### F I LE D U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E LEVE NTH CI RCUI T O c t obe r 31, 2005 T HOM AS K. KAHN C L E RK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

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________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 3 - 6 1 7 2 2 - CV - W PD S A N D R A E . V A N D E R M E U L E N , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s B R I N K E R I N T E RN A T I O N A L , d .b .a . C h ili's R e s ta u r a n t, D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lle e .

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe S outhe rn D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( O c t ob e r 31, 2005) B efo re B IR C H , B L A C K an d P R Y O R , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: S andra V an der M eul en, a f orm erem pl oyee of B ri nk erInt ernat i on al , d. b. a.2

C h il i’ s R es tau ra n t (“C h il i’ s” ), ap p ea ls th e g ra n t o f s u m m ar y ju d g m en t fo r C h il i’ s on her c l ai m thatC hi l i ’ s r et al i at ed agai nsther f or com pl ai ni ng abou tse xu al hara ss m enti n v i ol at i on of 42 U . S . C . § 2 00 0e-2(a) (1). S he ar gu es thather supervi sor’ s threa t s c on st i tut ed an adverse em pl oym entac t i on and thather s upe r vi s or ’ s thr e a t s , c om bi ne d w i th the w or k e nvi r onm e nt , c ons t i tut e d c ons truc t i ve di s c ha r ge . T he a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on c l a i m w a s notpr e s e rve d f orappe a l a nd al so fa i l s a s am att erof l aw . T he construct i ve di sc harge cl ai m fa i l s bec ause V an d er M eu l en d i d n o tp resen tev i d en ce th atw o u l d sh o w th atth e en v i ro n m en tw as so i nt ol er abl e thata r ea sonabl e per son w ou l d b e c om pel l ed t o res i gn . T he di stri ct c o u r t ’ s g r a n to f

s u m m a ry j u d g m e n ti s , th e r e f o r e , AF F I R ME D. I . B AC KG RO UN D V a n de rM e ul e n, a f

e m a l e , f i l e d a c om pl a i nti n F l or i da s t a t e c our ta l l e gi ng tha the rf or m e re m pl oy e r , C hi l i ’ s , r e t a l i a t e d a ga i ns the rf orc om pl a i ni ng about s e xua l ha r a s s m e ntunde rthe F l or i da C i vi l R i ght s A c t , F l a . S t a t . §§ 760. 01- . 11 (“ F C R A ”) . V an der M eul en al l eged, i nt eral i a, thatw hi l e s he w as em pl oyed at C hi l i ’ s a s am i d-m anager/ se rver , her i m m edi at e s up ervi sor, B ri an M arks, subj ec t ed her t o a se xu al l y host i l e e nv i ronm entand d i sc ri m i nat ed agai nsther bas ed on her gend er . R 1-1 atE xh . A , C om pl ai ntat2-3. S he al so al l eged thatC hi l i ’ s had re t al i at ed agai nsther because s he obj ec t ed t o M arks’ s tre atm entand thatshe w as3

c ons truc t i ve l y di s c ha r ge d. S he c l a i m e d tha ts he s uf f e r e d e m ot i ona l a ngui s h a nd di s tr e s s a s a r e s ul tof

the tr e a tm e nta nd s oughtc om pe ns a t ory a nd puni t i ve d am ag es. C h ili’s r e m o v e d th e c a s e to f e d e r a l c o u r t a n d , in a n s w e rto th e c o m p la in t, d e n ie d th a t it h a d d is c r im in a te d o rr e ta lia te d a g a in s t, o rh a r a s s e d V a n d e rM e u le n . F ol l ow i ng di sc ov ery, C hi l i ’ s m ov ed for s um m ary j ud gm ent . Itar gu ed thatV an der M eul en’ s r et al i at i on cl ai m fa i l ed because she qui tbefore she had gi ven C hi l i ’ s a n oppor tuni ty t o w or k thr ough a ny i s s ue s , a nd be c a us e the c i r c um s t a nc e s w e r e not s u f f ic ie n t to c o m p e l ar e a s o n ab le p e r s o n to r e s ig n . I t m a in ta in e d th a t ar e a s o n ab le pe r s on w oul d ha ve f

ound C hi l i ’ s ge ne r a l m a na ge r , A ndy Y or k, a nd hi s bos s , T ony V io la, res p o n siv e to h erco m p lain ts an d th at th ey h ad b ee n re sp o n siv e to M ar k s’s p re v io u s r em ar k s. In su p p o rt o f th eir m o ti o n , C h il i’ s s u b m itted V an d erM eu len ’s d ep o si t i o n , Y o rk an d V i o l a’ s sw o rn d ecl arat i o n s, an d o th er ex h i b i t s. I n he rde pos i t i on, V a n de rM e ul e n t e s t i f i e d tha t , a f

t e rs he be ga n w orki ng f or C hi l i ’ s i n 2000, s he w a s pr om ot e d t o a “ ke y e m pl oy e e ” , i n w hi c h s he a s s i s t e d a ni gh tre st aura ntm anager. R 1-24 at54 . S he w as t ol d b y Y ork, i n M ay20 02 , that s he w a s one of

the be s tke y e m pl oy e e s i n the r e s t a ur a nt , a nd s he r e s ponde d tha ts he w as i nt er es t ed i n a m anagem entpo si t i on and g ave hi m her r es um e. S he w as s ubs e que nt l y s c he dul e d f orm or e ke y e m pl oy e e s hi f t s butw a s una w a r e of

