Bell et al v. Judge Memorial Catholic High School et al
Filing
37
MEMORANDUM DECISION and Order denying 26 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Robert J. Shelby on 05/22/2023. (jl)
Case 2:20-cv-00829-RJS-JCB Document 37 Filed 05/22/23 PageID.537 Page 1 of 29
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
BERNADETTE BELL, an individual; and
BARRY BELL, an individual,
Plaintiffs,
Case No. 2:20-cv-00829-RJS-JCB
v.
Chief District Judge Robert J. Shelby
JUDGE MEMORIAL CATHOLIC HIGH
SCHOOL; and ROMAN CATHOLIC
BISHOP OF SALT LAKE CITY dba
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SALT LAKE
CITY,
Magistrate Judge Jared C. Bennett
Defendants.
Plaintiff Barry Bell filed this action against his former employer, Defendant Judge
Memorial Catholic High School (JMCHS) and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salt Lake City dba
Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City (Diocese), alleging Defendants discriminated against him in
violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). 1 Now before the court is
Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, seeking summary judgment on Bell’s claim on the
grounds that (1) he cannot demonstrate his age was a determinative factor in JMCHS’s decision
to not renew his teaching contract, and (2) the ministerial exception applies to bar liability for
JMCHS’s decision. 2 For the reasons discussed below, Defendants’ Motion is DENIED.
1
See Dkt. 2, Complaint.
Dkt. 26 at 7–14. Bernadette Bell is also a plaintiff in this action. However, Defendants stated they have resolved
her claims, and the parties intend to submit a stipulated motion of dismissal on her claims. See id. at 2 n.1; Dkt. 30,
Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment at 9. Her termination is only discussed to the
extent it is relevant to Defendants’ justification for terminating Barry Bell.
2
1
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BACKGROUND
At summary judgment, the court reviews the parties’ agreed-upon factual record and
draws all reasonable inferences therefrom in favor of Bell, the nonmovant. 3 The following facts
are drawn from the parties’ summary judgment briefing and attached affidavits and exhibits, 4
and are not genuinely in dispute, unless otherwise indicated. 5 They are admitted to the record for
summary judgment purposes.
I.
Summary Judgment Record of Bell’s Termination
Bell was an experienced educator when he started working at JMCHS during the 2006–
2007 school year, first as a substitute teacher coordinator and later as a special education and
social studies teacher, among other positions. 6 As with other educators at JMCHS, Bell worked
under successive, one-year contracts. 7 The last contract offered to Bell was for the 2018–2019
school year, when he taught social studies part-time and continued serving as a substitute teacher
coordinator. 8 During that period and the preceding school year, Bell received generally
favorable classroom evaluations by Vice Principal Louise Hendrickson, with notes that his
students were “comfortable,” “attentive,” and engaged. 9
3
See Doe v. City of Albuquerque, 667 F.3d 1111, 1122 (10th Cir. 2012).
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); 28 U.S.C. § 1746; see also Vazirabadi v. Denver Health and Hosp. Auth., 782 F. App’x
681, 687–88 (10th Cir. 2019).
4
The parties present numerous factual disputes in their respective briefs. See Dkt. 30 at 4–6; Dkt. 33, Defendants’
Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment at 2–5. To the extent disputed facts are relevant to the parties’
arguments at summary judgment, the court resolves those disputes herein as they arise. Genuine disputes of material
fact are stated as such. The court refrains from making any judgment on factual disputes immaterial to resolving the
parties’ summary judgment motions.
5
6
Dkt. 26 at 2–3; Dkt. 30 at 6–7.
7
Dkt. 26 at 2–3; see also Dkt. 26-4, Exhibit C: Employment Contracts.
8
Dkt. 26 at 3–5.
9
See Dkt. 30-8, Exhibit 7: Classroom Observations.
2
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By the fall of 2018, however, Bell was placed on a corrective action plan. 10 The parties
dispute the reasons for the corrective action plan. Defendants maintain that it was largely due to
Bell’s “negative interactions with JMCHS’s administration and his colleagues,” 11 while Bell
counters that the corrective action plan was “styled as a first written warning” and was “part of a
discriminatory pattern during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 school years in which JMCHS
falsely accused Bell of misconduct.” 12 In any event, on April 17, 2019, JMCHS notified Bell
that it would not be renewing his teaching contract for the upcoming school year. 13 The decision
was made by two key administrators at JMCHS: Principal Patrick Lambert and Hendrickson. 14
In addition to stating that Bell had a difficult relationship with JMCHS staff and
faculty 15—a claim Bell disputes 16—Defendants contend his termination was part of a net
reduction in force (RIF), caused by “declining enrollment” and a concomitant need for fewer
teachers. 17 Given these pressures, Defendants aver JMCHS reviewed its slate of social studies
teachers and determined that both Bell, then 65 years old, and Eve Grenlie, then 39 years old,
“were not as effective teachers in the classroom as the other social studies teachers, and . . .
10
Id. at 4–5; see also Dkt. 26-10, Exhibit I: Corrective Action Plan.
Dkt. 26 at 4–5; see also Dkt. 26-10 at 4 (“Mr. Bell lost his temper with Vice Principal Hendrickson. This
occurred during a meeting between the two regarding concerns brought up related to his interactions with a
coworker.”).
11
12
Dkt. 30 at 4; see also Dkt. 26-10 at 5–6 (reflecting Bell’s various objections to the corrective action plan).
See Dkt. 26 at 5; Dkt. 30-4, Exhibit 3: Barry Bell Deposition at 39:14–19; see also Dkt. 26-11, Exhibit J:
Notification of Non-Renewal.
13
See Dkt. 26-13, Exhibit L: Defendants’ Amended Responses to Interrogatories at 8. Defendants also suggest “[i]t
is possible that the decision . . . was discussed with JMCHS’s Executive Board, but if it was raised with the
Executive Board, the discussion was fairly brief.” Because JMCHS cannot confirm whether or not the employment
decision was discussed with the Executive Board, Defendants aver that the decision was made by Lambert and
Hendrickson. Id.
14
15
See Dkt. 26 at 4–5.
See Dkt. 30 at 4; see also Dkt. 30-4 at 32:1–34:25 (reflecting Bell’s understanding of his colleagues’ complaints
against him).
16
17
Dkt. 26 at 5; see also Dkt. 26-12, Exhibit K: Employee Separation Reports.
3
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decided to not offer teaching contracts to either teacher.” 18 Instead of retaining these teachers,
Defendants determined they could replace both of them with a single, more effective teacher. 19
Defendants offered several additional reasons for JMCHS’s decision to select Bell for the RIF,
ranging from Lambert’s determination that Bell was not an effective classroom teacher to the
purported negative interactions between Bell and his colleagues. 20
Bell disagrees with Defendants’ stated reason for the termination and argues the RIF—
purportedly affecting only him, his wife, and Grenlie 21—was pretextual. 22 The real reason for
his termination, he counters, can be gleaned from the “subjective and ageist characterizations”
given by JMCHS leaders during the course of litigation and a pattern of discrimination he argues
can be shown by the school’s 2019–2020 employee changes. 23 Additionally, Bell contends his
termination was preceded by numerous unwarranted critiques and disciplinary actions by
JMCHS administrators. 24 Finally, he avers Lambert explained the non-renewal at the time
saying only that the school was “going in a new direction.” Bell argues that the RIF was adopted
a month later only as a post-hoc justification for his termination. 25
Regardless of the reasoning for Bell’s termination, the parties do not dispute that two
days before Bell was notified of his non-renewal, Defendants hired Jonathan Garrison, then 33
18
Dkt. 26 at 5–6; see also Dkt. 26-13 at 8.
