Source: https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/199-f-3d-1126-603417354
Timestamp: 2020-06-02 12:26:20
Document Index: 39496281

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 1291', '§ 1981', '§ 1981']

199 F.3d 1126 (10th Cir. 1999), 97-2343, Perry v Woodward - Federal Cases - Case Law - VLEX 603417354
199 F.3d 1126 (10th Cir. 1999), 97-2343, Perry v Woodward
Docket Nº: 97-2343, 98-2003
Party Name: ELIZABETH PERRY, Plaintiff-Appellant and Cross-Appellee, v. JUDY WOODWARD, individually and as the Bernalillo County Clerk and THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF BERNALILLO, Defendants-Appellees and Cross-Appellants.
Plaintiff, Elizabeth Perry ("Perry"), sued her employer, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Bernalillo, and the County Clerk, Judy Woodward ("Woodward"), individually and as County Clerk (collectively "Defendants"), alleging she was discriminated against on the basis of her race and retaliated against because she opposed employment practices made unlawful by state and federal laws. Perry's complaint alleged that Defendants violated the provisions of both the New Mexico Human Rights Act and 42 U.S.C. § 1981.
Defendants moved for summary judgment.1 The district court held that Perry had failed to establish a prima facie case of racial discrimination under New Mexico law by either direct or indirect evidence. Additionally, the district court ruled that Perry could not maintain a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 because she was an at-will employee. The district court also held that Perry was required to present evidence of intentional discrimination to prevail under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 but had failed to do so. The district court, therefore, granted Defendants' motion for summary judgment and dismissed all of Perry's state and federal claims with prejudice. The district court denied Defendants' subsequent motion for attorney's fees. Perry appeals the dismissal of her claims. Defendants appeal the denial of their attorney's fees.
This court exercises jurisdiction over both appeals under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 636(c)(3). This court REVERSES the summary judgment and VACATES as moot the order on attorney's fees.
Woodward began making racist remarks to employees shortly after taking office as County Clerk. During the first staff meeting for employees of the Clerk's office after her election, and in the course of discussing the educational opportunities available to county employees, Woodward announced that Hispanics needed more education. While speaking with Donna Lopez, an Hispanic employee of the County Clerk's office, Woodward called Lopez a "dirty Mexican." Lopez reported this incident to Viola Cortez, the union steward for the White Collar Union. Cortez was also informed by another employee, Kathy Sandoval, that Woodward had told Sandoval that "Mexicans smell bad." In another incident, Woodward approached Rachel Martinez, the union president, and stated, "You know, there's some Afro-Americans, Rachel, you know that they have bad body
odor. There's a lot of Hispanics that have it." After a union meeting attended by county employees, Woodward told Martinez, "There's a lot of old ladies there, and, you know, they're Hispanics, they're set in their own ways. They don't want to learn the new things. . . . I know I can't go in there and start firing everybody, but I can make it so miserable that they will leave, one at a time." In the course of a work-related conversation, Woodward asked Julie Childers, "Do you know why I don't like Hispanics? . . . I don't like Hispanics 'cause they're hot blooded and my ex-husband left me for a hot blooded Mexican."
1. Claims Arising Under 42 U.S.C. § 1981
The district court held that Perry's claims arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1981
(hereinafter "section 1981") must be dismissed because Perry was an at-will employee and is, therefore, unable to establish a violation of section 1981. Further, the district court held that Perry must provide proof of intentional discrimination to prevail under section 1981 and failed to do so.
In response to Patterson and other cases, Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1991. See Pub. L. No. 102-166, 105 Stat. 1071; see also H.R. Rep. No. 102-40(II), at 2 (1991) (stating that one of the purposes of the...
99 F. 846 (N.D.Ohio 1900), 5,969, New York Life Ins. Co. v. Board of Com'rs of Cuyahoga County, Ohio