Carlyn Johnson v. Securitas Security Service

Filing

OPINION FILED - THE COURT: Kermit E. Bye, Michael J. Melloy and Lavenski R. Smith AUTHORING JUDGE:Lavenski R. Smith (PUBLISHED), CONCUR AND DISSENT BY: KERMIT E. BYE [4068461] [12-2129]

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
___________________________
No. 12-2129
___________________________
Carlyn M. Johnson
lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellant
v.
Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.
lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellee
____________
Appeal from United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Missouri - St. Louis
____________
Submitted: January 16, 2013
Filed: August 26, 2013
____________
Before BYE, MELLOY, and SMITH, Circuit Judges.
____________
SMITH, Circuit Judge.
Carlyn Johnson, aged 76, was fired from his position as a security guard for
Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. ("Securitas") after he was involved in a car
accident while on-duty and allegedly left his post early. Johnson filed an age
discrimination claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and
the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA), asserting that Securitas had fired him

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 1

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

because he was an older worker. Johnson cited evidence that prior to his termination
Securitas supervisors showed age animus through negative comments regarding
Johnson's age. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of Securitas,
concluding that Johnson did not present a prima facie case of age discrimination. We
reverse.
I. Background
Johnson, who was born in 1932, initially worked as a Utility Officer for
Pinkerton, a unit of Securitas. When Securitas changed Pinkerton's name to Securitas,
Johnson applied for employment with Securitas and was hired at age 70. As a Utility
Officer, Johnson was charged with providing on-site security guard services at
various locations. Charlie Bunch, one of Johnson's supervisors, testified that between
2004 and 2009, he had never disciplined or written up Johnson for any performance
issues and had never received any performance complaints. Bunch did testify that he
gave Johnson one verbal warning for sleeping on the job.
Johnson testified that his supervisor, Robert Hesse, would comment that
Johnson, "needed to hang up his Superman cape," was "too old to be working," and
needed to retire. Hesse also compared Johnson to Hesse's 86 year old father, who
Hesse stated had left employment. Hesse also testified that he suggested to other
Securitas managers that they "prevent [Johnson] from working 50, 60 hours a week."
Johnson also stated that he brought Hesse's comments to his supervisors' attention,
including Hesse himself, Tony Simmons, and Charlie Bunch.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. on January 25, 2009, while on duty in a Securitas
vehicle, Johnson collided with an unoccupied, parked truck. Johnson had worked
approximately 20 consecutive hours. Johnson testified that he was told his shift was
scheduled to end at 7:00 a.m. However, Securitas claims his shift did not end until
8:00 a.m. Following the accident, at approximately 7:00 a.m., Johnson telephoned
Bunch, the on-call supervisor. Johnson testified that he had attempted to contact the
-2-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 2

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

supervisor at approximately 5:45 a.m. but was unable to reach him due to bad cell
phone reception. During this conversation, Johnson suggested that his shift ended at
7:00 a.m., and Bunch concurred, telling Johnson to go home and that Bunch would
call him later. Bunch later testified that during this conversation, Bunch did not know
when Johnson's shift ended and it was not until the next day that he was informed by
Hesse that Johnson's shift actually ended at 8:00 a.m. Bunch completed an incident
report. Initially, Bunch wrote that Johnson knew his shift ended at 7:00 a.m., but he
later changed it to read that Johnson knew his shift ended at 8:00 a.m. During the
investigation of the accident, Johnson took a blood test, wrote a statement regarding
the incident, and spoke with Securitas's Human Resources Director, Sherry Parker,
on the telephone.
On January 28, 2009, Parker, who had been with Securitas approximately a
month, terminated Johnson. In response to an interrogatory, Securitas stated that
Parker, Bunch, and Hesse participated in the decision to terminate Johnson. Parker
testified that she did not know how old Johnson was at the time of his termination.
Johnson testified, however, that Parker was aware of his age and confirmed Johnson's
birth year when she terminated Johnson. Johnson's Personnel Action Form stated the
reason for termination as "Violation of company code (page 87, #18)" and also stated
Johnson "was in an accident and left post before end of shift @ 7 am[.] He called
field service and stated he was in an accident and was on his way home."1 Parker
testified that the concurrent notes she took regarding Johnson's termination have since
been destroyed.
Securitas responded to an interrogatory regarding whether Johnson's job
performance met Securitas's standard for the position. Securitas responded that "[a]t
various times during his employment, Johnson's job performance was unsatisfactory

