Lincoln v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

Filing 26

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 15 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Robert J. Bryan. (JL)

Download PDF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 CASE NO. 3:17-cv-05177-RJB MARIANNE LINCOLN, Plaintiff, v. STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Defendant. THIS MATTER comes before the Court on Defendant State Farm Automobile Insurance 17 Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment. Dkt. 15. The Court has considered the pleadings 18 filed in support of and in opposition to the motion and the file herein. I. 19 20 21 BACKGROUND A. PROCEDURAL HISTORY Plaintiff filed this employment action in Pierce County, Washington on October 6, 2016. 22 Dkt. 1-3. Defendant removed the case to this Court on March 10, 2017. Dkt. 1. Defendant has 23 cited diversity jurisdiction as the basis for this Court’s subject matter jurisdiction, because 24 Plaintiff resides in the State of Washington, Defendant is incorporated in the State of Illinois, and ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 1 1 Plaintiff has asserted general damages “between $200,000 and $250,000.” Dkt. 2 at ¶4; Dkt. 1-13 2 at ¶¶4.1, 4.2. 3 The Amended Complaint (Dkt. 1-13), which controls, alleges gender, disability, and age 4 discrimination in violation of the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). Dkt. 1-13 5 at ¶¶6.1-6.4. See RCW 49.60 et seq. The Amended Complaint alleges three WLAD 6 discrimination claims, for Disparate Treatment, Hostile Work Environment, and Unlawful 7 Retaliation. Id. at ¶¶6.1-6.3. The Amended Complaint also alleges a common law claim for 8 Wrongful Discharge. Id. at ¶6.4. 9 10 11 B. FACTS The Court recites the relevant facts substantiated by the record in the light most favorable to Plaintiff. 12 1. Ms. Lincoln’s initial employment under Team Manager Matt Dyk. 13 State Farm hired Ms. Marianne Lincoln as a Claims Associate, level PA2, in September 14 of 2013. Dkt. 16-1 at 60. As a Claims Associate, Ms. Lincoln processed insurance claims, a task 15 that involved gathering information from policyholders and auto repair shops by phone and 16 making liability determinations up to a certain amount. Dkt. 16-1 at 13-15. Prior to going “live” 17 on December 9, 2013, Dkt. 16-1 at 209, Ms. Lincoln received about two months of training. The 18 training explained various State Farm policies, including the Standard Claim Procedures (SCPs), 19 an internal, written database used by claims associates to handle certain situations in a certain 20 way. Dkt. 16-1 at 8, 9. 21 Ms. Lincoln began work under Team Manager Carolyn Price. Dkt. 16-1 at 64-67. State 22 Farm transferred Ms. Lincoln to a team managed by Mr. Matt Dyk at some point prior to 23 September 25, 2014. See Dkt. 16-1 at 74. In addition to receiving annual reviews, see, e.g., Dkt. 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 2 1 16-1 at 64-72, Ms. Lincoln received work performance feedback from Customer Interaction 2 Reviews (“CIRs”), evaluations from non-team members listening to conversations without 3 notice, Dkt. 16-1 at 11, and from “one-on-one” observation sessions with Team Managers. Dkt. 4 16-1 at 12. Mr. Dyk’s notes from a September 25, 2014 one-on-one session with Ms. Lincoln 5 state: “We talked about AHT [Average Handling Time] and trying to get it down a bit. Talked 6 about sticking to the SCPs [Standard Claim Procedures] and not giving any other advice during 7 the call.” Dkt. 16-1 at 74. 8 9 10 Ms. Lincoln asked Mr. Dyk for a promotion from Claims Associate level PA2 to PA3, a promotion that would increase wages but not responsibilities. Dkt. 23 at 2. Mr. Dyk denied the request but told her that she was “within a couple weeks” of the promotion. Id. at 2, 3. 11 2. Ms. Lincoln’s employment under Team Manager Rosa Kong. 12 Ms. Lincoln was transferred to a team managed by Ms. Rosa Kong on May 18, 2015. 13 Dkt. 16-1 at 6. Within the first month of Ms. Kong’s tenure as team manager, Ms. Lincoln 14 recalls Ms. Kong commenting at a team meeting that older team members “were used to being 15 more ‘friendly’ on the phone and therefore took longer on calls than younger employees [sic] 16 since they had not developed that habit yet,” a fact supported by “HR studies conducted.” Dkt. 17 23 at 4. See also, Dkt. 21-1 at 4. 18 Ms. Kong began weekly one-on-one meetings with Ms.Lincoln a couple weeks after the 19 transition, on May 28, 2015. Dkt. 16-1 at 209. Ms. Kong relied upon several metrics to evaluate 20 the performance of her team, including the Standard Claim Procedures; Average Handling Time 21 (AHT), the average the length of calls; and Task Productivity Rate (TPR), the total number of 22 “tasks” accomplished per day. See, e.g., Dkt. 23-14. According to Ms. Lincoln, on July 10, 2015, 23 and again on July, 2015, Ms. Kong’s one-on-one meetings singled out Ms. Lincoln for technical 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 3 1 violations of the Standard Claim Procedures not also enforced against others. Dkt. 23 at 6. Ms. 2 Kong’s notes to the July 10, 2015 session state that Ms. Lincoln “continues to demonstrate 3 remarkable behaviors with every interaction per CIR scores,” but “we have discussed quality 4 concerns and the importance of SCP adherence. AHT has improved[.]” Dkt. 16-1 at 99. 