gross fbl financial services argued march decided june petitioner gross filed suit alleging respondent fbl demoted violation age discrimination employment act adea makes unlawful employer take adverse action employee individual age close trial fbl objections district instructed jury enter verdict gross proved preponderance evidence demoted age motivating factor demotion decision told jury age motivating factor played part demotion also instructed jury return verdict fbl proved demoted gross regardless age jury returned verdict gross eighth circuit reversed remanded new trial holding jury incorrectly instructed standard established price waterhouse hopkins cases title vii civil rights act employee alleges suffered adverse employment action permissible impermissible considerations case held plaintiff bringing adea claim must prove preponderance evidence age cause challenged adverse employment action burden persuasion shift employer show taken action regardless age even plaintiff produced evidence age one motivating factor decision pp title vii materially different respect relevant burden persuasion interpretation adea governed title vii decisions price waterhouse desert palace costa never applied title vii framework adea claims declines conducting statutory interpretation must careful apply rules applicable one statute different statute without careful critical examination federal express holowecki unlike title vii amended explicitly authorize discrimination claims improper consideration motivating factor adverse action see adea provide plaintiff may establish discrimination showing age simply motivating factor moreover congress neglected add provision adea added title vii even though contemporaneously amended adea several ways congress amends one statutory provision another presumed acted intentionally see eeoc arabian american oil negative implications raised disparate provisions strongest provisions considered simultaneously language raising implication inserted lindh murphy pp adea text authorize alleged age discrimination claim ordinary meaning adea requirement employer took adverse action age age reason employer decided act see hazen paper biggins establish claim plain language plaintiff must prove age cause employer adverse decision see bridge phoenix bond indemnity follows plaintiff retains burden persuasion establish cause previously held burden proper allocation adea cases see kentucky retirement systems eeoc nothing statute text indicates congress carved exception subset adea cases statute silent allocation burden persuasion ordinary default rule plaintiffs bear risk failing prove claims schaffer weast hence burden persuasion alleged cases adea action pp rejects petitioner contention proper interpretation adea nonetheless controlled price waterhouse initially established burden persuasion shifted alleged title vii claims far clear approach consider question today first instance whatever price waterhouse deficiencies retrospect become evident years since case decided framework difficult apply problems associated application eliminated perceivable benefit extending framework adea claims cf continental gte sylvania pp vacated remanded thomas delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy alito joined stevens filed dissenting opinion souter ginsburg breyer joined breyer filed dissenting opinion souter ginsburg joined jack gross petitioner fbl financial services writ certiorari appeals eighth circuit june justice thomas delivered opinion question presented petitioner case whether plaintiff must present direct evidence age discrimination order obtain jury instruction suit brought age discrimination employment act adea stat amended et seq hold jury instruction never proper adea case vacate decision petitioner jack gross began working respondent fbl financial group fbl gross held position claims administration director years old gross reassigned position claims project coordinator time fbl transferred many gross job responsibilities newly created position claims administration manager position given lisa kneeskern previously supervised gross early forties app pet cert district opinion although gross new position kneeskern received compensation gross considered reassignment demotion fbl reallocation former job responsibilities kneeskern april gross filed suit district alleging reassignment position claims project coordinator violated adea makes unlawful employer take adverse action employee individual age case proceeded trial gross introduced evidence suggesting reassignment based least part age fbl defended decision grounds gross reassignment part corporate restructuring gross new position better suited skills see app pet cert district opinion close trial fbl objections district instructed jury must return verdict gross proved preponderance evidence fbl demoted claims projec coordinator age motivating factor fbl decision demote app jury instructed gross age qualify factor played part role fbl decision demote jury also instructed regarding fbl burden proof according district verdict must fbl proved preponderance evidence fbl demoted gross regardless age ibid jury returned verdict gross awarding lost compensation fbl challenged jury instructions appeal appeals eighth circuit reversed remanded new trial holding jury incorrectly instructed standard established price