Employment — sex discrimination

Listen to this article

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Civil

Employment — sex discrimination

A county board’s refusal to raise the pay of the elected county treasurer was not sex discrimination.

“Harper also complains that the Board treated Nelson, a male, better than her by giving him pay raises. But the County explains that the Board adopted the Finance Committee’s recommendation to give Nelson (the County Clerk) pay raises for the term commencing in December 2010 because of his particularly excellent work performance. The County points to evidence that Finance Committee members believed that Nelson went beyond his normal duties and worked overtime (including on weekends during the election process). The County offers evidence that Nelson helped the County save about $160,000 in health insurance premiums. The County also offers evidence that Finance Committee members believed that Nelson had improved the equipment, processes, and efficiency of the election process, had guided the County through a major information technology upgrade, and had spearheaded the County’s efforts to establish a geographic information system. Harper offers no contrary evidence. Thus, in addition to the complaints about her work performance, the County has offered undisputed and legitimate reasons for giving pay raises to Nelson but not to Harper. And Harper offers no evidence that these reasons are pretexts masking sex discrimination.”

Affirmed.

13-2553 Harper v. Fulton County, Illinois

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Mihm, J., Manion, J.