Opinion ID: 612670
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: There is a Basis for Wal-Mart's Liability

Text: An employer is liable when a supervisor's conduct creates a hostile work environment for employees unless the employer can demonstrate that it is entitled to the Faragher-Ellerth defense. Agusty-Reyes, 601 F.3d at 53. The Faragher-Ellerth defense comprises two necessary elements: (a) that the employer exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any sexually harassing behavior, and (b) that the plaintiff employee unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventive or corrective opportunities provided by the employer or to avoid harm otherwise. Ellerth, 524 U.S. at 765, 118 S.Ct. 2257. We agree with the district court that Wal-Mart cannot make that showing here. In light of Pérez-Cordero's repeated and undisputed complaints to Wal-Mart's management throughout September and October of 2000, Wal-Mart cannot satisfy its summary judgment burden on the second element of the defense. Therefore, at this stage in the litigation, Pérez-Cordero has sufficiently demonstrated a basis for Wal-Mart's liability as Santiago's employer.