Ron Seaworth v. Bob Pearson Pearson Autobody, 203 F.3d 1056 (8th Cir. 2000). · Go Syfert
Ron Seaworth v. Bob Pearson Pearson Autobody, 203 F.3d 1056 (8th Cir. 2000). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“requiring defendants to violate the internal revenue code and subject themselves to potential penalties by not providing seaworth's ssn on information returns results in undue hardship.”
66 citation events (65 in the last 25 years) across 19 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Latosha Bowlin v. Board of Directors, Judah Christian School (ca7, 2026-03-06)
Treatment trajectory · 2000 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2000 2013 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 42 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Latosha Bowlin v. Board of Directors, Judah Christian School (2×)
7th Cir. · 2026 · quote attribution · 2 verbatim quotes · confidence high
requiring defendants to violate the internal revenue code and subject themselves to potential penalties by not providing seaworth's on infor- mation returns results in undue hardship.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Brian Truskey v. Thomas Vilsack (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
6th Cir. · 2022 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
he irs, not defendants, imposed the requirement that seaworth provide an ssn.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) LOWE v. MILLS
D. Me. · 2022 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
requiring defendants to violate the internal revenue code and subject themselves to potential penalties by not providing seaworth's ssn on information returns results in undue hardship.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Religious Objections to the Postal Service Oath of Office (2×) also: Cited "see"
OLC · 2005 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the irs, not defendants, imposed the requirement
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Maki v. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
D. Minnesota · 2025 · confidence medium
“To establish a prima facie case of religious discrimination [under Title VII], a plaintiff must show he (1) has a bona fide religious belief that conflicts with an employment requirement, (2) informed the employer of such conflict, and (3) suffered an adverse employment action.” Ollis v. HearthStone Homes, Inc., 495 F.3d 570, 575 (8th Cir. 2007) (citing Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Amanda Jackson v. Methodist Health Services Corporation
7th Cir. · 2024 · confidence medium
Ctr., 192 F.3d 826, 830 (9th Cir. 1999) (“courts agree that an employer is not liable under Title VII when ac- commodating an employee’s religious beliefs would require the employer to violate federal or state law,” because “the ex- istence of such a law establishes ‘undue hardship’”); see also Yeager v. FirstEnergy Generation Corp., 777 F.3d 362, 363 (6th Cir. 2015) (per curiam); Cassano v. Carb, 436 F.3d 74, 75 (2d Cir. 2006) (per curiam); Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam); Matthews v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 417 F. App’x 552, 554 (7th Cir. …
cited Cited as authority (rule) Floyd v. Trinity Central Home Health, LLC
W.D. Ark. · 2024 · confidence medium
Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Modicue v. Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
E.D. Mo. · 2024 · confidence medium
Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Larson v. Walz
D. Minnesota · 2024 · confidence medium
To establish a prima facie case of religious discrimination under Title VII, a plaintiff eventually must show that he “(1) has a bona fide religious belief that conflicts with an employment requirement, (2) informed the employer of such conflict, and (3) suffered an adverse employment action.” Ollis v. HearthStone Homes, Inc., 495 F.3d 570, 575 (8th Cir. 2007) (citing Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam)).6 5 Defendants do not argue that Eleventh Amendment immunity applies to claims for religious discrimination and failure to accommodate under Title VII.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Witham v. Hershey Company, The
D. Minnesota · 2023 · confidence medium
To establish a prima facie case of religious discrimination under Title VII, a plaintiff eventually must show that he “(1) has a bona fide religious belief that conflicts with an employment requirement, (2) informed the employer of such conflict, and (3) suffered an adverse employment action.” Ollis v. HearthStone Homes, Inc., 495 F.3d 570, 575 (8th Cir. 2007) (citing Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam)).2 Once a plaintiff makes out a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the employer to prove accommodating the employee’s religious beliefs would cause a…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Colson v. Hennepin County
D. Minnesota · 2023 · confidence medium
Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam); see also Harrell v. Donahue, 638 F.3d 975, 977 (8th Cir. 2011).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cole v. Group Health Plan, Inc.
D. Minnesota · 2023 · confidence medium
