Opinion ID: 169913
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Racial Harassment and Hostile Environment

Text: “W hen the workplace is permeated with discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, and insult, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim’s employment and create an abusive working environment, Title VII is violated.” Harris v. Forklift Sys., Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993) (citations and quotations omitted). M r. Smith testified at his deposition that he did not recall any of his supervisors making a racially derogatory or inappropriate statement. R. Doc. 84, Attach. G, Ex. 6, at 407-08. 3 As discussed above, M r. Smith relies on a rumor that one supervisor treated African Americans more harshly than Caucasians, but an unsubstantiated rumor is insufficient to resist summary judgment. To the extent M r. Smith seeks to demonstrate a racially hostile environment based on allegations that he was treated less favorably than Caucasian employees, we again hold that he has failed to show that he was situated similarly to them. W e uphold the summary judgment on this claim, as well.