Opinion ID: 196719
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Importance of the Information

Text: 22 Serafino's alleged illegal conduct is relevant in two ways. First, defendants justify their discharge of Serafino on their belief that he conspired to defraud Hasbro. Under the framework of McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802-05, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 1824-26, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973), which generally guides claims under Mass.Gen.L.Ann. ch. 151B, Woods v. Friction Materials, Inc., 30 F.3d 255, 263 (1st Cir.1994), if defendants propose a nonretaliatory reason for the termination and present facts in support, Serafino cannot prevail unless he proves that the reason is pretext, see Tate v. Dep't of Mental Health, 419 Mass. 356, 362-63, 645 N.E.2d 1159 (1995). In this context, the significance of information that goes directly to the nonretaliatory justification is self-evident. 23 Second, if in fact the benefits were illegally obtained, then defendants could effectively argue that Serafino is not entitled to compensation based on them. Though we do not, and need not, determine whether his alleged misconduct would foreclose all possible relief, 6 we easily conclude that, at the very least, it would greatly diminish his recovery. Cf. McKennon v. Nashville Banner Pub. Co., --- U.S. ----, ----, 115 S.Ct. 879, 886, 130 L.Ed.2d 852 (1995) (holding that after-acquired evidence of an employee's misconduct does not bar all relief under the ADEA but must be taken into account in determining an appropriate remedy). Without the ability to investigate a matter that goes to the heart of the damages sought, defendants would be substantially prejudiced.