News
Summary On November 15, 2001, we took a major step in our struggle to dismantle glass ceiling discrimination in the corporate workplace when our firm, along with co-counsel, filed a class action complaint against Johnson & Johnson alleging a systemic pattern of racial discrimination in employment.
Since that time, we have continued to press forward with what has become one of the longest and hardest fought class-action employment discrimination cases in recent history. We have had many victories along the way in our "Journey for Justice" including:
- gaining protection for class members to secure their rights during the course of communicating with the Company or its attorneys about this case - securing broad and extensive discovery to J&J corporate records - winning the right to expand the class period to cover a broader time period following a groundbreaking Supreme Court decision - striking portions of a Company expert report.
In the midst of these victories, Plaintiffs' counsel has taken the depositions of dozens of high-level J&J executives and human resources personnel. We also vigorously defended putative class members when they were deposed by the Company. And we took on the Company's defense of their discriminatory action when we deposed Company experts.
We have also filed our Motion asking the Court to certify this case as a class action. The Company has filed its opposition to that motion, and we have filed our reply to their opposition. The parties also briefed various motions concerning the respective experts in the case. The court hearing on the Motion for Class Certification was held on December 5, 2006. We are now awaiting the court's decision on whether to certify the case as a class action.
As we have done throughout this case, we will continue to plan and hold Town Hall meetings to give you, the putative class members, an opportunity to be heard. We want to hear how you are doing in your jobs and careers and we want to hear your thoughts on this case. Our last Town Hall Meeting was held on November 16, 2006.
Although we have continued to vigorously move forward with this case, we have also had some setbacks. Sadly, we lost one of this country's legal giants and arguably one of the most talented trial lawyers in the country with the passing of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. While we were saddened by the passing of Johnnie, we know that Johnnie would want nothing more than to see this case move forward towards victory -and we are continuing to work toward that goal. |
