Thorington v. Sally Beauty Holding, Inc. et al

Filing 55

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Liam O'Grady on 5/10/2017. (rban, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Alexandria Division

Bianca Jasmine Thorington,

Plaintiff,
Civil Action No. l:16-cv-626

v.

Sally Beauty Supply LLC,

Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This matter comes before the Court on Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Dkt.
No. 32.

Plaintiffs complaint alleges sex discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment,

retaliation, and pregnancy discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964,42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS IN PART
AND DENIES IN PART Defendant's Motion.

I. Background
A. Factual History

Defendant, Sally Beauty, LLC, is a wholesale and retail distributor of professional beauty
products. SOF11. The company is based in Texas but operates internationally, including 77
stores in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SOF %1. Defendant has an equal opportunity
employee policy set forth in the employee handbook. SOF 12. Defendant also maintains a
"Discrimination/Harassment Complaint Procedure" under which employees are obligated to

report incidents ofdiscrimination or harassment to the human resource manager, vice president

of human resources, or the company president. SOF 13. The policy protects whistleblowing