Garmon v. Plaid Pantries, Inc.

Filing 29

OPINION and ORDER Plaid's motion 12 for summary judgment is DENIED with respect to Garmon's claims under the Federal Act, the State Act, and the Whistleblower Statute based on Plaid's failure to schedule Garmon for full-time w ork and refusal to promote him to store manager because of his part-time hours and resulting inability to perform assistant manager tasks, and GRANTED in all other respects. Plaid's motion to stike, found in it's reply brief is GRANTED with regard to paragraphs 120 and 121 of Garmon's affidavit but DENIED in all other respects. DATED this 19th day of July, 2013, by United States Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta. (peg)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF OREGON
PORTLAND DIVISION

Case No.: 3:12-CV-1554-AC

JUSTIN GARMON ,

OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff,

v.
PLAID PANTRIES,
Defendant.

ACOSTA, Magistrate Judge:
Introduction

Plaintiff Justin Garmon ("Garmon") filed this action against his employer Plaid Pantries, Inc.,
("Plaid") alleging that Plaid demoted him in retaliation for his requesting and taking medical leave
to which he was entitled under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S. C. §§ 26012654)(the "Federal Act") and the Oregon Family Leave Act (OR. REV. STAT. 659A.150-

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659A.186)(the "Oregon Act"), and for reporting unlawful employment practices in violation of a
state whistleblower statute (OR. REV. STAT. 659A.199)(the "Whistleblower Statute") Garmon also
assetis a claim for wrongful termination alleging that after he engaged in this protected conduct, his
working conditions became so intolerable that he was forced to resign.
Presently before the court is Plaid's motion for summary judgment on all claims asserted by
Gatmon and various evidentiary objections to Garmon's evidence. The court finds that Garmon's
affidavit is not a "sham affidavit," but that paragraphs 120 and 121 of that affidavit are directly
contradictory to Garmon's deposition and are stricken. Plaid's relevance objections are premature
at this summary judgment stage and will not be considered independently by the court. The exhibits
objected to as hearsay either fall within an exclusion to the hearsay tule or are not offered for the
truth of the matter assetied and are, therefore, not hem·say. While Garmon fails to properly
authenticate his deposition excerpts, all of the transcripts were also offered, attd properly
authenticated, by Plaid and will be considered. Plaid is entitled to summaty judgment on Gatmon's
claims under the Federal Act, the Oregon Act, and the Whistleblower Statute with regard to all
adverse employment actions other than the reduced hours assigned to Garmon after he took protected
1
leave and the refusal to retum Garmon to his previous position based on the reduced hours.

Preliminmy Procedurallvfatters
In its reply brief, Plaid objects to the filing ofGatmon's declaration, numerous paragraphs
within Gatmon's declaration, and a few exhibits on various evidentiaty grounds. In accordance with
L.R. 56-1(b), Garmon was given an opportunity to respond to these objections. The objections are

1

The patties have consented to jurisdiction by magistrate in accordance with 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(c)(l).
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now fully briefed and properly before the court.

I. Sham Affidavit
Plaid moves to strike Garmon's affidavit in its entirety, arguing that numerous discrepancies
between Gatmon's affidavit and his earlier deposition testimony establish the document as a "sham
affidavit". The Ninth Circuit has held that an genuine issue of fact cannot be created by an affidavit
that contradicts prior deposition testimony. Rabobenko v. Automated Equip. Corp., 520 F.2d 540,
544 (9th Cir. 1975). The court reasoned that '" [i]f a party who has been examined at length on
deposition could raise an issue of fact simply by submitting an affidavit contradicting his own prior
testimony, this would greatly diminish the utility of summaty judgment as a procedure for screening
out sham issues offact."' Id. (quotingPerma Research & Dev. Co. v. Singer Co., 410 F.2d 572,578
(2nd Cir. 1969)). This rule, regularly referred to as the "Foster-Rabodenko rule", applies to conflicts
between affidavits and intenogatoryresponses as well as deposition testimony. School Dist. No. 1J,
1Yfultnomah County v. ACandS, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1264 (9th Cir 1993). The Ninth Circuit has held
that the Foster-Rabodenko rule should be applied with caution.
[T]he Foster-Radobenko rule does not automatically dispose of evety case in which
a contradictoty affidavit is introduced to explain portions of earlier deposition
testimony. Rather, the Radobenko court was concerned with "sham" testimony that
flatly contradicts earlier testimony in an attempt to "create" an issue of fact and avoid
summary judgment. Therefore, before applying the Radobenko sanction, the district
court must make a factual detennination that the contradiction was actually a "sham".
Kennedy v. Allied Mutual Ins., Co., 952 F.2d 262,266-67 (9th Cir. 1991). "The non-moving party
is not precluded from elaborating upon, explaining or clarifying prior testimony elicited by opposing
counsel on deposition; minor inconsistencies that result from an honest discrepancy, a mistake, or
newly discovered evidence afford no basis for excluding an opposition affidavit." lvfessick v.

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Horizon Indus., Inc., 62 F.3d 1227, 1231 (9th Cir 1995).
Much of Gmmon' s affidavit contains either new inf01mation not elicited by Plaid's counsel
at Garmon's deposition or information that supplements Garmon's deposition testimony without
specifically contradicting it. For example, when asked at his deposition whether he discussed
Nelson's comments regarding his absences or how Nelson calculated invent01y during his July 2011
review, Garmon responded "No". In his affidavit, however, he represented that he did discuss an
associate's chronic lateness, his upcoming surge1y, and his frequent illnesses during that review.
These statements are not contradictory. Similarly, Gmmon's deposition testimony that he told
Nelson he was not feeling well the morning of August 5, 2011, but not that he would be leaving
early, does not conflict with his affidavit testimony that he told Nelson that he was not well and may
need to leave early. Again, these statements are not contradictory. Finally, Gmmon testified in his
deposition that he did not remember calling his store the evening of August 5, 2011, but stated in his
affidavit that he received a call from the associate covering the store that evening. The fact that
Garmon did not remember placing a call does not contradict the later statement that he received a
call.
To the extent some minor discrepancies may exist between Garmon's affidavit and his prior
swom testimony, the affidavit does not "flatly contradict" the deposition testimony and does not
appear to have been made for the purpose of creating an issue of material fact. Gmmon' s affidavit,
as a whole, is not a sham, and the Radobenko sanction of striking the entire affidavit does not apply.
Thus, Plaid's motion to strike Garmon' s affidavit in its entirety is denied. The affidavit will remain
part of the summmy judgment record. However, there are two areas of testimony where Garmon's
affidavit clearly contradicts his deposition testimony.
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Garmon testified at his deposition that in response to complaints made by him, a meeting
involving himself and Plaid management was scheduled to occur on February 24, 2012, and that he
sent an email to management on February 23, 2012, indicating that he was suffering from a cold and
would not be available for the meeting the next day. (Gatmon Dep. 133:5-8; 133:21-134:3.)
However, in his declaration he states that"[ o]n Februmy 24, 2012, there was an impromptu meeting
that occurred at the Hillsboro Store for which I received no advance notice." (Garmon Aff.

~120.)

Garmon's affidavit clearly contradicts, not just explains or clarifies, the statement he made in his
deposition that he was aware of the meeting, asked to reschedule it, and that no meeting occuned
on Februmy 24, 2012. The court will disregard Gmmon's comments about an impromptu meeting
on Februmy 24, 2012, found in his affidavit and will rely on the testimony he gave at his deposition
with regard to this scheduled, but cancelled, meeting.
The next direct contradiction relates to Garmon's shift on Mat·ch 7, 2012. At his deposition,
Garmon testified that he did not give Hale advance notice that he would miss his entire shift on
March 7, 2012, due to a doctor's appointment. (Garmon Dep. 141 :6-24.) In his affidavit, Garmon
represents that when he leamed he was scheduled to work a shift starting at 1:00 p.m. on March 7,
2012, he informed Hale that he had a doctor's appointment at 3:00p.m. that day and Hale told him
not to worry about it. (Gmmon Aff.

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121.) Again, Gmmon's affidavit flatly contradicts his

deposition testimony and will be disregarded by the comt. Instead, the court will rely on Garmon's
testimony with regard to his missing work on March 7, 2012.
II. Relevance
Plaid also moves to strike specific paragraphs in Garmon's affidavit, arguing that the
paragraphs which concern _alleged events occutTing between 2004 and 2007, or the paperwork
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process related to Gatmon' s request for medical leave, are not relevant to the issues before the comt.
At the summmy judgment stage, the comt must look at the evidence presented to it by the patties
and, initially, determine ifthere is a genuine issue of material fact. While engaging in this task, the
court must necessarily apply the underlying summaty judgment standard when it encounters evidence
that is irrelevant, speculative, ambiguous, argumentative, or constitutes a legal conclusion
exclusively within the purview of the court's consideration. See Burch v. Regents of Univ. of

California, 433 F. Supp. 2d 1110, 1119 (E.D. Cal2006)(noting that various evidentiaty objections,
such as relevance, were redundant at the summmy judgment stage where the court can award
summaty judgment only in the absence of a genuine issue of material fact based on evidence the
contents of which must be admissible). It is a waste of the court's time to analyze the patties'
objections to the evidence on any of these grounds independently of its consideration of the merits
of the underlying summary judgment motions. To the extent the court finds the information in these
paragraphs relevant to the issues before the comt, they will be considered. Plaid's objections to the
paragraphs will not be considered independently of this analysis.
III. Hearsay
Plaid objects to the consideration of Exhibits Y, Z, and DD to the Garmon affidavit and
Exhibit F to the Gaddis declaration assetting that the exhibits contain hearsay not subject to any
hearsay exception. The Ninth Circuit has generally applied the limitations found in the hearsay rule,
set fotth in Rule 802 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, to evidence offered by the patties at the
summmyjudgment stage. Orr, 285 F.3d 764, 778; Beyenne v. Coleman Sec. Services, Inc., 854 F.2d
1179, 1182 (9th Cir. 1988). Hearsay is defined as an out-of-comt statement offered in evidence to
prove the truth of the matter assetted. FED. R. Evm. 801 (2013). Hearsay is admissible only if it