a ny4

a v a ilab le m a n a g e m e n t p o s itio n s a t th e r e s ta u r a n t w h e r e s h e w a s e m p lo y e d . V a n d e rM e u le n s a id th a t M a rk s b e g a n w o rk in g f o rC h ili’s d u r in g 2 0 0 2 . S h e sai d th at , w h i l e sh e w as w ai t i n g fo r fo o d atth e k i t ch en p ass-th ro u g h i n M ay, M a r k s m a d e “s e x u a l” c o m m e n ts to th e c o o k ab o u t “d o in g y o u rm o th e r ” w h ile l ooki ng a tV a n de rM e ul e n. I d. a t111- 12. S he s a i d tha ts he t ol d M a rks tha ts he w a s of f e nde d by the r e m a r k, buthe j us ti gnor e d he ra nd s he di d notr e por tthe i nci dentt o Y ork. S om et i m e i n l at e M ayor ea rl y Jun e, M arks t ol d V an der M eul en tha the ha d pr e vi ous l y w or ke d a s a s tr i ppe ra nd be ga n doi ng a “ s tr i p t e a s e ki nd of dance” w i th “ al l ki nd s of thrust s. ” I d. at10 9, 11 6-20 , 12 2-23 . V an der M eul en r e por t e d thi s e pi s ode t o one of the othe rm a na ge r s , B i l l C ook, w ho t ol d he rtha the w o u ld h a n d le it. O n 1 4 Jun e 200 2, V an der M eul en st at ed thatshe w as w orki ng a key e m pl oy e e s hi f

ta nd a s ke d M a r ks w ha tthe y w e r e goi ng t o do aboutl unc h f orthe e m pl oy e e s , be c a us e i tw a s c us t om a ry f orm a na ge r s t o m a ke l unc h f orthe e m p lo y e e s o n F r id a y s . W h e n s h e a s k e d ab o u t th e lu n c h p la n s , s h e f o u n d M a rk s in the m anager’ s off

i ce w i th ano ther e m pl oyee , M i chae l C re ec h. In re spon se t o V an der M eul en’ s quest i on , M arks sa i d “ D ee z nut s, ” und erhi s bre ath, and C re ec h s t a r t e d l a ughi ng. I d. a t126- 28. S he a s ke d hi m a ga i n w ha tthe y w e r e ha vi ng f or l un ch, and M arks l oo ked ather a nd re peat ed “ D ee z nut s. ” I d. at12 7. S he as ked5

h im a th ir d tim e , a n d h e p o in te d to h is g r o in a r e a , th ru s t it o u t, a n d a g a in s a id “D e e z n u ts .” I d . a t 1 2 7 - 2 8 , 1 5 0 - 5 1 . V a n d e rM e u le n te s tif

ie d th a t s h e le f

t th e o f f ic e , s ta r te d c ry in g , a n d w e n t to the bathroo m t o com po se hers el f. T w o o f the other s ervers j oi ned V an der M eul en a t th e b a th r o o m to c h e c k o n h e ra n d s h e to ld th e m w h a t h a d h ap p e n e d . S h e s a id tha tM a r ks ’ s c om m e nta nd ge s tur e m a de he rf e e l hur t , a ngry , of

f e nde d, a nd be tr a y e d, a nd tha tC r e e k’ s l a ught e rm a de he rf e e l i nf e r i orbe c a us e he w a s l a ughi ng a the rw he n s he w a s s upe r vi s i ng hi m . S he s t a y e d i n the ba thr oom f orabout15 m in u te s a n d th e n c a m e o u t a n d to ld M a rk s th a t s h e n e e d e d to ta lk to h im o u ts id e . A ft erthey both w entou t si de, she t ol d h i m thatw hathe had d on e w as w rong , that he s houl d be a s ha m e d of hi m s e l f , a nd tha ts he w a s hur ta nd of f e nde d. M a rks ap o lo g iz e d a n d s h e w e n t b a c k to w o rk a n d f in is h e d h e rs h if

t. I n h e rd e p o s itio n , V a n d e rM e u le n a d m itte d th a t s h e d id n o t r e p o r t th is i n c i d e n tt o Y o r k , b u tn o t e d th a tth e n e x tt i me s h e s a w Y o rk , h e a s k e d h e rt o c o me i nt o hi s of

f i c e a nd t ol d he rtha the ha d f ound outtha tM a rks ha d done s om e thi ng in ap p r o p r ia te a n d th a t h e n e e d e d to r e p o r t it to h is b o s s , V io la , to c o v e rh im s e lf . S he t ol d Y or k tha the “ ha [ d] t o do w ha t[ he ] ha [ d] t o do” , a nd the n hi s de m e a nor c h a n g e d , a n d h e s a id “I g o t to te ll y o u , if y o u r e p o r t th is , y o u rc h a n c e s o f g o in g to m a na ge m e nti s goi ng t o be ve ry s l i m . W ho i s goi ng t o w a ntt o w ork w i th s om e one6

w h o s c r e a m s s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t? W h a t m a n a g e ris g o in g to w a n t to w o rk w ith y ou? ” I d. a t136. S he f e l tbe tr a y e d by hi s s t a t e m e ntw hi c h s he be l i e ve d i m pl i e d he ha d a c hoi c e aboutr e por t i ng the i nc i de nta nd tha t , i f s he r e por t e d i t , he rc ha nc e s of g o in g in to m a n a g e m e n t w o u ld b e a f f e c te d . L a te r , Y o rk c a lle d h e r , to ld h e rV io la w a s a va i l abl e , a nd a s ke d he ri f s he w a nt e d t o s pe a k w i th V i ol a . S he di dn’ tknow w hatt o sayand t ol d h i m she nee ded t o thi nk abou ti t . W hen V an der M eul en re turned t o w ork, Y ork t ol d h erthatthey w ou l d n ot“ t al k abo utthi s, ” a nd V an der M eul en agree d, because there w er e rum ors run ni ng ar ou nd the re st aura nt . Id. at 147. V a n d e rM e u le n a d m itte d th a t, d u r in g th e tim e b e tw e e n th e 1 4 J u n e in c id e n t, a n d w h e n s h e q u it, ab o u t th r e e w e e k s la te r , M a rk s d id n o t d ir e c t a n y in ap p r o p r ia te be ha vi ororl a ngua ge t ow a r d he r . M a rks ne ve rt ouc he d he ri nappr opr i a t e l y or ph ys i ca l l y threa t ened her. N everthel es s, V an der M eul en t es t i fi ed that , af t erher conv er sa t i on w i th Y ork, she w as no tsc hedu l ed for a s m any keyshi ft s a s bef ore, the i ss ue of her goi ng i nt o m anagem entw as avoi ded, and the m anagers no l on ger had t i m e t o sho w her thi ng s on h erfr ee t i m e. S he al so fe l tthatY ork w i thh el d h er r e s um e f r om m a na ge m e ntc ons i de r a t i on. S he di d notknow of a ny m a na ge m e nt p o s itio n s th a t b e c a m e a v a ilab le w h ile s h e w a s w o rk in g a t C h ili’s . A c c or di ng t o V a n de rM e ul e n, aboutthr e e w e e ks a f t e r14 J une , one of

