# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 5- 11 53

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Reb ecca L. Nich ol s

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

ff - App el la nt

v.

Tri- Nati on al Log is ti cs , Inc .; RM R Dri ve r Serv ic es , Inc .; J am es Pari s, i n h is
in di vi du al cap aci ty; Ch arl es Ky e, in hi s i nd iv id ua l an d o ffi ci al cap aci ti es ; Do na ld

Lewis , in hi s i nd iv id ua l an d o ffi ci al cap aci ti es

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

an ts - App el le es

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s - Li tt le Ro ck

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Sep te m

be r 21 , 20 15
Fil ed : J an ua ry

4, 2 01 6

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Befo re MUR PHY, MELLOY, an d S MITH, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

MURP HY, Circ ui t J ud ge

.

Dur in g 20 11 an d 20 12 Reb ecca Nich ol s d ro ve a se m i tru ck fo r Tri- Nati on al
Log is ti cs an d RMR Driv er Serv ic es (co ll ect iv el y "TNI" ). Dur in g th e pe rio d fro m May 25 un ti l Ju ne 1, 20 12 he r fel lo w dr i v e r , J a m es Pari s, m ad e un welc om e se xu al

ad va nc es

. The n on a m an da to ry la y ov er, he to ok away he r tru ck ke y s an d cel l ph on ewhi le co nt in ui ng to pr op os it io n he r. On May 25

, 20 12 Nich ol s rep or te d hi s be ha vi or

to TNI an d ag ai n up to Ju ne 1. Afte r TNI te rm in at ed Nich ol s on Ju ne 25

, 20 12 ci ti ng
he r po or sa fet y reco rd

, sh e br ou gh t th is act io n ch arg in g TNI wit h di sc riminat io n on

th e ba si s of se x, te rm in at io n in ret al ia ti on fo r he r co m pl ai nt s, an d vi ol at io n of th e Fai r
Cred it Rep or ti ng Act ("F CR A " )

. S he al so ch arg ed Pari s wit h in te nt io na l in fli ct io n

of em ot io na l di st res s. Pari s ha s c o u n t ercl ai m ed fo r br each of co nt ract

, un jus t

en ric hm en t, an d m on ey le nt

. The di st ric t co u r t g r an te d su m m ary jud gm en t to th e
de fen da nt s, an d Ni ch ol s ap pe al s. We reve rs e an d re m an d.

I.

Reb ecca Nich ol s was a TNI em pl oyee in Aug u s t a n d Sep te m be r of 20 11

. Ab o u t t h r e e week s aft er Nich ol s was hi red

, sh e was ci te d fo r no no pe rat io na l tu rn
si gn al s an d ta il li gh ts

. W hi le sh e was pu ll in g away fro m th at st op , he r tru ck st uc k in

th e m ud an d TNI ha d to pa y th ou sa nd s of do ll ars fo r to win g an d rep ai rs as well as
da m ag e at th e si te

. Elev en da y s la te r Nich ol s da m ag ed th e do or of th e tra il er sh e was
d riv in g. TNI te rm in at ed he r aft er de te rm in in g th at bo th in ci de nt s ha d b e e n

pr ev en ta bl e.

W he n TNI reh ire d Nich ol s in Octo be r 20 11

, it in fo rm ed he r th at sh e co ul d no
lo ng er dr iv e al on e an d was res po ns ib le fo r fin di ng he r own dr iv in g pa rtn er. The fir st

pa rtn er sh e dr ov e wit h was Cat he rin e Harri ng to n who co ns id ered Nich ol s an un sa fe

dr iv er wi th who m sh e di d no t want to wor k. Harri ng to n to ld TNI th at Nich ol s t oo k

he r ha nd s an d ey es of

f th e ro ad to us e he r cel l ph on e whi le dr iv in g, us ed un ap pr ov ed

ro ut es in vi ol at io n of TN I po li cy , ha d con si st en t p ro bl em s co nn ect in g h er t ract or to

th e tra il er, an d at le as t on ce fo rg ot to la tc h th e tra il er do or s. Her se co nd pa rtn er was

Ro be rt Ri pk e who al so co m pl ai ne d th at Nich ol s ha d un sa fe dr iv in g ha b i t s

. La te r
whi le dr iv in g wit h Lan c e W eh rle , Ni ch ol s rece iv ed a ci ta ti on fo r dr iv in g th ro ug h a

st op si gn , cau si ng a th ree c ar ac ci de nt an d t ho us an ds of d ol la rs in da m ag e. W eh rle

-2

-al so co m

pl ai ne d to TNI ab ou t Nich ol s' dr iv in g an d st op pe d dr iv in g wit h he r in earl y May 201 2.

At th at po in t Nich ol s be ga n d r i v i n g w i t h Ja m es Pari s. Dur in g th ei r fir st tri p

Pari s as ke d Nich ol s if sh e was in te res te d in a ro m an ti c rel at io ns hi p. Nich ol s de cl in ed

th e of fer bu t di d no t rep or t it to TNI. Sh e was sc he du le d to dr i v e w i t h Pari s ag ai n

fro m May 25 to 30

. The ir tru ck on th at tri p ha d a sl eep in g co m pa rtment in th e ba ck

of th e cab s e p a r a t e d f

r om th e two dr iv er se at s by a cu rta in

. Acco rd in g to he r
de po si ti on te st im on y , Pari s o pe ne d th e cab 's cu rta in an d ex po se d hi m se lf whi le

Nich ol s was dr iv in g. Ups et

, sh e to ld hi m to ge t dr es se d an d "n ot to be ha ve th at way ."

Acco rd in g to Nich ol s, sh e im m ed ia te ly rep or te d th is in ci de nt t o Mel is sa Fo us t in

TNI's s afet y

de pa rtment.

