Opinion ID: 1203017
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Male Pilots May Have Been Treated More Favorably

Text: We must not only identify similarly situated male employees, however; we must also conclude, taking all evidence in the light most favorable to Nicholson, that those employees were treated more favorably, i.e., that Nicholson did not receive the same opportunity for additional training as the male pilots. According to Cape Air, the remedial program instituted by Price following Nicholson's first removal from White's plane was a second round of training comparable to the additional training received by the male pilots. Price testified that he explained to Nicholson [s]everal times that her job was at stake, that her lack of CRM skills was a serious safety issue, and that if it was not fixed job action . . . including termination would be the result. However, Nicholson claims that she was not offered any remedial training. According to Nicholson, when Price observed her flying he did not offer any constructive criticism, other than telling her that she might ask too many questions, and she received no advice at all as to how she might correct her supposed deficiency. Construing the evidence in Nicholson's favor, the male pilots received comprehensive remedial training at Flight Safety in order to correct their deficiencies, while Nicholson received no instruction and little, if any, constructive criticism prior to being suspended from the ATR 42 program, initially for eighteen, later modified to six, months. This qualitative difference in treatment provides sufficient evidence that Nicholson was treated less favorably than similarly situated male pilots to preclude summary judgment at McDonnell Douglas's first step.