Redding v. SOC, LLC

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 6 * * * 7 GUS REDDING, Case No. 2:19-CV-412 JCM (EJY) 8 Plaintiff(s), ORDER 9 v. 10 SOC, LLC, 11 Defendant(s). 12 13 Presently before the court is defendant SOC, LLC’s (“SOC”) motion for summary 14 judgment. (ECF No. 64). Plaintiff Gus Redding (“Redding”) filed a response (ECF No. 70), to 15 which SOC replied (ECF No. 74). 16 I. Background 17 This action arises out of an employment dispute in which Redding alleges that SOC 18 retaliated against him for participating in the sexual harassment investigation initiated by 19 Redding’s coworker, Jennifer Glover. 20 On July 6, 1998, Redding began his employment as a security police officer (“SPO”) at the 21 Nevada National Security Site (“NNSS”). In November 2017, Glover alleged that members of the 22 NNSS Special Reaction Team (“SRT”) sexually assaulted her during a training exercise. Later 23 that year, Redding gave an interview to NNSS’s then managing contractor, Centerra, supporting 24 Glover’s assault claim. In March 2018, while the investigation was still pending, SOC took over 25 the management contract for NNSS and became Redding’s employer. 26 Redding alleges that he experienced retaliation due to his participation in the sexual assault 27 investigation which continued when SOC took over his employment. Specifically, Redding 28 alleges four incidents occurred between June 2018 and January 2019: 1) when SRT members 1 blocked Glover and Redding from leaving NNSS’s “icehouse,” 2) when a lieutenant closely related 2 to an alleged assaulter targeted Redding with a disproportionally strict equipment inspection called 3 a “matrix check,” 3) when SOC placed Redding on unjustifiable administrative leave due to that 4 matrix check, and 4) when Redding’s request for medical retirement was denied and he was limited 5 to modified duty for months. 6 On June 28, 2018, Glover and Redding were parked outside of NNSS’s icehouse, a deep 7 freeze area near the cafeteria where employees go to get ice. There, SRT members parked behind 8 Glover and Redding’s vehicle, blocking the vehicle from leaving the parking lot for between thirty 9 seconds and ten minutes. According to Redding, the SRT members laughed amongst themselves 10 while walking slowly past him and looking in his direction. 11 Glover then submitted a harassment complaint to SOC regarding the icehouse incident, and 12 on August 1, 2018, Redding submitted a statement supporting Glover’s complaint. 13 Just two days later, Glover and Redding were working at a guard shack when lieutenant 14 Cody Craig—brother of one of Glover’s alleged assaulters—told them that they both had an 15 equipment inspection called a matrix check. Craig issued Redding a counseling form because 16 Redding did not have his vest or gear bag during the matrix check. Redding refused to sign the 17 counseling form, maintaining that he did have his vest on his person and that his bag was in his 18 locker, which he claims was normally accepted during a matrix check. 19 Later that same day, Redding approached Craig and exchanged words. Redding alleges 20 that he merely told Craig to stop retaliating against Glover and him, but SOC argues that Redding 21 made threats to Craig. Just hours later, SOC placed Redding on administrative leave pending an 22 investigation into Redding’s alleged threats against Craig. After six weeks, SOC’s investigation 23 found that Redding’s conduct toward Craig was unacceptable and unprofessional but found no 24 grounds to terminate him. So, Redding returned to work in early October 2018. 25 Then, in January 2019, Redding requested medical retirement based on the findings of Dr. 26 Jeff Moon—Redding’s personal physician and the former medical director at NNSS—and Major 27 Todd Kuhnwald, a physician’s assistant working for Mission Support and Test Services 28 1 (“MSTS”), which operates the occupational medicine clinics for NNSS and provides the medical 2 and psychological certifications necessary for SPOs to maintain employment at NNSS. 3 Kuhnwald found that Redding’s back had deteriorated from years of carrying heavy gear 4 during his time as an SPO and recommended he be placed on “modified duty” until his medical 5 retirement was approved by Dr. Alex Malone—the current NNSS medical director. According to 6 Kuhnwald, the approval process for medical retirement usually took about 24 hours. 7 Dr. Malone did not agree with Kuhnwald’s recommendation. So, on February 6, 2019, Dr. 8 Malone told Redding he would sign off on the medical disqualification only if Redding underwent 9 an independent medical examination (“IME”) and a human reliability program. 