Supreme Court of the United States (Feb. 26, 2002, No. 00-1853)
Supreme Court Eases Rules for Workers Who Sue
"Victims of workplace discrimination
don't need proof in hand to qualify for
a day in Court."
"In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled that a worker filing a lawsuit
against an employer needs only to state a
claim. Digging up evidence comes later."
"The high court's decision in February
reversed an appeals court ruling that
threatened to dismantle longstanding court
procedures. These procedures were
were deemed to be especially important
when one party controls the evidence. In
cases of workplace discrimination, the
employer typically owns the worker's
records and employs many of the
witnesses who could testify at trial."
Justice Thomas, in delivering the opinion
of the Court, says that "we hold that an
employment discrimination plaintiff need
not plead a prima facie case of discrimination
and that (a) petitioner's complaint is
sufficient to survive (a) respondent's motion
to dismiss."