Nich ol s t es ti fie d t ha t af

te r th is in it ia l in ci de nt , Pari s wo ul d o fte n s ta nd in th e
ba ck of th e cab whi le sh e was in th e dr iv er se at

, le an ov er he r in hi s un de rwear wit h

hi s ha nd s on th e ov erh ead co m pa rtment. Nich ol s te st ifi ed th at th is ha pp en ed on th ree

or fo ur oc cas io ns an d th at at le as t on ce hi s ge ni ta ls were vi si bl e th ro ug h a ho le in hi s

un de rwear

. W he n as ke d at he r de po si ti on if he ha d ev er do ne th is m or e th an on ce on

th e sa m e da y , Nich ol s repl ie d "Not th at I rem em be r of fh an d." Nich ol s to ld Mel is sa

Fo us t ab ou t si m il ar co nd uc t by Pari s fiv e ti m es du rin g th ei r si x da y tri p. Nich ol s to ld

Fo us t th at sh e ne ve rth el es s di d no t wan t to ch an ge as si gn m en ts be fo re sh e co ul d fin d

an ot he r dr iv in g pa rtn er be cau se sh e ne ed ed to wor k to pa y he r b i l ls

. Nich ol s al so

rep or te d Pari s' co nd uc t to a TNI di sp at ch er, Bo b Oli ve r, se ve ral da y s be fo re May 30

. Acco rd in g to he r de po si ti on , Oli ve r jus t to ld Nich ol s to try to "en du re it " un ti l th e tri p

was co m pl et e, at whi ch po in t h e wou ld he lp fin d h er an ot he r pa rtn er.

Afte r Nich ol s an d Pari s m ad e th ei r de li ve ry in Lared o, Tex as on May 30

, th ey
dr ov e ap pr ox im at el y th ree ho ur s to hi s ho m e in Ph arr, Tex as fo r a m an da to ry 34 ho ur

res t pe rio d. Nich ol s te st ifi ed th at sh e wen t al on g wit h Pari s to Ph arr be cau se sh e ha d

be en to ld an ot he r dr iv er wou ld no t be av ai la bl e un ti l aft er th e res t pe rio d. Her req ue st

-3

-to ta ke th e tru ck to a pl ace whe re sh e co ul d st ay ov ern ig ht was de ni ed be cau se Pari s

ha d p ers on al po ss es si on s i n t he cab . Nich ol s co m pl ai ne d t o t he di sp at ch er, "Bo b, I

can 't be li ev e y ou r te ll in g m e th at

. Did n't I jus t te ll y ou m ay be an ho ur ag o th at th e

m an was tryin g to c o n t r o l me t o no hi lt an d I co ul dn 't ge t away fro m hi m ? " Oli ve r

res po nd ed "[t ]ry to ge t al on g wi th hi m un ti l you g uys ge t back ou t on th e ro ad " and

of fere d to pa y ha lf th e co st of a m ot el ro om

. Nich ol s de ci de d to s l e ep in th e tru ck

in st ead on th e n ig ht of M ay 30

.

W he n Nich ol s a s k e d P a r is to ta ke he r to a m ot el on May 31

, he as ke d he r to

sl eep wit h hi m

. He pr op os ed th at in ret ur n he wou ld fo rg iv e an ei gh t hu nd red do ll ar
de bt sh e owe d hi m

. Nich ol s t e s t i f ie d th at whe n sh e refu se d, Pari s be cam e

"ex ces si ve ly m ad ," ve rb al ly de gr ad ed he r, an d twi ce fo rci bl y to ok away he r ke y s an d

cel l p ho ne

. Eve nt ua ll y Pari s di d t ak e Nic ho ls to a m ot el wher e sh e sp en t t he ni gh t,

an d on th e ne xt da y he dr ov e he r ba ck to Lared o whe re sh e go t on th e tru ck of an ot he r

TNI dr iv er, Ch ris Loya. Nich ol s th en rep or te d Pari s' co nd uc t in Ph arr to TNI an d sa id

th at it ha d c au se d h er t o fe el ab us ed , sca red , and de gr ad ed

.

F r o m J u n e 1 to 22 Nich ol s dr ov e wit h Ch ris Loya. He la te r rep or te d to TNI

th at sh e ha d dr iv en ov er th e sp eed li m it

, ke pt he r tra ct or br ak es on , fai le d to an ti ci pa te

tra ffi c li gh t ch an ge s, ru n th ro ug h at le as t on e red li g h t

, an d ta lk ed on he r ha nd he ld

cel l ph on e whi le dr iv in g. Afte r Don al d Lewis

, TNI's Fi el d Safe ty Su pe rv is or , he ard
Loya's rep or ts ab ou t Nich ol s' dr iv in g he to ld Ch arl es Ky e, TNI' s V i c e P r e si de nt of
Ope rat io ns , th at sh e sh ou ld be di sc ha rg ed

. Ky e te rm in at ed Nich ol s on Ju ne 25

, 20 12

.

Nich ol s su ed TNI, Pari s, Ky e, an d Lewis

, cl ai m in g th at TNI ha d di sc riminat ed

ag ai ns t he r on th e ba si s of he r se x in vi o l a t i o n o f Ark an sa s Ci vi l Ri gh ts Act
("AC RA") an d Tit le VII, th at TNI, Ky e, an d Lewis ha d ret al ia te d ag ai n s t he r fo r

co m pl ai ni ng about se xual ha ras sm en t, an d th at TNI ha d vi ol at ed FCRA by su bm it ti ng

in co m pl et e an d i n a ccu rat e dr iv in g rep or ts to Hire Ri gh t, an em pl oyee ba ck gr ou nd

ch eck co m

pa ny. Nich ol s al so s u ed Pari s fo r in te nt io na l in fli ct io n of em ot io na l

-4

-di st res s. Par i s c ou nt ercl ai m ed

, al le gi ng th at Nich ol s ha d fai le d to rep ay ov er a

th ou sa nd do ll ars sh e owe d hi m . The d is tri ct co ur t g ran te d t he m ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t by TNI, Ky e, an d Lewis an d de cl in ed to ex erci se su pp le m en ta l juri sd ic ti on

ov er Nich ol s' st at e la w cl ai m s. Nich ol s ap pe al s al l bu t th e di sm is sa l of he r FCRA

cl ai m s.

