SHARON LOVELACE BLACKBURN, District Judge.
This case is presently pending before the court on defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 22.)
Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a), 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); Clark v. Coats & Clark, Inc., 929 F.2d 604, 608 (11th Cir. 1991); see Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157 (1970). Once the moving party has met its burden, the non-moving party must go beyond the pleadings and show that there is a genuine issue of fact for trial. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986). A dispute is genuine "if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1); see also Clark, 929 F.2d at 608 ("it is never enough simply to state that the non-moving party cannot meet its burden at trial").
In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court's function is not to "weigh the evidence and determine the truth of the matter but to determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249. "[C]ourts are required to view the facts and draw reasonable inferences `in the light most favorable to the party opposing the [summary judgment] motion.'" Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 378 (2007)(quoting United States v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655 (1962)(per curiam)). Nevertheless, the non-moving party "need not be given the benefit of every inference but only of every reasonable inference." Graham v. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 193 F.3d 1274, 1282 (11th Cir. 1999)(citing Brown v. City of Clewiston, 848 F.2d 1534, 1540 n.12 (11th Cir. 1988)); see also Scott, 550 U.S. at 380 ("When opposing parties tell two different stories, one of which is blatantly contradicted by the record, so that no reasonable jury could believe it, a court should not adopt that version of the facts for purposes of ruling on a motion for summary judgment.").
Defendant Corizon provides health care services to incarcerated persons. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 3.) On November 1, 2007, Corizon contracted with the Alabama Department of Corrections to provide health care services in Alabama prisons, including the Donaldson Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison with approximately 1,500 inmates. (Id.) It has three status classifications for its employees:
(Doc. 22-3 ¶ 11 [footnote added]; see doc. 22-3, ex. E, at 31.) During the relevant time, Corizon had approximately 31 Caucasian employees (63%) and approximately 18 African-American employees (37%) at Donaldson. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 3.)
Corizon's personnel policies and procedures are set out in a personnel manual entitled CMS Employee Success Guide [the Guide]. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 4.) The Guide includes an Equal Employment Opportunity policy, in which Corizon pledged to treat all its employees equally without regard to age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, and disability. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 5.) The Guide explicitly states that all employees may complain of discrimination without fear of retaliation and it contains a grievance procedure. (Doc. 22-3 ¶¶ 5-6.) Corizon encourages its employees to discuss any problem, issue, or concern first with their immediate supervisor. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 6.) If the employee's immediate supervisor fails to properly handle the issue or if the employee believes that he or she cannot discuss the issue with his or her supervisor, the employee should contact the Health Services Administrator [HSA], the Regional Manager, the Human Resources Department, or the Vice President of Operations. (Id.) During all relevant time, Doug Green (white, male) was the acting Director of Nursing [DON], defendant Alvin Yates (African-American, male) was the HSA,
Corizon also has an anti-harassment policy, which states:
(Doc. 22-3, ex. C, at 22.) The Harassment Policy sets forth the internal complaint procedure, including an "800" number for employees to report claims of harassment. (Id.; doc. 22-3 ¶ 9.) The Policy instructs employees to report harassment to "their Supervisor, the next level site or regional management, or the Human Resources Department in [St.] Louis." (Doc. 22-3, ex. C. at 22.) Corizon provides training and education on harassment to all employees during its new employee orientation program. (Doc. 22-3 ¶¶ 7, 10.)
On May 1, 2007, Corizon hired plaintiff Krystal Wilson (white, female) as a Licensed Practical Nurse [LPN]. (Doc. 22-3, ex. F, at 33-34; doc. 22-8, ex. 17, at 96.) At that time, Corizon gave Wilson a copy of the Guide. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 4.) On June 15, 2009, Corizon trained and tested Wilson on its anti-harassment policy. (Id. ¶ 11.) Thereafter, it re-tested her in April 2010, June 2010, and April 2011. (Id.)
Wilson's performance review on May 20, 2010, indicated she either exceeded standards or met standards in every category. (Doc. 22-10 at 36-38 [Wilson exceeded standards in 7 categories and met standards in 26].) Green testified Wilson was a "good employee" and a "hard worker" and that she "performed well" in her position. (Doc. 22-9 at 14, 25; doc. 22-3 ¶ 14.)
The Charge Nurse was the direct supervisor of the nurses on the shift and could initiate discipline of the nurses if events warranted. (Doc. 22-9 at 21-22; doc. 27-1 ¶ 3.) Kimberly Hewitt (African-American, female), RN, was the day-shift Charge Nurse.