10 The denial of Redding’s medical leave resulted in Redding not having any work for two 11 months because SOC failed to find “modified work” that Redding could complete while on the 12 “modified duty” Kuhnwald recommended. During that time, Redding brought this action against 13 SOC asserting retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Nevada 14 Revised Statute § 613.330. 15 Three weeks after filing this action, Redding underwent the IME. The IME report found 16 that Redding was not permanently medically disqualified and thus could not obtain medical 17 retirement. When Redding returned to NNSS for his “modified duty,” he found that SOC refused 18 to provide him with a login or password to SOC’s servers because SOC didn’t know how long he 19 was going to be there and did not want him to have access. (ECF No. 71-4 at 18). Redding 20 continued showing up to NNSS with nothing to do until he resigned on July 8, 2019, to begin 21 working for Janus Global Operations (“Janus”) as a security guard. 22 SOC now moves for summary judgment on Redding’s retaliation claims. 23 II. Legal Standard 24 Summary judgment is proper when the record shows that “there is no genuine dispute as 25 to any material fact and the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” 1 Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 1 The court can consider information in an inadmissible form at summary judgment if the 27 information itself would be admissible at trial. Fraser v. Goodale, 342 F.3d 1032, 1036 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Block v. City of Los Angeles, 253 F.3d 410, 418–19 (9th Cir. 2001) (“To survive summary judgment, 28 a party does not necessarily have to produce evidence in a form that would be admissible at trial, as long as the party satisfies the requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 56.”)). 1 56(a). The purpose of summary judgment is “to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported 2 claims or defenses,” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323–24 (1986), and to avoid 3 unnecessary trials on undisputed facts. Nw. Motorcycle Ass’n v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 18 F.3d 4 1468, 1471 (9th Cir. 1994). 5 When the moving party bears the burden of proof on a claim or defense, it must produce 6 evidence “which would entitle it to a directed verdict if the evidence went uncontroverted at trial.” 7 C.A.R. Transp. Brokerage Co. v. Darden Rests., Inc., 213 F.3d 474, 480 (9th Cir. 2000) (internal 8 citations omitted). In contrast, when the nonmoving party bears the burden of proof on a claim or 9 defense, the moving party must “either produce evidence negating an essential element of the 10 nonmoving party’s claim or defense or show that the nonmoving party does not have enough 11 evidence of an essential element to carry its ultimate burden of [proof] at trial.” Nissan Fire & 12 Marine Ins. Co. v. Fritz Cos., 210 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000). 13 If the moving party satisfies its initial burden, the burden then shifts to the party opposing 14 summary judgment to establish a genuine issue of material fact. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. 15 v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). An issue is “genuine” if there is an adequate 16 evidentiary basis on which a reasonable factfinder could find for the nonmoving party and a fact 17 is “material” if it could affect the outcome under the governing law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 18 Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248–49 (1986). 19 The opposing party does not have to conclusively establish an issue of material fact in its 20 favor. T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987). 21 But it must go beyond the pleadings and designate “specific facts” in the evidentiary record that 22 show “there is a genuine issue for trial.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324. In other words, the opposing 23 party must show that a judge or jury has to resolve the parties’ differing versions of the truth. T.W. 24 Elec. Serv., 809 F.2d at 630. 25 The court must view all facts and draw all inferences in the light most favorable to the 26 nonmoving party. Lujan v. Nat’l Wildlife Fed., 497 U.S. 871, 888 (1990); Kaiser Cement Corp. 27 v. Fishbach & Moore, Inc., 793 F.2d 1100, 1103 (9th Cir. 1986). The court’s role is not to weigh 28 the evidence but to determine whether a genuine dispute exists for trial. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 1 249. The evidence of the nonmovant is “to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be 2 drawn in his favor.” Id. at 255. But if the evidence of the nonmoving party is merely colorable or 3 is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted. See id. at 249–50. 