United States Court of Appeals

for the Fifth Circuit

No. 20-50501

United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber 

Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service 

Workers International Union; United Steel Workers 

International Union; Bexar County Probation Officers 

Association United Steelworkers Local 9528; Trisha 

Cantu, as next friend of J.M.C., a minor; Emily Ann Caroline 

Castilleja, 

Plaintiffs—Appellants,

versus

Jarvis Anderson; Brian Brady, 

Defendants—Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. 5:17-CV-1242

Before Jolly, Duncan, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.

Stuart Kyle Duncan, Circuit Judge:

Sergio Castilleja’s children and various unions appeal the summary 

judgment dismissal of their claims that Castilleja was fired for engaging in

union-related activities in violation of the First Amendment, the Equal 

Protection Clause, and Texas law. We affirm.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

August 17, 2021

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

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I. Background

A. Facts

Castilleja spent fifteen years as a community service officer (“CSO”),

or probation officer, for the Bexar County Community Supervision and 

Corrections Department (“CSCD”).1 His career was marked by multiple 

reprimands and termination warnings. When the events at issue here took 

place, Castilleja was on “zero tolerance,” meaning he could be immediately 

fired for any infraction of CSCD policies. 

After Castilleja was transferred in December 2014, his new manager, 

John Escalante, suspected Castilleja was violating overtime rules. An 

investigation by Assistant Chief Sloane Kelly confirmed that was true:

Castilleja was routinely taking unapproved overtime and using his work 

computer to send union-related emails. Although she recommended to Chief 

Jarvis Anderson that he be fired, Castilleja only received counseling and was 

put on a “performance improvement plan” in April 2015. 

In Castilleja’s October 2015 evaluation, Escalante rated him 

“satisfactory” overall but gave him the lowest rating in multiple categories,

including “[f]ollow[ing] departmental policies and procedures,” and noted 

numerous areas needing improvement, including the key area of reporting 

probationers’ violations to the court. Still, Escalante praised Castilleja’s 

work and described him as “experienced, wise, intelligent, and 

knowledgeable” and “an asset.” 

On January 28, 2016, Castilleja was sworn in as president of the Bexar 

County Probation Officers Association (“BCPOA”).2 According to 

1 Castilleja passed away during the litigation. The district court allowed 

substitution of Emily Ann Caroline Castilleja, Castilleja’s adult daughter, and Trisha 

Cantu, as next friend of Castilleja’s minor daughter. We continue to refer to the plaintiffappellant as Castilleja.

2 He had served in the BCPOA since 2007. 

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Castilleja, the next day Anderson asked him to stop the union’s second noconfidence petition against Anderson, but Castilleja refused. The previous 

BCPOA president, Sherri Simonelli, recalled that she told Anderson around 

that time that a no-confidence vote was imminent and that Anderson

responded he would “go after Sergio hard” and he “hated” him. Anderson 

denied saying this. 

In February 2016, Castilleja switched units with another CSO, 

Lindsey Fermin, who found “serious case management issues” in 

Castilleja’s work that required notifying the court of unreported violations.

This was reported to then-Assistant Chief Brian Brady. Around that time, 

Anderson himself became aware of a “troubling” case Castilleja had 

managed and, as a result, ordered an audit of 100 of Castilleja’s former cases. 

In May, Escalante reviewed some of those cases, revealing the most 

“egregious” case management deficiencies he had ever seen. Had Escalante 

known about them, he said, he would not have commended Castilleja in the 

2015 review. Brady’s own review revealed Castilleja’s “blatant disregard to 

instructions from the judges” as well as “gross negligence in [case] 

management,” “documentation of errors,” “reporting of violations to the 

courts,” and “total disregard for the protection of the community.”3 He 

found similar problems in Castilleja’s new cases. As a result, Brady 

recommended firing Castilleja. He later explained that, as an experienced 

officer, Castilleja’s disregard of “the basic ten[e]ts of case management” 

made his violations especially damning. 

3 For example, in a DWI case where the court required use of an ignition interlock, 

Castilleja unilaterally permitted urinalysis tests instead, thus allowing the probationer to 

drink and drive. Castilleja also failed to report two positive alcohol tests, notifying the court 

only after the probationer was arrested for a third DWI. In another case, Castilleja 

permitted a probationer to avoid reporting for sixteen months and travel to Austin for the 

school year without court approval. The probationer reported using alcohol and drugs 

thirty to forty times while unsupervised. 

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On August 5, 2016, Castilleja received a proposed adverse action 

(“PAA”) recommending termination. The PAA cited not only Castilleja’s 

numerous case management and policy violations, but also two instances of 

conducting union business while at work, and one use of work email to send 

union-related emails. Castilleja appealed.

