Harris County Hospital District v. William Parker ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
14-15-00152-CV
FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
8/11/2015 1:54:59 AM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
No. 14-15-00152-CV FILED IN
14th COURT OF APPEALS
___________________________ HOUSTON, TEXAS
8/11/2015 1:54:59 AM
IN THE FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS,CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
HOUSTON, TEXAS
___________________________
HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT,
Appellant,
V.
WILLIAM PARKER,
Appellee.
___________________________
On Appeal from Cause No. 2012-65681,
In the 164th District Court of Harris County, Texas
___________________________
BRIEF OF APPELLEE
___________________________
Craig R. Keener
Craig R. Keener, P.C.
State Bar No. 11167875
1005 Heights Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77008
CRKeener@aol.com
713.529.0048 Telephone
713.529.2498 Facsimile
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
STATEMENT OF THE CASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
ISSUES PRESENTED.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
STATEMENT OF FACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ARGUMENT & AUTHORITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
I. Standards - Plea to the Jurisdiction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
II. Standard of Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
III. HCHD Waived the Right to Complain About the Court’s Denial of
It’s Plea to the Jurisdiction Regarding Plaintiff’s Gender Claims. . . . . . . . 19
IV. Direct Evidence of Discrimination Gives the Court Subject-Matter
Jurisdiction Over Plaintiff’s Disparate-Treatment and
Hostile-Work-Environment Race Discrimination Claims. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
V. Plaintiff Made a Prima Facie Case of Disparate-Treatment and
Hostile-Work-Environment Race Discrimination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
VI. Plaintiff Made a Prima Facie Case of Retaliation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
CONCLUSION & PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
-i-
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Barto Watson, Inc. v. City of Houston, 998 S.W.2d 637
(Tex. App.-Houston [I" Dist.] 1999, pet. denied).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17
Bartosh v. Sam Houston State Univ., 259 S.W.3d 317
(Tex. App.–Texarkana 2008, pet denied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 36
Baylor Univ. v. Coley, 221 S.W.3d 599 (Tex. 2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547 (Tex.2000). . . . . . . . . . . 16, 18, 19
Bodenheimer v. PPG Indus., Inc., 5 F.3d 955, 958 (5th Cir.1993). . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Brown v. East Miss. Elec. Power Ass'n, 989 F.2d 858 (5th Cir.1993). . . . . . . 20, 21
Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway v. White, 548 U.S. 53 (2006).. . . . . . . 32
Cain v. Blackwell, 246 F.3d 758, (5th Cir 2001). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Calhoun v. Acme Cleveland Corp., 798 F.2d 559 (1st Cir. 1986). . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Carlson v. City of Houston , 309 S.W.3d 579
(Tex.App.-Houston [141h Dist.] 2010, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
City of Houston v. S. Elec. Servs., Inc., 273 S.W.3d 739
(Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, pet. denied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19
City of Houston v. Kiju Joh, 359 S.W.3d 895
(Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
City of Waco v. Lopez, 259 S.W.3d 147, 151 (Tex. 2008). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 36
Collins v. Baptist Mem. Geriatric Ctr., 937 F.2d 190 (5th Cir. 1991). . . . . . . . . . 30
-ii-
Crawford v. Metro. Gov’t of Nashville, 555 U.S. 271 (2009). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Daigle v. Liberty Life Ins. Co., 70 F.3d 394 (5th Cir. 1995). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Donaldson v. CDB Inc., No. 08-60666, 2009 WL 1916466, 1
(5th Cir. July 6, 2009).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Dowe v. Total Action Against Poverty, 145 F.3d 653 (4th Cir. 1998). . . . . . . . . . 33
Elgaghil v. Tarrant County Junior College, 45 S.W.3d 133
(Tex. App–Fort Worth 2000, pet. denied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Eugene v. Rumsfeld, 168 F. Supp. 2d 655 (S.D. Tex. 2001). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32-33
Fields v. Teamsters Local Union 988, 23 S.W.3d 517
(Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. denied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004). . . . . . . . . . 23, 24
Frank v. Xerox Corp., 347 F.3d 130 (5th Cir. 2001). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Freeman v. Harris County, 183 S.W.3d 885
(Tex.App.-Houston [151 Dist.] 2006, pet. denied).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Godley I.S.D. v. Woods, 21 S.W.3d 656
(Tex.App.-Waco 2000, pet. denied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Gotch v. Gotch, 416 S.W.3d 633,
(Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, no. pet.).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Herbert v. City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W.3d 369
(Tex. App.-Fort Worth 2006, no pet.).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Knatt v. Hospital Service Dist. No. 1 of East Baton Rouge Parish,
327 Fed. Appx. 472 (5th Cir. 2009).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Landgraf v. USI Film Prods., 968 F.2d 427, 430 (5th Cir. 1992). . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
-iii-
LaPierre v. Benson Nissan, Inc., 86 F.3d 444 (5th Cir. 1996). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Long v. Eastfield College, 88 F.3d 300 (5th Cir. 1996). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Mattern v. Eastman Kodak Co., 104 F.3d 702 (5th Cir 1997). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Mayhew v. Town of Sunnyvale, 964 S. W .2d 922 (Tex.1998).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792,
36 S. Ct. 668, 93 L. Ed. 2d 1817 (1973). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 23
Mission Consolidated Independent School District v. Garcia,
372 S.W.3d 629 (Tex. 2012).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 21
NME Hosps., Inc. v. Rennels, 994 S.W.2d 142, (Tex.1996).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Portis v. First Nat. Bank of New Albany, Miss., 34 F.3d 329 (5th Cir. 1994). . . . 20
Ptomey v. Tex. Tech Univ., 277 S.W.3d 487,
(Tex. App. – Amarillo 2009, pet. denied).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Quantum Chem. Corp. v. Toennies, 47 S.W.3d 473, (Tex.2001).. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., 530 U.S. 133,
120 S. Ct. 2097, 147 L. Ed. 2d 105 (2000). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Rhodes v. Guiberson Oil Tools, 75 F.3d 989, 994 (5th Cir. 1996).. . . . . . . . . . . 23
Romo v. Texas Dept. Of Transportation, 48 S.W.3d 265
(Tex. App. – San Antonio 2001, ).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Sanchez v. Standard Brands, Inc., 431 F.2d 455, 465 (5th Cir. 1970).. . . . . . 35-36
Santi v. Univ. of Tex. Health Science Center at Houston, 312 S.W.3d 800
(Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, no pet). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 36
-iv-
Solis v. San Antonio Indep. School District, 2010 WL 4929111
(W.D. Tex. Nov. 30, 2010). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Texas Ass'n of Bus. v. Texas Air Control Bd.,
852 S.W.2d 440 (Tex.1993). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Texas Dept. of Parks and Wildlife v. Miranda,
133 S.W.3d 217 (Tex. 2004).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 18
Thomas v. Clayton Williams Energy, Inc., 2 S.W.3d 734
(Tex. App–Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36, 37
Thornbrough v. Columbus and Greenville R. Co.,
760 F.2d 633 (5th Cir. 1985) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Thurston, 469 U.S. 111 (1984). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Vadie v. Mississippi State Univ., 218 F.3d 365 (5th Cir. 2000). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Vice v. Kasprzak, 318 S.W.3d 1
(Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, pet denied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Webb v. Cardiothoracic Surgery Assoc. of N. Tex., P.A.,
139 F.3d 532 (5th Cir. 1998). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Yselta Independent School District v. Monarrez, 177 S.W.3d 915 (Tex. 2005). . 25
Rules and Statutes
TEX. LAB.CODE ANN. § 21.001(1) (Vernon 2012). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
TEX. LAB.CODE ANN. § 21.051 (Vernon 2012). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
TEX. LAB.CODE ANN. § 21.055 (Vernon 2012). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
TEX. LAB.CODE ANN. § 21.051-.556 (Vernon 2012). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
T ITLE VII OF THE C IVIL R IGHTS A CT OF 1964 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
-v-
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Nature of Case: This is an employment discrimination and retaliation case.