the7

se rver s t ol d h erthatM arks had w arned h i m no tt o t al k t o h erbecause s he had c la im e d s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t. O n th a t d a y , M a rk s w a s in th e r e s ta u r a n t, d r in k in g in the di ni ng room and t al ki ng w i th o ther e m pl oyee s. A no ther e m pl oyee , Je n K i es er , t ol d h erthatM arks w as t al ki ng abou tthe 14 June i nci dent . V an der M eul en f i ni s he d he rs hi f

ta nd the n i nf

or m e d the m a na ge ron duty tha ts he qui t . S he t e s t i f i e d tha ts he qui tbe c a us e the i s s ue ha d notbe e n “ dr oppe d [ , ] w a s n’ tbe i ng i nve s t i ga t e d, ” a nd be c a us e the m a l e s e rve r s a tthe r e s t a ur a ntha d f or m e d a “ good o ld b o y [ s ] n e tw o r k ” th a t c o n tin u e d to f o c u s o n h e rr e a c tio n to th e in c id e n t w ith M a r ks . I d. a t162- 63. H e rc ont i nue d r e a c t i on t o the 14 J une i nc i de nta l s o pl a y e d a r o le in h e rd e c is io n to q u it. V a n de rM e ul e n a c know l e dge d tha tY or k c a l l e d he ra thom e the ne xt m o rn in g to a s k if

th e r e w a s a n y th in g h e c o u ldd o , b u t s h e to ld h im s h e w a s s till u p s e t a n d to c a ll b a c k . V io lac a lle d V a n d e rM e u le n th e f o llo w in g d a y , a n d to ld h e rth a t h e n e e d e d to ta k e a r e p o r t o v e rth e p h o n e . H e a s k e d h e rif s h e w a n te d to c om e ba c k t o the r e s t a ur a nt , buts he s t a t e d tha ts he c oul d notw ork the r e i f the s a m e p e o p le w e r e s till th e r e . V io laa s k e d h e rif s h e w a n te d to w o rk a t th e P o r t S t. L u c ie r e s ta u r a n t, b u t s h e s a id it w a s to o f a rto d r iv e f

o rth e m o n e y th a t s h e w o u ld be pa i d. S he t e s t i f

i e d tha t , a l though s he w oul d ha ve a c c e pt e d a m a na ge m e nt p o s itio n a t th e P o r t S t. L u c ie s to r e , s h e d id n o t ta lk to V io laab o u t s u c h a p o s itio n .8

V a n d e rM e u le n c la im e d th a t w h e n s h e le f t C h ili’s s h e w a s “e m o tio n a lly di s tr a ught . ” I d. a t43. S he s a i d tha ts he di d nots e e a ps y c hi a tr i s t , ps y c hol ogi s t , or a m e nt a l he a l th the r api s tbe c a us e s he c oul d nota f f or d i t , butt e s t i f

i e d tha ts he ta lk e d to h e rp a s to rtw ic e ab o u t th e e v e n ts . S h e s ta te d s h e d id n o t w a n t to r e tu rn to e m p lo y m e n t a t C h ili’s , e v e n th o u g h b o th Y o rk a n d M a rk s n o lo n g e rw o rk e d th e r e . Y o r k s ta te d in h is d e c la r a tio n th a t, u p o n in v e s tig a tin g th e 1 4 J u n e in c id e n t, h e d eter m in ed th at M ar k s h ad ac ted in ap p ro p riately a n d co n trar y to C h il i’ s gu i del i nes a nd po l i ci es w hen h e m ade a n i napp ropri at e c om m entt o V an der M e ul e n. V i ol a de c l a r e d tha the ha d l e a rne d of the i nc i de ntf

r om Y ork. Y or k a nd V i ol a both s t a t e d i n the i rde c l a r a t i ons tha tY ork ha d pr e pa r e d a s um m a ry of the i nc i de nttha tw a s s i gne d by Y or k, M a rks , a nd V i ol a ; c ouns e l e d M a rks r e ga r di ng p r o p e rb e h a v io r ; a n d g iv e n M a r k s a w r itte n w a rn in g f o rv io la tin g C h ili’s p o lic ie s . Y o r k s a id th a t V a n d e rM e u le n d id n o t c o m p la in to h im ab o u t a n y in ap p r o p r ia te b eh av io r b y M ar k s b etw ee n th e tim e o f th e in cid en t an d V an d erM eu len ’s r e s i gna t i on. In op po si t i on t o the m ot i on for s um m ary j ud gm ent , V an der M eul en ar gu ed thatshe w as construct i vel y di sc harged and thatC hi l i ’ s di d n otatt em ptt o rec t i fy the s i tua t i on, butr a the rc a us e d he rt o qui tby m a ki ng he r“ the tr oubl e m a ke r ” a nd k ee p in g M ar k s e m p lo ye d , ev en af ter a n o th erm an ag er , B il l C o o k , l ab eled M ar k s “a9