4 III. Discussion 5 In evaluating retaliation claims under Title VII, the court uses the McDonnell Douglas 6 burden-shifting framework. See Hawn v. Executive Jet Mgmt., Inc., 615 F.3d 1151, 1158 (9th Cir. 7 2010); see also Cornwell v. Electra Cent. Credit Union, 439 F.3d 1018, 1034–35 (9th Cir. 2006). 8 Under this analysis, an employee must first establish a prima facie case of retaliation. Noyes v. 9 Kelly Servs., 488 F.3d 1163, 1168 (9th Cir. 2007); see Cornwell, 439 F.3d at 1034–35. 10 If an employee establishes a prima facie case, “the burden of production, but not 11 persuasion, then shifts to the employer to articulate some legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for 12 the challenged action.” Hawn, 615 F.3d at 1156. If the employer meets this burden, the employee 13 must then raise a triable issue of material fact as to whether the employer’s proffered reasons for 14 its adverse employment action are mere pretext for unlawful retaliation. Noyes, 488 F.3d at 1168. 15 Consistent with the following, the court DENIES SOC’s motion for summary judgment. 16 A. Redding establishes a prima facie case of retaliation 17 To establish a prima facie case of retaliation under Title VII, an employee must prove that 18 (1) the employee engaged in a protected activity, (2) the employee suffered an adverse employment 19 action, and (3) there was a causal link between the employee’s protected activity and the adverse 20 employment action. Cornwell, 439 F.3d at 1034–35. 21 1. Redding engaged in protected activities 22 Under § 704 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is unlawful “for an employer to discriminate 23 against any of his employees . . . because [the employee] has opposed any practice made an 24 unlawful employment practice by [Title VII], or because [the employee] has made a charge, 25 testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under 26 [Title VII].” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3. 27 Title VII provides two grounds for protected activity: the participation clause and the 28 opposition clause. Sias v. City Demonstration Agency, 588 F.2d 692, 694 (9th Cir. 1978). The 1 participation clause protects “employees who utilize the tools provided by Congress to protect 2 their rights” against practices “reasonably perceived as discrimination prohibited by Title VII.” 3 Learned v. City of Bellevue, 860 F.2d 928, 932 (9th Cir. 1988). The opposition clause protects 4 “employees who oppose what they reasonably perceive as discrimination.” Id. 5 In November 2017, Centerra undertook an investigation into Glover’s sexual harassment 6 and assault allegations. Later that year, Redding gave an interview to Centerra and supported 7 Glover’s allegations. Additionally, when Glover initiated another investigation into the alleged 8 retaliation during the icehouse incident, Redding provided a statement to SOC supporting Glover’s 9 allegations. Finally, Redding initiated this Title VII action against SOC for those instances of 10 retaliation. 11 Thus, Redding engaged in protected activities covered by the statute. See 42 U.S.C. 12 § 2000e-3. 13 2. SOC took adverse employment actions against Redding 14 An adverse employment action is one that “materially affects the compensation, terms, 15 conditions, or privileges of employment.” Davis v. Team Elec. Co., 520 F.3d 1080, 1089 (9th Cir. 16 2008). Here, Redding alleges two forms of adverse action: Co-worker harassment for the icehouse 17 incident and matrix check, and forced leave and modified duty for the administrative leave and 18 denial of medical retirement.2 19 i. The icehouse incident does not establish that co-worker harassment caused a hostile work environment 20 Co-worker harassment “is actionable only if it is ‘sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter 21 the conditions of the victim’s employment and create an abusive working environment.’” See Ray 22 v. Henderson, 217 F.3d 1234, 1245 (9th Cir. 2000) (quoting Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 23 U.S. 17, 21 (1993)). The harassment must be “both objectively and subjectively offensive.” Id. 24 (citing Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775, 787 (1998)). “To determine whether an 25 environment is sufficiently hostile, [courts] look to the totality of the circumstances, including the 26 ‘frequency of the discriminatory conduct; its severity; whether it is physically threatening or 27 28 2 Redding does not specifically argue separate forms of retaliation, but his allegations amount to what the court can read only as these separate theories of retaliation. 1 humiliating, or a mere offensive utterance; and whether it unreasonably interferes with an 2 employee’s work performance.’” Id. (quoting Harris, 510 U.S. at 23). 