# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 7- 24 92

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W al te r Eng el ha rd t

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

v.
Qwest Co rp or at io n; Tim

Bu ch ho lz

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an ts - App el le es

__ __ __ __ __ __ App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Dis tri ct of M in ne so ta - Mi nn eap ol is

__ __ __ __ __ __
Su bm it te d: Octo be r 18 , 20 18 Fi le d: Marc h 2 2, 2 01 9

__ __ __ __ __ __ Befo re SM ITH, Chi ef J ud ge , LOKE N and GRUENDER, Circu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __
SMI TH, Chi ef J ud ge

.
Pl a i nt iff W al te r Eng el ha rd t su ed Qwest Co rp or at io n, a su bs id ia ry of
Cen tu ry Lin k, an d Tim Bu ch ho lz
, Cen t u r yLi n k’s op erat io ns di rect or , al le gi ng th at Cen tu ry Lin k and Bu ch ho lz te rm in at ed hi m in vi ol at io n of t he Fai r Lab or St an da rd s Act (FLSA) an d th e Mi nn es ot a W hi st le bl owe r Act (MWA). He al so su ed fo r to rti ou s i n t erfe ren ce wit h a pr os pe ct iv e bu si ne ss rel at io ns hi p. Eng el ha rd t cl ai m ed t h a t Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz te rm in at ed hi m in ret al ia ti on fo r le ga l act io n he ha d ta ke nag ai ns t th e co m pa ny. Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz av erre d th at th ey te rm in at ed Eng el ha rd t fo r lo w pr od uc ti vi ty. The di st r ic t co ur t gr an te d su m m ary jud gm en t in 1
fav or of th e de fen da nt s an d di sm is se d th e MWA cl ai m fo r l a c k of st an di ng

. On
ap pe al
, Eng el ha rd t arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in gr an ti ng su m m ary jud gm en t be cau se ge nu in e is s u es of m at eri al fact rem ai n as to Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz ’s

m ot iv es fo r te rm in at in g hi m ; he a l s o c l a i ms th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in fin di ng he la ck ed st an di ng un de r th e MWA. W e di sa gr ee a n d affi rm th e di st ric t co ur t’s jud gm en t.

I. Bac kg ro un d Eng el ha rd t be ga n wor ki ng fo r Cen tu ry Lin k as a St . P au l-b as ed t e c h ni ci an in
20 00 . In 2 00 7, h e joi ne d a cla ss act io n l aws ui t (“ th e Bren na n la wsu it ”) o f ov er 3 00

em pl oyees ag ai ns t th e co m

pa ny. The su it se tt le d, an d Eng el ha rd t rece iv ed a pa y m en t. The n, i n 2 00 8, Ce nt ur y Lin k t erm in at ed Eng el ha rd t fo r lo w pro du ct iv it y

.

In 20 11
, Eng el ha rd t ap pl ie d fo r wor k th ro ug h MP Ne xtl ev el (M P)

. MP sup pl ie s

co nt ract or s t o t el eco m

m un ic at io ns co m

pa ni es , in cl ud in g C en tu ry Lin k. M P in it ia ll y pl aced Eng el ha rd t wit h a co m pa ny in Bi g Lak e, Mi nn es ot a, bu t Eng el ha rd t req ue st ed

a tra ns fer to Cen tu ry Lin k in St . P au l. W hi le th e tra ns fer was pe nd in g, En ge lh ard t’s fo rm er Cen tu ry Lin k su pe rv is or Ch ris Fry no ti ced Eng el ha rd t’s req ue st

. Fry th en

no ti fie d hi s su pe rio r, Tim Bu ch ho lz
, of Eng el ha rd t’s im pe nd in g ret ur n. Fry ex pr es se d

co nf us io n ab ou t h o w a t e r m in at ed em pl oyee co ul d ret ur n to th e co m pa ny as a

co nt ract or

.