19
Dkt. 26 at 6.
See, e.g., Dkt. 26 at 9; Dkt. 30-2, Exhibit 1: Patrick Lambert Deposition (Lambert Deposition) at 106:13–108:25
(stating that “the two main factors” for Bell’s selection for the RIF were his “interactions with teachers” and his
“teaching abilities”); Dkt. 26-13 at 8–10.
20
See Dkt. 30 at 4–5 (citing Lambert Deposition at 140:15–141:12; Dkt. 30-3, Louise Hendrickson Deposition
(Hendrickson Deposition) at 112:21–24).
21
22
See Dkt. 30 at 23–31.
23
Id.
24
See id. at 30.
25
Id. at 9 (citing Dkt. 30-4 at 3:14–19); see also Lambert Deposition at 131:6–132:10.
4
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years old, for the 2019–2020 school year. 26 Garrison’s employment contract provided that he
would serve as a teacher with additional paid responsibilities “moderating Student Council” and
“covering the Substitute Coordinator duties.” 27 During the 2019–2020 school year, Garrison was
assigned to teach numerous social studies courses, 28 which Bell avers he was qualified to teach. 29
Garrison did not teach any psychology courses, which had previously accounted for much of
Grenlie’s courseload. 30 As discussed below, the parties dispute whether Garrison was hired as a
replacement for Grenlie or Bell, with Defendants generally taking the former position and Bell
the latter. 31
On May 9, 2019, several weeks after Bell was notified of his non-renewal, Lambert told
Bernadette Bell she was being terminated as part of a RIF. 32 Thereafter, JMCHS Advisory
Board Meeting Minutes for May 14, 2019, reflected that “[t]here [would] be a slight [RIF] for
2019–2020.” 33 Several days later, Lambert signed a separation report for Barry Bell, stating,
Dkt. 30 at 10 (citing Dkt. 30-9, Exhibit 8: Garrison Employment Contract; Dkt. 30-11, Defendants’ Responses to
Plaintiffs’ Third Set of Discovery Requests to Defendants).
26
27
Dkt. 30-9 at 2.
28
See Dkt. 30-12, Exhibit 11: Class Schedules (comparing Garrison’s teaching schedule and Bell’s past teaching
schedules).
29
See Dkt. 30 at 11 (citing Lambert Deposition at 90:11–16; Hendrickson Deposition at 28:14–17).
See Dkt. 30-12 (contrasting Garrison’s teaching schedule and Grenlie’s past teaching schedules); Lambert
Deposition at 134:5–10 (confirming that Garrison did not teach the psychology courses previously taught by
Grenlie).
30
Compare Dkt. 26 at 6 (reflecting Defendants’ position that they decided “to hire one new teacher to teach social
studies full time, and to assign Mr. Bell’s other responsibilities . . . to existing faculty and administration”), Lambert
Deposition at 133:6–10 (reflecting Lambert’s understanding that Garrison “was replacing a full-time teacher, Eve
Grenl[ie], but . . . that in th[e] initial contract, . . . some of Barry [Bell’s] duties would be moved over to him in the
form of substitute coordinating.”), and Dkt. 33 (“Garrison was hired to fill the position left vacant by Grenlie.”),
with Dkt. 30 at 10–11 (arguing that Garrison was hired to replace Bell).
31
32
See Dkt. 30-17, Bernadette Bell Deposition at 42:7–45:11.
33
Dkt. 30-6, Advisory Board Meeting Minutes for May 14, 2019.
5
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among other things, that the “Reason for [Bell’s] Separation” was a permanent RIF and that the
separation was not related to “any prior disciplinary action.” 34
In September 2019, Bell filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, alleging age discrimination by Defendants. 35 Approximately one year
later, the EEOC closed the case and returned a Notice of Right to Sue, 36 prompting the instant
action. 37 Following the close of fact and expert discovery, Defendants filed their Motion,
seeking summary judgment on the grounds that (1) Bell “cannot demonstrate that his age was a
factor, let alone the determinative factor, in JMCHS’s decision to not offer him a new teaching
contract” and (2) “the ministerial exception applies to [his] claim . . . and [] protects JMCHS’s
decision to hire and fire ministers within the school.” 38 Defendants’ Motion has been fully
briefed, oral argument was heard on April 18, 2023, 39 and the matter taken under advisement.
II.
Summary Judgment Record of Bell’s Religious Responsibilities at JMCHS
Because Defendants invoke the “ministerial exception,” a doctrine that generally turns on
whether a religious institution’s former employee “performed vital religious duties” or was
“entrusted most directly with the responsibility of educating . . . students in the faith,” 40 a brief
discussion of JMCHS’s ecumenical and pedagogical stances are also warranted. Furthermore,
Defendants’ argument for summary judgment requires an overview of the relevant facts
34
Dkt. 26-12 at 2.
35
See Dkt. 2-2, Exhibit A: Charges.
36
See Dkt. 2-3, Exhibit B: Notice of Right to Sue.
37
See Dkt. 2.
38
Dkt. 26 at 14.
39
Dkt. 36, Minute Entry for Proceedings on May 18, 2023.
40
See Our Lady of Guadalupe Sch. v. Morrissey-Berru, 140 S. Ct. 2049, 2066 (2020).
6
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surrounding Bell’s tenure at JMCHS, with a focus on his religious responsibilities and
expectations. 41
As its name suggests, JMCHS is a Catholic high school serving grades 9–12. It seeks “to
create a Christian educational community where knowledge is enlightened and enlivened by
faith.” 42 As part of this “distinct purpose,” JMCHS’s teaching contracts require teachers,
including Bell, to acknowledge that “Catholic Schools are ministries of the Catholic Church
within the diocese of Salt Lake City and not simply places where secular subjects are taught.” 43
Additionally, JMCHS’s contract requires faculty to acknowledge the following guiding
principles:
That those who instruct and mentor youth in Catholic Schools are in positions of
trust and authority and are looked up to by those same youth, and that therefore
personal behavior and acting responsibly and morally in one’s own life is vital; the
school is an expressive religious association that exists to instill Gospel teachings
and value; that, although an Equal Opportunity Employer, that does not prevent the
school from employing and retaining teachers based upon religious beliefs. 44
Nevertheless, JMCHS does not refrain from hiring teachers—such as Bell—who are not
Catholics. 45 However, school policy requires that they “understand and are fully committed to
the distinctive purpose, philosophy, and spirit of Catholic school education,” and “live within the
Catholic spirit and teachings regarding lifestyle.” 46 Additionally, non-Catholic teachers are
barred from “teach[ing] a Catholic religion class.” 47
41
See Dkt. 26 at 10–13.
42
See Dkt. 26 at 2; Dkt. 26-5, Exhibit D: Policy 2200 of the Diocese’s Administrative Handbook at 4.
43
Dkt. 26 at 3; Dkt. 26-4, Exhibit C: Barry Bell Employment Contracts.
44
Dkt. 26-4 at 2.
Dkt. 26-5 at 4 (“If a Catholic teacher is not available, or when deemed otherwise appropriate, a non-Catholic may
be employed.”).
45
46
Id.
47
Id.