Wilson testified that Hewitt told her several times "that white girls were weak and that black women were strong." (Doc. 22-4 at 35-36, 39.) She said Hewitt would not speak to her and that "it was just always real tense." (Id. at 35.) She testified that, as far as she knew, Hewitt acted "ugly" only toward her. (Doc. 22-4 at 41.) She said, "[Hewitt] would not speak to me. . . . [W]hen she would, it was very hateful. You would see her laughing and joking and playing around and helping other African-American employees, but with me, she would not help. She would not talk unless she absolutely had to." (Id. at 148; see also id. at 178-79.) She testified that Hewitt and Yates appeared to get along very well and they laughed and joked together. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 6.) According to Wilson, Hewitt's behavior became more hateful and aggressive toward her after Yates was hired. (Id.)
Hewitt testified that Wilson was difficult to work with because she always had problems that she brought to work. (Doc. 22-12 at 30.) She testified that Wilson had difficulty focusing on her work and that she would forget what she was doing and have to be reminded. (Id. at 33.)
In July 2010, approximately 210 Donaldson inmates became infected with tuberculosis [TB]. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 15; doc. 27-1 ¶ 9.) In response, Corizon created a temporary, part-time LPN day-shift position, the INH nurse,
As the TB outbreak became controlled, Wilson cared for fewer TB inmates and she began assisting the day shift nurses in the infirmary and the pill-call room during her shift in addition to seeing TB patients. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 10; doc. 22-3 ¶ 16.) By April, only a few inmates were on the INH protocol. (Doc. 22-4 at 29-30; doc. 22-8 at 125-26; doc. 22-8, ex. 9, at 75.)
On April 29, 2011, Wilson was assisting LPN Tiffany Nicholas
Pursuant to Corizon policy, nurses must administer medications only from the MAR. (Doc. 22-8 at 71; doc. 22-3 ¶ 16.) Corizon had trained and tested Wilson on proper medication administration. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 16.)
Green and Butler told Wilson to take the inmate to the infirmary so his vital signs could be monitored for any adverse reaction. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 13; doc. 22-4 at 52-53.) As soon as Hewitt learned about the incident, she went to the medication room and talked to Nicholas and Hackworth. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 15; doc. 22-4 at 53-54.) Wilson is not sure what Hewitt said to Nicholas and Hackworth immediately after the medication error, but she testified that Hewitt appeared to be attempting to inflame the situation because Nicholas and Hackworth came out of the medication room and were upset with Wilson. (Doc. 22-4 at 54-55; doc. 27-1 ¶ 16.) According to Nicholas's statement, dated April 29, 2011, "Hewitt came to the med room and asked [Nicholas] to speak with Butler and see what was going on with [the inmate's] blood sugar." (Doc. 22-8, ex. 1, at 50-51.) This statement of what Hewitt said coincides with Hackworth's statement that Hewitt told Nicholas to go to the infirmary to "see what was going on with [the inmate's] insulin." (Doc. 22-8, ex. 5, at 64.)
According to Wilson, this medication error was not particularly serious and her employment was never in jeopardy. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 14; see also 22-8 at 95 [Yates testified that "[d]iscipline was never even brought into the equation at all."].) Wilson testified that she had accepted responsibility for the medication error as soon as she discovered it. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 14; doc. 22-4 at 54.) According to Wilson, Nicholas and Hackworth did not appear upset with her about the incident or about her reporting the incident. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 15.)
When Yates was notified about the medication error, he convened a telephone conference call with Wilson and the other day-shift nurses at work that day. (Doc. 22-8 at 83-84.) The conference call included Wilson, Nicholas, Hewitt, and Hackworth, as well as Butler. (Doc. 22-8 at 84; doc. 27-1 ¶ 18.) Before the call, according to Wilson, Hackworth had stated that she did not know why she was being called into the office, to which Hewitt had responded "because you are black." (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 19; doc. 22-4 at 59.) After the conference call, Wilson complained to Green about Hewitt's "because you are black" comment. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 21.) Green told her to talk to Yates. (Id.)
During the conference call, Wilson and Nicholas agreed that Nicholas had instructed Wilson to use the MAR, and not the cheat sheet, to prepare the insulin for the inmates. (Doc. 22-8 at 85-86, 106.) Yates considered the matter closed following the conference call. (Id. at 94, 106.) Yates never disciplined either Wilson or Nicholas over the medication error. (Doc. 22-8 at 95.)
At Yates's request, the nurses submitted written statements regarding the April 29, 2011, medication error. (Doc. 22-8 at 75-76.) Wilson's first statement did not mention Hewitt's comment to Hackworth. (Doc. 22-8, ex. 4, at 62.) Hackworth's statement does not mention Hewitt's "because you are black" comment; however, she did recount a discussion between Nicholas and Wilson regarding what Wilson had told Butler about the medication error, after which Wilson "stormed out of the room." (Doc. 22-8, ex. 5, at 64.) Thereafter, according to Hackworth's statement, Green asked Nicholas to apologize to Wilson for hurting her feelings and Nicholas refused, stating that she had not done anything wrong. (Id.)
