Document: 455 U.S. 385 102 S.Ct. 1127 71 L.Ed.2d 234 Anne B. ZIPES, et al., Petitioners,v.TRANS WORLD AIRLINES, INC. INDEPENDENT FEDERATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, Petitioner, v. TRANS INC., al. Nos. 78-1545, 80-951. Argued Dec. 2, 1981. Decided Feb. 24, 1982. Syllabus In 1970, the union then representing flight attendants employed by respondent Trans World Airlines, Inc. (TWA), brought a federal-court class action alleging that TWA practiced unlawful sex discrimination in violation of Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964 its policy grounding all female who became mothers while their male counterparts fathers were permitted to continue flying. Subsequently, individual members (petitioners No. 78-1545) appointed as representatives replace union, which was found be an inadequate representative. The District Court later denied TWA's motion exclude had not filed charges with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within time limit specified VII, holding such filing requirement is jurisdictional prerequisite subject waiver, any continued against until changed challenged policy. court also granted plaintiff class' for summary judgment on issue liability violating VII. Appeals affirmed grant and held timely EEOC prerequisite, but declined extend "continuing violation" theory so include those terminated employees failed file charges. However, stayed mandate pending petitions this Court, which, turn, deferred consideration completion settlement proceedings Court. proceedings, designated two subclasses: Subclass A, consisting women or after March 20, discharged earlier accepted reinstatement ground positions, B, other class, whose claims jurisdictionally barred failure satisfy timely-filing requirement. attendants' current (petitioner 80-951) intervene object proposed settlement. On basis Appeals' stay decision, rejected union's challenge jurisdiction over It approved awarded restoration retroactive seniority. affirmed, rejecting contention that, because opinion, lacked approve order seniority respect Held : 1. Filing charge suit federal court, like statute limitations, estoppel, equitable tolling. structure congressional underlying it, reasoning Court's prior cases lead conclusion. Pp. 392-398. 2. authority award B well A. 398-401. (a) 80-951 there no finding thus predicate relief under § 706(g) without merit. whole, at when yet been divided into subclasses, court's ran favor entire class. Since erred ruling met individuals should have excluded from judgment, barrier 398-399. (b) Equally meritless contrary collective-bargaining agreement objection has itself guilty discrimination. Class-based identifiable victims illegal form generally appropriate 706(g). And, made clear Teamsters United States, 431 324, 97 1843, 52 396, once employer, even if illegally discriminated. 399-400. 7th Cir., 582 F.2d 1142, reversed; 80-951, 630 1164, affirmed. William Jolley, Kansas City, Mo., petitioner Raymond Randolph, Jr., Washington, D. C., Aram Hartunian, Arnold I. Shure, Kevin M. Forde, Chicago, Ill., petitioners 78-1545. Laurence Carton, respondents. Justice WHITE delivered opinion 1 primary question these whether statutory 1964, 78 Stat. 253, amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000e seq. (1970 ed.) Secondarily, we resolve dispute proper remedy cases. 2 * Air Line Stewards Stewardesses Association (ALSSA), agent Airlines (TWA) attendants, cabin mothers, After collective bargaining eliminated practice prospectively, parties case reached tentative settlement, provided neither backpay nor seniority, Seventh Circuit, however, representative inherent conflict between interests former employees. remanded instructions name ALSSA representative.1 Assn. American Inc., 490 636 (1973). 3 Upon remand, 78-1545 representatives. moved amend answer assert plaintiffs VII's "statute limitations" they limit. App. 89a.2 Although amend, it noted "delay pleading defense limitations may ultimately constitute waiver defense." Id., 101a. 4 October 15, 1976, EEOC. support motion, argued instead affirmative analogous defendants. While agreed requirements are jurisdictional, airline 131a-132a. 19, 133a-134a. 5 18, granting liability, expressly "TWA's motherhood . provides example prohibited 2000e-2(a)." re Consolidated Pretrial Proceedings Airline Cases, 1145 (1978). declined, "to continuing theory, did district permanently more than 90 days before charges." 1149. 6 went hold prerequisite. Because could waive requirement, approximately 92% plaintiffs' alleged employment practice. Appeals, Petitions certiorari TWA, 78-1549. This motions defer 442 916, 99 2834, 61 282 (1979). 