Michael Hoover v. Pam Badger ( 2018 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION ONE
MICHAEL HOOVER, ) No. 77023-3-1
)
Appellant, )
)
v. )
)
PAM BADGER; AARON JEIDE, )
MICHAEL LONG; PEGGY WOLF; )
DEAN VOELKER; KING COUNTY )
SOLID WASTE DIVISION, and )
KING COUNTY, a municipal ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
corporation, )
) FILED: September 24, 2018
Respondents. )
)
VERELLEN, J. — Michael Hoover challenges the trial court's grant of
summary judgment dismissing his hostile work environment and disparate
treatment claims against his employer, King County.
The court properly dismissed Hoover's hostile work environment claim as
time barred because he fails to identify any discriminatory conduct within the
statute of limitations. The court also properly dismissed Hoover's disparate
treatment claim because he fails to show King County's actions were related to
race or that he suffered a sufficiently adverse employment action.
In conjunction with summary judgment, the court did not err in striking
certain photographs because Hoover failed to lay an adequate foundation. And
No. 77023-3-1/2
the court did not err in striking hearsay statements because Hoover failed to
provide reasoning to support the admission of a deceased coworker's statement to
Hoover about a supervisor's use of an extremely offensive racial slur.
Therefore, we affirm.
FACTS
Hoover, an African-American, works within the solid waste division(SWD)
at King County. Since 1998, he has worked at the Cedar Hills facility as a waste
screener.
In April 2016, Hoover filed this case against Pam Badger, Dean Voelker,
Michael Long, Aaron Jeide, Peggy Wolf, and King County. In his complaint,
Hoover brought claims for hostile work environment, disparate treatment, breach
of implied contract, and negligent retention of an employee.
Pam Badger supervised Hoover from the early 2000s until 2005. Dean
Voelker supervised Hoover from 2005 to 2012. And Michael Long has supervised
Hoover since 2012. Aaron Jeide is the human resources manager at SWD. And
since the early 2000s, Hoover and Peggy Wolf have worked together at Cedar
Hills. Wolf is the main subject of Hoover's complaint.
On April 17, 2017, King County moved for summary judgment. On May 15,
2017, the trial court granted the motion and dismissed Hoover's hostile work
environment and disparate treatment claims.
Hoover appeals.
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No. 77023-3-1/3
ANALYSIS
I. Summary Judgment
Hoover contends the trial court erred in granting King County's motion for
summary judgment.
An order granting summary judgment is reviewed de novo.1 Summary
judgment is appropriate when "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact"
and "the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law."2 The evidence
is viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.3
The Washington State Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) prohibits
employment discrimination based on race.4 The legislature requires the courts to
liberally construe the WLAD "to accomplish its antidiscrimination purpose."5
Washington courts generally disfavor summary judgment in employment
discrimination cases "because of the difficulty of proving a discriminatory
motivation."6 "To overcome summary judgment, a plaintiff needs to show only that
a reasonable jury could find that the plaintiff's protected trait was a substantial
Loeffelholz v. University of Washington, 175 Wash. 2d 264, 271, 285 P.3d
854 (2012).
2 CR 56(c); see Ranger Ins. Co. v. Pierce County, 164 Wash. 2d 545, 552, 192
P.3d 886 (2008).
3 Loeffelholz, 175 Wash. 2d at 271.
4 RCW 49.60.180.
5Blackburn v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Svcs., 186 Wash. 2d 250, 257, 365 P.3d
1076(2016)(quoting RCW 49.60.020).
6 Scrivener v. Clark Coll., 181 Wash. 2d 439, 445, 334 P.3d 541 (2014); see
also Johnson v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Svcs., 80 Wash. App. 212, 226, 907 P.2d
1223(1996); Sangster v. Albertson's, Inc., 99 Wash. App. 156, 160, 991 P.2d 674
(2000).
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No. 77023-3-1/4
factor motivating the employer's adverse actions. "This is a burden of production,
not persuasion, and may be proved through direct or circumstantial evidence.'"7 If
the plaintiff lacks direct evidence of discrimination, Washington courts turn to the
burden shifting analysis.8
Under the burden shifting analysis from McDonnell Douglas Corp. v.
