PREGERSON, Circuit Judge:
This case arises from a wrongful employment termination dispute between Gilberto Santillan, a 53-year-old garbage truck driver, and his employer of 32 years, USA Waste of California, Inc. ("USA Waste"). Santillan filed this action against USA Waste alleging a wrongful termination claim based on age discrimination and retaliation. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of USA Waste.
We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We reverse. We hold that the district court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of USA Waste because (1) Santillan established a prima facie case under both his age discrimination and retaliation theories; and (2) USA Waste failed to introduce any evidence that it had a legitimate reason for firing him.
We also hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Santillan's oral request for leave to amend
Gilberto Santillan started working for USA Waste as a residential garbage truck driver in 1979.
In March 2011, USA Waste's garbage collection contract with the City of Manhattan Beach was up for renewal. In presenting its case to the Manhattan Beach City Council, USA Waste specifically highlighted Santillan's exemplary service to the community. After hearing from Manhattan Beach homeowners who praised Santillan's exemplary service to their community, the Manhattan Beach City Council renewed USA Waste's contract.
Santillan was rarely disciplined during his first 30 years at USA Waste. But this situation changed in January 2009, after USA Waste assigned Steve Kobzoff as Santillan's new Manhattan Beach route manager.
Between January 2009 and July 2010, Kobzoff attempted to discipline Santillan six times. The parties dispute whether these "write ups" violated the procedural protections afforded by USA Waste's collective bargaining agreement. USA Waste does not defend its termination of Santillan based on these six disputed write-ups.
On December 5, 2011, USA Waste fired Santillan for the first time. USA Waste contends that it fired Santillan then because he had four accidents in a 12-month period for which Kobzoff disciplined Santillan using the procedures required by USA Waste's collective bargaining agreement. Santillan disputes both that he had four accidents and that USA Waste followed the procedures required by the collective bargaining agreement.
Another employee, Janson Vartanian, replaced Santillan. At summary judgment, USA Waste submitted a declaration from its human resources employee Maria Diaz stating that the employee who replaced Santillan was "over 40 years of age" and had eleven years experience driving garbage trucks.
Santillan testified that he was one of five older Spanish-speaking employees fired or suspended once Kobzoff was assigned as USA Waste's Manhattan Beach route manager. Although Santillan could not recall the names of the four other Spanish-speaking employees, Kobzoff corroborated Santillan's statement by identifying Jesus Zamora and Rojilio Mejia as two such Spanish-speaking employees who were terminated.
On December 7, 2011, pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement and with the assistance of his attorney, Santillan filed a formal grievance against USA Waste challenging his December 5, 2011, termination.
After Santillan's formal grievance was filed, USA Waste received hundreds of letters from Manhattan Beach homeowners who live in the area served by Santillan, demanding that USA Waste reinstate Santillan's employment. In their letters, the homeowners reminded USA Waste that it succeeded in securing the renewal of its important garbage collection contract with Manhattan Beach in March
The homeowners demanded that USA Waste reinstate Santillan because he "positively impacted every family on [the] street," and was "extremely helpful," going above and beyond his responsibilities. One homeowner made it a point to introduce her sons to Santillan because he "works hard, and has a beautiful spirit and attitude," and "in terms of class and integrity and a radiant personality there is no one in the world who can hold a candle to Gilberto [Santillan]." In contrast, days after Santillan was fired, Manhattan Beach residents reported being frustrated finding their trash cans emptied at dusk and left "sitting in[] the street-creating a hazard to oncoming cars."
The homeowners' sentiments were published in a local newspaper, which also included a story from a homeowner whose son dressed up as Santillan for Halloween because he considers Santillan "a hero."
On May 17, 2012, in the presence of USA Waste's attorney, Santillan's attorney, and a union representative, USA Waste and Santillan signed a "Settlement Agreement and Last Chance Agreement" ("Settlement Agreement"), in which USA Waste agreed to reinstate Santillan's employment if he passed the California Department of Transportation drug test and physical exam, a criminal background check, and "e-Verify."
Santillan successfully completed the California Department of Transportation drug test, the physical exam, and the criminal background check.
In response, USA Waste's human resources employee Maria Diaz sent Santillan a letter informing him that his first day back at work would be July 16, 2012. The letter also told Santillan, "you will need to complete an I-9 form and show documentation of your right to work in the U.S." Diaz's letter to Santillan was written in English, even though USA Waste was aware that Santillan communicated in Spanish. The letter only included the fifth page of the employment eligibility verification Form I-9 ("Form I-9"), which was printed in English even though it was available in Spanish.