7
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The parties do not dispute that Bell was neither an adherent of the Catholic faith nor a
teacher of any religion classes during his time at JMCHS. 48 Nevertheless, Defendants suggest
his role as a teacher and administrator at JMCHS came with heightened religious expectations,
which were repeatedly referenced by his teaching contracts 49—namely, that he “[s]upport and
implement[] the mission/philosophy of Catholic education and the school,” “[g]ive[] evidence of
lived Gospel values,” and “[p]articipate[] in building faith community.” 50 Defendants maintain
these obligations, and other expectations of JMCHS educators, support their contention “that
Bell was a minister during his employment at JMCHS.” 51 Bell disputes Defendants’
characterization of his tenure at JMCHS and notes that he did not teach any theology courses, did
not lead his students during religious services, and was not required to obtain any religious
training 52—facts Defendants accept as true for summary judgment purposes. 53
Having discussed the record set forth in the parties’ briefings and attached affidavits and
exhibits, the court next turns to the legal standards governing the parties’ dispute.
LEGAL STANDARDS
Summary judgment is proper so long as “there is no genuine dispute as to any material
fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” 54 A fact is material if it “might
affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law,” and a dispute is genuine “if the evidence
48
See Dkt. 30 at 17 (citing Dkt. 26-3, Exhibit B: Employment Application); Dkt. 33 at 18–20.
49
See Dkt. 26 at 10–13; Dkt. 33 at 15–20.
50
See Dkt. 26-5 at 2.
51
See Dkt. 33 at 15.
52
Dkt. 30 at 36.
53
Dkt. 33 at 19.
54
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).
8
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is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” 55 In applying
these standards, the court views the evidence and draws inferences in the light most favorable to
the nonmoving party. 56
At summary judgment, the moving party bears “both the initial burden of production on a
motion for summary judgment and the burden of establishing that summary judgment is
appropriate as a matter of law.” 57 To meet this burden, however, the moving party “need not
negate the non-movant’s claim, but need only point to an absence of evidence to support the nonmovant’s claim.” 58
If the moving party satisfies its initial burden, the nonmoving party must “bring forward
specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial as to those dispositive matters for which it carries
the burden of proof.” 59 In doing so, the moving party must produce competing evidence—borne
out “by reference to affidavits, deposition transcripts, or specific exhibits” 60—that is “based on
more than mere speculation, conjecture, or surmise.” 61
ANALYSIS
As prefaced above, Defendants raise two distinct arguments for summary judgment on
Bell’s ADEA claim. First, Defendants assert Bell cannot sustain his claim because he “cannot
demonstrate that his age was a factor, let alone the determinative factor, in JMCHS’s decision to
55
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
56
Nahno-Lopez v. Houser, 625 F.3d 1279, 1283 (10th Cir. 2010).
57
Kannady v. City of Kiowa, 590 F.3d 1161, 1169 (10th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
58
Id.
59
Id.
60
Adler v. Wal-Mart Stores, 144 F.3d 664, 671 (10th Cir. 1998).
61
Bones v. Honeywell Int’l, Inc., 366 F.3d 869, 875 (10th Cir. 2004).
9
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not offer him a new teaching contract.” 62 Second, Defendants argue Bell fell under the
ministerial exception, thereby shielding their decision to terminate him from the scrutiny of this
court. 63 For the reasons discussed herein, the court concludes both arguments are unavailing and
DENIES Defendants’ Motion.
I.
Genuine Issues of Material Fact Preclude Summary Judgment
Defendants’ first argument for summary judgment is that “JMCHS did not discriminate
against Mr. Bell when it decided not to offer him a new teaching contract for the next academic
year,” and Bell cannot sustain his burden of proving otherwise. 64
a. Prima Facie Case
ADEA prohibits age discrimination in employment, making it unlawful for an employer
“to discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his
compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s
age.” 65 Importantly, ADEA requires age to be “the reason the employer decided to act” or the
“but-for” cause of the adverse action. 66 However, the Tenth Circuit recognizes that the presence
of other but-for causes does not necessarily preclude an ADEA claim, so long as “age was the
factor that made a difference.” 67
A plaintiff can bring an ADEA claim based on direct or circumstantial evidence of
discrimination. 68 If a plaintiff’s claim is based on circumstantial evidence, as relevant here,
62
Dkt. 26 at 7–9, 14.
63
Id. at 10–14.
64
Id. at 7.
65
29 U.S.C. § 623(a)(1).
66
Simmons v. Sykes Enters., Inc., 647 F.3d 943, 947 (10th Cir. 2011) (quoting 29 U.S.C. § 623(a)).
Jones v. Oklahoma City Pub. Sch., 617 F.3d 1273, 1277 (10th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks and citations
omitted).
67
68
See DePaula v. Easter Seals El Mirador, 859 F.3d 957, 969 (10th Cir. 2017).
10
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courts apply the “three-part burden-shifting framework articulated in McDonnell Douglas Corp.
v. Green.” 69 At the first step of this framework, the plaintiff must establish a prima facie case of
wrongful termination. 70 If the plaintiff can establish a prima facie case, the burden then shifts to
the employer to “articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment
action.” 71 If the employer makes such a showing, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff “to
prove . . . that the legitimate reasons offered by the [employer] were not its true reasons, but were
a pretext for discrimination.” 72
The Tenth Circuit applies a four-factor test for establishing a prima facie case under
ADEA, however, several different versions of the test have been articulated. 73 Generally, the
first three elements of the test are the same—the plaintiff must show that: “(1) he is within the
protected age group; (2) he was doing satisfactory work; [and] (3) he was discharged.” 74
However, “the fourth element of a prima facie case is a flexible one that can be satisfied
differently in varying scenarios.” 75 Among other formulations, the Tenth Circuit has variously
defined the fourth element as requiring evidence of the plaintiff’s “replacement by a younger
worker,” “evidence giving rise to an inference of discrimination,” or “treatment less favorable
than other similarly-situated employees outside the protected class.” 76 In the specific context of
69
Id. at 969 (citing McDonnell Douglas Corp v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S. Ct. 1817 (1973)).
70
Id.
71
Id.
72
Simmons, 647 F.3d at 947.
See, e.g., Larsen v. Granger Med. Clinic, No. 2:17-CV-01308-DBP, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 179390, at *6 (D.
Utah Oct. 17, 2018) (discussing some of the variations in the Tenth Circuit’s four-factor test); Fullington v. Ill. Tool
Works Inc., No. 21-2287-DDC-KGG, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 184586, at *13 (D. Kan. Oct. 7, 2022) (same).
73
See Rangel v. Sanofi Aventis U.S., LLC, 507 F. App’x 786, 790 (10th Cir. 2013) (citing Rivera v. City & Cnty. of
Denver, 365 F.3d 912, 920 (10th Cir. 2004)).
74
75
Plotke v. White, 405 F.3d 1092, 1099–1100 (10th Cir. 2005).
76
See Larsen, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 179390, at *6 (collecting cases).
11
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a RIF, the Tenth Circuit has further modified the fourth element to account for the difficulty a
plaintiff faces “proving actual replacement by a younger employee.” 77 In these cases, the fourth
element may be established “through circumstantial evidence that the plaintiff was treated less
favorably than younger employees during the [RIF].” 78
Defendants do not dispute the first three elements of Bell’s prima facie case, at least for
summary judgment purposes. 79 Indeed, the uncontested record generally shows Bell was a
member of the protected age group, 80 performed satisfactory work, 81 and was discharged despite
the adequacy of his work. 82 However, the parties disagree whether Bell satisfies the fourth
element, and offer different versions of the prima facie test to support their positions.83 While
Defendants argue that Bell needs to satisfy the RIF-specific showing of “some evidence the[y]
intended to discriminate against [him]” as part of their RIF decision, 84 Bell counters that the
traditional showing of replacement by a younger worker suffices. 85
Regardless of the exact wording used for the fourth element, the Tenth Circuit is clear
that the elements of a prima facie case are “neither rigid nor mechanistic.” 86 Instead, “their
77
Branson v. Price River Coal Co., 853 F.2d 768, 771 (10th Cir. 1988).
