Trial lawyers specializing in personal injury and civil litigation
Civil rights claim may be brought where employer's decisions are made or where they are implemented
Brandon Brightwell and Sharon Champion sued Fifth Third Bank, claiming their employer violated their civil rights through racial discrimination. The Bank argued that since its decisions were made in Oakland County, the suit could only be brought in Oakland County, even though Wayne County was the location where the employees worked and the allegedly disriminatory decisions were implemented. The Court of Appeals agreed with the Bank and ordered the case to be moved to the Bank's headquarters County, Oakland, where the decisions were made, from the County where the Plaintiffs were employed. The Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeals, noting that under the pertinent statute, suit should be brought where the wrong occurred--i.e., where the decisions were implemented causing injury or damage to the alleged victims.