ST-MARYS-HONOR-CENTER V HICKS - LOTS OF SOUND AND FURY, BUT WHAT DOESIT SIGNIFY

The Supreme Court's long-awaited decision in St. Mary's Honor Center v . Hicks has brought more controversy than answers. The Court's refusal to impose rigid formalistic standards for evaluating Title VII claims VII resolution of discrimination cases more than ever an issue of fac t. Employers that believe the rhetoric that the decision makes it easi er for them to win rather than studying the decision itself may put th emselves at risk of losing in Title VII cases. This article focuses on what St. Mary's decided, examines post-St. Mary's case law to gain an insight into the decision's likely effect, and suggests practical way s employers can work to prevail in its aftermath.