Opinion ID: 78563
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Tolbert

Text: Charles Tolbert was promoted to the position of County Transportation Engineer for the Ninth Division on December 27, 2003. This promotion poses a peculiar question, namely, whether Brown sufficiently informed the jury of her claim relative to this promotion, such that a reviewing court could assume that the jury even considered any supportive evidence. The sole testimony offered to the jury on the subject of Tolbert's promotion was Brown's concessions on cross-examination that she: didn't testify [on the subject of] that [promotion] and did not provide [evidence regarding] that [promotion] to the jury at trial; did not know whether she was on the Certificate of Eligibles for the position; did not interview for the position; and did not know whether Tolbert or someone else got the promotion. Brown herself drew no connection between the discussion with Mr. Camp and the Tolbert promotion. In all, the jury heard nothing on the subject of the Tolbert promotion from any witness. We cannot fairly ascribe the jury's findings of discrimination to the Tolbert promotion, when the jury had no reason to know that the promotion was even at issue.