Hayes v. Erickson Air-Crane Co LLC et al

Filing 90

ORDER: Denying Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment 50 . Signed on 6/18/2013 by Judge Owen M. Panner. (dkj)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
JAMES DOUGLAS HAYES,
1:12-cv-1369-PA

Plaintiff,

ORDER
v.

ERICKSON AIR-CRANE CO., et al.,
Deferidants.

FANNER, District Judge

Before the court is defendant's motion for summary judgment
on plaintiff's claim for sex discrimination under Oregon law,
sexual harassment and age discrimination under federal law,
intentional infliction of emqtional distress, and negligent
supervision and retention. For the following
motion for summary judgment is DENIED.

1

reason~

defendant's

BACKGROUND
Plaintiff James Hayes
Erickson Air-Crane,

Inc.

(Hayes) began working at defendant

(Erickson)

in 1993. Hayes Dep. 22:14-16,

Feb. 6, 2013. After working for two years, Hayes became "cell
leader" of the Preservation Department in Erickson's warehouse.
Hayes Dep. 142:10-11. As cell leader, Hayes' direct

supervi~or

was defendant Layne Johnson (Johnson). Hayes Dep. 46:24-25. Nick
Smart (Smart) managed the warehouse and was Johnson's supervisor.
Hayes Dep. 47:1-2.
Smart referred to Hayes by the nickname "Little Jimi." Smart
Dep. 45:11-15, Feb. 5, 2005 [sic]. Other employees heard Smart
refer to Hayes as "Little Jimi" and they also began using the
nickname for Hayes. Hayes Dep. 112:14-16. Hayes testified that
the term "Little Jimi" was used to reference the size of his
penis. Hayes Dep. 113:17-22. Smart would "stick his hand up near
his face and wiggle his little finger at [Hayes]
[Hayes]

. calling

'Teeny Tiny' as he wiggled it." Hayes Dep. 115:10-14.

Hayes testified that "[Smart] said that [I was] Little Jimi,
Little Tiny Jimi, and I'm not talking about your height." Hayes
Dep. 114:14-19. Hayes felt "humiliated" and "degraded" by the use
of the nickname. Hayes Dep. 117:2-3.
Additionally, CSmart and Johnson gave Hayes the nickname
"Dodgeball." The name was a reference to a movie 6f the same name
in which the main character uses a penis pump to enlarge his

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genitals. Hayes testified that Smart "said I looked like the
character in the movie; that I probably had a sock in my pants,
too, or I probably used a pump in my pants .

. it was

humiliating to me." Hayes Dep. 77:8, 23-78. Others in the
Warehouse began using the nickname "Dodgeball" to refer to Hayes.
The nickname was used so often that "it was uncountable." Hayes
Dep. 8 5 : 14 -15 .
Smart also referred to Hayes as "Meekerism." Smart Dep.
54:7-10. Smart claimed that he used the term "Meekerism" for
Hayes because HayeS was "soft and nonconfrontational [sic]."
Smart Dep. 51:2-5. Smart called Hayes "Old Man." Hayes Dep.
239:16-23. Smart and other employees also suggested that Hayes
had memory problems. Hayes Dep. 31:6-10.
During the first week of October, 2011, Johnson removed
Hayes' work computer and moved Hayes' desk to the crew area

where~

he needed to share it with coworkers. Hayes Dep. 153:20-25. On
October 11, 2011, Johnson announced to the

Pres~rvation

Department, including Hayes, that Hayes was "no longer in charge;
you are not to take any directions from him whatsoever." Hayes
Dep. 152:22-24. An employee in attendance described the meeting
as "highly unprofessional and disrespectful."

Jimenez Decl.