II.

W e rev ie w a gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t de no vo an d co ns id er th e fact s in th e

li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e no nm ov in g pa rty. Pi ns on v. 45 Dev

., LLC, 75 8 F.3 d 94 8,

95 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ). Su m m ary jud gm en t is on ly ap pr op ria t e whe n "t he re is no

ge nu in e di sp ut e as to an y m at eri al fact an d th e m ov in g par ty is en ti tl ed to jud gm en t

as a m at te r of

law." Id. at 95 1– 52

.

Nich ol s al le ge d cl ai m s fo r ho st il e wor k en vi ro nm en t an d se x di sc riminat io n

un de r Tit le VII an d ACRA. See Mer it or Sav

. Ban k, FSB v. Vin so n, 47 7 U.S. 57

, 66
(1 98 6) ; McC ul lo ug h v. Uni v. of Ark

. fo r Med

. Sci

., 55 9 F.3 d 85 5, 86 1 ( 8 t h Ci r.

20 0 9 )

. U n d e r t he se st at ut es , i t is il le ga l fo r an em pl oyer to di sc riminat e ag ai ns t an

em pl oyee be cau se of he r se x. 4 2 U.S.C. § 20 00 e-2 (a)( 1) ; Ark. Co de § 16 -1 23 -1 07

. To es ta bl is h a ho st il e wor k en vi ro nm en t cl ai m Nic ho ls m us t sh ow th at : (1 ) sh e is a

m em be r of a pr ot ect ed gr ou p; (2 ) sh e was su bjec t to un welc om e ha ras sm en t; (3 ) th e

ha ras sm en t was ba se d on se x; (4 ) th e ha ras sm en t affe ct ed a te rm , c o n d i t i o n , or

pr iv il eg e of he r em

pl oym en t; an d (5 ) he r em

pl oyer kn ew or sh ou ld ha ve kn own of th e

ha ras sm en t an d fai le d to ta ke ap pr op ria te r e med i al act io n. E.E.O. C. v. CRST Van
Exp ed it ed

, In c., 67 9 F.3 d 65 7, 68 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ). Acti on ab le ha ras sm en t m us t ha ve
be en bo th ob

jecti ve ly an d su bjec ti ve ly of fen si ve affe ct in g a te rm of em pl oym en t.

Bai nb rid ge v. Lo ffre do Gard en s, In c., 37 8 F .3d 75 6, 7 59 (8t h C ir. 2 00 4)

.

The di st ric t co ur t erre d w h e n an al y zi ng Nich ol s' se xu al ha ras sm en t cl ai m by

no t co ns id eri ng al l th at ha d oc cu rred du rin g th e 34 ho ur res t pe rio d in Ph arr. Und er

-5

-Tit le VII "o ffen si ve co nd uc t do es no t ne ces sa ril y ha ve to tra ns pi re at th e wor kp la ce

in or de r fo r a jur o r r e a s o n ab ly to co nc lu de th at it crea te d a ho st il e wor ki ng

en vi ro nm en t." Dowd v. Uni te d St eel wor ke rs of Am

., Loc al No. 28 6, 25 3 F.3 d 10 93

, 11 02 (8 th Ci r. 20 01 ). Fo r ex am pl e, in Mo rin g v. A rk an sa s Dep art m en t of

Co rrec ti on s, 24 3 F.3 d 45 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 01 ), a Tit le VII se xu al ha ras sm en t ve rd ic t was

up he ld on ap pe al whe re th e of fen s i v e c o n d uc t ha d oc cu rred in a ho te l ro om aft er
bu si ne ss ho ur s. Nich ol s' ti m e in Ph arr was pa rt of he r wor k tri p be cau se sh e st op pe d

th ere du rin g a m an da to ry res t pe rio d, an d Oli ve r to ld he r he wou ld on ly fin d he r a
dr iv er aft er it was co m

pl et ed

. The TNI tru ck was th e on ly fo rm of tra ns po rt av ai la bl e

t o he r at th e ti m e, an d Oli ve r in st ru ct ed Nich ol s sh e co ul d no t us e it to dr i v e t o a

m ot el

.

The di st ric t co ur t tre at ed Nich ol s' de ci si on to rem ai n wit h th e tru ck as he r own
ch oi ce, bu t th e la w do es no t req ui re an em pl oyee to "q ui t or wan t to qu it " whe n face d

wit h a Hob so n's ch oi ce. See Davi s v . U.S. Pos ta l Se rv ., 14 2 F .3d 13 34

, 13 41 (1 0t h

Ci r. 19 98 ). Su ch a req ui r e ment co ul d fo rce an em pl oyee to ch oo se be twee n he r

em pl oym en t an d he r rig ht to fil e a le ga l cl ai m. The ap pr op ria te te st is whe th er
Nich ol s su bjec ti ve ly pe rcei ve d he r wor k en vi ro nm en t as of fen si ve

. See Bai nb rid ge , 37 8 F .3d at 7 59

.

