Carter v. Chicago State University

Dist. Ct. did not err in granting defendant-University’s motion for summary judgment in action alleging that defendant failed to appoint him to acting department chair of defendant’s Department of Accounting and Finance in retaliation for plaintiff taking FMLA leave of absence. Plaintiff could not establish necessary causal connection where there was 7-month gap between his return from FMLA leave of absence and date of appointment to acting department chair. Moreover, fact that decision-maker selected another individual over plaintiff for different appointment to same position did not generate any inference of retaliatory animosity. Plaintiff further failed to present any evidence to show that he was equally or more qualified than person who was selected for instant position.