Opinion ID: 6321818
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Palmer's Job Opportunity with Cree

Text: ¶4 While incarcerated, Palmer earned his mechanical design certification through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections education program. He earned high marks and took advantage of opportunities to work as a tutor after he graduated from the program. With these new qualifications, in June of 2015 Palmer applied to work at Cree's Racine, Wisconsin facility as an Applications Specialist. At that time, Cree manufactured and marketed lighting components.5 It employed approximately 1,100 people at its Racine facility. The facility itself spanned 600,000 square feet, including manufacturing space, storage areas, offices, cubical farms, break rooms, and the like. Although security cameras monitored some portions of the facility, there were also many nooks and crannies throughout that experienced little foot traffic, no security camera coverage, and noise loud enough to drown out a person's voice. ¶5 As for the particular job, the Applications Specialist's primary responsibilities included designing and recommending 4 Although this charge was not known to Cree when it rescinded its employment offer, the record before the Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC) indicates that Palmer admitted to this conviction. The parties do not dispute that the court may consider the 2001 conviction as part of Palmer's conviction record, and thus we assume without deciding that it is proper to consider it. 5 In May of 2019, Cree sold its lighting business to Ideal Industries, Inc. 4 No. 2019AP1671 lighting systems to customers, sometimes on location at customers' facilities. Cree expected the Applications Specialist to operate largely independently and without close supervision. It also expected occasional travel to trade shows, which would require unsupervised overnight hotel stays. Applications Specialists had access to most of Cree's Racine facility. ¶6 In July 2015 Cree offered Palmer the Applications Specialist job subject to a standard background check. The background check revealed Palmer's 2013 convictions.6 Cree referred the matter to its general counsel who reviewed Palmer's conviction record using a matrix that categorized each of Palmer's convictions as a fail. Cree then rescinded its offer of employment to Palmer.