Opinion ID: 72878
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Supreme Court's Patterson Decision

Text: However, in 1989, the Supreme Court narrowed the reach of section 1981. In Patterson v. McLean Credit Union, 491 U.S. 164, 109 S.Ct. 2363, 105 L.Ed.2d 132 (1989), the Supreme Court held that the make and enforce contracts language in section 1981 covered only conduct at the initial formation of the contract and conduct which impairs the right to enforce contract obligations through legal process, id. at 179, 109 S.Ct. at 2374 and not conduct which occurs after the formation of a contract and which does not interfere with the right to enforce established contract obligations. Id. at 171, 109 S.Ct. at 2369. This holding drew into question many circuit court decisions recognizing post-hiring discrimination claims under section 1981. Thereafter, this circuit and others held that Patterson foreclosed most retaliation claims under section 1981. In Sherman v. Burke Contracting, Inc., 891 F.2d 1527 (11th Cir.1990), this Court explained that because of Patterson's definition of make and enforce, an employer's retaliatory conduct falls under section 1981 only when the employer aims to prevent or discourage an employee from using legal process to enforce a specific contract right. Id. at 1534-35; see also Vance v. Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co., 983 F.2d 1573, 1577 (11th Cir.1993) (reaching the same conclusion regarding other post-hiring claims); Jones v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 977 F.2d 527, 534 (11th Cir.1992) (same).