Discrimination

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Talal S. Hamdan, M.D. v. Indiana University Health North Hospital, Inc.,

Case No.: 16-1074

Officials: WOOD, Chief Judge, and MANION and HAMILTON, Circuit Judges.

Focus: Discrimination

Dr. Talal Hamdan, a U.S. citizen of Middle-Eastern (Palestinian) descent, sued Indiana University Health North Hospital, Inc. for discriminating against him based on race. Dr. Hamdan was not an employee of the hospital and so could not sue under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He sued instead under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, a law first enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, after ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment, to protect the ability of newly freed slaves to enter into and enforce contracts, especially contracts regarding land and their labor. Dr. Hamdan alleged discrimination regarding the benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions in his contractual relationship with the hospital.

A jury trial ended with a verdict for the hospital. Dr. Hamdan then moved for a new trial. He argued that the district court had erred in allowing the hospital to ask him impeachment questions relating to his prior work at other hospitals. Dr. Hamdan contends the subjects of these questions were both irrelevant and privileged under state peer-review statutes. We find no abuse of discretion and affirm the judgment of the district court.

Affirmed

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.