Court Opinion

ID: 9495549
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 16:05:25.558324+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:57:04.717598
License: Public Domain

BYE, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent as to Michael K. Gray’s employment-discrimination claim. I believe Gray created a triable issue of fact as to whether defendants’ stated reason for their actions was a pretext for discrimination. Gray alleged in his complaint that Duncan made a racially derogatory remark to him. He also submitted the affidavits of three tenants who attested that Gray set up tenant programs and performed his job well, and that Duncan treated blacks worse than whites. See Rose-Maston, 133 F.3d at 1108 (plaintiff can prove pretext either directly by showing that his employer was more likely motivated by racism, or indirectly by showing that employer’s explanation is not worthy of credence). Gray also submitted FCHA’s personnel policy, which certainly seems to have been violated: Gray’s 90-day probation exceeded the maximum allowable 30-day probation; and there is no evidence the letter informing Gray of his probation status (which was not submitted as part of the summary judgment record or on appeal) specified the problematic conduct or the criteria to be met for removal from probationary status. See Floyd v. Mo. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 188 F.3d 932, 937 (8th Cir.1999) (employer’s failure to follow its policies may support inference of pretext); Stanback v. Best Diversified Prods., Inc., 180 F.3d 903, 909 (8th Cir.1999) (discriminatory enforcement of disciplinary policy may create factual dispute as to pretext). Finally, defendants failed to provide any evidence — other than their attestations and deposition testimony— that Gray’s performance was deficient. Just as conclusory statements in deposition testimony, standing alone, are insufficient to withstand a properly supported motion for summary judgment, see Helfter v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 115 F.3d 613, 616 (8th Cir.1997), the same standard should apply to the party moving for summary judgment. I would, therefore, re*1053mand for further proceedings on this claim.