Sanders v. Norge

Order Patricia Sanders sued her employer, Norge, a Division of Maytag Corporation, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e) et seq. She claimed that in retaliation for complaining about being sexually harassed by her supervisor, Norge transferred her to a less desirable job. After a two-day bench trial, the district court issued a Memorandum and Order containing findings of fact and Conclusions of law. The court found that Sanders filed a charge with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) on June 4, 1984 and that she had knowledge of her claim more than 300 days before that date. The court concluded that Sanders' claim for retaliatory transfer was time-barred under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e). Sanders raises one issue for appeal. She argues that the district court should have found her charge was timely filed on May 10, 1984, which is when her attorney allegedly sent a letter of complaint to IDHR. Essentially, Sanders challenges the district court's finding that Sanders filed her charge with IDHR on June 4, 1984.