Opinion ID: 716759
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mixed Motive Claim

Text: 26 De la Cruz also asserts a mixed motives--one legitimate, one discriminatory--claim. In a mixed motives case, a plaintiff must initially proffer evidence that an impermissible criterion was in fact a motivating or substantial factor in the employment decision. Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228, 258, 109 S.Ct. 1775, 1794-95, 104 L.Ed.2d 268 (1989); Tyler v. Bethlehem Steel Corp., 958 F.2d 1176, 1181 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 826, 113 S.Ct. 82, 121 L.Ed.2d 46 (1992). This burden is greater than the level of proof necessary to make out a McDonnell Douglas prima facie case. Once the plaintiff offers such evidence, the burden shifts to the employer to demonstrate that it would have reached the same decision even in the absence of the impermissible factor. Mt. Healthy City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 287, 97 S.Ct. 568, 576, 50 L.Ed.2d 471 (1977); Tyler, 958 F.2d at 1181. 27 De la Cruz's proffer of evidence of an impermissible motive is inadequate. He argues, first, that Berman's alleged comment that his problems were cultural and Weinberg's comment that he and his new Hispanic supervisor will understand each other better are direct evidence of discrimination. As noted, however, these alleged statements, made in the context of a justified concern over language skills and problems arising out of transliteration, are not evidence of discrimination. Cf. Brown v. East Miss. Elec. Power Ass'n, 989 F.2d 858, 861 (5th Cir.1993) (repeated and explicit use of racial epithet sufficient evidence of direct discrimination). De la Cruz relies, second, upon Berman's alleged retaliation against him in denying him overtime to conduct Spanish-language orientation sessions. This claim is unsubstantiated. The record reveals no evidence that de la Cruz ever formally requested overtime, and there is some evidence that he received overtime for conducting English-language orientation sessions. 28 We therefore affirm.