Warren R. Schede v. Anthony & Gordon Construction Co., Inc.

**What Happened** Warren Schede worked as a bookkeeper for Anthony & Gordon Construction Company. After his employers discovered he had been convicted of money laundering and mail fraud from a previous job, they fired him. Schede claimed he was actually fired because of his age (age discrimination) and a disability, which would violate Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws. The company argued they fired him for poor work performance and for failing to tell them about his criminal convictions when he was hired. **What the Court Decided** The court issued a mixed ruling, meaning some parts favored the employee while others favored the employer. The specific details of which claims succeeded or failed aren't provided in this summary, but the case didn't result in monetary damages being awarded. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights several important points for employees. First, workers generally have a legal duty to be honest about criminal convictions during the hiring process, especially for positions involving financial responsibilities. Second, employers can't fire someone solely because of age or disability - they must have legitimate business reasons. Finally, when discrimination claims involve multiple possible reasons for termination, courts will examine all the evidence to determine the real motivation behind the firing decision.