FILED U.S. COURT OF AP PEALS ELEV ENT HC IR C UIT J UNE 5 , 2006 THOMAS K. KAHN 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- 16370 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D . C . D ocketN o. 03 -000 60 -C V -W L S -1 B A R R Y R I C H A R D S O N , P la in tif f- A p p e lla n t, v ersu s D O U G H E R T Y C O U N T Y , G A , O F F I C E O F S H E R I F F , D O U G H E R T Y C O U N T Y , G E O R G I A , J A M I L S A B A , in d iv id u a lly a n d in h is o f f ic ia l c a p a c ity a s S h e r if

f o f D o u g h e r ty C o u n ty , G e o r g ia , D O U G L A S M C G IN L E Y , i n d i v i d u al l y an d i s h i s offi ci al capaci ty a s C ol on el for O ff i ce of S heri ff o f D o u g h e r ty C o u n ty , G e o r g ia , M A R K S H I R L E Y , in d iv id u a lly a n d in h is o f f ic ia l capaci ty a s M aj or for the O ff i ce of S heri ff

of D o u g h e r ty C o u n ty , G e o r g ia , J O H N F I E L D S , in d iv id u a lly a n d in h is o f f ic ia l capaci ty a s C apt ai n for the O ff i ce of S heri ff o f D o u g h e r ty C o u n ty , G e o r g ia , D e fe n d a n ts - A p p e lle e s .2 ________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt fo rth e M id d le D is tr ic t o f G e o r g ia

_________________________ ( J une 5, 2006) ON P E T I T I ON F OR RE HE AR I NG B efo re M A R C U S , W IL S O N an d P R Y O R , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: O n M a y 2 3 , 2 0 0 6 , D o u g h e r ty C o u n ty , G e o r g ia , f ile d ap e titio n fo rr e h e a r in g . W e gr a ntthe pe ti ti on. W e va c a t e ourpr e vi ous opi ni on a nd s ubs ti tut e i tw i th the fol l ow i ng opi ni on. B a rr y R i c ha r ds on a ppe a l s the s um m a r y j udgm e nti n fa vorof the O f f i c e of th e S h e r if

f fo rD o u g h e r ty C o u n ty , G e o r g ia , a n d s e v e r a l in d iv id u a l d e fe n d a n ts in the i rof f i c i a l a nd i ndi vi dua l c a pa c i ti e s a nd a ga i ns tR i c ha r ds on’ s c om pl a i ntfor r e l i gi ous di s c r i m i na ti on a nd r e t a l i a ti on unde rfe de r a l l a w a nd G e or gi al a w , a nd c l a i m s of l i be l , t or ti ous i nt e r fe r e nc e w i th a n e m pl oy m e ntr e l a ti ons hi p, ne gl i ge nt r e t e nti on, i nt e nt i ona l i nf l i c ti on of e m oti ona l di s tr e s s , br e a c h of c ontr a c t , a nd v i o l a ti o n s o f

d u e p r o c e s s u n d e rG e o r g i al a w . W e a f f i r m. I . B AC KG RO UN D3

R i ch ard so n , a S ev en th D ay A d v en ti st , w as em p l o yed fro m 1 9 9 5 t o 2 0 0 2 as a de puty w i th the S he r i f

f ’ s O f f i c e of D oughe r ty C ounty . I n J une 2001, R i c ha r ds on advi se d h i s e m pl oyerthathe w as a m em ber of the S eventh D ay A dv ent i stC hu rc h a nd, a c c or di ng t o hi s r e l i gi ous be l i e fs , he c oul d notw ork on the S abba th, f r om sund ow n o n F ri day unt i l sund ow n o n S aturday. R i char dson re qu es t ed an a c c om m oda ti on t o pe r m i thi m nott o w ork on the S abba th. R i c ha r ds on s ubm i tt e d a w ri tt en re qu es ton Jul y 30, 20 01 . O n A ug ust10 , 20 01 , the S heri ff ’ s O ff i ce p r o v id e d R ic h ar d s o n w ith tw o a lte r n a tiv e a c c o m m o d a tio n s : R ic h a r d s o n c o u ld s w a p s h if

ts w ith o th e rd e p u tie s o rta k e a n n u a l le a v e . I n O c to b e r2 0 0 1 , R ic h a r d s o n a p p lie d fo ra n d r e c e iv e d ap o s itio n a s ad e p u ty i n C e ntr a l C ontr ol . A f

