Opinion ID: 786106
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Refusing the Order to Enter the Track

Text: 71 Mr. Lucas finally contends that he was singled out for discipline after refusing a June 29, 2001 order issued by Escorcia to remove the pushcart from the tracks during rush hour. Mr. Lucas maintains that the order was against CTA rules and that three other trackmen also refused to comply but were not similarly disciplined. The CTA asserts that Mr. Lucas was suspended for one day due to disrespect to management after Mr. Lucas told Escorcia the order was stupid and idiotic. Mr. Lucas admits that he told Escorcia that his order was stupid and idiotic and that no other employee made a similar remark but nevertheless maintains that he was singled out for discipline on the basis of race. R.20 ¶ 109; R.26 ¶ 109; Appellant's Reply Br. at 14. We previously have stated that 72 in disciplinary cases — in which a plaintiff claims that he was disciplined by his employer more harshly than a similarly situated employee based on some prohibited reason — a plaintiff must show that he is similarly situated with respect to performance, qualifications, and conduct. This normally entails a showing that the two employees dealt with the same supervisor, were subject to the same standards, and had engaged in similar conduct without such differentiating or mitigating circumstances as would distinguish their conduct or the employer's treatment of them. 73 Radue v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 219 F.3d 612, 617-18 (7th Cir.2000) (internal citations omitted); see Peters v. Renaissance Hotel Operating Co., 307 F.3d 535, 546 (7th Cir.2002); Patterson v. Avery Dennison Corp., 281 F.3d 676, 680 (7th Cir.2002). It is uncontested that Mr. Lucas was the only employee who made a comment disparaging the supervisor's order after refusing to comply. Mr. Lucas provides no similarly situated employee who engaged in the same or similar type of conduct. Mr. Lucas has failed to meet his burden with respect to this allegedly discriminatory action.