FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC UIT JULY 31, 2006 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 05- 14695

________________________ D . C . D ocketN o. 04 -003 07 -C V -B H -B C L A U D E L L L . M A C K , T H E O D O R E C A R T H E N , J O N K E I T H G E O R G E , E A R L J . M A L L O R Y , C L A R E N C E M C D O N A L D , I I I , D A M O N L . W A Y N E , P la in tif f s - A p p e lla n ts ,

v ersu s S T M O B I L E A E R O S P A C E E N G I N E E R I N G , I N C ., D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lle e .

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f o rth e So u th e rn D i s tr i c to f A l ab a ma

_________________________ ( Ju l y 31, 2006)2

B ef ore H U L L and W IL S O N , C i rc ui tJudg es , and G O L D B E R G , * Jud ge. W IL S O N , C i rc ui tJudg e: C l audel l M ac k, T heod ore C arthen, Jon G eorge, E ar l M al l ory, C l ar ence M cD on al d, and D am on W ay ne appeal fr om the di stri ctcourt ’ s e ntryof sum m ary j ud gm enti n favor of thei r e m pl oyerS T M ob i l e A er ospace E ng i neer i ng , Inc. ( “ M A E” ) o n th e i rc l a i ms u n d e rTi t l e V I I o f th e Ci v i l Ri g h t s A c to f 1 9 6 4 , 4 2 U . S. C. § 2000e , e ts e q. , a nd the C i vi l R i ght s A c tof 1991, 42 U . S . C . § 1981. T he ya l l e ge tha tthe r e w e r e i s s ue s of m a t e r i a l f

a c ta s t o w he the rM A E s ubj e c t e d the m t o a raci al l y h o st i l e w o rken v i ro n m en tan d d i sp arat e treatm en ti n t erm s o f p ay, p r o m o tio n , d e m o tio n , d is c ip lin e , a n d o th e rte rm s a n d c o n d itio n s o f e m p lo y m e n t. T he y a l s o a r gue tha tthe c ourtabus e d i t s di s c r e t i on i n s tr i ki ng c e rt a i n port i ons of the i roppos i t i on t o s um m a ry j udgm e nta s i na dm i s s i bl e . W e a gr e e , e xc e pta s t o the c la im s o f d is p a r a te tr e a tm e n t. I . B AC KG RO UN D M A E o p e r a te s ac o m m e r c ia l a ir c r a f t m a in te n a n c e a n d r e p a irf a c ilityin M ob i l e, A l abam a. It s f ac i l i t i es i ncl ud e a i rc ra ftrunw ay s and ra m ps, ei gh tai rc ra ft hang ar s, w orksho ps, st orer oo m s, and adm i ni stra t i ve offi ce s. M A E has

___________________________________ *Honora ble Richard W. Goldberg , Judg e, United States Court of International Trade , sitti ngby designation.3

ap p ro x i m at el y 1 , 0 0 0 em p l o yees an d 4 0 0 co n tractw o rk ers. M o sto f th ese e m p lo y e e s a n d c o n tr a c t w o rk e r s a r e a ir c r a f t m e c h a n ic s a n d a r e c la s s if ie d in pr ogr e s s i ve l y hi ghe rs ki l l l e ve l s : A ppr e nt i c e , M e c ha ni c I , M e c ha ni c I I , a nd S e ni or M ech an i c. M A E h as L ead M ech an i cs w h o d i rectth e d ai l y w o rko f th ei r crew s, re l ayi nstruct i on s f

rom m anagem ent , eval uat e m ec hani cs ’ j ob perf orm ance , and at t i m es , re com m end em pl oym entdeci si on s. M A E al so has A ct i ng L ea ds, w ho ar e ap p o in te d te m p o r a r ilyf o rap a rtic u la rp r o

je c t, a n d R e lie f

L e a d s , w h o s u b s titu te in th e L e a d M e c h a n ic ’s ab s e n c e . M A E ’ s P o l i cy an d P ro ced u re M an u al (“ P P M ”) reg u l at es i t s o p erat i o n s, i n cl u d i n g co m p en sat i o n , st an d ard s o f co n d u ct , d i sci p l i n e, p erfo rm an ce ev al u at i o n s, and ski l l -l evel prog re ss i on s. U nd erthe P P M , a new m ec hani c r ec ei ves aski l l -l evel d e s ig n a tio n b a s e d o n h is o rh e rp e r f o rm a n c e d u r in g h is f

ir s t 9 0 d a y s o f

w o rk . M ec hani cs ar e pai d w i thi n the pay r ange for thei r posi t i on base d o n exp er i ence , sk i l l l ev el , an d j o b p erfo rm an ce. T h ey receive p eri o d i c p erfo rm an ce rev i ew s, b a s e d o n as c o r in g s y s te m f r o m 1 to 7 . M e c h a n ic s c a n e a rn n o n - c o m p e titiv e , s k illl evel prom ot i on s, i . e. , a progres si on fr om M ec hani c I t o M ec hani c I I, as w el l as c om pe t i t i ve pr om ot i ons t o “ L e a d” or“ P r oj e c tM a na ge r ” ba s e d on the i rappl i c a t i on for the po si t i on and p er form ance . M A E m ai nt ai ns a E qu al E m pl oym entO pp ortun i ty/H ar as sm entP ol i cythat4

pr ohi bi t s di s c r i m i na t i on a nd ha r a s s m e nt , pa rt i c ul a r l ya nym a na ge r s ’ or su p erv i so rs’ h arassm en to f em p l o yees u n d er h i s o r h er su p erv i si o n . D u ri n g m o st t i m es re l evantt o the pl ai nt i ff s’ cl ai m s, the P ol i cy ’ s c om pl ai ntprocedure re qu i re d tha te m pl oy e e s r e porta ny i nc i de ntof ha r a s s m e ntordi s c r i m i na t i on di r e c t l yt o the M anager of A dm i ni stra t i on G eorge B el l or the M anager of H um an R es ou rc es D i ck W e l l i ngt on, both w hi t e m a l e s . M A E e nc our a ge s e m pl oy e e s a l s o t o r e porta ny vi ol a t i on t o hi s orhe rm a na ge rors upe rvi s or , w ho ha s ar e s pons i bi l i tyt o pr e ve nt hara ss m ent , t o st op i ti f i toccurs , and t o reportany vi ol at i on s di re ct l y t o M anager B e l l . H ow e ve r , “ [ i ] ti s e s s e nt i a l ” unde rthe P ol i c ytha ta n e m pl oy e e not i f yB e l l or W e l l i ngt on of

a ny vi ol a t i on: “ R e port i ng [ ] t o y ourm a na ge rors upe rvi s ori s not suff i ci ent . ” O v e rth e y e a r s , M A E d is s e m in a te d a n d e x p la in e d th e P o lic yto a ll e m p lo y e e s a n d tr a in e d d ir e c to r s , m a n a g e r s , s u p e rv is o r s , a n d le a d s o n th e ir obl i ga t i ons unde rthe P ol i c y . M A E e s t abl i s he d a n E E O C ounc i l , w hi c h di d not r e pl a c e the c om pl a i ntpr oc e dur e unde rthe P ol i c ybutpr ovi de d a n a ddi t i ona l poi nt of c ont a c tf

ore m pl oy e e s w i th c onc e rns aboutdi s c r i m i na t i on orha r a s s m e nt . T he e v id e n c e r e v e a le d th a t, th r o u g h o u t h is 1 4 y e a r s a s M a n a g e ro f A d m in is tr a tio n , B e ll r e c e i ve d 10 “ of

f i c i a l ” c om pl a i nt s of

r a c e di s c r i m i na t i on unde rthe P ol i c y , tw o of w h i ch h e fai l ed t o i n v est i g at e, acco rd i n g t o th e p l ai n t i ffs.5

T he si x p l ai nt i ff

s’ cl ai m s i n thi s l aw sui tar i se fr om thei r w ork as a i rc ra ft m e c h a n ic s a t M A E . O th e rth a n P la in tif f W a y n e , e a c h o f

th e p la in tif

f s c o n tin u e s to w ork a tM A E . O n M a y 11, 2004, the pl a i nt i f f s , a l l bl a c k m a l e s , c ol l e c t i ve l yf i l e d a c o m p la in t a g a in s t th e c o m p a n y , c la im in g th e yw e r e s u b je c te d to ar a c ia llyh o s tile w ork e nvi r onm e nt“ c ha r a c t e r i z e d bythe pe rva s i ve us e of r a c i a l s l ur s a nd of

f e ns i ve sy m bo l s” ov era per i od of se vera l ye ar s. E ac h p l ai nt i ff al so cl ai m ed he w as s u b je c te d to d is p a r a te tr e a tm e n t in th e te rm s a n d c o n d itio n s o f h is e m p lo y m e n t. T h e d i stri ctco u rtg ran t ed su m m ary j u d g m en to n each o f th e cl ai m s. I I . DI S CUS S I ON A . H o s t ile W o r k E n v ir o n m e n t C la im F ir s t, w e c o n s id e rw h e th e rg e n u in e is s u e s o f m a te r ia l f

a c t r e m a in a s to w h e th e rth e p la in tif

f s w e r e s u b

je c te d to ar a c ia llyh o s tile w o rke n v ir o n m e n t. W e r e v i e w th e d i s tr i c tc o u rt ’ s e n try o f s u mma ryj u d g me n td e n o v o , “ ap p l y i n g th e s a me l eg al st an d ard s as th e d i stri ctco u rtd i d an d v i ew i n g al l o f th e fact s i n th e l i g h tm o st fa vo rabl e t o the no n-m ov i ng party. ” C oope rv . Southe rn C o. , 390 F . 3d 695, 723 (1 1 th C i r. 2 0 0 4 ). “ S u m m ary j u d g m en ti s ap p ro p ri at e w h en ‘ th e p l ead i n g s, de pos i t i ons , a ns w e r s t o i nt e rr oga t or i e s , a nd a dm i s s i ons on f i l e , t oge the rw i th the a f f i da vi t s , i f

a ny , s how tha tthe r e i s no ge nui ne i s s ue a s t o a nym a t e r i a l f a c ta nd th at th e m o v in g p ar ty is en ti tl ed to a ju d g m en t as a m atter o f law .’ ” I d. ( quot i ng6

F ed. R . C i v. P . 56 (c )) . A hos t i l e w ork e nvi r onm e ntc l a i m i s e s t abl i s he d upon pr oof tha t“ the w orkp l ac e i s perm ea t ed w i th d i sc ri m i nat ory i nt i m i dat i on , ri di cul e, and i nsul t , that is su ff icien tl y s ev er e o r p er v as iv e to alter th e c o n d it io n s o f th e v icti m ’s e m p lo y m e n t a n d c r e a te a n ab u s iv e w o rk in g e n v ir o n m e n t.” H a rr is v . Fo rklift S

ys ., Inc. , 510 U . S . 17, 21, 114 S . C t . 367, 370, 126 L . E d. 2d 295 ( 1993) ( quot a t i ons a n d c ita tio n s o m itte d ) . T h e p la in tif f m u s t s h o w : ( 1 ) th a t h e b e lo n g s to ap r o te c te d g r o u p ; ( 2 ) th a t h e h a s b e e n s u b je c t to un w el com e har as sm ent ; (3) thatthe haras sm entm usthave been based on apr ot e c t e d c ha r a c t e r i s t i c of the [ pl a i nt i f

f ] ; ( 4) tha tthe ha r a s s m e nt w a s s uf f i c i e nt l y s e ve r e orpe rva s i ve t o a l t e rthe t e rm s orc ondi t i ons of e m pl oy m e nta nd c r e a t e adi s c r i m i na t or i l yabus i ve w orki ng envi ronm ent ; and (5) thatthe em pl oyeri s r es po nsi bl e f or such en v i ro n m en tu n d er ei th er a th eo ry o f v i cari o u s o r d i rectl i ab i l i ty. Mi l lerv. Kenw orth o

f D otha n, Inc. , 277 F . 3d 1269, 1275 ( 11th C i r . 2002) ( c i t i ng Mendo za v. B orden, Inc. , 19 5 F . 3d 12 38 , 12 45 (11th C i r. 19 99 ) ( en banc)). H er e, the fourth and fi fth el em ent s are ati ss ue.