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qualifies as an exception to the general hearsay rule. FED. R. EVID. 802 (2013).
Garmon assetts that the statements in Exhibit Y (a CD of a meeting between Garmon and
Plaid management) and Exhibit Z (a transcript of phone conversation between Gatmon and his
district manager) are statements made by Plaid offered against it and, therefore, properly excluded
from the hearsay rule. Rule 801, which identifies exclusions from the hearsay rule, provides that
statements by a patty opponent offered against an opposing patty are excluded from the hearsay rule.
FED. R. EVID. 80l(d)(2) (2013). To qualify as a statement by a patty-opponent under Rule
80l(d)(2), the statement must be: (A) the patty's own statement, in either an individual or a
representative capacity; (B) a statement of which the party has manifested an adoption or belief in
its truth; (C) a statement by a person authorized by the party to make a statement concerning the
subject; (D) a statement by the party's agent or servant concerning a matter within the scope of the
agency or employment, made during the existence of the relationship; or (E) a statement by a
coconspirator of a party during the course and in fmtherance of the conspiracy. FED. R. EVID.
801(d)(2) (2013).
Here, the parties making the statements offered by Garmon in Exhibits Y and Z are all in
management positions with Plaid who had supervisory authority over Garmon and the statements
were made with regard to Garmon's employment with Plaid. Accordingly, the statements were
made by a patty authorized to speak on behalf of Plaid with regard to Plaid's associates and fall
either within subsection (C) or (D) of the exclusion to the hearsay rule. The exhibits are admissible
and will be considered by the court.
Garmon represents that he is offering Exhibit F to the Gaddis declaration (a copy of the
complaint filed with Bureau of Labor and Industry ("BOLl")) and Exhibit DD to the Garmon
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affidavit (a copy of email messa~es sent to Plaid management advising them that Garmon believed
Plaid was violating the law) not for the truth of the matter asserted therein, but merely to establish
that a BOLl complaint was filed and that Garmon complained to Plaid of what he believed was a
violation oflaw, rule, or regulation. When considered in this context, these exhibits are not hearsay
and are admissible.
IV. Authentication of Deposition Transcripts
Finally, while Plaid does not object to the deposition transcript pages offered by Gatmon, the
coult notes that they do not include signed reporters' cetiificates and are, therefore, not properly
authenticated. Evidence presented in suppoti of or in opposition to a motion for summaty judgment
must be based on personal knowledge, properly authenticated, and admissible under the Federal
Rules of Evidence. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e). "The requirement of authentication** * as a condition
precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient to suppoti a finding that the matter in
question is what its proponent claims." FED. R. Evm. 901(a) (2013). Evidence that is not properly
authenticated will not be considered by the comi when reviewing a motion for summaty judgment.
Orr v. Bank ofAmerica, 285 F.3d 764, 773 (9th Cir. 2002).

The Ninth Circuit stated in Orr that:
A deposition or an extract therefrom is authenticated in a motion for summary
judgment when it identifies the names of the deponent and the action and includes
the reporter's certification that the deposition is a tme record of the testimony of the
deponent. See Fed. R. Evid. 901(b); Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) & 30(f)(l). Ordinarily, this
would be accomplished by attaching the cover page of the deposition and the
reporter's certification to evety deposition extract submitted. It is insufficient for a
patiy to submit, without more, an affidavit from her counsel identifying the names
of the deponent, the reporter, and the action and stating that the deposition is a "true
and correct copy." Such an affidavit lacks foundation even if the affiant-counsel
were present at the deposition.

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Orr, 285 F.3d at 774 (footnote and case citations omitted). Plaid, however, has offered and properly
authenticated a number of excerpts from the depositions of the same individuals, thereby providing
the basis for their admissibility. In Orr, the Ninth Circuit held that:
when a document has been authenticated by a party, the requirement of authenticity
is satisfied as to that document with regards to all pmiies, subject to the right of any
party to present evidence to the ultimate fact-finder disputing its authenticity.

Orr, 285 F.3d at 776. The deposition excerpts offered by Garmon are consistent, both in content and
appearance, with the properly authenticated excerpts offered by Plaid. Consequently, the court will
consider Garmon's deposition transcripts in this Opinion.

Background
Garman has spent most of his adult life working at Plaid. (Garmon Aff.,; 4.) In November
2003, Plaid hired Gannon, then twenty years old, as an associate in the Wilsonville store ("Store
129"). (Garmon Aff.,; 4.) Plaid promoted Garmon to assistant manager in early 2004, and then to
store manager in July, 2004. (Garmon Aff. ,;,; 4, 6.) As a store manager at Store 129, Garmon
always worked the moming shift Monday through Friday, beginning at 6:00a.m. and ending between
2:00 and 4:00p.m., and weekends, depending on need. (Garmon Aff.,; 9.) Garmon continued as
store manager of Store 129 until August 10, 2011, when he was demoted to the position of assistant
manager and transfened to another store. (Gmmon Aff. ,; 51.) Garmon asserts that he was demoted
in retaliation for requesting medical leave. Plaid represents that it demoted Garmon based on
Gmmon's continuing failure to work his required hours. Garmon eventually resigned from his
employment with Plaid on March 8, 2012, stating that he could no longer work under the hostile
environment to which he was being subjected. (Gannon Aff.,; 122.)
In the years leading up to Garmon's demotion, Garmon's supervisors regularly expressed

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concern over Garmon's failure to be at his store during hours required of managers, or inform
supervisor of his absence and find coverage when he was not able to be at the store. In each of the
written counseling documents, Garmon was advised that the associate must take designated steps
to improve their performance and that "[f]ailure to improve may result in disciplinary action or may
result in te1mination of employment." (Garmon Aff. Exs. B-K.)
In a counseling document dated September 25, 2005, identified as a "final written
consultation, Suzi Stark ("Stark"), the then area manager for the area including Store 129, advised
Garmon that he "may not come & go as you please without notifying the Area Manager." (Garmon
Aff. Ex. B at 1.) Garmon called in sick on September 20, 2005, with swollen tonsils, and then on
September 21, 2005, with an earache. (Garmon Aff. Ex. Bat 2.) Stark advised Gannon that he
needed to see a doctor and provide Plaid with a doctor's excuse for the missing days. (Garmon Aff
Ex. Bat 2.) Garmon worked on September 22, 2005, but failed to provide the doctor's excuse and
when questioned by Stark that afternoon about the excuse, explained that he was on his way to a
concert in Eugene and would not be able to get it that day. (Garmon Aff. Ex. Bat 2.) On September
23, 2005, Garmon was late to work and reported that he was sick and mnning a fever. (Garmon Aff.
Ex. B at 2.)

When Stark arrived at Store 129, "it was a disaster." (Garmon Aff. Ex. B at 2.)

Tuesday's inventmy remained in the totes on the main floor and Garmon was only about halfWay
through invoices. (Gmmon Aff. Ex. B at 2.) Stark asked Garmon if he could do the cash, take the
deposit to the bank, and get coins for the weekend. (Garmon Aff. Ex. B at 2.) Gmmon refused,
complained again that he was sick, and went home. (Garmon Aff Ex. B at 2.) Garmon worked a
few hours the following day to finish his computer work but did not call Stark to let her know he was
leaving early again or that he was sick. (Garmon Aff. Ex. Bat 2.) Garmon signed the counseling
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document on September 26, 2005. (Gannon Aff. Ex. Bat 1.)
Chad Nelson ("Nelson"), the area manager who replaced Stark and became Garmon's
immediate supervisor, consistently expressed concern over Garmon's presence in Store 129 during
the required hours. (Nelson Dep. 6:8-10, 8:1-14.) On Janumy 18, 2006, Nelson authored two
counseling documents, identified as written consultations. The first one addressed Garmon's calling
in sick on January 11, 2006, without ananging for coverage, or even calling Store 129 or other
employees in an attempt to anange coverage. (Garmon Aff. Ex. Cat 1.) Nelson indicated that "this
is behavior expected of an associate, not a manager." (Gmmon Aff. Ex. Cat 1.) He advised Garmon
that "[w]hen sick it is the responsibility of the manager to be sure the scheduling of the store is
covered. Calling in sick with no plan of how to solve the problem is not acceptable." (Garmon Aff.
Ex. C at 1.) Gmmon explained in a written response that he tried to call three employees the
previous night, was unable to talk with them, and did not leave a message. (Garmon Aff. Ex. C at
2.) As a result, the associate working the graveyard shift had to work Garmon's shift as well.
(Garmon Aff. Ex. Cat 2.) Garmon indicated:
I was under the assumption that in this company we work as a team. I was hoping
Chad would be a team player and would make some kind of effoti to find somebody
to cover the shift for me. . . . I find that stating that it is to be expected from an
associate and not a manager is appalling. Having a person call around when [they're]
sick and have a sore throat I find to be unacceptable.
(Garmon Aff. Ex. Cat 2.)
The second counseling document addressed Garmon's leaving Store 129 at noon on Monday,
January 16, 2006, and aniving four hours late the next morning ("well after 10:00 am"), Tuesday,
Janumy 17, 2006, both without notice or explanation to Nelson. (Garmon Aff. Ex. D at 1.) In a
responsive document signed by Gmmon, Garmon explained that he had scheduled his swing shift
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to anive early on Janumy 16, 2006, at noon, so that Gmmon could get his work done and be out by
2:00p.m., and that he had not left Store 129 until! :36 p.m. that day. (Gatmon Aff. Ex. D at 2.) He
also indicated he had an agreement with Nelson allowing him not to work a whole shift on Tuesdays
in light of the fact that he frequently had to come in on Saturday and Sunday to take care of cash,
books, and paperwork. (Gatmon Aff. Ex. D at 2.) Garmon complained that he did not have an
assistant manager, was doing the best he could with what he had been given, and would like to have
a personal life outside of Plaid. (Garmon Aff. Ex. D at 2.)
On April 25, 2006, Nelson prepared another counseling document, identified as a "Final
Written Consultation". (Garmon Aff. Ex. E.) Nelson wrote:
Today April 25'h Justin was working in his store from 6:08am ~8:40 am. He is
being paid for working the day shift which would be approx. 6 am~ 2 pm. Justin
had been told he may leave early on freight days, (which this was) after all of the
work is complete. Freight had not been completely put away, the cooler had not been
organized, and no invoices had been entered for the week. All of this should have
been done, as the invent01y field audit was scheduled for the next morning. Justin
did not count cigarettes today, after his count on Monday was "thousands" off. I
have told Justin before that accurate cigarette counts are a requirement especially the
day before inventory.
(Garmon Aff. Ex. E.) Garmon signed this document without a response. (Gmmon Aff. Ex. E.)
In an October 8, 2006, counseling document, identified as a verbal consultation, Nelson
complained that Gmmon had not answered multiple calls to, and voice mails left on, his phone or
pager from Nelson or Store 129 associates after Garmon's work hours. Nelson reminded Garmon
that he had been provided a pager so he could be reached when he was not in the store and "it is his
responsibility to return pages and phone calls to the store & area manager." (Garmon Aff. Ex. F.)
Garmon did not receive or sign the document, evidently because it was merely in support of a verbal
consultation. (Garmon Aff. '\[23; Ex. F.)
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The following year, Nelson issued another consultation document when Garmon left Store
129 at 11:00 the morning of Tuesday, February 6, 2007, to attend a mandatmy meeting scheduled
at noon, but failed to appear at the noon meeting or meetings scheduled at 1:30 and 3:00 that day,
and did not respond to phone calls or pages. (Gmmon Aff. Ex. G.) When questioned the following
day, Garmon represented that he had stopped at home on the way to the meeting and had fallen
asleep. (Garmon Aff. Ex. G.) Nelson advised Gmmon in writing that:
Attendance at meetings is mandatmy. If a manager will not be in their store, for
sickness or any other reason, during their normally scheduled work-time (6 A~ 2 P,
M ~ F) they must notify the Area Manager. Justin will respond to all phone calls and
pages from his employees and supervisors.
(Garmon Aff. Ex. G.) Nelson underlined the sentence "[F]ailure to improve may result in
disciplinmy action or may result in termination of employment" found on the counseling form.
(Garmon Aff. Ex. G.) Again, Garmon did not receive or sign the document evidencing a verbal
consultation. (Gmmon Aff.