Green,8 "a plaintiff bears the initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of
discrimination, which creates a presumption of discrimination."10 The "prima facie
burden is 'not onerous.'"11 But the employee "must do more than express an
opinion or make conclusory statements."12 The employee must establish "specific
and material facts to support each element of his or her prima facie case."13
If the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the
employer to prove a "legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse
employment action."14 And if the employer meets this burden, the plaintiff can still
7 Scrivener, 181 Wash. 2d at 445 (internal quotation marks omitted).
8 Id. (quoting Riehl v. Foodmaker, Inc., 152 Wash. 2d 138, 149, 94 P.3d 930
(2004))
9 411 U.S. 792, 935. Ct. 1817,36 L. Ed. 2d 668(1973).
18 Scrivener, 181 Wash. 2d at 446.
11 Fulton v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Svcs., 169 Wash. App. 137, 152, 279 P.3d
500(2012)(quoting Texas Dep't of Cmtv. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253,
101 S. Ct. 1089,67 L. Ed. 2d 207 (1981)).
12 Hiatt v. Walker Chevrolet Co., 120 Wash. 2d 57, 66, 837 P.2d 618(1992).
13 Id.(emphasis omitted).
14 Scrivener, 181 Wash. 2d at 446.
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No. 77023-3-1/5
defeat summary judgment by producing evidence that the employer's alleged
nondiscriminatory reason was a pretext.15
A. Hostile Work Environment Claim
Hoover argues he presented sufficient evidence of a hostile work
environment to defeat summary judgment. He specifically contends the trial court
erred in refusing to consider acts occurring outside the statute of limitations.
The four elements of a prima facie hostile work environment claim
are (1)the harassment was unwelcome,(2) the harassment was
because of[race],(3) the harassment affected the terms and
conditions of employment, and (4) the harassment is imputable to
the employer.[16]
Hostile work environment claims are different from claims involving discrete
discriminatory acts because "[t]heir very nature involves repeated conduct."17 "A
hostile work environment claim is composed of a series of separate acts that
collectively constitute one 'unlawful employment practice.'"18
For this reason, when considering a hostile work environment claim, "t[i]t
does not matter, for purpose of the statute, that some of the component acts of the
hostile work environment fall outside the statutory time period.'"18
As a unitary whole, the claim is not untimely if one of the acts occurs
during the limitations period because the claim is brought after the
practice, as a whole, occurred and within the limitations period. The
15 Id. at 446.
16 Antoniusv. King County, 153 Wash. 2d 256, 261, 103 P.3d 729(2004).
17 National R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 115, 122 S. Ct.
2061, 153 L. Ed. 2d 106 (2002)).
18 Id. at 117 (quoting 42 U.S.C.§ 2000e-5(e)(1)).
19 Antonius, 153 Wash. 2d at 264 (alteration in original)(quoting id.).
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No. 77023-3-1/6
acts must be, however,"part of the same unlawful employment
practice."EM
Here, the trial court dismissed Hoover's hostile work environment claim
"because the acts complained of since the commencement of the limitations
period fail to establish conduct so severe or pervasive" that it affected the terms
and condition of Hoover's employment.21
Hoover filed this case in June 2016, and the statute of limitations period
began to run in April 2013.22 In the time prior to the limitations period, Hoover
presented evidence of a number of incidents that he argued contributed to a
hostile work environment.
In 2001, Wolf told Hoover that she feared him and that "she felt that[he]
would bodily hurt her."23 Hoover reported the incident to Badger. Badger initially
responded, "I really don't know where she's coming from, she probably had a
sheltered life or something."24 Badger went on to say, "Well, you are a big burly
guy... and you're a black guy too."25
In 2004 or 2006, Wolf sat on Hoover's lap during a meeting. In her
declaration, Wolf acknowledged her poor judgment in sitting on Hoover's lap.
20 Id. at 266 (footnote omitted)(quoting Morgan, 536 U.S. at 122).
21 Clerk's Papers(CP)at 1404.
22 WLAD claims are subject to the general three-year statute of limitations
for personal injury actions. Antonius, 153 Wash. 2d at 261-62 (citing RCW
4.16.080(2)). For claims against local governmental entities, the statute of
limitations is tolled for 60 days upon the filing of an administrative tort claim.
RCW 4.96.020(4).