Santillan reported to work on July 16, 2012, with his driver's license and social security card to complete the Form I-9. However, Diaz informed Santillan that he also needed a work authorization number and its expiration date. Santillan did not have that information with him. Diaz asked
On each of the following two days, Santillan attempted to provide the requested information by giving Diaz a letter with an identification number. According to Diaz, Santillan was unable to provide the expiration date and she could not complete electronic employment verification of his work authorization without the expiration date.
On the third day, Diaz sent Santillan home. Diaz testified that she "told him he couldn't work, and that we would be in contact." Six days later, on July 24, 2012, USA Waste sent a letter to Santillan informing him that USA Waste was firing him because he did not provide "proof of your legal right to work in the United States within three days of hire, as required by the Immigration Control and Reform Act of 1986, [sic][and] the Settlement Agreement."
On December 4, 2013, Santillan filed a complaint against USA Waste in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging wrongful termination in violation of California public policy. Santillan advanced two different theories for this claim based on the violation of two different public policies: (1) age discrimination in violation of the public policy evinced in the Fair Employment and Housing Act ("FEHA"), Cal. Gov't Code § 12940
On November 14, 2014, USA Waste filed a summary judgment motion. The district court held a hearing on January 12, 2015. At the summary judgment hearing, Santillan's attorney asked the court for leave to amend the complaint to add a breach of contract claim.
On January 16, 2015, the district court: (1) granted summary judgment in favor of USA Waste on Santillan's wrongful termination claim based on age discrimination, holding that Santillan failed to establish a prima facie case; (2) granted summary judgment in favor of USA Waste on Santillan's wrongful termination claim based on retaliation, holding that Santillan's failure to provide the documentation that USA Waste demanded in the three-day time frame it required was a "legitimate[], non-retaliatory reason for the July 2012 termination;" and (3) denied Santillan's request for leave to amend.
Santillan timely appealed these rulings.
We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a district court's grant of summary judgment. Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 1162, 1168 (9th Cir. 2014) (en banc). Summary judgment is appropriate where "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). In our de novo review of the district court's summary judgment ruling, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Albino, 747 F.3d at 1168.
We review a district court's denial of leave to amend for abuse of discretion. Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 977 (9th Cir. 2013).
Santillan appeals the district court's (1) grant of summary judgment in favor of USA Waste on Santillan's wrongful termination claim under an age discrimination theory; (2) grant of summary judgment in favor of USA Waste on Santillan's wrongful termination claim based on retaliation for using an attorney; and (3) denial of Santillan's request for leave to amend the complaint.
In a non-mixed motive case such as this, a California wrongful termination claim in violation of public policy is analyzed under the three-prong burden-shifting framework from McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973). See Diego v. Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 231 Cal.App.4th 913, 930, 180 Cal.Rptr.3d 359 (2014); see also Earl v. Nielsen Media Research, Inc., 658 F.3d 1108, 1112, 1118 (9th Cir. 2011) (applying burden-shifting analysis to wrongful termination claim based on age discrimination in violation of FEHA and public policy).
Under the first prong of the McDonnell Douglas framework, Santillan must establish a prima facie case under either his age discrimination or retaliation theory. See Earl, 658 F.3d at 1112; Stegall v. Citadel Broad. Co., 350 F.3d 1061, 1065-66 (9th Cir. 2003). If Santillan establishes a prima facie case, there is a "presumption of discrimination." Reid v. Google, Inc., 50 Cal.4th 512, 520 n.2, 113 Cal.Rptr.3d 327, 235 P.3d 988 (2010); Yanowitz v. L'Oreal USA, Inc., 36 Cal.4th 1028, 1042, 32 Cal.Rptr.3d 436, 116 P.3d 1123 (2005); see also Nidds v. Schindler Elevator Corp., 113 F.3d 912, 917 (9th Cir. 1996).
Then, under the second prong, the burden of production shifts to USA Waste to rebut the presumption by producing admissible evidence that it had a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its adverse employment action. See Guz v. Bechtel Nat'l, Inc., 24 Cal.4th 317, 355-56, 100 Cal.Rptr.2d 352, 8 P.3d 1089 (2000); see also Earl, 658 F.3d at 1112.
If USA Waste satisfies its burden, then, under the third prong, Santillan must show that the reason advanced by USA Waste constitutes mere pretext, or he must produce other evidence of intentional discrimination. Reid, 50 Cal.4th at 520 n.2, 113 Cal.Rptr.3d 327, 235 P.3d 988; see also Earl, 658 F.3d at 1112; Winarto v. Toshiba Am. Elecs. Components, Inc., 274 F.3d 1276, 1284 (9th Cir. 2001).
Finally, "the plaintiff in an employment discrimination action need produce very little evidence in order to overcome an employer's motion for summary judgment." Diaz v. Eagle Produce Ltd. P'ship, 521 F.3d 1201, 1207 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting
The district court erred when it evaluated Santillan's age discrimination theory in a vacuum by not considering any events occurring before USA Waste fired Santillan for the first time on December 5, 2011.