1

Company code #18 states, "Leaving post without proper relief or authorization
from your supervisor or 'no call, no show.'"
-3-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 3

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

inasmuch as he failed to perform the functions of the position in a manner that met
Securitas' legitimate expectations." Parker asserted that Securitas had other grounds
for terminating Johnson, including his failure to immediately report the accident to
his supervisor and his failure to speak with Parker in person regarding the accident.
Hesse testified that to his knowledge, since 2002, Johnson had not left his assignment
early prior to the January 25, 2009 accident. On February 6, 2009, after Johnson
contacted Securitas regarding his termination, Securitas responded through Vice
President of Human Resources North Central Region, Laura Rysavy, stating,
Your employment was terminated for violating company policy. The
accident you claimed happen[ed] at 5:39 and yet you stated that you
called a little after 7:00am and stated you were on your way home. The
post shift did not end until 8:00am[.] The post was left early therefore
violating company policy (page 87, #18 & #26). There are protocols to
follow when employees have an accident and you did not follow through
with proper procedure. We regret that your employment has to end in
this way but the facts are clear that the employment termination was
based on legitimate, non-discriminatory, credible business factors.
Securitas's company policy page 87, reason #26 is designated "Significant violation
of a client's Post Orders."
After Johnson requested another review of his termination, Securitas replied
in a February 27, 2009 letter from Rysavy. Rysavy indicated that Johnson was
terminated because: (a) he was "involved in an at fault accident with the company
vehicle while on duty"; and (b) "[f]ollowing the accident you did not follow proper
procedure and, in fact, left the worksite prior to the end of your shift," thus violating
company policy #18, as well as #24, "Unauthorized or improper use of Company or
client vehicle."

-4-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 4

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

Johnson filed an age discrimination claim with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Securitas responded to the EEOC that it had
terminated Johnson because Johnson "did not immediately contact the Branch
Manager after the accident had occurred," "was untruthful with Branch Manager,
Charlie Bunch[,] regarding the time he had called to report the accident," "did not
comply with the Company's investigation into the accident," and "left [his] post
without proper relief." Securitas also stated that it was unaware of any employees,
who had previously been terminated for either failing to report an accident
immediately or failing to meet Parker face to face. Securitas provided information that
at least two employees, Hesse and James Marion, were not terminated following
automobile accidents. Hesse testified that in 2009, he struck another vehicle while on
duty when attempting to avoid a deer. Hesse testified that he immediately contacted
his supervisor and eventually went to the police station to file a police report. Matt
Salviccio, a Field service manager, testified that while Marion was on duty, he drove
a Securitas vehicle into a client's building, damaging the building and the vehicle.
Salviccio testified that the accident occurred sometime between 2008 and 2011 and
that Marion was reassigned to a nondriving post.
After receiving a "right to sue" letter from the EEOC, Johnson sued Securitas
alleging that the company discriminated against him on the basis of age in violation
of the ADEA and the MHRA. Securitas moved for summary judgment alleging that
Johnson did not present a prima facie case of age discrimination. Johnson opposed
Securitas's motion. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of
Securitas, concluding that "Johnson ha[d] failed to establish a genuine issue of fact
that create[d] a reasonable inference that he was the victim of employment
discrimination." Johnson v. Securitas Sec. Servs. USA, Inc., No. 4:10CV1162 RWS,
2012 WL 1247281, at *1 (E.D. Mo. 2012 April 13, 2012). The district court analyzed
Johnson's age discrimination claim under the burden shifting framework of
McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, which requires the plaintiff to "establish a prima
facie case of intentional discrimination," if there is no direct evidence of
-5-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 5