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25; Ex. G.)

Sometime during 2009, Ba1n·am Sheed, Plaid's district manager in charge of the district
encompassing Store 129 ("Sheed"), and Karen Anderson, Plaid's training manager ("Anderson"),
infmmed Garmon that anytime an associate working alone in a store needed to take a break, the
associate was authorized to lock the door and display a sign stating that would retum shmtly.
(Gmmon Aff.

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27; Nelson Dep. 6:19-24; Hale Dep. 10:18-19.) Nelson confirmed this policy and

Garmon trained all of his associates at Store 129 on the policy. (Gmmon Aff.

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27.)

In an annual Store Manager Perfmmance Review dated July 19, 2009, Nelson rated Garmon
at a "5" (superior), "4" (exceeds standard), or "3" (meets standard) in all sixty areas assessed with
the exception of providing training to new hires; maintaining adequate staffing while using labor

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dollars in correspondence to sales; handling spoilage, shortages, returns, and black-lines promptly;
keeping salaty and wages within budget; and maintaining cash control, for which Garmon received
a "2" (below standard), and financial performance and bottom line, for which Oatman received a "1"
(unacceptable). (Shelman Dec!. Ex. 6.) Overall, Garmon received a rating of"3.48". (Shelman
Dec!. Ex. 6.) Nelson praised Garmon for improvements in controlling loitering, cash control,
communication with other managers, inventmy control, and covering the store during staffing
shortages. (Shennan Dec!. Ex. 6 at 6.) However, Nelson identified spending the required time in
the store on a weekly basis, scheduling of double coverage to better match customer flow, accurate
counting of cigarettes, and maintaining a clean and merchandised store as areas needing
improvement. (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 6 at 6.) Nelson specified that Garmon, as a store manager,
needed to be in the store between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00p.m. Monday through Friday at a minimum.
(She1man Dec!. Ex. 6 at 6.) All ofNelson's store managers knew that they were expected to work
from 6:00 to 3:00 and put in a minimum of 45 hours a week as exempt, salaried employees. (Nelson
Dep. 39:20-22, 42:1 0-13.) Nelson was not aware, however, of any written policies that required
store managers to work between 6:00a.m. and 3:00p.m. (NelsonDep. 105:11-20.)
Garmon expressed confusion over his required work hours, stating that Nelson was not
consistent with regard to Oatman's work hours. (Garmon Aff. ~ 28.) Nelson initially told Oatman
he was expected to work from 6:00a.m. to 2:00p.m., but then later expected Garmon to work from
6:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.; that Nelson expected Garmon to attend monthly meetings that began as early
as 12:00 p.m.; and that Nelson told Garmon he could leave work early on freight days but that he
could only leave after freight was completed. (Garmon Aff.

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28.)

Garmon again failed to attend a mandatmy meeting scheduled at 1:00 p.m. on November 10,
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2009, despite infmming Nelson by phone that he had left Store 129 at noon and was getting a ride
to the meeting from a friend. (Garmon Aff. Ex. Hat 1.) Garmon again failed to respond to phone
calls and messages from Nelson. (GmmonAff. Ex. Hat 1.) Garmon signed the written consultation
document and indicated that his car was in the shop. (Garmon Aff. Ex. Hat 1.)
By June 8, 2010, Garmon missed more mandatmy meetings and thus received a final written
consultation from Nelson. (Gatmon Aff. Ex. J.) When Nelson called to ask if Garmon would attend
a 1:00 meeting, Garmon explained that he was at Store 129 putting away freight but that he would
attend the 2:00 meeting. (Gmmon Aff. Ex. J.) Gmmon did not make the second meeting and did
not call Nelson with a reason for his absence. (Garmon Aff. Ex. J.) Nelson noted that Garmon had
received a written consultation for missing a meeting within the last year. (Garmon Aff. Ex. J)
Gmmon signed the document indicating that he had lost track of time and stayed at Store 129 to
finish freight. (Garmon Aff. Ex. J.)
Garmon's 2010 Store Manager Perfotmance Review showed a slightly improved overall
rating of"3.53". (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 7 at 5.) Garmon received a "5", "4", or "3" in all areas except
the timely submission of personnel-related paperwork; ability to develop loyalty and professional
work relationships; responsibility for daily cash management and audits; and coffee and fountain
revenues, for which he received "2" ratings, and overall sales perfmmance, and salaries and wages
in proportion to budget, for which he received "1" ratings. (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 7 .) Nelson was
pleased with Garmon's ability to delegate tasks and responsibilities to his staff, to control cash and
inventory on an annual basis, and to use buy-ins to improve GP%. (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 7 at 5.) On
the negative side, among other things, Garmon was not spending the required time in the store on
a daily and weekly basis or following the proper procedure to request time off/out of the store and
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was not scheduling double coverage to match customer flow. (Shetman Dec!. Ex. 7 at 6. ). Garmon
was again advised that a store manager must be in the store between 6:00a.m. and 3:00p.m. Monday
through Friday at a minimum and reminded he needed to communicate ahead of time regarding
scheduling. (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 7 at 6.)
On December 29, 2010, Garmon received counseling for failure to be in Store 129 during his
required working hours-6:00a.m. through 3:00p.m. Monday through Friday. (Shetman Dec!. Ex.
8.) In the written document suppmiing the counseling, which was designated as a "Final Written
Consultation," Nelson indicated the reason for counseling was that:
2
on 12/27/10 (approx 12:15 pm) & (12/28/10 approx 11:00 [a]m ) Store #129 was
locked so the assistant manager could take a break. Justin (manager) was not in the
store. Managers are required to be in the stores from 6 am ~ 3 pm and provide
overlap in order for other associates working to take BOLI required breaks. The store
may only be locked for 3'd shift break after 3 am, or in emergencies. Justin did not
notifY any supervisors that he would not be in his store during the required time.

(Sherman Dec!. Ex. 8.) Nelson indicated that:
[i]t is Justin's responsibility to write the schedule to provide mandatory breaks & to
insure that they are taken at proper times. Double coverage is to be used during high
customer travel times (ie. lunch rush, middle of swing shift) and to allow for breaks.
Justin must notifY his supervisor any time that he will not be in the store during his
required shifts. Justin will write on his weekly labor analysis the time that he was at
the store and the time he provided breaks to associates.
(Shetman Dec!. Ex. 8.) Gmmon noted on the document that "video has not been watched per
[Nelson] to verifY this claim" and "have been mnning same schedule for months now. Breaks like
this are taken by all employees throughout the day and are unpredictable" and then signed it on
December 29, 2010. (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 8.)

The court notes that while Nelson indicated it was II :00 p.m., based on Garmon's work
hours and the remainder of the documentation, it is likely that Nelson intended to refer to 11 :00 a.m.
2

Page 16- OPINION AND ORDER

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On July 20, 2011, Garmon informed Nelson in person at Store 129 that he had enlarged
tonsils which needed to be removed. (Nelson Dep. 90:1-12.) Nelson then advised Sheed that
Garmon was scheduled for tonsil surgery and would be off work for a period of time the following
month, and that Stephen Kimbrough, the assistant store manager of Store 129 ("Kimbrough"), would
cover while Garmon was on medical leave. (Sheed Dep. 12:11-13 :20; Anderson Depo. 50: 13-21.)
When Gatmon later expressed concern that about finding someone to cover Store 129 during a week
when both Gatmon and Kimbrough were scheduled to be out, Nelson told Garmon he would figure
it out. (Nelson 87:5-13, 88:24-89:1.)
In a document dated July 21, 2011, Gatmon requested medical leave starting on Tuesday,
August 16, 2011, and continuing to Tuesday, September 6, 2011, for his tonsillectomy and required
recovery time. (Garmon Dep. 76:22-77:1 0; Shetman Dec!. Ex. 10.) Gatmon placed the document
in Nelson's drawer and advised Nelson that he had done so on July 22, 2011. (Garmon Dep. 41:2325 .) A few days later, Gatmon removed the document from Nelson's drawer and put it in the courier
bag because he was concerned Nelson would not get it to the corporate office. (Gatmon Dep. 44:48.) There is no dispute that the corporate office eventually received Garmon's request for medical
leave and that the request was approved.
In the last Store Manager Perf01mance Review prepared by Nelson for Garmon, dated July
23, 2011, after Gmmon had requested medical leave but before he took medical leave, Nelson rated
Gmmon with a "5", "4", or "3" in all areas except setting an example of extraordinary customer
service; ensuring all personnel related paperwork is submitted to the area manager in a timely
manner; and overall financial sales performance, on which he rated Garmon with a "2" (below
standard), and coffee and fountain revenue percentage, on which he rated Garmon with a "I"
Page 17 - OPINION AND ORDER

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(unacceptable) (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 9 .) Garmon received an overall score of"3 .62", which was lower
than Nelson gave to other store managers during the same period. (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 9 at 5; Nelson
Dep. 33:6-13.) As in 2010, Nelson was pleased with Garmon's ability to delegate tasks and
responsibilities to his staff, to control cash and inventory on an annual basis, and to use buy-ins to
improve GP%. (Shennan Dec!. Ex. 9 at 5.) Unlike prior years, Nelson did not indicate concem over
Garmon's presence at Store 129 during required store manager hours. However, he did express
concern about the scheduling of double coverage to match customer flow, the timeliness of reviews,
the leadership and communication within the store, and the attitude Garmon displayed while at work.
(Sherman Dec!. Ex. 9 at 6.) Nelson further described the "attitude" as being confrontational or
unhappy in front of customers and other employees, flippant about completing his job duties around
Nelson, and abrasive toward Sheed. (Nelson Dep. 23:24-24:5, 25:7-16, 27:4-16.) During a meeting
to discuss the evaluation, Nelson and Gmmon discussed Garmon's concerns about the chronic
lateness of store associate Michael Burnham ("Burhman"), Gatmon's upcoming surgery, and
Gatmon's medical issues. (Garmon Aff.

~

48.)

