Moranski v. General Motors Corp.

John Moranski (plaintiff) was a born-again Christian who worked at General Motors Corporation (GM) (defendant). Moranski applied to create an affinity group at GM called the “GM Christian Employee Network,” which he claimed would be an interdenominational group that would not promote a particular church or religious denomination at GM. GM’s employee affinity groups were eligible to receive resources, such as funding and access to company facilities and equipment. GM denied Moranski’s application because GM’s affinity-group guidelines explicitly prevented groups that advocate a common interest or activity or that propose a particular religious or political position. Instead, affinity groups were generally created around a common social identity, and they included groups for people with disabilities, gay and lesbian people, women, veterans, and people of different ethnicities and national origins. Affinity-group membership was voluntary and open to any salaried, full-time employees that shared the group’s goals. Moranski received a right-to-sue letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Moranski then sued GM in federal court, alleging that GM’s denial of Moranski’s affinity-group application discriminated against him based on his Christianity in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The district court dismissed Moranski’s complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Moranski appealed.