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

discrimination. Id. at *1 (citing McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792,
802 (1973)).
The district court noted that Johnson was 70 years old when he was hired and
that Securitas did not hire anyone to replace Johnson. Id. at *2. Johnson attempted to
establish the fourth element of a prima facie case for age discrimination—age was a
factor in Securitas's decision to terminate—by showing that he was treated differently
than similarly situated younger workers. Id. at *4. The district court found that
Johnson failed to adduce specific evidence showing that he was treated differently
than similarly situated younger workers. Id. at *6. The district court also found that
Johnson failed to point out specific evidence of age-related comments made by Hesse,
Johnson's supervisor. Id. at *5. The district court concluded that even if Hesse told
Johnson that he was too old to continue working, these "comments were stray
remarks, remote in time, and unrelated to the decision to terminate Johnson" and,
thus, there was no material dispute of fact regarding these comments. Securitas, 2012
WL 1247281, at *6. The district court characterized Hesse's comments about Johnson
being "Superman" and that he should consider "hang[ing] up his cape" as "age-neutral
statements" that did not show any animus. Id. at *5. The district court concluded that
"Johnson's attempt to prove age animus in his termination [was] based on speculation
that age must have been the motivation factor." Id. at *6. The district court further
stated that "Johnson [had] failed to present evidence which would establish that age
was the 'but-for' cause of his termination." Id.
Johnson timely appealed.
II. Discussion
In this appeal, Johnson argues that the district court (1) resolved facts in
dispute and did not construe controverted facts in Johnson's favor, (2) erred in not
addressing Securitas's inconsistent post hoc reasons for terminating Johnson and not
considering these reasons as evidence of a pretext for discrimination, and (3) erred
-6-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 6

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

by not considering that all the facts taken as a whole support the conclusion that
Securitas terminated Johnson because of age animus.2 Johnson contends that the
following evidence establishes a prima facie case of age discrimination: (1) Johnson's
supervisor, Hess, made age-related comments including: that he was too old, that he
"should hang up his Superman cape," comparing Johnson to his 86 year old father,
and that he should quit; (2) Hess participated in the decision to terminate Johnson; (3)
Parker's confirmation of Johnson's birth year when she terminated him; (4) Johnson's
strong employment history; (5) Johnson's continued employment after the accident;
(6) and the uniqueness of Johnson's discipline relative to other employees. Johnson
highlights that Securitas has terminated no other employee for not reporting an
accident immediately. Johnson avers that Securitas created a number of post hoc
grounds for his termination that were a pretext for age discrimination. Johnson
contends these facts establish a prima facie case of age discrimination against
Securitas and that summary judgment should be reversed.
"Summary judgment is proper if, after viewing the evidence and drawing all
reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmovant, no genuine issues
of material fact exist and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law."
Johnson v. Carroll, 658 F.3d 819, 825 (8th Cir. 2011) (quoting Hayek v. City of St.
Paul, 488 F.3d 1049, 1054 (8th Cir. 2007)). "A dispute about a material fact is
genuine if the evidence is such that a reasonable trier of fact could return a decision
in favor of the party opposing summary judgment." Commercial Union Ins. Co. v.
Schmidt, 967 F.2d 270, 272 (8th Cir. 1992) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477

2

Securitas argues that Johnson waived his argument that he presented a prima
facie case of discrimination because it was not addressed in his opening brief.
Johnson responded in his reply brief that he did, in fact, properly address the prima
facie issue in his opening brief. We find that Johnson sufficiently stated a prima facie
case of age discrimination to the district court and thus did not abandon the right to
appeal this issue.
-7-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 7