If Cole establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to her employer, Health Partners, to show that it offered Cole a reasonable accommodation, Wilson, 58 F.3d at 1340, or that accommodating Cole would result in an undue hardship, Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cole v. Group Health Plan, Inc.
D. Minnesota · 2023 · confidence medium
If Cole establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to her employer, Health Partners, to show that it offered Cole a reasonable accommodation, Wilson, 58 F.3d at 1340, or that accommodating Cole would result in an undue hardship, Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lowe v. Mills
1st Cir. · 2023 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Cf., e.g., Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (holding that it would have been an undue hardship to require an employer to seek a waiver from an IRS requirement that employers provide their employees' Social Security numbers to the agency). - 41 - law can establish an undue hardship defense.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (PS) Tafari v. Rucker
E.D. Cal. · 2023 · confidence medium
See id.; Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (finding that the 22 defendant-employer did not violate Title VII for not hiring a person who refused for religious 23 reasons to provide his social security number because that accommodation would have 24 necessarily caused the defendant to violate federal law, which constituted “undue hardship”); 25 Hommel v. Squaw Valley Ski Corp., 89 F. App’x 650, 650-51 (9th Cir. 2004) (affirming the 26 district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s complaint for failure to state a claim because 27 “accommodating an employee who refu…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Kroger Limited Partnership I (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
E.D. Ark. · 2022 · confidence medium
No. 92-261, § 2 , 86 Stat. 103 , 103 (1972). 122 It is hard to imagine a definition of religion that could be broader than “all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(j) (emphasis added). 123 See, e.g., Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000); Tagore v. United States, 735 F.3d 324, 329 (5th Cir. 2013); EEOC v. GEO Group, Inc., 616 F.3d 265, 271 (3d Cir. 2010); Cloutier v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 390 F.3d 126, 133 (1st Cir. 2004); Tiano v. Dillard Dep’t Stores, Inc., 139 F.3d 679 , 681 (9th Cir. 1998). 124 Because we are at t…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lowman v. NVI LLC
2d Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
“Requiring 2 defendants to violate the Internal Revenue Code and subject themselves to 3 potential penalties by not providing [an employee’s] SSN on information returns 4 results in undue hardship.” Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 5 2000); Sutton v. Providence St.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lowman v. NVI LLC
W.D.N.Y. · 2019 · confidence medium
But for the reasons stated by the Eighth Circuit in Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057-58 (8th Cir. 2000), employers may—in fact, they must— condition employment on a requirement that the potential employee provide a SSN notwithstanding that person’s religious beliefs.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Donald Yeager v. FirstEnergy Generation Corp.
6th Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
Some courts have proceeded under step one to hold that a statutory obligation is not an “employment requirement,” see Baltgalvis v. Newport News Shipbuilding Inc., 132 F.Supp.2d 414, 418 (E.D.Va.), aff'd, 15 Fed.Appx. 172 (4th Cir.2001); Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000), while others have held under step two that violating a federal statute would impose an “undue hardship,” see Sutton v. Providence St.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Maroko v. Werner Enterprises, Inc.
D. Minnesota · 2011 · confidence medium
If the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the employer to show that it offered the plaintiff a reasonable accommodation, Wilson, 58 F.3d at 1340, or that accommodating the plaintiff would result in an undue hardship, Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Vandersand v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
C.D. Ill. · 2007 · confidence medium
Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000); Sutton v. Providence St.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Brasch v. Peters
E.D. Mo. · 2007 · confidence medium
Dist., # 1, 294 F.3d 981 (8th Cir.2002); Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam); Vetter, 884 F.Supp. at 1305 (citing cases).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Roy Jones, Christopher Gracier, Kirk Maeder, Ronald Cichowski, Austin Dehaas, Harvey Hobby v. Tek Industries, Inc., a Corporation (2×)
8th Cir. · 2003 · confidence medium
Ansonia Bd. of Educ. v. Philbrook, 479 U.S. 60, 65-66 , 107 S.Ct. 367 , 93 L.Ed.2d 305 (1986) (quotation omitted); Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Roy Jones v. TEK Ind. (2×)
8th Cir. · 2003 · confidence medium
Ansonia Bd. of Educ. v. Philbrook, 479 U.S. 60, 65-66 (1986) (quotation omitted); Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Carla Cruzan v. Special School Dist.
8th Cir. · 2002 · confidence medium
Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Cruzan v. Special School District
8th Cir. · 2002 · confidence medium
Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) EEOC v. Chemsico, Inc. (2×) also: Cited "see"
E.D. Mo. · 2002 · confidence medium
Seaworth, 203 F.3d at 1057 (citations omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ron Seaworth v. Bob Pearson
8th Cir. · 2002 · confidence medium
The underlying facts are described in Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 895 , 121 S.Ct. 226 , 148 L.Ed.2d 160 (2000), in which we affirmed the dismissal of that action as meritless.
discussed Cited "see" Pinner v. American Association of Orthodontists
E.D. Mo. · 2024 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000). “‘Undue hardship’ is shown when a burden is substantial in the overall context of an employer’s business.” Groff v. DeJoy, 600 U.S. 447, 468 (2023).
cited Cited "see" Spears v. Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute Inc
E.D. Ark. · 2024 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam).
discussed Cited "see" Kiel v. Mayo Clinic, The
D. Minnesota · 2023 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000); see also Groff v. DeJoy, 600 U.S. ----, No. 22-174, 2023 WL 4239256 (June 29, 2023) (requiring a burden to be “substantial in the overall context of an employer’s business” for it to be considered an “undue hardship”).
discussed Cited "see" Kawaljeet Tagore v. USA
5th Cir. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (defendant need not accommodate plaintiffs religious beliefs when doing so would require defendant to violate federal law, which creates an undue hardship); Sutton v. Providence St.
cited Cited "see" Ollis v. HearthStone Homes, Inc.
8th Cir. · 2007 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam).
cited Cited "see" Doyle Ollis, Jr. v. Hearthstone Homes
8th Cir. · 2007 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam).
cited Cited "see" McCauley v. Computer Aid Inc.
E.D. Pa. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (holding that the IRS, not the employer, imposed the requirement that defendant provide a social security number).
cited Cited "see" Dianne W. Cassano v. Allen Carb, Arnold Lessor, North Shore Veterinary Surgery, Twelve John and Jane Does, Individually, Docket No. 04-6712-Cv
2d Cir. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057-58 (8th Cir.2000) (dismissing Title VII claim); Sutton v. Providence St.
discussed Cited "see" Cruzan v. Minneapolis Public School System (2×)
D. Minnesota · 2001 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson Autobody, 203 F.3d 1056 (8th Cir.2000), ce rt. denied, 121 S.Ct. 226 (2000).
cited Cited "see" Baltgalvis v. Newport News Shipbuilding Inc.
E.D. Va. · 2001 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 121 S.Ct. 226 , 148 L.Ed.2d 160 (2000).
cited Cited "see" Mullen v. Topper's Salon and Health Spa, Inc.
E.D. Pa. · 2000 · signal: see · confidence high
See Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000); Balint v. Carson City, Nevada, 180 F.3d 1047 , 1050 n. 3 (9th Cir.1999); Venters v. City of Delphi, 123 F.3d 956, 972 (7th Cir.1997). 3 .
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Lickteig
W.D. Ark. · 2020 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir. 2000) (employer's requirement that applicant provide an SSN was a requirement of the government and not the employer's and did not discriminate against employee on religious grounds); U.S. ex re.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Haliye v. Celestica Corp.
D. Minnesota · 2010 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See Thomas v. Nat’l Ass’n of Letter Carriers, 225 F.3d 1149, 1156 (10th Cir.2000) (after a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the employer to show that it either offered a reasonable accommodation or was unable to do so without undue hardship); EEOC v. Ilona of Hungary, Inc., 108 F.3d 1569, 1576 (7th Cir.1997) (“The burden of making a reasonable accommodation or of showing that any accommodation would result in undue hardship lies with the employer.”); see also Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam) (“Once a plaintiff establis…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Unión Independiente De La Autoridad De Acueductos Y Alcantarillados
1st Cir. · 2002 · signal: see also · confidence medium
In order to establish a prima facie case of religious discrimination based on a failure to accommodate, the plaintiff must show that “(1) a bona fide religious practice conflicts with an employment requirement, (2) he or she brought the practice to the [Union’s] attention, and (3) the religious practice was the basis for the adverse employment decision.” EEOC v. United Parcel Serv., 94 F.3d 314 , 317 (7th Cir.1996); see also Seaworth v. Pearson, 203 F.3d 1056, 1057 (8th Cir.) (per curiam), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 895 , 121 S.Ct. 226 , 148 L.Ed.2d 160 (2000).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Ron SEAWORTH, Appellant,
v.
Bob PEARSON; Pearson Autobody, Appellees
Ron Seaworth, Appellant pro se., Phillip R. Krass, Bloomington, MN, argued (Timothy F. Moynihan, on the brief), for Appellees.
Arnold, Bowman, Beam.
Cited by 44 opinions  |  Published
PER CURIAM.

