PIGFORD v. RAPISCAN SYSTEMS, INC.
Filing
102
OPINION. Signed by Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez on 4/10/2017. (dmr)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
ERIC PIGFORD,
:
:
Plaintiff,
v.
Civil Action No. 14-2818
:
RAPISCAN SYSTEMS, INC.
Defendant.
Hon. Joseph H. Rodriguez
OPINION
:
:
This matter is before the Court on Defendant’s motion for summary
judgment on Plaintiff’s One-Count Complaint alleging racial discrimination
by Defendant, his former employer. The Court has reviewed the
submissions and decides the matter based on the briefs pursuant to Fed. R.
Civ. P. 78(b). For the reasons stated here, Defendant’s motion will be
granted.
Summary Judgment Standard
“Summary judgment is proper if there is no genuine issue of material
fact and if, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving
party, the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Pearson
v. Component Tech. Corp., 247 F.3d 471, 482 n.1 (3d Cir. 2001) (citing
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986)); accord Fed. R. Civ. P. 56
(a). Thus, the Court will enter summary judgment in favor of a movant who
shows that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and supports the
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showing that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact by “citing to
particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions,
documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations,
stipulations . . . admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials.”
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 (c)(1)(A).
An issue is “genuine” if supported by evidence such that a reasonable
jury could return a verdict in the nonmoving party’s favor. Anderson v.
Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A fact is “material” if, under
the governing substantive law, a dispute about the fact might affect the
outcome of the suit. Id. In determining whether a genuine issue of material
fact exists, the court must view the facts and all reasonable inferences
drawn from those facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.
Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986).
Initially, the moving party has the burden of demonstrating the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477
U.S. 317, 323 (1986). Once the moving party has met this burden, the
nonmoving party must identify, by affidavits or otherwise, specific facts
showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Id.; Maidenbaum v. Bally’s
Park Place, Inc., 870 F. Supp. 1254, 1258 (D.N.J. 1994). Thus, to withstand
a properly supported motion for summary judgment, the nonmoving party
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must identify specific facts and affirmative evidence that contradict those
offered by the moving party. Andersen, 477 U.S. at 256-57. “A nonmoving
party may not ‘rest upon mere allegations, general denials or . . . vague
statements . . . .’” Trap Rock Indus., Inc. v. Local 825, Int’l Union of
Operating Eng’rs, 982 F.2d 884, 890 (3d Cir. 1992) (quoting Quiroga v.
Hasbro, Inc., 934 F.2d 497, 500 (3d Cir. 1991)). Indeed,
the plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of
summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and
upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing
sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential
to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the
burden of proof at trial.
Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. That is, the movant can support the assertion that
a fact cannot be genuinely disputed by showing that “an adverse party
cannot produce admissible evidence to support the [alleged dispute of]
fact.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(B); accord Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(2).
Factual Background
Defendant Rapiscan Systems, Inc. develops, manufactures, sells and
services security screening and threat detection solutions, including X-ray
machines and metal detectors, for aviation, critical infrastructure, customs
and border protection, defense, event security, ports and law enforcement
markets. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, Pl. Dep. 18:25-19:19.)
Plaintiff Eric Pigford began working as Rapiscan’s Director of Sales
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North America on January 18, 2010. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 13:4-14.) Peter
Kant, the Vice President of Sales, Americas, hired Plaintiff and supervised
him throughout the entire term of Plaintiff’s employment with Rapiscan.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 11:15-12:4; 13:17-24.) Plaintiff was hired to manage a
team of sales managers and was responsible for the sales of Rapiscan’s
products in the commercial markets in North America, including state and
local governments, the Canadian federal government and the United States
Federal Bureau of Prisons. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 20:22-21:17; 23:14-16.)
He was primarily expected to design and implement a sales strategy and
work with his sales team to grow sales within his territory. (Ohnegan Cert.,
Ex. A, 24:2-5; 24:22-25:10.) Plaintiff was responsible for providing periodic
reports to upper management related to sales bookings and forecasts.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex A, 27:24-28:3.)