Si x da y s aft er Eng el ha rd t’s as si gn m en t to Cen tu ry Lin k th ro ug h MP, Bu ch ho lz rel eas ed Eng el ha rd t. Bu ch ho lz te rm in at ed Eng el ha rd t aft er se ei ng h i s na m e on th e

co m pa ny’ s “ Do Not Reh ire ” li st

. Thi s li st co nt ai ne d na m es of e mp l o yees who ha d

The Hon or ab le Ann D. Mo nt go m ery, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e 1 Dis tri ct of M in ne so ta

.
-2

-be en fir ed fo r wor kp la ce vi ol at io ns , in cl ud in g pr od uc ti vi ty an d pe rfo rm an ce is su es

.

Cen tu ry Lin k pl aced fo rm er em pl oyees’ na m es on th e li st if t h e y were fir ed fo r a
qu al ifyin g reas on

. The se em pl oyees wou ld be m ark ed as “ n o t reh ira bl e” in th e Cen tu ry Lin k syste m

. Fry te st ifi ed he be li ev ed Eng el ha rd t ha d be en m ark ed as “ no t reh ira bl e” af

te r hi s t erm in at io n b ecau se of l ow p ro du ct iv it y

.

Abo ut a m on th aft er be in g rel eas ed
, Eng el ha rd t co nt act ed Bu c h h o l z an d th reat en ed to su e Cen tu ry Lin k fo r ret al ia ti on

. Eng el ha rd t b e l i e v e d he was be in g
pu ni sh ed fo r hi s pa rti ci pa t i o n in th e Bren na n la wsu it

. Bu ch ho lz an d Eng el ha rd t

co m m un ic at ed ov er th e co ur se of se ve ral w eek s. Afte r in ve st ig at in g th e m at te r, Bu ch ho lz in fo rm ed Eng el ha rd t on a Fri da y th at he ha d be en cl eare d to ret ur n to wor k

as a co nt ract or

. The fo ll owi ng Mo nd ay , an MP em pl oyee acci de nt al ly se nt an e-m ai l

to Eng el ha rd t cl ai m in g th at “ [a Cen tu ry Lin k em pl oyee] to ld m e on Fri da y th at he or

an y on e el se a t C e nt ur y Lin k wil l ha ve no co nt act wit h W al t.” Decl

. of Ch arl es A. Delb rid ge , Ex. 16 , at 13 5, Eng el ha rd t v. Qwe st , No. 0 :1 5- cv -0 45 91 -ADM-S ER (D. Mi nn

. Feb

. 16
, 20 17 ), ECF N o. 27 -1

. Two day s lat er, howe ve r, th at sa m e em pl oyee

reas su red Eng el ha r dt th at he ha d in de ed be en cl eare d to ret ur n as a co nt ract or

. Bec au se of th e ap pr oa ch in g se a s o n a l s l ow do wn, Eng el ha rd t di d no t ev er act ua ll y
rep or t to Cen tu ry Lin k. The co m pa ny la id of

f al l it s co nt ract or s fo r th e win te r sh or tl y aft er Bu ch ho lz cle ared Eng el ha rd t t o re tu rn

.

Tha t ne xt y ear, in 20 12
, Eng el ha rd t m ov ed to Nor th Dak ot a an d di d no t reap pl y
to wor k as a Cen t u r yLin k co nt ract or

. In 20 15
, ho wev er, a fri en d of Eng el ha rd t’s i n f o rm ed hi m th at Cen tu ry Lin k was hi rin g te ch ni ci an s an d su gg es te d he ap pl y. Sk ep ti cal
, Eng e l h a r dt co nt act ed fo rm er as so ci at es at Cen tu ry Lin k an d MP. In

res po ns e to Eng el ha rd t’s inq ui rie s, Fr y to ld Eng el ha rd t’s form er un io n st eward th at Eng elha rd t was welc om e to co m e ba ck

. MP su pe rv is or Ted d Ell io t pe rs on al ly as su red Eng el ha rd t th ere was no th in g i n h is em pl oym en t fi le th at sh ou ld im pe de hi s ret ur n. A C en tu ry Lin k m an a g er rep or ti ng to Bu ch ho lz al so to ld Ell io t th ere was no reas on Eng el ha rd t s ho ul d n ot be ab le to ret ur n.

