# U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A pp e a l s

For the Eig hth Circu it

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

No . 1 8 -2 6 55

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

W i n fred G. Beas l ey

ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Pl a in t i

f f - Ap p el l an t

v

.

W arren Un i l ub e, In c.

l l l l l l l l l ll l l l l l l l l l l Def

en da n t - Ap

p el l ee

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ap p eal fro m

Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct Co u rt
fo r t h e Eas t ern Di st ri ct o f Ark an s as - J o n es bo ro

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Su b m i t t ed : J u ne 1 2 , 2 01 9

Fi l ed : Au g u s t 9 , 2 0 1 9

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Befo re GRUENDER, STRAS, an d KOBES, Ci rcu i t J u d g es

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

KOBES, Ci rcu i t J u dg e.

W i n fred Beas l ey , an A fri can Am eri can , cl ai m s t h at Wa rren Un i l u b e, In c. (W arren ) fi red hi m b ecau se of h i s race i n v io l at i o n o f Ti t l e VII o f t he Ci v i l Ri g h t s Acto f 1 9 6 4

, 4 2 U .S.C. ' ' 2 00 0 e t o 2 0 0 0 e-1 7

, an d 4 2 U.S.C. ' 19 8 1

. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt 1

g ran t ed W arren ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t . W e affi rm

.

I.

W arren p ro d uces m o to r o i l an d o t her au t o m o t i ve l u b ri can t s

. Beas ley s t art ed

wo rk i n g as t he Qu al i ty As s u ran ce M an ag er at W arren i n Oct o b er 2 0 1 2

. He was

g en eral l y res p on s i b le fo r creat i ng an d i m p l em en ti n g s y s t em s t o s afeg u ard t h e q u al i t y

o f W arren ’ s p ro du ct s

. Beas ley ’ s p ri m ary jo b was t o en s u re t hat al l pro d u ct s wen t i n to

t h e co rrect b o t t l es an d bo x e s w i t h ap p ro p ri at e l ab el i n g an d cap s

. He s up erv i s ed

s ev eral q u al i t y i n s p ect o rs wh o wo u ld co n d u ct reg u l ar ch eck s o n W arren ’ s as s em b l y

l i nes t o det ect p r o b l e m s

. He was al s o res p o ns i b l e fo r t ro ub l es h o o ti n g , co n t ai n i n g,

an d co rrect i n g an y i ss u es th at d ev el o p ed

. Fi n al l y , Beas l ey was req u i red t o h an d l e t h e

an n ual au d i t o f W arren ’ s q u al i t y c o n t ro l s y s t em s b y t he In t ern at i o n al St an d ard s Org an i zat i on (ISO).

Beas l ey was n ot t h e o n l y

o n e at W arren res p o n s i b le fo r p ro d u ct q u al i t y

. Th e

L a b M a n ag er, Ben Heat er, an d h i s as s i st an t s veri fi ed t h at t h e o i l (o r o t h er p ro d u ct )

m et ap p ro p ri at e s p eci fi cat i o n s . M ai n t en an ce p ers o n n el cal i b rat ed t h e eq u i p m en t at

t h e p l a n t

. Th e t ran s p o rt at i on d ep art m en t en s u red t h at p ro du ct s were d el i v ered o n

t i m e an d n ot d am ag ed i n t ran s it

. A n d al t h ou g h t h e Op erat i o n s M an ag er— wh o fo r

m u ch o f Beas l ey ’ s t en u re was Ru s t y Bro wn —was p ri m ari l y

fo cu s ed on p ro d u ct i o n

effi ci en cy , h e al s o im

p act ed p ro d u ct q u al i t y s in ce Beas ley rel i ed on Bro wn ’ s t eam to

i m p l em en t m an y

o f h i s reco m

m en d at i o n s

.

Up t o t h i s p o i n t t h e p art i es ag ree. Bu t t h ey p art way s w h e n i t co m es t o t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces s u r r ou n d i n g Beas l ey ’ s t erm i n at i o n

. W arren al leg es t hat m u l t i p l e

fact ors fi g u red in t o th is d eci s i o n : a s eri es of cu s t o m er co m p l ai n t s, Beas l e y ’ s p o o r

1 Th e Ho n o rab l e D.P. M ars h al l

, J r., Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct J u d ge fo r t h e Eas t ern Di s t ri ct o f Ark an s as

. -2

-s h o wi n g d u ri n g t he an n ual ISO au d i t

, an d co ncern s ab o u t h i s o rg an i zat i o n al s k i l l s

.

