Opinion ID: 2973990
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Plaintiff’s Evidence of Pretext

Text: Plaintiff’s argues that Nortel’s explanations for its hiring decisions are mere pretext to conceal discriminatory intent. Plaintiff’s primary argument rests upon Nortel’s alleged failure to follow its normal procedures in posting new positions on the intranet for general access by current Nortel employees. Specifically, Plaintiff argues that Nortel failed to follow internal posting procedures for the position entered into by Debbie Lee, for the State Income Tax Compliance 13 Manager position taken by Michele Haney, and for the Raleigh tax analyst positions. Plaintiff further argues that he was deprived of the opportunity to compete for these positions because when he inquired about alternative positions available in Raleigh after learning of the intention to outsource Sales and Use Tax work in March 2002, he was told by Nashville management that no Senior Tax Analyst or Tax Analyst positions were available in Raleigh. Plaintiff also argues that the racial and age profile of those persons hired in Raleigh, Debbie Lee, and Michel Haney – all young, white employees – is evidence of discriminatory intent. Plaintiff argues that this racial and age profile creates a permissible inference that Nortel intentionally discriminated against Plaintiff on the basis of race and/or age by intentionally restricting Plaintiff’s ability to compete for the disputed positions. To buttress this contention, Plaintiff argues that during his time at Nortel his management was based on a “white culture” in which Plaintiff was “treated differently” than his white counterparts, receiving subpar assignments, unfair evaluations, and lack of recognition for Plaintiff’s work.