Opinion
No. C.A. 2:04-23284-PMD.
June 2, 2006.
A. Christopher Potts, Hitchcock and Potts, Charleston, SC, for Plaintiff.
Scott Timothy Justice, Scott T. Justice Law Office, North, SC, for Defendant.
ORDER
This matter is before the court upon the Magistrate Judge's recommendation that this court grant Defendant's motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff's retaliation claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2, 3. The Magistrate further recommends that Plaintiff's state law claims for breach of contract, breach of contract accompanied by a fraudulent act, and breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing be dismissed without prejudice to be brought in state court. A party may object, in writing, to a Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation ("R R") within ten days after being served with a copy of that report. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Plaintiff has filed timely objections to the R R.
I. BACKGROUND
The relevant facts, either undisputed or taken in the light most favorable to Plaintiff as the non-moving party, are as follows:
The Walterboro Police Department hired Keith Crosby ("Crosby" or "Plaintiff") as a patrolman on July 6, 1996. Approximately six months after being hired, Crosby was promoted to the rank of corporal. In 2003, after Michael Devin became Chief of Police, Crosby was promoted to Sergeant. At all times during his employment with the WPD, Crosby performed his job duties in a satisfactory manner, and was considered by all to be a good officer.
The Alleged Protected Activity
In August of 2003, Crosby reported to work for his 7:00 p.m. shift. Upon his arrival, Crosby heard several officers from the day shift and the current shift in the squad room talking about an incident where Chief Devin invited a female officer, Stephanie Bridge, to get in his hot tub. When Crosby asked the officers what they were talking about, they explained the details of the incident to him.
In the summer of 2003, during work hours, Devin asked Bridge to give him a ride to a garage so that he could pick up his personal car that had been repaired. After doing so, Devin asked Bridge to follow him to his house so they could drop off his personal car. Once at Devin's house, Devin went in his house while Bridge waited outside. Shortly thereafter, Devin opened his front door, held up a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and asked Bridge if she wanted to get in the hot tub. Bridge declined the invitation and took Devin back to work. According to Bridge, the Chief's invitation "threw her off for a minute," but did not upset her and she only thought it was kind of strange.
As Crosby exited the squad room, he was summoned into the dispatch room by Sarah Geiger, a dispatcher under Crosby's direct supervision. Geiger told Crosby that what the officers had just told him about Devin and Bridge was true. Geiger told Crosby that Bridge had told her about the incident and that Devin had done the same thing to her; she said that Devin had cornered her in the copy room and invited her to his house to get in the hot tub with him. She said Devin's invitation made her feel uncomfortable, and feel she was not free to leave. Geiger then asked Crosby where he thought she should go from here. Crosby answered that he had heard Devin make a similar comment to Bridge in the squad room, and that if Devin was making the same comment to her, and if what he just heard had happened to Bridge was true, then "it sounded like that may be a case of sexual harassment and that she needed to consult an attorney and let an attorney advise her where to go from there. I wasn't qualified to answer that question for her." (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. p. 40.) Officer Tommy Nease, shift corporal, was also present during the conversation.
Crosby did not report this conversation to his supervisor, Lieutenant Chris Coursen, or Coursen's supervison, Assistant Chief Otis Rhoads, or to Chief Devin, or to Devin's supervisor, or anyone else. He did not otherwise register any complaint of sexual harassment against Devin.
The Adverse Employment Action
By the end of September 2003, Geiger had submitted her resignation as a dispatcher to Chief Devin. On or about September 24, 2003, Geiger hand delivered a letter to Chief Devin which was critical of Crosby. (Devin depo, exhibit 12 thereto.) The first paragraph of the Geiger's letter stated that Crosby told her that he had heard that Devin had sexually harassed Bridge. (Id.) The letter also stated that Crosby "said he believed Sgt. Bridge and [Geiger] should seek a lawsuit against the city." (Id.) Geiger's letter stated that Crosby wanted her to bring the suit so that Devin would lose his job and take "the whole back hallway" with him. (Id.) The letter further accused Crosby of being negative about other employees at the police department. (Id.) At the end of the letter, Geiger handwrote that Crosby had accused the Chief of getting "young females intoxicated in local bars." (Id.) According to Devin, he was upset and angry when he read the information in Geiger's letter. (Devin depo. p. 77.)
