Orange County Employment Lawyer

CBOCS West v. Humphries Decision Implications

In November 2001, Hedrick Humphries, an associate manager at a Cracker Barrel store in Illinois, complained of racial discrimination to the district manager. Humphries claim included another African American employee, Venus Green, and stated that both had been unfairly targeted because of race. The district manager failed to properly investigate the claim as required by company policy. Later that year, Humphries was fired for his job for allegedly failing to perform his duties. Several written warnings were issued about his level of performance before Humphries lost his job. Despite these complaints, Humphries felt that his termination was due to racial discrimination rather than performance issues.

Although the case was initially dismissed because Humphries failed to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within a certain time frame, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Humphries in May 2008 and allowed him to continue to pursue his retaliation lawsuit. By deciding in favor of Humphries, the court maintained the ability of employees to sue for employer retaliation after complaining of discriminatory behavior.

Although the decision resulting from this case was not a landmark decision, as legal precedents for the protection of employees against retaliation have existed for years, it strongly reaffirmed the right of employees to complain and not fear termination. The United States Supreme Court’s commitment to protecting employees is a memorable victory for those who support discrimination-free workplaces.

If you have been discriminated against in an employment setting, it is imperative to contact experienced legal counsel to protect your rights. The Orange County employment lawyers at Perry Smith will aggressively fight against unfair workplace practices. Contact them today at 888-356-2529 to learn more.