On Saturday, April 30, 2011, Wilson prepared a second statement. (Doc. 22-8, ex. 3, at 56-60; doc. 22-4, ex. 3, at 171.) Yates testified that he received this statement on Monday, May 2, 2011. (Doc. 22-8 at 80.) That same day, Wilson verbally complained to Yates and he told her to put her complaint in writing. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 21; doc. 22-4 at 60.) In the statement dated April 30, 2011, Wilson said that Nicholas had told her to use the cheat sheet and that the cheat sheet was up-to-date. (Id. at 56-57.) According to her statement, she told Green and Butler about the cheat sheet. (Id. at 57.) She stated that Nicholas had accused her of bringing her name up to Butler, which Wilson denied. (Doc. 22-4, ex. 3, 171.) Also, Wilson stated, "Mrs. Nicholas did not tell Mr. Yates the truth. She stated she told me to not use the sheet for insulin. That is not true. That statement was never made." (Doc. 22-8, ex. 3, at 58.) She recounted Hewitt's "because you are black" statement, which she claimed was "very disrespectful" and "a racist remark." (Doc. 22-8, ex. 3 at 58-59; see also doc. 22-4 at 59-60.) Wilson complained that Hewitt was harassing her by going to Nicholas and Hackworth and "trying to stir something up". (Doc. 22-4, ex. 3, at 171-72.)
Yates testified that Wilson was upset on Monday, so he told her to go home. (Doc. 22-8 at 94, 107.) After Wilson left, Yates talked to the staff about harassment. (Id. at 109-10, 120.) Wilson was not informed about this meeting. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 26.)
After leaving work on Monday, Wilson went home and typed a third statement, which she gave to Yates on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, in which she "request[ed] to either work on the other side of medical and not in the infirmary, or [to] change to a different shift due to the situation that occurred on 4/29/2011." (Doc. 22-8, ex. 7, at 68; doc. 22-4 at 84-85; doc. 27-1 ¶ 25.) She wrote:
(Doc. 22-8, ex. 7, at 68.) She did not identify the "certain coworkers" or "certain nurses" referred to in this statement. (See id.) Also, she did not allege that her work environment is hostile because of her gender or her race; rather, she said the hostility was based on the "situation that occurred on 4/29/2011," the date of her medication error. (See id.)
Following his receipt of Wilson's complaint about a "hostile environment," Yates asked her to give him more information and "to be specific about a hostile work environment," including the names of the "certain coworkers" referred to in her statement. (Doc. 22-8 at 107; doc. 22-4 at 79.) Yates called Wilson into his office and, according to Wilson, Yates yelled at her and forced her to write and rewrite statements regarding her complaint about a hostile environment. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 27; doc. 22-4 at 87, doc. 22-8, ex. 8, at 70-73.) Her first statement, dated May 4, 2011, identified Hewitt as the coworker who had created the hostile environment; Wilson asked to be assigned to an area other than the infirmary. (Doc. 22-8, ex. 8, at 70.) ["I feel as though it would be a hostile situation to work with Mrs. Hewitt in the infirmary. I would like to avoid this situation if at all possible."].) She stated:
(Doc. 22-8, ex. 8, at 71.)
Because this letter mentions only named Hewitt, Yates asked Wilson to write another statement. (Doc. 22-8 at 112.) In this second statement, dated May 4, 2011, Wilson wrote:
(Doc. 22-8, ex. 8, at 72.) This statement did not allege that the "bad attitude or action" were because of her race and/or her gender.
Yates again asked Wilson to provide more details of her claim of a hostile environment. (Doc. 22-8 at 112.) In the third statement, dated May 4, 2011, Wilson stated:
(Doc. 22-8, ex. 8, at 73.) She did not mention race or gender as the reason for any hostility from her coworkers; instead, she relates the animosity to the medication error of April 29, 2011. (Id.)
Wilson testified that Yates had her sit in a corner of the room at a desk while he stood over her in front of the desk. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 27; doc. 22-4 at 87.) She said Yates yelled at her. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 27.) Also, after she would write a statement, Yates would read it and yell at her that the statement was not right; he repeatedly told her to re-write the statement. (Id.) Yates took some of the statements, wadded them up, and threw them in the trash can. (Id.; doc. 22-4 at 95.) Wilson testified that she felt that she spent "an eternity" writing the statements. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 27; doc. 22-4 at 95.) Yates denied he forced Wilson to write the statements, that he threw any of her statements in the trash, or that he yelled at her. (Doc. 22-8 at 108-09, 113.) However, for purposes of deciding defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, the court will assume that Wilson's version of this incident is accurate.
Yates forwarded Wilson's statements to Dover for Dover to resolve. (Doc. 22-8 at 118-19.) Thereafter, he assumed the matter had been resolved because, as he testified, he did not "recall anything more ever happening." (Id. at 119.)
