Court Opinion

ID: 2977134
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 18:03:11.337331+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:44:05.140801
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                          File Name: 08a0681n.06
                          Filed: November 6, 2008

                                          No. 07-2215

                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

JEAN CALDERON                                           )
                                                        )        ON APPEAL FROM THE
       Plaintiff-Appellant,                             )        UNITED STATES DISTRICT
                                                        )        COURT FOR THE EASTERN
v.                                                      )        DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
                                                        )
FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO.                                   )                          OPINION
                                                        )
       Defendant-Appellee.                              )
                                                        )

BEFORE:        MOORE, COLE, Circuit Judges; and GRAHAM,* District Judge.

       COLE, Circuit Judge. Plaintiff-Appellant, Jean Calderon (“Calderon”), sued her former

employer, Defendant-Appellee Ford Motor Credit Co. (“Ford Credit”), alleging, among other things,

hostile-work-environment harassment in violation of Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act

(“ELCRA”), Mich. Comp. Laws § 37.2101, et seq. The district court granted summary judgment

to Ford Credit, finding that Calderon could not establish respondeat superior on her hostile-work-

environment claim and that the ELCRA statute of limitations bars consideration of pre-limitations

period conduct. Calderon now appeals. For the reasons set forth below, we REVERSE the district

court’s grant of summary judgment and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this

opinion.

       *
        The Honorable James L. Graham, United States District Judge for the Southern District of
Ohio, sitting by designation.
No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

                                       I. BACKGROUND

A.     Factual History

       Calderon began working for Ford Credit as a switchboard operator in June 1999. She was

subsequently promoted to Head Title Clerk. Throughout her employment, Calderon had the

following supervisors: Jennifer Schallhorn supervised Calderon from September 2001 to January

2002; Liz Polterdyke supervised Calderon from January 2002 to July 2002; John Carr was

Calderon’s supervisor from July 2002 to October 2002 and then again from February 2003 to May

2003; and Maxine Smith supervised Calderon from October 2002 to February 2003 and again from

May 2003 to June 2003. While working for Ford Credit, Calderon alleges that she was subjected

to harassment based on her race and national origin, which resulted in a hostile work environment.

Calderon alleges that the harassment began shortly after she began working for Ford Credit.

       In 1999, co-worker Rose Seifers told Calderon not to speak Spanish, to “go back to her own

country,” and that “she didn’t need...any fucking Mexican on her job.” (Joint Appendix (“JA”) 62.)

Calderon also received anonymous phone calls from co-workers making derogatory statements

regarding her speaking Spanish in the work place. Calderon complained to Human Resources. In

response to Calderon’s complaints, Calderon’s supervisor Jennifer Cornea investigated the matter

and found that Seifers had made the inappropriate phone calls to Calderon. In response, Calderon’s

supervisors apologized to Calderon and also made Seifers apologize to her. Calderon’s complaint

was handled to her satisfaction, except in one respect. Calderon testified during her deposition that

supervisor Hale Houts told her that although Ford Credit had a zero tolerance discrimination policy,

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Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

she should not report the harassment to Human Resources. Houts indicated that Calderon could be

fired if she made a report because Seifers had a longer history with the company and, as such, was

more likely to be believed than Calderon. After Seifers apologized, she and Calderon became

friends. Calderon had no further problems with Seifers.

       In September 2001, two Ford Credit supervisors, Liz Polterdyke and Jennifer Schallhorn

made derogatory remarks about Calderon’s race and national origin during a disagreement with

Calderon about work assignments. Polterdyke stated, “you people ought to know better,” “you

people should be used to this,” and “you’re nothing but a taco.” (JA 360.) Similarly, Schallhorn

referred to Calderon as “you people,” and informed her that “Mexicans should take a double load,

because they are good for hard work.” (JA 95.) Calderon never reported these comments.

