Hiatt v. Colorado Seminary , 858 F.3d 1307 ( 2017 )

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
PUBLISH Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS June 2, 2017
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT Clerk of Court
_________________________________
TAWNY HIATT,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
v. No. 16-1159
COLORADO SEMINARY, a Colorado
nonprofit corporation; ALAN KENT;
JACARANDA PALMATEER,
Defendants - Appellees.
_________________________________
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
(D.C. No. 1:15-CV-00192-RBJ)
_________________________________
Charlotte N. Sweeney (Ariel B. DeFazio, with her on the briefs), Sweeney & Bechtold,
LLC, Denver, Colorado, appearing for Appellant.
Jim Goh (Heidi K. Wilbur, with him on the brief), Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete,
LLP, Denver, Colorado, appearing for Appellees.
_________________________________
Before HARTZ, MATHESON, and PHILLIPS, Circuit Judges.
_________________________________
MATHESON, Circuit Judge.
_________________________________
Dr. Tawny Hiatt appeals from the district court’s grant of summary judgment to
her former employer, Colorado Seminary, and her former supervisors, Dr. Alan Kent and
Dr. Jacaranda Palmateer, on her Title VII and Title IX discrimination and retaliation
claims. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
The following facts are presented in the light most favorable to Dr. Hiatt, the
non-moving party on summary judgment. See Twigg v. Hawker Beechcraft Corp.,
659 F.3d 987, 997 (10th Cir. 2011).1
Colorado Seminary owns and operates the University of Denver (“DU”),
including DU’s Health and Counseling Center (“HCC”), which provides wellness
services such as counseling to DU’s student body. In November 2011, DU hired Dr.
Hiatt to be a Staff Psychologist and the Training Director at the HCC.
The following recounts Dr. Hiatt’s employment at DU from November 2011
until her resignation in June 2014.2
1. Dr. Hiatt’s Position as Training Director and Her Supervisory Duties
As Training Director, Dr. Hiatt was responsible for supervising psychology
students seeking their professional licensure. Supervisees included both pre-doctoral
1
The parties have made our presentation of the facts challenging as they
frequently cite briefs to support factual assertions rather than evidence in the record.
We have endeavored to rely on record evidence, such as deposition testimony or
meeting notes, rather than the parties’ district court briefing.
2
Dr. Hiatt alleges her resignation amounted to a constructive discharge. We
discuss this assertion below.
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interns and post-doctoral fellows.3 Dr. Hiatt was, in turn, supervised by Dr. Kent, the
Executive Director of the HCC, and Dr. Palmateer, the HHC’s Director of Counseling
Services. Apart from her work at DU, Dr. Hiatt also maintained a private practice,
which DU permitted so long as her job at DU remained her first priority.
From November 2011 to August 2012, Dr. Hiatt supervised four interns,
including Dr. Emily Fogle, from DU’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology
(“GSPP”) Internship Consortium. After the academic term, the interns provided
positive reviews of Dr. Hiatt’s supervision.
When Dr. Fogle returned to the HCC as a post-doctoral fellow, she requested
that Dr. Hiatt supervise her during the 2012-2013 academic year. They started their
supervisory relationship in the fall of 2012. Soon thereafter, Dr. Fogle suggested to
Dr. Abby Coven, her former GSPP classmate, that she hire Dr. Hiatt to supervise her
work in a private practice unaffiliated with DU. Dr. Coven did so.
In December 2012, Dr. Hiatt and Dr. Coven developed romantic feelings for
one another. On January 3, 2013, Dr. Hiatt ended her supervision of Dr. Coven’s
work in private practice. They continued their personal relationship.
On January 1, 2013—before anyone at DU knew about Dr. Hiatt’s relationship
with Dr. Coven—Dr. Hiatt was promoted to Assistant Director of Counseling
Services/Training Director. In this role, Dr. Hiatt continued to supervise students,
3
We refer to the supervisees as “doctors,” even if they were not doctors at the
time of these events, where there is record support for their since becoming doctors.
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including Dr. Fogle as a post-doctoral fellow and a group of HCC interns—Dave
Shanley, Kim Mathewson, Alexis Wilbert, and Christine DeVore.
2. Revelation of the Relationship
On January 28, 2013, Dr. Coven told Dr. Fogle about her romantic relationship
with Dr. Hiatt. Dr. Fogle told Dr. Palmateer about the relationship and that she had seen
text messages showing it had started before Dr. Hiatt ended her supervision of Dr. Coven.
Dr. Hiatt disputes that any such messages occurred.
Dr. Fogle also told Dr. Hiatt’s four intern supervisees about the relationship. Dr.
Fogle then expressed her concerns about the relationship to Dr. Hiatt. Dr. Hiatt offered to
stop supervising Dr. Fogle, but Dr. Fogle declined.
Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer decided to hold an “open meeting” on February 19,
2013, with Dr. Hiatt and her supervisees so the supervisees could air any concerns.
During the meeting, Dr. Hiatt apologized for disappointing the supervisees and explained
how her supervision of Dr. Coven was different from that of an intern.
3. Post-Meeting Events
After the meeting, four relevant events happened.
First, Dr. Fogle, Dr. Mathewson, and Dr. Shanley elected to end supervision with
Dr. Hiatt. Dr. Wilbert and Dr. DeVore, along with Dr. Hiatt’s four graduate student
supervisees, continued their supervision with Dr. Hiatt.
Second, Dr. Kent met with Dr. Fogle after the meeting. Dr. Fogle reported that
supervision with Dr. Hiatt was like therapy. Dr. Fogle explained that Dr. Hiatt “had [her]
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sobbing in her office,” and that Dr. Hiatt “made [her] feel vulnerable.” Id.4 According to
Dr. Hiatt’s own deposition testimony, supervisees called the experience of crying or
breaking down during supervision with her as “being Tawny-ed.” Id. at 166.
Third, Dr. Kent sought ethics guidance from DU administrators, psychologists
unaffiliated with DU, and the American Psychological Association (“APA”) about Dr.
Hiatt’s relationship relative to her work. Based on those conversations, Dr. Kent
determined Dr. Hiatt was in an “ethical grey area.” Id. at 66 ¶ 13. The asserted grey area
arose from two rules in the APA’s Code of Conduct: one prohibiting a psychologist from
having sexual relationships with supervisees,5 and another prohibiting a psychologist
from having a personal relationship with someone closely connected to someone with
whom the psychologist has a professional relationship.6
4
The record shows another supervisee had expressed similar concerns about
Dr. Hiatt’s supervisory style before the February 13, 2013 meeting. See App. at 178
(Dr. Kent’s deposition relaying that Dr. Shanley had felt, “shortly after beginning
therapy supervision with her,” that Dr. Hiatt’s supervisory style was “uncomfortable
and intrusive”).
5
APA Rule 7.07 states “[p]sychologists do not engage in sexual relationships
with students or supervisees who are in their department, agency, or training center
or over whom psychologists have or are likely to have evaluative authority.” App. at
189.
6
APA Rule 3.05 states a psychologist should refrain from entering a “multiple
relationship”—defined as having a relationship with someone closely associated with
a person with whom the psychologist has a professional relationship—if the multiple
relationship “could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist’s objectivity,
competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist, or
otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional
relationship exists.” App. at 188.
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Fourth, Dr. Kent talked frequently with Dr. Hiatt about these matters.
According to Dr. Kent, Dr. Hiatt failed to acknowledge that the way she handled her
relationship at work had detrimental effects on her supervisees. Further, rather than
take personal responsibility for the supervisees’ reactions, Dr. Hiatt blamed the
supervisees’ pathologies as causing their strong reactions, including their decisions to
stop supervision with her. Dr. Kent also said Dr. Hiatt showed no awareness of how
her supervisory style affected them. Apart from ethical concerns, Dr. Kent
determined that Dr. Hiatt’s conduct showed “a serious lack of judgment given her
position as a role model for the trainees.” Id. at 66 ¶ 13.
4. The Demotion Decision
On February 22, 2013, Dr. Hiatt met with Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer. Dr. Kent
presented Dr. Hiatt with three options: (1) resign; (2) be demoted and undergo six
months of outside counseling about her supervisory style; or (3) remain in her position
and allow Human Resources (“HR”) to handle the matter.
Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer explained they were presenting these options because:
(1) a “majority” of trainees refused to be supervised by Dr. Hiatt and she had lost
“credibility and authority in their view”; (2) her conduct posed a “grey ethical issue,” and
a Training Director needed to display “exemplary ethics, boundaries, and
professionalism”; and (3) her “approach to therapy and supervision requires a strict
adherence to boundaries which weren’t demonstrated in this situation” and her response
to the students’ reactions showed a “lack of personal responsibility.” Id. at 450.
-6-
On February 27, 2013, before Dr. Hiatt chose an option, her attorney sent DU a
letter claiming DU’s request for Dr. Hiatt to leave her position as Training Director
amounted to sex discrimination.
On March 4, 2013, Dr. Hiatt accepted the second option—demotion. In her new
position as Staff Psychologist/Outreach Coordinator, Dr. Hiatt was paid $58,000—a
$2,000 reduction in pay from her previous position.
5. Period of Demotion
As a condition of her demotion, Dr. Hiatt met with Dr. Shirley Asher, an outside
consultant. Based on her sessions with Dr. Hiatt, Dr. Asher opined that Dr. Hiatt “likely
could return” to a supervisory role, but also noted that she was not likely to change her
supervisory style. Id. at 526.
During this time, Dr. Palmateer gave Dr. Hiatt a performance review that
criticized her for taking paid time off in a manner that made her unavailable to her
clients. Dr. Hiatt nonetheless received a raise of $500, which Dr. Hiatt calls “negligible.”
Aplt. Br. at 16.
In August 2013, Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer reassessed whether Dr. Hiatt should
return to supervision. Based on Dr. Asher’s input, some supervisees’ negative feedback
in their exit interviews about Dr. Hiatt’s supervision style, and Dr. Kent’s and Dr.
Palmateer’s own observations, they determined that Dr. Hiatt should not return to
supervision at that time. They shared with Dr. Hiatt the supervisees’ “perception that she
intentionally breaks them down to the point of tears, is intrusive in their personal issues,
blurs the boundaries of supervision and therapy, and then holds herself up as the rescuer.”
-7-
App. at 109. They also shared their own concerns that she had behaved unprofessionally
in staff interviews, had unclear boundaries when supervising, and continued to focus on
the supervisees’ psychopathologies as explaining why they were upset about the way she
handled the relationship at work, rather than acknowledging her contribution to their
concerns.
In September 2013, Dr. Hiatt filed an internal grievance with DU’s HR department
requesting, among other things, that DU restore Dr. Hiatt to her position as Training
Director. In the same month, she filed an internal Equal Employment Opportunity
(“EEO”) complaint with DU alleging sex discrimination, as well as retaliation.
In a September 26, 2013 response to her internal EEO complaint, Dr. Kent and Dr.
Palmateer further detailed their reasons for demoting Dr. Hiatt and not returning her to a
supervisory position. They explained that, because Dr. Asher stated Dr. Hiatt would not
likely change her supervisory style, they did not reinstate Dr. Hiatt’s supervisory duties.
Their response also reported that “several” supervisees in their exit interviews
described “troubling interactions” with Dr. Hiatt—such as denigrating other HCC staff
members, “sham[ing]” the supervisees and then trying to “rescue” them, and insisting
that a supervisee give her a hug during a supervisory session. App. at 526-27. Those
examples led Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer to believe Dr. Hiatt had “very poor boundaries
which create[d] a hostile training environment.” Id. at 527. The response also
highlighted that Dr. Hiatt continued to blame the supervisees and their associated
“pathologies” for the upheaval at the HCC, and that she failed to demonstrate awareness
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of how she contributed to the situation or how her supervisory style negatively affected
the supervisees.
Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer explained in summary:
While Dr. Hiatt’s romantic relationship with her supervisee was not the
reason for her removal from supervisory duties, it was the catalyst for a
series of complaints which le[d] to a comprehensive review of her
supervisory approach and her performance as Training Director. After the
majority of trainees refused to be supervised by Dr. Hiatt, we had no option
but to reevaluate her role. After several meetings with Dr. Hiatt and
extensive conversations with the trainees, many concerning and disturbing
behaviors about Dr. Hiatt’s supervisory style were revealed. We
determined that it was in the best interest of the trainees, the University,
and the [HCC] to find a more suitable Training Director.
Id. at 528.
In an October 2013 email to Dr. Hiatt, DU set forth criteria for Dr. Hiatt to
eventually resume supervision, including having “better awareness about the power she
holds” and “demonstrating appropriate professional boundaries in all contexts.” App. at
546.
On October 30, 2013, following an investigation, DU denied Dr. Hiatt’s internal
EEO complaint.
6. Medical Leave and EEOC Charge
From November 15, 2013, to February 2, 2014, Dr. Hiatt took a medical leave of
absence because the work environment at DU was causing her problems such as panic
attacks.
-9-
On December 23, 2013, while on medical leave from DU, Dr. Hiatt filed a charge
with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) alleging sex
discrimination and retaliation.
7. Return to Work
In February 2014, Dr. Hiatt returned to work at DU. Upon her return, Dr.
Palmateer increased Dr. Hiatt’s weekly clinical hours from 22 to 24 hours. She also
required Dr. Hiatt to provide a doctor’s note to justify non-Family Medical Leave Act
(“FMLA”) sick leave, obtain permission before “blocking her schedule” (i.e., make
certain blocks of time in her calendar unavailable for clinical appointments), and make up
for missed clinical time. Dr. Hiatt asserts that no other HCC clinical staff member faced
similar requirements.
Dr. Hiatt requested several “accommodations” on her return, including that she
work no longer than eight-hour days and that DU provide dictation software to help her
timely draft case notes. DU denied the request for dictation software, and it is not clear
whether it approved the eight-hour request.
On April 23, 2014, Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer criticized Dr. Hiatt for absenteeism
and late case notes. Dr. Kent also told Dr. Hiatt that if she wanted to keep her personnel
matters private, as she had requested, she should not tell people that she was “suing the
university” (presumably referring to her EEOC charge). App. at 204 ¶ 49. In April and
May 2014, Dr. Kent drove by Dr. Hiatt’s private practice. Dr. Kent maintains that he did
so on his way to dog day care. Dr. Hiatt asserts that he was checking to see if she was
there during times she was supposed to be at DU.
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On May 30, 2014, Dr. Hiatt submitted a letter of resignation, in which she
complained of retaliation for filing her internal EEO and EEOC complaints. She stopped
working at DU four weeks later.
B. Procedural Background
On January 28, 2015, Dr. Hiatt filed this lawsuit in the United States District Court
for the District of Colorado. Her amended complaint, the operative one here, brought
federal claims for sex discrimination under both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and for retaliation for engaging
in protected opposition to unlawful discrimination under both Title VII and Title IX. The
amended complaint also alleged several state law claims, including for wrongful
discharge in violation of public policy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
On January 11, 2016, Defendants Colorado Seminary, Dr. Kent, and Dr. Palmateer
filed a motion for summary judgment, which the district court granted on April 5, 2016.
The court held Dr. Hiatt had failed to state a prima facie case for her sex discrimination
claims under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework described below. The
court reasoned that Dr. Hiatt had failed to show she was treated less favorably than
similarly situated employees not in her protected class, which the court believed was
“required” for Dr. Hiatt to state a prima facie case of sex discrimination. App. at 659-60.
On the retaliation claims, the court reasoned that, even if she could state a prima
facie case, the claims failed because she did not show DU’s reasons for any adverse
employment actions were pretextual for retaliation.
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Having rejected the federal claims, the court declined to exercise supplemental
jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. This appeal followed.
II. DISCUSSION
Our review focuses on DU’s reasons for the alleged adverse employment actions
regarding Dr. Hiatt and whether those reasons were pretextual. As so limited, we have no
reason to resolve whether Dr. Hiatt handled her personal relationship with Dr. Coven in
accordance with her professional responsibilities. We consider only whether the reasons
DU gave for Dr. Hiatt’s demotion and maintaining her non-supervisory role were
(1) legitimate, nondiscriminatory, and nonretaliatory, and (2) not pretextual.
We affirm all claims on appeal on the same basis: Dr. Hiatt is unable to show
that DU’s reasons for any alleged adverse employment actions were pretextual for
discrimination or retaliation.7
A. Standard of Review
“We review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo, applying
the same legal standard as the district court.” Twigg, 659 F.3d at 997. “The court
shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as
to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.
R. Civ. P. 56(a). “In applying this standard, we view the evidence and the reasonable
inferences to be drawn from the evidence in the light most favorable to the
nonmoving party.” Twigg, 659 F.3d at 997.
7
We affirm on the retaliation claims on the same ground the district court
relied on—lack of pretext. We affirm on the discrimination claims for lack of
pretext—an alternative ground from the district court.
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B. Legal Standards
1. Title VII and Title IX
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from
discriminating against an individual “because of such individual’s . . . sex.” 42
U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). Title VII also prohibits employers from retaliating against
employees who have opposed an unlawful employment practice such as sex
discrimination. Id. § 2000e-3(a).
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 provides similar
protections. It prohibits discrimination “on the basis of sex” in educational programs or
activities receiving federal funding. 20 U.S.C. § 1681(a). This includes a prohibition on
employment discrimination in federally funded educational programs. N. Haven Bd. of
Educ. v. Bell, 456 U.S. 512, 535-36 (1982). Title IX also prohibits retaliation against
individuals because they have complained of sex discrimination. Jackson v.
Birmingham Bd. of Educ., 544 U.S. 167, 183 (2005) (interpreting Title IX as creating
a private right of action for such a claim).
2. Burden-Shifting Framework
In district court, Dr. Hiatt relied on indirect evidence to oppose summary
judgment on her discrimination and retaliation claims. This approach uses the
burden-shifting framework from McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792,
802-05 (1973).8
8
The McDonnell Douglas framework applies both to the Title IX and Title VII
sex discrimination claims. See Bird v. W. Valley City, 832 F.3d 1188, 1200 (10th Cir.
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Under McDonnell Douglas, a plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case
for discrimination or retaliation by showing an employer took adverse employment
action against the plaintiff based on the plaintiff’s sex or protected activity. Bird,
832 F.3d at 1200 (sex discrimination claim); Fye, 516 F.3d at 1225 (retaliation
claim). The burden then shifts to the employer “to articulate a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory [or nonretaliatory] reason for the adverse action.” Bird, 832 F.3d
at 1200. If the employer satisfies this burden, “then summary judgment is warranted
unless [the plaintiff] can show there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether
the proffered reason[] [is] pretextual.” Id. (quotations omitted).
We provide further background on two parts of the burden-shifting framework,
adverse employment actions and pretext.
3. Adverse Employment Action
For discrimination claims, “[a]n adverse employment action is a significant
change in employment status, such as hiring, firing, failing to promote, reassignment with
significantly different responsibilities, or a decision causing a significant change in
benefits.” Daniels v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 701 F.3d 620, 635 (10th Cir. 2012)
2016) (Title VII sex discrimination claim); Gossett v. Okla. ex rel. Bd. of Regents for
Langston Univ., 245 F.3d 1172, 1176 (10th Cir. 2001) (“Courts have generally assessed
Title IX discrimination claims under the same legal analysis as Title VII claims.”).
McDonnell Douglas applies to Title VII retaliation claims. Fye v. Okla. Corp.
Comm’n, 516 F.3d 1217, 1225 (10th Cir. 2008). We also have applied the framework
to Title IX retaliation claims, albeit not in a published case. See, e.g., Berry v.
Mission Grp. Kan., Inc., 463 F. App’x 759, 766 n.7 (10th Cir. 2012) (unpublished).
We apply the McDonnell Douglas framework here, as we have stated that Title VII is
“the most appropriate analogue when defining Title IX’s substantive standards.”
Roberts v. Colo. State Bd. of Agric., 998 F.2d 824, 832 (10th Cir. 1993).
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(emphasis and quotations omitted). “[A] mere inconvenience or an alteration of job
responsibilities” does not qualify as an adverse action. Piercy v. Maketa, 480 F.3d 1192,
1203 (10th Cir. 2007) (quotations omitted).
For retaliation claims, “a plaintiff must show that a reasonable employee
would have found the challenged action materially adverse, which in this context
means it well might have dissuaded a reasonable worker from making or supporting a
charge of discrimination.” Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53,
68 (2006) (quotations omitted). The action must be materially adverse “to separate
significant from trivial harms,” such as “petty slights, minor annoyances, and simple
lack of good manners . . . .” Id.
4. Pretext
“[A] plaintiff can establish pretext by showing the defendant’s proffered non-
discriminatory [and/or nonretaliatory] explanations for its actions are so incoherent,
weak, inconsistent, or contradictory that a rational factfinder could conclude they are
unworthy of belief.” Johnson v. Weld Cty., Colo., 594 F.3d 1202, 1211 (10th Cir.
2010) (brackets and quotations omitted). “Evidence that the employer should not
have made the [adverse employment] decision—for example, that the employer was
mistaken or used poor business judgment—is not sufficient to show that the
employer’s explanation is unworthy of credibility.” Swackhammer v. Sprint/United
Mgmt. Co., 493 F.3d 1160, 1169-70 (10th Cir. 2007). “The relevant inquiry is not
whether the employer’s proffered reasons were wise, fair or correct, but whether it
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honestly believed those reasons and acted in good faith upon those beliefs.” Id.(quotations omitted).
C. Analysis
We assume without deciding that Dr. Hiatt could make a prima facie
McDonnell Douglas showing of sex discrimination and retaliation under Title VII
and Title IX. But her claims cannot survive summary judgment because she has
failed to show DU’s proffered reasons for taking any adverse employment actions
were pretextual. Because all of Dr. Hiatt’s federal claims require a showing of
pretext, and because she relies on the same evidence and arguments to show pretext,9
we resolve all of her claims on this ground.10
We first identify Dr. Hiatt’s alleged adverse employment actions. We then
explain why Dr. Hiatt has not met her burden to show that DU’s reasons for those
actions were pretextual.
9
At oral argument, Dr. Hiatt’s counsel stated that the “vast majority” of her
pretext arguments were the same for both the discrimination and retaliation claims,
but that “some” of them were different. Oral Arg. at 12:00-13:26. She failed,
however, to identify then or in her briefing any pretext arguments that are different
for any of her claims. Id.10
We have previously affirmed a grant of summary judgment on the basis of
failure to show pretext after assuming without deciding that an employee has stated a
prima facie case. See, e.g., Bird, 832 F.3d at 1201 (analyzing pretext after
“assum[ing] without deciding that [plaintiff-appellant] . . . has established a prima
facie case showing that she was terminated because she is a woman.”); Etsitty v. Utah
Transit Auth., 502 F.3d 1215, 1224 (10th Cir. 2007) (“Assuming [the plaintiff-
appellant] has established a prima facie case . . . of gender stereotyping, the burden
then shifts to [the defendant-appellee] to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory
reason for [the plaintiff’s] termination.”).
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1. Adverse Employment Actions
In her opening brief on appeal, Dr. Hiatt identifies four adverse employment
actions: (1) her demotion from Training Director to Outreach Coordinator in
February 2013; (2) DU’s failure to reinstate her supervisory duties in August 2013;
(3) her “constructive discharge” in May 2014; and (4) DU’s differential treatment of
her in the period leading up to her resignation in May 2014.11 At oral argument, Dr.
Hiatt’s counsel stated that the first three actions pertain to the discrimination claims,
and the fourth is relevant to the retaliation claims. But she did not make such a
distinction in her opening brief. Construing her arguments generously, we consider
whether the following actions qualify as adverse employment actions for either the
discrimination or retaliation claims.
a. The Demotion and Failure to Reinstate Supervisory Duties
A reasonable person in Dr. Hiatt’s position would view her demotion to
Outreach Coordinator, coupled with a salary decrease of $2,000, as an adverse
employment action. See Burlington, 548 U.S. at 71 (“Whether a particular
reassignment is materially adverse depends upon the circumstances of the particular
11
At oral argument, Dr. Hiatt’s counsel cited an exhibit to her opposition to
summary judgment in district court, in which she listed several adverse employment
actions relevant to her retaliation claims. To the extent the list contains any actions
not raised in her opening brief, we decline to consider them. See EEOC v. TriCore
Reference Labs., 849 F.3d 929, 941 (10th Cir. 2017) (declining to consider arguments
raised for the first time at oral argument not raised in an opening brief).
Also at oral argument, Dr. Hiatt’s counsel argued that DU’s failure to respond
appropriately to the supervisees’ reactions to her relationship was an adverse action.
Oral Arg. at 9:41-11:11. But because Dr. Hiatt did not identify this issue as a
separate adverse action in her opening brief on appeal, we do not address it. See
TriCore Reference Labs., 849 F.3d at 941.
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case, and should be judged from the perspective of a reasonable person in the
plaintiff’s position, considering all the circumstances.” (quotations omitted)). DU’s
later decision not to reinstate her supervisory duties was closely related to her
demotion. We analyze it as a separate adverse action below.
b. Constructive Discharge
Dr. Hiatt was not constructively discharged, so there was no adverse employment
action on this basis.
“[C]onstructive discharge occurs when the employer by its illegal discriminatory
acts has made working conditions so difficult that a reasonable person in the employee’s
position would feel compelled to resign.” Bennett v. Windstream Commc’ns., Inc., 792
F.3d 1261, 1269 (10th Cir. 2015) (quotations omitted). “To establish constructive
discharge, a plaintiff must show that she had no other choice but to quit.” Id. (quotations
omitted).
The record shows Dr. Hiatt cannot meet those standards. Although she may have
subjectively believed that DU left her with “no other choice but to quit,” her “subjective
views of the situation are irrelevant,” and she must instead show “[t]he conditions of
employment [were] objectively intolerable.” Id. (quotations omitted). The working
conditions she describes—such as being required to work two extra hours per week, turn
in timely case notes, and justify non-FMLA sick time—do not amount to an objectively
intolerable working environment. See Sandoval v. City of Boulder, Colo., 388 F.3d 1312,
1325-26 (10th Cir. 2004) (finding no constructive discharge when the plaintiff was
humiliated due to an investigation into her management practices and reassigned to
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another position whose conditions were not objectively intolerable); Sanchez v. Denver
Pub. Schs., 164 F.3d 527, 533-34 (10th Cir. 1998) (finding no constructive discharge
when the plaintiff was the “only teacher required to bring a doctor’s note when she was
sick,” and was reprimanded for walking out of a meeting because the work environment,
“while unpleasant,” was not objectively intolerable).
We thus do not address Dr. Hiatt’s alleged constructive discharge in our pretext
analysis.
c. Differential Treatment
Dr. Hiatt asserts DU treated her differently from other HCC staff. Although she
cites differential treatment as evidence of pretext in her opening brief, she changed her
position at oral argument and claimed that differential treatment was a separate adverse
action. Either way, Dr. Hiatt has not pointed to any similarly situated employees to show
differential treatment.
A plaintiff can show differential treatment by providing evidence the employer
treated the plaintiff differently from other similarly situated employees. See Kendrick v.
Penske Transp. Servs., Inc., 220 F.3d 1220, 1232 (10th Cir. 2000). An employee is
similarly situated to the plaintiff if the employee shares the same supervisor, is subject to
the same standards governing performance evaluation and discipline, and has similar
relevant employment circumstances, such as work history. Id.Dr. Hiatt has failed to identify any other similarly situated employees who
allegedly received differential treatment. She suggests Ross Artwohl and Kimberly
Mercer as relevant comparators because, like she did, they reported to Dr. Palmateer. But
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having a common supervisor, alone, is insufficient, and she mentions no other factors to
support comparability. See id. at 1232.
Dr. Hiatt also proposes Dr. Fogle and Dr. Mathewson because Dr. Palmateer
supervised them and the same professional standards applied to them as to Dr. Hiatt. But
because Dr. Hiatt supervised these two individuals, they were not in positions comparable
to Dr. Hiatt.
* * * *
For the foregoing reasons, the only actions that qualify as adverse employment
actions against Dr. Hiatt were (1) the demotion and (2) the failure to reinstate her
supervisory duties.
2. Legitimate Reasons and Pretext
We now apply the second and third steps of the McDonnell Douglas framework
and address (1) whether DU’s reasons for the alleged adverse actions were legitimate,
nondiscriminatory, and nonretaliatory; and, if so, (2) whether those reasons were
pretextual. We conclude that DU’s reasons were legitimate and that Dr. Hiatt has not met
her burden to show the reasons were pretextual.
a. The demotion
i. Legitimate, nondiscriminatory, and nonretaliatory reasons
DU’s reasons for demoting Dr. Hiatt fall into three categories: (1) the “upheaval
among her students,” including at least three out of five supervisees discontinuing
supervision with her; (2) the “ethically grey” manner in how she handled her relationship
with Dr. Coven relative to her professional responsibilities; and (3) her therapy-based
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supervisory style and failure to take personal responsibility for the supervisees’ reactions
to how she handled her relationship relative to her work. See Aplee. Br. at 29-32.
DU’s proffered reasons satisfy its burden to articulate legitimate,
nondiscriminatory, and nonretaliatory reasons for the demotion. See Williams v. FedEx
Corp. Servs., 849 F.3d 889, 900 (10th Cir. 2017). Dr. Hiatt does not challenge that
determination.
We therefore next assess whether those reasons were pretextual for discrimination
or retaliation. See Lobato v. N.M. Env’t Dep’t, 733 F.3d 1283, 1289 (10th Cir. 2013)
(“The parties do not dispute the first two steps in the McDonnell Douglas framework.
Our analysis thus turns on the third step—pretext.”); see also Foster v. Mountain Coal
Co., 830 F.3d 1178, 1194 (10th Cir. 2016) (adopting the same approach).
ii. Pretext
Dr. Hiatt has not satisfied her burden of showing DU’s reasons for demoting
her were pretextual for discrimination or retaliation. The record instead supports that
DU “honestly believed” its proffered reasons and “acted in good faith upon those
beliefs.” Swackhammer, 493 F.3d at 1169-70 (quotations omitted). We begin with
general considerations as to why DU’s reasons were not pretextual and then analyze
DU’s specific reasons.
1) General considerations
Two general considerations—consistency and timing—support that DU’s reasons
were not pretextual.
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a) Consistency
When Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer met with Dr. Hiatt on February 22, 2013, and
presented the three options to her, the reasons they stated then are the same reasons that
DU provides in this litigation. The consistency of their explanations cuts against a
finding of pretext. See Johnson, 594 F.3d at 1211 (providing that inconsistent rationales
may show pretext); Plotke v. White, 405 F.3d 1092, 1102-03 (10th Cir. 2005) (providing
that new rationales not given at the time of the adverse action may show pretext).
First, in the meeting, Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer explained to Dr. Hiatt that a
“majority” of trainees refused to be supervised by her. App. at 450. This aligns with the
rationale DU has presented in this case regarding the “upheaval” among the students,
including at least three out of five supervisees’ ending their supervision with Dr. Hiatt.
Aplee. Br. at 29, 31-32.
Second, Dr. Hiatt was told in the meeting that her conduct posed a “grey ethical
issue” and that a Training Director needed to “display exemplary ethics, boundaries, and
professionalism.” App. at 450. DU’s second rationale in this litigation similarly posits
that Dr. Hiatt lacked judgment in the way she handled her relationship with Dr. Coven
relative to her professional responsibilities. DU also points to the steps leading to its
determination that she had entered ethical grey territory. See Aplee. Br. at 29, 32.
Third, Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer explained during the meeting that Dr. Hiatt’s
“approach to therapy and supervision requires a strict adherence to boundaries which
weren’t demonstrated in this situation” and that her response to the students’ upheaval
showed a “lack of personal responsibility.” App. at 450. In this case, DU has proffered a
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parallel rationale that Dr. Hiatt lacked boundaries in supervision and failed to take
personal responsibility for the students’ reactions. Aplee. Br. at 30-33.
The consistency over time of DU’s reasons for demoting Dr. Hiatt supports the
conclusion that DU’s reasons for demoting Dr. Hiatt were not pretextual.
b) Timing
The timing of when DU first provided its reasons for Dr. Hiatt’s demotion further
undermines a finding of pretext for her retaliation claim. Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer
initially gave Dr. Hiatt the reasons for her demotion in their February 22, 2013 meeting.
But her first protected activity opposing discrimination—a necessary element for her
retaliation claim—occurred on February 27, 2013, when her lawyer sent DU a letter
making allegations of discrimination. This timing undercuts Dr. Hiatt’s argument that
DU’s reasons for the demotion decision were pretextual. DU could not retaliate for Dr.