Beas l ey di s p u t es m

u ch o f t h i s

. Becau s e t h i s ap p eal ari s es i n t h e co n tex t o f a m o t i o n

fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t

, we co n s t ru e t h e fact s i n a li g h t m o st fav o rab l e t o h i m

. To r ger s on v. Ci t

y o f R o ch es t e r , 6 4 3 F.3 d 1 03 1

, 1 0 4 3 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 11 ) (en b an c).

Beas l ey “ m

u s t d o m o re t h an s i m

p l y s h o w t h at th ere i s s o m e m et ap h y s ical d o u b t as to

t h e m at eri al fact s .” M

a t s u s h i t a El ec. In d

us

. Co

. v. Zen i t h Ra d i o Co r p

. , 47 5 U .S. 5 7 4,

5 8 6 (1 9 8 6 ). No r can he rel y on m ere “ al l eg at i o n s o r d en ial s

. ” Ma n n v. Y a r n el l

, 4 9 7

F.3 d 8 2 2

, 8 2 5 (8 t h Ci r. 20 1 1 ). Bu t to t h e ex t en t t h e p art i e s ’ a c c o u n t s o f wh at

h ap pen ed g en u i n el y

d i v erg e, we fo l lo w Beas l ey

.

Th ere were ro u g h l y t h ree s et s o f cu s t o m er co m p l ai n t s d u ri n g Beas l ey ’ s t en u re.

Th e fi rs t s et cam e i n 2 01 3 fro m Au t oZo n e, o n e o f W arren ’ s p ri m ary cu s t om ers

. On

fo u r o ccas i o n s , Au t o Zo n e rep o rt ed t h at W arren ’ s p ro d u ct s were l ab el ed o r pack ag ed

i n co rrect l y

. Th e u n d erl y i n g cau s e o f t h es e fai l u res ap p ears t o h av e b een t wo p i eces

o f eq u i p m en t t hat ei th er m ai n t e n an ce or o p erat i o n s p ers o n n el had im p ro p erl y

cal i brat ed

. Beas l ey co nced es t h at h i s t eam m i gh t h av e b een ab l e t o cat ch o r co rrect

t h es e p ro b l em s, bu t h e n ot es t h at t h es e co m p l ai nt s o ccu rred b efo re h i s q u al i ty co n tro l

s y s t em s h ad b een fu l l y

i m p l em en t ed

.

W arren recei v ed a seco n d s et o f co m p l ai n t s i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 5

. Th o u g h

W arren ’ s p r o d u c t s m et ap p ro p ri at e p erfo rm an ce s peci fi cat i o n s d u ri n g t h i s p eri o d,

s o m e co n t ai n ed t o o m

uch red dy e an d o t hers h ad a fo u l o d o r. Beas l ey i nv es t i g at ed

t h es e p ro b l em s an d co ncl u d ed t h at b o t h res ul t ed fr o m m i st ak es i n th e oi l b l en d i n g

p ro ces s

. Beas ley s t at es t h at h e was n o t t o b l am e fo r t h es e p ro b l em s , wh i ch wo u ld

h av e fal l en u n d er th e p u rv i ew o f Bi l l y M o o re, t h e Bl en d i n g M an ag er. He al s o s t at es

h i s t eam co u l d n o t h av e det ect ed t he i s s u es b ecau s e th e o i l was al read y b o t t led wh en

i t reach ed q u al i t y

co n t ro l

.

W arren recei v ed a t h i rd s et o f co m p l ai n t s, th i s t i m e ab o u t l eak y b o t t l es ,

t h ro u g h ou t t h e s p ri ng of 2 0 1 5

. Th e l eak s were cau s ed b y W arren ’ s b o t tl e cap p i n g

-3

-m ach i n e, wh i ch w as ei t h er i m p ro p erl y cal i b rat ed o r was n o t t h e p ro p er m ach i n e t o u s e

fo r t he jo b

. W arren ’ s Pres i d en t at t h e t i m e, St ev e Es t o k

, ad m i t s t h at t h e res p on s i b i l i t y

fo r t h i s p ro b lem

fel l p art l y on o p e r a t i o n s pers o n n el an d t h e M ai nt en an ce M an ag er,

Sh awn J am i es o n. Beas l ey al s o s h a r e d s o m e b l am e acco rd in g t o Es t o k

, b ecau s e h e

s h o u ld h av e b een i n s p ect in g t h e am o u n t of t o rq u e t h at t h e m ach i n e was ap p l y i n g.