1. W h e t h e r t h e H ar as s m e n t w as S u f f i c i e n t l y S e ve r e or P e r vas i ve T h e f o u rth e le m e n t h a s b o th s u b je c tiv e a n d o b

je c tiv e c o m p o n e n ts . Men do za , 195 F . 3d a t1246. “ T he e m pl oy e e m us t‘ s ubj e c t i ve l ype r c e i ve ’ the ha r a s s m e nta s s uf

f i c i e nt l y s e ve r e a nd pe rva s i ve t o a l t e rthe t e rm s orc ondi t i ons of e m pl oy m e nt , a nd thi s s ubj e c t i ve pe r c e pt i on m us tbe obj e c t i ve l yr e a s onabl e . T he7

envi ronm entm ustbe on e that‘ a r ea sonabl e per son w ou l d fi nd ho st i l e or abu si ve’ and thatthe vi ct i m subj ec t i vel y per ce i ves . . . t o b e abu si ve. ’ ” I d. ( quot i ng H

a rr is , 51 0 U . S . at21 , 11 4 S . C t . at37 0).

“ [ T ] he obj e c t i ve s e ve r i ty of ha r a s s m e nts houl d be j udge d f r om the pe r s pe c t i ve of

ar e a s onabl e pe r s on i n the pl a i nt i f f’ s pos i t i on, c ons i de r i ng ‘ a l l the ci rc um st ance s. ’ ” O ncal e v . Su ndow ner O f f shore Servs . , Inc. , 523 U . S . 75, 81, 118 S . C t . 998, 1003, 140 L . E d. 2d 201 ( 1998) ( quot i ng H a rr is , 5 1 0 U . S. a t2 3 , 1 1 4 S. C t . a t371) . T he obj e c t i ve c om pone nti s “ f a c ti nt e ns i ve , ” a nd c ourt s c ons i de rf our fa cto rs w h en d eter m in in g w h eth erh ar as sm en t o b jectiv ely a lt er ed th e e m p lo ye e’s t e rm s a nd c ondi t i ons of e m pl oy m e nt : “ ( 1) the f r e que nc yof

the c onduc t ; ( 2) the s e ve r i ty of

the c onduc t ; ( 3) w he the rthe c onduc ti s phy s i c a l l ythr e a t e ni ng or hu m i l i at i ng , or a m er e off ensi ve utt er ance ; and (4) w hether the cond uct un re as on abl y i nt er fe re s w i th the em pl oyee ’ s j ob perf orm ance . ” Men do za , 195 F . 3 d at1 2 4 6 . C o u rt s co n si d er th e al l eg ed co n d u ct“ i n co n t ex t , n o tas i so l at ed act s, a nd de t e rm i ne unde rthe t ot a l i ty of the c i r c um s t a nc e s w he the rthe ha r a s s i ng cond ucti s s uffi ci ent l y s ever e or pervasi ve . . . . ” I d. We r e c o g n i z e th a tMAE di s put e s the pl a i nt i f

f s ’ ve r s i on of

m a nye ve nt s , buta tthi s s um m a ryj udgm e nt s t a ge , w e now out l i ne the f a c t s i n the l i ghtm os tf

a vor abl e t o the pl a i nt i f

f s ’ ve r s i on of w hathas happened and cont i nu es t o h appen i n M A E ’ s w orkp l ac e.8 a. N oo ses T here ar e e xt ensi ve fa ct s t o sup po rtthe pl ai nt i ff s’ ar gu m entthatthey w er e subj ec t ed t o sever e and pervas i ve haras si ng cond uct . F i rs t , the pl ai nt i ff s c ol l e c t i ve l y a l l e ge d tha tthe y pe r s ona l l yw i tne s s e d no l e s s tha n s e ve n noos e s on M A E prem i se s over atw o-ye arperi od fr om 20 02 t o 2 00 3. T he evi dence s ho w ed that , i n F ebruary20 02 , M A E di sc ov er ed a r op e noo se suspended from a w ork st and i n H angar 8. M anager Bel l concl ud ed thatthe no ose w as no ta typi ca l “h a n g m a n ’s n o o s e ,” b u t r a th e rw a s ar o p e u s e d to s u s p e n d a irh o s e s to f a c ilita te w o rk . B e ll w a rn e d m a n a g e m e n t in th e a r e ath a t e v e n w o rk - r e la te d o b je c ts c o u ld appear t o b e off

ensi ve. O n e m o n thlater, o n M ar ch 1 , 2 0 0 2 , M A E d isco v er ed an ac tu al “h an g m an ’s n o o se. ” M A E i d en t i fi ed tw o w h i t e em p l o yees w h o w ere resp o n si b l e fo r th e n o o se and d i sc harged them . T he com pany al so se ntal l em pl oyee s al ett ert o con fi rm that th e p e rp e tr a t o r s h a d b e e n d i s c i p l i n e d a n d t o a n n o u n c e th a ti th a d c r e a t e d i t s EE O C ou nci l as another poi ntof cont ac tfor e m pl oyee s w i th con ce rns. A roun d that sam e t i m e, i n F eb ru ary o r M arch 2 0 0 2 , P l ai n t i ff C arth en fo u n d an ad d i t i o n al n o o se m ade of y el l ow rope on the t ai l st and o f aD C -10 i n ano ther hangar. H e r em ov ed th e n o o s e , b u t d id n o t r e p o rt it to a n y o n e . P la in tif f W a y n e w itn e s s e d y e t a n o th e rn o o s e h a n g in g f r o m aw o rks ta tio n in9

H angar 8 i n N ov em ber 200 2. A s he app roac hed the no ose, W ay ne heard L ea d Q ui nn H ol br ook, aw hi t e m a l e , s a y“ tha t ’ s f orthe m . . . the ni gge r s . ” W a y ne r e p o rte d th e c o m m e n t to S u p e rv is o rD a v id N e m e c e k , aw h ite m a le , w h o f a ile d to re po rtthe com m entt o M anagers B el l or W el l i ng t on , as the P ol i cyre qu i re d. W hen W e l l i ngt on f

i na l l y l e a rne d of

the i nc i de nti n the pr oc e s s of thi s l i t i ga t i on i n 2003, he c ouns e l e d H ol br ook aboutthe s e r i ous ne s s of the a l l e ga t i on a nd r e m i nde d hi m of h i s o b l i g at i o n s u n d er M A E ’ s P o l i cy. T h e n e x t y e a r , in M a y 2 0 0 3 , P la in tif f M c D o n a ld d is c o v e r e d tw o s m a ll n o o s e s m a d e f

r o m s a f e tyw ir e , a lth o u g h h e d id n o t r e p o rt th e n o o s e s to m a na ge m e nt . F i na l l y , P l a i nt i f f W a y ne w i tne s s e d as m a l l bl a c k f i gur i ne w i th a n o o s e a r o u n d its n e c ko n ato o lb o x in H a n g a r3 o rH a n g a r5 in S e p te m b e r2 0 0 3 . H e i m m ed i at el y rep o rt ed th e n o o se t o M an ag er B el l . A tth att i m e, W ayn e al so re po rt ed t o B el l that , i n the sa m e hangar w i th the no ose, there w er e m any t oo l bo xes w i th r e b e l f

l a g s o n th e m i n v i o l a t i o n o f c o mp a n yp o l i c y . Be l l d i s mi s s e d h i m, c om m e nt e d on hi s i m pe ndi ng r e t i r e m e nt , a nd t ook no a c t i on.

b . R a c ia l G r a

ffiti T h e p la in tif

f s a ls o a lle g e d th a t th e r e w a s ac o n s ta n t p r e s e n c e o f r a c ia l g r a f

f iti on M A E prem i se s. F or exam pl e, P l ai nt i ff W ay ne re peat edl y w i tness ed ra ci al g raffi t i o n restro o m w al l s, t o o l b o x es, t ab l es, an d l o ck ers, i n cl u d i n g sw ast i k as,10

“ K K K , ” “ bl a c k pow e r , ” a nd “ i t ’ s bl a c k hi s t orym onth, w e a i n’ tgoi ng t o go t o the [ M a r di G r a s ] . . . ba l l ” on ar e s tr oom w a l l w i th the w or d “ bl a c k” s c r a t c he d outa nd the w ord “ m oo l ey ” s ub st i tut ed. W ay ne w i tness ed the w ords “ w i sh dam n j ani t ors w oul d c l e a n thi s pl a c e up, da m n m onke y s ” w r i tt e n i n the r e s tr oom out s i de M anager W el l i ng t on ’ s off i ce i n app roxi m at el y S ept em ber 200 4. W ay ne re po rt ed o f f e n s iv e g r a f

f iti to M a n a g e rB e ll in M a r c h 2 0 0 3 , w h o d ir e c te d M A E p e r s o n n e l to r e m o v e it. P l ai nt i ff M cD on al d al so w i tness ed offe nsi ve graff i t i , i ncl ud i ng ra ci al sl urs and j ok es and “ K K K ” w ri tt en i n the m en’ s r es troom s and on a part s r ac k. H e s aw the w ord “ ni gg er ” w ri tt en on re stroom w al l s, pi cni c t abl es , and p art s t abl es . W hen he w i tne s s e d thi s gr a f

f i t i , he r e port e d i tt o hi s l e a ds butnott o M a na ge r s B e l l or W e llin g to n . P la in tif

f G e o r g e w itn e s s e d s im ila rr a c ia l g r a f f iti o n r e s tr o o m w a lls in v a r io u s h a n g a r s , a s r e c e n tlya s A u g u s t 2 0 0 4 . O n c e , w h e n h e r e p o rte d th e g r a f f iti to hi s l e a d, the gr a f

f i t i w a s r e m ove d. P l a i nt i f f s C a rthe n, M a c k, a nd M a l l orya l s o w i tne s s e d r a c i a l gr a f f i t i , a l though th e y d id n o t r e p o rt it. C a rth e n s a w r a c is t s y m b o ls o n b a th r o o m w a lls , h e a db a n d s , a nd t - s hi rt s . H e obs e rve d al a r ge “ K K K ” s y m bol s pr a y - pa i nt e d i n the r e s tr oom se vera l t i m es , and i tre m ai ned there for app roxi m at el y one m on th b ef ore i tw as r e m ove d. M a c k s a w the l e tt e r s “ K K K , ” s w a s t i ka s , a nd othe rr a c i a l gr a f f i t i on11

r e s tr oom w a l l s a nd on apa rt s r a c k. M a l l oryw i tne s s e d the w or ds “ ni gge rgo ho m e” w ri tt en on a r es troom w al l , the l ett er s “ K K K , ” and other r ac i al graf fi t i , such a s “s tic kp e o p le ” w ith n o o s e s a r o u n d th e irn e c k s . M A E a dm i tt e d r e c e i vi ng r e port s of gr a f f i t i da t i ng ba c k t o 1996. T hr oughout the y e a r s , M A E a tt e m pt e d t o pr e ve ntgr a f f i t i byr e m ode l i ng the r e s tr oom s t o m a ke i tm or e di f

f i c ul tf ora ny one t o w r i t e on the w a l l s , byr out i ne l yi ns pe c t i ng the r e s tr oom s , a nd by s e ndi ng m e m or a ndat o e m pl oy e e s a nd pos t i ng s i gns w a rni ng p e rp e tr a to r s o f

d is c ip lin e . c . R a c ia llyD e r o g a to r yC o m m e n ts T he pl ai nt i ff

s a l so al l ege thatbo th sup ervi sors and co-w orkers di re ct ed r a c ia llyd e r o g a to ry c o m m e n ts to w a r d th e m o ru s e d s u c h o f f e n s iv e w o r d s in th e ir pres ence . F or i nst ance , i n Jun e 200 3, w hen P l ai nt i ff M ac k l earned thatco-w orker Joshua F ry e, a w hi t e m al e, had b ee n p rom ot ed fr om A pp re nt i ce t o M ec hani c a ft er o n lys ix m o n th s , h e a s k e d L e a d H o lb r o o kw h yF ry e a n d tw o o th e rw h ite A ppr e nt i c e s ha d be e n pr om ot e d s o qui c kl y , w hi l e i tt ook M a c k 18 m onths t o be pr om ot e d t o the s a m e pos i t i on. H ol br ook r e s ponde d, “ I ’ l l t e l l y ou the f uc ki ng p r o b le m , M a c k , y o u ’r e th e w r o n g f u c k in g c o lo r .” M a c kr e p o rte d th is c o m m e n t to M a na ge rB e l l w ho r e vi e w e d the E E O P ol i c yw i th H ol br ook a nd w a rne d tha tthe st at em entw as un ac ce pt abl e i n the w orkp l ac e. T he nextday, co-w orkers12

c om m e nt e d tha tM a c k w a s “ ge tt i ng a l l the good j obs now ” a nd tha t“ H e ’ s the t o k en g u y o n o u r crew . ” M ackd i d n o trep o rtth ese ad d i t i o n al co m m en t s. A cc ordi ng t o P l ai nt i ff