       On October 3, 2001, Calderon wrote a letter to Brenda Murphy in Human Resources

indicating that she was being mistreated by Schallhorn and Polterdyke. The letter did not specifically

allege race or national origin discrimination. Rather, it generally indicated that Calderon’s

supervisors made unreasonable demands, set impossible tasks and deadlines, and treated her

“inhumanely.” The letter does mention, among other things, that “[Calderon] may be of a different

ethnic race, or grade level, but [she] [] deserve[s] to be treated with some dignity.” (JA 137.) After

receiving the letter, Murphy allegedly met with Schallhorn, Polterdyke, and Calderon. During the

meeting, Murphy told both Schallhorn and Polterdyke that harassing behavior would not be tolerated.

Calderon alleges that during that meeting Murphy also told Polterdyke and Schallhorn that if Murphy

had to address any harassing issues between the three again, Polterdyke and Schallhorn would be

fired. Calderon agreed that following the meeting, Schallhorn made no further derogatory remarks.

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No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

       Later, in December 2002, Polterdyke allegedly called Calderon a “fucking spic” during a

meeting with Ford Credit’s Branch Operations Manager, Marc Honse. Calderon maintains that she

complained to Melanie Leavy in human resources, that she was having problems with Polterdyke

and that Polterdyke uttered this epithet. Shortly thereafter, another Ford Credit supervisor, Ed Sweda

(“Sweda”), told Calderon that he had learned from Human Resources that she had complained about

Polterdyke’s offending remark. He further stated that he did not want Calderon to complain to

Human Resources about his managers.

       Also, in December 2002 or January 2003, Maxine Smith (“Smith”) pulled Calderon into an

office and told her that she could not attend a department luncheon with the other employees

because “[she] was not welcome”; “they [did not] want her there”; “[she did not] fit in”; and finally,

“[that] they didn’t want [] Mexicans there.” (JA 373.)

       Sometime in early 2003, Ford Credit Ed Sweda gathered employees on the office floor after

another branch had sent the department straw hats. Upon noticing that the hats were made in

Mexico, Sweda said “oh, here’s one thing you and your people do well is make hats. Maybe, you

ought to stay with that type of career.” (JA 381.) He then asked, “where’s my little Mexican

bean?” (Id.)

       On May 16, 2003, Calderon attended a meeting with Polterdyke, Smith and John Carr, a Ford

Credit supervisor, to discuss a work assignment. During the meeting, Polterdyke allegedly began

yelling at Calderon because Calderon had not yet completed a project. Polterdyke then slammed

her hands on the desk and told Calderon, “who the hell are you looking at, you don’t look at me that

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No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

way[.] [Y]ou’re not White enough. You look down when I talk to you.” (JA 370.) Smith and Carr

then escorted Calderon out of the office and tried to calm her down.

       Calderon alleges that the very next day, Carr promised Calderon’s co-worker, Geralyn

Kinsman, a promotion if Kinsman would write an affidavit accusing Calderon of bothering her and

of interfering with her work. On May 21, 2003, Kinsman wrote a letter to Ford Credit’s Human

Resources accusing Calderon of interfering with her work. In the letter, Kinsman stated, among

other things, that Calderon told her on May 15, 2003, that “supervisors [] harass and threaten her[;]

examples: someone calls her from an outside phone and calls her a spic...(Mexican).” (JA 161.)

Calderon’s co-worker Cynthia Ricks testified that Kinsman told her that Carr had asked her to

complain about Calderon in exchange for a promotion, a claim Kinsman denies.

       Then, on June 2, 2003, Sweda called Calderon into his office and told her that Leavy had

informed him that Calderon had complained to Human Resources about Polterdyke’s 2002 racial

slur. Sweda also informed her that he had a written affidavit from Kinsman complaining that

Calderon would not allow Kinsman to do her work. He further allegedly stated that “she was a

little shit that went up against his managers in the past and [she] wasn't going to do it to him.” (JA

370-71.) Sweda indicated that he would not allow her to report him to Murphy as Calderon had with

Polterdyke and Schallhorn. Calderon also testified that Sweda stated “as long as he was branch

manager [] his supervisors could say whatever they wanted to [Calderon]”). (Id.)

       As she was leaving Sweda’s office, Calderon began to suffer an asthma attack. She left the

office and sought medical attention. On June 2, 2003 Calderon took a medical leave due to a chronic

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No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

asthma condition. Calderon was subsequently terminated effective July 2, 2003 for failing to report

to work or to justify her absence.

