Opinion ID: 3048853
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: kelly services’ burden to articulate a

Text: LEGITIMATE, NONDISCRIMINATORY REASON FOR NOT PROMOTING NOYES [4] Because Noyes established a prima facie case, the burden of production then shifted to Kelly Services to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its adverse employment decision. McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802. To meet this burden, “the defendant must clearly set forth, through the introduction of admissible evidence,” reasons for its employment decision which, if believed by the trier of fact, would support a finding that the employment action was not a result of unlawful discrimination. Texas Dep’t of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 255 (1981). [5] Kelly Services offered several pieces of evidence in support of its selection of Jilesen rather than Noyes. Heinz first offered the position to Walker, a non-Fellowship member, who declined the position. After Walker declined, Bonhoff, a non-Fellowship member, recommended that Jilesen be promoted. Bonhoff set forth the qualities that she was looking for in a Software Development Manager and stated that “[q]uite simply, the person whom I felt possessed all of these qualities was Joep Jilesen.” Heinz agreed that Jilesen was the right person for the job. Heinz also stated that Kelly Services made the decision to promote Jilesen through a “consensus” of the “management group.” This evidence meets Kelly Services’ burden to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its employment decision. See id.; McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802.4 4 In its order, the district court reasoned that “[s]ince Noyes does not contradict Bonhoff’s asserted reasons for recommending Jilesen’s promotion, Kelly Services has demonstrated a legitimate reason for promoting Jilesen instead of Noyes to the Software Development Manager position.” (emphasis added). The district court is incorrect that Noyes failed to dispute Bonhoff’s reasons. Noyes disputed the basis for Bonhoff’s recommendation and the claim that Jilesen was the best qualified candidate for NOYES v. KELLY SERVICES 6303