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Robinson v. Shell Oil Co.

519 U.S. 337, 117 S. Ct. 843, 136 L. Ed. 2d 808 (1997)

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Robinson v. Shell Oil Co.

United States Supreme Court
519 U.S. 337, 117 S. Ct. 843, 136 L. Ed. 2d 808 (1997)

Facts

After Shell Oil Company (Shell) (defendant) fired Charles Robinson, Sr. (plaintiff), Robinson filed a charge against Shell with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The charge alleged that Robinson’s termination resulted from racial discrimination, violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). While the charge was pending, Robinson applied for a job with another company. When contacted by that company, Shell gave Robinson a negative reference. Believing the negative reference was in retaliation for his filing the discrimination charge, Robinson sued Shell for retaliatory discrimination under Title VII § 704(a). Shell moved to dismiss the claim, arguing that § 704(a) protected only current employees from retaliatory discrimination, not former employees, and Robinson’s claim was therefore not viable. The district court agreed, dismissing the action. The Fourth Circuit en banc affirmed. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari to determine the scope of § 704(a)’s protection.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Thomas, J.)

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