The reco rd co nt ai ns ge nu in e is su es of m at eri al fact ab ou t al l th at ha pp en ed on

th e tri p an d whe th er N i c h o l s su bjec ti ve ly pe rcei ve d Pari s' act io ns as of fen si ve

. Nich ol s tes ti fie d at he r de po si ti on th at aft er he ex po se d hi m se lf, sh e was up se t, tol d

h im no t to be ha ve th at way , an d co m pl ai ne d im m ed ia te ly to TNI. Nich ol s al s o

te st ifi ed th at sh e co m

pl ai ne d to Mel is sa Fo us t ab ou t Pari s fiv e ti m es th ro ug ho ut th e

tri p an d rep or te d to Oli ve r on Ju ne 1 th a t sh e fel t ab us ed

, de gr ad ed

, an d sc ared

. A

psy ch ia tris t who pe rfo rm ed an in de pe nd en t m ed ic al ex am ina tio n te sti fi ed tha t N ic hol s
fel t se xu al ly ha ras se d an d su ffer ed fro m de pr es si on an d po st -tr au m at ic st res s dis orde r
du e to Pari s' a g g r e s s i v e co nd uc t se ek in g se x. Alt ho ug h Nich ol s ne ed no t pr ov e

-6

-ps y ch ol og ic al in jury, th e ps y ch ia tri st 's te st im on y bo ls te rs he r c l a i m t h at sh e fel t

ab us ed an d h aras se d. Se e Harri s v . For kl ift Sy s., In c., 51 0 U.S. 1 7, 2 2 (1 99 3)

.

The di st ric t co ur t erre d in fin di ng th at Nich ol s di d no t rep or t Pari s' co nd uc t to

TNI un ti l Ju ne 1. Nich ol s al le ge s th at aft e r P a r i s f i rs t ex po se d hi m se lf, sh e

im m ed ia te ly rep or te d it to Mel is sa Fo us t, a TNI sa fet y de pa rtment em pl oyee. Nich ol s

te st ifi ed th at aft er thi s firs t i nc id en t, Pa ris lea ne d o ve r he r in hi s un de rwear th ree or

fo ur ti m es

. W he n as ke d at he r de po si ti on if su ch su bs eq ue nt act io ns ev er to ok pl ace

on th e sa m e da y , Nich ol s rep li ed "No t th at I rem em be r of fh an d." The te st of whe th er

a co m pa ny is co ns id ered to ha ve act ua l k no wled ge of h aras si ng co nd uc t i s wh et he r

su ffi ci en t in fo rm at io n co m es "t o th e at te nt io n of so m eo ne wh o [ h a d] th e po wer to

te rm in at e th e ha ras sm en t." San do va l v. Am

. Bl dg

. Mai nt

. In du s., In c., 57 8 F.3 d 78 7,

80 2 (8 th Cir . 20 09 ).

W he n th e ev id en ce is vi ewed in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Nich ol s, he r in it ia l

rep or t to Fo us t ab ou t Pari s m us t ha ve be en on Fri da y , May 25

. It co ul d no t ha ve be en

on Sat ur da y , May 26 or Su nd ay , M a y 2 7 b e c a us e Fo us t ha d no t wor ke d on th e
week en d. Sh e co ul d al so no t ha ve in it ia ll y rep or te d du rin g th e la st th ree da y s of th e

tri p. W he n th e ev id en ce is vi ewed in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Nich ol s, th ere were

f o u r di st in ct da y s du rin g whi ch Pari s le an ed ov er he r in hi s un de rwear

. Fo us t' s

reg ul ar wor k ho ur s were 8: 00 AM to 5: 00 PM, an d th e reco rd refl ect s th at on Fri da y , May 25 Ni ch ol s ca ll ed TNI si x t im es be twee n 2 :4 8 P M an d 5 :4 7 P M.

TNI a rg ue s th at ev en if Nich ol s d id rep or t Pari s' co nd uc t pr io r to Ju ne 1, sh e

ha s no t sh own th at th e co m pa ny fai le d to t a k e ap pr op ria te rem ed ia l act io n. The

fact or s to co ns id er whe n as se ss in g th e reas on ab l e n e s s of an em pl oyer's act io ns

"i nc lu de th e am ou nt of ti m e th at el ap se d be twee n th e no ti ce an d rem ed ia l act io n, th e

op ti on s av ai la bl e to th e e mp l o yer,

. . . an d whe th er or no t th e m eas ur es en de d th e

ha ras sm en t." CRST, 67 9 F.3 d a t 6 9 2 –9 3 (al te rat io n in or ig in al

, in te rn al qu ot at io n

m ark s om it te d)

. In CRST, we de te rm in ed th at th e em pl o ye r to ok ap pr op ria te

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-rem ed ia l act io n by: "(1 ) rem ov i n g th e [h aras se d] wom an fro m th e tru ck as so on as

pr act ic ab le [wit hi n 24 ho ur s], arra ng in g ov ern ig ht lo dg in g at a m ot el an d su bs eq ue nt

tra ns po rta ti on to a CRST te rm in al at th e co m pa ny's ex pe ns e; (2 ) req ue st in g a writ te n

st at em en t from th e [v ic ti m ]; (3 ) rel ie vi ng th e [v ic ti m ] fro m fu tu re ass ig nm en ts wit h

th e al le ge d ha ras se r; an d (4 ) rep rimand in g th e al le ge d ha ras se r an d ba rri ng hi m fro m

te am

- d r i v i n g w it h wom en in de fin it el y ." Id

. at 69 3. W e fu rth er no te d th at th es e

"ac ti on s, no t ne ces sa ril y in co m bi na ti on , co ns ti tu te th e type of pr om pt an d effe ct iv e

rem ed ia l ac ti on th at ou r pr eced en ts pre sc rib e." Id

.

