# 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 3- 35 79

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Bern ad in e St ewart

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

ff - App el la nt

v.

Ri se , Inc

.

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

an t - Ap pe ll ee

__ __ __ __ __ __
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: Nov em

be r 12 , 20 14
Fil ed : J un e 3 0, 2 01 5

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re MUR PHY, MELLOY, an d B ENTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __
MELLOY, Circu it Ju dg e.

Bern ad in e St ewart su ed he r em pl oyer, Ri se , In c., al le gi ng a ho st il e wor k

en vi ro nm en t an d di sc riminat or y te rm in at io n ba se d on a co m bi na ti on of race , se x, an d

na ti on al -o rig in di sc riminat io n. Sh e al so al le ge d ret al ia to ry te rm in at io n un de r fed eral

an d st a t e l a w

. St ewart

, an Am eri can -b or n Afri can -Am eri can wom an , al le ge s

sp eci fic al ly th at a gr ou p of he r su bo rd in at es , co ns is ti ng la rg el y of m al e, So m al i-b or n

im m ig ran ts

, crea te d th e ho st i l e w o rk en vi ro nm en t. Sh e al so al le ge s he r ownsu pe rv is or s ig no red he r co m pl ai nt s fo r as si st an ce, de ni ed he r t h e a u th or it y to

te rm i n a t e th e of

fen di ng em

pl oyees, al lo wed th e ho st il e en vi ro nm en t to pe rs is t, an d

ev en tu al ly te rm in at ed he r em pl oym en t as an act of di sc riminat io n an d ret al ia ti on

. The

di st ric t co ur t gr an te d su m m ary jud gm en t fo r Ri se

. W e rev ers e an d rem an d as to th e
ho st il e wor k e nv iro nm en t cl ai m bu t af fir m in all ot he r res pe ct s.

In do in g so , we no te th e u n u s u a l na tu re of th is cas e in vo lv in g al le ga ti on s of

pr oh ib it ed -an im

us ho st il it y fro m su bo rd in at es to ward s an im m ed ia te su pe rv is or wit h

th at ho st il it y po ss ib ly to le rat ed by hi gh er-l ev el su pe rv is or s. The re is no di sp ut e th at

th e wor kp la ce at is su e in vo lv ed pe op le en ga gi ng in ou tra ge ou s be ha vi or

. Rat he r, th e
di sp ut e ex is ts as to wha t St ewart rep or te d up th e ch ai n of co m m an d an d whe th er th e

rep or te d c on du ct ros e to th e le ve l o f act io na bl e h os ti li ty.

I. Back gr ou nd

A. Gener al Back gr ou nd

Fro m Ja nu ary 20 07 th ro ug h Ma r c h 2 0 1 2

, St ewart se rv ed as su pe rv is or of a
br an ch of fic e fo r Ri se , a welf

are- se rv ic es no n- pr of

it en ti ty in th e Twin Ci ti es

. Ri se
he lp ed pe op le en te r th e wor kf or ce by pr ov id in g as si st an ce s uc h as he lp wit h

pa pe rwo rk an d fu nd in g to se cu re ch il dc are an d tra ns po rta ti on

. Ri se ob ta in ed fu nd in g

fro m a Mi nn es ot a welf

are pr og ram na m ed th e Mi nn es ot a Fam il y In ve st m en t Pro gr am (al so refe rred t o a s "Pa th way s" ). St ewart 's du ti es in cl ud ed th e su pe rv is io n of

co un se lo rs who di rect ly ass is te d c li en ts

.

St ewart 's own pe rfo rm an ce was m eas ur ed in pa rt by th e rel at iv e wor kf or ce

pa rti c i p at io n rat e fo r he r of fic e's cl ie nt s co m

pa red to cl ie nt s of ot he r Pat hwa y s

or g a n iz at io ns

. Thro ug ho ut St ewart 's em pl oym en t, ot he r of

fic es cl os ed

, a st at ego ve rn m en t sh ut -d own oc cu rred

, an d wor kl oa ds fro m d i f f eren t of fic es were

co ns ol id at ed

. The se ev en ts r e s u l t ed in in crea se d wor k fo r he r of fic e wit ho ut a

-2

-co m

m en su rat e in crea se in st affi ng

. Wh en St ewart be ga n wor ki ng at Ri se , th e

wor kf or ce p art ic ip at io n ra te am on g c li en ts was at a ge ne ral ly acce pt ab le le ve l. By 1

th e ti m e sh e was te rm in at ed , h er of fic e was se co nd or th ird to la st ou t of m or e th an

twen ty sim il ar o ffi ces in th e Twin Cit ie s.

St ewart 's p red eces so r an d s uc ces so r in th e su pe rv is or po si ti on fo r he r br an ch

of fic e bo th were Am eri can -b or n Afri can -Am eri can wom en

. St e w art 's own

su pe rv is or , Truc Ph am , wor ke d ou t of a di ffer en t R i s e of fic e an d vi si te d St ewart 's

br an ch for week ly st aff m eet in gs

. Mar y St ran sk y se rv ed as Ris e's hu m an res ou rces
di rect or an d, l ik e Ph am , di d n ot work pri m ari ly in St ewart 's b ran ch off ic e.

St ewart cl ai m s se ve ral m al e, So m al i-b or n su bo rd in at es crea te d a ho st il e wor k

en vi ro nm en t th ro ug h se xi st

, raci st

, an d n at io na li st co m m en ts an d th ro ug h ph y si cal

vi ol en ce an d i n t im id at io n, al l du e to th e fact th at St ewart was an Am eri can -b or n

Afri can -Am eri can wom an

. The em pl oyees St ewart id en ti fie s as crea ti ng th e ho st il e

wor k en vi ro nm en t in cl ud e Ab d i H ai d, You ss ou f Ro bl eh

, Abd is al on Abd ira hm an , Yas in Ja m a, an d St ep ha ni e Abl ei te r (a cau cas ia n wom an ). In su pp or t of he r cl ai m s, 2

St ewa r t r e li es on he r own st at em en ts as pr es en te d in he r affi da vi t, de po si ti on

t e s t i mo ny, an d an swe rs to in te rro ga to rie s. Sh e al so rel ie s on th e de po si ti o n

te st im on y , ex it i n t e r v i ew, an d EEOC ch arg e of Ass at a Dam an i, an Am eri can -b or n

Afri can -Am eri can wom an

. Dam an i wor ke d at St ewart 's Ri se br an ch an d res ig ne d in

Mar ch 20 11

, ab ou t a y ear be fo re St ewart 's te rm in at io n. Dam an i al le ge d ha ras sm en t by he r m al e co -wo rk ers at a le ve l th at m ad e he r fe a r f o r he r pe rs on al sa fet y

. W e
ad dr es s i n d et ai l b el ow t he all eg ed in st an ces of h aras sm en t.

The pa rti es ag ree th at th e wor kf or ce pa rti ci pa ti on rat e fo r cl ie nt s of St ewart 's 1

Ri se of fic e, rel at iv e to th e cl ie nt s of ot he r Pat hwa y s o ffi ces , is a to ol fo r m eas ur in g
pe rfo rm an ce an d en su rin g on go in g fu nd in g. The pa rti es di sa gr e e as to th e reas on s th e rat e ch an ge d o ve r ti m e.

