Margaret Villarreal v. Del Mar College

NUMBER 13-07-00119-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
MARGARET VILLARREAL, Appellant,
v.
DEL MAR COLLEGE, Appellee.
On appeal from the 117th District Court of Nueces County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Yañez, Rodriguez, and Benavides
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Yañez
Appellant, Margaret Villarreal, appeals from a summary judgment granted in favor
of appellee, Del Mar College (“the College”), on Villarreal’s retaliation and national origin
discrimination claims.1 By two issues, Villarreal contends the trial court erred in (1) granting
summary judgment and dismissing her retaliation and discrimination claims and (2)
improperly defining the “adverse employment action” element of her retaliation claim. We
1
See T EX . L AB . C OD E A N N . §§ 21.051, 21.055 (Vernon 2006).
affirm.
I. Background
Villarreal began her employment with the College in 1978 as a data entry clerk. In
1985, she was promoted to the position of Senior Reporting Technician in the College
Registrar’s Office. Her immediate supervisor was Frances Jordan, the Registrar and
Assistant Dean of Enrollment Services. Jordan’s supervisor was Jose Rivera, a Vice
President of the College. Villarreal’s duties included data collection and preparation of
reports to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The reports are used by the
State to allocate funding. Villarreal’s position is classified as “nonexempt,” consistent with
federal wage and hour laws.2
Villarreal requested several times that her position be reclassified from nonexempt
to exempt.3 Pursuant to the denial of an earlier request to reclassify her position, Villarreal
filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC and Texas Commission on Human Rights.4
In 2002, she and the College reached a settlement agreement, by which the College paid
her a lump sum and upgraded her position from “Grade 7” to “Grade 8,” in exchange for
2
See Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 201-219 (2009). Prior to 2006, the College itself
classified its job positions as “exem pt” or “nonexem pt” from federal wage and hour laws, based on FLSA
guidelines and exem ptions. Prior to 2006, the “exem pt” classification was referred to as “adm inistrative/
professional/ technical” or “APT.” After 2006, the College retained a consulting group, which prepared job
descriptions and classified em ployees as “exem pt” or “nonexem pt.” For purposes of this opinion, “APT” is
synonym ous with “exem pt,” and in the interest of clarity, we use the term s “exem pt” and “nonexem pt”
throughout this opinion. Villarreal’s position of Senior Reporting Technician has always been classified as a
“nonexem pt” position.
3
Villarreal contends she has been “stuck” at the top of the non-exem pt salary scale and that
reclassification to exem pt status would enable her to receive higher pay.
4
W hen the Texas Com m ission on Hum an Rights Act (TCHRA) was recodified into the Texas Labor
Code, the revised law om itted as unnecessary the short title of the act. See Little v. Tex. Dep’t of Criminal
Justice, 148 S.W .3d 374, 377 (Tex. 2004). Accordingly, we refer to chapter 21 of the labor code, instead of
the TCHRA, as the Texas em ploym ent discrim ination statute was com m only referred to in the past. A copy
of Villarreal’s earlier charge of discrim ination does not appear in the record before us.
2
her agreement not to sue. The position remained classified as nonexempt.
In late 2003, Villarreal again requested that her position be reclassified as exempt.
Jordan and Rivera signed the request, which was then forwarded to Lewis Finch, Assistant
Director of Human Resources.5 Villarreal based her request for reclassification on her
duties to collect and analyze data regarding on-line courses offered by the College. In the
course of reviewing the request, Finch asked for additional information from Jordan and
Rivera regarding Villarreal’s duties. Finch also provided Rivera with the guidelines used
to determine if a position is properly classified as exempt, and asked for his views as to
whether Villarreal’s position met the guidelines. After reviewing the guidelines and
consulting with Jordan, Rivera responded that in his judgment, the position of Senior
Reporting Technician did not meet the criteria for exempt status. Finch completed the
evaluation, concluded that the position was properly classified as nonexempt, and
recommended denial of the reclassification request. The Acting President of the College,
Jose Alaniz, agreed and denied the request.
Villarreal filed several charges of discrimination, alleging retaliation and national
origin discrimination. She then sued the College, alleging that she (1) suffered retaliation
for having filed her earlier charge of discrimination, and (2) was discriminated against
because of her national origin.
