CBOCS West v. Humphries
Encyclopedia
CBOCS West, Inc., v. Hedrick G. Humphries, 553 U.S. 442 (2008), is a Supreme Court of the United States
case in which the Court ruled that the petitioner, Hedrick Humphries was unfairly retaliated against by CBOCS West Inc. for complaining to managers about the dismissal of another Black employee for race reasons. The court found that CBOCS West Inc. had violated the Civil Rights Act of 1871
and the Civil Rights Act of 1964
.
. Humphries appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
, which reversed the earlier decision and ordered a trial. The trial held that CBOCS did indeed violate Title VII and U.S.C. § 1981. CBOCS then a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court.
in its decision, citing Sullivan v. Little Hunting Park, Inc. and Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education.
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case in which the Court ruled that the petitioner, Hedrick Humphries was unfairly retaliated against by CBOCS West Inc. for complaining to managers about the dismissal of another Black employee for race reasons. The court found that CBOCS West Inc. had violated the Civil Rights Act of 1871
Civil Rights Act of 1871
The Civil Rights Act of 1871, , enacted April 20, 1871, is a federal law in force in the United States. The Act was originally enacted a few years after the American Civil War, along with the 1870 Force Act. One of the chief reasons for its passage was to protect southern blacks from the Ku Klux...
and the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
.
Background
Hendrick Humpries was a mid-level manager for a Cracker Barrel restaurant, which is owned by CBOCS West Inc. Humphries was fired from his job at Cracker Barrel for speaking out over another Black coworker being fired for his race. He originally filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. §1981. However Title VII claims first must be made to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and that part of the case was dismissed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of IllinoisUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
. Humphries appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
, which reversed the earlier decision and ordered a trial. The trial held that CBOCS did indeed violate Title VII and U.S.C. § 1981. CBOCS then a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court.
Decision
The Court held that CBOCS did indeed violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and U.S.C. §1981 which provides that "[a]ll citizens ... shall have the same right ... as is enjoyed by white citizens ... to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property". The court relied heavily on stare decisisStare decisis
Stare decisis is a legal principle by which judges are obliged to respect the precedents established by prior decisions...
in its decision, citing Sullivan v. Little Hunting Park, Inc. and Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education.
External links
- 06-1431}} Supreme Court docket for case 06-1431