Opinion ID: 613834
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Cowles' Sex Discrimination Claim

Text: We affirm the summary judgment on Cowles' sex discrimination claim because Cowles put forward no competent evidence to establish that Defendant treats the men in its parallel drug treatment program any differently than it treats the women in the program that she attended. The only evidence submitted was Cowles' own affidavit, in which she stated: While residing at the [drug treatment facility for women], I was not permitted to work and was permitted to have only very brief visits with my then seven-year-old son for a two hour period on one day per week. Similarly-situated male residents at the male-only facility operated by [Defendant] were permitted to work and have more frequent visitors of the opposite sex. Cowles provides no explanation for how she became aware of the alleged differences between Defendant's programs, and she therefore has failed to demonstrate that she has personal knowledge of those differences. Her conclusory affidavit is insufficient to defeat summary judgment on her sex discrimination claim. See Casey v. Lewis, 4 F.3d 1516, 1527 (9th Cir. 1993) (Conclusory affidavits that do not affirmatively show personal knowledge of specific facts are insufficient [to defeat summary judgment].).