Tag Archives: racial discrimination

A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit states that a plaintiff may bring a harassment claim against an employer for a single offensive slur, if the insult is egregious enough. The case revolves around Magliore Ayissi Etoh, a black man originally from Cameroon, who was hired by Fannie Mae in April 2008 as a financial modeler. The company created a new “team leader” position later in the year, and out of a dozen people promoted, …

The Supreme Court on Nov. 26 heard arguments in a case that could redefine who is considered a supervisor in the workplace for legal purposes. The ruling could have far-reaching effects, because the broader the definition of supervisor, the easier it is for employees to bring discrimination cases against their employer. In Vance v. Ball State University, justices will decide whether the university is responsible for alleged racial harassment experienced by a catering employee. Maetta Vance was the only black …