Ladson v. George Washington University

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
_________________________________________
)
Todd M. Ladson, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil No. 14-cv-001586 (APM)
)
The George Washington University, )
)
Defendant. )
_________________________________________ )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Todd M. Ladson filed this lawsuit against his former employer, Defendant The
George Washington University (“GW” or “the University”), alleging that he was terminated from
his position as a campus police officer due to: (1) race discrimination in violation of Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and the D.C. Human Rights Act; and (2) age
discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the D.C. Human
Rights Act. This lawsuit stems from a complaint made in March 2013, when Plaintiff, a 24-veteran
of the GW campus police, was accused by a fellow officer of making inappropriate comments
about her sexual preference and activities. The University initiated a months-long investigation
into the complaint, which uncovered more evidence of inappropriate comments by Plaintiff.
Defendant ultimately determined that Plaintiff’s behavior violated the University’s policy against
sexual harassment and created a hostile work environment for his colleagues. In September 2013,
Plaintiff was terminated from his position.
Plaintiff views these events differently. He denies making the comments in question and
argues that, even if he did, they were not harassing and discriminatory, but rather were innocent
and misinterpreted. He further argues that the University’s investigation was unfair and one-sided.
Finally, Plaintiff contends that the University terminated him due to his race and age while it failed
to punish other instances of similar, or more egregious, conduct by white officers and younger
officers.
The court now considers Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment. Having reviewed
the parties’ briefing and the evidence, the court finds that no reasonable jury could conclude that
George Washington University discriminated against Plaintiff based on his race or his age when it
terminated him. The court therefore grants Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
II. BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
1. The Complaint Against Officer Ladson
Plaintiff Todd Ladson began working at The George Washington University (“GW” or
“the University”) in 1989. Pl.’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J., ECF No. 15 [hereinafter Pl.’s
Opp’n], at 8. By 2013, Plaintiff was serving a supervisory role as a Master Patrol Officer in GW’s
police force. Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J., ECF No. 14 [hereinafter Def.’s Mot.], Def.’s Stmt. of
Material Facts, ECF No. 14-2 [hereinafter Def.’s Stmt.], ¶ 1; Pl.’s Opp’n, Stmt. of Material Facts
in Dispute, ECF No. 15-1 [hereinafter Pl.’s Stmt.], ¶ 1. In March 2013, one of Plaintiff’s
colleagues, GW police officer Tiffany Justice, complained to the University that Plaintiff had made
inappropriate comments about her sexual preference and activities. Def.’s Mot, Ex. 1, March 27,
2013, Email from Tiffany Justice to Tara Pereira, ECF No. 14-3 [hereinafter Justice Email].
Specifically, Officer Justice alleged that Plaintiff had made three inappropriate remarks, namely:
(1) he made comments to Officer Linda Queen regarding her (Queen’s) sexuality and suggesting
that she was sexually involved with Officer Justice; (2) he suggested to another officer that Officer
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Justice was “one of you,” thereby implying that Officer Justice was a lesbian; and (3) he warned a
new officer that she will “have men and women after her.” Justice Email at 1; Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 2;
Pl.’s Stmt. ¶ 2.
GW prohibits sexual harassment by its employees. Def.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 3-4; Pl.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 3-4;
see also Def.’s Mot., Ex. 2, Interim Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy and
Procedures, ECF No. 14-4.1 Pursuant to its policy, upon receiving Officer Justice’s complaint
against Plaintiff, GW began an investigation into Plaintiff’s comments. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 9; Pl.’s
Stmt. ¶ 9. Plaintiff was suspended with pay on April 2, 2013, “pending an investigation regarding
recent allegations that you have been improperly making unwanted comments of a sexual nature
about a co-worker and her private life.” Def.’s Mot., Ex. 7, Letter to Officer Ladson from Chief
Kevin Hay, April 2, 2013, ECF No. 14-9.
2. The Investigation by GW Into Officer Ladson’s Comments
Tara Pereira, GW’s then-Assistant Title IX Coordinator and Director of Campus Inclusion
Initiatives, received the initial complaint from Officer Justice and conducted the investigation into
Plaintiff’s alleged comments. Def.’s Mot., Ex. 10, Email from Tara Pereira to Officer Ladson,
April 3, 2013, ECF No. 14-12. As part of her investigation, Ms. Pereira interviewed approximately
13 people and met with Plaintiff multiple times. Def.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 13-14; Pl.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 13-14.