t e rhi s tr a ns fe r , R i c ha r ds on not i f i e d hi s ne w s upe r vi s or s of hi s r e que s tforr e l i gi ous a c c om m oda ti on. R i c ha r ds on w a s a ga i n i nfor m e d tha the c oul d t a ke a nnua l l e a ve ors w a p s hi f t s w he n he w a s a s s i gne d t o w ork on the S ab b a th . R ic h a r d s o n w a s a ls o a d v is e d th a t o th e rd e p a r tm e n ts m ig h t b e ab le to of fe rgr e a t e rf

l e xi bi l i ty t o a c c om m oda t e hi m . F r om J une 2001 unti l hi s t e r m i na ti on i n J une 2002, R i c ha r ds on di d notw ork on the S abba th. In M ay 20 02 , the S heri ff ’ s O ff i ce beca m e a w ar e of a l l egati on s thatse vera l ja ilo r s h a d b e e n in v o lv e d in s e x u a l m is c o n d u c t w h ile o n d u ty . L illie G r e e n , a depu ty, al l eged thatshe had se x w i th R i char dson and h ad engaged i n sexual4

a c ti vi ty w i th f

i ve othe rde puti e s w hi l e a tw ork a nd on duty . R i c ha r ds on de ni e d the al l eg at i o n s. T h ree o f th e d ep u ti es ad m i tt ed th e al l eg at i o n s. A f t e ra n i nve s ti ga ti on, dur i ng w hi c h pol y gr a ph t e s t s w e r e t a ke n, the S h e r if f ’s O f f ic e d e te r m in e d th a t th e a lle g a tio n s o f s e x u a l m is c o n d u c t w e r e tr u th f u l. T he depu t i es , i ncl ud i ng R i char dson , w er e gi ven the op po rtun i ty t o res i gn or fa ce di s c i pl i na r y a c ti on. A l l of the de puti e s , e xc e ptR i c ha r ds on, r e s i gne d. R i char dson ’ s s up er vi sor then recom m ended thatR i char dson be t er m i nat ed a n d ap e r s o n n e l r e v ie w h e a r in g w a s h e ld . T h e r e v ie w b o a r d u n a n im o u s ly s u p p o r te d th e r e c o m m e n d a tio n to te r m in a te R ic h a r d s o n , a n d th e S h e r if f c o n c u rr e d . R i c ha r ds on w a s t e r m i na t e d i n J une 2002. F ol l ow i ng hi s t e r m i na ti on, R i c ha r ds on f ile d ac h a r g e o f

d is c r im in a tio n w ith th e E E O C a n d r e c e iv e d ar ig h t to s u e le tte r . R i char dson fi l ed sui tagai nstthe S heri ff ’ s O ff i ce and sever al offi ci al s a nd al l eged m u l ti p l e cl ai m s. T h e d i stri ctco u rten t ered su m m ary j u d g m en tag ai n st R ic h a r d s o n ’s c o m p la in t. I I . STA N D A R D O F R EVI EW W e r evi ew the grantof sum m ar y j ud gm entde no vo . L ub et sky v. A pp l i ed C a r d S y s . , I n c . , 2 9 6 F . 3 d 1 3 0 1 , 1 3 0 4 ( 1 1 th C i r . 2 0 0 2 ) . “ Un d e rth i s s t a n d a r d , we v i ew al l fact s an d i n feren ces reaso n ab l y d raw n fro m th e fact s i n th e l i g h tm o st fa vor abl e t o the nonm ovi ng pa r ty . ” I d. S um m a r y j udgm e nti s a ppr opr i a t e “ i f the5

pl ea di ng s, depo si ti on s, answ er s t o i nt errogat ori es , and adm i ss i on s on fi l e, t og ether w i th the af

fi davi t s, i f a ny, show thatthere i s no g enui ne i ss ue as t o any m at er i al fa c ta n d th a tth e mo v i n g p a r ty i s e n ti t l e d t o aj u d g me n ta s ama tt e ro f l a w . ” Fe d . R. C i v. P . 56 (c ). I I I . DI S CUS S I ON O n app ea l , R i char dson m akes fi ve ar gu m ent s: (1) the di stri ctcourterre d w he n i tde ni e d hi s m ot i on t o s tr i ke the a f f i da vi t s of

