Opinion ID: 1188881
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sworn statements

Text: The record contains two types of sworn statements submitted by the plaintiff. One was a copy of the verified charge she submitted to the EEOC and OCRC. That document stated that the plaintiff is a member of a protected class (African American); she believes she is qualified for the position of claims analyst, although the statement is conclusory and contains no supporting facts; she interviewed for that position; Care Source offered the job to Claudette Wheeler, who did not fill out an application; the plaintiff was required to fill out an application; and the plaintiff was asked more difficult questions than Ms. Wheeler, ie [sic] multiple problem solving questions. ROA at 13. This document establishes the plaintiff's protected class status and the difference in treatment she received compared to Ms. Wheeler's experience, but it does not amount to evidence that the plaintiff is qualified for the position. Conclusory statements unadorned with supporting facts are insufficient to establish a factual dispute that will defeat summary judgment. Lewis v. Philip Morris Inc., 355 F.3d 515, 533 (6th Cir.2004) (finding that conclusory statements unsupported by specific facts will not permit a party to survive summary judgment); Doren v. Battle Creek Health System, 187 F.3d 595, 598-599 (6th Cir. 1999) (holding that affidavits that contained no specific facts but are merely conclusory, restating the requirements of the law . . . therefore cannot create a genuine issue of material fact sufficient to defeat summary judgment). The second type of sworn statement was deposition testimony. Rule 56(c) makes specific reference to the discovery materials on file. The plaintiff did not file the entire transcript of the depositions of Lara Bentley or Gary North; she did submit excerpts of those depositions. We do not read Rule 56(c) to prohibit filing only part of a deposition. Excerpts of depositions are allowed  and many times preferred by the district court  if they are properly authenticated. See Pfeil v. Rogers, 757 F.2d 850, 859-60 (7th Cir.1985) (We fail to understand why the district court refused to consider the deposition excerpts contained in the affidavits since the affidavits were sworn statements of recited testimony excerpted from certified depositions that had been filed with the district court and complied with the Rule 56(e) requirement that `certified copies of all papers . . . referred to in an affidavit shall be . . . served therewith.'). To authenticate a deposition excerpt, a party should include the cover sheet (which the plaintiff did) and the court reporter's certificate (which the plaintiff failed to do). Orr v. Bank of America, NT & SA, 285 F.3d 764, 774 (9th Cir.2002) (A deposition or an extract therefrom is authenticated in a motion for summary judgment when it identifies the names of the deponent and the action and includes the reporter's certification that the deposition is a true record of the testimony of the deponent.) (citing Fed.R.Evid. 901(b)); Moore's Federal Practice § 56.14[2][a] (observing that one proper cover page and certification will suffice for authentication of the excerpts from that deposition). The defendant takes no issue with the deposition excerpts' authenticity, however, so we will consider them, as did the district court. The deposition excerpts in this case do little to establish a factual dispute on the questions whether the plaintiff was qualified for the position and a non-class member treated more favorably was similarly situated to the plaintiff. Gary North testified that he did not remember interviewing one of the applicants, he knew Claudette Wheeler and was familiar with her work, lack of knowledge of the claim-processing software was not disqualifying for an applicant, the plaintiff may have been the only candidate from outside the company that was interviewed, and the plaintiff was unfamiliar with several terms a claims analyst must know to perform the job. Lara Bentley testified that she believed the plaintiff would not have been a good fit because of her preferred management style and lack of technical skills. The deposition excerpts did not establish a genuine dispute on a material fact.