Federal court in Wisconsin rules for Kenosha, dismissing gay police officer's Title VII promotion and retaliation claims
Key points
- The Eastern District of Wisconsin federal court granted summary judgment to the City of Kenosha
- The court found the plaintiff did not show the city's promotion rationale was pretextual
- The retaliation claim was dismissed for lack of causal connection between the complaint and reduced hours
A Wisconsin federal district court granted summary judgment to the City of Kenosha in Moretti v. City of Kenosha, a case brought by a gay police officer. The court found the plaintiff did not show that the city's explanation, citing staffing shortages and promotional reforms, was pretextual, and his failure-to-promote claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1983 failed. His retaliation claim was also dismissed for lack of a causal connection between his complaint and the reduction in his field training officer hours. The ruling is dated November 5, 2026. This is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.
What employers should do
- Document the objective, verifiable reasons behind promotion decisions
- Keep decision records for post-complaint assignment and schedule changes to guard against retaliation claims
Policy details
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Status
- Court ruling
- Effective date
- —
- Official source
- Official source pending
Original report: Bloomberg Law News ↗Edited with AI assistance. Facts are based on official sources and original reports. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.