Plaintiff received a starting annual salary of $142,000 and was
eligible to participate in a bonus program. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 13:2514:8.) He participated in the Senior Sales Manager Incentive Plan for fiscal
year 2011, which ran from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. (Ohnegan Cert.,
Ex. A, 32:22- 33:1, 39:11-17; Ex. B, D00028.) The Senior Sales Manager
Incentive Plan served as the compensation plan for: John Atkinson, the
Director of Defense Programs; John Kuntz, the Manager of Defense Sales;
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Stephen McHugh, the Vice President of Defense Programs; Plaintiff, the
Director of North American Sales; and Carol Shaltis, the Manager of Metal
Detector Business Development. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. B, D00028; Ex. A,
55:7-57:12.) Atkinson, Kuntz and McHugh, and Shaltis are Caucasian.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 57:16-58:11.) Plaintiff is African-American.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. C, ¶2.)
The Senior Sales Manager Incentive Plan states that participants
would receive a base salary in part to compensate them for the various
administrative and other activities expected of sales managers. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. B, D00028.) Plaintiff’s Senior Sales Manager Incentive Plan
states that Plaintiff would be eligible to receive an Annual Booking Target
Bonus of up to twenty-five percent (25%) of his salary if he achieved his
sales quota. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. B, D00029, D00031.) The Senior Sales
Manager Incentive Plan states that participants may be eligible to receive a
bonus based on achieving certain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
identified in the participant’s annual review. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. B,
D00029.) The Senior Sales Manager Incentive Plan states that the award of
a KPI bonus was in Rapiscan’s sole discretion. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. B,
D00029.)
Plaintiff was expected to achieve $24 million in sales to receive the
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Annual Bonus in fiscal year 2011. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. B, D00029; Ex. A,
43:16-19.) The Senior Sales Manager Incentive Plan provides that Plaintiff
could have received seventy-five percent (75%) of the Annual Bonus if he
achieved at least ninety percent (90%) of his sales quota in fiscal year 2011.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. B, D00029; Ex. A, 43:2-7.) The Senior Sales Manager
Incentive Plan provides that Plaintiff could have received up to one
hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the Annual Bonus if he achieved at
least one hundred thirty percent (130%) of his sales quota in fiscal year
2011. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. B, D00029; Ex. A, 43:21-25.)
The Senior Sales Manager Incentive Plan does not provide for
payment of any commissions for listed employees, including Plaintiff, and
states that prior commission plans were no longer part of the compensation
package for Senior Sales Managers. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. B, D00029.)
Plaintiff prepared and presented the North America Commercial
Sales and Strategy Overview for fiscal year 2011 to Rapiscan and its parent
corporation’s upper management at a conference in July 2010. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. D; Ex. A, 81:6-23.) Plaintiff’s presentation set forth the goals and
initiatives of the North American Commercial sales team for fiscal year
2011. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 77:18-23.) Plaintiff forecasted that his
department would book sales of $24.3 million in fiscal year 2011. (Ohnegan
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Cert., Ex. D, Plaintiff32; Ex. A, 71:25-72:1.) The North America Commercial
sales team booked sales of $22.4 million in fiscal year 2010 and $18 million
in fiscal year 2009. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. D; Ex. A, 70:17- 71:7; 71:15-72:2.)
Plaintiff presented his “Micro Territory Strategy” at the July 2010
conference, which was to be implemented in fiscal year 2011. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. D.) The Micro Territory initiative involved the hiring of ten new
sales managers throughout North America and the assignment of each to a
geographical territory. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 77:24-79:2.) The purpose of
the Micro Territory initiative was to meet with more prospective customers
and consummate more sales. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 78:15-17.)
Although he was employed for only part of fiscal year 2010, Plaintiff
received a positive performance review from Peter Kant in September 2010.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. E.) Plaintiff received an overall rating of
“Commendable” in his September 2010 review. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. E,
D00003.) The September 2010 performance review highlighted the North
America sales team’s achievement of its $21 million bookings quota and
complimented other areas of Plaintiff’s performance. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. E,
D00002-D00003.) The September 2010 performance review noted several
areas where Plaintiff needed to improve his performance. (Ohnegan Cert.,
Ex. E, D00002.) The September 2010 performance review noted that
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Plaintiff needed to facilitate the success of his sales team and to not
attempt to control all aspects of a business opportunity because such
actions stifled his productivity and the Company’s growth. (Ohnegan Cert.,
Ex. E, D00002.) The September 2010 performance review noted that
Plaintiff tended to overreact to the actions of his employees and that
Plaintiff tried to control employee communications with senior
management, which disrupted the work communication process. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. E, D00002.) The September 2010 performance review stated that
Plaintiff needed to be more timely in submitting his monthly reports,
forecast evaluations and quarterly bookings guidance. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex.
E, D00002.)