Beas l ey d i s p u t es th i s , st at i n g t hat h e h ad i n fo rm ed Es t o k t h a t t h e co m p an y n eed ed

d i fferen t o r ad d i t i o nal eq u i p m en t

.

Aro u n d t h i s s am e t i m e , Beas l ey was p rep ari n g fo r t h e an n u al ISO au d i t

. In

p ri o r y ears , W arren h ad p as s ed t he au d i t wi t h o ut an y p ro bl em s

. In M ay 2 0 1 5,

h o wev er, t h e au d i t or id e n t i f i e d s i x m i n o r d efi ci en ci es

. Es t o k al so say s t h at t h e

au d it o r was es p eci al l y

cri ti cal o f Beas l ey , s tat i ng t h at h e was “ n o t cap ab l e o f d o i n g

t h i s jo b ” a n d t h at W arren ’ s q u al i t y co n t ro l p ro g ram was “ p ro g res s i v el y g et t i n g

wo rs e.” Ap p

. 6 1 6

. Es t o k fu rt h er cl ai m s t h at t h e au d i t o r t ol d h i m W arren m i g h t l o s e

i t s ISO cert i fi cat i on i f W arren d i d n o t i m pro v e.

Du e t o t h es e co m

pl ai n t s , t h e s trai n t h ey creat ed w i t h W arren ’ s cu s t o m ers , t h e

au d it

, an d o t h er i s su es , u p p er-m an ag em en t at W arren to o k co rrect i v e act io n

. Ru s t y

Bro w n , t h e Op erat i o n s M an ag er, was t em p o rari l y reas s i g n ed an d recei v ed a d et ai l ed

wri t e-u p ab o u t h i s po o r jo b p erfo rm an ce. Th e Tran s p ort at i o n M an ag er, Crai g

St au ffer, al s o recei v ed a d i s ci p l i n ary l et t er. An d Bi l l y M o o re, t h e Bl en d i n g M an ag er,

was wri tt en -u p an d ev en t ual l y fi red . Th es e i n d i v i du al s were al l wh i t e.

In l at e-J u ne 2 0 1 5

, Es t o k m et wi t h Beas l ey an d h i s su p erv is o r, Gary W h i t es i de,

t o d is cu ss Beas l ey ’ s jo b p erfo rm an ce. T he m eet i n g d i d n ot go wel l

. A c c o r d i n g to

Beas l ey , Es t o k g en eral ly d is co u rag ed an y m ean i n gfu l di s cu ss i o n

. Es t o k cl ai m s t h at

Beas l ey was u n prep ared an d s h o wed t h at h e d i d n o t un d ers ta n d Warren ’ s q u al i t y

co n tro l p ro g ram

. Es t o k s en t Beas l ey a l et t er aft erward s u m m ari zi n g t h e m eet i n g an d

al l eg in g s ev eral d efi ci en ci es in h i s perfo rm an ce, i n c l u d i n g a l ack o f o rg an i zat i o n al

s k i l l s , h is fai l u re t o d o cu m en t no n -co n fo rm in g p ro du ct s , an d h i s d el ay i n fo l l o wi n g

-4

-u p o n req u es t s fro m m an ag em en t

. On Au g u s t 7, 2 0 1 5

, W arren fi r e d Beas l ey

. Th e

t erm i n at i o n n o t i ce s t at ed : “ [s ] y st em s h a ve n ot i m p ro ved

, t rai n i n g i s [s t i l l ]

n o n -ex i s t en t

, d o cu m en t at io n h as n o t i m pro v ed an d we are s ti ll rev iewi n g co m p l ai n t s

fo r t h e s am e i t em s .” Ap p

. 6 0 9 . Sh ort l y aft er, W arren h i red Beas l ey ’ s rep l acem en t

, wh o was wh i t e.

Beas l ey s ub s eq u en tl y fi l ed an EEOC ch arg e al leg i n g t h at W arren h ad t reat ed

h i m d i fferen t l y fro m o t h er m i d -l ev el m an ag ers b ecau s e o f h is race. Th e EEO C

d i s m i s s ed Beas ley ’ s ch arg e. Beas l ey t h en fi l ed t h is a c t i o n al l eg i n g t h at W arren ’ s

m an ag em en t v i o l at ed Ti t l e VII an d 4 2 U.S.C. § 1 9 8 1 2 b y t reat i n g s i m i l arl y

s i t u at ed

wh i te em p l o y ees m o re fav o rab l y

. 3 W arren ev en t u al l y m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

an d t h e d i s t ri ct co urt g ran t ed W arren ’ s m o ti o n

.