Rostarmirad considered a "3.62"" a good perfonnance evaluation. (Rostmmirad 19:2-7.) In
fact, Nelson gave Garmon a raise because he also felt that Gatmon was doing some good things.
(Nelson 36:3-5; Garmon Aff. Ex. S.) About this time, Garmon asked Sheed, while Sheed was
visiting Store 129, whether he could be allowed to leave earlier and work less hours, in lieu of a
raise. (Sheed Dep. 14:9-24.) Garmon indicated that he was bored, that he could accomplish most
ofhis tasks by delegating, and that he had a cell phone for emergencies. (Sheed Dep. 15:2-5.) Sheed
told Garmon that he would "absolutely not" authorize Garmon to leave early and was shocked that
Garmon had made the request. (Sheed Dep. 15:23-16:3.)
Page 18 - OPINION AND ORDER

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On Friday, August 5, 2011, Garmon left Store 129 at 2:00 in the afternoon. (Garmon Dep.
49:13-15.) He told Burnham, the associate working the swing shift at Store 129, that he was going
to get something to eat but not whether he was going to return to work the rest of his shift or that he
was sick. (Garmon Dep. 49:16-50: 13.) Garmon never called Burnham to let him know he was not
coming back to the store. (Garmon Dep. 50:23-51: 1.) While Garmon advised Nelson he was not
feeling well that morning, he did not tell Nelson he would be leaving early at that time or later call
to inf01m Nelson he was leaving the store early because he was sick. (GarmonD ep. 53:8-11, 18-21;
Nelson Dep. 101 :21-1 02:6.) When Burnham was not able to contact Gatmon to open the store safe,
Burnham called Nelson for assistance. (Nelson Dep. 96:2-14.) At that time, Bumham informed
Nelson that Garmon told him he would return after getting something to eat but had not, that he had
tried to get a hold of Garmon, and that Gatmon had not yet responded to his calls. (Nelson Dep.
96: 16-22.) Garmon did not remember calling Bumham the evening of August 5th but did remember
receiving a phone call from Store 129 that evening and telling Burnham to get quatiers from the pub
next door. (Garmon Aff.

~

49.)

On Wednesday, August 10, 2011, Nelson and Sheed visited Store 129 together to discuss
Garmon's failure to work his entire shift the previous Friday. (Garmon Dep. 56:12-57: 1.) When
Nelson asked Gatmon why he had left work early on August 5, 2011, Garmon explained that he left
to get something to eat, drove to the north end of Wilsonville, and decided not to retum to work.
(Nelson Dep. 104:19-105:3.) He did not tell Nelson he left because he was sick. (Nelson Dep.
105:4-5.)
Nelson proposed, and Sheed agreed, to demote Garmon from store manager to assistant
manager based on his continuing failure to be in Store 129 during the required store manager hours.
Page 19 - OPINION AND ORDER

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(Nelson Dep. 80:7-11, 80:20-81 :11; Sheed Dep. 33:8-10.) The counseling document prepared by
Nelson on August 10,2011, supporting the demotion, explained that:
on 8/5/11 Justin left Store #129 at 2:08p.m., managers are required to be in their
stores until 3:00pm. Justin has been reminded/reviewed/counseled multiple times
regarding this. Michael B. was working the afternoon shift from - 2 pm ~ 12
midnight. Justin was required to provide Michael with a ten minute break at 2:50
pm. Michael did not receive this break, in violation of labor agreements.
Nelson then indicated that: "Justin is demoted from store manager to a position of assistant manager,
and will be transferred to another store." (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 11.)
Nelson testified at his deposition that Garmon was demoted because he "was not in the store
at the time I would have expected him to be, he did not contact me before leaving, and he was not
in the store to provide Michael Burnham his scheduled break." (Nelson Dep. 92:22-93:4.) He had
previously expressed his dissatisfaction with Garmon's repeated failure to be in the store during his
required hours numerous times, both in person and in writing. (Nelson Dep. 112: 15-24.) Based on
the number of discussions Nelson had with Gmmon about this issue in the past, Nelson felt it was
appropriate to demote, rather than just suspend, Garmon. (NelsonDep. 124:2-5; Sheed Dep. 27:2528:9.) Garmon stated that he was never given the reason for his demotion, only that, "This is what
3
we are doing." (Gmmon Dep. 58:4-8.)

Nelson decided to transfer Garmon from Store 129 to Store 19 effective Friday, August 12,
2011. (Nelson Dep. 53:25-54:2; Gmmon Aff. Ex. W.) Garmon represented to Nelson and Sheed
that he did not have a "very healthy working relationship" with Linda Lorenz, the store manager of

Sheed subsequently disciplined Nelson in writing for failing to properly document Garmon's
deficiencies with regard to not being in Store 129 when scheduled, leaving Store 129 early, and not
contacting Nelson when he was not going to be in Store 129. (Nelson Dep. 109:7-23.)
3

Page 20 - OPINION AND ORDER

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Store 19 ("Lorenz"l (Garmon Dep. 61:22-62:4.)

However, Garmon expected that when he

retmned from medical leave, he would work things out with Lorenz. (Garmon Dep. 77:7-13.)
Gatmon worked at Store 129 on Thursday, August II, 2011, and Friday, August 12,2011. (Garmon
Dep. 68:17-25; Nelson 53:20-22.) The following Monday, Garmon worked qne three-hour shift at
Store 19 before starting his medical leave on Tuesday, August 16, 2011. (Gatmon Dep. 69:1-6.)
Garmon called Plaid's chief executive officer, Chris Girard ("Girard") to report that he had
been demoted in retaliation for applying for medical leave. (Garmon Aff.

~55.)

Girard expressed

concern over Gatmon' s statement and asked him to call Anderson and Babrnan Rostarmirad, Plaid's
vice president of operations ("Rostarmirad"), to discuss the issue. (Garmon Aff.

~55.)

Garmon

telephoned Anderson and Rostarmirad on Friday, August 12, 2011, and requested a meeting to
discuss his demotion, again stating that he felt his demotion was in retaliation for applying for
medical leave. (Gatmon Dep. 71 :24-72:5; Gatmon Aff. ~~57, 59.) Anderson suggested scheduling
a meeting with eve1yone involved after Garmon retumed from his medical leave. (Garmon Dep.
72:6-13.) Garmon was advised before he left on medical leave that he was going to be meeting with
Anderson, Sheed, and Rostarmirad the day he returned from his medical leave, which was Tuesday,
September 6, 2011.

(Garmon Dep. 75:20-23; Rostarmirad Dep. 11: I 0-11.)

During this

conversation, Garmon also informed Anderson that he was not comfortable working with Lorenz,
that he did not have a very good working relationship with her, and that she often referred to him as
the "bug." (Garmon Dep. 69:15-70:9.) Anderson told Garmon that she "would see what she could
do." (Garmon Dep. 70:10-13.)

"Lorenz" is spelled more than one way in the pleadings and documents filed by the parties.
In the interest of clarity and consistently, the court will refer to her as "Lorenz".
4

Page 21- OPINION AND ORDER

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Before the September 6, 2011, meeting, Anderson spoke with Nelson, Kimbrough, Burnham,
and Paul Hammond ("Hammond"), another associate at Store 129, to discuss the circumstances
surrounding Garmon's demotion. (Anderson Dep. 50:11-16, 52:2-3.) Nelson told Anderson he
demoted Garmon because he had left Store 129 early and did not give his associate a break.
(Anderson Dep. 51 :2-11.) Anderson also reviewed the video of Store 129 to confinn that Garmon
left the store shortly after Burnham arrived about 2:00 p.m., and detetmined that Gatmon
intentionally denied Burnham a break. (Anderson Dep. 61: 16-62:3; 66:23-25.)
On September 6, 2011, Garmon attended, and tape recorded, the scheduled meeting with
Anderson, Sheed, and Rostatmirad, which lasted just under one hour. (Garmon Dec!. 77:25-78:3,
79:25-80:2.) In the meeting, Garmon again complained that he had been demoted because he had
requested medical leave. (Rostmmirad Dep. 32:4-5.) Rostmmirad stated that Garmon's request for
medical leave had nothing to do with his demotion, he was demoted because he left work early, did
not give his associate a break, and did not answer or respond to phone calls, and because this had
occmTed on prior occasions as well. (Rostarmirad Dep. 32:4-14.)
Later that day, Sheed advised Garmon by phone that he was being transferred to the Glencoe
Road Store ("Store 21 0"), which was closer to where Garmon lived. (Garmon Dep. 83:5-12, 84:6-8;
Garmon Aff.

~

68.) Sheed told Gatmon that he would work in the position of assistant manager at

the pay scale he was receiving prior to his medical leave, he would be reviewed again in ninety days,
and if his performance and review were good, he would be restored to a store manager position when
one was available. (Sheed Dep. 53:20-54: I; Gannon Dep. 81 :8-22; Garmon Aff. ~ 68; Garmon Aff.
Ex. Z.) Garmon testified that he did not know the store manager of Store 21 0 and did not
specifically request the transfer to Store 210, but also did not express any concerns being transferred
Page 22 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

to Store 210. (Gatmon Dep. 83:10-84:12.) Rostarmirad stated that Sheed transfened Gatmon to
Store 21 0 in response to a request by Gatmon that he work on the other side of town, closer to his
home. (Rostannirad Dep. 29:3-9.)
On September 8, 2011, Javier Riega ("Riega") Plaid's area manager for the area covering
Store 210, contacted Gatmon to anange a meeting the following day at Store 210. (Garmon Aff.

'II

69.) Garmon met with Riega and temporaty store manager Femando Ton·es ("Torres") to discuss
Gatmon's position at Store 210. (Garmon Aff. 'i[70.) The regulat· store manager of Store 210,
Michael Hale ("Hale"), was then out on his own nine-week medical leave to recover from a heatt
attack. (Gatmon Dep. 85:9-17, 87:9-15.) Garmon informed Riega and Tones that Sheed wanted
him to work as an assistant manager for ninety days, receive a review, and be promoted back to a
store manager position if appropriate. (Gatmon Aff. 'i[70.) Garmon was concerned that Store 210
seemed to already have an assistant manager in Chris Work ("Work"). (Garmon Aff. 'i[71.)
Gatmon slatted working at Store 210 on Monday, September 12,2011. (Gatmon Dep. 85:45; Garmon Aff. 'i[71.) Hale returned from his medical leave on September 26,2011, and, at that
time, asked Garmon what hours he would prefer to work, planning to give Garmon his preference
as assistant manager. (Hale Dep. 12:9-16; 31 :22-32:2.) Hale remembers Garmon indicating that he
wanted to work only Saturdays and Sundays. (Hale Dep. 32: 1-5.) Hale infmmed Riega of Gatmon' s
request and accommodated him by scheduling him to work only on weekends at Riega's direction.
(Hale Dep. 32:1-5; 33:16-24; 34:3-5.) This is the only reason Hale scheduled Garmon to work two
days a week on the weekends. (Hale Dep. 69:3-9.)
Garmon stated in his affidavit that he told Hale he wanted to work full-time with two
consecutive days off each week, and that he was generally scheduled to work weekends and a couple
Page 23 - OPINION AND ORDER

