MATHEWS v. UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PHYSICIANS
Filing
54
MEMORANDUM re 33 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PHYSICIANS. Signed by Judge Mark A. Kearney on 4/13/2017. (kly)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
KUZHIKALAYIH MATHEWS
Aka SAMUEL “SAM” MATHEWS
v.
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
PHYSICIANS aka UPP, INC.
: CIVIL ACTION
:
:
:
: NO. 16-1148
:
:
KEARNEY, J.
April 13, 2017
MEMORANDUM
We again review a supervisor’s email previewing a decision to fire a long-time employee
with alleged performance issues before the employer can line up its legitimate business reasons.
When challenged for employment discrimination based on the fired employee’s national origin
or age, the employer must scramble to overcome its supervisor’s email evincing a judgment
before gathering facts. These inconsistent grounds for firing the employee create issues of fact
as to whether the later defined business reasons are pretext for discrimination.
When the
employee adduces a prima facie case of national origin or age discrimination combined with the
supervisor’s preliminary determination documented in perpetuity in an email contrary to its
business reasons, we must allow our jury to evaluate the credibility of the employer’s stated
business reasons.
In the accompanying Order, we deny the employer’s motion for summary
judgment as to the discrimination claims but dismiss hostile work environment claims.
I.
Undisputed Material Facts.1
University of Pittsburgh Physicians (“Physicians”) provides healthcare services through
physician practice groups in various medical specialties.2
In late 2001, Physicians hired
Kuzhikalayih “Sam” Mathews, a Singapore native,3 to work as a financial analyst.4 In 2009, Mr.
Mathews began working under Paula Hutson in the Pediatrics Department.5 Physicians gave Mr.
Mathews positive performance reviews. On July 29, 2014, however, Physicians terminated 61year old Mr. Mathews after putting him on a 45-day performance improvement plan.6
Mr.
Mathews claims Physicians’ alleged deficient performance reasons to fire him are pretext for
national origin and age discrimination and hostile work environment.
A. UPMC restructured its finance groups in 2013.
Physicians is an organization within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
(“UPMC”). Before 2013, UPMC’s financial analysts worked in separate units reporting only to
the units they served.7
In April 2013, UPMC restructured the finance function across its
organizations by consolidating and centralizing it into a single organization serving various
departments.8 UPMC expected to eliminate a number of financial analyst positions, and it
required its financial analysts to reapply and interview for positions.9
The restructuring consolidated the finance groups of Physicians’ Pediatrics Department
and Orthopedic Surgery Department.10 Janet Storer served as the Manager of Finance in this
consolidated group.11 After interviewing Mr. Mathews, Ms. Storer hired Mr. Mathews in April
or May 2013.12 Ms. Storer reported to her supervisor Brian Fritz who had overall responsibility
for all of Physicians’ finances in the clinical department.
B. Mr. Mathews’ difficult working relationship with supervisor Ms. Storer.
Mr. Mathews had a difficult working relationship with his supervisor, Ms. Storer. From
January through May 2014, Ms. Storer swears she had ongoing problems with Mr. Mathews’ job
performance
and his
behavior toward her, claiming he behaved argumentatively,
uncooperatively, and sometimes dishonestly about his job duties.13 Ms. Storer swears Mr.