Plaintiff submitted comments in response to the performance review.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. F, D00234.) Plaintiff commented in the September
2010 performance review that he believed the review was an accurate
depiction of his activities and the areas where his performance could
improve. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. F, D00234.) Plaintiff commented in the
September 2010 performance review that he observed the same
performance shortcomings that Peter Kant identified in the review.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. F, D00234.)
The September 2010 performance review contained a section setting
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forth Plaintiff’s job performance and professional development goals for
fiscal year 2011. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. F, D00235.) Among Plaintiff’s
objectives for fiscal year 2011 was the implementation of the MicroTerritory Sales Strategy, including filling ten sales positions, delivering $24
million in sales, and meeting his reporting obligations. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex.
F, D00235.)
On March 29, 2011, Peter Kant received a complaint from Mike Gray,
a Rapiscan employee, that Plaintiff had been verbally abusive and
disrespectful towards him during a conversation. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G,
D00187; Ex. A, 135:24-136:10.) During the same week he received Mike
Gray’s complaint, Peter Kant learned of an email exchange between
Plaintiff and Sarah Benoit, another Rapiscan employee, that Peter Kant
deemed inappropriate and unprofessional. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00187.)
A short time later, Peter Kant received a complaint from John Conlon,
another Rapiscan employee, that Plaintiff had been “hot-headed” and
“volatile” with members of Rapiscan’s service team. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G,
D00187.)
Peter Kant met with Plaintiff to discuss the incidents with his coworkers. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00187; Ex. A, 145:25-147:3.) During the
meeting, Peter Kant informed Plaintiff of the complaints made about him
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and advised Plaintiff that his conduct was unprofessional, unacceptable and
not productive. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00187.) Plaintiff assured Peter
Kant that he would not engage in further acts of inappropriate conduct.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00187; Ex. A, 155:1-9.)
A short time after meeting with Plaintiff, Peter Kant received calls
from Plaintiff and John Conlon each accusing the other of causing a heated
argument between them. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00187; Ex. A, 155:13156:22.) Peter Kant had a second meeting with Plaintiff during the week of
the incident with John Conlon. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, Ex. A, 157:7-158:13.)
Peter Kant counseled Plaintiff for a second time about the
inappropriateness of his actions, the need to control his outbursts and
improve his level of professionalism. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00187D00188; Ex. A, 158:24-159:7.) Plaintiff promised for a second time that
there would be no further incidents of inappropriate conduct. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. G, D00188; Ex. A, 159:18-160:6.)
On April 17, 2011, approximately one week after meeting with
Plaintiff, Peter Kant was contacted by Navneet Grover Mosey, one of
Plaintiff’s sales managers. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00188; Ex. A, 160:8-16.)
Navneet Grover Mosey complained that Plaintiff was intimidating, verbally
abusive and did not allow her the freedom to perform her job successfully.
10
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00188; Ex. A, 160:17-24.) Navneet Grover Mosey
further complained that Plaintiff required her to follow “undue processes
and procedures” which limited her ability to communicate with customers
and other Rapiscan employees. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00188; Ex. A,
161:1-14.) Navneet Grover Mosey made a complaint to Rapiscan’s Human
Resources department about Plaintiff which promptly conducted an
investigation. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G, D00188; Ex. A, 161:18-163:1.)
In the course of Human Resources’ investigation, a number of
employees reported feeling bullied and intimidated by Plaintiff, and one
employee expressed a fear of taking Plaintiff’s telephone calls. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. G, D00188; Ex. A, 164:10-20.) As a result of Human Resources’
findings, Plaintiff was placed on a performance improvement plan.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G.) The performance improvement plan outlined the
several complaints made against Plaintiff and advised Plaintiff that
significant and immediate improvement was necessary for continued
employment at Rapiscan. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. G.) Peter Kant sent the
performance improvement plan to Plaintiff on May 24, 2011. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. G, D00186.)
The North American Commercial sales team booked sales of
approximately $14.4 million in fiscal year 2011. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A,
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176:17-20; Ex. H.) The fiscal year sales booking of $14.4 million was less
than sixty percent (60%) of the forecasted sales which Plaintiff was
expected to deliver. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. D; Ex. H, Plaintiff21.)