II.

W e rev i ew a di st ri ct co u rt ’ s d eci s io n t o g ran t s um m ary ju d g m e n t d e n o vo

. Br o wn v. Di ver

si f i ed Di s t ri b ut i o n S

ys

., LLC

, 8 01 F.3 d 9 0 1

, 9 0 7 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 5 ). As

i n o th er co n t ex t s , “ i f t h e p l ead i n g s , t h e d is co v ery an d d i s cl o s u re m at eri al s o n fi l e, an d

an y affi d av i t s s h o w t h a t t h e r e i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e as t o an y m at eri al fact

. . . t h e

m o van t i s en t i t l ed to ju d g m en t as a m at ter of l aw.” To r g er s o n , 6 4 3 F.3 d at 1 0 4 2 -4 3
(s t at i n g t h at “ [t ] h ere i s n o ‘ d i s cri m i n at i o n cas e ex cep t i o n ’ t o t h e ap p l i cat i o n o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t ”).

2 Becau se “ [t ] h e s am e an al y s i s [ap p l i es ] t o cl ai m s o f d i s cri m i n at i o n

. . .

u n d er Ti tl e VII an d 4 2 U.S.C. § 1 9 8 1,” Ta kel e v. Ma yo Cl i n i c , 5 7 6 F.3 d 8 3 4 , 8 3 8 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 ), we u s e Ti tl e VII as s h o rt h an d fo r b o t h cl ai m s b el o w.

3 Beas l ey ’ s Co m

p l ai n t al s o i n cl u d ed a cau s e o f act i o n ag ai n s t W arren fo r

ret al i at i o n . Becau s e Beas l ey fai l ed t o rai s e t h i s cl ai m

i n h i s o p en i ng b ri ef o n

ap p eal , t h e arg u m en t i s wai v ed

. See Un i t ed S ta t es v. Ri ce , 6 9 9 F.3 d 1 0 4 3 , 1 0 5 0 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 2 ) (“ Is s u es n ot rai s ed i n a p art y ’ s o p en i n g b ri ef are wai v ed

. ”).

-5

-W h ere t h ere is n o d irect ev i d en ce o f di s cri m i n at i o n , we u s e t h e b u rd en -s h i ft i n g

f r am ewo rk fro m McDo nn el l Do u g l a s Co r p

. v. Gr een , 4 1 1 U.S. 7 9 2 (1 9 7 3 ). See

To r ger s on , 6 4 3 F.3 d at 1 0 4 4

. Fi rs t

, t h e pl ai n t i ff m u s t m ak e o u t a p ri m a faci e cas e o f

d i s cri m i n at i o n

. Sch a

f f h a u s er v. Un i t ed Pa r cel S er v., In c. , 79 4 F.3 d 89 9

, 90 3 (8 t h Ci r.

2 0 1 5 )

. I f h e can d o s o , t h e bu rd en s h i ft s t o t he em p lo y er t o p ro v i d e a l eg i t i m at e,

n o n d i s cri m i n at o ry reas o n fo r t h e d i s ch arg e. Id

. If t h i s b u rd en i s m et

, th e p l ai n t i ff

m u st d em o n s t rat e t h at th e em pl o y er’ s “ p ro ffered n o n d i scri m in at ory ju s t i fi cat i o n s are

m ere p ret ex t fo r i nt en t i o n al d i s cri m i n at i o n .” To r g er s o n , 6 4 3 F.3 d at 10 4 6

. Th o u g h

t h e ev i d en t i ary b u rd en u n d er th i s fram ewo rk al t ern at es b et ween t he p art i es , “ [t ] h e

u l t i m at e b u rd en o f p ers u ad i n g t h e tri er o f fact t h a t t h e d efen d an t in t en t i o n al l y

d i s cri m i n at ed ag ai n s t t h e pl ai n t i ff rem ai n s at al l t i m es w i t h t h e p l ai n t i ff.” R eeves v.

S a n d er s o n Pl u mb i ng Pr od

., In c. , 53 0 U.S. 1 3 3 , 1 4 3 (2 0 0 0 ) (q u o t i n g Texa s Dep t

. of

Co mmu n i t

y Af f a i r s v. Bu r d i n e , 4 5 0 U.S. 2 4 8, 2 5 3 (1 9 8 1)).

