EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

A Context and Practice Casebook

Susan Grover WILLIAM AND MARY LAW SCHOOL

Sandra F. Sperino TEMPLE UNIVERSITY BEASLEY SCHOOL OF LAW

Jarod S. Gonzalez TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

Carolina Academic Press Durham, North Carolina

Contents

Table of Principal Cases xv Series Editor's Preface xvn Preface and Acknowledgments XIX

Chapter 1 . Introduction to Employment Discrimination Law 3 Core Concept: At-Will Employment 3

Howard v. Wolff Broadcasting Corp. 4 Further Discussion 6

Exercise 1.1 7 Exercise 1.2 8 Exercise 1.3 8

Core Concept: Putting the Federal Discrimination Statutes in Context 10 Core Concept: Practical Realities of Employment Discrimination Claims 12 Beyond the Basics: Statutory Interpretation and Administrative Deference 14

Chapter 2 . Coverage of Statutes 17 Core Concept: Protected Classes 17

Race and Color 19 Exercise 2.1 19 McDonald v. Santa Fe Trail Transportation Co. 19

Notes 21 National Origin 21

Saint Francis College v. Al-Khazraji 22 Note 25

Espinoza v. Farah Manufacturing Co. 25 Notes 28

Religion 28 Exercise 2.2 30

Sex 30 City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Water & Power v. Manhart 31

Notes 35 Exercise 2.3 36

Age 37 Hazen Paper Co. v. Biggins 38

Note 40 Core Concept: The Proper Defendant 40

Employment agencies and labor organizations 40 Private employers 41 Individual supervisors and co-workers 42

VI

Government employers Major exceptions

CONTENTS

Core Concept: Protected Individuals Hishon v. King & Spalding Exercise 2.4 Exercise 2.5

Chapter 3 . Disparate Treatment Exercise 3.1

Core Concept: Individual Disparate Treatment Core Concept: The McDonnell-Douglas Test

McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green Subsequent Developments

Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc. Exercise 3.2 Exercise 3.3 Exercise 3.4

Core Concept: Comparators-Similarly Situated Employees Outside of Plaintiff's Protected Class O'Connor v. Consolidated Coin Caterers Corp.

Further Discussion Core Concept: Stray Remarks Core Concept: Business Judgment Core Concept: Same Decisionmaker and Same Class Inferences Core Concept: Direct vs. Circumstantial Evidence

Exercise 3.5 Core Concept: Adverse Actions Core Concept: Mixed Motive

Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins Subsequent Developments

Desert Palace, Inc. v. Costa . Exercise 3.6 Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc.

Beyond the Basics: Mixed Motive in the ADA Context Beyond the Basics: Intersectionality

Exercise 3.7 Beyond the Basics: The Intersection of Mixed-Motive and Single-Motive Cases

Exercise 3.8 Core Concept: Pattern or Practice

International Broth. of Teamsters v. US. Hazelwood School Dist. v. US. Exercise 3.9

Core Concept: Affirmative Action Core Concept: BFOQ

Western Air Lines, Inc. v. Criswell Dothard v. Rawlinson International Union, United Auto., Aerospace and Agr. Implement

Workers of America, UAW v. Johnson Controls, Inc. Notes

42 43 43 44 48 49

51 55 55 56 57 59 62 66 66 67

67 68 69 70 71 71 72 73 .,:

." 74 74 75 85 86 89 90 96 96 96 96 98 98 99

109 ll4 ll4 ll4 ll5 122

128 136

Exercise 3.10 Exercise 3.11

CONTENTS

Core Concept: After-Acquired Evidence McKennon v. Nashville Banner Pub. Co. Exercise 3.12

Core Concept: Intent Exercise 3.13 Exercise 3.14

Exercise 3.15

:hapter 4 . Disparate Impact Core Concept: Disparate Impact, Its Theory and Structure

Griggs v. Duke Power Co. Subsequent Developments

Wards Cove Packing Co. , Inc. v. Atonio Subsequent Developments

Exercise 4.1 Core Concept: Defining Disparity

Bottom-Line Defense Exercise 4.2

Core Concept: The Correct Comparison Exercise 4.3

Core Concept: Job-Related and Consistent with Business Necessity Dothard v. Rawlinson

Note Further Exploration of "Job-related" and "Consistent with Business Necessity" Other Considerations Exercise 4.4

Core Concept: Disparate Impact-ADEA Smith v. City of Jackson, Miss.