Pippin v. Burlington Res. Oil & Gas Co., 440 F.3d 1186, 1193 (10th Cir. 2006) (quoting Beaird v. Seagate Tech.,
145 F.3d 1159, 1165 (10th Cir. 1998)).
78
79
See Dkt. 26 at 9 (disputing only the fourth element); Dkt. 30 at 21.
80
See Dkt. 30 at 9 (citing Dkt. 30-4 at 39:14–19 (testifying to a birth year of 1954)).
See Lambert Deposition at 108:11–13 (“I would say he was able to perform the task at hand. I wouldn’t say he
was one of our . . . most innovative teachers.”); Hendrickson Deposition at 29:2–9 (stating that Bell “efficiently
fill[ed] . . . classrooms” as part of his role as substitute coordinator); Dkt. 30-8 (showing generally favorable
classroom evaluations).
81
See Dkt. 26 at 7–9 (summarizing the reasons for Defendants’ decision to terminate Bell); see also Lambert
Deposition at 112:1–113:22 (“And for reason for separation, that’s probably the most important part, that there was
a reduction in force.”).
82
83
See Dkt. 26 at 9 (“The parties dispute whether Mr. Bell has satisfied the fourth element.”); Dkt. 30 at 21.
84
Dkt. 26 at 9 (citing Hinds v. Sprint/United Mgmt. Co., 523 F.3d 1187, 1199-200 (10th Cir. 2008)).
85
Dkt. 30 at 21–22 (citing Rangel, 507 F. App’x at 790).
86
Adamson v. Multi Cmty. Diversified Servs., Inc., 514 F.3d 1136, 1146 (10th Cir. 2008).
12
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purpose is the establishment of an initial inference of unlawful discrimination warranting a
presumption of liability in plaintiff’s favor.” 87 “The critical prima facie inquiry . . . is whether
the plaintiff has demonstrated that the adverse employment action occurred under circumstances
of unlawful discrimination.” 88 Notably, the Tenth Circuit has repeatedly found this requirement
is met where “circumstantial evidence [shows] that, during the RIF, the employer discharged the
plaintiff but retained or placed a younger employee in a similar position.” 89 Additionally,
replacement by a younger worker has also been found to supply the necessary inference of
discrimination to state a prima facie case under ADEA. 90
Here, the parties dispute whether Bell was replaced by a younger worker. 91 Defendants
contend that Garrison was either hired to replace Grenlie 92—the only person other than Bell and
his wife purportedly affected by the RIF 93—or to replace both Bell and Grenlie. 94 For his part,
Bell presents evidence showing Defendants hired Garrison, aged 33 years, on April 15, 2019, for
87
Id.
88
Kendrick v. Penske Transp. Servs., Inc., 220 F.3d 1220, 1227 (10th Cir. 2000).
89
Rangel, 507 F. App’x at 790.
90
See, e.g., Maughan v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., 281 F. App’x 803, 806 (10th Cir. 2008) (holding that a plaintiff who
was over the age of 60 when he was terminated was able to state a prima facie case by presenting evidence that he
was replaced by a man who was 40 years old); Beaird, 145 F.3d at 1168 (concluding plaintiffs stated a prima facie
case by demonstrating that they were terminated while “at least one” younger employee was retained); see also
DeSanzo v. AHS Southcrest Hosp., LLC, No. 18-CV-352-JED-JFJ, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39313, at *12 (N.D.
Okla. Mar. 6, 2020) (finding that an age difference of four years between the terminated employee and her
replacement was “sufficient to support the necessary inference of discrimination”).
Compare Dkt. 30 at 22 (“Bell was replaced by a younger, less experienced individual.”), with Dkt. 33 at 6 – 7
(“Bell was not replaced by a younger employee. . . . JMCHS eliminated a social studies position as part of its RIF
and redistributed Bell’s substitute coordinator duties to JMCHS administrators and staff.”).
91
See, e.g., Lambert Deposition at 131:14–20 (“What I had in mind was that . . . Garrison would be replacing Eve
Grenl[ie]’s major duties”), 132:6–10 (stating that Bell’s “position was no longer offered,” but Grenlie’s position was
“replaced”), 133:6–10 (stating Grenlie’s position was replaced, but conceding that some of Bell’s responsibilities
were allocated to Garrison as part of his employment contract).
92
93
See Lambert Deposition at 141:1–12 (stating that only the Bells and Grenlie were affected by the RIF).
See Dkt. 26 at 6 (explaining JMCHS’s determination that “it could hire one teacher who would be more effective
in the classroom to replace both Mr. Bell and Ms. Grenlie”); Dkt. 33 at 6–7 (stating that JMCHS eliminated a social
studies position and redistributed the substitute coordinator duties to other administrators and staff).
94
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the purpose of teaching social studies and “covering the Substitute Coordinator duties,” 95 which
were responsibilities held by Bell during his recent tenure at JMCHS. 96 Only two days later,
Lambert notified Bell his teaching contract would not be renewed for the 2019–2020 school
year, 97 delivering a Notice of Non-Renewal that was originally dated for the same day
Defendants hired Garrison. 98 Although Garrison did not end up serving as a substitute
coordinator, 99 it is uncontested that he taught social studies courses that could have been taught
by Bell and was initially hired to fill Bell’s substitute coordinator responsibilities as well. 100
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Bell, the court concludes he has
satisfied his burden of establishing a prima facie case. Indeed, his burden at this stage “is not
onerous,” 101 and only a “small amount of proof [is] necessary to create an inference of
discrimination.” 102 As discussed, Bell has presented admissible evidence suggesting he was
replaced by Garrison. This evidence, when construed in the light most favorable to Bell, could
support a reasonable finding that Defendants sought to replace Bell’s position rather than
eliminate it completely, and then hired a much younger man to fill it. The hiring of a man nearly
half Bell’s age only two days before he was notified of JMCHS’s decision not to renew his
95
See Dkt. 30 at 10–11; Dkt. 30-9; Dkt. 30-12 at 2.
See Dkt. 26 at 4–6 (describing Bell’s responsibilities during the 2018–2019 school year); Dkt. 30 at 6; Dkt. 30-12
at 3–4, 6–7.
96
97
See Dkt. 26 at 5.
98
Compare Dkt. 26-11 (showing the day of “April 15, 2019” was crossed out and replaced with a handwritten
“17”), with Dkt. 30-9 (reflecting a signature date of April 15, 2019).
See Hendrickson Deposition at 86:7–21 (stating that the plan was to have Garrison take the substitute coordinator
duties, but it was later given to another teacher).
99
100
Id. at 86:7–21, 90:11–20 (stating Bell was “credentialed to teach social studies”); Dkt. 30-12 at 2.
Bennett v. Windstream Communs., Inc., 792 F.3d 1261, 1267 (10th Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks and
citation omitted).
101
102
Smothers v. Solvay Chems., Inc., 740 F.3d 530, 539 (10th Cir. 2014) (quoting Orr v. City of Albuquerque, 417
F.3d 1144, 1149 (10th Cir. 2005)).