On October 18, 2006, the College moved for summary judgment on both traditional
5
The task of reviewing em ployee requests for reclassification was assigned to the College’s Dean
of Equal Em ploym ent Opportunity and Affirm ative Action. However, because the Dean was on leave of
absence during the relevant tim e period, Villarreal’s request was directed to Finch. The final decision on
reclassifications was m ade by the President of the College. According to Finch’s deposition testim ony, an
em ployee requesting reclassification m ust fill out a questionnaire, which requires the em ployee to provide
detailed inform ation about the em ployee’s job duties and responsibilities.
3
and no-evidence grounds.6 In support of its motion, the College submitted the following
summary judgment evidence: (1) excerpts from Villarreal’s deposition testimony; (2)
Finch’s affidavit; (3) Jordan’s affidavit; (4) documents detailing the College’s review of
Villarreal’s position; and (5) a copy of the 2002 settlement agreement between Villarreal
and the College.
On November 1, 2006, Villarreal filed her response to the College’s motion, and on
November 7, 2006—the day prior to the summary judgment hearing—she filed a
supplemental response.7 Villarreal submitted various documents as summary judgment
evidence, including: (1) her own affidavit; (2) an expert report regarding calculations as to
Villarreal’s “lost past and future wages and benefits;” (3) the affidavit of Nelda Sanchez,
a former co-worker of Villarreal’s, regarding Jordan’s “demeaning and condescending”
treatment of Villarreal; (4) Jordan’s deposition testimony; (5) Finch’s deposition testimony;
(6) Rivera’s deposition testimony; (7) deposition testimony of Vickie Natale, Dean of
Administrative Services, who allegedy denied Villarreal access to information needed to
compile her reports; (8) Villarreal’s completed questionnaire regarding her reclassification
request; (9) correspondence regarding Villarreal’s work product; (10) information regarding
the salary structure used by the College for exempt positions; (11) salary information for
David Andrus, Barbara Thompson, and Sue Beseda, persons Villarreal alleged to be
“similarly situated employees”; (12) e-mail correspondence reflecting work performed by
6
See T EX . R. C IV . P. 166a(c), (i).
7
The record reflects that at the Novem ber 8, 2006 hearing, the trial judge acknowledged receipt of
Villarreal’s supplem ental response, as well as several docum ents filed by the College, including the College’s
Motion to Strike Villarreal’s Sum m ary Judgm ent Evidence, its Motion to Strike and Objections to Nelda
Sanchez’s Affidavit, and its Objection to Villarreal’s Affidavit. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial judge
stated that she had “everything” and would “spend the afternoon looking at this.” The order granting sum m ary
judgm ent and dism issing Villarreal’s claim s was signed Novem ber 29, 2006.
4
Villarreal; (13) guidelines used by the College for classifying a position as exempt; and (14)
excerpts from the deposition testimony of Jordan, Finch, and Natale.
The trial court granted summary judgment without specifying the ground or grounds
upon which it relied.
II. Standards of Review and Applicable Law
A. Summary Judgment
The standard of review for the grant of a motion for summary judgment is
determined by whether the motion was brought on no-evidence or traditional grounds.8 A
no-evidence summary judgment is equivalent to a pretrial directed verdict, and this Court
applies the same legal sufficiency standard on review.9 In an appeal of a no-evidence
summary judgment, this Court reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-
movant, disregarding all contrary evidence and inferences.10 If the non-movant produces
evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact, summary judgment is improper.11
All that is required of the non-movant is to produce a scintilla of probative evidence
to raise a genuine issue of material fact.12 “Less than a scintilla of evidence exists when
the evidence is ‘so weak as to do no more than create a mere surmise or suspicion of a
fact.’”13 Conversely, more than a scintilla exists when the evidence “rises to a level that
8
See T EX . R. C IV . P. 166a(c), (i); see also Ortega v. City Nat'l Bank, 97 S.W .3d 765, 771 (Tex.
App.–Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.) (op. on reh'g).
9
Mack Trucks, Inc. v. Tamez, 206 S.W .3d 572, 582 (Tex. 2006); Ortega, 97 S.W .3d at 772.
10
City of Keller v. W ilson, 168 S.W .3d 802, 825 (Tex. 2005) (noting that review of a “no-evidence”
m otion for sum m ary judgm ent is effectively restricted to the evidence contrary to the m otion); Ortega, 97
S.W .3d at 772.
11
T EX . R. C IV . P. 166a(i).
12
Ortega, 97 S.W .3d at 772.
13
Id. (quoting Kindred v. Con/Chem, Inc., 650 S.W .2d 61, 63 (Tex. 1983)).