thr e e w i tne s s e s be c a us e the a f f id a v its r e lie d in p a r t o n p o ly g r a p h te s t r e s u lts ; ( 2 ) th e d is tr ic t c o u r t e rr e d w h e n it gr a nt e d s um m a r y j udgm e nta ga i ns thi s c om pl a i ntof r e l i gi ous di s c r i m i na ti on be c a us e the r e w a s no a dm i s s i bl e e vi de nc e t o s uppor tthe l e gi ti m a t e nondi sc ri m i nat ory r ea son p roff er ed by the S heri ff ’ s O ff i ce ; (3) the di stri ctcourterre d w hen i ti gn ored di re ctevi dence of di sc ri m i nat i on ; (4) the di stri ctcourterre d w hen i tgr a nt e d s um m a r y j udgm e nta ga i ns thi s c om pl a i ntof r e t a l i a ti on; a nd ( 5) the di stri ctcourterre d w hen i tgrant ed sum m ar y j ud gm entagai nsthi s c l ai m s und er s ta te la w o n th e g r o u n d o f s o v e r e ig n im m u n ity w h e n th e d e fe n d a n ts h a d liab ility i nsurance. B ec ause R i char dson do es no tm ake a ny ar gu m entre gardi ng other a s p e c ts o f

th e s u m m a r y ju d g m e n t, th o s e a r g u m e n ts a r e ab a n d o n e d o rw a iv e d . J ohns on E nt e r s . of

J a c ks onvi l l e , I nc . v. F P L G r oup, I nc . , 162 F . 3d 1290, 1308 n. 43 (11th C i r. 19 98 ).6 A . T he M ot i on to St r i k e W

as P rope r l

y D e ni e d. R ic h a r d s o n a r g u e s th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u r t e rr e d w h e n it d e n ie d h is m o tio n to s tr i ke thr e e a f

f i da vi t s f i l e d by the S he r i f

f ’ s O f f i c e . R i c ha r ds on a r gue s tha tthe a f f ia n ts r e lie d o n p o ly g r a p h te s t r e s u lts , w h ic h w e r e n o t a d m is s ib le e v id e n c e . T h is arg u m en tfai l s. T h e a f f ia n ts m e n tio n e d th e r e s u lts o f ap o ly g r a p h te s t n o t to p r o v e th e tr u th o f th o s e r e s u lts , b u t a s a n e x p la n a tio n o f th e in v e s tig a tio n b y th e S h e r if f ’s O f f ic e . T he c onc l us i on r e a c he d by the S he r i f f ’ s O f f i c e fol l ow i ng tha ti nve s ti ga ti on w a s the l e gi ti m a t e non- di s c r i m i na t or y r e a s on forR i c ha r ds on’ s t e r m i na ti on pr of fe r e d by the S heri ff ’ s O ff

i ce . T he di stri ctcourtdi d n otre l y on the af fi davi t s for any other pu rpose. T he di s tr i c tc our tdi d notc onc l ude tha tthe a l l e ga ti ons a ga i ns tR i c ha r ds on w er e truthful . T he di stri ctcourtconcl ud ed thatthe S heri ff ’ s O ff i ce fi re d R i char dson beca use i tbel i eved the al l egati on s w er e truthful . T hatconcl usi on w as al e gi ti m a t e non- di s c r i m i na t or y r e a s on.

B . T h e D i st ri ctC o u rtC o rrect l y G ra n tedS u m m a ry Judgm e nton R i c hards on’ s D i s c r i m i nat i on and

R eta l i a t i o n C l a i m s. R i c ha r ds on a r gue s tha tthe s um m a r y j udgm e nta ga i ns thi s c l a i m s of r e l i gi ous di s c r i m i na ti on w a s e rr one ous be c a us e the r e w a s di r e c te vi de nc e of di s c r i m i na ti on7

a nd no a dm i s s i bl e e vi de nc e t o e s t abl i s h al e gi ti m a t e non- di s c r i m i na t or y r e a s on for h i s d i s c h a r g e . R i c h a r d s o n a r g u e s s e v e r a l th e o r i e s o f d i s c r i m i n a ti o n , a n d we a d d r e s s e a c h th e o r y . T h e a n a ly s is is s a m e u n d e rb o th T itle V I I a n d s e c tio n 1 9 8 3 . S ee L ee v. R usse l l C ou nt y B d. of E du c. , 68 4 F . 2d 76 9, 77 3 (11 th C i r. 19 82 ). 1. D i re ctE vi dence R ic h a r d s o n a r g u e s th a t th e r e is d ir e c t e v id e n c e o f d is c r im in a tio n o n th e b a s is of three st at em ent s. F i rs t , R i char dson al l eges thatthe defendant s t ol d h i m they w e r e notgoi ng t o a c c om m oda t e hi m a nd tha the ne e de d t o f i nd a nothe rr e l i gi on or a nothe rj ob. S e c ond, R i c ha r ds on a l l e ge s tha tthe de fe nda nt s s t a t e d “ Y ou w a nt e ve r y S a tur da y of