William Parker pled six distinct causes of action against Harris
County Hospital District (“HCHD”): 1) Disparate treatment by his
manager Kim Le because of his race; 2) Disparate treatment by
his manager Kim Le because of his gender; 3) Hostile work
environment created by his manager Kim Le because of his race;
4) Hostile work environment created by his manager Kim Le
because of his gender; 5) Retaliation by Kim Le for William
Parker reporting her discriminatory conduct to Therese Hoffman
on November 29, 2011; and 6) Retaliation by HCHD for firing
him for pretextual reasons eighteen days after he filed a charge of
discrimination. (CR 4-6).
Parties: HCHD and William Parker.
Proceedings: HCHD filed a Plea to the Jurisdiction, or alternatively, a
traditional and no-evidence Motion for Summary Judgment. (CR
11-837). Plaintiff responded. (CR 838-1034). HCHD replied.
(CR 1037-1050). HCHD also lodged numerous objections to
Plaintiff’s evidence. (CR 1051-1061). A hearing was held on
November 21, 2014 to consider HCHD’s Motions and Objections.
Disposition: HCHD failed to get a ruling on its objections to evidence.
Contrary to HCHD’s contention that part of its plea to the
jurisdiction was granted, the Court heard and denied HCHD’s
entire plea to the jurisdiction. The Court granted an interlocutory
summary judgment on William Parker’s gender claims. (CR
1062, 1064).
Notice of Appeal: On December 11, 2014, HCHD filed a Notice of Appeal and this
appeal ensued. (CR 1065-1066).
Record on Appeal:The record on appeal consists of 2 volumes of the clerk’s record
(“CR _”).
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ISSUES PRESENTED
Issue No. 1: Did HCHD waive its right to complain about the Court’s denial of its
plea to the jurisdiction regarding Plaintiff’s gender claims.
Issue No. 2: Does the direct evidence of discrimination give the Court subject-matter
jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s disparate-treatment and hostile-work-
environment race discrimination claims.
Issue No. 3: Did Plaintiff make a prima facie case for the Court to have subject-
matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s disparate-treatment and hostile-work-
environment race discrimination claims.
Issue No. 4: Did Plaintiff make a prima facie case for the Court to have subject-
matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s retaliation claims.
-vii-
STATEMENT OF FACTS
William Parker objects to HCHD’s statement of facts. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(g);
38.2(a)(B). HCHD’s statement of facts includes argument, invites the Court to
address the merits, and ignores the applicable standard of review. William Parker
provides the following statement of facts consistent with the applicable standard of
review.
William Parker is an African-American male. Kim Le is an Asian Female and
was William Parker’s boss. Therese Hoffman is a White female and is Kim Le’s
boss. Anne Fonge is a female from Cameroon, who also reports to Kim Le, and was
similarly situated to William Parker. Mae McEuen is an Asian female who also
reports to Kim Le, and was similarly situated to William Parker. Any fact not given
a specific deposition cite is supported by the affidavit of William Parker. (CR 868-
872). To show the Court that denial of the plea to the jurisdiction was proper,
relevant facts are put into a time-line chronology:
DATE EVENT
2006 William Parker begins working for HCHD.
2010 William Parker’s performance evaluations for 2006-2010 are 300,
321, 355, 350, and 303 all of which are commendable. (CR 595-
680). Kim Le becomes his supervisor in 2010.
6/10/2011 In 2011, patient satisfaction has improved at Settegast. (CR 972,
Hoffman 29/21). There is a six point jump in patient satisfaction
scores. (CR 974, Hoffman 38/18). William Parker’s 2011
performance review from Kim Le is lower than before and is
unfair. He is given a 290, which is below commendable for the
first time in his career. (CR 658).
11/29/11 William Parker meets with Therese Hoffman, Ambulatory
Pharmacy Director, and expresses to her that he believes that he
is being treated differently than his counterparts. William Parker
tells Therese Hoffman that he is being treated differently than
Kim Le’s other supervisors. (CR 982, Hoffman 71/6). William
Parker gives her many examples of how Kim Le is treating him
differently than his counterparts, and tells Dr. Hoffman that he
thinks he is being discriminated against due to his race and
gender. (CR 869, ¶ 3, CR 896, Parker 68/8, CR 900, Parker
81/6). William Parker also gives Therese Hoffman a written
document that encapsulates being discriminated against because
of his race and gender. (CR 904, Parker 99/19). This is the first
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time Therese Hoffman hears William Parker is being micro-
managed and called 20 times a day. (CR 973, Hoffman 33/17).
12/12/11 Therese Hoffman has a meeting with William Parker and Kim Le
to talk about William Parker’s issues with Kim Le. (CR 974,
Hoffman 40/1).
12/13/11-8/23/12 From the time he meets with Kim Lee until he goes on FMLA
leave because his job is making him sick, William Parker is
retaliated against by Kim Le. Anne Fonge relays to William
Parker that Kim Le states to Anne Fonge, when talking about
William Parker, that black males don’t work. William Parker is
just here to sit on the clock. (CR 895, Parker 61/13). He is
scrutinized, micro-managed and constantly criticized to the point
where it creates a hostile work environment. William Parker
receives more than 10 calls about the same subject matter several
days a week. Kim Le speaks with William Parker in a hostile,
demeaning tone. (CR 901, Parker 86/15, CR 901, 87/3). Kim
Lee yells at William Parker. (CR 901, Parker 87/22). She
demeans him in front of staff. (CR 901, Parker 88/15). She also
emails William Parker, stating things such as “there is paper on
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the floor, the pharmacy is dirty, and drugs are not being flagged
that are expiring within one year. The wholesaler is sending the
pharmacy short-dated drugs on a daily basis, and this is known by
Kim Le. (CR 900, Parker 81/12). She complains about these
drugs being on the pharmacy shelf, when she knows they are
supplied that way. (CR 905, Parker 102/3). She also instructs
William Parker to write up employees for clocking in after the
scheduled time but before the allotted grace period. These types
of write-ups do not have validity. William Parker is later told by
human resources that these write-ups are improper. This is done
to humiliate William Parker and his staff and to keep him busy
with human resource issues instead of daily pharmacy operations.
This is Kim Le’s way of showing Therese Hoffman that Kim Le
has complaints about William Parker. William Parker is
wrongfully accused by Kim Le of writing an anonymous letter
about pharmacy errors. William Parker e-mails Therese Hoffman
about this retaliation, but is ignored.
