Court Opinion

ID: 620630
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-01-10 21:11:53+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:34.911792
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                ____________

                                      No. 11-1826
                                     ____________

                                  KEITH ULLRICH,
                                        Appellant,

                                           v.

                           UNITED STATES SECRETARY
                             OF VETERANS AFFAIRS,
                                       Appellee.
                                  ____________

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                                (D.C. No. 3:09-cv-1605)
                     District Judge: Honorable A. Richard Caputo

                                   ______________

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                 December 9, 2011
                                  _____________

                    Before: HARDIMAN, BARRY, Circuit Judges,
                             and RUFE,* District Judge

                               (Filed: January 10, 2012)
                                   ______________

                              OPINION OF THE COURT
                                  _____________

_______________

*The Honorable Cynthia M. Rufe, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, sitting by designation.
RUFE, District Judge.

       This is an employment discrimination case brought under the federal sector

provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (―Title VII‖), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–

16, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (―ADEA‖), 29 U.S.C.

§ 633a. Keith Ullrich appeals the March 8, 2011 Order of the District Court for the

Middle District of Pennsylvania granting summary judgment in favor of Ullrich‘s

employer, the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (―the VA‖). For the reasons

that follow, we affirm the District Court‘s order granting summary judgment in favor of

the VA.

                                             I.

       Because we write primarily for the benefit of the parties, we recite only those facts

which are essential to our analysis; these facts are undisputed unless otherwise noted.

       Appellant, Keith Ullrich, has been employed by the Wilkes-Barre Veterans Affairs

Medical Center (―VAMC‖) as the Safety and Occupational Health Manager since 1993.

Ullrich is the biological father and partial physical custodian of a minor daughter, whose

mother, Judith O‘Leary, is also an employee of the Wilkes-Barre VAMC. At the time of

the incidents in question, there was in effect a 2007 Wyoming County, Pennsylvania,

Court of Common Pleas custody order (―Custody Order‖) specifying that ―neither party

shall take their daughter to their place of employment, except to an event sanctioned by

said employer.‖ (Supp. App. 52.)

                                             1
       On the morning of January 6, 2009, Ullrich took his daughter to school, only to

discover that the school was closed due to inclement weather. Ullrich called his

immediate supervisor Cassandra Davis, Chief of Facilities Management at the VAMC,

and asked permission to bring his daughter into work until his parents could pick her up

and take her home. Davis gave Ullrich permission to bring his daughter to the VAMC,

and he did so for a brief period of time. Later that day, O‘Leary complained to VAMC

police sergeant Ted Gabriel that Ullrich had violated the Custody Order by bringing their

daughter to work. On or about January 7th or 8th, Mark Donnelly, Chief of VAMC

Police, questioned Ullrich about the incident and the Custody Order. Donnelly maintains

that Ullrich told him there was no such order in effect. (Supp. App. 27, ¶¶ 10-12.)

Ullrich insists that, contrary to Donnelly‘s recollection, he admitted to Donnelly that

there was a Custody Order.

       At some point toward the end of January or the beginning of February, O‘Leary

contacted Janice Boss, Director of the VAMC, to complain that Ullrich had violated the

Custody Order by bringing their daughter to work, and that the VAMC was ―aiding and

abetting‖ Ullrich in violating the Order. (Supp. App. 47-48, ¶ 5.) Boss attests that she

had known about the Custody Order when it was issued in 2007, but had forgotten the

Order existed. (Supp. App. 48, ¶¶ 6-7.) In response to O‘Leary‘s complaint, Boss spoke

to Donnelly, who reported that Ullrich had denied there was such an order. Troubled by

what seemed to be Ullrich‘s dishonesty, Boss met with Ullrich and his supervisor Davis

to ask if Ullrich had told Donnelly about the Order; Ullrich replied that he had. Boss

asked Davis to look into the matter further, to determine whether Ullrich had, in fact, lied

                                             2
to Donnelly. Davis met with Ullrich and again asked if he had concealed the Custody

Order from Donnelly; Ullrich apparently responded, ―No. Mark knows all about it,‖

(Supp. App. 32, ¶ 13.) Davis then spoke to Donnelly, who confirmed that Ullrich had

denied the existence of the Order during their January conversation. Davis spoke twice

more to Ullrich, who continued to insist that he had told Donnelly about the Order. Davis

attests that, after speaking to all involved, she believed Donnelly‘s version of events

rather than Ullrich‘s. Davis and Boss then consulted the VAMC‘s Labor

Relations/Employee Relations Section to determine whether and how Ullrich should be

disciplined. On March 13, 2009, Davis proposed that Ullrich receive a five-day

suspension without pay for ―lack of candor when answering questions regarding whether

or not a court order existed prohibiting bringing your daughter onto the Wilkes-Barre

VAMC premises.‖ (Supp. App. 37-38.)

