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Racial Harassment
Monthly Law Journal Article: Workplace Harassment by Law Enforcement and Correctional Supervisors, Part 2, Racial Harassment, 2013 (10) AELE Mo. L. J. 201.
An African-American city employee complained that his supervisor addressed him with the “N‐word” twice, and once threatened to write up his “black ass.” The trial court granted the employer summary judgment on his claim for a racially hostile work environment under Title VII, finding that he faced a high bar, as the workplace that is actionable is one that is “hellish.” The court found that the supervisor’s statements were not severe or pervasive enough to rise to the level of a hostile work environment. A federal appeals court reversed in part, finding that the trial court erred in applying the “hellish” standard and failed to focus on the difference in the circuit’s prior hostile environment cases between having the plaintiff’s co‐workers show racial hostility and having the plaintiff’s supervisor show racial hostility, especially in using poisonous racial epithets. While the supervisor’s conduct was relatively infrequent and not “physically threatening” or “humiliating” in a public setting, it was severe and humiliating and a reasonable jury could find that it did interfere with the employee’s work performance, not least because it led him to take a leave from work to seek medical treatment. Gates v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago, #17-3143, 2019 U.S. App. Lexis 4920, 2019 WL 698000 (7th Cir.).
White employees of a sheriff's
department stated that they had shaved their heads as a sign of solidarity with
a coworker who lost his hair after chemotherapy for cancer. The department,
however, then launched an investigation into claims that the plaintiffs were
white supremacist skinheads. They filed complaints of racial harassment to the
EEOC. They sued the Department, claiming unlawful retaliation against them for
their racial harassment complaints and threats to charge them with making a
false report to the EEOC. While this made out a prima facie case of
retaliation, the retaliation claims were properly dismissed. The Department
showed a non-retaliatory purpose for the threats as the plaintiffs provided
very inconsistent accounts concerning a black deputy's alleged harassing
conduct of labeling them skinheads, and the plaintiffs failed to show that this
was just a pretext for retaliation. Cox v. Onondaga Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't.,
#12-1526, 2014 U.S. App. Lexis 13962, 98 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) P45120, 123
Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1185 (2nd Cir.).
A female
African-American employee of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the
federal entity charged with addressing the grievances of federal workers
challenging discriminatory employment practices, claimed that her supervisors
had created a hostile work environment discriminating against her on the basis
of both race and sex. Upholding summary judgment for the employer, a federal
appeals court found that while the supervisors' actions "may have
been unprofessional, uncivil, and somewhat boorish, they did not constitute an
adequate factual basis for the Title VII claims presented here." The court
found that alleged selective enforcement of a time and attendance policy was
not severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile working environment.
Further, the employee's performance reviews were not uniformly negative, and
criticisms of her had some legitimate basis, for which areas of improvement
were recommended. An "outburst" by a supervisor and coworker was an
isolated expression of frustration, even if ill-mannered and tactless. The
plaintiff's complaint also failed to clearly raise a retaliation claim. Brooks
v. Grundmann, #12-5171, 2014 U.S. App. Lexis 6942, 122 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas.
(BNA) 661 (D.C. Cir.).
Two former police officers sued a municipality,
claiming that they had been subjected to a racially hostile work environment.
They asked for mental anguish damages and the defendant municipality attempted
to engage in discovery regarding the basis for their mental anguish claims. The
plaintiffs refused to comply with the discovery requests, asserting that
physician and psychotherapist doctor-patient privilege protected their medical,
prescription, and psychological counseling records. The Alaska Supreme Court
agreed, concluding that a plaintiff asserting "garden-variety" mental
anguish claims in the context of an employment discrimination lawsuit did not
constitute an automatic waiver of the applicable privileges. Kennedy v.
Municipality of Anchorage, #S-14762, 2013 Alas. Lexis 104.
