Opinion ID: 801202
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The AJ's Decision on Whitmore's EEO Defense

Text: The AJ rejected Whitmore's EEO defense on the merits. Although Whitmore contended that his hostile treatment by Dubois, Goddard, and Pitulej (who was implicated in Whitmore's EEO affidavit) began after his participation in the EEO proceeding, the AJ found that Whitmore failed to prove any nexus between the EEO proceeding and his removal, which were separated in time by four years. In particular, the AJ noted that Pitulej had no role in Whitmore's removal, and that Witt and Shalhoub were aware of Whitmore's EEO participation only because Whitmore raised the issue in his reply to his proposed removal. The AJ found nothing in the record to support Whitmore's suggestion that Witt and Shalhoub were influenced by Pitulej or any other OSHA officials regarding a motive to retaliate for Whitmore's EEO participation.