Through her efforts, Ms. Pereira learned—among other things—that Plaintiff had made “lots of
racist and sexually graphic” comments; that he had new officer trainees “bark like a dog” as they
crawled through a small tunnel; and that he had taught an officer how to smoke marijuana without
being caught. Officer Justice, in particular, told Ms. Pereira that Plaintiff’s comments “impacted
1
Plaintiff was well-aware of his employer’s policy prohibiting sexual harassment and had attended a training on
preventing harassment as recently as March 2013. Def.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 5-8; Pl.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 5-8; Def.’s Mot., Ex. 6,
Preventing Harassment Certificate of Completion, ECF No. 14-8.
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her safety, her environment, her work performance, and the culture of [Plaintiff’s] shifts.” Def.’s
Mot., Ex. 9, Dep. of Tara Pereira, ECF No. 14-11 [hereinafter Pereira Dep.], at 61-75. Officer
Justice further reported that Plaintiff’s comments “mak[e] it hard to come to work,” and that
Plaintiff had once asked her “[w]hy are you staring at me? Do I owe you child support?” Def.’s
Mot., Ex 12, Pereira Investigation Notes, ECF No. 14-14.
When Plaintiff and his union representative met with Ms. Pereira as part of the
investigation, he denied making these comments and suggested that the witnesses who had come
forward were lying because they were jealous of him for “making the most overtime” and being
“very popular” and a “happy-go-lucky person.” Def.’s Mot., Ex. 3, Dep. of Todd Ladson, ECF
No. 14-5 [hereinafter Ladson Dep.], at 85-86. However, Plaintiff was unable to point to any
evidence to corroborate his claim that the officers who had testified against him were jealous of
him, id. at 86, or that his accusers had lied during the investigation, id. at 95.
At the conclusion of her investigation, Ms. Pereira found that Plaintiff’s conduct was “long-
standing” and “pervasive” and had impacted numerous officers. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 33; Pl.’s Stmt.
¶ 22; Pereira Dep. at 100. After the investigation, Plaintiff and his union representative met with
Ms. Pereira and Kevin Hay, Chief of the GW Police Department. Def.’s Stmt ¶ 34; Pl.’s Stmt.
¶ 22. The parties were unable to reach a resolution and so, pursuant to University policy, Chief
Hay requested that a formal hearing be held. Def.’s Mot., Ex. 15, Memorandum Requesting
Formal Hearing Regarding Allegations Against Officer Ladson, ECF No. 14-17, at 1-2.
On August 1, 2013, the University convened a Special Panel2 to hear the complaint filed
against Plaintiff alleging sexual harassment and conduct that created a hostile work environment.
2
The members of the Special Panel were: (1) Christopher A. Bracey (Chair), Senior Associate Dean for Academic
Affairs, and Professor of Law, GW Law School; (2) Kimberly D. Acquaviva, Director of Faculty Development, and
Associate Professor of Nursing, GW School of Nursing; (3) Eric Annis, Production Manager, Lisner Auditorium; (4)
4
Def.’s Mot., Ex. 11, Special Panel Report Regarding Complaint Against Officer Todd Ladson,
August 14, 2013, ECF No. 14-13 [hereinafter Special Panel Report], at 1. At the hearing, Chief
Hay and Plaintiff made opening statements. Id. at 3. Chief Hay then presented five witnesses,
including Officer Justice and Ms. Pereira. Id. Those witnesses “testified as to remarks and
comments made by Officer Ladson regarding their sexuality or the sexuality of others.” Id. at 6.
