Court Opinion

ID: 4147490
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-22 19:18:31.314401+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:25.915250
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                             Washington State
                                                                                             Court of Appeals
                                                                                              Division Two

                                                                                            February 22, 2017

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                           DIVISION II
 RUSSELL BURKE and JULIE BURKE, and                                     No. 48497-8-II
 their marital community,

                         Appellants,

         v.

 CITY OF MONTESANO; KEN ESTES and                                UNPUBLISHED OPINION
 “JANE DOE” ESTES; KRISTY POWELL and
 “JOHN DOE” POWELL; and ROCKY
 HOWARD and “JANE DOE” HOWARD,

                         Respondents.

        SUTTON, J. — Russell and Julie Burke appeal the superior court’s order granting the City

of Montesano’s (City) motion for summary judgment on their claim for wrongful discharge in

violation of public policy. Because Burke has failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact

that Burke’s political activity was a substantial factor or a pretext in the City’s decision to terminate

him, we hold that the superior court properly granted the City’s motion for summary judgment.

We affirm.

                                                FACTS

                                 I. BURKE’S EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

        In 1986, Russell Burke began working for the City’s Public Works Department. In 1996,

the City promoted Burke to Streets Supervisor. In 1999, Burke was promoted to Assistant Public

Works Director. In 2010, the City promoted Burke to Public Works Supervisor. The City created
No. 48497-8-II

the Public Works Supervisor position in order to create a union alternative to the Public Works

Director position. During the time Burke was Public Works Supervisor, there was no Public

Works Director. As the Public Works Supervisor, Burke performed most of the duties of the

Public Works Director. However, because the Public Works Supervisor position was a union

position, Burke did not have the authority to discipline or fire other union employees. Burke’s

direct supervisor was the City Administrator, Kristy Powell.

                            II. BURKE’S POLITICAL ACTIVITIES-2011

       In the summer of 2011, Burke hosted a party to support mayoral candidate Doug Streeter.

Powell helped organize and attended Burke’s party. Streeter’s opponent, Ken Estes, won the

election for mayor. In December, shortly after the election, Estes brought donuts to the public

works building. Estes questioned Burke about why he had hosted the party for Streeter. Estes also

offered Burke a pin that said “I was one of the 70 [percent] for Mayor Estes.” Clerk’s Papers (CP)

at 799. Burke rejected the pin because he did not vote for Estes. After this, Burke and Estes did

not have any other conversations regarding politics or the 2011 mayoral election.

                        III. APPOINTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

       When Estes became mayor, he decided that it was important to have a Public Works

Director who had the authority to discipline and make other personnel decisions. Estes discussed

the Public Works Director position with Burke, but Burke did not want to take a position that

would require Burke to leave the union. Estes appointed Powell as the Interim Public Works

Director. Then, the City posted the Public Works Director position and Burke applied. Burke was

Estes’s, Powell’s, and the interview committee’s first choice for Public Works Director, but Burke

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No. 48497-8-II

again declined the position because it would require him to leave the union. In May 2012, Estes

offered the position to the next candidate, Rocky Howard.

       After Howard accepted the Public Works Director position, the City terminated the Public

Works Supervisor position. Burke then became the Public Works Lead. The Public Works Lead

position was similar to the former Public Works Supervisor position except that Burke now

reported to the Public Works Director and did not have the authority to approve overtime or

projects.

                       IV. ALLEGED THEFT OF PAINT AND INVESTIGATION

       After Howard’s appointment to Public Works Director, Powell became aware of an unpaid

paint invoice for the Public Works Department. The discovery of the unpaid invoice prompted an

investigation into the potential misappropriation of paint from the Public Works Department. The

City discovered that Burke ordered almost twice as much paint from 2010-2012 than he ordered

from 2007-2009. The increase in ordering paint coincided with Burke opening a personal painting

business. Invoices also showed that Burke continued ordering paint into September, after the

City’s painting season ended in early August. On February 12, 2013, Burke was placed on paid

administrative leave and notified of a pending internal investigation related to allegations against

him.