Unl ik e th e em

pl oyer in CRST, TNI di d no t rem ov e Pari s fro m he r tru ck wit hi n

24 ho ur s, pr oc eed to in ve st ig at e th e al le ge d m is co nd uc t, or rep rimand Pari s. Nich ol s

no ti fie d TNI ab ou t hi s ha ras smen t on May 25

, an d se ve n da y s el ap se d be fo re TNI

arra ng ed for Ch ris Loya t o pi ck he r up in Lared o. TNI co ul d h av e o rd ered Nich ol s

to le av e Pari s' tru ck as so on as it le arn ed ab o u t th e pr ob le m an d pr om pt ly he lp he r

fin d an ot he r dr iv in g pa rtn er, rep rimand ed Pari s fo r hi s be ha vi or , or arra ng ed lo dg in g

fo r he r in Lared o in st ead of pe rm it t i n g h e r to acco m pa ny hi m to Ph arr on May 30

. In st ead

, TNI al le ge dl y to ok no act io n to rem ov e he r de sp it e he r co ns is te nt co m pl ai nt s

of se xu al ha ras sm en t, bu t al lo wed he r to go to Pari s' ap art m en t in Ph arr, an d st ran de d

he r th ere wi th no av ai la bl e al te rn at e fo rm of t ran sp or ta ti on

.

The di ss en t su gg es ts th at TNI's res po ns e was reas o n a b le in co m pa ris on to

se ve ral ot he r cas es it ci te s, bu t no ne of th es e cas es in vo lv ed a wor kp la ce at al l li ke th e

co nf in ed en vi ro nm en t of an ov er th e ro ad tru ck cab in whi ch Nich ol s was is ol at ed fo r

a m ul ti da y tri p. See Green v. Fran kl in Nat'l Ban k of Mi nn eap ol is

, 45 9 F.3 d 9 0 3,

90 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ) (b ot h pa rti es were ba nk te ll ers ); Barr et t v. Om ah a Nat'l Ban k, 72 6

F.2 d 42 4, 42 6 (8 th Ci r. 19 84 ) (b ot h pa rti es wor ke d at de sk s in an op en pu bl ic area );
Dhyne v. Mei ne rs Th r ift way , I nc ., 1 84 F.3 d 98 3, 98 6 (8 th Ci r. 19 99 ) (p la in ti ff was

a cas hi er and th e al le ge d har as se r ba gg ed gr oc eri es ). In co nt ras t— in ou r cas e th ere

are ge nu in e is su es of m at eri al fact in t h i s r e c o rd

. The se in cl ud e whe th er TNI to ok

ap pr op ria te rem ed ia l act io n in res po n s e to Nich ol s' pe rs on al pl ea to sa ve he r fro m

-8

-fu rth er ha ras sm en t. On th is fu ll reco rd th e di st ric t co ur t erre d by di sm is si ng Nich ol s'

se xu al ha ras sm en t cl ai m

.

III.

Afte r al l cl ai m s ov er whi ch th e di st ric t co ur t ha d or ig in al juri sd ic ti on ha d be en
di sm is se d, th e co ur t de cl in ed to ex te nd su pp le m en ta l juri sd ic ti on ov er Nich ol s' cl ai m

ag ai ns t Pari s fo r in te nt io na l in fli ct io n of em ot io na l di st res s an d hi s c o u n t e r c la im s
rel at in g to he r al le ge d un pa id de bt

. Si nc e th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in gr an ti ng su m m ary jud gm en t to TNI o n Ni ch ol s' se xu al ha ras sm en t cl ai m , we va cat e th e jud gm en t an d

rem an d fo r co ns id erat io n of whe th er Nich ol s' in te nt io na l in f l i c t io n of em ot io na l

di st res s cl ai m is "s o rela te d to th e" all eg ed Tit le VII and ACRA cl ai m s th at it fo rm s "p art of th e sa m e cas e or co nt ro ve rs y " an d co ns eq ue nt ly sh ou ld be rei ns ta te d. Bro wn

v. M or tg . Elec. Re gi st rat io n S y s., In c., 73 8 F .3d 92 6, 9 33 (8t h C ir. 2 01 3)

.

IV.

The di st r i c t co ur t gr an te d su m m ary jud gm en t to TNI, Ky e, an d Lewis on
Nich ol s' cl ai m th at s h e was fir ed in ret al ia ti on fo r rep or ti ng Pari s' co nd uc t to th e

co m pa ny. To st at e a pr im a faci e ca s e o f ret al ia ti on un de r Tit le VII an d ACRA,

Nich ol s ha d to sh ow th at : (1 ) sh e en ga ge d in a pr ot ect ed act iv it y ; (2 ) sh e su ffer ed an
ad ve rs e em

pl oym en t act io n; an d (3 ) th e r e w a s a cau sa l co nn ect io n be twee n th e

pr ot ect ed act iv it y an d th e ad ve r s e act io n. McC ul lo ug h v. Uni v. of Ark

. fo r Med

. S c i s

. , 5 5 9 F.3 d 85 5, 86 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ). Und er th e McDo nn el Dou gl as bu rd e n
sh ift in g fra mework

, TNI reb ut te d Nich ol s' pr im a faci e cas e by pr ov id in g a

no nr et al ia to ry

reas on for he r te rm in at io n— he r po or saf et y reco rd

. See Bran nu m v.

Mo

. Dep 't of Co rr., 51 8 F.3 d 54 2, 54 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). Nich ol s th en fai le d to pr od uc e

su ffi ci en t ev id en ce o f pr et ex t.

-9

-Nich ol s po in ts ou t th at TNI fir ed he r th ree weeks aft er her sex ua l hara ss m en t

co m pl ai nt s, bu t "[e ]vid en ce th at th e em pl oyer ha d be en co nc ern ed ab ou t a pr ob le m
be fo re t he em

pl oyee en ga ge d in th e p ro te ct ed act iv it y un de rcu ts th e si gn ifi can ce o f

th e te m po ral pr ox im it y ." Herv ey v. Ct y

. of Koo ch ic hi ng , 52 7 F.3 d 71 1, 72 3 (8 th Ci r.