To state a prima facie age discrimination case under FEHA, Santillan must establish that: (1) he was a member of a protected class (i.e., 40 years of age or older); (2) he was performing competently in the position he held; (3) he suffered an adverse employment action, such as termination; and (4) "some other circumstance that suggests discriminatory motive." See Guz, 24 Cal.4th at 355, 100 Cal.Rptr.2d 352, 8 P.3d 1089.
The district court did not consider whether Santillan established the first three elements of a prima facie age discrimination case. It is undisputed that he did, as Santillan: (1) was a member of a protected class (i.e., 40 years of age or older) given that he was 53 years old; (2) was performing competently in the position he had; and (3) suffered an adverse employment action because USA Waste fired him.
The district court found that Santillan could not establish the fourth element: some other circumstance that suggests a discriminatory motive. We disagree. Evaluating the fourth element "with some flexibility," Nidds, 113 F.3d at 917, and construing the facts in the light most favorable to Santillan, we conclude that he established a prima facie age discrimination case. Therefore, there is a presumption that USA Waste unlawfully discriminated against Santillan. See Reid, 50 Cal.4th at 520 n.2, 113 Cal.Rptr.3d 327, 235 P.3d 988; see also Nidds, 113 F.3d at 917.
Two pieces of evidence lead us to this conclusion. First, Santillan testified that he was one of five older Spanishspeaking employees who were fired or suspended once Kobzoff was assigned as USA Waste's Manhattan Beach route manager.
Second, there is a potential thirteen-year age gap between Santillan and his replacement, Vartanian, who also has 21 fewer years experience as a garbage truck driver.
For the two reasons discussed above, the district court overlooked "the flexibility these cases require and erred in concluding that" Santillan failed to establish a prima facie age discrimination case. Nidds, 113 F.3d at 917. Because Santillan has established a prima facie age discrimination case, there is "a presumption that [USA Waste] unlawfully discriminated against [him]." Id. (citation omitted); see also Reid, 50 Cal.4th at 520 n.2, 113 Cal.Rptr.3d 327, 235 P.3d 985. Therefore, the burden shifts to USA Waste to rebut this presumption.
Under McDonnell Douglas's second prong, USA Waste bore the burden to produce admissible evidence of a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for firing Santillan. Earl, 658 F.3d at 1112. USA Waste's only proffered reason for firing Santillan in July 2012 was that his "reinstatement was contingent, in part, upon providing proof of [his] legal right to work in the United States within three days of hire, as required by the Immigration Control and Reform Act of 1986, [sic] [and] [the] Settlement Agreement."
However, USA Waste cannot rely on the IRCA or the Settlement Agreement to establish that it is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law because, as explained below: (1) the IRCA exempts Santillan from the proof of employment eligibility that USA Waste demanded; and (2) making Santillan's reinstatement contingent upon such proof would violate California public policy.
The IRCA requires employers review certain documents at the hiring stage to confirm that new employees hired after November 6, 1986, are authorized to work in the United States. See 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(a)(1)-(4). As part of this process, employers review certain documents specified by statute to attest to the new employee's employment eligibility on a Form I-9. See id. at § 1324a(b); 8 C.F.R. § 274a.2(b)(1)(i). An employer may not seek "more or different documents than are required under [the IRCA] or refus[e] to honor documents tendered that on their face reasonably appear to be genuine," as doing so is an "unfair immigration-related employment practice." 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(6); see also Rivera v. NIBCO, Inc., 364 F.3d 1057, 1073 (9th Cir. 2004).
In contrast to the IRCA's mandate with respect to new employees, two different IRCA regulations exempt Santillan from providing the employment eligibility documents demanded by USA Waste. First, the IRCA exempts Santillan from having to provide proof of employment eligibility because he was "continuing in his ... employment [after being] reinstated after disciplinary suspension for wrongful termination ... resolved through reinstatement or settlement." 8 C.F.R. § 274a.2(b)(1)(viii)(A)(5).
Second, a different IRCA "grandfather" provision exempts employees hired before November 7, 1986, from the employment eligibility verification requirements applicable at the hiring stage. Maka v. I.N.S., 904 F.2d 1351, 1360 (9th Cir. 1990); see also 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(a)(4); 8 C.F.R. § 274a.7(a)(1). USA Waste hired Santillan in 1979, and even though he was fired in 2011, his reinstatement thereafter qualified him as a continuing employee, rather than a new employee. See 8 C.F.R. § 274a.2(b)(1)(viii)(A)(5). Thus, Santillan is exempt from the IRCA employment eligibility verification requirement under this IRCA provision as well.