       Ullrich was given the opportunity to respond to the proposed suspension, and he

did so in a lengthy letter, maintaining that he had been entirely candid with Donnelly,

Davis and Boss about the Custody Order. In addition, Ullrich questioned the VAMC‘s

right to interfere in a civil custody matter and suggested that the investigation and

proposed suspension was part of a larger management agenda to harass him and other

employees ―who have recently filed formal EEO actions against VAMC Management

and against [Ms. Davis] specifically.‖ (Supp. App. 42.) Shortly thereafter, Ullrich‘s

attorney also responded to the proposed suspension by letter, reiterating his client‘s

position that the investigation and disciplinary action were unfounded, were taken against

                                              3
Ullrich with a discriminatory purpose, and constituted harassment. On April 23, 2009,

Davis suspended Ullrich for five days without pay for ―lack of candor.‖

       Ullrich filed a civil action in the District Court for the Middle District of

Pennsylvania on August 19, 2009, asserting claims under Title VII and the ADEA for sex

and age discrimination, retaliation for prior protected EEO activity, and hostile work

environment. After what appears to have been very limited discovery, the VA filed a

motion for summary judgment on January 3, 2011, which the District Court granted on

March 8, 2011.

       As an initial matter, the District Court held that Ullrich had failed to counter the

VA‘s Statement of Material Undisputed Facts in the manner required by Middle District

of Pennsylvania Local Rule of Civil Procedure 56.1, and deemed the VA‘s version of the

facts admitted for purposes of the summary judgment motion. The District Court then

held that Ullrich had (1) failed to establish a prima facie case of age or sex discrimination

because he put forth no evidence giving rise to an inference of discrimination; and (2)

failed to make out a prima facie case of retaliation because he put forth no evidence

establishing a causal connection between his suspension and any protected activity. The

District Court further held that, even assuming Ullrich had made out a prima facie case of

discrimination or retaliation, he had produced no evidence of pretext with which to

challenge the VA‘s proffered legitimate non-discriminatory reason for his suspension.

Finally, the District Court held that Ullrich had failed to present evidence of

discrimination or harassment severe or pervasive enough to state a claim for hostile work

environment.

                                              4
                                              II.

       We have jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Our review of

an order granting summary judgment is plenary; therefore, we apply the same standard as

the District Court to determine whether summary judgment is appropriate. State Auto

Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Pro Design, P.C., 566 F.3d 86, 89 (3d Cir. 2009) (citing Norfolk

S. Ry. Co. v. Basell USA Inc., 512 F.3d 86, 91 (3d Cir. 2008)). We generally give

deference to a district court‘s interpretation of its own local rules. Gov’t of V.I. v. Mills,

634 F.3d 746, 750 (3d Cir. 2011).

                                             III.

       Summary judgment is appropriate ―if the movant shows that there is no genuine

dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.‖

Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).1 A disputed fact is ―material‖ if it could affect the outcome of the

suit, given the applicable substantive law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242,

248 (1986). And a dispute about a material fact is ―genuine‖ if the evidence presented ―is

such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.‖ Id.

1
  The District Court cited an earlier version of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, which
stated that summary judgment was appropriate if ―the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that
there is no genuine issue as to any material fact . . . .‖ Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(2) (2010).
Amendments to Rule 56 effective December 1, 2010, changed the operative language
slightly, to require a ―genuine dispute as to any material fact,‖ but these amendments did
not alter the standard for granting summary judgment. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56, Advisory
Comm. Note (2010 Amendments).
                                               5
       In evaluating a summary judgment motion, a court ―must view the facts in the

light most favorable to the non-moving party,‖ and make every reasonable inference in

that party‘s favor. Hugh v. Butler Cnty. Family YMCA, 418 F.3d 265, 267 (3d Cir. 2005).

Nonetheless, the party opposing summary judgment must support each essential element

of the opposition with concrete evidence in the record. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S.

317, 322-23 (1986). This requirement upholds the underlying purpose of the rule, which

is to avoid a trial ―in cases where it is unnecessary and would only cause delay and

expense.‖ Goodman v. Mead Johnson & Co., 534 F.2d 566, 573 (3d Cir. 1976).

Therefore, if, after making all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party, the

court determines that there is no genuine issue of material fact, summary judgment is

appropriate. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322; Wisniewski v. Johns–Manville Corp., 812 F.2d 81,

83 (3d Cir. 1987).

