Carleton College, Petitioner/respondent v. National Labor Relations Board, Respondent/petitioner

**What happened:** An adjunct instructor named Diekman worked at Carleton College but wasn't rehired when their contract ended. Diekman claimed the college refused to renew the contract because of retaliation - likely for union activities or other protected workplace actions. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) investigated and sided with Diekman, ordering the college to give them their job back. **What the court decided:** The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed with the NLRB and ruled in favor of Carleton College. The court found there wasn't enough evidence to prove the college acted out of retaliation or discrimination. Instead, the court determined the college had legitimate, non-discriminatory business reasons for not renewing Diekman's contract. **Why this matters for workers:** This case shows how difficult it can be to prove retaliation in employment decisions. Workers need strong evidence - not just suspicions - to successfully challenge employer actions in court. The ruling also highlights that employers can make personnel decisions for legitimate business reasons, even when workers suspect retaliation. For adjunct instructors and other contract workers, this case demonstrates the challenges of proving wrongful non-renewal of temporary positions.