23 CP at 463, 1004.
24 CP at 464, 1004.
25 Id.
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No. 77023-3-1/7
After the incident, Hoover sent an e-mail to Wolf asking her not to do this again,
and Wolf agreed. And Wolf did not sit on Hoover's lap again.
In 2008, during a meeting with Wolf, Hoover, and Voelker, Wolf revealed
she had taped a conversation between herself and Hoover, without Hoover's
knowledge. Wolf was subsequently disciplined, in the form of a written reprimand,
for luinprofessional conduct," failure to "respect the rights of others," and failure to
"handle conflict appropriately."26 Also in 2008, an unknown declarant referred to
Hoover and another African-American coworker as "two apes in a zoo."27
In 2009, Hoover overheard a Caucasian coworker refer to a group of
African-American SWD employees as "their group" and say, "they are good at car
washing."28 Also in 2009, Voelker referred to music Hoover was listening to as
"jungle rap crap music."29
In 2010, Wolf told Hoover and another African-American coworker, that
"back in those days," they would have worked for her, referring to herself as the
"lady of the house."39
In 2011, Mike Nicholas, a Caucasian SWD employee, drove a large
compactor into Hoover's vehicle. In his response to interrogatories, Hoover
claimed Voelker demanded Hoover submit to a drug test. Hoover also claimed
26 CP at 354.
27 CP at 652, 855.
28 CP at 652.
28 CP at 579, 652.
38 CP at 1005.
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No. 77023-3-1/8
Nicholas "was allowed to leave work, go home, and was not subjected to take any
drug test," whereas "Hoover was not permitted to leave work and go home."31
But in Jeide's declaration, he stated neither Hoover nor Nicholas could have
been drug tested per King County's drug testing policy. According to Jeide, he
and Voelker instructed Hoover to "see a doctor to check for any potential injury,"
but Hoover refused treatment and wanted to remain at work.32 Jeide also
indicated that "Where was a significant investigation of the events that took place
that day and we ultimately concluded that Mr. Nicholas was negligent in his
operation of the compactor that day and he received a lengthy disciplinary
suspension without pay."33
Finally, at an unspecified point in 2013, Wolf addressed Hoover as her "little
house boy."34 Without providing any argument, Hoover implies he is entitled to a
reasonable inference that this incident occurred within the limitations period. But
without further evidence to pinpoint the timing of Wolf's statement, Hoover cannot
satisfy his burden of proof.
During the limitations period, Hoover presented only one incident he argued
contributed to his hostile work environment claim. In November 2013, Hoover
claimed Wolf had a hazardous waste receptacle, a "clamshell," moved for her
convenience and against work protocol. In her declaration, Wolf claimed she
asked Lee Momon,the transfer station coordinator, to move the clamshell for
31 CP at 653.
32 CP at 341.
33 CP at 342.
34 CP at 655, 1005.
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No. 77023-3-1/9
better access. When Hoover reached out to Long and Badger (then Long's
supervisor) about the move, Long contacted Momon, and Momon confirmed that
he moved the clamshell for Wolf.
The trial court determined the incidents were "discrete and unconnected to
one another" and, although some of incidents could be "characterized objectively
as racist in nature[,]... [t]he remainder do not appear to be racist in nature."35
In Crownover v. Department of Transportation, a group of maintenance
employees sued their employer, Washington State Department of Transportation,
alleging individual claims of hostile work environment.36 The trial court dismissed
the employees' claims as time barred.37
One of the plaintiffs, Jim Crownover, complained of an offensive comment
about his daughter.35 The comment occurred outside the limitations period, and
he did not identify any sexual harassment within the limitations period. Division
Three of this court concluded the trial court correctly applied the three-year statute
of limitations and affirmed the trial court's dismissal of Crownover's hostile work
environment claim.39
Another plaintiff, Joel Havlina, complained of a supervisor's comment to the
maintenance crew about "spending quality time together."4° Division Three
35 CP at 1416.
36 165 Wash. App. 131, 140, 265 P.3d 971 (2011).
