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Keywords

lawsuitappealdiscriminationpartnership
appealdiscriminationpartnership

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Ezold v. Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen, 983 F.2d 509, 60 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. (BNA) 849, 61 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. (BNA) 1000, 60 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 41,921, 61 USLW 2398

Facts

Nancy O'Mara Ezold was hired by Wolf as an associate on a partnership track in 1983. Throughout her tenure, she received mixed evaluations regarding her legal analytical skills, with several partners expressing doubts about her abilities. In 1988, when she was considered for partnership, the Associates Committee voted against her admission, citing insufficient legal analytical ability. Ezold subsequently resigned from the firm in 1989 and filed a lawsuit claiming sex discrimination.

Ezold was hired by Wolf as an associate on a partnership track in July 1983. She had graduated in the top third of her class from the Villanova University School of Law in 1980 and then worked at two small law firms in Philadelphia.

Issue

Did the law firm intentionally discriminate against Ezold on the basis of her sex when it denied her admission to partnership?

Did the law firm intentionally discriminate against Ezold on the basis of her sex when it denied her admission to partnership?

Rule

In employment discrimination cases, the McDonnell Douglas/Burdine framework is used to analyze whether an employer's stated reasons for an employment decision are a pretext for discrimination.

In employment discrimination cases, the McDonnell Douglas/Burdine framework is used to analyze whether an employer's stated reasons for an employment decision are a pretext for discrimination.

Analysis

The Court of Appeals found that the district court had erred in substituting its judgment for that of the law firm regarding Ezold's qualifications. The appellate court determined that the evidence did not support a finding that the firm's decision was based on a discriminatory motive, as the firm had consistently evaluated Ezold's legal analytical skills as below their standards.

The Court of Appeals found that the district court had erred in substituting its judgment for that of the law firm regarding Ezold's qualifications.

Conclusion

The Court of Appeals reversed the district court's judgment in favor of Ezold, concluding that she had not established that the firm's reasons for denying her partnership were pretextual.

The Court of Appeals reversed the district court's judgment in favor of Ezold, concluding that she had not established that the firm's reasons for denying her partnership were pretextual.

Who won?

Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis–Cohen prevailed in the case because the Court of Appeals found that Ezold failed to prove that the firm's reasons for not promoting her were discriminatory.

Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis–Cohen prevailed in the case because the Court of Appeals found that Ezold failed to prove that the firm's reasons for not promoting her were discriminatory.

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