Mathews “always seemed to have an excuse or explanation, but it always seemed to miss the
2
main point of what I was trying [to] get him to do or not to do.”14 She explains, “[I]t took an
inordinate amount of my time and energy just to try to show him he was missing the point but
also to fend off his anger and vehemence.”15 Ms. Storer described Mr. Mathews’ anger as
“frightening” and “so intense that he would be visibly trembling.”16 Ms. Storer swears she
feared for her safety on one or two occasions.17 Ms. Storer discussed these issues with her
supervisor, Mr. Fritz, on a regular basis.18
Mr. Mathews also identifies issues he had with Ms. Storer. He claims from January
through July 2014, Ms. Storer engaged in conduct which he characterizes as constituting a
hostile work environment.19 Mr. Mathews swears Ms. Storer: (1) denied him information he
needed to do his tasks, including information required to complete a Profit and Loss; (2) created
obstacles to his tasks; (3) prohibited him from communicating with others in the department who
could provide him with necessary information; (4) required him to channel his queries through
her but then chided him for not using his own initiative to find information; (5) “thwarted [him]
in every fashion”; (6) “disparaged every move [he] made”; and (7) “presented [him] with a
hostile demeanor.”20
Mr. Mathews’ working relationship with Ms. Storer included a partially disputed May 9,
2014 incident. In a May 12, 2014 email, Ms. Storer told her boss Mr. Fritz and Mr. Mathews’
former boss Ms. Hutson about a May 9 meeting with Mr. Mathews.21 Ms. Storer said she met
with Mr. Mathews, who was angry and felt he had not been given a chance to learn certain
tasks.22 Ms. Storer told them Mr. Mathews said he had excellent reviews, “mentioned his age,”
mentioned he and his wife were sick, and “screamed” he would file a grievance with human
resources.23 In the email, Ms. Storer explained she felt “somewhat threatened” by one of Mr.
Mathews’ statements claiming Ms. Storer was “persecuting him and that he would like to speak
3
to [her] outside of work.”24 Ms. Storer also explained to Mr. Fritz and Ms. Hutson several
performance-related issues she had with Mr. Mathews.25
Mr. Mathews, however, claims during the meeting he asked Ms. Storer “civilly” if she
could confine her criticism of him to private offices instead of publicly berating him in front of
his coworkers.26
Mr. Mathews swears he never “physically threatened” Ms. Storer.27 With
regard to the age reference, Mr. Mathews told Ms. Storer, “I am a grown man, that I’m 61 years
of age and that you’re treating me like a child.”28 Mr. Mathews asked Ms. Storer if she had
animosity toward Mr. Mathews because of his color.29
C. Mr. Fritz refers to Mr. Mathews as a cancer who needs to be terminated, and
a day later Physicians places him on a performance improvement plan.
Later on May 12, 2014, Ms. Storer emailed Mr. Fritz about the May 9th meeting, Mr.
Fritz emailed Human Resources Director John Kunicky asking for guidance on how to terminate
Mr. Mathews, referring to him as a cancer:
We are having issues with a [sic] employee in the Ortho/Peds pod.
The current (past 6 months specifically) is complicated as the
previous manager (also his current manager Paula Hutson) failed
to manage him and do an appropriate evaluation. Janet who is the
Manager of the department is now dealing with issues. We all
agree he is a cancer to the department and need to terminate [sic]
we need your guidance on how to do so appropriately.30
The following day, Mr. Fritz emailed Ms. Hutson stating Mr. Mathews would undergo a
performance improvement plan (“PIP”).31 Mr. Fritz admonished Ms. Hutson for not earlier
dealing with Mr. Mathews’ apparent issues: “As [Mr. Mathews] is a direct report of yours a lot
of these issues in which Janet is now dealing should have been addressed by you.” 32 He
continued, “We are far beyond using reorganization as an excuse for anything and in the midst of
continued change which is the new norm. We are focusing on value added activities and
development of our staff in which I see the opposite here.”33 Mr. Fritz told Ms. Hutson she
4
would play a role in managing Mr. Mathews to achieve the PIP “and becoming a viable member
of the team and helping us progress or he will no longer be part of the team.”34
Mr. Fritz and Mr. Kunicky spoke by telephone on several occasions over the following
months about the conflict and performance issues Ms. Storer had with Mr. Mathews.35 Mr.