B.     Procedural History

       On June 15, 2005, Calderon filed suit in federal district court, alleging that Ford Credit: (1)

unlawfully terminated and retaliated against her in violation of the Family Medical Leave Act

(“FMLA”), 29 U.S.C.A. § 2601, et seq. (count I); (2) unlawfully discriminated against her because

of her race and national origin and unlawfully retaliated against her for complaining about race and

national origin discrimination and harassment, collectively, count (II); and (3) intentionally inflicted

emotional distress on her, (count III). Although Calderon did not specifically plead a count of a

hostile-work-environment harassment based on race and national origin, the district court and the

parties interpreted her complaint as stating such a claim.

       After hearing oral argument on Ford Credit’s motion for summary judgment, the district court

granted Ford Credit summary judgment on all claims, and dismissed the complaint with prejudice.

Initially, Calderon’s appellate brief indicated that she challenged the district court’s grant of

summary judgment on her hostile work environment and retaliation claim, without specifying which

–– either ELCRA or FMLA –– retaliation claim. However, at oral argument, Calderon’s counsel

indicated that, on appeal, Calderon challenges only the district court’s grant of summary judgment

on her hostile work environment claim.

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No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

                                      III. JURISDICTION

       The district court had jurisdiction over Calderon’s federal claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1331, and supplemental jurisdiction over the state claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1367. We have

appellate jurisdiction over the district court’s final order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

                                         IV. ANALYSIS

A.     Standard of Review

       We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Miller v. Admin. Office

of the Courts, 448 F.3d 887, 893 (6th Cir. 2006). Summary judgment is appropriate “if the

pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits,

if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is

entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986);

see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). We must view all facts and inferences drawn therefrom in the light

most favorable to the nonmoving party. See LaPointe v. United Autoworkers Local 600, 8 F.3d 376,

378 (6th Cir. 1993). The moving party bears the initial burden of proving that there are no genuine

issues of material fact for trial. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23. “Once the movant has satisfied its

burden, the nonmoving party must produce evidence showing that a genuine issue remains.” In re

Rodriguez, 487 F.3d 1001, 1007 (6th Cir. 2007).

B.     Hostile Work Environment

       Ford Credit makes three arguments regarding Calderon’s hostile-work-environment

harassment claim: (1) evidence of events that predate Michigan’s Civil Rights statute of limitations

are precluded and may not be used to constitute a harassment claim; (2) Calderon cannot

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No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

demonstrate severe and pervasive harassment; and (3) Calderon cannot establish respondeat superior

liability.

        1. Statute of Limitations

        The first issue before us is whether Calderon is precluded from using evidence of events

outside the ELCRA’s statute of limitations period to establish a hostile work environment claim.

Generally, a suit cannot be based upon actions that occurred prior to the limitations period of a claim.

A hostile-work-environment harassment claim under the ELCRA must be filed within three years

of the time it accrued. Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(10). If the three-year statute of limitations

period applies, it would exclude Calderon from recovering for any discrimination she faced prior to

June 15, 2002.

        On appeal, Calderon argues that she may rely upon evidence outside the ELCRA three-year

statute of limitations period to establish a prima facie hostile work environment claim under

Michigan State law. In Sumner v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 398 N.W.2d 368, 381 (Mich.

1986), the Michigan Supreme Court held that the continuing violation doctrine applied to claims

brought under the ELCRA. Under that doctrine, a plaintiff may recover for incidents that occur

outside the applicable limitations period if she asserts an ongoing string of discriminatory actions

or statements that are so sufficiently related that they constitute a pattern of harassment or

discrimination and at least one of the acts occurred within the limitations period. Id. at 538-39,

overruled in part by, Garg v. Macomb County Cmty. Mental Health Servs., 696 N.W.2d 646, 659

(Mich. 2005). If a “continuing violation” is shown, a plaintiff is entitled to have a court consider

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Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

all relevant actions allegedly taken pursuant to the employer’s discriminatory policy or practice,

including those that would otherwise be time-barred. Id.