William Parker is treated very differently than his female
counterparts. Kim Le and William Parker don’t get along well.
-4-
William Parker does not enjoy working with Kim Le. Kim Le
does say disparaging and derogatory things about William Parker.
When asked if he ever showed up before his shift started, Kim Le
testified in her deposition “Probably not.” (CR 445, Le 82/9).
Kim Le is not fully supportive of William Parker. Kim Le does
things to hurt William Parker’s career at HCHD. William Parker
has numerous complaints and is not happy about how Kim Le
manages him. Kim Le never goes a day without calling William
Parker. Kim Le calls William Parker over ten times on most days,
and often just repeats herself. Kim Le does nitpick and micro-
manage William Parker’s pharmacy. Kim Le calls William Parker
several times a day to discuss attendance. Kim Le is hands-on
with William Parker’s pharmacy’s clocking-in or clocking-out
procedures. Kim Le does tell William Parker to write up
employees who are not tardy per HCHD policy. Kim Le tries to
have an intern watch what William Parker is doing. Kim Le does
numerous things to humiliate William Parker and make him look
bad to Dr. Hoffman and others. William Parker is told negative
things about the number of help-desk tickets that are generated
-5-
when new software is brought out. Wait times are an issue, and
William Parker is spoken to by Kim Le about wait times that are
not his fault. William Parker is not allowed to work at Kirby,
where Kim offices, after meetings there. William Parker is not
taken to lunch by Kim Le.
Anne Fonge is treated much better than William Parker. Anne
Fonge is the Pharmacy Supervisor for the Strawberry Pharmacy.
(CR 988, Fonge 6/17). She and William Parker have the exact
same job, different pharmacies. (CR 1004, Fonge 72/12). She is
a female from Cameroon, West Africa. (CR 989, Fonge 9/5).
Kim Le first became Anne Fonge’s Operations Manager around
2009. (CR 999, Fonge 50/1). Being a Pharmacy Supervisor is a
very stressful job. (CR 995, Fonge 35/20). She and Kim Le get
along really well. (CR 1003, Fonge 65/23). Anne Fonge enjoys
working with Kim Le. Anne Fonge is not aware of Kim Le ever
saying anything disparaging about Anne Fonge. (CR 1003,
Fonge 68/5). Anne Fonge is not aware of Kim Le doing anything
unfair to her. (CR 1011, Fonge 98/15). Kim Le is fully
supportive of Anne Fonge. (CR 1004, Fonge 70/10). Anne
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Fonge has no complaints about Kim Le as a supervisor. (CR
1004, Fonge 70/14). Anne Fonge is not aware of Kim Le ever
saying anything bad about Anne Fonge. (CR 1003, Fonge 67/11).
Kim Le is the perfect manager. (CR 1010, Fonge 95/21). Kim Le
does not call her other supervisors every day before work, after
work, or twenty times a day. (CR 950, Le 95/9). Kim Le has
never done anything to humiliate Anne Fonge or to make her look
bad to Dr. Hoffman or anyone else. (CR 1010, Fonge 93/21).
Anne Fonge is never managed to the point where she is about to
have a breakdown or needs a leave of absence. (CR 1010, Fonge
93/17). Anne Fonge is never written up. (CR 1003, Fonge 66/2).
Mae McEuen is treated much better than William Parker. Mae
McEuen is the Pharmacy Supervisor for the Baytown Pharmacy
(CR 1017, McEuen 6/15). She is a Malaysian female. (CR 1018,
McEuen 12/22). She first works with Kim Le at the Aldine
Pharmacy. (CR 1019, McEuen 13/10). Kim Le is the Pharmacy
Supervisor at Aldine at that time. (CR 1019, McEuen 13/13).
She is the head person at the Pharmacy. (CR 1019, McEuen
13/15). All of Kim Le’s pharmacists at Aldine are Vietnamese,
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like her. (CR 945, Le 74/8). Kim Le participates in her panel
interview before Mae McEuen is hired. (CR 1020, McEuen
17/1). Mae McEuen’s first job as a pharmacist is with HCHD.
(CR 1019, McEuen 15/17). She starts in October of 2008 as a
floating pharmacist. (CR 1020, McEuen 19/13). She remains a
floating pharmacist for two and a half years, through 2011. (CR
1020, McEuen 20/5). She fills in for pharmacists who are sick or
on vacation. (CR 1020, McEuen 20/23). The Pharmacy
Supervisor is the top person at any given pharmacy. (CR 1021,
McEuen 24/22). Mae McEuen becomes Pharmacy Supervisor of
the Baytown pharmacy in August of 2011. (CR 1022, McEuen
25/6, CR 1025, 39/4). She has to apply for the position. (CR
1022, McEuen 25/14). Therese Hoffman and the Operations
Managers, including Kim Le, are on her panel interview. (CR
1022, McEuen 25/20). Baytown has two pharmacists and six
technicians. (CR 1022, McEuen 27/15). There are no men
working at her pharmacy. (CR 1023, McEuen 29/22). Eighty
percent of the pharmacists are female. (CR 1023, McEuen
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29/25). Seventy-five percent of the Operations Managers are
female. (CR 1023, McEuen 30/6).
Being a Pharmacy Supervisor is a very stressful job. (CR 1023,
McEuen 30/25). Kim Le has been Mae McEuen’s Operations
Manager since 2011. (CR 1023, McEuen 31/18). Kim Le is the
only boss Mae McEuen has had since becoming a Pharmacy
Supervisor. (CR 1024, McEuen 33/17). She and Kim Le get
along well. (CR 1024, McEuen 33/20, 34/15). Mae McEuen
enjoys working with Kim Le.Mae McEuen is not aware of Kim
Le ever saying anything disparaging about Mae McEuen. (CR
1030, McEuen 57/12). Kim Le is fully supportive of Mae
McEuen. (CR 1024, McEuen 33/23, 34/20, CR 1030, 57/5). Kim
Le would usually come to her half-day meetings at her pharmacy.
(CR 1026, McEuen 41/2). Mae McEuen has no complaints
about Kim Le as a supervisor. (CR 1024, McEuen 33/25, CR
1028, 51/3). She is not aware of any other direct report who has
a problem with Kim Le. (CR 1028, McEuen 51/13). Mae
McEuen knows of no one else that has complaints about Kim Le.
(CR 1028, McEuen 52/1). Mae McEuen is not aware of Kim Le
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ever saying anything disparaging or derogatory about Mae
McEuen. (McEuen 34/3, 57/2). Mae McEuen is not aware of
Kim Le ever doing anything to hurt Mae McEuen’s career at
HCHD. (CR 1029, McEuen 56/23). Mae McEuen has no
complaints and is completely happy about how Kim Le manages
her. (CR 1024, McEuen 34/24).
When Mae McEuen becomes a Pharmacy Supervisor, William
Parker is the Pharmacy Supervisor at the Settegast pharmacy.
