## United States Court of App eals

F O R T H E E I G H T H

C I R C U I T

__ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 0- 38 58

__ __ __ __ __ _

Lee A. Davi s, M .D., *

* App el la nt

, *

* App eal fro m

th e Uni te d S ta te s

v. * Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r th e

* East ern Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s. Je ffer so n Ho sp it al Ass oc ia ti on , db a *

Je ffer so n R eg io na l M ed ic al Cen te r; *

Ro be rt P . Atk in so n, CEO J effe rs on * Reg io na l M ed ic al Cen te r; Lo n B it zer, * M.D.; Sh ab bi r Dha ram se y , M.D.; *

Hor ace Gre en , M.D.; Dav id Lup o, * M.D.; C ha rle s M ab ry , M.D.; M. Bi la l *
Mal ik , M.D.; Re id Pie rce, M .D.; *

Ru st on Pie rce, M .D.; Ja m es Alan *

Po ll ard , M.D.; Ro n P rit ch ard , M.D.; *

Jo Ann Mays, *

* App el le es

. *

__ __ __ __ __ _

Su bm it te d: Jan ua ry

12 , 20 12
Fi le d: Ju ly 12, 2 01 2

__ __ __ __ __ _

Befo re BYE, SMI TH, and COLLOTON, Cir cu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ _

SMI TH, Circ ui t J ud ge

.Dr. Lee A. Dav is fil ed th is act io n ag ai ns t Je ffer so n Hos pi ta l Ass oc ia ti on , do in g

b u s i n e s s as Je ffer so n Reg io na l Med ic al Cen te r (J RMC ); JR MC Ch ie f Exe cu ti ve
Offi cer Ro be rt P. Atk in so n; an d 12 ph y si ci an s at JR MC (co ll ect iv el y , "t he

de fen da nt s" ). In his am en de d co m pl ai nt

, Dav is al le ge d, in te r al ia

, race di sc riminat io n

an d ret al ia ti on , i n vi ol at io n of 42 U.S.C. § 19 81 an d th e Ark an sa s Ci vi l Ri gh ts Act
(ACRA), an d co ns pi racy to in te rfer e wit h hi s ci vi l rig ht s, in vi o la ti on of 42 U.S.C.
§ 19 85 (3 ). The di st ric t co u r t gr an te d su m m ary jud gm en t to th e de fen da nt s an d 1

di sm is se d al l of Dav is 's cl ai m s. Dav is ap pe al s th e di sm is sa l of hi s § 19 81

, § 19 85 (3 ),

an d ACR A cla im s. We affi rm

.

I. Bac kg ro un d

Dav is

, an Afri can -Am eri can card io lo gi st

, ob ta in ed m ed ic al -s ta ff pr iv il eg es at

JR MC in 20 03

. Arti cl e 2.1 of th e JR MC Med ic al St aff Cred en ti al in g Po li cy pr ov id es :

Gen eral Qua li fic at io ns —M ed ic al st aff ap po in tm en t

. . . an d cl in ic al

pr iv il eg es are pr iv il eg es ex te nd ed by th e ho sp it al

, an d no t a rig ht of an y in di vi du al

. Co nt in ue d ex erci se of an y su ch st at us or p riv il eg es is

co nt in ge nt up on co m

pl ia nc e wit h th e Med ic al St aff By la ws, th is po li cy ,
an d st aff an d ho sp it al ru le s. App oi nt m en t to th e st aff an d as so ci at ed

c l in ic al pr iv il eg es sh al l be ex te nd ed on ly to pr of es si on al ly co m

pe te n t ph y si ci an s an d de nt is ts who co nt in uo us ly m eet th e qu al ifi cat io ns a nd

req ui rem en ts se t fo rth in th is po li cy , co nf or m to th e st an da rd s of pa ti en t

care im po se d by la w an d he rei n, an d co nt in uo us ly de m on st rate an ab il it y
t o w o r k ha rm on io us ly wit h ot he rs in th e or de rly ren de rin g of qu al it y
pa ti en t ca re. . . .

Fro m 20 04 to 20 06 , Da vi s was in vo lv ed in sev eral di sp ut es wit h J RMC st aff

in whi ch st aff al le ge d th at Dav is m ad e ab us iv e, se xu al ly o f f e n s i ve , pr of

an e, or
de ro ga to ry

rem ark s. In Aug us t 2 00 4, Sh erry Yeg gy-Nail , a reg is te red nu rs e, fi le d a

The Hon or ab le D. Pri ce Mar sh al l, Jr

., Uni te d St a t e s Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e 1

East ern Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s.

-2

-writ te n co m pl a i n t a g a i n s t Dav is fo r hi s us e of "h os ti le an d ab us iv e la ng ua ge ." In

Nov em be r 20 05

, Mo rie Meh y ou , an ad m in is tra ti ve em pl oyee at JR MC, rep or te d th at

Dav is cal le d hi m an "i di ot ." On Ja nu ary 25

, 20 06

, at le as t se ve n ho sp it al em pl oyees

co m pl ai ne d th at Dav i s ha d la sh ed ou t at an en ti re flo or of nu rs es wit h ho st il e an d

in ap pr op ria te la ng ua ge

. A fam il y m em be r of a J RMC pa ti en t al so fil ed a writ te n

co m pl ai nt th at Dav is was "i na pp ro pr ia te " an d "ru de " to th e nu rs es on th e flo or

. Dav is

ad m it te d t ha t h e u se d p ro fan it y wit h J RMC st aff.