The reco rd do es no t re fle ct Abl ei te r's na ti on al it y

. 2

-3

-In Ja nu ary 20 12

, Ri se rece iv ed an EEOC co m pl ai nt fro m Dam an i. Aro un d th is

ti m e, St ewart was ou t of th e of fic e whe n Ph am he ld a m eet in g wit h St ewart 's st aff.

Acco rd in g to Ph am an d St ran sk y , th e st aff co m pl ai ne d ab ou t St ewart 's m an ag em en t

st y le an d Ph am an d St ra n s ky be li ev ed th ere ha d be en a co m pl et e br eak do wn in

m an ag em en t an d m or al e at th e of fic e. Ph am as se rts th at he was co nc ern ed ab ou t th e

of fic e' s p o o r wor kf

or ce pa rti ci pa ti on rat e an d th e po ss ib le lo ss of fu nd in g. Ph am , St ran sk y , an d Ph am 's su pe rv is or , Don al d Lav in

, as se rt th at th ey m ad e th e de ci si on to

te rm in at e St ewart 's em

pl oym en t. Ph am an d St ran sk y cl ai m to ha ve pr ep ared a

te rm in at io n m em o on Ja nu ar y 2 3 or 24 th at ci te d a st ead il y de cl in in g wor kf or ce

pa rti ci pa ti on r a t e a s th e reas on fo r te rm in at io n. The m em o, whi ch is pa rt of th e

reco rd in th is ap pe al , li st s J an ua ry 27 as t he ter m in at io n d at e.

Befo re th ey de li ve red th e m em o to St ewart

, ho wev er, St ew ar t' s m oth er die d an d

St ewart req ue st ed FMLA le av e. In res po ns e, Ph am an d St ran sk y wit hh el d th e m em o

an d gr an te d th e le av e. St ewart wor ke d on an in te rm it te nt ba si s fo r a few week s an d

ret ur ne d to m os tl y fu ll -ti m e wor k in la te Feb ru ary 20 12

. W hi le on FMLA le av e,

St ewart fil ed an EEOC co m pl ai nt al le gi ng a ho st il e wor k en vi ro nm en t. Ri se rece iv ed

th e EEOC co m

pl ai nt pr io r to fir in g St ewart bu t aft er Ph am an d St ran sk y crea te d th e

Ja nu ary 20 12 m em o.

Acco rd in g to Ph am an d St ran sk y , a fte r St ewart ha d be en ba ck in th e jo b a nd

ap pe ared to no lo ng er req u i r e F MLA le av e, th ey te rm in at ed he r em pl oym en t on

Mar ch 12

, 20 12 . A term in at io n m em o t he y pro vi de d t o S te wart was e ss en ti al ly the

sa m e as th e Ja nu a r y 2 0 1 2 m em o bu t wit h ad di ti on al de ta il s reg ard in g th e br an ch

of fic e's rel at iv e wor kf

or ce p art ic ip at io n ra te

.

St ewart ev en tu al l y su ed

, as se rti ng cl ai m s of ho st il e wor k en vi ro nm en t,

di sc riminat or y te rm in at io n, an d ret al ia to ry te rm in at io n. Sh e di d no t as se rt an FMLArel at ed cl ai m

. In d e s c r i b i ng th e wor kp la ce en vi ro nm en t, St ewart st at es th at sh e

rep or te d in st an ces of ha ras sm en t to Ph am an d St ran sk y ve rb al ly. Ph am la rg el y de ni es

-4

-th at St ewart m ad e su ch rep or ts

, whe reas St ran ks y ad m it s St ewart m ad e rep or ts

. So m e

rep or te d c on du ct on it s fa ce s ho ws an an im us ba se d o n ra ce, se x o r na ti on al ori gi n;

ot he r rep or te d co nd uc t do es no t. St ewart ad m it s sh e di d no t ex pr es sl y la be l or
id en ti fy all rep or te d c on du ct as d is cri m in at or y

.

The in st an ces of ha ras sm en t St ewart cl ai m s to ha ve rep or te d ve rb al ly to Ph am

or St ran sk y (o r whi ch St ewart cl ai m s th ey kn ew of th ro ug h ot he r so ur ces ) in cl ud e : 3

1. Haid

, Ro bl eh

, an d Ja m a op en l y cal le d St ewart a bi tc h. Ja m a
reg ul arl y cal le d S te wart a bi tc h.

2. Ro bl eh an d Haid cal le d Dam an i a bi tc h, sc ream ed at Dam an i, an d
sl am m ed do or s i n h er fa ce.

3. Haid sai d, "Afri can Am eri can wom en are bi tc he s and th at 's why

no bo dy lik es y ou ."

4. Haid an d R ob le h s ai d Afr ic an -Am eri can wom en ha ve no va lu e.

5. Haid y el le d at St ewart

, "F* *k y ou , ev eryone aro un d he re do es no t li ke y ou ."

6. Ro bl eh st oo d in th e do or way to Dam an i's of fic e wit h hi s pa nt s

un zi pp ed . W

he n Dam an i and an ot he r wom an as ke d Haid to sa y

so m et hi ng to Ro bl eh

, Ro bl eh an d Haid s p o ke in So m al i an d

sm il ed , bu t Ro bl eh di d n ot co rrec t t he pro bl em

.

7. Haid th rew a cas e fil e at St ew a r t w i th en ou gh fo rce to pu sh a ph on e bo ok acro ss h er de sk whi le sc ream in g he wou ld no t ta ke
di rect io ns fro m he r. Dam an i rep or te d th e in ci de nt to Ph am , de sc rib in g th e in ci de nt as Haid th ro win g a bo ok at St ewart 's he ad

. Dam an i als o st at ed th at Haid ad m it te d th e in ci de nt oc cu rred an d

Alt ho ug h of

fs et , th e p hr as es are n ot qu ot at io ns un le ss no te d. Thi s fo rm at is 3

ad op te d fo r co nv en ie nc e.

-5

-th at Haid sa id he wou ld do it ag ai n. St ewart rep or te d th e in ci de nt

to St ran sk y , who to ld St ewart sh e was "m ak in g a m ou nt ai n ou t of

a m ol eh il l." St ewart as ke d fo r Haid to be fir ed aft er th e in ci de nt

. Ph am fai le d to fir e H a i d

, an d St ewart fel t un ab le to ha ve a

su bo rd in at e d is ch arg ed

.

8. W he n St ewart wou ld wear bl ack cl ot hi ng , J a ma co m m en te d on he r cl ot he s as ki ng if sh e was "l oo ki ng fo r a h us ba nd or a m an ? "

Ro bl eh to ld St ewart an d Dam an i, "wom en who wear b la ck ne ed

a m an " an d al so st at ed

, "ar e y ou lo ok in g fo r a hu sb an d? Tho se

are c ol or s t ha t you wea r whe n you lo ok for a m an ."

9. An au di t of Ro bl eh 's fil es rev eal ed fo rg ed cl ie nt si gn at ur es an d

res ul te d in a req ui rem en t th at St ewar t s i g n Ro bl eh 's fil es

. In

res po ns e, Ro bl eh st at ed of th e fem al e au di to r th at if he co ul d ge t hi s "h an ds aro un d her ne ck he wou ld ha ve ch ok ed he r to de at h."
And Haid de sc rib ed th e fem al e au di to r, st at in g, "Sh e's jus t a whi te

wom an ; s he do es n't kn ow wh at sh e's do in g."