The next day, September 25, 2003, Devin called Crosby into his office and terminated him. In his termination letter, Devin stated that the termination was for cause and lists two reasons for the termination: (1) for a dispute which Crosby had with the EMS Director a month earlier, and (2) for "maliciously spread[ing] rumors and lies about the Chief of Police and department staff members, again in an attempt to usurp their authority." According to Devin, the charge that Crosby spread rumors refers to Geiger's allegations that Crosby accused the Chief of taking teenage girls to bars and of sexually harassing employees. (Devin depo. p. 81.)
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
A. Magistrate Judge's R R
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to this court. The recommendation has no presumptive weight, and the responsibility for making a final determination remains with the court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 269 (1976). The court reviews de novo those portions of the R R to which a specific objection is made, and the court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, or recommit the matter to him with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C).
After a review of the entire record, the R R, and Plaintiff's objections, the court finds that the Magistrate Judge fairly and accurately summarized the facts and applied the correct principles of law. Therefore, the court adopts the Magistrate Judge's R R in full and incorporates it by specific reference.
B. Legal Standard For Summary Judgment
To grant a motion for summary judgment, the court must find that "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The judge is not to weigh the evidence but rather to determine if there is a genuine issue for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986). All evidence should be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Perini Corp. v. Perini Constr., Inc., 915 F.2d 121, 123-24 (4th Cir. 1990). "[W]here the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, disposition by summary judgment is appropriate." Teamsters Joint Council No. 83 v. Centra, Inc., 947 F.2d 115, 119 (4th Cir. 1991). "[T]he plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). The "obligation of the nonmoving party is `particularly strong when the nonmoving party bears the burden of proof.'" Hughes v. Bedsole, 48 F.3d 1376, 1381 (4th Cir. 1995) (quoting Pachaly v. City of Lynchburg, 897 F.2d 723, 725 (4th Cir. 1990)). Summary judgment is not "a disfavored procedural shortcut," but an important mechanism for weeding out "claims and defenses [that] have no factual bases." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 327.
III. ANALYSIS
Title VII prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee in retaliation for that employee's opposition to, or complaint about, an employment practice made unlawful under Title VII. See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a). As the Magistrate correctly noted, to establish a prima facie case of retaliation under Title VII, Plaintiff must show that: (1) he engaged in a protected activity; (2) Defendant took an adverse employment action against him; and (3) a casual connection existed between the protected activity and the adverse employment action. See, e.g., VonGuten v. Maryland, 243 F.3d 858, 865 (4th Cir. 2001); Gibson v. Old Town Trolley Tours of Washington, D.C., Inc., 160 F.3d 177, 180 (4th Cir. 1998). Protected activities may include `opposition' or `participation' activities. See, e.g., Kubicko v. Ogden Logistics Services, 181 F.3d 544, 512 (4th Cir. 1999); 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3 (a) (prohibiting discrimination against an employee for opposition to an unlawful employment practice or because the employee has made a charge or participated in an investigation under the statute). It is conceded that Plaintiff did not participate in any EEOC proceedings, and thus the participation category is not satisfied; however, Plaintiff claims his telling Geiger to consult an attorney regarding her potential sexual harassment claim against Devin constitutes a protected `opposition' activity.
Under the burden-shifting scheme, if Plaintiff succeeds in proving a prima facie case, the burden of going forward shifts to Defendant to provide evidence of a legitimate non-discriminatory reason for taking the adverse employment action. See, e.g., Matvia v. Bald Head Island Manag., 259 F.3d 261, 271 (4th Cir. 2001); Smith v. First Union Nat'l Bank, 202 F.3d 234, 248 (4th Cir. 2000). Should Defendant articulate a non-discriminatory reason, the burden then shifts back to Plaintiff to demonstrate that Defendant's proffered reason is a pretext for retaliation. Smith, 202 F.3d at 248.