(CR 1025, McEuen 38/20). Mae McEuen talks to Kim Le
between zero and several times a day, depending on what is going
on at the pharmacy. (CR 1027, McEuen 48/23). Kim Le doesn’t
nitpick or micro-manage Mae McEuen’s pharmacy. (CR 1030,
McEuen 57/16). Kim Le never calls Mae McEuen several times
a day to discuss attendance. (CR 1030, McEuen 57/25). Kim Le
is not hands-on with Mae McEuen’s clocking-in or clocking-out
procedures. (CR 1030, McEuen 59/9). Kim Le never tells Mae
McEuen to write up employees who are not tardy per HCHD
policy. (CR 1030, McEuen 59/19). No one who is six minutes
late should be written up. (CR 1030, McEuen 60/6). Kim Le
-10-
never suggests that an intern watch what Mae McEuen is doing.
(CR 1030, McEuen 58/13). Kim Le has never done anything to
humiliate Mae McEuen or to make her look bad to Dr. Hoffman
or anyone else. (CR 1031, McEuen 61/8). Mae McEuen is not
accused of writing an anonymous letter about pharmacy errors.
(CR 1031, McEuen 61/21). Mae McEuen is never told anything
negative about the number of help-desk tickets are generated
when new software is brought out. (CR 1031, McEuen 63/13).
Software issues were requiring them to do numerous things
manually that the computer was supposed to do. (CR 1031,
McEuen 64/6). Across the board people are having problems
with the new software. (CR 1031, McEuen 64/17). Wait times
are not supposed to be an issue. (CR 1031, McEuen 63/17). Mae
McEuen is never written up or warned. (CR 1030, McEuen
58/23).
Mae McEuen is allowed to work at Kirby, where Kim offices,
after meetings there. (CR 1028, McEuen 49/13). Kim Le will
take three of her supervisors, Mae McEuen, Anne Fonge, and
Amber Juarez to lunch. (CR 1028, McEuen 50/15).
-11-
12/22/11 William Parker states to Kim Le that checking to see who is tardy
for the day is difficult because of new software updates that are
rolling out. She is still persistent on tardies instead of the
pharmacy operation issues at hand with the new roll out. William
Parker opens more than 100 help-desk tickets because of software
issues and does not get support from Kim Le. There are also new
workarounds every week for staff because of software issues.
Kim Le takes some of these issues and documents them against
William Parker because the system fails. Another examples of
things William Parker is blamed for that are not his fault is the
cashiering system not picking up prescriptions. Kim Le’s main
focus is tardies with all of these issues going on.
2/28/12 William Parker is issued a counseling from Kim Le for poor
performance, which is not true. There is not a lot of counseling
of supervisors. (CR 976, Hoffman 47/10). Counseling of
supervisors are few and far between. ( CR 976, Hoffman 47/10).
William Parker is forced to go to other pharmacies to learn best
practices. (CR 976, Hoffman 46/10). Kim Le tells her other two
supervisor’s negative things about William Parker. Examples are:
-12-
I don’t think William Parker is always on site, he doesn’t know
what he’s doing, and he’s just a mess.
6/10/12 William Parker’s 2012 performance evaluation is significantly
lower. He receives a 256 for 2011-2012 which only meets
minimum expectations. (CR 681).
8/23/12 William Parker has to take a leave of absence because of the
stress and hostility at work. (CR 917, Parker 149/12). William
Parker is suffering from increased blood pressure, headaches,
dizziness and anxiety. (CR 917, Parker 150/14). He is seeing a
physician and a psychiatrist regarding the stress and hostility at
work. (CR 919, Parker 158/23).
9/28/12 William Parker files a charge of discrimination complaining about
race discrimination, gender discrimination and retaliation. (CR
581). That charge specifically states that William Parker is
complaining because “on August 23, 2012, I was taken off work
by my physician because of the hostile work environment Ms. Thi
Le is subjecting me to which is causing me undue stress.” In his
Intake Questionnaire, William Parker makes it clear that he is
complaining about termination (constructive discharge), due to
-13-
discrimination and retaliation. William Parker answers the
following questions as follows:
DESCRIBE WHAT ACTION THE COMPANY TOOK AGAINST YOU
I was being discriminated against and passed over for promotion
because of my race and gender. After I complained to my director
about this discrimination, my supervisor retaliated against me and
created a hostile work environment for me, resulting in my
constructive discharge.
IDENTIFY WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THE ACTION WAS BECAUSE OF
YOUR RACE, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, RELIGION,
COLOR OR DISABILITY, AND EXPLAIN WHY
Race, Gender and Retaliation. I am a Pharmacy Supervisor for
Harris Health Systems. My problems began when Kim-Thoa Thi
Le became my manager. She is Asian. She treated me differently
because I am a black male. I was treated differently than my
female counterparts, one of whom is Asian. I was passed over for
several promotions for which I was the most qualified applicant.
I went to my director, Therese Hoffman, to complain about this
discrimination. I was then retaliated against by my manager. I
was written up for poor performance, which was not true. My
performance evaluations were lowered, which was unwarranted.
I was scrutinized, micro-managed and constantly criticized to the
point where it created a hostile work environment. I had to take
a leave of absence on August 23, 2012 because of the stress. I
will be constructively discharged by my employer on October 30,
2012.
10/16/12 William Parker gives notice of his resignation, effective October
30, 2012. (CR 920, Parker 162/8).
-14-
10/17/12 William Parker is sent a letter which claims that he is being
terminated for “working another job while on Family and Medical
Leave . . . .” Ryan Roux and HR make the decision to fire
William Parker. (CR 984, Hoffman 78/11). William Parker is not
working anywhere else at the time, and the stated reason for
terminating him is false. William Parker is replaced by a white
male named Shawn Gautreaux. (CR 1007, Fonge 82/8).
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
This is a plea to the jurisdiction in a discrimination and retaliation case.
Plaintiff only needs to show direct evidence of his claims, or make a prima facie case
of discrimination or retaliation for the plea to the jurisdiction to be denied. HCHD
has the burden at this stage of the proceedings to negate an element of Plaintiff’s
prima facie case as a matter of law. HCHD has not done this with respect to any of
Plaintiff’s six claims. HCHD has waived its complaints regarding the Court’s denial
of it’s plea to the jurisdiction regarding Plaintiff’s gender discrimination claims.
Plaintiff has shown direct evidence and made a prima facie case with respect to his
race discrimination claims. Plaintiff has made a prima facie case to support his two
retaliation claims. The denial of HCHD’s plea to the jurisdiction should therefore be
affirmed.
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ARGUMENT & AUTHORITIES
I. Standards - Plea To The Jurisdiction.
In filing a plea to the jurisdiction, a litigant challenges the trial court's
subject-matter jurisdiction. Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554
(Tex.2000). When a party has filed a plea to the jurisdiction challenging the
pleadings, the trial court must construe the pleadings liberally in favor of the pleader
and look to the pleader's intent. Texas Ass'n of Bus. v. Texas Air Control Bd., 852
S.W.2d 440, 446 (Tex.1993); see also, City of Houston v. Kiju Joh, 359 S.W.3d 895,
897 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.). The plaintiff must allege facts
that affirmatively demonstrate the trial court's jurisdiction to hear the cause. Barto
Watson, Inc. v. City of Houston, 998 S.W.2d 637, 640 (Tex. App.-Houston [I" Dist.]