To m ak e a pri m a faci e cas e fo r em p l o y m en t d i s cri m i nat i o n i n t h e co n t ex t o f a

d i s ch arg e, Beas ley m

u s t es t ab l i s h : (1 ) he “ i s a m em b er o f a p ro t ect ed g ro u p”; (2 ) h e

“ was q u al i fi ed fo r h [i s ] p os i ti o n ”; (3 ) h e “ was d i s ch arg ed ”; a n d ( 4 ) “ t he d i s ch arg e

o ccu r r e d u n d er ci rcu m s tan ces p erm i tt i n g an i n feren ce o f d i scri m i n at io n .” El a m v. Reg io n s Fi n

. Co r

p

. , 6 0 1 F.3 d 87 3

, 87 9 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 0 ). Th i s b u rd en i s “ n o t o n ero u s .”

Ro d ger s v. U.S

. Ba nk, N

. A

. , 4 1 7 F.3 d 8 45

, 8 52 (8 t h Ci r. 20 0 5 ) (cau t io n i n g ag ai n s t

“ co n fl at [i n g ] t h e p ri m a faci e cas e wi th t h e u l t i m at e i s s u e o f d i s cri m i n a t i o n ” ),

a b r o g a t ed o n o t h er gr o u n d s b y To r g er so n , 6 4 3 F.3 d 1 0 3 1

. No r are t h es e

req u i rem en t s “ i n t en d ed t o b e ri g i d

, m ech an i zed

, or ri t u al i s t i c.” Id

. Th ey m erel y s erv e

t h e g at ek eep i n g fu n ct i o n o f “ el i m i nat [i n g ] t h e m o s t co m m o n no n d i s cri m i n at o r y

reas on s fo r [ad v ers e em

p l oy m en t act i on s ] .” Bu r d i n e , 4 50 U.S. at 2 5 4

.

Beas l ey m ak es a p ri m a faci e cas e o f d i s cri m i n at i o n. H e p l ai n l y m eet s t h e fi rs t

an d t h i rd req u i r e m e n t s : h e i s a m em b er o f a pro t ect ed g ro u p an d w as fi red

. Al s o,

t h ere i s n o d i s p u te t h at Beas l e y w a s q u al i fi ed fo r h is p o s i t io n

. As to t h e fo u rt h

req u i rem en t

, o u r cas es n o t e t h at t h ere are m ul t i p l e way s “ a p l ai n ti ff can es t ab l i s h an

-6

-i n feren ce o f d is cri m i n at io n

. . . . ” Gr a n t v. Ci t y o f Bl yt h evi l l e , 8 4 1 F.3 d 7 6 7

, 7 7 4
(2 0 1 6). Th e part i es fo cu s ed t h ei r b ri efi n g o n t h i s p o i n t o n w h e t h er Beas l ey i s ab l e

t o s h o w t h at h e was t reat ed d i fferen t ly fro m s i m i l ar l y

- s i t u a t ed wh i t e em p l o y ees

. Ap p el l an t ’ s Br. at 1 1 -1 2 ; Ap p el l ee’ s Br. at 6 -7

. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt

, ho wev er, rel i ed o n

a m ore s t rai g h t fo rward m et ho d b y wh i ch Beas l e y c a n s at i s fy t h is el em en t

— t h e

s h o wi n g t h at “ he w as rep l aced b y a w h i t e m al e.” Ap p

. 1 10 6 ; s ee Pu t m a n v. Un i t y

Hea lt h S ys

. , 3 4 8 F.3 d 7 3 2

, 7 3 6 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 3 ) (n o t i n g th at a p l ai n ti ff can s at i s fy t h e

fo u rt h el em en t b y s h o w i n g t hat “ aft er [h is ] di s ch arg e, h e was rep l aced b y a p ers o n

wi t h s i m il ar q u al i fi cat io ns ”); s ee a l s o McDo n n el l Do u g l a s , 4 1 1 U.S. at 8 0 2 (s i m i larl y

d es cri b i ng t h e fo u rt h el em en t o f t h e p ri m a faci e cas e i n t h e h iri n g co nt ex t ). W e ag ree

wi t h t h e d i s t r i ct co u rt ’ s an al y s i s o n t h i s p o i n t

, an d t h erefo re we fi n d it u n n eces s ary

t o reach t h e p art i es ’ arg u m en t s ab ou t d i s parat e t reat m en t i n McDo n n el l D o u g l a s ’ s

fi rs t s t ag e.