       Later, in Garg, 696 N.W.2d at 659, the Michigan Supreme Court abrogated the doctrine in

a retaliation case brought under the ELCRA. In Garg, the Court specifically held that “a person must

file a claim under the Civil Rights Act within three years of the date his or her cause of action

accrues, as required by § 5805(10).” Id. The original Garg opinion contained a footnote (footnote

fourteen), which stated “acts falling outside the period of limitations were inadmissible evidence in

support of a timely claim.” Ramanathan v. Wayne State Univ. Bd. of Governors, 745 N.W.2d 115,

118 n.1 (Mich. 2008) (Markman, J. dissenting) (internal quotations omitted). However, the

Michigan Supreme Court amended Garg by removing this footnote. See Garg v. Macomb County

Cmty. Mental Health, No. 95-003319, 2005 Mich. LEXIS 1146 (Mich. July 18, 2005). Thus, an

open question remains as to whether acts falling outside the three-year statute of limitations may be

used as evidence of hostile work environment.

       We need not resolve this issue because Calderon waived this argument by failing to raise it

before the district court. Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Flowers, 513 F.3d 546 (6th Cir. 2008) (citations

omitted) (noting arguments not raised before the district court in connection with a summary

judgment motion are waived on appeal to this Court). Moreover, Calderon’s counsel affirmatively

stated at oral argument that she was not relying on pre-limitations period acts.

               2. Severe and Pervasive Conduct

       The Court now looks to whether Calderon has provided evidence of events occurring within

the limitations period that are sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a hostile work environment.

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No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

Although the district court did not address this issue, we conclude that the incidents occurring within

the statute of limitations period (June 15, 2002 to June 15, 2005) create a genuine issue of material

fact as to the existence of a hostile work environment. The ELCRA provides that an employer shall

not “[d]iscriminate against an individual with respect to employment, compensation, or a term,

condition, or privilege of employment, because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex,

height, weight, or marital status.” Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 37.2202(1)(a). Harassment in the

workplace based on race or national origin is an actionable offense. See Malan v. Gen. Dynamics

Land Sys., Inc., 538 N.W.2d 76, 77 (Mich. Ct. App. 1995) (holding “[h]arassment based on any one

of the enumerated classifications [in the ELCRA] is an actionable offense.”).

       To establish a prima facie claim under the ELCRA on a theory of a hostile work

environment, a plaintiff must establish that: “(1) the employee belonged to a protected group; (2) the

employee was subjected to communication or conduct on the basis of her protected status; (3) the

employee was subjected to unwelcome . . . conduct or communication involving her protected status;

(4) the unwelcome . . . conduct was intended to or in fact did substantially interfere with the

employee’s employment or created an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment; and (5)

respondeat superior.” In re Rodriguez, 487 F.3d 1001, 1010 (6th Cir. 2007) (internal brackets

omitted) (quoting Quinto v. Cross & Peters Co., 547 N.W.2d 314, 319-20 (Mich. 1996)). The first

three elements are not disputed. Hence, the focus of our review is on whether the unwelcome

conduct created a hostile environment and whether Calderon established respondeat superior. “To

survive summary disposition, a plaintiff must present documentary evidence to the trial court that

a genuine issue exists regarding whether a reasonable person would find that, in the totality of the

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No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

circumstances, the unwelcome conduct was sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a hostile work

environment.” In re Rodriguez, 487 F.3d at 1010 (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted)

(quoting Quinto, 547 N.W.2d at 320).

        A hostile work environment exists “when the work-place is permeated with discriminatory

intimidation, ridicule, and insult, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the

victim’s employment and create an abusive working environment.” Harris v. Forklift Sys., Inc., 510
U.S. 17, 21 (1993) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Courts must consider the

totality of the circumstances to determine whether the environment is both objectively hostile, such

that a reasonable person would find it hostile, and subjectively hostile, such that the victim regarded

it as hostile. Radtke v. Everett, 501 N.W.2d 155, 167 (Mich. 1993). Factors used to determine if

the claimed misconduct is sufficiently severe or pervasive to constitute a hostile work environment

“include 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.” Harris, 510 U.S. at 23. However, “simple teasing, offhand

comments, and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not amount to discriminatory

changes in the terms and conditions of employment.” Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775,

