. J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
926 F.2d 645 (Seventh Circuit, 1991)
Guyette v. Stauffer Chemical Co.
518 F. Supp. 521 (D. New Jersey, 1981)
Jagielski v. Package MacHine Co.
489 F. Supp. 232 (E.D. Pennsylvania, 1980)
Jacobs v. BD. OF REGENTS, ETC.
473 F. Supp. 663 (S.D. Florida, 1979)
Silver v. Mohasco Corp.
497 F. Supp. 1 (N.D. New York, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
456 F. Supp. 370, 19 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 673, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15895, 18 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 8772, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aungst-v-jc-penney-co-inc-pawd-1978.