W ay ne, w hi t e L ea d R ob ertC ra ftca l l ed hi m “ bo y” a num be rof

t i m e s a nd L e a d H ol br ook r e f e rr e d t o hi m a s “ boy ” be tw e e n 10 a nd 20 tim e s . I n A u g u s t 2 0 0 1 , W a y n e c o m p la in e d to S u p e rv is o rG e r a ld M c A d a m s , a w hi t e m al e, bu tno ac t i on w as t aken. D uri ng a m ee t i ng i n w hi ch P roj ec tM anager S a m M e n d e n h a ll, aw h ite m a le , w a s p r e s e n t, C r a f t s a id to W a y n e , “B o y , I ’ll ta lkto y ou a ny ki nd of

w a y I w a ntt o t a l k t o y ou. ” A ga i n, no a c t i on w a s t a ke n. I n 2002, W a y ne c om pl a i ne d t o M a na ge rC ha r l e s G e nna r o, aw hi t e m a l e , tha tS upe rvi s or M c A da m s a s ke d W a y ne , “ H ow ’ s m yf a vor i t e t oke n? ” O n a nothe roc c a s i on, W a y n e r e p o rte d th a t h e h e a r d A c tin g S up e rv is o rJ o h n S h a w , aw h ite m a le , c a ll a contra ctw orker a “ l az y ni gg er . ” M A E perm anent l y dem ot ed S haw and suspend ed h im f o rf iv e d ay s w ith o u t p a y . L a te r , w h e n W a y n e a rr iv e d f o ra n in te rv ie w w ith M A E ’ s i nve s t i ga t or , w ho w a s i nve s t i ga t i ng the pl a i nt i f f s ’ E E O C c ha r ge s , he o v e rh e a r d M a n a g e rB e ll s a y , “I ’ll b e g la d w h e n w e c a n g e t r id o f a ll o f th e m ,” a l l e ge dl y r e f

e rr i ng t o the pl a i nt i f

f s . W a y ne r e port e d thi s c om m e ntt o the in v e s tig a to rs e v e r a l tim e s . P l ai n t i ff C arth en al l eg ed th atraci al sl u rs, su ch as “ yo u r b l ackass, ” w ere so p rev al en tatM A E th at“ i f yo u ’ re w al k i n g th e h an g ar fl o o r[, ] yo u can n o tm i ss13

[ th e m] . ” Ca rth e n t e s t i f

i e d th a taw h i t e c o - w o rk e rs a i d t o h i m, “ h e y , w h a t ’ s u p my ni gg er ? ” C arthen asked the co-w orker nott o u se thatw ord, bu the di d n otre po rt the i nci dent . P l ai nt i ff

G eorge hear d a w hi t e c o-em pl oyee t el l a j ok e thati ncl ud ed the w or d “ ni gge r . ” L e a d M e c ha ni c B i l l B a rne s , aw hi t e m a l e , ove rhe a r d the j oke a n d r e p r im a n d e d th e e m p lo y e e , b u t n o o n e r e p o rte dth e in c id e n t to M a n a g e r s B e ll o rW e llin g to n . In N ov em ber 200 3, P l ai nt i ff s G eorge and M cD on al d m etw i th M anager W e llin g to n to e x p r e s s th e irc o n c e rn ab o u t a n in c id e n t in w h ic h c o - w o rk e rL y n e tte B e a s le y r e f

e rr e d to c o - w o rk e rM illie W illia m s a s a“n ig g e r .” W e llin g to n to ld G eorge thatthe i nci dentw as “ j usta c as e of s l i p o f the t on gu e. ” B ea sl eyw as s u s p e n d e d f

o rtw o w e e k s w ith o u t p a y . I n M a y2 0 0 3 , P la in tif f M a llo ryr e p o rte d to M a n a g e rBe l l th a taw h i t e c o - w o rk e rma d e as e r i e s o f r a c i a l r e ma rk s t o h i m, in c lu d in g : “H a v e y o u e v e rb e e n to ap a rtyw h e r e e v e ryb o d yh a s o n w h ite s h e e ts a nd hoods buty ou; ” “ I w a ntt o t a ke y ou t o apa rtythi s w e e ke nd w he r e e ve rybody i s goi ng t o h ave aw hi t e s heetand h oo d o n b utyou; ” and “ w e’ l l bri ng som e bl ac k p u s s y th e r e . . . . y e a , th a t ’ s wh a tI wan tt o g e tm e s o m e b l a c kp u s s y . ” MAE coun se l ed the co-w orker on the E E O P ol i cyand suspend ed hi m for one w ee k w i th o u tp ay. d. C onf e de r ate Flags14

F i na l l y , the pl a i nt i f

f s a l l e ge tha tdi s pl a y s of

the C onf

e de r a t e orr e be l f

l a g, pa rt i c ul a r l y on t - s hi rt s , ha t s , t ool boxe s , bum pe rs t i c ke r s , a nd t a tt oos , pe rm e a t e d the M A E w orkpl a c e . T he y a l l e ge d tha tthe s e s y m bol s w e r e pr e s e nta s r e c e nt l ya s the t i m e of the i rde pos i t i ons , e ve n a f t e rM A E ha d i s s ue d am e m or a ndum r e ga r di ng offe nsi ve ra ci al sy m bo l s. A m on g o ther a l l egat i on s, the pl ai nt i ff s a l l eged thatthey w itn e s s e d C o n f

e d e r a te f la g b u m p e rs tic k e r s o n v e h ic le s p a rk e d in M A E ’s lo t, i ncl ud i ng on e on M anager Bo b H ol l ow ay ’ s vehi cl e i n January20 05 , a r ebel fl ag t att oo on the l ef

tarm of S up ervi sor L l oyd H od ges, and a C on fe dera t e f l ag decal d is p la y e d o n aR e lie f

L e a d ’s to o lb o x . P la in tif f C a rth e n w itn e s s e d to o lb o x e s w ith re bel fl ags “ every day . ” M A E adm i tt ed thati tre ce i ved com pl ai nt s abo utthe C on fe dera t e f l ag ov er the l as ttw o years . W el l i ng t on adm i tt ed w i tness i ng re bel fl ags on t oo l bo xes a s r e c e n tlya s tw o w e e k s b e f o r e h is d e p o s itio n . T h e c o m p a n yp r o h ib ite d C o n f e d e r a te f l a g de c a l s a nd l i c e ns e pl a t e s on a l l ve hi c l e s pa rki ng w i thi n the s e c ur i tyf e nc e on com pany prem i se s, re qu i re d thatany C on fe dera t e f l ags be r em ov ed fr om any new t oo l bo xes, and p ub l i shed a m em orandu m t o em pl oyee s r egar di ng offe nsi ve ra ci al s y m b o ls . O n A p r il 1 , 2 0 0 3 , P la in tif f M c D o n a ld p la c e d ac o m p la in t title d “R a c is m ” in th e s u g g e s tio n b o x n e a rM a n a g e rB e ll’s o f f ic e . H e c o m p la in e d th a t m in o r ity15

e m p lo y e e s f

o u n d it d if

f ic u lt to w o rkp r o d u c tiv e lyin M A E ’s e n v ir o n m e n t. M cD o n al d l at er v i si t ed B el l t o d i scu ss th e co m p l i an t , b u tB el l sai d h e w as t o o b u sy a nd pr om i s e d t o m e e tl a t e r . B e l l ne ve rdi d s o. L a t e rtha ty e a r , i n O c t obe r2003, M c D o n a ld m a d e as e c o n d w r itte n c o m p la in t ab o u t r a c is m . T h is tim e , B e ll i nve s t i ga t e d a nd f

ound no E E O vi ol a t i on butf a i l e d t o i nf

orm M c D ona l d of

the out c om e of

hi s i nve s t i ga t i on. T he di s tr i c tc ourtrul e d tha t“ the pl a i nt i f f s . . . f a i l e d t o pr oduc e s uf

f i c i e nt e vi de nc e t o s how tha tthe r a c i a l ‘ s l ur s ’ a nd ‘ s y m bol s ’ w e r e s uf f i c i e nt l y‘ s e ve r e or pe rva s i ve ’ t o a l t e rthe t e rm s a nd c ondi t i ons of a nypl a i nt i f

f s ’ e m pl oy m e nta nd c r e a t e a n ‘ abus i ve w orki ng e nvi r onm e nt . ’ ” I trul e d tha tthe a l l e ge d r a c i a l s l ur s a nd s y m b o ls w e r e m e r e lyo f f e n s iv e u tte r a n c e s a n d w e r e n o t p h y s ic a llyth r e a te n in g . T he c ourtf

ound tha tthe pl a i nt i f

f s r e l i e d “ i n w hol e ori n pa rton s e c ond- ha nd r e port s of

r a c i a l l y - m ot i va t e d i nc i de nt s t ow a r ds othe re m pl oy e e s . ” I trul e d tha tthe i m pa c tof

s uc h “ s e c ond- ha nd ha r a s s m e nti s obvi ous l ynota s gr e a ta s the i m pa c tof h a r a s s m e n t d ir e c te d a t th e p la in tif f[ s ].” e . Se v e r e and P e rv as i v e H ar as s m e nt

unde rthe T

otal i t yof the C i rc um stan ces W e f i nd that , base d o n a t ot al i ty of the ci rc um st ance s, the pl ai nt i ff s produ ce d suff i ci entevi dence t o cre at e an i ss ue of fa ctas t o w hether the pl ai nt i ff s w er e s u b je c te d to ar a c ia llyh o s tile w o rke n v ir o n m e n t. See A l len v. T ys on Foo ds, Inc. ,16