f . W e ’ r e s i c k of

thi s . I w i s h y ou w oul d f i nd a nothe rj ob. ” T hi r d, R i c ha r ds on a l l e ge s tha the w a s r e fe rr e d t o a s a“ pr e a c he rm a n, ” a“ m i ni s t e r , ” a nd w a s to ld h e w a s “to o p r e a c h y .” R ic h a r d s o n ’s ar g u m e n t ab o u t th e s e s ta te m e n ts fai l s.

“ [ D ] i r e c te vi de nc e i s ‘ e vi de nc e , w hi c h i f be l i e ve d, pr ove s [ the ] e xi s t e nc e of [ a ] fa c ti n i s s ue w i thouti nfe r e nc e orpr e s um pti on. ’ ” A kour i v. F l a . D e p’ tof T r a ns p. , 408 F . 3d 1338, 1347 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( quoti ng B urr e l l v. B d. of T r s . of G a. M i l i t ar y C ol l . , 12 5 F . 3d 13 90 , 13 93 (11th C i r. 19 97 )) (a l t er ati on i n o ri gi nal ).

[W ] e h av e d efi n ed d irectev i d en ce as ev i d en ce w h i ch refl ect s a di s c r i m i na t or y orr e t a l i a t or y a tti tu d e c orr e l a ti ng t o the di s c r i m i na ti on o r r e ta liat i o n co m p l ai n ed o f b y th e em p l o yee. . . . [O ] n l y th e m o st b la ta n t r e m a rk s , w h o s e in te n t c o u ld m e a n n o th in g o th e rth a n to8

d is c r im in a te o n th e b a s is o f s o m e im p e r m is s ib le fa c to rc o n s titu te di r e c te vi de nc e of

di s c r i m i na ti on. I f

the a l l e ge d s t a t e m e nts ug g est s, bu tdo es no tprov e, a di sc ri m in ato ry m ot i ve, then i ti s c on si dere d ci rc um st ant i al evi dence. I d. ( i nt e r na l quot a ti on m a rks a nd c i t a ti ons om i tt e d) . B e c a us e the s t a t e m e nt s about w hi c h R i c ha r ds on c om pl a i ns a l l ow a n i nfe r e nc e of di s c r i m i na ti on, butdo not prov e adi sc ri m i nat ory m ot i ve i n any em pl oym entac ti on , the st at em ent s are ci rc um st ant i al evi dence. 2. F ai l ure t o A cc om m od at e R i ch ard so n arg u es th atth e d efen d an t s d i scri m i n at ed ag ai n sth i m b ecau se the y fa i l e d t o a c c om m oda t e hi m . T o e s t abl i s h apr i m afa c i e c a s e of di s c r i m i na ti on b a s e d o n afa ilu r e to a c c o m m o d a te r e lig io u s b e lie fs , R ic h a r d s o n w a s r e q u ir e d to pres entevi dence that“ (1) he had a bon a f i de re l i gi ou s bel i ef

thatconfl i ct ed w i th an e m pl oy m e ntr e qui r e m e nt ; ( 2) he i nfor m e d hi s e m pl oy e rof hi s be l i e f ; a nd ( 3) he w a s di s c ha r ge d forfa i l i ng t o c om pl y w i th the c onf l i c ti ng e m pl oy m e nt r e qui r e m e nt . ” B e a dl e v. H i l l s bor ough C ounty S he r i f f ’ s D e p’ t , 29 F . 3d 589, 592 n. 5 ( 11th C i r . 1994) . I f apr i m afa c i e c a s e i s e s t abl i s he d, the bur de n s hi f t s t o the e m pl oy e rt o pr e s e nte vi de nc e e i the rtha ti tof fe r e d t o a c c om m oda t e the pl a i nti f f or tha ti tc oul d notr e a s onabl y a c c om m oda t e hi m . I d. a t592. R i c ha r ds on fa i l e d t o e s t abl i s h apr i m afa c i e c a s e . R i c ha r ds on pr oduc e d no e vi de nc e t o s uppor thi s c ont e nt i on tha the w a s f i r e d forhi s i nabi l i ty t o w ork on the9

