SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, HODGES and PI PKI N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

June 29, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 36 1

. B APTISTE v

. DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF,

J EFFREY L. M ANN, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

M I LLE R , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

An t o n I. Bap t i s t e, p l ai n ti ff i n t h e wro n g fu l -t erm in at i o n cas e b el ow, ap p eal s

fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f su m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e d efen d an t

, DeKal b Co u n t y

Sh eri ff J effrey L. M an n

, i n hi s o ffi ci al cap aci ty

. In fi v e en u m erat i o n s o f erro r

,

B a p t i st e arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s um m ary j u d gm en t t o M a n n

b e c a u s e h e pres en t ed a p ri m a faci e cas e o f ret al i at i o n i n v i o lat i o n o f t h e Geo r g i a

W h i s t l eb l o wer Act an d carri ed h i s b u rd en o f pres en t i n g ev i d en ce t h at Sh eri ff M an n ’ s

s t at ed reas o n fo r t erm i n at i n g h i m was p ret ex t u al

. W e ag ree an d t herefo re rev ers e t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s p ro p er wh en t h ere i s no gen ui ne is su e o f m at eri al

fact an d t h e m o v an t i s en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at ter of l aw. OCGA §9 -1 1 -5 6 (c). A d e n o v o s t an d ard o f rev i ew ap pl i e s t o a n ap p eal fro m a

g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t

, an d we v i ew t h e ev i d e n c e

, an d al l

reas o n ab l e co n cl u s i o n s an d i n feren ces d rawn fro m i t

, i n th e l i gh t m o s t

fav o rab le t o th e n on m o v an t

.

(Fo o tn o te o m i t t ed .) Ca l d o n v. Bd

. o f Reg en t s o f t h e Un iv. S

ys

. o f Ga

. , 3 11 Ga. Ap p.

1 5 5 (7 15 S.E.2 d 4 8 7 ) (2 0 11 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd sh o ws t h at i n th e s p ri n g o f 20 1 4

, J effrey M an n

, a ch i ef

d ep ut y fo r t h e Dek al b Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s O ffi ce, was cam p ai g n i n g fo r t h e J u ly 2 2

, 2 0 1 4

Dek al b Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s el ect i o n

. Bap t i s t e wo rk ed i n v ari o u s p o s i t i o n s at t h e DeKal b

Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce fro m 2 0 0 1 u n t i l h is t erm i n at i o n o n J u l y 2 4

, 2 01 4

. He s erv ed

as an in v es t i g at o r i n t h e O ffi ce o f Pro fes s i o n al St an d ard s (“ OPS”) fro m 2 00 3 t o 2 0 1 2

an d as a s erg ean t i n t h e J ai l Di v i s i o n fro m 2 01 2 t o 2 0 1 4

.

On J an u a r y 3 0

, 2 0 14

, Bap t i s te w as t h e s up erv i so r on d ut y wh en Det en t i o n

O f f i cer An t h o ny Do zi er u s ed ex ces s i v e fo rce ag ai n s t in m at e J o s ep h S i m s

(“ Do zi er/ Si m s In ci d en t ”). Bap t i s t e p rep ared a wri t t en s t at em en t

, as p er t h e p ro p er

p ro ced ure, an d h e al s o rep o rt ed t h e i n ci d en t d irect l y t o t h e As s i s t an t Co m m an d er o f

OPS, Li eu t en a n t Ch ri s t o p h er Pat t ers o n

. Acco rd i n g t o Pat ters o n, Bap t i s t e was

co n cern ed t h e J ai l Di v i s i o n wo u l d at t em p t to s h i el d Offi cer Do z i e r fro m cri m i n al

2p ro s ecu ti o n

. P a tte r son as s i g n ed OPS In v es ti g at o r Ro d n ey Scan d ret t t o i n v es t i g at e t h e

Do zi er/ Si m s In ci d en t

.

S h o rt l y t h ereaft er, o n Feb ru ary 1 0

, 2 0 1 4, Bap t i s t e’ s su p erv is o r, Cap t a i n

Rode r i ck M o rg an

, p rep ared a wri t t en co u n sel i ng d i s ci p l in ary act i o n reco m m en d at i o n

fo rm ag ai n s t Bap t i s te fo r t h e Do zi er/ Si m s In ci d en t

. On t h e fo rm

, M o rg an al l eg ed t h at

Bap ti s t e was g u i l t y o f n eg l ect of d u t y fo r fai l i n g t o rem o v e Do zi er fro m t h e s cen e.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, acco rd i n g t o Bap t i s t e, aft er h e co n t act ed P a t t ers o n

, M org an t o l d h i m

t h at h e s h o u l d n ev er co n t act OPS ab o u t an y t h i n g t h at h ap p en s i n t h e jai l

, b ecau s e

“ [w] e’ re g o i n g t o t ak e care o f o u r o wn i n t h e jai l .”

Bap t i s t t hen p rep ared a r e b u t t a l m em o. In t h e m em o

, Bap t i s t e reco u n t ed t h e

ev en t s of t h e Do zi er/ Si m s In ci d en t an d ex p l ai ned wh y h e d i s ag reed wi t h M o rg an ’ s

as s ert i o n t h at h e fai l ed to t ak e ap p ro p ri at e s u p erv i s o ry act i o n

. Bap t i s t e al s o s t at ed t h at

h e h a d c o n t act ed OPS t o ad v i s e t h em o f t h e u se o f fo rce v i o l at i o n

. In ad d i ti o n,

Bap ti s t e d i s cu s s ed t wo p rev i ou s u s e o f fo rce i n ci d en t s at t h e jai l, al l eg i n g t h at t h o s e

s cen es were far g reat er ex am p les o f s erg ean t s fai l in g t o s u p erv i se t hei r s u bo rd i n at e

o ffi cers

, an d as s ert i n g th at t h e in ci d en t s h ad n o t b een p ro p erl y rep o rt ed an d t h at t h e

i n d i v i d u al s h ad n o t b een ap p ro p ri at el y d i s ci p l i n ed

. He s ug g e ste d th at

, i n q ues t i o n ab l e

3u s e o f fo rce i n ci d en ts

, t h e Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce s h ou l d co ns i d er o b tai n in g “ as s is t an ce fro m

[an ] ou t s id e en t i t y

t h at s p eci al i zes i n ci v i l ri g h t s v i ol at io n s.”

In M ay 2 01 4

, P a t t e r s o n fo l l o wed u p wi t h In v es t i g at o r Scan d ret t an d l earn ed

t h a t h e h ad n o t co n d u ct ed an y i n v es t i g at i o n at al l i n t o t h e Do zi er/ Si m s In ci d en t

.