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contract could permit a reasonable factfinder to conclude Bell’s termination gives rise to an
inference of age discrimination. 103 Therefore, the court rejects Defendants’ contention that Bell
has not stated a prima facie case of age discrimination.
b. Defendants’ Legitimate, Non-Discriminatory Reason
Once a plaintiff has met his burden of establishing a prima facie case of discrimination,
the burden shifts to the defendant to articulate a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the
adverse action. 104 The burden at this stage is “exceedingly light,” 105 as its stated reasons need
only be legitimate and non-discriminatory “on their face.” 106 “The defendant need not persuade
the court that it was actually motivated by the proffered reasons. It is sufficient if the
defendant’s evidence raises a genuine issue of fact as to whether it discriminated against the
plaintiff.” 107 Here, Defendants maintain Bell was terminated as part of a RIF that was prompted
by decreased student enrollment. 108 He was selected for the RIF, Defendants aver, because he
“was not as effective an educator when compared to the [rest of the] faculty.” 109 Defendants’
stated reason is sufficient to meet their burden at this stage. 110
103
See Fullington v. Ill. Tool Works Inc., No. 21-2287-DDC-KGG, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 184586, at *16–17 (D.
Kan. Oct. 7, 2022) (“A 10-year age difference could permit a reasonable jury to find that plaintiff was replaced by a
younger person, giving rise to an inference of age discrimination.”).
104
DePaula, 859 F.3d at 969 (citing McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802).
105
Williams v. FedEx Corp. Servs., 849 F.3d 889, 899–900 (10th Cir. 2017).
106
EEOC v. C.R. England, Inc., 644 F.3d 1028, 1043 (10th Cir. 2011).
107
Tex. Dep’t of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 249 (1981) (footnote omitted).
108
See Dkt. 26 at 5–6; Dkt. 26-13 at 6–9.
109
Dkt. 26 at 9.
See Kawahara v. Guar. Bank & Trust, No. 17-CV-02979-REB-KMT, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 230184, 2019 WL
8370803, at *3, aff’d, 835 F. App’x 386 (10th Cir. 2020) (“[T]he implementation of a RIF constitutes a legitimate,
facially nondiscriminatory reason for [the] decision to terminate [an employee].”); see also Beaird, 145 F.3d at 1168
(holding the same).
110
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c. Pretext
Because Defendants have met their burden of providing a legitimate, non-discriminatory
reason for Bell’s termination, the burden shifts back to Bell to show a reasonable jury could find
Defendants’ proffered reason was pretextual. 111 While “[t]his burden is not onerous . . . it is also
not empty or perfunctory.” 112 A plaintiff can show pretext by pointing to “such weaknesses,
implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or contradictions in the employer’s proffered
legitimate reasons for its action that a reasonable factfinder could rationally find them unworthy
of credence and hence infer that the employer did not act for the asserted non-discriminatory
reasons.” 113 In the context of a RIF, the Tenth Circuit has observed that a plaintiff typically
establishes pretext by showing (1) his termination does not accord with the RIF criteria, (2) the
RIF criteria were deliberately falsified to terminate him, or (3) that the RIF generally was
pretextual. 114 Further evidence of pretext “may include the following: prior treatment of
plaintiff; the employer’s policy and practice of employment regarding age (including statistical
data); disturbing procedural irregularities . . . ; and the use of subjective criteria.” 115 Importantly,
a plaintiff can establish pretext by presenting circumstantial evidence which on its own may be
insufficient, because the court is “required to consider the totality of such circumstantial
evidence” at this stage. 116
111
DePaula, 859 F.3d at 970 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
112
Morgan v. Hilti, Inc., 108 F.3d 1319, 1323–24 (10th Cir. 1997) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
113
Jones, 617 F.3d at 1280 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Beaird, 145 F.3d at 1168; see also Mueggenborg v. Nortek Air Sols., LLC, No. 20-6147, 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS
30860, at *7 n.5 (10th Cir. Oct. 15, 2021) (unpublished) (“These are not the only ways to prove pretext in a RIF
case, but most cases will fall into one of these categories.”).
114
See Berry v. Airxcel, Inc., No. 20-1362-KHV, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132853, at *20 (D. Kan. July 26, 2022)
(citing Simms v. Okla. ex rel. Dep’t of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Servs., 165 F.3d 1321, 1328 (10th Cir.
1999)).
115
116
Beaird, 145 F.3d at 1174.
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Bell offers several arguments to undermine Defendants’ proffered reasons for the nonrenewal. First, he contends the RIF was a “post-hoc justification for [his] non-renewal” rather
than the “actual reason for JMCHS’s decision . . . not to renew [his] contract.” 117 Even assuming
the RIF was needed to cut costs, Bell maintains that the decision to hire a less-experienced, much
younger man rather than retain Bell—seemingly without explanation—evinces discriminatory
animus. 118 Bell points to depositions from JMCHS administrators, which he argues show
Defendants’ decision was “based on assumptions and stereotypes about older persons.” 119 Bell
next challenges Defendants’ contentions that he was not an effective educator as contrary to the
record. 120 Finally, Bell avers his non-renewal was part of Defendants’ “pattern and practice of
eliminating older works and hiring younger workers.” 121
Although not all of these arguments are availing, considering “the totality of [the]
circumstantial evidence” presented by Bell, the court concludes he has “create[d] a genuine issue
of material fact whether a discriminatory reason more likely motivated [Defendants] or that
[Defendants’] stated reasons are unworthy of credence.” 122
Bell first contends the purported RIF was little more than a “post-hoc justification for
[his] non-renewal,” lacking “contemporaneous documentation of any good-faith process” by
which JMCHS decided to conduct the RIF or determine which positions to eliminate. 123 Courts
117
Dkt. 30 at 23.
118
Id. at 25–26.
Id. at 26–28 (citing Lambert Deposition at 108:8–10, 135:5; Hendrickson Deposition at 38:1–13, 77:1–6, 80:25–
81:1).
119
120
Id. at 28–29.
121
Id. at 30–31.
Cf. Berry, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132853, at *23 (explaining a plaintiff’s burden to show pretext under ADEA
(citing Rea v. Martin Marietta Corp., 29 F.3d 1450, 1455 (10th Cir. 1994))).
122
123
Dkt. 30 at 23–24.
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have widely recognized that “[p]ost-hoc justifications for termination constitute evidence of
pretext.” 124 Relatedly, “[o]ne can reasonably infer pretext from an employer’s shifting or
inconsistent explanations for the challenged employment decision.” 125 “But the ‘mere fact that
the [employer] has offered different explanations for its decision does not create a genuine
question of pretext.’” 126 Rather, the Tenth Circuit has “recognized that inconsistency evidence is
only helpful to a plaintiff if ‘the employer has changed its explanation under circumstances that
suggest dishonesty or bad faith.’” 127
While the court does not “quibble with the reasonableness or legitimateness of a layoff
decision premised on the expendability of positions,” 128 Bell has presented several compelling
reasons, taken together, why a reasonable factfinder might discredit Defendants’ purported RIF.
First, there is a distinct lack of records regarding the RIF until one month after Bell’s notification
of non-renewal. 129 Even after JMCHS administrators adopted the label of “RIF” to describe the
Bells’ terminations, there are few records regarding the scope or structure of the purported RIF
aside from a passing mention of a future RIF at the JMCHS Advisory Board meeting on May 14,
2019. 130 In similar situations, courts have recognized that a lack of records regarding a RIF,
124
Frappied v. Affinity Gaming Black Hawk, LLC, 966 F.3d 1038, 1059 (10th Cir. 2020).
125
Mueggenborg, 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 30860, at *23 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
126
Id. (quoting Jaramillo v. Colo. Judicial Dep’t, 427 F.3d 1303, 1311 (10th Cir. 2005) (per curiam)).