The Fourth Circuit defines opposition activity as activity that "encompasses utilizing informal grievance procedures as well as staging informal protests and voicing one's opinion in order to bring attention to an employer's discriminatory activities." Laughlin v. Metro Wash. Airport Auth., 149 F.3d 253 (4th Cir. 1998); Kubicko, ("[A]s long as an employee complains to his or her employer or participates in an employer's informal grievance procedure . . ., the employee's activities are entitled to protection under [Title VII]'s opposition clause.").
The Laughlin Court additionally warned that "the scope of protection for activity falling under the participation clause is broader than for activity falling under the opposition clause." Laughlin, 149 F.3d at 259 n. 4.
In this case, the facts regarding the alleged "opposition action" are undisputed: Geiger came to Crosby, her supervisor, and told him that Chief Devin had invited her and another female officer, Bridge, to get into his hot tub with him. Geiger then asked Crosby what she should do. Crosby answered that he had heard Chief Devin make a similar comment to Bridge in the squad room, and that if Devin was making similar comments to Geiger, then "it sounded like that may be a case of sexual harassment and that she needed to consult an attorney and let an attorney advise her where to go from there." (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. p. 40.) The Magistrate found that this conversation could not constitute an opposition activity because "Crosby's own words show that he did not hold a good faith belief that Devin was sexually harassing the woman who reported the invitations to him, and telling his subordinate to seek counsel elsewhere, but doing nothing himself, simply does not rise to the level of actionable opposition." (R R at 12.) Because he found that Crosby did not participate in a protected opposition activity, the Magistrate concluded that Crosby could not make out a prima facie case of retaliation and recommended that summary judgment be granted.
Plaintiff objects to the Magistrate's conclusion that he did not engage in a "protected activity." Plaintiff argues that his telling Geiger that her situation "may be a case of sexual harassment" proves that he did have a good faith belief that sexual harassment was taking place and, by encouraging her to see an attorney, he was opposing it. Plaintiff points out that an employee need not have instituted formal proceedings under Title VII in order subsequently to invoke the protection of Title VII's retaliation provision; informal complaints to the employer will suffice. EEOC v. Navy Federal Credit Union, 424 F.3d 397, 406 (4th Cir. 2005); Mayo v. Kiwest Corp., 1996 WL 460769, *4 (4th Cir. 1996). Courts in other circuits have even held that informal complaints to co-workers and offering support to sexual harassment victims can constitute opposition activity. Neiderlander v. American Video Glass Co., 80 Fed. Appx. 256 (3d Cir. 2003); Lyman v. Nabil's, Inc., 903 F.Supp. 1443 (D. Kan. 1995). Plaintiff therefore argues that his conversation with Geiger in which he tells her to seek the advice of an attorney fits within a broad definition of "opposition" as meant under Title VII.
Plaintiff further argues that the issue of his "good faith belief" that sexual harassment had occurred is an issue of fact for the jury to decide. The court agrees, and therefore makes its decision solely on the issue of whether Plaintiff's conduct constitutes "opposition" as meant under Title VII.
The court disagrees. Whether an employee has engaged in protected opposition activity turns upon balancing "the purpose of the Act to protect persons engaging reasonably in activities opposing . . . discrimination, against Congress' equally manifest desire not to tie the hands of employers in the objective selection and control of personnel." Laughlin, 149 F.3d at 259 (internal quotation marks omitted) (ellipses in original). The Fourth Circuit holds that under this balancing test, as long as an employee complains to his or her employer or participates in an employer's informal grievance procedure in an orderly and nondisruptive manner, the employee's activities are entitled to protection under Title VII's opposition clause. See Kubicko, 181 F.3d at 551; Hopkins v. Baltimore Gas Elec. Co., 77 F.3d 745, 754 (4th Cir. 1996); Armstrong v. Index Journal Co., 647 F.2d 441, 448 (4th Cir. 1981). Plaintiff correctly states that the Fourth Circuit has held that, in certain situations, conversations with co-workers can constitute opposition; however, even under the broadest definition of `opposition' and considering the evidence in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, the conversation with Geiger was not an opposition as protected by Title VII. In the cases cited by Plaintiff in which conversations with co-workers constituted `opposition,' the plaintiff either openly supported co-workers who had filed grievances, or made complaints of discrimination to co-workers, that were then communicated to management. Neiderlander, 80 Fed. Appx. 256; Lyman, 903 F.Supp. 1443. In his conversation with Geiger, Crosby neither encouraged Geiger to utilize formal or informal grievance procedures, nor supported her filing a complaint against Chief Devin, nor did he even express the opinion that sexual harassment took place. See Byers v. HSBC Finance Corp., 416 F.Supp.2d 424, 438 (E.D.Va. 2006). According to his own testimony, Crosby only speculated, in a private setting, that what had happened might be sexual harassment, but that he did not know because he "wasn't qualified to answer that question for her." (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. p. 40.) Regardless of whether he actually believed sexual harassment had taken place, he took, at most, a neutral position by encouraging Geiger to consult a lawyer to get further advice. The court therefore agrees with the Magistrate's conclusion that Plaintiff's conversation with Geiger does not constitute opposition activity protected under Title VII.