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

U.S. 242, 248 (1986)).We review a district court's grant of summary judgment de
novo. Carroll, 658 F.3d at 825.
Under the ADEA, it is "unlawful for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or to
discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect
to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such
individual's age." 29 U.S.C. § 623(a)(1). "An age discrimination plaintiff may survive
the defendant's motion for summary judgment either by setting out direct evidence
of discrimination or by creating an inference of discrimination under the McDonnell
Douglas Corp. v. Green burden-shifting framework." Ramlet v. E.F. Johnson Co.,
507 F.3d 1149, 1152 (8th Cir. 2007) (internal citation omitted). To make a prima
facie case of age discrimination
under the ADEA, the plaintiff must ordinarily show that: (1) he is a
member of a protected age group; (2) he was performing his job at a
level that met his employer's legitimate expectations; (3) he was
discharged; and (4) he was replaced by a younger worker. E.g., Ziegler
v. Beverly Enterprises-Minnesota, Inc., 133 F.3d 671, 675 (8th Cir.
1998). Where, as here, the plaintiff's responsibilities were not reassigned
to a specific individual, we have said the plaintiff must satisfy the fourth
element of the prima facie case by showing "age was a factor in the
employer's decision to terminate."
Hitt v. Harsco Corp., 356 F.3d 920, 924 (8th Cir. 2004) (citing Yates v. Rexton, Inc.,
267 F.3d 793, 799 (8th Cir. 2001)).
A prima facie case creates a rebuttable presumption of discrimination.
Kohrt v. MidAmerican Energy Co., 364 F.3d 894, 897 (8th Cir. 2004).
The burden then shifts to the defendant to provide a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action.
McDonnell Douglas Corp., 411 U.S. at 802, 93 S. Ct. 1817. If the
defendant provides such a reason, the presumption disappears, and the
burden shifts back to the plaintiff to show that the proffered reason was
-8-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 8

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

pretext for age discrimination. Haas v. Kelly Servs., Inc., 409 F.3d 1030,
1035 (8th Cir. 2005). At all times, the ultimate burden of persuasion is
on the plaintiff. Lewis[ v. St. Cloud State Univ.], 467 F.3d [1133,] 1137
[(8th Cir. 2006)].
Ramlet, 507 F.3d at 1153.
We have held that where the "[p]laintiff established a prima facie case of
discrimination and . . . [d]efendants articulated a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason
[for the employee's rejection]," if "genuine issue[s] of material fact concerning
pretext" exist, "the district court err[s] in granting summary judgment in [d]efendants'
favor." Hase v. Mo. Div. of Emp't Sec., 972 F.2d 893, 896 (8th Cir. 1992). "It is
well-established that the threshold of proof necessary to establish a prima facie case
is minimal." Young v. Warner-Jenkinson Co., Inc., 152 F.3d 1018, 1022 (8th Cir.
1998). "'The prima facie burden is not so onerous as, nor should it be conflated with,
the ultimate issue' of discriminatory action." Id. (citing Landon v. Nw. Airlines, Inc.,
72 F.3d 620, 624 (8th Cir. 1995)).
Johnson satisfies elements one and three of a prima facie case of age
discrimination because he (1) is over 40 and (2) was discharged. As for the second
requirement regarding meeting job expectations, the record contains evidence from
which a jury could find that Johnson was meeting Securitas's job expectations prior
to the on-site accident. Johnson's supervisor recorded no complaints regarding
Johnson's job performance. Securitas's contention that Johnson failed to meet job
expectations is based solely on the car accident and the incidents that followed. On
this record, Johnson has shown that he performed his job duties satisfactorily or at
least he has created a material dispute of fact on the issue.
"Credibility determinations, the weighing of the evidence, and the drawing of
legitimate inferences from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge, whether

-9-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 9

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

he is ruling on a motion for summary judgment or for a directed verdict. The evidence
of the non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in
his favor." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 251–52 (1986) (internal
citations omitted).
As for the fourth element of a prima facie case—showing that age was a factor
in Securitas's decision to terminate him—Johnson highlights the various comments
made by Hesse, in which he pointed to Johnson's advanced age, compared Johnson
to his elderly father, and encouraged him to retire. Furthermore, the record indicates
that Hesse may have played a role in the decision to terminate Johnson. Viewing the
facts in a light most favorable to Johnson, a reasonable jury could find Securitas was
motivated to terminate Johnson based on age animus. Therefore Johnson has
established a prima facie case of age discrimination.
Securitas, in turn, offers a nondiscriminatory reason for Johnson's termination.
It avers that it terminated Johnson because Johnson failed to report the accident in a
timely manner, left his post early, and failed to participate in the company
investigation. Johnson responds by arguing that factual disputes exist in this case that
make summary judgment inappropriate. Specifically, these include whether: (1)
Johnson left his shift early; (2) Parker knew Johnson's age when she terminated him
and discussed Johnson's birth year during the conversation in which she terminated
Johnson; (3) Hesse participated in Johnson's termination or whether Parker was "the
sole decision maker"; and (4) similarly situated younger employees were treated
differently.
There are at least four material fact disputes in this case. The first is whether
Johnson actually left his post prior to the end of his shift. Securitas stated the cause
for termination on Johnson's Personnel Action Form as Johnson "was in an accident
and left post before end of shift @ 7 am[.] He called field service and stated he was
in an accident and on his way home." Johnson disputes Securitas's allegation that his
-10-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 10