Un d er t he s eco n d s t ep o f McDo nn el l Do u g la s , W arren m u s t art i c u l a t e a

“ l eg i t i m at e, n o n d is cri m i n at ory reas o n” fo r t h e d i s ch arg e. To r g er so n , 6 4 3 F .3 d at

1 0 4 6

. Ag ai n , th i s b u rd en i s n ot h eav y

. Bo n e v. G 4 S Y o u t h S er vs

. , LLC

, 6 8 6 F.3 d

9 4 8

, 95 4 (8 t h Ci r. 2 01 2 ). W arren ’ s ex p lan at i on m u s t o nl y “ rai s e[] a g en u i n e i s s u e o f

fact as t o wh et h er i t d i s cri m i nat ed ag ai n s t [Beas l ey ] .” Bu rd i n e , 4 5 0 U.S. at 2 5 4

.

W arren m eet s t h i s bu rd en

. Th e J u ne 2 0 1 5 l et t er E st ok s en t t o Beas l ey al l eg ed

s ev eral p erfo rm an ce-rel at ed d efi ci en ci es

. Al s o , W arren recei v ed m u l t ip l e cu s t o m er

co m p l ai n t s d u ri n g Beas l ey ’ s t en u r e a n d was ci ted fo r s i x d efi ci en ci es i n t h e ISO

au d it

. Ev en i f Beas l ey was d is p ro p o rt i o n at el y b l am ed fo r t h es e p ro b l em s , t he reco rd

i s m ore t h an su ffi ci en t t o r a i s e a g en ui n e i ss u e o f fact as t o w h et h er W arren

i n t en t i o n al l y

d is cri m i n at ed ag ai n s t Beas l ey

.

Un d er McDo n n el l Do ug l a s ’ s th i rd s t ep , Beas ley m u s t d em o ns t rat e t h at

W arren ’ s ex p l an at i o n fo r h i s t erm i n at io n i s “ m ere p ret ex t fo r i nt en t i o n al

d i s cri m i n at i o n .” To r

ger so n , 6 43 F.3 d at 1 0 4 6

. A co m m o n ap p ro ach t o sh o w p ret ex t

-7

-i s t o i nt ro d u ce ev i d en ce t h at t h e em p l o y er t reat ed s i m i l arl y -s i t u at ed em p l o y ees i n a

d i s p arat e m an n er. S

ee R o d g er s , 4 1 7 F.3 d a t 8 5 3

. H o wev er, “ t he t es t fo r wh et h er

s o m eo n e i s s uffi ci en t ly s i m il arl y s i t u at ed

, as t o b e o f us e fo r co m p ari s o n , i s ri g o ro u s .”

Jo h ns o n v. S

ecu ri t a s S ec. Ser vs

. US

A, In c. , 7 6 9 F.3 d 60 5

, 6 1 3 (2 0 14 ) (en b an c). Th e

p l ai n t i ff m

u s t es t ab l i s h “ t h a t h e an d t h e em p l o y ees o u t si d e o f h i s p ro t ect ed g ro u p

were s i m i l arl y si t u at ed i n al l rel ev an t res p ect s.” Id

. (cl ean ed u p ). Th is m ean s t h at t h e

p l ai n t i ff an d t h e p o t en ti al co m p arat o rs m

u s t h av e “ d eal t wi t h t h e s am e su p erv i s o r,

h av e b een s u b

ject t o t h e s a m e s t an d ard s , an d en gag ed i n t h e sam e co n du ct wi t h o ut

an y m i t i g at i n g o r d i s t i n g u i s h i n g ci rcu m s tan ces .” Id

. (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Ul t i m at el y , we ag ree wi t h t he d i s t ri ct co u rt ’s c o n c l u s i o n t h at “ [t ] h ere s i m p l y [we] ren ’ t o t h er em

p lo y ees ‘ s i m i l arl y s i t u at ed [t o Beas l ey ]

. . . i n al l r e l e v an t

res p ect s

. ’ ” Ap p

. 11 0 7

. Beas l ey p ro v i d es an i n i t i al l i s t o f fi v e d i fferen t i n d i v i d u al s

at W arr e n “ o n t h e s am e l ev el o f m an ag em en t .” Ap pel l an t Br. at 1 0

. H e l at er t ri m s

t h e l i s t t o t h ree em

p l o y ees “ wh o were [al s o ] i n v o l v ed i n co n d u ct t hat was i m p u t ed to

t h e A p p e l l an t ”— Ru st y Bro wn , Sh awn J am i es on , an d Ben Heat er. Id

. at 3 1

. Ye t

Beas l ey n ev er s h o ws t h at h e an d an y o f t h es e peo p l e sh ared t h e s am e s u p erv i s o r, were

s u b ject t o t he s am e s t an d ard s , o r en g ag ed i n t h e s am e co n du ct