S abbath. T he re cord i s und i sput ed thatthe S heri ff ’ s O ff i ce offe re d R i char dson at l e a s tt w o a c c om m oda ti ons . I n the y e a ra f t e rR i c ha r ds on r e que s t e d the a c c om m oda ti on unt i l hi s t e r m i na t i on, R i c ha r ds on ne ve rw orke d on the S abba th. 3. D i s pa r a t e T r e a tm e nt R i c ha r ds on a r gue s tha the w a s tr e a t e d di f fe r e nt l y tha n othe re m pl oy e e s w ho di d notr e que s tar e l i gi ous a c c om m oda ti on. “ I n e va l ua ti ng di s pa r a t e tr e a tm e nt c l a i m s s uppor t e d by c i r c um s t a nt i a l e vi de nc e , w e us e the f r a m e w ork e s t abl i s he d by th e S u p r e m e C o u r t in M c D o n n e ll D o u g la s C o rp . v . G r e e n , 4 1 1 U .S . 7 9 2 , 9 3 S . C t. 1817, 36 L . E d. 2d 668 ( 1973) , a nd T e xa s D e pa r tm e ntof C om m uni ty A f

fa i r s v. B u r d in e , 4 5 0 U .S . 2 4 8 , 1 0 1 S . C t. 1 0 8 9 , 6 7 L . E d .2 d 2 0 7 ( 1 9 8 1 ) .” W ils o n v . B /E A e r os pa c e , I nc . , 376 F . 3d 1079, 1087 ( 11th C i r . 2004) . U nde rthi s f r a m e w ork, the pl a i nti f f m us tf i r s te s t abl i s h apr i m afa c i e c a s e of di s c r i m i na ti on by pr e s e nti ng evi dence thathe w as a m em ber of aprot ec t ed cl as s a nd w as subj ec t ed t o an a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c ti on i n c ontr a s tw i th s i m i l a r l y s i tua t e d e m pl oy e e s out s i de the prot ec t ed cl as s. Id. If the pl ai nt i ff

es t abl i shes a pri m a fac i e c as e, the em pl oyer m us ta r ti c ul a t e al e gi ti m a t e non- di s c r i m i na t or y r e a s on fori t s a c ti ons . I d. “ I f the e m pl oy e rs a ti s f

i e s i t s bur de n by a r ti c ul a ti ng one orm or e r e a s ons , the n the p r e s u m p tio n o f

d is c r im in a tio n is r e b u tte d , a n d th e b u r d e n o f p r o d u c tio n s h if

ts to10

the pl a i nti f

f t o of fe re vi de nc e tha tthe a l l e ge d r e a s on of the e m pl oy e ri s apr e t e xt fori l l e ga l di s c r i m i na ti on. ” I d. R ic h a r d s o n ’s c la im r e g a r d in g h is te r m in a tio n fa ils fo ra t le a s t tw o r e a s o n s . F i r s t , R i c ha r ds on di d note s t abl i s h apr i m afa c i e c a s e of di s c r i m i na ti on be c a us e he di d n otpres entevi dence thatem pl oyee s out si de of hi s prot ec t ed cl as s w er e tre at ed m or e fa vor abl y tha n hi m . T he de put i e s a c c us e d of s e xua l m i s c onduc t , a l l of w hom w e r e out s i de of

R i c ha r ds on’ s pr ot e c t e d c l a s s , w e r e , l i ke R i c ha r ds on, gi ve n the opti on of r e s i gni ng ort e r m i na ti on. S e c ond, the S he r i f f ’ s O f f i c e a r ti c ul a t e d a l e gi ti m a t e non- di s c r i m i na t or y r e a s on forR i c ha r ds on’ s di s c ha r ge , a nd R i c ha r ds on fa il ed to o fferan y e v id en ce to re b u t h ea d -o n th at leg itim ate r ea so n . R ich ar d so n ’s a r gum e ntaboutthe a c c ur a c y of the i nve s ti ga ti on a ga i ns thi m doe s notque s ti on w h e th e rh is e m p lo y e ra c tu a lly r e lie d o n th e r e s u lts o f th a t in v e s tig a tio n to d i s c h a r g e h i m. R i c ha r ds on’ s othe ra l l e ga ti ons of di s pa r a t e tr e a tm e nt