Because Plaintiff did not engage in a protected "opposition" activity, the court finds that he has failed to establish a prima facie case of retaliation under Title VII. As such, the court adopts the Magistrate's recommendation that Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment be granted. Plaintiff does not object to the Magistrate's recommendation that Plaintiff's state law claims be dismissed without prejudice to be refiled in state court; accordingly, the court adopts that recommendation without further discussion.
IV. CONCLUSION
It is therefore ORDERED, for the foregoing reasons, that Defendant City of Walterboro's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's Title VII cause of action. It is further ORDERED that the remaining state law claims are DISMISSED without prejudice for refiling in state court.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
This employment discrimination case alleging retaliation for protected activity under Title VII 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2, 3 with appended state law claims is before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge for a Report and Recommendation on the defendant's motion for summary judgment on solely the Title VII claim. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b).The plaintiff, Keith Crosby, sued his former employer, the City of Walterboro, South Carolina, on December 16, 2004, and alleged Walterboro Chief of Police Mike Devin discharged him on September 25, 2003, for engaging in activities protected by Title VII. The alleged protected activity was telling Dispatcher Sara Geiger that she should consult an attorney regarding alleged sexual harassment by Chief Devin during a conversation plaintiff had with Geiger. Plaintiff also brought causes of action for breach of contract/wrongful discharge, breach of contract accompanied by a fraudulent act, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Defendant's motion does not seek to dismiss plaintiff's state law, contract based claims. Plaintiff seeks damages.
Discovery on the issue is complete. Oral argument on the motion was had before the undersigned on February 22, 2006. Therefore it appears consideration of the motion is appropriate.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD
To grant a motion for summary judgment, this court first must find that "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The judge is not to weigh the evidence, but rather to determine if there is a genuine issue for trial.Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986). If no material factual disputes remain, then summary judgment should be granted against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case and on which the party bears the burden of proof at trial.Celotex Corp. v. Cattrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986). All evidence should be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Perini Corp. v. Perini Constr., Inc., 915 F.2d 121, 123-23 (4th Cir. 1990). Once a motion for summary judgment is properly made and supported, the opposing party has the burden of showing that a genuine dispute exists. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87 (1986). "[W]here the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, disposition by summary judgment is appropriate."Teamsters Joint Council No. 83 v. CenTra, Inc., 947 F.2d 115, 119 (4th Cir. 1991);Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248-49 (1986). Unsupported speculation is not enough to withstand a motion for summary judgment. Ash v. United Parcel Service, Inc., 800 F.2d 409, 411-12 (4th Cir. 1986). Indeed, the court should draw reasonable inferences on behalf of the non-moving party, but it must not slip into "sheer speculation." The court may not move beyond inference and into the realm of mere conjecture.Lovelace v. Sherwin-Williams Co., 681 F.2d 230, 242 (4th Cir. 1982).
FACTS
In considering the defendant's motion for summary judgment, the facts, either undisputed or as presented by the plaintiff as the non-moving party, and all reasonable inferences therefrom, to the extent supported by the record, are as follow.
