Opinion ID: 62660
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Singleton’s Allegations

Text: Singleton began working for the CM division in July 1995 as a Clerk Typist III. In 1999, she was promoted to Secretary III and Carroll became her supervisor. Her new duties included working on annual bids, typing, filing, and entering 5 Jones did not assert a discrimination claim with respect to these promotion denials, as they were time-barred. 4 payroll. In 2001, Dorothy Fowler, who was white, took over the clerk typist position. Due to a city-wide study, both Singleton and Fowler were reclassified as Office Associate IIs. Singleton and Fowler did not get along; Singleton believed that Fowler constantly reported her activities to Carroll and had Carroll assign Singleton clerical duties that Fowler did not want to do. Singleton also alleged that Carroll showed favoritism to Fowler, in part because Fowler was always complimenting Carroll. Carroll did not show favoritism to the other white female in the department, Sharon Siegel. In May 2003, Singleton applied for and received a transfer to another department. In preparation of the transfer, Carroll began to implement a plan to divide the Office Associate II duties to accommodate new computer systems. When Singleton later decided not to transfer, Carroll proceeded with the reassigned duties as planned. Singleton alleged that the City attempted to create a new position in 2003. Singleton believed this new position would be a promotion, but she was denied opportunities to train for the position. In July 2003, the problems with Fowler came to a head in a staff meeting at which Carroll reassigned many of Fowler’s duties, including answering the phone and sorting mail, to Singleton. Singleton complained to Carroll about the changes. She also complained in writing to 5 Employee Relations Director George Brooks that she was experiencing discrimination as a result of the re-assignment of duties and the denial of training. She did not allege that she experienced a hostile work environment. Brooks, who is black, did not believe Singleton’s treatment was discriminatory. Based on her discussion with Brooks, Singleton amended her complaint to exclude any mention of discrimination, although she orally informed Carroll’s boss Rick Lilyquist of the alleged racial discrimination when she met with him on July 18, 2003 to discuss her concerns. Although Lilyquist did not believe there was discrimination, as there was no position available, Lilyquist offered Singleton the training. Singleton alleged that she faced retaliation after her July 2003 complaint in the following ways: (1) she again was denied training in August 2003; (2) Carroll made comments related to the complaint; (3) Carroll treated her more harshly; (4) her performance evaluations were lower, which Carroll explained were due to the “confrontation;” (5) she was assigned more of Fowler’s duties, moved from her office, and ordered to sit at the reception desk; (6) she was omitted from staff meetings; and (7) Carroll monitored her comings and goings and required her to keep a daily log. In her deposition, Singleton alleged that she heard Carroll call employee 6 James Allen “possum.” Carroll stopped using the term when Allen asked him to stop. Singleton also indicated that other employees had told her of many instances in which Carroll made racial slurs. Singleton did not mention these comments in any of her complaints and did not file a grievance even though she was aware of the City’s anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies; the first time she raised an allegation of hostile work environment was when she filed her complaint with the EEOC on March 18, 2004. When asked why she did not report the alleged harassment to the Employee Relations Department, Singleton stated that “it was not her fight.” Following its investigation of the charge, the EEOC concluded that there was reasonable cause and issued a notice of the right to sue. After news of the discrimination charge filtered through the office, Singleton alleged she faced further retaliation and discrimination in the following ways: (1) several co-workers called Singleton a “trouble-maker;” (2) one co-worker drafted a letter to the newspaper criticizing the allegations, and Carroll allegedly forced Singleton to type the letter; (3) in June 2004, Carroll again changed her job assignments to add more of Fowler’s tasks; (4) Carroll denied Singleton’s request for a transfer in August 2004; (5) Carroll denied Singleton’s request to work overtime on a Sunday, instead insisting that she work her overtime on Saturday; and (6) in 2005, when Singleton requested maternity leave, Carroll made a 7 comment about women giving birth in the field and returning to work the next day. In December 2005, Singleton transferred to another department.