Case Explained: Summary Calendar Norman Tarver Plaintiff— v. First Student, Incorporated Defendant—

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Filed: 2026-07-01 The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Norman Tarver’s Title VII retaliation suit against his former employer, First Student, Incorporated. The court held that reporting workplace safety violations does not constitute “protected activity” under Title VII because the statute only prohibits retaliation for opposing practices made unlawful by the law itself, such as race or gender discrimination, whereas safety violations are not covered by Title VII. The court relied on 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–3(a) and precedent establishing that OSHA or safety complaints do not support a Title VII retaliation claim. Additionally, the court noted that Tarver forfeited any further review by failing to object to the magistrate judge’s report in the district court or address the specific legal reasoning for the dismissal on appeal. As a result of the affirmation, the dismissal of the case remains in effect and no relief is granted to the appellant. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.