On May 6, 2011, Yates informed Wilson that Corizon was eliminating the INH nurse position due to the substantial decrease in TB patients. (Doc. 22-8 at 123-24; doc. 22-8, ex. 9, at 75; doc. 27-1 ¶ 28.) According to a letter given to Wilson,
Melissa Curry (white, female) submitted two applications for an LPN position to Corizon — one dated June 1, 2011, (doc. 27-6), and another dated June 4, 2011, (doc. 27-7).
During early June 2011, Wilson learned from Green that Yates had conducted interviews for the second-shift position although the position had not been posted. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 31; doc. 22-4 at 103.) On June 7, 2011, Wilson called Peggy Miniard, an employee in the Human Resources Department, and asked her when the second-shift position would be posted. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 32.) That day, Corizon posted an Internal Vacancy Announcement seeking applicants for the full-time second shift LPN position. (Doc. 22-8 at 129-30; doc. 22-8, ex. 10, at 77.) The Position Description stated:
(Doc. 22-8, ex. 10, at 77.) Also, one of the minimum qualifications for the position was an ability "to function in a stressful environment and [to] relate well to the patients, security staff and healthcare team members." (Doc. 22-8, ex. 10, at 77.)
At this time, according to Yates, he was in the process of cross-training the nurses to enable them to work any shift in any area. (Doc. 22-8 at 122.) However, Wilson testified, "Yates had not announced or implemented any specific program of cross-training [and such a program] did not exist at [any] time[] throughout my employment." (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 47.)
Prior to her interview, Green had told Wilson that she was the most qualified applicant and he could not see any reason she would not get the second-shift position.
Yates interviewed Wilson on June 10, 2011. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 34.) He interviewed her alone, even though, according to Wilson, the normal procedure was for the DON or some other person to sit in on interviews. (Id.; doc. 22-4 at 111, 120.) Before the interview began, Green started to enter the room for the interview, but Yates told him, "I got this." (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 35; doc. 22-4 at 120.) During the interview, Yates questioned Wilson about conflicts with co-workers. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 36; doc. 22-4 at 122.) Wilson testified that she believed Yates wanted her to talk about Hewitt, Nicholas, and Hackworth, and to say she could not work with them. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 36.) According to Wilson, Yates raised his voice
At the end of the interview, Yates told Wilson that he interviewed her, but he would not consider her for the second-shift position. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 37; doc. 22-4 at 122.) According to Wilson, Yates told her that he wanted more diversity. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 37.) Also, she said Yates told her that she could call whomever she wanted but his decision was final.
Yates identified as problematic the fact that Wilson had requested not to work with Hewitt and Nicholas, yet the second-shift position required the successful applicant to work all shifts and in all areas of the facility, including the first shift and in the infirmary where Hewitt and Nicholas worked. (Doc. 22-8 at 154-55.) According to Yates, he told Wilson that she was not selected for the open position because that position required flexibility in assignments and she had expressed an unwillingness to work all assignments. (Id.; doc. 22-8, ex. 18, at 104-05; see also doc. 27-1 ¶ 47.) During the interview, Yates told Wilson that she would continue in the PRN position. (Doc. 22-8 at 136-37.)
On or about June 17, 2011, Yates hired Curry to fill the second-shift position. (Doc. 22-8 at 138; doc. 27-8.) After her interview, Green told Wilson that she needed to find other employment because Yates was going to keep her on the work schedule but that he would not give her any hours. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 39.) Wilson submitted an employment application to Mental Health Management [MHM] on June 17, 2011. (Doc. 22-4 at 125-56, 128; doc. 27-1 ¶ 40.)
Three days later, on June 20, 2011, Yates gave Wilson a letter regarding the impending change in her work assignment; this letter stated:
(Doc. 22-8, ex. 12, at 82.) Wilson signed the PRN Working Agreement on June 21, 2011. (Doc. 22-8, ex. 11, at 79-80.)
The PRN nurses would provide their availability to Green and/or Yates; and Yates would finalize the schedule. (Doc. 22-8 at 143-44; doc. 22-9 at 47-48; see also doc. 27-1 ¶ 42.) Wilson testified that her schedule was reduced from five days a week to three or four days a week as a PRN employee. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 41.) After the second shift position was filled, Wilson was scheduled to work 32 hours per week, the same number of hours she was working as the INH nurse. (Doc. 22-4 at 162, 166-67; doc. 22-3 ¶ 22.)
However, after Curry started work, an inmate began requiring one-on-one care in the infirmary during a modified day shift, so Corizon assigned Curry to that inmate and Wilson once again was scheduled to work the second shift LPN position on an interim basis. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 22.) On July 1, 2011, two days before she was scheduled to begin working as a PRN employee, Wilson submitted a resignation letter to Green, stating that her last day with Corizon would be July 15, 2011. (Doc. 22-8, ex. 14, at 86; doc. 27-1 ¶ 43.) In this letter, she stated:
(Doc. 22-8, ex. 14, at 86.) According to Yates, Green was Wilson's supervisor at this time. (Doc. 22-8 at 146.) Wilson did not complain that Green was harassing her. However, in her EEOC Charge, signed on July 6, 2011, she alleges Yates had created a hostile work environment that forced her to resign. (Doc. 22-8, ex. 17, at 97.)