5 On July 20, 2015, another manager emailed Ms. Kong that he had received a complaint 6 by an associate of an “outburst” incident by Ms. Lincoln, where Ms. Lincoln pounded her fist on 7 her desk and loudly stomped her feet. The manager had handled the situation by asking Ms. 8 Lincoln to “be more self-aware and conscientious of those around her.” Dkt. 16-1 at 106. On 9 July 21, 2015, Ms. Kong spoke with Ms. Lincoln about the incident, and according to Ms. Kong, 10 Ms. Lincoln acknowledged personal stress, but stated that “personal issues . . . have not affected 11 her quality production and the lack of focus.” Dkt. 16-1 at 108. 12 On July 22, 2015, Ms. Kong sent an email to recap the “conversation of yesterday July 13 21st, 2015 and to highlight a few sequence of events that have led up to our performance 14 discussion.” Dkt. 16-1 at 112. Ms. Lincoln responded to Ms. Kong’s email and expressed that 15 receiving Ms. Kong’s email “caused me to panic . . . [i]n the light of 2 women over 50 on our 16 team being let go recently . . . [because] I, too am similar in profile (over 50).” Id. 110-112. Ms. 17 Kong sympathized that Ms. Lincoln “fe[lt] singled out,” but doubled down on her opinion that 18 Ms. Lincoln’s was “completely unprofessional and unacceptable.” Id. at 114. Ms. Kong 19 commented that “[a]s for terminations in the past, it has nothing to do with your allegations and 20 due to private reasons I’m not at liberty to discuss their performance[.]” Id. at 114. 21 On September 24, 2015, Ms. Kong “[c]ompleted file reviews to measure [Ms. Lincoln’s] 22 SCP adherence due to her PA3 interest,” but “file reviews completed indicated she was not 23 consistently adhering to SCPs.” Dkt. 16-1 at 211. Ms. Kong “advised I would continue to 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 4 1 monitor [Ms. Lincoln’s] SCP adherence[.]” Id. Ms. Kong’s notes to a September 25, 2015 one- 2 on-one meeting similarly state, “advised we were going to review her PA3 candidacy.” Dkt. 16-1 3 at 131. 4 On October 2, 2015, Ms. Kong emailed Ms. Lincoln about a Customer Interaction 5 Review (CIR), where the CIR team had flagged an inappropriate conversation between Ms. 6 Lincoln and a customer. Dkt. 16-1 at 133. According to the CIR, “[d]uring this call, the customer 7 mentioned he would take the [customer satisfaction] survey if this would help with a raise for the 8 associate,” and Ms. Lincoln responded to the customer by stating, “I’m kinda hanging on the 9 edge of my seat on that one. They opened up this center two years ago and there’s a bunch of 10 us[.]” Id. at 135. Ms. Lincoln emailed Ms. Kong at 2:52pm, apologizing for the negative CIR and 11 conveying that she was “not in a good place to discuss [the CIR] at this time” because she felt 12 overwhelmed. Dkt. 16-1 at 139. Ms. Lincoln reported “trying to keep [herself[ together . . . to get 13 [her] affairs in order regarding logics for the surgery.” Id. A 3:36pm email from another 14 manager to Ms. Kong reported Ms. Lincoln venting frustration about the negative CIR and 15 meager prospects of a PA3 promotion, because, “who would promote someone who’s about to 16 go on medical leave.” Id. at 141. Ms. Lincoln first notified Ms. Kong of her need for medical 17 leave on October 2, 2015. Dkt. 23 at 9; Dkt. 21-2 at 33. 18 While out on leave, which began on October 6, 2015, on October 20, 2015, Ms. Lincoln 19 called Ms. Holly Williams (HR). Ms. Williams’ notes reflect that Ms. Lincoln expressed her 20 frustrations with Ms. Kong and requested a new manager. Dkt. 16-1 at 148. According to Ms. 21 Williams’ notes, she discussed with Ms. Lincoln State Farm’s “expectation that she is to work 22 for any manager.” Id. The conversation also included discussion of Plaintiff’s medical leave, and 23 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 5 1 Ms. Williams “discussed ADA and if [Ms. Lincoln] needed anything to let Rosa [Kong] know 2 when she returns[.]” Id. Ms. Lincoln returned to work from leave on November 16, 2015. Dkt. 23 at 9, 10. On 3 4 December 9, 2015, Ms. Kong drafted a work performance memo about Ms. Lincoln, referred the 5 parties as a “drop file memo.” Dkt. 16-1 at 154-155. The drop file memo outlined a series of 6 work performance concerns by Ms. Kong. Id. Ms. Kong signed the memo, but Ms. Lincoln 7 refused to sign. See id. Cynthia Jones, HR, and “Supervisor Drop File” were copied in the 8 correspondence. Id. Ms. Lincoln comprehensively responded to the drop file memo by email on 9 December 17, 2015. Dkt. 16-1 at 164-167. Around that time, on December 6, 2015, Ms. Kong 10 also informed Ms. Lincoln that she was no longer authorized to take overtime shifts. Dkt. 23 at 11 10, 11. 