10

. Ro bl eh 's ap pl ic at io ns fo r cl ie nt s' ch il dc are be cam e so po or th at a

co un ty wor ke r who rev ie wed th e ap pl ic at io ns refu se d to ta ke
th em wit ho ut St ewart 's rev ie w. Ro bl eh th en st at ed rep eat ed ly in
th e of fic e th at he wan te d to be at th e co un ty wor ke r to de at h. He
al so st at ed hi s ap pl ic at io ns wou ld no t go th ro ug h be cau se St ewart

an d Da man i were ha vi ng an affa ir wit h th e co un ty wor ke r, "a
whi te m an ." Dam an i co m pl ai ne d abo ut th e th reat s t o P ha m , bu t Ph am de ni ed sh e m ad e su ch co m pl ai nt s. Late r, at a st aff m eet in g,

so m eo ne rai se d Ro bl eh 's th reat s, an d Ph am ca l le d th em "i na pp ro pr ia te ." St ran sk y ad m it te d le arn in g of Ro bl eh 's

c o m pl ai nt s, bu t St ran sk y ch arac te riz ed th em as "jus t pa rt o f t h e job ."

11

. Abd ira hm an en te red St ewart 's of fic e an d st oo d ov er he r i n an in ti m id at in g m an ne r. Ph am in st ru ct ed Abd ira hm an no t to m eet in
St ewart 's o ffi ce.

-6

-12

. Ro bl eh

, Haid

, an d Ja m a refu se d to an swe r ph on es , de sc rib in g th e
ta sk as " wom en 's wo rk ."

13

. Afte r a cu t in fu nd in g, jani to ria l se rv ic e was red uc ed

. St ewart de ve lo pe d a ro ta ti ng sc he du le fo r wor ke rs to cl ean th e ba th ro om , b u t th e m al e co un se lo rs refu se d, cal li ng it "wo m en 's wor k. "

W he n St ewart co nf

ro nt ed Ro bl eh an d Haid ab ou t th is

, th ey sp ok e in So m al i, bu t St ewart he ard he r na m e an d "b it ch

. " S h e al so he ard th em

refe r to he r as "m ai d."

14

. Man y of th e m al e So m al i co un se lo rs us ed th e of fic e as a

c o mm un it y cen te r, en te rta in in g no n- cl ie nt s, us in g of fic e

res ou rces , an d v i s it in g pu rp or te dl y in se cu re fo rei gn -la ng ua ge in te rn et ne ws si te s, th us co m pr om is in g of

fic e co m pu te rs

. The se

men r efu se d St ewart 's de m an ds to ch an ge th is be ha vi or , an d

P h am an d St ran sk y fai le d to ai d in St ewart 's effo rts to rei gn i n th is be ha vi or

.

15

. At a st aff m eet in g wit h Ph am an d St ran sk y pr es e n t

, su pe rv is or s ad dr es se d be ha vi or

. Ro bl eh y el le d at St ran sk y an d Ph am an d hi t

a de sk sa y in g, "Yo u are no t go in g to tre at m e li ke th is ."
A cc or din g to D am an i, St

ran sk y tu rn ed pa le

, Dam an i to ld St ran sky

Ro bl eh sc ared he r, an d St ran sk y to ld Dam an i s h e w o u ld ta lk to
St ewart

. St ran sk y , ho wev er, de ni es an y on e ex p r es se d sa fet y

co nc ern s ab ou t Ro bl eh

.

16

. Acco rd in g to D am an i, Ro ble h and Haid st at ed

, "Am eri can wom en

w e r e di sr es pe ct fu l be cau se th ey were no t be at en en ou gh ." A n d

Ja m a s t a t e d

, "Am eri can wom en were ou t of co nt ro l." Dam an i

a ss ert s th at sh e co m

pl ai ne d to Ph am who res po nd ed th e

co m m en ts were in ap pr op ria te

. Ph am de ni es ei th er Dam an i or St ewart rai se d c on cern s ab ou t s uc h s ta te m en ts

.

17

. Abl ei te r re f

u s ed to ta ke in st ru ct io n fro m St ewart

, y el le d at
St ewart

, an d di sc riminat ed ag ai ns t Afri can -Am eri can cl ie nt s. At
le as t o ne cli en t co m

pl ai ne d v ia let te r th at was s en t t o S tra ns ky.

-7

-18

. St ewart so ug ht to te rm in at e Abl ei te r bu t was to ld by St ran sk y th at sh e la ck ed th e au th or it y

to ter m in at e Abl ei te r.

19

. And fin al ly, in on e in st an ce, Ro bl eh be li ev ed Dam an i was
st an di ng in a pa rti cu la r lo cat io n so as t o e a ve sd ro p on hi s

co nv ers at io ns

. He gr ab be d Dam an i ' s a rm , pu sh ed he r ag ai ns t a wall

, th reat en ed he r, an d accu se d he r of eav es dr op pi ng

. Dam an i

rep or te d th e in ci de nt to St ewart

, an d St ewart rep o r t e d it to
St ran sk y

.

Man y of th e cl ai ms of ve rb al rep or ts to Ph am an d St ran sk y ex is t on ly in

St ewart 's affi da vi t, an swe rs to in te rr oga tor ie s, or de posi ti on

. St ewart cl ai m s, fo r so m e

rep or ts

, th at sh e fo ll owe d up wit h em ai ls to Ph am or St ran sk y

. St ewart

, ho wev er, di d

no t pu rs ue el ect ro ni c di sc ov ery rel at in g to he r wor k em ai l or th e em ai ls of Ph am an d

St ran sk y

. As de sc rib ed ab ov e, Dam an i co nf irmed se ve ra l o f t h e in ci de nt s an d

refe ren ced di sc us si on s wi th Ph am or S tra ns ky abo ut th e in ci de nt s.

Man y of th e cl ai m s al so are co rro bo rat ed ba se d on St ran sk y 's de p o s i t i o n or

un da te d n ot es Str an sk y

ad m it s ar e h ers . Thes e n ot es st at e : 4

Sh e's no t g et ti ng in vo lv ed . The g uys ru n t o Tru c.

Sh e th in ks th ey

do n't want to tak e d ire ct io n fr om a fem al e.

In res ou rce ro om lo ok in g fo r fil es —As sa ta sa id

— s h e co ul dn 't ta lk to hi m an d s he to ld Bern ad in e h e was pu sh in g o n m e.

Ass at a co m

pl ai ni ng I do n't want to lea ve —I'm no t a qu it te r do n't wan t

to tak e th is an y

m or e.

St ep ha ni e tr eat ed pe op le of c ol or m uc h wo rs e th an whi te s.

The c o n t e n t s of St ran sk y 's in fo rm al no te s are ex cerp te d qu ot es pr es en te d 4

wit ho ut fur th er n ot at io n o f omiss io ns an d wi th ou t co rrec ti on

.

-8

-Abd i Hai d— Yas in —wea rin g o ran ge y ou lo ok li ke a fat ora ng e

You so uf —wh en y ou are weari ng al l bl ack —you are lo ok in g fo r a m an

"b it ch " t o m y

ba ck

Kay Han ah an —g la d y ou 're he re be cau se Am in a & th e gu y s wou ld cu rs e "wo m en sh ou ld n't work & sh ou ld st ay ho m e"

"Yo us ou f & Abd i to ld Ass at a th at wha te ve r go es on in th e of fic e—d on 't

te ll Bern ad in e o r th ere wo ul d b e a co ns eq ue nc e."