The EEOC Charges states, inter alia, "On July 1, 2011, I was forced to resign my employment because Mr. Yates created a hostile work environment," based on the fact that he did not speak to her after June 10, 2011, he did not make eye contact, he asked her coworkers about her job performance, and he spoke to overweight white females in a harsh and demeaning manner. (Id.) Wilson testified that Yates was hateful to her and other white female employees, but he was friendly to male employees and African-American female employees. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 7; doc. 22-4 at 42, 148-50, 151-53, 156, 158, 179-80.) Wilson testified that Yates's treatment of her worsened after she complained about Hewitt. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 7.) In her deposition, she testified:
(Doc. 22-4 at 148-49; see also id. at 179-80.) She also testified that Yates would stand around in "an intimidating manner, like he was watching [her]." (Id. at 149.)
Between July 1 and July 15, 2011, Wilson continued to work in her PRN capacity for Corizon. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 26; doc. 22-8 at 148.) She never complained to Dover, Corizon's Human Resources Department, Corizon's Vice President of Operations, or the 800 number to complain about any discriminatory treatment. (Doc. 22-3 ¶ 26.) She did not mention a hostile environment to Yates between her statements in early May 2011 and the July 1, 2011, resignation letter. (Doc. 22-8 at 146.)
On July 11, 2011, MHM offered Wilson an LPN position, which she accepted on July 13, 2011. (Doc. 22-4, ex. 4, at 50-51.) Her pay rate at MHM was lower than she would have received as a full-time LPN with Corizon. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 45; doc. 22-4 at 155-56.) MHM provides mental health services to Donaldson inmates. (Doc. 22-4 at 142.) The mental health nurses frequently interact with the medical care nurses while treating inmates. (Id. at 141-42.) After Wilson was hired by MHM, the company gave her a letter to carry which stated that she was authorized to be in areas shared by CMS and MHM in case she had to interact with Yates. (Doc. 27-1 ¶ 46; doc. 22-4 at 141-42, 145.) Wilson is currently working full-time at the Donaldson facility as an MHM employee. (Doc. 22-4 at 205.)
Yates received a copy of Wilson's EEOC Charge on July 14, 2011. (Doc. 22-8 at 149-50; doc. 22-8, ex. 17, at 93-97.) He did not recall any action he took to investigate Wilson's charge other than speaking with Corizon's attorneys. (Doc. 22-8 at 151-52.)
Wilson alleges that she was discriminated against on the basis of her race and gender as to four employment actions or decisions: (1) removal as INH nurse and placement in a PRN position, (2) nonselection for the full-time second-shift LPN position, (3) creation of a hostile work environment, and (4) constructive discharge. Because she relies upon circumstantial evidence to prove her race and gender discrimination claims, the court's analysis is governed by the tripartite framework established by the Supreme Court in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973), and later refined in Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248 (1981). See Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 142 (2000).
Id. at 142-43 (internal citations and quotations omitted).
Generally, "plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of disparate treatment by showing that she was a qualified member of a protected class and was subjected to an adverse employment action in contrast with similarly situated employees outside the protected class." Wilson v. B/E Aerospace, Inc., 376 F.3d 1079, 1087 (11th Cir. 2004)(citations omitted). A plaintiff alleging a hostile work environment based on race or gender harassment must show that the terms and conditions of her employment were adversely effected by severe or pervasive harassment — based on her race or gender. Defendants contend that plaintiff cannot establish a prima facie case of discrimination because she cannot establish that she was subjected to an adverse employment action and/or show that a similarly-situated African-American or male employee was treated more favorably.
An adverse employment action is an essential element of a claim of discrimination. Davis v. Town of Lake Park, 245 F.3d 1232, 1238 (11th Cir. 2001). "[T]o prove [an] adverse employment action . . . an employee must show a serious and material change in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment." Id. at 1239, quoted in Howard v. Walgreen Co., 605 F.3d 1239, 1245 (11th Cir. 2010). "[T]he employee's subjective view of the significance and adversity of the employer's action is not controlling; the employment action must be materially adverse as viewed by a reasonable person in the circumstances." Davis, 245 F.3d at 1239, quoted in Howard, 605 F.3d at 1245. Therefore, plaintiff must "establish an `ultimate employment decision' or make some other showing of substantiality in the employment context in order to establish an adverse employment action." Crawford v. Carroll, 529 F.3d 961, 970 (11th Cir. 2008)(citing, inter alia, Davis, 245 F.3d at 1239).