Meanwhile, on November 9, 2016, the BCPOA issued a noconfidence petition calling for Anderson’s removal. 

On November 15, 2016, Anderson heard Castilleja’s appeal. When 

confronted with the case management violations, Castilleja explained he was 

used to having “discretion and working things out,” acknowledged his failure 

to respect the court’s authority, and insisted he “never meant to not follow 

the policy.” Asked if he would report violations in the future, Castilleja said 

he would “try [his] best.” Anderson fired Castilleja on January 3, 2017. The 

final decision notice cited the evidence presented in the PAA and called

“unacceptable” Castilleja’s “questionable ethical professional conduct” 

and “inability to comply” with CSCD policies and procedures.

B. Procedural History

On December 7, 2017, Castilleja—along with the BCPOA and its 

affiliate the United Steelworkers International Union (collectively, the 

“Unions”)4—sued Anderson and Brady in federal court in their individual 

and official capacities. The plaintiffs generally claimed Castilleja was fired in 

retaliation for his union-related speech and association in violation of the

First Amendment, federal law, and Texas law.

Specifically, the operative complaint5 asserted: (1) Castilleja’s First 

Amendment retaliation claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Anderson and 

Brady; (2) the Unions’ First Amendment claim against Anderson; (3) the 

4 Unless otherwise indicated, our references to Castilleja include the Unions.

5 This is the first amended complaint, filed in June 2018. 

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Unions’ equal-protection claims against Anderson; (4) Castilleja’s claim 

under Texas Labor Code § 101.301 against Anderson and Brady; and (5) a 42 

U.S.C. § 1985 conspiracy claim against Anderson and Brady.

6 Plaintiffs

sought injunctive relief and damages. The parties filed cross motions for 

summary judgment. The district court granted Anderson and Brady’s 

motion, dismissing all claims against them. This appeal followed. 

II. Standard of Review

We review a summary judgment de novo. Patel v. Tex. Tech Univ., 941 

F.3d 743, 747 (5th Cir. 2019). Summary judgment is appropriate “if the 

movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the 

movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). 

We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant, 

“drawing all justifiable inferences in the non-movant’s favor.” Renwick v. 

PNK Lake Charles, L.L.C., 901 F.3d 605, 611 (5th Cir. 2018) (cleaned up). 

III. Discussion

A. First Amendment Retaliation

We first consider Castilleja’s claim that he was fired in retaliation for 

his union-related speech and activity, in violation of the First Amendment.

Our precedent articulates slightly different standards depending on whether 

a retaliation claim turns on a plaintiff’s union-related speech or association.7

Both standards, however, require a causal relationship between the protected 

6 Castilleja does not appeal the dismissal of the § 1985 claim. 

7 Compare Anderson v. Valdez, 845 F.3d 580, 590 (5th Cir. 2016) (speech-related 

claim requires showing: (1) plaintiff suffered adverse employment action; (2) plaintiff spoke 

on matter of public concern; (3) plaintiff’s speech interest outweighed government’s 

efficiency interest; and (4) speech “precipitated” adverse action (citation omitted)), with 

Hitt v. Connell, 301 F.3d 240, 246 (5th Cir. 2002) (union-association claim requires 

showing: (1) plaintiff suffered adverse employment action; (2) plaintiff’s associational 

interest outweighed government’s efficiency interest; and (3) association was “a 

substantial or motivating factor” in adverse action (citations omitted)). 

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activity and the adverse employment action. See, e.g., Garza v. Escobar, 972 

F.3d 721, 728–29 (5th Cir. 2020) (adverse action must have been “because 

of” speech (citation omitted)); Hitt v. Connell, 301 F.3d 240, 246 (5th Cir. 

2002) (union association must have been “a substantial or motivating factor” 

in adverse action (citations omitted)). If a plaintiff makes this showing, both 

claims permit an affirmative defense, known as the “Mt. Healthy defense”: 

the employer may avoid liability by “showing a legitimate reason for which it 

would have discharged the employee even in the absence of his protected 

conduct.” Coughlin v. Lee, 946 F.2d 1152, 1157 (5th Cir. 1991) (citing Mt. 

Healthy City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 287 (1977)). 

Finally, the plaintiff may rebut by showing the employer’s proffered reason 

is pretextual. Haverda v. Hays County, 723 F.3d 586, 592 (5th Cir. 2013). 

The district court assumed Castilleja presented sufficient evidence of 

causation. But it granted Anderson summary judgment based on the Mt. 

Healthy defense—i.e., that Anderson had legitimate reasons to fire Castilleja 

apart from his protected conduct, reasons Castilleja failed to show were 

pretextual. Castilleja argues this was error, but we agree with the district 

court.

First, the evidence shows without dispute that Anderson had valid

reasons for firing Castilleja. Anderson emphasizes three that are wellsupported by the record: (1) Castilleja’s mismanagement of numerous cases 

in violation of CSCD policies after incurring multiple sanctions, including 

being placed on zero tolerance8 and being disciplined for repeated overtime 

violations; (2) the “egregious” nature of Castilleja’s case management 

8 When asked at oral argument about “zero tolerance,” Castilleja’s counsel 

claimed the policy could be understood to cover only offenses like the one that triggered its 

application to Castilleja (a physical altercation). O.A. Rec. at 6:43–8:00. The record 

contradicts this, however. The policy stated Castilleja could be “immediately” fired for 

“any infraction of [CSCD’s] administrative policies and case management procedures.” 

And the record shows Castilleja admitted he understood that. 

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violations, as attested by multiple witnesses including Fermin, Escalante, and 

Brady; and (3) Castilleja’s insistence that his “discretion[ary]” style 

somehow excused those violations. Moreover, those reasons were reflected 

in the PAA, in Brady’s firing recommendation, and in Anderson’s final 

decision notice. See Gerhart v. Hayes, 217 F.3d 320, 322 (5th Cir. 2000) (Mt. 

Healthy defense established where termination letter relied on employer’s 

proffered, permissible reasons). We therefore agree Anderson showed 

undisputedly that he had valid reasons to fire Castilleja apart from any

protected activity.

9

Second, we disagree with Castilleja that the evidence raised a genuine 

dispute that the reasons given for his firing were pretextual. For instance, 

Castilleja points to Escalante’s “glowing” comments in his 2015 review. But 

this overlooks that the same review gave Castilleja the lowest rating in

multiple categories and stated he needed improvement in the key area of 

reporting violations to the court. Moreover, Escalante wrote the review 

before learning of Castilleja’s worst lapses and testified that, had he known 

about them, he would not have made the positive comments.10 Castilleja also 

claims he was treated differently from other officers with similar records. But 

none of the officers Castilleja identifies had disciplinary histories as bad as 

his, none had Castilleja’s experience, and none was on zero tolerance. 

Moreover, the evidence does not even show Anderson or Brady was aware of 

9 This evidence is at least as substantial as evidence previously found sufficient on 

summary judgment to satisfy Mt. Healthy. See Beattie v. Madison Cnty. Sch. Dist., 254 F.3d 

595, 604 (5th Cir. 2001) (school board members’ testimony that they would have fired

teacher based on complaints she was rude to students, parents, and teachers); Gerhart, 201 

F.3d at 322 (evidence that employee failed in assigned duty to improve funding).

10 Castilleja asserts the “surreptitious” nature of the audits that uncovered these 

lapses shows pretext. But he identifies no evidence suggesting the audits were anything 

other than a rational response to deficiencies discovered in Castilleja’s cases by Anderson 

and Fermin. 

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these other officers and failed to discipline them.11 Cf. Jordan v. Ector County, 

516 F.3d 290, 300 (5th Cir. 2008) (pretext shown when other employees 

“engaged in similar conduct without being disciplined”). Finally, Castilleja 

claims his firing diverged from CSCD practice of first offering training or 

intermediate sanctions. But even if pretext could be inferred from such 

evidence,12 the record does not show CSCD’s practice was to offer more

training or lesser sanctions in a situation like this—where an experienced 

officer, despite repeated discipline and warnings, persisted in committing

serious violations. In sum, we conclude the evidence did not raise a genuine 

dispute that Anderson’s reasons for firing Castilleja were pretextual. 

That conclusion disposes of Castilleja’s First Amendment retaliation 

claim against Anderson in his official capacity for injunctive relief. It also 

disposes of the same claim against Anderson and Brady in their individual 

capacities for damages. Because we have found no First Amendment 

violation arising from Castilleja’s firing, Anderson and Brady necessarily 

merit qualified immunity on this claim.13 Finally, similar reasoning also 

11 Manager Sherri Simonelli’s declaration testimony that Castilleja’s errors were 

“common for probation officers” is similarly inadequate without evidence those other 

CSOs had comparable histories and experience levels, faced the threat of zero tolerance, 

and yet received different treatment.

12 Our precedent in the employment discrimination context suggests that 

procedural departures alone cannot support an inference of pretext. See, e.g., EEOC v. Tex. 

Instruments, Inc., 100 F.3d 1173, 1183 (5th Cir. 1996) (replacing seniority policy to reduce 

workforce and promote efficiency did not create an inference of age discrimination without 

“clear nexus to discrimination”); Risher v. Aldridge, 889 F.2d 592, 597 (5th Cir. 1989) (no 

inference of pretext from failure to use required criteria in appraising plaintiff’s 

performance without evidence she was evaluated in a discriminatory way); Moore v. Eli Lilly 

& Co., 990 F.2d 812, 819 (5th Cir. 1993) (rejecting argument that failure to follow 

termination procedures established pretext under the ADEA).

