Opinion ID: 657159
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mr. Harding's Showing of Superior Qualifications

Text: 18 At the summary judgment stage, the plaintiff bears the burden of showing that there is a genuine issue of material fact on the issue of superior qualifications, because he would have the burden of establishing his prima facie case at trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552-53, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Although the facts are to be viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff as non-moving party, Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 245, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2508, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986), Mr. Harding nevertheless must support his allegations of superior qualifications with facts in the record; a mere unsubstantiated allegation of superior qualifications creates no genuine issue of fact and will not withstand summary judgment. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. at 2552-53. 19 The district court never reached the issue of whether Mr. Harding had established a genuine issue of fact as to his allegedly superior qualifications. The court characterized Mr. Harding's argument as an allegation of equal qualifications, and dismissed the claim as a matter of law because Mr. Harding alleged no background circumstances. But Mr. Harding plainly alleged more than equal qualifications below: he alleged superior qualifications. Because we hold today that superior qualifications can provide a sufficient showing of background circumstances, the district court should, on remand, decide whether the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, create a genuine issue of fact as to whether Mr. Harding's qualifications were in fact superior to Ms. Brown's. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). If the court finds that a genuine issue exists, then it should hold that Mr. Harding has stated a prima facie case for purposes of summary judgment; the court should then proceed to the remainder of the McDonnell Douglas/ Burdine test to determine whether summary judgment should be entered or whether the case should proceed to trial.