Notice: Eighth Circuit Rule 28a(k) Governs Citation of Unpublished Opinions and Provides That They Are Not Precedent and Generally Should Not Be Cited Unless Relevant to Establishing the Doctrines of Res Judicata, Collateral Estoppel, the Law of the Case, or if the Opinion Has Persuasive Value on a Material Issue and No Published Opinion Would Serve As Well.eric Lynn Self, Plaintiff/appellant, v. Auburn Steel Company, Inc.; Sumitomo Corporation Ofamerica; Sc Steel Investment, Inc.; Yamato Kogyo (u.s.a.)corporation, Doing Business As Arkansas Steel Associates, Anassociation of Partners, Defendants/appellee, 116 F.3d 481 (8th Cir. 1997)

Eric Self sued his employer, Auburn Steel Company, in January 1996 on the theory that certain employment actions affecting him were in retaliation for his father's participation in a 1991 lawsuit against the company under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. (1997). The district court¹  granted summary judgment for Auburn Steel, and we affirm.

Self's complaint alleged a violation of the retaliation provision of Title VII. Title VII makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, or religion, see 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a), and it prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee on the basis that

he has opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice by [Title VII], or because he has made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under [Title VII].

42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a) (1997). Self made no factual allegations and produced no evidence related to a case alleging discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, religion or national origin. The district court was therefore correct in dismissing this claim.

Sometime after his complaint was filed Self moved to amend it to include a cause of action for retaliation under the ADEA. The ADEA prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee or applicant for employment who

has opposed any practice made unlawful by [the ADEA], or because such individual ... has made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation under [the ADEA].

29 U.S.C. § 623(d) (1997). The district court denied the motion to amend without prejudice, but went on to consider his claim as if he had brought it under the ADEA.² 

Assuming the ADEA retaliation claim is properly before us, we conclude that the district court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Auburn Steel because Self failed to produce evidence sufficient to show a claim under 29 U.S.C. § 623(d).

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.