Court Opinion

ID: 3149372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-26 15:03:55.569004+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:38:33.097962
License: Public Domain

Oct 26 2015, 8:49 am

      ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
      Robert Owen Vegeler                                       William P. Kealey
      Vegeler Law Office LLC                                    Stuart & Branigin LLP
      Fort Wayne, Indiana                                       Lafayette, Indiana

                                                  IN THE
          COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

      Adam Gaff,                                                October 26, 2015
      Appellant-Plaintiff,                                      Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                                02A03-1504-PL-136
              v.                                                Appeal from the Allen Superior
                                                                Court
      Indiana-Purdue University of                              The Honorable Craig J. Bobay,
      Fort Wayne,                                               Judge
      Appellee-Defendant.                                       Trial Court Cause No.
                                                                02D02-1310-PL-378

      Najam, Judge.

                                        Statement of the Case
[1]   Adam Gaff appeals the trial court’s grant of Indiana University-Purdue

      University of Fort Wayne’s (“IPFW’s”) motion for summary judgment. Gaff

      raises four issues on appeal, which we consolidate and restate as the following

      three issues:

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                Page 1 of 15
              1.       Whether the trial court erred when it concluded that Gaff’s
                       federal constitutional claims were not permissible under 42
                       U.S.C. § 1983;

              2.       Whether the trial court erred when it concluded that Gaff’s
                       state constitutional claims failed as a matter of law; and

              3.       Whether the trial court erred when it granted Purdue’s
                       motion for summary judgment on Gaff’s Title VII
                       retaliation claim.

      We affirm.

                                  Facts and Procedural History
[2]   Gaff worked as a “Lead Custodian IV” at IPFW from September 23, 2002,

      until December 7, 2012. Appellant’s App. at 82. On July 16, 2012, Zachery Itt

      began his employment with Purdue as a “Custodian II” on the campus and

      reported to Gaff. Id. at 84. On July 19, 2012, Itt filed a report against Gaff for

      “getting in his face” and making “threatening gestures” and for accusing Itt of

      taking drugs. Appellant’s App. at 84. In a separate report filed by Itt on the

      same date, Itt alleged that Gaff had made disrespectful remarks about Gaff’s

      supervisor, Ed High. Gaff subsequently submitted to High documents

      disputing Itt’s allegations of July 19. On July 19, High assigned Itt to a

      different lead custodian with the intent to limit interactions between Itt and

      Gaff.

[3]   Sometime after Itt was hired by IPFW, Gaff orally complained to High that, on

      “several occasions” Itt had called Gaff a “fat a**” and a “fa***t.” Id. at 85.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015   Page 2 of 15
      Thereafter, on July 26, 2012, Gaff received an oral reprimand from High for

      failing to perform floor maintenance on three separate occasions.

[4]   On November 28, 2012, Gaff and Itt were involved in a confrontation that was

      recorded by IPFW’s surveillance equipment. That confrontation took place in

      the hallway of the Student Union while Gaff and Itt were both on duty. During

      the confrontation, Gaff approached Itt, “confronted Itt,” and Gaff’s “person

      made contact with Itt’s person.” Id. at 86-87.

[5]   Gaff reported the November 28 incident to his supervisor and campus police.

      Purdue’s1 Human Resources Department conducted an investigation of the

      November 28 confrontation to determine whether its “Violent Behavior Policy”

      had been violated. Id. Purdue’s Violent Behavior Policy states, in pertinent

      part, that “Violent Behavior is prohibited in or on any University Facility,” and

      “employees who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to

      and including termination.” Id. In the course of its investigation, Purdue

      Human Resources reviewed the surveillance footage of the November 28

      confrontation and both Gaff’s and Itt’s reports regarding the confrontation.