-3

-Tha t su m m er, MP re h i r e d Eng el ha rd t, an d he was as si gn ed to wor k as a Cen tu r yLi n k co nt ract or

. In m id -Au gu st , ho wev er, a li tt le ov er a week in to th e job
, Bri an Bu rth co nt act ed Fry as se rti ng Eng el ha rd t’s pr od uc ti vi ty was lo w. Bu rth ha d be en hi red by Cen tu ry Lin k in Ju ne 20 15 an d was in ch arg e of m on it or in g co nt ract or
pe rfo rm an ce. Bu rth av erre d th at he ha d no t b e e n a w are of Eng el ha rd t’s pr io r rel at io ns hi p wi th th e co m pa ny when he co nt act ed Fry ab ou t En ge lh ard t’s i ss ue s.

Bu rth ’s e-m ai l to Fry li st ed th e nu m be r of job s Eng el ha rd t ha d co m pl et ed each da y

. Bu rth co n s id ered th is nu m be r un sa ti sf

act or y an d su gg es te d te rm in at in g Eng el ha rd t. Th e l i s t r e ve al ed th at Eng el ha rd t was co m pl et in g ab ou t th ree job s pe r da y . Bur th st at ed th at he ex pe ct ed tec hn ic ia ns to co m pl et e fi ve to si x jo bs pe r da y

.

Fry fo rward ed Bu rth ’s e-m ai l to Cen tu ry Lin k’s co nt ract or li ai so n, Ren ne ll Sch an k, an d co pi ed hi s su pe rv is or , Bu c h ho lz

. Fry ex pl ai ne d th at Eng el ha rd t’s
pr od uc ti on le ve ls were lo w, th at he was al le ge dl y cal li ng Cen tu ry Lin k em pl oyees fo r

as si st an ce, an d th at he was “ ret ur ni ng wor k to hi m se lf fo r fu tu re da te s, an d wor ki ng
at a pa ce th at ne ed s to be ad dr es se d.” Decl

. of Ch arl es A. Delb rid ge , Ex. 17
, at 13 7, Eng el ha rd t v. Qwes t , No. 0: 15 -cv -0 45 91 -ADM-S ER (D. Mi nn

. Feb

. 16
, 20 17 ), ECF
No. 27 -1

. At hi s de po si ti on , Bu rth st at ed th at cal li ng Cen tu ry Lin k e m pl oyees was
pr ob le m at ic be cau se Centur y L ink ’ s em

plo y ees were un io ni zed an d di d no t ap pr eci at e be in g c on ta ct ed by the no n- un io ni zed co nt ract or s.

Abo ut a ha lf ho ur aft er Fry se nt hi s e-ma i l
, B u c h ho lz res po nd ed
, “ Sen d hi m ho m e

. . . ” Id

. (el li ps is in or ig in al ). Bu ch ho lz es ti m at ed he de li be rat ed fo r ab ou t 60

se co nd s be fo r e r e c om m en di ng Eng el ha rd t’s te rm in at io n. A few m in ut es aft er Bu ch ho lz se nt hi s e-m ai l, Sch an k th an ke d Fry fo r th e in f o r mat i o n an d st at ed sh e

wou ld ha ve so m eo ne se nd Eng el ha rd t ho m e. Bu ch ho lz st at ed th at he ha d pr ev io us ly di rect ed th e rel eas e o f co nt ract or s wh o h ad sp en t l es s t ha n t wo wee ks on th e job

.

