Cats paw theory is a legal doctrine that holds employers accountable for the discriminatory actions of their employees, even if the employer had no discriminatory intent. This doctrine has been applied in various employment law cases in Houston, Texas, and has significant implications for both employers and employees.
Understanding Cats Paw
As discussed above, Hauss allegedly misrepresented the erratic test results—which Dr. McKinnon and Audiologist Sanders attribute to Brown’s hearing disability—to the decisionmaker Goodson, thereby creating a factual issue as to whether Hauss exhibited disability-based animus. In turn, Goodson conducted a subsequent investigation into Brown’s conduct, including, among other things, consultation with Hauss. Goodson testified