12 On December 17, 2015, Ms. Kong reprimanded Ms. Lincoln for typing on her personal 13 laptop. Ms. Kong recalls that Ms. Lincoln responded by raising her voice and saying, “Go away 14 and leave me alone! Do you want me to finish the training or not?” Dkt. 16-1 at 214. Ms. Kong 15 “[c]onsulted with leadership and Human Resources who made the decision to place [Ms. 16 Lincoln] on Paid Administrative Leave.” Dkt. 16-1 at 214. 17 Ms. Lincoln was placed on paid administrative leave from December 17, 2015 until 18 January 6, 2016. Dkt. 23 at 14, 15. At a January 13, 2016 one-on-one meeting, Ms. Kong 19 reprimanded Ms. Lincoln for “cherry picking” tasks to improve the appearance of her speed, 20 though in Ms. Lincoln’s view, she was exercising discretion to economize her tasks. Id. Ms. 21 Kong sent an email on January 13, 2016 recapping her view that Ms. Lincoln had made no 22 progress in improving her adherence to the SCPs. Dkt. 16-1 at 205-206. Ms. Lincoln responded 23 to the email by rejecting Ms. Kong’s accusations. Dkt. 16-1 at 206. 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 6 1 3. State Farm’s termination of Ms. Lincoln’s employment. 2 On January 20, 2016, Ms. Kong by email recommended terminating Ms. Lincoln to 3 “upper leadership,” comprised of Ms. Jones (HR), Don Bright, and Javier Ray. Dkt. 21-2 at 33. 4 According to Ms. Kong, her recommendation was based “strictly on performance,” as well as 5 misconduct, to wit, Ms. Lincoln’s disruptive and insubordinate behavior. Dkt. 21-2 at 38, 41. In 6 Ms. Kong’s view, three incidents supported the misconduct conclusion: (1) the outburst incident, 7 (2) the personal laptop incident, and (3) the cherry pick incident. Dkt. 21-2 at 38. 8 9 Ms. Kong’s January 20, 2016 email recommended immediate employment termination for “Misconduct.” Dkt. 16-1 at 218. The email states: 13 [Ms. Lincoln] has not shown a consistent ability to accept feedback, implement the feedback, and maintain professionalism in the work environment. [Ms. Lincoln] has been provided multiple coaching opportunities, feedback, and job shadows to help her consistently achieve expectations. She has disregarded and chosen not to implement specific job performance related feedback with regards to her customer interactions and adherence to the Standard Claim Processes (SCPs). This has resulted in instances of insubordination on the work floor which was overheard by and disruptive to the team[.] 14 Dkt. 16-1 at 218. The email also narrated a summary of “recent events,” from December 9, 2015 15 until December 12, 2015, including a December 12, 2015, incident where Ms. Kong 16 “[c]onducted weekly side by side observation . . . [and] observed [Ms. Lincoln] filtering through 17 task work and cherry picking easier tasks.” Id. at 219. According to Ms. Kong, Ms. Lincoln 18 “stated that she disagreed” with that policy and refused to comply, by continuing to filter through 19 task work, completing easier tasks first. Id. 10 11 12 20 At a meeting on January 22, 2016, attended by Ms. Lincoln, Ms. Kong, Ms. Williams 21 (HR), and another manager, Ms. Kong informed Ms. Lincoln of her termination because 22 performance had fallen below expectations, where “most recently in a [one-on-one] she refused 23 to cease cherry picking and follow the SCPs [Standard Claims Procedure].” Dkt. 16-1 at 222. 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 7 1 Ms. Lincoln remarked at the meeting that she was “leaving under a lie” and denied cherry 2 picking. Id. 3 4. Ms. Lincoln’s discrimination complaints 4 On October 14, 2015, Ms. Lincoln filed an EEOC age discrimination complaint with the 5 Washington State Human Rights Commission. Dkt. 16-1 at 145-146. The EEOC claim 6 represents that Ms. Lincoln, age 58, was denied a promotion and raise because of age 7 discrimination. Id. According to the EEOC complaint, “a major change was made in the way that 8 we process claims and . . . my Team Leader kept moving the target and telling me that I still 9 could not get a promotion and a raise. . . find[ing] fault with my performance in subject areas.” 10 Id. Five employees in the “Protected Age Group have been let go, while three employees under 11 the age of 30 have received promotions and/or raises.” Id. 12 13 14 On January 14, 2016, Ms. Lincoln filed a second EEOC complaint, alleging age and gender discrimination. Dkt. 21-2 at 34. In addition to the EEOC complaints, Ms. Lincoln filed an internal State Farm complaint 15 with the State Farm Compliance and Ethics Hotline. A State Farm Case Detail Report narrates 16 Ms. Lincoln’s concern, raised on December 17, 2015, as follows: 17 18 19 Caller states caller is reporting retaliation. Caller states caller 58 years old, and caller is on a team of about 12 people. Caller states four people have been eliminated from this team, and they are all over the age of 50. Caller states when caller announced . . . back surgery, Rosa Kong changed how Rosa approached caller, and Rosa started attacking caller’s performance . . . Caller is afraid of fired . . . needs overtime pay to pay medical bills. 