Pat t ers on t h en co n t act ed M org an an d as k ed ab o u t t he s t at u s of t h e J ai l Di v i s i o n ’ s u s e

o f fo rce p ack ag e o n th e Do zi er/ Si m s In ci d en t

. 1 M o rg an r e s p o n d e d t h at t h e Jai l

Di v is i o n wo u l d “ h an d le i t o n [i t s ] o wn .” Du ri n g th e sam e t i m e p eri o d

, In v es t i g at o r

Scan d ret t rep eat ed l y t o l d Pat t ers o n

, “ [T] hey wi ll t ak e care o f y o u an d Bap t i s t e aft er

t h e el ect i o n .” Pat t ers o n u n d ers t o o d t h es e s t at em en t s t o m ean t h at

, o nce M an n was

el ect ed as Sh eri ff, t h e Sh e r i f f’ s Offi ce co m

m an d s t aff wo u ld t arg et Pat ters o n an d

Bap ti s t e fo r t hei r effo rt s t o s eek acco un t ab il i t y fo r t h e us e o f fo rce co m p l ai n t s i n t h e

J ai l Di v i s i o n

.

In M ay 20 1 4

, Bap t i st e m et wi t h Xern i a Fo rt s o n

, t he ch i ef o f ad m i n is t rat i o n o f

t h e Dek al b Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce

, an d t o l d h er t h at ci v i l ri gh t s v i o l at i o n s were

o ccu rri n g i n t h e jai l an d t h at t h ey were no t b ei n g referred t o t h e Di st ri ct At t o rn ey fo r

1 Aft er a u s e o f fo rce i n ci d en t

, t h e Jai l Di v i si o n co m p i l e s r e p o rt s fro m t h e

o ffi cer i nv o l v ed

, th e offi cer’ s su p erv i s o r, a n y w i tn es s es

, an d an y av ai l ab l e

p h o t o g rap h s an d v i deo s i n to a p ack ag e an d fo rward s i t t o OPS.

4p o s s i b l e p ro s e c ution. A c c o r di n g t o Fo rt s o n

, s h e was “ co m p l et el y u n fam i l i ar wi t h ” t h e

t h i n g s Bap ti s t e was d i s cu s s i n g

. Fo l l o wi ng t h e m eet i n g, Fo rt s o n cal l ed Pat ters o n an d

t o l d h i m t h at Bap t i s t e h ad rep o rt ed t o h er th at ci v i l ri g h t s v i ol at io n s were o ccu rri n g

at th e jai l an d n o t bei n g referred t o t h e Di s t ri ct A tt orn ey

. Fo rt s o n as k ed Pat t ers o n i f

Bap ti s t e had rep o rt ed s u ch v i o l at i on s t o h i m , an d Pat t ers o n co n fi rm ed t h at Bap t is t e

h ad m ad e s u ch rep o rt s

.

In J u n e o r J u l y 2 01 4

, a fo rm er Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce em p l o y ee t o ld Bap t i s t e t h at t wo

d o ct o rs h ad res i g ned becau s e Fo rt s o n to l d th em t o recy cl e i n m at e m ed i cat i o n by

g i v i n g m ed i ci n e p res cri b ed t o o n e i nm at e t o an o t h er i n m at e. On J u l y 8

, 20 1 4

, Bap t is t e

c o n t a c t ed Dr. W i ll i am Bri ck h o u s e, t h e M en t al Heal t h Di rect o r fo r th e v en d o r t h a t

s u p p li es co u n s el i n g s erv i ces at t h e jai l

, an d as k ed i f h e w as aware o f an y m ed i cat i o n

b ei n g r ecy cl ed an d wh et h er h e k n ew t h e n am es o f t h e d o ct ors wh o had res i g n ed

.

Bri ck h ou s e fo un d t h e cal l t o b e an i n a p p r o p r i at e “ p o l it i cal s o l i ci t at i o n ” b ecau s e

Bap ti s t e s eem ed t o be “ fi s h i n g fo r d i rt ” o n Fo rt s o n an d M an n

, w h o was cam p ai g n i n g

fo r Sh eri ff, an d Bap t i s t e m en ti o n ed a d es i re t o “ s to p t h [e] rei g n o f t erro r” b y Fo rt so n

an d M an n

. Bri ck h ou s e p rep ared a w r i t t e n rep o rt of th e p h o n e cal l an d s en t i t to

Bap ti s t e’ s s u p erv i s o rs

.

5Bap t i s t e’ s su p erv i s o rs s u b s eq u en t l y q u es t i o ned h i m ab o u t h i s co n v ers at i o n

wi t h Bri ck h o u s e. Sp eci fi cal ly

, Bap t i s t e w as as k ed wh et h er h e sp o ke wi t h an y s wo rn

,

n o n -s wo rn

, o r ci v i l i an p ers o nn el t o o b t ai n n eg at i v e i n fo rm a tion a bout co m m an d s t aff.

Bap ti s t e d en i ed d o i n g s o

. M o rg an

, ho wev er, co n cl u d ed t h at Bap t i s t e h ad v io l at ed t h e

o ffi ce ’ s p olic i e s a ga i n st public c r itic ism o f t h e o ffi ce an d fo r t ru th fu l n es s / co o p erat i o n,

an d h e reco m

m en ded t h at Bap t i st e b e d is ci pl i ned i m m ed i at el y

. Ch i ef Dep u t y

Reg in al d Scan d r e t t

, a c o m m an d er i n t h e Jai l Di v is i on

, as k ed Bap t i s t e wh y h e h ad

co n tact ed Bri ck h o u s e an d wh et h er h e h ad us ed t h e p h ras e “ rei g n o f t erro r.” Bap t is t e

was ev as iv e b u t u l t im at el y ad m i t t ed t h at he was co nd u ct i n g an i n v es t i g at i on an d t h at

h e h ad u s ed t h e p h ras e.

Th e s h eri ff’ s el ect i o n was h el d on J u ly 2 2, 2 0 1 4. Bap t i s t e was t erm i n at ed t wo

d ay s l at er, an d

, t h ree d ay s l at er, Pat t ers o n was d em o t ed an d t ran s ferred o u t o f OPS.

Ul t i m at el y

, i t was Sh eri ff Man n wh o d eci d ed t o t erm in at e Bap t i s t e, b u t bo t h Fo rt so n

an d Ch i ef Scan d ret t ag reed wi th t h e d eci s i o n

.

