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====== McDonnell Douglas Burden-Shifting Framework ======

[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_Corp._v._Green|McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green on wikipedia]]

The **McDonnell Douglas framework** is the burden-shifting analysis U.S. courts use to evaluate individual disparate-treatment claims under Title VII (and analogous statutes) when there is no direct evidence of discrimination. The plaintiff first establishes a prima facie case; the burden of production then shifts to the employer to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason; and the burden returns to the plaintiff to show that reason is pretext for discrimination.

===== Burden-Shifting Analysis =====

This BPMN model maps the three-stage burden-shifting sequence across three lanes — the plaintiff, the court/factfinder, and the employer — to the framework's possible outcomes.

<bpmnio type="bpmn">
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<bpmn:definitions xmlns:bpmn="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:dc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:di="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" id="Def_MD" targetNamespace="http://lexipedia.xyz/bpmn">
<bpmn:collaboration id="Collab_MD">
<bpmn:participant id="Pool_MD" name="McDonnell Douglas framework" processRef="Proc_MD" />
</bpmn:collaboration>
<bpmn:process id="Proc_MD" name="Burden-shifting analysis" isExecutable="true">
<bpmn:laneSet id="Proc_MD_laneset">
<bpmn:lane id="Lane_P" name="Plaintiff (burden of production)">
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>s</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>t_pf</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>t_pretext</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
</bpmn:lane>
<bpmn:lane id="Lane_C" name="Court / factfinder">
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>g_pf</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>g_lndr</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>g_pt</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>e_emp1</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>e_pl</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>e_tri</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>e_emp2</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
</bpmn:lane>
<bpmn:lane id="Lane_E" name="Employer (burden of production)">
<bpmn:flowNodeRef>t_lndr</bpmn:flowNodeRef>
</bpmn:lane>
</bpmn:laneSet>
<bpmn:startEvent id="s" name="Disparate-treatment
claim">
<bpmn:documentation>Individual disparate-treatment claim under Title VII analyzed by the burden-shifting framework. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973).</bpmn:documentation>
<bpmn:outgoing>q1</bpmn:outgoing>
</bpmn:startEvent>
<bpmn:businessRuleTask id="t_pf" name="Establish
prima facie case">
<bpmn:documentation>Plaintiff's burden of production: protected class; qualified / performing; adverse action; circumstances giving rise to an inference of discrimination.</bpmn:documentation>
<bpmn:incoming>q1</bpmn:incoming>
<bpmn:outgoing>q2</bpmn:outgoing>
</bpmn:businessRuleTask>
<bpmn:exclusiveGateway id="g_pf" name="Prima facie
established?" default="q4">
<bpmn:incoming>q2</bpmn:incoming>
<bpmn:outgoing>q3</bpmn:outgoing>
<bpmn:outgoing>q4</bpmn:outgoing>
</bpmn:exclusiveGateway>
<bpmn:businessRuleTask id="t_lndr" name="Articulate legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason">
<bpmn:documentation>Burden of production shifts to the employer to articulate (not prove) an LNDR. Texas Dept. of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248 (1981).</bpmn:documentation>
<bpmn:incoming>q4</bpmn:incoming>
<bpmn:outgoing>q5</bpmn:outgoing>
</bpmn:businessRuleTask>
<bpmn:exclusiveGateway id="g_lndr" name="Reason
produced?" default="q7">
<bpmn:incoming>q5</bpmn:incoming>
<bpmn:outgoing>q6</bpmn:outgoing>
<bpmn:outgoing>q7</bpmn:outgoing>
</bpmn:exclusiveGateway>
<bpmn:businessRuleTask id="t_pretext" name="Prove pretext">
<bpmn:documentation>Burden returns to plaintiff to show the stated reason is pretext for discrimination. St. Mary's Honor Center v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502 (1993); Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing, 530 U.S. 133 (2000).</bpmn:documentation>
<bpmn:incoming>q7</bpmn:incoming>
<bpmn:outgoing>q8</bpmn:outgoing>
</bpmn:businessRuleTask>
<bpmn:exclusiveGateway id="g_pt" name="Pretext shown?" default="q9">
<bpmn:incoming>q8</bpmn:incoming>
<bpmn:outgoing>q9</bpmn:outgoing>
<bpmn:outgoing>q10</bpmn:outgoing>
</bpmn:exclusiveGateway>
<bpmn:endEvent id="e_emp1" name="Judgment for
employer">
<bpmn:incoming>q3</bpmn:incoming>
</bpmn:endEvent>
<bpmn:endEvent id="e_pl" name="Judgment for
plaintiff">
<bpmn:incoming>q6</bpmn:incoming>
</bpmn:endEvent>
<bpmn:endEvent id="e_emp2" name="Judgment for
employer">
<bpmn:incoming>q10</bpmn:incoming>
</bpmn:endEvent>
<bpmn:endEvent id="e_tri" name="Triable issue
(plaintiff may prevail)">
<bpmn:incoming>q9</bpmn:incoming>
</bpmn:endEvent>
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q1" sourceRef="s" targetRef="t_pf" />
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q2" sourceRef="t_pf" targetRef="g_pf" />
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q3" name="not established" sourceRef="g_pf" targetRef="e_emp1"><bpmn:conditionExpression xsi:type="bpmn:tFormalExpression">prima_facie_established == False</bpmn:conditionExpression></bpmn:sequenceFlow>
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q4" name="established" sourceRef="g_pf" targetRef="t_lndr" />
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q5" sourceRef="t_lndr" targetRef="g_lndr" />
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q6" name="not produced" sourceRef="g_lndr" targetRef="e_pl"><bpmn:conditionExpression xsi:type="bpmn:tFormalExpression">lndr_produced == False</bpmn:conditionExpression></bpmn:sequenceFlow>
