meacham et al knolls atomic power laboratory aka kapl et argued april decided june national government ordered contractor respondent knolls reduce work force knolls managers score subordinates performance flexibility critical skills scores along points years service used determine laid employees let go least years old petitioners meacham short among laid filed suit asserting inter alia claim age discrimination employment act adea et seq show impact meacham relied statistical expert testimony results skewed according age rarely occur chance scores flexibility criticality managers discretionary judgment firmest statistical ties outcomes jury found meacham claim second circuit initially affirmed vacated judgment remanded light intervening decision smith city jackson second circuit held knolls finding prior ruling untenable applied business necessity standard rather reasonableness test assessing employer reliance factors age layoff decisions meacham carried burden persuasion reasonableness knolls factors held employer defending claim adea bears burden production burden persuasion reasonable factors age rfoa affirmative defense pp adea text structure indicate rfoa exemption creates affirmative defense burden persuasion falls employer rfoa exemption listed alongside one bona fide occupational qualifications bfoq recognized affirmative defense shall unlawful employer take action otherwise prohibited subsections age bfoq reasonably necessary normal operation particular business differentiation based rfoa given statute lays exemptions provision separate general prohibitions expressly refers prohibited conduct surprise spoken bfoq rfoa among adea five affirmative defenses trans world airlines thurston reading follows familiar principle hen proviso carves exception body statute contract set exception must prove javierre central altagracia longstanding convention part backdrop congress writes laws respects unless compelling reason think congress put burden persuasion side see schaffer weast given principle particular weight enforcing fair labor standards act corning glass works brennan also recognized adea enforced accordance remedies procedures flsa lorillard pons nothing suggests congress meant march step either general specifically flsa default rules placing burden proving exemption party claiming doubt dispelled natural implication otherwise prohibited language prefacing bfoq rfoa defenses pp knolls argues rfoa clause bars liability action taken reasons age read mere elaboration element liability city jackson confirmed prohibition extends practices disparate impact inferring result part presence rfoa provision city jackson made clear action based factor age premise liability negation defense thus assumed factor work case focus rfoa defense whether factor relied reasonable pp business necessity test place adea cases applying test rfoa defense entail wasteful confusing structure proof absence business necessity enquiry diminish however reasons already given reading rfoa affirmative defense city jackson read implying burden proving defense falls plaintiff confirmed bfoq affirmative defense see moreover referring wards cove interpretation identical language title vii city jackson rfoa clause mind title vii defense wards cove purport construe title vii defenses city jackson find assumption wards cove anything say statutory defenses adea pp city jackson confirmed adea plaintiff must isolat identif specific employment practices allegedly responsible observed statistical disparities trivial burden allay concern recognizing employer burden persuasion rfoa defense encourage strike suits nudge plaintiffs marginal cases end concerns directed congress set balance creating rfoa exemption writing orthodox format affirmative defense pp vacated remanded souter delivered opinion roberts stevens kennedy ginsburg alito joined thomas joined parts scalia filed opinion concurring judgment thomas filed opinion concurring part dissenting part breyer took part consideration decision case clifford meacham et petitioners knolls atomic power laboratory aka kapl et al writ certiorari appeals second circuit june justice souter delivered opinion provision age discrimination employment act adea stat amended et creates exemption employer actions otherwise prohibited adea based reasonable factors age rfoa question whether employer facing claim planning defend basis rfoa must produce evidence raising defense also persuade factfinder merit hold employer must national government pays private companies work maintaining nation fleet warships one contractor respondent kapl knolls operator government knolls atomic power laboratory history dating back first submarines navy department energy jointly fund knolls operations decide projects pursue set annual staffing limits recent years knolls charged designing prototype naval nuclear reactors training navy personnel run demands naval nuclear reactors changed end cold war fiscal year knolls ordered reduce work force even hundred employees chose take company ensuing buyout offer knolls left jobs petitioners meacham short among laid resulting involuntary reduction force order select layoff knolls told managers score subordinates three scales performance flexibility critical skills scores summed along points years service totals determined let go salaried employees laid least years sued raising discriminatory intent