Kunicky discussed this matter with his direct report, human resources consultant Meghann
Ledford, who had also been working on the matter.36 Mr. Kunicky asked Ms. Ledford to solicit
and gather documents and other materials from Mr. Mathews, Ms. Storer, Ms. Hutson, and
others so Mr. Kunicky could review the matter independently and be able to advise Mr. Fritz on
how to handle the situation.37 Ms. Ledford admits she did not give Mr. Mathews the opportunity
to share his side of the story before Physicians placed him on the PIP.38
Over the course of the next few weeks, Ms. Storer worked with Ms. Ledford on several
drafts of a written PIP document.39 Mr. Fritz and Mr. Kunicky reviewed and edited these drafts,
and Ms. Hutson provided her input as well.40
D. Physicians place Mr. Mathews on a PIP.
On June 12, 2014, despite Mr. Fritz’s reference to Mr. Mathews as a cancer to be
terminated, Physicians placed Mr. Mathews on a PIP for a 45-day period.41 The PIP provided
Ms. Hutson and Ms. Storer would meet with Mr. Mathews on a weekly basis to discuss his
progress.42 If Mr. Mathews failed to improve his performance under the PIP, he could be
terminated.43
When Ms. Storer met with Mr. Mathews to discuss the PIP, Mr. Mathews reacted
“angrily and argumentatively” to the issues addressed in the PIP.44 Mr. Mathews saw many
factual inaccuracies in the PIP and proceeded to write a response. 45 Mr. Mathews claims the PIP
did not clarify how he would be evaluated during the PIP.46
5
E. Mr. Mathews’ meeting with Mr. Fritz regarding the PIP.
Mr. Mathews requested a meeting with Mr. Fritz to discuss the PIP, stating he believed “a
significant amount of confusion has been sowed.”47 Mr. Fritz responded although he supported
the PIP, he would schedule a meeting to discuss “improvement points” with Mr. Mathews but
not to discuss his challenges to the plan.48
Mr. Mathews responded he did not intend to
challenge anything in the PIP, but sought to “fill in some critical facts that were omitted” and to
discuss the metrics Physicians would use to measure his performance.49
After Mr. Fritz received Mr. Mathews’ email, he emailed Ms. Storer and Ms. Ledford,
stating he would be glad to meet with Mr. Mathews but would be “wary to do so without others
present” because his interactions with Mr. Mathews “have led me to correlate him to a used car
salesman and only out for his own good. By meeting with me I would guess he has more than
one motive.”50
Later that month, shortly after the PIP began, Mr. Mathews met with Mr. Fritz and
provided him written materials defending each point addressed in the PIP. 51 Mr. Mathews
defended his prior conduct and requested a clearer articulation of the metrics which would be
used to address his performance.52 Mr. Fritz, however, swears Mr. Mathews appeared “almost
obsessed with arguing over details that were not important to his overall performance
deficiencies.”53 Mr. Fritz came away from the meeting “with the clear impression that [Mr.
Mathews] was not trying to improve his performance, but was trying to prove Janet Storer
wrong—that it had become a personal contest for [Mr. Mathews] and [Ms. Storer].54 Mr. Fritz
explains Mr. Mathews “was completely missing the larger point of the PIP, which was for him to
learn to cooperate with his manager and get his projects done properly and timely—and without