An African-American employee working for a
university claimed that she was subjected to racial harassment by another
employee who she contended was her supervisor. She sought to hold the employer
vicariously liable for the other employee's actions. The U.S. Supreme Court
held that an employee is classified as a supervisor for purposes of vicarious
liability under Title VII only in circumstances where he or she is given
authority by the employer to take "tangible employment actions"
against the alleged victim. In this case, no such empowerment existed, so the
other employee was not a supervisor. A tangible employment action is one that
effects 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."
Vance v. Ball State University, #11-556, 2013 U.S. Lexis 4703.
A woman employed as a Correction Lieutenant at a
women's prison was among less than 3 percent of those in that job who were
African-American. She served as a witness in a retaliation complaint filed by a
female coworker. Subsequently, an ex-felon visitor to the prison got into a
dispute with her about not letting her children into the prison because she had
not followed required procedures. The visitor complained to another lieutenant
referring twice to the plaintiff as a "nigger." Neither the other
lieutenant nor any other person disputed the use of the term. She claimed that,
for close to three years she was subjected her to a continuous stream of
adverse employment action which turned her work into a hostile work environment
due to her race, gender, or protected activity. The court rejected all these
claims, finding that the plaintiff failed to show that a co-worker's failure to
remonstrate against racist remarks by a prison visitor was inadequate to create
an objectively racially hostile workplace. She also failed to show a sexually
hostile workplace, or that she was subjected to unlawful retaliation. Cooper v.
Cate, #1:10-cv-899, 2012 U.S. Dist. Lexis 66411 (E.D. Cal.).
Appellate court sustains the termination
of an African-American police officer at an Army facility who was observed on
videotape placing highly offensive materials in another coworker’s mailbox. The
three-judge panel rejected a claim of racially-motivate hostile work environment
because it was not severe enough to create an abusive working environment. An
Asian-American superior had denied a leave request, lied to him about a
meeting, requested verification of a drug test, and had called him
"boy." Perry v. Harvey, #08-3339, 2009 U.S. App. Lexis 12441 (Unpub.
3rd Cir.).
In a racial harassment
action, the fact that some of the incidents occurred outside of the workplace
does not mean that they are irrelevant to his claim. Brown v. N.Y. Dept. of
Corr. Serv., #02-CV-6666, 2008 U.S. Dist. Lexis 87312 (W.D.N.Y.).
Arbitrator sustains the termination of a private sector
employee that called a coworker a "mother fucking nigger," rejecting
the union's argument that since both grievant and her coworker are
African-American, no violation of the employer's discriminatory harassment
policy occurred. U.S. Steel Corp. and Steelworkers L-1014, 124 LA (BNA) 1021
(Petersen, 2007).
Summary judgment for a county and its fire chief
are set aside. Female African-American firefighter adequately alleged that she
was subjected to a pattern of persistent harassment severe enough to alter the
conditions of her employment. Terrell v. Contra Costa County, #04-17228, 2007
U.S. App. Lexis 8980 (Unpub. 9th Cir.).
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa vetoes a
city council approved settlement of $2.7 million for a black firefighter who
was served dog food in his spaghetti dinner by white firefighters at the fire
station. Pierce v. City of Los Angeles, #BC 345845, 180 Labor Rel. Rptr. (BNA)
373, 44 (2182) G.E.R.R. (BNA) 1224 (L.A. Super. 2006); City Claim #C05-47L4,
City Council Agenda #06-1305. Veto message: Remarks regarding LAFD hazing
settlement (11/20/2006). {N/R}
Sixth Circuit affirms a jury award of $175,000 in
compensatory damages for a black firefighter that was subjected to racial and
retaliatory harassment. The plaintiff was assigned to a firehouse that had a
"Wall of Hate" with derogatory comments directed at black
firefighters. Jordan v. City of Cleveland, #04-3389, 2006 U.S. App. Lexis
16821, 2006 FED App. 0226P, 98 FEP Cases (BNA) 682 (6th Cir. 2006). {N/R}
Appellate court overturns a jury verdict in favor
of a black deputy sheriff who alleged that he was harassed and demoted because
of his race; he failed to produce evidence of the "severe and
pervasive" offensive conduct. Yancey v. Sheriff of Jefferson County,
#2002-CA-000229-MR (Unpub. Ky. App. 2004). {N/R}
In a Title VII suit brought against the New York
Div. of Military and Naval Affairs, alleging racially harassing and retaliatory
actions by a National Guard superior while they were acting in their civilian
capacities, the action was properly dismissed because the challenged conduct
was integrally related to the military's unique structure and was therefore
nonjusticiable. Overton v. N.Y., #03-6008, 2004 U.S. App. Lexis 10805 (2d Cir.