12 1 F . 3d 64 2, 64 5 (11 th C i r. 19 97 ). F i rs t , there i s no d ou btthatthe pl ai nt i ff s s ubj e c t i ve l y pe r c e i ve d the e nvi r onm e nta tM A E a s hos t i l e , a nd M A E di d nota r gue thi s poi ntt o the c ontr a ry . T urni ng t o the f ourobj e c t i ve f

a c t or s , the ha r a s s i ng c onduc ta tM A E w a s f

r e que nt . T he pl a i nt i f

f s t e s t i f i e d tha tr a c i a l gr a f

f i t i a nd C o n f e d e r a t e f l a g s p e rm e a t e d th e MAE p r e m i s e s f o rm a n yy e a r s . Al th o u g h MAE att em pt ed t o p re ventthe graff i t i and d i spl ay s of the C on fe dera t e f l ag, the pl ai nt i ff

s freq u en t l y co n t i n u ed t o d i sco v er th e o ffen si v e sym b o l s o n restro o m w al l s, t oo l bo xes, base bal l caps, and b um per s t i cker s. T he cond uctw as al so se vere , ph ys i ca l l y threa t eni ng , and h um i l i at i ng , as evi denced by the fa ctthatthe pl ai nt i ff s di s c ove r e d no l e s s tha n s e ve n noos e s a tM A E dur i ng atw o y e a rpe r i od f r om 2002 t o 2003. T he r e w a s f

urthe re vi de nc e s how i ng tha tboth e m pl oy e e s a nd m a n a g e m e n t d ir e c te d r a c ia llyd e r o g a to ryw o r d s a n d jo k e s , s u c h a s “b o y ,” “n ig g e r ,” a nd the s t a t e m e nttha t“ y ou’ r e the w r ong f uc ki ng c ol or , ” t ow a r d the pl a i nt i f f s a nd othe r s . F i na l l y , the r e w a s e vi de nc e tha tthe ha r a s s i ng c onduc tpr e ve nt e d the pl ai nt i ff s f rom ef fe ct i vel y per form i ng thei r j ob s. O n atl ea ston e occ as i on , P l ai nt i ff M c D o n a ld f

ile d aw r itte n c o m p la in t th a t m in o r itye m p lo y e e s f o u n d it d if

f ic u lt to w o rkp r o d u c tiv e lyin M A E ’s r a c ia l e n v ir o n m e n t. T hi s c a s e di f

f e r s f r om c a s e s i n w hi c h w e ha ve de t e rm i ne d tha tthe ha r a s s m e ntw a s nots e ve r e a nd pe rva s i ve be c aus e the r e w e r e f e w e ri ns t a nc e s of17

le s s o b je c tio n ab le c o n d u c t o v e rlo n g e rp e r io d s o f tim e . Se e e . g. , Men do za , 195 F . 3d at12 47 (rul i ng thata s up ervi sor’ s c on du cti n m aki ng on e a l l eged se xu al c om m e ntt ow a r d the pl a i nt i f f , onc e rubbi ng up a ga i ns tthe pl a i nt i f f , m a ki ng a s ni f f i ng s ound thr e e t i m e s i n the pl a i nt i f f’ s pr e s e nc e , a nd c ons t a nt l yf ol l ow i ng a nd s t a r i ng a tthe pl a i nt i f

f w a s i ns uf

f i c i e ntt o a f

f e c tthe pl a i nt i f

f’ s t e rm s a nd c ondi t i ons o f e m p lo y m e n t) ; G u

p ta v . Fla . B d. o

f R eg e n ts , 21 2 F . 3d 57 1, 58 5-86 (11th C i r. 2 0 0 0 ) ( ru li n g th at a c o -w o rk er ’s co n d u ct in co m p li m en ti n g th e p lain ti ff’s ap p ea ra n ce , fre q u en tl y c alli n g th e p lain ti ff’s h o m e, an d to u ch in g th e p lain ti ff’s kne e a nd he m , a m ong othe rc onduc t , w a s notphy s i c a l l ythr e a t e ni ng, hum i l i a t i ng, o rs e v e r e ) . T h e f

a c ts in th is c a s e in v o lv e m u c h m o r e f r e q u e n t a n d s e v e r e h o s tile c onduc ttha n Men do za a nd G u p ta , a n d th e e v id e n c e , in th e lig h t m o s t f a v o r ab le to th e p la in tif

f s , c r e a te s a n is s u e o f

f a c t f o rth e ju ry . See D e e s v . J o h n s o n C o n tr o ls W orld Servs . , Inc. , 1 6 8 F .3 d 4 1 7 , 4 1 8 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 9 ) ; A l len , 1 2 1 F .3 d a t 6 4 7 . T he r e i s “ nots i m pl y s om e m a gi c num be rof r a c i a l ore thni c i ns ul t s ” tha tpr e c l ude sum m ary j ud gm ent , bu tra ther “ i ti s r epea t ed i nci dent s of . . . hara ss m entthat cont i nu e des pi t e the em pl oyee ’ s obj ec t i on s [ that ] ar e i nd i ca t i ve of a host i l e w ork envi ronm ent . ” Mille r , 2 7 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 7 6 ( c ita tio n a n d q u o ta tio n o m itte d ) . T he di s tr i c tc ourte vi de nt l y vi e w e d the pl a i nt i f f s ’ a l l e ga t i ons i n i s ol a t i on, di s c ount i ng e a c h, t o c onc l ude tha tthe c onduc tw a s nots uf f i c i e nt l ys e ve r e or18

pervas i ve. O ur w el l -e st abl i shed prece dentre qu i re s acourtt o eval uat e the evi dence

“ i n c ont e xt , [ a nd] nota s i s ol a t e d a c t s , a nd . . . unde rthe t ot a l i tyof the ci rc um st ance s. ” Men do za , 1 9 5 F .3 d at 1 2 4 6 . W e d isag re e w ith th e d istrict co u rt’s char ac t er i za t i on of the pl ai nt i ff s’ ca se as on e bas ed l ar gel y on com m ent s di re ct ed a t th ir d p a rtie s , o rin c id e n ts th a t th e p la in tif f s o n lyle a rn e d ab o u t f

r o m th ir d p a rtie s .

“ T he pr i m af

a c i e s how i ng i n ahos t i l e w ork e nvi r onm e ntc a s e i s l i ke l yt o c ons i s tof ev i d en ce o f m an y o rv e r yf e w ac t s or s t at em ent s . . . w hi ch, t aken t og ether, const i tut e har as sm ent . . . . [T ] he j ury does notnece ss ar i l y e xam i ne ea ch al l eged i nci dentof hara ss m enti n a vacuum . ” V anc e v . Southe rn B e l l

T e l. & T e l. C o. , 863 F . 2d 15 03 , 15 10 -11 (11 th C i r. 19 89 ), ov e rr ule d on othe rgr ounds , H a rr is , 5 1 0 U . S. at2 2 , 1 1 4 S . C t . at3 7 1 (em p h asi s ad d ed ) (ru l i n g th atth e ev i d en ce, v i ew ed as a w hol e , e s t abl i s he d r a c i a l ha r a s s m e nt , w he n anoos e w a s tw i c e hung a tthe p l ai n t i ff’ s w o rkst at i o n ). V i ew i n g th e ev i d en ce i n i t s en t i rety, i n th e l i g h tm o st f a v o r ab le to th e p la in tif

f s , w e ru le th a t th e r e is ag e n u in e is s u e o f m a te r ia l f

a c t a s to w he the rM A E w a s “ pe rm e a t e d w i th di s c r i m i na t oryi nt i m i da t i on, r i di c ul e , a nd in s u lt, th a t [ w a s ] s u f

f ic ie n tlys e v e r e o rp e rv a s iv e to a lte rth e c o n d itio n s o f . . . em pl oym entand creat e an abu si ve w orki ng envi ronm ent . ” H a rr is , 510 U . S . a t21, 11 4 S . C t . at37 0 (qu ot at i on s and ci t at i on s om i tt ed).

2. W h et h er M A E W as L i ab l e f or th e C on d u ct19

W hether M A E i s l i abl e f or thi s har as si ng cond uctdepend s on w hether i tw as c om m i tt e d by s upe rvi s or s orby c o- w orke r s . A n e m pl oy e ri s s tr i c t l yl i abl e f or ha r a s s m e ntc om m i tt e d by s upe rvi s or s tha t“ c ul m i na t e s i n at a ngi bl e e m pl oy m e nt ac t i on , such as di sc harge, dem ot i on , or un desi rabl e r ea ss i gn m ent . ” B ur l i ngton I n du s ., I n c . v . E lle r th , 524 U . S . 742, 765, 118 S . C t . 2257, 2270, 141 L . E d. 2d 633 (199 8). H ow ever , w here no t angi bl e e m pl oym entac t i on i s t aken, the em pl oyer m ayra i se as an af

fi rm at i ve defense t o l i abi l i ty “ (a ) thatthe em pl oyerexer ci se d r e a s onabl e c a r e t o pr e ve nta nd c orr e c tpr om pt l ya ny. . . ha r a s s i ng be ha vi or , a nd ( b) tha tthe pl a i nt i f

f e m pl oy e e unr e a s onabl yf a i l e d t o t a ke a dva nt a ge of a nypr e ve nt i ve or corr ec t i ve op po rtun i t i es prov i ded b y the em pl oyer. . . . ” Far aghe rv . C i t yof B oc a R aton, 5 2 4 U .S . 7 7 5 , 8 0 7 , 1 1 8 S . C t. 2 2 7 5 , 2 2 9 3 , 1 4 1 L . E d . 2 d 6 6 2 ( 1 9 9 8 ) . W i th regard t o the fi rs tel em entof the Farag heraf firm ativ e d ef

en se , an em p lo ye r’s a n ti- h a r a s s m e n t p o lic y f u lf ills its o b lig a tio n u n le s s th e p o lic yw a s a d m in is te r e d “in bad fai th” or the po l i cyw as otherw i se “ defe ct i ve or dysf un ct i on al . ” M

adray v . P ub l i x Sup erm arke t

s. , Inc. , 208 F . 3d 1290, 1299 ( 11th C i r . 2000) ( quot a t i ons a nd c ita tio n s o m itte d ) . F u rth e rm o r e , “w h ile p r o o f th a t a n e m p lo y e e f

a ile d to f u lf ill [hi s] ob l i gat i on of re as on abl e c ar e t o avo i d h arm i s notl i m i t ed t o sho w i ng an un re as on abl e f

ai l ure t o u se any c om pl ai ntprocedure provided by the em pl oyer , d em o n stra ti o n o f s u ch fa il u re w il l n o rm ally su ff ice to sa ti sf

y th e e m p lo ye r’s20

bu rden un der the se cond el em entof the defens e. ” Farag her , 524 U . S . a t807- 08, 118 S . C t . a t2293. A n em pl oyeri s di re ct l y l i abl e f or co-w orker hara ss m enti f i t“ kn ew [a ctual not i c e ] ors houl d ha ve know n [ c ons truc t i ve not i c e ] of the ha r a s s i ng c onduc tbut fa i l ed t o t ake prom ptre m edi al ac t i on . ” Mille r , 2 7 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 7 8 . “A c tu a l n o tic e is es t abl i shed by proo f thatm anagem entkn ew of the haras sm ent , w here as c ons truc t i ve not i c e c a n be s how n w he r e the ha r a s s m e ntw a s s o s e ve r e a nd pervas i ve thatm anagem entshou l d h ave kno w n o f i t . ” I d. W e c ons i de rthe fo l l o w i n g fact o rs t o b e rel ev an ti n d et erm i n i n g w h eth er h arassm en tw as so pe rva s i ve a s t o pr ovi de c ons truc t i ve not i c e : “ the r e m ot e ne s s of the l oc a t i on of