Sev eral JR MC p e r s o n ne l al so rep or te d th at Dav is m ad e th reat s or tri ed to

in ti m id at e th em

. In Feb ru ary 20 06

, W e n d y Green

, Lead Co m pl ia nc e Aud it or at

JR MC, rep or te d th at Dav is sa id "h e was go in g to m ak e ba d th in gs ha pp en " to an ot he r
do ct or at JR MC. The ne xt m on th

, Ang el a Br ya n t

, a n ad m in is tra ti ve as si st an t,

ex pr es se d co nc ern th at Dav is "h a[d ] be co m e pa ran oi d an d ha [d ] go tt en ou t of co nt ro l

wit h hi s be ha vi or ." Als o in Mar ch 20 06

, Man ag er of Adm i s s i o ns Bri an Mi ll er
refl ect ed on an en co un te r th at he ha d wit h Dav is

, whi ch he vi ewed as "an at te m pt to

in ti m id at e [Mi ll er]." On Apr il 3, 20 06

, Dr. Rei d Pi erce rep or te d th at Dav is as ke d hi m
ho w he was do in g, to whi ch he res po nd ed

, "Fi ne ." Dav is th en sa id

, "Yo u won 't be fo r
lo ng ."

On May 16

, 20 06

, th e JR MC Cred en ti al s Com m it te e, whi ch rev ie ws m ed ic al

st aff pr iv il eg es at JR MC, in fo rm ed Dav is th at it wou ld be in ve st ig at in g hi s co nd uc t.

The In va si ve Pro ced ur es Co m m it te e al so refe rred "q ua li ty of care is su es " in vo lv in g

Dav is to th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e. Qua li ty of care is su es in cl ud ed "l ack of res po ns e

to nu rs e cal ls fo r pa ti en t care m at te rs ; in ad eq ua te res po ns e ti m es to pa ti en ts ad m it te d

to cri ti cal care un it s; as si gn in g cal l res po ns e to hi s AHP nu rs e; po or do cu m en ta ti on

on pa ti en t reco rd s

. . . ; [an d] refu sa l to ab id e by th e req ue st of le ad ers hi p to rem ed y

po or ch art in g." "[T]he fin al res ul t of th at in it ia l in ve st ig at io n was a co rrec ti ve act io n [p la n]." The pl an di rect ed Dav is n o t to "u se th reat en in g or ab us iv e la ng ua ge ," "u se
de gr ad in g or de m ean in g co m m en ts ," "u se pr of

an it y or si m il arl y o f

f en si ve
. . . lan gu ag e," " m ak e in ap pr op ria te ph y si cal co nt act wit h an ot he r in di vi du al th at is

-3

-th reat en in g or in ti m id at in g," or "m ak e de ro ga to ry co m m en ts ab ou t th e qu al it y of care
be in g pr ov id ed by th e Hos pi ta l." The pl an al so req ui red t i mel y a nd accu rat e

m ai nt en an ce of reco rd s, qu ic k re s po ns e to cal ls fro m m ed ic al st aff, su bm is si on to

ran do m dru g t es ts , and pa rti ci pa ti on in an ap pr ov ed an ge r m an ag em en t co ur se

.

Acco rd in g to Dr. Dav id Lup o, Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e Ch ai rm an , Dav is "fa il ed

to co m pl y " wi th th e co rrec ti ve act io n p la n. On Decem be r 18 , 2 00 6, th e Cred en ti al s

Co m m it te e "v ot ed un an im ou sl y to ap pr ov e th e su sp en si on of cl in ic al pr iv il eg es for
[Dav is ] fo r no n- co m

pl ia nc e wit h th e Co m

m it te e's req ui rem en t to se le ct an ap pr ov ed

Beh av io r/C on du ct Co ur se

. . . un ti l su ch ti m e th at he ful ly com es in to co m pl ia nc e."

JR MC's at to rn ey m et wit h th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e th ree da y s la te r, an d as a res ul t

of th e m eet in g, th e Co m m it te e "t a b l e [ d] th e su sp en si on of cl in ic al pr iv il eg es fo r [Dav is ] un ti l af

te r th e fi rs t o f th e y ear t o a ll ow am pl e ti m e fo r res earc h."

The reaf te r, ot he r qu al ity of ca

re an d be ha vi or al is su es su rfac ed

. In Mar ch 20 07

, th e Cred en ti al s Co m

m it te e ap po in te d a se ve n- m em be r Ad Hoc Co m

m it te e to

in ve st ig at e Dav is fo r th e se co nd ti m e. Dur in g th e in ve st ig at io n, th e Ad Hoc

Co m m it te e co ns id ered a rep or t b y D r

. Ch arl es Mab ry , Med ic al Dire ct or of Qua li ty

at JR MC, re ga rd in g q ua li ty con cern s s ur ro un di ng Davi s. Th e rep or t con cl ud ed th at "[b y ] an y m eas ur e, Dr. Lee Dav is 's care of pa ti en ts ha s be en in an ou tl ie r st at us ." The 2

ad ho c co mm it te e al so co ns id ered a pe er rev ie w rep or t, whi ch in di cat ed th at fro m

Dav is pr of

fers ev id en ce in th e fo rm of an affi da vi t by an ot he r ph ys i c i an 2

in di cat in g th at Dav is di d no t fa i l t o r e s p o nd in on e of th e pa ti en t cas es th at Mab ry
rep or te d. He al so in cl ud es in th e rec or d a sel f-s erv in g a ffi da vi t, d raft ed in res po ns e
to a m ot io n fo r su m

m ary jud gm en t, whi ch ad m it s to m ed ic al -rec or d de li nq ue nc ie s in
20 04 an d 20 07 bu t al le ge s th at he w a s " c a u g ht []up in Apr il 20 07 ." Sel f-s erv in g affi da vi ts d o n o t d efea t a "p ro pe rly su pp or te d m ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t."