      Upon completion of its investigation, Purdue determined that Gaff’s actions in

      1
        IPFW is jointly owned by Indiana University and Purdue University, and it is managed by Purdue pursuant
      to an agreement of the universities. Appellant’s App. at 83.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                   Page 3 of 15
      the November 28 confrontation violated its Violent Behavior Policy, and it

      terminated Gaff’s employment effective December 7, 2012.2

[6]   On December 11, 2012, pursuant to Purdue’s Grievance Policy, Gaff submitted

      to his department head, H. Jay Harris, a written grievance for wrongful

      termination, and he requested reinstatement. As required under the grievance

      procedure, Harris met with Gaff and allowed him to tell his side of the story

      and present evidence related to his grievance. Harris subsequently notified Gaff

      in writing that Harris was upholding Purdue’s decision to terminate him.

[7]   Thereafter, Gaff proceeded with Step Two of Purdue’s Grievance Policy by

      submitting his grievance to Human Resources. The Step Two procedures were

      followed and resulted in a Grievance Review Committee hearing on January

      31, 2013, at which Gaff was afforded an opportunity to present his side of the

      story to the Committee. The Committee found that Gaff had engaged in

      behavior that violated the Violent Behavior Policy and recommended that

      Gaff’s termination be upheld. On February 15, 2013, and as the final step in

      the review of Gaff’s grievance, IPFW Chancellor Vicky Carwein informed Gaff

      in writing of her decision to accept the Grievance Review Committee’s

      recommendation and uphold the termination.

      2
        According to the Affidavit of Rose Costello, Director of Purdue Human Resources, Itt’s behavior in the
      November 28 confrontation was also found to have violated Purdue’s Violent Behavior Policy, and his
      employment was also terminated on December 7, 2012. Appellee’s App. at 102.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                     Page 4 of 15
[8]   On May 1, 2013, Gaff filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal

      Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), and he received a Notice of

      Right to Sue from the EEOC on August 28, 2013. On November 15, 2013,

      Gaff filed in court his complaint against IPFW in which he sought

      “compensatory damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other proper relief”

      for his claims of (1) “gender discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination,

      retaliation and denial of due process and equal protection rights under the

      Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Indiana

      Constitution,” (2) gender and sexual orientation discrimination in violation of

      Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and (3) retaliation under Title VII.

      Appellee’s App. at 162-164. Regarding retaliation, “[s]pecifically, Gaff claims

      that his supervisor, Ed High, retaliated against him due to Itt’s reports to

      Purdue Human Resources about Gaff’s behavior toward Itt.” Appellant’s App.

      at 93.

[9]   On September 29, 2014, IPFW filed a motion for summary judgment, and,

      following a hearing, the trial court granted IPFW’s motion, in part, on Gaff’s

      claims of discrimination based on sexual orientation and hostile work

      environment.3 Thereafter, the parties provided the court with supplemental

      briefing and an Agreed Statement of Material Facts, and the court issued its

      3
        Although the trial court and the parties refer to a “hostile work environment” claim, Gaff raised no such
      allegation in his complaint, and this claim does not otherwise appear in the record. Regardless, Gaff does not
      raise such a claim on appeal.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                       Page 5 of 15
       Order Granting Summary Judgment to IPFW on all of Gaff’s remaining claims

       on March 24, 2015. This appeal ensued.

                                      Discussion and Decision
[10]   Gaff appeals the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to IPFW. Our

       standard of review is clear:

               When a trial court’s ruling granting or denying summary
               judgment is challenged on appeal, our standard of review is the
               same as it is for the trial court. Kroger Co. v. Plonski, 930 N.E.2d
1, 4 (Ind. 2010). The moving party “bears the initial burden of
               making a prima facie showing that there are no genuine issues of
               material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of
               law.” Gill v. Evansville Sheet Metal Works, Inc., 970 N.E.2d 633,
               637 (Ind. 2012). Summary judgment is improper if the moving
               party fails to carry its burden, but if it succeeds, then the non-
               moving party must come forward with evidence establishing the
               existence of a genuine issue of material fact. Id. We construe all
               factual inferences in favor of the non-moving party and resolve
               all doubts as to the existence of a material issue against the
               moving party. Plonski, 930 N.E.2d at 5. An appellate court
               reviewing a challenged trial court summary judgment ruling is
               limited to the designated evidence before the trial court, see Ind.
               Trial Rule 56(H), but is constrained to neither the claims and
               arguments presented at trial nor the rationale of the trial court
               ruling. See Woodruff v. Ind. Family & Soc. Servs. Admin., 964
N.E.2d 784, 790 (Ind. 2012) (“We will reverse if the law has been
               incorrectly applied to the facts. Otherwise, we will affirm a grant
               of summary judgment upon any theory supported by evidence in
               the record”) . . . ; Wagner v. Yates, 912 N.E.2d 805, 811 (Ind.
               2009) (“[W]e are not limited to reviewing the trial court’s reasons
               for granting or denying summary judgment but rather we may
               affirm a grant of summary judgment upon any theory supported
               by the evidence.”).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015   Page 6 of 15
       Whitfield v. Wren, 14 N.E.3d 792, 796-97 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).

[11]   Here, in its summary judgment order, the trial court made findings and

       conclusions. However, “[i]n the summary judgment context, we are not bound

       by the trial court’s specific findings of fact and conclusions [thereon]. They

       merely aid our review by providing us with a statement of reasons for the trial

       court’s actions.” Id. at 797 (internal citations omitted).

                              Issue One: Gaff’s federal constitutional claims

[12]   Gaff’s claims against IPFW alleged a denial of equal protection and due process

       under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. 4 As

       remedy for these alleged constitutional violations, Gaff sought money damages

       and attorney’s fees and alleged that IPFW is not entitled to sovereign immunity

       from these claims. Gaff is mistaken as it is clear that his federal constitutional

       claims are barred by the Eleventh Amendment to the United States

       Constitution.

[13]   Under the Eleventh Amendment, a state may not be sued under federal law in

       either federal or state court without the state’s consent or Congress’ legitimate

       abrogation of the state’s sovereign immunity. See, e.g., Montgomery v. Bd. of

       Trustees of Purdue Univ., 849 N.E.2d 1120, 1124 (Ind. 2006). IPFW is jointly

       4
         Of course, the federal constitution does not, itself, provide a cause of action against a state actor; rather,
       such claims must be brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See, e.g., Foster v. Michigan, 573 Fed. App’x. 377,
       391 (6th Cir. 2014) (“[W]e have long held that § 1983 provides the exclusive remedy for [federal]
       constitutional violations.”). Although Gaff did not cite to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in his complaint, the trial court
       assumed his federal constitutional claims were brought under § 1983.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                          Page 7 of 15
       owned by Indiana University and Purdue University, both of which are “arms

       of the state.” Kashani v. Purdue Univ., 813 F.2d 843, 848 (7th Cir. 1987);

       Shannon v. Bepko, 684 F. Supp. 1465, 1469-70 (S.D. Ind. 1988). Therefore,

       IPFW, as a jointly-owned regional campus of Indiana University and Purdue

       University, is entitled to sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment.

       Kashani, 813 F.2d at 848; Shannon, 684 F. Supp. at 1469-70. Indiana has not

       consented to be sued for damages for federal constitutional violations, see Ind.

       Code §§ 34-13-4-1 to -4, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 has not abrogated states’

       sovereign immunity from such claims. See, e.g., Thomas v. Illinois, 697 F.3d 612,

       613 (7th Cir. 2012) (citing Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 345 (1979)).

       Therefore, IPFW cannot be sued in state court for federal constitutional

       violations. See, e.g., Ross v. Indiana State Bd. of Nursing, 790 N.E.2d 110, 117

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).5

[14]   Here, Gaff sued IPFW as an entity for alleged federal constitutional violations;

       therefore, his federal equal protection and due process claims are barred by the

       Eleventh Amendment.