In October 2011, Peter Kant completed Plaintiff’s performance review
for fiscal year 2011. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. I.) Plaintiff received ratings of
either “Development Opportunity” or “Unsatisfactory” in six of the twelve
core competencies categories. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. I, D00007.) Plaintiff
received a rating of either “Development Opportunity” or “Unsatisfactory”
in all six core management competencies categories. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. I,
D00007.) The performance review highlighted the delayed hiring of the
territory sales managers and the North America Commercial sales team’s
poor sales results among the disappointing aspects of Plaintiff’s
performance. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. I, D00008.) The performance review also
noted Plaintiff’s issues organizing information and the efforts of his sales
team. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. I, D00008.) The performance review noted that
Plaintiff continued to have problems sharing information with his team and
others at Rapiscan. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. I, D00008.) The performance
review noted that Plaintiff was slow to make decisions and habitually late
providing monthly reports, bookings forecasts and proposal drafts and that
Plaintiff’s tardiness in this regard negatively impacted Peter Kant’s ability
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to manage the business. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. I, D00008.) The performance
review noted Plaintiff’s conflicts with his co-workers and expressed a belief
that Plaintiff’s management style was ineffective and limited his growth as a
manager and leader. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. I, D00008.)
Plaintiff and Peter Kant met to discuss the review and a copy of the
review was provided to Plaintiff. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 180:15-181:20.)
Plaintiff refused to sign the review and provided no comments. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. I, D00009.)
By January 2012, four of the ten territory sales manager positions on
the North America Commercial sales team which were expected to be filled
by the end of October 2010 still remained open. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A,
210:20-23; Ex. F, D00235.) Plaintiff failed to provide the January 2012
sales forecast by the deadline. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. J, D00151-D00152; Ex.
A, 211:6-24.) On January 26, 2012, Peter Kant advised Plaintiff that he
needed the sales forecast to prepare his build schedule to be sent to
Rapiscan’s manufacturing component. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. J, D00151; Ex.
A, 212:11-213:9.) Plaintiff advised Peter Kant he would provide the forecast
that evening. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. J, D00151.) Plaintiff did not provide the
sales forecast to Peter Kant until four days later. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. K; Ex.
A, 213:17-214:9.)
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On January 27, 2012, Peter Kant sent Plaintiff a letter for review and
editing. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. L; Ex. A, 214:24-216:1.) On January 31, 2012,
Peter Kant sent a follow up email to Plaintiff requesting feedback on his
letter to UPS. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. M; Ex. A, 216:11-217:2.) By February 3,
2012, Plaintiff still had not responded to Peter Kant’s January 27 email and
request. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. N.) On February 3, 2012, Peter Kant sent an
email to Plaintiff stating that it was “ridiculous” that Plaintiff had failed to
provide comments to his letter and that if Kant had time to write it, Plaintiff
had time to review it. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. N.)
Plaintiff began complaining to Peter Kant that Rapiscan’s service
pricing was the highest in the industry and that its competitors’ products
performed better. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. A, 231:2-232:12.) On February 9,
2012, Plaintiff sent an email to operations personnel demanding better
installation and service pricing. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. O, D00136.) On
February 9, 2012, Peter Kant sent Plaintiff an email admonishing him for
sending the email without his approval and for failing to put together a
strategy for improving installation and service pricing as he had been
instructed. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. O, D00136.)
In February 2012, Plaintiff failed to meet the deadline for the
submission of his sales forecast for the second consecutive month.
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(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. P, D00111; Ex. Q, 6:13-7:21.) As a result of Plaintiff’s
failure to provide the sales forecast, the business was forced to use two
month old, outdated data to build its forecast. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. P,
D00111.)
Peter Kant advised Plaintiff that his repeated failures to meet the
sales forecast deadline were unacceptable. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. P, D00111.)
Plaintiff acknowledged his failure, but then engaged in an email debate with
Sarah Benoit arguing about the procedures for submitting the reports.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. P, D00109-D00110.) On March 15, 2012, Peter Kant
intervened in an email argument between Plaintiff and Sarah Benoit
regarding logistics pricing and instructed them to resolve their issues by
telephone. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. R.) Plaintiff had been previously counseled
by Peter Kant about arguing with co- workers over email. (Ohnegan Cert.,
Ex. Q, 30:24-31:5; 32:2-5.)
On March 19, 2012, Plaintiff was sent his 2012 Senior Sales Manager
Incentive Plan. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. S; Ex. Q, 34:17-35:4.) After receiving
the 2012 Senior Sales Manager Incentive Plan, Plaintiff advised Peter Kant
that he disagreed with the plan and refused to sign it. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex,
Q, 35:2-36:4.) Plaintiff complained to Peter Kant about being paid
commissions and bonuses for work performed in the previous fiscal years.