The Special Panel heard numerous examples of inappropriate comments made by Plaintiff and
their effect on his coworkers, including:
 Officer Justice testified that Plaintiff had told the parents of another officer that their
daughter was in a relationship with Officer Justice;
 Security Officer Octavia Livingston testified that Plaintiff had told her that he did not
approve of homosexuals and tried “to convince her that she should be with men”;
 Former Police Officer Suzanne Combs testified that she had heard Plaintiff make
negative comments following her marriage to her female partner in 2011;
 Security Officer Livingston testified that Plaintiff had made graphic comments while
interrogating her about her sexual behavior. She further testified that she had
“submit[ted] herself” to Plaintiff’s treatment and did not file a formal complaint
because Plaintiff’s recommendation was critical to her own status as an officer in the
GW Police Department;
 Officer Queen testified that Plaintiff had inquired whether she and Officer Justice
“were fucking” and recalled being told that Plaintiff described her as “crazy as shit”
and that she “fucks with girls when she wants to”;
 Three witnesses testified that Plaintiff’s conduct made it more difficult for lesbian
officers to work among and be accepted by their fellow officers, and mentioned specific
ways in which that “chilling effect” changed their feelings or behavior; and
 Witnesses testified that they “dreaded their training period” with Plaintiff and at least
two witnesses testified that they had requested not to be assigned to serve with Plaintiff.
Id. at 6-7.
Huda M. Ayas, Executive Director, International Medical Programs; (5) Moira E. Secrest, Business Manager, National
Health Policy Forum; and (6) Joyce M. Whitmore, Serials Acquisitions Manager, Gelman Library.
5
When it was his turn to present evidence, Plaintiff “did not . . . present any witnesses,
testimony, or evidence.” Id. at 3. According to the Special Panel Report, Plaintiff was “given
multiple opportunities” to offer witnesses, testimony, or evidence to show that the statements heard
by the panel were false, but declined to do so, instead offering only a “blanket denial of all
allegations” in his opening and closing statements. Id. at 7. Plaintiff admits that he “presented no
evidence that any of the testimony [heard by the panel] was false.” Pl.’s Stmt. ¶ 31. He complains,
however, that his counsel who was present at the hearing “was not allowed to speak or utter a work
[sic] and/or interrupt the proceedings.” Pl.’s Opp’n at 13.
Following the hearing, the Special Panel found that there was “ample evidence” to support
Officer Justice’s original allegations, along with additional evidence of inappropriate comments
made by Plaintiff. Id. at 4, 6. Those allegations led the Special Panel to conclude that “Officer
Ladson’s conduct created a hostile work environment.” Id. Rather than recommend a punishment,
the Report deferred to the GW Police Department to determine how best to sanction Plaintiff. Id.
at 7. The Report urged the GW Police Department to consider, among other things, “[t]he duration
of Officer Ladson’s service at the University and, in particular, his long record of relatively
distinguished service” and that this was the first complaint alleging harassment brought against
him. Id.On September 4, 2013, Chief Hay sent Plaintiff a letter terminating his employment. Def.’s
Stmt. ¶ 48; Pl.’s Stmt. ¶ 35; see also Def.’s Mot., Ex. 17, Notice of Termination of Employment,
ECF No. 14-15, at 1. Chief Hay explained during his deposition that he had determined that
Plaintiff should be fired due to the “[t]otality of circumstances based on the finding of the
investigation conducted by Tara Pereira,” “[t]he egregiousness of the testimony given at the
hearing, the fact that there was multiple victims involved, and the fact that he was essentially in a
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supervisory role as a field training officer, and as a master patrol officer.” Def.’s Mot., Ex. 24,
Dep. of Kevin Hay, ECF No. 14-26 [hereinafter Hay Dep.], at 21.
B. Procedural History
On August 14, 2014, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in the Superior Court for the District of
Columbia. See Ladson v. George Washington University, Case No. 2014 CA 005029 B.
Defendant removed the case to this court on September 18, 2014. See Notice of Removal, ECF
No. 1. On September 25, 2015, after discovery concluded, Defendant filed a Motion for Summary
Judgment arguing that Plaintiff was not discriminated against on the basis of his race or his age,
but rather that he was terminated from his employment for a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason,
namely, multiple instances of sexual harassment in violation of University policy. See generally
Def.’s Mot. On October 23, 2015, Plaintiff filed his Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for
Summary Judgment, contending that his termination constituted discrimination on the basis of his
race and age. See generally Pl.’s Opp’n. On November 6, 2015, Defendant filed a Reply to
Plaintiff’s Opposition. See generally Def.’s Reply to Pl.’s Opp’n, ECF No. 16 [hereinafter Def.’s
Reply].