7 connection subclasses. some 30 women, comprised earlier, duty positions. numbering 400 covered consisted 3. 8 $3 million groups. each member full company date termination. "in event interested person, amount credit length service compensation period will determined discretion, pursuant provisions Section 706(g), applicable law, contest TWA."3 Pet. Cert. p. 29a. 9 Independent Federation Flight Attendants (union), replaced issued 14a-15a. three hearings, competitive explicitly would unusual adverse impact upon currently way atypical 18a-19a. 10 appealed. "the principles favoring lawsuits remain same regardless disputed legal issues center action." 1169 (1980). further explained finally decision observed Courts split issue. clearly subject-matter concluded: "Where, here, settled finality, forced litigate can arrive otherwise approval." Ibid. 11 According served public remedying past acts consequences acts. Moreover, "[t]he right objections heard does not, course, give intervenor block objects." Ibid.4 12 petitioned certiorari, We petition together 78-1549, 450 979, 101 1511, 67 813 (1981), removed case, 78-1549,5 argument docket limited 451 980, 2309, 68 836 (1981). II 13 single bringing estoppel. reaching Circuit relied reading language, absence indication legislative history, references several our 90-day "jurisdictional."6 Other examined materials opposite conclusion.7 14 tolling.8 15 provision courts §§ 2000e-5(e) (f), EEOC.9 contains reference timelyfiling specifying appears entirely separate provision, speak terms refer courts.10 history sparse, Senator Humphrey characterize claim "period limitations," 110 Cong.Rec. 12723 (1964), Case described purpose preventing pressing "stale" claims, id., 7243, end limitations. 16 subsequent dispositive, see Seatrain Shipbuilding Corp. Shell Oil Co., 444 572, 596, 100 800, 813, 63 36 (1980); Cannon University 441 677, 686, n. 7, 1946, 1952, 60 560 (1979), 1972 amendments indicates Congress intended operate final Conference Committee section-by-section analysis H.R. 1746, 1972, 118 7166, 7167 (1972), only termed "time limitation," explained: 17 "This subsection amended 180 decisions present law shown inclination interpret limitation aggrieved person maximum benefit law; circumscribed extension subsection."11 18 result consistent law. contain scattered character cases, often referred statute.12 19 More weighty inferences drawn Franks Bowman Transportation 424 747, 96 1251, 47 (1976), employer union. unnamed administrative them appropriate. disturb ruling, reversed, saying: 20 "The stated reasons denial members. first therefore sort justification class-based context awards Albemarle Paper [Co. Moody, 422 405, 95 2362, 45 280 (1975),] reject here. denying suits unanimously appeals, ratified construction amendments. ." 771, S.Ct., 1267 (footnote omitted). 21 If claimants EEOC, Co. (1975), adjudicate hold. Furthermore, exhausted remedies evident doing so, necessarily adopted view construed erect court. 22 Love Pullman 404 522, 92 616, 679 announced guiding principle construing Declining read literally another technical "particularly inappropriate scheme laymen, unassisted trained lawyers, initiate process." 527, 619. That must applied here well. 23 assumes jurisdictional. Electrical Workers Robbins & Myers, 429 229, 441, 50 427 tolled pursuing grievance procedure set up agreement. reach 180-day Instead, considered merits series arguments procedures toll Such gratuitous prerequisite.13 24 Similarly, sua sponte dismiss Mohasco Silver, 447 807, 2486, 65 532 (1980) plaintiff's comply related provision. merely footnote "[p]etitioner respondent's 811, 9, 2489, 9. 25 By compliance suit, tolling equity requires, honor remedial legislation whole negating particular prompt notice employer. 26 reverse III 27 challenges grounds award, objection, already contention, namely, complied contends missing. 28 unquestionably subdivided Subclasses A Summary including both not. discriminatory on, judgment. But now held, erroneous. nonfiling Thus, With reversal dismissal affirmance order, classwide remains intact final. infirm want 29 U.S., 764, 1264, giving "emphatic confirmation empowered fashion circumstances require effect restitution, making far possible 31 recognizing specifically mentioned reasoned adequate might remedy. concluded 32 Franks, engaged practices perpetuated agreements unions. 751, 1257-58. 396 (1977), makes Teamsters, decree decide "whether discriminatees additional seniority." 