5
would enable reasonable and fair-minded people to differ in their conclusions.”14 In
determining whether the non-movant has produced more than a scintilla of evidence, we
review the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant, crediting such evidence
if reasonable jurors could, and disregarding contrary evidence unless reasonable jurors
could not.15 The burden of producing evidence is entirely on the non-movant; the movant
has no burden to attach any evidence to the motion.16 We may not consider any evidence
presented by the movant unless it creates a fact question.17
A no-evidence motion for summary judgment must explicitly state that there is no
evidence of one or more of the opponent’s claim or claims, which the motion must also
identify.18 A no-evidence motion for summary judgment that does not “challenge a specific
element of [the non-movant's] claim” is not reviewed as a no-evidence motion.19 When a
no-evidence motion for summary judgment does not specifically state which elements lack
evidence, the motion should be treated as a motion for a 166a(c) summary judgment.20
The dispositive inquiry is whether the motion provides fair notice to the nonmovant of the
basis on which summary judgment is sought.21
14
Id. (citing Transp. Ins. Co. v. Moriel, 879 S.W .2d 10, 25 (Tex. 1994)).
15
Tamez, 206 S.W .3d at 582; City of Keller, 168 S.W .3d at 827.
16
T EX . R. C IV . P. 166a(i).
17
Binur v. Jacobo, 135 S.W .3d 646, 651 (Tex. 2004); Newkumet v. Allen, 230 S.W .3d 518, 521 (Tex.
App.–Eastland 2007, no pet.).
18
Johnson v. Felts, 140 S.W .3d 702, 706 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. denied) (citing
Johnson v. Brewer & Pritchard, P.C., 73 S.W .3d 193, 207 (Tex. 2002)).
19
W eaver v. Highlands Ins. Co., 4 S.W .3d 826, 829 n.2 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, no pet.).
20
Amouri v. Sw. Toyota, Inc., 20 S.W .3d 165, 168 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2000, pet. denied).
21
See W aite v. W oodard, Hall & Primm, P.C., 137 S.W .3d 277, 281 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.]
2004, no pet.).
6
We review the trial court’s granting of a traditional motion for summary judgment de
novo.22 When reviewing a traditional summary judgment, we must determine whether the
movant met its burden to establish that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that
the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.23 The movant bears the burden of
proof in a traditional motion for summary judgment, and all doubts about the existence of
a genuine issue of material fact are resolved against the movant.24 We take as true all
evidence favorable to the non-movant, and we indulge every reasonable inference and
resolve any doubts in the non-movant's favor.25
We will affirm a traditional summary judgment only if the record establishes that the
movant has conclusively proved its defense as a matter of law or if the movant has
negated at least one essential element of the plaintiff's cause of action.26 A matter is
conclusively established if reasonable people could not differ as to the conclusion to be
drawn from the evidence.27 Only when the movant has produced sufficient evidence to
establish its right to summary judgment does the burden shift to the non-movant to come
forward with competent controverting evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact with
22
See Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W .3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2003); Branton v. W ood,
100 S.W .3d 645, 646 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.).
23
T EX . R. C IV . P. 166a(c); Sw. Elec. Power Co. v. Grant, 73 S.W .3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2002); City of
Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Auth., 589 S.W .2d 671, 678 (Tex. 1979).
24
See Sw. Elec. Power Co., 73 S.W .3d at 215.
25
Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett, 164 S.W .3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005).
26
IHS Cedars Treatment Ctr. of DeSoto, Tex., Inc. v. Mason, 143 S.W .3d 794, 798 (Tex. 2004); Am.
Tobacco Co. v. Grinnell, 951 S.W .2d 420, 425 (Tex. 1997); Clear Creek Basin, 589 S.W .2d at 678.
27
City of Keller, 168 S.W .3d at 816.
7
regard to the element challenged by the defendant.28 A defendant seeking summary
judgment on an affirmative defense must conclusively prove all the elements of the
affirmative defense.29 To accomplish this, the defendant-movant must present summary
judgment evidence that establishes each element of the affirmative defense as a matter
of law.30
When the trial court’s judgment does not specify which of several grounds proposed
was dispositive, we affirm on any ground offered that has merit and was preserved for
review.31
B. Discrimination
Under section 21.051 of the labor code, an employer may not discriminate against
or discharge an employee based on “race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or
age.”32 The Texas Legislature modeled chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code after federal
law for the express purpose of carrying out the policies of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 and its subsequent amendments.33 Consequently, when reviewing an issue in a
proceeding brought under chapter 21, we may look not only to cases involving the state
28
Rhone-Poulenc, Inc. v. Steel, 997 S.W .2d 217, 223 (Tex. 1999); see Centeq Realty, Inc. v. Siegler,
899 S.W .2d 195, 197 (Tex. 1995).
29
Steel, 997 S.W .2d at 223; see T EX . R. C IV . P. 166a(b), (c).