       5
         A person may sue state officials in their official capacities for injunctive relief for federal constitutional
       violations. Kashani, 813 F.2d at 848 (citing Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123 (1908)); see also Tyler v. Trustees of
       Purdue Univ., 834 F. Supp. 2d 830, 845 (N.D. Ind. 2011) (holding that, although Purdue is immune from suit,
       individual state officials may be sued under § 1983 in their official capacities for prospective injunctive relief
       such as reinstatement). However, Gaff sued only IPFW, not its officials in their official capacities, and he
       did not request injunctive relief.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                           Page 8 of 15
                               Issue Two: Gaff’s state constitutional claims

[15]   Gaff also alleges that IPFW has violated the due course of law provision of

       Article 1, Section 12 of the Indiana Constitution (“All courts shall be open; and

       every person, for injury done to him in his person, property, or reputation, shall

       have remedy by due course of law . . . ”) and the equal privileges and

       immunities clause of Article 1, Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution (“The

       General Assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges

       or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all

       citizens.”). However, again, he has requested only money damages; he has not

       pursued any type of declaratory or injunctive relief.6 As we held in Smith v.

       Indiana Department of Correction, 871 N.E.2d 975, 986 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007),

       trans. denied, there is “no express or implied right of action for monetary

       damages under the Indiana Constitution.” See also, City of Indianapolis v. Cox, 20
N.E.3d 201, 212 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (holding there was no private right of

       action for monetary damages for an alleged violation of Article 1, Section 23 of

       the Indiana Constitution), trans. denied. Thus, while Gaff claims that IPFW’s

       grievance procedures were fundamentally flawed and that IPFW singled him

       out for discriminatory treatment, he has failed to state a claim under state

       6
         Nor will we assume from his request for “all other proper relief” in his complaint that we may grant him
       injunctive relief, such as reinstatement, when he has never requested such relief at any stage of the trial court
       proceedings or in this appeal.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                           Page 9 of 15
       constitutional law. The trial court did not err when it granted IPFW’s

       summary judgment motion on Gaff’s state constitutional claims.

                            Issue Three: Gaff’s Title VII retaliation claim

[16]   Gaff’s final claim is that IPFW violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of

       1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a),7 by firing him in retaliation for his exercise of

       statutorily protected activities. Title VII forbids an employer from retaliating

       against an employee “because he has opposed any practice made an unlawful

       employment practice by this subchapter . . . ” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a). An

       unlawful employment practice is defined at 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 as employer

       discrimination against an employee based on the employee’s “race, color,

       religion, sex, or national origin . . . .” The purpose of the anti-retaliation

       provision is to “prevent employer interference with ‘unfettered access’ to Title

       VII’s remedial mechanisms . . . by prohibiting employer actions that are likely

       ‘to deter victims of discrimination from complaining to the EEOC,’ the courts,

       and their employers.” Porter v. City of Chicago, 700 F.3d 944, 956 (7th Cir. 2012)

       (internal citations omitted).

[17]   Indiana’s courts apply the federal standard for burdens of proof and order of

       presentation in Title VII cases. Indiana Civil Rights Comm’n v. Culver Educ.

       Found., 535 N.E.2d 112, 115-16 (Ind. 1989); see also Fuller v. Allison Gas Turbine

       7
         IPFW is not immune from Gaff’s Title VII claim as Congress, pursuant to its enforcement power granted
       under § 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, has expressly abrogated the states’ sovereign immunity under Title
       VII. Fitzpatrick v. Bitzer, 427 U.S. 445, 456 (1976). Thus, monetary damages and attorney’s fees can be
       awarded against a state in a successful Title VII claim. Id. at 457.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                   Page 10 of 15
       Div., 670 N.E.2d 64, 68 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996) (“In analyzing claims of

       retaliation, we apply the three-stage test originally formulated to resolve actions

       brought under Title [VII] of the Civil Rights Act.”). Under that federal

       standard, the complainant must carry the initial burden under Title VII of

       establishing a prima facie case of discrimination. 8 McDonnell Douglas Corp. v.

       Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802 (1973). Thus, although IPFW is the party who moved

       for summary judgment, the initial burden is still on Gaff to prove a prima facie

       case of retaliation.9 See, e.g., Elliott v. Sterling Mgmt. Ltd., 744 N.E.2d 560, 563

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2001) (applying federal law regarding Title VII burdens of proof

       to hold the trial court did not err in granting the employer summary judgment).

       As explained below, however, Gaff has failed to carry that burden.

[18]   In establishing a prima facie case of discrimination under Title VII, the

       complainant may prove his case through either the direct or indirect10 method of

       8
         If the employee establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the employer to articulate legitimate,
       non-discriminatory reasons for the termination. Culver, 535 N.E.2d at 115-116. And if the employer carries
       that burden, the burden of proof then shifts back to the employee to show the reason given by the employer
       was pretext. Id.
       9
         Thus, Indiana’s “heightened” summary judgment standard, discussed in Hughley v. State, 15 N.E.2d 1000,
       1003 (Ind. 2014), under which the moving party must negate an opponent’s claim, does not apply to a Title
       VII claim. Culver, 535 N.E.2d at 115.
       10
          To prove retaliation under the “indirect method” a claimant must make an initial showing that “(1) he
       engaged in a statutorily protected activity; (2) he met the employer’s legitimate expectations; (3) he suffered
       an adverse employment action; and (4) he was treated less favorably than similarly situated employees who
       did not engage in statutorily protected activity.” Tomanovich v. City of Indianapolis, 457 F.3d 656, 663 (7th Cir.
       2006) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). However, Gaff admitted that “there were no other
       similarly situated Defendant’s employees who were treated differently by Defendant.” Appellant’s App. at
       93. And, in any case, he does not claim to meet the burden of proof under the indirect method.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                          Page 11 of 15
       proof. Porter, 700 F.3d at 957. Gaff has attempted to prove his retaliation claim

       under the direct method of proof.

               To survive summary judgment on a Title VII retaliation claim
               under the direct method of proof, a plaintiff must submit
               evidence from which a jury could reasonably conclude that (1) he
               engaged in statutorily protected activity; (2) he suffered a
               material adverse action; and (3) a causal link between the two.

       Cung Hnin v. TOA (USA), LLC, 751 F.3d 499, 508 (7th Cir. 2014). All three of

       these factors must be shown, and the claimant must show “but-for” causation,

       not a lesser “motivating factor” standard of causation. Id. A claimant can also

       meet his burden under the “direct method” by providing sufficient

       circumstantial evidence of retaliation, such as evidence of suspicious timing, the

       employer’s different treatment of similarly situated employees, a pretextual

       reason for the adverse employment action, or statistics, Lambert v. Peri

       Formworks Sys., Inc., 723 F.3d 863, 869 (7th Cir. 2013), or by establishing a

       discriminatory motive on the part of the employer through a longer chain of

       inferences, i.e., “a convincing mosaic of circumstantial evidence that would

       allow a jury to infer intentional discrimination.” Davis v. Time Warner Cable,

       651 F.3d 664, 672 (7th Cir. 2011).

[19]   Gaff has failed to carry his burden of establishing a prima facie case of

       retaliation because he did not show that he met factor one; namely, he has

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015   Page 12 of 15
       failed to show that he engaged in a statutorily protected activity.11 To meet his

       burden, Gaff had to demonstrate that he “opposed an unlawful employment

       practice” by, for example, filing a prior complaint about unlawful

       discrimination under Title VII, i.e., discrimination on the basis of race, color,

       religion, sex, or national origin. Tomanovich v. City of Indianapolis, 457 F.3d 656,

       663-64 (7th Cir. 2006). “Merely complaining in general terms of discrimination

       or harassment, without indicating a connection to a protected class or providing

       facts sufficient to create that inference, is insufficient.” Id. (internal citations

       omitted). Yet, that is all Gaff has shown.