s e xua l ha r a s s m e ntr i s k. ” R 1- 29 a t13. S he m a i nt a i ne d tha ts he s uf f e r e d the a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on of c ons truc t i ve di s c ha r ge a nd tha tthe c a us a l l i nk betw ee n h ercom pl ai ntand h erdi sc harge w as Y ork’ s s t at em ent s “ thather c o m p la in t w [ o u ld ] h u r t h e rc h a n c e s to g o in to m a n a g e m e n t, th a t n o o n e w o u ld w a n t to w o r k w ith h e r ,” a n d th e s u b s e q u e n t r e d u c tio n in h e rk e y e m p lo y e e s h if ts . Id. at12 -13. S he di d n otspec i fi ca l l y a rgue thatY ork’ s s t at em ent s w er e ase para t e, a c t i onabl e a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on. S he s t a t e d tha ts he w a s br i ngi ng he ra c t i on a g a in s t C h ili’s u n d e rT itle V I I , ap p a r e n tly f o rth e f ir s t tim e , a n d u n d e rth e F C R A . I n s uppor t , s he f

i l e d the de pos i t i ons of

f or m e rC hi l i ’ s e m pl oy e e K i e s e ra nd m a n a g e rB ill C o o k . K i es ert es t i fi ed du ri ng her deposi t i on thatshe w orked as ase rverand k ey em pl oyee atC hi l i ’ s. S he st at ed thatM arks “ w as al w ay s hi tt i ng on the youn ger [ f e m a l e e m pl oy e e s ] ” , a nd m a ki ng “ s e xua l c om m e nt s ” aboutthe i rbodi e s a nd the w a y tha tthe y w e r e dr e s s e d. R 1- 30, K i e s e rD e po. a t9- 12. O ne ni ght , M a rks in v ite d s o m e e m p lo y e e s o v e rto h is h o u s e a n d s h o w e d th e m p o rn o g r ap h y o n h is T V . K i e s e rt e s t i f

i e d tha ts he he a r d M a rks t e l l pe opl e aboutthe 14 J une i nc i de nt w i th V an der M eul en, and thateventual l y, everyone atC hi l i ’ s r es t aura ntw as aw ar e o f th e in c id e n t. A f

e w d a y s a f

te rth e J u n e 1 4 in c id e n t, K ie s e rw a s a t ab a rw ith V an d er M eu l en , an d th e b art en d er ask ed V an d er M eu l en i f sh e w as th e “ th ese10

nu t s” gi rl . Id. at19 . F i nal l y, K i es erno t ed that , on the day thatV an der M eul en q u i t , M a r k s , w h o w a s v i s i t i n g th e Ch i l i ’ s b a ra s a g u e s t , w a s d r i n k i n g w i th s o me othe rC hi l i ’ s e m pl oy e e s . M a r ks w a s t a l ki ng s o l oudl y a nd us i ng s uc h f oul l a ngua ge tha tK i e s e ra s ke d hi m t o s t op. W he n M a rks c ont i nue d w i th hi s of f e ns i ve b e h a v io r , K ie s e ra s k e d a m a n a g e rto in te rv e n e a n d M a rk s s u b s e q u e n tly le f t. B y de pos i t i on, C ook t e s t i f i e d tha the ha d w orke d f orC hi l i ’ s a s a n a s s i s t a nt general m anager. H e f

el tthatM arks “ w as a s exual hara ss m entri sk” a nd no t i fi ed hi s s up er i ors, i ncl ud i ng V i ol a, of hi s c on ce rns. Id. at10 -11, 17 . H e observed that M a r k s ’s c h o ic e o f

w o r d s a n d v o c ab u la ryw a s im p r o p e ra n d th a t h e in ap p r o p r ia te ly t ou ched femal e e m pl oyee s. F ou r f em al e bart enders and o ther e m pl oyee s c o m p la in e d to h im ab o u t M a r k s ’s c o m m e n ts a n d b e h a v io rto w a r d th e m . C o o k s a id tha the ha d he a r d tha tV a n de rM e ul e n ha d c om pl a i ne d abouta n i nc i de nti nvol vi ng M arks. V an der M eul en al so subm i tt ed excerpt s f rom M arks’ s per sonn el fi l e, d o c u m e n tin g th e 1 4 J u n e in c id e n t, a t C h ili’s . I n r e pl y t o V a n de rM e ul e n’ s r e s pons e t o s um m a ry j udgm e nt , C hi l i ’ s di d not o b je c t to V a n d e rM e u le n ’s c h a r a c te r iz a tio n o f h e rc a s e a s r a is in g T itle V I I c la im s . T he di s tr i c tc our tgr a nt e d s um m a ry j udge m e nti n f a vorof C hi l i ’ s . R e f

e rr i ng t o T i t l e V II, th e co u rtfo u n d th ata h o st i l e w o rk en v i ro n m en td i d n o tex i stas a m att erof l aw and thatV an der M eul en’ s r et al i at i on cl ai m fa i l ed because there w as11

no advers e e m pl oym entac t i on or construct i ve di sc harge. S peci fi ca l l y, the court f ound tha tno a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on oc c urr e d be c a us e he rs ubj e c t i ve a l l e ga t i on of

notr e c e i vi ng a s m a ny ke y a s s i gnm e nt s a s s he ha d pr e vi ous l y w a s not s ubs t a nt i a l e nough, a nd be c a us e s he di d nots how tha tthe r e w a s a m a na ge m e nt ope ni ng tha ts he c oul d ha ve be e n c ons i de r e d f orw hi l e e m pl oy e d by C hi l i ’ s . T he co u rtfu rth er fo u n d th atth e w o rk i n g co n d i t i o n s d i d n o tri se t o th e l ev el o f b ei n g so in to lera b le as to co n stitu te a c o n stru ctiv e d isch ar g e, es p ec iall y in li g h t o f C h il i’ s re m edi al ef