30
Ryland Group, Inc. v. Hood, 924 S.W .2d 120, 121 (Tex. 1996).
31
Joe v. Two Thirty Nine J.V., 145 S.W .3d 150, 157 (Tex. 2004).
32
See T EX . L ABO R C OD E A N N . § 21.051; Autozone, Inc. v. Reyes, 272 S.W .3d 588, 592 (Tex. 2008);
Herbert v. City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d 369, 374 (Tex. App.–Fort W orth 2006, no pet.).
33
T EX . L AB . C OD E A N N . § 21.001(1) (Vernon 2006); Autozone, Inc., 272 S.W .3d at 592; W al-Mart
Stores, Inc. v. Canchola, 121 S.W .3d 735, 739 (Tex. 2003); City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d at 374.
8
statute, but also to cases interpreting the analogous federal provisions.34
In discrimination cases brought under the Texas Labor Code, a prima facie case of
discrimination is made by showing that the plaintiff (1) is within a protected group, (2) was
adversely affected or suffered an adverse employment action, and (3) was treated less
favorably than similarly situated members outside the protected class.35 In addition, in
order to prove causation, the plaintiff must establish that national origin “was a motivating
factor for an employment practice, even if other factors also motivated the practice, unless
[national origin] . . . is combined with objective job-related factors to attain diversity in the
employer’s work force.”36 To establish a prima facie case of discrimination involving a
failure-to-promote claim, the plaintiff must prove that: (1) she belongs to a protected group
under Title VII; (2) she applied for and was qualified for the position sought; (3) she was
not promoted to the position sought, i.e, she suffered an adverse employment action; and
(4) her employer promoted an employee to the position sought by the plaintiff who was not
a member of the protected class.37
After the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, the burden of production shifts to
the employer to articulate legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for any allegedly unequal
treatment.38 After the employer articulates legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons, the
burden shifts back to the plaintiff to prove that the employer’s articulated reasons are a
34
Autozone, Inc., 272 S.W .3d at 592; Canchola, 121 S.W .3d at 739; City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d
at 374-75.
35
See City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d at 375.
36
See id.
37
McFall v. Gonzales, 143 F. App’x 604, 607 (5th Cir. 2005).
38
City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d at 375 (citing McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802
(1973)).
9
mere pretext for unlawful discrimination.39 Although the burden of production shifts, the
burden of persuasion remains continuously with the plaintiff.40
C. Retaliation
The Fifth Circuit has recently stated the standard for retaliation claims:
Like discrimination claims, we analyze retaliation claims using the McDonnell
framework. Thus, the plaintiff has the initial burden of establishing a prima
facie case. To establish a prima facie case of retaliation, the plaintiff must
show that: (1) she engaged in a protected activity; (2) she suffered an
adverse employment action; and (3) a causal link existed between the
protected activity and the adverse employment action. The Supreme Court
recently clarified in Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53,
[68] (2006), that for purposes of Title VII, an “adverse employment action” is
defined differently in the retaliation context than it is in the discrimination
context. In the retaliation context, it is an action that “a reasonable employee
would have found . . . [to be] materially adverse, which in this context means
it well might have dissuaded a reasonable worker from making or supporting
a charge of discrimination.” The causal link required by the third prong does
not rise to the level of a “but for” standard at the prima facie stage.[41] “Close
timing between an employee's protected activity and an adverse action
against [her] may provide the ‘connection’ required to make out a prima facie
case of retaliation.” Swanson v. Gen. Servs. Admin., 110 F.3d 1180, 1188
(5th Cir. 1997); see, e.g., Richard v. Cingular Wireless LLC, 233 F. App'x 334,
338 (5th Cir. 2007) (concluding that two and one half months is a short
enough time period to support an inference of a causal link); Raggs v. Miss.
Power & Light Co., 278 F.3d 463, 471-72 (5th Cir. 2002) (holding that a
five-month lapse, by itself, does not support an inference of a causal link).
Assuming the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, then the burden
shifts to the employer to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for
its actions. If the employer articulates a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason,
then “any presumption of discrimination raised by the plaintiff's prima facie
case vanishes.”
39
Id. (citing McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 804).
40
Id. (citing McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 803).
41
See Evans v. Tex. Dep’t. of Transp. , 547 F. Supp. 2d 626, 655 (E.D. Tex. 2007), aff’d, 273 F.
