In 2015, claimants consisting of black and Hispanic workers employed by Hathaway Dunwiddie Construction Co., a general contractor, were allegedly subjected to offensive and derogatory graffiti on portable toilets at the construction site for the University of Southern California’s Village Construction Project. They also claimed that they were subjected to comments and harassment about their race, which continued until 2017. The workers claimed that the offensive graffiti and comments created a hostile work environment, but that if they complained about it, they were subjected to retaliation. The black and Hispanic workers eventually filed claims with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which first attempted to reach a pre-litigation agreement through its conciliation process. Resolution was not achieved. The EEOC sued Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co. The lawsuit alleged that the company’s actions constituted violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Defense counsel denied there was any harassment or violation of any laws. Counsel contended that it was not known who scrawled the graffiti, as there were approximately 500 workers onsite daily, and that Hathaway Dinwiddie’s employee project managers, foremen on the project and supervisors timely responded to the instances of graffiti and had it removed. Defense counsel further contended that Hathaway Dinwiddie conducted meetings and training with its workers and subcontractors in response to the complaints., The EEOC, acting on behalf of the claimants, sought recovery of damages for the impacted workers’ alleged emotional pain and suffering.