~

9,

May 6, 2013. After the announcement, some employees apologized to
Hayes, "saying that they weie sorry for the way that
happened." Hayes Dep. 154:6-9. Hayes understood this announcement

3

to mean he was "delegated as just a subordinate." Hayes Dep.
153:14-19. The following day, Hayes resigned. Hayes Dep. 167:1719.
. STANDARDS

The court must grant summary judgment if there is no genuine
issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). An issue is
"genuine" if a reasonable jury could return a verdict in favor of
the non-moving party. Rivera v. Phillip Morris,
1142, 1146 (9th Cir. 2005)
Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248

Inc., 395 F.3d

(citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby,

(1986)). A fact is "material" if it could

affect the outcome of the case. Id. The court reviews evidence
and draws inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Miller v. Glenn Miller Prods., Inc.,
988

(9th Cir. 2006)

454 F.3d 975,

(quoting Hunt v. Comartie, 526 U.S. 541, 552

(1999)). When the moving party has met its burden, the non-moving
party must present "specific facts showing that there is a
genuine issue for trial." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith
Radio Corp.,

475 U.S. 574, 586-87

(quoting Fed. R. Civ. P.

, 56 (e) ) .
DISCUSSION
I.
Federal Sexual Harassment, State Sex Discrimination, and Age,
Discrimination in Employment Act Claims

4

It is unlawful under both federal and Oregon law to
discriminate based on sex. See Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore
I

Servs., 523 U.S. 75, 78

(1998); Fred Meyer v. Bureau of Labor &

Inudstries, Or.App. 302, 306-07

(1988). Under both federal and

Oregon law, a plaintiff may make a discrimination claim if sex
discrimination creates a hostile or abusive work environment.
Meritor Sav. Bank, FSB v. Vinson,

477 U.S. 57, 66 (1986); Fred

Meyer,, Or.App. at 306-07. A plaintiff may show a violation of the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) if age-related
discrimination has created a "hostile working environment."
Williams v. Community Psychiatric Clinic, 33 Fed.Appx 852, 853
(9th Cir. 2002).
To establish a hostile workplace claim based on age or sex,
a plaintiff must show (1) that he or she was subjected to verbal
or physical conduct of a sexual or age-based nature;

(2) that the

conduct was unwelcome; and (3) that the conduct was sufficiently
severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of employment and
create an abusive work environment. Vasquez v. County of Los
Angeles, 349 F3d 634,

642 (9th Cir. 2003). Whether conduct was

sufficiently severe or pervasive is determined by examining "all
the circumstances, including the frequency of the discriminatory
conduct; its severity; whether it is ... humiliating ... and
whether it reasonably interferes with an employee's work

5

performance." Clark County School Dist. v. Breeden, 532 U.S. 268,
270-71

(2001)
a.

(citation and internal quotation marks omitted).

Discrimination Based on Sex

Viewed in the light most -favorable to Hayes, a reasonable
juror could find that Hayes was subject to a hostile work
environment due to discrimination based on sex. The terms "Little
Jimi" and "Dodgeball" were used in reference to Hayes' penis.
Although the term "Little Jimi" is not inherently sexual, Smart
used the terms in relation to Hayes' sex. Hayes testified that
the conduct was unwelcome. Hayes felt "humiliated" and "degraded"
by the nicknames. Hayes Dep. 117:2-3; 77:23-78.
A reasonable juror could find that the discrimination based
on sex was sufficiently pervasive to alter the conditions of
employment and create an abusive work environment. Johnson
testified that Smart used the term "Little Jimi" as long as he
could remember. Johnson Dep. 68:5-11, Feb. 5, 2005 [sic].
Regarding frequency,

Smart used the nickname "uncountable times."

Hayes Dep. 39:1-2. Hayes felt "humiliated" by the term because it
was used in the presence of female employees. Hayes Dep. 117:2-3.
The fact that Hayes felt humiliated is significant in showing
that the discrimination was sufficiently pervasive. Harris v.
Forklify Sys., 510 U.S. 17, 23

(1993). Regarding "Dodgeball,"

Smart and other employees also used the nickname an "uncountable"
amount times. Hayes Dep. 85:14-15.

6

Because a reasonable juror could find that sex
discrimination created a hostile work environment, defendant's
motion for summary judgment against Hayes' claim under Oregon law
for sex discrimination, and Hayes' claim under federal law for
sexual harassment is denied.
b.