An "ultimate employment decision" is one "such as termination, failure to hire, or demotion." Id. For a decision "falling short of an ultimate employment decision" to rise to the level of an actionable adverse employment action, that decision "must, in some substantial way, alter the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, deprive him or her of employment opportunities, or adversely affect his or her status as an employee." Id. (internal quotations and citation)); see 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 (a)(1) ("It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer . . . to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. . . .") Among the facts and circumstances affecting whether a decision is considered "adverse" are whether the decision results in "lesser pay, responsibilities or prestige," and whether the decision would "impede an employee's professional growth or advancement." Doe v. DeKalb County School District, 145 F.3d 1441, 1452 (11th Cir. 1998). "Although proof of direct economic consequences is not required in all cases, the asserted impact `cannot be speculative and must at least have a tangible adverse effect on the plaintiff's employment.'" Soloski v. Adams, 600 F.Supp.2d 1276, 1356 (N.D. Ga. 2009)(quoting Filius v. Potter, 176 Fed. Appx. 8, 10 (11th Cir. 2006)).
A disparate treatment claim grounded upon a change in work assignment "is one our circuit does not favor." Kidd v. Mando American Corp., 731 F.3d 1196, 1203 (11th Cir. 2013.) "Work assignment claims strike at the very heart of an employer's business judgment and expertise because they challenge an employer's ability to allocate its assets in response to shifting and competing market priorities." Id. (quoting Davis, 245 F.3d at 1244). To prove a change in work assignments is an adverse employment action, plaintiff must "show that her case is one of those unusual instances where the change in responsibilities was so substantial and material that it indeed altered the terms, conditions, or privileges of her employment." Id. (quoting Davis, 245 F.3d at 1245)(internal quotations omitted).
The evidence is undisputed that Wilson's responsibilities for the TB patients had significantly decreased by May 2011 and that Corizon had a need to fill a vacant second-shift LPN position on an interim basis. The change in Wilson's responsibilities did not result in a substantial and material change in the terms, conditions, or privileges of her employment. Her only complaints about any adversity related to the change in her job assignment are that it happened earlier than she had expected and only after she had complained about Hewitt. While these complaints about the timing of the decision may be relevant for some other purpose, they are not relevant to a determination that the reassignment was an actionable adverse employment action.
The court finds plaintiff has not presented any evidence to show that her reassignment to the second shift LPN position was an adverse employment action. Therefore, her race and gender discrimination claims based on her reassignment to the temporary second shift position will be dismissed.
Defendants contend, "[T]he fact that Wilson was not chosen for the LPN position [does not] constitute an adverse employment action. . . . Crucially, Yates ultimately hired Melissa Curry[, a white, female,] for the position, an undisputed fact that completely eviscerates Wilson's contention that she was denied this position because of her race or gender." (Doc. 22-1 at 26.) The race and gender of the selected candidate are not relevant to whether plaintiff's non-selection for the permanent position was an adverse employment action.
The second shift position was a full-time, permanent position — as opposed to the part-time, as needed position Wilson assumed. The court finds that Wilson's nonselection for a full-time permanent position was an adverse employment action.
"Title VII [and Section 1981] prohibit[] the creation of a hostile work environment." Vance v. Ball State University, 133 S.Ct. 2434, 2441 (2013)(citations omitted); Jones v. UPS Ground Freight, 683 F.3d 1283, 1292 (11th Cir. 2012). To qualify as an adverse employment action, "the plaintiff must show that the work environment was so pervaded by discrimination that the terms and conditions of employment were altered." Gowski v. Peake, 682 F.3d 1299, 1312 (11th Cir. 2012). "When the workplace is permeated with racially [or sexually] 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, Title VII [and Section 1981 are] violated." Jones, 683 F.3d at 1292 (quoting National R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 116 (2002) and citing Edwards v. Prime, Inc., 602 F.3d 1276, 1300 (11th Cir. 2010))(internal quotations omitted); see also Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993). Conduct that is not severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively hostile or abusive work environment — an environment that a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive — is beyond Title VII's purview.
Vance, 133 S. Ct., at 2455 (Ginsburg, J., dissenting)(internal citations and quotations omitted).
Therefore, "personal animosity is not the equivalent of the type of harassment prohibited by Title VII, and the plaintiff cannot turn a personal feud into such a Title VII claim." Alhallaq v. Radha Soami Trading, 484 Fed. Appx. 293, 296 (11th Cir. 2012)(quoting McCollum v. Bolger, 794 F.2d 602, 610 (11th Cir. 1986))(internal quotations and citation omitted). Also, evidence that her supervisor "scrutinized her work and pointed out her shortcomings on a regular basis . . . does not approximate the severity required to state a claim for hostile work environment." See Dudley v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 931 F.Supp. 773, 816 (M.D. Ala. 1996), abrogated on other grounds by Moore v. State of Alabama, 989 F.Supp. 1412 (M.D. AL 1997); see also Green v. MOBIS Alabama, LLC, Case No. 2:12-cv-277-MEF, 2014 WL 457683, *18 (M.D. Ala. Feb. 5, 2014)(employee's claim that employer watched her and scrutinized her work was "nothing more than ordinary workplace conflict").