fort s post -t erm i nat i on . T he di stri ctcourtdi d n otexpl i ci t l y rul e on V an de rM e ul e n’ s c l a i m s unde rthe F C R A , buti m pl i c i t l y gr a nt e d s um m a ry j udgm e nton the s e c l a i m s a s w e l l . V a n de rM e ul e n’ s m ot i on f orr e c ons i de r a t i on w a s de ni e d. O n app ea l , V an der M eul en ar gu es thatshe pre se nt ed evi dence t o sho w that C hi l i ’ s r e t a l i a t e d a ga i ns the rby thr e a t e ni ng he rpr om ot i ona l pot e nt i a l a nd c o n s tru c tiv e ly d is c h a r g e d h e rth r o u g h th e th r e a ts a n d a h o s tile w o rk e n v ir o n m e n t. I I . DI S CU S S I ON W e r e v ie w th e g r a n t o f

s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t d e n o v o , v ie w in g th e e v id e n c e in the l i ghtm os tf

a vor abl e t o the nonm ovi ng pa r ty . J ohns on v. G ove rnorof F l a . , 405 F . 3d 12 14 , 12 17 (11th C i r. 20 05 ) ( en banc). S um m ary j ud gm entshou l d b e gra nt ed onl y w he n “ the pl e a di ngs , de pos i t i ons , a ns w e r s t o i nt e rr oga t or i e s , a nd a dm i s s i ons on f i l e , t oge the rw i th the a f

f i da vi t s , i f

a ny , s how tha tthe r e i s no ge nui ne i s s ue a s t o12

a ny m a t e r i a l f

a c ta nd tha tthe m ovi ng pa r ty i s e nt i t l e d t o a j udgm e nta s a m a tt e rof la w .” F e d . R . C iv . P . 5 6 ( c ) . “T itle V I I m a k e s it a n u n la w f u l e m p lo y m e n t p r a c tic e f o ra n e m p lo y e r. . . to d i scri m i n at e ag ai n stan y i n d i v i d u al w i th resp ectt o h [er] co m p en sat i o n , t erm s, cond i t i on s, or pri vi l eges of em pl oym ent , because of s uch i nd i vi du al ’ s . . . se x. ” W a l t on v. J ohns on & J ohns on S e rv. , I nc . , 347 F . 3d 1272, 1279 ( 11th C i r . 2003) (percuri am ) ( i nt ernal qu ot at i on om i tt ed); se e a l so 42 U . S . C . §§ 20 00 e- 2(a) (1). It i s a l s o unl a w f

ul f ora n e m pl oy e rt o di s c r i m i na t e a ga i ns ta n e m pl oy e e be c a us e s he h a s o p p o s e d a n u n la w f

u l e m p lo y m e n t p r a c tic e . 4 2 U .S .C . § § 2 0 0 0 e - 3 ( a ) .

“ T o est abl i sh a pri m a f

ac i e c as e of r et al i at i on un der T i t l e V II , a pl ai nt i ff m ustshow that(1) he e ng aged i n st atut ori l y prot ec t ed express i on ; (2) he s uffe re d a n a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on; a nd ( 3) the r e i s s om e c a us a l r e l a t i on be tw e e n the tw o event s. ” P enni ng t on v. C i ty of H un t svi l l e, 26 1 F . 3d 12 62 , 12 66 (11th C i r. 20 01 ). T o p rove thatan advers e e m pl oym entac t i on has t aken pl ac e, “ an em pl oyee m ustshow a s e r io u s a n d m a te r ia l c ha nge i n the t e rm s , c ondi t i ons , orpr i vi l e ge s of e m pl oy m e nt ” tha ti s “ m a t e r i a l l y a dve r s e a s vi e w e d by a r e a s onabl e pe r s on i n the ci rc um st ance s. ” D avi s v. T ow n o f L ake P ark, F l a. , 24 5 F . 3d 12 32 , 12 39 (11th C i r. 2 0 0 1 ). “ [T ] h e act i o n m u stei th er b e an u l t i m at e em p l o ym en td eci si o n o r el se m u st m e e ts om e thr e s hol d l e ve l of s ubs t a nt i a l i ty . ” S t a vr opoul os v. F i r e s t one , 361 F . 3d13

61 0, 61 6-17 (11th C i r. 20 04 ), ce rt . deni ed, U . S . , 12 5 S . C t . 18 50 (200 5) (i n t ern al q u o t at i o n o m i tt ed ). “ C o n stru ct i v e d i sch arg e q u al i fi es as an ad v erse e m pl oy m e ntde c i s i on. ” S e e P ool e v. C ountryC l ub of C ol um bus , I nc . , 129 F . 3d 5 5 1 , 5 5 3 n .2 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 7 ) . A . Y or k’ s s t a t e m e nt s a s a n a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on V a n d e rM e u le n a r g u e s th a t s h e p r e s e n te d e v id e n c e f r o m w h ic h a r e a s o n ab le fa ctfi nd ercoul d con cl ud e thatC hi l i ’ s r et al i at ed agai nsther by threa t eni ng her r e g a r d in g h e rp r o m o tio n a l p o te n tia l if s h e r e p o r te d th e s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t, s p e c if ic a lly th r o u g h Y o r k ’s th r e a t th a t, if s h e r e p o r te d M a rk s ’s in ap p r o p r ia te c onduc t , he rc ha nc e s of goi ng t o m a na ge m e ntw e r e goi ng t o be s l i m a nd tha tno o n e w o u ld w a n t to w o r k w ith h e r , a n d Y o rk ’s s u b s e q u e n t p h o n e c a ll a s k in g h e rif she w ant ed t o p ursue the re po rtany f urther. A s a n i ni t i a l m a tt e r , V a n de rM e ul e n di d notpr ope r l y pr e s e rve thi s i s s ue f or appeal . A l tho ug h V an der M eul en re fe rr ed t o Y ork’ s c om m ent s, she neverar gu ed i n h ercom pl ai nt , i n o pp osi t i on t o sum m ary j ud gm ent , or on re consi dera t i on , that hi s c om m ent s, st andi ng al on e, const i tut ed an adverse em pl oym entac t i on bu tthat the c om m e nt s w e r e pa r tof the c i r c um s t a nc e s c ons t i tut i ng he rc ons truc t i ve di sc harge. T he di stri ctcourtci t ed Y ork’ s s t at em ent s w hen d i sc ussi ng V an der M eu len ’s co n stru ctiv e d isch ar g e c laim , b u t d idn o t ad d re ss w h eth erY o rk ’s14

