McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green
United States Supreme Court
411 U.S. 792 (1973)
Green (plaintiff), a Black civil rights activist, was laid off from McDonnell Douglas Corp. (McDonnell) (defendant) amid general job cuts and believed the termination was racially motivated. He then participated in a staged protest designed to disrupt McDonnell's operations and pleaded guilty to obstructing traffic. When Green later applied for an open mechanic position at McDonnell, he was rejected, and he sued under Title VII, alleging the company refused to rehire him because of his race. The district court found McDonnell refused to rehire Green because of his illegal protest activity, not his race, and dismissed the claim, but the Eighth Circuit reversed.
Whether, if an employer identifies a non-discriminatory reason for an action taken against an employee, the employee may demonstrate that the stated reason is merely pretext for actual discrimination.