III. LEGAL STANDARD
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 provides that a court should grant summary judgment
if “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and [ ] the moving party is entitled to a judgment
as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 56(a)). A material fact is one that is capable of affecting the
outcome of litigation. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
Rule 56 “mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and
upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of
an element essential to that party’s case, [ ] on which that party will bear the burden of proof at
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trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). The party moving for summary
judgment “bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion”
and identifying those portions of the record that it believes “demonstrate the absence of a genuine
issue of material fact.” Id. at 323.
Once the moving party has made an adequate showing that a fact cannot be disputed, the
burden shifts to the party opposing summary judgment to “set forth specific facts showing that
there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250 (citation and internal quotation marks
omitted) (footnote omitted). The nonmoving party may oppose the motion using “any of the kinds
of evidentiary materials listed in Rule 56(c), except the mere pleadings themselves, and it is from
this list that one would normally expect the nonmoving party to make the showing to which [the
Court has] referred.” Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324. “The evidence of the non-movant is to be
believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255(citations omitted). However, “to defeat a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party
must offer more than mere unsupported allegations or denials.” Dormu v. District of Columbia,
795 F. Supp. 2d 7, 17 (D.D.C. 2011) (citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324). In other words, if the non-
movant’s evidence is “merely colorable” or “not significantly probative,” summary judgment may
be granted. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50. Summary judgment, then, is appropriate when the non-
moving party fails to offer “evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-
movant].” Id. at 252.
IV. DISCUSSION
The court first considers whether a reasonable jury could conclude that Plaintiff’s
termination constituted illegal discrimination based on race. The court then turns to Plaintiff’s
claim that he was terminated due to his age.
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A. Plaintiff’s Race Discrimination Claim
Plaintiff claims that Defendant’s decision to terminate him constituted unlawful race
discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a); 42 U.S.C.
§ 1981; and the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, D.C. Code § 2-1401.01 et seq. The legal
standards applicable to his claims are the same: All three “require proof of intentional
discrimination, which may be shown by direct or indirect evidence.” Lemmons v. Georgetown
Univ. Hosp., 431 F. Supp. 2d 76, 86 (D.D.C. 2006) (citations omitted). “Where, as here, the
plaintiff has proffered no direct evidence of intentional discrimination, race discrimination claims
under both the DCHRA and Section 1981 are evaluated using the same framework as claims
arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Id. (citations omitted). Thus, the court
analyzes all three race discrimination claims under the framework set out in McDonnell Douglas
Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973). See Weber v. Battista, 494 F.3d 179, 182 (D.C. Cir. 2007).
A Title VII plaintiff bears ‘[t]he ultimate burden of persuading the trier of fact that the
defendant intentionally discriminated” against him. Texas Dep’t of Community Affairs v. Burdine,
450 U.S. 248, 253 (1981). To proceed under the McDonnell Douglas standard, a plaintiff “must
carry the initial burden under the statute of establishing a prima facie case of [race, sex, age]
discrimination.” Bennett v. Solis, 729 F. Supp.2d 54, 59 (D.D.C. 2010) (citing McDonnell
Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802). However, in cases where the employer has asserted a legitimate, non-
discriminatory reason for the decision, “the district court need not—and should not—decide
whether the plaintiff actually made out a prima facie case under McDonnell Douglas.” Brady v.
Office of Sergeant at Arms, 520 F.3d 490, 494 (D.C. Cir. 2008). Instead, the court “must resolve
one central question: Has the employee produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find
that the employer’s asserted non-discriminatory reason was not the actual reason and that the
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employer intentionally discriminated against the employee on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex, or national origin?” Id. (citations omitted).
In this case, Defendant has asserted a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for terminating
Plaintiff—namely, that he violated the University’s policy on sexual harassment. Thus, the court
turns to the central issue: whether Plaintiff has produced evidence sufficient for a reasonable jury
to find that the employer’s stated reason was not the actual reason and that instead it intentionally
discriminated against him based on his race. See id. at 495. Plaintiff asserts three arguments to
suggest that GW’s stated reason for firing him was pretext for racial discrimination: (1) that GW
terminated Plaintiff based on “subjective” criteria; (2) that the investigation into Plaintiff’s
comments was “one-sided”; and (3) that Defendant punished white officers less harshly for similar
conduct. See generally Pl.’s Opp’n. The court considers each argument in turn.
