Opinion ID: 1285977
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the 6 months' statute of limitations

Text: 5. Minn.St. 363.06, subd. 3, provides that [a] charge of an unfair discriminatory practice must be filed within six months after the occurrence of the practice. The union and railroad argue that, assuming the settlement agreements of 1958 and 1960 were discriminatory, the charges filed by Shelby and Walker in 1966 were untimely. This argument can have validity only if the discriminatory acts of 1958 and 1960 are treated as single, isolated acts of discrimination. However, as we have previously concluded in this opinion, such acts were continuing in nature. Thus, the charges asserted in 1966 are not barred by the statute of limitations. We have had one occasion to consider the effect of the statute of limitations contained in § 363.06, subd. 3, in Richardson v. School Board of Independent School Dist. No. 271, 297 Minn. 91, 210 N.W.2d 911 (1973). That case involved the alleged discriminatory practice of school boards in discharging pregnant teachers. A class action was brought by the commissioner of human rights to prevent such acts of discrimination. We there held that such an act of discharge was a single discriminatory practice, not continuing in nature, and that only persons who had been discharged within 6 months of the date of the commission's suit could be included in the class action. We indicated in that opinion that acts continuing in nature would toll the statute of limitations. We did not define specifically what act would constitute a continuing act of discrimination. For purposes of this opinion, we hold that the settlement agreements of 1958 and 1960 constituted continuing acts of discrimination and that the employees' charges filed in 1966 were properly before the commissioner of human rights. This holding is consistent with Federal cases interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. See, United States v. Local 189, United Papermakers & Paperworkers, AFL-CIO, CLC, supra ; United States v. Dillon Supply Co. supra ; Griggs v. Duke Power Co. supra ; United States v. Georgia Power Co. 474 F.2d 906 (5 Cir. 1973).