127
Twigg v. Hawker Beechcraft Corp., 659 F.3d 987, 1002 (10th Cir. 2011) (quoting Jaramillo, 427 F.3d at 1310).
128
Paup v. Gear Prods., 327 F. App’x 100, 111 (10th Cir. 2009) (unpublished).
129
See Dkt. 30 at 24 (describing the lack of record evidence of the RIF before May 14, 2019).
130
See Dkt. 30-6.
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“considered in conjunction with . . . other evidence of pretext,” can strengthen a plaintiff’s
pretext argument. 131
In addition to the lack of records, the highly subjective and vaguely defined criteria used
to select Bell for non-renewal weighs against its credence. 132 In her deposition, Hendrickson,
one of the two administrators charged with selecting Bell for termination, described JMCHS’s
approach to RIFs as “more or less a numbers game,” relying on “informal conversations—
nothing that’s documented on a spreadsheet.” 133 In other words, “[i]t’s a puzzle, but it’s not like
a formal documentation [process] by any means.” 134 In determining selectees for the RIF,
Hendrickson confirmed “there’s not . . . a checklist of criteria” used by administrators. 135
Instead, they look at the “overall culture of the department, expertise, things like that.” 136 For his
part, Lambert explained repeatedly that JMCHS’s RIF selection process “looks at the full body
of work” for a given teacher. 137 Defendants offer various other explanations for Bell’s selection,
ranging from his negative relationships with certain colleagues to his disputed application of
See Mitchell v. Clean Harbors Env’t Servs., Inc., No. CIV-21-829-SLP, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18401, at *24
(W.D. Okla. Feb. 3, 2023) (denying summary judgment where, among other defects, there was a “lack of records
regarding the structure of the RIF”); see also Blair v. Henry Filters, Inc., 505 F.3d 517, 533–34 (6th Cir. 2007)
(holding that a “lack an objective plan for the [RIF] creates a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether th[e]
explanation is credible,” where the “shedding of employees appears to have been chaotic, occurring in fits and
starts”), overruled on other grounds by Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., Inc., 557 U.S. 167 (2009); Kirsch v. St. Paul
Motorsports, Inc., No. CIV. 11-2624, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64911, at *13 (D. Minn. May 7, 2013) (“Where there
is . . . no evidence of an objective plan for implementing a RIF, the legitimacy of the RIF may be called into
question.”).
131
See Garrett v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 305 F.3d 1210, 1218 (10th Cir. 2002) (“Courts view with skepticism
subjective evaluation methods such as the one here.”); Simms, 165 F.3d at 1328 (“Evidence of pretext may include
. . . the use of subjective criteria.”).
132
133
Hendrickson Deposition at 73:10–22.
134
Id. at 73:24–74:1.
135
Id. at 74:5–7.
136
Id.
See Lambert Deposition at 107:17–19, 131:6–8 (“I look at the full body of work, and I decided that we were
going a different direction.”), 132:22–133:1, 141:19–23 (describing the decision to select the Bells for the RIF was
prompted by him “looking at full body of work and ability to work well with others”).
137
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classroom technology. 138 While “the use of [such] subjective criteria . . . ordinarily is not by
itself sufficient to establish pretext,” a reasonable jury could on this record conclude that the
opaqueness of Defendants’ decisionmaking process and lack of contemporaneous documentation
of the RIF determination weighs against the veracity of the purported RIF. 139
Whether by happenstance or design, it is also relevant that the RIF was something of a
family affair. 140 While Defendants maintain the RIF affected Bell, his wife, and an unrelated
teacher, Grenlie, the record is somewhat unsettled as to whether Grenlie was actually selected for
the RIF, 141 resigned, 142 or was destined for termination despite the RIF. 143 For example, Bell’s
separation report states that he was terminated pursuant to a RIF, 144 whereas Genlie’s separation
report selects “Other” as the “Reason for Separation” with a handwritten comment that the
department decided “to go a different direction [and she] . . . was not offered a new contract.” 145
See, e.g., Dkt. 33 at 12–13 (explaining that Bell was terminated because of the RIF and he was selected because
“JMCHS determined he was not as effective as other educators”); Dkt. 26-13 at 8–10 (offering several other reasons
for Bell’s selection); see also Lambert Deposition at 106:9–25 (explaining that the decision to select Bell for the RIF
was prompted largely by his “negative interactions” with his coworkers), 108:5–25 (crediting Bell’s negative
interactions with fellow teachers and his “teaching abilities” as the drivers for his selection), 132:22–133:1
(crediting the “full body of work” and his negative relationships with his coworkers); Hendrickson Deposition at
75:12–22 (crediting the “lack of innovation” in the classroom and Bell’s negativity with his colleagues).
138
See Bouricius v. Mesa Cty., No. 1:18-cv-01144-DDD-STV, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 259844, at *13 (D. Colo. Jan.
21, 2020) (denying summary judgment where the decisionmaker “made the decision based on a subjective analysis
he performed in his own head, without document his reasons”); Mitchell, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18401, at *24.
139
140
Cf. Wilkerson v. Schirmer Eng’g Corp., No. 04-cv-00258-WDM-OES, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5581, at *10 (D.
Colo. Jan. 30, 2006) (noting that “courts tend to be skeptical of one-person RIFs, and have held that the critical
inference of discrimination arises when ‘the terminated employee’s duties are absorbed by other employees not in
the protected class’” (collecting cases and quoting Bellaver v. Quanex Corp., 200 F.3d 485, 495 (7th Cir. 2000))).
141
See Dkt. 26 at 5–6 (discussing JMCHS’s decision to select Bell and Grenlie for non-renewal); Dkt. 33 at 7
(same); see also Lambert Deposition at 141:1–9 (describing the RIF as affecting Grenlie and the Bells);
Hendrickson Deposition at 112:21–24 (same).
142
See Lambert Deposition at 131:4 – 6 (“I also had a full-time teacher, Eve Grenl[ie], that stepped down – or was
nonrenewed”); Dkt. 30-4 at 40:16–41:3 (reflecting Bell’s understanding that Grenlie had resigned).
See Hendrickson Deposition at 112:17–20 (stating that Grenlie would have “[m]ost likely” been non-renewed
regardless of the RIF, though cautioning that “she can’t say for sure”).
143
144
Dkt. 26-12 at 2.
145
Id. at 3.
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Although the reasons for Grenlie’s termination are hardly dispositive, the inconsistencies
regarding the actual scope of the RIF could lead a reasonable factfinder to conclude that Bell and
his wife, who were both members of the protected age group, were the primary—even
exclusive—target of the RIF, sewing further doubt of the validity of Defendants’ RIF.
Finally, mere days before Bell was notified of non-renewal, JMCHS hired a far younger
and less experienced teacher with responsibilities at least partially overlapping Bell’s. While
Defendants variously characterize Garrison as a replacement for Grenlie, or a replacement for
Grenlie and Bell, 146 the record evinces considerable overlap between his intended role and
Bell’s. 147 As noted above, he was hired to “cover the Substitute Coordinator” responsibilities
and later assigned to teach social studies courses—hallmarks of Bell’s recent tenure at
JMCHS. 148 At the same time, he was not assigned to teach Grenlie’s psychology courses, which
constituted a substantial part of her teaching schedule. 149 Under these circumstances, a
reasonable factfinder could conclude Bell’s position—rather than Grenlie’s—was filled by
Garrison, thereby undermining the credence of Defendants’ stated reason for Bell’s
termination. 150
See, e.g., Dkt. 26 at 6 (describing JMCHS’s determination that “it could hire one teacher . . . to replace both Mr.
