Discrimination · Federal · Title VII
McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green
411 U.S. 792 · Supreme Court of the United States · 1973
A mechanic laid off in a workforce reduction participated in protest activity against his former employer's hiring practices. When the company later advertised for mechanics, he applied and was rejected, with the company citing his participation in the protest.
This case created the burden-shifting framework still used in most discrimination and retaliation cases: prima facie case, employer's stated reason, then the employee's showing of pretext.
Remanded for trial on pretext
Reported outcome
Remanded so the employee could attempt to show the stated reason was a pretext.
Completeness reading
88/100
ignita-completeness-v1 · illustrative
Preview. Not legal advice. Attorney-reviewed: false.
The events, kept in order.
Drawn from the reported decision. Nothing is interpreted at this stage — each entry simply holds when it happened and what happened.
Step 1
Laid off in a workforce reduction
Employment as a mechanic and laboratory technician ended in a general reduction.
Step 2
Participated in protest activity
He took part in public protest against the company's hiring and discharge practices.
Protected activity or key conduct
Step 3
Company advertised for mechanics
The employer publicly sought qualified mechanics — his trade.
Step 4
Application rejected
The employer cited his participation in the protest as the reason for rejection.
What the engine reads here
Pretext is a comparison, not an accusation. It requires the employer's stated reason next to what the record actually shows — dates, the reopened position, how similar applicants were treated. Ignita's job is to hold both columns side by side.
Pattern and class signal
Individual pattern with a framework that generalizes: the same stated-reason-versus-record comparison is what later supports company-wide practice claims.
Preview. Not legal advice. Attorney-reviewed: false.
Your own record
Every matter here began as small, ordinary entries someone almost didn't keep.