       A plaintiff‘s mere belief or contention that he was subject to discrimination is not

enough to create a dispute of material fact sufficient to survive summary judgment. See

Lexington Ins. Co. v. W. Pa. Hosp., 423 F.3d 318, 333 (3d Cir. 2005) (holding that

speculation is not sufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment). As we have said

before, ―summary judgment is essentially ‗put up or shut up‘ time for the non-moving

party: the non-moving party must rebut the motion with facts in the record and cannot

rest solely on assertions made in the pleadings, legal memoranda, or oral argument.‖

Berckeley Inv. Grp., Ltd. v. Colkitt, 455 F.3d 195, 201 (3d Cir. 2006).

                                             6
                                               IV.

       A.        Middle District of Pennsylvania Local Rule 56.1

       First, we address Ullrich‘s contention that the District Court erred in deeming the

facts contained in the VA‘s Statement of Material Undisputed Facts ―admitted‖ pursuant

to Middle District of Pennsylvania Local Rule 56.1 (―Local Rule 56.1‖). Local Rule 56.1

provides that:

                 A motion for summary judgment filed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.
                 56, shall be accompanied by a separate, short and concise statement
                 of the material facts, in numbered paragraphs, as to which the
                 moving party contends there is no genuine issue to be tried. The
                 papers opposing a motion for summary judgment shall include a
                 separate, short and concise statement of the material facts,
                 responding to the numbered paragraphs set forth in the statement
                 required [above], as to which it is contended that there exists a
                 genuine issue to be tried. Statements of material facts in support of,
                 or in opposition to, a motion shall include references to the parts of
                 the record that support the statements. All material facts set forth in
                 the statement required to be served by the moving party will be
                 deemed to be admitted unless controverted by the statement required
                 to be served by the opposing party.

       Although Ullrich filed a Response to the VA‘s Statement of Material Facts, in

which he ―admitted‖ or ―denied‖ each numbered paragraph in the VA‘s Statement, he did

not support his responses with any citations to the record. Consequently, the District

Court held that Ullrich had ―failed to adequately counter [the VA‘s Statement], as per

Local Rule 56.1,‖ and deemed the VA‘s facts admitted.

       As we have noted in reviewing similar procedural rules in other district courts,

such local rules are permissible so long as district courts do not use them to bypass the

merits analysis required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. Anchorage Assocs. v.

                                                7
V.I. Bd. of Tax Review, 922 F.2d 168, 175 (3d Cir. 1990). Federal Rule 56 explicitly

requires the party asserting the absence or existence of a genuinely disputed fact to

support that assertion by citing to specific parts of the record. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1). A

court may consider other materials in the record, but need only consider cited materials,

Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3), and may consider undisputed any fact not properly addressed by

the party opposing it. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).

       We agree with the District Court that Ullrich‘s response is woefully lacking in

citations to the record (nor can we find any evidence that Ullrich attempted to expand the

record beyond the VA‘s submissions with depositions or affidavits that support his own

position) and fails to conform with Local Rule 56.1. But it is evident from the pleadings,

the briefing and Ullrich‘s few supporting documents that Ullrich disputes that he lied to

Donnelly about the existence of the Custody Order, disputes the VA‘s determination that

he showed ―lack of candor,‖ and believes he was disciplined for discriminatory or

retaliatory reasons. Although the District Court deemed the VA‘s facts admitted, it is

apparent that the Court based its decision on all the evidence before it.

       B.     Sex and Age Discrimination

       Section 2000e–16 of Title VII, pertaining to nondiscrimination in federal

government employment, provides that ―[a]ll personnel actions affecting employees or

applicants for employment . . . shall be made free from any discrimination based on race,

color, religion, sex, or national origin.‖ 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–16. In almost identical

                                                8
language the ADEA prohibits employment discrimination based on age, for individuals

over the age of forty. 29 U.S.C. § 633a.

       The same evidentiary framework is used to evaluate claims of discrimination

based upon sex and age. Where, as here, a plaintiff has adduced no direct evidence of

discrimination based on his sex or age, the familiar McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting

analysis is used to evaluate the claims. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S.