2004). {N/R}
Federal appeals court concludes a jury could find
that a safety director was harassed by coworkers who used the word
"nigger." However, because they were not his supervisors, a summary
judgment for the employer is affirmed. Hrobowski v. Worthington, #03-2167, 2004
U.S. App. Lexis 2533 (7th Cir. 2004). {N/R}
Federal court enforces an arbitration award
requiring an employer to reinstate, with loss of six months of back pay, a
white employee who referred to a superior as a "fucking nigger."
Courts must not set aside arbitration awards in the absence of a clearly
violated public policy; the superior did not hear the remark and the worker had
a twelve-year record of good employment. GITS Mfg. v. Local 281, #4:02cv40243,
2003 U.S. Dist. Lexis 7963, 172 LRRM (BNA) 2463 (S.D.Iowa 2003). {N/R}
Eighth Circuit affirms a jury verdict of only $1
for a minority firefighter who claimed a racially hostile work environment.
Mems v. City of St. Paul, #02-1834, 2003 U.S. App. Lexis 8150 (8th Cir. April
30, 2003). {N/R}
Appellate court rejects a defamation and
harassment suit, filed against the city by an Asian-American police officer,
after his sergeant referred to him as a "little fucking gook" to
another officer. The slur was not severe or pervasive. Herndon v. City of
Everett, #49406-6-I, 2002 Wash. App. Lexis 2161, 113 Wn. App. 1031 (Unpub.
Wash. App. 2002). {N/R}
A white manager at a correctional facility is
allowed to proceed with federal racial harassment claims (including epithets
and false accusations of engaging in Ku Klux Klan activities). Paxson v. Cook
County, #02-C-2028, 2002 U.S. Dist. Lexis 15647 (N.D.Ill. 2002). {N/R}
Black former police officer, who endured racial
taunts from white coworkers, will receive a court-approved settlement of
$112,754, plus $84,246 in legal fees, for personal injury and emotional
distress. Harrell v. Oak Hill, #6:02-cv-00018, 40 (1981) G.E.R.R. (BNA) 1033 (Unpub.,
M.D. Fla. 2002). [2003 FP Jan]
Federal court declines to dismiss a suit by a
white manager at a juvenile facility who claims that he was subjected to racial
harassment and false accusations of being a Klansman. Paxson v. Cook County,
#02-C-2028, 2002 U.S. Dist. Lexis 15647 (N.D.Ill. 2002). {N/R}
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a $1
million punitive damages award to a black worker who was repeatedly subjected
to jokes and racial slurs. Swinton v. Potomac Corp., #99-36147, 270 F.3d 794,
2001 U.S. App. Lexis 22853, 87 FEP Cases (BNA) 65 (9th Cir. 2001). {N/R}
New Jersey State Police pays $5 million to settle
a suit filed by 13 black state troopers who were harassed and denied
promotions. Individual awards range from $225,000 to $500,000, plus attorney's
fees. Davis v. New Jersey Dept. of Law and Public Safety, #L-2229-97 (N.J.
