Cuffee v. Procter & Gamble and The Dover Wipes Company

On October 15, 2004, a federal court jury returned a fully favorable decision to the Defendant employer in Cuffee v. Procter & Gamble and The Dover Wipes Company, Civil Action No. 03-276-SLR.

Employment Law Section Chair Barry Willoughby and Partner Teresa Cheek teamed up to successfully defend the company in a week-long jury trial in which Plaintiff's claims included alleged race and gender discrimination in violation of the Equal Pay Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Section 1981. The jury found in favor of Defendants on Plaintiff's claims of differential pay based on gender and race. The jury also found for the Defendants on Plaintiff's discriminatory demotion claim.

Young Conaway had previously obtained a partial summary judgment ruling, knocking out the Plaintiff's "constructive discharge" and retaliation claims.

On January 9, 2006, the Third Circuit affirmed the ruling of the U.S. District Court for Delaware, turning back challenges to the October 15, 2004, jury verdict in Defendants' favor.

After rejecting Plaintiff's million dollar demand, the Employment group, led by Chair Barry Willoughby and Partner Teresa Cheek, successfully obtained a defense verdict on Plaintiff's Equal Pay Act, Title VII, and Section 1981 claims.

The Court of Appeals found that the U.S. District Court properly rejected the Plaintiff's Baston challenges to jury selection and argument that Defendants' job classification system was not relevant to his equal pay claims.