Title VII Violation – Retaliation Claim

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Donald A. Miller, et al., v. Chicago Transit Authority, et al.,

Case No.: 20-3005

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

Focus: Title VII Violation – Retaliation Claim

After being fired from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Donald A. Miller and John W. McGuire sued their former employer and one of its officers, Donald Bonds, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation in violation of federal and Illinois state law. Following discovery, the defendants moved for summary judgment. Despite receiving two extensions, however, Miller and McGuire failed to respond. Finding no persuasive excuse for this failure, the district court denied a third extension and took up the motion without a responsive pleading. The court concluded that the undisputed evidence did not support the claims and granted summary judgment in favor of CTA and Bonds. Miller and McGuire challenge the district court’s denial of their third extension request and its rejection of their retaliation claims. Because the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying an extension, and because evidence of basic elements of a retaliation claim was lacking, we affirm.

Affirmed
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Derek A Hawkins is Corporate Counsel, at Salesforce.