1. Whether Plaintiff was Fired Based on Subjective Criteria
Plaintiff argues that the allegations of sexual harassment brought against him were “vague,
ambiguous, subjective and open to any thousands of possibilities and interpretations,” suggesting
that the stated reason for his termination was pretext for a more nefarious purpose. To support this
allegation, Plaintiff points to the three incidents that Officer Justice included in her initial
complaint and implies that all three could have been interpreted in a non-sexual, non-offensive
way. Pl.’s Opp’n at 2. Plaintiff also points to the testimony of Suzanne Combs, a fellow GW
police officer, who testified that Plaintiff had not made any comments to her about her own sexual
orientation, but that she had heard from her colleagues that Plaintiff was homophobic and that “his
aura and his energy” suggested that he held antipathy for gays. Pl.’s Opp’n at 3; see also Pl.’s
Opp’n., Ex. 4, Dep. of Suzanne Combs, ECF No. 15-4 [hereinafter Combs Dep.], at 13, 28, 38.
According to Plaintiff, whether his alleged comments to Officer Justice and others were offensive
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and harassing is an entirely subjective assessment. What might be offensive and harassing to one
person, he seems to argue, might be viewed as in perfectly good fun to someone else. From that
questionable premise, he contends that his termination—based on a subjective evaluation of his
behavior—is inherently “suspect.” Pl.’s Mot. at 15.
Plaintiff is correct that “courts traditionally treat explanations that rely heavily on
subjective considerations with caution.” Aka v. Wash. Hosp. Ctr., 156 F.3d 1284, 1298 (D.C. Cir.
1998). To that end, courts should view with caution explanations for employment decisions based
on language such as “dedicated,” “enthusiasm,” “interpersonal skills,” and “being upbeat.”
See Bennett, 729 F. Supp. 2d at 66. But the court in Aka also explained that “employers may of
course take subjective considerations into account in their employment decisions.” Id. If an
employer uses subjective criteria to make an employment decision but has “other, well-founded
reasons” for the decision, summary judgment for the defendant may be appropriate. Id.Furthermore, employers often have to make employment decisions “based on credibility
assessments, circumstantial evidence, and incomplete information.” Brady, 520 F.3d at 496.
If GW had fired Plaintiff based solely on Officer Combs’ view that Plaintiff had an “aura”
and an “energy” that suggested he disapproved of homosexuals, Plaintiff might have reason to
complain. But Defendant’s consideration of Plaintiff’s well-documented boorish and crude
behavior is not the kind of “subjective consideration” that is cautioned against by the court in Aka.
The uncontested evidence shows that, following a wide-ranging investigation, Plaintiff was fired
because he was found to have repeatedly made offensive and inappropriate sexual comments to
multiple colleagues, while occupying a supervisory role. Hay Dep. at 21. Officer Justice originally
complained about three statements concerning her sexuality, which made her “feel disrespected,
uncomfortable, and uneasy and has created a hostile work environment for me.” Justice Email
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at 1. But those comments were only the tip of the iceberg. The subsequent investigation uncovered
numerous similar comments made to multiple GW officers, including Plaintiff telling a coworker
he did not approve of “homosexuals”; trying to convince a coworker “that she should be with men
– that ‘this is what G-O-D intended’”; using crude and inappropriate language; and asking if female
coworkers were involved sexually. Special Panel Report at 6. The University’s Title IX
investigator described Plaintiff’s conduct as “one of the most significant sexual harassment cases”
that she has seen. Pereira Dep. at 77, 100. The Special Panel confirmed the investigator’s findings.
Special Panel Report at 5-6.
There is nothing “subjective”—in the Aka sense—about the foregoing evidence, and thus
there is nothing about GW’s reliance on such evidence that would give rise to an inference of
discriminatory intent. Indeed, Plaintiff admitted as much when he conceded that if, in fact, he had
said the things that Officer Justice and others accused him of saying, that he should have been
fired. See Ladson Dep. at 89-90 (“Q: You agree that if you said these things that you’re accused
of, you should very [sic] fired, right? A: Yes, sir.”).