Discrimination Based on Age

Viewed in the light most favorable to Hayes, a reasonable
juror could find that Hayes was subject to a hostile work
environment due to discrimination based on age. Smart used the
phrase "Old Man" to refer to Hayes. Hayes Dep. 239:16-23. Hayes
was told "he should find medication that would help" with his
memory. Hayes Dep. 31:6-10. An employee described Smart's
comments as being "conducted in a demeaning or belittling manner.
Jordan Decl.

~

6, Feb. 28, 2013. The conduct was unwelcome. Hayes

testified that the verbal conduct relating to age "alone would
have made me leave." Hayes Dep. 30:21.
A reasonable juror could find that the age discrimination
was sufficiently pervasive to create a hostile work environment.
The remarks occurred as frequently as the sex-related remarks.
Hayes Dep 39:1-2. Under the ADEA, a plaintiff must prove that age
was the "but-for" cause of an adverse employment action. Gross v.
FBL Fin. Serv. Inc., 557 U.S. 167

(2009). Viewed in the light

most favorable to Hayes, a reasonable fact finder could find that
age was the "but-for" cause of a hostile work environment due to

7

age discrimination. A reasonable juror could find that the
nickname "meekerismu related to both age and sex. The phrase "old
manu and the comments about finding medication specifically
reference age. Viewed in the light most favorable to Hayes, a
reasonable juror could find that nicknames attacking Hayes'
sexual virility,

s~ch

as "little Jimiu and

~Dodgeballu

were

references to his age, as well as sex.
Because a reasonable juror could find that age
discrimination created a hostile work environment, defendant's
motion for summary judgment against Hayes' claim for age
discrimination is denied.
c. Tangible Employment Action and Constructive Discharge

An employer may make an affirmative defense to vicarious
liability for sexual harassment if the harassment did not result
in a tangible employment action, such as a significant change in
employment status or an undesirable reassignment. Davis v. Team
Elec. Co., 520 F.3d 1080, 1096-97 (2008). Constructive discharge
occurs when, "looking at the totality of the circumstances, a
'reasonabie person in [the employee's] position would have felt
that he was forced to quit because of intolerable and
discriminatory working conditions.u Watson v. Nationwide Ins.
Co., 823 F.2d 360, 361 (9th Cir. 1987)
original).

8

(alteration in the

An employer may assert an affirmative defense to
constructive discharge by proving "both (1) that it had installed
a readily accessible and effective policy_for reporting and
resolving complaints of sexual harassment, and (2) that the
plaintiff unreasonably failed to avail herself of that employerprovided preventive or remedial apparatus." Pennsylvania State
Police v. Suders, 542 U.S. 129, 134

(2004). The affirmative

defense is not available "if the plaintiff quits in reasonable
response to an employer-sanctioned adverse action officially
changing her employment status or situation, for example, a
humiliating demotion." Id.
Hayes was subjected to age and sex based insults an
"uncountable" amount of times. Hayes Dep. 85:14-15; 39:1-2. A
coworker testified that supervisors insulted Hayes in a
"demeaning or belittling manner." Jordan Decl. !

6. A week before

Hayes resigned, Johnson removed Hayes' computer and moved Hayes'
desk into the crew area, where he needed share it with other
employees. Hayes

Dep~

153:20-25. Hayes testified that he felt

"pushed out." Hayes Dep. 153:?4-25. A few days later, Johnson
publicly announced that Hayes would no longer retain his
~supervisory

duties. Hayes Dep. 152:22-24. A coworker described

the announcement as "highly unprofessional and disrespectful."

-

Jimenez Decl. ! 9.

9

Viewed in the light most favorable to Hayes, a reasonable
juror could find that a reasonable person in Hayes' position
would be forced to quit "because of intolerable and
discriminatory working conditions." Watson, 823 F.2d at 361.
Additionally, a reasonable juror could find that the ·public
announcement that Hayes would no longer have supervisory duties
was "an employer-sanctioned adverse action officially changing
[his] employment status or situation." Suders, 542 U.S. at 134.
Johnson's "highly unprofessional and disrespectful" dressing down
of Hayes, combined with Johnson's removal of Hayes' computer and
personal desk could certainly be considered a "humiliating
demotion." Id.
c.

