Jim Ferguson v. Middle Tennessee State University ( 2013 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
November 14, 2012 Session
JIM FERGUSON
v.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
Appeal from the Chancery Court of Rutherford County
No. 036336MI John D. Wootten, Jr., Judge
No. M2012-00890-COA-R3-CV - Filed March 28, 2013
This appeal involves an employee’s claim of retaliation for engaging in protected activity.
The plaintiff employee filed a lawsuit against his employer, the defendant university,
asserting several claims of employment discrimination under state and federal statutes.
Subsequently, in a second lawsuit against the university, the plaintiff employee asserted that
he suffered adverse job actions after he filed his charge of discrimination with the federal
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the first discrimination lawsuit. The
alleged adverse job actions included making the employee perform tasks that resulted in
physical injuries. The lawsuits were consolidated and, after an eight-day jury trial, the jury
awarded the employee $3 million in compensatory damages on the retaliation claim only.
The defendant university appeals. We hold that, to prove a claim of retaliation for engaging
in protected activity, the plaintiff was required to present material evidence to the jury that
the decisionmaker, his supervisor at the university, was aware of the plaintiff’s protected
activity when she took the adverse job actions against the plaintiff. The plaintiff employee
presented no material evidence at trial of such knowledge by his supervisor at the relevant
time. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand for entry of an order
dismissing the plaintiff employee’s complaint.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court is Reversed
and Remanded for Entry of an Order of Dismissal
H OLLY M. K IRBY, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which D AVID R. F ARMER, J., and
J. S TEVEN S TAFFORD, J., joined.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., William E. Young, William J. Marett, Jr., Leslie Ann Bridges, and
Casey N. Miley, Nashville, Tennessee for Defendant/Appellant, Middle Tennessee State
University
Michelle M. Benjamin, Winchester, Tennessee for Plaintiff/Appellee, Jim Ferguson
OPINION
FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW
Plaintiff/Appellee Jim Ferguson is of Japanese American ancestry. In 1987, Ferguson began
working in the maintenance department of Defendant/Appellant Middle Tennessee State
University (“MTSU”). Ferguson and other employees were responsible for the maintenance
of MTSU’s student housing facilities.
In 1997, Dana Byrd became Ferguson’s supervisor at MTSU. Prior to that time, Ferguson
and Byrd had a good working relationship.
Beginning in approximately 1998, Ferguson began suffering from physical injuries to various
parts of his body. The injuries stemmed from specific workplace incidents and also from
wear and tear. Between 1998 and 2003, Ferguson’s continued injuries resulted in several
medical restrictions on Ferguson’s work assignments. Although the record indicates some
confusion regarding which types of medical restrictions were in place at any given time, it
is undisputed that Byrd knew that Ferguson had medical restrictions on his work
assignments. Ferguson believed that the work assignments he received from Byrd were
contrary to his medical restrictions and believed that his work assignments and workload
were more onerous than the work assigned to other maintenance employees. The perceived
problems with his work assignments and other incidents at work caused Ferguson to believe
that Byrd was discriminating against Ferguson on the basis of his Japanese ancestry.
In August 2002, Ferguson sustained an injury while doing maintenance work. Ferguson was
admitted to the hospital and underwent surgery. The recuperation period for Ferguson’s
surgery lasted a number of months; he was off work until March 2003.
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In November or December 2002,1 during the time in which Ferguson was recuperating from
his surgery, he filed a employment discrimination complaint against MTSU with the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). The EEOC complaint alleged
discrimination on the basis of race and national origin.
In anticipation of Ferguson’s return to work, MTSU held several return-to-work meetings
with Ferguson and Byrd to ensure that Byrd was aware of the medical restrictions on
Ferguson’s work in the wake of the surgery. The meetings were well-documented; there
were minutes of the meetings in e-mails and Byrd took handwritten notes as well. Neither
the minutes nor Byrd’s notes mention any reference in the meetings to Ferguson’s EEOC
complaint. Ferguson returned to work on March 17, 2003.
On March 27, 2003, within days after he returned to work, Ferguson filed his first lawsuit
against MTSU in the Chancery Court for Rutherford County, Tennessee. The complaint
asserted inter alia that Byrd had discriminated against Ferguson on the basis of his race and
national origin, in violation of federal and state statutes prohibiting discrimination in
employment. It was served on MTSU on April 3, 2003.
