### 2002 D e c i sion s O p inion s of the U nit e d S t a t e s C our t of Appe al s for the Thir d C ir c uit

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. e du/thir dc ir c uit_2002/205NO T PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

___________
No. 01-1918

___________ BARBARA HUGHES,

Appellant

v.
MCI/WORLDCOM, INC.

___________ On Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
District Court Judge: The Honorable Alfred M . Wolin (Action No. 99-cv-04585)

___________
Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34. 1(a) March 1, 2002

Before: ROTH, FUENTES, and KATZ, Circuit Judges
(Opinion Filed: March 26, 2002)

________________________

OPINION OF THE COURT

________________________FUENTES, Circuit Judge:

Appellant Barbara Hughes ("Hughes") appeals th e District Court's grant of summary judgment to her employer, Appellee MCI Worl dCom ("WorldCom"), on Hughes's disparate treatment and equal pay claims. Hughes, an AfricanAmerican woman who is more than forty years old, alleged that her June 1999 demotion at WorldCom was motivated by discriminatory animus and that she was being paid less than certain white male WorldCom employees who held the same position that she did. This case was properly removed to federal cour t, and we have jurisdiction over the instant appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C.  1291. The applicable standard of review is plenary. See, e.g., Ersek v. Township of Springfield, 102 F. 3d 79, 83 (3d Cir. 1996). Upon reviewing the evidence adduced, the Distr ict Court determined that there was no triable issue of fact in dispute as to wheth er WorldCom's proffered rationales for Hughes's demotion and alleged comparatively lower p ay were pretextual. It further determined that Hughes's claim of discrimination ba sed upon national origin should be dismissed, as it was not pursued in the course of a rguing the motion. After a careful review of the record and the p arties' arguments, we find no basis for disturbing the District Court's well-reasoned f indings. We will therefore AFFIRM the judgment for substantially the same reasons set for th in the District Court's opinion.

TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT:
Kindly file the foregoing Opinion.

/s/ Juli o M. Fuentes Circuit Jud ge