[20]   According to Gaff, IPFW terminated him in retaliation for: (1) the November

       28, 2012, confrontation he had with Itt; (2) Itt’s July 2012 reports against Gaff;

       and (3) the July 2012 oral reports Gaff made about Itt’s derogatory remarks to

       Gaff. However, none of those actions involve a statutorily protected activity.

       Obviously, Gaff’s November 28 confrontation with Itt was not a protected

       activity but just the opposite as Purdue and IPFW found it was a violation of

       Purdue’s Violent Behavior Policy. Nor do Itt’s July 2012 reports support Gaff’s

       retaliation claim. Those reports were not Gaff’s activity and therefore are

       irrelevant to the retaliation analysis.12 And, finally, Gaff’s July 2012 oral

       reports to his supervisor regarding Itt’s derogatory comments did not involve

       11
          It is not necessary to address factors two and three since there is no statutorily protected activity that could
       be causally linked to a material adverse action, i.e., Gaff’s termination.
       12
            Moreover, Itt’s reports did not relate to alleged discrimination or any other statutorily protected activity.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                            Page 13 of 15
       discrimination against a protected class. That is, Gaff was not complaining

       about derogatory comments related to his race, color, religion, sex, or national

       origin; rather, he complained that Itt made derogatory comments about his

       weight and sexual orientation, neither of which involve protected classes under

       Title VII.

[21]   Moreover, Gaff has failed to provide any circumstantial evidence that his July

       2012 reports related to complaints of discrimination on the basis of sex, which

       is a statutorily protected class. Gaff claims he “reported a number of previous

       confrontational, harassment incidents where Itt initiated disparaging comments

       about Gaff including his sex, apparent sexual orientation[,] and disparaging

       weight slurs.” Appellant’s Br. at 30. However, the evidence Gaff designates

       does not support his claim relating to sex: paragraph four of his affidavit only

       states that Gaff made “harassment complaints,” and at pages 43-44 of his

       deposition, Gaff said only that he reported to his supervisor that Itt called him a

       “f***in’ fa***t.” Appellant’s App. at 98. The only allegation Gaff made

       regarding comments supposedly based on his sex was his allegation in his

       complaint that someone said during the grievance process that his “large size was

       very intimidating.” Appellee’s App. at 163.13 However, this was not a

       comment about which he filed a complaint prior to the adverse action taken

       13
          It is not clear how this statement relates to Gaff’s sex (male). Moreover, this alleged statement is not
       contained in the parties’ Agreed Statement of Material Facts, and it was not found as a fact by the trial court.
       However, IPFW did designate Gaff’s complaint, where this allegation is found, as evidence in its motion for
       summary judgment.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                        Page 14 of 15
       against him, i.e., his termination. Rather, it was an alleged comment made

       after the adverse action and could not, therefore, have caused the adverse

       action.14

[22]   Gaff suggests on appeal that we should leave it to the “trier of fact” to

       determine whether his complaints related to his sex. Appellant’s Br. at 27. But

       that would require that we disregard IPFW’s motion for summary judgment

       and the undisputed material facts. Those facts show that Gaff’s complaints had

       nothing to do with discrimination on the basis of his sex. Therefore, the trial

       court did not err in granting IPFW’s motion for summary judgment on Gaff’s

       Title VII retaliation claim, and we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

[23]   Affirmed.

       Barnes, J., and Bradford, J., concur.

       14
          Thus, even if this case were analyzed under Indiana’s heightened summary judgment standard discussed
       in Hughley, 15 N.E.3d at 1003, IPFW would succeed; IPFW’s designated evidence, Appellee’s App. at 1-2,
       does negate Gaff’s retaliation claim in that it shows Gaff did not engage in a statutorily protected activity as
       required for a Title VII claim.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 02A03-1504-PL-136 | October 26, 2015                          Page 15 of 15