Wrongful Termination – Retaliation Claim

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Brenda Lear Scheidler v. State of Indiana, et al.

Case No.: 17-2543

Officials: BAUER, MANION, and BRENNAN, Circuit Judges.

Focus: Wrongful Termination – Retaliation Claim

Brenda Lear Scheidler worked for the Indiana Department of Insurance (“IDOI”). She sought accommodations for disabilities related to her mental health. She asked, among other things, that her coworkers not startle her. She received these accommodations for several years. But on May 28, 2013, a frustrated supervisor reached toward Scheidler and said, “I could just strangle you.” An investigation into this workplace incident discovered that several months earlier Scheidler commented in an elevator about a coworker’s apparent promotion prospects: “It’s who you know and who you blow.”

IDOI terminated Scheidler. She sued it for disability discrimination, retaliation, and other claims. She lost some claims at summary judgment and she lost the rest at trial. She appeals summary judgment and an evidentiary decision. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.

Affirmed

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Derek A Hawkins is trademark corporate counsel for Harley-Davidson. Hawkins oversees the prosecution and maintenance of the Harley-Davidson’s international trademark portfolio in emerging markets.