MAX N. TOBIAS, JR., Judge.

The plaintiff-appellant, David Knapper ("Knapper"), appeals the trial court's grant of summary judgment to the defendant-appellee, Hibernia National Bank ("Hibernia") on his racial discrimination claim filed under La. R.S. 23:331, et seq. For the following reasons, we affirm.

I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Knapper, an African American male, was terminated from his employment at Hibernia National Bank after working seven years as a loan collector. He subsequently filed suit alleging his discharge was the result of racial discrimination in violation of La. R.S. 23:332.1 Specifically, Knapper alleges that he was terminated because of his race, preceded by failing to grant him pay raises, denying him promotional opportunities, and subjecting him to discipline under circumstances where similarly situated Caucasian employees were not disciplined.2 Knapper also made claims for retaliatory discharge under the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law ("LEDL") and retaliatory discharge under the Louisiana Whistleblower's statute.

Hibernia filed a Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment.3 The trial court granted the motion, dismissing Knapper's claims for retaliatory discharge under the LEDL and the Whistleblower's statute, but denied the motion with respect to his racial discrimination claim. Knapper's case proceeded to trial in May 2005. During the course of the second day, realizing the trial could not be completed within the allotted time, the trial court granted a mistrial at Knapper's request.

In light of testimony presented at the mistrial, Hibernia re-urged its Motion for Summary Judgment seeking dismissal of Knapper's claim that he was discharged due to racial animus. The trial court granted Hibernia's motion, but did not assign reasons. It is from this judgment that Knapper timely appeals.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Knapper was employed by Hibernia from 1995 until 2001 as a "front end direct unsecured/other secured loan collector" (hereafter "FEDUOSLC" or in the plural, "FEDUOSLCs").4 Knapper was hired as an Adjuster III (a senior loan collector) based on representations he made concerning his prior work experience.5 His primary job duties included the collection of delinquent loan accounts.6 As per bank policy, Knapper received his first employment evaluation in March 1996. His then supervisor, Nancy Alvarado, assigned Knapper an overall rating of "meets some requirements." Knapper did not receive a merit increase in compensation. In March 1997, Alvarado conducted Knapper's second annual performance review and rated him as "does not meet requirements." Again, Knapper was not given a merit increase due to his unsatisfactory job performance and was placed on probation.

In 1997, Steve Larmann replaced Alvarado as Knapper's supervisor and manager of Hibernia's collections department. Larmann immediately began making changes, including instituting standardized quotas for collectors. As one of eight FEDUOSLCs, Knapper was assigned a specific dollars collected goal on a monthly basis. This amount was the same for each front end direct unsecured/other secured loan collector. The collectors were expected to achieve their monthly dollars-collected goal fifty percent of the time, and were further expected to achieve their goal, or come within ten percent of their goal, at least every other month or face discipline. Knapper exhibited difficulty in attaining the required quotas initiated by Larmann. In an effort to address and assist Knapper in achieving his performance goals, in December 1997, Hibernia instituted numerous measures including counseling, creating a performance plan, and assigning Knapper to a new portfolio as a rehabilitative transfer.

Knapper was due for his annual performance evaluation in March 1998, but in February, Hibernia placed him on probation based upon his continued failure to attain his dollars-collected goal. Consequently, Larmann deferred Knapper's annual evaluation due to his unsatisfactory performance and issued a memo providing notice of this administrative decision. Knapper continued to receive counseling during the subsequent months to encourage him to make his performance goals. His performance did improve, as evidenced by his February 1999 review, wherein Knapper received a satisfactory review. In recognition of Knapper's achievement, he was given a merit increase, which was made retroactive. This was Knapper's first pay increase since his hire four years earlier in 1995.

Knapper was apparently not able to maintain his satisfactory performance and received three formal counselings prior to his next annual review.7 In his May 2000 evaluation, Knapper achieved his monthly dollars-collected goal for only two of twelve months (January 1999 and December 1999) and was found deficient in several performance areas. Consequently, Knapper received an overall rating of "meets some requirements" and was not given a merit pay increase.