Bap t i s te fi l ed t he i n s t an t s u i t ag ai ns t Sh eri ff M an n i n h i s o ffi c i a l cap aci t y

,

al l eg in g th at h i s t erm i n at i o n vi o l at ed t h e Geo rg i a W hi s t l eb l o wer Act (“ GW A”) an d

as s ert i n g a cl ai m fo r at t o rn ey fees

. M an n m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h at

n o g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact rem ai n ed o n Bap t is t e’ s cl ai m becau s e (1 ) Bap t i st e’ s

6rep o rt s o f ex ces s i v e u s e o f fo r c e a n d t h e al l eg ed m ed i cat i o n recy cl i ng were n ot

“ d i scl o su res ” wi t h in t h e m ean i n g o f t h e GW A; (2 ) t he al leg ed d i s cl o s u res were n ot

cau s al l y co n n ect ed t o Bap t i s t e’ s t erm i n at i o n ; (3 ) Bap t i st e’ s v i o l at i o n o f t he o ffi ce’ s

p o l i ci es o n p u b l i c cri t i ci s m an d t ru t h fu l n es s /co o p erat i o n w as a l e g i t i m at e n o n

d i s cri m i n at o ry reas o n fo r Bap t i s t e’ s t erm i n at i on ; an d (4 ) Bap t i s t e co u l d no t s h o w t h at

t h e p r o f f e r e d reas o n fo r h i s t erm i n at i o n was p ret ex t u al

. 2 Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e

m o ti o n aft er a h eari n g

, an d Bap t i s t e fi l ed t hi s ap p eal

.

T h e G e o rg i a W h is t l eb lo wer Act

, O CGA § 4 5 -1 -1 et s eq

., p ro h i b i ts a p u b l i c

em pl o y er fro m ret al i at i n g “ ag ai n s t a p u b li c em p l oy ee fo r d is cl os i n g a v i o l at i o n o f o r

n o n co m p l i an ce wi t h a law, ru l e, o r reg u l at i o n t o ei t h er a s u perv i s o r o r a g o v ern m en t

ag en cy

, u n l es s t he di scl o s u re w as m ad e wi t h k n o wl ed ge t h at t h e d i s cl o s ure was fal s e

o r w i t h reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r i ts t ru t h o r fal si ty .” OCGA § 4 5 -1 -4 (d ) (2 ). To s u cceed

o n a cl ai m u n d er t he G W A, a p u bl i c em p l oy ee m us t e s t ab l i s h “ t h at (1 ) [h e] was

em pl o y ed b y a p u b li c em

p l o y er; (2 ) [h e] m ad e a pro t ect ed d is cl os u re o r o b j ect i o n;

(3 ) [h e] s u ffered an ad v ers e em p l o y m en t act i on ; an d ( 4 ) t here i s so m e cau s al

rel at i o n s h i p b et w een th e p ro t ect e d a c t i v it y an d th e ad v ers e em p l o y m en t act i o n.”

2 Man n al s o arg u ed t h at Bap t i s t e w as n o t a “ p u b li c em p l o y ee,” bu t h e l at er

co n ced ed at t h e h eari n g fo r t h e su m m ary ju d g m en t m o ti o n t hat Bap t i s te was a “ p u b l i c

em pl o y ee” fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e GW A.

7M

ur r a y-Ob er t ei n v. Ga

. Go vt

. Tr a n s pa r en cy a n d Ca mp a i

g n Fi n an ce Co mm.

, 344 G a

.

Ap p . 6 7 7 , 6 8 0 -6 8 1 (8 12 SE2 d 2 8 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

W h en an al y zi n g cl ai m s bro u g h t u n d er t he G eo rg i a W h is tl eb l o wer Act

,

we ap p ly t h e s am e bu rd en -s h i ft i n g an al y s i s es t ab li s h e d b y t h e Un i ted

St at es Su p rem e Co u rt fo r ret al i at i o n cas es bro u g h t u nd er T it l e VII of th e

Ci v i l Ri g h ts A ct o f 1 9 6 4

. See McDo n n el l Do u g l as Co r p. v. Gr een

, 4 1 1

U. S. 79 2

, 8 0 2 -8 0 3 (II) (9 3 SCt 1 8 1 7

, 36 LE2 d 6 6 8) (1 9 7 3 ). Un d er t h i s

fram ewo rk

, t h e p l ai n ti ff m u s t fi rs t m ak e a p ri m a faci e cas e o f ret al iat i o n

.

If th e p l ai n t i ff m ak es a p ri m a faci e cas e, t he b u rd en o f p ro d u ct i on s h i ft s

t o t h e em p l o y er t o art i cu lat e s om e l eg i t i m at e, n o n d i s cri m i n at o ry reas o n

fo r t h e em

p l o y m en t d eci s i o n

. If t h e em p l o y er s ucces s fu l l y m eet s t h i s

b u rd en o f p ro d u ct i o n, t h en th e b u rd en s h i ft s back t o t h e pl ai n t i ff to s h o w

t h at each p ro ffered reas o n was p ret ex t

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed

. ) F r a nkl i n v. Pi t t

s

, 3 4 9 G a. Ap p

. 5 4 4

, 5 4 7 (8 2 6

SE2 d 4 2 7 ) (2 0 19 ). W h en an al y zi n g cas es u n d er t he M cDo n nel l Do ug l a s fram ewo rk

,

we h av e p rev i o u s ly rel ied o n

, an d fo u n d p ers uas i v e, cas es fro m t h e E l ev en t h Ci rcu i t

.

Tu o h y v. Ci t y o f At l a n ta

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p . 8 4 6 , 8 5 1 (3 ) (a) n

. 6 (7 7 1 SE2 d 5 0 1 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

In t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co urt co n cl ud ed t h at Bap t i s t e fai l ed t o es tab l is h a p ri m a

faci e cas e o f ret al i at i on i n v i ol at i o n o f t h e GW A. Sh eri ff M an n co n ced ed t hat Bap t is t e

i s a p u bl i c e m

p l o ye e, an d t here i s n o d i sp u t e t h at Bap t i s t e s u ffered an ad v ers e

em pl o y m en t act io n

. Ou r fo cu s, t h erefo re, i s o n t h e seco n d an d fo u rt h el em en t s :

8wh et h er Bap t i s t e en g ag ed i n a p ro t ect ed act iv i ty

, an d wh et h er t h ere i s a cau s al l i n k

b et ween t h at p ro t ect ed act i v i t y an d t h e ad v ers e em

p l oy m en t act i o n

.

1

. A s t o p ro t ect ed act i vi t i es

, t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d t h at Bap t i s t e’ s cal l t o O P S

reg ard i n g t h e Do zi er/ Si m s In ci den t was a p ro t ect ed d i s cl o su re p u rs u an t t o th e GW A.

On ap p eal

, Bap t i s t e arg u es t h at h e m ad e at l eas t t wo ad d i t io n al p ro t ect ed d i s cl o s u res

.

(a ) Reb u tt al

Memo

Bap t i s te fi rs t co n t en d s t h at h i s reb u tt al m em o w as a p ro t ect ed d i s cl o s u re

b ecau s e i t d es cri bed prev i o u s i n ci d en t s o f ex ces s i v e f o r c e an d al l eg ed t h at t h e

Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce was o b st ru ct i n g ju s t i ce b y fai l i n g t o h ol d t h e o f f i c e r s acco u n t ab l e.