The plaintiff, Keith Crosby (Crosby), was hired by the defendant, Walterboro Police Department (WPD), on July 6, 1996, as a patrolman. Crosby was hired by the Chief of Police at that time, Ken Authur. (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. pp. 19, 29). Approximately six months after being hired, Crosby was promoted to the rank of corporal. (Pl. Ex. 1. plf. depo. p. 30). In March 2000 Mike Devin (Devin) was hired as the Chief of Police for the city of Walterboro. (Pl. Ex. 2, M. Devin depo. p. 21). Shortly thereafter Crosby was promoted to the rank of sergeant. (Pl. Ex. 1, ph. depo. pp. 30-31). At all times during his employment with the WPD Crosby performed his job duties in a satisfactory fashion, and was otherwise viewed by his superiors and subordinates as a good officer. (Pl. Ex. 2, M. Devin depo. pp. 58-59; Ex. 3, S. Bridge depo. pp. 28-29).
The organization at the WPD was as follows. Devin, as Chief of Police, was the head of the department, with full authority to hire, discipline and fire. Next in command to Devin was Otis Rhoads (Rhoads), the assistant chief. Below Rhoads were two lieutenants, Chris Coursen (Coursen), who was the patrol division commander, and Ken Dasen (Dasen), who was over the administrative side of the department. As a sergeant, Crosby reported directly to Coursen. (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. p. 31; Pl. Ex. 2, M. Devin depo. pp. 53-56).
On one occasion at work, Crosby overheard Devin invite female officer, Stephanie Bridge (Bridge) to his home so that they could get into his hot tub together. Crosby heard Bridge decline the invitation (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. p. 40). According to Bridge, Devin repeatedly invited her into his hot tub. Sometimes during cookouts at Devin's home, Devin would invite Bridge and her husband to get into the hot tub. However, many times Devin would extend the invitation to Bridge when the two of them were alone. Bridge always declined the invitations. (Pl. Ex. 3, S. Bridge depo. pp. 33-37).
In the summer of 2003, during work hours, Devin asked Bridge to give him a ride to a garage so that he could pick up his personal car that had just been repaired. As requested, Bridge took Devin, in her patrol car, to the garage to pick up his car. After doing so, Devin asked Bridge to follow him to his house so that they could drop his personal car off there, and then Bridge could give him a ride back to the station. Once at Devin's house, Devin got out of Bridge's car and went inside his house. While Devin was inside, Bridge got out of her car and stood by it while she waited for Devin to return. Shortly thereafter, Devin opened his front door, held up a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and asked Bridge if she wanted to get into the hot tub. Again, Bridge declined the invitation and proceeded to take Devin back to work. According to Bridge, the Chief's invitation, "threw her off for a minute", but did not upset her and she only thought it was kind of strange. In any event, Bridge interpreted it as a sincere invitation. (Pl. Ex. 3, S. Bridge depo. pp. 37-44).
Sometime during the summer of 2003, Bridge told a dispatcher named Sarah Geiger (Geiger) about the incident described above. (Pl. Ex. 3, 5, Bridge depo. pp. 45-47; Pl. Ex. 4, Geiger depo. pp. 37-39, 44). On another occasion at work, Devin had also invited Geiger to his home to get into the hot tub. (Pl. Ex. 4., Geiger depo. pp. 34-35).
The protected activity that the plaintiff relies upon for his retaliation claim is an August 2003 conversation with Geiger as follows. In mid-August 2003 Crosby reported to work for his 7:00 p.m. shift after a week long vacation. Upon his arrival, Crosby heard several officers from the day shift and the current shift in the squad room talking about the incident where Devin invited Bridge into his hot tub. When Crosby asked the officers what they were talking about, they explained the details of the incident to him.
As Crosby exited the squad room, he was summoned into the dispatch room by Geiger who asked Crosby if she could talk to him. Crosby was Geiger's direct supervisor at that time. (Pl. depo. p. 40). When Crosby indicated that she could, Geiger told him that what the officers had just told him about Devin and Bridge was true. Crosby asked Geiger how she knew the information was true. In response, Geiger told Crosby that Bridge had told her about the incident. Geiger also told Crosby that Devin had done the same thing to her; she said that Devin had cornered her in the copy room and invited her to his house to get into the hot tub with him. She said Devin's invitation made her feel uncomfortable, and feel she was not free to leave. (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. pp. 38-39).