Hiatt’s protected activity until she had engaged in such activity. See Kilcrease v.
Domenico Transp. Co., 828 F.3d 1214, 1225-26 (10th Cir. 2016) (providing that to show
retaliation, a plaintiff must show an “adverse action by an employer either after or
contemporaneous with the employee’s protected action” and holding that the plaintiff
could not show that element because the employer had made the adverse employment
decision before learning about the plaintiff’s protected activity); Kenfield v. Colo. Dep’t
of Pub. Health & Env’t, 557 F. App’x 728, 733 (10th Cir. 2014) (unpublished) (“By its
very nature, retaliatory conduct must come after the protected activity.”).12
12
Although unpublished and not precedential, we cite this decision for its
persuasive value. See 10th Cir. R. 32.1(A).
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2) Specific reasons
DU’s specific reasons for the demotion also withstand Dr. Hiatt’s arguments.
First, the record supports that DU honestly and in good faith believed the
“upheaval among her supervisees” rendered Dr. Hiatt unable to continue as Training
Director. Aplee. Br. at 29. Three of Dr. Hiatt’s supervisees elected to end
supervision with her—three out of nine according to Dr. Hiatt and three out of five
according to DU. Regardless, three supervisees electing to discontinue supervision
with Dr. Hiatt validated DU’s concerns that she could not continue in a supervisory
role.
Second, on appeal, Dr. Hiatt disputes DU’s determination that her relationship
with Dr. Coven placed her in an ethical grey area. But whether or not DU’s “ethical
greyness” assessment was valid, its investigation into the ethics of Dr. Hiatt’s
conduct shows its assessment was not a pretextual reason for her demotion.
Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer listened to Dr. Hiatt’s and Dr. Fogle’s accounts. Dr.
Hiatt told them her supervisory relationship with Dr. Coven ended before a romantic one
began. Dr. Fogle told them the romance started before the supervision ended. Dr. Kent
presented both Dr. Hiatt’s and Dr. Fogle’s timelines of events to Dr. Philinda
Hutchings—the Dean of the Midwestern School of Professional Psychology—and
Dr. Bill Bracker—the former Director of the Nova Southeastern University Consortium
Internship. Both Dr. Hutchings and Dr. Bracker concluded Dr. Hiatt’s relationship was a
“clear” ethical breach. App. at 447. In addition, Dr. Kent called the APA ethics office,
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which advised that “given the alleged timing, [the relationship] could be seen as a gray
area or it could be a violation.” App. at 447-48.
Dr. Hiatt argues that DU improperly relied on Dr. Fogle’s timeline, but an
“[e]mployer may defeat the inference that an employment decision was a product of
reliance on a biased subordinate by simply asking an employee for [her] version of
events, and not relying exclusively on the say-so of the biased subordinate.” Smothers v.
Solvay Chems., Inc., 740 F.3d 530, 543 (10th Cir. 2014) (quoting EEOC v. BCI Coca-
Cola Bottling Co. of L.A., 450 F.3d 476, 488 (10th Cir. 2006) (brackets and quotations
omitted). Consistent with Smothers, DU gave Dr. Hiatt multiple opportunities to explain
her version of events.
In sum, DU’s investigation into Dr. Hiatt’s relationship as it related to her
professional responsibilities was substantial and bore no marks of unfairness. Its
determination that Dr. Hiatt had entered ethical grey territory as a result of that
investigation—even if mistaken—does not suggest pretext. See Piercy, 480 F.3d at
1202 (“If the employer’s stated reasons were held in good faith at the time of the
discharge, even if they later prove to be untrue, we cannot conclude they were a
subterfuge for discrimination or, likewise, retaliation.”).
Third, DU administrators believed the demotion decision was justified because
Dr. Hiatt lacked boundaries in supervision and failed to take personal responsibility
for her supervisees’ reactions. Dr. Kent’s meeting notes documented how Dr. Hiatt
blamed her supervisees’ pathologies for the upheaval. The revelation of Dr. Hiatt’s
relationship with Dr. Coven had the unexpected effect of shedding light on Dr.
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Hiatt’s approach to supervision. During Dr. Kent’s discussion with Dr. Fogle after
the “open meeting,” Dr. Fogle described Dr. Hiatt’s therapeutic supervisory style as
sometimes causing Dr. Fogle to cry and feel vulnerable. Dr. Hiatt does not challenge
Dr. Fogle’s description of her therapy style. Indeed, Dr. Hiatt admitted in her
deposition that supervisees even had a name for it—getting “Tawny-ed.” App. at
166. Before Dr. Fogle’s meeting with Dr. Kent, Dr. Shanley also had complained
about Dr. Hiatt’s approach, stating it made him feel “uncomfortable” and was
“intrusive.” App. at 178. This information reinforced DU’s belief that Dr. Hiatt
lacked proper boundaries when supervising.13
* * * *
Dr. Hiatt has not shown that DU’s reasons for removing her from her position
as Training Director and demoting her to Outreach Coordinator were dishonest or
made in bad faith, Shackhammer, 493 F.3d at 1169-70, or were “so incoherent, weak,
inconsistent, or contradictory that a rational factfinder could conclude they are
unworthy of belief,” Johnson, 594 F.3d at 1211 (brackets and quotations omitted).
She has thus not met her burden to show pretext to survive summary judgment on her
discrimination or retaliation claims.
13
Dr. Hiatt points to her supervisees’ positive reviews of her supervision
before they learned about her relationship with Dr. Coven as undermining any later
criticism that she lacked boundaries in supervision. But those reviews were not
anonymous. Dr. Hiatt has not presented facts that would discredit DU’s belief.