waterhouse hopkins see price waterhouse addressed proper allocation burden persuasion cases brought title vii civil rights act stat amended et employee alleges suffered adverse employment action permissible impermissible considerations case plurality opinion price waterhouse decision splintered four justices joined plurality opinion see justices white separately concurred judgment see opinion white opinion three justices dissented see opinion kennedy six justices ultimately agreed title vii plaintiff shows discrimination motivating factor employer action burden persuasion shift employer show taken action regardless impermissible consideration see plurality opinion opinion white opinion justice found shift burden persuasion employer employee must present direct evidence illegitimate criterion substantial factor employment decision accordance circuit precedent appeals identified justice opinion controlling see citing erickson farmland industries applying standard appeals found gross needed present irect evidence sufficient support finding reasonable fact finder illegitimate criterion actually motivated adverse employment action internal quotation marks omitted appeals view direct evidence evidence show specific link alleged discriminatory animus challenged decision ibid internal quotation marks omitted upon presentation evidence appeals held burden shift employer convince trier fact likely decision absent consideration illegitimate factor ibid quoting price waterhouse supra opinion appeals thus concluded district jury instructions flawed allowed burden shift fbl upon presentation preponderance category evidence showing age motivating factor direct evidence related fbl alleged consideration age see gross conceded presented direct evidence discrimination appeals held district given instruction ibid rather gross held burden persuasion applicable typical claims jury thus instructed determine whether gross carried burden prov ing age determining factor fbl employment action see ibid granted certiorari vacate decision appeals ii parties asked us decide whether plaintiff must present direct evidence discrimination order obtain instruction vii discrimination case pet cert reaching question however must first determine whether burden persuasion ever shifts party defending alleged discrimination claim brought hold petitioner relies decisions construing title vii interpretation adea title vii materially different respect relevant burden persuasion however decisions control construction adea price waterhouse plurality two justices concurring judgment determined plaintiff title vii case proves plaintiff membership protected class played motivating part employment decision defendant may avoid finding liability proving preponderance evidence made decision even taken factor account see also opinion white opinion explained desert palace costa congress since amended title vii explicitly authorizing discrimination claims improper consideration motivating factor adverse employment decision see providing unlawful employment practice established complaining party demonstrates race color religion sex national origin motivating factor employment practice even though factors also motivated practice emphasis added restricting remedies available plaintiffs proving violations never held framework applies adea claims decline conducting statutory interpretation must careful apply rules applicable one statute different statute without careful critical examination federal express holowecki slip unlike title vii adea text provide plaintiff may establish discrimination showing age simply motivating factor moreover congress neglected add provision adea amended title vii add even though contemporaneously amended adea several ways see civil rights act stat ignore congress decision amend title vii relevant provisions make similar changes adea congress amends one statutory provision another presumed acted intentionally see eeoc arabian american oil furthermore explained negative implications raised disparate provisions strongest provisions considered simultaneously language raising implication inserted lindh murphy result interpretation adea governed title vii decisions desert palace price inquiry therefore must focus text adea decide whether authorizes age discrimination claim statutory construction must begin language employed congress assumption ordinary meaning language accurately expresses legislative purpose engine mfrs assn south coast air quality management internal quotation marks omitted adea provides relevant part shall unlawful employer fail refuse hire discharge individual otherwise discriminate individual respect compensation terms conditions privileges employment individual age emphasis added words mean reason account webster third new international dictionary see also oxford english dictionary defining mean reason account italics original random house dictionary english language defining mean reason account thus ordinary meaning adea requirement employer took adverse action age age reason employer decided act see hazen paper biggins explaining claim succeed unless employee protected trait actually played role employer decisionmaking process determinative influence outcome emphasis added establish claim plain language adea therefore plaintiff must prove age cause employer adverse decision see