discriminatory result claims adea state law alleging knolls designed implemented workforce reduction process eliminate older employees regardless intent process discriminatory impact employees meacham knolls atomic power laboratory meacham show disparate impact workers relied statistical expert testimony effect results skewed according age rarely occur chance scores flexibility criticality managers discretionary judgment firmest statistical ties outcomes jury found meacham claim claim appeals affirmed examining verdict lens burden shifting scheme inference spelled wards cove packing atonio see meacham supra knolls sought certiorari vacated judgment remanded proceedings light smith city jackson decided knolls petition pending see remand appeals panel ruled favor knolls dissent case meacham ii majority found prior ruling untenable applied wards cove business necessity standard rather reasonableness test contrary city jackson latter standard meacham employee carried burden persuasion dissent judge pooler took issue majority confusing business justifications wards cove statutory rfoa exemption read affirmative defense burden persuasion falling defendants meacham sought certiorari noting conflicting decisions assigning burden persuasion reasonableness factor age appeals case placed employee show factor unreasonable ninth circuit criswell western airlines assigned employer show factor reasonable one fact criswell first took question find well posed case western air lines criswell granted certiorari vacate judgment second circuit ii adea general prohibitions age discrimination subject separate provision creating exemptions employer practices otherwise prohibited subsections rfoa exemption listed alongside one bona fide occupational qualifications bfoq shall unlawful employer take action otherwise prohibited subsections age bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary normal operation particular business differentiation based reasonable factors age given statute reads exemptions laid apart prohibitions expressly referring prohibited conduct surprise already spoken bfoq rfoa provisions among adea five affirmative defenses trans world airlines thurston looking statutory text lawyers accept characterization matter course thanks familiar principle hen proviso carves exception body statute contract set exception must prove javierre central altagracia opinion holmes see also ftc morton salt burden proving justification exemption special exception prohibitions statute generally rests one claims benefits first city nat bank houston citing morton salt supra longstanding convention part backdrop congress writes laws respect unless compelling reasons think congress meant put burden persuasion side see schaffer weast absent reason believe congress intended otherwise therefore conclude burden persuasion lies usually falls upon party seeking relief never given reason heterodox take rfoa clause nearest neighbor prior cases recognize bfoq clause establishes affirmative defense claims disparate treatment see city jackson supra western air lines supra nn likewise given affirmative defense construction exemption equal pay act pay differentials based factor sex corning glass works brennan internal quotation marks omitted took account particular weight given interpretive convention already noted enforcing fair labor standards act flsa general rule application exemption fair labor standards act matter affirmative defense employer burden proof focus makes principle construction instructive adea cases enacting adea congress exhibited detailed knowledge flsa provisions judicial interpretation willingness depart provisions regarded undesirable inappropriate incorporation lorillard pons remarked relied significant indication congress intent directive adea enforced accordance remedies procedures flsa quoting emphasis deleted see also fogerty fantasy applying reasoning lorillard thurston supra interpretive background hint text congress meant march step either general specifically flsa default rules placing burden proving exemption party claiming principles prior cases mind find impossible look text structure adea imagine rfoa clause works differently bfoq clause next exempt otherwise illegal conduct reference item proof thereby creating defense burden persuasion falls one claims benefits morton salt supra party seeking relief schaffer supra employer corning glass works supra doubt stress idiom otherwise prohibited prefacing bfoq rfoa conditions dispel implication affirmative defense underscored contrasting section adea issue public employees retirement system ohio betts way congress responded decision betts said issue whether provision former version one employee benefit plans merely redefine elements plaintiff prima facie case instead establish ed defense otherwise violation act although provision contained otherwise prohibited kind language said appears first reading describe affirmative defense ibid nonetheless thought natural view taken thurston overridden evidence legislative history peculiarity condition phrasing provision benefit plan subterfuge evade purposes adea parallel prior case construing analogous provision title vii analogous also contained condition year later however congress responded betts enacting older workers benefit protection act pub stat avowedly restore original congressional intent adea benefits provision read