USA Waste cites no authority to the contrary. Instead, it argues that "the law" required Santillan to provide in three days the employment eligibility documents that USA Waste demanded. But that is not what the law required, and an employer's incorrect view of the law is not a legitimate reason for firing an employee.
USA Waste alternatively argues that firing Santillan within three days of his reinstatement was permitted by the Settlement Agreement provision that required that he pass "e-Verify." However, a contractual provision that contravenes public policy, as expressed in a statute or
California provides that "[a]ll protections, rights, and remedies available under state law, except any reinstatement remedy prohibited by federal law,
California "statutes leave no room for doubt about this state's public policy with regard to the irrelevance of immigration status in enforcement of state labor, employment, civil rights, and employee housing laws." Hernandez v. Paicius, 109 Cal.App.4th 452, 460, 134 Cal.Rptr.2d 756 (2003), disapproved of on other grounds by People v. Freeman, 47 Cal.4th 993, 103 Cal.Rptr.3d 723, 222 P.3d 177 (2010). Therefore, under California public policy, USA Waste could not make Santillan's reinstatement remedy contingent upon verification of his immigration status. See Akopyan, 215 Cal.App.4th at 135-36, 155 Cal.Rptr.3d 245 (disregarding an express contract term that was contrary to public policy).
Because neither the IRCA nor the Settlement Agreement justified firing Santillan, USA Waste failed to meet its burden to show it had a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for firing Santillan in July 2012. We therefore REVERSE the district court's grant of summary judgment on Santillan's wrongful termination claim arising from age discrimination.
Santillan's alternative theory for his wrongful termination claim is that USA Waste fired him in July 2012, in retaliation for having an attorney represent him during the Settlement Agreement negotiations with USA Waste. California retaliation claims follow the same McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework as age discrimination claims. Yanowitz, 36 Cal.4th at 1042, 32 Cal.Rptr.3d 436, 116 P.3d 1123; Diego, 231 Cal.App.4th at 930, 180 Cal.Rptr.3d 359.
Santillan can establish a prima facie case of retaliatory wrongful termination in violation of public policy by showing
The district court concluded that Santillan did not engage in protected activity when he used an attorney to negotiate his reinstatement, reasoning that California public policy recognizes a right to an attorney only in the collective bargaining context. This conclusion is incorrect. For decades, California courts have recognized a wrongful termination claim based on the public policy reflected in California Labor Code Section 923
Santillan also established a nexus between his termination in July 2012, and his protected activity because USA Waste fired him roughly two months after an attorney represented him during the Settlement Agreement negotiations with USA Waste. "The causal link between a protected activity and the alleged retaliatory action `can be inferred from timing alone' when there is a close proximity between the two." Thomas v. City of Beaverton, 379 F.3d 802, 812 (9th Cir. 2004); see also Nidds, 113 F.3d at 919 (holding that a prima facie case was established where employee's "layoff occurred only four months after" he first engaged in protected activity by filing a complaint and "only one month after he filed his second complaint"); Flait v. N. Am. Watch Corp., 3 Cal.App.4th 467, 478, 4 Cal.Rptr.2d 522 (1992) (finding nexus established where employee "was terminated only a few months after" he engaged in protected activity).
We hold that Santillan established a prima facie retaliation case, which in turn
As discussed supra in Part II.B., USA Waste cannot rebut the presumption that it retaliated against Santillan by relying on the IRCA's employment eligibility verification requirements for new employees or the Settlement Agreement as a legitimate reason for firing Santillan. These reasons for firing Santillan are not legitimate because (1) the IRCA exempts Santillan from these requirements since he was continuing his employment with USA Waste because he was reinstated as a result of a settlement, and (2) USA Waste could not make Santillan's reinstatement contingent upon verification of his immigration status because doing so would violate California public policy. See discussion supra Part II.B.
For the foregoing reasons, we REVERSE the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of USA Waste on Santillan's wrongful termination claim based on retaliation.
At the summary judgment hearing, Santillan's attorney orally requested leave to amend the complaint to add a breach of contract claim.
Santillan failed to show that he was diligent in seeking to amend the complaint, as his request for leave to amend came eight months after the deadline for making such a request. See Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992) ("If [the moving] party was not diligent, the inquiry should end."). Moreover, Santillan failed to show good cause for modifying the previously issued scheduling order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4) ("A schedule may be modified only for good cause and with the judge's consent.").
We therefore conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Santillan's request for leave to amend the complaint.
In sum, we REVERSE the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of USA Waste on Santillan's wrongful termination claim based on age discrimination and retaliation and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
We AFFIRM the district court's denial of Santillan's request for leave to amend the complaint.
Costs shall be taxed against Defendant-Appellee USA Waste of California, Inc.
8 C.F.R. § 274a.2(b)(1)(viii)(A)(5) (emphasis added).
