Opinion ID: 3014510
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Burden-Shifting Under McDonnell Douglas

Text: We conclude that the District Court erred by not proceeding to the pretext analysis under McDonnell Douglas. This error, however, was not prejudicial to appellants. Had the Court proceeded to the pretext analysis, it would have reached the same result. Appellants having made out a prima facie case, a presumption arises that the Pirates discriminated in their hiring decision. McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802. The Pirates can successfully dispel that presumption by presenting a nondiscriminatory reason for their decision not to hire appellants. Id. At this second step of the McDonnell Douglas analysis, “the defendant must clearly set forth, through the introduction of admissible evidence, reasons for its actions, which, if believed by the trier of fact, would support a finding that unlawful discrimination was not the cause of the employment 7 action.” St. Mary’s Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 507 (1993) (internal citations and quotations omitted) (emphasis in original). To accompany its summary judgment motion, the Pirates presented deposition testimony from several Pirates executives who had personal interactions with appellants at Three Rivers Stadium. Mike Krachkowski and Dave Wysocki, Assistant Directors of Ticket Operations for the Pirates, were familiar with each appellant through their responsibility for managing all game-day operations relating to ticket sales and supervising ticket sellers on a day-to-day basis. John Barna, Ticket Office Assistant for the Pirates, was familiar with appellants because he monitored their daily sales report records. According to Krachkowski, Wysocki, and Barna, appellants lacked the computer and customer service skills required of ticket sellers at PNC Park. Specifically, these individuals testified that appellants each struggled with the Ticket Master computer system at Three Rivers Stadium, which was substantially easier to operate than the Tickets.com system being installed at PNC Park. The deposition testimony indicated that Dorsey relied solely on the function keys to sell tickets, and as a result was unable to accommodate purchasers’ specific requests for seats. Booker could not fix simple computer problems or handle basic customer requests. Johnson, like Dorsey, relied solely on the function keys to sell tickets. Each appellant was also subpar in terms of customer service. The Pirates received multiple complaints about Dorsey being rude to customers and exhibiting poor skills at 8 his job. Booker frequently exchanged tickets for games already played (clearly violating company policy) and needed to be reminded of ongoing promotions and sales. A line frequently formed at Johnson’s booth because he was slower than other ticket sellers. Additionally, all three appellants had trouble balancing their cash drawers or their daily sales reports at the end of shifts. It is entirely reasonable that the Pirates chose not to hire appellants because their work performance at Three Rivers Stadium did not meet the new, higher standards being imposed at PNC Park. Thus, because the Pirates have presented a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its hiring decisions, the McDonnell Douglas burden shifts back to appellants. Once a defendant has presented a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its hiring decision, a plaintiff seeking to avoid summary judgment must present pretext evidence that: (1) casts doubt upon each of the reasons offered by defendant for the employment action so that a fact-finder could reasonably conclude that each was a fabrication; or (2) allows the fact-finder to infer that discrimination was more likely than not the cause for the employment action. Fuentes v. Perskie, 32 F.3d 759, 761 (3d Cir. 1994). Appellants have not made either showing. Appellants show few, if any, “weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or contradictions in the 9 [Pirates’] proffered legitimate reasons” for not hiring them.4 Id. at 765. Hence, because there is a lack of a genuine issue of fact on whether the Pirates’ proffered reason was pretextual, summary judgment for the Pirates was appropriate.