792, 802 (1973); see also Wishkin v. Potter, 476 F.3d 180, 185 (3d Cir. 2007) (citing

Newman v. GHS Osteopathic, Inc., 60 F.3d 153, 157 (3d Cir. 1995) (―ADEA and Title

VII . . . serve the same purpose . . . . [t]herefore it follows that the methods and manner of

proof under one statute should inform the standards under the other[] as well‖)).2

       Under McDonnell Douglas, a plaintiff bears the initial burden of establishing a

prima facie case of discrimination, the existence of which is ―a question of law that must

be decided by the court.‖ Wishkin, 476 F.3d at 185. If a plaintiff establishes his prima

facie case, the burden shifts to the employer to ―articulate some legitimate,

nondiscriminatory reason for the [adverse employment action]. . . . The plaintiff then

must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the employer‘s proffered reasons

were merely a pretext for discrimination, and not the real motivation for the unfavorable

job action.‖ Sarullo v. U.S. Postal Serv., 352 F.3d 789, 797 (3d Cir. 2003) (per curiam);

2
 The Supreme Court ―has not definitively decided whether the evidentiary framework of
McDonnell Douglas . . . utilized in Title VII cases is appropriate in the ADEA context.‖
Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., Inc., 557 U.S. 167, ---, 129 S. Ct. 2343, 2349 n.2 (2009).
However, we have already concluded that Gross does not conflict with our continued
application of the McDonnell Douglas paradigm in age discrimination cases. Smith v.
City of Allentown, 589 F.3d 684, 691 (3d Cir. 2009).
                                              9
see also Keller v. Orix Credit Alliance, Inc., 130 F.3d 1101, 1108 (3d Cir. 1997) (en

banc) (ADEA). A plaintiff may evince pretext, and so defeat a motion for summary

judgment, by either ―(i) discrediting the proffered reasons, either circumstantially or

directly, or (ii) adducing evidence, whether circumstantial or direct, that discrimination

was more likely than not a motivating or determinative cause of the adverse employment

action.‖ Fuentes v. Perskie, 32 F.3d 759, 764 (3d Cir. 1994).

       To establish a prima facie case of age or sex discrimination under a disparate

treatment theory, a plaintiff must demonstrate that: (1) he was within the protected class;

(2) he was qualified for the position; (3) he was subject to an adverse employment action;

and (4) the adverse action occurred under circumstances that could give rise to an

inference of intentional discrimination. Makky v. Chertoff, 541 F.3d 205, 214 (3d Cir.

2008).3

       It is undisputed that Ullrich, who was over the age of forty when his suspension

took place, is fully qualified for his position as Safety & Occupational Health Manager,

and a five-day suspension without pay is an adverse employment action sufficient to

satisfy the third requirement of a prima facie case. See Weston v. Pennsylvania, 251 F.3d

3
  Discrimination might be inferred, for example, from the fact that a similarly situated
employee who was not within the protected class was treated more favorably, see, e.g.,
Jones v. Sch. Dist. of Phila., 198 F.3d 403, 413 (3d Cir. 1999) (Title VII), or in an ADEA
case, that a plaintiff‘s replacement was sufficiently younger to permit a reasonable
inference of age discrimination. See Hill v. Borough of Kutztown, 455 F.3d 225, 247 (3d
Cir. 2006).
                                             10
420, 430 (3d Cir. 2001). But we agree with the District Court that nothing in the record

suggests that Ullrich‘s age or gender played the slightest role in his suspension.4

       We also agree with the District Court that Ullrich has offered no evidence to

discredit the VA‘s reason for investigating and suspending him. Even assuming Ullrich

was truthful in his conversations with Donnelly, Boss, and Davis, it is not enough for

Ullrich to show that the VA‘s decision was wrong or mistaken, ―since the factual dispute

at issue is whether discriminatory animus motivated the employer, not whether the

employer is wise, shrewd, prudent, or competent. Rather, the non-moving plaintiff must

demonstrate such weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or

contradictions in the employer‘s proffered legitimate reasons for its action that a

reasonable factfinder could rationally find them unworthy of credence.‖ Fuentes, 32 F.3d

at 765 (citations and quotation marks omitted). Ullrich has demonstrated no such

discrepancies here.

       C.     Retaliation

       Title VII and the ADEA protect employees who attempt to exercise the rights

guaranteed by the Act against retaliation by employers. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–3(a); 29

U.S.C. § 623(d).5 To establish a prima facie case of retaliation, a plaintiff must show

4
   After diligent perusal of the record, the Court can find only a single allegation related
to gender, which appears nowhere in Ullrich‘s pleading or briefing, but rather in his
lawyer‘s EEOC Notice of Intent to Sue, explaining that Ullrich‘s claim of discrimination
is based on the fact that he is ―male with all female supervisors.‖ (App. 22.)
5
  The federal-sector provisions of Title VII and the ADEA do not explicitly ban
retaliation; however, the Supreme Court has held that § 633a(a) prohibits retaliation
                                             11
that: (1) he or she engaged in a protected employee activity; (2) the employer took an

adverse employment action after or contemporaneous with the protected activity; and (3)

a causal link exists between the protected activity and the adverse action. Weston, 251

F.3d at 430. Activities protected from retaliation include opposing any practice made

unlawful by Title VII or the ADEA; making a charge of employment discrimination; or

testifying, assisting or participating in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or

hearing under Title VII or the ADEA. See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–3(a). A plaintiff may

establish the requisite causal link between the protected activity and the retaliatory act by,

for example, showing ―temporal proximity‖ or a pattern of ongoing antagonism sufficient

to give rise to an inference of retaliation. Jensen, 435 F.3d at 450; Farrell v. Planters

Lifesavers Co., 206 F.3d 271, 280-81 (3d Cir. 2000).