Geiger then asked Crosby where he thought she should go from here. Crosby answered that he had heard Devin make a similar comment to Bridge in the squad room, and that if Devin was making the same comment to her, and if what he just heard happened to Bridge was true, then "it sounded like that may be a case of sexual harassment and that she needed to consult an attorney and let an attorney advise here where to go from there. I wasn't qualified to answer that question for her." (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. p. 40). Officer Tommy Nease, shift corporal, was also present during the conversation. (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. pp. 41, 43).
Crosby did not report the conversation to his supervisor, Lieutenant Chris Coursen, or Coursen's supervisor, Assistant Chief Otis Rhoads, or to Chief Devin, or to Devin's supervisor, or anyone else. He did not otherwise register any complaint of sexual harassment by Devin.
LAW
Title VII, which was enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, provides that it "shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer . . . to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a) (a)(1).
Plaintiff here alleges he was discharged in retaliation for opposing unlawful sexual harassment of co-worker Geiger. Section 704(a) of Title VII forbids retaliation against an employee "because [s]he has opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice by this subchapter, or because [s]he has made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this subchapter." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a).
Plaintiff does not allege direct evidence of retaliation. In the absence of direct evidence, a plaintiff may establish a prima facie case of retaliation by showing (1) that he engaged in protected activity under Title VII; (2) that the employer thereafter took adverse employment action against him; and (3) a sufficient causal connection existed between his protected activity and the employer's adverse action. EEOC v. Navy Federal Credit Union, 424 F.3d 397, 405-406 (4th Cir. 2005); Hopkins v. Baltimore Gas and Elec. Co., 77 F.3d 745, 754 (4th Cir. 1996); Ross v. Communications Satellite Corp., 759 F.2d 355, 365 (4th Cir. 1985).
Defendant here moved for summary judgment on the ground that Plaintiff did not establish a prima facie case of retaliatory discharge because the plaintiff did not engage in protected activity.
There are two types of activity protected by Title VII: (1) participation; and (2) opposition. Participation applies only to activity related to a formal charge of discrimination, law suit, or similar proceeding. There is no allegation in the instant case of participation activity. Thus, plaintiff must show that he engaged in opposition activity for which he was retaliated against. "To qualify as opposition activity an employee need not engage in the formal process of adjudicating a discrimination claim. Opposition activity encompasses utilizing informal grievance procedures as well as staging informal protests and voicing one's opinions in order to bring attention to an employer's discriminatory activities." Laughlin v. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, 149 F.3d 253 (4th Cir. 1998) (citations omitted).
Case law has clarified that opposition to unlawful employment practices may take many forms, including "complaints to management, writing critical letters to customers, protesting against discrimination by industry or by society in general, and expressing support of co-workers who have filed formal charges."Sumner v. United States Postal Service, 899 F.2d 203, 209 (3d Cir. 1990). In essence, a plaintiff alleging retaliation must show some form of opposition, which is communicated to the employer, followed by adverse action by the employer. As established in Sumner, however, the opposition to discriminatory practices need not be made directly to managers in order to constitute protected activity, a plaintiff's complaints to her co-workers, assuming they were communicated to management, would be the type of opposition to discrimination that § 2000e-3(a) seeks to protect. Neiderlander v. Am. Video Glass Co., 80 Fed.Appx. 256, 259-261 (3d Cir. 2003). "Plaintiff's complaints to her co-workers that everyone was prejudiced and that her supervisors were racist constitute `protected activity' under Title VII and Section 1981 because those comments were passed on to management." Mondaine v. American Drug Stores, 2006 WL 60671 (D. Kan. 2006) citing Neiderlander v. Am. Video Glass Co., 80 Fed.Appx. 256, 261 (3d Cir. 2003); Zowayyed v. Lowen Co., 735 F.Supp. 1497, 1504 (D. Kan. 1990).