"Al l t he m en wou ld wait for wom en to an swe r ph on es "

St r a n s k y st at ed in he r de po si ti on th at se ve ral pe op le fro m St ewart 's br an ch

of f i c e ha d m ad e he r aware of Ro bl eh an d Abl ei te r's y el li ng an d Ro bl eh 's th reat s

reg ard i n g t he co un ty wor ke r. St ran sk y al so st at ed sh e di sc us se d th e th reat s wit h

Ph am , alt ho ug h P ha m st at ed in hi s own de po si ti on th at he ha d no kn owl ed ge of th e

th reat s. St ran sk y di sc us se d th e no te s qu ot ed ab ov e, co ul d n o t r e c a l l th e da te s on
whi ch sh e wro te th e no te s, bu t de sc rib ed who m ad e th e va rio us co m m en ts

. Sh e al so
de sc rib ed di sc us si ng se ve ral of th e it em s wit h Ph am

. P ha m , ho wev er, de ni ed

rece iv in g re po rts of s uc h b eh av io r.

W he n Dam an i qu it he r job as a co un se lo r, sh e co m pl et ed an ex it in te rv ie w fo rm
da te d Mar ch 11

, 20 11

. The fo rm st at es th ree reas on s f o r l e a v in g: (1 ) W or k

co nd it io ns : "t hr eat s an d ha ras sm en t" ; (2 ) Heal th reas on s: "co ns ta nt an d co ns is te nt

pa in "; an d (3 ) Oth er: "Trea tm en t by m al e co wor ke rs ." Am on g ot he r st at em en ts in th e
le ng th y fo rm , Dam an i co nc lu de d, "Th ey are aware th at wom en are tre at ed di ffer en tl y
be cau se of th e m al e do m in at ed cu lt ur e. (Witn es se d by ot he rs [s ic ] co wor ke rs ). So m e

m ak in g th reat s of vi ol en ce ag ai ns t ot he rs

. Co nt rib ut in g to th e un sa fe en vi ro nm en t."

St ran sk y rece iv ed th e fo rm an d di sc u s s e d t h e fo rm wit h Ph am

. In a de po si ti on , Dam an i co rro bo rat ed m an y of St ewart 's cl ai m s, in di cat ed sh e was pr es en t at m eet in gs

-9

-whe re sh e or Ste wart to ld Ph am

of t he ir co nc ern s, an d in di cat ed Ph am to ld th em to

at tri bu te th e b eh av io r to "cu lt ur al di ffer en ces ."

Not wit hs ta nd in g th es e al le ga ti on s an d de sc rip ti on s of ha ras sm en t, St ewa r t

si gn ed cert ifi cat io ns in Ja nu ary 20 07

, Sep te mb e r 2 00 7, Apr il 20 08

, Mar ch 20 09

, Mar ch 20 10 , and Octo be r 20 11 , all of wh ic h s ta te d:

Thi s is to cert ify th at I ha ve rece iv e d a nd read th e Ri se , In co rp or at ed
Co de of Co nd uc t. To th e be st of m y kn ow l e d g e , I am un aware of an y
po ss ib le vi ol at io n of th e st an da rd s de sc rib ed in th e at ta ch ed Co de of
C o n d u ct an d/ or po te nt ia l co nf li ct of in te res t, ei th er by m e, m an ag er s ,
su pe rv is or s, or ot he r e mp l o ye e s. I fu rth er ag ree to co m pl y wit h th e
st an da rd s in th e fu tu re an d to rep or t pr om pt ly an y qu es ti on s or co nc ern s th at I m ay ha ve , as no te d in th e Co de

. I un de rs ta nd th at no n- co m pl ia nc e of th is po li cy wil l res ul t in co ns eq ue nc es up t o a n d in cl ud in g
te rm in at io n.

The Co de of C o n d u c t refe ren ced in th es e cert ifi cat io ns st at ed

, "Ri se pr oh ib it s
di sc riminat io n of an y ki nd

. Dis c r i mina ti on of an y em pl oyee on th e ba si s of race ,

co lo r, cree d, rel ig io n, se x, se xu al or ie nt at io n, na ti on al or ig in

, ag e, [o r] di sa bi li ty

. . . is ag ai ns t t he law an d wi ll no t b e to le rat ed ."

A sep arat e, co nf

li ct res ol ut io n p ol ic y

in a Ri se em

pl oyee ha nd bo ok pro vi de d

fo r a gr ad ua te d syste m of co nf li ct res ol ut io n th at (wh en ne ces sa ry an d po ss ib le )

cal le d fo r a co m

pl ai ni ng p a r t y t o pr og res s se qu en ti al ly fro m rep or ts to hu m an

res ou rces or di rect su pe rv is or s up to hi gh er le ve ls o f m an ag em en t wit h writ te n

co m pl ai nt s req ue st ed fo r si tu at io ns whe re th e in it ia l r e p o r ts fai le d to res ol ve th e

pr ob le m

.

St ewart do es no t de ny s ig ni ng th e an nu al cert ifi cat io ns reg ard in g a n a bs en ce

of Co de of Co nd uc t vi ol at io ns

. Sh e al so do es no t cl ai m t o h a ve fo ll owe d th e

se pa rat e, gr ad uate d, or al -th en -wri tt en rep or ti ng syste m de sc rib ed in th e ha nd bo ok fo r

-1 0-an y of he r co m pl ai nt s, co nf

li ct s wit h he r su bo rd in at es , or co nf li ct s wit h he r su pe rio rs

. Fi na ll y , sh e do es no t cl ai m to ha ve m em or ia li zed he r co nc ern s or rai se d th e co nc ern s

in pe rfo rm an ce re vi ews for th e su bo rd in at es

.

Bas ed on th e fo reg oi ng , Ris e m ov ed for su m m ary jud gm en t.

B. Dis tri ct Co ur t Dec is io n

The di st ric t co ur t fir st ad dr es se d St ewart 's cl ai m of di sc riminat or y te rm in at io n. App lying th e bu rd en sh ift in g an al y si s of M c D on ne ll Dou gl as Co rp

. v. Green

, 41 1

U.S. 79 2, 80 2– 03 (1 97 3)

, th e co ur t he ld St ewart co ul d no t es ta bl is h a pr im a faci e cas e
be cau se , by th e ti m e of he r te rm in at io n, s h e ha d be co m e un qu al ifi ed fo r he r

po si ti on

— s h e was no t m eet in g th e le gi ti m at e ex pe ct at io ns of he r em pl oyer. The

co ur t c i te d pe rfo rm an ce rev ie ws fro m 20 09 –2 01 1 th at cri ti ci zed St ewart 's

in te rp ers on al an d le ad ers hi p sk il ls

. The co ur t al so ci te d refe ren ces in th es e

pe rfo rm an ce re vi ews to a de crea si ng an d un acce pt ab le work fo rce p art ic ip at io n ra te

am on g t he cli en ts of S te wart 's o ffi ce.