burdening his manager or others with having to help him do his job.”55
6
F. Mr. Mathews’ PIP meetings with Management.
Mr. Mathews had a series of meetings with management during the PIP period, including
a meeting on July 9, 2014 documented by Ms. Hutson, Ms. Storer, and Ms. Ledford in emails
sent to management. The meeting did not go well for Mr. Mathews. Ms. Hutson described the
meeting as “very uncomfortable” and “unproductive,” and she noted Mr. Mathews’ strained
relationship with Ms. Storer.56
According to Ms. Storer, Mr. Mathews’ anger frightened her, and she noted Mr. Mathews
“records everything I say and do much like a stalker.” Ms. Storer told Mr. Fritz she felt
“bullied,” and she feared Mr. Mathews would harm her.57 Ms. Storer mentioned Mr. Mathews
“is not working towards being a productive member of our team. [He] is angry and would rather
document and argue then move forward.”58
Ms. Ledford recalled Mr. Mathews as being “loud and yelling at times because he is
frustrated that he was even placed on a PIP and doesn’t feel that [Ms. Storer] is giving him the
proper training he needs to succeed.”59 After hearing about this meeting, Mr. Fritz suggested
discharging Mr. Mathews before the conclusion of the PIP, possibly for insubordination.60
Ms. Ledford met with Mr. Mathews two days later and told him “his behavior can’t
continue and that he must be respectful.”61 Mr. Mathews apologized several times, but said he
felt Ms. Storer targeted him.62 Ms. Ledford spoke with Ms. Storer after this meeting and told her
she did not have problems with Mr. Mathews.63 Ms. Storer “seemed surprised by this and feels
that we are giving him false hope.”64 Ms. Storer nonetheless agreed to continue meeting with
Mr. Mathews.65
7
G. Mr. Fritz discharges Mr. Mathews.
On July 29, 2014, Mr. Fritz discharged Mr. Mathews. 66 Mr. Fritz explains he did so
because Mr. Mathews either (a) “never accepted the PIP was needed, so he refused to cooperate
in it,” or (b) Mr. Mathews “was not capable of doing what was being asked, so he masked that
inability by being argumentative and hostile with” Ms. Storer.67
Physicians replaced Mr.
Mathews with Ms. Walsh, who is Caucasian.68
H. Alleged discriminatory statements.
Mr. Mathews alleges two incidents in which Ms. Storer allegedly made discriminatory
statements, and he argues these statements are relevant to his national origin discrimination and
hostile work environment claims. We refer to these statements as the America’s favorite pasttime statement and the Indian statement.
i. America’s favorite past-time statement.
During the PIP period, Ms. Storer made a comment to Mr. Mathews which could be
suggestive of national origin bias. On June 19, 2014, Ms. Storer asked Mr. Mathews whether he
would be going to a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game, and he said no. 69 Ms. Storer responded in
a tone Mr. Mathews perceived to be discriminatory, stating she was “not surprised” he would not
be attending the Pirates game, “America’s [emphasized in tone] favorite past time.”70
ii. Indian statement.
At a meeting at some point between February 2014 and July 2014, Ms. Storer repeated
the hearsay statement of a coworker which mentioned a coworker’s national origin.71 During the
meeting, Ms. Storer restated the statement of employee, Dr. Fu, who said another employee,
Naveed Ismail, “had suggested that [Dr. Fu] was a snazzy dresser and that he [Mr. Ismail]
wouldn’t have any trouble working with an Indian like that.”72
8
II.
Analysis
Mr. Mathews sued Physicians for age and national origin discrimination, hostile work
environment, and retaliation under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967,73 Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,74 and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (“PHRA”).75
Physicians moves for summary judgment, arguing Mr. Mathews’ claims fail as a matter of law.76
A. Mr. Mathews adduces evidence of age discrimination.77
To prevail under the ADEA, Mr. Mathews must prove “but for” his age, he would not
have suffered an adverse employment action.78 To survive summary judgment, Mr. Mathews
may present direct evidence demonstrating age constituted the but-for cause of the decision or
demonstrate pretext under the familiar McDonnell Douglas79 burden shifting framework.
Physicians argues Mr. Mathews fails under both methods. We find there is sufficient evidence
under the McDonnell Douglas framework to find Physicians’ proffered explanation for
terminating Mr. Mathews is pretextual.
Under the McDonnell Douglas framework, if Mr. Mathews establishes a prima facie
case, the burden shifts to Physicians to proffer evidence of legitimate non-discriminatory reasons
for its adverse employment actions.80
“The defendant satisfies its burden at this step by
introducing evidence which, taken as true, would permit the conclusion that there was a
nondiscriminatory reason for the unfavorable action.”81 Once satisfied, Mr. Mathews must then
show, by a preponderance of the evidence, Physicians’ explanation is “pretextual.”82
Physicians does not challenge Mr. Mathews’ prima facie case. Mr. Mathews argues
Physicians fails to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for discharging Mr.