bridge phoenix bond indemnity slip recognizing phrase reason requires least showing causation internal quotation marks omitted safeco ins america burr observing common talk phrase indicates causal relationship thus necessary logical condition statutory phrase based meaning phrase internal quotation marks omitted cf keeton dobbs keeton owen prosser keeton law torts ed act omission regarded cause event particular event occurred without follows plaintiff retains burden persuasion establish age cause employer adverse action indeed previously held burden allocated manner adea cases see kentucky retirement systems eeoc slip reeves sanderson plumbing products nothing statute text indicates congress carved exception rule subset adea cases statutory text silent allocation burden persuasion begin ordinary default rule plaintiffs bear risk failing prove claims schaffer weast see also meacham knolls atomic power laboratory slip absent reason believe congress intended otherwise conclude burden persuasion lies usually falls upon party seeking relief internal quotation marks omitted warrant depart general rule setting hence burden persuasion necessary establish employer liability alleged cases adea action plaintiff must prove preponderance evidence may direct circumstantial age cause challenged employer decision see reeves supra iii finally reject petitioner contention interpretation adea controlled price waterhouse initially established burden persuasion shifted alleged title vii event far clear approach consider question today first instance cf penn plaza llc pyett slip declining introduc qualification adea found text meacham supra slip explaining adea must read way congress wrote whatever deficiencies price waterhouse retrospect become evident years since case decided framework difficult apply example cases tried jury courts found particularly difficult craft instruction explain framework see tyler bethlehem steel referring murky water shifting burdens discrimination cases visser packer engineering associates en banc flaum dissenting difficulty judges formulating instructions jurors applying seen fact jury verdicts adea cases supplanted judgments notwithstanding verdict reversed appeal frequently jury verdicts generally thus even price waterhouse doctrinally sound problems associated application eliminated perceivable benefit extending framework adea claims cf continental gte sylvania reevaluating precedent subject criticism continuing controversy confusion payne tennessee souter concurring iv hold plaintiff bringing claim pursuant adea must prove preponderance evidence age cause challenged adverse employment action burden persuasion shift employer show taken action regardless age even plaintiff produced evidence age one motivating factor decision accordingly vacate judgment appeals remand case proceedings consistent opinion ordered jack gross petitioner fbl financial services writ certiorari appeals eighth circuit june justice stevens justice souter justice ginsburg justice breyer join dissenting age discrimination employment act adea et makes unlawful employer discriminate employee individual age natural reading statutory text prohibits adverse employment actions motivated whole part age employee causation standard endorsed today advanced justice kennedy dissenting opinion price waterhouse hopkins case construing identical language title vii civil rights act reject standard case congress amended title vii given unambiguous history particularly inappropriate initiative adopt interpretation causation requirement adea differs established reading title vii disagree interpretation statute also decision engage unnecessary lawmaking simply answer question presented certiorari petition hold plaintiff need present direct evidence age discrimination obtain instruction asks whether instruction ever appropriate adea case acknowledges question granted certiorari instead question arose first time respondent brief asked us overrule price waterhouse respect application adea brief respondent boldface type deleted usual course entertain request raised merits brief normally expect notice intent make argument respondent opposition petition certiorari cf rule thereby assuring adequate preparation time likely affected wishing participate alabama shelton quoting south central bell telephone alabama yet unconcerned question chooses answer briefed parties interested amici curiae failure consider views represents agency charged administering adea especially unfortunately majority inattention prudential practices matched utter disregard precedent congress intent adea provides shall unlawful employer fail refuse hire discharge individual otherwise discriminate individual respect compensation terms conditions privileges employment individual age emphasis added recognized price waterhouse construed identical language title vii see making unlawful employer fail refuse hire discharge individual respect compensation terms conditions privileges employment individual race color religion sex national origin emphasis added natural reading text proscribes adverse employment actions motivated whole part age employee price waterhouse concluded words individual sex mean gender must irrelevant employment decisions plurality opinion see also white concurring judgment establish violation title vii therefore held plaintiff prove