Ron Seaworth appeals from the District Court’s [1] order granting judgment on the[*1057] pleadings in favor of defendants in this employment discrimination action. We affirm.

In his complaint, Seaworth asserted that defendants discriminated against him because of his religious beliefs, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., when they refused to hire him unless he provided his social security number (SSN). Seaworth refuses to use an SSN because he claims it represents the “mark of the beast” as described in the Christian Bible’s Book of Revelation.

To establish a prima facie case of religious discrimination under Title VII, Seaworth had to show (1) he had a bona fide religious belief that conflicted with an employment requirement; (2) Seaworth informed defendants of his belief; and (3) defendants did not hire Seaworth because he did not comply with the requirement. See Toledo v. Nobel-Sysco, Inc., 892 F.2d 1481, 1486 (10th Cir.1989), cert. denied, 495 U.S. 948, 110 S.Ct. 2208, 109 L.Ed.2d 535 (1990); cf. Wilson v. U.S. West Communications, 58 F.3d 1337, 1340 (8th Cir.1995) (elements of prima facie case of religious discrimination in disciplining employee). Once a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the employer to show that accommodation would result in undue hardship to the employer. See Nobel-Sysco, Inc., 892 F.2d at 1486; Wilson, 58 F.3d at 1340; 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(j) (“ ‘religion’ includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate an employee’s or prospective employee’s religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s business”).

Assuming, without deciding, that Seaworth established a bona fide religious belief, we agree with the District Court that the IRS, not defendants, imposed the requirement that Seaworth provide an SSN. See 26 U.S.C. § 6109. Thus, Sea-worth’s beliefs do not conflict with an employment requirement, see E.E.O.C. v. Allendale Nursing Centre, 996 F.Supp. 712, 717 (W.D.Mich.1998) (requirement that employee obtain SSN is requirement imposed by law, not employment requirement), and he has not established a prima facie case of religious discrimination.

We also agree with the District Court that defendants need not accommodate Seaworth’s religious beliefs. Requiring defendants to violate the Internal Revenue Code and subject themselves to potential penalties by not providing Sea-worth’s SSN on information returns results in undue hardship. See Sutton v. Providence St. Joseph Med. Ctr., 192 F.3d 826, 830-31 (9th Cir.1999) (employer not liable for not hiring person who refused for religious reasons to provide his SSN, because accommodating applicant’s religious beliefs would cause employer to violate federal law, which constituted “undue hardship”); I.R.C. §§ 6109(a)(1) (any person required to make tax return, statement, or other document with respect to another person, shall include in return or document that person’s SSN); 6721(a)(1) & (a)(2)(B) (failure to include all required information on “information return” subjects filer to $50 penalty); 6723 (penalty for failure to comply with information-reporting requirements).

Seaworth argues that defendants could seek a reasonable-cause waiver under I.R.C. § 6724(a), which provides that “no penalty shall be imposed [for failure to include an SSN on an information return] if it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.” Even if a waiver could be obtained, we think that the expense and trouble incident to applying for it imposes a hardship that is more than de minimis, as a matter of law. See Allendale Nursing Centre, 996 F.Supp. at 713, 718 (religious discrimination case involving employee’s refusal to provide SSN; § 6724 allows employer to avoid certain penalties if it takes certain steps, but waiver provision does not exist to benefit employee who caused penalties to be imposed, and. employer is[*1058] not required to take steps to accommodate employee who caused penalty). Requiring defendants to restructure their method of operation to accommodate Seaworth by hiring him as an independent contractor also would subject defendants to a cost that is more than de minimis. See Amonio, Bd. of Educ. v. Philbrook, 479 U.S. 60, 67, 107 S.Ct. 367, 93 L.Ed.2d 305 (1986) (accommodation causes undue hardship whenever it results in more than de min-imis cost to employer).

Accordingly, we affirm. We grant Sea-worth’s motion to supplement the record, but deny his motion to remand.

1

. The Honorable Michael J. Davis, United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota.