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McKnight v. General Motors Corp.

511 U.S. 659 (1994)

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McKnight v. General Motors Corp.

United States Supreme Court
511 U.S. 659 (1994)

Facts

McKnight (plaintiff) filed an appeal from the trial court’s order dismissing his employment-discrimination lawsuit against General Motors Corp. (GM) (defendant). GM filed a motion to dismiss the appeal, arguing that it was frivolous due to precedent from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit holding that § 101 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 does not apply retroactively. The United States Supreme Court had not decided that issue at the time of McKnight’s appeal, and there was division among the trial courts as to the retroactive application of § 101. The appellate court dismissed the appeal and imposed sanctions on McKnight’s attorney for filing a frivolous appeal. McKnight filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which granted the petition.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)

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