sex motivating factor adverse employment recognized employer affirmative defense avoid finding liability proving made decision even taken plaintiff sex account plurality opinion affirmative defense alter meaning made clear employer considers gender legitimate factors time making decision decision sex see also white concurring judgment readily rejected dissent contrary assertion construe words colloquial shorthand causation said misunderstand plurality opinion today however interprets words adea colloquial shorthand causation ibid construing adea rather title vii justify departure precedent relevant language two statutes identical long recognized interpretations title vii language apply equal force context age discrimination substantive provisions adea derived haec verba title vii trans world airlines thurston quoting lorillard pons see generally northcross board ed memphis city schools per curiam reason justice kennedy dissent price waterhouse assumed plurality framework extended adea see courts appeals considered issue unanimously applied price waterhouse adea nonetheless suggests applying price waterhouse inconsistent adea precedents particular relies statement hazen paper biggins claim succeed unless employee protected trait actually played role employer decisionmaking process determinative influence outcome ante italicized phrase best inconclusive meaning adea language however passages hazen paper demonstrate also stated instance adea requires employer ignore employee age emphasis added noted hen employer decision wholly motivated factors age violation emphasis altered indicated possibility dual liability erisa adea decision fire employee motivated employee age pension status classic scenario moreover hazen paper reeves sanderson plumbing products majority also relies support conclusion adea interpreted consistently title vii adea cases followed standards set forth title vii cases including mcdonnell douglas green texas dept community affairs burdine see reeves hazen paper means indicates majority reasons adea cases follow standards rather underscores adea standards generally understood conform title vii standards ii conclusion individual age means age motivating factor employment decision bolstered congress reaction price waterhouse civil rights act part response number recent decisions sharply cut back scope effectiveness civil rights laws pt hereinafter congress eliminated affirmative defense liability price waterhouse furnished employers provided instead employer showing limit plaintiff remedies see importantly however congress ratified price waterhouse interpretation plaintiff burden proof rejecting dissent suggestion case causation proper standard see unlawful employment practice established complaining party demonstrates race color religion sex national origin motivating factor employment practice even though factors also motivated practice act amended title vii adea respect claims reasonably declines apply amended provisions proceeds ignore conclusion compelled interpretation act price waterhouse construction remains governing law adea claims recent decision smith city jackson precisely point considered case effect congress failure amend provisions adea amended corresponding title vii provisions act noting relevant amendments expanded coverage title vii amend adea speak subject age discrimination held wards cove interpretation title vii identical language remains applicable adea discussing wards cove packing atonio see also meacham knolls atomic power laboratory slip wards cove framework congress flatly repudiated title vii context continues apply adea claims framework congress substantially endorsed surely applies curiously reaches opposite conclusion relying congress partial ratification price waterhouse argue case precedential value reasons amendments apply adea price waterhouse likewise must apply congress effectively codified price waterhouse holding amendments ante follow contrary fact congress endorsed interpretation language price waterhouse even rejected employer affirmative defense liability provides reason adhere decision test indeed congress emphasized passing act test consistent original intent enacting title vii see pt enacting civil rights act congress made clear intended prohibit invidious consideration sex race color religion national origin employment decisions stating act reaffirm ed reliance prejudice making employment decisions illegal see also pt pp amendments title vii also provide answer majority argument approach proved unworkable ante congress codified framework title vii cases vast majority antidiscrimination lawsuits concerns framework moment truly worried difficulties faced trial courts juries moreover reach today decision complicate every case plaintiff raises adea title vii claims resurrection causation standard unwarranted price waterhouse repudiated standard years ago congress response decision militates crabbed interpretation adopts today answer question elected take whether jury instruction ever proper adea case plainly yes iii although declines address question granted certiorari decide answer question following unanimous opinion desert palace costa accordingly hold plaintiff need present direct evidence age discrimination obtain instruction source debate justice opinion concurring judgment price waterhouse writing justice