Mathews. This argument fails. “The defendant’s burden at this stage is relatively light: it is
satisfied if the defendant articulates any legitimate reason for the discharge; the defendant need
9
not prove that the articulated reason actually motivated the discharge.”83 Physicians satisfies this
burden, as demonstrated by Mr. Fritz’s explanation Mr. Mathews’ either (a) never accepted the
necessity of the PIP and refused to cooperate in it, or (b) lacked the capability to do the work and
masked his inability with argumentativeness and hostility toward Ms. Storer.84
As Physicians satisfies its burden, Mr. Mathews must: (a) adduce evidence allowing a
factfinder to disbelieve Physicians’ reasons; or (b) point to evidence allowing a factfinder to
believe an invidious discriminatory reason more likely than not constituted a “determinative
cause” Physicians’ conduct.85 “To discredit the employer’s proffered reason . . . the plaintiff
cannot simply show that the employer’s decision was wrong or mistaken, since the factual
dispute at issue is whether discriminatory animus motivated the employer, not whether the
employer is wise, shrewd, prudent or competent.”86
There is sufficient evidence allowing a reasonable jury to disbelieve Mr. Fritz’s
explanation for terminating Mr. Mathews. Within hours of Physicians deciding to institute the
PIP, Mr. Fritz sent an email to Mr. Kunicky in Human Resources stating “all agree” Mr.
Mathews is a “cancer to the department and need to terminate.”87 Mr. Fritz’s statement casts
doubt on whether he ever intended to give Mr. Mathews a chance under the PIP. A reasonable
jury could find the PIP to be a sham. We recognize Mr. Fritz’s later emails regarding a PIP, but
there is a question of credibility as to whether Mr. Fritz already decided to fire Mr. Mathews
under the PIP. If so, a jury must explore why. Although Mr. Mathews adduces sufficient
evidence to withstand summary judgment, he retains the ultimate burden at trial of proving
intentional discrimination, i.e. “age was a determinate factor” in UPP’s decision.88
accordingly deny Physicians’ motion for summary judgment as to Mr. Mathews’ age claims.
10
We
B. Mr. Mathews adduces evidence of national origin discrimination.89
To prevail on a claim for national origin discrimination, Mr. Mathews must present
evidence allowing a reasonable jury to conclude his national origin “was a motivating factor” in
Physicians’ decision to discharge him.90 Mr. Mathews can prove his case with direct evidence of
discrimination or under the McDonnell Douglas pretext analysis.91
Physicians argues Mr.
Mathews fails under both methods.
To establish a prima facie case of national origin discrimination, Mr. Mathews must
show: (1) he is a member of a protected class; (2) he was qualified for his position; (3) he
suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) the action occurred under circumstances that
could give rise to an inference of intentional discrimination.92 Physicians argues Mr. Mathews
does not satisfy the fourth requirement.
Mr. Mathews provides sufficient evidence giving rise to the inference of discrimination.
Replacement by an individual outside the protected class is sufficient to establish an inference of
discrimination.93 Physicians replaced Mr. Mathews with Ms. Walsh, who is Caucasian.94 Mr.
Mathews accordingly satisfies this requirement of his prima facie case.
Physicians also argues Mr. Mathews cannot demonstrate pretext. We find sufficient
evidence of pretext in Mr. Fritz’s pre-PIP email referring to Mr. Mathews as a cancer who
needed to be terminated. A jury must weigh the business reason in light of Mr. Fritz’s emailed
predetermined finding.
C. Mr. Mathews’ adduces evidence of unlawful retaliation.
Physicians assumes for the purposes of summary judgment Mr. Mathews meets the
requirements of a prima facie case of retaliation. Physicians argues, however, Mr. Mathews
11
cannot establish pretext. We again find sufficient evidence of pretext in Mr. Fritz’s pre-PIP
email referring to Mr. Mathews as a cancer who needed to be terminated.