2. Whether GW’s Investigation was Unfair
Next, Plaintiff contends that GW’s investigation was “botched and one-sided” because GW
“intentionally ignored non-collaborating evidence from other witnesses and also refused to
interview Ladson’s witnesses.” Pl.’s Opp’n at 16. Plaintiff also contends that his counsel was not
allowed to question witnesses at the Special Panel hearing and was “instructed not to say a word.”
Id. at 3, n. 16.
It is true that an “employer’s investigation that is so unsystematic and incomplete that a
factfinder could conclude that the employer sought, not to discover the truth, but to cover up its
own discrimination can also permit a factfinder to find pretext.” Burley v. Nat’l Passenger Rail
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Corp., 801 F.3d 290, 296 (D.C. Cir. 2015). But here, Plaintiff does not in any meaningful way
identify how the investigation against him was deficient, let alone “so unsystematic and
incomplete” as would enable a trier of fact to infer pretext.
Plaintiff asserts that Ms. Pereira failed to interview witnesses that would have been
favorable to him, see Pl.’s Opp’n at 11, but he does not identify any such witness by name or what
such a witness would have said, see id. at 11, 16. Moreover, Plaintiff argues that Ms. Pereira
ignored evidence from officers who had worked with Plaintiff but had never heard him utter any
harassing comments. See id. at 12. However, this argument is difficult to understand, as Plaintiff
does not explain whether Ms. Pereira simply refused to interview such witnesses or whether she
buried favorable evidence after interviewing them. Nor does he explain how such evidence would
have either negated the specific accusations against him or bolstered his denials. See id. In any
event, even if Plaintiff had identified shortcomings in the investigation, he cannot argue that he
was prevented from calling favorable witnesses before the Special Panel. After all, he elected to
call no witnesses. See Special Panel Report at 3, 7 (stating that Plaintiff declined the opportunity
to present witnesses, testimony, or evidence at the hearing).
Plaintiff’s assertion that the Special Panel was a “kangaroo court” because his counsel was
unable to speak on his behalf is equally without merit. Pl.’s Opp’n at 3 n.16. Whatever one thinks
of university procedures that minimize the role of the accused’s counsel or advisor at a hearing—
and there are critics of such policies3—Plaintiff has not pointed to any deviation from Defendant’s
3
See, e.g., Emily D. Safko, Are Campus Sexual Assault Tribunals Fair?: The Need for Judicial Review and Additional
Due Process Protections in Light of New Case Law, 84 Fordham L. Rev. 2289, 2330 (2016) (“Congress should enact
legislation that requires schools to allow students representation during disciplinary proceedings. In the due process
and Title IX contexts, courts generally have not recognized an absolute right to attorney representation for students at
school disciplinary proceedings.”); Robert B. Groholski, The Right to Representation by Counsel in University
Disciplinary Proceedings: A Denial of Due Process of Law, 19 N. Ill. U. L. Rev. 739, 800 (1999) (“Given the
importance of the interest at stake and the existence of procedural safeguards which would reduce any burden placed
on a university, the right to representation by retained counsel should be required as an element of due process in
university disciplinary proceedings.”).
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established policies in this case that would give rise to an inference of pretext. See Def.’s Mot.,
Ex. 2, The George Washington University Interim Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy
and Procedures, ECF No. 14-4, at GWU 01019 (providing that “[n]o advisor, including an attorney
who may be acting as an advisor, may speak on behalf of the party, make an opening or closing
statement, present testimony or examine witnesses”).
3. Whether GW Selectively Enforced its Sexual Harassment Policy Based on
Race
Lastly, Plaintiff argues that Defendant’s decision to terminate him was inconsistent with—
and more harsh than—the University’s treatment of white officers who have engaged in similar
conduct. Pl.’s Opp’n at 4. He points to three current or former GW campus police officers who,
according to Plaintiff, made comparable comments or committed comparable acts but were treated
with more leniency by the University: George Brittle, Reed Jones, and Christopher Brown. Id. at
5. Plaintiff argues that, due to the similarities in their employment statuses and because they too
were subject to GW’s sexual harassment policy, the only explanation for why the three officers
were “treated better for doing and saying much worse” than Plaintiff is because they are white. Id.
at 17-18. If true, Plaintiff avers that such evidence suggests that the stated reason for Plaintiff’s
termination was pretext for racial discrimination. Id. The court first describes the evidence
concerning these comparators, and then analyzes whether that evidence aids Plaintiff.
a. The comparators
i. George Brittle
Plaintiff claims that George Brittle, a white officer, referred to another officer by her badge
number, “69,” which refers to a sexual position, and “made frequent sexual comments about gay
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men.” Compl., ECF No. 1, ¶¶ 27-28. Plaintiff further contends that Officer Brittle received five-
day suspensions for those transgressions but was never terminated. Id.Evidence shows that in 1991, Officer Brittle admitted saying to a female officer that she
“still use[s] the [locker] number 69.” Def.’s Mot., Ex 18, Memorandum Regarding Verbal
Counseling – Corporal George Brittle, ECF No. 14-20 [hereinafter Brittle Verbal Counseling
Letter]. Officer Brittle apologized for the remark and was “counseled and warned” by his
supervisor, Captain Anthony RoccoGrande, not to make jokes or engage in sexual innuendo about
his colleagues.
Officer Brittle was involved in another incident in 2008, where he “made comments
perceived as homophobic and racially insensitive that belittled and embarrassed [his]
subordinates.” Def.’s Mot., Ex. 19, Letter of Warning to Lieutenant George Brittle, ECF No. 14-
21 [hereinafter Brittle Letter of Warning]. The Letter of Warning also referenced a third incident
in 2007 when Brittle “made a sexually coercive remark that embarrassed” his subordinate and
“created a situation of professional embarrassment” for the subordinate, for Brittle, and for the
GW Police Department. Id. Brittle’s supervisor at the time, Executive Assistant Chief Isom,
expressed disappointment and “great concern” over his behavior and required that Brittle
(1) apologize to his shift; (2) take a University class in diversity; and (3) take a departmental class
on working in a diverse environment. Id.ii. Reed Jones
Plaintiff next alleges that Officer Reed Jones, a 26-year old white officer, frequently used
a racial slur to refer to African-American officers, for which he was suspended but not terminated.
Compl. ¶ 29. In 2012, the GW Police Department received an anonymous complaint alleging that
Officer Jones had used racial slurs in reference to people of color. Def.’s Mot., Ex 25, Memo.
15
From Frank Demes Regarding Compl. Against Officer Reed Jones, ECF No. 14-27 [hereinafter
Jones Memo]. In response to that complaint, GW began an investigation into Officer Jones’
conduct that involved more than 42 interviews. Id. Of all the individuals interviewed, one
remembered hearing Officer Jones use the actual term “racial slur” but no one recalled him actually
uttering a racial slur. Id. The investigation determined that the complaint was “unfounded and
completely without merit.” Id.iii. Christopher Brown
Finally, Plaintiff contends that Officer Christopher Brown sexually harassed fellow officer
Linda Queen when he asked her out on a date but was not fired for his conduct. Ladson Dep. at
165. Plaintiff admits that he is unaware of any other allegations against Officer Brown. Id. at 166.
An investigation by Ms. Pereira concluded that Officer Brown did, in fact, ask Officer Queen and
other officers to have breakfast with him in an attempt “to get to know his staff.” Pereira Dep. at
25.
b. Analysis of comparator evidence
“One way to discredit an employer’s justification is to show that similarly situated
employees of a different race received more favorable treatment.” Royall v. Nat'l Ass’n of Letter
Carriers, AFL–CIO, 548 F.3d 137, 145 (D.C. Cir. 2008). “For a plaintiff to prove that she is
similarly situated to another employee, she must demonstrate that she and the alleged similarly-
situated employee ‘were charged with offenses of comparable seriousness,’ and ‘that all of the
relevant aspects of her employment situation were nearly identical to those of the other
employee.’” Wheeler v. Georgetown Univ. Hosp., 812 F.3d 1109, 1115-16 (D.C. Cir. 2016)
(quoting Burley, 801 F.3d at 301 (alteration omitted)). “Factors that bear on whether someone is
an appropriate comparator include the similarity of the plaintiff’s and the putative comparator’s
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job and job duties, whether they were disciplined by the same supervisor, and, in cases involving
discipline, the similarity of their offenses.” Id. at 1116 (quoting Burley, 801 F.3d at 301) (internal
quotation marks omitted).
