Opinion ID: 784093
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: MHTC's APPEAL

Text: 7 MHTC appeals on two grounds. First, MHTC argues that the district court erred in denying its motion for judgment as a matter of law because there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's verdict that MHTC's decision not to hire Wheeler was discriminatory. Second, MHTC appeals the district court's refusal to grant a new trial. It argues that the district court abused its discretion in allowing Wheeler to admit evidence of MHTC's affirmative action plan (AAP), given that there was insufficient evidence in the record that MHTC acted pursuant to the plan.
8 We review the denial of a motion for judgment as a matter of law de novo, using the same standard as the district court. Ogden v. Wax Works, Inc., 214 F.3d 999, 1005 (8th Cir.2000). We consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, resolving all conflicts in the evidence in Wheeler's favor and assuming as proved all facts that his evidence tended to show. In addition, we must give the non-moving party the benefit of all favorable inferences that may be reasonably drawn from the facts proved. Hathaway v. Runyon, 132 F.3d 1214, 1220 (8th Cir.1997). 9 MHTC asserts that the only evidence of discrimination at trial was its affirmative action plan. MHTC argues that it cannot be held liable for discrimination by acting pursuant to a valid AAP. See Christensen v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y, 767 F.2d 340, 343 (7th Cir.1985) (noting that a lawful affirmative action program is not evidence of discrimination), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1102, 106 S.Ct. 885, 88 L.Ed.2d 920 (1986). 10 We find MHTC's assertion to be unconvincing. In numerous discussions both before and during the trial, the district court stated that the issue was not the existence and validity of the AAP, but the relative merits and qualifications of the two individuals. As the district court noted, MHTC agreed with this theory of the case and chose to defend the case on the merits of the hiring decision, without reference or refuge to an affirmative action plan. Accordingly, the district court granted MHTC's motion in limine to exclude evidence of the AAP. The only evidence of the AAP the district court allowed was Wheeler's inquiry on cross-examination as to whether the AAP played any role in the interviewer's hiring decision. 11 MHTC seems to equate Wheeler's evidence of pressure from upper level management to hire females as evidence of the AAP. This is inaccurate. Evidence of illegal and discriminatory motive to hire on the basis of sex and not on the merits of the candidates is distinct from evidence of a valid AAP. The basis of Wheeler's argument was not that MHTC acted pursuant to the AAP, which he conceded was valid, but that there was pressure from upper management to hire females in violation of the AAP's commitment to equal employment opportunity standards, which led to the discriminatory hiring. 12 Wheeler supported this theory of the case with evidence independent of the AAP, including: 1) testimony of one of the interviewers that Wheeler's qualifications were much better than Williams, that normal interview procedures were not followed, and that, in his opinion, equal employment opportunity procedures were not followed; 2) testimony of two of the three interviewers that they felt pressure to recommend the female employee because she was female, despite the fact that they felt Wheeler had better qualifications; 3) testimony of Wheeler's supervisor that he told Wheeler that he would be lucky to get the job because it was widely known that they were going to hire a lady; 4) testimony that Williams was especially sought out for the position; and 5) evidence that Wheeler was more experienced and skilled for the position than Williams. We find that this evidence was sufficient to support the jury's verdict of discrimination.
13 Based on the foregoing discussion, we also find that the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant MHTC a new trial. While MHTC asserts that the district court erroneously admitted evidence of the AAP, even assuming it was admitted erroneously, the evidence was not so prejudicial that a new trial would produce a different result. See Bevan v. Honeywell, Inc., 118 F.3d 603, 612 (8th Cir.1997). (A new trial is not warranted on the basis of an evidentiary ruling unless the evidence was so prejudicial that a new trial would likely produce a different result.). Wheeler offered evidence, independent of the AAP, sufficient to support the jury's verdict of discrimination.