The di st ric t co ur t al so he ld St ewart f a i l e d to es ta bl is h a pr im a faci e cas e
be cau se sh e di d no t es ta bl is h th at he r te rm in at io n oc cu rred in ci rcu m st an ces cap ab le

of gi vi ng ris e to an in fere nc e of di sc riminat io n. In reac hi ng th is se pa rat e co nc lu si on , th e co ur t di sc ou nt ed St ewart ' s a f f i da vi t an d de po si ti on te st im on y as "s el f-s erv in g."

The co ur t al so no te d th e ab se nc e of writ te n co m pl ai nt s an d St ewart 's fai lu re to us e th e

Ri se co nf li ct -res ol ut io n fram ewo rk

. Fi na ll y , th e co ur t di s c o u n t e d rem ark s by co

wor ke rs as "s tra y rem ark s by no n- de ci si on m ak ers ." The di st ric t cou rt con ti nu ed it s

an al y si s, fin di ng fo r es se nt ia ll y th e sa m e reas on s th at ev en if St ewart ha d es ta bl is he d

a pr im a faci e cas e, Ri se art ic ul at ed a le gi ti m at e rat io na le f or St ewart 's te rm in at io n (th e lo w wor kf

or ce pa rti ci pa ti on rat e) an d St ewart fai le d to pr ov e th is rat io na le was

pr et ex tu al

.

-1 1-Reg ard in g th e ho st il e-wo rk -en vi ro nm en t cl ai m s, th e di st ric t co ur t gr a n te d

su m m ary jud gm en t fo r two al te rn at iv e reas on s. Fi rs t, th e co ur t he ld th e al le ge d

in ci de nt s were no t su ffi ci en tl y se ve re or pe rv as iv e to es ta bl is h a ho st i l e w or k

en vi ro nm en t; th e co ur t ch arac te riz ed th e i n c id en ts as is ol at ed an d st at ed St ewart

fai le d to sh ow th ey oc cu rred be cau se of race , na ti on al or ig in

, or se x. In reac hi ng th is

co nc lu si on , th e co ur t de sc rib ed St ewart 's affi da vi t an d de po si ti on te st im on y as "s el fse rv in g" an d a s l ack in g wri tt en do cu m en ta ti on or s up po rt.

Alt ern at iv el y , th e co ur t he ld Ri se was en ti tl ed to rel y on th e affi rm at iv e de fen se

o f B ur li ng to n In du st rie s, In c. v. Ell ert h, 52 4 U.S. 7 42 (1 99 8) , a nd Fara gh er v

. C i t y
of Bo ca Rat on , 52 4 U.S. 77 5 (1 99 8)

. Thi s de fen se pr ot ect s an em pl oyer fro m ho st il e

wor k en vi ro nm en t cl ai m s if (1 ) t h e em pl oyer ex erci se d reas on ab le care to av oi d,

pr ev en t, an d pr om

pt ly co rrec t ha ras si ng be ha vi or ; an d (2 ) th e em pl oyer m ad e

pr ev en ta ti ve or co rrec ti ve op po rtu ni ti es av ai la bl e; bu t (3 ) th e em pl oyee fai le d to ta ke

ad va nt ag e of su ch op po rtu ni ti es

. Ell ert h, 52 4 U.S. at 76 5. The co ur t h e ld th e

ex is te nc e of Ri se 's Co de of Co nd uc t, co nf li ct res ol ut io n pr oc ed ur e, an d va rio us ot he r

pr ot ect io ns co up le d wit h St ewart 's an nu al cert i f i c a t i o ns an d he r fai lu re to m ak e
writ te n c om

pl ai nt s b ro ug ht th e cas e wit hi n t he Ell ert h/ Fara gh er d efen se

.

Reg ard in g th e st at e an d fed eral ret al ia ti on cl ai m s, th e co ur t cred it ed Ph am an d

St ran sk y 's as se rti on th at th ey m ad e th e te rm in at io n de ci si on in Ja nu ary pr io r to

St ewart 's FMLA le av e an d pr io r to rece iv in g St ewart 's EEOC ch arg e. The co ur t al so

no te d th at

, ev en if St ewart 's ret al ia ti on cl ai m s were ba se d on he r al le ge d earl ie r ve rb al

rep or ts of ha ras sm en t, th e co nc ern s ab ou t St ewart 's pe rfo rm an ce an d th e de crea si ng

wor kf or ce p art ic ip at io n ra te pre ced ed an y all eg ed rep or ts . Stewa rt a pp eal s.

-1 2-II. Dis cu ss io n

W e rev ie w a gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t de no vo , co ns tru in g th e reco rd in th e

li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e no nm ov in g pa rty. Ri ck ard v. Swed is h Mat ch N. Am

., In c.,

77 3 F .3d 18 1, 1 84 (8t h C ir. 2 01 4)

.

A. Dis cri m in at or y

Term in at io n

Reg ard in g th e cl ai m of di sc riminat or y te rm in at io n, s u mm ary jud gm en t was

ap pr op ria te du e to St ewart 's fai lu re to es ta bl is h a pr im a faci e cas e, al be it fo r reas on s
di ffer en t th an art ic ul a t e d by th e di st ric t co ur t. See Jo hn so n v. Out bo ard Mar in e

Co rp ., 17 2 F.3 d 53 1, 53 5 (8 th Ci r. 19 99 ) ( " We m ay up ho ld a gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t for an y

reas on su pp or te d b y

th e rec or d, even if di ffer en t from th e reas on s gi ve n by th e di st ric t co ur t." ). As no te d, St ewart 's pr ed eces so r as br an ch m an ag er, as
well as h er su cces so r, were Am eri can -b or n Afri can -Am eri can wom en

. The refo re,

fo cu si ng sp eci fic al ly up on th e ci rcu m st an ces of Ste w ar t' s ac tua l te rm in at io n by Ph am , St ran sk y , an d Lav in

, we fin d li tt le su pp or t fo r an in fere nc e t h at di sc riminat io n by

th es e d eci si on m ak ers m ot iv at ed th e te rm in at io n.

To th e e xt en t St ewart po in ts to in st an ces of ha ras sm en t by he r own

su bo rd in at es (an d a l a c k o f res po ns e or su pp or t fro m he r own su pe rv is or s) as

ev id en ce of a di sc riminat or y m ot iv e in he r te rm in at io n, he r cl a i m si m pl y co ll ap se s

in to he r ho st il e-wo rk -en vi ro nm en t th eo ry

. St ewart 's su bo rd in at es were no t th e
de ci si on m ak ers in th is cas e. Her own su pe rio rs m ay ha ve fai le d to rem ed y or as si st

in an arg ua bl y un te na bl e an d ho st il e si tu at io n. The ir in act io n whe n as ke d to pr ot ect

St ewart —a lo wer-l ev el su pe rv is or —fr om m is tre at m en t by he r own su bo rd in at es , ho wev er, do es no t gi ve ris e to a reas on ab le in fere nc e th at th e y t o o ha rb or ed a
di sc riminat or y

an im us an d fi red he r fo r a d is cri m in at or y reas on

.

