No. 21-827

Darek J. Kitlinski, et ux. v. Department of Justice, et al.

Lower Court: Fourth Circuit
Docketed: 2021-12-06
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response WaivedRelisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: burden-of-proof discriminatory-animus employee-rights employment-discrimination employment-rights federal-employment military-service protected-status reemployment-rights userra
Key Terms:
DueProcess EmploymentDiscrimina JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2022-01-07 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the employee must prove that protected status or activity was a motivating factor or prove that the employer had hostility to military service or discriminatory animus

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW I. Whether, to shift the burden of proof to the employer in a Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) case, the employee must prove simply that protected status or activity was a motivating factor—as provided in USERRA’s text—or instead, as required by several circuits, including the Fourth Circuit, prove that the employer had hostility to military service or an undefined “discriminatory animus.” II. Whether a federal employee’s right to retained counsel includes having that counsel present when that employee has pending litigation against their federal employer and when the employer conducts an interview of the employee that a reasonable person would believe related back to the pending litigation.

Docket Entries

2022-01-10
Petition DENIED.
2021-12-22
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/7/2022.
2021-12-14
Waiver of right of respondent Department of Justice, et al. to respond filed.
2021-12-06
Motion (21M45) for leave to proceed as a veteran Granted.
2021-11-09
MOTION (21M45) DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/3/2021.
2021-11-01
Motion (21M45) for leave to proceed as a veteran filed.
2021-11-01
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 5, 2022)

Attorneys

Darek J. Kitlinski, et ux.
Michael L. ForemanPenn State Law - Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, Petitioner
Michael L. ForemanPenn State Law - Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, Petitioner
Department of Justice, et al.
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent