Faulkner v. University of Cincinnati

173 F. Supp. 3d 575, 2016 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 90, 2016 WL 1161914, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37918
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedMarch 23, 2016
DocketCase No. 1:14-cv-758
StatusPublished

This text of 173 F. Supp. 3d 575 (Faulkner v. University of Cincinnati) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Faulkner v. University of Cincinnati, 173 F. Supp. 3d 575, 2016 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 90, 2016 WL 1161914, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37918 (S.D. Ohio 2016).

Opinion

ORDER

Sandra S. Beckwith, Senior Judge, United States District Court

Before the Court is the Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. (Doc. 35) Defendants seek judgment on Plaintiffs First Amendment claim, and his claims challenging the University of Cincinnati’s discriminatory harassment policies as unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. Plaintiff opposes the motion (Doe. 36), and Defendants have filed their reply (Doc. 37). For the following reasons, the Court will deny Defendants’ motion.

Factual Background

Mark Faulkner worked at the University of Cincinnati in various nón-faculty positions from 1985 through July 2015. Faulkner retired from his position as Senior Associate Vice President in the University’s Department of Information Technology in July 2015. He immediately began work as a consultant to the University, at the request of his departmental director, Dr. -Nelson Vincent. Faulkner entered into a consulting agreement with Insight Global; initially working part-time training staff and aiding' Dr. Vincent in’ transition tasks. In September 2015, Faulkner agreed to assume the duties of a UC Assistant Vice President who took an unexpected medical leave. Faulkner currently supervises five people in this position. •

Faulkner’s lawsuit arises from events that began in 2013. The IT department decided to develop and institute a “Leadership Academy” to. provide training to departmental staff on leadership skills. An outside consultant, Megan Clark, was hired to develop a curriculum for the Academy and to run the sessions. Faulkner was appointed to a committee responsible for developing the Academy, but he did not participate in selecting the individuals who would provide the training and lectures. The first year’s group of trainees (for which there were more applications than spaces available) was composed of Dr. Vincent’s direct reports, and individuals who reported to those people. Clark asked Faulkner if he would give a lecture to the first meeting of the Academy on the subject of “servant leadership.” Dr. Vincent described the philosophy of “servant leadership” as a management style foqused on empowering others to effectively perform their jobs. (Vincent Dep. at 13) Faulkner was reluctant to give the lecture but eventually agreed to do so,

The first session of the Academy was held on September 17, 2013. Clark led an “icebreaker” exercise to begin the day’s session. She asked the participants to respond to a series of words and phrases by moving out of a line in one direction or the other, based on their reactions to the words. The words and phrases she used included phrases such as “I am a Republican,” “I am a Christian,” and “I am shy.” [578]*578Faulkner made a short presentation in the morning, and gave. his “Servant Leader ship” talk after lunch, using a written outline as a guide. His presentation included a video excerpt of a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King; references to a book about the Southwest Airlines business model and successful growth; a pamphlet called “The Servant as Leader;” and several references to Jesus, including his .directive to lead by service, and a story from the Book of Matthew. Faulkner described Jesus as an example of a leader who articulates “clear and crisp” values. He specifically stated that his views about religion and Jesus were his own views that guided his own life, and were not those of the University nor of the audience. Faulkner recalls that approximately 20-22 departmental members were present, and none of them expressed any objections or discomfort about anything that he said during his presentation or during the conference.

About a month later, in October, Donna Bowman, UC’s Assistant Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, received an anonymous complaint alleging that “religion and politics were brought up” during the icebreaker session of the Academy on September 13. The anonymous complaint identified Faulkner and Nelson Vincent as responsible for these transgressions. Bowman began investigating the anonymous complaint and chose to interview two attendees, Melissa Berling and Josette Riep, as well as Faulkner, Dr. Vincent, and Megan Clark. Bowman chose Berling and Riep because she had worked with them in the past on other issues. Bowman testified that “employees were saying that they felt that [the Academy] was a revival” and that Faulkner had proclaimed he was “there that day because God had called him there.” (Bowman Dep. at 27) Berling claimed that “somebody asked for amens,” but no one else Bowman interviewed confirmed that claim.

Bowman called Faulkner one day in early 2014 and said she needed to speak with him that morning. According to Faulkner, she asked if he had heard the “servant leadership” presentation in church, whether he had “anointed himself’ as a leader, and if he had asked the group for an “Amen.” Faulkner denied saying these things, and felt that Bowman was attacking him. He offered to give her a copy of his written outline, but he testified that she never followed up with him in order to obtain it.

Bowman completed her investigation and recommended that “corrective action” be taken. Her letter/report is dated February 27, 2014 and is addressed to Faulkner and Vincent. Bowman stated that she was notified of a complaint of “employee misconduct” against both of them. After investigating the complaint, she concluded that “corrective action by the University is warranted.” She concluded that UC’s Affirmative Action/EE 0 procedures, non-discrimination policy, and the discriminatory harassment policy were violated during the Leadership Academy, because “religion and politics were brought up directly and indirectly during the ice-breaker session ... With respect to Faulkner, the letter stated: “By his own admission, Mark Faulkner did quote from the Bible based upon his own beliefs which he stated were his, and only his examples. Going forward, Mr. Faulkner should refrain from using biblical quotations during presentations and work related interactions.” Bowman also recommended that the entire department participate in a “Sensitivity and Cultural Differences” training program within the next six months. (Faulkner Dep. Ex. 4A)

Bowman initially testified in her deposition that Faulkner’s actions did not violate any University policies, but that “his actions made some employees feel uncom[579]*579fortable based on his religious statement. ... We ask that our management not make the work environment noninclusive for employees.” (Bowman Dép. at 33-34.) Both her letter and her later testimony make ‘clear that she concluded that Faulkner violated the University’s discriminatory harassment policy because his comments “made their employees feel uncomfortable ...” and "... creates a workplace which can be considered hostile to perhaps an atheist that could have been in the audience.” (Bowman Dep. at 39)

Faulkner was concerned about Bowman’s letter, and worried that the episode and the “corrective action” would reflect badly on him, or result in some negative perceptions about him or his abilities'. He also testified that he was told he could not give his “Servant Leadership” presentation to future Leadership Academy classes. (Faulkner Dep. at- 87-88) He discussed the situation with his colleague Josette Riep (whom Bowman conceded did not share Berling’s complaints about Faulkner’s presentation), who suggested that he contact Bluzette Marshall, UC’s Chief Diversity Officer. He did so and met with Marshall, showed her the letter from Bowman, and discussed his concerns.- Marshall offered to meet with UC’s Human Resources group to discuss Faulkner’s concerns.

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173 F. Supp. 3d 575, 2016 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 90, 2016 WL 1161914, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37918, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/faulkner-v-university-of-cincinnati-ohsd-2016.