Opinion ID: 2816854
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Prima Facie Evidence of Discrimination

Text: To make a prima facie case of national-origin discrimination, Yazdian must show “1) that he was a member of a protected class; 2) that he was discharged; 3) that he was qualified for the position held; and 4) that he was replaced by someone outside of the protected class.” Griffin, 689 F.3d at 592 (internal quotation marks omitted). ConMed relies on a slightly different formulation of 7 Yazdian uses the term “race discrimination,” but we understand his claim to actually relate to his national origin, not his race. No. 14-3745 Yazdian v. ConMed Endoscopic Tech, Inc. Page 24 the fourth factor: “that a similarly situated employee outside the protected class or classes was treated more favorably than [Yazdian].” Appellee Br. at 35 (quoting Younis v. Pinnacle Airlines, Inc., 610 F.3d 359, 363 (6th Cir. 2010)). ConMed uses this formulation to argue that Yazdian has not introduced evidence that there were “non-Iranian, non-Muslim Territory Manager[s] with a similar pattern of belligerent behavior” whom ConMed did not discipline or terminate. Appellee Br. at 37. But our cases establish that the plaintiff may establish a prima facie case under either theory. Talley v. Bravo Pitino Rest., Ltd., 61 F.3d 1241, 1247 (6th Cir. 1995), overruled on other grounds by Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., Inc., 557 U.S. 167 (2009). ConMed’s argument is therefore without merit. The district court assumed without deciding that Yazdian had satisfied the burden of showing a prima facie case, but granted summary judgment in ConMed’s favor on the basis that Yazdian could not show that the nondiscriminatory reason for the termination was pretext for national-origin discrimination. The record shows that Yazdian was qualified, discharged, and a member of a protected class. In addition, ConMed replaced Yazdian with Tyler Saneholtz, a non-Muslim, non-Iranian man. We therefore hold that Yazdian has met his initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of discrimination on the basis of national origin and religion.