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"Disparate Impact" Theory Available In Age Discrimination Cases

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 04.07.05

Resolving a split in the circuit courts, a divided Supreme Court in Smith v. City of Jackson, (Mar. 30, 2005) held that the "disparate impact" theory of liability, which does not require a showing of discriminatory intent, applies to claims asserted under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). However, the Court noted that "the scope of disparate-impact liability under ADEA is narrower" than under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, due to statutory language in ADEA that permits employers to take "otherwise prohibited" employment action where the "differentiation is based on reasonable factors other than age," such as seniority or rank.

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Client Alert | 6 min read | 11.03.25

The Founder’s Guide to Effective Year-End Board Meetings

As a founder, your days are packed — building product, managing people, and trying to grow fast enough to stay alive. It’s easy for the end of the fiscal year to sneak up on you. But year-end board meetings are one of your best opportunities to show investors that your company is operating effectively and that you’re a thoughtful, disciplined leader....