Driller Agrees to Pay $12.26 Million to Settle EEOC’s Claims for Nationwide Minority Class

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a Texas-based oil and gas drilling company have agreed to settle for $12.26 million the agency’s allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation against racial minorities nationwide, according to court documents filed March 24 (EEOC v. Patterson-UTI Drilling Co., D. Colo., 1:15-cv-000600, proposed consent decree filed 3/24/15).

Under a proposed four-year consent decree filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Patterson-UTI Drilling Co. also will create a new vice president position to be filled by a “qualified EEO professional” who will facilitate, monitor and report on the company’s ...