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q7" name="produced" sourceRef="g_lndr" targetRef="t_pretext" />
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q8" sourceRef="t_pretext" targetRef="g_pt" />
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q9" name="yes" sourceRef="g_pt" targetRef="e_tri" />
<bpmn:sequenceFlow id="q10" name="no" sourceRef="g_pt" targetRef="e_emp2"><bpmn:conditionExpression xsi:type="bpmn:tFormalExpression">pretext_shown == False</bpmn:conditionExpression></bpmn:sequenceFlow>
</bpmn:process>
<bpmndi:BPMNDiagram id="diagram">
<bpmndi:BPMNPlane id="plane" bpmnElement="Collab_MD">
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Pool_MD_di" bpmnElement="Pool_MD" isHorizontal="true"><dc:Bounds x="200" y="120" width="1500" height="570"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Lane_P_di" bpmnElement="Lane_P" isHorizontal="true"><dc:Bounds x="230" y="120" width="1470" height="190"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Lane_C_di" bpmnElement="Lane_C" isHorizontal="true"><dc:Bounds x="230" y="310" width="1470" height="190"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Lane_E_di" bpmnElement="Lane_E" isHorizontal="true"><dc:Bounds x="230" y="500" width="1470" height="190"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="s_di" bpmnElement="s"><dc:Bounds x="302" y="182" width="36" height="36"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="t_pf_di" bpmnElement="t_pf"><dc:Bounds x="440" y="165" width="110" height="70"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="g_pf_di" bpmnElement="g_pf"><dc:Bounds x="645" y="330" width="50" height="50"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="t_lndr_di" bpmnElement="t_lndr"><dc:Bounds x="790" y="560" width="110" height="70"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="g_lndr_di" bpmnElement="g_lndr"><dc:Bounds x="995" y="330" width="50" height="50"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="t_pretext_di" bpmnElement="t_pretext"><dc:Bounds x="1140" y="165" width="110" height="70"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="g_pt_di" bpmnElement="g_pt"><dc:Bounds x="1345" y="330" width="50" height="50"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="e_emp1_di" bpmnElement="e_emp1"><dc:Bounds x="652" y="437" width="36" height="36"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="e_pl_di" bpmnElement="e_pl"><dc:Bounds x="1002" y="437" width="36" height="36"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="e_emp2_di" bpmnElement="e_emp2"><dc:Bounds x="1352" y="437" width="36" height="36"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNShape id="e_tri_di" bpmnElement="e_tri"><dc:Bounds x="1527" y="337" width="36" height="36"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q1_di" bpmnElement="q1"><di:waypoint x="338" y="200"/><di:waypoint x="440" y="200"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q2_di" bpmnElement="q2"><di:waypoint x="550" y="200"/><di:waypoint x="670" y="200"/><di:waypoint x="670" y="330"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q3_di" bpmnElement="q3"><di:waypoint x="670" y="380"/><di:waypoint x="670" y="437"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q4_di" bpmnElement="q4"><di:waypoint x="695" y="355"/><di:waypoint x="845" y="355"/><di:waypoint x="845" y="560"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q5_di" bpmnElement="q5"><di:waypoint x="900" y="595"/><di:waypoint x="1020" y="595"/><di:waypoint x="1020" y="380"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q6_di" bpmnElement="q6"><di:waypoint x="1020" y="380"/><di:waypoint x="1020" y="437"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q7_di" bpmnElement="q7"><di:waypoint x="1045" y="355"/><di:waypoint x="1195" y="355"/><di:waypoint x="1195" y="235"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q8_di" bpmnElement="q8"><di:waypoint x="1250" y="200"/><di:waypoint x="1370" y="200"/><di:waypoint x="1370" y="330"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q9_di" bpmnElement="q9"><di:waypoint x="1395" y="355"/><di:waypoint x="1527" y="355"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
<bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="q10_di" bpmnElement="q10"><di:waypoint x="1370" y="380"/><di:waypoint x="1370" y="437"/></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
</bpmndi:BPMNPlane></bpmndi:BPMNDiagram>
</bpmn:definitions>
</bpmnio>

===== Process Components =====

==== Stages ====

  * **Prima facie case** — Plaintiff's burden of production: protected class; qualified/performing; adverse action; circumstances raising an inference of discrimination.
  * **Legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason (LNDR)** — Employer's burden of production to articulate (not prove) a reason.
  * **Pretext** — Plaintiff's burden to show the stated reason is pretext for discrimination.

==== Key Authorities ====

  * **McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973)** — Establishes the framework.
  * **Texas Dept. of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248 (1981)** — Employer need only articulate, not prove, an LNDR.
  * **St. Mary's Honor Center v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502 (1993)** — Burden of persuasion remains with the plaintiff.
  * **Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing, 530 U.S. 133 (2000)** — Pretext evidence may support an inference of discrimination.

===== Related Models =====

  * [[us_eeoc|U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)]] — The administrative charge process that typically precedes a Title VII lawsuit analyzed under this framework.

===== Cross References =====

  * [[united_states|United States of America]]
  * [[jurisdictions|Jurisdictions]]
  * [[categories|Categories]]

===== Categories =====

Employment Discrimination, Civil Rights, Litigation, Legal Frameworks, United States