Court Opinion

ID: 2978364
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 18:24:10.906614+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:44:12.238651
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                       File Name: 09a0568n.06

                                                     08-3116

                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

                                                                                                       FILED
EDWARD E. SPERBER,                                        )                                        Aug 14, 2009
                                                                                            LEONARD GREEN, Clerk
                                                          )
      Plaintiff-Appellant,                                )
                                                          )
v.                                                        )     ON APPEAL FROM THE
                                                          )     UNITED STATES DISTRICT
R. JAMES NICHOLSON, Secretary,                            )     COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN
Department of Veteran Affairs,                            )     DISTRICT OF OHIO
                                                          )
      Defendant-Appellee.                                 )
                                                          )

Before: GILMAN, COOK, and FARRIS*, Circuit Judges.

      FARRIS, Circuit Judge.

      We reject Sperber’s argument that the district court applied an incorrect legal

standard in granting summary judgment on his ADEA claim. We have held that a

plaintiff can show a prima facie case of age discrimination by showing by a

preponderance of the evidence “that: (1) he was at least 40 years old at the time of the

alleged discrimination; (2) he was subjected to an adverse employment action; (3) he

      *
          The Hon. Jerome Farris, Senior United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, sitting by designation.
was otherwise qualified for the position; and (4) after he was rejected, a substantially

younger applicant was selected.” Burzynski v. Cohen, 264 F.3d 611, 622 (6th Cir.

2001) (citing Barnett v. Dep't of Veterans Affairs, 153 F.3d 338, 341 (6th Cir. 1998)).

Alternatively, the fourth element may be satisfied “by showing that similarly situated

non-protected employees were treated more favorably.” Coomer v. Bethesda Hosp.,

Inc., 370 F.3d 499, 511 (6th Cir. 2004) (citing Talley v. Bravo Pitino Rest., 61 F.3d
1241, 1246 (6th Cir. 1995)). The district court’s recitation of the alternative way to

meet the fourth element tracked the Coomer language to the letter. Sperber failed to

satisfy this alternative. He failed to offer evidence that similarly situated non-

protected individuals were treated differently. The similarly situated employees that

he proffered were older than 40 at the time of their respective demotions and were

therefore members of the protected class.

      Moreover, the record contains insufficient evidence to support Sperber’s claim

that employees who were “substantially younger” but over age 40 received job

placement that was more favorable than Sperber’s relocation. True, Sperber identifies

three doctors who are allegedly substantially younger than he is and who were also

purportedly demoted without being forced to relocate: Chris Barde, Berta Bauman,

and Steven Cohen. But Sperber fails to proffer any evidence explaining precisely

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how old they were when they were allegedly demoted, whether they in fact were

demoted, or whether they were allowed to remain in Dayton, Ohio. The record

contains no declaration or affidavit from these doctors, or similar probative evidence,

establishing those basic facts. Sperber’s prima facie case thus relies on his own self-

serving innuendo and speculation, which does not suffice to survive summary

judgment. It was not error to grant summary judgment to the defendant.

       Since summary judgment was properly granted on Sperber’s ADEA claim, his

WPA claim cannot be restored. He failed to file an internal agency whistleblowing

claim prior to initiating litigation.

AFFIRMED.

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