37 Id.
38 Id. at 142.
39 Id. at 143.
40 Id. at 144-45.
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No. 77023-3-1/10
determined, "This does not reasonably and objectively allow us to conclude the
conduct was sexual in nature or motivated by gender discrimination.... Asserting
subjective offense to spending quality time working together cannot prevent
summary judgment dismissal."41
Similar to Crownover, Hoover fails to identify any discriminatory conduct
within the statute of limitations. He fails to show that the November 2013
clamshell incident, the only incident within the limitations period, was related to
race. Hoover's subjective belief that the incident was related to race is not enough
to establish a prima facie case of discrimination. And because that incident is
discrete from the discriminatory comments that occurred prior to the limitations
period, Hoover cannot defeat the statute of limitations.
The trial court also determined that Hoover failed to prove the acts were
imputable to King County.42
Harassment may be imputed to an employer in two ways.43
First, it can be imputed to the employer if the harasser is an owner,
partner, corporate officer, or manager. Second, it can be imputed to
the employer if the harasser is the plaintiffs supervisor or co-worker
if the employer "authorized, knew, or should have known of the
harassment and .. . failed to take reasonably prompt and adequate
corrective action "(1
41 Id. at 145.
42 CP at 1404(Hoover "further fails to provide sufficient facts since 2013
that would allow this court to impute liability to the County.").
43 Davis v. Fred's Appliance, Inc., 171 Wash. App. 348, 362, 287 P.3d 51
(2012).
44 Id. (alteration in original)(quoting Glasgow v. Georgia-Pacific, Corp., 103
Wash. 2d 401, 407,693 P.2d 708 (1985)).
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No. 77023-3-1/11
Even assuming the single timely incident was related to race, Hoover
cannot establish that Long, his supervisor at the time, failed to take reasonably
prompt and adequate corrective action. When Hoover contacted Long about the
November 2013 clamshell incident, Long quickly followed up with Momon about
Hoover's concerns.
We conclude the trial court did not err in granting King County's motion for
summary judgment and dismissing Hoover's claim of hostile work environment.
B. Disparate Treatment Claim
Hoover also contends he presented sufficient evidence to overcome
summary judgment on his disparate treatment claim.
Under the WLAD, it is unlawful for an employer "[t]o discriminate against
any person in compensation or other terms or conditions of employment because
of. . . race."45 Disparate treatment occurs when an "employer simply treats some
people less favorably than others because of their race" or other protected
category.46
To establish a prima facie disparate treatment case, an employee
must show that(1) he or she belongs to a protected class,(2) he or
she was treated less favorably in the terms or conditions of
employment,(3) a similarly situated employee outside of the
protected class received the benefit, and (4) the employees were
doing substantially the same work.[471
45 RCW 49.60.180(3).
46 Blackburn, 186 Wash. 2d at 258.
47 Crownover, 165 Wash. App. at 147.
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No. 77023-3-1/12
The primary inquiry is whether the employee presented sufficient evidence
to create an inference that the employer's decision was based on race." A
disparate treatment claim also requires "an actual adverse employment action,
such as a demotion or adverse transfer.'"49 An adverse employment action "must
involve a change in employment conditions that is more than an 'inconvenience or
alteration of job responsibilities."50 An adverse employment action is generally
limited to tangible employment actions that constitute a "significant change in
employment status, such as hiring, firing, failing to promote, reassignment with
significantly different responsibilities, or a decision causing a significant change in
benefits."51
Hoover contends King County treated him differently because his
supervisors failed to address behavior and job performance issues with similarly
situated employees.
The trial court dismissed Hoover's "disparate treatment allegations
unrelated to hiring or promotions because plaintiff fails to establish employment
actions sufficient to support this claim."52
48 1 LINDEMANN, BARBARA T., GROSSMAN, PAUL 8, WEIRICH, C. GEOFFREY,
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW, 2-24 to 2-25 (5th ed. 2012).
49 Kirby v. City of Tacoma, 124 Wash. App. 454, 465, 98 P.3d 827(2004)
(quoting Robel v. Roundup Corp., 148 Wash. 2d 35, 74 n.24, 59 P.3d 611 (2002)).
50 Id. (quoting DeGuiseppe v. Vill. of Bellwood, 68 F.3d 187, 192 (7th Cir.
1995)); see also Alonso v. Qwest Commc'ns Co., LLC, 178 Wash. App. 734, 746,
315 P.3d 610(2013)(an adverse employment action must involve "a change in
employment conditions, such as "reducing an employee's workload and pay").
51Burlington Indus., Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742, 761, 118 S. Ct. 2257, 141
L. Ed. 2d 633(1998).
52 CP at 1404.
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No. 77023-3-1/13
Similar to Hoover's hostile work environment claim, most of the incidents
Hoover provides to support his disparate treatment claim are outside the statute of
limitations.
Prior to April 2013, Hoover claims his supervisors repeatedly failed to
investigate or reprimand Wolf for the various incidents discussed under his hostile
work environment claim.53 But Hoover cannot show he was treated less favorably
due to any alleged failure to investigate or reprimand because Jeide indicated that
he "had never been asked to investigate any claims against Mr. Hoover for
misconduct or provide advice of whether he should receive discipline for any
workplace conduct."54 He also stated that Hoover had never been the subject of
any disciplinary action.
Also, outside the limitations period, Hoover complained of various incidents
in which Wolf received accommodation.
In 2010, Hoover complained Wolf was given a bigger truck despite Hoover's
requests for a larger truck and Wolfs accident history. But in his declaration, Long
contended Hoover and Wolf alternated the use of the larger truck for many years,
so they would switch back and forth depending on who was staying at Cedar Hill.
Also in 2011, Hoover claimed Wolf improperly left an asbestos sample on his
53 Hoover's response to summary judgment cites (1) the 2001 incident in
which Badger told Hoover that Wolf might be afraid of him because "you are a big
burly guy... and you're a black guy too," CP at 1004;(2)the 2004 or 2006
incident in which Wolf sat on Hoover's lap during a meeting;(3)the 2008 incident
in which Badger recorded a conversation between herself and Hoover;(4) Wolfs
2010 comments concerning slavery;(5) the 2011 compactor accident; and
(6) Wolfs unspecified 2011 comment referring to Hoover as her "little house boy."
CP at 1005.
54 CP at 342.
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No. 77023-3-1/14
desk. When Hoover complained to Long, Long asked Wolf to take care of the
sample the next day.
In 2012, Hoover complained SWD invested "approximately $2,000 on a
truck bed pull-out in order to accommodate [Wolf's] complaints of back ache from
loading and reaching into the deep bed . . yet SWD refused to accommodate Mr.
Hoover's legitimate need for a bigger vehicle despite his repeated requests."55
Hoover also claimed his coworkers mocked him when they saw him getting out of
the smaller truck.
In his declaration, Jeide claimed that after investigating "the alleged failure
to assign the larger of the two screener trucks to Mr. Hoover,. . . the evidence
simply did not support his claim that his needs were ignored."56 When Badger
found out Hoover wanted the larger truck, she agreed to assign Hoover the larger
truck. In an e-mail with Hoover in September 2012, Badger claimed, "[I]f I had any
idea that this issue was such a sore point with you I would have switched the
vehicles before today."57
Also in 2013, Hoover complained to Badger about Wolf's failure to empty
the sharps container while at her assigned transfer station. Hoover said, "I know I
will have to take care of it this time AGAIN."55 In response, Badger told Hoover not
to empty the sharps container. She also told Long that Wolf needed to pick up the
sharps. Badger informed Hoover about the resolution of his complaint.
55 CP at 655.
56 CP at 347.
57 CP at 76.
58 CP at 79.
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No. 77023-3-1/15
-,
Hoover relied on three incidents within the limitations period. First, the
November 2013 clamshell incident and his allegation that Wolf had the clamshell
moved for her convenience. But, as previously discussed, the transfer station
coordinator, Momon, was aware of and approved of Wolf's request to move the
clamshell. Hoover does not provide evidence that he made a similar request.
Second, in August 2014, Hoover complained to Long that he was required
to visit the furthest transfer sites while Wolf was assigned to the closer sites.
Hoover claimed that after he reported the situation to Long, he was "never
provided with an explanation."59
Third, in 2016, Hoover complained to management that he was forced to
pick up Wolf's trash. He claimed that Long told Hoover to "suck it up and just do
it."69 When he reported the incident to Badger, she told Hoover,"[T]hat's what it
takes."61
With regard to the incidents within the statute of limitations, Hoover fails to
show any of the incidents were related to his race. As with his hostile work
environment claim, Hoover fails to provide more than his subjective belief that the
incidents were related to race. And because the incidents within the limitations
period are discrete from any prior discriminatory conduct, Hoover cannot defeat
the statute of limitations. Hoover also fails to show a sufficiently adverse
employment action beyond inconvenience.
59 CP at 656.
69 Id.
61 Id.
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No. 77023-3-1/16
Hoover also contends he suffered disparate treatment because King
County failed to promote him on several occasions.
In his declaration, Jeide indicated that it is the SWD's policy to "instruct our
hiring panels that they are not to consider information about candidates that they
know because they have worked with a candidate."62 It is SWD's goal to "keep the
process as fair as it can be, so that people are judged on the same criterion."63
In 2010, Hoover applied for the position of landfill gas operator. Hoover
was not granted an interview. Out of the four finalists, SWD selected the applicant
with the second highest score. One of the interviewers recommended the second
highest scoring applicant be hired for the position because he "would be the best
fit for the Landfill team."64 Hoover argues this is evidence SWD "did not strictly
limit their selection of the final candidate to the interview scores."65
In 2014, Hoover applied for a supervisor ride-along position. Hoover was
not selected for an interview. "Mr. Hoover believes that he was not chosen for the
job because if he had been selected for the position, his position would have been
difficult to replace due to Peggy.1,66
Also in 2014, Hoover was denied a temporary special duty assignment as
an abandoned junk vehicle Investigator. The position was offered to the second
highest scoring applicant. Hoover was the fourth highest scoring applicant out of
62 CP at 344.
63 Id.
64 CP at 982.
65 Id.
66 CP at 982-83.
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No. 77023-3-1/17
the eight applicants. "Mr. Hoover was later told by Long that the real reason why
he was not chosen for the position was because 'nobody wanted to work with
Peggy.'"67 In her declaration, Badger, one of panelists, indicated she "did not think
Mr. Hoover's interview went as well as some of the others. He did not answer the
questions as completely as he could have and failed to provide much detail in his
answers."68
Also in 2014, Hoover applied for a supervisor position. According to Jeide,
"Hoover was not considered because he submitted his application after the
submission deadline."68 The successful applications were Kerwin Pyle,
Caucasian, and Anthony Slaughter, African-American. When it was discovered
that Hoover's application was misdirected to a different position, the offers were
retracted, and Hoover was granted an interview. During the interview, Hoover
removed himself due to what he claimed was a hostile line of questioning from one
of the panelists. After further interviews, the panel still recommended Pyle and
Slaughter.
After the interview, Hoover overheard Badger mention that he "did not get
the job, even though he was well qualified because the department would be
severely inconvenienced by having to find a replacement for him due to the fact
that nobody else wanted to work with Peggy."76 One of the panelists found
Hoover's interview "unremarkable" because he "has a tendency to respond to
67 CP at 983.
68 CP at 57.
69 CP at 343.
70 CP at 984.
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No. 77023-3-1/18
questions in a very short and somewhat incomplete way."71 Another panelist
stated Hoover "did not interview well" and indicated that his demeanor was very
casual,"which made him seem like he was not very engaged in the
conversation "72
In 2015, Hoover applied for a permanent position as an abandoned junk
vehicle inspector. He claims his score was miscalculated, and he should have
been the second highest scoring applicant. The position was offered to the
highest scoring applicant based on her interview and certification to inspect junk
vehicles. Hoover also possessed a junk vehicle certification but "he did not list
that fact in his application materials."73
The evidence provided by Hoover concerning disparate treatment related to
hiring and promotions does not establish he suffered adverse employment actions
based on race. King County had valid justifications for not promoting Hoover for
the various positions to which he applied.74
For the 2010 landfill gas operator, the 2014 temporary abandoned junk
vehicle inspector, and the 2015 permanent abandoned junk vehicle inspector
positions, the winning applicants scored higher than Hoover. With regard to the
2014 supervisor position, because one of the successful applicants was African-
American, Hoover cannot show King County's failure to hire him for that position
71 CP at 413.
72 CP at 416.
73 CP at 1283.
74 See Blackburn, 186 Wash. 2d at 258("When an employee makes out a
claim of disparate treatment under the WLAD ... the employer's action is unlawful
unless the employer has a valid justification." (emphasis added)).
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No. 77023-3-1/19
was the result of disparate treatment due to race. As for the 2014 supervisor ride-
along position, Hoover's subjective belief that he did not receive an interview
because he would have been too difficult to replace is not enough to satisfy his
burden of proof.
