A Case Already Back From the Brink
Indeed, the lawsuit had previously made a return trip to the Sixth Circuit. In 2021, the appeals court revived her racial harassment claims, sending them to trial. But in September 2023, a jury handed Ford the win, finding Johnson hadn’t done enough to notify the company to trigger liability.
This latest ruling cements that outcome, extinguishing Johnson’s efforts to reopen the emotional and legally thorny case.
No Comment, But All Eyes Watching
Neither Ford nor Johnson’s legal team has commented publicly on the ruling.
U.S. Circuit Judges Karen Nelson Moore, Eric L. Clay, and Jane Branstetter Stranch presided over the appeal.
Johnson was represented by Carol A. Laughbaum of Sterling Employment Law.
Ford’s legal muscle came from Elizabeth P. Hardy and Thomas J. Davis of Kienbaum Hardy Viviano Pelton & Forrest PLC, alongside Blaine H. Evanson and Brian Yeh of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
A Verdict That Resounds
The ruling highlights the razor-thin margins in harassment litigation where credibility and documentation reign supreme. Even the most disturbing allegations may not be enough when evidence is scant and timelines are murky.
For Ford, it’s a vindication. For Johnson, it’s the end of the legal road—at least for now.