App’x. 391 (5th Cir. 2008) (noting that to establish a causal link at prim a facie stage, a plaintiff need not prove
that her protected activity was the sole factor in m otivating the em ployer's challenged decision; rather, a
causal link is established when the evidence dem onstrates that the em ployer's decision to take adverse action
was based in part on knowledge of the em ployee's protected activity).
10
In the final stage of the McDonnell framework, the plaintiff bears the
ultimate burden of demonstrating a genuine issue of material fact as to
whether the employer's proffered reason is a pretext for a retaliatory purpose.
The plaintiff must show that “the adverse employment action taken against
the plaintiff would not have occurred ‘but for’ her protected conduct.” This
court has expressly rejected the notion that temporal proximity standing alone
is sufficient to establish but-for causation.42
In determining whether an adverse employment action was taken as a result of
retaliation, the focus is on the final decision-maker.43 When the titular decision-maker
“serves as the ‘cat’s paw’ of those who were acting from retaliatory motives, the causal link
between the protected activity and adverse employment action remains intact.”44
III. Discussion
In her first issue, Villarreal contends the trial court erred in granting summary
judgment and dismissing her claims for retaliation and national origin discrimination. We
begin by addressing Villarreal’s retaliation claim.
A. Retaliation Claim
Villarreal contends that by refusing to reclassify her position as exempt, the College
denied her a “promotion.” According to Villarreal, over the year following the 2002
settlement of her earlier charge of discrimination, Jordan, her immediate supervisor,
subjected Villarreal to various retaliatory acts, including withholding training information and
access to computer information, reassigning some of her duties to others, and providing
false information regarding her duties to Finch and Rivera—information on which they
42
McCullough v. Houston County Tex., 297 F. App’x 282, 288-89 (5th Cir. 2008) (som e internal
citations om itted); see T EX . L AB . C OD E A N N . § 21.055; City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d at 376-77; Johnson v.
City of Houston, 203 S.W .3d 7, 11 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. denied).
43
Ackel v. Nat’l Commc’ns., Inc., 339 F.3d 376, 385 (5th Cir. 2003) (internal quotations om itted).
44
Evans, 547 F. Supp. 2d at 656 (quoting Gee v. Principi, 289 F.3d 342, 346 (5th Cir. 2002)).
11
relied in denying Villarreal’s request for reclassification.
In its motion for summary judgment, the College argued that “it is impossible for
Villarreal to establish the required ‘but-for’ causal nexus between the protected conduct
and the activities she contends are adverse.” According to the College, Villarreal “cannot
meet [her] burden” to present either direct evidence or “admissible evidence from which
a discriminatory or retaliatory motive could reasonably be inferred.” The College also
argues that Villarreal’s retaliation claim fails because the College has provided legitimate,
non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory reasons for its action and that “Villarreal has no
evidence that the College’s reasons are pretextual.”45
In her response to the College’s motion, Villarreal devoted a single sentence to the
causation element of her retaliation claim:
Element No. 3: A Causal Nexus Between Protected Activity and Adverse
Employment Action
The decision-maker knew of Plaintiff’s protected activity:
25. Plaintiff filed her previous charge of discrimination against defendant
and named Frances Jordon [sic], specifically, Jordan has remained Plaintiff’s
supervisor during the events of this lawsuit.
In her supplemental response, Villarreal provides a slightly revised version of the
sentence:
Element No. 3: A Causal Nexus Between Protected Activity and Adverse
Employment Action
45
W e note that in its m otion for sum m ary judgm ent, the College recited the standards for both a
traditional and no-evidence m otion, and “m ove[d] the Court to grant sum m ary judgm ent, either as a ‘no-
evidence’ or traditional sum m ary judgm ent.” As noted, the determ ination of whether a no-evidence m otion
is sufficiently specific in challenging an elem ent of a claim is governed by whether the m otion provides fair
notice to the non-m ovant of the basis on which sum m ary judgm ent is sought. See W aite, 137 S.W .3d at 281.
W e conclude that here, the College’s m otion provides fair notice to Villarreal that it is challenging the causation
elem ent of her retaliation claim . W e also note that Villarreal did not challenge the College’s no-evidence
m otion as insufficiently specific at trial, nor does she do so on appeal.
12
The decision-maker knew of Plaintiff’s protected activity:
25. Plaintiff filed her previous charge of discrimination against Defendant
and named Frances Jordon [sic], specifically. Jordan engaged in a prior fact
finding investigation and has remained Plaintiff’s supervisor during the
events of this lawsuit.