the ha r a s s m e nta s c om pa r e d t o the l oc a t i on of m a na ge m e nt ; w he the rthe ha r a s s m e nt occurs i nt erm i tt ent l y over al on g p er i od of t i m e; w hether the vi ct i m s w er e e m p l o y e d o n ap a rt - t i m e o rf u l l - t i m e b a s i s ; a n d wh e th e rth e r e we r e o n l yaf e w, di sc re t e i nst ance s of har as sm ent . ” A l len , 121 F . 3d a t647. H er e, the courtrul ed thatM A E sa t i sf i ed i t s obl i gat i on un der the Farag her d e f e n s e to e x e r c is e r e a s o n ab le c a r e b yim p le m e n tin g a n d d is s e m in a tin g a n a n tihara ss m entpo l i cy . W i th regard t o co-w orker hara ss m ent , the courtrul ed that M A E di d notha ve a c tua l not i c e of the a l l e ge d ha r a s s m e ntbe c aus e m a nyof the in c id e n ts w e r e n e v e rr e p o rte d to th e c o m p a n y . M o r e o v e r , M A E p r o m p tly21

i nv es t i gat ed the fe w i nci dent s thatthe pl ai nt i ff s r eport ed. T he courtfurther concl ud ed thatre po rt s t o l ow er -l evel supervi sors , m anagers , or l ea ds w er e i nsuffi ci entt o p utM A E on construct i ve no t i ce . H ow ever , the di stri ctcourton ce a ga i n f a i l e d t o e xa m i ne a l l of

the e vi de nc e i n the r e c or d a nd e rr e d byc ons i de r i ng i nc i de nt s a nd pi e c e s of

the e vi de nc e i n i s ol a t i on. T h e r e is n o “u n if

o rm te s t” f

o rd e te rm in in g w h e th e ra n e m p lo y e r ’s a n tih a r a s s m e n t p o lic y d e m o n s tr a te s th a t th e e m p lo y e re x e r c is e d r e a s o n ab le c a r e . M adr ay , 2 0 8 F .3 d a t 1 2 9 8 . R a th e r , “[ t]h e e m p lo y e r ’s s iz e , lo c a tio n , g e o g r ap h ic s c ope , or ga ni z a t i ona l s truc tur e , a nd i ndus trys e gm e nta r e j us ts om e of the char ac t er i st i cs thati m pactthe anal ys i s of w hether the com pl ai ntprocedures of an em pl oyer ’ s ant i -har as sm entpo l i cyadequat el y f ul fi l l T i t l e V II ’ s det erre ntpu rpose. ” I d. H e r e , th e p la in tif

f s r a is e d ag e n u in e is s u e o f m a te r ia l f

a c t a s to M A E ’s liab ility . T h er e w as ev id en ce th at M A E ’s E E O P o li cy d idn o t ad eq u ately f u lfil l T it le V II ’s de t e rr e ntpurpos e be c aus e i tdi d notpr ovi de e m pl oy e e s “ a l t e rna t i ve a ve nue s f or l od gi ng a c om pl ai ntother than a haras si ng supervi sor. ” I d. U nde rthe c om pl a i nt pr oc e dur e , M a na ge r s B e l l a nd W e l l i ngt on w e r e the onl yde s i gna t e d c om pa ny r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s w h o c o u ld p r o p e r lyr e c e iv e c o m p la in ts , y e t th e e v id e n c e a r g u ab ly re veal ed bo th m anagers ’ i nsensi t i vi ty t o h ar as sm ent . M anager Bel l w as the al l eged offe nd eron atl ea ston e occ as i on w hen h e c om m ent ed that“ [he’ l l ] be gl ad w hen22

w e g e t r id o f

[ th e p la in tif

f s ],” a n in c id e n t w h ic h th e d is tr ic t c o u rt f a ile d to a d d r e s s . M anager W el l i ng t on al l egedl y c hara ct er i ze d an i nci denti n w hi ch on e e m pl oyee c a lle d a n o th e ra“n ig g e r ,” a s am e r e “s lip o f th e to n g u e .” F urtherm ore, vi ew ed i n the l i gh tm ostfavo rabl e t o the pl ai nt i ff s, there w as c ons i de r abl e e vi de nc e tha tthe c om pl a i ntpr oc e dur e w a s “ de f e c t i ve ” a nd

“ dysf un ct i on al . ” I

d. at1 2 9 9 (q u o t at i o n s an d ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed ). O n tw o o ccasi o n s, M anager Bel l fa i l ed t o res po nd t o the pl ai nt i ff s’ offi ci al com pl ai nt s: w hen P l ai nt i ff M cD on al d fi l ed a w ri tt en com pl ai ntt i t l ed “ R ac i sm ” w i th B el l , and w hen P l ai nt i ff W ayn e rep o rt ed t o B el l th ath e d i sco v ered a sm al l b l ackfi g u ri n e w i th a n o o se ar o u n d it s n ec kin H an g ar3 . O n an o th ero cc as io n , B ell i n v es ti g ated M cD o n ald ’s c om pl a i nt , butf

a i l e d t o i nf

orm M c D ona l d of

the out c om e of

the i nve s t i ga t i on. T he r e c or d a l s o r e ve a l e d tha t , on a tl e a s tf i ve oc c a s i ons , s upe rvi s or s , m a na ge r s , a nd l ea ds fa i l ed t o ful fi l l thei r obl i gat i on un der the P ol i cyt o reportcom pl ai nt s they re ce iv ed to M an ag erB ell, th u s r aisin g fa ctu al issu es as to th e P o li cy ’s i ne f f e c t i ve ne s s . F ore xa m pl e , L e a d B a rne s di d notr e portthe r a c i a l j oke he o v e rh e a r d ; S u p e rv is o rN e m e c e kn e v e rr e p o rte d L e a d H o lb r o o k ’s s ta te m e n t th a t a noos e w a s “ f

orthe m . . . the ni gge r s ; ” S upe rvi s orM c A da m s di d notr e portthe in c id e n t in w h ic h L e a d s C r a f t a n d H o lb r o o kc a lle d P la in tif f W a y n e “b o y ;” M anager M endenh al l di d n otre po rtanother i nci denti n w hi ch H ol broo k cal l ed23

W a y n e “ b o y ; ” n o rd i d M a n a g e rG e n n a r o r e p o rtth e i n c i d e n ti n w h i c h M c A d a ms a s ke d W a y ne “ H ow ’ s m y f a vor i t e t oke n? ” T he r e f

or e , w e c onc l ude tha tthe p la in tif f s r a is e d ag e n u in e is s u e a s to w h e th e rM A E f a ile d to e x e r c is e r e a s o n ab le c a r e t o pr e ve nta nd pr om pt l y c orr e c tha r a s s m e ntbe c aus e the r e w e r e i nhe r e nt d efect s i n th e co m p an y’ s co m p l ai n tp ro ced u res. M or e ove r , the r e i s a n i s s ue of f a c ta s t o w he the rM A E ha d a c tua l know l e dge of co-w orker hara ss m entand fai l ed t o t ake prom ptre m edi al ac t i on . M A E adm i tt ed a c tu a l k n o w le d g e o f

o n g o in g r a c ia l g r a f

f iti a n d d is p la y s o f

th e C o n f

e d e r a te f la g . T he r e c or d r e f

l e c t s tha tM A E t ook r e m e di a l a c t i on by i ns pe c t i ng f orgr a f f i t i a nd pr ohi bi t i ng the C onf

e de r a t e f l a g; butthe c om pa ny ’ s a c t i on w a s l a r ge l yi ne f f e c t i ve because e ven sup ervi sors cont i nu ed t o d i spl aythe fl ag af t eri tw as proh i bi t ed. In f a c t , W e l l i ngt on t e s t i f

i e d tha the t ook no a c t i on a ga i ns tS upe rvi s orH odge s f or o p e n lyd is p la y in g h is r e b e l f la g ta tto o , d e s p ite th e f

a c t th a t h is ta tto o a r g u ab ly v io la te d th e c o m p a n y ’s d r e s s c o d e , w h ic h p r o h ib ite d “[ v ]is ib le ta tto o s th a t . . . advo ca t e s exual , ra ci al , ethn i c or r el i gi ou s di sc ri m i nat i on . ” A com pany’ s “ po l i cy m us tbe f

ound i ne f

f e c t i ve w he n c om pa nypr a c t i c e i ndi c a t e s at ol e r a nc e t ow a r ds hara ss m entor di sc ri m i nat i on . ” Mille r , 2 7 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 0 . T he pl ai nt i ff

s a l so es t abl i shed an i ss ue of fa ctas t o w hether the ra ci al hara ss m entw as so se vere and p ervasi ve thatM A E shou l d h ave kno w n o f i t . T here24

w as su ffi ci en tev i d en ce th ati n ci d en t s o f raci al h arassm en t , i n th e fo rm o f n o o ses, gr a f f i t i , r a c i a l s l ur s a nd j oke s , a nd di s pl a y s of the C onf

e de r a t e f l a g, pe rm e a t e d the o p e n w o rkp la c e a t M A E . U n d e rth e f a c ts in th is c a s e , th e p la in tif f s ’ f a ilu r e to r e p o rt e v e ry in c id e n t o f h a r a s s m e n t d o e s n o t in s u la te M A E f r o m liab ility . C

f. Far le yv . A m . Cas t

I r on P i pe C o. , 115 F . 3d 1548, 1554- 55 ( 11th C i r . 1997) ( rul i ng tha ta n e m pl oy e e ’ s f

a i l ur e t o ut i l i z e a n e m pl oy e r ’ s e f f e c t i ve a nd c om pr e he ns i ve a n ti- h a r a s s m e n t p o lic y th a t w a s “a g g r e s s iv e lya n d th o r o u g h lyd is s e m in a te d ” w ill pr e ve ntc ons truc t i ve know l e dge of s uc h ha r a s s m e ntf

r om a dhe r i ng t o the em pl oyer ). U nd erthe t ot al i ty of the ci rc um st ance s, w e c anno tconcl ud e that M A E ’ s ant i -har as sm entP ol i cyw ou l d p re venta r ea sonabl e j ury a s am att erof l aw f r o m c h a r g in g th e c o m p a n y w ith c o n s tru c tiv e n o tic e o f th e h a r a s s m e n t. See Mi l ler , 277 F . 3d a t1280. I n c o n c lu s io n , a t th e s u m m a ryju d g m e n t s ta g e , th e c o u rt h a s th e d u tyto e x a m in e a ll o f

th e o f f e n s iv e c o n d u c t “c o lle c tiv e ly ,” G u p ta , 212 F . 3d a t586, a nd

“ cum ul at i vel y, ” Men do za , 195 F . 3d a t1242, a nd t o c ons true a l l e vi de nc e a nd in f e r e n c e s in th e lig h t m o s t f a v o r ab le to th e n o n m o v in g p a rty . A l len , 12 1 F . 3d at 64 6. H er e, evi dence w as pres ent ed thatdem on stra t ed a genui ne i ss ue of fa ct concerni ng w hether the pl ai nt i ff s w er e s ubj ec t ed t o a ra ci al l y host i l e w ork envi ronm ent . W hether there w as i n fac ta r ac i al l y host i l e w ork env i ronm entat25

M A E is f

o rth e tr ie ro f

f a c t to d e c id e . Se e i d. at64 8. In addi t i on , the re cord p r e s e n ts is s u e s o f

f a c t a s to : ( 1 ) w h e th e r“[ M A E ] e x e r c is e d r e a s o n ab le c a r e to p re v en t an d co rr ec t p ro m p tl y a n y . . . h ar as sin g b eh av io r” ; (2 ) w h eth erM A E ’s ant i -har as sm entpo l i cyw as suff i ci ent l y and ef

fe ct i vel y e nforced; and (3) w hether the pl a i nt i f

f s “ unr e a s onabl y f

a i l e d t o t a ke a dva nt a ge of a nypr e ve nt i ve or corr ec t i ve op po rtun i t i es prov i ded b y [ M A E ] . ” Farag her , 5 2 4 U . S. a t8 0 7 , 1 1 8 S. C t. a t 2 2 7 5 ; Fr e de r i c k

v . Spr i nt /U ni te d M gm t. C o. , 24 6 F . 3d 13 05 , 13 16 (11th C i r. 2 0 0 1 ) ; se e al

so C legg v. Falcon P last i cs , Inc. , N o. 05 -182 6 (3d C i r. A pr. 6, 20 06 ); W h i te v . BFI

