Opinion ID: 797678
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Vacancy

Text: 35 First, we must determine whether a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding whether Honda had a vacant position in October and November 2000. Honda maintains that no vacancy existed because each job process must be filled at all times for the production line to operate. Appellee Br. at 10 n. 6. In other words, Honda's position is that as long as the plant is operating, there are ipso facto no vacancies. This argument proves too much. If Honda is correct, when it seeks to hire new Production Associates, it hires them into positions that are not vacant. This cannot be. 36 Honda also notes that Kleiber has offered no evidence that Honda was seeking to hire any Production Associates in October and November 2000, and argues on this basis that Kleiber has failed to create a genuine issue of material fact regarding a vacancy. Absent any evidence that Honda continued to hire Production Associates, seek out applicants, or accept applications during the relevant time period, we cannot conclude that a reasonable jury could find that a vacancy existed. 37