In December 2000, Larmann granted all collectors "amnesty," giving each collector a "fresh start" for progressive discipline purposes,8 in conjunction with the imposition of strict performance goals in January 2001.9 In March 2001, Knapper received a verbal warning for having missed his dollars-collected goals in January and February 2001. Knapper failed to meet his dollars-collected goal again in March and received a written warning. When Knapper failed to meet his dollars collected goal again in April, he was placed on 90 days probation for having failed to achieve his dollars collected goals for four consecutive months. Under the terms of the probation, Knapper was required to achieve his monthly dollars collected goal for the next three consecutive months.

Knapper achieved his dollars collected goal for May 2001, but failed to attain the same goals during the month of June, in violation of the terms of his probation. Because Knapper had taken vacation time in June, instead of being terminated, Hibernia extended his probation period. On 9 July 2001, Knapper was warned that his call production was below requirements. Thereafter, Knapper failed to achieve his goal for July. This violated the terms of his probation as he had missed his collection goals two of the three months of his original probationary period. Consequently, in accordance with the terms of the probation, Hibernia terminated Knapper on 8 August 2001.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review a district court's grant of summary judgment de novo, applying the same criteria that govern the district court's consideration of whether summary judgment is appropriate. Costello v. Hardy, 03-1146, p. 8 (La. 1/21/04), 864 So.2d 129, 137.

IV. DISCUSSION

The only claim before this court is Knapper's termination claim. As in any discrimination case, Knapper is charged with the ultimate burden of proving that Hibernia intentionally discriminated against him based on his race.10 St. Mary's Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 508, 113 S.Ct. 2742, 2747, 125 L.Ed.2d 407 (1993). A plaintiff can seek to establish a case of intentional discrimination by direct or circumstantial evidence. Wallace v. Methodist Hosp. Sys., 271 F.3d 212, 219 (5th Cir.2001). Where a plaintiff can only muster circumstantial evidence that discriminatory animus played a role in an employment decision, the plaintiff must rely on the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework to create a presumption of intentional discrimination.11 To create such a presumption, the plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case of discrimination by a preponderance of the evidence. Sandstad v. CB Richard Ellis, Inc., 309 F.3d 893, 897 (5th Cir.2002). In the instant case, Knapper presents only circumstantial evidence of discrimination. Therefore, to establish a prima facie case of discrimination, Knapper must show that he (1) was a member of a protected class; (2) was qualified for the position; (3) suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) similarly situated employees outside the protected class were treated more favorably. See Urbano v. Continental Airlines, Inc., 138 F.3d 204, 206 (5th Cir. 1998).

Upon establishing a prima facie case under the McDonnell Douglas framework, the burden then shifts to the defendant to set forth a legitimate non-discriminatory explanation for the adverse employment decision. Texas Dep't of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 1093, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981). The burden is one of production and not persuasion. Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods. Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 142, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 2106, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000). It cannot, therefore, involve a credibility assessment. Id. If the defendant is able to articulate a legitimate non-discriminatory reason, the plaintiff must then establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant's proffered reasons were not its true reasons. Id. In short, the plaintiff must produce substantial evidence that the defendant's nondiscriminatory reason is merely a pretext for impermissible discrimination. Wallace, 271 F.3d at 220. Where the plaintiff fails to produce substantial evidence of pretext, or produces evidence permitting only an indisputably tenuous inference of pretext, summary judgment in favor of the defendant is appropriate. Id. Even if the plaintiff is able to make a showing as described above, judgment for the employer may be appropriate where "no rational fact-finder would conclude that the action was discriminatory." Reeves, 530 U.S. at 148, 120 S.Ct. at 2109.

In the context of this analytical framework, we now turn our attention to Knapper's racial discrimination claim. Knapper's complaint charges Hibernia with impermissibly discriminating against him on the basis of race in the termination of his employment. For purposes of its motion for summary judgment only, Hibernia concedes Knapper meets the first three criteria for establishing a prima facie case of racial discrimination: namely, that he was within the relevant protected class, at some point he was qualified for the position he held, and that he was terminated.

Thus, the sole issue presented on appeal is whether Knapper can carry his burden of establishing the fourth element, that is, that a similarly situated employee outside of the protected class (i.e., a Caucasian employee) was treated more favorably. In other words, Knapper must show that a Caucasian employee was treated differently under circumstances "nearly identical" to his. Okoye v. University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, 245 F.3d 507, 514 (5th Cir.2001).12 Alternatively, it has been recognized that a plaintiff may also establish the fourth element by demonstrating that he was replaced by someone outside of the protected class. Id. at 512-513.