788 (1998) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

        Calderon does not contend that any one incident was so traumatic, that it, in itself, created

a hostile work environment; rather, she argues that in the aggregate, all of the racial slurs, comments,

and conduct created a hostile work environment. We conclude that under the totality of the

circumstances, there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether a reasonable person would have

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No. 07-2215
Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

perceived the conduct at issue as creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

       Calderon contends that the four following incidents occurring within the statute of limitations

period (June 15, 2002 to June 15, 2005) created a hostile work environment: (1) Polterdyke’s

December 2002 reference to Calderon as a “fucking spic”; (2) Smith’s December 2002 or January

2003 statement that Calderon could not attend a department lunch because “they [didn’t] want []

Mexicans”; (3) Sweda’s early 2003 remark that “[Calderon’s] people” make straw hats well and

asking her “where’s my little Mexican bean”; (4) Polterdyke’s May 16, 2003 admonition “[not] look

at [her] that way, you’re not white enough, you look down when I speak to you.”

       Although the parties do not address other evidence of alleged race and/or national origin

discrimination in the record, this additional evidence is relevant to our analysis of whether a hostile

work environment existed at Ford Credit. In addition to the alleged four incidents above, Ricks

testified during her deposition that co-workers teased Calderon because of her accent every time she

spoke. Most importantly, evidence that may not have been explicitly accompanied by a racial or

national origin slur may still contribute to a hostile work environment. See Jackson v. Quanex

Corp., 191 F.3d 647, 662 (6th Cir. 1999) (“[E]ven though a certain action may not have been

specifically racial in nature, it may contribute to the plaintiff’s proof of a hostile work environment

if it would not have occurred but for the fact [of the plaintiff’s protected status].”). For example,

as the second incident above notes, Calderon was told on at least one occasion that she could not

attend a work luncheon specifically because her supervisors did not want Mexicans to be present.

A factfinder could easily infer that Calderon was excluded from other luncheons because of her race

and national origin. See id. at 662 (“[A] showing of use of racial epithets in a work environment

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Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

may create an inference that racial animus motivated other conduct as well.”). Thus, Calderon’s

testimony that only she was not allowed to attend any departmental luncheons or participate in

Christmas lunches is probative of whether a hostile work environment existed at Ford Credit.

       Likewise, evidence that Carr was instructed to “ride” Calderon is probative of whether a

hostile work environment existed. Polterdyke allegedly told Carr to “ride” Calderon, and Carr

explained to Calderon that his almost daily meetings with her were the result of Polterdyke’s order.

 Moreover, Polterdyke’s September 2001 and December 2002 derogatory statements about

Calderon’s race and national origin were made during meetings to discuss work assignments and the

statements were occasioned by what Polterdyke considered to be Calderon’s inability or

unwillingness to perform her job duties. Although Carr did not specifically refer to Calderon’s race

or national origin during these meetings, the surrounding context of Polterdyke’s harassment based

explicitly on race and national origin could allow a factfinder to infer that Carr’s actions were taken

on account of Calderon’s race and national origin. See Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Servs. Inc.,

523 U.S. 75, 81-82 (1998) (“The real social impact of workplace behavior often depends on a

constellation of surrounding circumstances, expectations, and relationships which are not fully

captured by a simple recitation of the words used or the physical acts performed.”). The record

indicates that Calderon was singled out for other discriminatory treatment because of her race and

national origin. Although various employees submitted affidavits stating that Polterdyke treated

everyone poorly, there is no evidence that everyone was subjected to daily meetings with supervisors,

excluded from departmental lunches, or otherwise excluded. This evidence raises a genuine issue

of material fact as to the existence of a hostile work environment.

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Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

       Although it may be that no one incident of harassment in this case is sufficient to establish

severe or pervasive harassment, when considered together and viewed in the light most favorable

to Calderon, the evidence shows a pattern of ridicule and treatment sufficient for a jury to conclude

that there existed a severe and hostile work environment. Thus, a reasonable jury could find that

under the totality of the circumstances, Calderon was subjected to conduct that was sufficiently

severe and pervasive to create a hostile work environment.

               3. Respondeat Superior

       Calderon has also raised a genuine issue of material fact pertaining to respondeat superior.

