Key Facts and Legal Issues
The summary of this case includes an African American female by the name of
Quadriyyah Ali who sued her employer Mt. Sinai Hospital, Dr Elizabeth Shields, for racial
discrimination for violation of Title VII for discriminatory enforcement of her employer’s dress
code. She alleged that she was disciplined for not complying with the dress code, however, her
white co-workers were not. Because Ms. Ali didn’t have any evidence of discriminatory
enforcement, the court had to dismiss this case.
The fact in this case is that the hospital has a detailed three-page dress code for all
nursing staff including unit clerks. And it specifically states that “unit clerks wear the blue smock
provided by the Hospital with conservative street clothes.” Boots and other items of dress was
also prohibited. And also in regard to hair, “it should be clean and neatly groomed to prevent
interference with patient care.”
Ms. Ali “admits” to wearing a cowl-necked dress with red thigh
high boots under her work smock. She also admitted to wearing her hair in a “punk rock” or
“faded style”. Ms. Ali stated that she was discipline, but her other white female employees were
not. Ms. Ali was disciplined because of her violation of the dress code.
The legal issue in this case was if an employee can receive judgement based on racial
discrimination without offering any type of evidence of racial discrimination. But in this case,
the issue was if the way she was dressed was enforced because of her race. Since Ms. Ali didn’t
submit any type of evidence, the case had to be dismissed.