Mercer Co. Super. 2002); N.J. Law Journal (7-9-2002); prior interim opin. at
327 N.J. Super. 59, 742 A.2d 619, 1999 N.J. Super. Lexis 424 (1999). {N/R}
Police officer's lawsuit for enduring a retaliatory,
hostile work environment because of his opposition to a superior's orders to
enforce the law in a discriminatory manner was not unlawful discrimination
because of his "race, color, religion, sex or national origin" within
the meaning of Title VII. Johnson v. San Antonio, #00-50834, 273 F.3d 1094,
2001 U.S. App. Lexis 22658 (5th Cir. unpub.); cert. den. #01-924, 122 S. Ct.
1204 (2002). [N/R]
Federal court rejects a retaliation claim where a
terminated officer had complained of a racist remark by a coworker. Sistruck v.
Neuman, #98-8209-CIV, 2000 U.S. Dist. Lexis 14691, 83 FEP Cases (BNA) 1287
(S.D. Fla.). [2001 FP 172]
Federal court refuses to dismiss a claim that
white coworkers wrote restroom wall racist graffiti, peppered the cars of black
officers with BBs and left a dead fish on a black officer's desk. Jones v. New
York City Dept. of Correction, 99 Civ. 10031, 2001 U.S. Dist. Lexis 2669
(Unpub. S.D.N.Y.). [2001 FP 58-9]
Federal appeals court upholds $100,000 verdict
for a black officer who was repeatedly called a "nigger" by his black
supervisor. Ross v. Douglas Co., #00-2688, 234 F.3d 391, 2000 U.S. App. Lexis
31390, 84 FEP Cases (BNA) 791 (8th Cir.). [2001 FP 12]
Calling a black employee an “Oreo” and a “bitch”
was not severe enough to constitute a Title VII violation. Washington v. Bd. of
Trustees, #98 C 5632, 2001 U.S. Dist. Lexis 442, 85 FEP Cases (BNA) 464, 2001
WL 47006 (Unpub. N.D.Ill). {N/R}
A white supervisor's rudeness, abruptness,
swearing and confrontational style was not racial harassment, where the
evidence showed that the manager acted disrespectful towards all subordinates,
regardless of their race. Utomi v. Cook County, #98C3722, 2001 U.S. Dist. Lexis
12013 (Unpub. N.D.Ill.). {N/R}
Federal jury awards a black, ex- LAPD officer
$5.3 million for race discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Francois v.
City of Los Angeles, Super.Ct., Los Ang. Co., Cal. #BC186536, 38 (1884)
G.E.R.R. (BNA) 1222 (10/6/00). [2000 FP 173]
Black officer loses harassment suit against her
dept. Although a fellow officer had called her a "dumb nigger," she
had used similar language herself. Seven minor incidents in seven years does
not create an intolerable workplace. Patterson v. Fairfax Co., #99-1738, 2000
U.S. App. Lexis 11009 (4th Cir.). [2000 FP 123]
Federal appeals court affirms order that a
sheriff's employee who brought a frivolous lawsuit against the county and her
attorney must pay the defendants' legal costs. Wilson- Simmons v. Lake Co.
Sheriff's Dept., #98-3553, 207 F.3d 818, 82 FEP Cases (BNA) 727, 2000 U.S. App.
Lexis 4648, 2000 FED App. 0104P (6th Cir.), affirming 982 F. Supp. 496, 1997
U.S. Dist. Lexis 17359 (N.D. Ohio). [2000 FP 75]
EEOC steps up lawsuits against employers that
tolerate worksite racist and sexual graffiti. One firm has agreed to a $1.3
million settlement. EEOC v. Foster Wheeler Const., #98 C-1601 (N.D. Ill.);
prior rulings at 1999 U.S. Dist. Lexis 10610, 10565, 10993, and 11226; 1998
U.S. Dist. Lexis 19114. [2000 FP 44-5]
Union can be liable for failing to protect its
members. Harper v. Pipefitters L-597, #97 C-4793, 1998 U.S. Dist. Lexis 11908
(N.D. Ill.). [2000 FP 45]
Black security guards failed to established that
their workplace was permeated with severe or pervasive discriminatory
intimidation. The affidavits showed racial incidents were isolated and the
employer may have harassed them in retaliation for having filed claims with the
state labor relations board. Brady v. KBI Security Service, 91 F.Supp.2d 504,
2000 U.S. Dist. Lexis 4561, 82 FEP Cases (BNA) 1110 (E.D.N.Y. 2000). {N/R}
Arbitrator upholds 3-day suspension of employee
who distributed an Ebonics "quiz" that demeaned women and blacks.