       On March 14, 2013, Powell wrote an email regarding a conversation with Estes and the

City’s attorney. The email stated that “[o]ur objective is that [Burke] will no longer work here.”

CP at 489.

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No. 48497-8-II

         As part of its investigation, the City ordered Burke to appear for an interview with the

investigator, William Curtright, on April 8, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Burke was warned, in writing, that

failure to comply with the order to appear for the interview could result in additional disciplinary

action. The City rescheduled Burke’s interview from April 8 to April 11. On April 3, Burke’s

attorney notified the City that he would be unable to appear with Burke for the scheduled interview

and requested that the interview be rescheduled. Based on scheduling difficulties, the City was

not able to reschedule Burke’s interview. However, the City confirmed that Burke’s union

representative was able to attend the interview. Burke refused to attend the April 11 interview

because of his attorney’s unavailability.

         On April 15, 2013, the City issued Burke a written notice warning that his failure to appear

was insubordination and the City was considering taking additional disciplinary action. The City

also notified Burke that he was obligated to appear for an interview when the interview was

rescheduled. The City rescheduled Burke’s interview to April 19. Burke’s attorney was again

unavailable and advised Burke not to attend the interview. However, on April 30, the City

suspended the investigation until June 1.

                             V. LOUDERMILL HEARING AND SUSPENSION

         On May 1, the City held a Loudermill1 hearing regarding discipline for Burke’s earlier

insubordination and failure to appear. Rather than attend the hearing, Burke submitted a written

response claiming he was not insubordinate because he was acting on his attorney’s advice. Based

1
    Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 105 S. Ct. 1487, 84 L. Ed. 2d 494 (1985).

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No. 48497-8-II

on Burke’s failure to comply with a direct order and a written warning, Estes suspended Burke

without pay for 21 days.

       On May 24, 2013, Burke’s attorney wrote to inform the City that Burke would not

participate in any interview with the City regardless of when the interview was scheduled. The

City replied that, as a city employee, Burke was under obligation to obey the city’s direct orders.

Burke was provided with a written order to appear for an interview on June 4 at 1:00 p.m. Burke

was warned that “if he refuses to appear, he disobeys a direct order and is subject to discipline.”

CP at 114.

       Burke again failed to appear for the interview on June 4, 2013. As a result, the City began

scheduling a second Loudermill hearing to consider discipline up to and including termination. On

June 10, Burke’s attorney informed the City that a Loudermill hearing was “not likely to be a good

use of anyone’s time.” CP at 127. Rather than attend the Loudermill hearing, Burke opted to rely

on his prior written communications with the City.

       Also on June 10, Burke’s attorney informed the City that Burke was now willing to

cooperate with the investigation but only on the condition that the City retain a different

investigator to perform the interview. The City informed Burke:

               An employer’s work related order is not negotiable. The employee’s
       remedy for an order believed to be unlawful or in violation of a collective
       bargaining agreement is to obey and grieve, or if the order is disobeyed, to raise the
       issue through a pre-disciplinary hearing response or grievance procedure.

CP at 135.

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No. 48497-8-II

                            VI. BURKE’S DISCHARGE/TERMINATION

       On June 17, 2013, Estes issued a written notice of termination for Burke. The notice stated

that Burke had “continually disobeyed any order to appear or provide information” even after a

written notice and 21 day suspension. CP at 140. The notice of termination also stated that the

allegations under investigation were serious and Burke’s repeated disobedience prevented the City

from being able to conduct its investigation. And, the notice of termination concluded:

                Your refusal to obey orders has caused enormous disruption and expense to
       the City. Because the allegations are so serious, and your actions have both
       impeded the City’s investigation and made it impossible to successfully complete,
       I find that the only appropriate penalty is discharge.

CP at 141.

       Estes later testified in a deposition that Burke’s failure to attend a Loudermill hearing on

June 17 was the final action that prompted his discharge. But a Loudermill hearing was not held

on June 17 because when the City attempted to schedule a hearing, Burke informed them he would

not appear.

