Opinion ID: 778936
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: JAML — Retaliation Claim

Text: 13 Appellants also argue that the district court should have granted their motion for judgment as a matter of law on Count II because the evidence as to causation was insufficient. We review a district court's denial of JAML de novo, applying the same standards used by the district court. Phillips v. Union Pacific R.R. Co., 216 F.3d 703, 705-06 (8th Cir.2000). In making this determination, we view all facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, giving her the benefit of all reasonable inferences. Id. at 706. We will reverse the district court only when the evidence is susceptible to no reasonable interpretation supporting the verdict. Jaros v. LodgeNet Entm't Corp., 294 F.3d 960, 964 (8th Cir.2002). Because Warren's termination occurred approximately four and one-half years after she filed her grievance regarding the scheduling inadequacies, Appellants claim there was no causal connection between the two as a matter of law. 14 The key in our consideration is that Warren's evidence supporting her claim of retaliation was not just based on timing, she also provided direct and circumstantial evidence that her termination was retaliatory, and that it was the end result of an ongoing pattern of retaliatory behavior. For example, there was testimony supporting Warren's contention that Gibbons treated her disparately during the course of his supervision, that this unfavorable treatment was directly tied to Warren's grievance, that Prejean and Gibbons acted in concert during the ultimate investigation of Warren, and that she was denied a promotion for which she was interviewed by Prejean, Gibbons, and one other employee. Accordingly, the district court correctly denied Appellants' motion for JAML on Warren's Title VII retaliation claim.