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that
of short shifts during the week. (Gmmon Aff. ~ 79.) At some point, Gmmon also advised Hale
.
he was not able to work the graveyard shift because of his need for a consistent sleep schedule
Garmon
(Garmon Dep. 95:23-4; 140:5-9.) Hale responded "Okay" and did not thereafter schedule
rd
to work the graveyard shift. (Garmon Dep. 95:25-96:3.) In fact, Garmon never worked a graveya
shift for Plaid. (Gatmon Dep. 91 :3-5.)
In a counseling document dated October 3, 2011, Riega complained that Gmmon had not
.
completed a cigarette count on the weekend, a task assigned to Store 210's assistant manager
and
(Gatmon Dec!. Ex. BB.) Garmon indicated on the document that he had completed the count
ed
that the video would support this claim. (Garmon Dec!. Ex. BB.) Subsequently, Riega confilm
Garmon
that Gmmon had, in fact, completed the cigarette count and both Riega and Hale advised
that the counseling document would be destroyed. (Garmon Dep. 102:11-21.)
On January 1, 2012, Garmon and Hale discussed a counseling document in which Hale
to assist
complained that while Garmon was talking to a friend at the end of the counter, he failed
advised
a customer in a "manly manner". (Garmon Dep. 97:20-98: 17; Sherman Dec!. Ex.13 .) Hale
n Dec!.
Garmon that he was not to have friends or relatives hanging around excessively. (She1ma
was a
Ex. 13.) Garmon signed the document but noted that the individual he was talking to
the
customer. (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 13.) Hale subsequently stated that he made a mistake in using
term "manly". (Hale Dep. 58:1-5.)
During his tenure at Store 210, Garmon frequently complained to Hale that he did not have
Hale
coverage and was not able to take a break. (Garmon Dep. 106:21-107:4.) Both Reiga and
and
advised Garmon that, under those circumstances, he could take his break by locking the door
nt to
using the company-produced sign. (Garmon Dep. 107:5-11.) Gmmon made the same complai
Page 24 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

Anderson who reviewed the scheduling and asked Hale to overlap times to allow Garmon to take
a break. (Anderson Dep. 37:10-17, 38:15-23.) Before the break schedule was revised to provide
Garmon with break coverage, Garmon did use the sign to close the store while he took his break.
(Garmon Dep. 107:12-19.) Garmon also expressed a desire to work full-time and when he asked
Hale why he was not getting full-time hours, Hale indicated that he already had an assistant manager
in Work. (Gam10n Aff. ~ 95.) Finally, Garmon complained to Hale that the ninety-day review had
not yet occurred and asked when it was going to happen. (Garmon Dep. 103:20-25.) Hale
responded that they, meaning upper management, did not know anything about a ninety-day review.
(Garmon Dep. 104:1-11.) Garmon then attempted to contact Sheed about the review. (Garmon
Dep. 104:12-16.) Sheed did not respond to Garmon's page. (Garmon Dep. 104:12-16.)
In early January 2012, Garmon sent four emails to Plaid management complaining about the
mistaken cigarette count documentation, the lack of a ninety-day review, and the lack of coverage
for breaks, and informing Plaid that he had forwarded a complaint to Oregon's Bureau of Labor and
Industy ("BOLl"). (Garmon Aff.

~

103.) In response, Anderson ananged a January 12, 2012,

meeting, in which she assured Garmon that he would be reviewed the following week. (Garmon
Dep. 115:2-5.)

During this meeting, Garmon advised Anderson that he was trying to start a

business-writing software business, he was yet not generating any revenue from the business, and
he was not planning on quitting his employment with Plaid. (Gmmon Dep. 116:1-1 0.) Anderson
asked Garmon what hours he wanted to work. (AndersonDep. 87:25-88:5.) Garmon indicated that
full-time would be okay but that the hours he was cutTently working were fine as well. (Anderson
Dep. 87:25-88:2.) Garmon also again complained that he was regularly unable to take his first break
and that Hale had moved his starting time from 6:00a.m. to 5:00a.m. in what Garmon thought was
Page 25 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

a retaliatory response to his BOLl complaint. (Garmon Dep. 112:7-10: Garmon Aff.,; 105.) Despite
assurances that the schedules would be changed to provide overlap, and the subsequent rescheduling
of the graveyard shift to ensure that Garmon would have break coverage, Garmon remembered that
was still unable to take a break due to scheduling issues at least once more. (Garmon Dep. 112:1121; 113:10-114:9.)
Riega immediately adjusted Garmon's starting back to 6:00a.m. in response to Garmon's
complaint. (Gmmon Aff. ,; 106.) However, Gmmon felt that Riega was ve1y sh01t with him, his
manner was demeaning, and his tone very harsh. (Gmmon Aff. ,; 106.) Garmon told Riega that he
thought he was being unfairly scrutinized and that his work environment was becoming hostile.
(Garmon Aff. ,; 106.) Additionally, shortly after the meeting on January 12, 2012, Hale asked
Garmon, "Why don't you just quit?" (Garmon Dep. 118:2-5.) Gmmon admits that Hale never said
he wanted Gmmon to quit because he had taken medical leave. (Gmmon Dep. 125:9-12.)
On January 22, 2012, Gmmon anived at work not feeling well and vomiting. (Gmmon Aff.
,; 108.) Garmon called Hale to rep01t his condition and was told to keep working. (Garmon Aff.,;
108.) The associate working the graveyard shift at Store 210 called Work, who promptly anived at ·
the store to relieve Gmmon. (Garmon Aff.,; 108.)
Hale reviewed Ga1mon's performance as an assistant manager in a written evaluation dated
Janumy23, 2012. (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 14.) Gmmonrec eivedscore s of"3" (satisfactory), "4" (good),
or "5" (excellent), on all general areas except dependability, which indicates an employee's ability
to "complete tasks with minimum supervision" and "help meet scheduling requirements of the
store," for which he received a "2". (Sherman Decl. Ex. 14.) Hale told Garmon that he received
a low score in this area because he was not available to work any shifts. (Garmon Dep. 122:20-25).
Page 26 - OPINION AND ORDER

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Assistant managers were ordinarily expected to work full-time hours - four or five days a week
generally. (Nelson Dep. 117:7-13.) Garmon disagreed he was not able to work the expected shifts,
indicated he thought he had a lot of availability, and specifically asked for additional shifts.
(Garmon Dep. 123:1-7.) Hale subsequently complied with Garmon's request for more shifts and
increased Gatmon's shifts to three or four a week. (Gatmon Dep. 123: 11-16.)
Hale did not rate Garmon in sixteen of the twenty-five areas related to assistant manager
responsibilities, indicating that these areas were not applicable to Garmon. (Shetman Dec!. Ex. 14
at 2-3.) Garmon was not performing assistant manager duties, in part, because Hale did not assign
him those duties. (Hale Dep. 38:6-1 0.) Hale did let Gatmon order supplies once but then took that
task away from him when Garmon ordered too much of some items and the wrong items. (Hale Dep.
38:11-15, 40:8-15.) Hale indicated that Garmon"[d]oes palm close & cash on weekends, hattdles
money and coins accurately, counts cigarettes on weekends." (Sherman Dec!. Ex. 14 at 3.) In
discussing areas in which Garmon needed improvement, Hale wrote "working other shifts when
needed, not working on store time on personal computer, must stock more on overlap and during
working hours, keep an eye on outdated products, pull & write up for return." (Shermatt Dec!. Ex.
14 at 3.) After correcting a calculation error, Garmon received an overall rating of"3.58". (Sherman
Dec!. Ex. 14 at 3.)
Sheed detetmined that Gatmon's perfotmance was not good enough to merit a promotion to
store manager. (Sheed Dep. 54: 19-24.) This decision was based primarily on the rating of a "2" for
dependability and the fact that Garmon was not performing all of the duties of an assistant manager
because he was not working all of the shifts required of an assistant manager due to other
obligations. (Sheed Dep. 65:4-17.) Sheed was also aware of complaints from Riega about Garmon's
Page 27 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

performance at Store 210. (Sheed Dep. 58:6-13.) Riega described Gannon as "lazy". (Sheed Dep.
58:14-15.) He told Sheed that Garmon asked for shifts but then either called in sick, indicating that
he was not able to work because of appointments or just did not show up. (Sheed Dep. 58: 14-21.)
Hale eventually promoted another employee to assistant manager, replacing Garmon due to
Gatmon's refusal to work as scheduled. (Hale Dep. 27:25-28:2.)
On Februmy 6, 2012, Hale prepared counseling documents related to a shrinkage issue for
Garmon and at least four other employees. (Gmmon Dep. 130:20-131:1 0.) Gmmon complained to
Anderson by email on Februmy 17, 2012, that he was the first to receive the document in front of
all the other associates. (Gmmon Dep. 130:7-24). No other employee complained about receiving
the counseling document. (Garmon Dep. 131:11-132:7.)
On Februaty 19, 2012, Hale mentioned to Garmon as he was leaving Store 210 that if the
cigarette count comes up short, we "will have a problem young lady." (Gatmon Aff. ~ 116.) Shortly
after that, Gatmon began suffering from anxiety as a result of the way he was being treated at work.
(Garmon Aff. ~ 117.) On February 22,2012, Garmon called Hale to let him know he was sick and
that Brenda Olsen would cover his shift. (Garmon Aff. ~ 117.) The next day, Garmon again called
Hale and informed him he was having stomach cramps and was under a lost of stress. (Garmon Aff.
~

118.)
In response to receiving additional complaints from Gatmon, Anderson scheduled another

meeting for February 24,2012. (GarmonDep. 132:8-133:8.) On the evening ofFebruaty23 , 2012,
Garmon informed Anderson by email that he had been suffering from a cold and would not be able
to attend the meeting scheduled the following day. (Garmon Dep. 133:21 "133 :7.) The short meeting
eventually occurred on Februaty 29, 2012, in the back room of Store 210 with Garmon, Anderson,
Page 28 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

Sheed, Rostarmirad, Hale, and Riega all in attendance. (Gam10n Dep. 136: 17-137:2; Rostarmirad
Dep. 38: 12-24.) The primary reason for the meeting was to discuss Garmon's inability to work after
9:00p.m. due to his sleep apnea. (Rostarmirad Dep. 39:14-19.) Gannon indicated that he had
worked out the issue with Hale. (Rostarmirad Dep. 39:14-19, 40:13-18.)
Garmon was scheduled to work the swing shift at Store 210 on March 7, 2012. (Gatmon
Dep. 141 :16-21.) Garmon did not show up for work that day and did not give Hale advance notice
that he would not be available to work at all that day due to a medical appointment. (Garmon Dep.
141:6-9.)
The next day, Garmon appeared at Store 210 to advise Hale that he "would not be able to
continue working for the company under hostile work environment conditions." (Garmon Dep.
143:23-144: 1.) Garmon refused to give Hale two-weeks notice, stating that he had enough and that
the meeting was what had pushed him over the edge. (Hale Dep. 78:13-19.) Gatmon explained at
his deposition that the "hostile work conditions" consisted of harassment and retaliation. (Garmon
Dep. 144:9-15 .) He stated that other Plaid employees gave him "attitude" and were "verbally short"
withhim, specificallyWork. (GatmonD ep.l44:16- 18, 146:4-6, 147:9-11.) Workwoul dstatethat
he thought he should be assistant manager, rather than Garmon, and speak to Garmon in an
undermining demeanor. (Garmon Dep. 144:22-145:4.) Gatmon does not remember complaining
about his coworkers' attitude to anyone, including Anderson, Sheed, or Rostarmirad. (Garmon Dep.
146:8-20.) He also does not remember telling anyone at Store 210, other than Hale, that he had
taken medical leave. (Garmon Dep. 147:18-148:2.)
Legal Standard