       Burke originally filed a grievance challenging his termination. However, he later withdrew

his termination grievance and his grievance regarding his 21 day suspension.

                        VII. LAWSUIT AND SUMMARY JUDGMENT ORDER

       On July 30, 2015, Burke filed an amended complaint alleging claims for retaliation in

violation of RCW 42.17A.495, wrongful discharge in violation of public policy, breach of contract,

promissory estoppel, and violation of the Washington Constitution. The City filed a motion for

summary judgment to dismiss all claims. Prior to the superior court’s ruling on the City’s motion

for summary judgment, the parties stipulated to dismiss all of Burke’s claims except for the claim

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No. 48497-8-II

for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy. Then, the superior court granted the City’s

motion for summary judgment and dismissed Burke’s claim for wrongful discharge in violation of

public policy. Burke appeals.

                                            ANALYSIS

                                      I. STANDARD OF REVIEW

         We review the superior court’s decision to grant summary judgment de novo. Rickman v.

Premera Blue Cross, 184 Wn.2d 300, 311, 358 P.3d 1153 (2015). We affirm an order for summary

judgment when there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to

judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c); Rickman, 184 Wn.2d at 311. We review the evidence in

the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draw all reasonable inferences in that party’s

favor. Rickman, 184 Wn.2d at 311.

                    II. WRONGFUL DISCHARGE IN VIOLATION OF PUBLIC POLICY

         Recently, our Supreme Court clarified that the elements for wrongful discharge in violation

of public policy are to be analyzed under the framework originally established in Thompson2

and Gardner.3 Rose v. Anderson Hay & Grain Co., 184 Wn.2d 268, 358 P.3d 1139 (2015).

Traditionally, courts only recognized a claim for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy

in four circumstances:

         “(1) where employees are fired for refusing to commit an illegal act; (2) where
         employees are fired for performing a public duty or obligation, such as serving jury
         duty; (3) where employees are fired for exercising a legal right or privilege, such
         as filing workers’ compensation claims; and (4) where employees are fired in
         retaliation for reporting employer misconduct, i.e., whistleblowing.”

2
    Thompson v. St. Regis Paper Co., 102 Wn.2d 219, 685 P.2d 1081 (1984).
3
    Gardner v. Loomis Armored, Inc., 128 Wn.2d 931, 913 P.2d 377 (1996).

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No. 48497-8-II

Rose, 184 Wn.2d at 276 (quoting Gardner v. Loomis Armored, Inc., 128 Wn.2d 931, 936, 913 P.2d

377 (1996)).

       Here, Burke’s claim, that he was discharged for exercising his First Amendment right to

engage in political activities, falls under one of the four standard circumstances for wrongful

discharge in violation of public policy. For this type of claim, we apply the three-step, burden

shifting test under McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S. Ct. 1817, 36 L. Ed. 2d

668 (1973). The first step is for the plaintiff to make out a prima facie case for wrongful discharge

by showing that he exercised a constitutional right, he was terminated, and the protected activity

was “a cause” of the plaintiff’s termination. Wilmot v. Kaiser Aluminum & Chem. Corp., 118

Wn.2d 46, 70, 821 P.2d 18 (1991). If the plaintiff presents a prima facie case, in the second step

the burden of production shifts to the employer to “articulate a legitimate nonpretextual

nonretaliatory reason for the discharge.” Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 70. The third step requires the

plaintiff to produce sufficient evidence that the employer’s alleged nonretaliatory reason for the

employment action was pretextual. Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 70. An employee may satisfy the pretext

prong by establishing a genuine issue of material fact that either (1) the employer’s articulated

reason for its action is pretextual, or (2) although the employer’s stated reason is legitimate,

retaliation for protected activity nevertheless was a substantial motivating factor. Wilmot, 118

Wn.2d at 73.

       Here, assuming without deciding that Burke has met his burden to establish that political

retaliation was a cause of his termination, the City has articulated a legitimate nonretaliatory reason

for Burke’s termination and Burke cannot meet his burden to establish pretext. Accordingly,

summary judgment was proper.