We conclude the trial court did not err in granting King County's motion for
summary judgment and dismissing Hoover's claim of disparate treatment.
II. Exclusion of Evidence
Hoover argues the trial court improperly struck certain evidence.
We review a trial court's decision to admit or exclude evidence made in
conjunction with a motion for summary judgment de novo.75
A. Lack of Foundation
First, Hoover challenges the court's exclusion of photographs for lack of
foundation.
Under ER 901, authentication is a "condition precedent to admissibility." To
lay a proper foundation for photographs, "it is only required that some witness, not
necessarily the photographer, be able to give some indication as to when, where,
and under what circumstances the photograph was taken, and that the photograph
accurately portrays the subject illustrated."76
When opposing summary judgment, Hoover proffered a series of
photographs. Some of the photos show stuffed animal monkeys tied to trees and
cars. One photo shows a sticker that reads "TIRE PLANTATION MOBILE
75 Wilkinson v. Chiwawa Communities Ass'n, 180 Wash. 2d 241, 249, 327
P.3d 614 (2014).
76 State v. Newman,4 Wn. App. 588, 593, 484 P.2d 473(1971).
19
No. 77023-3-1/20
ALABAMA."77 And another photo shows a shirt and hat on a stick figure made of
tree branches.78 Hoover claimed these photos were taken throughout King County
and the SWD. When the photos were offered, King County sought to depose
Hoover concerning these photographs.79 Hoover refused. As a result, King
County moved to strike the photographs. The court ruled,
For purposes of the motion for summary judgment, the Court
did not consider the photographs marked as exhibit G to
Mr. Hoover's declaration. Plaintiff failed to establish sufficient
foundation for the photos including the approximate date, location,
and to specify what was depicted. Plaintiff also failed to timely
supplement this information in discovery and to make himself
available to be deposed on the withheld discovery.(801
Because Hoover failed to indicate when, where, and under what
circumstances the photographs were taken, the trial court did not err in excluding
these photographs for lack of foundation.
Hoover also argues the trial court failed to consider the factors from Burnet
v. Spokane Ambulance81 before it excluded the photographs. The court is required
to conduct a Burnet analysis before excluding evidence due to a discovery
violation.82 But even if the photographs were excluded in part because they were
77 CP at 1392.
78 CP at 1393.
79 "The items attached to Mr. Hoover's deposition and marked as Exhibits
E, F and G were requested in discovery and should have been provided long
before Mr. Hoover's summary judgment opposition and prior to his deposition. I
anticipate that it will take less than two hours to complete this deposition and
would hope it can be done in one hour; but that would depend on Mr. Hoover's
responses." CP at 1384.
80 CP at 1407.
81 131 Wash. 2d 484, 933 P.2d 1036 (1997).
82 Id. at 494.
20
No. 77023-3-1/21
late disclosed, Hoover still failed to lay the proper foundation for admissibility. The
lack of foundation renders the photographs inadmissible regardless of the
outcome of a missing Burnet analysis.
We conclude the trial court did not err in striking the photographs.
B. Hearsay
Second, Hoover challenges the court's exclusion of hearsay evidence.
"Hearsay' is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at
the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted."83
Hoover claimed Punch Martinez, an SWD employee, told Hoover that he
overheard Voelker use an extremely offensive racial slur to refer to Hoover.
Martinez is deceased and unable to testify. Hoover did not personally overhear
Voelker's comment.
The court struck the statement because Hoover "failed to provide any legal
authority in its opposition brief or at the May 15, 2017 hearing that would allow the
Court to consider this hearsay remark."84
Hoover argues Voelker's statement is not hearsay because he did not offer
the statement to prove the truth of the matter asserted. But Martinez's statement
that he overheard Voelker is offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, that
he did in fact overhear Voelker. Although a statement is not hearsay if it is offered
only to show it was made,85 Hoover still fails to provide reasoning to support the
83 ER 801.
84 CP at 1407.
85 State v. Gonzalez-Hernandez, 122 Wash. App. 53, 57, 92 P.3d 789 (2004).
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No. 77023-3-1/22
admission of Martinez's statement to Hoover about Voelker's use of the extremely
offensive racial slur.
We conclude the trial court did not err in striking Voelker's statement.
Therefore, we affirm.
WE CONCUR:
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