Court Opinion

ID: 8435924
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-04 12:35:53.02808+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:48:42.517825
License: Public Domain

SUMMARY ORDER
UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the judgment of the District Court be AFFIRMED.
Familiarity by the parties is assumed as to the facts, the procedural context, and the specification of appellate issues. Plaintiff-appellant Bahjat Beshty filed a complaint pursuant to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act against defendant-appellee General Motors, alleging age discrimination. After reviewing de novo the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of General Motors, we now affirm.
To establish a prima facie case of age discrimination, the plaintiff must prove that (1) he was within the protected age group; (2) he was qualified for the position he held; (3) he was discharged; and (4) his discharge occurred under circumstances giving rise to an inference of age discrimination. See Roge v. NYP Holdings, Inc., 257 F.3d 164, 168 (2d Cir.2001). If the plaintiff succeeds in making out a prima facie case, the burden then shifts to the defendant to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the discharge. Id. The articulation of such a reason has the effect of negating the inference of discrimination created by the prima facie case, and consequently, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to “present sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to conclude that [the employer] discriminated against him because of his age.” Schnabel v. Abramson, 232 F.3d 83, 88 (2d Cir.2000) (quoting Hollander v. American Cyanamid Co., 172 F.3d 192 (2d Cir.1999)).
In this case, pointing to Beshty’s confrontational management style and his failure to mentor and lead the group he was hired to supervise, General Motors articulated a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for Beshty’s termination. Beshty, however, has not presented sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to conclude that General Motors discriminated against him because of his age. See id. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, the judgment of the District Court is hereby AFFIRMED.