affirmative defense instructive question hand clarifying specifies affirmative defenses congress set burden many words also added phrase otherwise prohibited part preface text congress thus confirmed natural implication find otherwise prohibited language refers excuse justification behavior standing alone violates statute prohibition amendment aftermath betts shows congress understands phrase way naturally read clear signal defense otherwise prohibited affirmative defense entirely responsibility party raising knolls ventures regardless rfoa provision read mere elaboration element liability bars liability action taken reasons age argument goes provision must directed justifying age discrimination proof extenuating fact negating premise liability age answer argument however city jackson confirmed prohibition extends practices disparate impact inferring result part presence rfoa provision issue drew recognized distinction forms liability explained definition disparate impact employer classifies employees without respect age may still liable terms paragraph classification adversely affects employee employee age plurality opinion scalia concurring part concurring judgment expressing agreement reasoning plurality opinion finding basis deference eeoc rather independent judicial decision emphasized kinds employer activities otherwise prohibited mainly statute meant test rfoa condition cases allegedly prohibited activity based age cases involving claims rfoa provision plays principal role precluding liability adverse impact attributable nonage factor plurality opinion thus city jackson made clear typical case employer practice without respect age adverse impact though age attributable nonage factor action based factor age premise liability first place negation defense rfoa defense case focused asserted fact factor work assume focus defense factor relied upon reasonable one employer using reasonableness justification categorically distinct factual condition age necessarily correlated particular way reasonable factor may lean heavily older workers younger ones unreasonable factor might iii appeals majority rejected affirmative defense reading arrived position burden proof question different route read decision city jackson ruling business necessity enquiry adea cases concluded rfoa defense replaces therefore must conform burden persuasion resting complaining party premise city jackson modified business necessity enquiry mistaken alone reason enough reject approach although satisfied business necessity test place adea cases agree government conclusion stand way holding rfoa exemption affirmative defense see brief amicus curiae begin appeals inferred city jackson reference wards cove wards cove burden persuasion employee business necessity enquiry also applied rfoa defense gave short shrift reasons set part supra reading rfoa affirmative defense burden employer think even terms city jackson falls short supporting appeals conclusion although city jackson contains statement wards cove interpretation title vii identical language remains applicable adea city jackson made two specific references aspects wards cove interpretation title vii might remain ed applicable adea cases one existence liability city jackson explained narrower adea cases title vii burden identifying particular practices allegedly cause observed disparate impact employee burden adea title vii see neither references course odds view rfoa affirmative defense indeed city jackson reference wards cove read literally include aspects latter case beyond mattered city jackson untoward consequences broader reading rule one consequence embraced meacham argues appeals wrong place burden persuasion rfoa defense employee right thinking city jackson adopted wards cove burden persuasion meacham views one element adea impact claim meacham takes position impact plaintiff like negate business necessity order show employer actions otherwise prohibited rfoa burden persuasion employer role play apply tests however force parties develop jury follow two overlapping enquiries first whether employment practice issue based factor age supported business justification second whether factor reasonable one depending first enquiry proceeds plaintiff might directly contest force employer rationale else try show employer invoked pretext pointing example alternative practices less disparate impact see wards cove first consideration justifications employer offers use practices second availability alternative practices achieve business ends less racial impact see also even plaintiff succeeded one meacham scheme employer still avoid liability proving reasonableness strange government says plaintiffs already established challenged practice pretext intentional age discrimination makes little sense ask whether discriminatory practice based reasonable factors age brief amicus curiae emphasis original conversely proving reasonableness defense eliminate much point plaintiff showing alternatives first place make effort show alternative practices less discriminatory effect besides prove pretext everyone knows choice practice relying reasonable factor good enough avoid liability least developing reasonableness defense substantially redundant direct contest force business justification especially enquiries deal narrowly specified practice fair take remark wards cove city jackson requiring wasteful confusing