Opinion ID: 172099
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Rebuttal of Prima Facie Case

Text: The district court found that PSCo provided a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for refusing to hire Turner: she performed poorly on the job interview compared to other candidates for the Plant Specialist C position. But Turner now claims the record does not support the district court's determination. Turner raises this argument for the first time on appeal. Absent extraordinary circumstances, we will not consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal. McDonald v. Kinder-Morgan, Inc., 287 F.3d 992, 999 (10th Cir.2002). Turner may not lose in the district court on one theory of the case, and then prevail on appeal on a different theory, even if the new theory falls under the same general category as an argument presented at trial. Id. (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Lyons v. Jefferson Bank & Trust, 994 F.2d 716, 721-22 (10th Cir. 1993)). But even if Turner had preserved her argument for appeal, it is clear from the record the argument fails. PSCo was not required to prove that it refused to hire Turner based on her interview performance; it was only required to put forth enough evidence to carry its burden of production and rebut Turner's prima facie case. See St. Mary's Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 510-11, 113 S.Ct. 2742, 125 L.Ed.2d 407 (1993); see also Tex. Dep't of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 255, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981). PSCo more than satisfied this burden. It produced score sheets showing that Turner ranked second-to-last among the interviewees. These same documents revealed that only the top interviewees received job offers. Finally, Edmissonthe principal decision makertestified that his decision not to hire Turner was based on her poor job interview. This evidence frame[d] the factual issue with sufficient clarity such that Turner had a full and fair opportunity to demonstrate pretext. Burdine, 450 U.S. at 255-56, 101 S.Ct. 1089. Therefore, PSCo carried its burden of production and rebutted Turner's prima facie case.