Pepsi v. Teamsters L-992, 110 LA (BNA) 803 (Bernhardt, 1998). [1999 FP 10-11]
Sixth Circuit sets aside an employer's verdict in
a harassment and wrongful termination case. Trial court should have let the
jury know about a "Nigger Application Form" that had been freely
circulated in the workplace. Robinson v. Runyon, #96-4100, 149 F.3d 507, 1998
U.S. App. Lexis 16739, 1998 FED App. 0222P (6th Cir.). [1998 FP 171]
Ninth Circuit reverses a $150,000 award to an
Afro-American military technician who claimed hostile environment discrimination
because a monkey was depicted in an office memo. Gregory v. Widnall, #97-35600,
1998 U.S. App. Lexis 21449, 1998 WL 556524 (9th Cir.). [1998 FP 172]
Federal court in Tennessee applies vicarious
liability standards for employers in sexual harassment cases to racial
behavior. Booker v. BRAC Systems, 1998 U.S. Dist. Lexis 12962, 67 LW (BNA) 1056
(M.D.Tenn.). [1998 FP 156-7]
N.J. Supreme Court holds that a single remark can
create a hostile work environment. The sheriff called a black woman officer a
"jungle bunny," causing her to suffer severe stress. Taylor v.
Metzger, 706 A.2d 685, 1998 N.J. Lexis 92, 76 FEP Cases (BNA) 58. [1998 FP
76-7]
Arbitrator sustains termination of a corrections
officer that repeated a racist joke over a prison audio system. Ohio and
O.C.S.E.A. L-11, 35 (1744) G.E.R.R. (BNA) 1606 (Feldman, 1997). [1998 FP 38]
Tiny San Francisco suburb pays $90,000 to three
police employees who were offended by O. J. Simpson jokes posted on the dept.
bulletin board by the Chief of Police. Avedano et al v. City of Belvedere,
7/6/96 S.F. Examiner A12, 7/7/96 S.F. Chronicle A20 (On-line editions). [1997
FP 25-6]
City of Los Angeles pays $430,000 to a black
police officer who claimed retaliation and harassment, following her public
criticism of fellow officers for their racial attitudes and discrimination.
Bouey v. City of Los Angeles, L.A. Co. Super.Ct. BC110011; 109 (241) L.A.D.J. 3
(stlmt. summ.); Mar. 13, 1996 L.A. Times p. B-1. [1997 FP 29-30]
Eight black Las Vegas firefighters recover
$640,000 for enduring a racially hostile work environment. Prof. Black F/F v.
Clark Co., #CV-S-86-1214 (MJL), 34 (1691) G.E.R.R. (BNA) 1635 (D.Nev. 1996).
[1997 FP 12]
Appellate court upholds an injunction prohibiting
a supervisor's continued use of ethnic insults in the workplace. Aguilar v.
Avis Rent-a- Car, 53 Cal.Rptr.2d 599, 1996 Cal.App. Lexis 471. [1996 FP 124-5]
New Jersey agrees to pay $3,740,000 to end suit
alleging harassment of black corrections officers. New procedures and
monitoring ordered. Holland v. N.J. Dept. Corrections, #93-1683, 34 (1655)
G.E.R.R. (BNA) 324 (D.N.J. 1966). [1996 FP 91]
FBI and publisher agree to pay $50,000 to black
ex-agent who alleged harassment, retaliation and defamation. Rochon v. Simon
& Schuster, 140 (135) Chgo. D. Law Bull. 1 (1994). [1994 FP 154]
Federal appeals court affirms $40,000 damage
award against a police chief in a suit by a black officer who proved
discriminatory treatment. Pressley v. Haeger, 977 F.2d 295 (7th Cir. 1992).