3 Redding alleges that he experienced co-worker harassment when SRT members blocked 4 in his vehicle near the icehouse and when lieutenant Craig conducted an unreasonably strict matrix 5 check resulting in an incorrect counseling form. 6 Even considering the icehouse incident and matrix check together, Redding fails to 7 establish that co-worker harassment created a hostile work environment based on the alleged 8 harassment he was subjected to. Redding alleges just two isolated events of co-worker harassment 9 over the more than eight months that passed since his participation in the sexual assault 10 investigation. While Redding may have been subjectively humiliated by the matrix check, the 11 harassment was not frequent, severe, or physically threatening, and Redding’s work performance 12 was not unreasonably interfered with until he refused to sign the counseling form and traded words 13 with Craig later in the day. 14 Thus, under the totality of the circumstances, Redding fails to show co-worker harassment 15 caused a hostile work environment. 16 ii. There are genuine questions of material fact regarding whether the administrative leave constitutes retaliation by SOC 17 Redding alleges that after Craig targeted him with the matrix check, Redding refused to 18 sign the counseling form and told Craig to stop retaliating against him and Glover. Later that same 19 day, SOC placed Redding on administrative leave pending what became a six-week investigation 20 into his altercation with Craig. 21 Redding argues that SOC placing him on indefinite leave without talking to him establishes 22 retaliation.3 Assuming all facts in the light most favorable to Redding, the court agrees. 23 SOC punished Redding with indefinite administrative leave for expressing discontent with 24 Craig’s harassing matrix check and retaliatory counseling form. Craig’s harassment stemmed from 25 Redding’s participation in the investigation into the SRT icehouse harassment, which itself 26 27 3 Redding compares his indefinite leave for alleged threats to the one week of 28 administrative leave SOC imposed onto another employee who became so agitated and insubordinate that he had to be escorted off site. 1 stemmed from Redding’s participation in the sexual assault investigation. Redding’s leave was 2 longer than what SOC imposed on another employee for objectively worse conduct. 3 During SOC’s six-week investigation into Redding’s alleged threats against Craig, SOC 4 reduced Redding’s hours, completely cut his overtime, and distributed his picture to SOC’s 5 facilities with a “stop order” warning all personnel to deny him access and to alert SOC if he was 6 spotted. Thus, Redding’s administrative leave “materially affect[ed] the compensation, terms, 7 conditions, or privileges of [his] employment.” Davis v. Team Elec. Co., 520 F.3d 1080, 1089 8 (9th Cir. 2008). 9 Accordingly, Redding establishes that SOC took adverse action against him by placing him 10 on administrative leave. 11 iii. There are genuine questions of material fact as to whether denial of medical retirement was an adverse action by SOC 12 Redding alleges that Dr. Malone, the physical protection medical director at NNSS, 13 retaliated against Redding on behalf of SOC when Dr. Malone denied Kuhnwald’s 14 recommendation that Redding be placed on medical retirement. (ECF No. 70 at 16–20). 15 Redding supports his position by alleging that Dr. Malone was aware of Redding’s pending 16 lawsuit against SOC when he denied Redding’s medical retirement and commented on it when he 17 spoke to Kuhnwald. Redding argues that this “is a fact issue as to whether there was a retaliatory 18 motive” behind Dr. Malone’s decision to deny Redding’s medical retirement from his position 19 with SOC. 20 While Dr. Malone was not directly employed by SOC, SOC was involved in appointing 21 him as medical director. He was also responsible for the medical treatment of SOC employees 22 and had final approval power over whether SOC employees could secure medical retirement. 23 Assuming all facts in the light most favorable to Redding, Dr. Malone denied Redding’s medical 24 leave to prevent Redding from any secondary gain resulting from his lawsuit against SOC. As 25 SOC disputes this, there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Dr. Malone made an 26 independent medical determination or perpetrated SOC’s retaliation against Redding. 27 . . . 