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Lizzie A. MEREDITH, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. BALDWIN PIANO, INC., originally sued as Baldwin Piano Company, Defendant-Appellee

United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit2011-02-10No. Nos. 09-3926, 10-1309
407 F. App'x 988

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Opinion

majority opinion

[UNPUBLISHED]

PER CURIAM.

Lizzie A. Meredith, an African-American, was employed in the Trumann, Arkansas manufacturing plant of Baldwin Piano, Inc., for about 16 years with a satisfactory work record. She was discharged as part of a reduction-in-force, along with 13 other employees — 12 of whom were white. Baldwin closed the plant 19 months later.

Meredith sued Baldwin, alleging the termination was based on race, in violation of the Arkansas Civil Rights Act, Ark.Code Ann. § 16-123-101; 42 U.S.C. § 1981; and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et. seq. Baldwin moved for summary judgment. Meredith claimed that Baldwin’s reduction-in-force explanation for her termination is pretextual, because she was experienced at the plant (though not in her department), and her seniority was wrongly calculated.

In well-reasoned orders, the district court granted summary judgment to Baldwin and awarded it costs. See Meredith v. Baldwin Piano, Inc., 3:08CV00046-SWW, 2009 WL 4251020 (E.D.Ark. Nov.23, 2009) (granting summary judgment); 2010 WL 386415 (E.D.Ark. Jan.26, 2010) (awarding costs).

As no error of law appears in these orders, this court affirms. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.

. The Honorable Susan Webber Wright, United States District Judge, Eastern District of Arkansas.