c om m e nt s c ons t i tut e d a n a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on s e pa r a t e l y . R 1- 33 a t6- 7. G e ne r a l l y , w e do notc ons i de ra n i s s ue orthe ory on appe a l tha tw a s not r a i s e d i n the di s tr i c tc our t . A c c e s s N ow , I nc . v. S outhw e s tA i r l i ne s C o. , 385 F . 3d 1324, 1331 ( 11th C i r . 2004) ; s e e A l ge rnon B l a i rG r oup, I nc . v. U ni t e d S t a t e s F i d. and G uar. C o. , 82 1 F . 2d 59 7, 60 2-03 (11th C i r. 19 87 ) ( confi rm i ng thatfa ctual as se rt i on s pre se nt ed for the fi rs tt i m e on app ea l coul d n otbe used t o d ef ea t sum m ary j ud gm ent , even w here the fa ct s w er e i n the re cord atthe t i m e of s um m ary j ud gm ent ). T o th e ex t en tth atth e i ssu e i s n o tw ai v ed , th e cl ai m st i l l fai l s, b ecau se Y or k’ s “ thr e a t ” di d nota m ountt o a n a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on. I n D oe v. D e ka l b C ounty S c h. D i s t . , 145 F . 3d 1441, 1448- 51 ( 11th C i r . 1998) ( di s c us s i ng the A D A ), w e r ec og ni ze d thatthe t es tfor a dv er si ty s ho ul d b e obj ec t i ve, and thatan e m pl oy e e ’ s s ubj e c t i ve f e e l i ngs abouta n e m pl oy e r ’ s a c t i ons s houl d notbe c ons i de r e d. E ve n a c c e pt i ng V a n de rM e ul e n’ s t e s t i m ony , the r e i s no obj e c t i ve b a s is f o rf in d in g Y o r k ’s s ta te m e n ts c o n s titu te d a n a d v e r s e e m p lo y m e n t a c tio n . Y or k m a de onl y one “ thr e a t e ni ng” s t a t e m e ntt o V a n de rM e ul e n tha the rc ha nc e s of goi ng i nt o m a na ge m e ntm i ghtbe a f f e c t e d i f s he r e por t e d the i nc i de nt . S e e R 1- 24 at13 4-43 , 14 6-49 . T hi s s t at em entdi d n otcause a ny obj ec t i ve change i n h er e m p lo y m e n t. S h e w o r k e d f o rth r e e w e e k s a f

te rth e th r e a te n in g s ta te m e n t,Van der Meulen te stified that she wa s scheduled f or fewer key employee shifts a fter 1 York’s thre at; however, she doe s not argue on appe al that this chang e in her schedulewas a

n adver se employ

ment action. See R1-24 a t 174-75. 15 a c know l e dge d tha ts he a nd Y or k a gr e e d nott o di s c us s the i nc i de ntf ur the r , a nd d o e s n o t c la im th a t Y o r k o ra n y o n e e ls e a t C h ili’s th r e a te n e d h e rf u r th e r . S e e id . V an der M eul en do es no tar gu e thatshe s uffe re d a cuti n p ayor any c hang e i n h er b e n e f i t s o rp o s i t i o n . Sh e a c k n o w l e d g e dth a tn o ma n a g e me n tp o s i t i o n s b e c a me 1 avai l abl e w hi l e s he w as w orki ng atC hi l i ’ s, and thatbo th Y ork and V i ol a a tt em pt ed to g e t h e rto c o m e b a c k to w o r k a f te rs h e q u it. I d . a t 9 1 - 9 2 , 1 6 8 - 1 7 2 , 1 7 5 , 1 7 8 . A dd i t i on al l y, V an der M eul en di d n otcom pl ai n abo utor re po rtthe al l eged th r e a ts to a n o th e rC h ili’s m a n a g e r , e v e n w h e n s h e w a s g iv e n a c h a n c e to ta lk to V i ol a on the phone a f

t e rthe thr e a t s . T hus , C hi l i ’ s ha d no t i m e t o r e m e dy the s i tua t i on. I d. a t144. S e e , e . g. , C oa t e s v. S undorB r a nds , I nc . , 164 F . 3d 1361, 1364- 66 ( 11th C i r . 1999) ( pe rc ur i a m ) ( hol di ng tha ta hos t i l e w ork e nvi r onm e nt pl ai nt i ff m ustno t i fythe em pl oyerof the haras sm entand g i ve the em pl oyera ch an ce t o rem ed y th e si tu at i o n ). F u rth er, al th o u g h V an d er M eu l en l i k en s h er case t o W i dem an v. W al -M artS t ores , Inc. , 14 1 F . 3d 14 53 (11th C i r. 19 98 ), i n w hi ch w e he l d tha ta dve r s e a c t i ons f a l l i ng s hor tof

ul t i m a t e e m pl oy m e ntde c i s i ons c a n be a c t i onabl e unde rT i t l e V I I , w e r e c ogni z e d, butdi d note s t abl i s h, a l e ve l of subst ant i al i ty thatm ustbe m etfor unl aw ful di sc ri m i nat i on t o b e c og ni zabl e und er16