. W e ex am in e each o f

t h es e i n d i v i d u al s b el o w, b u t no t e t h at o u r n e u t r a l ro le i n t h e ad v ers ari al p ro ces s

m ak es u s wary o f co m

b in g t h ro u g h t h e reco rd t o s u p p l em en t a part y ’ s arg u m en t s

. See

R o d g er s v. Ci t y o f Des Mo i n es , 4 3 5 F.3 d 9 0 4

, 9 0 8 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 6 ) (“ W i t h o u t s o m e

g u i d an ce, we wi ll n o t m i n e a s u m m ary ju d g m en t reco rd s earch i n g fo r nu g g et s

. . . to

g i l d a p art y ’ s arg u m en t s .”).

Ru s t y Bro wn is n o t s i m i l a r l y s i t u at ed

. Al t h o u g h he was i n a s i m i l ar l ev el o f

m an ag em en t as Beas l ey , h e h ad a m u ch l on g e r t e nu re at W arren

— 2 7 y ears as

o p p o s ed t o 3 y ears

. He al s o h el d a n u m b er o f d i fferen t p o s i t i o n s o v er th e y ears ,

w h i c h m ean t t h at h e co u l d b e m o re eas il y reas s i g n ed

. Al s o , al t ho u g h Bro wn an d

Beas l ey b o t h co m

m u n i cat ed reg u l a rl y wi t h Es t o k

, t h ey h ad d i fferen t d irect rep o rt s

. Fi n al l y , Bro wn ’ s ro l e was nev er f o c u s ed o n en s u ri ng pro d u ct q u al i t y

. H e h el d t h e

-8

-p o s i t i on o f Pla nt M an ag er, Op erat i o ns M an ag er, an d W areh o u s e M an ag er at d i fferen t

t i m es d u ri n g rel ev an t ev en t s an d

— u n der each o f th es e ro l es

— h i s jo b was t o p ro m o t e

p ro d uct i o n effi ci en cy

. Bro wn was t h u s d is ci pl i ned fo r p ro d u ct io n -rel at ed i s s u es l i k e

t h e “ [f] ai l ure t o m eet d el i v e r y dat es ” an d th e “ [f] ai l u re t o p ro perl y o rg an i ze

w areh o u s e p ers o n n el t o o p t i m i ze l o ad i ng o f o u t b ou n d sh i p m en t s.” Ap p

. 5 4 8

– 4 9

. Bro w n al s o pl ay ed n o part wh at s o ev er i n h el pi ng W arren prep are fo r t h e ISO au d i t

.

Ben Heat er fai ls as a co m

p arat o r fo r s i m i l ar reas on s

. L ik e Bro wn , Heat er’ s ro l e

as t h e L ab orat o ry M an ag er was v ery d i fferen t fro m Beas l ey ’ s

. Hi s s p eci fi c ch arg e

was t o t es t t h e o i l i t s el f t o en s u re t h at i t m et ap pro p ri at e tech n i cal s p eci fi cat i o n s— a

s t ag e o f t h e pro ces s i n wh i ch Be a s l e y ad m i t s h e p l ay ed n o p art

. Heat er’ s p o t en t i al

res p o n s i b i l i t y fo r cu st o m er co m p l a i n t s a l s o d iffers fro m Beas l ey ’ s

. Ev en fo r t h e

co m p l ai n t s rel at i n g t o th e o i l (rat h er t h an l ab el i n g o r cap p i n g ), th e reco rd sh o ws t h at

t h e o i l m et t h e req ui red s p eci fi cat i o n s , s o t h e fau l t l ay wi t h th e b l en d i n g d ep art m en t

,

n o t Heat er. Heat er al s o h ad a d i fferen t su p erv is o r t h an Beas l ey fo r s om e o f h i s t i m e

at W arren . Fi n al l y , t h o u g h Heat er was h i red t h e sam e y ear as Beas l ey , h e h ad b een

em pl o y ed i n s i m i l ar ro l es fo r 4 0 y ears b efo reh an d.

W e h av e l es s i n fo rm at io n ab o u t t h e M ai n t en an ce M an ag er, Sh awn J am i es o n.

Hi s d ep o si t i on d oes n o t ap p ear i n t he reco rd

, an d Beas l ey d o es n o t p o i nt t o w h ere we

m i g h t d et erm i n e J am i es o n ’ s s u p erv i s o r, t h e l en g t h o f h i s t en u re at W arren , h i s

d i s ci pl i n ary reco rd

, a n d h i s e m p l o y m en t an d ed u cat i o n al h i s to ry

. W e do n o t h av e

en o ug h t o g o o n t o s ay

t h at h e was “ s i m i larl y

s i t u at ed i n al l rel ev an t res p ect s .”