Bell and Ms. Grenlie”); Lambert Deposition at 133:6–10 (stating that Garrison “was replacing a full-time teacher,
Eve Grenl[ie], but . . . that in th[e] initial contract, . . . some of Barry [Bell’s] duties would be moved over to him in
the form of substitute coordinating.”); Dkt. 33 (“Garrison was hired to fill the position left vacant by Grenlie.”).
146
See Dkt. 30-9 (reflecting Garrison’s commitment to cover the substitute coordinator position); Dkt. 30-12 at 2–4,
6–7 (comparing Garrison’s second semester schedule with Bell’s past schedules).
147
See Dkt. 26 at 5 (“In the 2018–19 academic year, Mr. Bell was teaching social studies part time in addition to his
role as substitute teacher coordinator.”); Dkt. 30-9; Dkt. 30-12 at 2–4, 6–7.
148
149
See Lambert Deposition at 134:5–10.
See Pippin, 440 F.3d at 1194 (stating that a plaintiff can show pretext by “showing that the defendant actively
sought to replace a number of RIF-terminated employees with new hires during the RIF general time frame”);
Beaird, 145 F.3d at 1175 (concluding that a defendant’s decision to “hir[e] into positions similar to [the plaintiff’s]
at the very time it claimed the elimination of [such] positions . . . was operationally required” was “certainly
sufficient to support a finding of pretext”).
150
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Standing alone, some of these contradictions and doubts leave the veracity of
Defendants’ purported RIF nearly unscathed. When viewed in their totality and in a light most
favorable to Bell, 151 however, they paint a more uncertain picture. In particular, the evidence
presented by Bell could lead a reasonable jury to question Defendants’ explanation for his nonrenewal—noting, among other things, the lack of contemporaneous records regarding the RIF,
vague and shifting explanations for Bell’s selection, uncertain scope of the RIF, and the temporal
proximity of Garrison’s hiring. At the same time, a reasonable jury could find Defendants’
explanation for Bell’s non-renewal entirely credible and lacking any modicum of discriminatory
animus. But it is not the court’s role at summary judgment to determine Defendants’ “true state
of mind.” 152 Under these circumstances, Bell is entitled to have a jury resolve these genuine
issues, and therefore, summary judgment must be denied.
Although Bell points to other evidence to support his argument that Defendants’
proffered justification was pretextual, this evidence is far less persuasive at summary judgment
than the factors noted above. Nevertheless, the court is persuaded that Bell has presented
“evidence sufficient to create a factual dispute regarding the veracity” of Defendants’ purported
RIF, even setting aside his less compelling theories of pretext. 153 Accordingly, the court
“presume[s] the jury could infer the employer acted for a discriminatory reason and must deny
summary judgment.” 154
151
See Beaird, 145 F.3d at 1174 (stating that courts are “required to consider the totality of such circumstantial
evidence”).
Randle v. City of Aurora, 69 F.3d 441, 453 (10th Cir. 1995) (“[I]t is not the purpose of a motion for summary
judgment to force the judge to conduct a ‘mini-trial’ to determine the defendant’s true state of mind.”).
152
153
See Bryant v. Farmers Ins. Exch., 432 F.3d 1114, 1125 (10th Cir. 2005).
154
Id.
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II.
Defendants Have Not Shown that the Ministerial Exception Applies to Bell
Having determined Bell has presented enough evidence to survive summary judgment on
the merits of his ADEA claim, the court next turns to Defendants’ argument that the ministerial
exception shields their decision to terminate Bell.
The ministerial exception arises out of the church autonomy doctrine and seeks to protect
“the right of churches and other religious institutions to decide matters ‘of faith and doctrine’
without government intrusion.” 155 In particular, the exception preserves religious institutions’
“autonomy with respect to internal management decisions that are essential to the institution’s
central mission” by providing an affirmative defense against otherwise cognizable claims arising
under employment discrimination laws. 156 However, the ministerial exception does not afford
religious institutions “a general immunity from secular laws,” nor does it shield all employment
decisions. 157 Instead, the ministerial exception “applies . . . only to employment . . . claims
asserted by a minister.” 158 Accordingly, “[t]he threshold determination for applying the
ministerial exception is whether the plaintiff-employee qualifies as a minister.” 159
In recognizing the ministerial exception, the Supreme Court was “reluctant . . . to adopt a
rigid formula for deciding when an employee qualifies as a minister.” 160 Instead, it “called on
courts to take all relevant circumstances into account and to determine whether each particular
position implicated the fundamental purpose of the exception.” 161 In particular, the Court
Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2060 (quoting Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & Sch. v. EEOC, 565 U.S.
171, 186 (2012)).
155
156
Id.
157
Id.
158
Tucker v. Faith Bible Chapel Int’l, 36 F.4th 1021, 1029 (10th Cir. 2022) (emphasis added).
159
Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
160
Hosanna-Tabor, 565 U.S. at 190.
161
Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2067.
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pointed to several factors that may be relevant to the determination, including the employee’s
title, 162 “degree of religious training,” 163 whether they were held out as a minister, 164 and their
role “conveying the Church’s message and carrying out its mission.” 165 In a recent decision, Our
Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the fact-specific
nature of the determination and rejected the notion that a single factor—specifically, the title of
minister—is dispositive. 166 While the employee’s title may be relevant, of course, the Court
reasserted that “[w]hat matters . . . is what an employee does.” 167 There, the Court found that
two teachers fell under the ministerial exception where there was “abundant record evidence that
they both performed vital religious duties, such as educating their students in the Catholic faith
and guiding their students to live their lives in accordance with that faith.” 168
In moving for summary judgment, Defendants have the burden of presenting sufficient
evidence to prove Bell was a minister 169—namely, that he was “entrust[ed] . . . with the
responsibility of educating and forming students in the faith.” 170 If Defendants meet that burden,
the burden then shifts to Bell to “bring forward specific facts showing a genuine issue for
trial.” 171 Given the fact-specific nature of the determination, the applicability of the ministerial
exception therefore turns on the circumstances of Bell’s employment.
162
See Hosanna-Tabor, 565 U.S. at 191.
163
Id.
164
Id. at 191–92.
165
Id. at 192.
166
Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2067.
167
Id. at 2064.
168
Id. at 2066.
Skrzypczak v. Roman Catholic Diocese, 611 F.3d 1238, 1243 (10th Cir. 2010) (noting that “the Diocese bears the
initial burden”).
169
170
See Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2066.
171
Skrzypczak, 611 F.3d at 1243.
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Defendants emphasize that Bell’s one-year teaching contracts directly referenced policies
affirming “[t]he distinctive Catholic identity and mission of the Catholic school,” which “depend
on the efforts and examples of the whole faculty.” 172 In relevant part, Policy 2200 of the
JMCHS administrative handbook further explains that “[a]ll teachers in Catholic schools share in
the catechetical ministry. Their daily witness to the meaning of mature faith and Christian living
has a profound effect on the education and formation of their students.” 173 Therefore, JMCHS
expected teachers to “[s]upport[] and implement[] the mission/philosophy of Catholic education
and the school,” “give[] evidence of lived Gospel values,” and “[p]articipate[] in building faith
community.” 174 Defendants further stress Bell’s 2018–2019 employment contract reaffirmed
that “Catholic Schools are . . . not simply places where secular subjects are taught; [they] are an
integral part of the faith community that exists primarily to create an environment which
advances students’ knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.” 175
At the same time, Defendants acknowledge—for summary judgment purposes—that
Bell, a non-denominational Christian, “did not teach religion or lead his students in prayer or at
mass, nor was he required to participate in religious training.” 176 They nevertheless maintain
that the pedagogical expectations of JMCHS, contained within its administrative handbook and
referenced by Bell’s employment contracts, support the application of the ministerial
exception. 177 Defendants further contend that JMCHS’s expectations for teachers—even lay
teachers—are so dispositive to the application of the ministerial exception that the court should
172
See Dkt. 26-5.