We n o t e t h at t h e reco rd i n cl u d es ev i d en ce es tab l i s h i ng th at

, u n d er t he Sh eri f f ’s

Offi c e’ s p o l i ci es an d p ro ced u res

, wh en ev er fo rce is u s ed ag ai n st an in m at e, t h e

o ffi cers in v o l v ed an d t h ei r s u perv i s o r are req u i red t o wri t e a st at em en t

, an d t h o s e

s t at em en t s an d an y o t h e r rel ev an t ev id en ce are t o b e as s em b l ed in a u s e o f fo rce

p ack ag e, wh i ch wi l l t h en b e fo rward ed u p t he ch ai n o f co m m an d an d p o s s i b l y

referred t o OPS. If a n i n v e st i g at i o n rev eal s cri m in al act i v it y b y an o ffi cer, O PS

fo rward s i t s fi n d i n g s t o t h e D i s t r i ct At t o rn ey fo r p o s s i b l e pro s ecu t io n

. In ad d i t i o n,

wh en ev er t here i s an i n

j u ry t o an i n m at e, a prel i m i nary rep o rt m u s t b e d el iv ered t o t h e

Sh eri ff an d OPS wi t h i n t wen t y -fo u r h ou rs

.

9In h i s reb u tt al m em o

, Bap t i s te as s ert ed t h at i n a p rev i o u s in ci den t of ex ces s i v e

fo rce, an o ffi cer s t r u ck a s us p ect (wh o was h an d cu ffed

, s ecu red i n l eg i ro n s

, an d

weari n g a s eat b el t) n u m ero u s t i m es

, ren deri n g h i m u n co n sci o u s an d cau s i n g a

cru s h ed t rach ea. Su p erv i s o rs fai l ed to res po n d t o t h e scen e, t h e s u p e rv i s o r wh o

cl ean ed t h e b l oo d y v eh i cl e wh ere t h e i n ci d en t o ccu r red d i d n o t p h o t o g rap h i t fi rs t

,

an d n o s u p erv i s or ev er i n terv i ewed an y wi t n es s es

. No n et h el es s

, al l s u p erv i s o rs were

ev en tu al l y p ro m o t ed

. Bap t i st e as s ert ed t h at i n an o t her p rev i o u s i n ci d en t of ex ces s i v e

fo rce, an o ffi cer rep eat ed l y s l ap p ed an i n m at e (wh o was h an dcu ffed an d s eat ed ) i n t h e

face. N o wi t nes s es were i n t erv iewed

, an d n o us e of fo rce rep o rt was g en erat ed u n t i l

t h e cas e was rep o rt ed t o OPS. Bap t i s t e m ai nt ai n ed t h at b o t h i n ci d en t s w ere c l ear

v i o l at i o n s o f an i n m at e’ s ci v i l ri g h t s an d were far m o re s eri o u s si t uat i o n s o f n eg l ect

o f d ut y

, y et t h e Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce fai l ed t o t ak e t h e “ n eces s ary re q ui red act i o n ” aft er

t h o s e i n ci d en t s

.

As we n o ted ab o v e, t h e GW A p ro t ect s p u b l i c em p l o y ees fro m ret a l i at i o n fo r

“ d i scl o si n g a v i o lat io n o f o r n o n co m p l i an ce wi th a l aw, ru l e, o r reg ul at io n t o ei t h er

a s u p erv is o r o r a g o v ern m en t ag en cy [.] ” OCGA § 45 -1 -4 (d ) (2 ). If th e vi o l at i o n o r

n o n co m p l i an ce i s al read y wi d el y k n o wn

, h owev er, t h e em p l o y ee’ s d i s cl o s u r e o f i t

d o es n o t co n s t i t u t e wh i s t l eb l owi n g an d i s n o t p ro t ect ed b y t h e GW A. See Fo r r es t er

10v. Ga

. Dep ’t o f Hu ma n S

er vs

. , 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 6

, 7 2 4 (1 ) (a) (i i ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 6 6 0 )

(2 0 1 1) (p h y s i cal p reced en t on l y ). In Fo r r es ter

, t h e p l ai nt i ffs co n ten d ed t h at th ey were

f i r e d i n ret al i at i o n fo r rep o rt i n g a co wo rk er’ s ch ro n i c ab s en teei sm an d d ru g ab u s e.

Fo r res ter

, s u p ra, 30 8 G a. Ap p

. at 7 24 (1 ) (a) (i i ). Th e c o wo rk er’ s ab s en t eei s m an d

ex cu ses were al read y a “ ru n n i n g j o k e ” t h a t was d i s cu s sed i n t h e offi ce o n a d ai l y

b as i s

, h o wev er, s o we co n cl u d ed t h at t h e p lai n t i ffs ’ d i s cl o su res were n o t co v ered by

t h e GW A . Id

.

Here, co n s i d eri ng th e Re b u t t a l M em o in i t s en t i ret y an d i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o Bap t i st e, we ag ree wi t h Bap t i st e t h at t h e m em o n o t o nl y i d en t i fi ed

p rev i o u s i n ci den t s o f ex ces s i v e fo rce an d lack o f s u p erv i s i o n

, b u t al so al leg ed t h at t h e

Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce w as fai l i n g t o t ak e req u ired m eas u res t o ad d res s t h e i n ci d en t s

,

i n cl u d i n g co m

p i li n g a us e o f fo rce p ack ag e an d referri n g seri o u s i n ci d en t s t o OPS fo r

p o s s i b l e referral t o t h e Di st ri ct At t o rn ey fo r cri m i n al pro s ecu t io n

. An d al t h ou g h t h e

i n ci d en t s t h em sel ves m ay hav e b een fi rm l y d o cu m e nte d

, the S he r if f ’ s O f f i c e ’ s a ll eg ed

l ack of ap p ro p ri at e res p o n s es was n o t

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, we co n cl u de t h at th e Reb u t t al

M em o co n tai n ed p ro t ect ed d is cl o s u res wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e GW A

.

(b ) Meet i n g wi t h Ch i ef

Fo r t s o n

11Seco n d

, Bap t i s t e co nt en d s t h at h e m ad e p ro t ect ed d i s cl o s u res d u ri n g h i s

m eet i n g w i t h Ch i ef Fo rt so n in M ay 2 0 14

, wh en h e rep o rt ed b o t h v i o lat i o n s o f

i n m at es ’ ci v i l ri g h t s an d t h e J ai l Di v i s i o n ’ s effo rt s to av o i d cri m i n al p ro s ecu t i o n fo r

t h e in d iv i d u al s i nv ol v ed i n t h em

. Acco rd i n g t o Bap t i s t e, du ri n g t h i s m e et i n g h e

ad v is ed Fo rt s o n th at a nu m b er o f ci vi l ri g ht s v i ol at i o n s h ad o ccu rred in t h e jai l

. At h er

d ep os i t i o n , Fo rt so n s t at ed t h at s h e d i d n o t recal l ex act l y wh at Bap t i s t e t o l d h er, b ut

s h e rem em

b ered t h a t h e t al k ed ab o u t si tu at i o n s t h at had h ap pen ed i n t h e jai l wi th

wh i ch s h e was co m

p let el y un fam i l i ar. Pat ters o n s t at ed

, h o wev er, t h at ri g h t aft er t h e

m eet i n g

, Fo rt s o n to l d h i m Bap t i s t e h ad i n fo rm ed h er t hat ci v i l ri gh t s v i o l at i o n s were

o ccu rri n g at t h e jai l b u t were n o t b ei ng referred t o th e Di s t ri ct At t o rn ey fo r p o s s i b l e

p ro s ecu ti o n

, an d t h at sh e as ked Pat t ers o n i f Bap t i s t e h ad m ad e si m i l ar rep o rt s t o OPS.

Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t he co m p l ai n t s Bap ti s te rai sed d ur ing his m e e t i n g

wi t h Fo rt s o n

, li k e t h o s e h e i d en t i fi ed i n t h e m em o, d i d n o t co n s t i t u t e p ro t ect ed

d i s cl os u res b ecau s e t h ey were al read y wi d el y k n own

. Fo rt s on

, h owev er, t es ti fi ed t h at

s h e was u n aware o f t h e i s s u e s Bap t i s t e d i s cl o s ed t o h er d u ri n g t hei r m eet i n g

. An d

ag ai n

, al t h o u g h t h e i n ci d en t s t h em s el v es m ay h av e been wel l -d o cu m en ted

, t h ere d o es

n o t ap p ear t o b e an y ev i d en ce t h at t h e Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce’ s al l eg ed l ack o f ap p ro p ri at e

res p o n s es w as wi del y k n o wn

. Acc o rd i n g l y

, we co n cl u d e t h at Bap t i s t e’ s M ay 2 0 1 4

12m eet i n g wi t h Fo rt s o n co n s t i t u t es a p ro t ect ed d i s cl o s u re w i th i n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e

GW A.

2

. Nex t, Bap t i s t e arg u es t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o M an n o n h is GW A cl ai m b ecau s e g en u i n e i s s u es o f fact rem ai n as to

wh et h er t h ere w as a cau s al co n n ect i o n b et ween h i s d i scl o s u res an d h i s term i n at i o n.

W e ag ree an d co n cl u d e t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred by g ran t in g s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n

t h i s b as i s

.

As t o cau s at i o n , we h av e s t at ed t h at

[t ] h e cau s al l i n k el em en t i s co n s t ru ed b ro ad l y s o t h at a p lai n t i ff m erel y

h a s t o p ro v e t hat t h e p ro t ect ed act iv it y an d t he n eg at i ve em pl o y m e n t

act i o n are n o t co m

p l et el y u n rel at ed

. A p lai n ti ff s at i s fi es t h i s el em en t i f

[h e] p ro v i d es s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f [(1 )] kn o wl ed g e o f t h e p ro t ect ed

ex p res s i o n an d [(2 )] t h at t h ere was a cl o s e tem p o ral p ro xi m i t y b et w een

t h i s awaren es s an d t h e ad v ers e act i o n

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at io n o m it t ed .) Fr eema n v. S mi t h

, 3 24 G a. A p p

. 42 6

, 4 3 1 (1 )

(7 5 0 SE2 d 7 39 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (o v erru l e d o n ot h er g ro u n d s b y Fr a nkl i n v. P i t t s

, 3 4 9 Ga.

Ap p . 5 4 4 , 5 5 2 (1 ) (c) (8 2 6 SE2 d 4 2 7 ) (2 0 19 )).

W h en co n s i d eri n g wh et h er a p l ai n t i ff h a s s a t i sfi ed t h e cau s al co n n ect i o n

el em en t o f a GW A cl ai m

, ap p el l at e co u rt s hav e reco g n i zed t hat

, as a gen eral ru l e, t h e

13p as s ag e o f ti m e bet ween t h e p ro t ect ed act iv i t y an d t h e ad vers e act i o n t en d s to n eg at e

an i n feren ce of d i s cri m in at i o n

. See, e.g

., Cl a r k Co u n t y S ch

. Di s t

. v. Br eed en

, 5 3 2 U.S.

2 6 8

, 2 7 3 -2 7 4 (1 2 1 SCt 1 5 08

, 14 9 LE2 d 50 9 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (“ Th e cas es t hat accep t m ere

t em p o ral p ro x i m i t y b et ween an em p l o y er’ s k n o wl ed ge o f p ro t ect e d act i v i t y an d an

a d vers e em

p l o y m en t act i o n as s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f cau s al i t y t o es t ab l i sh a p ri m a

faci e cas e u n i fo rm l y h ol d t h at t h e t em p o ral p ro x im i t y m

u s t b e ‘ v ery cl o s e[.] ’ Act i o n

t ak en (as h ere) 20 m o n t h s l at er s u g g es t s, by i t s el f, n o cau s al i ty at al l

. ” ) ( c i t at i on s

o m it t ed ); Al ber

s v. Ga

. Bd

. of Reg en ts o

f t h e U n i v. S ys

. of Ga

. , 3 30 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8,

6 2 -6 3 (1 ) (b ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 5 2 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ It i s tru e t h at t i m i n g m ay b e im p o rt an t i n t h e

cau s at i o n an al y s i s

. As we h av e n o t ed

, a ret al i at i o n cl ai m fai l s i f t h ere i s a s u b s t an t i al

d el ay b et ween t h e p ro t ect ed ex p res s i o n an d t h e ad v ers e act i o n i n t h e ab s en ce o f o t h er

ev i d en ce t en d i n g to s h ow cau s at i o n .”) (Fo ot n o t e an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ W h ere

t h ere was a s i gn i fi can t t i m e g ap b et ween t h e p ro t ect ed act i v i t y an d t he ad v ers e act i o n,

t h e p l ai nt i ff m

u s t offer ad d i t i o n al ev i d en ce t o d em o n s t rat e a cau s al co n n ect io n

, s u ch

as a p at t ern o f an t ag o n i s m o r t h at t h e ad vers e act i o n w as t h e fi rs t o p po rt u n i ty fo r t h e

em pl o y er t o ret al i at e.” W

a r d v. UPS

, 5 8 0 F e d

. A p p x

. 7 3 5

, 7 3 9 (II) (B) (1 1 t h Ci r.

2 0 1 4 ).