the a nt i - r e t a l i a t i on c l a us e . I d. a t1456. I n W i de m a n, w e c onc l ude d tha tthe a c t i ons o f w h ic h W id e m a n h a d c o m p la in e d w e r e c o lle c tiv e ly s u f f ic ie n t to c o n s titu te p ro h i b i t ed b eh av i o r. Id . T h o se act i o n s i n cl u d ed i m p ro p erl y l i st i n g h er as a no- s how on a da y s he w a s s c he dul e d of f , a nd r e qui r i ng he rt o w ork w he n s he b ro u g h tth e erro r t o th e att en t i o n o f h er su p erv i so r; g i v i n g h er w ri tt en rep ri m an d s, f orthe f i r s tt i m e i n e l e ve n m onths , w hi c h r e s ul t e d i n a one - da y s us pe ns i on; s o lic itin g e m p lo y e e s f

o rn e g a tiv e c o m m e n ts o n h e rp e r f o rm a n c e ; f

a ilin g to sc hedu l e herfor w ork; threa t eni ng t o sho other i n the head; and d el ay ed a uthor i z i ng m e di c a l tr e a tm e ntf ora n a l l e r gi c r e a c t i on s he w a s ha vi ng. I d. a t1455, 14 56 . V an der M eul en on l y a l l eged on e s t at em entm ade threa t eni ng her f uture m a na ge m e nta s pi r a t i ons , a nd s he w a s nots us pe nde d, gi ve n a f or m a l r e pr i m a nd, hara ss ed or threa t ened aft erher f i rs tm ee t i ng w i th Y ork, and d i d n othave her s c h e d u le r e d u c e d . T h e a d v e r s e a c tio n a lle g e d b y V a n d e rM e u le n is h ig h ly i ns ubs t a nt i a l i n c om pa r i s on t o the m i s c onduc ta l l e ge d i n W i de m a n. A l though s he m ayhave been em ot i on al l y di straug htov erY ork’ s c om m ent s r egar di ng her f uture m a na ge m e ntpot e nt i a l , the r e c or d s how s tha tthe s e c om m e nt s ha d no r e a l e f f e c ton he re m pl oy m e nt , a nd thus , di d notc ons t i tut e a n a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on. B . E vi de nc e of

c ons truc t i ve di s c ha r ge17

V an d erM eu len also ar g u es th at Y o rk ’s th re ats, co m b in ed w ith M ar k s’s c o n tin u e d d ru n k e n r a n tin g ab o u t th e in c id e n t, a n d o th e re m p lo y e e s c o m in g u p to he ra nd t e l l i ng he rtha tM a r ks w a s di s c us s i ng the i nc i de nt , c r e a t e d a n e nvi r onm e nt w h e r e a r e a s o n ab le p e r s o n in h e rp o s itio n w o u ld h a v e f e lt c o m p e lle d to r e s ig n . S he cont ends thather key em pl oyee du t i es w er e r educed and si gn al ed thather c ha nc e of

a m a na ge m e ntpos i t i on ha d be e n de r a i l e d, a nd tha ti ti s a di s put e d i s s ue of m at er i al fa ctas t o w hether the ef fort s C hi l i ’ s t oo k t o rec t i fythe si tuat i on w er e tr a ns pa r e nts i nc e M a r ks r e m a i ne d e m pl oy e d.

“ A construct i ve di sc harge occurs w hen a di sc ri m i nat ory e m pl oyeri m po se s w or ki ng c ondi t i ons tha ta r e s o i nt ol e r abl e tha ta r e a s onabl e pe r s on i n the em pl oyee ’ s posi t i on w ou l d h ave been com pel l ed t o res i gn . F i t z v. P ug m i re L i ncol n-M er cury , Inc. , 34 8 F . 3d 97 4, 97 7 (11 th C i r. 20 03 ) ( ci t at i on and i nt ernal quot a t i on m a r ks om i tt e d) . B e c a us e the s t a nda r d of pr oof f ora c ons truc t i ve di s c ha r ge c l a i m i s hi ghe rtha n tha tf ora hos t i l e w ork e nvi r onm e ntc l a i m , the p la in tif f m u s t s h o w m o r e th a n th a t s h e w a s s u b je c te d to a c tio n ab le h a r a s s m e n t. W a lto n , 3 4 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 2 . “A c o n s tru c tiv e d is c h a r g e w ill g e n e r a lly n o t b e f o u n d if the e m pl oy e ri s notgi ve n s uf f i c i e ntt i m e t o r e m e dy the s i tua t i on. ” K i l gor e v. T hom ps on & B r oc k M gm t . , I nc . , 93 F . 3d 752, 754 ( 11th C i r . 1996) ( a f f i rm i ng su m m ary j u d g m en tw h ere th e em p l o yer b eg an an i n v est i g at i o n o f th e p l ai n t i ffs’18

c om pl a i nton a F r i da y a nd a tt e m pt e d t o m e e tw i th the pl a i nt i f f s on the f ol l ow i ng T ue s da y , a nd w he r e the pl a i nt i f f s di d notr e turn t o w ork a f t e ra dvi s i ng the em pl oyerof thei r c om pl ai nt s) . “ P artof an em pl oyee ’ s obl i gat i on t o b e r e a s o n a b le i s a n o bl i gat i on no tt o ass um e the w orst , and n ott o j um p t o con cl usi on s t oo fa st . ” G a rne rv. W a l - M a r tS t or e s , I nc . , 807 F . 2d 1536, 1539 ( 11th C i r . 1987) ( a f f i rm i ng sum m ary j ud gm entw here the em pl oyee qu i taf t eron e dayi n w hatshe per ce i ved as an un ac ce pt abl e posi t i on ). In F i t z, 34 8 F . 3d at97 9, w e uph el d sum m ary j ud gm entfor the em pl oyer w here the pl ai nt i ff

cl ai m ed thathi s e m pl oyer ’ s r ac i al di sc ri m i nat ory c on du ct c o m p e lle d h im to r e s ig n . O n e o f th e f a c ts u s e d b y th e p la in tif f to s u p p o r t h is p o s itio n w a s h is c o - w o r k e r s s ta te m e n ts th a t h is e m p lo y e rp la n n e d to f ir e h im because of hi s r ac e s om et i m e i n the future. Id. at97 8. N ot i ng thatthe pl ai nt i ff ne ve rc onf

r ont e d hi s e m pl oy e raboutthe a l l e ge d pl ot , w e “ de c l i ne [ d] t o r e a c h a hol di ng tha tw oul d e nc our a ge s pe c ul a t i ve l i t i ga t i on” s i nc e the e m pl oy e rm i ght