Summary judgment is appropriate where the "movant shows that there is no genuine dispute
Page 29 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}·

as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." FED. R. CIV. P.
56(a) (2013). Summaty judgment is not proper if material factual issues exist for trial. Warren v.
City of Carlsbad, 58 F.3d 439,441 (9th Cir. 1995).
The moving party has the burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of material
fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). If the moving patiy shows the absence of
a genuine issue ofmaterial fact, the nonmovingpa tiy must go beyond the pleadings and identify facts
which show a genuine issue for trial. !d. at 324. A nonmoving party cannot defeat summaty
judgment by relying on the allegations in the complaint, or with unsupported conjecture or
conclusory statements. Hernandez v. Space!abs Medical, Inc., 343 F.3d 1107, 1112 (9th Cir. 2003).
Thus, summary judgment should be entered against "a patiy who fails to make a showing sufficient
to establish the existence of an element essential to that patiy's case, attd on which that party will
bem· the burden of proof at trial." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322.
The couti must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving patiy. Bell
v. Cameron Meadows Land Co., 669 F.2d 1278, 1284 (9th Cir. 1982). All reasonable doubt as to
the existence of a genuine issue of fact should be resolved against the moving party. Hector v.
Wiens, 533 F.2d 429, 432 (9th Cir. 1976). Where different ultimate inferences may be drawn,
summaty judgment is inappropriate. Sankovich v. Life Ins. Co. ofNorth America, 638 F.2d 136, 140
(9th Cir. 1981 ).
However, deference to the nonmoving party has limits. A patiy asserting that a fact cannot
be true or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion with admissible evidence. FED. R. CIV.
P. 56(c) (2013). The "mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in suppoti of the [patiy's] position
[is] insufficient." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252 (1986). Therefore, where "the
Page 30 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there
is no genuine issue for trial." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574,
587 (1986) (internal quotations marks omitted).

Discussion
I. First Claim for Relief- Violation of Federal Act
In his First Claim for Relief, Garmon alleges that Plaid violated the Federal Act by subjecting
him to adverse employment actions in response to Garmon's applying for and taking medical leave
protected by the Federal Act. Garmon specifically alleges that the adverse employment actions
include "demoting Plaintiff, reducing his salaty, reducing his hours, reassigning him to a different
work location, disciplining him ... , and failing to restore him to his store manager position."
(Campi.~ 57.)

In his memorandum in opposition to Plaid's motion for summaty judgment, Gatmon

relied on these actions, as well as Plaid's failure to reinstate him "to the position he had when his
leave commenced, delaying his retum to work by a week." (Pl.'s Mem. in Opp'n to Def.'s Motion
for Summ. J. at 20.)
The Federal Act allows qualified employees to use a specified amount ofleave for protected
reasons and ensures the employees will return to his or her job, or an equivalent job, upon returning
from protected leave. 29 U.S.C. §§ 2612(a), 2614(a) (2012). An employee who sues his or her
employer for violation these rights' may proceed under three distinct theories. An "interference"
claim arises when an employer interferes with, restrains, or denies an employee the exercise of his
or her rights under the Federal Act. 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(l) (2012). This cause of action includes
situations where an employer takes an adverse employment action against an employee for
requesting or taking protected leave. A "discrimination" claim, on the other hand, arises only when
Page 31 - OPINION AND ORDER

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an employer discharges or otherwise discriminates against an employee who opposes a practice made
unlawful by the Federal Act. 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(2) (2012). Finally, a retaliation claim exists when
an employer retaliates against an employee for initiating or participating in proceedings or inquiries
under the Federal Act. 29 U.S.C. § 2615(b) (2012). Based on the allegations of the complaint and
Garmon's arguments in response to Plaid's motion for summmy judgment, it is clear that Garmon
is assetiing an interference claim.
To prove a prima facie case of interference under the Federal Act, Gatmon must establish
he took protected leave, was subjected to an adverse employment action, and a causal relationship
between the taking of protected leave and the adverse employment action. Price v. Multnomah

County, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1290, 1296 (D. Or. 2001). Stated more succinctly, a plaintiff must show
that his taking of!eave protected under the Federal Act was a negative factor in the decision to take
an adverse employment action. Bachelder v. America West Airlines, Inc., 259 F.3d 1112, 1125 (9th
Cir. 2001). Where, as here, plaintiffs themy of liability is based on interference, the traditional

McDonnell-Douglas burden-shifting analysis does not apply. Bachelder, 259 F.3d at 1125
It is undisputed that Garmon applied for and took protected leave. Accordingly, the first

element of the prima facie case has been met. An employment action is deemed adverse when the
action is reasonably likely to deter employees from engaging in protected activity. Id. at 1124.
Among the employment actions that may constitute an adverse employment action under federal law
depending on the circumstances are termination, dissemination of an unfavorable employment
reference, issuance of an undeserved negative performance review, refusal to consider for promotion,
exclusion from meetings, seminars and positions providing eligibility for sal my increases, denial of
secretarial support, a more burdensome work schedule, and a lateral transfer. Ray v. Henderson, 217
Page 32 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

2000).
F.3d 1234, 1241 (9th Cir. 2000); Brooks v. City ofSan Mateo, 229 F.3d 917, 928 (9th Cir.
he was
However, under the context of the Federal Act, a plaintiff must additionally establish that
803 F.
economically prejudiced as a result of the employer's actions. Benz v. West Linn Paper Co.,
ecrease
Supp. 2d 1231, 1249-50 (D. Or. 2011). Plaid'sa ctionind emoting Garmon, withare sultingd
in
in salary, reducing his hours, and failing to restore him to his store manager position all resulted
economic prejudice to Gatmon and are actionable adverse employment actions.

However,

in
reassigning Gatmon to different locations and disciplining him, without a resulting decrease
salary, are not.
Nelson demoted Garmon to assistant manager, with a conesponding reduction in pay, on
shift
August 10, 2011. Nelson then transfened Garmon to Store 19, where he worked one sh01t
medical
before taking medical leave. Sheed transfen·ed Gatmon to Store 210 upon his return from
leave.

Gatmon 's pay after both transfers was at the reduced rate established by Nelson in

n
conjunction with the demotion from store manager to assistant manager. Accordingly, any reductio
in pay was related solely to the demotion, not the transfers.
Judge Stewatt recently held that a reassignment to a position characterized by the plaintiff
as less desirable with fewer privileges, prerequisites, or status than the plaintif fs previous position
did not support a claim under the Federal Act where the plaintiff worked the same shift and

,

had no

plaintiff
change in his pay or benefits. Benz, 803 F. Supp. 2d at 1250. Judge Stewatt noted that the
by the
failed to present evidence to show how he was prejudiced, economically or otherwise,
by the
reassignments, and rejected the plaintiffs' subjective beliefs that he was prejudiced
Garmon
reassignments or that the new positions were less desirable that his original job. Id. Here,
e than
does not assert that the assistant manager positions at Store 19 or Store 210 were less desirabl
Page 33 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

an assistant manager position at Store 129. The evidence clearly establishes that Gatmon was paid
the same wage at both stores. Accordingly, the court find that Garmon's transfers to the Store 19
and Store 210 do not constitute an adverse employment action.
Gam10n has also failed to establish that he suffered any economic prejudice from disciplinary
actions taken against him. To the extent the disciplinary actions resulted in Garmon's demotion and
resulting decrease in pay, they are properly considered in conjunction with the demotion. Similarly,
to the extent the disciplinaty actions contributed to the hostile environment which allegedly resulted
in Garmon's constructive discharge, they will be considered in support of Garmon's wrongful
discharge claim. However, the disciplinary actions, standing alone, did not result in any economic
prejudice to Garmon and are not actionable as an independent basis for Garmon's claim under the
Federal Act.
In light of the fact that Garmon took leave protected under the Federal Act, and that the court
has dete1mined Gatmon' s demotion, resulting loss in pay, subsequent reductions in hours, and denial
of a promotion, are adverse employment actions resulting in an economic deprivation to Garmon,
the only question remaining is whether a causal relationship exists between Garmon's requesting and
taking of medical leave and these actionable adverse employment actions.
Garmon first mentioned to Nelson that he would need to take extended medical leave for
tonsil surge1y on July 20, 2011. Prior to that, Nelson had documented his dissatisfaction with,
among other things, Gatmon's refusal to be in Store 129 during his required shift-6:00a.m . to at
least 2:00p.m. initially and then 3:00p.m. from at least July2009 -or advise Nelson that he would
not be in Store 129 during those hours. On December 29,2010, Nelson authored a counseling f01m,
identified as a "Final Written Consultation" indicating that Garmon was not in Store 129 at 12:15
Page 34 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

p.m. on 12/27/10 or at 11:00 a.m. on 12/28/10, noting that Gatmon, as store manager, needed to be
in Store 129 from 6:00a.m. to 3:00p.m., and directing Garmon to notify his supervisor anytime he
would not be in Store 129 during those hours. Less than three weeks after requesting protected
leave, Garmon left Store 129 at 2:00p.m., did not advise Burnham he would not be returning, did
not advise Nelson he was leaving Store 129 early, and did not answer, or respond, to phone calls
from Burnham until that evening. Nelson and Sheed decided to demote Garmon to assistant
manager, with a corresponding reduction in pay, as a result of Garmon's actions.
Garmon has failed to offer any direct evidence that his demotion and reduction in pay were
related to his request for protected leave. Instead, Garmon relies on Nelson's knowledge that he
requested protected leave and the temporal proximity between the request for leave and the
demotion. In some cases, an inference of causation may be inferred solely from the proximity in
time between the request for leave and the adverse employment action. Liu v. Amway Corp., 347
F.3d 1125, 1137 (9th Cir. 2003). However, "an employer is not required to cease pursuing a
disciplinary course of action against an employee that began before that employee took [Federal
Act]-related leave, simply because that employee took leave." Swan v. Bank ofAmerica, 360 Fed.
Appx. 903, 906 (9th Cir. 2009).
Nelson's documentation, in Gatmon's perfmmance reviews and counseling documents, the
last of which was a "Final Written Consultation" advising Garmon that "failure to improve could
result in disciplinary action," clearly establishes that Plaid had initiated a disciplinary course of
action before Garmon requested medical leave, negating the inference of causal relationship between
the protected leave and the demotion. The existence of the documented concerns supports a finding
that the demotion was the result of Garmon's performance issues, and that his request for protected ·
Page 35 -OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