28 1 3. Redding establishes a causal link between the adverse actions and his protected activities 2 Causation is a “but for” test to determine whether the adverse action wouldn’t have 3 happened but for the plaintiff’s protected activity. Villiarimo v. Aloha Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 4 1054, 1064 (9th Cir. 2002). “[C]ausation sufficient to establish the third element of the prima 5 facie case may be inferred from . . . the proximity in time between the protected action and the 6 allegedly retaliatory employment decision.” Cornwell, 439 F.3d at 1035 (quoting Yartzoff v. 7 Thomas, 809 F.2d 1371, 1376 (9th Cir. 1987)). 8 The matrix check and administrative leave occurred just two days after Redding submitted 9 a statement supporting Glover’s complaint about the icehouse incident. Further, the denial of 10 medical leave occurred while Redding contemplated initiating this action and was directly related 11 to Dr. Malone’s concerns regarding this action. At the summary judgment stage, these proximities 12 in time establish inferences of causation. See Learned v. City of Bellevue, 860 F.2d 928, 932 (9th 13 Cir. 1988). 14 Accordingly, Redding has asserted a prima facie case for retaliation for his administrative 15 leave and denial of medical retirement. 16 B. SOC provides legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for the adverse actions 17 If an employee establishes a prima facie case, “the burden of production, but not 18 persuasion, then shifts to the employer to articulate some legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for 19 the challenged action.” Hawn, 615 F.3d at 1156. 20 As to the administrative leave, SOC maintains that Redding threatened Craig after the 21 matrix check and that the administrative leave pending an investigation into those threats was 22 necessary due to the “very serious safety concern [of] threats made to a duty officer while carrying 23 a loaded weapon.” (Id. at 9–10). 24 As to the denial of medical retirement, SOC argues that decisions regarding medical 25 retirement are not up to SOC, but solely in the discretion of the physical protection medical 26 director. SOC argues that it did not employ Dr. Malone, it was not involved in his decision to 27 require an IME, and it did not exert any influence over his decision about Redding’s medical 28 1 retirement. Finally, SOC argues that it did not impose any permanent denial of medical retirement 2 because Redding quit before the results of the IME were determined. 3 Accordingly, SOC satisfies its burden to produce legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for 4 the adverse actions taken against Redding. 5 C. Redding shows that SOC’s legitimate reasons are merely pretext 6 Pretext may be shown either indirectly, by showing the employer’s proffered explanation 7 is unworthy of credence because it is internally inconsistent or otherwise not believable, or 8 directly, by showing that unlawful retaliation was more likely what motivated the employer. Lyons 9 v. England, 307 F.3d 1092, 1113 (9th Cir. 2002). 10 Redding indirectly shows pretext by alleging that SOC placed him on administrative leave 11 pending an investigation after the matrix check without even speaking to him—an investigation 12 surrounding Redding’s request that Craig stop retaliating against him and Glover. SOC kept 13 Redding on leave for this verbal altercation for six weeks, which is internally inconsistent with 14 SOC placing another employee on one week of leave for worse conduct. 15 Redding also directly shows pretext by showing that his medical retirement was denied in 16 the face of Kuhnwald’s and Dr. Moon’s recommendations, that the approval process was delayed 17 for months, that Dr. Malone’s concern regarding Redding’s medical retirement was because 18 Redding initiated this action, and that Redding was cut off from access to SOC’s servers which 19 prevented him from performing any actual work while he was waiting for the IME results. 20 Accordingly, Redding establishes that SOC’s allegedly legitimate reasons for the adverse 21 actions are merely pretext. 22 In sum, Redding has established a prima facie case for retaliation and has raised a genuine 23 dispute of material fact regarding the legitimacy of SOC’s reasons for the adverse 24 employment actions.4 Accordingly, the court will not grant summary judgment on Redding’s 25 retaliation claims.5 26 27 4 Specifically, as to Redding’s placement on administrative leave following the matrix check and Redding’s denied medical retirement, not as to the icehouse incident. 28 5 The court makes no determination as to Redding’s requests for front and back pay. 1] IV. Conclusion 2 Accordingly, 3 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that SOC’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 64) be, and the same hereby is, DENIED. 5 DATED November 1, 2021. 6 OP Ltd C. Atala , UNITEDSTATES DISTRICT JUDGE. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 es C. Mahan District Judge -ll-