FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION MAY 03 2019 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
GREGORIA MARQUEZ, No. 18-35158
Plaintiff-Appellant, D.C. No. 2:16-cv-01450-RSM
v. MEMORANDUM* HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Ricardo S. Martinez, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted April 9, 2019 Seattle, Washington
Before: W. FLETCHER, CALLAHAN, and CHRISTEN, Circuit Judges.
Gregoria Marquez appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment
for Harborview Medical Center on Marquez’s claims for (1) age discrimination
under Washington law; (2) whistleblower retaliation under Washington law; (3)
breach of contract; (4) wrongful discharge; (5) defamation; and (6) constitutional
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
We review de novo the district court’s grant of summary judgment as to each of
the six claims and we affirm. To the extent Marquez waived review of three of the
claims by failing to raise them in her opening brief, we exercise our discretion to
review those claims. Koerner v. Grigas, 328 F.3d 1039, 1048–49 (9th Cir. 2003).
Because the parties are familiar with the facts of the case, we do not recite them
here except as necessary to explain our analysis.
Age Discrimination
Washington courts employ the three-step McDonnell Douglas burden
shifting analysis in employment discrimination cases. Mikkelsen v. Pub. Util. Dist.
No. 1 of Kittitas Cty., 404 P.3d 464, 470 (Wash. 2017). Harborview does not
contest that Marquez established a prima facie case at the first step. See id.
At the second step, the employer must “articulate a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action.” Id. at 471. Here,
Harborview asserts it fired Marquez because of her repeated violation of the non-
retaliation policy. Marquez admits to receiving notice of the policy and to
confronting co-workers in violation of its directives. The record contains no
evidence to support Marquez’s speculation that the policy itself was a sham. It was
written by a human resources consultant who testified that she frequently used the
2 language in warnings to employees. It was not created ex post facto, nor did it
target behavior specific to Marquez. There is no genuine dispute of material fact
that Harborview had a “legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason” to fire Marquez.
At the third step, the burden shifts back to Marquez to show that the reason
Harborview gave was pretextual. “To survive summary judgment, the employee
needs . . . to present evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact
whether discrimination was a substantial factor in an adverse employment action.”
Mikkelsen, 404 P.3d at 474 (internal quotations omitted). Marquez has offered
insufficient evidence to allow a reasonable jury to conclude that age discrimination
was a “substantial factor” in the decision to terminate her. See id.
Retaliation for Whistleblowing
To make out a prima facie case under Washington’s whistleblower statute, a
plaintiff must show that: “(1) he or she engaged in statutorily protected activity, (2)
an adverse employment action was taken, and (3) there is a causal link between the
employee’s activity and the employer’s adverse action.” Francom v. Costco
Wholesale Corp., 991 P.2d 1182, 1191 (Wash. 2000). It is undisputed that
Marquez engaged in two protected activities: (1) the 2011 timesheet complaint and
(2) the 2013 preferential treatment complaint. It is also undisputed that
3 Harborview took an adverse employment action against Marquez in April 2014
when it terminated her employment.
A “causal link” exists if a protected act was “at least a substantial factor” in
an employee’s termination. Francom, 991 P.2d at 1191. Marquez is unable to
point to any evidence beyond her own suspicions that either complaint was a
“substantial factor” in her termination decision. The 2011 complaint preceded
Marquez’s termination by three years. The 2013 complaint preceded the
termination by almost a year and post-dated the start of Harborview’s concerns
about Marquez’s violations of its non-retaliation policy.
Even if Marquez makes out a prima facie case, the analysis then proceeds to
a burden-shifting test for pretext similar to discrimination claims. Cornwell v.
Microsoft Corp., 430 P.3d 229, 234 (Wash. 2018). Under this analysis, Marquez
has not shown a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Harborview’s
reason for terminating her was pretextual. Harborview fired her only after repeated
warnings that continued confrontation of co-workers would result in disciplinary
action and after receiving numerous reports that co-workers feared Marquez.
“[W]hen the employee’s evidence of pretext is weak or the employer’s
nonretaliatory evidence is strong, summary judgment is appropriate.” Milligan v.
Thompson, 42 P.3d 418, 424 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).
4 Breach of Contract (Negligent Investigation)
Contrary to the district court’s analysis, Marquez’s claim for “negligent
investigation” is not barred by Lambert v. Morehouse, 843 P.2d 1116 (Wash.
1993). Marquez was not an at-will employee and so the restriction on negligent
investigation tort claims from Lambert does not apply. Instead, Marquez’s claim
sounds in contract. Washington law recognizes that, for employees who can be
fired only for “just cause,” the employer’s stated ground for termination must be
“reasonable and supported by substantial evidence at the time of termination.”
Gaglidari v. Denny’s Restaurants, Inc., 815 P.2d 1362, 1369 (Wash. 1991).
Harborview’s reason for firing Marquez—her repeated violation of the non-
retaliation policy—was “reasonable and supported by substantial evidence at the
time of termination.” See id. Marquez argues that her behavior was not
retaliatory, relying heavily on deposition testimony from Theresa Valdez. From
the perspective of management, however, several employees, including Valdez,
sent emails that they were afraid of Marquez following her confrontations of them.
If one of these employees now characterizes their interactions differently, that
information was not available to management “at the time of termination.” See id.
Wrongful Termination
This claim is duplicative of the breach of contract and retaliation claims.
5 Defamation
Marquez’s defamation claim is grounded in the “allegations that [Marquez]
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FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION MAY 03 2019 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
GREGORIA MARQUEZ, No. 18-35158
Plaintiff-Appellant, D.C. No. 2:16-cv-01450-RSM
v. MEMORANDUM* HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Ricardo S. Martinez, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted April 9, 2019 Seattle, Washington
Before: W. FLETCHER, CALLAHAN, and CHRISTEN, Circuit Judges.