20 08 ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. Here, th ere is su ffi ci en t ev id en ce th at TNI

was co nc er

ne d ab out N ic hol s' un sa fe dr iv in g well be fo re sh e co m pl ai ne d ab ou t se xu al

ha ras sm en t. Si nc e no ge nu in e is su e of m at eri al fact ha s be en pr es en te d to sh ow th at

he r te rm in at io n w a s r e t a l i at or y , th e di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y gr an te d th e m ot io n fo r

su m m ary jud gm en t o n t hi s cl ai m

.

V.

W e c o n c l u d e t ha t th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in gr an ti ng su m m ary jud gm en t on
Nich ol s' Tit le VII an d ACRA se x di sc riminat io n cl ai m s be c a u s e ge nu in e is su es of

m at eri al fact rem ai n as to whe th er Nich ol s su bjec ti ve ly fel t ab us ed by Pari s, th at TNI

was aware of hi s co nd uc t, an d th at TNI fai le d to ta ke a p p r o p r i a te act io n. The
jud gm en t of th e di st ric t co u r t is th eref or e rev ers ed

, an d th e cas e is rem an de d fo r

pr oc eed in gs no t i nc on si st en t wi th th is op in io n.

SMI TH, Circ ui t J ud ge , di ss en ti ng

.

I res pe ct fu ll y di ss en t. Afte r rev ie win g th e reco rd in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to

Nich ol s, I co nc lu de th at Nich ol s ha s no t de m on st rat ed th at TNI act ed ne gl ig en tl y in

ad dr es si ng he r co m

pl ai nt s. W he n an em

pl oyee al le ge s se xu al ha ra s s men t by a

co wor ke r, "[a ]n em

pl oyer m us t be al lo wed so m e ti m e to ga ug e th e cred ib il it y of th e

co m pl ai na nt ." Dhy ne v. Mei ne rs Th ri ft wa y, In c. , 18 4 F.3 d 98 3, 98 8 (8t h Cir. 19 99 ).

As a res ul t, an em

pl oyee of te n m us t "t ol erat e so m e de la y " by an em pl o yer ta ki ng

ap pr op ria te rem ed ia l ac ti on

. Se e id

.

-1 0-S e xu al ha ras sm en t by a co wor ke r is no t a vi ol at io n of Tit le VII un le s s a n

"em pl oyer kn ew or sh ou ld ha ve kn own of th e ha ras sm en t in qu e s t i o n a nd fai le d to

ta ke pr op er rem ed ia l act io n." Moy la n v. Mar ie s Ct y. , 7 9 2 F .2d 74 6, 75 0 (8 th Ci r.

1 98 6) (ci ti ng Hen so n v. Ci ty of Dun de e , 68 2 F.2 d 89 7, 90 5 (1 1t h Ci r. 19 82 ))

. Co ns is te nt wit h th e ne gl ig en ce st an da rd us ed to ev al ua te an em pl oyer's res po ns e, we

ha ve refr ai ne d fr om re qui rin g sp eci fic rem ed ia l m eas ur es

. In st ead

, we ha ve st at ed th at "[f ]acto rs in as se ss in g th e reas on ab le ne ss of r e med ia l m eas ur es may in cl ud e th e

am ou nt of ti m e th at el ap se d be twee n th e no ti ce an d rem ed ia l a c t i o n , th e op ti on s

av ai la bl e to th e em

pl oyer,

. . . an d whe th er or no t th e m eas ur es en de d th e

ha ras sm en t." Ca rt er v. Ch ry sl er Co rp

. , 17 3 F.3 d 69 3, 70 2 (8 th Ci r.19 99 ) (em ph as is

ad de d) (ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. "Pr op er rem ed ia l act io n ne ed be on ly 'reas on ab ly

c a l c u l a t e d to st op th e ha ras sm en t'

. . . ." Eng el v. Rap id Ci ty Sc h. Dis t.

, 50 6 F.3 d

11 18 , 11 25 (8t h C ir. 2 00 7) (qu ot in g Ca rt er , 17 3 F .3d at 7 02 ).

The m ajor it y co nc lu de s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in fin di ng th at Nich ol s di d

no t rep or t Pari s's co nd uc t to TNI un ti l Ju ne 1. Und er th e m ajor it y 's fact ua l

reco ns tru ct io n, Nich ol s's in i ti al rep or t to TNI reg ard in g Pari s "m us t ha ve be en on

Fri da y , May 25 ." The reco rd m ay no t su pp or t th e di st ric t co ur t's Ju ne 1 fin di ng , bu t 1

it al so do es no t su pp or t th e m ajor it y 's May 25 fin di ng

. The m ajor it y s t at es th at

Nich ol s al le ge s sh e "i m

m ed ia te ly" cal le d Fo us t to rep or t Pari s's co nd uc t aft er th e fir st

ex po su re. Nowh ere in th e reco rd do es Nich ol s m ak e s u c h a d efi ni ti ve st at em en t.

Rat he r, th e reco rd refl ect s o n l y t ha t Nich ol s cal le d Fo us t to rep or t Pari s's co nd uc t

so m et im e aft er Pari s fir st ex po se d hi m se lf to Nich ol s. Mo reo ve r, whe n th e reco rd is

read to fav or ab ly ha rm on iz e Nich ol s's te st im on y , May 28 is th e earl ie st Nich ol s co ul d

ha ve cal le d F ou st to rep or t Pa ris

.

Not ab ly, no whe re do es Nich ol s he rs el f cl ai m sh e rep or te d Pari s's co nd uc t on 1 May 25.