Applying these principles, not one of the three GW campus police officers identified by
Plaintiff is a valid comparator. Beginning with former Officer Brittle, he cannot be considered a
comparator to Plaintiff because he was not supervised by Chief Hay. See Wheeler, 812 F.3d at
1116 (citing as a factor “whether [the plaintiff and putative comparator] were disciplined by the
same supervisor”). Plaintiff seems to admit as much. Pl.’s Opp’n at 6 (“even if we were to exclude
Brittle out of the comparator calculus because he was not supervised by Chief Kevin Hay…”).
With respect to Officer Jones, the GW Police Department conducted an investigation into
an anonymous complaint that he made racial slurs about people of color and, after more than
42 interviews, concluded only that Officer Jones used the term “racial slur,” but did not actually
use any racial slurs. Jones Memo at 1. The unsubstantiated allegation against Officer Jones in no
way compare to the ultimately proven, repeated instances of sexual harassment committed by
Plaintiff. See Wheeler, 812 F.3d at 1116 (citing as a factor “the similarity of [the plaintiff’s and
comparator’s] offenses”).
Plaintiff fares no better with Officer Brown. He contends that Brown sexually harassed
his coworker Officer Queen when he “tr[ied] to date” her. Ladson Dep. at 165. Plaintiff offers no
other evidence that Brown violated GW’s policy against sexual harassment. Ms. Pereira
investigated Brown’s alleged conduct, but concluded that Brown had asked Officer Queen and
other officers to have breakfast with him in an attempt to get to know his staff. Pereira Dep. at 25-
26. But even if Officer Brown had asked Officer Queen out on a date, and thereby violated
University policy, the seriousness of that behavior pales in comparison to that of Plaintiff. He was
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found to have asked Officer Queen—the very same officer who Brown allegedly asked out on a
date—if she and Officer Justice “were fucking” and told another officer that Officer Queen “was
crazy as shit” and “fucks with girls when she wants to.” Special Panel Report at 6. Any suggestion
of comparability between Plaintiff and Officer Brown is wildly off the mark.
In sum, none of the officers Plaintiff cites are valid comparators. As a result, Defendant’s
treatment of Plaintiff in comparison to its treatment of those officers is not evidence of pretext.
More generally, Plaintiff has not offered a shred of evidence that would allow a reasonable jury to
conclude that he was terminated because of racial discrimination, rather than due to the numerous
acts of sexual harassment that his employer found him to have committed. For the reasons stated
above, the court grants summary judgment in favor of Defendant as to Plaintiff’s race
discrimination claims.
B. Plaintiff’s Age Discrimination Claim
Plaintiff also alleges that his termination was based on improper age discrimination under
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, see id. ¶¶ 69-78, and under the DCHRA, see Compl.
¶¶ 44-52. But Plaintiff does not address his age discrimination claims in his summary judgment
opposition; in fact, those claims are not even mentioned. As a result, the court will treat
Defendant’s motion as to Plaintiff’s claims of age discrimination as conceded. See Wilkins v.
Jackson, 750 F. Supp. 2d 160, 162 (D.D.C. 2010) (“It is well established that if a plaintiff fails to
respond to an argument raised in a motion for summary judgment, it is proper to treat that argument
as conceded.”); Sykes v. Dudas, 573 F. Supp. 2d 191, 202 (D.D.C. 2008) (“[W]hen a party responds
to some but not all arguments raised on a Motion for Summary Judgment, a court may fairly view
the unacknowledged arguments as conceded.”).
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Moreover, even if Plaintiff has not conceded the claim, Defendant has put forth a legitimate
non-discriminatory reason for terminating Plaintiff—his violation of the University’s sexual
harassment policy—and Plaintiff has not responded with any evidence whatsoever that suggests
that that reason was pretext for an age-based motive. See Chappell-Johnson v. Powell, 440 F.3d
484, 487 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (“The McDonnell Douglas framework applies to both Title VII and
ADEA claims.”) (citation omitted). Plaintiff had the burden to show that age was the “but-for”
cause of his termination. Bennett, 729 F.Supp.2d at 59-60 (citing Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., Inc.,
557 U.S. 167, 180 (2009)). He has offered no evidence that would allow him to meet his burden.
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the court grants Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
A separate order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
Dated: September 1, 2016 Amit P. Mehta
United States District Judge
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