Frev er t v. For d Mtr

. Co

. , 61 4 F.3 d 47 3, 47 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (q uo ta ti on s an d ci ta ti on

om it te d)

. "Ra th er, th e pl ai nt iff m us t su bs ta nt ia te al le ga ti on s wit h su ffi ci en t pr ob at iv e

ev id en ce th at wou ld pe rm it a fin di ng in t h e p la in ti ff's fav or ." Id

. at 47 3– 74 (q uo ta ti on s an d c it at io n o m it te d)

.

-4

-Aug us t 2 00 6 to Mar ch 20 07 , th e n um be r of de fic ie nc ie s i n Dav is 's m ed ic al reco rd s

were m or e th an fiv e ti m es hi gh er th an th e av erag e of al l ot he r card io lo gi st s at JR MC.

JR MC ha d su sp en de d Dav is 's pr iv il eg es twi ce in 20 04 fo r reco rd de li nq ue n c i e s

. A

rep or t of card ia c cat he te riz at io n cas es at JR MC in di cat ed th at

, b e t w e e n 20 04 an d

20 06

, di ag no st ic -o n l y c a t he te riz at io ns co m pr is ed a hi gh er pe rcen ta ge of Dav is 's

card io lo gy pr oc ed ur es th an an y o t he r card io lo gi st

. The Ad Hoc Co m m it te e di d no t

ren de r a jud gm en t "re ga rd in g th e area of ut il iz at io n," bu t no te d "t ha t th e in fo rm at io n

pr ov id ed to th e co m

m it te e was po te nt ia ll y si gn ifi can t an d de se rv ed to be rev ie wed in

th e p eer r ev ie w pro ces s o r by ou ts id e ex pe rts ."

"Fo ll owi ng a rep or t to th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e

. . . of th e fin di ng s of th e Ad

Hoc In ve st ig at iv e Co m

m it te e," Dav is re ce ive d a ca uti ona ry , fo ur te en -day su sp en si on

. Afte r fu rth er rev ie w o f Dav is 's pa ti en t-d e a t h c a se s, fo ur of whi ch were fo un d to be

be lo w th e st an da rd of care , th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e "re c o m

m en de d th at [Dav is ]

ha ve hi s pr iv il eg es rev ok ed ." Dav is ex erci se d hi s rig ht to ap pe al th e reco m m en da ti on

to a he ari ng pa ne l co ns is ti ng of fiv e ph y si ci an s. Fo ll owi ng m or e th a n 13 se pa rat e
he ari ng s ov er th e co ur se of th ree m on th s, th e h e ari ng pa ne l vo te d un an im ou sl y to

reco m m en d rev oc at io n of Dav is 's pr iv il eg es

. Dav is ap pe al ed ag ai n to a fo ur -m em be r

rev ie w p an el . Th e re v i e w pa ne l vo te d un an im ou sl y to acce pt th e reco m m en da ti on s

of th e Cred en ti a l s C o m

m it te e an d th e he ari ng pa ne l. JR MC's 14 -m em be r Bo ard of

Dire ct or s th en vo te d to rev ok e Dav is 's m ed ic al -s ta ff pr iv il eg es fo r po or qu al it y of

pa ti en t ca re, i m

pr op er m ed ic al do cu m en ta ti on , and un pr of es si on al be ha vi or

.

Dav is fil ed th e in st an t su it in fed eral di st ric t co ur t al le g i n g , i nt er al ia

, race
di sc riminat io n and ret al ia ti on , in vi ol at io n o f 42 U.S.C. § 19 81 an d th e ACRA; an d

co ns pi racy to vi ol at e hi s civ il rig ht s, in vi ol at io n o f 42 U.S.C. § 1 98 5( 3)

. The fin al 3

sc he du li ng or de r in st ru ct ed th e pa rti es to co m pl et e di sc o v e r y no la te r th an

Dav is do es no t ap pe al th e di sm is sa l of hi s du e pr oc es s or § 19 83 cl ai m s or hi s 3

cl ai m s fo r to rti ou s i nt erfe ren ce wi th a bu si ne ss ex pe ct an cy

.

-5

-N o v e m

be r 29

, 20 10

. The de fen da nt s fil ed a se rie s of su m m ary jud gm en t m ot io ns , ul ti m at el y reac hi ng al l o f Dav is 's cl ai m s. Dav is so ug ht a co nt in ua nc e un de r th en

ap pl ic ab le Fed eral Ru le of Ci vi l Pro ced ur e 56 (f). The di st ric t co ur t d en ie d Dav is 's 4

m ot io n fo r a co nt in ua nc e an d gr an te d th e de fen da nt s' m ot io ns fo r su m m ary jud gm en t.

II. Dis cu ss io n

O n ap pe al

, Dav is arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d by en te rin g su m m ary jud gm en t in fav or of th e de f en da nt s on hi s race di sc riminat io n, ret al ia ti on , an d

co ns pi racy clai m s an d b y de nyin g h is req ue st for

a co nt in ua nc e.

A. Su mmar

y Ju dg men t

Dav is co n t e n ds th at th e de fen da nt s are no t en ti tl ed to su m m ary jud gm en t on

hi s ra ce d is cri m in at io n, re ta li at io n, an d c on sp ira cy cla im s. "We r ev ie w de n ov o t he

di st ric t co ur t's gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t." Dav is v. KARK-TV, In c. , 42 1 F.3 d 69 9,

70 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 05 ). "Su m m ary jud gm en t i s ap pr op ria te if t he re i s n o ge nu in e is su e

as to an y m at eri al fact an d th e m ov in g pa rty i s en ti tl ed to a jud gm en t as a m at te r of

la w." Id

. (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. "Th e bu rd en of de m on st rat in g th at th ere are

no ge nu in e is su es of m at eri al fact res ts on th e m ov in g pa rty," a nd " [ w] e rev ie w t he

ev id en ce an d t he in fere nc es th at reas on ab ly m ay be dr awn fro m th e ev id en ce i n t he

li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e no nm ov in g pa rty." Id

. (q uo ta ti on s an d ci ta ti on s om it te d)

.