331, 4, 1852, 4. violated agreeing maintaining system, nonetheless directed litigation defendant employer's post-Act 356, 43, 1865, 43.14 Here, left 33 resolving issue, gave process due allowed intervene. objections, findings, awarded. determination, facts error respect. 34 Accordingly, reversed 35 So ordered. STEVENS took part 37 POWELL, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST join, concurring 38 above arise out protracted controversy, disposes opinion. suit. I agree join Parts 39 My concern make charge, disturbing rights bona fide system protected 703(h), 2000e-2(h).1 Lines, Evans, 553, 559, 1885, 1889, 571 discussed opinion.2 nevertheless concur remand awarding competitive-status standard (1976). since complexity difficult certain "what happened when." believe, one conclude Evans met. 40 As ante, 398-399, entered members, similarly timely-charge entry These orders consolidated appeal Circuit. 18th discrimination, vacated meet claims. No ever actually because, parties, mandate, Today, reverses portion 15th order. result, orders, affirming Co.3 defined July 1965, pregnancy. assumed resumed becoming 1147, (CA7 1978). included employees, is, When filed, 2000e-5(d) required codified 2000e-5(e). 2000e-5(g) provides: "If finds intentionally engaging charged complaint, enjoin practice, appropriate, include, to, hiring back pay ., deems language 779, 41, 1271, (1976): "[D]istrict take starting point presumption rightful-place relief, proceed point; abstract rather arising cases." prospective plaintiffs, (c) defining subclass 78-1549 improvidently granted. See 240, 449, (1976); 555, 1887, (1977); Alexander Gardner-Denver 415 36, 47, 94 1011, 1019, 147 (1974); McDonnell Douglas Green, 411 792, 798, 93 1817, 1822, 668 Carlile South Routt School Re 3-J, 652 981 (CA10 1981); Coke General Adjustment Bureau, 640 584 (CA5 Leake Cincinnati, 605 255 (CA6 1979); Hart J. T. Baker Chemical Corp., 598 829 (CA3 Laffey Northwest 185 U.S.App.D.C. 322, 567 One questions approval follow McArthur Southern Airways, 569 276 1978) (en banc). 1168-1169 McArthur, Fifth action, need resolved. 2000e-5(f)(3), example, reads: "Each States place shall actions subchapter. judicial State committed, records relevant maintained administered, worked district, his principal office. 2000e-5(e), version reads simply: "A section hundred eighty occurred Senate Labor Committee's "[t]his permit similar contained Labor-Management Relations Act, amended." S.Rep.No. 92-415, (1971), U.S.Code Cong. Admin.News 2137. recognized National model provisions," 366, 1870, (1977). unfair labor operates doctrines restriction Board, NLRB Local 264, Laborers' Int'l Union, 529 778, 781-785 (CA8 1976); Shumate NLRB, 452 717, 720 (CA4 1971); E. Nettleton 241 130, 133 (CA2 1957); Itasca Cotton Mfg. 179 504, 506-507 1950), treated likewise. 1978 revised Age Discrimination 1967, 81 602, 621 (1976 ed. Supp.V), modeled Oscar Mayer 750, 2066, 609 House Report 'charge' ADEA modification failing available Act." H.R.Conf.Rep. 95-950, 12, Cong 1978, 534. points Coke, supra, 588-589, come dominate opinions: trend Supreme significant. early dicta using label 'jurisdictional prerequisite.' (1973); (1974). 1976 Myers used once, numerous 'tolling period,' 239, 448, labels obviously referring opposed matter jurisdiction. Lines used. From late 1977, nine justices concurred opinions containing exclusion label. Occidental Life Insurance Company 432 355, 371-[3]72, 2447, 2457, 53 402 McDonald, 385, 391-[3]92, 2464, 2468, 423 818-823, 2493-95, Delaware College Ricks, [449] [250], 498, 66 (1980)." expanded "limitations period," enacted amendments, retroactive. 244, 451. presupposes conclusion, quoted Chase Securities Donaldson, 325 304, 316, 1137, 1142-1143, 89 L.Ed. 1628 (1945): "[C]ertainly cannot said lifting bar restore lost through mere lapse per se offense Fourteenth Amendment." Several implicitly approving F.2d, 588; 833; Smith President Ltd., 102, 108-109 noting properly remained litigation, cited Federal Rule Procedure 19(a). joined representatives, intervened later. Cf. MacMillan Bloedel Containers, 503 1086, 1095 1974) (joinder 19(a) opportunity participate formulation although practical play role VII). filed. Relief being placed position enjoyed, relative victims, taken place. contrast, slept rights, expense accrued good faith. consider equities determining presence affect balancing equities. Under rule, employers able settle actions, part, away refers twice, 393, 6, 12; describing am content formalistic resolution "timely filing" But, almost years addressed balance Rather prolong disruptive best interest settlement—as today.

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