-1 3-In th is reg ard

, we ha ve he ld ev id en ce tha t a de ci si on m ak er tol erat ed a ho st il e

en vi ro nm en t can be rel ev an t to th e qu es ti on of whe th er th at d e c i s i o n m ak er la te r

t e rm in at ed an em

pl oyee du e to a di sc riminat or y m ot iv e. See W il li am s v. C o n A g r a

Po ul try Co

., 37 8 F.3d 79 0, 79 4 (8t h Cir. 20 04 ) ("Ev id en ce of wid es pr ead to le rat io n

of raci al ha ras sm en t an d di sp arat e tre at m en t co nd on ed by m an ag em en t was rel ev an t

to it s m ot iv e in fir in g Mr. W il li am s. W e be li ev e th at ev id en ce of raci al bi as in ot he r

em pl oym en t si tu at io ns co ul d pe rm is si bl y le ad to th e in fere nc e th at m an ag em en t was
si m il arl y bi as ed in th e cas e of Mr. W il li am s's fir in g." ). Alt ho ug h su ch ev id en ce m ay
be rel ev an t in a m in e-ru n di sc riminat or y te rm in at io n cas e, we do no t be l i e v e it

su ffi ci en t to crea te a tri a b l e qu es ti on of fact in th is cas e. Here, th e te rm in at ed

em pl oyee he rs el f was a su pe rv is or ov er th e al le ge d of fen de rs , an d m em

be rs of th e

sa m e pr ot ect ed cl as s pr eced ed an d fo ll owe d he r in th e ex act sa m e su pe rv is or y

po si ti on

. W il li am s, in co nt ras t, in vo lv ed ex pr es s raci al ha ras sm en t by m an ag ers

in cl ud in g qu id pr o qu o ha ras sm en t wit h be ne fit s ex te nd ed to fem al e Afri can

Am eri can em

pl oyees who res po nd ed fav or ab ly to "s ex ua ll y su gg es ti ve rem ark s." Id

.
at 79 3.

The on ly ev id en ce t e t h eri ng St ewart 's di sc riminat or y te rm in at io n cl ai m to a

su gg es ti on of a pr oh ib it ed an im us is th e e vi de nc e of th e ho st il e wor k en vi ro nm en t.

W e co nc lu de th e ev id en ce St ewart ci te s in su pp or t of he r ho st il e-wo rk -en vi ro nm en t

c l a im sp eak s di rect ly t o th at cl ai m

. It do es no t, in th e un iq ue ci rcu m st an ces of th is

m at te r, es ta bl is h a pr im a faci e cas e of d i s c r i mi na to ry te rm in at io n. W e th eref or e

affi rm th e di st ric t co ur t's gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t on th e di sc riminat or y

te rm in at io n c la im

.

B. Hos ti le W or k En vi ro nm en t

As an ini ti al m at te r, we reject su m m ary jud gm en t bas ed on ap pl ic at io n of th e

Ell ert h/ Fara gh er de fen se in th is cas e. Q u e s t io ns of fact ab ou nd as to th e da te s of

ev en ts an d rep or ts

, th e rel at io ns hi p b e t w e e n th e Co de of Co nd uc t an d th e co nf li ct

-

-1 4-res ol ut io n po li cy , an d th e m ean in g an d co ns eq ue nc es th at sh ou l d be at ta ch ed to

St ewart 's an nu al C o d e o f Co nd uc t cert ifi cat io ns to Ri se

. The refo re, al th ou gh

St ewart 's an nu al cert ifi cat io ns an d he r fai lu re to pu rs ue a fo rm al writ te n syste m of

gr ie va nc es m ay well be ou tc om e de te rm in at i v e in th e m in ds of juro rs , th ey are no t

de te rm in at iv e as a m at te r of la w. See Tol an v. Co tt on , 13 4 S. Ct

. 18 61

, 18 66 (2 01 4)
(p er cu ria m ) ("B y fai li ng to cred it ev id en ce th at co nt rad ic te d so m e of it s ke y fact ua l

co nc lu si on s, th e co ur t im pr op erl y 'weig h[ ed ] th e ev id en ce' an d res ol ve d di sp ut ed

is su es in fav or of th e m ov in g pa rty." (q uo ti ng And ers on v. Libe rty Lob by, In c., 47 7

U.S. 24 2, 2 49 (19 86 ))).

Turn in g to th e m eri ts of th e ho st il e wor k en vi ro nm en t cl ai m , St ewart m us t

pr ov e "1 ) sh e be lo ng s to a pr ot ect ed gr ou p; 2) sh e was su bjec te d to un welc om e

ha ras sm en t ba se d on [m em be rs hi p in th at gr ou p]; 3) th e ha ras sm en t affe ct ed a te rm ,

co nd it io n, or pr iv il eg e of he r em pl oym en t; 4) he r em

pl oyer kn ew or sh ou ld ha ve

kn own of th e ha ras sm en t; an d 5) th e em pl oyer fai le d to ta ke pr op er act io n." Pet ers on

v. Sco tt Cn ty., 40 6 F.3 d 51 5, 52 3– 24 (8 th Ci r. 20 05 ), ab ro ga te d on ot he r gr ou nd s by,
Torg ers on v. Ci ty of Ro ch es te r, 64 3 F.3 d 10 31

, 10 59 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (en ba nc ). "To

be act io na bl e, [th e] 'ob

jecti on ab le e nv iro nm en t m us t be bo th ob

jecti ve ly an d

su bjec ti ve ly of

fen si ve , on e th at a reas on ab le pe rs on wou ld fin d ho st il e or ab us iv e,

a n d on e th at th e vi ct im in fact di d pe rcei ve to be so .'" Cl earwa te r v. In d. Sch

. Dis t.

No. 16 6, 23 1 F.3 d 11 22 , 1 12 8 (8 t h C i r

. 20 00 ) (q uo ti ng Fara gh er, 52 4 U.S. a t 78 7)

. "[T]o de te rm in e whe th er an en vi ro nm en t is su ffi ci en tl y ho st il e or ab us iv e, [we lo ok ]

'at al l th e ci rcu m st an ces ,' in cl ud in g th e 'freq ue nc y of th e di sc riminat or y co nd uc t; it s

se ve rit y ; whe th er it is ph y si cal ly th reat en in g or hu m il ia ti ng , or a m ere of fen si ve

ut te ran ce; a n d w he th er it un reas on ab ly in te rfer es wit h an em pl oyee's wor k

pe rfo rm an ce.'" Fara gh er, 52 4 U.S. a t 78 7

– 8 8 ( q uo ti ng Harri s v. Fo rk li ft Sy s., In c.,

50 1 U.S. 1 7, 23 (1 99 3) ). "[C ]ond uc t m us t b e ex tre m e to am ou nt to a ch an ge in th e

te rm s an d c on di ti on s o f em pl oym en t." Id. at 78 8.

-1 5-The reco rd pr ov id es ad eq ua te su pp or t fo r th e fir st

, se co nd

, an d fif th el em en ts

o f S t e wart 's ho st il e wor k en vi ro nm en t cl ai m

. St ewart was su bjec t to un welc ome

ha ras sm en t ba se d on he r se x, race , an d/ or na ti on al or ig in

. Ri se to ok li tt le or no act io n

to im pr ov e th e si tu at io n.

The se ve rit y of th e ha ras sm en t an d whe th er Ri se kn ew or sh ou ld ha ve kn own

of se ve re ha ras s men t p r e se nt cl os er cal ls

. Acco rd in g to St ewart

, Ph am wit ne ss ed

fir st -h an d in st an ces of in su bo rd in at io n an d in ti m id at io n. St ewart cl ai m s vi a affi da vi t

an d de po si ti on te st im on y th at sh e rep or te d in st an ces of ha ras sm en t du e to th e fact th at

s h e was an Afri can -Am eri can wom an

. St ewart al so rel ie s on co rro bo rat io n fro m

St ran sk y 's de po si ti on an d no te s, in co ns is te nc ie s in St ran sk y an d Ph am 's de po si ti on s,

an d co rro bo rat io n fro m Dam an i's ex it in te rv ie w, de po si ti on te st im on y , a n d EE OC

co m pl ai nt

.