Employer responsibility for harassment can be established only if the employer had reasonable notice

of the harassment and failed to investigate adequately claims of harassment and take prompt and

appropriate remedial actions. Elezovic v. Ford Motor Co., 697 N.W.2d 851, 861 (Mich. 2005);

Radtke, 501 N.W.2d at 168-69. Notice is adequate if, under the totality of the circumstances and

viewing the circumstances objectively, a reasonable employer would have known that there was a

substantial probability that an employee was being harassed. Chambers v. Trettco, Inc., 614 N.W.2d
910, 919 (Mich. 2000). “Thus actual notice to the employer is not required; rather the test is

whether, [under the totality of the circumstances,] the employer knew or should have known of the

harassment.” Elezovic, 697 N.W.2d at 426 (citation omitted). Accordingly, the required notice may

be actual or constructive.

       Calderon does not contend that she gave Ford Credit actual notice of the alleged harassment;

rather, she argues that Ford Credit had constructive notice of the harassment. Constructive notice

may be demonstrated “by showing the pervasiveness of the harassment, which gives rise to the

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Calderon v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

inference of knowledge or constructive knowledge.” Sheridan v. Forest Hills Pub. Sch., 637 N.W.2d
536, 621 (Mich. 2001) (citing Hartleip v. McNeilab, Inc., 83 F.3d 767, 776-77 (6th Cir. 1996)).

       We conclude that Calderon has raised a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Ford

Credit should have known of the harassment because of its pervasive nature.              The record

demonstrates that under the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable jury could conclude that Ford

Credit should have been aware, like its workers and supervisors were actually aware, of the

derogatory racial remarks made about and to Calderon. Ricks testified that co-workers commonly

referred to Calderon as “spic” or “Mexican spic,” and teased Calderon about her accent in Ford

Credit’s office. Moreover, many supervisors also referred to Calderon as a “spic” or used similar

derogatory language when speaking to her. For example, branch operations manager Hunt allegedly

overheard Polterdyke’s 2003 “you’re not white enough” comment. Supervisor Sweda’s 2003

“Mexican bean” comment was allegedly made on Ford Credit’s office floor, in front of other

employees. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Calderon, the record demonstrates

that Calderon was frequently referred to as a “spic,” or by other derogatory language in Ford Credit’s

offices during the applicable time period. Accordingly, we conclude that this harassment was so

pervasive as to, under the totality of the circumstances, place a reasonable employer on constructive

notice of a substantial probability that harassment was occurring.

       Further, the record demonstrates that neither Ford Credit’s management nor human resources

ever responded to the slurs or took prompt remedial action to end the harassment. According to the

Michigan Supreme Court in Chambers, the relevant inquiry is “whether the action reasonably served

to prevent future harassment of the plaintiff.” Chambers, 614 N.W.2d at 919. The appropriate

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corrective response will vary according to the frequency and severity of the alleged harassment. Bell

v. Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Co., 929 F.2d 220, 224 (6th Cir. 1991). There is no evidence that Ford

Credit took any action to prevent its employees from engaging in harassment of Calderon.

Accordingly, we cannot say that Ford Credit’s actions reasonably serve to prevent future harassment.

Calderon, therefore, may be able to establish respondeat superior liability.1 Therefore, we hold that

summary judgment in favor of Ford Credit on the hostile-work-environment claim was improper.

                                                   V.            CONCLUSION

        For the reason discussed above, we REVERSE the district court’s judgment and REMAND

for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

        1
         Calderon further contends that because her harassers were Ford Credit’s “agents,” Ford
Credit is strictly liable for their conduct. As previously explained, issues raised for the first time on
appeal are typically not considered by this Court absent exceptional circumstances. Foster v.
Barilow, 6 F.3d 405, 407 (6th Cir. 1993) (citations omitted); Scottsdale Ins. Co., 513 F.3d at 552-53.
At the district court level, however, Calderon consistently argued that respondeat superior is
established by the severe and pervasive nature of the alleged harassment. Having raised a different
argument before the district court, Calderon has failed to present support, reasoning, case law, or
facts to support her argument that Ford Credit is strictly liable for the alleged harassment of its
agents. Thus, we hold that Calderon waived this argument on appeal.

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