Statute of Limitations

Defendant's request the portion of Hayes' claims that
occurred prior to July 17, 2011 be dismissed as untimely. A
plaintiff is required to file a charge within 180 days of each
discrete discriminatory act. National Railroad Passenger
Corporation v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 113 (2002). However, because
incidents creating a hostile work environment are "part of one
unlawful employment practice,'! a plaintiff may include acts that
occurred outside of the statutory period. Id. at 118-19.
Therefore, Hayes may use acts that occurred outside of the
statutory period for the purposes of showing a hostile work
environment. Hayes may also reference acts outside of the

10

statutory period for his consideration of damages because the
incidents that created the hostile work environment were "part of
one unlawful employment practice." Id.
II.

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Under Oregon law, in order to prevail on a claim for
intentional infliction of emotional distress, a plaintiff must
show (1) that the defendant intended to inflict severe emotional
distress;

( 2) that the acts were the cause of the plaintiff's

severe emotional distress; and (3) that the acts were
sufficiently grievousto constitute a transgression of the bounds
of socially tolerable conduct. McGanty v. Staudenraus, 321 Or.
532, 543 (1995). Even if intended to cause distress, "insults,
harsh or intimidating words, or rude behavior ordinarily do not
result in liability for damages." Lewis v. Oregon Beauty Supply
Co., 302 Or. 616, 628

(1987). Rather,

IIED claims are typically

based on behavior that is "so outrageous in character, and so
extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of human
decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable
in a civilized community." Restatement (Second) Torts, § 46,
comment d.
Viewed in the light most favorable to Hayes, a reasonable
j~ror

could find that the use of nicknames "exceed[ed] the bounds

of social toleration." Watte v. Maeyens, 112 Or. App. 234, 239
(1992). "Language used to sexually harass ...
11

[has] been deemed

.'

socially intolerable." Whelan v. Albertsons,
501, 505 (1994).

Ni~knames

Inc., 129 Or. App.

such as "Little Jimi" and "Dodgeball,"

were used an "uncountable" amount of times to sexually harass
Hayes. Hayes Dep. 85:14-15. A coworker described the treatment as
"demeaning or belittling." Jordan Decl.

~

6. Therefore, a

reasonable juror could find that the conducted exceeded the
bounds of social toleration. Defendant's motion for summary
judgment against Hayes' claim for liED is denied.
III.

Negligent Supervision and Retention

To prevail on a claim for negligent supervision, a
plaintiff must establish that the employer knew or should have
known there was a foreseeable risk that the employee would engage
in discrimination or harassment in the workplace. Willberger v.
Creative Bldg. Maint.,

Inc., Civ. No. 06-704-AA, 2009 WL 1773342

(D. Or. June 22, 2009). Although this is a question of fact,

"in

an extreme case a court can find that no reasonable fact-finder
could find the risk foreseeable." Donaca v. Curry County, 303 Or.
30, 38-39 (1987).
To prevail on a claim for negligent retention, a plaintiff
must show that the defendant

(1)

retained an employee who it

either knew to be dangerous or (2) where it could have discovered
the dangerous propensities with a reasonable investigation; and
(3) placed the employee in a position where, because of the
dangerous propensities, the employee posed an unreasonably risk

12

of injury to others. Logan v. West Coast Benson Hotel, 981 F.Supp
1301, 1323 (D. Or. 1997). Viewed in the light most favorable to
Hayes,

a

reasonable juror could find that Erickson could have

discovered the dangerous propensities with a reasonable
investigation. Supervisors used harassing nicknames towards Hayes
an "uncountable" number of times. Hayes Dep. 85:14-15. One
employee was aware of conduct that they considered "demeaning or
belittling." Jordan Decl.

~

6. Another employee described the

treatment of Hayes as "highly unprofessional and disrespectful."
Jimenez Decl.

~

9. Given the descriptions of the conduct as

extremely pervasive, a reasonable juror could find that Erickson
could have discovered the harassing behavior with a reasonable
investigation. Therefore, defendant's motion for summary judgment
against Hayes' claims for negligent supervision and retention is
denied.
CONCLUSION

Defendant's motion for summary judgment is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED this

;g

day of June, 2013.

~7ft~~
OWEN M. PANNER
U.S. Senior District Judge

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