Opinion ID: 2996711
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cordy Richardson

Text: We turn finally to Cordy Richardson, once again focusing on the element of knowledge. Because the Board adopted the ALJ’s findings and analysis as to this issue, we review the ALJ’s opinion. The ALJ found the element of knowledge for three reasons. [H]is attendance at the same meeting and his overt agreement with Hepburn’s remarks there, are direct evidence that he was believed by Respondent to be a Union supporter. Charlie Young’s knowledge that Richardson supported the Union is imputed to Respondent. In addition, his well-known association with Joe Fowler is circumstantial evidence that Respondent believed him to be a Union supporter. On this subject, the General Counsel has urged that the March 1997 surveillance of Fowler, Richardson, and others at the lunch hour was in fact surveillance of their union activities. While I find that evidence of the purpose of McLaughlin’s binocular viewing of the lunch group is insufficient to find that he was surveying their Union activities, I find it does establish he knew Richardson and Fowler, the main Union activist, were associated together. This is circumstantial evidence which supports the inference that Respondent believed Richardson supported the Union, especially when viewed in conjunction with the other evidence tending to the same conclusion. As we discussed above in relation to Hepburn, Richardson’s attendance and comments at the mandatory meeting are not sufficient evidence of knowledge because the ALJ relied on no substantial evidence that the meeting and remarks occurred before Graettinger had made up his mind to discharge Richardson and Hepburn. In fact, as we discussed above, it is likely that the meeting occurred after 36 Nos. 02-2504 & 02-2651 Graettinger had determined to fire Richardson. Richardson’s attendance and remarks at the meeting, accordingly, are not substantial evidence of knowledge. We turn next to the second reason that the ALJ found knowledge as to Richardson, her conclusion that “Charlie Young’s knowledge that Richardson supported the Union is imputed to Respondent.” We emphasize again that Sears’s knowledge of Hepburn’s protected conduct or speech, for purposes of the prima facie case, can only be imputed through the decisionmaker, Graettinger. The question then is whether Young’s knowledge of Richardson’s protected comments could be imputed to Graettinger. The ALJ mentioned no evidence that would lead to the conclusion that Young told Graettinger about Richardson’s “overt agreement with Hepburn’s remarks” at the meeting; all we are left with is her conclusory decision to impute Young’s knowledge to “Respondent.” Accordingly, we hold that substantial evidence does not support the imputation of Young’s knowledge to Graettinger. We turn to the final reason that the ALJ found knowledge: Richardson’s “well-known association with Joe Fowler.” This reason is deficient on two counts. First, the relevant knowledge, as we discussed above, is knowledge that the employee engaged in protected activities. The ALJ discussed no evidence showing that, when Richardson ate lunch with Fowler, the two were involved in conduct within the ambit of § 157. As far as we can tell from our review of the ALJ’s opinion, they were just eating lunch. Even if Graettinger had been aware of that rather unremarkable behavior, therefore, it could not be said that he knew that Richardson was involved in protected activities. The second reason that knowledge may not be based on this evidence is that, even if the mere act of dining with a union activist could somehow be considered protected Nos. 02-2504 & 02-2651 37 conduct, the ALJ discusses no evidence that Graettinger was aware of that behavior. The ALJ mentions “McLaughlin’s binocular viewing” of the restaurant where Richardson and Fowler dined. However, she discusses no evidence showing that: McLaughlin saw Richardson with Fowler; Richardson was even present on the day of McLaughlin’s surveillance; or, that McLaughlin had ever told Graettinger of Richardson’s association with Fowler. Although there is substantial evidence that Richardson often ate lunch with Fowler, there is no substantial evidence that Graettinger was aware of that fact when he decided to end Richardson’s employment. The ALJ identified no substantial evidence showing that Graettinger knew of Richardson’s protected activities before he decided to fire Richardson. We therefore deny enforcement of the Board’s order as to Richardson as well.