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

shift ended at 8:00 a.m. Johnson contends his shift ended at 7:00 a.m. Whether
Johnson actually left his shift early is a material fact relevant to determining whether
Johnson's termination was a pretext for age discrimination. Viewing this in a light
most favorable to Johnson for the purpose of summary judgment, we must assume
that Johnson did not leave his shift early. Second, Securitas states the Human
Resources director, Parker, was unaware of Johnson's age when she terminated him,
but Johnson responds that they discussed his birth year during the very conversation
in which he was terminated. Again, when viewed in a light most favorable to
Johnson, we must assume that Parker was aware of Johnson's age. Third, Johnson
contends that Hesse played a role in his termination, whereas Securitas contends that
Parker was "the sole decision maker." This is a material fact, because Hesse was the
source of the alleged age-related comments. Therefore, whether Hesse played a role
in Johnson's termination is material to determining whether the termination was
motivated by age animus as evidenced by Hesse's comments. For the purpose of
summary judgment, we assume that Hesse did play a role in Johnson's termination.
Fourth, Johnson alleges that similarly situated Securitas employees, Hesse and
Marion, who also had work-related vehicle accidents, were treated differently
following their mishaps. If true, this disparate treatment strengthens Johnson's prima
facie evidence that age was a factor in his termination. Based on the facts presented
in this record, a reasonable trier of fact could find in favor of Johnson and these
material fact disputes are best left for the jury. See Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 251–52.
Because we conclude that Johnson "adduce[d] enough admissible evidence to
raise genuine doubt as to the legitimacy of [Securitas's] motive, even if that evidence
did not directly contradict or disprove [Securitas's] articulated reasons for its actions,"
summary judgment was not proper. See Davenport v. Riverview Gardens Sch. Dist.,
30 F.3d 940, 945 n.8 (8th Cir. 1994). The presence of "genuine issue[s] of material
fact concerning pretext" makes summary judgment an inappropriate disposition. See
Hase, 972 F.2d at 896.

-11-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 11

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

III. Conclusion
Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the district court.
BYE, Circuit Judge, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the majority’s reasoning to the extent it concludes Carlyn Johnson
submitted sufficient evidence to raise genuine questions of material fact about each
element of a prima facie case of age discrimination. I also agree Securitas articulated
legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for terminating Johnson’s employment. As
such, my decision hinges on whether Johnson submitted sufficient evidence to call
into question the legitimacy of Securitas’s reasons. Unlike the majority, I conclude
he did not. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision to reverse
the decision of the district court.
The majority identifies four questions of fact, which it concludes are sufficient
to “raise genuine doubt as to the legitimacy of Securitas’s motive[.]” Ante at 11.
Those are (1) whether Johnson left his post early, (2) whether Securitas treated
similarly situated younger employees differently, (3) whether Robert Hesse
participated in the decision to terminate Johnson’s employment, and (4) whether
Sherry Parker was aware of Johnson’s age when she terminated him.
Johnson left his post at Rail Logistics at or around 7:00 a.m. on the day in
question. Reasoning we are required to accept Johnson’s contention the shift ended
at 7:00 a.m., the majority concludes a question of material fact exists whether Johnson
actually left before the end of the shift. Ante at 10-11. Although relevant, this is the
wrong inquiry. “Our precedent establishes that the ‘critical inquiry in discrimination
cases like this one is not whether the employee actually engaged in the conduct for
which he was terminated, but whether the employer in good faith believed that the
employee was guilty of the conduct justifying discharge.’” Pulczinski v. Trinity
Structural Towers, Inc., 691 F.3d 996, 1002 (8th Cir. 2012) (quoting McCullough v.
-12-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 12