— tha the w a s not prom ot ed because of re l i gi on and o ther e m pl oyee s w er e per m i tt ed t o t ake ti m e off fors c hool

— a l s o fa i l . A l though R i c ha r ds on a l l e ge d tha the w a s de ni e d a pr om ot i on, forw hi c h he w a s qua l i f i e d, a nd the s uc c e s s f

ul c a ndi da t e forthe p r o m o tio n w a s o u ts id e o f h is p r o te c te d c la s s , th a t e v id e n c e w a s n o t e n o u g h to es t abl i sh a pri m a fac i e c as e. R i char dson fa i l ed t o p re se ntevi dence thatthe se l ec t ed11

ca n d id ate w as eq u ally o r les s q u alified fo r th e jo b . Id . at 1 0 8 9 . R ich ar d so n ’s ar gu m entthatother e m pl oyee s w er e gra nt ed t i m e off for s choo l fa i l s, beca use there i s no evi dence thatthe ac com m od ati on s other e m pl oyee s r equest ed w er e c om pa r abl e t o the r e l i gi ous a c c om m oda ti on R i c ha r ds on r e que s t e d. 4. R e t a l i a ti on T o e s t abl i s h apr i m afa c i e c a s e of r e t a l i a ti on unde rT i t l e V I I , R i c ha r ds on m ustpres entevi dence thathe engaged i n st atut ori l y prot ec t ed express i on , w as s ubj e c tt o a n a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c ti on, a nd tha tthe r e i s ac a us a l l i nk be t w e e n the pr ot e c t e d e xpr e s s i on a nd the a dve r s e a c ti on. T a y l orv. R uny on, 175 F . 3d 861, 868 (11th C i r. 19 99 ). If

R i char dson es t abl i shes a pri m a fac i e c as e, the S heri ff ’ s O ff i ce m us tpr e s e ntal e gi ti m a t e r e a s on fori t s e m pl oy m e nta c ti ons . I d. A f t e rthe S h e r if f ’s O f f ic e p r o f fe r s ale g itim a te r e a s o n , R ic h a r d s o n m u s t r e b u t th a t r e a s o n . I d. Th e d i s tr i c tc o u r tc o n c l u d e d th a t , b e c a u s e ay e a rp a s s e d b e t w e e n th e ti me R ic h a r d s o n r e q u e s te d a n a c c o m m o d a tio n a n d h is te r m in a tio n , R ic h a r d s o n c o u ld n o t e s tab lis h ac a u s a l lin kb e tw e e n h is p r o te c te d e x p r e s s io n a n d h is te r m in a tio n . B e c a us e R i c ha r ds on a l l e ge s tha the e nga ge d i n pr ot e c t e d e xpr e s s i on by c om pl a i ni ng aboutdi s c r i m i na ti on a s l a t e a s M a y 2002, w e a s s um e tha the e s tab lis h e d ap r im afa c ie c a s e , b u t R ic h a r d s o n fa ile d to r e b u t th e le g itim a te12

n o n d is c r im in a to r y r e a s o n fo rh is te r m in a tio n , w h ic h w a s s e x u a l m is c o n d u c t. W e a f f i r m the s um m a r y j udgm e nton tha ta l t e r na ti ve gr ound. 5. H os ti l e W ork E nvi r onm e nt T o e s t abl i s h apr i m afa c i e c a s e forhos ti l e w ork e nvi r onm e nt , R i c ha r ds on had t o p re se ntevi dence that(1) he bel on gs t o a prot ec t ed cl as s, (2) he w as subj ec t t o unw e l c om e ha r a s s m e nt , ( 3) the ha r a s s m e ntw a s ba s e d on hi s r e l i gi on, ( 4) the h a r a s s m e n t w a s s u f

f ic ie n tly s e v e r e a n d p e r v a s iv e to a lte rth e te r m s o f h is em p l o ym en tan d creat e an ab u si v e w o rk i n g en v i ro n m en t , an d (5 ) th ere ex i st s a b a s is fo rh o ld in g th e e m p lo y e rliab le . J o h n s o n v . B o o k e rT . W a s h . B r o a d . S e r v ., I nc . , 234 F . 3d 501, 508 ( 11th C i r . 2000) . “ H a r a s s m e nti s s ubj e c ti ve l y s e ve r e a nd pe r va s i ve i f

