Opinion ID: 6536842
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Rudd's use of Black Magic

Text: Ross argues that Rudd's use of the nickname Black Magic reflects racial animus that, when considered together with flaws in the hiring process and other evidence of discrimination by the Railroad, demonstrates Ross was not hired because of his race. Ross disputes Rudd's testimony that the nickname reflected Ross's magical ability with trains rather than racial prejudice, pointing to the term's negative association with Satanism and devil-worship. Ross suggests that, even if not explicitly prejudicial, the term's racial reference and connotations should be considered circumstantial evidence of discriminatory intent. The Railroad responds by invoking the ALJ's conclusion that Rudd credibly testified he had not intended Black Magic to be derogatory based on widespread use of nicknames in the railyard and his ceasing use of the nickname when Ross asked. The Railroad concedes that Black Magic may be considered circumstantial evidence of discriminatory intent along with other evidence, but it concludes that, even so, it would not make unreasonable the ALJ's finding that Ross was not denied the trainmaster position because of discrimination.  The ALJ found that [b]ased on the testimony, the use of th[e] name, while racial, was not intended to be derogatory. But the ALJ also noted: Although not intended as derogatory, reasonable people could view the nickname as derogatory. This is especially true in light of the testimony that racial epithets had been used at the [Railroad] in the not-so-distant past. Mr. Rudd's use of this term may reflect a conscious or unconscious bias, and the apparent acceptance of his use of this term by others may reflect a more general conscious or unconscious discriminatory attitude that could have spilled over into the interview process. The ALJ concluded that the nickname may be circumstantial evidence of a discriminatory attitude and will be considered in conjunction with the entire record. The ALJ did not discount that the nickname might be probative of discrimination, concluding only that it did not necessarily establish discrimination in the decision not to hire Ross and had to be considered in light of other evidence. This essentially is how Ross argues that it should be considered, although he seems to believe the ALJ should have found the intent behind using the nickname was necessarily prejudicial. The substantial evidence test is highly deferential, but we still review the entire record to ensure that the evidence detracting from the agency's decision is not dramatically disproportionate to the evidence supporting it such that we cannot 'conscientiously' find the evidence to be 'substantial.'  19 We do not review in isolation whether Black Magic was indicative of racial animus; we instead do what the parties request, namely review the record as a whole, keeping in mind that Black Magic may be probative of discriminatory intent.