Supreme Court OK's Suits Under Title VII For Retaliation Against 3rd Parties

In Thompson v. North American Stainless, LP, (US Sup. Ct., Jan. 24, 2011), the U.S. Supreme Court held that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act allows suit by a third party who was the victim of retaliation because someone else-- here plaintiff's fiancee-- filed an anti-discrimination claim. While this case involved a sex discrimination claim, the holding would also apply to employer retaliation against a third-party employee based on the filing of religious discrimination charges. (CNN reports on the decision.)