1. Dis cr imi na ti on Cla ims

Dav is al le ge s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erro ne ou sl y gr an te d su m m ary jud gm en t on

hi s race di sc riminat io n cl ai m s pu rs ua nt to 42 U.S.C. § 19 81 an d ACRA. "We an al y ze . . . § 19 81 cla im s . . . and ACRA cl ai m s i n t he sa m e m an ne r." Id

. W he n th ere is no
di rect ev id en ce of di sc riminat io n, "[w]e em pl oy t h e fam il ia r McDo nn el l Dou gl as

"Su bd iv is io n (d ) carr ie s fo rward wit ho ut su bs ta nt ia l ch an ge th e pr ov is io ns of 4

fo rm er su bd iv is io n (f)." Fed

. R. Ci v. Pro

. 56 ad vi so ry co m m it te e's no te to 20 10
Am en dm en ts , su bd iv is io n (d ).

-6

-b u r d en -s hi fti ng fram ewo rk to co nd uc t ou r an al y si s." Id

. at 70 4; se e McDo nn el l

Dou gl as Co rp

. v. Gre e n , 4 1 1 U

. S. 79 2, 80 1– 04 (1 97 3)

. "Un de r th e McDo nn el l

Dou gl as fram ewo rk

, a pr es um pt io n of di sc riminat io n i s c r e a t ed whe n th e pl ai nt iff

m eet s [h is ] bu rd en of es ta bl is hi ng a pr im a faci e cas e of em pl oym en t di sc riminat io n."

Dav is

, 42 1 F.3 d at 70 4 (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. A pl ai nt iff m eet s th is bu rd en
"b y sh owi ng th at he or sh e: (1 ) is a m em be r of a pr ot ect ed gr ou p; (2 ) was m eet in g th e
le gi ti m at e ex pe ct at io ns of th e em pl oyer; (3 ) su ffer ed an ad ve rs e em pl oym en t act io n;

an d (4 ) [s uf

fere d] un de r ci rcu m st an ces pe rm it ti n g an in fere nc e of di sc riminat io n."

Max fi el d v. Ci nt as Co rp

. No

. 2

, 42 7 F. 3 d 5 4 4

, 55 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 05 ) (q uo ta ti on an d

ci ta ti on om it te d)

. "On ce a pl ai nt iff su cces s f u l l y es ta bl is he s a pr im a faci e cas e, th e
bu rd en sh ift s to th e em

pl oyer to art ic ul at e a le gi ti m at e, no n- di sc riminat or y reas on fo r

it s ad ve rs e em

pl oym en t act io n." Dav is

, 42 1 F.3 d at 70 4 (q uo ta ti on an d c i ta ti on

om it te d)

. " I f th e em

pl oyer m eet s it s bu rd en , th e pr es um pt io n of di sc riminat io n
di sa pp ears , r eq ui rin g th e pl ai nt iff to pr ov e th at th e p r o f fere d jus ti fic at io n is m erel y

a p ret ex t fo r di sc riminat io n." Id

. (qu ot at io n a nd cit at io n o m it te d)

.

The de fen da nt s co nc ed e th at Dav is is a m em be r of a pr ot e c t e d gr ou p who

su ffer ed an ad ve rs e em

pl oym en t act io n. Howev er, th ey co nt en d th at Dav is fai le d to

su bm it ev id en ce whi ch wou ld pe rm it a jury to in fer th at di sc riminat io n m ot iv at ed th e

em pl oym en t act io n. The y arg ue th at le gi ti m at e reas on s— no t p r e t e xt —ju st ifi ed

rev ok in g Dav is 's pr iv il eg es at JR MC. The de fen da nt s arg ue th at th ey rev ok ed Dav is 's

pr iv il eg es be cau se of hi s be h a v i o r t owa rd ho sp it al st aff, hi s po or reco rd of pa ti en t

care , an d hi s fai lu re to m ai nt ai n pr op er m ed ic al reco rd s. Dav is arg ue s th at he ha s m et

th e bu rd en of p r ov in g hi s pr im a faci e cas e be cau se th e de fen da nt s tre at ed si m il arl y
si tu at ed in di vi du al s who are no t Afri can Am eri can di ffer en tl y th an D a v i s. He al so

a r g u e s th at th e co ur t can in fer di sc riminat io n fro m th e co nd uc t of JR MC st aff a n d

fro m ev id en ce th at th e ho sp it al vi ol at ed so m e of it s own po li ci es in rev ok in g hi s

pr iv il eg es

.

-7

-a. Si mil ar ly Si tu at ed Pers on ne l

The te st fo r whe th er em

pl oyees are si m il arl y si tu at ed "i s rig or ou s an d req ui res

th at th e ot he r em

pl oyees be si m i l a r l y s it ua te d in al l rel ev an t as pe ct s be fo re th e pl ai nt iff can in tro du ce ev id en ce co m pa rin g [h im se lf] to th e ot he r em pl oyees." Fiel ds

v. Sh el te r Mut

. In s. Co

. , 52 0 F.3 d 85 9, 86 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). "Th e in di vi du al s us ed fo r

co m pa ris on m us t ha ve de al t wit h th e sa m e su pe rv is or , ha ve be en su bjec t to th e sa m e

st an da rd s, a n d [h av e] en ga ge d in th e sa m e co nd uc t wit ho ut an y m it ig at in g or
di st in gu is hi ng ci rcu m st an ces ." Mor ga n v. A.G. Edw ar ds & So ns
, In c. , 48 6 F.3 d 10 34

, 10 43 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (q uo ta ti on , al te rat io n, an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. Dav is co nt en ds th at

se ve ral ot he r do ct or s at JR MC us ed pr of an it y an d m ad e de ro ga to ry co m m en ts in fro nt

of ho sp it al st aff. In su pp or t

, h e c i t e s to th e res ul ts of a su rv ey in di cat in g th at th ree

n o n

- A fri can -Am eri can ph y si ci an s at JR MC, li ke Dav is

, be ha ve d in ap pr op ria te l y

to ward JR MC s ta ff.

The reco rd do es no t sh ow th at an y ph y si ci an s Dav is id en ti fie d pr ov id ed po or

pa ti en t care or ke pt in su ffi ci en t m ed ic al reco rd s. As th e de fen da nt s po in t ou t, "[t ]he

fact th at [cer ta in do ct or s] m ig ht ha ve be en accu se d of us in g pr of an it y do es no t ren de r

th es e p h ysi ci an s si m il arl y si tu at ed wit h Dav is ." Dav is al so ci te s to hi s ve rif ie d

co m pl ai nt an d affi da vi t, al le gi ng th at "[n ]o wh it e ph ys i c i a n ha d

. . . b een su bjec te d

to a 'zero to le ran ce' corr ect iv e act io n pl an " o r "ra nd om dru g t es ti ng wit ho ut cau se ."

W hi le a ve rif

ie d co m pl ai nt is eq u i v a l e nt to an affi da vi t fo r su m m ary jud gm en t

pu rp os es , Han ks v. Pra ch ar , 45 7 F.3 d 77 4, 77 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ) (p er cu ria m ), ne it he r

Dav is 's ve rif

ie d c o mpla in t no r hi s affi da vi t li st an y si m il arl y si tu at ed

, whi te ph y si ci an s at JR MC who were tre at ed di ffer en tl y th an Dav is

. Dav is al le ge s in hi s
br ie f th at D r

. H e rzo g, a whi te ph y si ci an , rece iv ed a te m po rary su sp en si on

ap pr ox im at el y 15 y ears ag o th at th e de fen d a n t s d i d no t rep or t to th e Nati on al

Prac t it io ne r's Data Ban k, ev en th ou gh th ey al le ge dl y rep or te d Dav is 's su sp en si on

. The re is no ev i d e n c e o f t ha t in th e reco rd

, no r is th ere ev id en ce in th e reco rd

in di cat in g t ha t Her zo g was si m il arl y si tu at ed to Davi s i n a ll rel ev an t as pe ct s.

-8

-Dav is al so arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d by fai li ng to co ns id e r 1 1

affi da vi ts in whi ch in di vi du al s te st ifi ed th at he was tre at ed di ffer en tl y th an si m il arl y
si tu at ed whi te do c t o r s

. In fact

, on ly si x of th e affi da vi ts al le ge th at "ce rta in whi te ph y si c i a n s" ha ve be ha ve d in ap pr op ria te ly to ward m ed ic al st aff an d ha ve no t be en
di sc ip li ne d. Fo ur affi da vi ts si m pl y st at e th a t " o th er ph y si ci an s" ha ve be ha ve d

in ap pr op ria te ly an d ha ve no t be en di sc ip li ne d. Non e of th e a f f i d a v i ts in cl ud e th e

na m es of th es e " o t he r ph y si ci an s." Nor do th e affi da vi ts ad dr es s pa ti en t care or

m ed ic al reco rd ke ep in g— th e ot he r two pr of fere d reas on s fo r rev ok in g Dav is 's

pr iv il eg es

. Dav is te st ifi ed in hi s de po si ti on th at he co ul d th in k of no ot he r ph y si ci an s
who were s im il arl y

si tu at ed to hi m

. 5

b. Co nd uc t o

f JRMC Ph

ys ic ia ns

Dav is al so co nt en ds in hi s br ie f th at th e co nd uc t of two JR MC ph y si ci an s— Dr.

Rei d Pi erce an d Dr. Ch arl es Mab ry —i s su ffi ci en t ev id en ce fro m whi ch th e co ur t can

in fer di sc riminat io n. Dav is ci te s th at Pi erce en co ur ag ed a JR MC em pl oyee to "m ak e

a wr i t t e n st at em en t [reg ard in g a di st ur bi ng co nv ers at io n sh e al le ge dl y ha d wit h

Dav is ] an d se nd it to [th e Ch ie f of St aff]." Dav is al so al le ge s th at Pi erce vi ol at ed

co nf i d e n t i a l i ty by sh owi ng a nu rs e's co m pl ai nt ag ai ns t Dav is to ot he r ph y si ci an s.

Fi na ll y , Dav is co nt en ds th at

, aft er Pi erce rece iv ed a "t hi rd -p art y rep or t of an of fen si ve

se xu al co nv ers at io n be twee n Dav is an d a nu rs in g st ud en t" whi le Pi erce was Ch ie f of

St aff, he la un ch ed a qu ic k in ve st ig at io n in to whe th er Dav is ha d se xu al ly ha ras se d th e

st ud en t. The co ur t ca n n o t i nf er di sc riminat io n fro m th es e fact s. Mo reo ve r, it is

un di sp ut ed th at Pi erce co ul d no t vo te on th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e an d ha d no po wer

Dav is ci te s st at em en ts fro m hi s co wor ke rs in di cat in g th at he was a go od 5 ph y si ci an

. The se st at em en ts are no t rel ev an t to hi s di sc rimina t i o n o r ret al ia ti on cl ai m s. "It is no t th e ro le of th is co ur t to si t as a su pe r-p ers on ne l de pa rtment to se co nd

gu es s th e wis do m of a bu si ne ss 's pe rs on ne l de ci si on s." Ch amb er s v. Met ro

. Pro

p. &
Ca s. In s. Co

. , 3 51 F.3 d 84 8

, 85 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 ) (q uo ta ti on , a lt erat io n, an d ci ta ti on

om it te d)

. The is su e is no t whe th er JR MC sh ou ld ha ve rev ok ed Dav is 's pr iv il eg es , bu t whe th er i ts de ci si on to do so was d is cri m in at or y or r et al ia to ry

in na tu re.

-9

-to m ak e of

fic ia l reco m

m en da ti on s to th e Co m

m it te e. Thu s, Dav is ha s fai le d to sh ow
ho w th e rev oc at io n of hi s pr iv il eg es , a de ci si on m ad e by th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e

an d affi rm ed by th e he ari ng pa ne l, rev ie w pa ne l, an d Bo ard of Dire ct or s, was th e

res ul t o f rac e d is cri m in at io n.

Dav is al le ge s th at Mab ry di sc riminat ed ag ai ns t h i m be cau se of race

. Mab ry

fil ed a fo rm al co m

pl ai nt ag ai ns t Dav is fo r "s la nd ero us co m m en ts m ad e by Dr. Dav is

in [th e In va si ve Pro ced ur es ] co m m it te e [m eet in g]." As Med ic al Dire ct or of Qu al it y

at JR MC, Mab ry al so de ve lo pe d a pr es en ta ti on fo r th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e, whi ch

in di cat ed th at Dav is 's pa ti en t care an d m ed ic al reco rd ke ep in g were su bs ta nd ard an d

th at Dav is ov eru se d "i nv as iv e card ia c pr oc ed ur es , as op po se d to m or e tra di ti on al

di ag no st ic an d th erap eu ti c m eas ur es ." The fil in g of a co m pl ai nt is no t di sc riminat or y
of it se lf. Se e So to v. Min et a , No . 0 4- 70 96 6, 20 08 W L 4 42 77 88 , a t *2 7 (E.D. M ic h.
Sep t. 30

, 20 08 ) ("[ T] he act of fil in g a co m pl ai nt

. . . is no t di sc riminat or y ha ras sm en t

. . . ." )

. M a b r y's pr es en ta ti on to th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e, wit ho ut m or e, do es no t

su pp or t an in fere nc e of di sc riminat io n. Dav is arg ue s th at Mab ry 's cal cu la ti on s were

erro ne ou s, y et he ci te s no ev id en ce in th e reco rd to su pp or t th at co nc lu si on ot he r th an

hi s o wn af

fid av it

.

c. Hos

pi ta l Po li cy Vi ol at io ns

Fi na ll y , Dav is co nt en ds th at JR MC fai le d to fo ll ow it s own pr oc ed ur e s w i th

reg ard to th e co m

pl ai nt s ag ai ns t Dav is an d th e di sc ip li na ry act io ns ta ke n ag ai ns t hi m

. Fi rs t, he co nt en ds th at th e ho sp it al fai le d to in fo rm hi m o f a w rit te n co m pl ai nt th at
Reg is te red Nur se Y e g g y- Nail m ad e ag ai ns t hi m in Aug us t 20 04

. It is un di sp ut ed

, ho wev er, th at Dav is kn ew of th e co m pl ai nt be cau se he fil ed a writ te n res po ns e to it

. He al so co nt en ds th at JR MC fai le d to us e co ll eg ia l in te rv en ti on to res ol ve th e is su e 6

Alt ho ug h th e reco rd do es no t de f i n e "co ll eg ia l in te rv en ti on ," th e JR MC 6

Cred en ti al in g Po li cy st at es : "No th in g in th is po li cy or th e m ed ic al St aff bylaws sh al l

pr ecl ud e co ll eg ia l or in

fo rma l effo rts to ad dr es s qu es ti on s or co nc ern s rel at in g to an in di vi du al s [s ic ] pr act ic e an d c on du ct at t he ho sp it al ." (Em ph as is ad de d.)

-1 0-rai se d in th e co m pl ai nt

. The reco rd sh ows th at th en -Ch ie f of St aff Dr. Rei d Pi erce an d

Dr. Bo b Gul le tt he ld a co ll eg ia l in te rv en ti on , o r in f o r mal m eet in g, wit h Dav is la te r

th at m on th to di sc us s t he in ci de nt

.

Dav is al so co nt en ds th at th e co rrec ti ve act io n pl an was ov erl y res tri c t i ve
be cau se th e la ng ua ge "you sh ou ld be as ha m ed of y ou rs el f" co ul d co n s t it ut e a
vi ol at io n of th e pl an , as co ul d cert ai n bo dy la ng ua ge

. Dav is of fers no su pp or t fo r th is

as se rti on , no r do es he ci te la ng ua ge in th e co rrec ti ve act io n pl an in di cat in g th at th os e
types of co m

m un ic at io n wou ld co ns ti tu te a vi ol at io n. Davi s als o com pl ai ns th at th e

p l a n r e q u ire d hi m to un de rg o an ge r m an ag em en t co un se li ng an d su bm it to ran do m
dr ug te st in g. He ci te s no ho sp it al po li cy th at th es e req ui rem en ts vi ol at e, no r do es he

sh ow t ha t o th ers were t reat ed di ffer en tl y

.

Dav is arg ue s, wit ho ut supp ort, th at th e Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e's vo te was ta ke n
wit ho ut no ti ce or an op po rtu ni ty to be he ard

. Evi de n c e in th e reco rd in di cat es th at

JR MC in fo rm ed Dav is in writ in g whe n th e Co m m it te e la un ch ed it s in ve st ig at io n an d

in vi te d Dav is to ad dr es s th e Co m m it te e, whi ch Dav is di d. Dav is arg ue s th at th e fact

th at " th e en ti re Cred en ti al s Co m m it te e wou ld se rv e as th e ad ho c in ve st ig at iv e

co m m it te e" was c o n t rary to th e Cred en ti al s Po li cy , "wh ic h pr ov id es th at an ad ho c

in ve st ig at iv e co m

m it te e co ul d on ly co ns is t of up t o t h r ee (3 ) pe rs on s." The po li cy

act ua ll y s t a t e s t h at th e co m m it te e m ay in ve st ig at e th em se lv es , ap po in t an ad ho c

co m m it te e o f th ree, o r ap po in t an ot he r su bc om m it te e.

Dav is st at ed in hi s de po si ti on th at th e he ari ng pa ne l m em be rs an d rev ie w pa ne l

m em be rs di d no t di sc riminat e ag ai ns t hi m

. Dav is al so s t at ed th at th irt een of th e

fo ur te en m em

be rs of JR MC's Bo ard of Dire ct or s, who affi rm ed th e de ci si on to rev ok e

hi s p riv il eg es , di d n ot di sc riminat e ag ai ns t h im

.

-1 1-d. Co nc lu si on

Dav is ha s fai le d t o pr ov id e an y ev id en ce gi vi ng ris e to an in fere nc e th at th e
de fen da nt s raci al ly dis cri m in at ed ag ai ns t h im . Thu s, t he di st ric t co ur t di d no t err in

gr an tin g the de fen da nt s' m ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t on Dav is 's race di sc rimination

cl ai m s. 7

2. Reta li at io n C la ims

Dav is al so al le ge s th at th e de fen da nt s ret al ia te d ag ai ns t hi m in vi ol at io n of 42

U.S.C. § 19 81 an d ACRA. To es ta bl is h a pr im a faci e cas e of ret al ia ti on , th e pl ai nt iff

m us t sh ow "t ha t (1 ) [h e] en ga ge d in st at ut or il y pr ot ect ed act i v i ty; (2 ) an ad ve rs e

em pl oym en t act io n was ta ke n ag ai ns t hi m

. . . ; an d (3 ) a cau sa l co n n e c t i o n ex is ts

b e twee n th e two ev en ts ." Gac ek v. Owen s & Min or Dis tr ib

., In c. , 66 6 F.3 d 1 1 4 2

, 11 46 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ) (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. "[I ]f th e pl ai nt iff can es ta bl is h

a pr ima fa ci e ret al ia ti on cas e, th e de fen da nt [s ] m us t pr ov id e a le gi ti m at e,

no nd is c r i m in at or y reas on fo r [th ei r] de ci si on ." Id

. "If th e de fen da nt [s ] do [ ] so , th e
bu rd en th en sh ift s ba ck to th e pl ai nt iff to sh ow th at th e pr of fere d reas on was m erel y

a p ret ex t fo r di sc riminat io n." Id

.

The de fe n da nt s res po nd th at Dav is di d no t en ga ge in a pr ot ect ed act iv it y

. Pro te ct ed co nd uc t is de fin ed by fed eral la w, whi c h " p r o h ib it s a[] [d efen da nt ] fro m
di sc riminat in g ag ai ns t an em pl oyee who 'ha s op po se d an y pr act ic e' m ad e un la wfu l by

Ti tl e VII, or 'm ad e a ch arg e, te st ifi ed

, as si st ed

, or pa rti ci pa te d in an y m an ne r in a n

in ve st ig at io n, pr oc eed in g or he ari ng ' un de r th e s t a t ut e." Her vey v. Ct y. of

Ko oc hi ch in g , 52 7 F.3 d 71 1, 72 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 0 8 ) ( qu ot in g 42 U.S.C. § 20 00 e-3 (a))

. Dav is arg ue s th at he en ga ge d in pr ot ect ed co nd uc t on Nov em be r 11

, 20 05

, whe n he

"s en t hi s co nc ern s ab ou t Dr. Mab ry ' s a n d D r

. Rei d Pi erce 's bi as an d raci al

Dav is rel ie s on th e sa m e fact ua l al le ga ti on s t o s up po rt hi s arg um en t th at th e 7

pr of fere d reas on s fo r rev ok in g hi s pr iv il eg es are pr et ex t fo r di sc riminat io n. Alt ho ug h

we ne ed no t ad dr es s th e pr et ex t arg um en t, th es e fact s wou ld be in su ffi ci en t to sh ow
pr et ex t fo r th e rea so ns st at ed su pr a

.

-1 2-di sc riminat io n to Tom Harb uc k, Exe cu ti ve Vice Pres id en t, Ro be r t A t k in so n, CEO,

J e f f ers on Hos pi ta l Ass oc ia ti on , an d Bi ll Bl ed so e, Card ia c Adm in is tra to r, vi a a Qua li ty Co nc ern ." The on ly ev id en ce he ci te s in su pp o r t is hi s al le ga ti on in th e

ve rif ie d c om pl ai nt

.

Eve n if th e co m

pl ai nt were en ou gh to in di cat e th at Dav is en ga ge d in a

pr ot ect ed act iv it y , he ha s no t es ta bl is he d a cau sa l co nn ect io n be twee n hi s co m pl ai nt

in 20 05 to JR MC ad m in is tra to rs an d th e ul ti m at e rev oc at io n of hi s pr iv il eg es in Ju ly

20 07

.

3. Co ns pi ra cy Cl ai m

Dav is arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in di sm is s i n g hi s ci vi l rig ht s

co ns pi racy clai m

pu rs ua nt to 42 U.S.C. § 1 98 5( 3)

.

In or de r to pr ov e th e ex is te nc e of a ci vi l rig ht s co ns pi racy un de r § 19 85 (3 ), th e [p la in ti ff] m us t pr ov e: (1 ) th at t he de fen da nt s di d
"co ns pi re," (2 ) "fo r th e pu rp os e of de pr iv in g, ei th er d i rect ly or in di rect ly, an y pe rs on or cl as s of pe rs on s of eq ua l pr ot ect io n of th e la ws,

or eq ua l pr iv il eg es an d im m un it ie s un de r th e la ws," (3 ) th at on e or m or e of th e co ns pi rat or s di d, or cau se d to be do ne , "an y act in fu rth eran ce of
th e ob ject of th e co ns pi racy," a nd (4) th at an ot he r pe rs on was "i nju red
in hi s pe rs on or pr op ert y or de pr iv ed of ha vi ng an d ex erci si ng an y rig ht

or pri vi le ge of a cit iz en of t he Uni te d S ta te s." 42 U.S.C. § 1 98 5( 3)

.

La rs on by La rs on v. Mil le r, 76 F.3 d 14 46

, 14 54 (8 th Ci r. 19 96 )

. "Th e 'pu rp os e'

el em en t of the co ns pi racy req ui res th at th e p la in ti ff p ro ve a cl as s- ba se d in vi di ou sl y
di sc riminat or y an im

us ." Ci ty of Omah a Emps

. Bett er men t Ass 'n v. Ci ty of O m aha

, 88 3

F.2 d 65 0, 65 2 (8 th Ci r. 19 89 ) (q uo ta ti o n an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. "M or eo ve r, th e pl ai nt iff m

us t a l le ge wit h pa rti cu la rit y an d sp eci fic al ly de m on st rat e wit h m at eri al

fact s th at t h e de fen da nt s reac he d an ag reem en t." Id

. As in di cat ed su pr a , Dav is ha s

-1 3-fai le d to sh ow an y raci al an imu s o n t h e p a rt of th e de fen da nt s. As a res ul t, hi s

§ 1 98 5( 3) cla im

fai ls as a m at te r of

law. 8

B. Req ue st

fo r C on ti nu an ce

Dav is c o n t e nd s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d by de nyin g hi s req ue st fo r

co nt in ua nc e. "We rev ie w fo r an ab us e of di sc ret io n th e di st ric t co ur t's refu sa l to al lo w
fu rth er di sc ov ery pr io r to ru li ng on a m ot io n f o r s u mm ary jud gm en t." Anu fo ro v.

Co mm'r

, 61 4 F .3d 79 9, 80 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. W e

"u ph ol d[ ] th e [d is tri ct co ur t's ] de ci si on if th e no nm ov in g pa rty was no t d e pr iv ed of

a fai r ch an ce to res po nd to th e su m m a r y ju d gm en t m ot io n." Bro wn v. J.B. Hun t

Tr an sp

. Se rv s., In c. , 5 8 6 F .3d 10 79

, 10 84 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on

om it te d)

. "Un de r Ru le 56 (f), a pa rty op po si ng su m m ar y ju d g m en t m ay se ek a

co nt in ua nc e an d po st po ne a su m m ary jud gm en t de ci si on , bu t th e pa rty op po si ng

su m m ary jud gm en t is req ui red to fil e an affi da vi t wit h th e di st ric t co ur t sh owi ng wha t

sp eci fic fact s fu rth er di sc ov ery m ig ht un co ve r." Anu fo ro , 61 4 F.3 d at 80 8 (q uo ta ti on s

an d c it at io n o m it te d)

.

The di st ric t co ur t he ld a m ot io ns he ari ng in Ju ly 20 10 t o r e s o l v e cert ai n
di sc ov ery di sp ut es

. At th at he ari ng , Dav is so ug ht to co m pe l cert ai n pe er rev ie w an d

cred en ti al in g in fo rm at io n. The di st ric t co ur t gr an te d Dav is 's m ot io ns in pa rt. Dav is

fil ed hi s m ot io n fo r co nt in ua nc e in Sep te m be r 20 10

. At th at ti m e, Dav is 's co un se l

arg ue d th at Dav is ne ed ed th e da ta su pp or ti ng th e m or ta li ty ta bl es th at th e de fen da nt s

us ed an d rel ie d up on to rev ok e Dav is 's pr iv il eg es —d at a th at Dav is di d no t se ek in th e

pr io r m ot io ns to co m

pe l. Dav is arg ue d th at th ere was in su ffi ci en t ti m e to rev ie w th e

vo lu m e of da ta un c o v e red be fo re th e sc he du le d Nov em be r 20 10 co ur t da te

. Rev ie win g th e reco rd as a who le

, we can no t sa y th at th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s
di sc ret io n b y

de nyin g t he m ot io n fo r co nt in ua nc e.

Dav is 's co un se l ack no wled ge d at th e su m m ary jud gm en t h eari ng th at "i f we 8

lo se on th e rac e cl ai m , th e res t o f th e cl ai m s g o a way ."

-1 4-III. Co nc lu si on

Fo r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we af fir m th e d eci si on of t he di st ric t co ur t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-1 5-