Title VII Claim – Sufficiency of Evidence

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Ron Morris v. BNSF Railway Company

Case No.: 19-2808; 19-2913

Officials: EASTERBROOK, HAMILTON, and SCUDDER, Circuit Judges.

Focus: Title VII Claim – Sufficiency of Evidence

Ron Morris worked for nine years as a train conductor for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. The company fired him after he committed two speeding infractions during a single shift. Morris, who is African-American, invoked Title VII and brought suit to challenge his termination, alleging that BNSF punished him more severely than non-black employees who committed similar safety violations. His case proceeded to trial and a jury found in his favor. BNSF challenges the district court’s decisions at every stage of the case, from the viability of Morris’s theory of discrimination and sufficiency of his evidence to discovery rulings and remedies. We see no errors and affirm, on most issues applying a deferential standard of review and respecting the district court’s close proximity to questions bearing upon management of the litigation and the admissibility and adequacy of evidence.

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.