Afte r hi s te rm in at io n, Eng el ha rd t su ed Cen tu ry Lin k an d B u ch ho lz in fed eral di st ric t co ur t. He al le ge d th at Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz te rm in at ed hi m in vi ol at io n

-4

-of th e FLSA an d th e MWA. He al so su ed fo r to rt i o u s i n t erfe ren ce wit h a bu si ne ss

rel at io ns hi p. En ge lh ard t cl ai m ed th at Cen tu ry Lin k and Bu ch ho lz te rm in at ed hi m in

ret al ia ti on fo r hi s in vo lv em en t i n t h e Br en na n su it an d fo r hi s th reat en ed act io n
ag ai ns t Bu ch ho lz fo ll owi ng hi s 20 11 te rm in at io n. Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz de ni ed

ret al ia ti on an d s ta te d t ha t t he y ter m in at ed Eng el ha rd t fo r lo w pro du ct iv it y

.

The di st ric t co ur t g ran te d s um m ary jud gm en t i n fa vo r of th e d efen da nt s. Th e di st ric t cou rt ass um ed wit ho ut fin di ng th at Eng el ha rd t cou ld es ta bl is h a pr im a faci e

cas e of ret al ia ti o n

. Th e co ur t th en he ld
, ho wev er, th at Eng el ha rd t pr es en te d in su ffi ci en t e v i d e n ce of pr et ex t to de feat Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz ’s le gi ti m at e,

no nr et al ia to ry reas on fo r te rm in at in g hi m

. The co ur t fu rth er fo un d th at , as a

co nt ract or rat he r th an an em pl oyee, Eng el ha rd t la ck ed st an di ng un de r th e MWA. The

co ur t al so fou nd no to rti ou s i nt erfe ren ce.

II. Dis cu ss io n On app eal , Eng el ha rd t aver s th at th e di st ric t cou rt erred in gr an ti ng su m m ary jud gm en t be cau se ge nu in e is su es of m at eri a l f a c t rem ai n as to Cen tu ry Lin k an d
Bu ch h ol z’s m ot iv es fo r te rm in at in g hi m

. Eng el ha rd t al so cl ai m s th e di st ric t co ur t

erre d in ho ld in g he la ck ed st an di ng un de r th e MWA an d in di sm is si ng h i s t o r t i o u s in te rfer en ce cl ai m

.

“ W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t’s gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t de no vo , ex am in in g th e reco rd in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to [Eng el ha rd t] to de te rm in e whe th er th ere are
ge nu in e is su es of m at eri al fact .” Huma nn v. KEM Elec . C o- op ., In c. , 49 7 F .3d 81 0, 81 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ). Nev ert he le ss , a pl ai nt iff se ek in g to de feat su m m ary jud gm en t

“ ‘m us t do m or e th an si m

pl y sh ow th at th ere is so m e m et a p h ys i c a l d o u bt as to th e

m at eri al fact s,’ an d m

us t co me f

o r w ard wit h ‘ sp eci

fi c fa ct s sh owi ng th at th ere is a
ge nu in e is su e fo r tri al .’ ” To rg er so n v. Ci ty of

Roc he st er , 64 3 F.3 d 10 31
, 10 42 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (en ba nc ) (em

ph as is ad de d) (q uo ti ng Cel ot ex Co rp . v . Cat re tt , 47 7 U.S. 3 17
, 32 4 (1 98 6) ).

-5

-1. FLSA Ret al ia ti on Cla im

W e an al y ze FLSA ret al ia ti on cl ai m s “ un de r th e fam il ia r McDo nn el l-Do ug la s bu rd en -s hi fti ng fram ewo rk .” W oo d v. S a tC om Mkt g., LLC
, 70 5 F.3 d 82 3, 82 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 13 ). Onc e a pl ai nt iff es ta bl is he s a pr im a faci e cas e of ret al ia ti on , th e de fen da nt ha s th e bu rd en of “ co m [in g] fo rward wit h ev id en ce o f a le gi ti m at e, no nr et al ia to ry ba si s fo r th e ad ve rs e em

pl oym en t act io n.” Feza rd v. Uni te d Cer eb ra l Pal sy of Cen t. Ark.
, 80 9 F.3 d 10 06
, 10 11 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ). If th e de fen da nt pr of fers a ba si s, th e bu rd en sh ift s to th e pl ai nt i f f
, an d th e pl ai nt iff m

us t pr ov id e ev id en ce th at th e

em pl oyer’s pro ffer ed ba si s i s p ret ex tu al

. Id.

