Rouch World LLC v. Department of Civil Rights

Summary

The Michigan Supreme Court held that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation because such discrimination necessarily constitutes discrimination because of sex. Applying the statute’s but-for causation standard and an individual-focused comparison, the Court concluded that denying public-accommodation services to a person because of sexual orientation necessarily relies on that person’s sex. The Court overruled the contrary Court of Appeals precedent and reversed and remanded the Court of Claims’ decision concerning Rouch World.