Opinion ID: 198945
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Sufficiency of the Evidence as a Matter of Law

Text: 19 The appellant claims that the evidence is insufficient as a matter of law to establish that the requested alterations were improper or illegal as is required to implicate Negron's constitutional rights. The appellant hangs its hat on Negron's testimony, which related primarily to the CAPECO/Vitol report. There, Negron had refused to adjust a figure to one decimal point to comply with the contract between the buyer and the seller. The appellant acknowledges that the alteration may violate the American Standards Manual but argues that it does not rise to the level of a violation of Negron's constitutional right to privacy and integrity. 20 We disagree. Viewing the record in its entirety, we observe ample evidence from which a reasonable jury could infer that Negron was frequently pressured to alter test results and certificates and that her repeated refusals ultimately resulted in her termination. Negron herself testified that beginning in 1993, Fortuno asked her to alter results to conform to specifications mandated in customer's contracts. She explained that an out-of-specification product would have a financial impact on Caleb Brett's customers. Although Fortuno testified that he never instructed Negron to make alterations, his testimony was refuted by his secretary's admission that she altered 500-600 certificates from 1993-1994 and the testimony of Negron's secretary that she witnessed heated discussions between Fortuno and Negron regarding customers' preferences. Furthermore, Negron's husband confirmed that Negron was distraught about Fortuno's requests, and the former president of the College of Chemists, Dr. Rodulfo Gauthier, testified that Negron consulted him regarding her ethical dilemma. Gautier testified that a chemist is under a duty to report lab results accurately and he advised Negron to consult the Board of Ethics, indicating that her license could be affected. Moreover, a reasonable jury could have found that the appellant's proffered reason for terminating Negron -- that she had performance problems and was difficult to work with -- was pretextual in light of the absence of disciplinary measures in her personnel file, her consistent salary increases, her positive performance evaluations, and testimony from her co-workers. A jury is entitled to weigh the credibility of the witnesses and could infer that Negron had been asked to do something improper or illegal. See Newell v. Rubbermaid, Inc., 20 F.3d 15, 23 (1st Cir. 1994) (citing United States v. Garca, 995 F.2d 556, 561 (5th Cir. 1993); Lessee of Ewing v. Burnet, 36 U.S. 41 (1837)). 21 Because a reasonable jury could find for Negron on this evidence, we conclude that the district court properly denied the appellant's motion for judgment as a matter of law. See Coastal Fuels, 79 F.3d at 188.