“ To d e mo n s t rat e pr et ex t, th e em pl oyee m us t sh ow th at th e em

pl oyer’s
pr of fere d reas on is un wor th y of cr e d e n ce. To sh ow pr et ex t, th e pl ai nt iff m us t de m on st rat e m or e th an at th e pr im a faci e s t a g e b e cau se , at th e pr et ex t st ag e, th e

ev id en ce is vi ewed in li gh t of th e em pl oyer’s jus ti fic at ion

. ” Ebe rs ol e v. No vo No rd is k,
In c. , 75 8 F.3 d 91 7, 92 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (cl ean ed up ). “ A pl ai nt iff m ay sh ow pr et ex t,

am on g ot he r way s, by sh owi ng th at an em pl oyer (1 ) fai le d to fo ll ow it s own po li ci es , (2 ) tre at ed si m il arl y -s it ua t ed em pl oyees in a di sp arat e m an ne r, or (3 ) sh ift ed it s

ex pl an at io n of th e em

pl oym en t de ci sion.” Edw ar ds v. Hil an d Rob er ts Dai ry , Co

. , 86 0 F.3 d 1 12 1, 1 12 5– 26 (8t h C ir. 2 01 7) (cl ean ed up ).

In p r ov in g pr et ex t by sh owi ng th at si m il arl y si tu at ed em pl oyees were tre at ed m or e le ni en tl y , th e pl ai nt iff ’s co m pa rat or s m

us t be si m il arl y si tu at ed in all rel ev an t re sp ect s. Th e co m pa rat or s m

us t hav e de al t wi th 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, an d

en ga ge d in th e sa m e co nd uc t wit ho ut a ny m it ig at in g or di st in gu is hi ng ci rcu m st an ces

. The co m

pa rat or s ne ed no t ha ve co m m it te d th e ex act

sa m e of fen se bu t m

us t ha ve en ga ge d in co nd uc t of co m pa rab le

se rio us ne ss

.

Ebe rs ol e , 75 8 F .3d at 9 25 (cl ean ed up ).

-6

-Here, on ce Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz pr of fere d Eng el ha rd t ’s la ck of
p r o du ct iv it y as th ei r reas on fo r te rm in at in g hi m , it be cam e in cu m be nt up on En g e l h a r dt to pr od uc e ev id en ce sh owi ng th at th is le gi ti m at e, no nr et al ia to ry

ex pl an at io n was pr et ex tu al

. Se e Feza rd
, 80 9 F.3 d at 10 11

. To su rv iv e su m m ar y jud gm en t, Eng el ha rd t ne ed ed to co m e fo rward wit h “ sp eci fic fact s” sh owi ng ge nu in e

un cert ai nt y ab ou t whe th er th e de fen da nt s us ed pr od uc ti vi ty as a p r e te xt fo r
ret al ia ti on

. Se e To rg er

so n , 64 3 F.3 d at 10 42 (q uo ti ng Cel ot ex Co rp

. , 47 7 U.S. at 32 4)

. Eng el ha rd t ha s no t pr od uc ed th os e fact s. In st ead
, hi s arg ume n t r el ie s on

un su bs ta nt ia te d a ll eg at io ns an d u nt en ab le in fere nc es

.

Eng el ha rd t as se rts th at “ Bu ch ho lz he ld a gr ud ge ag ai n s t [h im ] fo r hi s
pa rti ci pa ti on in th e [2 00 7] Bre n na n Lawsu it , a nd —af te r hi s 20 11 te rm in at io n— fo r th reat en in g an ot he r la wsu it ag ai ns t Cen tu ry Lin k.” App el la nt ’s Br. at 48

. Acco rd in g
to Eng el ha rd t, Bu ch ho lz th en act ed on th at gr ud ge by di rect in g hi s 20 15 te rm in at io n. Eng el ha rd t’s la wsu it do es no t di rect ly co nt es t hi s 20 08 or 20 11 te rm in at io ns ; rat he r, he co nt en ds th at hi s 2 01 5 t erm in at io n a ro se fro m hi s ac ti vi ti es in 20 07 an d 2 01 1. 2