20 Dkt. 16-1 at 169. The follow-up comment to the Case Detail Report, dated December 18, 2015, 21 states, “As the investigation is completed, we will provide an update to this site indicating the 22 status of the investigation. Id. at 171. A second follow-up comment, dated December 29, 2015, 23 states, “Caller is calling for a management response. Specialist reads caller the management 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 8 1 response. Caller states there is more going on . . . Caller states caller is on leave. Caller thanks 2 specialists, leaves no further comments, and ends call.” Id. On December 22, 2015, Evelynn Hurdman, Employee Relations Investigator, 3 4 interviewed Ms. Lincoln about “some concerns recently brought forward.” Dkt. 16-1 at 176. Ms. 5 Hurdman also interviewed Mr. Dyk and another manager. Dkt. 16-1 at 185-190, 194. Ms. 6 Hurdman did not interview Ms. Kong, because, in her view, the allegations of discrimination and 7 retaliation against Ms. Lincoln were “not substantiated [] [a]s the evidence provided to [sic] do 8 not indicate behavior . . . rose to the level of a policy violation she was not interviewed.” Id. at 9 194. 10 5. Termination of employment for other members of Ms. Kong’s team. 11 Including Ms. Lincoln, Ms. Kong’s team had twelve people, eight of whom were over 12 age fifty (50), including Ms. Lincoln. 21-1 at 29; Dkt. 22 at ¶3; Dkt. 23 at 3. The other four 13 people were under age thirty (30). Id. Three of those four had previously received level PA3 14 promotions, and the fourth was promoted under Ms. Kong’s management. Id. 15 Between June of 2015 and January of 2016, State Farm terminated six Claims Associates 16 from Ms. Kong’s team, all of whom were over the age of fifty (50): Lori Chavez (June 2015), 17 Mary Huff (July 2015), Rene Sherry (August 2015), Kristine Morley (September 2015), Ms. 18 Lincoln (January 2016), and Jim Shea (January 2016). Dkt. 21-2 at 38, 39; Dkt. 23 at 5. State 19 Farm terminated them ostensibly because none of them showed “any immediate or sustained 20 improvement.” Id. State Farm also terminated Susan Hamilton, age 61, in May 2015, during the 21 manager transition from Mr. Dyk to Ms. Kong. Dkt. 23 at 5. 22 23 In the opinion of Katheryn Vazquez, a member of Ms. Kong’s team who “did not want to draw the conclusion that someone was singling out people over 40[,]” employees over age forty 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 9 1 (40) “appeared to be coached differently[.]” Dkt. 21-1 at 4, 9. The younger employees were 2 “held up as examples to us in areas where we struggled.” Id. Mr. Shea, age sixty, who was 3 terminated approximately one week after Ms. Lincoln, testified that Ms. Kong “had a strong 4 dislike of being challenged. I believe that the older people on our team . . . challenged her . . . 5 [and] she didn’t’ like that.” Dkt. 21-1 at 21. According to Ms. Shea, “[n]ewly trained employees 6 were brought in as replacements, with only one being over 40.” Dkt. 22 at ¶6. See also, Dkt. 21-2 7 at 24. 8 9 10 II. DISCUSSION A. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD Summary judgment is proper only if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials 11 on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the 12 movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 (c).The moving party is 13 entitled to judgment as a matter of law when the nonmoving party fails to make a sufficient 14 showing on an essential element of a claim in the case on which the nonmoving party has the 15 burden of proof. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1985). There is no genuine issue of 16 fact for trial where the record, taken as a whole, could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for 17 the nonmoving party. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 18 (1986)(nonmoving party must present specific, significant probative evidence, not simply “some 19 metaphysical doubt.”). See also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 (d). Conversely, a genuine dispute over a 20 material fact exists if there is sufficient evidence supporting the claimed factual dispute, 21 requiring a judge or jury to resolve the differing versions of the truth. Anderson v. Liberty 22 Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 253 (1986); T.W. Elec. Service Inc. v. Pacific Electrical Contractors 23 Association, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987). 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 10 1 The determination of the existence of a material fact is often a close question. The court 2 must consider the substantive evidentiary burden that the nonmoving party must meet at trial – 3 e.g., a preponderance of the evidence in most civil cases. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 254, T.W. Elect. 