Villarreal does not cite any evidence in support of her assertion that there is a causal
nexus between her protected activity (her earlier Charge of Discrimination) and the alleged
retaliatory “adverse employment action” that she suffered.46
Without addressing whether the College’s refusal to reclassify Villarreal’s position
as exempt constituted an adverse employment action, we hold that there is no evidence
that the College’s denial of the request for reclassification or any of the other matters
complained of were causally related to Villarreal’s exercise of protected activity.
Moreover, whether or not Villarreal established a prima facie case of retaliation, the
College has offered legitimate non-retaliatory reasons for its refusal to reclassify Villarreal’s
position as exempt. In his deposition testimony, which Villarreal attached to her response,
Finch states that after analyzing the job duties and responsibilities of Villarreal’s position
and reviewing the College’s and FLSA’s criteria for exempt positions, he determined that
the position did not meet the College or FLSA criteria for exempt positions. Villarreal has
not pointed to anything in the record demonstrating a genuine issue of material fact as to
whether the College’s proffered reason is pretextual and that but for the filing of her earlier
charge of discrimination, the College would have approved her request for
46
In her response and supplem ental response, in the section addressing the “adverse em ploym ent
action” elem ent of her retaliation claim , Villarreal cites the denial of her request to reclassify her position as
exem pt. She also alleges that she is paid substantially less than “coworkers with sim ilar levels of
responsibility, using the sam e data base and with sim ilar reporting functions.” In support of this statem ent,
Villarreal cites her own affidavit.
13
reclassification.47 We hold the trial court did not err in granting the College’s motion for
summary judgment on no-evidence grounds with regard to Villarreal’s retaliation claim.48
B. Discrimination Claim
In its motion for summary judgment, the College argued it is entitled to summary
judgment on Villarreal’s claim for national origin discrimination because (1) its “denial of
Villarreal’s request to change the status of the position to non-exempt is not a ‘failure to
promote’”; and (2) Villarreal cannot establish the fourth element of a prima facie case for
discrimination in a failure-to-promote case: that the College sought applications from
others outside the protected class for the position.49 The College also argued that
Villarreal’s discrimination claim fails because the College offered legitimate, non-
discriminatory reasons for its refusal to reclassify Villarreal’s position, and she has no
evidence that the College’s reasons are pretextual.
47
See McCullough, 297 F. App’x at 288.
48
The College also asserted that it was entitled to sum m ary judgm ent on traditional grounds because
it offered legitim ate, non-retaliatory reasons for its actions and Villarreal had no evidence that the College’s
reasons were pretextual. W e agree. The College’s sum m ary judgm ent evidence included Finch’s affidavit,
in which he stated that his recom m endation for denying Villarreal’s request was based on his determ ination
that the position did not m eet the College’s or the FLSA’s criteria for exem pt positions. Villarreal provided no
sum m ary judgm ent evidence rebutting the College’s proffered legitim ate non-discrim inatory reasons for
denying her request. Villarreal sim ply asserted that Jordan “provided false and incorrect inform ation”
regarding Villarreal’s job duties. Although Jordan adm itted in her deposition testim ony that Villarreal “directs”
the work of the data entry clerks in the Registrar’s office, she also stated that Villarreal had no authority to hire
and fire, evaluate other em ployees, or exercise any other supervisory responsibilities. Accordingly, we hold
that the College is entitled to sum m ary judgm ent on traditional grounds because it offered legitim ate, non-
retaliatory reasons for its actions and Villarreal had no evidence that the College’s reasons were pretextual.
See Fuentes v. Postmaster Gen. of U.S. Postal Serv., 282 F. App’x 296, 304 (5th Cir. 2008) (finding that even
if plaintiff could m ake prim a facie case, sum m ary judgm ent was proper where plaintiff could not prove
defendant’s justifications were pretextual).
49
See Gonzales, 143 F. App’x at 607. W e construe the College’s argum ent as contending that
Villarreal has no evidence of the fourth elem ent of a prim a facie case of discrim ination based on failure to
prom ote: that she has no evidence that the College continued to seek or prom oted applicants who were
outside the protected class for the position, or that she was treated less favorably than other sim ilarly situated
em ployees. See id.; City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d at 375.
14
In her response and supplemental response,50 Villarreal argued that she has
established the fourth element of her prima facie case by identifying four similarly-situated
Anglo employees of the College, whose jobs are similar to Villarreal’s. Specifically,
Villarreal contends, “David Andrus, Jay Knioum, Sue Beceda and Barbara Thompson are
or were Anglo employees of [the College], their jobs are similar to [Villarreal’s] and they
receive substantially higher wages for the same work as [Villarreal] performs.” As
evidence, Villarreal refers to her own affidavit and “Salary Information Sheets” for Andrus,
Thompson, and Beseda, identifying each employee’s title, department, salary, and “FLSA
status,” which is exempt.