       Ullrich argues repeatedly that he was disciplined not for ―lack of candor,‖ but in

retaliation for filing an earlier EEOC complaint against Ms. Davis and the VAMC.

However, other than Davis‘s admission that, ―in the past,‖ Ullrich had filed an EEO

claim against her for another disciplinary matter (Supp. App. 30, ¶ 4), neither the record

nor the pleadings provide any information regarding the outcome of that complaint,

claims made or parties named therein, on what incident the complaint was based, or even

a ballpark estimate of the date on which the complaint was filed. The District Court held

that Ullrich failed to establish the requisite causal connection. We agree. The fact that

against a federal employee who complains of age discrimination. Gomez-Perez v. Potter,
553 U.S. 474, 491 (2008). The Court declined to address whether Title VII similarly
bans retaliation in federal employment, id. at 488 n.4, but we have generally assumed it
does. See Jensen v. Potter, 435 F.3d 444, 449-50 (3d Cir. 2006), overruled in part on
other grounds by Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 67-68 (2006).
                                             12
Ullrich filed another EEOC complaint at some unspecified point prior to the incidents

underlying this action is insufficient evidence, from which no reasonable factfinder could

determine that Ullrich‘s suspension was causally connected to earlier protected activity.

       D.     Hostile Work Environment

       In Bonenberger v. Plymouth Township, 132 F.3d 20 (3d Cir. 1997), we set forth

the following requirements for proving a hostile work environment claim in a sex

discrimination case under Title VII: ―(1) the employee suffered intentional discrimination

because of [his or her] sex; (2) the discrimination was pervasive and regular; (3) the

discrimination detrimentally affected the plaintiff; (4) the discrimination would

detrimentally affect a reasonable person of the same sex in that position; and (5) the

existence of respondeat superior liability.‖6 Id. at 25 (quotation omitted). Here, the

District Court held that the VA‘s actions in investigating and suspending Ullrich did not

support a hostile work environment claim. We agree.

       To fall within the purview of Title VII, the conduct in question must be severe and

pervasive enough to create an environment the employee subjectively perceives as

abusive or hostile, and an ―objectively hostile or abusive work environment—an

environment that a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive.‖ Harris v. Forklift

Sys., Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993). In determining whether an environment is hostile or

6
  Assuming without deciding that hostile work environment claims are cognizable under
the federal-sector provisions of Title VII and the ADEA, similar requirements apply.
See, e.g., Jensen, 435 F.3d at 448-52 (Title VII); Racicot v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 414
F.3d 675, 678 (7th Cir. 2005) (ADEA).
                                            13
abusive, a court looks to a number of factors, including ―the frequency of the

discriminatory conduct; its severity; whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, or

a mere offensive utterance; and whether it unreasonably interferes with an employee‘s

work performance.‖ Id. at 23. Ullrich points only to incidents related to the Custody

Order investigation and suspension as proof of harassment and hostile work environment.

These incidents appear to include (1) generally, being subject to an investigation Ullrich

believes was unwarranted; (2) being questioned once by Chief Donnelly, once by Ms.

Davis and Ms. Boss, and three times by Ms. Davis alone; (3) receiving the proposed

suspension; and (4) ultimately, being suspended for five days without pay. We cannot

conclude that these incidents—however unpleasant and embarrassing—constitute

conduct that a reasonable person would find sufficiently abusive to support a hostile work

environment claim.

       More importantly, Title VII protects a plaintiff only as to harassment based on

discrimination against a protected class. ―Many may suffer severe or pervasive

harassment at work, but if the reason for that harassment is one that is not proscribed by

Title VII, it follows that Title VII provides no relief.‖ Jensen, 435 F.3d at 449. Because

nothing in the record suggests that Ullrich was the victim of sex or age discrimination, he

cannot show the type of discriminatory conduct required to establish a hostile work

environment under Title VII or the ADEA.

                                             14
                                          V.

      For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the District Court‘s grant of summary

judgment in favor of the VA.

                                          15