argued plaintiff required introduce direct evidence sex motivated decision plurality framework apply many courts treated justice opinion price waterhouse controlling title vii adea cases light statement marks hen fragmented decides case single rationale explaining result enjoys assent five justices holding may viewed position taken members concurred judgments narrowest grounds unlike cases marks addressed however price waterhouse garnered five votes single rationale justice white agreed plurality test see supra disagreed type evidence employer required submit prove result occurred absent unlawful motivation taking plurality demand objective evidence wrote separately express view employer credible testimony suffice justice white provided fifth vote rationale explaining result price waterhouse decision marks concurrence properly understood controlling like plurality require introduction direct evidence questions raised price waterhouse direct evidence requirement settled unanimous decision desert palace held plaintiff need introduce direct evidence meet burden case title vii amended civil rights act construing language reasoned statute mention much less require heightened showing direct evidence congress unequivocal imposing heightened proof requirements statute silence respect direct evidence held meant depart onventional rul civil litigation requires plaintiff prove case preponderance evidence using circumstantial evidence ibid quoting price waterhouse plurality opinion postal service bd governors aikens also recognized consistent acknowledgment utility circumstantial evidence discrimination cases analysis desert palace applies equal force adea cf ante amendments title vii language adea imposes heightened direct evidence requirement specifically recognized utility circumstantial evidence adea cases see reeves cited desert palace moreover hazen paper held award liquidated damages willful violation adea require proof employer motivation direct evidence similarly rejected imposition special evidentiary rules adea cases see swierkiewicz sorema consolidated coin caterers desert palace thus confirms answer provided plurality justice white price waterhouse adea plaintiff need present direct evidence discrimination obtain instruction iv endorsement different construction critical language adea title vii unwise inconsistent settled law standard adopts rejected price waterhouse congress civil rights act yet today resurrects standard unabashed display judicial lawmaking respectfully dissent jack gross petitioner fbl financial services writ certiorari appeals eighth circuit june justice breyer justice souter justice ginsburg join dissenting agree justice stevens instructions appropriate age discrimination employment act context join opinion rejects conclusion ground words require plaintiff prove age cause employer adverse employment action ante majority explain words inherently require showing causation see reason read require showing one thing require typical tort plaintiff show causation context reasonably objective scientific commonsense theories physical causation make concept causation comparatively easy understand relatively easy apply entirely different matter determine relation consider physical forces characterizations constitute motive sometimes speak determining discovering motives often ascribe motives event individual light individual thoughts circumstances present time decision case characterize employer actions taken multiple motives say employee old wore loud clothing apply causation engage hypothetical inquiry happened employer thoughts circumstances different answer hypothetical inquiry often far obvious since employee likely knows less employer employer thinking time employer often stronger position employee provide answer plaintiff know certain context forbidden motive play role employer decision fact jury found age play role decision justifies use word employer dismissed employee age things see price waterhouse hopkins plurality opinion therefore see nothing wrong concluding plaintiff established violation statute law need automatically assess liability circumstances price waterhouse plurality recognized affirmative defense defendant show employee dismissed regardless law permits employer defense forbidden motive age role actual decision employer show dismissed employee anyway hypothetical circumstance motive absent makes sense affirmative defense rather part showing violation precisely defendant better position plaintiff establish acted hypothetical situation see cf ante stevens dissenting describing title vii framework see nothing unfair impractical allocating burdens proof way instruction district gave seems appropriate lawful says pertinent part verdict must plaintiff following elements proved preponderance evidence plaintiff age motivating factor defendant decision demote plaintiff however verdict must defendant proved preponderance evidence defendant demoted plaintiff regardless age used instructions plaintiff age motivating factor plaintiff age played part role defendant decision demote plaintiff however plaintiff age need reason defendant decision demote plaintiff app reasons well set forth justice stevens respectfully dissent footnotes although parties specifically frame question include threshold inquiry statement question presented deemed comprise every subsidiary question fairly included therein rule see also city sherrill oneida indian nation explicitly mentioned essential analysis decisions correct disposition issues treated subsidiary issues fairly comprised question quoting stern gressman shapiro geller practice ed ballard commissioner evaluating question anterior questions parties raised justice stevens argues must incorporate past interpretations title vii adea substantive provisions adea derived haec verba title vii post dissenting opinion internal quotation marks omitted frequently applied interpretations title vii adea see post approach interpreting adea light title vii uniform general dynamics land systems cline example declined interpret phrase age bar discrimination people ages even though previously interpreted race sex title vii bar discrimination people races sexes see definitively decided whether evidentiary framework mcdonnell douglas green utilized title vii cases appropriate adea context see reeves sanderson plumbing products consolidated coin caterers instance textual differences title vii adea prevent us applying price waterhouse desert palace federal age discrimination claims justice breyer contends nothing unfair impractical hinging liability whether forbidden motive play ed role employer decision post dissenting opinion decision congress make see florida dept revenue piccadilly cafeterias slip congress amended title vii allow employer liability discrimination motivating factor employment practice even though factors also motivated practice emphasis added similarly amend adea see supra must give effect congress choice see penn plaza llc pyett slip hold adea plaintiffs retain burden persuasion prove claims need address whether plaintiffs must present direct rather circumstantial evidence obtain instruction heightened evidentiary requirement adea plaintiffs satisfy burden persuasion age cause employer adverse action see imply none congress unequivocal imposing heightened proof requirements statutory contexts including subsections within title seen fit see desert palace costa see also imposing clear convincing evidence standard justice stevens also contends must apply price waterhouse reasoning smith city jackson see post smith applied adea interpretation title vii respect claims despite congress amendment adding claims title vii adea amendments made congress legislation added motivating factor language title vii undermine justice stevens argument congress explicitly added motivating factor liability title vii see supra also partially abrogated price waterhouse holding eliminating employer complete affirmative defense motivating factor claims see motivating factor claims already part title vii addition alone sufficient congress careful tailoring motivating factor claim title vii well absence provision parallel adea confirms transfer price waterhouse framework adea gross points also applied framework certain claims brought contexts pursuant title vii see brief petitioner citing inter alia nlrb transportation management claims brought national labor relations act nlra mt healthy city bd ed doyle constitutional claims cases however require adopt contra statutory position case involving nlra require decide first instance whether burden shifting apply instead deferred national labor relation board determination framework appropriate see nlrb supra constitutional cases mt healthy bearing correct interpretation adea claims governed statutory text footnotes question presented petitioner case whether plaintiff must present direct evidence age discrimination order obtain jury instruction suit brought adea ante filed amicus curiae brief supporting petitioner question presented oral argument government urged reach issue takes today see tr oral arg although justice white stated plaintiff show sex substantial factor plurality used term motivating factor standards interchangeable evidenced justice white quotation mt healthy city bd ed doyle burden properly placed upon plaintiff show illegitimate criterion substantial factor put words motivating factor adverse decision price waterhouse emphasis added see also plurality opinion using substantial motivating interchangeably doubt aware dictionaries define reason account ante contrary majority bald assertion however establish term denotes causation dictionaries cites instance define solely reason exclusively account price waterhouse recognized words mean solely held inquiry commanded words statute whether gender motivating factor employment decision plurality opinion see febres challenger caribbean ostrowski atlantic mut ins starceski westinghouse elec eeoc casket rachid jack box wexler white fine furniture visser packer eng en banc hutson mcdonnell douglas lewis ymca per curiam see also gonzagowski widnall however evidence congress intended amendments apply adea well see pt noting number laws banning discrimination including age discrimination employment act adea et modeled interpreted manner consistent title vii laws modeled title vii interpreted consistently manner consistent title vii amended act including provisions justice define precisely meant direct evidence contrasted evidence circumstantial evidence desert palace costa justice might intended different definition affect conclusion believe plaintiff required introduce special type evidence obtain instruction