Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Jun 7, 2022
State of Missouri ex rel. Meredith Green vs. Missouri Commission on Human Rights, et al.
Meredith Green filed a discrimination complaint against Mercy Health with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR). After 180 days without the MCHR completing its administrative processing, Green requested a right-to-sue letter, which the MCHR initially issued but later vacated, claiming it lacked jurisdiction. Green then sought and obtained a permanent writ of mandamus from the circuit court, directing the MCHR to issue the letter. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the MCHR had a ministerial duty to issue the right-to-sue letter once the statutory conditions were met, irrespective of an unresolved jurisdictional determination regarding the employer's status.