Maurice Rivers and Robert C. Davison v. Roadway Express, Inc. (511 U.S. 298)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided April 26, 1994 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 511 U.S. 298 · 114 S. Ct. 1510
- Decided
- April 26, 1994
- Term
- October Term 1993
- Vote
- 8–1
- Majority author
- Justice Stevens
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party lost
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
Opinion excerpt
Justice Stevens delivered the opinion of the Court. Section 101 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Pub. L. 102-166, 105 Stat. 1071, defines the term “make and enforce contracts” as used in § 1 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Rev. Stat. § 1977, 42 U. S. C. § 1981, to include “the making, performance, modification, and termination of contracts, and the enjoyment of all benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions of the contractual relationship.” We granted certiorari to decide whether § 101 applies to a case that arose before it was enacted. We hold that it does not. I Petitioners Rivers and Davison were employed by respondent Roadway Express, Inc., as garage mechanics. Oh the morning of August 22, 1986, a supervisor directed them to attend disciplinary hearings later that day. Because they had not received the proper notice guaranteed by their collective-bargaining agreement, petitioners refused to attend. They were suspended for two days, but filed grievances and were awarded two days’ backpay. Respondent then held another disciplinary hearing, which petitioners also refused to attend, again on the ground that they had not received proper notice. Respondent thereupon discharged them. On December 22, 1986, petitioners filed a complaint alleging that respondent had discharged them because of their race in violation of 42 U. S. C. § 1981. They claimed, inter alia, that they had…
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