Lastly, if the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of retaliation, the burden shifts to the defendant to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse action. See,Smith v. First Union Nat'l Bank, 202 F.3d 234, 248 (4th Cir. 2000). Finally, the burden shifts back to the employee to prove that the employer's purported reason for the action was mere pretext for retaliation. See, Id.
DISCUSSION
Crosby has not made out a prima facie case of retaliation for opposition activity because he cannot establish that he ever opposed any activity made unlawful by Title VII.Crosby's claim is that he engaged in protected opposition activity when he responded to Geiger's inquiry. The facts are not disputed; the dispatcher Crosby was supervising, Geiger, came to him and told him that Chief Devin had invited her and another female, Bridge, to get into his hot tub with him and asked Crosby where he thought she should go from here. Crosby answered that he had heard Devin make a similar comments to Bridge in the squad room, and that if Devin was making the same type comments to her, and if what he just heard happened to Bridge was true, then, "it sounded like that may be a case of sexual harassment and that she needed to consult an attorney and let an attorney advise here where to go from there. I wasn't qualified to answer that question for her." (Pl. Ex. 1, plf. depo. p. 40).
Crosby speculated only that what had happened might be sexual harassment, but that he did not know that and could not know that because he was not qualified to advise her on what she should do. He said she should go to a lawyer to get advise. Crosby did not encourage or tell Geiger to file a complaint with human resources, to report to anyone up the organizational chain, including Devin's superior, to contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to complain, or to take any other action. His reason was that he did not know whether what Geiger had related to him constituted sexual harassment. He simply had no good faith belief that it in fact did constitute illegal harassment.
Further, when Geiger reported Devin's invitations to her supervisor at the time, plaintiff Crosby, Crosby himself did nothing to communicate Geiger's report of the incidents to his superiors or to Human Resources. Crosby himself dropped the ball and did nothing to stop what he now claims was illegal sexual harassment. Crosby's own words show that he did not hold a good faith belief that Devin was sexually harassing the woman who reported the invitations to him and telling his subordinate to seek counsel elsewhere, but doing nothing himself, simply does not rise to the level of actionable opposition.
Plaintiff relies upon Neiderlander v. American Video Glass Co., 80 Fed. Appx. 256 (3rd Cir. 2003), discussed supra, for the proposition that a plaintiff's "opposition to discrimination need not be made directly to managers in order to constitute protected activity. Instead, informal complaints to coworkers constitute protected activity." (Pl. brief p. 9). That statement of the law is correct, as far as it goes. However, Neiderlander made a complaint; Crosby did not. At issue here is not whether Geiger's complaint to Crosby would be protected. It would underNeiderlander because her complaint was "a form of opposition, which [was] communicated to the employer." Id. at 259. Crosby did not oppose and did not communicate anything to the employer, or anyone else for that matter.
Under these facts, it appears plaintiff has not shown that he engaged in protected activity, and his prima facie case fails as a result. His Title VII retaliation claim should be dismissed on that basis.
If the court accepts this report and recommendation, then the only original federal jurisdiction claim will be dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3) provides, "The district courts may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a claim under subsection (a) [providing for supplemental jurisdiction over all claims forming the same case or controversy] if — the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction. . . ." The Fourth Circuit has recognized that "trial courts enjoy wide latitude in determining whether or not to retain jurisdiction over state claims when all federal claims have been extinguished." Shanaghan v. Cahill, 58 F.3d 106, 110 (4th Cir. 1995) (district court did not abuse its discretion in declining to retain jurisdiction over the state law claims). See also, e.g., United Mine Workers of Am. v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726-27, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966); Revene v. Charles County Comm'rs, 882 F.2d 870, 875 (4th Cir. 1989).
Therefore, it is also recommended that the court exercise its discretion to decline supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state contract claims and dismiss them without prejudice to their being filed in state court, ending the action here.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, since there exists no genuine material question of fact for a jury to decide and the defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, it is recommended that the defendant's summary judgment motion be granted on the Title VII cause of action and the balance of the claims dismissed without prejudice to their being brought in state court.