D. Mr. Mathews does not adduce evidence of a hostile work environment.
Physicians argues Mr. Mathews cannot establish a claim for hostile work environment.
To prove hostile work environment based on age or national origin, Mr. Mathews must prove (1)
he suffered intentional discrimination because of his age or national origin; (2) he suffered severe
or pervasive discrimination; (3) the discrimination detrimentally affected him; (4) the
discrimination would detrimentally affect a reasonable person in similar circumstances; and (5)
the existence of respondeat superior liability.95
For summary judgment purposes, Physicians contends Mr. Mathews cannot satisfy the
first or second elements. To determine whether an environment is severe or pervasive, we must
consider the totality of the circumstances, including “the frequency of the discriminatory
conduct; its severity; whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, or a mere offensive
utterance; and whether it unreasonably interferes with an employee’s work performance.” 96 “It
is well-settled that being closely supervised or watched does not constitute an adverse
employment action that can support a hostile work environment claim, and that having one’s
work micromanaged may be unpleasant but does not give rise to a hostile environment claim.”97
“[T]he ‘conduct must be extreme to amount to a change in the terms and conditions of
employment.’”98 This analysis “must concentrate not on individual incidents, but on the overall
scenario.”99
Mr. Mathews swears from January through July 2014, Ms. Storer engaged in conduct
which he characterizes as constituting a hostile work environment, stating Ms. Storer: (1) denied
him information he needed to do his tasks, including information required to complete a Profit
12
and Loss; (2) created obstacles to his tasks; (3) prohibited him from communicating with others
in the department who could provide him with necessary information; (4) required him to
channel his queries through her but then chided him for not using his own initiative to find
information; (5) “thwarted [him] in every fashion”; (6) “disparaged every move [he] made”; and
(7) “presented [him] with a hostile demeanor.”100
Mr. Mathews’ sworn allegations suffer from many deficiencies. Many of his sworn
allegations, including his contentions Ms. Storer created obstacles, thwarted him, disparaged
him, and presented him with a hostile demeanor, are too conclusory to warrant consideration, as
an “affiant must ordinarily set forth facts, rather than opinions or conclusions.”101 Likewise, Mr.
Mathews swears Ms. Storer engaged in this conduct from January through July 2014, but he does
not state how often this conduct occurred.
Considering the totality of the evidence, including non-conclusory sworn allegations and
allegedly discriminatory statements, Mr. Mathews did not endure severe or pervasive
harassment. By way of analogy, in Priest v. Felcor Lodging Trust, the district court found
insufficient evidence of a hostile work environment where the plaintiff alleged her supervisor,
Mitchell: (a) treated the plaintiff “in a demeaning and unprofessional manner”; (b) changed the
reporting structure, requiring the plaintiff to report to a male coworker she did not get along
with; (c) told the plaintiff to communicate with the male coworker only through Mitchell; (d)
ignored or dismissed the plaintiff when she tried to converse with him; (e) told the plaintiff her
hard work did not mean she was smart; (f) called her “sunshine”; (g) hit her on the top of her
head with rolled up paper, punched her on the arm, and smacked her on the back; and (h)
“showed preferential treatment” to the male coworker.102 We similarly conclude the conduct Mr.
13
Mathews endured does not rise to the level of an objectively hostile or abusive work
environment.
III.
Conclusion
We grant Physicians’ motion for summary judgment as to Mr. Mathews’ claims for
hostile work environment based on age and national origin. We deny Physicians’ motion in all
other respects.
1
We consider the “underlying facts and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most
favorable to” Mr. Mathews, “the party opposing the motion.” Slagle v. Cnty. of Clarion, 435 F.3d
262, 264 (3d Cir. 2006) (citations omitted). Our Policies require a Statement of Undisputed
Material Facts be filed in support of a Rule 56 motion, as well as an appendix of exhibits.