-1 1-In he r de po si ti on , Nich ol s was as ke d w h e n sh e "fi rs t cal le d Mel is sa [Fo us t]

aft er [Par is ] ex po se d h i ms e l f

. " In he r an swe r, Nich ol s di sc us se d two in ci de nt s in

whi ch Pari s h ad ex po se d h im se lf. Acc or di ng to Nich ol s:

[The ] [f]irs t ti m e he di d it

, he —I was dr iv in g da y s; he dr ov e ni gh ts

. And
he was ba ck in hi s bu nk an d th e dr ap es —t he cu rta in s were pu ll ed

. Fi rs t ti m e he di d it

, he jus t th rew th e cu rta in s op en , st an di ng th ere na ke d,

ex po si ng hi m se lf t o m e. And of co ur se —an d I was dr iv in g do wn th e

ro ad at th e ti m e. And of co u r s e t h a t u p se t m e an d I to ld hi m to ge t hi m se lf d res se d a nd to no t b eh av e th at way

.

The n t he ne xt ti m e, wha t he did —h e di d th is se ve ral ti m es —b ut he was co m e up th ere rig ht be si de m e, reac hi ng in to th e sh el f ab ov e th e win ds hi e ld

, act in g li ke he was ge tt in g so m et hi ng ou t of th ere. And he
di dn 't ha ve bo xe r sh or ts on

. I ne ve r to ld an y on e he ha d bo xe rs on

. He
ha d t he reg ul ar k in d o f un de rwear m en wear.

* * *

Bu t th e le gs were t r e men do us ly bi g on hi m

. The y co m pl et el y ga pp ed

op en . An d whe n he st oo d rig ht be si de m e, he was co m pl et el y ex po se d

to m e whe re I co ul d sm el l hi m

. I co ul d ha ve reac he d ov er an d bi t it of f.
And I as ke d h im

to st op do in g i t.

Nich ol s th en st at ed th at sh e fir st cal le d Fou st "[t ]hat ti m e th at he di d it

, he go t up so
cl os e to m

y face

, ex po si ng hi m se lf, an d I sm el le d hi m ." Late r, whe n as ke d if sh e
cal le d Fo us t "af

te r th at in ci de nt whe re [ P a r i s ] o p en ed up th e cu rta in an d ex po se d

hi m se lf," Nich ol s res po nd ed

, "Yes

. Tha t's —I th in k th at was th e fir s t ti m e I cal le d

he r." Co ns tru in g th es e two an swe rs in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Nich ol s, b ot h are

tru e on ly if th e cal l to Fo us t o ccu rred no t on ly aft er Paris op en ed up th e cu rta in an d

ex po se d hi m se lf bu t al so aft er th e ti m e Pari s go t up cl os e to Nich ol s ' s face an d

ex po se d h im se lf.

-1 2-Giv en th at Nich ol s te st ifi ed th at Pari s di d no t ex po se hi m se lf to he r m or e th an

on ce in a da y , t he ti m e Pari s "g ot u p s o cl os e to [Nic ho ls 's] f ace, ex po si ng hi m se lf,

an d [s he ] sm el le d hi m " co ul d no t ha ve oc cu rred on May 25

, th e fir st da y of th e May

25 –J un e 1 pe rio d wi th Pari s. Fo us t di d no t wor k on May 2 6 o r 27 . Thu s, M ay 28 is

th e earl ie st Nich ol s co ul d ha ve m ad e he r f i r s t c a l l to Fo us t to rep or t th e ex po su res

.

The m ajor it y 's May 25 fin di ng is un su pp or t e d by th e reco rd

. As su ch

, TNI's

op po rtu ni ty to ta ke ap pr op ria te rem ed ia l act io n is si gn ifi can tl y red uc ed

. No sp eci fic

ti m e req ui rem en t ex is ts fo r em pl oyers to res po nd to se xu al ha ras sm en t cl ai m s, bu t it

m us t be reas on ab le un de r th e ci rcu m st an ces

. Ca rt er
, 17 3 F.3 d a t 7 02 (s et ti ng fo rth

fact or s to as se ss th e reas on ab le ne ss of rem ed ia l m eas ur es , on e of whi ch is "t he

am ou nt of ti m e th at el ap se d be twee n th e no ti ce an d rem ed ia l act io n" ). A p p lying

ex i s t in g ci rcu it pr eced en t, TNI to ok rem ed ia l act io n wit hi n a reas on ab le ti m e of

rece iv in g no ti ce fro m Nich ol s. In Bar re tt v. Omah a Na ti on al Ban k

, we f o un d an

em pl oyer's res po ns e to an em pl oyee's se xu al ha ras sm en t co m pl ai nt wit hi n fo ur da y s

to be pr om

pt rem ed ia l act io n. 72 6 F.2 d 42 4, 42 7 (8 th Ci r. 19 84 ). Lik ewis e, in Gre en

v. Fra nk li n Na ti on al Ban k of Min ne ap ol is , we reject ed an em pl oyee's cl ai m th at an

em pl oyer fai le d to act pr om

pt ly en ou gh whe n it to ok rem ed ia l act io n ne arl y a m on th

aft er le arn in g of th e ha ras sm en t. 45 9 F.3 d 9 0 3

, 9 1 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ) (rejec ti ng th e

cas es th at th e em

pl oyee ci te d to su pp or t he r cl ai m be cau se th ey "i nv ol ve d si tu at io ns
whe re th e em

pl oyer wait ed m

uc h lo n g e r t h a n on e m on th to [ta ke pr op er rem ed ia l

act io n]").

Fi na ll y , in Dhy ne , we co ns id ered it a "cl os e qu es ti on " whe th er a n e mp lo y er

act ed pr om

pt ly en ou gh whe n it de la y ed two mo n t h s b e fo re ta ki ng rem ed ia l act io n.

