Illinois Beats Bias Claims by Black Worker Who Failed Probation

The Illinois Department of Transportation didn’t violate federal job discrimination law when it fired a newly hired black worker at the end of his probation, the Seventh Circuit ruled Aug. 21.

Terry Smith “was far from a model employee,” the appeals court said. During his six-month probationary period, he challenged instructions from supervisors, regularly forgot information conveyed in training, and had a hard time following directions.

Smith, an emergency traffic patrol minuteman, also had a record of being unsafe on the roads, Judge Amy C. Barrett said. This included almost hitting a police car, pulling away from a gas pump ...