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Hishon v. King & Spalding

United States Supreme Court

467 U.S. 69 (1984)

Facts

Elizabeth Hishon (plaintiff), a woman, was hired as an associate at the law firm King & Spalding (defendant). According to Hishon, during the hiring process, King & Spalding led her to believe that she would be promoted to partner on a fair and equal basis, after a certain number of years of satisfactory employment with the firm. This assurance informed her decision to join the firm. After subsequently seeking and being rejected for a partnership position at the firm, Hishon sued under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., alleging sex discrimination.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Burger, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
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Concurrence (Powell, J.)

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