18 4 F.3 d at 98 7– 88

. The m ajor it y is co rrec t th at in CRS T w e de te rm in ed th at th e

em pl oyer to ok ap pr op ria te rem ed ia l act io n by rem ov in g th e ha ras se d em pl oyee fro m

th e tru ck wit hi n 24 ho ur s; ho wev er, we di d no t se t 24 ho ur s as a m in im um st an da rd

. E.E.O. C. v. CRS T Van Exp ed it ed

, In c. , 67 9 F.3 d 65 7, 69 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ) (fi nd in g th at

th e em pl oyer rem ov ed th e em

p l oyees "fr om th e tru ck as so on as pr act ic ab le "). An

-1 3-em

pl oyer's res po ns e ne ed no t be id eal in ev ery cas e bu t m us t be reas on ab le un de r th e
ci rcu ms t an ces

. Se e, e.g

. , Gre en , 45 9 F.3 d at 91 2 (fi nd in g th at al th ou gh em pl oyer's

act io ns were les s th an id eal

, th ey were su ffi ci en t); La pk a v. Ch er to

ff

, 51 7 F.3d 97 4,

98 7 (7 th Ci r. 20 08 ) (co nc lu di ng th at an em pl oyer's "re sp on se m ay no t ha ve be en

pe rfec t i n a ll res pe ct s, b ut it was a de qu at e")

.

Here, Pari s's al le ge d ha ras sm en t of Nich ol s en de d no t la te r th an Ju ne 1. To be

su re, no on e sh ou ld ha ve to en du re ha ras si ng co nd uc t fo r an y pe rio d, bu t em pl oyers

can on ly be le ga ll y res po ns ib le fo r co nd uc t of whi ch th ey are m ad e aware an d fai l to

ta ke ti m el y , r e a s on ab le st ep s to co rrec t. The ti m e pe rio d be twee n May 2 8 an d Ju ne

1 is th e ve ry type of de la y em pl oyees m

us t un fo rtu na te ly so met im es en du re.

Co ns id eri ng cu rren t pr eced en t, whe re a two -m on th de l a y pr es en te d a "cl os e

qu es ti on ," I s ub m it th at th e fo ur -d ay de la y he re was no t u nr eas on ab le

.

Thi s c a s e al so pr es en ts im po rta nt co nt ex tu al co ns id erat io ns in de te rm in in g
whe th er TNI act ed ne gl ig en tl y

. Fi rs t, th e ha ras sm en t at is su e oc cu rred in a tru ck th at

was sc he du le d to be on th e ro ad fro m May 25 –J un e 1. Unli ke th e typic al wor kp la ce

co nt ex t o f an off

ic e, TNI co ul d n ot im m ed ia te ly inv es ti ga te . W hi le TNI cou ld ha ve

po ss ib ly rem ov ed Nich ol s im m ed ia te ly fro m Pari s's tru ck

, Nich ol s to ld TNI th at sh e
di d no t wan t to ge t of

f th e tru ck un ti l an ot he r co dr iv er was fo un d. Si gn ifi can tl y , TNI's

fai lu re to rem ov e Nich ol s fro m th e tru ck was th e on ly co n cret e cri ti ci sm Nich ol s's

ex pe rt ha d o f TN I 's res po ns e. The m ajor it y is co rrec t th at TNI co ul d ha ve

rep rimand ed Pari s. Howev er, TNI's de ci si on no t to rep rimand Pari s im m ed ia te ly do es

no t co ns ti tu te act io na bl e co nd uc t. In ch oo si ng no t to rep rimand Pari s be fo r e
de te rm in in g fau lt

, TNI di d no t de la y un reas on ab ly in t a k i n g r em ed ia l act io n. Se e Dhy ne , 18 4 F.3 d at 98 8 (h ol di ng th at an e mp l o ye r mu s t be al lo wed so m e ti m e to

ga ug e th e cre di bi li ty of th e co m pl ai na nt ).

Co nt rary to th e m ajor it y 's ch arac te riz at io n, I do no t th in k TNI kn ew or sh ou ld

ha ve kn own th at Nich ol s ne ed ed to be sa ve d. At m os t, TNI kn ew Pari s was ex po si ng

-1 4-hi m se lf to Nich ol s bu t th at Nich ol s di d no t co ns id e r th e co nd uc t so in to le rab le th at

sh e req ui red im

m ed ia te rem ov al fro m th e tru ck

. As al read y m en ti on ed

, Nich ol s to ld

TNI sh e wis h e d t o r e mai n on th e tru ck wit h Pari s un ti l a di ffer en t dr iv er co ul d be

lo cat ed

. Add it io na ll y , pr io r to go in g to Pari s's res id en ce fo r a m an da to ry 34 -h ou r res t

pe rio d, Pari s an d Nich ol s st op pe d at a TNI te rm in al in Lared o, Tex as

. Nich ol s di d no t

ta ke th e o pp or tu ni ty to g et of f th e tru ck ; in st ead , s he co nt in ue d on wit h P ari s t o h is

res id en ce. Cert ai nl y , a n em pl oyee is no t req ui red to "q ui t or want to qu it ." Dav is v.

U.S.P.S. , 1 42 F.3 d 13 34 , 1 34 1 (1 0t h Ci r. 19 98 ). Howev er, N i c h o l s w ou ld no t ha ve
be en qu it ti ng he r job by g et ti ng of f th e tru ck in Lare d o b e f

o r e a cco m

pa nyin g Pari s

to hi s res id en ce du rin g th e res t pe rio d. TNI was no t ne gl ig en t in co ns tru in g Nich ol s's

wor ds an d c on du ct as i nc on si st en t wi th an em pl oyee req ui rin g e m erg en cy act io n.

Fi na l l y, th e ha ras sm en t en de d whe n TNI si gn ed of f on Nich ol s's req ue st to

te am dr iv e wit h Ch ris Loya rat he r th an Pari s. Eve n whe n em pl oyers do no t act in an
id eal m an ne r, rem ed ia l act io n th at effe ct iv el y en ds ha ra s s men t can be de em ed

su ffi ci en t. Se e Gre en , 45 9 F.3 d at 91 2

. Acco rd in gl y , I wou ld affi rm th e jud gm en t of

th e d is tri ct co ur t.

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

-1 5-