leave was not a negative factor in the decision to demote him to assistant manager or reduce his pay
accordingly. Additionally, the evidence establishes that Nelson gave Gatmon a positive review and
a pay raise after he requested protected leave but before he was demoted. This favorable treatment
between Garmon's request for medical leave and his demotion contradicts Garmon's claim that
Nelson intentionally retaliated against Gmmon. See Coghlan v. American Seafoods Co. LLC., 413
F. 3d 1090, 1096-97 (9th Cir. 2005)(holding, in Title VII context, that strong inference of no
discriminatmy action exists where same individual is responsible for both favorable treatment of
employee and subsequent adverse action). The court finds that Gmmon is unable to create a genuine
issue of fact that there was a causal relationship between his request for medical leave and demotion
to assistant manager with a resulting decrease in pay.
Garmon alleges that while working at Store 210, Hale denied him the full-time hours
generally associated with an assistant manager position. Plaid contends that Garmon was not
working full-time hours either because he requested shorter hours or failed to work his scheduled
hours. Gmmon stmied working at Store 210 on September 12,2011, nearly a week after returning
from his protected leave. When Hale returned from his own protected leave approximately two
weeks later, he scheduled Garmon to work only on weekends.
The proximity between Gmmon' s return from protected leave and the adverse employment
action of scheduling reduced hours - only two weeks - is sufficient to infer a causal relationship.
Plaid's offered justification for the reduced hours, that Garmon wanted to work minimal hours, is
contradicted by Garmon's testimony that he told Hale he wanted to work full-time with two
consecutive days off each week, and his subsequent requests to both Hale and Anderson that he be
schedule to work full-time. Based on the temporal proximity of Garmon's protected leave and his
Page 36 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

reduced hours, and the existence of a genuine issue of material fact with regard to whether the
reduced hours were scheduled at the request of Garmon, the couti finds that Garmon has raised a
triable issue with regard to whether his taking protected leave was a negative factor in Hale's
decision to schedule Garmon to work reduced hours. Accordingly, Gatmon has stated a viable claim
under the Federal Act based on his reduced hours while working at Store 210.
Finally, Gmmon assetis that he was not returned to his former position as retaliation for his
taking leave under the Federal Act. It is not entirely clear whether Garmon is arguing that he was
not retumed to his former position when he retumed from leave or that he was not retumed to his
store manager position after working ninety days at Store 2 I 0.
The record establishes that when Garmon left on his protected leave, he was working as an
assistant manager at the assistant manager pay scale. There is no dispute that when Gmmon retumed
to work at Store 210, it was in the position of assistant manager at the same pay scale as before he
left on medical leave. To the extent Gatmon is arguing that he was not given the hours or
responsibilities generally assigned to att assistant manager, those arguments are either properly
addressed above (reduced hours) or below (responsibilities). The comi finds when he returned from
his protected leave, Garmon was placed in the same position and pay he enjoyed prior to his taking
protected leave.
Finally, Gatmon argues that his taking protected leave was a negative factor in Plaid's refusal
to restore him to a store manager position after ninety days as an assistant manager. Sheed decided
not to promote Garmon in late January 2012, more than four months after Garmon's protected leave.
Viewing these two acts alone, the temporal proximity is not sufficient to justify the inference of a
causal relationship from timing alone. See Swan, 360 Fed. Appx. at 906 ("BOA terminated Swan
Page 37- OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

four months after her return from leave, which is too remote in time to suppott a finding of causation
based solely on temporal proximity.") However, Sheed based his decision on the performance
review authored by Hale which, in Sheed' s opinion, indicated that Gatmon was not perfotming all
of the duties of an assistant manager because he was not working all of the shifts required of an
assistant manager. 5 Sheed also relied on the score of"2", or "needs improvement" in the area of
dependability, which Hale gave because Garmon was not available to work shifts.

Garmon

disagreed with this assessment, indicating that he had a lot of availability and, again, specifically
requesting additional shifts.
The court has found a genuine issue of material fact exists with regard to whether Garmon's
protected leave was a negative factor in Hale's scheduling Gatmon for reduced hours. To the extent
Sheed's decision not to promote Gatmon relied on the reduced hours and resulting inability to
perform all of the duties required of an assistant manager, the same genuine issue of material fact
exists with regard to Plaid's failure to restore Gatmon to his store manager position. Garmon has
presented evidence he requested and complained about reduced hours throughout his tenure at Store
210, thereby creating the temporal proximity required to infer the existence of a causal relationship.
Accordingly, Gatmon has offered evidence requiring consideration by a trier offact with regard to
factual issue of whether Garmon's protected leave was a negative factor in Plaid's failure to restore
Garmon to his store manager position.
Plaid is entitled to summary judgment on Garmon's claims under the Federal Act with regard
to his demotion and resulting reduction in pay, transfers to other Plaid stores, disciplinaty actions,
There is no evidence that any disciplinaty action initiated against Garmon while he was
working at Store 210 had any effect on Sheed's decision not to promote Garmon.
5

Page 38 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

Garmon has, however, presented
and assignment when he retum ed from his protected leave.
evidence which establishes temporal proximity between his taking

protected leave and Hale' s failure

to schedule Garmon for full-time hours and creates a genuine issue

of material fact on the question

quently, Garmon has offered facts
of whether Garmon requested less that full-time hours. Conse
suppmiing a prima j(1cie interference claim based on Hale' s sched
and Sheed 's refusal to restore Garmon to his store manager positi

uling Garmon for reduced hours,

on, which was based primarily on

ant manager duties. Accordingly,
Garm on's reduced hours and resulting failure to perform assist
these issues must be presented to an ultimate trier of fact.
II. Second Claim for Relie f - The Oregon Act
Garmon asserts a claim for relief under the Oregon Act based on

the same retaliatory actions

Oregon Couti of Appeals and this
alleged in support of his claim under the Federal Act. Both the
court have held an employer may not retaliate against an emplo

yee who takes leave protected under

perative, Inc., No. 3:1 0-CV -1337the Oregon Act. Rogers, v. Oregon Trail Elec. Consumers Co-O
Providence Health Sys. ofOr., 195
AC, 2012 WL 1635127, at *20 (D. Or. May 8, 2012); Yeager v.
that, when
Or. App. 134, 13 9 (2004). The Oregon Act specifically provides

ever possible, provisions

tent with similar provisions of
of the Oregon Act are to be construed in a manner that is consis
Federal Act.

d to the claims
OR. REV. STAT.§ 659A.186(2). Accordingly, the analysis applie

s asserted under the Oregon Act.
brought under the Federal Act apply equally to Gann on's claim
n Act based on the reduction of his
Garmon has asserted a viable claim for relief under the Orego
hours while working at Store 210 and the decision not to promo
was based on Gann on's failure to work the hours required of an

te Garmon to store manager, which

assistant manager and corresponding

er.
inability to petfor m all of the duties required of an assistant manag
Page 39- OPINION AND ORDE R

{SIB}

III. Third Claim for Relief- Whistleblower Statute
In his Third Claim for Relief, Garmon alleges that Plaid retaliated against him in response
to his reporting a violation of a state or federal law. In suppott of this claim, Garmon relies on his
repotts to Plaid management of alleged retaliatoty conduct relating to Garmon's requesting and
taking protected leave, which occurred in August and September, 2011, January, 2012, and possibly
February 2012. Plaid moves for summmy judgment on this claim, arguing that Gatmon's demotion
occutTed before he repotted the retaliatoty conduct, and that Gatmon' s complaints with regard to
missed breaks and his late performance review were promptly addressed by management.
The Whistleblower Statute makes it unlawful for a private employer to "discriminate or
retaliate against an employee . . . for the reason that the employee has in good faith reported
infotmation that the employee believes is evidence of a violation of a state or federal law, mle, or
regulation." OR. REV. STAT. 659 A.199 (20 11 ). To establish a prima fttcie case of retaliation under
the Whistleblower Statute, a plaintiff must prove virtually the same three elements required under
the Federal Act: 1) he engaged in a protected activity; 2) he suffered an adverse employment action;
and 3) a causal link between the protected activity and adverse action. While Garmon argues to the
contrary, it is clear that this court has consistently held that a burden-shifting analysis applies to
actions for violation of the Whistleblower Statute. Gillis v. Wal-1vfart Stores Inc., No. 03:11-cv01520-HZ, 2013 WL 1623925, at *13 (D. Or. April15, 2013)("Because recent decisions within this
district have repeatedly applied the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting analysis to whistleblowing
claims underORS 659A.l99 and 659A.230 and because Gillis points to no binding authority stating
otherwise, I conclude that the lvfcDonnell Douglas burden-shifting applies.")(citing Larmanger v:

Kaiser Found. Health Plan, 895 F. Supp. 2d 1033, 1049 (2012); Neighorn v. Quest Health Care,
Page 40 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

Tigard, Civil No.
870 F. Supp. 2d 1069, 1102 (D. Or. 2012); Merrill v. MIT.C .H Charter School
the plainti ff is able
10-219-HA, 2011 WL 1457461, at *7 (D. Or. April4 , 2011)). Accordingly, if
a non-retaliatory
to establish a prima facie case, the employer is given an opportunity to asse1t
justification for the adverse action, which the plaintif f may then rebut by showin

g that the employer

Betaseed, Inc., No.
would not have taken the adverse action absent a retaliatory motive. Peters v.
6:11-CV-06308-AA, 2012 WL 5503617, at *3 (D. Or. Nov. 9, 2012)
Plaid appears to concede that Garmon engaged in protected activity by reportin

g that he was

actions relied on
demoted in retaliation for requesting and taking medical leave. The employment
by Garmon in suppm t of his Whistleblower Statute claim- a demotion with a

resulting decrease in

to store manager as
salmy, lateral transfers with a denial of benefits, and a failure to promote
ns of a state or
promis ed- all actions likely to deter an employee from repmtin g perceived violatio
e of the
federal law and constitute adverse employments actions under Ray in the absenc

economic

is whether Garmo n
prejudice requirement unique to claims under the Federal Act. The question then
employment
has established a causal link between his whistleblowing activity and the adverse
actions.
made the
The evidence clearly establishes that on August 10, 20 II, Nelson and Sheed
store. Gmmo n first
decision to demote Ganno n to assistant manager and transfer him to another
repmted conduct he believed to be a violation of state or federal law the next day,

when he contacted

for medical leave.
Girard to complain that he had been demoted in retaliation for applying
Consequently, neither the demotion or the transfer to Store 19 are adverse employ
in response to Garmo n's first repmt of unlawful conduct, which occmTed a day

ment actions taken

later. The causal link

e in benefits, as well
does exist with regard to Garmo n's transfer to Store 210 and resulting decreas
Page 41 - OPINION AND ORDE R

{SIB}

as Sheed 's decision not to promote Garmon because of his failure

to work assistant manager hours

ished a prima facie case under
or perform assistant manager duties. Therefore, Garmon has establ
n-shifting analysis.
the Whistleblower Statute and the court must move to the burde
Plaid asserts that it transferred Garmon from Store 19 to Store 210
representation that he did not get along with Lorenz, the store mana

in response to Gmm on's

ger of Store 19, and his request

s that he complained about his
to be transfened to a store closer to his residence. Garmon admit
rson, but felt that he would work
working relationship with Lorenz to Nelson, Sheed, and Ande
states that he never specifically
things out with her when he returned from medical leave. He
not express any concems about the
requested the transfer for any reason but also admits that he did
er does
transfer. The fact that Garmon did not specifically request a transf

not adequately rebut the

ssed a desire to work closer to
evidence that he complained about working with Lorenz or expre
home and that Plaid transfened him to Store 210 to accommoda

te, rather than punish, him. Plaid 's

210 defeats Garmon's claim under
non-retaliatory reason for transfening Gatmon from Store 19 to
the Whistleblower Statute with regard to this transfer.
Once Garmon started working at Store 210, he was scheduled for

patt-time rather than full-.