Wilson has not presented evidence of any overtly racist or sexist intimidation, ridicule, and/or insult based on her race or her gender. She complains that Hewitt did not like her and would not speak to her or help her. In fact, she testified that she was the only employee Hewitt treated this way. She complains that Yates yelled at her on May 4, 2011, and during her interview on June 11, 2011. She testified that he tried to intimidate her and questioned her coworkers about her job performance. These facts are insufficient to establish a hostile work environment due to race or gender harassment. See Adams v. Austal, U.S.A., L.L.C., ___ F.3d ___, No. 2014 WL 2726171, *11 (11th Cir. June 17, 2014).
The conduct at issue in the case was neither severe nor pervasive and no reasonable employee would believe that the terms and conditions of their employment were materially and adversely altered because of racial or gender harassment. Therefore, defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment will be granted and plaintiff's hostile environment claims will be dismissed.
Defendants contend that plaintiff was not constructively discharged from her position with Corizon and that she chose to resign to take another position. Plaintiff contends that she was told by Green that Yates was not going to give her any hours; however at no time were her hours actually eliminated or reduced. As of July 1, 2011, the day she resigned, she was scheduled for 32 hours a week, the same number of hours she worked as the INH nurse.
In this Circuit —
Menzie v. Ann Taylor Retail Inc., 549 Fed. Appx. 891, 894-95 (11th Cir. 2013). "Thus, where a plaintiff cannot sustain a claim for hostile work environment sexual [or racial] harassment, her claim for constructive discharge will normally also fail." Odom v. Fred's Stores of Tennessee, Inc., Civil Action No. 7:12-CV-91 (HL), 2013 WL 6498499, *10 (M.D. Ga. Dec. 11, 2013)(citing Matthews v. City of Gulfport, 72 F.Supp.2d 1328, 1338 (M.D. Fla. 1999)).
For the reasons set forth above, the court finds that Wilson has not established a hostile work environment claim. Therefore, her constructive discharge claims, to the extent based on discriminatory harassment, are due to be dismissed.
A plaintiff may also establish a constructive discharge claim by showing that she was compelled or coerced to resign based on employment acts other than discriminatory harassment. "In order to show constructive discharge, . . . the plaintiff must show that the situation was so `intolerable' that [she] had `
Other employment actions can constitute constructive discharge under certain circumstances. For example, the Eleventh Circuit has held "that employees may be constructively discharged by a demeaning demotion or transfer."
According to Wilson, she was forced to resign after Green told her that Yates was not going to schedule her. However, the record does not contain evidence that Yates took any action to coerce plaintiff to resign or that he actually eliminated her hours. Plaintiff may have subjectively believed that Yates was going to eliminate her position, but no reasonable person in her position would have felt
The court finds plaintiff has not established that she was constructively discharged. Therefore, defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment will be granted and Wilson's race and gender discrimination claims based on her constructive discharge will be dismissed.
To establish a prima facie case of discrimination as to her remaining race and gender discrimination claims based on her nonselection for the second shift position, Wilson must show that she was treated less favorably than a similarly-situated person outside her protected class. In such cases, "The burden is on the plaintiff to show that she is a member of a protected class, that she applied for and was qualified for an available position, that she was rejected, and that the defendant filled the position with a person outside of the protected class." Walker v. Prudential Property and Cas. Ins. Co., 286 F.3d 1270, 1274-75 (11th Cir. 2002)(citing Walker v. Mortham, 158 F.3d 1177, 1192 (11th Cir. 1998) (quoting Patterson v. McLean Credit Union, 491 U.S. 164, 186 (1989))). The evidence in this case is undisputed that the selected applicant for the second shift position was Melissa Curry, a white female — the same race and gender as Wilson.
Plaintiff contends that Hewitt is her comparator, because Hewitt was treated more favorably. (Doc. 26 at 31-33.) "When evaluating an allegation of disparate treatment, [the Eleventh Circuit] require[s] that a comparator be `similarly situated to the plaintiff in all relevant respects.'" Stone & Webster Const., Inc. v. U.S. Dept. of Labor, 684 F.3d 1127, 1135 (11th Cir. 2012)(quoting Rioux v. City of Atlanta, 520 F.3d 1269, 1280 (11th Cir. 2008)). Hewitt was an RN, not an LPN like Wilson and Curry, and she did not apply for the second shift LPN position. Also, nothing in the record indicates that Hewitt ever requested not to work in any area of Donaldson or with any other Corizon employees. Therefore, as a matter of law, the court holds that Hewitt is not similarly-situated to Wilson and Wilson cannot show that Hewitt was treated more favorably with regard to the second shift position than Wilson.
