Opinion ID: 5949
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Strader's Completion of the Forms

Text: 29 The district court found that the manner in which Odom's application was completed by Strader evidenced negative pre-selection due to the deliberate omission of the highlights and successes of Odom's career when similar highlights were detailed by the supervisor on the applications of ... white applicants. 18 The phrase completion ... of Plaintiff Odom's PS Form 991 as used by the district court refers to Strader's recommendation, which was the last requirement for the completion of Odom's (and any other) application from the Fort Worth division. The crux of Odom's argument on this point, which the district court accepted, is that Strader provided more extensive and complimentary recommendations on the application forms of white employees than on those of African American employees, and thus discriminatorily pre-screened the positions, i.e., sent an implicit message to the panel as to whom Strader did and did not want the panel to consider seriously for the position. 30 The Service counters that, in crediting Odom's argument, the district court gave short shrift to Strader's legitimate, non-discriminatory explanation that it just happened that he was either the immediate supervisor of, or had a much closer working experience with, the white and Hispanic applicants. According to the Service, this, coupled with the fact that there was no other immediate supervisor to write recommendations for those applicants whom he directly supervised, explained why Strader's recommendations of the non-black applicants were more detailed than were those of Odom and the other black applicant, Peay. 31 Strader provided recommendations for the seven applicants from the Fort Worth Division. Three of the applicants--Herrera, Jennings, and Price--had no immediate supervisor other than Strader. Strader thus served a dual role for those three applicants, so his longer, more detailed, and more complimentary recommendations might thus be explained. Additionally, Strader testified that, even though he was not Nichols's immediate supervisor, he knew Nichols well and had worked closely with him in the past. Strader thus explains his more detailed and longer recommendation of Nichols as well. 32 The final non-African American that Strader recommended was Horton. Odom's attorney failed on her direct examination of Strader to adduce any evidence regarding either his professional or personal relationship with Horton. Nonetheless, one of her comments during direct examination set the tenor of things to come. At one point during this examination Strader commented: My basic knowledge of Mr. Odom at the time was--I didn't have that much knowledge of him. Odom's attorney replied: You mean to tell me you had contact with every other inspector who applied for this position but Mr. Odom? 33 On cross examination, Strader testified that he gave longer and more detailed evaluations of some applicants because he had worked with them in the past and was more familiar with them. In the course of identifying those persons with whom he had worked in the past, Strader testified that he thought Horton too had reported directly to him for a period. 34 Q. So your testimony is that you're certain that Mr. Price reported directly to you prior to this promotion? 35 A. Yes. 36 Q. And Mr. Horton may also have to a certain extent; is that correct? 37 A. Yes. 38 Despite the somewhat equivocal nature of the Service's attorney's second question, Odom's attorney did not return to the subject of Strader's past experience with Horton when she conducted her redirect examination of Strader. 39 Although Strader's testimony about his prior direct supervision of Horton was less than absolute, it constituted at least some evidence. More significantly, it was uncontradicted. As Odom adduced no evidence favorable to his position regarding supervision of Horton, we are compelled to accept Strader's legitimate, non-discriminatory explanation that he was either the immediate supervisor of, or had a closer working experience with, each white or Hispanic applicant. Consequently, we hold that the district court clearly erred in finding that the manner in which Odom's application was completed by Strader evidenced negative pre-selection. 40