By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//July 23, 2014//
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
Civil
Employment — race discrimination
Where it is undisputed that a job applicant’s race was unknown to the employee making hiring decisions, summary judgment was properly granted to the employer on the applicant’s race discrimination claim.
“The applications sent to Page did not include the Affirmative Action Program form, and none of those involved in the hiring process for that Specialist position had any information as to the applicant’s race. It is undisputed that Page did not know the race of the applicants when she evaluated the applications, and that the interview selection process and ultimate hiring decision were based upon finding the most qualified individual for the position. Rapp did not participate in the grouping of applications, the decision as to whom to interview, or the decision as to whom to hire. Of the 42 African-American applicants (excluding Matthews), Rapp determined that 34 met the minimum qualifications and forwarded their applications to Page.”
Affirmed.
13-1839 Matthews v. Waukesha County
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Randa, J., Rovner, J.