[1993 FP 92-3]
Federal appeals court declines to find that
calling another employee a "white token faggot" is racist, but
"nigger" is a racist remark. Calling older employees "old
farts" or "old bastards" is not direct evidence of discrimination.
Young v. City of Houston, 906 F.2d 177 (5th Cir. 1990).
Black FBI agent could bring suit against white
agents for conspiring to violate his civil rights. Plaintiff alleged ethnic
slurs, anonymous threats, receipt of unordered merchandise and a "fart
contest" in front of and directed to his wife. Rochon v. Dillon,
#87-C-9574, 713 F.Supp. 1167, 1989 U.S. Dist. Lexis 5164, 49 FEP Cases (BNA)
1481 (N.D. Ill. 1989).
Circulation of photocopied forms entitled
"Nigger Application for Employment" and a "Black Intelligence
Test" deeply offended a black officer. Jury award of $35,000 was supported
by evidence. Ways v. City of Lincoln, 871 F.2d 750 (8th Cir. 1989).
Arbitrator reduces a 5-day suspension to a
written reprimand for prison officer who called a coworker a "nigger"
and other names, and is ordered to make a personal apology for the slur, thank
him for his restraint. Fed. Bur. of Prisons and AFGE L-1145 & L-1945, 91 LA
(BNA) 276, FMCS #88/11242 (Statham, 1988). {N/R}
Federal court awards worker $3.5 million for
racial harassment; employer tolerated on-the-job animosity. Vance v. Southern
Bell Tel., U.S. Dist. Ct. #86-227-CIV, 30 ATLA L. Rep. 261 (N.D. Fla. 1987).
Federal court issues an injunction requiring a
prison warden to "forbid the use by correction officers on any County
property and on all County business of epithets such as nigger, Pollack, kike,
spic, guinea, honky, Mick, coon and black bitch (all of which have been used on
the job by correction officers in recent years)." Snell v. Suffolk County,
611 F.Supp. 521, -525, -532. (E.D.N.Y. 1985). Federal appeals court affirms
judgments for black guards subjected to racist remarks by white guards. Snell
v. Suffolk Co., 782 F.2d 1094 (2d Cir. 1986).
Widow of black fire employee entitled to recover
damages against supervisors for continued racial harassment; city not liable as
asst. chief took corrective action. Hamilton v. Rodgers, 783 F.2d 1306, 40 FEP
Cases 453 (5th Cir. 1986); 573 Supp. 452 (S.D. Tex. 1982) modified.
Federal appeals court criticizes harassment of
black employees, but refuses to find a civil rights violation. Gilbert v. City
of Little Rock, 722 F.2d 1390 (8th Cir. 1983).
Federal court awards black police leader $386,238
and Afro American Police League another $158,925. Chicago police officials
allegedly violated their First Amendment rights. Robinson v. City of Chicago,
U.S. Dist. Ct. (N.D. Ill. 1983).
Employer is liable for supervisor's failure to
reduce racial harassment; AWOL minority firefighter could not be discharged if
his absence was provoked by reasonable fears of harm. DeGrace v. Rumsfeld,
Sec'y of Defense, 614 F.2d 796 (1st Cir. 1980).
Forced to quit his job, black employee awarded
$395,000 in damages. Irving v. Dubuque Packing Co., U.S. Dist. Ct. #78-1378
(D.Iowa 1980), 23 ATLA L. Rep. 403.
See also: Disciplinary
Punishment; Sexual Harassment.