“ ne ve rc a rry outthe pl a n. ” I d. a t978 & n. 4. I n c ontr a s t , w e r e ve r s e d the gr a ntof s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t f

o rth e e m p lo y e rin th e c o n s tru c tiv e d is c h a r g e c la im in P o o le w h e r e th e e m p lo y e e w a s r e lie v e d o f a ll o f h e rd u tie s , m o v e d to a n o f f ic e w ith o n ly a c h a ira n d n o d e s k , a n d h e re m p lo y e rin s tru c te d o th e re m p lo y e e s n o t to s p e a k w ith h e r . P o o le , 1 2 9 F .3 d a t 5 5 2 , 5 5 3 .19

T h e w o rk i n g co n d i t i o n s th atV an d er M eu l en arg u es w ere i n t o l erab l e co n si st o f Y o r k ’s s ta te m e n t th a t h e rp r o m o tio n a l p o te n tia l w o u ld b e n e g a tiv e ly e f f e c te d if s h e r e p o r te d th e s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t a n d a c o w o rk e r ’s s ta te m e n t, th r e e w e e k s la te r , tha tM a r ks w a s i n the C hi l i ’ s ba rt a l ki ng aboutthe i nc i de nti n w hi c h he m a de the

“ D e e z nut s ” c om m e nta nd i nappr opr i a t e l y ge s tur e d t ow a r d he r . A l though s he cl ai m s thatthe envi ronm entw as such thata r ea sonabl e per son w ou l d fee l com pel l ed t o res i gn , she s peci fi ca l l y t es t i fi ed thatno se xu al hara ss m entoccurre d betw ee n h erfi rs tconv er sa t i on w i th Y ork abo utM arks’ s har as sm entand the day th a t s h e q u it a n d th a t s h e q u it b e c a u s e th e is s u e h a d n o t b e e n d r o p p e d a n d s h e f e lt it w as no tbei ng i nv es t i gat ed. T he evi dence, ho w ever , i ncl ud i ng do cum ent at i on fi l ed by V a n de rM e ul e n, i ndi c a t e s tha tM a rks ’ s i nappr opr i a t e c om m e nt s a nd be ha vi or w e r e i nve s t i ga t e d a nd M a r ks w a s r e pr i m a nde d f orthe i nappr opr i a t e c om m e nthe m a d e to h e ro n 1 4 J u n e . R 1 - 2 4 a t 1 6 4 - 6 5 , E x h . 8 . T h e a c tio n s ta k e n b y C h ili’s w h e n m a d e a w a r e o f M a rk s ’s in ap p r o p r ia te behavi or appear s ucce ss ful , i n thatV an der M eul en adm i tt edl y s uffe re d n o further ha r a s s m e nt . A l though s he w a s ups e tove rhe a r i ng tha tM a rks w a s s t i l l di s c us s i ng the i nci dentw i th o ther e m pl oyee s, she di d n otre turn t o w ork aft erbecom i ng aw ar e thatM arks w as di sc ussi ng the i nci dent . U nd erthe ci rc um st ance s, she a ct ed un re as on abl y i n q ui tt i ng w i tho utgi vi ng C hi l i ’ s a n o pp ortun i ty t o res po nd , as they20

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u lly d o n e p r e v io u s ly . H e rc o n s tru c tiv e d is c h a r g e c la im a m o u n ts to tw o is o la te d in c id e n ts , th r e e w e e k s ap a r t. H e rc a s e is a k in to th e c la im s in F itz , in tha the re m pl oy e r ’ s thr e a t s ne ve rm a t e r i a l i z e d. S he w a s ne ve rde ni e d the op po rtun i ty t o adv ance t o a m anagem entpo si t i on , and i n fac t , C hi l i ’ s m anagers att em p t ed t o m en d th e em p l o ym en trel at i o n sh i p aft er sh e q u i t . U n d er th ese c ir c u m s ta n c e s , a r e a s o n ab le p e r s o n w o u ld n o t h a v e f e lt c o m p e lle d to r e s ig n . I I I . CONCL US I ON V an der M eul en fa i l ed t o est abl i sh a r et al i at i on cl ai m as a m att erof l aw . S he n ev er arg u ed i n th e d i stri ctco u rtth ath er su p erv i so r’ s th reatco n st i tu t ed an ad v erse e m pl oy m e nta c t i on, bute ve n a s s um i ng thi s a r gum e nti s pr ope r l y pr e s e rve d, the thr e a tw a s ne ve rc a rr i e d out , a nd di d notobj e c t i ve l y c ha nge a ny of the t e rm s a nd co n d i t i o n s o f h er em p l o ym en tsu ch th ati tcan b e co n si d ered an ad v erse em pl oym entac t i on . E ven com bi ned w i th h erother c om pl ai nt s abo utthe w ork e nvi r onm e nt , a r e a s onabl e pe r s on w oul d notha ve f e l tc om pe l l e d t o r e s i gn, e s p e c ia lly in lig h t o f

C h ili’s p r e v io u s s u c c e s s f u l m e a s u r e s to s to p th e h a r a s s m e n t, a nd the f a c ttha ts he ne ve rga ve C hi l i ’ s the oppor tuni ty t o r e m e dy the f i na l i nc i de nt s he c l a i m s c om pe l l e d he rt o r e s i gn. A FFI R M ED .