assistant manager duties. Plaid
time hours and, as a result, was unable to accomplish all of his
his request and that as soon as he
represents that Garmon was scheduled for patt-time hours at
on has presented evidence that he
complained about his hours, his scheduled hours increased. Garm
Hale and at least on two other
requested full-time hours during his initial conversation with
occasions but despite these requests he was scheduled to work weeke

nds with only occasional short

rebutted Plaid 's non-r
shifts during the week. The court finds that Garmon has adequately

etaliatmy

on to not promote Gatmon to a store
reason for Garmon's pmt-time schedule. Because Sheed's decisi
Page 42 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

manager position was primarily based on Garmon's part-time hours and resulting inability to perform
assistant manager duties, Plaid's non-retaliat01y reason for failing to return Garmon to a store
manager position has also been rebutted.
The court concludes that a reasonable trier of fact could find that Plaid scheduled Gannon
for less than the full-time hours normally given an assistant manager and refused to restore him to
a store manager position in response to his reporting that he was retaliated against for taking medical
leave in violation ofthe Whistleblower Statute. Accordingly, Garmon has supported his claim under
the Whistleblower Statute based on these alleged retaliatory acts and is entitled to proceed on this
claim. Plaid is, however, entitled to summary judgment on Gatmon's Third Claim for Relief with
regard to Gmmon's demotion and lateral transfers.
IV. Fourth Claim for Relief- Wrongful Discharge
Garmon alleges that he was forced to resign his employment with Plaid as a result of hostile
work conditions intentionally created by Plaid to retaliate against Gatmon for taking leave protected
under the Federal Act and the State Act, and for reporting violations of state and federal laws.
Generally, absent a contractual, statut01y or constitutional requirement, an employer may discharge
an employee at any time and for any reason without creating a tortious cause of action. Patton v. J. C.

Penney Co., 301 Or. 117, 120 (1986), abrogated on other grounds by },kGanty v. Staudenraus, 321
Or. 532 (1995). In 1975, the Oregon Supreme Court first recognized the tort ofwrongfu1 discharge
in Nees v. Hocks, 272 Or. 210, 218 (1975), which the court "established to serve as a narrow
exception to the at-will employment doctrine in certain limited circumstances where the comis have
determined that the reasons for the discharge are so contrary to public policy that a remedy is
necessary in order to deter such conduct." Draper v. Astoria School Dist. No. JC, 995 F. Supp.
Page 43 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

1122, 1129 (D. Or. 1998), abrogated on other grounds by Rabkin v. Oregon Health Sciences
University, 350 F.3d 967 (9th Cir. 2003). The Oregon comis continue to recognize that the tort of
wrongful discharge is a narrow exception to the general rule of at-will employment. Bctbick v.
Oregon Arena Corp., 160 Or. App. 140, 143 (1999), rev'd on other grounds, Bctbick v. Oregon
Arena Crop., 333 Or. 401,407 (2002).
"The elements of a wrongful discharge claim are simple: there must be a discharge, and that
discharge must be 'wrongful."' Mousflichetti v. Oregon, 319 Or. 319,325 (1994). A discharge is
considered "wrongful" under only two scenarios: (1) when the employee is discharged for fulfilling
an impotiant public or societal obligation, or (2) when the employee is discharged for exercising an
employment-related right of important public interest. Lamson v. Crater Lake Motors, Inc., 346 Or.
628,636 (2009)(citingDelaney v. Taco Time Intern., Inc., 297 Or. 10, 15-16 (1984)). This element
inherently contains a requirement that the plaintiff also establish a causal connection between the
discharge and the exercise of her employment related right. Estes v. Lewis and Clark College, 152
Or. App. 372, 381 (1998)(citing Shockey v. City of Portland, 313 Or. 414, 422-23 (1992)).
"Invoking rights to benefits under [the Federal Ac]t and [State Act] is an employment-related right
that may serve as the basis for a wrongful discharge claim. Lawson v. Walgreen Co., No. CV. 071884-AC, 2009 WL 742680, at *12 (D. Or. March 20, 2009).
The discharge element can be established by providing evidence of either (1) a unilateral
decision by the employer to discharge the employee, or (2) a constructive discharge. Sheets v.
Knight, 308 Or. 220, 227-28 (1989), abrograted on other grounds by McGanty v. Staudenraus, 321
Or. 532, 555-57 (1995). Under Oregon law, a constructive discharge occurs either when an
employee is told to resign or be fired or when an employee resigns as a result of intentionally created
Page 44 - OPINION AND ORDER

{SIB}

unacceptable or intolerable working conditions. Sheets, 308 Or. at 227-8; McGanty, 321 Or. at 55758.
To establish a claim of constructive discharge stemming from unacceptable working
conditions under Oregon law, a plaintiff must prove:
(1) that the employer intentionally created or intentionally maintained specified
working condition(s); (2) those working conditions were so intolerable that a
reasonable person in the employee's position would have resigned because of them;
(3) the employer desired to cause the employee to leave employment as a result of
those working conditions or knew that the employee was certain or substantially
certain, to leave employment as a result of those working conditions; and (4) the
employee did leave the employment as a result of those working conditions.

McGanty, 321 Or. at 556-57. To show constructive discharge, a plaintiff must at least show some
"aggravating factors", such as a "continuous pattern of discriminat01y treatment." Thomas v.
Douglas, 877 F.2d 1428, 1434 (9th Cir 1989) (citations omitted) .. Personal discomf01i is not
enough to sustain an action for constructive discharge. Id. The determination of whether conditions
are "so intolerable and discriminat01y as to justifY a reasonable employee's decision to resign is
normally a factual question left to the trier of fact." Id.
In his deposition, Garmon specifically stated that the intolerable working conditions which
forced him to quit on March 8, 2012, were the "attitude" that he was getting from other associates
at Store 21 0 , particularly from Work, who talked to Garmon in an "undermining demeanor" and
indicated he thought he should be assistant manager rather than Gatmon. He did not describe any
other intolerable conduct that factored into his decision to resign. Garmon did not tell any of the
associates he had taken medical leave; there is no evidence the associates knew of Garmon's medical
leave or his rep01is of violations of federal or state law, and he never complained to Plaid
management about the associates behavior.
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Based on the evidence before the comi, Gannon is

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unable to prove that the work environment created by the associates, which is limited to Work's
undetmining demeanor and other associates' "verbally short" treatment of Gatmon, was so
intolerable that a reasonable person would feel forced to resign. Additionally, in the absence of any
evidence that the associates were aware of Garmon's taking medical leave or reporting violations
of federal or state laws, Garmon has failed to establish a causal relationship between the associates's
poor treatment of him and his exercise of an employment-related right.
Garmon argues in his opposition brief that the numerous disciplinary actions relating his
missing work and his demotion, as well as Hale's subsequent treatment of him while at Store 210,
also contributed to the hostile working conditions. Even assuming that Garmon is entitled to rely
on this conduct as a reason for his quitting, which is not necessarily supp01ted by his deposition
testimony, he has not established a viable claim for wrongful discharge.
First, the demotion and discipline for missing work occurred before Garmon requested
protected leave or reported violations of state and federal law to Plaid management or BOLL
Accordingly, there is no evidence that the conduct was causally related to the exercise of his rights.
Second, while Hale may have scheduled Garmon for less than full-time hours, deprived
Gmmon of coverage for breaks, issued unwarranted discipline, and delayed his performance review,
the evidence establishes that every time Garmon complained to management about Hale's conduct,
the complaints were remedied. When Garmon complained about the counseling document based
on his failure to complete a cigarette count, Riega and Hale advised Garmon that the document
would be destroyed and he would not be disciplined. When Garmon complained to Hale and
Anderson about his hours, he was scheduled to work additional hours. When Garmon complained
to Anderson, Hale, and Reiga about not being able to take breaks, schedules were adjusted and
Page 46 - OPINION AND ORDER

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Garmon was advised that he could place a sign provided by Plaid in the door and close Store 210
while he took his break. The evidence establishes that Garmon did take breaks by closing Store 21 0
and could remember only one time after he complained and schedules were revised that he had to
do so. When Garmon complained about his delayed performance review, he received one ten days
later.

This evidence prevents Garmon from establishing that Plaid intentionally created or

maintained hostile working conditions or that Plaid wanted to cause Garmon to quit by continuing
to subject him to behavior to which he objected.
Finally, the evidence establishes that despite Garmon's complaints, he was generally happy
with his job at Store 210 and did not have any plans to leave at least as late as Janumy 12, 2012. In
a meeting held that date, Gmmon told Anderson that he was not planning to quit and that while he
would like to work full time, he was fine with his current hours as well. In fact, Gmmon stated in
his affidavit that he did not start suffering from anxiety as a result of the way he was being treated
until FebtUaty 19, 2012, after the majority of Garmon's complaints had been resolved. The only
conduct which supports Garmon's claim that his working conditions became unbearable after the
Janumy 12, 2012, meeting is Hale asking Garmon why he did not just quit, his reference to Garman
as "young lady", his asking Garmon to continue to work when he was not feeling well, his writing
Gatmon up, along with four other employees, for shrinkage issues, and his replacing Garmon with
Work as assistant manager; the issuance ofGmmon's performance review and subsequent denial of
his promotion; and Reiga treating Garmon in a short, harsh, and demeaning manner. This conduct
does not contain the aggravating factors necessary to constitute intolerable conduct sufficient to
support a constructive discharge claims. The conduct occun·ed over six-to-seven week period,
consists primarily of ordinaty management decisions and conduct, and does not amount to a
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continuous pattem of discriminatory treatment that would cause a reasonable person to quit. See
Tomeo v. Prada USA Corp., 484 Fed. Appx. 99, 100 (9th Cir. 2012)(court quoted California state

coutt finding that the "demotion of an employee or criticism of his [or her] job performance - even
if alleged to be unfair or outrageous - does not . . . create the intolerable working conditions
necessary to supp01t a claim of constructive discharge.")
Garmon has failed to present evidence that Plaid intentionally created or maintained
intolerable work conditions that would cause a reasonable person to quit. Plaid is entitled to
summary judgment on Garmon's Fomth Claim for Relief for wrongful discharge.
Conclusion

Plaid's motion (#12) for summaty judgment is DENIED with respect to Garmon's claims
under the Federal Act, the State Act, and the Whistleblower Statute based on Plaid's failure to
schedule Gmmon for full-time work and refusal to promote him to store manager because ofhis parttime hours and resulting inability to perform assistant manager tasks, and GRANTED in all other
respects. Plaid's motion to strike, found in it's reply brief, is GRANTED with regard to paragraphs
120 and 121 of Garmon's affidavit but DENIED in all other respects.
DATED this 19'h day ofJuly, 2013.

JbHN V. ACOSTA

Unit

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JStates Magistrate Judge

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