Ri se , on th e ot he r ha nd

, do wn p l a ys t he si gn ifi can ce of St ewart 's affi da vi t,

cal li ng th e affi da vi t se lf- se rv in g an d arg ui ng it sh ou ld no t be co ns id ered fo r su m m ary jud gm en t pu rp os es

. Ri se al so po in ts to St ewart 's an nu al cert ifi cat io ns th ro ug h 20 11

an d St ewart 's fai lu re to m ak e a wri t t e n c om pl ai nt us in g Ri se 's co nf

li ct res ol ut io n
syste m

. Fi na ll y , Ri se em

ph as iz es th at St ewart se rv ed as th e fro nt -li ne su pe rv is or of

th e of fen di ng em

pl oyees; sh e was th eref

or e res po ns ib le fo r de al in g wit h si tu at io ns as

th ey aro se an d rep or ti ng co nc ern s up th e ch ai n of co m m an d. In he r de po si ti on , St ran sk y rep eat ed ly st at ed th at St ewart was in ch arg e of th e br an ch of fic e an d ne ed ed

to rem ed y

th e rep or te d i ss ue s h ers el f.

Thro ug h th is l e n s, Ri se vi ews St ewart as a su pe rv is or who pr es id ed ov er a

gr ou p of in su bo rd in at e an d of fen si ve em

pl oyees who se co nd uc t am ou nt ed to a se rie s

of is ol at ed ev en ts

. Ri se de sc rib es Ste wart as a hyper-s en si ti ve m ic ro -m an ag er wh o

co u l d n o t de al wit h cri ti ci sm an d fai le d to ad eq ua te ly rep or t th e freq ue nc y an d

se ve rit y of t he off

en si ve co nd uc t. Ri se al so ch arac te riz es th e o ffen di ng em pl oyees'

-1 6-ov ert ho st il it y to ward s Stewar t as bas ed on a co m m un al pe rs on al di sl ik e o f St ewart

an d fr us tra ti on wit h h er m an ag em en t s tyle.

A jury m ay ve ry well acce pt Ri se 's na rrat iv e. W e m ay no t, ho wev er, di sc ou nt

ev id en ce as ur ge d by Ri se , no r m ay we vi ew th e fact s in th e li gh t Ri se su gg es ts

. The

Fed eral R ul es of Ci vi l Pro ced ur e ex pr es sl y co nt em pl at e th e us e of affi da vi ts

, de po si ti on s, in te rro ga to ry an swe rs , an d de cl ar at io ns as pe rm is si bl e fo rm s of ev id en ce

at th e su m

m ary jud gm en t st ag e. Fed

. R. Ci v. P. 5 6 ( c ) ( 1 ) ( A ) & (c)( 4)

. Neit he r th e
ab se nc e of writ te n rep o r t s no r th e se lf- se rv in g na tu re of affi da vi ts

, in te rro ga to ry

an swe rs , or de po si ti on te st im on y se rv e to m ak e su ch ev id en ce in he ren tl y in fir m

. As

su ch , we gen eral ly do n ot di sc ou nt su ch ev id en ce at th e su m m ary jud gm en t s ta ge

.

W e m ay di sc ou nt a pl ai nt iff 's se lf- se rv in g affi da vi t or de po si ti on te st im on y as

a m at te r of la w whe re it cl earl y co nt rad ic ts th e pl ai nt iff 's earl ie r te st im on y un de r oa th

an d whe re th e pl ai nt iff of fers no ex pl an at io n for th e in co ns is te nc ie s. See Frev ert v.

Fo rd Mo to r Co ., 61 4 F .3d 46 6, 4 74 (8t h C ir. 2 01 0) ("We hav e p rev io us ly 'hel d t ha t

th e pl ai nt iff di d no t crea te a ge nu in e is su e of m at e r i a l f a ct si m pl y by s ub m it ti ng an

affi da vi t th at co nt rad ic te d te st im on y at a pr io r de po si ti on , whe re th ere were no
le gi ti m at e reas on s fo r th e fil in g of an in co ns is te nt affi da vi t.'" (quot in g Ro be rts v. Park

Nico ll et Heal th Serv s., 52 8 F.3 d 11 23

, 11 26 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s

om it te d) )). Here, ho wev er , th e al le ge d in co ns is te nc ie s are un cl ear an d th e earl ie r,

pu rp or te dl y in co ns is te nt ev id en ce is no t pr io r te st im on y

. The al le ge d in co ns is te nc ie s

in cl ud e: (1 ) th e an nu al cert ifi cat io ns as co nt ras te d wit h th e cl ai m ed ve rb al rep or ts of

ha ras sm en t; an d (2 ) th e fai lu re to co ns is te nt ly ref eren ce an im

us ba se d o n race , s ex ,

or na ti on al or ig in in th e cl ai m ed ve rb al rep or ts to Ph am an d St ran sk y

. The se nu an ces
si m pl y do no t reac h th e le ve l of as se rti on s th at "d ire ct ly co nt rad ic t[]" te st im on y un de r

oa th an d th at m ig ht su pp or t th e di sc ou nt in g of ev id en ce as a m at te r of la w. Id

. The

im pr op rie ty of di sc ou nt in g su ch ev id en ce be co m es cl ear in li gh t of th e fact s th at : (1 )

th e ev id en ce Ri se se ek s to di sc ou nt is at le as t pa r t i a l l y co rro bo rat ed by St ran sk y 's

de po si ti on te st im on y an d no te s; ( 2) it is pa rti al ly co rro bo rat ed by Dam an i's EEOC

-1 7-ch arg e, ex it in te rv ie w, an d de po si ti on te st im on y ; an d (3 ) Ph am 's de ni al of kn owl ed ge

co nt rad ic ts St ran sk y 's te st im on y , th us le nd in g cred en ce to St ewart 's cl ai m s. Fu rth er,

th e la st cert ifi cat io n oc cu rred in Octo be r 20 11

, an d th e r e i s n o al le ga ti on th at th e
ho st il e co nd uc t di rect ed to ward s St ewart ha d ceas ed be twee n th at da te an d St ewart 's

Mar ch 20 12 ter m in at io n.