W a s te Se rvs . , LLC , 3 7 5 F .3 d 2 8 8 , 2 9 9 - 3 0 0 ( 4 th C ir . 2 0 0 4 ) . A c c o r d in g ly , s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t w a s im p r o p e ro n th is c la im . B . M o t io n t o S t r ike C la im N e xt , w e r e vi e w the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s de c i s i on t o s tr i ke 50 pa s s a ge s f r om the pl ai nt i ff s’ re spon se i n o pp osi t i on t o sum m ary j ud gm ent . G ener al l y, the pass ages re fe re nced po rt i on s of the pl ai nt i ff s’ depo si t i on t es t i m on y duri ng w hi ch they a ttr ib u te d c e rta in d a m a g in g f a c ts a n d s ta te m e n ts to o th e rM A E e m p lo y e e s . I n its m ot i on t o s tr i ke , M A E a r gue d–i n m a nyi ns t a nc e s , i n ac onc l us oryf a s hi on–tha tthe p assag es m i sst at ed th e d ep o si t i o n t est i m o n y an d co n si st ed o f i n ad m i ssi b l e h earsay, doubl e he a r s a y , opi ni on, s pe c ul a t i on, a nd c onj e c tur e . W i thouti de nt i f y i ng a ny part i cul arpass age, the pl ai nt i ff s gener al l y r es po nd ed thatea ch coul d b e c on si dere d26

a ts um m a ry j udgm e ntbe c aus e the yc oul d be r e duc e d t o a dm i s s i bl e f orm a ttr i a l or co u l d b e ad m i ssi b l e u n d er a h earsay ex cep t i o n , su ch as an ad m i ssi o n b y a p artyoppone nt . T he c ourts um m a r i l y gr a nt e d the m ot i on f orthe r e a s ons M A E putf orth. A tthe s um m a ry j udgm e nts t a ge , w e m us tr e ve r s e the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s rul i ng, d e s p ite th e d is c r e tio n w e a f f o r d d is tr ic t c o u rts o n e v id e n tia ryis s u e s . See H al l v. U n ite d I n s . C o . o f A m ., 3 6 7 F . 3 d 1 2 5 5 , 1 2 5 9 ( 1 1 th C i r . 2 0 0 4 ) ( ru l i n g th a twe re vers e the di stri ctcourt ’ s e vi dent i ary rul i ng s onl y w hen sub st ant i al prej ud i ce e x is ts ) . W e h a v e s e r io u s d o u b ts a s to th e m e r its o f m a n yo f M A E ’s o b

je c tio n s . F or i nst ance , M A E m ov ed t o stri ke the pass age i n w hi ch the pl ai nt i ff s w rot e,

“ T ho ug h M ac k h as been em pl oyed atM A E for f ou r y ears , he has never bee n s e le c te d to g o to as y s te m s e d u c a tio n a l c o u r s e to le a rn th e s y s te m s o f a n a ir c r a f

t. In M ac k’ s opi ni on , thi s ham pers hi s abi l i ty t o rec ei ve prom ot i on s and ra i se s. ” M A E a r gue d tha t“ thi s pa s s a ge c ont a i ns M a c k’ s s pe c ul a t i on aboutthe appl i c a t i on of prom ot i on po l i ci es t o h i m . ” P re sum abl y, M A E w as att em pt i ng t o argue that M ac k’ s opi ni on w as fa l se and thathi s l ac k o f e du ca t i on had n ot , i n fac t , af fe ct ed h is ab ilityto b e p r o m o te d . W e c a nnota f

f i rm the s tr i ki ng of

thi s pa s s a ge i n the pl a i nt i f f s ’ r e s pons i ve p l ead i n g o n th i s g ro u n d . M ackw as p erm i tt ed t o t est i fy as t o h i s o p i n i o n b ecau se hi s t e s t i m ony w a s “ ( a ) r a t i ona l l y ba s e d on [ hi s ] pe r c e pt i on . . . , ( b) he l pf ul t o aMAE also moved to strike the f ollowing pa ssag e: “[I ]n l ate 2003 Mc Donald wa s shown 1 b y J i mmy J o n e s , a f o r m er MAEin sp e c t o r , thre ep h o t o gra p h s o f n o o s e s o nMAEp rop erty . . . . In McDonald’s opinion, such graf fiti is overt and prevalent throughout the fac ility .” MAE a rgued th at t h isp a s s ag ew a s inadmi s s ib leop inionte s timony th at “ inv ad e s th ep ro v inc eo f th eju r y . ”We cannot affirm the strikingof this passag e bec ause it, too, constitutes opinion testim ony based on personal observation and experience. 27 cl ear und er st andi ng of the i ss ue, and (c) no tbase d o n sci ent i fi c, t ec hn i ca l , or other spec i al i ze d k no w l edge . . . . ” F ed. R . E vi d. 70 1. M ac k’ s opi ni on t es t i m on y w as “p r e d ic a te d u p o n [ h is e x p e r ie n c e a t M A E , w h ic h ] h e o b s e rv e d p e r s o n a lly ” a n d is

“ [an o pi ni on ] thata norm al pers on m i gh tdraw fr om tho se ob se rvat i on s. ” A r g o A ir A s s oc s . , I

nc . v . H ous ton Cas . C o. , 128 F . 3d 1452, 1456 ( 11th C i r . 1997) ( c i t a t i ons a nd quot a t i ons om i tt e d) ( a f f i rm i ng the a dm i s s i on of l a yw i tne s s e s ’ opi ni on t e s t i m ony ) . M A E ’ s obj e c t i on w a s notappr opr i a t e a tthe s um m a ryj udgm e nts t a ge b e c au s e it “w e n t to th e w e ig h t o f th e [ te s tim o n y ], n o t to its a d m is s ib ility .” Se e i d. 1 F u rth e rm o r e , w e c a n n o t a f f irm th e s tr ik in g o f

a n yp a s s a g e o n th e b a s is th a t it const i tut es i nadm i ss i bl e hears ayevi dence because the pass ages ar e notevi dence at all– th ey ar e th e p lain ti ff s’ a r g u m e n ts i n thei r r es po nsi ve pl ea di ng . F or exam pl e, M A E o b je c te d to th e p a s s a g e in w h ic h th e p la in tif f s w r o te th a t “C h a r le s G e n n a r o , a s upe rvi s or , di d noti nf

orm W a y ne tha the w a s r e qui r e d t o s e e B e l l orW e l l i ngt on per M A E ’ s har as sm entpo l i cy , ” on the grou nd s thati tw as i nadm i ss i bl e hears ay e vi de nc e . T hi s obj e c t i on l a c ks m e r i tf ortw o r e a s ons . F i r s t , the pa s s a ge i s the pl a i nt i f f s ’ a r gum e nt . I ti s note vi de nc e . I f M A E w a nt e d t o obj e c tt o port i ons of the28

pl a i nt i f f s ’ t e s t i m ony a s i na dm i s s i bl e he a r s a y , i ts houl d ha ve m ove d t o s tr i ke the d e p o s itio n s th e m s e lv e s – n o t th e p la in tif f s ’ o p p o s itio n to s u m m a ryju d g m e n t. Se c o n d , W a y n e ’ s t e s t i mo n y th a tGe n n a r o d i d n o tt e l l h i m th a tth e c o mp a n y ’ s EE O P ol i c y r e qui r e d hi m t o r e portha r a s s m e ntt o M a na ge r s B e l l orW e l l i ngt on i s not h e a r s a y . A t h is d e p o s itio n , W a y n e w a s a s k e d , “[ w ]h e n y o u c o m p la in e d to . . . C ha r l i e G e nna r o aboutR obe rtC r a f t , di d [ he ] s a yt o y ou, ‘ H e y , w a i tam i nut e , y ou ca n ’tco m p lain to [m e], yo u ’v e g o t t o g o to G eo rg e B ell o r D ickW elli n g to n ? ’” W a y n e r e p lie d , “N o , s ir , n e v e r .” W a y n e ’s te s tim o n yis n o t “as ta te m e n t . . . offe re d i n evi dence t o p rove the truth o f the m att eras se rt ed, ” F ed. R . E vi d. 80 1(c) , because i ti s nota “ st at em ent ” a tal l . A “ st at em ent ” f or pu rposes of the hears ay rul e i s “ an oral or w ri tt en as se rt i on . ” F ed. R . E vi d. 80 1(a) (1). W ay ne di d n ott es t i fy a s t o a ny “ or a l orw r i tt e n a s s e rt i on” byG e nna r o. T h e p r o b le m w ith th e c o u rt’s ru lin g o n th is m o tio n w a s th e p a rtie s ’ f a ilu r e to ar gu e f ul l y the m er i t s of M A E ’ s obj ec t i on s, coup l ed w i th the court ’ s s um m ary strik in g o f e ac h p as sa g e in th e p lain ti ff s’ re sp o n siv e p lead in g . M an y o f M A E ’s obj e c t i ons w e r e t o l e ngthy pa s s a ge s , w hi c h r e f e r e nc e d m ul t i pl e s t a t e m e nt s bythe pl ai nt i ff s. T he courtshou l d h ave anal yz ed and rul ed on ea ch part i cul ar i ze d obj ec t i on as t o eac h st at em ent . T he court ’ s f ai l ure t o d o so l ea ves us w i th an i na de qua t e ba s i s upon w hi c h t o j udge the c ourt ’ s rul i ng. W e r e f us e t o a f f i rm the29

s tr i ki ng of

as i gni f i c a ntport i on of

the pl a i nt i f

f s ’ a r gum e nti n the i rr e s pons i ve pl ea di ng w i tho uta proper und er st andi ng of the basi s upo n w hi ch the di stri ctcourt ru le d a n d w ith o u t a n y u n d e r ly in g m o tio n s to s tr ik e p o rtio n s o f th e d e p o s itio n s . A c c or di ngl y , the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s bl a nke tde c l a r a t i on tha t“ the s t a t e m e nt s a ti s s ue ar e i nadm i ss i bl e hears ay , do ub l e hears ay , op i ni on , spec ul at i on and/ or conj ec ture” w a s a n abus e of

di s c r e t i on. C. Di s p a r a t e T r e a t me n t Cl a i ms F i nal l y, w e c on si der w hether the di stri ctcourterre d i n ent er i ng sum m ary j udgm e nton e a c h of

the pl a i nt i f

f’ s c l a i m s of

di s pa r a t e tr e a tm e nti n the t e rm s a nd c o n d itio n s o f

th e ire m p lo y m e n t. W e u s e th e tr a d itio n a l McD onne l l D ouglas C or

p. v. G re en , 411 U . S . 792, 93 S . C t . 1817, 36 L . E d. 2d 668 ( 1973) bur de n- s hi f t i ng a na l y s i s t o e va l ua t e the s e c l a i m s . F i r s t , the pl a i nt i f f m us tr a i s e a n i nf

e r e nc e of d is c r im in a tio n th r o u g h h is p r im af a c ie c a s e . I

d. a t8 0 2 , 9 3 S. Ct . a t1 8 2 4 . To e s t abl i s h apr i m af

a c i e c a s e of

di s pa r a t e tr e a tm e nt , the pl a i nt i f f m us ts how tha t : ( 1) he be l ongs t o ar a c i a l m i nor i ty ; ( 2) he w a s s ubj e c t e d t o a n a dve r s e j ob a c t i on; ( 3) hi s e m pl oyertre at ed si m i l ar l y s i tuat ed em pl oyee s out si de hi s c l as si fi ca t i on m ore f a v o r ab ly ; a n d ( 4 ) h e w a s q u a lif ie d to d o th e jo b . I

