Opinion ID: 1202775
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: BACKGROUND Evidence of Derogatory Racial Comments

Text: According to Aulicino's deposition testimony, Frank John, an African-American who was a fleet coordinator at the Hinsdale Depot beginning in November 2001, made several nasty and harassing racial comments to or about Aulicino. Aulicino Dep. 76, 88. For example, John told Aulicino that it was all right for [a DHS client] to call [Aulicino] a white mother fuck and that [Aulicino] deserved it. Id. at 136; see also id. at 76 (same). In the same encounter, according to Aulicino, John threatened to withhold Aulicino's pay for that day, though he did not follow up on the threat. See id. at 136-37. On another occasion, John remarked to Aulicino that white people are lazy. Id. at 76. And on another, John asked a white colleague why he and Aulicino all take off the same days ... like there was some sort of white conspiracy. Id. at 88. On still another, Aulicino was told by one of his supervisors, Gary Brown, that John called him a white fuck and had threatened to get him. Id. at 154-56. [2] It is not clear from Aulicino's testimony or other material in the record when the statements in question were allegedly made. Aulicino's second amended complaint and brief on appeal assert that they occurred in a period between late December 2001 and September 2002. See Amended Complaint [3] ¶¶ 19-40; Appellant's Br. 5-8. Aulicino also testified that his African-American supervisor, Larry Singleton, made the sort of comments Frank John makes. Aulicino Dep. 169. Singleton became Aulicino's supervisor several months before Aulicino's deposition was taken in August 2004. See id. at 27. The excerpted deposition transcript in the record does not specify any particular derogatory comments made by Singleton. In an affidavit dated March 21, 2006, and submitted in opposition to the defendants' motion for summary judgment, however, Aulicino testifies to several recent examples of derogatory comments made by Singleton, all of which, he says, occurred during the pendency of this action. According to the affidavit, on January 7, 2005, Singleton handed him a copy of an old union contract and grievance form. When Aulicino asked why he had done so, Singleton mentioned the instant lawsuit in an aggressive and inappropriate manner, as he had several times before. Aulicino Aff. ¶ 5. According to the affidavit, Aulicino told Singleton to stop harassing him and threatened to file a complaint about the incident. At that point, according to the affidavit, Singleton stated that he [Singleton] was an ex-felon. Id. Aulicino interpreted that as a threat that he would be assault[ed] if he were to file such a complaint. Id. The affidavit also asserts that on April 27, 2005, Singleton confronted Aulicino saying, Go back to Bensonhurst and tell everyone that you report to a black man who is making your life miserable. Id. ¶ 2. Aulicino stated in his affidavit that he thought the comment was racist and that he told Singleton that he was creating a hostile work environment. Id. ¶ 3. Singleton replied, I'll show you what a hostile work environment is. Id. ¶ 4. The affidavit also alleges that in July 2005, Singleton discussed a book he displayed on his desk titled Black and White: Separate, Hostile, and Unequal  with African-American colleagues while pointing at Aulicino and laughing. Id. ¶ 6. According to Aulicino, Singleton also commented in Aulicino's presence that a lynching of an African-American man could have been avoided if the man's friend had not given the man up to white people and that the moral of the story was that black people need to stick together against white people. Id. ¶ 7. Overall, Aulicino swore, the racial remarks by John and Singleton rendered Aulicino short fused. Aulicino Dep. at 169. Aulicino has contemplated an attempt to transfer out of the Hinsdale Depot, but has not done so because he does not know where else to go, in light of what he characterizes as his very limited choices. Id.