Christine Mckennon v. Nashville Banner Publishing Company (513 U.S. 352)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided January 23, 1995 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 513 U.S. 352 · 115 S. Ct. 879
- Decided
- January 23, 1995
- Term
- October Term 1994
- Vote
- 9–0
- Majority author
- Justice Kennedy
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
Opinion excerpt
Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court. The question before us is whether an employee discharged in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 is barred from all relief when, after her discharge, the employer discovers evidencé of wrongdoing that, in any event, would have led to the employee’s termination on lawful and legitimate grounds. I For some 30 years, petitioner Christine McKennon worked for respondent Nashville Banner Publishing Company. She was discharged, the Banner claimed, as part of a work force reduction plan necessitated by cost considerations. McKen-non, who was 62 years old when she lost her job, thought another reason explained her dismissal: her age. She filed suit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, alleging that her discharge violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA or Act), 81 Stat. 602, as amended, 29 U. S. C. § 621 et seq. (1988 ed. and Supp. V). The ADEA makes it unlawful for any employer: “to discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s age.” 29 U. S. C. § 623(a)(1). McKennon sought a variety of legal and equitable remedies available under the ADEA, including backpay. App. 10a-lla. In preparation of the case, the Banner…
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