Physicians filed its Statement of Undisputed Material Facts at ECF Doc. No. 35. Physicians
filed an appendix at ECF Doc. No. 36. Mr. Mathews responded to the Physicians’ Statement of
Undisputed Material Facts at ECF Doc. No. 50. Mr. Mathews added documents to the Appendix
at ECF Doc. No. 48. Mr. Mathews provided a Statement of Undisputed Material Facts at ECF
Doc. No. 46. Physicians responded to Mr. Mathews’ Statement of Undisputed Material Facts at
ECF Doc. No. 51. References to the exhibits in the appendices shall be referred to by bates
number, for example, “Appx. 1.”
2
ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 5.
3
Appx. 933.
4
ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 1.
5
Id.
6
Appx. 933, ¶¶ 5–6.
7
ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 6.
8
Id.
9
ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 9.
10
ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 10.
11
ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 2.
14
12
ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 12.
13
Appx. 152, ¶ 13.
14
Appx. 152, ¶ 14.
15
Id.
16
Id.
17
Id.
18
Appx. 152, ¶ 15.
19
Appx. 935, ¶ 19.
20
Appx. 935, ¶¶ 19–20; Appx. 934, ¶ 13.
21
Appx. 19.
22
Id.
23
Id.
24
Appx. 21.
25
Appx. 19.
26
Appx. 935, ¶ 15.
27
Id.
28
Appx. 193.
29
Id.
30
Appx. 27; ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 3.
31
Appx. 24.
32
Id.
33
Id.
15
34
Id.
35
Appx. 80, ¶ 4.
36
Appx. 80, ¶ 5; ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 36.
37
Appx. 80, ¶ 5; ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 36.
38
Appx. 290.
39
Appx. 153, ¶ 18.
40
Id.
41
Appx. 32.
42
Appx. 34.
43
Id.
44
Appx. 153, ¶ 19.
45
Appx. 937, ¶ 36.
46
Appx. 937–38, ¶ 36.
47
Appx. 995.
48
Appx. 994.
49
Id.
50
Appx. 37.
51
Appx. 11, 997–99.
52
Appx. 997.
53
Appx. 11, ¶ 44.
54
Appx. 11, ¶ 45.
55
Id.
56
Appx. 49.
16
57
Appx. 46.
58
Appx. 47.
59
Appx. 93.
60
Id.
61
Appx. 99.
62
Id.
63
Id.
64
Id.
65
Id.
66
Appx. 13, ¶ 52; Appx. 933, ¶¶ 5–6.
67
Appx. 13, ¶ 52.
68
ECF Doc. No. 51, ¶ 114; Appx. 934, ¶ 6.
69
Appx. 943, ¶ 71; Appx. 171–72, at pp. 57:21–58:05.
70
Appx. 171–72, at pp. 57:21–58:05.
71
Appx. 172, at p. 59.
72
Appx. 172, at p. 59.
73
29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.
74
42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.
75
43 P. S. § 951 et seq.
76
Summary judgment is proper when there is no genuine dispute of material fact and the movant
is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). A dispute as to a material fact is
genuine if “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving
party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). On a motion for summary
judgment, “we view the underlying facts and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light
most favorable to the party opposing the motion.” Mancini v. Northampton Cnty., 836 F.3d 308,
17
313 (3d Cir. 2016) (quoting Blunt v. Lower Merion Sch. Dist., 767 F.3d 247, 265 (3d Cir. 2014)).
“The party seeking summary judgment ‘has the burden of demonstrating that the evidentiary
record presents no genuine issue of material fact.’” Parkell v. Danberg, 833 F.3d 313, 323 (3d
Cir. 2016) (quoting Willis v. UPMC Children’s Hosp. of Pittsburgh, 808 F.3d 638, 643 (3d Cir.
2015)). If the movant carries its burden, “the nonmoving party must identify facts in the record
that would enable them to make a sufficient showing on essential elements of their care for
which they have the burden of proof.” Willis, 808 F.3d at 643 (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett,
477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986)). “If, after adequate time for discovery, the nonmoving party has not
met its burden, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, the court must enter summary
judgment against the nonmoving party.” Willis, 808 F.3d at 643 (citing Celotex Corp., 477 U.S.
at 322-323).
