Robinson v. Shell Oil Co.

No. 95-1376 (U.S. Feb. 18, 1997). ; Clearinghouse Number: 52218

Description

Former Employee May Sue Employer for Alleged Postemployment Discrimination Under Title VII

Abstract

The Supreme Court has held that respondent employer may be held liable under Title VII for allegedly retaliatory postemployment actions. After he was fired by employer, petitioner employee filed an employment discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Employee claimed that employer gave him a negative reference in violation of section 704(a) of Title VII, which makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employees who have availed themselves of Title VII’s protections. The district court dismissed employee’s action, and the court of appeals affirmed. Reversing, the Supreme Court held that, the term "employees" as used in section 704(a) includes former employees and therefore petitioner may sue respondent employer for its allegedly retaliatory postemployment actions. The Court noted that a holding that former employees are included within section 704(a)’s coverage is consistent with the broader context provided by Title VII’s other sections and with section 704(a)’s primary purpose of maintaining unfettered access to Title VII’s remedial mechanisms.

Additional Information

Docket Date
1997-02-18 00:00:00+00:00

Files

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