(a

) Def en d a nt ’s Kn o wl ed

ge o f t h e Pr o tect ed

Di s cl o s u res

14Bap t i s te co n ten d s t h ere i s c i r c u m s t an t ial ev i d en ce t h at M an n k n ew o f h i s

d i s cl os u re t o OPS b efo re t h e wri t t en co u n s el in g was i s s u ed on Feb ru ary 1 0

, 20 1 4

. He

n o t es t h at O P S I n v es t i g at o r Scan d ret t

, wh o w as as si g n ed t o i n v es t i g at e t h e

D o z i e r / Si m s i nci d en t, i s Ch i ef Scan d ret t’ s co u s i n

, an d b o t h M o rg an an d Ch i ef

Scan d ret t t es t i fi e d t h a t i t i s p o s s ib l e Ch i ef Scan d ret t d i rect ed M o rg an t o i s s u e t h e

wri t ten co u n sel in g. Bap t i s t e as s ert s t hat

, i n l i gh t o f t h is ev i d en ce, i t co u l d b e i n ferred

t h at Ch i ef Scan d ret t l earn ed o f Bap t i s t e’ s di s cl o s ure t o O PS t h ro ug h h i s co us i n

, O PS

In v es t i g at o r Scan d ret t , an d t h en d i rect ed M o rg an t o d is ci pl i n e Bap t i s t e.

Bap t i st e al so n o t es t h at b o t h Fo rt s o n a n d Ch i ef Scan d ret t rev i ewed h i s

Reb ut t al M em o

, an d h e m et wi th Fo rt s o n i n l at e M ay 2 0 1 4

. Bo t h Fo rt s o n an d Ch i ef

Scan d ret t reco m

m en ded t h at Bap t i s t e b e t erm i n at ed

, an d t h e ir r e c o m m en d at i o n s were

fact ors in M an n ’ s d eci s i on t o t erm i n at e Bap t i s t e. Fu rt h er, Man n wa s a w a re o f

Bap ti s t e’ s w ri tt en co u n s el in g fo rm an d t h at Bap ti s t e h ad fi l ed o p en reco rd s req u es t s

fo r u se o f fo rce i n ci den t s ev en th o u g h he wo ul d n o t t y p i cal l y be aware o f su ch i s s u es

.

In l ig h t o f t h es e fact s

, we ag ree wi t h Bap ti s te th at

, v i ewi ng t h e ev i d en ce i n h i s fav o r,

a reas o n ab l e ju ry co u l d co n cl u d e t h at M an n k n ew o f t h e d i s cl o s u res b efo re h e

t erm i n at ed Bap t i s t e.

15(b

) Temp o r a l

Rel a t i on s h i

p Bet ween Pr ot ect ed

Di s cl o s u r es a nd

Ter mi n a t i o n

Bap t i s te m ad e h i s l as t d i s cl o s u res wh en h e m et wi t h Fo rt s o n i n M ay 2 0 1 4

, an d

h e w a s t e r m i n at ed o n J u l y 2 4

, 2 0 1 4

. Th i s sp an of ap p ro x i m at el y t wo m o n t h s was

s u ffi ci en t l y cl os e i n t i m e t o sat i s fy t h e req ui rem en t th at t h ere b e a cl os e t em p o ral

p ro x im it y b et ween t h e p ro t ect ed d i s cl o s u re an d t h e ad v ers e act i on

. See Jo n es v. Bd

.

o f Reg en ts o

f t he Un iv. S

ys

. of Ga

. , 2 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 , 8 1 (4 ) (5 8 5 SE2 d 1 3 8 ) (2 0 0 3 )

(wh ere p l ai n t iff’ s i n v es t i g at i o n en d ed i n l at e J an u ary an d h e was d is m i ss ed on M arch

1 2

, t h e t em

p o ral rel at i o n s h i p o f ap p ro x i m at el y two m o n t h s co n s t i t u t ed ci rcu m s t an t i al

ev i d en ce t h at p l ai n ti ff was d is m i s s ed i n rep ri s al fo r h i s i n v es t i g at i o n).

Al s o

, Bap t is t e has pr e se nte d e v ide nc e ten d i n g to ex p l ai n t h e m o n t h s -l o n g d el ay

b et ween hi s fi rs t an d s eco n d p ro t ect ed d i scl o s ures an d h i s t erm i n at i o n

– sp eci fi cal l y

,

t h at M an n was cam

p ai g n i n g i n a c o n t es t ed el ect i o n fo r t h e Sh eri ff’ s po s i t i o n u n t i l

J u ly 22

. As ev i d en ce i n t hi s v ei n

, Fo rt s on tes t ifi ed t h at i n earl y 2 0 1 4

, t he Sh eri f f ’s

Offi ce was i n an at y

p i cal “ v acu u m ” b ecau s e o f th e u p co m i n g s h eri ff’ s el ect i o n

. Th e

s h eri ff o f fo u rt een y ears was s t ep p i n g d o wn

, an d M an n

, t h e ch i ef d ep u ty

, was s eek i n g

t o rep l ace h i m

. As Fo rt s o n ex p l ai n ed

, t h e o ffi ce was “ a b i g s hi p

, ” an d al th o u g h a l ot

o f i t s po l i ci es an d p ro ced u res s t ay ed t h e s am e, “ i t was un k n o wn t o u s t o hav e a n ew

s h eri ff an d a v acu u m an d no ch i ef at t h e t i m e.” Fu rt h er, t h ere i s ev i d en ce t h at

, d u ri n g

16t h e cam

pai g n peri o d, t h e jai l d i v i s i o n ’ s co m m an d s t a f f was p l an n i n g to “ t ak e care”

o f Bap t i s t e aft er t he el ect i o n

.

M an n arg u es t h at Bap t is t e’ s cal l t o Bri ck h ou s e b ro k e an y cau s al ch ai n b et ween

h i s p ro tect ed d i s cl o s ures a n d hi s t erm i n at i o n, an d h e ci t es fed eral cas el aw fo r t h e

p ri n ci p l e t h at wh ere a pl ai n t i ff en g ag es i n an i n t erv en i ng act o f m i s co nd u ct

, t h at act

can b reak t h e ca u s al co n n ect io n b et ween h i s p ro tect ed act i v i t y an d t h e ad v ers e

em pl o y m en t act i o n

. See Br i s k v. S h or el i n e Fo u n d

., In c.

, 65 4 Fed

. Ap p x

. 4 1 5

, 4 1 7

( 1 1th C i r

. 2016 ) (“ t h ere was n o cau sal co nn ect i o n b et w een t h e p ro tect ed co n du ct

– [t h e

p l ai n t i ff] t ak i ng FM LA l eav e--an d t he ad v ers e ev en t

, t erm i nat i on

, wh en t he t em p o ral

p ro x im it y o f fo u r m o n t h s was t en u o u s an d t h ere w a s a n i n t e rv en i n g cau s e o f p o o r

wo rk p erfo rm an ce”); Ha n ki n s v. Ai r Tr a n Ai r wa ys

, In c.