We note that the College filed objections to and moved to strike Villarreal’s affidavit
on numerous grounds, including that it is “rife with inadmissible hearsay, opinions, and
conclusory statements.” The record does not reflect that the trial court ruled on the
College’s objections or motion to strike. Objections to the substance of summary-judgment
evidence may be raised for the first time on appeal.51 The College’s objection that
Villarreal’s affidavit contains conclusory statements challenges the substance of Villarreal’s
summary-judgment evidence, and we may therefore address the objection.52 We decline
to do so, however, because even if considered, the relevant portions of Villarreal’s affidavit
50
The sections addressing this issue in Villarreal’s response and supplem ental response are identical,
except that the supplem ental response refers to evidence regarding salary inform ation for three of the
allegedly sim ilarly-situated individuals.
51
See Page v. State Farm Lloyds, 259 S.W .3d 257, 265-66 (Tex. App.–W aco 2008, pet. filed)
(distinguishing objections to form of sum m ary-judgm ent evidence, which are preserved only if objections are
m ade and ruled on by trial court from objections to substance of sum m ary-judgm ent evidence, which m ay be
raised for first tim e on appeal) (citing Choctaw Props., L.L.C. v. Aledo Indep. Sch. Dist., 127 S.W .3d 235, 241
(Tex. App.–W aco 2003, no pet.) and Trusty v. Strayhorn, 87 S.W .3d 756, 765 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2002,
no pet.)).
52
See id.
15
do not assist her in avoiding summary judgment.
Villarreal’s affidavit states, in relevant part:
Third, by comparing me with others at the College with similar
responsibility such as those whose primary task [i]s to work with the same
data base I do and/or have substantial state reporting functions, I am paid
substantially less than they. As to most comparators, I have been employed
at the College much longer. David Andrus, an Anglo employee who has not
charged discrimination, has recently become the Director of Institutional
Research (IR). He prepares some reports to the State Board as I do as well
as reports to federal agencies and the Board of Regents. He uses my
reports and collected data to present in slightly different summary form to the
Board. The job is APT scale and pays substantially more. See Andrus
Deposition, Exhibit H, page 49-50. Another example for comparison is Jay
Knioum at College Relations, an Anglo who has not charged discrimination
against the College. He prepares reports using the same or similar
databases I use. He has less years at the College than me, is APT level and
earns substantially more than I earn. Also, Sue Beceda [sic] was a Manager
at the Payroll Department before she retired and passed away. She used
databases created by a number of data entry clerks as I do and created
reports required by the State and other entities as I do. She was an Anglo
employee who had not charged discrimination against her employer. She
did not have a college degree and she was APT scale making substantially
more than I. See Exhibit O. The Assistant Registrar, Barbara Thompson,
is Anglo and has not charged discrimination against the College. She has
substantially fewer responsibilities than I but she does compile reports for the
[S]tate and other agencies relating to foreign students at the College. She
indirectly supervises one assistant share with others [sic] and, very indirectly,
the rest of the clerks. She has substantially less experience and
responsibility but she is graded APT and earns substantially more than I.
The “Salary Information Sheets” included in Villarreal’s summary judgment evidence
establish that (1) Andrus is Director of the Institutional Research and Effectiveness
Department; (2) Thompson is Assistant Director of the Registrar’s Office; and (3) Beseda
was Manager of the Payroll Department.
“More favorable treatment of a person outside a protected class can be used to
show discrimination only if the circumstances are nearly identical.”53 In the context of
53
City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d at 376.
16
employment discrimination, “[e]mployees are similarly situated if their circumstances are
comparable in all material respects, including similar standards, supervisors, and
conduct.”54 To establish that employees are “comparable in all material respects,” a
plaintiff must “show not only that the employees reported to the same supervisor, engaged
in the same conduct, and had the same qualifications, but also show that there were no
‘differentiating or mitigating circumstances as would distinguish . . . the employer's
treatment of them.’”55 Employees who hold different job positions are not similarly
situated.56 Ordinarily, a plaintiff is not similarly situated to another employee when the
plaintiff is subordinate to that employee.57
Here, except for Thompson, none of the allegedly “similarly situated” employees
identified by Villarreal had the same supervisor. As Villarreal notes in her affidavit, Andrus
was the Director of the Institutional Research Department.58 According to Villarreal, he has
similar duties because he “prepare[s] some reports” as she does for the State Board and
Board of Regents. Knioum, who, according to Villarreal, is in a different department
(College Relations), is similarly situated only because he “prepares reports using the same
54
Ysleta Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Monarrez, 177 S.W .3d 915, 917 (Tex. 2005); see Burks v. W isconsin
Dep’t of Transp., 464 F.3d 744, 751 (7th Cir. 2006) (noting factors relevant to inquiry of whether an em ployee
is com parable in all m aterial respects include “whether the em ployees reported to the sam e supervisor,
whether they were subject to the sam e standards and whether they had com parable education, experience
and qualifications”).