Subsequent Developments Exercise 4.5

Beyond the Basics: Dispa-ate Impact and the ADA Core Concept: Choices Made to Avoid Disparate Impact Liability May Lead

to Disparate Treatment Claims Ricci v. DeStefano Exercise 4.6

Chapter 5 . Discriminatory Harassment Core Concept: Types of Harassment Core Concept: Quid Pro Quo Harassment Core Concept: Hostile Work Environment Harassment

Meritor Savings Bank, FSB v. Vinson Exercise 5.1 Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc.

Further Discussion Core Concept: Because of a Protected Trait

Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services Notes

VII

137 138 138 138 141 142 142 143 143

145 145 146 149 150 156 157 158 159 159 160 160 161 161 164 164 166 167 167 168 174 174 175

175 176 190

191 191 191 193 194 196 197 200 200 201 203

Vlll

Exercise 5.2 Core Concept: Unwelcomeness

Exercise 5.3 Exercise 5.4

Core Concept: Severe or Pervasive Exercise 5.5 Exercise 5.6 Exercise 5.7

CONTENTS

Tademy v. Union Pacific Corporation Exercise 5.8

Core Concept: Motive vs. Content of Harassment Core Concept: Employer Liability for Harassment

Meritor Savings Bank, FSB v. Vinson Subsequent Developments

Faragher v. City of Boca Raton Notes

Lauderdale v. Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice Core Concept: Tangible Employment Action

Exercise 5.9 Exercise 5.10

Beyond the Basics: Harassment Exercise 5.11 Exercise 5.12

Chapter 6 . Retaliation Core Concept: Elements of the Statutory Claim for Retaliation Core Concept: Protected Activity

Crawford v. Nashville Notes

Core Concept: Reasonableness of Opposition Conduct Core Concept: Reasonable Belief That the Act Has Been Violated

Clark County School District v. Breeden Note

Core Concept: Materially Adverse Employment Action Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White

Notes Core Concept: Causal Link

Clark County School District v. Breeden Beyond the Basics: Third-Party Retaliation Beyond the Basics: Retaliation Protection under Section 1981

CBOCS West, Inc. v. Humphries Beyond the Basics: Federal Employee Protections Exercise 6.1 Exercise 6.2 Exercise 6.3 Exercise 6.4

Chapter 7 . Religion and Accommodation Core Concept: The Differences of Religious Discrimination

204 204 205 206 206 207 207 207 208 212 212 213 213 214 215 222 223 226 227 227 228 228 229

231 232i: 232 234 237 237 238 239 240 240 241 245 245 246 248 248 248 251 253 253 254 254

255 255

CONTENTS IX

Exercise 7.1 256 Core Concept: Defining Religion 257

Exercise 7.2 257 Core Concept: Proof Structures in Religion Cases 258

Chalmers v. Tulon Company of Richmond 258 Core Concept: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship 259

Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison 260 Further Discussion 265

Ansonia Board of Education v. Philbrook 266 Further Discussion 267

Chalmers v. Tulon Company of Richmond 268 Exercise 7.3 277 Exercise 7.4 277

Beyond the Basics: The Religious Employer Exemption 278 Exercise 7.5 279

Beyond the Basics: The Ministerial Exception to Federal Anti-Discrimination Statutes 279 Exercise 7.6 280

Beyond the Basics: Religious Discrimination and Public Employers 281 Exercise 7.7 282