As ev id en ce of th is “ gr ud ge ,” Eng el ha rd t of fers th e ci rcu m st an ces of hi s 20 11

te rm in at i o n

. Ess en ti al ly, Eng el ha rd t pr es en ts hi s 20 11 co m m un ic at io n wit h
Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz —i nc lu di ng hi s th reat e n ed la wsu it —as ev id en ce th at Bu ch ho lz ha rb or ed an im

us to ward s hi m in 20 15

. Eng el ha rd t al so su gg es ts Bu ch ho lz ha s m ai nt ai ne d il l-wi ll to ward s hi m si nc e 20 11
, an d he qu es ti on s th e si nc eri ty of
Bu ch ho lz ’s st at em en t th at he was cl eare d to ret ur n to Cen tu ry Lin k fo ll owi ng hi s 20 11

co m pl ai n t s

. En ge lh ard t ad m it te d du rin g hi s de po si ti on th at he ha d no ev id en ce

“ wha ts oe ve r” th at Bu ch ho lz ha d be en un tru th fu l ab ou t hi s reh iri ng

. Decl

. of Ch arl es A. Delb rid ge , Ex. 1, at 9, Eng el ha rd t v. Qwes t , No. 0: 15 -cv -0 45 91 -ADM-S ER (D. Mi nn

. Feb

. 16
, 20 17 ), ECF No. 27 -1

. Non et he le ss , Eng el ha rd t no w m ai nt ai ns th e

The st at ut e of li m it at io ns fo r FLSA cl ai m s is typic al ly two y ears , bu t, in th e 2

cas e o f a wil lfu l v io la ti on , it ex te nd s t o t hr ee years. 2 9 U.S.C. § 25 5( a).

-7

-m is ta ke nl y -fo rward ed e-m ai l fro m th e MP em pl oyee crea te s a qu es ti on of fact as to whe th er En ge lh ard t was tru ly clear ed to ret ur n. We di sa gr ee.

Not wit hs ta nd in g th e e-m ai l’s cl ai m to th e co nt rary, Cen tu ry Lin k di d, in fact
, bo th m ai nt ai n co nt a c t wit h Eng el ha rd t an d cl ear hi m to ret ur n. Bu ch ho lz hi m se lf

co nt act ed Eng el ha rd t an d c le ared hi m to ret ur n as a co nt ract or . The e- m ai l’s s en de r al so co nt act ed Eng el ha rd t af te r fo rward in g th e e-m ai l to reas su re Eng el ha rd t th at he h a d b e e n cl eare d. Eng el ha rd t was no t ab le to ret ur n in 20 11 be cau se of a se as o n a l sl ow- do wn in wor k, no t be cau se of Bu ch ho lz ’s al le ge d an im us

. It is un di sp ut ed th at Cen tu ry Lin k rel eas ed it s en ti re co nt ract wor kf or ce fo r th e win te r in Nov em be r 20 11

. Eng el ha rd t sp ecu la t e s C e n t ur y Lin k di d so to av oi d reh iri ng hi m , bu t th ere is no

ev id en ce in th e reco rd to su gg es t th e Nov em be r 20 11 te rm in at io ns em an at e d fro m

so m et hi ng ot he r th an th e co m pa ny’ s an nu al bu si ne ss cy cl e. On th is reco rd
, no

reas on ab le jury co ul d c on cl ud e th at Cen tu ry Lin k rel eas ed it s en ti re co nt ract or

wor kf or ce s im pl y to av oi d re hi rin g En ge lh ard t.

