Opinion ID: 2510361
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Plaintiff Raises Genuine Issues of Material Fact

Text: {26} For the reasons stated, we conclude that Plaintiff put forward sufficient evidence below to create genuine issues of material fact with respect to his retaliation claim against Intel. Bartlett, 2000-NMCA-036, ¶ 17, 128 N.M. 830, 999 P.2d 1062 (stating that the nonmoving party does not need to present enough evidence to support all elements of the case, only that one or two factual issues are contested). Construing, as we must, Plaintiff's allegations and proffered evidence in a light most favorable to Plaintiff, we conclude that a reasonable fact-finder could draw certain inferences and come to certain conclusions favorable to Plaintiff's claim. A reasonable fact-finder could conclude that Intel, acting unfairly, was out to make an example of Plaintiff almost from the very beginning, and that this contributed to Intel's negative reaction when Plaintiff filed his complaint with the EEOC. A fact-finder could then conclude that the EEOC complaint caused Intel to intensify its criticism of Plaintiff's work immediately after the claim was filed, setting him up for an eventual termination that had become preordained and inevitable. {27} Of course, at trial a reasonable fact-finder could side with Intel and conclude just the opposite. We must not lose sight of the fact that Intel proclaims its innocence just as forcefully as Plaintiff did when faced initially with charges of sexual harassment. Trial is the only sure way to test these conflicting allegations, at which time the fact-finder can weigh the evidence and judge the credibility of the principal witnesses. It is well-settled in New Mexico that summary judgment is not an appropriate vehicle for courts to do either. Bartlett, 2000-NMCA-036, ¶ 38, 128 N.M. 830, 999 P.2d 1062.