Opinion ID: 615269
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Twigg's Direct/Mixed Motives Theory of Retaliation

Text: A mixed-motive case is not established... until the plaintiff presents evidence that directly shows that retaliation played a motivating part in the employment decision at issue. Fye, 516 F.3d at 1226. Although the plaintiff must prove retaliation directly in a direct/mixed motives case, the plaintiff is not limited to relying on `direct' evidence `in its sense as antonym of circumstantial.' Id. (quoting Ostrowski v. Atl. Mut. Ins. Cos., 968 F.2d 171, 181 (2d Cir.1992)). Rather, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the alleged retaliatory motive actually relates to the question of discrimination in the particular employment decision and may do so through the production of either direct or circumstantial evidence. Id. (alteration and internal quotation marks omitted); see also id. (A plaintiff can establish retaliation `directly' ... through the use of direct or circumstantial evidence.). When the plaintiff relies on circumstantial evidence to establish that the employer was motivated by retaliatory animus, that circumstantial evidence must be tied `directly' to the retaliatory motive. Id. Thus, the plaintiff must present[] evidence of conduct or statements by persons involved in the decisionmaking process that may be viewed as directly reflecting the alleged [retaliatory] attitude. Thomas v. Denny's, Inc., 111 F.3d 1506, 1512 (10th Cir.1997) (second alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Fye, 516 F.3d at 1226-27. [8] In this case, Twigg relies on four types of circumstantial evidence to prove retaliation under the direct/mixed motives approach: (1) the allegedly false reason offered by HBC for terminating Twigg's employment, (2) the close temporal proximity between Twigg's complaints of racial discrimination and her termination, (3) HBC's allegedly inconsistent explanations for the decision to terminate Twigg, and (4) HBC's alleged deviation from normal company procedures. We address each kind of evidence in turn.