1999, pet. denied). The plaintiff's factual allegations are taken as true. Id. The
merits of the plaintiff's case are not considered in the determination of a plea to the
jurisdiction. Freeman v. Harris County, 183 S.W.3d 885, 887-88 (Tex.App.-Houston
[151 Dist.] 2006, pet. denied).
If jurisdictional facts are not alleged, a party has a right to amend its pleadings
to cure the pleading defect. Texas Ass'n of Business, 852 S.W.2d at 446; Watson, 998
S.W.2d at 640. If a pleading defect is curable by amendment, it should be challenged
by special exceptions or by a motion to abate. Watson, 998 S.W.2d at 640. If and
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when those special exceptions are heard and granted, and if and when the plaintiff
does not adequately amend, then the suit can be properly dismissed. Id.
If the pleadings do not contain sufficient facts to affirmatively demonstrate the
trial court's jurisdiction, but do not affirmatively demonstrate incurable defects in
jurisdiction, the issue is one of pleading sufficiency and the plaintiff should be
afforded an opportunity to amend. Carlson v. City of Houston , 309 S.W.3d 579, 583
(Tex.App.-Houston [141h Dist.] 2010, no pet.). "Stated another way, 'the trial court
must allow a plaintiff the opportunity to amend its pleadings so long as the plaintiff
has not affirmatively pled itself out of court. '" Godley I.S.D. v. Woods, 21 S.W.3d
656, 658 (Tex.App.-Waco 2000, pet. denied).
II. Standard of Review.
Because subject-matter jurisdiction is a question of law, this Court reviews a
trial court's ruling on a plea to the jurisdiction de novo. Mayhew v. Town of
Sunnyvale, 964 S. W .2d 922, 928 (Tex.1998). In applying its de novo review, when
a plea to the jurisdiction challenges the plaintiff's pleading, the Court first must
determine if, construing the pleading liberally in the plaintiff's favor, the plaintiff has
alleged facts affirmatively demonstrating the trial court's jurisdiction to hear the case.
Texas Dept. of Parks and Wildlife v. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex. 2004).
-17-
If the plea to the jurisdiction challenges the existence of jurisdictional facts, the
Court looks beyond the plaintiff's pleading and considers the relevant evidence
submitted by the parties to resolve the jurisdictional issues. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at
227; Bland, 34 S.W.3d at 555. In considering the evidence, the Court applies a
standard of review that generally mirrors the traditional summary-judgment standard
of review. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 228.
Under this standard, the governmental entity is required to meet the summary-
judgment standard of proof for its assertion that the trial court lacks jurisdiction, i.e.,
no disputed issue of material fact. Id. Then, the plaintiff must show there is a
disputed material fact regarding the jurisdictional issues to defeat the government's
plea to the jurisdiction. Id. An appellate court is required to take as true all evidence
favorable to the non-movant, and resolve any doubts and indulge every reasonable
inference in the non-movant's favor. Id.
In its review, the Court does not look to the merits of the cause of action, but
considers only the pleadings and the evidence relevant to the jurisdictional inquiry.
Id. at 227. The Court cannot adjudicate the substance of the case but instead
determines whether the trial court has the power to reach the merits of the claim. City
of Houston v. S. Elec. Servs., Inc., 273 S.W.3d 739, 744 (Tex.App.- Houston [1st
-18-
Dist.] 2009, pet. denied) (citing Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554
(Tex.2000)).
III. HCHD Waived the Right to Complain About the Court’s Denial of Its Plea
to the Jurisdiction Regarding Plaintiff’s Gender Claims.
HCHD erroneously contends that the Court granted its Plea to the Jurisdiction
regarding Plaintiff’s gender claims. Appellant’s Brief at 1. As is shown by the
Docket Sheet and the JIMS Activity Sheet, the Court only granted an interlocutory
summary judgment on Plaintiff’s gender claims. (CR 1062, 1064). Docket entries
may be used by the appellate courts as an indication of what transpired in the trial
court. Gotch v. Gotch, 416 S.W.3d 633, 636 n.8 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.]
2013, no. pet.) Since HCHD does not complain about the Court’s denial of its plea
to the jurisdiction on Plaintiff’s gender claims, those complaints have been waived.
IV. Direct Evidence of Discrimination Gives the Court Subject-Matter
Jurisdiction Over Plaintiff’s Disparate-Treatment and Hostile-Work-
Environment Race Discrimination Claims.
Direct evidence of what a Defendant did and said is one way to prove a
discrimination case in Texas. Mission Consolidated Independent School District v.
Garcia, 372 S.W.3d 629, 634 (Tex. 2012). Direct evidence of discrimination gives
the Court subject-matter jurisdiction. Id. At 642. There is direct evidence that race
and gender play a role in Kim Le’s treatment of William Parker. Anne Fonge relayed
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to William Parker that Kim Le stated to Anne Fonge, when talking about William
Parker, that “black males don’t work. William Parker is just here to sit on the clock.”
(CR 895, Parker 61/13). Comments like these from manager-decision makers
constitute direct evidence of race and gender discrimination. “[T]he McDonnell
Douglas test is inapplicable where the plaintiff presents direct evidence of
discrimination.” Portis v. First Nat. Bank of New Albany, Miss., 34 F.3d 329-30 (5th
Cir. 1994) (citing Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Thurston, 469 U.S. 111 (1984)). Use
of racial epithets in an employment context is direct evidence of discrimination
sufficient to defeat summary judgment. Brown v. East Miss. Elec. Power Ass'n, 989
F.2d 858, 861 (5th Cir.1993). The most obvious way of showing an unlawful
employment practice is to offer “evidence that can be interpreted as an
acknowledgment of discriminatory intent by the defendant or its agents. . .” See Knatt
v. Hospital Service Dist. No. 1 of East Baton Rouge Parish, 327 Fed. Appx. 472 (5th
Cir. 2009).
Thus, “direct evidence” cases are those in which the evidence would serve to
prove unlawful discrimination “without any inferences or presumptions.” See
Bodenheimer v. PPG Indus., Inc., 5 F.3d 955, 958 (5th Cir.1993). Examples include
“epithets or slurs uttered by an authorized agent of the employer. . . When produced,
such ‘direct’ evidence will without more ordinarily suffice to show that an adverse
-20-
employment condition, or limitation on an employment opportunity, was imposed
‘because of’ the plaintiff’s protected group characteristic.’” Brown, 989 F.2d at 861
(emphasis added).
This case does not involve the stray or remote use of a racial slur in the
workplace by non-decision-makers as HCHD contends. Here, William Parker
produced direct evidence of discrimination by his direct supervisor who discriminated
against him, created a hostile work environment for him and constructively
discharged him. Thus, William Parker presented direct evidence of the use of epithets
and animus, which constitutes direct evidence of discrimination sufficient to defeat
summary judgment. Brown, 989 F.2d at 861. HCHD further tries to avoid these facts
by contending they are hearsay. These comments are admissions against interest, and
were properly considered by the Court in denying HCHD’s plea to the jurisdiction.
Furthermore, any complaints about hearsay have been waived by HCHD due to its
failure to get a ruling on its hearsay objections from the Court. Vice v. Kasprzak, 318
S.W.3d 1, 11 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, pet denied). Since summary
judgment is not appropriate for this case, clearly a claim has been brought by William
Parker sufficient to give the Court subject-matter jurisdiction. Mission Consolidated
Independent School District, 372 S.W.3d at 638.
-21-
V. Plaintiff Made a Prima Facie Case of Disparate-Treatment and Hostile-
Work-Environment Race Discrimination.
Under the TCHRA, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an
employee on the basis of race, among other traits. See TEX. LAB.CODE ANN. §
21.051-.556 (Vernon 2006). The general purpose of the Act is to provide for the
execution of the policies of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its
subsequent amendments. Id. at § 21.001(1). Therefore, Texas Courts look to
analogous federal law and the cases interpreting them to guide their reading of the
Act. Quantum Chem. Corp. v. Toennies, 47 S.W.3d 473, 476 (Tex.2001) (citing NME
Hosps., Inc. v. Rennels, 994 S.W.2d 142, 144 (Tex.1996)). “An employer commits
an unlawful employment practice if because of race . . . the employer . . .
discriminates in any other manner against an individual in connection with the terms,
conditions or privileges of employment. § 21.051(1).
A plaintiff may establish a claim of employment discrimination through direct
or circumstantial evidence. Daigle v. Liberty Life Ins. Co., 70 F.3d 394, 396 (5th Cir.
1995). In most cases it is difficult for a victim of employment discrimination to
uncover and develop direct evidence of unlawful employment practices that have
affected him or her adversely. See Thornbrough v. Columbus and Greenville R. Co.,
760 F.2d 633, 638 (5th Cir. 1985) (Employers are rarely so cooperative as to include
-22-
a notation in the personnel file, “fired due to age”). Direct evidence of an employer's
discriminatory intent is rare, and plaintiffs ordinarily prove pretext by circumstantial
evidence. LaPierre v. Benson Nissan, Inc., 86 F.3d 444, 449 (5th Cir. 1996). The
fact finder may rely on all of the evidence in the record to draw an inference of
discrimination. Rhodes v. Guiberson Oil Tools, 75 F.3d 989, 994 (5th Cir. 1996).
To establish a prima facie disparate-treatment discrimination claim, a plaintiff
must show: (1) he is a member of a protected class; (2) he was qualified for the
position; (3) who suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) non-protected class
employees were not treated similarly. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411
U.S. 792, 802, 36 S. Ct. 668, 93 L. Ed. 2d 1817 (1973). See also Reeves v. Sanderson
Plumbing Prods., 530 U.S. 133, 142, 120 S. Ct. 2097, 147 L. Ed. 2d 105 (2000).
The plaintiff’s burden of establishing a prima facie case “is not onerous.”
Burdine, 450 U.S. at 253. Only a minimal showing is needed to establish a prima
facie case. Id.; Ptomey v. Tex. Tech Univ., 277 S.W.3d 487, 493 (Tex. App. –
Amarillo 2009, pet. denied). A plaintiff need only produce more than a scintilla of
evidence to raise a fact issue to defeat summary judgment. See Ford Motor Co. v.
Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004); See also Ptomey, 277 S.W.3d at 493.
More than a scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence “rises to a level that would
-23-
enable reasonable and fair-minded people to differ in their conclusions.” Ridgway,
135 S.W.3d at 601.
William Parker has made a prima facie case of disparate treatment
discrimination. It is undisputed that he meets the first two elements of a prima facie
case. HCHD erroneously contends that it has established as a matter of law that
William Parker was not constructively discharged and that he was not similarly
situated to Anne Fonge and Mae McEuen, negating elements three and four of his
prima facie case.
Constructive discharge is one way of demonstrating an adverse employment
action for the purpose of proving an unemployment discrimination claim. Solis v. San
Antonio Indep. School District, 2010 WL 4929111 (W.D. Tex. Nov. 30, 2010).
Constructive discharge is defined as “an employee’s reasonable decision to resign
because of unendurable working conditions.” Baylor Univ. v. Coley, 221 S.W.3d
599, 605 (Tex. 2005). In order to prove objectively intolerable working conditions
sufficient to support a constructive discharge claim, a plaintiff must show aggravating
circumstances. A common allegation relied upon to establish aggravating
circumstances is that the employer created or allowed the creation of an “atmosphere
of harassment” or hostility that rendered working conditions intolerable. See e.g.
Landgraf v. USI Film Prods., 968 F.2d 427, 430 (5th Cir. 1992). Badgering or
-24-
harassing the employee is sufficient to meet this requirement. See e.g. Calhoun v.
Acme Cleveland Corp., 798 F.2d 559 (1st Cir. 1986). After complaining of
discrimination, William Parker was blamed for numerous pharmacy problems that
were unrelated to his performance, required to improperly write up his employees,
badgered about attendance and tardiness, screamed and yelled at in front of his
employees, written up for poor performance, had his performance evaluation lowered,
and was scrutinized, micro-managed and constantly criticized to the point where it
created a hostile work environment, made him ill, and ended his career with HCHD.
These facts support William Parker’s claim that he was constructively discharged, and
HCHD has not met its burden of showing that he was not constructively discharged
as a matter of law.
HCHD completely misconstrues the law on similarly situated employees.
Employees are similarly situated if their circumstances are comparable in all material
respects, including similar standards, supervisors and conduct. Yselta Independent
School District v. Monarrez, 177 S.W.3d 915 (Tex. 2005). William Parker, Anne
Fonge and Mae McEuen had the exact same job for the exact same supervisor. They
did the exact same things, just at different pharmacies. HCHD states that William
Parker is not similarly situated because he had discipline problems that the others did
not. That is exactly the point of his lawsuit. The only reason he had discipline
-25-
problems that the others did not is because his supervisor did not like him because of
his race and gender. You could never bring a disparate treatment case if you have to
have the exact same disciplinary record as the people who are not being discriminated
against. The whole point is that you are being treated differently. You don’t get to
discriminate and retaliate against an employee and then use the fact that they were
treated worse as a way to differentiate them from employees who were doing the
same job and who were not being discriminated against.
William Parker presented plenty of evidence that he was treated differently
than similarly situated employees who were not in his protected class. Kim Le
completely supported her female supervisors but went out of her way to sabotage
William Parker’s career. Kim Le completely supported her female supervisors to
Therese Hoffman but said bad things about William Parker. William Parker was
counseled for software delays that his counterparts were not. There were new
workarounds every week for staff because of software issues. Kim Le took some of
these issues and documented them against William Parker because the system fails.
Another examples of things William Parker was blamed for that were not his fault
was the cashiering system not picking up prescriptions. William Parker was the only
supervisor under suspicion for writing an anonymous letter. William Parker was the
only supervisor counseled. William Parker was forced to go to other pharmacies to
-26-
learn best practices. William Parker was the only supervisor Kim Le disparaged to
other supervisors. Kim Le told her other two supervisors negative things about
William Parker. Examples are: I don’t think William Parker is always on site, he
doesn’t know what he’s doing, and he’s just a mess. William Parker was the only
supervisor who was disrespected by Kim Le. Kim Le spoke with William Parker in
a hostile, demeaning tone. Kim Lee yelled at William Parker. She demeaned him
in front of his staff. William Parker was the only supervisor called out because drugs
were not being flagged that were expiring within one year. The wholesaler was
sending the pharmacy short-dated drugs on a daily basis, and this was known by Kim
Le. She complained about these drugs being on the pharmacy shelf, when she knew
they were supplied that way. William Parker was the only supervisor who was forced
to write up employees for erroneous reasons. Kim Le instructed William Parker to
write up employees for clocking in after the scheduled time but before the allotted
grace period.