77
We treat Mr. Mathews’ PHRA age discrimination claims as coextensive with his ADEA claims
because the parties do not point to textual differences requiring different interpretations. Burton
v. Teleflex Inc., 707 F.3d 417, 432 (3d Cir. 2013) (quoting Slagle, 435 F.3d at 265 n.5).
78
Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., 557 U.S. 167, 176 (2009).
79
McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973).
80
Anderson v. Wachovia Mortg. Corp., 621 F.3d 261, 271 (3d Cir. 2010) (citation omitted).
81
Id. (quoting Fuentes v. Perskie, 32 F.3d 759, 763 (3d Cir.1994)) (quotation marks omitted).
82
Id.
83
Woodson v. Scott Paper Co., 109 F.3d 913, 920 n.2 (3d Cir. 1997) (citing Fuentes, 32 F.3d at
763).
84
Appx. 13, ¶ 52.
85
Willis, 808 F.3d at 645 (quoting Fuentes, 32 F.3d at 764).
86
Keller v. Orix Credit Alliance, Inc., 130 F.3d 1101, 1109 (3d Cir. 1997).
87
Appx. 27; ECF Doc. No. 50, ¶ 3.
88
Chipollini v. Spencer Gifts, Inc., 814 F.2d 893, 897 (3d Cir. 1987) (en banc).
89
We treat Mr. Mathews’ PHRA national origin discrimination claims as coextensive with his
Title VII national origin claims because the parties do not point to textual differences requiring
different interpretations. Burton, 707 F.3d at 432 (quoting Slagle, 435 F.3d at 265 n.5).
90
Makky v. Chertoff, 541 F.3d 205, 214 (3d Cir. 2008) (quoting Desert Palace, Inc. v. Costa, 539
U.S. 90, 101 (2003)).
18
91
Pivirotto v. Innovative Sys., Inc., 191 F.3d 344, 351 (3d Cir. 1999).
92
Makky, 541 F.3d at 214.
93
Johnson v. Keebler-Sunshine Biscuits, Inc., 214 F. App’x 239, 242 (3d Cir. 2007).
94
ECF Doc. No. 51, ¶ 114; Appx. 934, ¶ 6.
95
See Slater v. Susquehanna Cty., 465 F. App’x 132, 138 (3d Cir. 2012) (assuming standards for
age-based discrimination are the same as the Title VII hostile work environment standards);
Mandel v. M & Q Packaging Corp., 706 F.3d 157, 167 (3d Cir. 2013) (setting for the standard for
hostile work environment under Title VII).
96
Id. at 168 (quoting Harris v. Forklift Sys., Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 23 (1993), overruled on other
grounds by Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53 (2006)).
97
Ciecka v. Cooper Health Sys., No. 15-4075, 2017 WL 656727, at *10 (D.N.J. Feb. 14, 2017)
(quoting McKinnon v. Gonzales, 642 F. Supp. 2d 410, 423 (D.N.J. 2009)) (brackets omitted).
98
Caver v. City of Trenton, 420 F.3d 243, 262 (3d Cir. 2005) (quoting Faragher v. City of Boca
Raton, 524 U.S. 775, 788 (1998)).
99
Mandel, 706 F.3d at 168 (quoting Caver, 420 F.3d at 262–63).
100
Appx. 935, ¶¶ 19–20; Appx. 934, ¶ 13.
101
Maldonado v. Ramirez, 757 F.2d 48, 51 (3d Cir. 1985) (quoting Drexel v. Union Prescription
Centers, Inc., 582 F.2d 781, 789–90 (3d Cir. 1978)) (quotation marks omitted).
102
Priest v. Felcor Lodging Trust, Inc., No. 05-1181, 2006 WL 2709386, at *7 (W.D. Pa. Sept.
20, 2006).
19
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