4 Service Inc., 809 F.2d at 630. The court must resolve any factual issues of controversy in favor 5 of the nonmoving party only when the facts specifically attested by that party contradict facts 6 specifically attested by the moving party. The nonmoving party may not merely state that it will 7 discredit the moving party’s evidence at trial, in the hopes that evidence can be developed at trial 8 to support the claim. T.W. Elect. Service Inc., 809 F.2d at 630 (relying on Anderson, supra). 9 Conclusory, non-specific statements in affidavits are not sufficient, and “missing facts” will not 10 be “presumed.” Lujan v. National Wildlife Federation, 497 U.S. 871, 888-89 (1990). 11 B. WLAD CLAIMS GENERALLY The WLAD prohibits discrimination based on sex1, physical disability, and age, inter 12 13 alia. RCW 49.60.010. At summary judgment, where, as here, the plaintiff does not make a 14 showing of direct discrimination2, courts apply the three-part McDonnell Douglas burden- 15 shifting framework. Scrivner v. Clark College, 181 Wn. 2d 439, 445 (2014). First, the plaintiff- 16 employee must make a prima facie showing of discrimination. If the plaintiff-employee makes a 17 sufficient showing, second, the defendant-employer must show a legitimate, non-discriminatory 18 reason for its adverse employment action. If the defendant-employer makes a sufficient showing, 19 thirdly, the plaintiff-employee must show that the defendant-employer’s reason was pretext. 20 21 To show pretext, “[a]n employee does not need to disprove each of the employer’s reasons[.]” Scrivener, 181 Wn. 2d at 447. Instead, the plaintiff may satisfy the pretext prong by 22 1 23 24 The Amended Complaint alleges gender discrimination. The WLAD defines “sex” as “gender.” RCW 49.60.040(25). 2 The only reference to direct discrimination appears to be a cut and paste job. See Dkt. 20 at 16, 17. ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 11 1 showing that the defendant’s articulated reason had no basis in fact, was not really a motivating 2 factor, was not temporally connected to the adverse employment action, or was not a motivating 3 factor in the employment decision for other employees in the same circumstances. Id. at 447-48 4 (2014). The plaintiff may also satisfy the pretext prong by showing that discrimination was a 5 substantial motivating factor. “Substantial factor” refers to a significant motivating factor, not 6 necessarily the sole or main one. Id. at 444; Washington Pattern Jury Instructions, 330.01.01 (6th 7 ed. 2012). “When the record contains reasonable but competing inferences of both discrimination 8 and nondiscrimination, the trier of fact must determine the true motivation.” Id. at 445, 9 summarizing Rice v. Offshore Systems, Inc., 167 Wn. App. 77 (2012). 10 C. DISPARATE TREATMENT 11 1. Prima facie case. 12 “Disparate treatment occurs when an employer treats some people less favorably than 13 others because of . . . [a] protected status.” Alonso v. Qwest Communications Co., LLC, 178 Wn. 14 App. 734, 743 (2013). The prima facie disparate treatment claim for discrimination has four 15 elements: (1) that the employee-plaintiff belongs to a protected class, (2) was subject to an 16 adverse employment action, (3) was doing satisfactory work, and (4) the employer-defendant 17 replaced the plaintiff-employee with a person not of that protected class, or sought applicants 18 with similar qualifications to the employee-plaintiff. Mikkelsen v. PUD No. 1 of Kittitas Cty., 19 189 Wn. 2d 516, 527 (2017) (age and gender). See also, Riehl v. Foodmaker, Inc., 152 Wn. 2d 20 138, 149 (2004)(disability3). 21 22 23 24 3 Mikkelson clarified the fourth element, known as the “replacement element,” for discrimination cases generally. It arguably overrules Riehl in part as to the fourth element. ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 12 1 The first element is satisfied where it undisputed that Ms. Lincoln is a member of classes 2 protected by the WLAD, as a female, age 58, with ongoing medical issues. Also for purposes of 3 this motion, Defendant does not dispute the second element, “adverse employment action,” 4 because State Farm terminated Ms. Lincoln’s employment. Dkt. 24 at 11. See also, Kirby v. City 5 of Tacoma, 124 Wn.App. 454, 465 (2004). Defendant challenges Plaintiff’s showing as to the 6 third and fourth elements. The third element, satisfactory work, is satisfied by viewing 7 performance metrics in a light favorable to Plaintiff. Although Ms. Kong repeatedly pointed to 8 problems with Ms. Lincoln’s performance, Ms. Lincoln at times out-performed colleagues on 9 metrics such as Average Handle Time and Task Productivity Rate. See, e.g., Dkt. 23-14. 