Eng el ha rd t al so m ai nt ai ns th at B u c h h o l z he ld an en du rin g “ gr ud ge ” ag ai ns t hi m e v i d e nc ed by Bu ch ho lz ’s in vo lv em en t in Eng el ha rd t’s 20 15 te rm in at io n aft er

on ly two week s. Esse nt ia ll y , Eng el ha rd t ar gu es th at th e u nu su al ti m in g and m an ne r of hi s te rm in at i o n su gg es t an im pr op er m ot iv e. Howev er, Bu ch ho lz te st ifi ed to
te rm in at in g co nt ract or s aft er jus t two week s in th e pa st , an d Eng el ha rd t— who be ars th e bu rd en of pr od uc t i o n a t t h i s st ag e—h as pr od uc ed no ev id en ce to th e co nt rary. Neit he r ha s Eng el ha rd t pr od uc ed ev id en ce t o c ou nt er Bu ch ho lz ’s cla im th at he ha d

no t ev en reco gn iz e d En g e l h ard t’s na m e whe n he di rect ed hi s te rm in at io n; as th e di st ric t co ur t no te d, Bu ch ho lz su pe rv is ed a wor kf or ce o f ab ou t 32 5 em

pl oyees an d

a co nt ract or wor kf

or ce wit h ne ar 10 0 pe rcen t y earl y tu rn ov er, le nd in g cred en ce to th is

as se rti on

. Bu ch ho lz ’s in vo lv em en t in Eng el ha rd t’s te rm in at io n al on e do es no t pr ov e
ret al ia to ry in te nt

. The reco rd si m pl y do es no t su pp or t Eng el ha rd t’s “ gr ud ge ” th eo ry

.

-8

-The reco rd
, ho wev er, do es su pp or t C en tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz ’s cl ai m th at

Eng el ha rd t was in su ffi ci en tl y pr od uc ti ve , an d th at th is
, rat he r th an a “ gr ud ge ,” pl ay ed th e ke y ro le in hi s rel eas e. Bu rth
, Fry an d Bu ch ho lz al l ci te d Eng el ha rd t’s
pr od uc ti vi ty as th e pr im ary reas on fo r hi s te rm in at io n. Bu rth ’s in it ia l e-m ai l to Fry in cl ud ed a br eak do wn of Bu ch ho lz ’s co m pl et ed job s, in di cat in g th at Eng el ha rd t was fal li ng far sh or t of the ex pe ct ed fiv e to si x jobs pe r da y

. Dur in g th e la st fiv e da y s of hi s em pl oym en t, Eng el ha rd t co m pl et ed no m or e th an two or th ree job s pe r da y , wit h

a lo w o f two job s in el ev en ho ur s t he Thu rs da y pre ced in g hi s Tue sd ay te rm in at io n. Eng el ha rd t’s l o w pr od uc ti vi ty so co nc ern ed Bu rth th at he hi m se lf su gg es te d

te rm in at in g Eng el ha rd t in th e e-m ai l to Fry—well be fo re Bu ch ho lz be cam e in vo lv ed

. Eng el ha rd t ha s no t ch al le ng ed th e accu racy of Bu rth ’s nu m be r s

. A n d he ha s st at ed th at he ha s no reas on to be li ev e th at Bu rth —wh o be ga n wor ki ng at Cen tu ry Lin k y ears

a f t e r bo th th e Bren na n su it an d Eng el ha rd t’s fir st st in t as a co nt ract or —was be in g di sh on es t or m al ic io us

. Co ns id eri ng th e un co nt ro ve rt ed ev id en ce of Eng el ha rd t’s lo w
pr od uc ti vi ty, Eng el ha rd t ha s fai le d to de m on st rat e pr et ex t by an y of th e m ean s de sc rib ed in Edw ar ds , or b y an y ot he r m ean s. Se e Edw ar ds , 86 0 F .3d at 1 12 5– 26

.

