Morris May v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

**Morris May v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (1985)** Morris May filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). After investigating, the EEOC made a "reasonable cause determination" - meaning they found evidence that discrimination likely occurred. May disagreed with how the EEOC handled his case and tried to appeal their decision directly to federal court. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed May's appeal. The court ruled that when the EEOC makes a reasonable cause determination, that decision cannot be immediately appealed to higher courts. This is because the EEOC's finding is not considered a "final order" - it's just one step in the process. The court explained that people who disagree with EEOC decisions still have options: they can file their own lawsuit in federal district court. **What this means for workers:** If you file a discrimination complaint with the EEOC and don't like their decision, you generally cannot appeal it directly to federal court. Instead, you typically have the right to file your own discrimination lawsuit in federal district court. This ruling clarifies that EEOC determinations are part of an ongoing process, not final decisions that end your legal options.