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No. 48497-8-II

       Burke’s notice of termination clearly states that the City’s reason for his termination was

insubordination. And Burke’s termination came after Burke was warned, in writing, on numerous

occasions that his failure to cooperate with the City’s internal investigation constituted disobeying

a direct order subjecting him to disciplinary action, including termination. The City gave Burke

at least three opportunities to appear for interviews with the investigator. And on each occasion,

the City warned Burke that he was being given a direct order to appear. The City also imposed an

intermediary progressive discipline—a 21 day suspension of Burke—for the same conduct. The

record establishes that the City gave Burke a direct, legal order, Burke repeatedly disobeyed that

order, and the City provided him written warnings regarding additional progressive discipline for

disobeying the order prior to termination. Therefore, the City has met its initial burden of

production to show that Burke’s termination was for reasons other than political retaliation.

       Burke does not dispute any of the facts surrounding the investigation, his refusal to appear

when ordered, or his termination. Nor does he appear to dispute that termination is an appropriate

action for an insubordinate employee. Therefore, in order to meet his burden under the pretext

prong, Burke must show that political retaliation was a substantial motivating factor in the City’s

decision to terminate him.

       Burke points to two specific pieces of evidence to support his assertion that political

retaliation was a substantial factor in Estes decision to terminate him: (1) the March 2013 email

from Powell in which Powell asserts the City’s objective is for Burke to no longer work for the

City, and (2) the deposition testimony by Estes that the decision to terminate Burke was based in

part on Burke’s refusal to participate in a second Loudermill hearing on June 17, when a second

hearing was never scheduled. Br. of App. at 28-29. Even viewed in the light most favorable to

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No. 48497-8-II

Burke, neither piece of evidence establishes political retaliation was a substantial motivating factor

in the City’s otherwise legitimate decision to terminate Burke.

          Viewed in the light most favorable to Burke, the March 2013 email demonstrates that the

City was interested in terminating Burke before his insubordination. But the email does not create

a reasonable inference that the City had decided to terminate him before his failure to appear for

the June 4 interview. Further, the email was written in the context of an investigation that strongly

suggested that Burke had engaged in misconduct, which had already resulted in his suspension.

And Powell, not Estes, authored the email. Therefore, reading the email to establish that the City

had decided to terminate Burke because of political retaliation is not a reasonable inference.

Instead, Burke’s argument is based on speculation and speculation cannot be considered on

summary judgment. Little v. Countrywood Homes, Inc., 132 Wn. App. 777, 780, 133 P.3d 944

(2006).

          Similarly, Estes’s statement that Burke’s failure to attend a second Loudermill hearing on

June 17 was part of the reason for his termination is not evidence that political retaliation was a

substantial factor in Burke’s termination. Burke correctly points out that (1) a Loudermill hearing

was not ultimately scheduled in June, and (2) even if a Loudermill hearing had been scheduled, he

would not have been required to attend. And under some circumstances, providing an inaccurate

reason for a termination can provide evidence of pretext. See Renz v. Spokane Eye Clinic, P.S.,

114 Wn. App. 611, 623-24, 60 P. 3d 106 (2002).

          But these facts do not create an inference that political animus was a substantial factor in

the City’s decision to terminate Burke for at least two reasons. First, the City did not rely on the

failure to attend a second Loudermill hearing in its termination letter. Estes’s deposition testimony

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No. 48497-8-II

came long after the termination, when he was trying to recall the reasons for the termination.

Second, even though Estes’s testimony was inaccurate, it is not reasonable to infer from that

testimony that the City terminated Burke because of political retaliation.

        Here, the City had a legitimate reason to terminate Burke for insubordination and Burke

has not met his burden to present evidence that created a genuine issue of material fact that political

retaliation was a substantial motivating factor or pretext in the decision to terminate him.

Accordingly, we hold that the superior court did not err by granting the City’s motion for summary

judgment and dismissing Burke’s claim for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy.

We affirm.

        A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,

it is so ordered.

                                                       SUTTON, J.
 We concur:

 MAXA, A.C.J.

 WORSWICK, J.

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