Chapter 8 . Disability Discrimination 283 Core Concept: Disability, Individuals, and Social Policy 284 Core Concept: Definition of Disability 285 Core Concept: Actual Disability 286

Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc. 287 Further Discussion 292

Exercise 8.1 295 Exercise 8.2 295 Exercise 8.3 295

Core Concept: Record of Disability 296 Core Concept: Regarded as Disabled 296

Beyond the Basics: The Three-Pronged Definition of Disability and theADAAA 297

Horgan v. Morgan Services, Inc. 297 Exercise 8.4 300

Core Concept: Qualified Individual 300 Hennagir v. Utah Department of Corrections 301 Exercise 8.5 304

Core Concept: Reasonable Accommodation 305 Vande Zande v. State of Wisconsin Department of Administration 307 Exercise 8.6 312

Core Concept: Proof Structures 312 Core Concept: Direct Threat Defense 313

Chevron v. Echazabal 314 Exercise 8.7 319 Exercise 8.8 319

Beyond the Basics: Drug and Alcohol Use 319 Beyond the Basics: Medical Examinations and Inquiries 319

x CONTENTS

EEOC Guidance on Medical Examinations Other Sources of Obligations Related to Exams and Inquiries Exercise 8.9 Exercise 8.10 Exercise 8.11 Exercise 8.12

Beyond the Basics: Burdens of Production and Persuasion in Disability Cases u.s. Airways v. Barnett

Notes Exercise 8.13

Chapter 9 . Protected Traits and Special Issues Core Concept: Affirmative Action

Exercise 9.1 Exercise 9.2 Legal Challenges to Affirmative Action Constitutional Challenges to Affirmative Action Voluntary Affirmative Action under Title VII

Johnson v. Transportation Agency Notes

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Bases for FMLA Leave FMLA Interference and Retaliation Claims

Lawson v. Plantation General Hosp. Mitchell v. County of Wayne

Notes Age

The Meaning of Age Discrimination General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. v. Cline

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Individuals Weaver v. Nebo School District

Further Discussion Etsitty v. Utah Transit Authority

Further Discussion Sex, Pregnancy and Maternal Wall

In re Union Pacific Railroad Employment Practices Litigation Notes

Doe v. C.A.R.S. Protection Plus, Inc. Notes

Equal Treatment of Pregnant Employees Tysinger v. Zanesville

Further Discussion Back v. Hastings on Hudson Union Free School District

Notes Sex-Based Pay Discrimination

Comparable Worth Grooming Codes

Grooming Codes, Sex Stereotyping and Undue Burdens Jespersen v. Harrah's Operating Company, Inc

322 322 323 324 324 324 325 325 330 331

333 333 335 336 336 337 337 338 344 346 346 347 347 351 357 358 358 360 366 367 371 371 378 379 380 386 386 391 391 392 396 397 400 400 401 402 402 402

CONTENTS Xl

Notes 408 Exercise 9.3 408

Race/Color 409 Exercise 9.4 409 What Constitutes Race? 410

Rogers v. American Airlines, Inc. 410 Note 412

Color Discrimination 413 Salas v. Wisconsin Dept. of Corrections 413

Note 416 Race and Arrest Records 416

Gregory v. Litton Systems, Inc. 416 McCraven v. City of Chicago 417

Note 418 National Origin 419

Verification of Work Authorization Status and National Origin Discrimination 419 Zamora v. Elite Logistics, Inc. 420

Notes 429 Undocumented Workers and Discrimination 430

Jarod S. Gonzalez, Employment Law Remedies for Illegal Immigrants 431 Workplace Communication and National Origin 433

Exercise 9.5 433 Maldonado v. City of Altus 435 Exercise 9.6 441

Chapter 10 . Administrative and Litigation Procedures 443 The Administrative Process 444

Step 1: The employee files a charge with the EEOC. 444 What constitutes a charge under the federal anti-discrimination statutes? 444