10 The fourth element examines whether State Farm replaced Ms. Lincoln with a person 11 outside of her protected classes (female, over age forty, with ongoing medical issues), or at least 12 sought applicants with qualifications similar to Ms. Lincoln. Mikkelsen, 189 Wn. 2d at 527. See 13 Grimwood, 110 Wn.2d 355, 362 (1988). According to Mr. Shea, age sixty, at the time of his 14 termination on January 29, 2016, “5 other women over 40 had already been terminated from the 15 team [and] [n]ewly trained employees were brought in as replacements, with only one being over 16 40.” Dkt. 22 at ¶6. See also, Dkt. 21-2 at 24. Mr. Shea’s declaration is sufficient for purposes of 17 the claim for disparate treatment based on age. 18 However, Plaintiff has not pointed to—and the Court is aware of no evidentiary showing 19 for—a similar showing for the fourth element for sex and disability discrimination. See Dkt. 20 20 at 18-21. A showing for the fourth element would consider, e.g., whether State Farm replaced 21 Ms. Lincoln with male employees and employees without ongoing medical issues, or whether 22 State Farm solicited applications from persons of similar background and qualification to Ms. 23 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 13 1 Lincoln. Because Plaintiff has not made a showing as to the fourth element, Defendant’s motion 2 should be granted in part as to the claim for disparate treatment based on sex and disability. 3 2. Legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for employment termination. 4 The Court next considers Defendant’s showing of a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason 5 for State Farm’s termination of Ms. Lincoln’s employment. State Farm ostensibly terminated 6 Ms. Lincoln on two grounds, performance and misconduct. Perhaps the most distilled summary 7 of the basis for termination is Ms. Kong’s December 9, 2015 drop memo, which articulated a 8 series of performance problems, and Ms. Kong’s January 20, 2016 email, which recommended 9 termination for misconduct. Dkt. 16-1 at 154, 218. Defendant has met its burden. 10 3. Pretext. 11 Finally, the Court turns to the showing of pretext, a burden Plaintiff has met. Over the 12 course of about six months, on Ms. Kong’s team of twelve people, State Farm terminated six 13 people, including Ms. Lincoln, over the age of fifty. Dkt. 21-1 at 29; Dkt. 22 at ¶3; Dkt. 23 at 3. 14 At a team meeting less than one month into Ms. Kong’s tenure, Ms. Kong commented that older 15 team members were used to being friendlier on the phone and took longer than younger 16 employees. Dkt. 23 at 4. See Dkt. 21-1 at 4; Dkt. 21-1 at 30; 21-2 at 4, 28. Ms. Kong coached 17 older employees differently than younger ones, and presented the work of younger employees as 18 exemplary to older ones. Dkt. 21-1 at 4, 9; Dkt. 21-2 at 6. State Farm gave younger employees 19 more opportunities for mentorship and promotion, Dkt. 21-2 at 17, 18, 24; Dkt. 23-3 at 3, and 20 increased wages of four members of Ms. Kong’s team under the age of thirty. Dkt. 22 at ¶3; Dkt. 21 23 at 3. Viewing these facts together in the light favorable to Plaintiff at a minimum reasonably 22 points to competing inferences of age discrimination and nondiscrimination. Notwithstanding 23 Defendant’s argument that all of the terminated team members also had glaring work 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 14 1 performance issues, Dkt. 24 at FN10, Plaintiff has met her burden to show pretext, because a 2 reasonable trier of fact could find that age was a substantial factor motivating the termination of 3 Ms. Lincoln’s employment. 4 Defendant’s motion should be granted in part and the claim dismissed as to disparate 5 treatment based on sex and disability, because Plaintiff has not met her prima facie burden. 6 Defendant’s motion should otherwise be denied. The claim for disparate treatment based on age 7 may proceed. 8 9 D. UNLAWFUL RETALIATION The prima facie case of unlawful retaliation requires a showing that (1) the employee- 10 plaintiff engaged in a statutorily protected activity, (2) the employee-plaintiff suffered an adverse 11 employment action, and (3) there is a causal link between the activity and the adverse action. 12 Marin v. King County, 194 Wn. App. 795, 811 (2016). See also, Short v. Battle Ground School 13 Dist., 169 Wn. App. 188 (2012), overruled in part on other grounds. To prove a causal link, the 14 plaintiff must provide evidence that the protected activity was a substantial factor motivating the 15 adverse action. Currier v. Northland Services, Inc., 182 Wn. App. 733, 746 (2014). “Thus, 16 retaliation need not be the main reason . . . but instead only be the reason that ‘tips the scales’” 17 towards the adverse action. Id. 18 For purposes of Plaintiff’s prima facie burden, the first element of protected activity is 19 satisfied, given that Plaintiff filed three discrimination complaints. See, e.g., Estevez v. Faculty 20 Club of the Univ. of Wash., 129 Wn. App. 774, 778 (2005). Defendant appears to concede this 21 element. See Dkt. 15 at 24 (Defendant “does not deny that Ms. Lincoln complained of 22 discrimination several times”). The second element is also satisfied, because as discussed above, 23 there is no dispute that terminating employment is an adverse employment action. 