Filed: Mar. 04, 2004
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS For the Fifth Circuit No. 97-50984 Summary Calendar BILLY R. MCDANIEL, Plaintiff-Appellant, VERSUS GENERAL AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP., Defendant-Appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (W-97-CV-27) May 14, 1998 Before DUHÉ, DeMOSS, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges PER CURIAM:1 Billy R. McDaniel (“McDaniel”), an 18-year employee of General American Transportation Corporation (“GATC”) sued his employer when his position o
Summary: UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS For the Fifth Circuit No. 97-50984 Summary Calendar BILLY R. MCDANIEL, Plaintiff-Appellant, VERSUS GENERAL AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP., Defendant-Appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (W-97-CV-27) May 14, 1998 Before DUHÉ, DeMOSS, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges PER CURIAM:1 Billy R. McDaniel (“McDaniel”), an 18-year employee of General American Transportation Corporation (“GATC”) sued his employer when his position of..
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UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
For the Fifth Circuit
No. 97-50984
Summary Calendar
BILLY R. MCDANIEL,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
VERSUS
GENERAL AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP.,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
(W-97-CV-27)
May 14, 1998
Before DUHÉ, DeMOSS, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges
PER CURIAM:1
Billy R. McDaniel (“McDaniel”), an 18-year employee of General
American Transportation Corporation (“GATC”) sued his employer when
his position of Environmental Coordinator at its Hearne, Texas
facility was phased out and he was discharged. He claimed that
GATC’s adverse employment decision was discriminatory conduct based
1
Pursuant to the 5TH CIR. R.47.5, the Court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in the 5TH CIR.
47.5.4.
on his race, his age, and his record of disabilities under Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) 29 U.S.C. § 626, et seq.,
and the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) 42 U.S.C. § 12110
et seq., respectively. The district court granted summary judgment
for GATC on all claims. McDaniel appeals.
We have carefully reviewed the record and considered the
briefs of the parties. We agree with the district court that
McDaniel has failed to present a prima facie case of either race or
age discrimination. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
411 U.S.
792 (1973). The facts are undisputed that he was not replaced by
someone outside the protected class nor did others who were not
members of the protected class remain in similar positions. See
Meinecke v. H&R Block of Houston,
66 F.3d 77, 83, 84 (5th Cir.
1995).
Even if we assume that McDaniel established a prima facie case
of race or age discrimination, the uncontroverted facts indicate
that the GATC decision was made in an effort to economize. GATC
hired an outside consultant, who was already under contract for
other services at GATC, to perform the duties of an environmental
coordinator. Rather than paying McDaniel’s environmental
coordinator’s $45,456.00 salary, GATC paid only $40,000 for both
the pre-existing consulting duties and those originally performed
by McDaniel. McDaniel fails to present evidence that GATC’s
business decision was a pretext for discrimination based on his
2
race or his age. See Texas Dept. of Community Affairs v. Burdine,
450 U.S. 248, 253 (1980).
We also agree that McDaniel does not suffer from a disability
recognized under the ADA and consequently has no claim against GATC
for discrimination. See 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2) and 29 C.F.R. §
1630.2(i). The district court correctly found that McDaniel has no
record of an impairment that substantially limits a major life
function. See Rogers v. International Marine Terminals, Inc.,
97
F.3d 755 (5th Cir. 1996) and
Id. n.2. Thus, McDaniel is not a
individual with a disability recognized by the ADA and can claim no
protection under that statute.
Accordingly, we AFFIRM the district court’s grant of summary
judgment in favor of the defendant, GATC.
3