55
Ineichen v. Ameritech, 410 F.3d 956, 960-61 (7th Cir. 2005) (quoting Radue v. Kimberly-Clark
Corp., 219 F.3d 612, 617-18 (7th Cir. 2000)); see Edwards v. Grand Casinos of Miss., Inc., 145 F. App’x 946,
948 n.2 (5th Cir. 2005) (noting that as to sim ilarly situated requirem ent, circum stances surrounding the
com pared em ployees m ust be “nearly identical”) (citing W allace v. Methodist Hosp. Sys., 271 F.3d 212, 221
(5th Cir. 2001) and W yvill v. United Cos. Life Ins. Co., 212 F.3d 296, 304-05 (5th Cir. 2000)).
56
Miller v. Auto. Club of New Mexico, Inc., 420 F.3d 1098, 1115 (10th Cir. 2005).
57
Burks, 464 F.3d 744 at 751.
58
W e note that David Andrus’s deposition, referenced in Villarreal’s affidavit, is not included in the
record before us.
17
or similar databases” that she uses. Beseda was the Manager of the Payroll Department,
whose job, according to Villarreal, was similar to hers because they both “used databases”
and “created reports.” Thompson was in the same department as Villarreal and had the
same supervisor (Jordan), but Thompson was the Assistant Registrar. According to
Villarreal, Thompson’s duties were comparable to Villarreal’s because Thompson also
“compile[d] reports.” However, Villarreal’s own summary judgment evidence, which
included Jordan’s deposition testimony, established that Thompson was next-in-charge,
second only to Jordan, at the Registrar’s Office.
As noted, Villarreal is not “similarly situated” to Thompson because she was
subordinate to Thompson, and a plaintiff is not “similarly situated” to another employee
when the plaintiff is subordinate to that employee.59 We hold that Villarreal failed to
establish that any of the Anglo employees she identified were similarly situated.
Accordingly, she failed to establish the fourth element of her discrimination claim, that she
was treated less favorably than similarly situated members of the opposing class.60
We also agree with the College that based on Finch’s deposition testimony, it offered
legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for its refusal to reclassify Villarreal’s position as
exempt, and Villarreal has presented no evidence that the College’s reasons are pretextual.
We hold the trial court did not err in granting the College’s motion for summary judgment
on no-evidence grounds with regard to Villarreal’s discrimination claim.61 We overrule
59
See Burks, 464 F.3d 744 at 751.
60
See City of Forest Hill, 189 S.W .3d at 375.
61
W e also hold that for the reasons explained above in our discussion of Villarreal’s retaliation claim ,
the College is entitled to sum m ary judgm ent on traditional grounds because it offered legitim ate, non-
retaliatory reasons for its actions and Villarreal had no evidence that the College’s reasons were pretextual.
See Fuentes, 282 F. App’x at 304 (finding that even if plaintiff could m ake prim a facie case, sum m ary
judgm ent was proper where plaintiff could not prove defendant’s justifications were pretextual).
18
Villarreal’s first issue.
C. Adverse Employment Action
By her second issue, Villarreal contends that the trial court failed to apply the
definition of an “adverse employment action” established by the United States Supreme
Court in Burlington.62 We need not decide this issue, however, because regardless of the
definition of “adverse employment action” used by the trial court, we have determined that
summary judgment was properly granted (1) as to Villarreal’s retaliation claim because there
was no evidence of a causal nexus between the denial of her reclassification request and
her exercise of protected activity, and (2) as to her discrimination claim because there was
no evidence that she was treated less favorably than similarly situated Anglo employees.
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s judgment dismissing Villarreal’s
claims.
________________________
LINDA REYNA YAÑEZ,
Justice
Memorandum Opinion delivered and filed
this the 26th day of March, 2009.
62
See Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. W hite, 548 U.S. 53, 68 (2006).
19