Knapper contends that the record reveals a consistent pattern of disparate treatment as similarly situated Caucasian loan collectors were given preferential treatment at his expense. First, Knapper avers the evidence supports a finding that Hibernia did not discipline him in the same fashion as Caucasian employees who also failed to meet their monthly performance standards. In support, Knapper points to the treatment of five Caucasian Hibernia loan collectors: Mike Faciane (claims he missed dollars collected goals for five consecutive months in 1999 and was not disciplined); Robert Flanagan (alleges he was given a raise to $23,520 in November 2000, despite missing the prior four monthly goals and six out of the previous seven); Marjorie Fricke (avers she was not disciplined for missing her dollars-collected goals for three straight months in 1999 and that she was hired at a salary more than $4,000 above Knapper's); William Burandt (claims he was not disciplined despite missing his goals in April, May and June 1999); and Melissa Breaux (contends she missed her dollars-collected goal in March and April 2001, but was not disciplined).

We find Knapper's argument, however, is without merit. The record clearly shows that during this timeframe (prior to 2001), Knapper received the same benefit of lax enforcement of the performance standards. Knapper's employment records reveal that in 1998 he missed his monthly goals five months in a row without being disciplined. Then, in 1999, he failed to meet his monthly goals in June, July, October, and November, and did not receive any disciplinary warning. Knapper also failed to achieve his monthly goals for seven consecutive months (from June through December) in 2000, without being terminated; rather, he received only one formal counseling during that seven-month period.

Regarding Melissa Breaux (whom Knapper contends was not disciplined after missing her goals in March and April of 2001), the record reflects that she was removed from her position in April due to a posting error. When she returned to the department to fill a vacancy, this constituted a promotion and she entered into a three-month probationary period during which employees customarily are not subject to discipline, but rather, are evaluated at the end of the three-month probationary period. Breaux failed to meet her performance goals during the final two months of her probation (June and July 2001) and her probation was extended an additional month. Breaux, however, submitted her resignation in August 2001.

As noted above, Hibernia announced amnesty to all loan collectors for the months preceding January 2001, at which time Larmann instituted strict enforcement of progressive discipline for failure to meet monthly goals. The record reveals that in 2001, Hibernia was actively enforcing discipline for missing monthly performance goals. Specifically, in addition to Knapper, five employees—one Caucasian, one Hispanic, and three African Americans —were issued warnings for failure to achieve production goals. Additionally, a probationary employee, Heather August, was terminated in March 2001, for repeatedly failing to reach her performance goals.

Knapper further points to the fact that Flanagan missed his goals in January and February 2001, and then again in July and July 2001, without being disciplined. Knapper contends this is evidence of disparate treatment. Hibernia, however, was not able to locate any disciplinary action for June and July 2001. According to Larmann, Hibernia's immediate supervisors were responsible for issuing warnings, and Ernesto Mora, Flanagan's immediate supervisor, was deployed on military duty in Iraq during this timeframe. Hibernia contends this is the only instance in which discipline was not issued after 1 January 2001. We find that this one instance is insufficient to establish that Hibernia's disciplinary policy was disparately enforced.

Knapper was one of eight FEDUOSLCs.13 The record supports the fact that all eight performed the same job and were held to the same performance standards. Specifically, in order to avoid discipline, they were expected to achieve their monthly dollars collected goal, or come within ten percent, every other month. According to the summary judgment evidence, the front end collectors were generally able to meet these requirements except for Knapper. The numbers below show the comparative performance of the FEDUOSLCs based upon their respective periods of employment.14

                                   # of Months     # Months
                                    Achieved        Worked
                                     Dollars       (Jan. 99
          Name            Race    Collected Goal    Dec 02)   Percentage
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                        African
     Latoya Kenner     American         17            17         100%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                        African
   Shawanda Williams   American         17            20          85%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                        African
     Sharen Carter     American         20            26          77%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                        African
    Desmond Davis      American         21            31          68%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                        African
    Israel Thompson    American         21            31          68%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    William Burandt    Caucasian        26            48          54%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                        African
    Terri Sabatier     American         21            41          51%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    Melissa Breaux
      (Resigned)       Caucasian         4            13          31%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   David Knapper       African
    (Terminated)       American          6            31          19%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Heather August      African
    (Terminated)       American          0             5           0%
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------

We agree with Hibernia that the information contained in the table above, which includes Caucasian comparables similarly situated to Knapper (i.e., Burandt and Breaux), demonstrates that Knapper was not treated less favorably than similarly situated employees outside the protected class. Put simply, Knapper cannot identify any Caucasian FEDUOSLC who performed as poorly (or more poorly) than Knapper who was retained, or who missed his or her goal for four months in a row subsequent to 1 January 2001 (when progressive discipline for strict performance standards was imposed), who was not put on probation in accordance with those standards.