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(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. Q, 36:1-37:14.)
On March 21, 2012, Plaintiff complained to Peter Kant about
Rapiscan’s “inability to provide realistic logistics services/freight rates” and
stated his belief that the company was “loosing [sic] business, upsetting
clients and frustrating customers.” (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. T, D00095.) On
March 21, 2012, Plaintiff engaged in an email argument with Sarah Benoit
regarding price quoting and the assignment of a federal account. (Ohnegan
Cert., Ex. U, D00086-D00087.) Peter Kant advised Plaintiff that he should
direct his complaints about the handling of the federal account to him.
(Ohnegan Cert., Ex. T, D00086.)
On March 28, 2012, Plaintiff sent Peter Kant an email setting forth
numerous issues which he believed were contributing to his team’s poor
sales performance. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. V; Ex. Q, 61:21-62:12; 76:12-17.)
Plaintiff complained that: manufacturing was not building equipment
quickly enough to meet customer expectations; the company’s products
were unreliable and of poor quality; the quoting process was unorganized
and untimely; Rapiscan’s prices were higher than their competitor’s prices;
the process for obtaining approval for discount pricing took too long; the
Company lacked a customer relationship management database; the
Company was unwilling to hire a logistics company to do shipping or
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consider leasing programs; the Company failed to follow through on a walk
through metal detector project for the NBA; the Company ignored the
Canadian market by failing to customize the machines for use in Canada;
the Company moved certain federal government targets outside of his
team’s territory; and his distributor was a poor performer. (Ohnegan Cert.,
Ex. Q, 62:13-76:11.)
On March 29, 2012, Plaintiff sent an email to Peter Kant following up
on a request for a sales credit on a sale that was never consummated and
requesting a quota adjustment to lower his sales target. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex.
W, D00077-D00078; Ex. Q, 77:22- 79:15.) Plaintiff also complained that
his sales quota should be reduced because his team was no longer
permitted to sell to the Federal Reserve Bank, the Veteran’s Administration
or the Federal Bureau of Prisons. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. W, D00077-D00078;
Ex. Q, 83:1-4.)
On March 30, 2012, Peter Kant met with Plaintiff to advise him that
his employment was being terminated. (Ohnegan Cert., Ex. Q, 90:17-91:16.)
Discussion
Local Civil Rule 56.1 provides:
The opponent of summary judgment shall furnish, with its
opposition papers, a responsive statement of material facts,
addressing each paragraph of the movant’s statement,
indicating agreement or disagreement and, if not agreed,
17
stating each material fact in dispute and citing to the other
affidavits and other documents submitted in connection with
the motion; any material fact not disputed shall be deemed
undisputed for purposes of the summary judgment motion.
Thus, the local rule requires that the opponent of a summary judgment
motion must provide: (a) a clear indication of “agreement or
disagreement” as to each statement of undisputed fact listed by the movant,
and (b) if “disagreement,” then a statement of each material fact in dispute
with citation to affidavits and/or other documentation. Plaintiff’s
opposition does not include a responsive statement either agreeing or
disagreeing with Rapiscan’s assertions of undisputed material fact. Thus, all
of the fact set forth in Rapiscan’s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts
must be deemed undisputed for purposes of this motion. See Muhammad
v. Sills, Cummis & Gross, 2014 WL 5812270, *1 (D.N.J. November 10,
2014); Kohn v. Aetna, 2013 WL 1903346, *2 (D.N.J. May 6, 2013).
Plaintiff’s opposition amounts to six paragraphs of facts alleged by his
attorney with no citations to any evidential materials. Plaintiff failed to
submit an affidavit or any other admissible evidence in support of his
factual assertions. “Conclusory statements, general denials, and factual
allegations not based on personal knowledge are insufficient to avoid
summary judgment.” Olympic Junior, Inc. v. David Crystal, Inc., 463 F.2d
1141, 1146 (3d Cir. 1972).
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Conclusion
In this case, there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute
and Plaintiff presents no evidence from which a reasonable fact-finder
could conclude that Plaintiff was treated differently and/or terminated
based on his race. As a result, Rapiscan is entitled to summary judgment.
An Order will be entered.
Dated: April 10, 2017
/s/ Joseph H. Rodriguez
JOSEPH H. RODRIGUEZ
U.S.D.J.
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