, 23 7 Fe d

. Ap p’ x

. 5 1 3

, 5 2 0

(1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 7 ) (“ Des p i t e a cl o s e p ro x i m i t y in t i m e b et ween t h e [p ro t ect ed co m p l ai nt

an d p lai n t i ff’ s term i n at i o n ]

, t h e ev i den ce es t ab l i s h es t hat [t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s ] fl ag ran t act

o f m is co nd u ct [, y el l i n g at a co -wo rk er an d t h reat en i n g t o “ k i ck h i s as s ,”] b ro k e t h e

cau s al ch ai n .”). E v en i n t h os e cas es

, h owev er, t h e co urt co n s i d ered n o t o n l y wh et h er

t h e p l ai n t i ff h ad en gag ed i n an i n t erv en in g act o f m is co n d u ct

, b u t al s o o t h er i n d i ci a

of c a usa tio n

, i n cl u di n g t h e s t ren g t h of t h e t em po ral rel at i o n s h i p b et ween t h e pr ote c te d

act i vi t y an d t h e ad v ers e em p l o y m en t d eci si o n

. Th u s

, to t h e ex t en t M an n co n ten d s t h at

17an i n terv en i n g act o f m i s co n d u ct au t o m at i cal l y s ev ers an ap paren t cau s al co n n ect i o n,

we reject hi s arg u m en t. W e fu rt h er co n cl u d e, at l eas t u nd er th e ci rcu m s t an ces

p res en t ed i n t h e i n s t an t cas e, t h at t he q u es t i o n o f wh et her Bap t i s t e’ s al leg ed act s o f

m i s co n du ct were t h e cau s e o f h i s term in at i on i s m o re ap pro p ri at el y co n s i d ered at t h e

p ret ex t s t ag e t h an as p art o f t he p ri m a faci e cas e.

We a l s o reject M an n ’ s co n t en t i o n th at t h e d o ct ri n e o f fi rs t o p p o rt u n i t y

ret al i at i o n can n o t ap p l y t o t h i s cas e. M an n b as es h i s arg u m en t o n t he fact t h at n ei t h er

Bap ti s t e n o r M an n were ab s en t fro m wo rk d uri n g t h e r el ev an t p eri o d

, an d h e al s o

n o t es t h at t h ere was n o ch an g e i n l ead ers h i p at t h e Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce d u ri n g t h at t i m e.

Bu t we d o n o t read s u ch a req u i rem en t i n t h i s d o ct ri n e. In s t ead

, we v i ew t h i s t h eo ry

as p art of t h e o v e r a l l q u es t i o n o f wh et h er t h ere i s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f cau s at i o n.

See, e.g

., W

a r d

, s u p ra, 5 80 Fed

. Ap p x

. at 7 3 9 (II) (B)(“ W h ere t h ere was a s i g n i fi can t

t i m e g ap b et ween th e pro tect ed act i v i t y an d t he ad v ers e act i on

, t he p l ai n t i ff m u s t o ffer

ad d i t i o n al ev i den ce t o d em o n s t rat e a cau s al co n n ect i o n

, s u ch as a p at t ern o f

an t ag o n is m o r t hat t h e ad v ers e act i o n w as t h e fi rs t o p p o r t u n i t y fo r t h e em p l o y er to

ret al i at e.”). Ad d i t io n al l y

, w e are m i n d fu l t h at

, o n t h e i s s ue of cau s at i on

, t h e p l ai n t i ff

n eed o n l y es t ab l is h t h at t h e p ro t ect ed act i v i t y an d ad v ers e act i on were n o t co m p l et el y

u n rel at ed

. See Al b er

s

, s u p ra, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 2 (1 ) (b ) (“ Th e cau s at io n el em en t in

18a wh i s t leb l ower cas e i s co n st ru ed b ro ad l y s o t h at a p l ai nt i ff m erel y h as t o p ro v e t h at

t h e p ro t ect ed act iv i t y an d th e n eg at i v e em pl o y m en t act i o n are n o t co m p l et el y

u n r e l at ed .”) (Fo o t n o te an d pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). Here, al t h ou g h n ei t h er M an n n o r

Bap ti s t e were ab s en t d uri n g t h e rel ev an t ti m e peri od

, t h ere i s ev id en ce t h at t here was

a “ v acu u m ” o f l ead ers h i p at t h e Sh eri ff’ s Offi c e b et ween Bap t i s t e’ s earl ies t

d i s cl o s u res an d t h e s h eri ff’ s el ect i o n

. Fu rt h er, t h ere i s ev i d en ce t h at

, d u r i n g t h e

cam p ai g n p eri o d

, t h e jai l d iv i s i o n ’ s co m m an d s taff was pl an n in g t o “ t ak e care” o f

Bap ti s t e aft er t h e el ect i o n

. An d Bap t i s t e was

, i n d eed

, t erm i n at ed o n l y t wo d ay s aft er

t h e el ect io n

.

Ul t i m at el y

, u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces p res en t ed i n t h i s cas e, we co n cl u d e t h at

a reas o n ab le ju ro r co u l d fi n d t hat B a p t i s t e h as es t ab l i s h ed p ri m a faci e ev i d en ce o f

cau s at i o n b et ween h i s p r o t e c t ed d i s cl o s u res an d s u b s eq uen t t erm i n at i o n

, an d we

t h erefo re co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran t i n g s u m m ary j u d gm en t o n t h i s

b as i s

.

3

. Las t l y

, Bap t i s t e arg u es t h at t he tri al co u r t erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o M an n b ecau s e gen u i n e i s s u es of fact rem ai n as t o wh et h er t h e p ro ffered

reas on fo r h i s t erm i n at i o n was a p ret ex t fo r ret al i at io n. W e ag ree an d co ncl u d e t h at

t h e t ri al co urt erred b y

g ran t i ng s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n t h i s b as i s.

19Un d er t h e M c D o n n el l -Do u g l a s fram ewo rk

, M an n b ears t h e b u rd en o f

art i cu l at i n g a l eg i t i m at e, n o n-ret al i at o ry reas o n fo r t erm i n at i n g B a p t i s t e. See

Fr a nkl in

, s u pra, 3 4 9 Ga. A p p

. at 5 4 7 ; Ha r ri s v. Ci t y o f At l a n t a

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 5,

3 7 7 (8 1 3 SE2 d 4 2 0 ) (2 01 8 ). T h e b urd en t h en s h i ft s b ack t o Bap t i s t e t o s h o w t h at t h e

p ro ffered reas on was a p ret ex t fo r ret al i at i o n. Id

. Here, Man n co n t en ds t h at Bap t is t e

was t erm in at ed b ecau s e h e v i ol at ed t h e o ffi ce’ s p o li ci es ag ai n s t p u b li c cri t ici s m an d

fo r t ru th fu l n es s / co o p erat i on b as ed o n h is co n v ers at i o n w it h Dr. Bri ck h o us e an d h i s

ev as i v en es s wh en as k ed ab ou t t h at co n v ers at i o n. 3 As s u m i n g t h at M an n h as m et h i s

b u rd en o f art i cu l at i n g a l e g i ti m at e, n o n -ret al i at o ry reas o n fo r t h e t erm i n at i o n

, t h e

b u rd en n o w s h i ft s t o Bap t i s t e t o es t ab l is h t h at M an n ’ s p ro ffered reas o n i s p ret ex t u al

.