After Ferguson filed the lawsuit against MTSU alleging employment discrimination, he
continued to report to work. While on duty, Ferguson continued to perform all work tasks
Byrd assigned to him, even those he believed were contrary to his medical restrictions.
Ferguson would later explain that he did so in order to maintain his medical insurance
coverage, because his son was ill and required expensive medical treatment.
In June 2003, after Ferguson had been back at work for a few months, he developed more
physical problems, including weakness in his legs. Ferguson continued to work despite these
problems. Eventually, the physical problems Ferguson had developed caused him to fall
1
The date on which Ferguson filed his EEOC complaint is unclear in the record. At oral argument, counsel
for Ferguson stated that the EEOC complaint was filed in November 2002, but Ferguson’s retaliation lawsuit
asserts that it was filed in December 2002. Ferguson’s appellate brief does not contain a record citation for
the EEOC complaint and we decline to search for it in the voluminous record. Though Ferguson’s appellate
brief includes some citations to the record, Ferguson’s brief makes many factual assertions that lack any
record citation whatsoever. Roberts v. Blount Mem’l Hosp., 963 S.W.2d 744, 748 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997)
(“It is not incumbent upon this Court to sift through the record in order to find proof to substantiate the
positions of the parties.”). A party’s failure make adequate citations to the record in his appellate brief is
grounds for waiver in some cases. Tenn. R. App. P. 27(a). Despite the deficiencies, we exercise our
discretion to consider Ferguson’s arguments on appeal.
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down a flight of stairs while he was at work at MTSU. Ferguson sustained significant head
injuries as a result of the fall. Ferguson never recovered sufficiently to return to work.2
In April 2004, well after his fall down the stairs, Ferguson filed a second lawsuit against
MTSU. This second lawsuit was also filed in the Chancery Court for Rutherford County. It
alleged that MTSU had retaliated against Ferguson for engaging in protected activity,
namely, filing his December 2002 EEOC complaint and the March 2003 lawsuit alleging
employment discrimination. This second complaint alleged: “Shortly after the plaintiff’s
return to work [on March 27, 2003], the defendant through actions of Supervisor Dana Byrd
after having knowledge of the work-related restrictions required the plaintiff to work outside
his restrictions.” Ferguson’s retaliation complaint then listed specific dates and work
assignments in which Byrd purportedly asked Ferguson to perform tasks that were contrary
to his medical restrictions, starting on April 10, 2003. Discovery ensued.
Eventually, the Chancery Court for Rutherford County consolidated Ferguson’s two lawsuits
against MTSU. In October 2008, Ferguson amended his complaint to add a claim for
malicious harassment. Discovery continued.
Finally, in November 2011, the trial court conducted an eight-day jury trial on Ferguson’s
consolidated complaints. The jury heard testimony from seventeen witnesses and
approximately 90 exhibits were entered into evidence.
In support of his allegation of retaliation, Ferguson testified at trial that, shortly after he filed
his March 2003 lawsuit, “things got pretty heated and pretty rough.” After Ferguson finished
recuperating from his surgery and returned to work at MTSU, Ferguson said, Byrd gave him
work assignments that included moving furniture, moving heavy glass storm doors, installing
flood lights and performing other overhead work. All of this, Ferguson testified, was in
violation of the medical restrictions placed on him upon his return to work. Asked if he
believed that Byrd was retaliating against him because of the employment discrimination
lawsuit, Ferguson responded that he filed the second lawsuit claiming retaliation because
“Ms. Byrd continue[d] after the lawsuit was filed performing the same actions that made me
bring it.” In further support of his allegations, Ferguson described an incident that occurred
in 2003, after he had filed his discrimination lawsuit and had returned to work after his
surgery, in which a Japanese proverb was posted above the time clock. Ferguson testified
that he ripped the posted proverb down and did not mention it to anyone:
2
Several years later, Ferguson was diagnosed as having suffered traumatic brain injury as a result of the June
2003 fall down the stairs.
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Counsel: Okay. And you didn’t bring [the document], take it to anyone, did
you?
Ferguson: At the time I had litigation in process, and I was not allowed to
speak about it.
Counsel: Mr. Ferguson, the answer to my question was –
Ferguson: Oh, no ma’am, I did not because at the time litigation was – was
being conducted and I was not allowed to even talk to anyone in [Human
Resources] about it.”
Counsel: I want to be careful. Your lawyer instructed you not to talk to anyone;
isn’t that right?
Ferguson: Yes ma’am.
Counsel: Okay.
Ferguson: And HR told me not to talk to them.
Thus, Ferguson explained at trial that he understood from his attorney and from the MTSU
Human Resource Department that he was not permitted to talk to anyone about his pending
employment discrimination lawsuit, so he refrained from mentioning it.
Supervisor Byrd also testified at the trial. She denied taking any action against Ferguson
because he had filed a lawsuit against MTSU. The questions asked of Byrd, on both direct
and cross-examination, did not include any inquiry about when she learned that Ferguson had
filed the employment discrimination lawsuits against MTSU or when she learned that
Ferguson had filed a complaint with the EEOC. The following excerpt from Byrd’s 2006
deposition was read to the jury at trial:
Question: At any point in time did you discuss the complaint with Mr.
Ferguson?
Answer: No.
Question: And what was the nature of Mr. Ferguson’s complaint?
Answer: I don’t really remember for sure. I think there were two, so I may be
confused on this. I think he felt like he was discriminated against to his – I
think his mother being Japanese. I think that’s what it was.
Question: And do you recall about the manner in which he claims he was
discriminated?
Answer: I don’t understand what you’re asking.
Question: . . . Well, you know some people say they’ve been discriminated
because they weren’t given a promotion, they were denied a raise. What do
you recall was Mr. Ferguson’s allegation to support his claim of
discrimination?
Answer: I really don’t remember anything.
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None of Byrd’s deposition testimony read at trial addressed when Byrd learned that Ferguson
had filed an EEOC complaint or when Byrd learned that Ferguson had filed an employment
discrimination lawsuit against MTSU.
At the close of Ferguson’s proof, MTSU moved for a directed verdict on his three claims:
employment discrimination on the basis of race and hostile working environment; retaliation
for engaging in protected activity; and malicious harassment. The trial court granted a partial
directed verdict; it dismissed Ferguson’s discrimination claim to the extent that he alleged
a hostile working environment. The other claims, including the retaliation claim, were
permitted to proceed.
After MTSU put on its proof, it again moved for a directed verdict. The trial court denied
this motion and it submitted to the jury Ferguson’s remaining claims, i.e., what remained of
his claim of discrimination, his claim for malicious harassment, and his claim of retaliation
for engaging in a protected activity.
On November 10, 2011, the jury returned its verdict. It found in favor of MTSU on
Ferguson’s claims of discrimination and malicious harassment. It found in favor of Ferguson
on his claim of retaliation for engaging in protected activity, and awarded Ferguson $3
million in compensatory damages. The trial court entered a judgment in this amount on
November 29, 2011.
On December 21, 2011, MTSU filed a post-trial motion for directed verdict, partial new trial
and/or remittitur. In the motion, MTSU argued, inter alia, that Ferguson failed to produce
evidence that Byrd, the sole supervisor who was alleged to have engaged in retaliation, had
knowledge of Ferguson’s protected activity. It also argued that the jury verdict was
excessive. The trial court denied MTSU’s motion, holding that “there was substantial
evidence upon which a reasonable jury could reach its conclusion. . . .” MTSU now appeals.
ISSUES ON A PPEAL AND S TANDARD OF R EVIEW
On appeal, MTSU presents two issues:
Whether Defendant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law on Plaintiff’s
claim of retaliation under Title VII and the Tennessee Human Rights Act
because Plaintiff failed to present any evidence that the decisionmaker knew
of the protected activity.
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Whether Defendant is entitled to a new trial, or, in the alternative, a remittitur
because the jury’s $3,000,000 compensatory damages award is excessive and
not supported by the evidence.
Since this case was tried before a jury, the findings of fact may be set aside “only if there is
no material evidence to support the verdict.” Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d). In determining
whether there is material evidence to support the verdict, this Court must “(1) take the
strongest legitimate view of all the evidence in favor of the verdict; (2) assume the truth of
all evidence that supports the verdict; (3) allow all reasonable inferences to sustain the
verdict; and (4) discard all [countervailing] evidence.” Whaley v. Perkins, 197 S.W.3d 665,
671 (Tenn. 2006); Barnes v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 48 S.W.3d 698, 704 (Tenn.
2000) (citing Crabtree Masonry Co. v. C & R Constr., Inc., 575 S.W.2d 4, 5 (Tenn. 1978);
Black v. Quinn, 646 S.W.2d 437, 439-40 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1982)); see also Riley v. Orr, No.
M2009-01215-COA-R3-CV, 2010 WL 2350475, at *5; 2010 Tenn. App. LEXIS 386, at
*12-13 (Tenn. Ct. App. June 11, 2010). In doing so, this Court may not re-weigh the
evidence or make a fresh determination of where the preponderance lies on issues of fact.
Barnes, 48 S.W.3d at 704. Simply put, if there is any material evidence to support the jury’s
verdict, then the findings of fact must be affirmed. Barnes, 48 S.W.3d at 704-05 (quoting
Crabtree Masonry Co., 575 S.W.2d at 5); Riley, 2010 WL 2350475, at *5; 2010 Tenn. App.
LEXIS 386, at *13.
The trial court’s conclusions of law are subject to a less deferential standard of review.
Riley, 2010 WL 2350475, at *5; 2010 Tenn. App. LEXIS 386, at *13 (citing Rutherford v.
S. Coll. of Optometry, No.W2008-02268-COA-R3-CV, 2009 WL 5064972, at *4; 2009
Tenn. App. LEXIS 882, at *13 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 28, 2009)). This Court reviews the trial
court’s conclusions of law de novo with no presumption of correctness. Riley, 2010 WL
2350475, at *4-5; 2010 Tenn. App. LEXIS 386, at *13 (citing Trau-Med of Am., Inc. v.
Allstate Ins. Co., 71 S.W.3d 691, 696-97 (Tenn. 2002); Rutherford, 2009 WL 5064972, at
*4; 2009 Tenn. App. LEXIS 882, at *13).
A NALYSIS
On appeal, MTSU argues that Ferguson did not present any evidence that Byrd had
knowledge that Ferguson engaged in a protected activity during the relevant time period, and
therefore did not prove a causal connection between the protected activity and any alleged
adverse employment action. In response, as a threshold issue, Ferguson argues that MTSU
waived any issue regarding Byrd’s knowledge because this ground was not included in its
motion for directed verdict.
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“The trial court must be given the opportunity to correct errors in the conduct of a trial . . .
before a litigant will be able to seek reversal on appeal.” Yeubanks v. Methodist
Healthcare-Memphis Hosps., No. W2001-02051-COA-R3-CV, 2003 WL 21392411, at *7;
2003 Tenn. App. LEXIS 437, at *21-22 (Tenn. Ct. App. June 10, 2003) (quoting In re South
Central Bell, 779 S.W.2d 375, 380 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1989); Rhea v. Marko Constr. Co., 652
S.W.2d 332, 334 (Tenn. 1983); Pendleton v. Evetts, 611 S.W.2d 607, 609 (Tenn. Ct. App.
1981); Valentine v. Conchemco, Inc., 588 S.W.2d 871, 877 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1979). Thus,
an issue raised for the first time on appeal may be deemed waived. Black v. Blount, 938
S.W.2d 394, 403 (Tenn. 1996).
In this case, the issue MTSU raises on appeal was raised specifically and thoroughly
addressed in MTSU’s post-trial motion seeking a partial new trial. Thus the issue was raised
to the trial court and was not waived on appeal. Ferguson’s argument is without merit, and
we go on to consider MTSU’s substantive argument.
Ferguson’s retaliation complaint asserts claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, as amended (“Title VII”) and the Tennessee Human Rights Act (“THRA”). See 42
U.S.C. §2000(e) (2012); Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-311, et seq. Ferguson alleges that MTSU
retaliated against him for engaging in activity that is protected under Title VII and the
THRA. “The THRA prohibits retaliation against an employee who ‘has opposed a practice
declared discriminatory by this chapter or because such person has made a charge, filed a
complaint, testified, assisted or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding
or hearing under this chapter.’ ” Castro v. TX Direct, LLC, No. W2012-01494-COA-R3-CV,
2013 WL 684785, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Feb 25, 2013) (quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-
301(1)). See also Lin v. Metro. Gov’t of Nashville & Davidson County, No.
M2008-00212-COA-R3-CV, 2008 WL 4613559, at *3; 2008 Tenn. App. LEXIS 609, at *7-8
(Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 10, 2008); Frye v. St. Thomas Health Servs., 227 S.W.3d 595, 613
(Tenn. Ct. App. 2007); Sawyer v. Memphis Educ. Ass’n, No. W2006-00437-COA-R3-CV,
2006 WL 3298326, at *5; 2006 Tenn. App. LEXIS 729, at *18 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 14,
2006). These provisions of the THRA parallel similar provisions in Title VII. See 42 U.S.C.
§ 2000e-3(a).
To establish a claim of retaliation under the THRA, the plaintiff must prove that: (1) the
plaintiff engaged in a protected activity; (2) the exercise of the plaintiff’s protected rights was
known to the defendant; (3) the defendant thereafter took an adverse job action against the
plaintiff; and (4) there was a causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse
job action. Sykes v. Chattanooga Hous. Auth., 343 S.W.3d 18, 29 (Tenn. 2011); Sawyer,
2006 WL 3298326, at *5; 2006 Tenn. App. LEXIS 729, at *16 (citing Newsom v. Textron
Aerostructures, 924 S.W.2d 87, 96 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995)); see also Lin, 2008 WL
4613559, at *3; 2008 Tenn. App. LEXIS 609, at *8-9 (quoting Allen v. McPhee, 240 S.W.3d
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803, 820-21 (Tenn. 2007). The plaintiff must establish the same elements to prove a
retaliation claim under Title VII. See Perkins v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville,
380 S.W.3d 73, 81 (Tenn. 2012).
“It is clearly the law in Tennessee that federal case law on Title VII and related civil rights
statutes may be used to interpret the THRA since the stated purpose and intent of the THRA
is to execute the policies embodied within the federal anti-discrimination acts.” Regnier v.
Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson County, No. M2004-00351-COA-R3-CV, 2006 WL
1328937, at *7; 2006 Tenn. App. LEXIS 309, at *22 (Tenn. Ct. App. May 11, 2006) (citing
Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-101(a)(1)); Barnes, 48 S.W.3d at 705; Frazier v. Heritage Fed.
Bank for Sav., 955 S.W.2d 633, 636 n.1 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997); Newsom, 924 S.W.2d at 96).
Therefore, we look to federal caselaw applying the federal employment discrimination
statutes for guidance.
On appeal, Ferguson argues that “there is substantial evidence to support the jury’s finding”
that Byrd had knowledge of Ferguson’s filing both his EEOC complaint and his
discrimination lawsuit. In support of this assertion, Ferguson points first to the excerpts from
Byrd’s deposition that were read into evidence at trial. Ferguson insists that Byrd’s 2006
deposition testimony is direct evidence that Byrd knew that Ferguson filed both his
December 2002 EEOC complaint and his March 2003 employment discrimination lawsuit.
After reviewing the deposition excerpts read to the jury, we agree that it shows that, by the
time Byrd’s deposition was taken, she was aware of the EEOC complaint and the first
discrimination lawsuit. However, Byrd’s deposition testimony, at least the part that was read
to the jury, says nothing about when Byrd learned of Ferguson’s protected activity. Certainly
it does not show that Byrd was told about Ferguson’s protected activity before she engaged
in the alleged adverse job actions, assigning Ferguson the work tasks that were beyond his
medical restrictions and were allegedly overly burdensome. Indeed, the only direct evidence
in the record is Ferguson’s testimony that he did not discuss his EEOC complaint or his
discrimination lawsuit with Byrd or anyone else, as per instructions from his attorney and the
MTSU Human Resources personnel.
Ferguson next argues that he proved knowledge of the protected activity by showing
“temporal proximity,” that is, he proved that Byrd’s assignment of job tasks outside of
Ferguson’s medical restrictions closely followed the filing of Ferguson’s discrimination
lawsuit and his EEOC complaint. Ferguson cites Nguyen v. City of Cleveland, 229 F.3d
559, 567 (6th Cir. 2000), in which the Sixth Circuit noted that “there may be circumstances
where evidence of temporal proximity alone would be sufficient to support that inference”
of retaliation. Ferguson maintains that the jury credited the testimony showing proximity in
time between Ferguson’s protected activity and Byrd’s adverse job actions against Ferguson.
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In this way, Ferguson argues, he proved the causal link between Ferguson’s protected
activity and the adverse employment actions taken against him by Byrd.3
Tennessee cases note that circumstantial evidence such as “temporal proximity of the adverse
action to the [discrimination] complaint” can be “probative on the issue of causation and
retaliatory intent. . . .” Sykes, 343 S.W.3d at 29 (citations omitted).4 This presupposes,
however, that the decisionmaker, the person who made the decision to take the alleged
adverse job action, has knowledge of the employee’s protected activity at the time the
adverse job action is taken. Absent such knowledge, there is no way to infer retaliatory
animus from the decisionmaker’s actions. Tennessee cases and federal cases on retaliation
indicate that proof of knowledge of the employee’s protected activity is foundational to a
claim of retaliation for engaging in protected activity. See, e.g., id.; Todd v. Shelby County,
No. W2012-00961-COA-R3-CV, 2012 WL 6727536, at *9 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 27, 2012);
Scott v. Eastman Chem. Co., 275 Fed. Appx. 466, 482 (6th Cir. Tenn. 2008) (“Regardless
of whether employer knowledge is a stand-alone element of a prima facie case of retaliation,
it is fairly clear from Sixth Circuit case law that employer knowledge of a plaintiff’s
protected activity is required.”); Dowe v. Total Action Against Poverty, 145 F.3d 653, 657
(4th Cir. 1998) (“[B]y definition, an employer cannot take action because of a factor of which
it is unaware, the employer’s knowledge that the plaintiff engaged in a protected activity is
absolutely necessary to establish [a prima facie case for retaliation].”).
We note that it appears undisputed in this case that some persons within the MTSU
administration had knowledge of Ferguson’s EEOC complaint and his discrimination lawsuit,
since Ferguson testified that he was advised by the MTSU Human Resources personnel not
to discuss these matters in the workplace. Some federal courts have held that “general
corporate knowledge” is sufficient knowledge to establish a prima facie case of retaliation.
See e.g., Gordon v. New York City Bd. of Educ., 232 F.3d 111, 116 (2d Cir. 2000) (“Neither
this nor any other circuit has ever held that, to satisfy the knowledge requirement, anything
more is necessary than general corporate knowledge that the plaintiff has engaged in a
protected activity.”); Alston v. New York City Transit Auth., 14 F. Supp. 2d 308, 311
(S.D.N.Y. 1998) (“In order to satisfy the second prong of her retaliation claim, plaintiff need
not show that individual decision-makers within the NYCTA knew that she had filed . . . .
[an] EEOC complaint.”)). Others have held that knowledge of the individual decisionmaker
3
At oral argument on appeal, Ferguson’s counsel emphasized that Byrd was aware of the medical restrictions
on Ferguson’s work, but nevertheless transgressed them. This of course is not relevant to the issue of whether
Byrd had knowledge of Ferguson’s protected activities.
4
The Sykes Court also lists other types of circumstantial evidence that can show causation and retaliatory
intent, such as a pattern of workplace antagonism after the filing of a discrimination complaint. Sykes, 343
S.W.3d at 29.
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must be shown to prove a claim of retaliation. See, e.g., Scott, 275 Fed. Appx. at 482;
Dowe, 145 F.3d at 657; Holland v. Washington Homes, Inc., 487 F.3d 208, 218 (4th Cir.
2007) (“[U]ltimately, ‘[i]t is the perception of the decisionmaker which is relevant.’”)
(quoting Tinsley v. First Union Nat’l Bank, 155 F.3d 435, 444 (4th Cir. 1998)).
While we may look to federal law, “we are neither bound nor restricted by it.” Barnes, 48
S.W.3d at 705. We respectfully reject the view that “general corporate knowledge” is
sufficient foundation for a claim of retaliation in employment for engaging in protected
activity. Retaliatory intent or animus must abide in the mind of a living, breathing person.
It is difficult to see how an entity such as a corporation can have intent or animus, retaliatory
or otherwise. Consequently, we are of the view that the plaintiff in a retaliation lawsuit is
required to show that the decisionmaker, the individual who took the adverse job action
against the plaintiff, had knowledge of the plaintiff’s protected activity at the time of the
adverse job action. In the absence of such proof, the plaintiff’s claim of retaliation fails. See
Dowe, 145 F.3d at 657 (citing Grizzle v. Travelers Health Network, Inc., 14 F.3d 261, 267
(5th Cir. 1994) (dismissing claim because no evidence that relevant decisionmaker knew that
plaintiff had complained of discrimination); Hudson v. Southern Ductile Casting Corp., 849
F.2d 1372, 1376 (11th Cir. 1988) (dismissing claim because relevant decisionmaker was
unaware that plaintiff had filed a complaint with the EEOC); Talley v. United States Postal
Serv., 720 F.2d 505, 508 (8th Cir. 1983) (dismissing claim because no evidence that
supervisor who made adverse personnel decision was aware that plaintiff had engaged in
protected activity)); see also Cohen v. Fred Meyer, Inc., 686 F.2d 793, 796 (9th Cir. 1982).
The plaintiff in a retaliation case can prove the decisionmaker’s knowledge of the protected
activity through either direct evidence or circumstantial evidence. See Scott, 275 Fed. Appx.
at 482 (citing Proffitt v. Metro. Gov’t of Nashville & Davidson County, 150 Fed. Appx. 439,
442-43 (6th Cir. Tenn. 2005); Kirkendoll v. McCullough, No. 3:040789, 2006 WL 14561,
at *11; 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1080, at *29-30 (M.D. Tenn. Jan. 3, 2006) (direct evidence
of knowledge is not required, circumstantial evidence is sufficient)). See also Federated
Rural Elec. Ins. Exch. v. Hill, No. M2009-01772-COA-R3-CV, 2011 WL 3452196, at *6;
2011 Tenn. App. LEXIS 428, at *18 (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 8, 2011) (causal link can be
inferred from direct evidence or though “compelling circumstantial evidence.”) (citing
Thomason v. Better-Bilt Aluminum Prods., Inc., 831 S.W.2d 291, 293 (Tenn. Ct. App.
1992)). However, the plaintiff must offer some material evidence from which a reasonable
trier of fact can infer knowledge, and in any case “must do more than ‘offer[] only
conspiratorial theories . . . or flights of fancy, speculations, hunches, intuitions, or rumors.’”
Proffitt, 150 Fed. Appx. at 443 (resolving a motion for summary judgment) (quoting Mulhall
v. Ashcoft, 287 F.3d 543, 552 (6th Cir. 2002); Visser v. Packer Eng'g Assocs., Inc., 924 F.2d
655, 659 (7th Cir. 1991)).
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Therefore, in this case, to prevail on his claim of retaliation, Ferguson was required to submit
to the jury material evidence, either direct or circumstantial, from which a reasonable trier
of fact could infer that Byrd knew, when she assigned Ferguson the work in question, that
Ferguson had filed an EEOC complaint or that Ferguson had filed an employment
discrimination lawsuit. Ferguson has directed our attention to no such evidence in the
voluminous record, and we have found none. See Zang v. Leonard, 643 S.W.2d 657, 665
(Tenn. Ct. App. 1982) (“Where appellant insists there was no evidence on a certain issue, it
is the duty of appellee to cite in the record where such evidence may be found.”).
At trial, Ferguson bore the burden of proving each and every element of his claim of
retaliation. Kinsler v. Berkline, LLC, 320 S.W.3d 796, 800 (Tenn. 2010); Williams v.
Greater Chattanooga Pub. TV Corp., 349 S.W.3d 501, 506 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011). We hold
that Ferguson failed to submit to the jury material evidence showing that the decisionmaker,
Byrd, had knowledge of Ferguson’s protected activity at the time of the alleged adverse job
action. In the absence of material evidence on this element of his claim, we must respectfully
reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand the cause for an entry of an order
dismissing Ferguson’s case in its entirety. This holding pretermits all other issues raised on
appeal.
C ONCLUSION
The judgment of the trial court is reversed and the matter is remanded with instructions to
enter an order dismissing the case in its entirety. Costs on appeal are assessed against
Plaintiff/Appellee, Jim Ferguson for which execution may issue if necessary.
_______________________________________
HOLLY M. KIRBY, JUDGE
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