Add it io na ll y , Eng el ha rd t ha s no t id en t i f ie d an y si m il arl y si tu at ed em pl oyees who were tre at ed di ffer en tl y

. Sp eci fic al ly, he ha s no t id en ti fie d an y co nt ract or s wit h si m il arl y lo w pr od uc ti vi ty who ha ve no t be en te rm in at ed

. And he ha s no t sh own th at Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz ’s ex pl an at io n fo r hi s te rm in at io n ha s sh ift ed

. Tho ug h th e

ex act ph ras eo lo gy ha s ch an ge d fro m pe rs on to pe rs on —Bu rth de sc rib ed Eng el ha rd t

as “ no t co nt rib ut in g to th e wor kl oa d,” whi le Fry st at ed he was “ wor ki ng at a pa ce th at

ne ed s to be ad dr es se d” —t he de fen da nt s ha ve co ns is te nt ly m ainta ine d E nge lhardt was

an un pr od uc ti ve wor ke r. D e cl

. of Ch arl es A. Delb rid ge , Ex. 17
, at 13 7– 38

. The

va rio us reas on s st at ed in jus ti fic a t i o n o f Eng el ha rd t’s te rm in at io n are no t

co nt rad ic to ry

. Neit he r Eng el ha rd t’s la te di sp at ch in g no r hi s cal ls to em pl oyees

un de rm in e th e co re rat i o n a l e of po or pr od uc ti on

. Fi na ll y , Eng el ha rd t’s at te m pt s to de m on st rat e pr et ex t by cas ti ng Bu ch ho lz as a ve ng efu l an d vi nd ic ti ve su pe rv is or fai l fo r la ck of e vi de nc e.

-9

-2. St at e La w Cl ai ms

The MWA pr oh ib it s ret al ia ti on ag ai ns t an “ em pl o ye e ” fo r rep or ti ng in go od fai th “ a vi ol at io n, su sp ect ed vi ol at io n, or pl an ne d vi ol at io n of an y fed eral or st at e la w

or co m m on la w or ru le ad op te d pu rs u a n t t o la w to an em pl oyer or to an y
go ve rn m en ta l bo dy o r la w e nf or cem en t of

fic ia l.” Mi nn . S ta t. § 1 81 .93 2, su bd . 1 (1 ).

“ Em pl oyee” ex pl ic it ly excl ud es “ in de pe nd en t co nt ract or s.” Id

. §1 81 .93 1, s ub d. 2

.

Eng el ha rd t di sp ut es th e di st ric t co ur t’s fin di ng th at , as a Cen tu ry Lin k

co nt ract or , he la ck ed st an di ng to su e u n d e r th e MWA. To de feat th is fin di ng , Eng el ha rd t cl ai m s fo r th e fir st ti m e on ap pe al th at MP an d Cen tu ry Lin k were “ joi nt

em pl oyers” an d th at he was an “ em pl oyee” of bo th MP an d Cen tu ry Lin k. As a ru le
, th is co ur t “ do [es ] no t en te rta in ne w arg um en ts on ap pe al fro m th e gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t.” Uni te d St at es v. Man ni s , 18 6 F.3 d 86 3, 86 4 (8 th Ci r. 19 99 ) (p er cu ria m ).
W e d ecl in e to do so he re.

Bec au se Cen tu ry Lin k an d Bu ch ho lz ha ve no t vi ol at ed fed eral or st at e la w, an d be cau se th ei r in te rfer en ce was no t in de pe nd en tl y to rti ou s , Eng el ha rd t’s to rti ou s in te rfer en ce wit h pr os pe ct iv e bu si ne ss rel at io ns cl ai m fai ls as well

. Se e Gis eke ex re l.
Dive rs if ie d W at er Dive rs io n, In c. v

. I

DCA, In c. , 84 4 N.W .2d 21 0, 21 9– 20 (Mi nn

. 2 0 1 4 ) ( h o ld in g th at , to su ccee d on a to rti ou s in te rfer en ce cl ai m , “ a pl ai nt iff m us t
pr ov e

. . . th at th e de fen da nt ’s to rti ou s i n t erfe ren ce was in te nt io na l an d ei th er in de pe nd en tl y

to rti ou s o r in vi ol at io n o f a s ta te or f ed eral st at ut e o r reg ul at io n” ).

III. Co nc lu si on Fo r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we af fir m th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t.

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