Tak en in a li gh t m os t fav or ab le to St ewart

, th en , a di ffer en t na rrat iv e em erg es

. Sh e rep or te d m an y in st an ces of ha ras sm en t as ha ras sm en t, a n d ot he r in st an ces as

in su bo rd in at io n an d in ap pr op ria te be ha vi or

. To su pp or t a ho st il e-wo rk -en vi ro nm en t

c l a i m, e ve ry in st an ce of un welc om e co nd uc t ne ed no t, in di vi du al ly, po in t to a

pr oh ib it ed an im

us

. See Cart er v. Ch ry sl er Corp

., 17 3 F.3d 69 3, 70 1 (8 th Ci r. 19 99 )
(in di cat in g th at no t ev ery in di vi du al ho st il e act ne ed s to

, ov ert ly an d st an di ng al on e,
sh ow an im

pe rm is si bl e m ot iv e be cau se cert ai n act s, li ke th e us e of ep it he ts "m ay

. . .

crea te an in fere nc e th at raci al an im us m ot iv at ed ot he r co nd uc t as well "); Hath away

v. Ru nyon , 13 2 F.3 d 12 14

, 12 2 2 ( 8 t h C i r

. 19 97 ) ("No t ev ery as pe ct of a wor k

en vi ro nm en t ch arac te riz ed by ho st il it y an d in ti m id at io n ne ed be ex pl ic it ly se xu al in

na tu re to be pr ob at iv e."). Si m il arl y , no t ev ery in st an ce of of fen di ng co nd uc t m

us t ris e

to th e le ve l of se ve rit y req ui red to su pp or t a cl ai m

. See id

. ("A wor k en vi ro nm en t is

sh ap ed by th e accu m

ul at io n of ab us iv e co nd u c t

, a n d t he res ul ti ng ha rm can no t be

measu red by carv in g it in to a se rie s of di sc ret e in ci de nt s." (ci ta ti on an d in t e r n a l

qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d) ). Rat he r, an ov eral l pa tt ern of co nd uc t m us t be co ns id ered

whe n as se ss in g th e su ffi ci en cy th e en ti re cl ai m as to bo th se ve rit y of th e ha ras sm en t

an d a de qu acy of th e rep or ti ng

. See Harris

, 51 0 U.S. at 2 3 (i ns tru ct in g t ha t h os ti li ty

m us t b e d et erm in ed by "lo ok in g a t al l t he cir cu m st an ces ").

Tak en co ll ect iv el y , St ewart ha s sh own en ou gh to a v o i d su m m ary jud gm en t.

A jury co ul d co nc lu de th e co m m en ts at is su e were ne it he r of f-h an d no r i s o la te d.

Acco rd in g to St ewart an d Dam an i, th e co m m en ts were a co ns is te nt pa tt ern of ve rb al

ab us e ba se d up on se x, race , or na ti on al or ig in of te n ti ed to ov ert act s of in ti m id at io n,
vi ol en ce, or in su bo rd in at io n. Tog et h e r wit h th e ge ne ral an d op en in su bo rd in at io n,

-1 8-th e thr ea

ts ag ai nst co un ty wor ke rs an d au di to rs , th e in ti m id at in g st an ces , th e th ro win g

of a fil e, an d th e gr ab bi ng of Dam an i, th e co nd uc t m ay be vi ewed as am ou nt in g to an

act io na bl y

sev ere h os ti le work en vi ro nm en t.

Fu rth er, th e rep or ts to St ran sk y an d Ph am ne ed no t each refe ren ce a pr oh ib it ed

an im us

. Man y of th e rep or ts ex pr es sl y in cl ud ed su ch refe ren ces or id en ti fie d co nd uc t

or st at em en ts th at req ui red no fu rth er ex pl an at io n to sh ow th e pr oh i b i t e d an im us

. Rep or ts th at la ck ed faci al an im us or ex pr es s ex pl an at io ns can no t be qu aran ti ne d an d

vi ewed in is ol at io n. See Hath away, 13 2 F.3 d at 12 22

. And

, as to Ri se 's as se rti on th at

writ te n rat he r th an or al co m pl ai nt s were req ui red

, th ere is no ge ne ral req ui rem en t in

th e la w th at co m

pl ai nt s be in a pa rti cu la r pr es cri be d fo rm

. Rat he r, to sh ow co -wo rk er

ha ras sm en t, an em

pl oyee m us t sh ow "t ha t [h er em

pl oyer] kn ew or sh ou ld ha ve kn own
ab ou t th e ha ras sm en t an d fai le d to ta ke pr om pt rem ed ia l act io n reas on ab ly cal cu la te d

to st op th e h aras sm en t." Cart er, 1 73 F.3d at 7 02

.

Th at is no t to sa y we be li ev e th is is an eas y cas e. W he n th e pl ai nt iff is a

su pe rv is or , an d th e ob

jecte d- to co nd uc t or ig in at es am ong he r subo rd ina tes, a jury m ay
lo ok w i t h g r e at su sp ic io n up on cl ai m s th at th e pl ai nt iff ad eq ua te ly pr es en te d he r

c o n c e r n s up th e ch ai n of co m m an d. Und er Tol an v. Co tt on , ho wev er, we m ay no t

i n du lg e in th e di sc ou nt in g or weig hi ng of ev id en ce as req ue st ed by Ri se

. Uni te d

St at es ex rel

. Mi ll er v. W es to n Edu c., In c., 78 4 F.3 d 11 98

, 12 06 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ) ("B ut

at su m m ary jud gm en t th is co ur t ex am in es whe th er th ere is a ge nu in e is su e of m at eri al

fact ; i t d oe s n ot weig h t he ev id en ce o r de ci de cred ib il it y .").

C. Ret al ia ti on

St ewart pr es en ts a fed eral ret al ia ti on cl ai m un de r 42 U.S.C. § 20 00 e-3 (a), an d

a s t a t e ret al ia ti on cl ai m un de r a Mi nn es ot a whi st le bl owe r st at ut e, Mi nn

. St at

. § 18 1.9 32

, su bd

. 1. W e an al y ze bo th types of cl ai m s un de r th e McDo nn el l Dou gl as
bu rd en -s hi fti ng fram ewo rk

. S e e M c D on al d v. Ci ty of St

. Pau l, 67 9 F.3 d 69 8, 70 7

-1 9-(8 th Ci r. 20 12 ) (ap pl y in g th e fram ewo rk to cl ai m s un de r Tit le VII an d th e Mi nn es ot a

Hum an Ri gh ts Act) ; Hit ch co ck v. Fed Ex Gro un d Pack ag e Sy s., In c., 44 2 F.3 d 11 04

, 11 06 (8t h C ir. 2 00 6) (ap pl y in g t he fram ewo rk to a cl ai m un de r § 1 81 .93 2)

.

Ph am , St ran sk y , an d Lav in cl ai m to h a v e mad e th e de ci si on to te rm in at e

St ewart in Ja nu ary 20 12

, pr io r to St e w a r t ' s f il in g of he r Feb ru ary 20 12 EEOC

co m pl ai nt . Pha m

an d S tra ns ky clai m

to ha ve m em or ia li zed th is in te nt in th e m em o

crea te d on Ja nu ary 23 or 24 th at li st ed Ja nu ary 27 as a te rm in at io n da te

. Fi na ll y , th ey

as se rt th at th ey wit hh el d th e m em o at th at ti m e ou t of hu m an it ari an co n c e r n fo r

St ewart who ask ed for an d re cei ve d F MLA le av e d ue to he r m ot he r's de at h.

Alt ho ug h St ewart arg ue s th e te rm in at io n de ci si on cam e at a la te r da te

, th ere is

no ev id e n ce to reb ut Ri se 's as se rti on of th e Ja nu ary de ci si on da te

. St ewart 's

ret al ia ti on cla im

ba se d o n t he Feb ru ary EEOC com pl ai nt th eref

or e fai ls

.

W e rev ers e t he gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t to ris e on th e ho st il e-wo rk

en vi ro nm en t cl ai m , bu t af fir m in all ot he r res pe ct s.

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

-2 0-