Thomas v. National Football League Players Ass'n

Opinion for the Court filed by Chief Judge EDWARDS.

HARRY T. EDWARDS, Chief Judge:

A principal claim in this case is that the defendant, acting pursuant to “mixed motives,” unlawfully retaliated against the plaintiffs in violation of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (1994). The issues on appeal require us to delimit the requirements of McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973), Texas Dep’t of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981), and Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228, 109 S.Ct. 1775, 104 L.Ed.2d…