The elements of a prima facie hostile-work-environment discrimination case
are 1) the employee belongs to a protected group; 2) the employee was subject to
unwelcome harassment; 3) the harassment complained of was based on a protected
factor; and 4) the harassment complained of affected a term, condition or privilege
of employment. Frank v. Xerox Corp., 347 F.3d 130, 138 (5th Cir. 2001).
-27-
HCHD erroneously contends that there is no evidence to support the third and
fourth element of this cause of action. There is direct evidence that race and gender
played a role in Kim Le’s treatment of William Parker. Anne Fonge relayed to
William Parker that Kim Le stated to Anne Fonge, when talking about William
Parker, that “black males don’t work. William Parker is just here to sit on the clock.”
There is also evidence that Kim Le was retaliating against William Parker. After
complaining of discrimination, William Parker was blamed for numerous pharmacy
problems that were unrelated to his performance, required to improperly write up his
employees, badgered about attendance and tardiness, screamed and yelled at, written
up for poor performance, had his performance evaluation lowered, and was
scrutinized, micro-managed and constantly criticized.
There is also evidence that the harassment complained of affected a term,
condition or privilege of William Parker’s employment. After complaining of
discrimination, William Parker was blamed for numerous pharmacy problems that
were unrelated to his performance, required to improperly write up his employees,
badgered about attendance and tardiness, screamed and yelled at in front of his
employees, written up for poor performance, had his performance evaluation lowered,
and was scrutinized, micro-managed and constantly criticized to the point where it
made him ill and ended his career with HCHD.
-28-
VI. Plaintiff Made a Prima Facie Case of Retaliation.
William Parker makes two claims of retaliation. The first claim is that Kim Le
retaliated against William Parker after he reported to her boss that she was
discriminating against him, ultimately leading to his constructive discharge. The
second claim is that HCHD retaliated against William Parker for firing him for
pretextual reasons eighteen days after he filed a charge of discrimination. He has
made a prima facie case for both of his claims.
Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code prohibit retaliation against an employee
complaining of discrimination or harassment based on race or gender. TEX. LAB.
CODE § 21.055. The TCHRA prohibits retaliation for engaging in protected activity.
The TCHRA provides:
An employer, labor union, or employment agency commits an unlawful
employment practice if the employer, labor union, or employment agency retaliates
or discriminates against a person who, under this chapter:
(1) opposes a discriminatory practice;
(2) makes or files a charge;
(3) files a complaint; or
(4) testifies, assists, or participates in any manner in an investigation,
proceeding or hearing.
-29-
TEX. LAB. CODE ANN. § 21.055 (Vernon 2012).
In order to establish a prima facie case of retaliation, a plaintiff must show that
he: (1) "participated in" or "opposed" a protected activity; (2) suffered an adverse
employment action, and 3) a causal connection existed between the opposition or
participation in the protected activity and the adverse employment action. Herbert
v. City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W.3d 369 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 2006, no pet.); Collins
v. Baptist Mem. Geriatric Ctr., 937 F.2d 190, 193 (5th Cir. 1991); Mattern v.
Eastman Kodak Co., 104 F.3d 702, 705 (5th Cir 1997); Long v. Eastfield College, 88
F.3d 300, 305 (5th Cir. 1996) (rejecting Plaintiff’s claim of a sexually hostile work
environment, but allowing plaintiff to proceed on retaliation claim and assert that
employers retaliated against her for “protesting” what she “believed” to be a sexually
hostile environment). As shown by Long, retaliation claims are not contingent upon
the success of the underlying discrimination claim. Id. To win a retaliation claim,
an employee does not have to show that he or she was actually discriminated against
on the basis of a protected classification. See Vadie v. Mississippi State Univ., 218
F.3d 365, 374 (5th Cir. 2000).
Generally, almost any activity that is in opposition to discrimination or that
constitutes participation in a claim or procedure under Title VII constitutes protected
activity. An internal grievance alleging conduct that is actually prohibited reasonably
-30-
equates to opposition to discriminatory conduct, regardless of whether a formal
complaint has been filed. City of Waco v. Lopez, 259 S.W.3d 147, 151 (Tex. 2008).
Complaining about a client’s sexual comments and offering to assist a co-worker with
her EEOC complaint were protected activities. Cain v. Blackwell, 246 F.3d 758, 761
(5th Cir 2001). The employee need not have initiated the protected activity.
Crawford v. Metro. Gov’t of Nashville, 555 U.S. 271 (2009) (mentioning an
employee’s own experience of sexual harassment during unrelated internal
investigation is protected activity).
William Parker participated in protected activity. On November 29, 2011,
William Parker met with Therese Hoffman, and expressed to her that he believed that
he was being treated differently than his counterparts. William Parker told Therese
Hoffman that he was being treated differently than Kim Le’s other supervisors. (CR
982, Hoffman 71/6). William Parker gave her many examples of how Kim Le was
treating him differently than his counterparts, and told Dr. Hoffman that he thought
he was being discriminated against due to his race and gender. (CR 869, ¶ 3, CR 896,
Parker 68/8, CR 900, Parker 81/6). William Parker also gave Therese Hoffman a
written document that encapsulates being discriminated against because of his race
and gender. (CR 904, Parker 99/19).
-31-
An adverse employment action as required for proof of a retaliation claim in
the employment context includes anything that would dissuade a reasonable worker
from making or supporting a charge of discrimination. Burlington Northern & Santa
Fe Railway v. White, 548 U.S. 53 (2006). A single meeting to attack and humiliate a
Plaintiff has been held sufficient to satisfy the “adverse employment action” element
of a claim of retaliation. See, e.g. Donaldson v. CDB Inc., No. 08-60666, 2009 WL
1916466, *13 (5th Cir. July 6, 2009). After complaining of discrimination, William
Parker was blamed for numerous pharmacy problems that were unrelated to his
performance, required to improperly write up his employees, badgered about
attendance and tardiness, screamed and yelled at, written up for poor performance,
had his performance evaluation lowered, and was scrutinized, micro-managed and
constantly criticized to the point where it created a hostile work environment, made
him ill, and ended his career with HCHD. Seeing how William Parker was treated
for complaining about discrimination might dissuade someone else from making a
complaint. This creates a fact issue regarding whether he was subjected to an
“adverse employment action.”
A causal link exists between William Parker’s protected activity and the
retaliation he experienced. Temporal proximity has been deemed a critical factor in
determining causation. See Eugene v. Rumsfeld, 168 F. Supp. 2d 655, 682 (S.D. Tex.