d. T he bur de n the n s hi f t s t o the defe nd antt o “ art i cul at e s om e l egi t i m at e non di sc ri m i nat ory r ea son” for the al l eged d is c r im in a tio n . I

d. O n ce th e d efen d an tp ro d u ces su ch a reaso n , th e p l ai n t i ff m u st30

th e n p r o v e th a t th e le g itim a te r e a s o n w a s am e r e p r e te x t f o rd is c r im in a tio n . I

d. at 80 4, 93 S . C t . at18 26 . T o avo i d sum m ary j ud gm ent , the pl ai nt i ff m ustprod uce su ffi ci en tev i d en ce t o sh o w “ th atth e em p l o yer i n t en t i o n al l y d i scri m i n at ed ag ai n st hi m because of hi s r ac e. ” H ol i f i e ld v . R e no , 115 F . 3d 1555, 1565 ( 11th C i r . 1997) ( p e rc u r ia m ) .1 . M a c k’ s D is p a r a t e P a y C la im P l ai n t i ff M ackal l eg ed th ath i s st art i n g p ay atM A E w as l ess th an si m i l arl ys i tua t e d w hi t e e m pl oy e e s , J os huaF ry e , M a tthe w W i c ks , L a rryG i ve ns , a nd M i chae l M usant e. H e argued thathe w as hi re d at$9 . 50 per hou r a s an A pp re nt i ce , wh i l e th e o th e r s we r e h i r e d a t$ 1 0 . 5 0 o r$ 1 1 p e rh o u rf o rth e s a me p o s i t i o n . To es t abl i sh a pri m a f

ac i e c as e, M ac k m ustdem on stra t e that“ si m i l ar l y s i tuat ed com para t ors out si de the prot ec t ed cl as s r ec ei ved h i gh ercom pensat i on . ” C oo per , 390 F . 3d a t735. W e affi rm th e co u rt ’ s en try o f su m m ary j u d g m en tas t o th i s cl ai m b ecau se M A E prod uced un controvert ed evi dence thatF ry e and W i cks w er e pai d m ore than M a c k be c aus e e a c h ha d s pe c i a l i z e d e xpe r i e nc e a nd tr a i ni ng i n a e r onaut i c s a nd avi on i cs , w hi l e M ac k h ad on l y gener al el ec troni c tra i ni ng . C on se qu ent l y, M ac k fa i l ed t o sho w thatthey w er e “ si m i l ar l y s i tuat ed i n al l re l evantre spec t s. ” Knigh t v. B ap t ist H osp. , Inc. , 330 F . 3d 1313, 1316 ( 11th C i r . 2003) ( pe rc ur i a m ) ( c i t a t i ons31

a n d q u o ta tio n s o m itte d ) . N o rd id M a c kd e m o n s tr a te th a t G iv e n s w a s as im ila r ly s itu a te d c o m p a r a to rb e c au s e h e f a ile d to p r e s e n t a n ya d m is s ib le e v id e n c e a s to G iv e n s ’s s a la ry . M a c k ’s th ir d c o m p a r a to r , M u s a n te , w a s h ir e d a s aM e c h a n ic I

– n o t a s a n A p p r e n tic e –b a s e d o n M A E ’s in itia l e v a lu a tio n o f h is e x p e r ie n c e . M us a nt e ’ s 90- da y s ki l l l e ve l e va l ua t i on r e ve a l e d tha the w a s notpe r f orm i ng a tthe r e qui s i t e s ki l l l e ve l of

aM e c ha ni c I , s o M A E r e c l a s s i f i e d hi m a s a n A ppr e nt i c e but d i d n o tl o we rh i s p a y , c o n s i s t e n twi th th e c o m p a n y ’ s P P M. T h e f a c tth a tMAE i ni t i al l y m i sj ud ged M usant e’ s qual i fi ca t i on s does notshow i nt ent i on al ra ce d is c r im in a tio n . Si lv e r a v . O r ange C ount ySc h. B d. , 24 4 F . 3d 12 53 , 12 61 (11th C i r. 20 01 ) ( rul i ng thatan em pl oyer ’ s a ct i on s bas ed on a m i st aken, no n-di sc ri m i nat ory bel i ef do no tvi ol at e T i t l e V II ). M ac k’ s “ op i ni on [thathe w as di sc ri m i nat ed agai nst ] , w i tho utm ore, i s notenou gh t o est abl i sh a pri m a f ac i e c as e of r ac e di sc ri m i nat i on . ” H

o lifie ld , 115 F . 3d a t1564. 2 . M a c k’ s F a ilu r e t o P r o m o t e C la im P l a i nt i f f M a c k a l s o a l l e ge d tha the w a s de ni e d as ki l l - l e ve l pr om ot i on f r om A pp re nt i ce t o M ec hani c I because of hi s r ac e, w hi l e three w hi t e A pp re nt i ce s ( F ry e, W i c k s , a n d Gi v e n s ) we r e p r o mo t e d a f t e rth e i ri n i t i a l s i x - mo n th e v a l u a t i o n . To e s tab lis h ap r im af

a c ie c a s e , M a c km u s t s h o w th a t h e w a s q u a lif ie d f o rth e s k ill le v e l p r o m o tio n b y d e m o n s tr a tin g th a t h e s a tis f ie d M A E ’s r e a s o n ab le32

q u a lif ic a tio n s f o rth e p o s itio n . Se e C o o p e r, 390 F . 3d a t741- 43 ( rul i ng tha tthe pl ai nt i ff’ s ow n o pi ni on of her qual i fi ca t i on s f or prog re ss i on , w i tho utm ore, w as in s u f f ic ie n t to o v e r c o m e th e e m p lo y e r ’s ju d g m e n t th a t s h e w a s n o t q u a lif ie d ) . W e a f f i rm the c ourt ’ s e ntryof

s um m a ryj udgm e nton thi s c l a i m be c aus e the re cord revea l ed thatM ac k w as no tel i gi bl e f or a prom ot i on atsi x m on ths un der M A E ’ s P P M be c aus e he di d notha ve the r e qui r e d a ve r a ge pe r f orm a nc e e va l ua t i on sco re o f atl east5 . 0 . M ack ’ s av erag e w as 4 . 9 , w h i l e th e al l eg ed co m p arat o rs’ aver ages w er e a l l 5. 0 o r hi gh er . T here fore , M ac k fai l ed t o d em on stra t e thathe w as qua l i f i e d f orthe s ki l l - l e ve l pr om ot i on. M a c k a l s o a r gue d tha the onc e a ga i n w a s de ni e d apr om ot i on f r om A pp re nt i ce t o M ec hani c I af t eron e y ear of e m pl oym entbecause of hi s r ac e. M ac k of f e r e d a s e vi de nc e of

di s c r i m i na t i on L e a d H ol br ook’ s s t a t e m e nttha tthe r e a s on w hy hi s pr om ot i on ha d be e n de l a y e d w a s be c aus e “ y ou’ r e the w r ong f uc ki ng col or. ” H er e, M ac k est abl i shed a pri m a f ac i e c as e of f

ai l ure t o p rom ot e. H ow ever , M a c k di d notof

f e rs uf f i c i e nte vi de nc e of

pr e t e xtt o r e butM A E ’ s l e gi t i m a t e , nond is c r im in a to ry r e a s o n f

o rits f a ilu r e to p r o m o te h im

– th a t M A E m is ta k e n lyf a ile d to p e r f o rm h is o n e - y e a re v a lu a tio n , a n d th a t a f te rit d is c o v e r e d th e m is ta k e , it pr om ot e d M a c k t o M e c ha ni c a nd pa i d hi m f ul l ba c k pa yt o a c c ountf orthe m i s s i ng33

eval uat i on . H ol broo k’ s s t at em enti s i nsuffi ci entt o sho w pret extbecause there w as n o ev id en ce th at H o lb ro o kw as in v o lv ed in an y d ec isio n m ak in g re g ar d in g M ac k ’s pr om ot i on, tha tH ol br ook w a s M a c k’ s s upe rvi s ora tthe t i m e of the e va l ua t i on, or tha tH ol br ook’ s s t a t e m e ntw a s ba s e d on hi s know l e dge of di s c r i m i na t i on by a ny othe rs upe rvi s or . S t a ndi ng a l one , thi s s t a t e m e nti s i ns uf f i c i e ntt o r a i s e age nui ne i ss ue of fa cton pret ext . T here fore , w e a ff i rm the di stri ctcourt ’ s e ntryof sum m ary j u d g me n to n th i s c l a i m.

3 . G e o r g e ’ s C l a i m o f D i s pa r a t e D i s c i pl i ne P la in tif f G e o r g e c la im e d th a t h e w a s d e m o te d f r o m A c tin g L e a d to M e c ha ni c be c aus e of

hi s r a c e . H e a l l e ge s tha tw hi t e A c t i ng L e a ds , i nc l udi ng E l l i ot L a m be rt , J e r e m y L e w i s , a nd S c ottS c hnoe s , w e r e i nvol ve d i n the s am e ki nd of in c id e n ts th a t le d to h is d e m o tio n , b u t th e yw e r e n o t s im ila r lyd e m o te d . I n th is c ont e xt , w e c ons i de r“ w he the rthe e m pl oy e e s a r e i nvol ve d i n ora c c us e d of the sam e or s i m i l arcond uctand are di sc i pl i ned i n d i ff er entw ay s. ” M

ay nard v . B d. of R egent s of the U ni v. of Fla. D ep’t

of E du c. , 342 F . 3d 1281, 1289 ( 11th C i r . 2003) ( c i t a t i ons a nd quot a t i ons om i tt e d) . “ W e r e qui r e tha tthe qua nt i tya nd qua l i tyof the c om pa r a t or ’ s m i s c onduc tbe ne a r l yi de nt i c a l t o pr e ve ntc ourt s f r om s e c ondgu es si ng em pl oyer s’ re as on abl e dec i si on s and confusi ng appl es w i th o rang es . ” M a n i c c i a v . Br o wn , 17 1 F . 3d 13 64 , 13 68 (11th C i r. 19 99 ).34

W e a f f irm s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t o n th is c la im . G e o r g e w a s n o t s im ila r ly si tuat ed t o A ct i ng L ea ds L am bertand L ew i s bec ause , al tho ug h al l three w er e i nvol ve d i n a n i nc i de ntc aus i ng a i r c r a f tda m a ge , L a m be rta nd L e w i s w e r e w orki ng un der the supervi si on of a di ff er entP rogram M anager–notthe P rogram M anager w h o d e c id e d to d e m o te G e o r g e . See S i lvera , 24 4 F . 3d at12 61 n. 5 (rul i ng that

“ di f f e r e nc e s i n tr e a tm e ntby di f f e r e nts upe rvi s or s orde c i s i on m a ke r s c a n s e l dom be the basi s f

or a vi abl e c l ai m of di sc ri m i nat i on ”) . M oreover, G eorge’ s P rogram M a na ge rde m ot e d hi m f orthe a ddi t i ona l r e a s ons tha the w a s di s s a t i s f i e d w i th the w o rkp a c e o f