W e h av e s ai d t h at

[p ] ret ex t i s es t ab l i s h ed b y a d i rect s h o wi ng t h at a d i scri m i n at ory reas o n

m o re l i k el y m o t i v at ed t h e d efen d an t o r b y an i n di rect s h o w i ng t h at th e

3 Th e DeKal b Co u n ty Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce Co d e o f Co n d u ct pro v i des t h at “ [p ] u b l i c

cri t i ci s m o f t h e DKSO, i t s p o l i ci es o r m em b ers b y tal k i n g

, w ri t i n g

, o r ex p res s i o n in

an y m an n er wh ere su ch t al k i ng

, wri t i n g

, o r ex p res si o n : i s d efam at o ry ; i s o bs cen e; i s

u n l awfu l ; ten d s t o i m

p ai r t h e o p erat io n o f t h e DKSO b y im p ai ri ng i t s effi ci en cy ;

i n t erferes wi t h t h e ab i l i t y o f s u p erv i s o rs t o m a i n t a i n d i s ci p l i n e; o r i s m ad e wi th

reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r tru t h o r fal s i t y

, is p ro h i b it ed .” As t o t ru th fu l n es s / co o p erat i o n,

t h e co d e of co n d u ct p ro v i d es : “ [t ] es t i fy i n g, fal s i fy i n g an y d o cu m en t

, m ak i n g rep o rt s

o r co n d u ct i n g b u s i n es s i n a l es s t h an t ru t h fu l an d / o r co op erat i ve m an n er i s

p ro h ib i t ed .”

20d efen d an t ’ s ex p l an at i o n i s n o t cred i b l e. To av o id s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, a

p l ai n t i ff m

u s t p res en t s i gn i fi can t l y p ro b at i v e ev i d en ce o n t h e i s s u e o f

p ret ex t b ecau s e t h e p l ai n t i ff h as t h e b urd en o f es t ab l i s h i ng p ret e x t

. A

d efen d an t ’ s g i ven reas o n i s n o t p r e t ex t u al u n les s i t i s s h o wn b ot h t hat

t h e reas o n was fal s e, an d t h at d i s cri m i n at i o n o r ret al i at i o n was t h e real

reas o n

. If t he p ro ffered reas on i s o n e t h at m i g ht m ot i v at e a reas o n ab l e

em p l o y er, an em

p lo y ee m u s t m eet t h at reas o n head o n an d reb u t i t

, an d

t h e em p l o y ee can n o t s u cceed b y si m p l y q uarrel i n g wi t h t h e w i s d o m o f

t h at reas o n, or s h o wi n g th at th e d eci s io n was b as ed o n erro n eo us fact s

.

(Fo o tn o tes an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ..) Ha r ri s

, su p ra, 3 45 Ga. Ap p. at 37 8 -3 7 9 (2 ) (b ).

W e co n cl u de t h at Bap t i s t e h as carri ed h i s b u r d en in th i s cas e. Am o n g o t h er

ev i d en ce, Bap t i s t e s h owed t h at

, u n d er t h e o ffi ce’ s s c h ed u l e of pen al t i es

, a fi rs t

v i o l at i o n o f t h e t ru t h fu l n es s /co o p erat i on po l i cy o rd i n ari l y wo u l d res u l t i n a 2 5 .5 -h o u r

s u s p e n s i o n wi t h o ut p ay wh i l e a fi rs t v io l at io n o f t h e Pu b l ic Cri t i ci sm p o l i cy wo u ld

res u l t i n an 8

. 5 -h o u r s u s p en s io n wi t h o u t p a y

. Bap t i s t e h ad n o p ri o r d is ci p l i n ary

h i s t o ry i n h i s fo u rt een y ear t en u re at t h e Sh eri ff’ s O f f i c e

, e x c ep t fo r th e wri t t en

c o un s el i ng he recei v ed aft er t h e Do zi er/ Si m s In ci d en t, b ut h e was n on et h e l e s s

t erm i n at ed i n l i g h t of h i s fi rs t v i o l at i o n s

. Bap t i s t e al s o s ho wed t h at an o t h er em p l o y ee,

Offi cer Do zi er, was s ub

ject to les s s ev ere di s ci p l i n e fo r m o re s ev ere i n fract i on s o f t h e

Co d e o f Co n d u ct : Do zi er was i nv o l v ed i n a s eco n d ex ces s i v e-fo rce i n ci d en t l es s t h an

21fi ve m o n t h s aft er t h e Do zi er/ S i m s i n c i d en t

, b u t Sh eri ff Man n d eci d ed t o d em o t e,

rat h er th an t erm i n at e, h im

. Fi n al l y

, Bap ti s te p res en t ed ev i d en ce s u g g es ti n g t h at M an n

an d jai l d i v i s i o n l ead ers we r e p l an n in g t o ret al i at e ag ai n s t h i m an d Pat t ers o n.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, wh en Pat t ers on i n qu i red ab o u t t h e J ai l Di v is i o n ’ s i n v es t i gat i o n i n t o t h e

Do zi er/ Si m s i n ci d en t

, h e was t o l d t h at t he J ai l Di v is i on wo u l d h an d l e t h e s i t u at i o n o n

i t s o wn an d th at t h e Sh eri ff’ s O ffi ce p l an n ed t o “ t ak e care” o f h i m an d Bap t i s t e aft er

M an n ’ s el ect i o n

. C o n s i d eri ng t h i s ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e t o Bap t i s t e,

we co n cl u d e t h at a reas on ab l e ju ro r co u l d fi n d t h at Man n ’ s s t at ed reas o n fo r

t erm i n at i n g Bap t i st e was p ret ex t u al an d t h at Bap t i s t e was t erm i n at ed i n ret al i at i o n fo r

m ak i n g d i s cl o su res ab ou t t h e Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce. See Jef fer s on v. Sewo n Amer i ca

, In c.

,

8 9 1 F.3 d 9 1 1

, 9 2 5

- 9 2 6 (III) (C) (3 ) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 01 8 ) (t o d et erm i n e wh et h er a

reas on ab l e ju ry co u l d fi n d t h at t h e em p l o y er’ s s tat ed ex p l an at i o n fo r t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s

t erm i n at i o n was a p ret e x t f o r ret al i at i on

, t h e co u rt m u s t co n s id er “ al l t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces t o g et h er,” i n cl u d i n g t h e ti m i n g o f t he t e r m i n at i o n an d w h et h er t h e

em pl o y er fo l l o wed i t s d i s ci p li n e p ol i cy wh en i t d eci d ed t o t erm i n at e t h e p l ai n t i ff).

Acco rd i ng l y

, fo r t he reas o n s s t at ed ab o v e, w e rev ers e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Ho d g es a n d Pi p ki n , JJ., co n cu r

.

22