13 See, e.g., Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, 563 U.S. 731, 735 (2011) (to overcome qualified 

immunity, plaintiff must show that (1) “the official violated a statutory or constitutional 

right,” and (2) “the right was ‘clearly established’ at the time of the challenged conduct” 

(citation omitted)). The district court reached the same conclusion by relying on the 

“clearly established law” prong of qualified immunity. But we may rely on either prong, 

ibid., and we “may affirm summary judgment on any ground raised below and supported 

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dispatchesthe Unions’ First Amendment retaliation claim. The sole basis for 

the Unions’ claim is that Castilleja was fired in retaliation for his unionrelated speech and association. See Allee v. Medrano, 416 U.S. 802, 819 n.13 

(1974) (because “the union can act only through its members,” it may bring 

a First Amendment claim if “its members were subject to . . . intimidation for 

engaging in union organizational activity”). Because Castilleja’s claim fails, 

the district court also properly dismissed the Unions’ claim.

B. Equal Protection

The Unions complain that the district court erred by dismissing on 

summary judgment their class-of-one equal-protection claim against 

Anderson. That claim rests on allegations that Anderson treated them less 

favorably than other similarly situated organizations (specifically, the Texas 

Probation Association and the Combined Law Enforcement Association of 

Texas (“CLEAT”)) by penalizing Castilleja for conducting BCPOA 

business on work time and with work equipment. 

“A class-of-one equal-protection claim lies where the plaintiff alleges 

that it has been intentionally treated differently from others similarly situated 

and that there is no rational basis for the difference in treatment.” Integrity 

Collision Ctr. v. City of Fulshear, 837 F.3d 581, 586 (5th Cir. 2016) (quoting 

Village of Willowbrook v. Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000)) (cleaned up). We 

have recognized, however, that “[i]n Engquist [v. Oregon Department of 

Agriculture], the [Supreme] Court held that class-of-one equal-protection 

claims are inapposite in the context of discretionary public-employment 

decisions.” Ibid. (citing Engquist v. Or. Dep’t of Agric., 553 U.S. 591 (2008)). 

The district court correctly concluded that Engquist precludes the Unions’ 

class-of-one claim, which attacks a public entity’s discretionary decision 

about employee discipline. 

by the record.” See, e.g., Ballard v. Devon Energy Prod.Co., 678 F.3d 360, 365 (5th Cir. 2012)

(citation omitted).

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The Unions argue that Engquist and Integrity Collision concern only 

hiring and firing, not the access-to-facilities issue presented here. We 

disagree. Engquist specified that class-of-one claims have “no application in 

the public employment context,” which covers “not only hiring and firing 

decisions,” but also “any personnel action, such as promotion, salary, or 

work assignments.” 553 US. at 607–08 (emphasis added); see also Integrity 

Collision, 837 F.3d at 587 (applying Engquist to city’s purchase of tow 

services, which involved “subjective, individualized assessments” of 

“reputation, personal experience”). The Unions’ challenge to how the

facilities policy was applied is a “claim of differential treatment” the 

Supreme Court has refused to recognize. Engquist, 553 U.S. at 608. The 

district court properly granted summary judgment dismissing the Unions’ 

equal-protection claim.14

C. Texas Labor Code

Lastly, we turn to Castilleja’s argument that the district court wrongly

dismissed his claims under Texas Labor Code § 101.301 based on its finding 

Brady and Anderson entitled to official immunity under Texas law.

15

Castilleja’s briefing on this point is anemic: it states in a single sentence, 

without citing authority, that Anderson and Brady “were not acting in good 

faith or within the scope of their duties . . . because Castilleja was terminated 

because of his union activities.” Castilleja has forfeited this challenge by 

14 We therefore need not consider the district court’s alternative holdings that the 

Texas Probation Association was not similarly situated to BCPOA and that the evidence 

did not show official approval of CLEAT’s use of facilities.

15 Texas law authorizes a damages action against an employer for violating a 

person’s right to work, including his right to be “free from threats, force, intimidation, or 

coercion.” Tex. Lab. Code § 101.301(a)–(c). To merit official immunity from such 

claims, officials must show their actions were (1) “discretionary duties,” (2) performed in 

“good faith,” (3) “within the scope of their authority.” City of Lancaster v. Chambers, 883 

S.W.2d 650, 653 (Tex. 1994).

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failing to brief it adequately on appeal. See Rutherford v. Harris County, 197 

F.3d 173, 193 (5th Cir. 1999).

IV. Conclusion

The district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.

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