Opinion ID: 166694
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: McDonnell Douglas Instruction

Text: 35 Nordam challenges the instructions to the jury on the elements and proof requirements for Mr. Whittington's claim. The instructions follow the framework for analysis set forth in McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802-04, 93 S.Ct. 1817. The jury was instructed as follows: Age Discrimination — Elements 36 Plaintiff Milton L. Whittington, Sr., seeks damages against Defendant for discharge based on age discrimination in violation of federal law. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act provides in pertinent part that it is unlawful for an employer . . . to discharge any individual . . . because of such individual's age. Plaintiff has the burden of proving each of the following elements by a preponderance of the evidence: 37 1. That Plaintiff was 40 years of age or older at the time of the discharge; 38