Ev en i f J am i es o n or s o m e o t her i n d i v i du al at W a r ren h ad b een s i m i larl y

s i tu at ed t o Beas l ey , h e wo u l d s t i l l hav e t o es t ab l i s h t h at he was t reat ed di fferen t l y o n

acco u n t o f h is r a ce

. Th i s i s t h e cen t ral q u es t i o n fo r a Ti t l e VII cl ai m

. S ee To r g er s o n , 6 4 3 F.3 d at 1 0 4 6 (n ot in g t h a t

, i n McDo n n el l Do u g l a s ’ s t h i rd s t ag e, t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s

“ b u rd en t o s h o w p ret ex t m erg es wi t h t h e ul t i m at e b u rd en o f p ers u ad i n g t h e co u rt t h at
[h e was ] t h e v i ct im o f i nt en t i o n al d i s cri m i n at i o n ”) (cl ean ed u p ) ; G r i f f i t h v. Ci t y of

-9

-Des Mo in es , 3 8 7 F.3 d 7 33

, 7 4 3 (8 t h Ci r. 2 00 4 ) (“ [T] h e key i s s u e un d er Ti t l e VII i s

wh et h er i n t en t io n al d i s cri m i n at i o n o ccu rred .”).

Beas l ey ’ s p ri m ary a r gum e nt i s th at raci al an i m u s can be i n ferred fro m W arren ’ s (o r perh ap s Es t o k’ s ) p ract i ces wi t h res p ect to Afri can -Am eri ca n e m ploy e e s ove r tim e.

Bu t Beas l ey n ev er d ev el o p s t h e cl ai m b y s ho wi ng , fo r ex am p le, h i ri n g s t at i s t i cs at

W arren , a l i s t o f al l th e e m p l o y ees d i s ci p l i n ed d u ri n g Es t o k ’ s t en ure, s al ary

i n fo rm at i o n fo r Afri can -Am eri can em p lo y ees , o r s i m i l ar ev i d en ce. No r d o es Beas l ey

ex p lai n t h e p art s o f t h e reco rd t h at cu t t he o t her w ay

. As p rev i o u s l y n ot ed

, t wo o t h er

m i d -l e v e l m a n a g ers , b o th o f wh o m were w h i t e, were d i s ci p l i n ed in Ju n e 2 0 1 5

, an d

an o th er wh i t e m i d -l ev el m an ag er was ev en t u al ly fi red

.

W i t h o u t s o m e way t o t i e h i s t erm i n at i o n t o raci al an i m u s , Beas l ey ’ s cl ai m fai l s

. Th o ug h Beas l ey ’ s t erm i n at i o n m i g h t h av e b een u n fai r o r d i s p ro p o rt i o n at e, th i s al o n e

i s in s uffi ci en t u n der Ti t l e VII. S ee S ch a f f h a u ser , 79 4 F.3 d at 90 3 (“ Th e q ues t i o n i s

n o t wh et her [t h e em

p l o y er] m ad e a g o od d eci si o n , o r ev en a fai r o n e.

. . [b u t ] wh et h er

i t

. . . [was ] b as ed o n d i s c r i m i n at o ry an i m u s .”). Co n gres s h as n o t g i v en “ fed eral

co u rt s t h e au th o ri ty t o s it as s u p e r

- p e rs o n n el d ep art m en t s rev i ewi ng t h e wi s d o m o r

fai rn es s o f t h e b u s i n es s ju d g m en t s m ad e b y e m p l oy ers

. . . .” Gu i m a r a es v.

S u p e r V a l u

, In c. , 6 74 F.3 d 9 6 2

, 97 7 (8 t h Ci r. 20 1 2) (ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ). In s t ead

,

p l ai n t i ffs m

u st p ro v i d e s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce o f i nt en t i o n al d i s cri m i n at i o n.

Becau s e we fi n d t h at Beas l ey h as n o t es t ab l i s h ed i n t e n t i o nal d i s cri m i n at i o n,

ei t h er b y s h owi n g t h at W arren t reat ed s im i l arl y -s i t u at ed em p l o y ees in a d i s p arat e

m an n er o r o th erwi se, h i s cl ai m s fai l

.

III.

Th e ju d g m en t o f t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt i s affi rm ed

.

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