173
Id.
174
Id.
175
Dkt. 26 at 3.
176
Dkt. 33 at 19.
177
See id. at 15–20; Dkt. 26 at 10–13.
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“hold that [JMCHS’s] teachers are ministers, and its employment decisions related to its
ministers are protected under the ministerial exception.” 178
Yet, even as Defendants ask for a sweeping application of the ministerial exception for
all JMCHS teachers who signed teaching contracts cross-referencing certain ecumenical and
pedagogical policies, they try to circumvent the “case-by-case fact-intensive” nature of the
inquiry described by the Supreme Court in Our Lady and Hosanna-Tabor. 179 While the
Supreme Court has remarked that a “religious institution’s explanation of the role of its
employees in the life of the religion is important,” it stopped short of calling it dispositive or
even more important than other factors. 180 On the contrary, the Supreme Court has repeatedly
disavowed a “rigid formula” in determining whether a given employee falls under the ministerial
exception and instructs that “a variety of factors may be important.” 181 It explained that “[w]hat
matters, at bottom, is what an employee does.” 182
In Our Lady, the Supreme Court gave great weight to the schools’ expectation that
teachers carry out the mission of the church, as well as “the schools’ definition and explanation
of [the teachers’] role,” but it did not consider these factors alone. 183 It also observed that the
teachers “performed vital religious duties” and “were entrusted most directly with the
178
Dkt. 26 at 13.
179
See Tucker 53 F.4th at 623 (“[W]hether an employee qualifies as a minister involves a case-by-case fact-intensive
inquiry, as the Supreme Court has clearly recognized.”); see also Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2063 (“In determining
whether a particular position falls within the Hosanna-Tabor exception, a variety of factors may be important.”);
Hosanna-Tabor, 565 U.S. at 190 – 94 (applying a fact-intensive test to determine whether the ministerial exception
applied to a given employee).
180
Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2066.
181
Id. at 2063.
182
Id. at 2064.
183
See id. at 2066.
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responsibility of educating their students in the faith.” 184 Additionally, “[t]hey prayed with their
students, attended Mass with the students, and prepared the children for their participation in
other religious activities.” 185 Although the teachers were not necessarily titled as ministers and
had “less formal religious training” than others, “their core responsibilities as teachers of religion
were essentially the same.” 186 Similarly, in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church &
School v. EEOC, the school’s expectation that teachers “lead others toward Christian maturity”
and “teach faithfully the Word of God” was only one of several factors considered by the
Court 187—alongside the formal title of the employee, degree of religious training received, and
responsibilities teaching religion and leading religious services. 188 In both of these cases, there
was a recognition that the employees were ministers largely because they were “entrusted with
the responsibility of ‘transmitting the . . . faith to the next generation.’” 189
The multitude of factors considered by the Supreme Court in both Our Lady and
Hosanna-Tabor is decidedly missing here. Notwithstanding JMCHS’s policy emphasizing the
“catechetical ministry” of all teachers, Bell did not teach his students religion or facilitate
religious services. In fact, the very same policy—Policy 2200—expressly barred Bell, a nonCatholic, from teaching any Catholic religion classes. As opposed to the Our Lady and
Hosanna-Tabor plaintiffs, Bell avers he “was never required to take religion courses or
184
Id.
185
Id.
186
Id.
187
See 565 U.S. at 192.
See id. (“In light of these considerations—the formal title given [the employee] by the Church, the substance
reflected in that title, her own use of that title, and the important religious functions she performed for the Church—
we conclude that [the employee] was a minister covered by the ministerial exception.”).
188
189
See Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2064 (quoting Hosanna-Tabor, 565 U.S. at 192).
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participate in any ‘faith-based workshops or meetings.’” 190 Additionally, he maintains that he
“accompanied students to mass only occasionally, when he was substitute teaching,” and “never
led his students in prayer . . . [n]or was he ever asked to do so” 191
The lack of facts showing Bell either performed “vital religious duties” or was “entrusted
with the responsibility of ‘transmitting the [] faith to the next generation’” distinguishes the
present case from both Our Lady and Hosanna-Tabor. 192 In those cases, the plaintiffs taught
religious classes, led religious services, 193 and received at least some religious training. 194 While
the record shows that Bell agreed to “respect . . . the teachings and practices of the Catholic
Church” and acknowledged the religious pedagogy of JMCHS, 195 these facts alone do not
compel application of the ministerial exception. 196 Indeed, it would be a remarkable expansion
of the ministerial exception for the court to hold, as Defendants urge, that all JMCHS teachers
necessarily joined the Catholic ministry based on the policies cross-referenced in their one-year
employment contracts—without any consideration of the work the teachers individually
190
See Dkt. 30 at 18.
191
Id.
192
See Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2064 (quoting Hosanna-Tabor, 565 U.S. at 192).
See id. at 2068 (noting that one of the employees taught religion, “prayed with her students, taught them prayers,
and supervised the prayers led by students”); Hosanna-Tabor, 565 U.S. at 192 (noting that the employee “taught her
students religion four days a week, and led them in prayer three times a day,” as well as led a school-wide chapel
service every year”).
193
Our Lady, 140 S. Ct. at 2058 (stating that the teachers had “limited formal religious training”); Hosanna-Tabor,
565 U.S. at 191 (“To be eligible to become a commissioned minister, [the employee] had to complete eight collegelevel courses in subjects including biblical interpretation, church doctrine, and the ministry of the Lutheran
teacher.”).
194
195
See Dkt. 26-4.
See, e.g., Palmer v. Liberty Univ., No. 6:20-cv-31, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 248963, at *25 (W.D. Va. Dec. 1,
2021) (holding that a teacher was not a minister where she had only a “mere obligation to integrate a Christian
worldview into her curriculum,” and there was limited evidence that she actually did so); Ostrander v. St. Columba
School, No. 3:31-cv-175, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135061, at *17 (S.D. Cal. July 19, 2021) (holding that the
ministerial exception did not apply where the school’s primary evidence was what the teacher was “supposed to do,
not what she actually did”); Starkey v. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Inc., 496 F. Supp. 3d 1195,
1207 (S.D. Ind. 2020) (holding that the ministerial exception did not apply at the pleading stage where the teacher
had overwhelmingly secular daily responsibilities and did not lead prayer or other religious services).
196
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performed at the school. 197 While the court stops short of deciding the ministerial exception
does not apply to Bell’s claim—a question that has not been presented—it is clear that
Defendants have not met their burden of presenting evidence to establish as a matter of law that
Bell was a minister. Additionally, Bell has countered Defendants’ case for the ministerial
exception with specific facts showing that, at most, there exists “a genuine issue for trial.” 198
Accordingly, summary judgment must be denied.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated, Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment 199 is DENIED.
SO ORDERED this 22nd day of May, 2023.
BY THE COURT:
_______________________
ROBERT J. SHELBY
United States Chief District Judge
197
See Dkt. 26.
Skrzypczak, 611 F.3d at 1243 (explaining plaintiff’s burden to survive a ministerial exception defense at the
summary judgment stage).
198
199
Dkt. 26.
29
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