Hibernia expected Knapper to attain his dollars collected goal, or come within 10% of this goal at least every other month. In Knapper's final 14 months he attained his goal only once. Those who performed well were retained, regardless of race. Of the other three employees who were employed at Hibernia for 31 months, Knapper was the only one who performed poorly at 19%. Knapper was given a number of counselings and warnings about his poor performance. Larmann established performance plans in an effort to help Knapper increase his performance. Knapper was aware of the discipline program if the set goals were not attained, and still his overall goal attainment was 35% lower than the employee with the lowest percentage.

Next, Knapper contends that the initial starting salaries of several Caucasian employees that exceeded his overall salary demonstrates disparate treatment. We find that Knapper's evidence on this issue is equally unavailing and not supported by the record for, while Knapper may have been paid less than a number of Caucasian loan collectors, his salary also fell below other African American loan collectors.

According to the evidence, Hibernia granted pay raises based on merit and job performance. Because Knapper habitually did not meet his set performance goals, there were several years where he did not receive a salary increase and his annual salary remained the same. A review of Hibernia's business records, specifically the Pay Rate History Report, reveals that no general pay disparity existed between Caucasians and African Americans throughout Hibernia's collection department:

           Name           Rate of Pay          Race
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Eggula "Marie" Green     $34,000     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Alma Griffin             $32,095     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Michael Faciane          $30,900     Caucasian
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Marjorie Fricke15        $28,800     Caucasian
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Desmond Davis            $28,200     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   William Burandt          $27,600     Caucasian
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Heather August           $27,000     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Michael Bechet           $26,400     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Horace Dorsey            $25,500     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Belinda Ferrand          $24,150     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   David Knapper            $24,02016   African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Robert Flanagan          $23,520     Caucasian
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Melissa Breaux           $23,500     Caucasian
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Barbara Hardeman         $23,400     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Lillie Guichard          $20,085     African American
   ----------------------------------------------------------

We conclude that Knapper has failed to present any evidence suggesting that other similarly situated employees outside of the protected class, i.e. Caucasian FEDUOSLCs, were treated more favorably than he was treated. Therefore, in order to establish the fourth element of proving a prima facie case of racial discrimination, Knapper must show that Hibernia replaced him with a member outside of the protected class.

Knapper contends he was replaced by Mitchell Ansardi, a Caucasian male. In support of his contention, Knapper avers that Ansardi was the next person hired into the collection department in October 2001 at a salary of $27,000. Contrariwise, Hibernia contends that Knapper was replaced by Desmond Davis, an African American male. Davis was originally hired by Hibernia as a collector in October 1999. During the first part of 2001, Davis was on active military duty and returned to Hibernia from military leave immediately prior to Knapper's termination. Upon his return to Hibernia, Davis was being used as a "float" in the collections department. When Knapper was terminated, Davis was assigned to Knapper's portfolio and remained in that position until he was recalled to active military duty in January 2003. The record also establishes that soon after Knapper was terminated, both Breaux and Flanagan resigned. Then, in October 2001, Hibernia claims it hired Ansardi to replace Flanagan. According to our de novo review of the record, we find no genuine issue of material fact that Knapper was replaced by Davis, an African American, and not by Ansardi.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that Knapper's claim fails as he has not carried his burden of proving a prima facie case of racial discrimination. Knapper has failed to show that similarly situated employees outside of the protected class (i.e., Caucasian FEDUOSLCs) were treated more favorably than he was or that he was replaced by someone outside of the protected class. We further find that Knapper has failed to raise a genuine factual dispute concerning whether the differential treatment to which he claims he was subjected was imposed because of his race rather than as a result of his continuous poor job performance. Based upon our de novo review of Hibernia's business records, in addition to the affidavits and depositions contained in the record, we find Hibernia had a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for Knapper's discharge. Accordingly, the district court's order granting judgment in favor of Hibernia is affirmed.

AFFIRMED.