Federal Express Corp. v. Holowecki 445 Notes 451

The location for filing a charge with the EEOC 452 The deadline for filing the charge with the EEOC 452 Commencing the charge-filing period 454

Lewis v. City of Chicago 457 Consequences of failing to file a timely EEOC charge 461

Step 2: The EEOC serves the notice of the charge on the employer. 461 Step 3: The EEOC investigates the charge. 462 Step 4: The EEOC makes a determination on the charge. 463

EEOC v. Manville Sales Corp. 464 Notes 465

Exercise 10.1 467 Step 5: The EEOC issues aright -to-sue letter. 468

The time frame for the EEOC's issuance of the right-to-sue letter 468 The 90-day time period to file a lawsuit 469 Equitable tolling, estoppel, and waiver 470 Exercise 10.2 470 ADA, ADEA, and Section 1981 Claims and the administrative process 471

XlI CONTENTS

State antidiscrimination claims and the administrative process Exercise 10.3

Procedural requirements for public sector employees The Court Process

Step 6: The plaintiff files the employment discrimination claim in court. The Lawsuit

Pleadings Swierkiewicz v. Sorema

Notes Sample Complaint in an Employment Discrimination Case Sample Answer in an Employment Discrimination Case

Discovery Summary Judgment Trial

Donlin v. Philips Lighting North America Corporation Further Discussion

Exercise lOA

Chapter 11 . Remedies Core Concept: Introduction to Remedies Core Concept: Equitable v. Legal Remedies under Title VII

Enforcing the Historical Law and Equity Divide Title VII Remedial Provision-Title VII § 706(g); 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(g)

[Equitable Relief] Title VII Remedial Provision-42 U.S.C. § 1981a [Legal Relief]

Core Concept: Purpose of Remedies Albemarle Paper Co. v. Moody

Core Concept: Types of Title VII Remedies and Standards for Awarding Title VII Remedies Back Pay Retroactive Seniority Relief Reinstatement Front Pay

Donlin v. Philips Lighting North America Corp. Note

Exercise 11.1 Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

EEOC v. DCP Midstream L.P. Notes

Compensatory Damages Punitive Damages

Core Concept: Title VII's Compensatory and Punitive Damages Cap Exercise 11.2

Core Concept: Mitigation of Damages Richardson v. Tricom Pictures & Productions, Inc.

Notes Core Concept: Damages under the ADA

ADA Remedial Provision-ADA § 107(a); 42 U.S.C. § 12117(a) Core Concept: Damages under the ADEA

473 475 476 476 476 478 478 478 481 486 489 492 492 493 494 495 495

497 497 499 499

501 501 504 504

506 506 506 506 507 507 509 509 510 511 516 517 518 519 520 521 521 527 527 527 528

CONTENTS XlIl

ADEA Remedial Provisions-ADEA § 7; 29 U.S.C. § 626 528 FLSA Remedies Provision-29 U.S.C. § 216 - applicable to ADEA Remedies 529

Core Concept: Damages under Section 1981 530 Core Concept: Recovery of Attorney's Fees 530 Beyond the Basics: Affirmative Action as a Remedy 531 Beyond the Basics: Job Offers as a Remedy 532 Beyond the Basics: Damages and Civil Procedure 533

Pleadings 533 Discovery 536 The Trial 536 Jury Instructions Example on Damages 536 Exercise 11.3 539 Exercise 11.4 540 Exercise 11.5 540

Chapter 12 . Capstone Experience 541 Capstone Exercise 1: Evaluating a Case from a Plaintiff's Attorney's Perspective 541 Capstone Exercise 2: Initial Case Evaluation by a Lawyer for a Defendant 543 Capstone Exercise 3: Discovery 543 Capstone Exercise 4: Summary Judgment 544 Capstone Exercise 5: Resolution of a Matter 545

Resources for Further Skills Development 547

Index 549