-32-
2001). Because of the proximity in time, some evidence of a causal link exists. See,
e.g., Romo v. Texas Dept. Of Transportation, 48 S.W.3d 265, 273 (Tex. App. – San
Antonio 2001, )(citing Fields v. Teamsters Local Union 988, 23 S.W.3d 517, 529
(Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. denied) (proximity of time may be
considered if not too distant); Webb v. Cardiothoracic Surgery Assoc. of N. Tex.,
P.A., 139 F.3d 532, 540 (5th Cir. 1998)(court should consider whether disparate
treatment began shortly after protected activity occurred)). In fact, evidence that the
adverse employment action occurred shortly after the employer became aware of the
protected activity is sufficient to satisfy the less onerous burden of making a prima
facie case of causation. Dowe v. Total Action Against Poverty, 145 F.3d 653, 657 (4th
Cir. 1998). All of these adverse actions occurred immediately after William Parker
complained to Therese Hoffman on November 29, 2011, and subsequently meeting
with Therese Hoffman and Kim Le regarding his complaints on December 12, 2011.
The adverse actions continued until William Parker was so ill that he had to take and
FMLA leave. William Parker was gone less than nine months after he complained.
William Parker has made a prima facie case of retaliation on his first claim.
HCHD next claims that William Parker is precluded from complaining about
his constructive discharge because he failed to exhaust his administrative remedies.
William Parker was constructively discharged on August 23, 2012, when he was so
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sick from the hostile work environment at HCHD that he had to take a medical leave.
He never worked at HCHD again after that date, and was planning on resigning
before he was fired. He filed a charge of discrimination on September 28, 2012. That
charge specifically stated that William Parker was complaining because “on August
23, 2012, I was taken off work by my physician because of the hostile work
environment Ms. Thi Le is subjecting me to which is causing me undue stress.” That
is sufficient to put HCHD on notice that he was complaining about conduct that meets
the requirements of constructive discharge. (See above). Furthermore, William
Parker specifically told the EEOC that he was being constructively discharged in his
Intake Questionaire, which said the following:
DESCRIBE WHAT ACTION THE COMPANY TOOK AGAINST YOU
I was being discriminated against and passed over for promotion because of my race
and gender. After I complained to my director about this discrimination, my
supervisor retaliated against me and created a hostile work environment for me,
resulting in my constructive discharge.
IDENTIFY WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THE ACTION WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE, SEX,
NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, RELIGION, COLOR OR DISABILITY, AND
EXPLAIN WHY
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Race, Gender and Retaliation. I am a Pharmacy Supervisor for Harris Health
Systems. My problems began when Kim-Thoa Thi Le became my manager. She is
Asian. She treated me differently because I am a black male. I was treated differently
than my female counterparts, one of whom is Asian. I was passed over for several
promotions for which I was the most qualified applicant. I went to my director,
Therese Hoffman, to complain about this discrimination. I was then retaliated against
by my manager. I was written up for poor performance, which was not true. My
performance evaluations were lowered, which was unwarranted. I was scrutinized,
micro-managed and constantly criticized to the point where it created a hostile work
environment. I had to take a leave of absence on August 23, 2012 because of the
stress. I will be constructively discharged by my employer on October 30, 2012.
Courts are required to construe a claimant’s charge of discrimination with
“utmost liberality.” Santi v. Univ. of Tex. Health Science Center at Houston, 312
S.W.3d 800, 804 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, no pet); Bartosh v. Sam
Houston State Univ., 259 S.W.3d 317, 321 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2008, pet denied).
Documents filed by an employee with the EEOC should be construed, to the extent
consistent with permissible rules of interpretation, to protect the employee’s rights
and statutory remedies. Bartosh at 321. Courts should bear in mind that charges are
generally prepared by laypersons untutored in the rules of pleading. Id. The
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underlying policies are not served by limiting judicial relief to technical niceties of
the language used by an often unlettered and unsophisticated employee in filing his
or her initial grievance with the EEOC. Sanchez v. Standard Brands, Inc., 431 F.2d
455, 465 (5th Cir. 1970). Specific words of the charge of discrimination need not
presage with literary exactitude the judicial pleadings which may follow. City of
Waco v. Lopez, 259 S.W.3d 147, 151-52 (Tex. 2008). William Parker gave the EEOC
an intake questionnaire that made it clear that he was complaining about retaliation
that resulted in his termination (constructive discharge). Santi at 804, Bartosh at 321.
The charge adequately conveys that he is complaining about a hostile work
environment that made him so ill that he had to leave work.
William Parker’s second retaliation claim is that HCHD retaliated against him
by firing him for pretextual reasons eighteen days after he filed a charge of
discrimination. On its face, this claim clearly makes a prima facie case of
discrimination. Filing a charge of discrimination is protected activity. Being fired
is an adverse employment action. An eighteen day gap constitutes a causal
connection between the opposition or participation in the protected activity and the
adverse employment action.
HCHD erroneously contends that William Parker needed to amend his charge.
TCHRA Plaintiffs are not required to exhaust administrative remedies as to a
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retaliation claim if the retaliation occurs after the claimant has filed an EEOC charge
alleging some other theory of illegal conduct. Elgaghil v. Tarrant County Junior
College, 45 S.W.3d 133, 141-42 (Tex. App–Fort Worth 2000, pet. denied); Thomas
v. Clayton Williams Energy, Inc., 2 S.W.3d 734, 738 (Tex. App–Houston [14th Dist.]
1999, no pet.). William Parker was not required to return to the EEOC after HCHD
“terminated” him, because he already complained that the actions against him
constituted discrimination and retaliation which resulted in his termination
(constructive discharge). HCHD also tries to claim that Ryan Roux didn’t know
about a charge that had been filed eighteen days earlier when he decided to fire
William Parker. As unbelievable as this contention is, it is also immaterial.
According to Therese Hoffman, Ryan Roux and HR make the decision to fire William
Parker. (CR 984, Hoffman 78/11). HCHD does not identify who else was involved
in the decision to fire William Parker, and does not provide proof that they knew
nothing about his charge of discrimination.
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CONCLUSION & PRAYER
For all of these reasons, the Court should affirm the trial court’s denial of
HCHD’s Plea to the Jurisdiction and grant William Parker all other relief to which he
is entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
Craig R. Keener, P.C.
/s/ Craig R. Keener
By: Craig R. Keener
State Bar No. 11167875
1005 Heights Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77008
CRKeener@aol.com
(713) 529-0048 Telephone
(713) 529-2498 Facsimile
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE
WILLIAM PARKER
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CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
Certificate of Compliance with Type-Volume Limitation, Typeface
Requirements and Type Style Requirements
1. This brief complies with the typeface requirements of Tex. R. App. P.
9.4(e) because the document was is a computer-generated document in WordPerfect
X3 in 14-point.
2. This brief complies with the Maximum Length requirements of TEX. R.
APP. P. 9.4(i)(2)(B) of 15,000 word limit for a brief.
3. This Brief contains 9,453 words, excluding the parts of the response
exempted by TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(1).
/s/ Craig R. Keener August 11, 2015
Craig R. Keener, P.C. .
(Firm)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that I have served a true copy of Appellee’s Brief on this 11th day of
August, 2015 by e-filing on the following counsel of record:
Bruce S. Powers
Assistant County Attorney
1019 Congress, 15th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
/s/ Craig R. Keener
Craig R. Keener
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