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

Univ. of Ark. for Med. Scis., 559 F.3d 855, 861-62 (8th Cir. 2009)). The evidence
indicates Securitas was relying on its contract with Rail Logistics, which expressly
sets forth that the pertinent shift was scheduled to end at 8:00 a.m. App. 120. None
of the evidence submitted by Johnson creates a question of material fact whether the
decision makers in good faith believed Johnson had left his post early by leaving the
site before that time.
The majority also concludes a question of material fact exists whether Hesse
and James Marion, who are both younger than Johnson and had also been involved
in job-related vehicle accidents, were treated differently than Johnson. Ante at 11.
Johnson, however, has not submitted sufficient evidence to even raise a question of
material fact whether those employees are sufficiently similarly situated to him to
warrant comparison.
“At the pretext stage, ‘the test for determining whether employees are similarly
situated to a plaintiff is a rigorous one.’”• Bone v. G4S Youth Servs., LLC, 686
F.3d 948, 956 (8th Cir. 2012) (quoting Rodgers v. U.S. Bank, N.A., 417 F.3d 845,
853 (8th Cir. 2005)), cert. denied, 133 S. Ct. 1252 (2013). “[Johnson] must show that
[he] and the employees outside of [his] protected group were ‘similarly situated in all
relevant respects.’” Id. (quoting Rodgers, 417 F.3d at 853). “[T]he individuals used
for comparison must have dealt with the same supervisor, have been subject to the
same standards, and engaged in the same conduct without any mitigating or
distinguishing circumstances.” Id. (quoting Clark v. Runyon, 218 F.3d 915, 918 (8th
Cir. 2000)). The accidents of Hesse and Marion both have distinguishing
circumstances in that they reported their vehicle accidents immediately. App. 643,
1047. In addition, there is no evidence whether Hesse or Marion may have left his
post early in conjunction with his accident. Johnson has introduced no contradictory
evidence to address those distinguishing circumstances. Accordingly, as a matter of
law, neither Hesse nor Marion is similarly situated to Johnson.

-13-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 13

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

The remaining questions of fact are whether Hesse participated in the decision
to terminate Johnson’s employment and whether Parker was aware of Johnson’s age
when she terminated his employment. Once an employer has articulated a legitimate
reason for termination, “the plaintiff can only avoid summary judgment if he or she
presents evidence that considered in its entirety, (1) creates a question of material fact
as to whether the defendant’s proffered reasons are pretextual and (2) creates a
reasonable inference that age was a determinative factor in the adverse employment
decision.” Kohrt v. MidAmerican Energy Co., 364 F.3d 894, 897 (8th Cir. 2004)
(quoting Hindman v. Transkrit Corp., 145 F.3d 986, 991 (8th Cir. 1998)).
Johnson’s only evidence of age animus consists of Hesse’s comments, which
we must assume were related to Johnson’s age. We must also assume Hesse and
Charlie Bunch, as Johnson’s supervisors, along with Parker, as Securitas’s Human
Resources Director, collectively decided to terminate Johnson’s employment.3
Johnson offers no direct evidence of the contents of the decision making process. It
would be reasonable, however, to infer Hesse, who had a history of making agerelated comments about Johnson, made Bunch and Parker aware of Johnson’s age.
See Hitt v. Harsco Corp., 356 F.3d 920, 923-24 (8th Cir. 2004) (“Like the district
court, we give the non-moving party the benefit of reasonable inferences that may be
drawn without resorting to speculation.”). However, I find nothing in that mere
awareness to create a question of material fact whether Securitas’s reasons for
terminating Johnson’s employment were pretextual. Nor do I find anything to create
a reasonable inference that age was the determinative factor in their decision to
terminate Johnson’s employment.
3

Johnson bases his contention Hesse was involved in the decision to terminate
his employment on Securitas’s initial responses to his interrogatories, which indicated
Hesse, Bunch, and Parker collectively made the decision. App. 1082. Securitas relies
on a subsequent response indicating Parker was the sole decision maker. Appellee’s
Br. 17. For the purposes of summary judgment, we must accept Johnson’s contention
the initial response accurately described those who made the decision.
-14-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 14

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461

Accordingly, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion that the
district court erred in granting summary judgment to Securitas.
______________________________

-15-

Appellate Case: 12-2129

Page: 15

Date Filed: 08/26/2013 Entry ID: 4068461