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 15 1 Considering the third element, causation, Plaintiff has not met her burden. Plaintiff’s 2 Response does not parse out specific facts for each element. Dkt. 20 at 22. The Response argues 3 generically that there is “more than ample evidence” of retaliation, pointing to just three facts: 4 (1) State Farm failed to interview Ms. Lincoln when conducting its internal investigation of her 5 age discrimination complaint; (2) Ms. Jones (HR) knew of Ms. Lincoln’s complaints, yet has 6 denied knowledge of them, which is “suspicious”; and (3) Ms. Kong “increased the negative 7 reviews, ‘tubed’ plaintiff’s attempts to promote or transfer. . . [and] ignored her discrimination 8 complaints . . . to set [Ms. Lincoln] up for bad performance and termination.” Id. 9 The first two facts, even if true, do not point to retaliation because of Ms. Lincoln filing 10 the EEOC and State Farm complaints. First, the fact that State Farm deliberately declined to 11 interview Ms. Lincoln when conducting its internal investigation does not tend to show an intent 12 to terminate Ms. Lincoln, but rather, at most, shows that State Farm protected its management 13 and believed management over others. Second, if Ms. Jones knew of Ms. Lincoln’s 14 discrimination complaints, it does not follow that Ms. Lincoln was terminated because she filed 15 them. The decision to terminate Ms. Lincoln was made by a team of three people, including Ms. 16 Jones, and there is no evidence that the two others knew of the complaints. In any event, mere 17 awareness is not enough of a showing for causation. 18 The third fact offered by Plaintiff focuses on Ms. Kong’s denial of (1) promotion and (2) 19 transfer and (3) negative reviews. This fact could potentially show causation of unlawful 20 retaliation, but only if this negative treatment increased after Ms. Lincoln filed her EEOC and 21 State Farm complaints. The record does not support this theory. (1) Ms. Lincoln was denied 22 promotion to PA3 by both Mr. Dyk and by Ms. Kong prior to the filing of the EEOC complaint 23 in October of 2015. Dkt. 16-1 at 211; Dkt. 23 at 2. (2) Ms. Lincoln requested to be transferred to 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 16 1 another supervisor, but Ms. Williams (HR) reiterated State Farm policy that employees were 2 expected to perform under any supervisor, Dkt. 16-1 at 148, and nothing in the record indicates 3 any basis to conclude that this policy was not consistently enforced. (3) Ms. Kong began meeting 4 with Ms. Lincoln for weekly one-on-one performance-related meetings, presumably the source 5 of what Plaintiff refers to as “negative reviews,” on May 28, 2015, approximately two weeks into 6 Ms. Kong’s tenure as a manager. Dkt. 16-1 at 209. The meetings continued until Ms. Lincoln’s 7 termination in January of 2016. Id. Negative reviews (Plaintiff), also known as constructive 8 criticisms, are apparent throughout the content of Ms. Kong’s reviews in every meeting, long 9 before Ms. Lincoln filed any discrimination complaints. See, e.g., Dkt. 16-1 at 99; Dkt. 23 at 6. 10 Plaintiff has not met her prima facie burden to show a causal nexus between the filing of 11 her discrimination complaints and the termination of her employment. Even if she could, this 12 claim would not survive summary judgment because of the insufficient showing of pretense. 13 Returning again to the three facts alleged in Plaintiff’s Response, see Dkt. 20 at 22, does not 14 make a pretense showing. Nor does examination of the record point to pretext. The most that 15 Plaintiff could point to is that Ms. Kong and Ms. Jones knew of Ms. Lincoln’s complaints and 16 were involved in the recommendation (Ms. Kong) and decision (Ms. Jones) to terminate 17 employment. Beyond the mere timing of events, e.g., the fact that Ms. Lincoln’s termination 18 followed the filing of her complaints, no other facts support the theory that Ms. Lincoln’s 19 complaints were a motivating factor to Ms. Kong, Ms. Jones, or anyone else involved in the 20 termination decision. 21 22 As to the unlawful retaliation claim, Plaintiff has not met her prima facie burden and has made no showing of pretense. Defendant’s motion should be granted and the claim dismissed. 23 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 17 1 2 E. WRONGFUL DISCHARGE Although Defendant has requested summary judgment of dismissal for all claims, 3 Defendant’s briefing does not directly discuss the wrongful discharge claim. See Dkt. 1-13 at 4 ¶6.4; Dkt. 15 at 20:8-13, 22:16-20, 23:13-16, 24:1-4; Dkt. 24. Wrongful discharge or termination 5 is a distinct and discrete type of claim from a claim for unlawful retaliation. See, e.g,. Blinka v. 6 Wash. State Bar Ass’n, 109 Wn. App. 575 (2001). Whether this omission was strategic or an 7 oversight, Defendant has not met its burden to show summary judgment of dismissal. 8 Defendant’s motion should therefore be denied as to this claim. 