Girard

Norman C. Girard appeals the district court’s summary judgment in favor of the Secretary of the Treasury on the ground that Girard failed to file his Title VII and age discrimination claim within the relevant statute of limitations. Girard alleged that he was wrongfully denied two Internal Revenue Service management positions in 1984 and 1985 because he had been removed from a management selection program on account of his sex, race, and age. We reverse.

*1245 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Norman C. Girard, a white male, was 46 years of age at the time of the relevant events. He is a Revenue Officer for the Internal Revenue Service at the Santa Cruz Branch Office in Santa Cruz, California. In October, 1983, Girard applied for and was accepted into the Regional Management Careers Program (RMCP). The purpose of the RMCP is to create a pool of well-qualified candidates who have been recommended for management positions. RMCP members who are rated qualified for positions covered by the program are automatically referred for consideration when vacancies occur. A local screening panel reviews and rates candidates to determine which ones will be recommended to the head of the office as…