structure proof good way read line city jackson implying burden proving defense falls plaintiff obviously entail longer taking bfoq clause affirmative defense city jackson confirmed see city jackson rfoa clause mind identical anything title vii wards cove reading might adopted statute defense wards cove purport construe statutory defenses title vii city jackson find lurking assumption wards cove anything say statutory defenses adea never mind one title vii iv mentioned city jackson get help prior reading title vii relying wards cove repeat plaintiff falls short merely alleging disparate impact point ing generalized policy leads impact city jackson plaintiff obliged isolat identif specific employment practices allegedly responsible observed statistical disparities ibid quoting wards cove supra emphasis original internal quotation marks omitted aim requirement city jackson said avoid result employers potentially liable myriad innocent causes may lead statistical imbalances quoting wards cove supra internal quotation marks omitted outcome case shows requirement bite one sufficient reason rejecting employees challenge ha done little point pay plan issue relatively less generous older workers younger workers ha identified specific test requirement practice within pay plan ha adverse impact older workers city jackson supra identifying specific practice trivial burden allay concern raised knolls amici fear recognizing employer burden persuasion rfoa defense impact claims encourage strike suits nudge plaintiffs marginal cases turn inducing employers alter business practices order avoid sued see brief general electric amicus curiae also point thing stake case gap production persuasion nobody saying even burden production placed plaintiff cf schaffer burden persuasion answers party loses evidence closely balanced truth however cases evidentiary equipoise plainly reasonable employer factor age shorter step employer producing evidence raising defense persuading factfinder defense meritorious mainly cases reasonableness factor obscure reason employer evidence reveal convincing going production persuasion said denying putting employers work persuading factfinders choices reasonable makes harder costlier defend employers merely bore burden production doubt sometimes affect way employers business employees end day amici concerns directed congress set balance creating rfoa exemption writing orthodox format affirmative defense read way congress wrote said congress took account distinctive nature age discrimination need preserve fair degree leeway employment decisions effects correlate age put rfoa clause adea significantly narrow ing coverage city jackson outcome employer city jackson shows surprising certain employment criteria routinely used may reasonable despite adverse impact older workers group case realize appeals showed hesitation finding knolls prevailed rfoa defense though expressed conclusion terms meacham failure meet burden persuasion whether outcome different burden properly placed employer best left first instance judgment appeals vacated case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered justice breyer took part consideration decision case clifford meacham et petitioners knolls atomic power laboratory aka kapl et al writ certiorari appeals second circuit june justice scalia concurring judgment join majority opinion answers two questions congress left sound judgment equal employment opportunity commission represented solicitor general brief signed commission general counsel commission takes position provision affirmative defense employer bears burden proof suits brought age discrimination employment act adea provision replaces test wards cove packing atonio neither position contrived case indeed commission arguably held view point nearly years see fed reg although regulation applied cases involving discriminatory treatment cfr even covers disparate treatment see ante logic extension claims obvious unavoidable see brief amicus curiae least regulation contradict commission current position say employer bears burden proof cases commission view test newly minted undermine commission never expressed contrary view factfinder must consider business necessity reasonableness employer applies factor disparate impact older workers fact smith city jackson commission even considered relationship two standards used treat two identical see cfr city jackson rejected equation see commission decided standard plays role adea claims see brief amicus curiae even proposed new rules setting forth position see fed reg administration adea placed hands commission agency positions questions us unquestionably reasonable opinion ably shows defer agency views see raymond yates profit sharing plan hendon scalia concurring judgment therefore concur judgment vacate judgment appeals clifford meacham et petitioners knolls atomic power laboratory aka kapl et al writ certiorari appeals second circuit june justice thomas concurring part dissenting part write separately note continue believe claims cognizable age discrimination employment act et seq see smith city jackson joined kennedy thomas concurring judgment moreover disagree statement reasonable factors age rfoa exception principally relevant cases compare city jackson supra opinion concurring judgment ante citing city jackson supra plurality opinion therefore join parts opinion agree rfoa exception affirmative defense arises cases although appeals erred placing burden proof petitioners nonetheless affirm claims issue claims footnotes naval reactors program lowered knolls staffing limit people knolls also hire new employees work existing personnel total jobs go performance score based worker two recent appraisals flexibility instruction read rate employee flexibility within laboratory documented skills used assignments add value current future lab work employee retrainable lab assignments critical skills instruction read critical employee skills continuing work lab individual skill key technical resource naval reactors program skill readily accessible within lab generally available external market app emphasis original comparison voluntary buyouts salaried workers least years old risk involuntary layoff therefore included rankings scheme meacham knolls atomic power laboratory supp ndny expert cut data different ways showing chances based population salaried workers based population workers risk layoff analysis broken sections company meacham taking wards cove steps turn appeals concluded jury found degree subjective decision making allowed layoff procedure created disparity employer answered evidence facially legitimate business justification need reduce workforce still retaining employees skills critical performance knolls functions ibid internal quotation marks omitted petitioners prevail nonetheless least one suitable alternative clear record knolls designed procedure safeguards subjectivity particular tests criticality flexibility less vulnerable managerial bias distinguishing two tests mattered appeals explained even though may reasonable ways knolls achieve goals held meacham one selected unreasonable meacham ii citation internal quotation marks omitted burden persuasion either test said fall plaintiff however employer bear ultimate burden persuasion respect legitimacy business justification citing wards cove internal quotation marks omitted majority took note textual signs rfoa affirmative defense set aside city jackson emphasized reasonable permissible employment criteria correlate age thereby leaving plaintiffs prove criterion reasonable judge pooler view jury permissibly find defendants established rfoa based unmonitored subjectivity knolls plan implemented dissenting opinion petitioners also sought certiorari hether respondents practice conferring broad discretionary authority upon individual managers decide employees lay reduction force constituted factor age matter law pet cert denied certiorari question express views need seek relief doubt looking equal employment opportunity commission eeoc regulations burdens proof adea cases parties focus two think neither clearly answers question one government disavowed overtaken decision smith city jackson brief amicus curiae noting cfr takes position survive city jackson regulation seems require showing business necessity part rfoa defense compare cfr employment practice including test claimed basis different treatment grounds age practice adverse impact individuals within protected age group justified business necessity city jackson supra unlike business necessity test asks whether ways employer achieve goals result disparate impact protected class reasonableness inquiry includes requirement second regulation take bit stretching cover cases text speaks terms disparate treatment see cfr concerning use rfoa defense individual claim discriminatory treatment eeoc lately proposed rulemaking revise regulations eliminating reference business necessity placing burden proof employer henever exception reasonable factor age raised fed reg mar proposed cfr provision read shall unlawful employer observe terms bona fide employee benefit plan retirement pension insurance plan subterfuge evade purposes chapter age individual congress surely meant phrase contradict express allocation burden amendment upshot knolls suggestion way read word otherwise redundant phrase otherwise prohibited subsection say word must refer implying must provision burden falls plaintiff brief respondents besides argument proves much implies even bfoq exemption affirmative defense expressly rejected safe harbor view rfoa provision see city jackson plurality opinion concurring judgment describing safe harbor view factual causation describes practices deprive tend deprive otherwise adversely affect employees age typically shown looking data revealing impact given practice actual employees see city jackson opinion cf wards cove packing atonio title vii specific causation shown prima facie case establish ed plaintiff identifies specific employment practice linked statistical disparity watson fort worth bank trust plurality opinion title vii cases statistical disparities must sufficiently substantial raise inference causation enquiry muddled value reasonableness become factor artificially boosting discounting factual strength causal link extent measured impact open door incoherent undershooting example defendants heard say impact somewhat less correlated age seeing factor reasonable one overshooting make show impact correlated age factor reasonable besides see city jackson may reasonable ways city achieve goals one selected unreasonable unlike business necessity test asks whether ways employer achieve goals result disparate impact protected class reasonableness inquiry includes requirement