Because Wilson cannot establish a prima facie case of discrimination with regard to her nonselection for the second shift position, the court finds defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment is due to be granted. Wilson's race and gender discrimination claims based on her nonselection for the second-shift position will be dismissed.
Plaintiff contends:
(Doc. 26 at 24-25.)
"Direct evidence of discrimination is `evidence which reflects a discriminatory or retaliatory attitude correlating to the discrimination or retaliation complained of by the employee' and `that, if believed, proves the existence of a fact without inference or presumption.'" Hamilton v. Southland Christian School, Inc., 680 F.3d 1316, 1320 (11th Cir. 2012)(quoting Wilson v. B/E Aerospace, Inc., 376 F.3d 1079, 1086 (11th Cir. 2004)). (alterations and quotation marks omitted). Indirect evidence is circumstantial evidence. See Wright v. Southland Corp., 187 F.3d 1287, 1293 (11th Cir.1999). "Therefore, only the most blatant remarks, whose intent could mean nothing other than to discriminate on the basis of some impermissible factor constitute direct evidence of discrimination. If the alleged statement suggests, but does not prove, a discriminatory motive, then it is considered circumstantial evidence." Akouri v. State of Florida Dept. of Transp., 408 F.3d 1338, 1347 (11th Cir. 2005)(internal quotations and citations omitted).
Therefore, to establish her retaliatory nonselection claim by direct evidence, Wilson's evidence must show that Yates did not select her for the second shift position because she had engaged in protected activity — not simply that he did not select her because of her complaint about Hewitt. As discussed more fully below, to establish protected activity for purposes of establishing a retaliation claim under § 1981 and/or Title VII, plaintiff must show that she had "a good faith, reasonable belief that the employer was engaged in unlawful employment practices." Little v. United Technologies, 103 F.3d 956, 960 (11th Cir.1997). Therefore, to find that Yates did not select plaintiff for the second shift position because she had complained about Hewitt, the fact-finder is required to find that plaintiff's complaint about Hewitt and/or her statement that she could not or would not work with Hewitt constituted activity protected by § 1981 and/or Title VII. Yates statement — that he would not select plaintiff because she could not work everywhere or with everyone — does not prove that plaintiff's inability to work everywhere or with everyone was protected.
The court finds that plaintiff has not produced direct evidence that she was not selected for the second-shift position was unlawful retaliation.
In order to establish a prima facie case of retaliation in violation of Title VII and Section 1981, plaintiff must establish: (1) a statutorily protected expression; (2) an adverse employment action; and (3) a causal relationship between the protected expression and the adverse action. Davis v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consol., 516 F.3d 955, 978 n.52 (11th Cir. 2008). Because the court finds that Wilson has not established that she engaged in protected activity, the court pretermits further discussion of the elements of her prima facie case or whether defendants' articulated reasons for the alleged adverse actions were pretextual.
Wilson contends that she "engaged in protected activity when she verbally complained to Yates about race discrimination and again when she submitted a written complaint of race discrimination to Yates." (Doc. 26 at 27.) Defendants contend that, "Any allegation that Wilson subjectively believed she experienced actionable racial harassment is not objectively reasonable in light of existing substantive law. As in Butler, `[i]t is not even close.'" (Doc. 22-1 at 36 [citing Butler v. Ala. Dep't of Transp., 536 F.3d 1209, 1213 (11th Cir. 2008)].)
Wilson testified that she complained, verbally to Yates about Hewitt's "because you're black" comment to Hackworth. She mentioned "hostile environment" in her written statement, dated May 2, 2011, due to the medication error of April 29, 2011. Her written complaints do not mention race or gender discrimination. Rather, she complains Hewitt was trying to stir the pot and create conflict between Wilson and the other nurses about the medication error. She wrote that she found Hewitt's statement to Hackworth to be "a racist remark," "disrespectful," and "hurtful." (Id. at 172-73.) However, Hewitt's comment, which was not about or to Wilson and did not concern anything to do with the medication error, was not "racist." It was not insulting or intimidating; it did not include any racial slur or epitaph. A reasonable person would not have believed that Hewitt's comment was racist simply because she mentioned Hackworth's race. No reasonable person would believe that Hewitt's conduct after Wilson's medication error created a hostile environment based on race or gender harassment.
Howard, 605 F.3d at 1244. Wilson's complaints do not meet the reasonableness standard.
The court finds that Wilson has not established that she engaged in protected activity; therefore, the court finds she has not established a prima facie case of retaliation. Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment will be granted and plaintiff's retaliation claims will be dismissed.
For the foregoing reasons, the court is of the opinion that there are no material facts in dispute and defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law. An Order granting defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment will be entered contemporaneously with this Memorandum Opinion.
Adams, 2014 WL 2726171, at *11.