G e o r g e ’s c r e w a n d th a t G e o r g e d id n o t s u p e rv is e h is c r e w c lo s e ly e n o u g h . A c c o r d in g ly , G e o r g e w a s n o t s im ila r lys itu a te d to L a m b e rt a n d L e w is b e c au s e th e “q u a n titya n d q u a lityo f [ th e ir ] m is c o n d u c t [ w a s ] [ n o t] n e a r ly id e n tic a l.” M

a n ic c ia , 1 7 1 F .3 d a t 1 3 6 8 . G e o r g e w a s n o t s im ila r lys itu a te d to S c h n o e s e ith e rb e c au s e th e tw o w e r e n o t s u b je c t to th e s a m e s ta n d a r d s o f c o n d u c t. Se e H o lifie ld , 11 5 F . 3d at15 62 (rul i ng thatcom para t ors m ustbe “ si m i l ar l y s i tuat ed i n a l l r e l e va nta s pe c t s ” ) . A l though both G e or ge a nd S c hnoe s w orke d unde rthe s a m e P r o g r a m M a n a g e r , S c h n o e s w a s aP e rm a n e n t L e a d

– n o t a n A c tin g L e a d . M A E pr e s e nt e d unc ontr ove rt e d e vi de nc e tha tthe s a m e c ons i de r a t i ons do not d i ct at e rem o v al o f a P erm an en tL ead , an d th atrem o v al o f an A ct i n g L ead i s a fa i rl y c om m on occurre nce.35 4 . G e o r g e ’ s F a ilu r e t o P r o m o t e C la im P la in tif f G e o r g e c la im e d th a t h e w a s d e n ie d ac o m p e titiv e p r o m o tio n to P roj ec tM anager bec ause of hi s r ac e and thatD arre n M ac i p, a w hi t e m al e, w as s e l e c t e d de s pi t e hi s i nf

e r i orqua l i f

i c a t i ons . M A E di d notc ons i de rG e or ge f orthe p r o m o tio n b e c au s e it h a d n o r e c o r d o f h im e v e rap p ly in g f

o rth e p o s itio n a n d d id notr e c e i ve hi s appl i c a t i on. W e a f f i rm s um m a ry j udgm e nta s t o thi s c l a i m be c aus e G e or ge di d not pr e s e nte vi de nc e tha tM A E ’ s l e gi t i m a t e , non- di s c r i m i na t oryr e a s on f ornot s e l e c t i n g h i m wa s p r e t e x tu a l . Ge o r g e d i d n o tp r e s e n ta n ye v i d e n c e th a tMAE i nt ent i on al l y m i spl ac ed or di sc ar ded G eorge’ s app l i ca t i on for P roj ec tM anager because of hi s r ac e, or for any other r ea son. “ A pl ai nt i ff m ustshow no tm er el y that the defendant ’ s e m pl oym entdeci si on s w er e m i st aken, bu tthatthey w er e i n fac t m ot i vat ed by [r ac e] . ” L ee v. G T EFla. , Inc. , 226 F . 3d 1249, 1253 ( 11th C i r . 2000) (percuri am ). 5. M al l or y ’ s C l ai m s of D i s p ar at e T r e at m e n t r e gar d i n g O JT R e c o r d s a n d F a ilu r e t o T r a in P l ai nt i ff M al l ory a l l eged thatw hi t e l ea ds i n h i s departm ent , S cottP al m er a n d J im W a ls h , h a m p e r e d h is p r o m o tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s a t M A E b yin te n tio n a lly l osi ng or m ani pu l at i ng hi s “ on -the-j ob tra i ni ng ” ( “ O JT ”) re cords. O JT re cords are c om pa ny f

orm s on w hi c h e m pl oy e e s r e c or d the type of w ork tha tthe ype r f

orm on36

a p art i cu l ar p ro

j ectan d are u sed fo r d et erm i n i n g p ro m o t i o n s. M al l ory a l so al l eged th atW al sh refu sed t o trai n h i m o n th e co m p u t er, w h i l e h e trai n ed w h i t e em p l o yees. W e a f f i rm th e d i s tr i c tc o u rt ’ s e n tryo f s u mma ryj u d g me n to n th e s e c l a i ms b e c au s e M a llo ry f

a ile d to p u t f

o rth e v id e n c e o f

a n ys im ila r ly - s itu a te d w h ite e m pl oy e e w ho w a s tr e a t e d m or e f a vor abl yi n t e rm s of

m a na gi ng O J T r e c or ds or trai n i n g . M o reo v er, M al l o ry fai l ed t o est ab l i sh th ath e su ffered an ad v erse e m p lo y m e n t a c tio n . A n a d v e r s e e m p lo y m e n t a c tio n m u s t in v o lv e “a n u ltim a te e m pl oy m e ntde c i s i on . . . orothe rc onduc ttha ta l t e r s the e m pl oy e e ’ s c om pe ns a t i on, t e rm s , c ondi t i ons , orpr i vi l e ge s of e m pl oy m e nt , de pr i ve s hi m . . . of e m pl oy m e nt op po rtun i t i es , or advers el y a ff ec t s hi s . . . st atus as an em pl oyee . ” G u p ta , 212 F . 3d at58 7 (ci t at i on and q uo t at i on om i tt ed). M al l ory di d n otprod uce any evi dence that M A E ’ s m i s m a na ge m e ntof hi s O J T r e c or ds ori t s f a i l ur e t o tr a i n hi m on the c o m p u te rh a d a n y a d v e r s e a f f e c t o n h is e m p lo y m e n t. 6 . M c D o na l d’ s C l a i m o f D i s pa r a t e D i s c i pl i ne P l ai nt i ff M cD on al d al l eged thathe w as suspended for three days w i tho utpay f o rh is r o le in a n in c id e n t th a t r e s u lte d in s u b s ta n tia l d a m a g e to a n a ir c r a f t, w h ile w h ite e m p lo y e e s w h o w e r e a ls o in v o lv e d in th e in c id e n t w e r e n o t d is c ip lin e d . M c D ona l d a l s o a l l e ge d tha the r e c e i ve d aw r i tt e n di s c i pl i na ryr e portf or i ns ubor di na t i on w he n w hi t e e m pl oy e e s w ho e nga ge d i n the s a m e c onduc tw e r e not37

s i m i l a r l y di s c i pl i ne d. H e r e , w e c ons i de rthe “ na tur e of the of f e ns e s c om m i tt e d a nd the nature of the pu ni shm ent s i m po se d. ” S i lvera , 244 F . 3d a t1259 ( c i t a t i ons a nd qu ot at i on s om i tt ed). W e a f f i rm the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s e ntryof s um m a ryj udgm e ntr e ga r di ng M cD on al d’ s three -daysuspensi on because M A E ’ s i nv es t i gat i on concl ud ed that b o th M c D o n a lda n d P r o g r a m M a n a g e rJ a m e s W in k le r , aw h ite m a le , w e r e p a rtia lly a t f au lt a n d b o th r e c e iv e d ath r e e - d a ys u s p e n s io n . M c D o n a ld f a ile d to s h o w th a t a si m i l ar l y- si tuat ed w hi t e e m pl oyee w as tre at ed m ore f avorabl y. W e a l so af

fi rm as t o M c D ona l d’ s c l a i m r e ga r di ng the di s c i pl i naryr e porthe r e c e i ve d f or i nsub ordi nat i on . M A E pres ent ed un controvert ed evi dence thati ti nv es t i gat ed M c D o n a ld ’s c o m p la in t th a t th e d is c ip lin e w a s u n f a ira n d r e s c in d e d th e d is c ip lin e . A di s c i pl i na ry r e portdoe s notr i s e t o the l e ve l of a n a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on w here the em pl oyerre sc i nd s i t s dec i si on t o t ake a ct i on before the em pl oyee suff er s ata n g ib le h a rm . Se e P e n n in g to n v . C ityo f H u n ts v ille , 2 6 1 F .3 d 1 2 6 2 , 1 2 6 7 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . 7. W ay n e’ s C l ai m of D i sp arate T re atm en t r egard i n g W ork

O ppo r t uni t i e s a nd O J T R e c o r ds P l ai n t i ff W ayn e al l eg ed th attw o w h i t e su p erv i so rs l o sto r o th erw i se m i s m a na ge d hi s O J T r e c or ds , w hi c h r e s ul t e d i n l os tpr om ot i ona l opportuni t i e s f or hi m . W ay ne do es no ti dent i fythe w hi t e e m pl oyee s w ho w er e tre at ed m ore38

fa vo rabl y than h i m , no r does he i dent i fyw hi ch prom ot i on s he bel i eves he w as d e n ie d . A c c o r d in g ly , w e a f f irm th e c o u rt’s e n tryo f

s u m m a ryju d g m e n t o n th is cl ai m because he has fa i l ed t o sho w thatsi m i l ar l y- si tuat ed w hi t e e m pl oyee s w er e tre at ed m ore f

avorabl y than h i m . H e has al so fa i l ed t o sho w thathe suff er ed an ad v erse em p l o ym en tact i o n as a resu l to f th e m i sm an ag em en to f h i s O JT reco rd s. W ay ne al so al l eges thathe w as re qu i re d t o t ake “ cr edi tt i m e” off w hen w ork w a s s l ow , w hi l e s i m i l a r l y - s i tua t e d w hi t e e m pl oy e e s w e r e a s s i gne d t o pe r f orm j obs e l s e w he r e . F ore xa m pl e , he a l l e ge s tha the w a s de ni e d the opportuni tyt o w ork on th e n e w “s in klo c k ” 7 4 7 p r o je c t, w h ile aw h ite c r e w w a s a s s ig n e d th e jo b . W e a f f irm s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t o n th is c la im b e c au s e W a y n e p r o v id e d n o e v id e n c e to s upporthi s c l a i m othe rtha n hi s s pe c ul a t i on. T o a voi d s um m a ryj udgm e nt , W a y ne

“ m ustdo m ore than sho w thatthere i s s om e m et aphysi ca l do ub tas t o the m at er i al fa ct s. ” M

at s us hi ta E le c . I

ndus . C o. v . Ze ni th R adi o C or p. , 475 U . S . 574, 586, 106 S . C t . 13 48 , 13 56 , 89 L . E d. 2d 53 8 (19 86 ). M eanw hi l e, M A E prov i ded un controvert ed evi dence thata s i gn i fi cantnu m ber of w hi t e e m pl oyee s w er e r e q u ir e d to ta k e “c r e d it tim e ” o f f d u r in g th e s a m e tim e f

r a m e w h e n w o rkw a s s lo w . T here fore , W ay ne fa i l ed t o sho w thatsi m i l ar l y- si tuat ed w hi t e e m pl oyee s w er e treat ed m o re fav o rab l y. I I I . CONCL US I ON39

In co n cl u si o n , w e rev erse th e en try o f su m m ary j u d g m en to n th e p l ai n t i ffs’ h o st i l e w o rken v i ro n m en tcl ai m an d M A E ’ s Farag herde f e ns e be c aus e , vi e w i ng th e e n tir e tyo f

th e r e c o r d , in th e lig h t m o s t f a v o r ab le to th e p la in tif

f s , th e r e r e m a in g e n u in e is s u e s o f

m a te r ia l f

a c t. W e r e m a n d th e h o s tile w o rke n v ir o n m e n t c la im and the Farag herde f

e ns e f ortr i a l . W e r e ve r s e the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s rul i ng gr a nt i ng M A E ’ s m ot i on t o s tr i ke port i ons of the pl a i nt i f

f s ’ r e s pons i ve pl e a di ng oppos i ng sum m ary j ud gm ent . A ttri al , the di stri ctcourtw i l l need t o add re ss se para t el y e ac h port i on of

the di s put e d t e s t i m ony i f a nd w he n the pl a i nt i f

f s pr e s e nts uc h t e s t i m ony a n d i f a n d wh e n MAE o b

j e c t s t o th e a d m i s s i o n o f s u c h t e s t i m o n y . F i n a l l y , we a f f i rm the e ntry of

s um m a ry j udgm e nton e a c h of the pl a i nt i f

f s ’ di s pa r a t e tr e a tm e nt c l a i m s f orthe r e a s ons s t a t e d. A F F IR M E D i n p art, R E V E R S E D an d R E M A N D E D i n p art.