9 F. HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT 10 To establish a hostile work environment claim, a plaintiff must prove that harassment to 11 the plaintiff (1) was unwelcome, (2) was because the plaintiff is a member of a protected class, 12 (3) affected the terms and conditions of the plaintiff’s employment, and (4) was imputable to the 13 employer. Domingo v. Boeing, 124 Wn. App. 71, 84 (2004). Conduct affects the conditions of 14 employment “if it is sufficiently pervasive so as to alter the conditions of employment and create 15 an abusive working environment.” Glasgow v. Georgia-Pacific Corp., 103 Wn. 2d 401, 406 16 (1985). “Casual, isolated or trivial manifestations of a discriminatory environment” are legally 17 insufficient. Id. Courts look to the totality of the circumstances, such as: “the frequency and 18 severity of the discriminatory conduct; whether it was physically threatening or humiliating, or a 19 mere offensive utterance; and whether it unreasonably interference with an employee’s work 20 performance.” Washington v. Boeing Co., 105 Wn. App. 1, 10 (2000). 21 Applied here, Plaintiff has failed to show that State Farm’s harassment affected the terms 22 and conditions of her employment, the third element. Plaintiff’s showing is overwhelmingly 23 conclusory, where, after articulating the relevant law, Plaintiff first argues that “[i]n this case, 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 18 1 there is substantial evidence . . . that the plaintiff was the victim of a hostile work environment 2 due to her age and disability.” Dkt. 20 at 23. 3 Plaintiff next notes that, “[i]n a rather compressed period of time [Plaintiff] . . . was 4 subject to a wide variety of investigative actions and complaints which . . . surrounded the 5 manifestations of her age and/or disability within the work environment.” Dkt. 20 at 24. Plaintiff 6 does not specify the frequency or source of these investigative actions and complaints. From 7 further context in the briefing, it appears that Plaintiff may be referring to the high “volume and 8 intensity of actions taken against plaintiff following her back surgery,” where Ms. Kong “paid 9 extra attention to plaintiff, often marched to [Ms. Lincoln’s] desk to criticize her and . . . to try to 10 write up anything you do that she disagrees with[.]” Id. If so, Plaintiff’s theory is, in essence, that 11 Ms. Kong’s one-on-one reviews and intermittent “write ups” constituted age and disability 12 harassment that in their totality created a hostile work environment. However, Ms. Kong’s one- 13 on-one reviews occurred consistently approximately once per week. Ms. Kong’s write ups, such 14 as the December 9, 2015 drop memo, occurred only a handful of times over a period of several 15 months. Even if the reviews and write ups are construed as age and disability harassment, it 16 cannot be said that such “harassment” was pervasive, given this infrequency. 17 Nor can it be said that Ms. Kong’s one-on-one reviews and write ups were “severe,” 18 because their content plainly related to work performance, not Ms. Lincoln’s protected class, and 19 none made plain insults or threats to Plaintiff’s physical well-being. In their totality, the reviews 20 and write ups do not amount to a discriminatory environment. No trier of fact could find that 21 Defendant’s conduct constituted severe or pervasive harassment. 22 23 Plaintiff has not met her burden to show an issue of material fact as to whether age or disability discrimination was sufficiently severe and pervasive to affect the terms of 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 19 1 employment. Defendant’s motion should be granted as to the hostile work environment claim, 2 which should be dismissed. *** 3 4 Therefore, it is HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant State Farm Automobile Insurance 5 Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 15) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN 6 PART as follows: 7 8 1. Disparate treatment claim: The motion is granted in part as to a disparate treatment claim based on sex discrimination and disability discrimination. To that extent, the claim is dismissed. The motion is otherwise denied. The claim for disparate treatment based on age discrimination may proceed. 9 2. Unlawful retaliation claim: The motion is granted. This claim is DISMISSED. 10 3. Wrongful discharge claim: The motion is denied. 11 4. Hostile work environment: The motion is granted. This claim is DISMISSED. 12 IT IS SO ORDERED. 13 The Clerk is directed to send uncertified copies of this Order to all counsel of record and 14 to any party appearing pro se at said party’s last known address. 15 Dated this 12th day of February, 2018. 16 17 18 19 A ROBERT J. BRYAN United States District Judge 20 21 22 23 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT STATE FARM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT - 20

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?