Opinion ID: 712765
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Remark of Leland Stephens

Text: 10 According to Ritzert-Smith's affidavit, Mr. Stephens, who prepared most of her performance evaluations, told her in 1986, You remind me of my wife. I cannot do anything about her, but I can definitely do something about you. 11 She argues that this remark is evidence of Stephens' discriminatory mindset. Without context, it is impossible to determine whether this comment derived from gender bias at all.  'Stray' remarks are insufficient to establish discrimination. Merrick v. Farmers Ins. Group, 892 F.2d 1434, 1438 (9th Cir.1990) (quotation omitted); see also Nesbit v. Pepsico, Inc., 994 F.2d 703, 705 (9th Cir.1993) (discriminatory remark uttered in an ambivalent manner and not tied directly to employment decision was at best weak circumstantial evidence of discriminatory animus and insufficient to defeat summary judgment).