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b. Failure to Reinstate
Dr. Hiatt also challenged DU’s decision not to reinstate her supervisory duties,
arguing that Dr. Asher recommended she return to supervision.
i. Legitimate, nondiscriminatory, and nonretaliatory reasons
DU disputes that Dr. Asher had made such a recommendation, but even if she
did, DU contends it could reasonably disagree with Dr. Asher’s assessment and that
her recommendation was just one factor in making its decision. According to DU,
other factors included the supervisees’ negative feedback about Dr. Hiatt, Dr. Kent’s
and Dr. Palmateer’s observations of Dr. Hiatt’s job performance, and their view that
Dr. Hiatt continued to blame the interns for her demotion and failed to acknowledge
her role in contributing to their reactions.
Once again, Dr. Hiatt does not contest these were legitimate, nondiscriminatory,
and nonretaliatory reasons. We agree and turn to whether they were pretextual for
discrimination or retaliation. See Lobato, 733 F.3d at 1289; Foster, 830 F.3d at 1194.
ii. Pretext
Dr. Hiatt has not met her burden to show that DU’s reasons for not reinstating
her supervisory duties were pretextual for discrimination or retaliation.
1) General Considerations
Like its demotion decision, DU consistently provided the same reasons for not
returning Dr. Hiatt to a supervisory position in (1) the August 2013 meeting with Dr.
Hiatt explaining the decision, (2) the September 2013 response to Dr. Hiatt’s internal
EEO complaint, and (3) this litigation. The consistency of DU’s responses from the
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time of the employment action to now supports that DU’s reasons were not
pretextual. See Plotke, 405 F.3d at 1102-03; Johnson, 594 F.3d at 1211.
2) Specific Reasons
Dr. Hiatt presents two main pretext arguments: (1) DU did not follow Dr.
Asher’s recommendation to reinstate her supervisory duties, and (2) DU imposed
subjective standards to measure whether she could return to supervision. Neither
shows pretext.
First, DU acted honestly and in good faith in not accepting Dr. Asher’s
recommendation. In Dr. Kent’s view, Dr. Asher’s recommendation was equivocal.
Even assuming Dr. Asher firmly endorsed Dr. Hiatt’s return to supervision, we agree
with the district court that DU could reasonably disagree with her recommendation.
And if DU exercised poor judgment, that is not enough to show pretext. See
Swackhammer, 493 F.3d at 1169-70 (providing that an employer’s mistake or use of
poor business judgment is insufficient to show pretext).
DU had several legitimate reasons to disagree with Dr. Asher’s
recommendation. In their September 26, 2013 response to Dr. Hiatt’s internal EEO
complaint, Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer noted that Dr. Asher’s recommendation came
with the caveat that Dr. Hiatt was not likely to change her supervision style if she
resumed her supervisory duties. In the six months after Dr. Hiatt was demoted, DU
discovered additional cause for concern about her supervision style. In their exit
interviews after she was demoted, several supervisees described “troubling
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interactions” with Dr. Hiatt during supervision that gave DU further reason to believe
Dr. Hiatt had “very poor boundaries.” App. at 526-27.
Dr. Kent and Dr. Palmateer also noted in their response to Dr. Hiatt’s internal
EEO complaint that Dr. Hiatt had not demonstrated any awareness of how her
supervisory style negatively affected the supervisees. Their response documented
that, in her meetings with Dr. Asher, Dr. Hiatt continued to blame the supervisees’
pathologies as causing the upheaval in the winter of 2013 rather than acknowledging
her own contribution.
In sum, DU gave several reasons to disregard Dr. Asher’s recommendation.
Dr. Hiatt has not provided evidence to show that a reasonable factfinder could find
those reasons unworthy of belief. See Swackhammer, 493 F.3d at 1169-70
Second, Dr. Hiatt tried to show pretext in district court by pointing to DU’s use of
“subjective criteria” to measure whether Dr. Hiatt could resume her supervisory duties.
She pointed to the October 2013 email from Associate Provost for Student Life Patricia
Helton, which called on Dr. Hiatt to have “better awareness about the power she holds”
and “demonstrate[] appropriate professional boundaries in all contexts” before she could
resume supervision. App. at 546.
Dr. Hiatt did not adequately explain in district court or here how the email
instructions were subjective. But even if they were, the criteria do not signal pretext.
Nothing in the email or elsewhere suggests DU implemented these criteria
dishonestly or in bad faith. Instead, the criteria show DU was trying to create a path
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for Dr. Hiatt to resume supervision. The email even expressed DU’s hope that Dr.
Hiatt eventually would return to supervision.
Dr. Hiatt has not shown DU’s reasons for refusing to reinstate her supervisory
duties were pretextual for retaliation or discrimination.
* * * *
Dr. Hiatt has not satisfied her burden of showing DU’s reasons for demoting
her or failing to reinstate her supervisory duties were pretextual for discrimination or
retaliation. DU’s proffered reasons were not so “incoherent, weak, inconsistent, or
contradictory” as to be unworthy of belief by a reasonable factfinder. See Johnson,
594 F.3d at 1211. At most, Dr. Hiatt’s evidence may support that DU may have
made mistaken employment decisions. But arguments questioning the soundness of
DU’s decisions are insufficient to show DU acted dishonestly or in bad faith. See
Swackhammer, 493 F.3d at 1169-70. Dr. Hiatt cannot, therefore, create a triable
issue that DU’s reasons for any adverse employment actions were pretextual for sex
discrimination or retaliation.
III. CONCLUSION
We affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment on Dr. Hiatt’s Title
VII and Title IX discrimination and retaliation claims.
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