the c om pl a i ni ng e m pl oy e e pe r c e i ve s the ha r a s s m e nta s s e ve r e a nd p e r v a s iv e , a n d h a r a s s m e n t is o bje c tiv e ly s e v e r e a n d p e r v a s iv e if ar e a s o n ab le pe r s on i n the pl a i nt i f

f ’ s pos i ti on w oul d a dj udge the ha r a s s m e nts e ve r e a nd p e r v a s iv e .” I d . a t 5 0 9 . T o d e te r m in e th e o bje c tiv e s e v e r ity o f h a r a s s m e n t, “c o u r ts c ons i de r‘ the f

r e que nc y of

the c onduc t , ’ ‘ the s e ve r i ty of the c onduc t , ’ ‘ w he the rthe c o n d u c t is p h y s ic a lly th r e a te n in g o rh u m ilia tin g , o ram e r e o f fe n s iv e u tte r a n c e ,’ a nd ‘ w he the rthe c onduc tunr e a s onabl y i nt e r fe r e s w i th the e m pl oy e e ’ s j ob pe r for m a nc e . ’ ” I d.13

R i c ha r ds on a l l e ge s tha the w a s s ubj e c tt o ahos ti l e w ork e nvi r onm e nt be c a us e hi s s upe r vi s orr e fe rr e d t o hi m a s “ pr e a c he rm a n” m or e tha n f i f ty t i m e s a nd othe re m pl oy e e s m a de c om m e nt s r e ga r di ng hi s r e l i gi on a nd r e que s tfor a c c om m oda ti on. T he di s tr i c tc our tc orr e c t l y c onc l ude d tha tthe s e a l l e ga ti ons do notr i s e t o the l e ve l of

s e ve r e a nd pe r va s i ve ha r a s s m e nt . T he a l l e ge d ha r a s s m e ntof w hi ch R i char dson com pl ai ns w as no tobj ec ti vel y s ever e or per vasi ve. T he cond uct w a s notthr e a t e ni ng orm or e tha n a n of fe ns i ve utt e r a nc e , a nd the c onduc tdi d not i nt er fe re w i th R i char dson ’ s j ob perform ance .

C . T h e D i st ri ctC o u rtP ro

p erl y G ra n tedS u m m a ry Judgm e nton R i c hards on’ s State L aw C l ai m s B as e d on

So ve re i gn Im m un i t

y. R i c ha r ds on a r gue s tha tthe di s tr i c tc our te rr one ous l y gr a nt e d i m m uni ty t o the Co u n ty , Sh e r i f

f , a n d d e p u ti e s i n th e i ro f f i c i a l c a p a c i ti e s o n h i s s t a t e l a w c l a i ms b e c a u s e th e d e fe n d a n ts h a d liab ility in s u r a n c e . R ic h a r d s o n ’s a r g u m e n t fa ils . A lth o u g h R ic h a r d s o n is c o rr e c t th a t, u n d e rG e o r g iala w , th e p u r c h a s e o f liab ility i nsurance by a c ou nt y w ai ves i t s s ov er ei gn i m m un i ty for ce rt ai n cl ai m s, se e O . C . G . A . § 3 3 -2 4 -5 1 (b ), th i s p ro v i si o n ap p l i es o n l y t o cl ai m s “ ari si n g fro m th e u se of a m ot or vehi cl e. ” G i l bertv. R i char dson , 45 2 S . E . 2d 47 6, 48 0 (G a. 19 94 ); se e a l s o W ooda r d v. L a ur e ns C ounty , 456 S . E . 2d 581, 583 ( G a . 1995) ( “ O C G A § 33- 24- 51( B ) doe s nota ppl y be c a us e the l i abi l i ty of a ppe l l e e s i s notpr e di c a t e d upon14

thei r a l l eged negl i gentuse of a n i nsured m ot or vehi cl e. ”) . B ec ause the al l eged l i abi l i ty of the coun ty off i ci al s does notar i se fr om thei r use of a m ot or vehi cl e, s e c ti on 33- 24- 51( b) doe s noti m pa i rthe i rabi l i ty t o a s s e r tthe de fe ns e of s ove r e i gn i m m un i ty. W oo dard, 45 6 S . E . 2d at58 3. T he di stri ctcourtcorr ec t l y gra nt ed su m m ary j u d g m en tb ased o n so v erei g n i m m u n i ty. I V . CONCL US I ON T h e s u m m ar y ju d g m e n t a g a in s t R ic h a r d s o n is A FFI R M ED .