Rodriguez v. IBP, Inc.

MURPHY, Circuit Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Pascual R. Rodriguez sued his employer, IBP, Inc., for retaliatory discharge. Rodriguez prevailed on his retaliation claim at trial. Following entry of judgment, IBP filed a motion for judgment as a matter of law and, alternatively, a new trial. The district court denied IBP’s post-trial motions, simultaneously ordering Rodriguez to provide a signed release of his Social Security records. Rodriguez failed to comply with the district court order and was subsequently found in contempt and sanctioned for his noncompliance. The case comes before this…