Gregoria Marquez appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment
for Harborview Medical Center on Marquez’s claims for (1) age discrimination
under Washington law; (2) whistleblower retaliation under Washington law; (3)
breach of contract; (4) wrongful discharge; (5) defamation; and (6) constitutional
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
We review de novo the district court’s grant of summary judgment as to each of
the six claims and we affirm. To the extent Marquez waived review of three of the
claims by failing to raise them in her opening brief, we exercise our discretion to
review those claims. Koerner v. Grigas, 328 F.3d 1039, 1048–49 (9th Cir. 2003).
Because the parties are familiar with the facts of the case, we do not recite them
here except as necessary to explain our analysis.
Age Discrimination
Washington courts employ the three-step McDonnell Douglas burden
shifting analysis in employment discrimination cases. Mikkelsen v. Pub. Util. Dist.
No. 1 of Kittitas Cty., 404 P.3d 464, 470 (Wash. 2017). Harborview does not
contest that Marquez established a prima facie case at the first step. See id.
At the second step, the employer must “articulate a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action.” Id. at 471. Here,
Harborview asserts it fired Marquez because of her repeated violation of the non-
retaliation policy. Marquez admits to receiving notice of the policy and to
confronting co-workers in violation of its directives. The record contains no
evidence to support Marquez’s speculation that the policy itself was a sham. It was
written by a human resources consultant who testified that she frequently used the
2 language in warnings to employees. It was not created ex post facto, nor did it
target behavior specific to Marquez. There is no genuine dispute of material fact
that Harborview had a “legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason” to fire Marquez.
At the third step, the burden shifts back to Marquez to show that the reason
Harborview gave was pretextual. “To survive summary judgment, the employee
needs . . . to present evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact
whether discrimination was a substantial factor in an adverse employment action.”
Mikkelsen, 404 P.3d at 474 (internal quotations omitted). Marquez has offered
insufficient evidence to allow a reasonable jury to conclude that age discrimination
was a “substantial factor” in the decision to terminate her. See id.
Retaliation for Whistleblowing
To make out a prima facie case under Washington’s whistleblower statute, a
plaintiff must show that: “(1) he or she engaged in statutorily protected activity, (2)
an adverse employment action was taken, and (3) there is a causal link between the
employee’s activity and the employer’s adverse action.” Francom v. Costco
Wholesale Corp., 991 P.2d 1182, 1191 (Wash. 2000). It is undisputed that
Marquez engaged in two protected activities: (1) the 2011 timesheet complaint and
(2) the 2013 preferential treatment complaint. It is also undisputed that
3 Harborview took an adverse employment action against Marquez in April 2014
when it terminated her employment.
A “causal link” exists if a protected act was “at least a substantial factor” in
an employee’s termination. Francom, 991 P.2d at 1191. Marquez is unable to
point to any evidence beyond her own suspicions that either complaint was a
“substantial factor” in her termination decision. The 2011 complaint preceded
Marquez’s termination by three years. The 2013 complaint preceded the
termination by almost a year and post-dated the start of Harborview’s concerns
about Marquez’s violations of its non-retaliation policy.
Even if Marquez makes out a prima facie case, the analysis then proceeds to
a burden-shifting test for pretext similar to discrimination claims. Cornwell v.
Microsoft Corp., 430 P.3d 229, 234 (Wash. 2018). Under this analysis, Marquez
has not shown a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Harborview’s
reason for terminating her was pretextual. Harborview fired her only after repeated
warnings that continued confrontation of co-workers would result in disciplinary
action and after receiving numerous reports that co-workers feared Marquez.
“[W]hen the employee’s evidence of pretext is weak or the employer’s
nonretaliatory evidence is strong, summary judgment is appropriate.” Milligan v.
Thompson, 42 P.3d 418, 424 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).
4 Breach of Contract (Negligent Investigation)
Contrary to the district court’s analysis, Marquez’s claim for “negligent
investigation” is not barred by Lambert v. Morehouse, 843 P.2d 1116 (Wash.
1993). Marquez was not an at-will employee and so the restriction on negligent
investigation tort claims from Lambert does not apply. Instead, Marquez’s claim
sounds in contract. Washington law recognizes that, for employees who can be
fired only for “just cause,” the employer’s stated ground for termination must be
“reasonable and supported by substantial evidence at the time of termination.”
Gaglidari v. Denny’s Restaurants, Inc., 815 P.2d 1362, 1369 (Wash. 1991).
Harborview’s reason for firing Marquez—her repeated violation of the non-
retaliation policy—was “reasonable and supported by substantial evidence at the
time of termination.” See id. Marquez argues that her behavior was not
retaliatory, relying heavily on deposition testimony from Theresa Valdez. From
the perspective of management, however, several employees, including Valdez,
sent emails that they were afraid of Marquez following her confrontations of them.
If one of these employees now characterizes their interactions differently, that
information was not available to management “at the time of termination.” See id.
Wrongful Termination
This claim is duplicative of the breach of contract and retaliation claims.
5 Defamation
Marquez’s defamation claim is grounded in the “allegations that [Marquez]
had hospital documents in her private vehicle.” Under Washington defamation
law, “intracorporate communications” are protected by a qualified privilege where
they are made in the ordinary course of business and are not made with actual
malice. Woody v. Stapp, 189 P.3d 807, 810 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).
The allegations against Marquez were made as part of a misconduct
investigation, which is in “the ordinary course of business.” See id. For any
statements made outside the ordinary course of business, Harborview Medical
Center would not be the appropriate defendant. See Dickinson v. Edwards, 716
P.2d 814, 820 (Wash. 1986) (noting that, under Washington law, vicarious liability
is only available if “the employee was acting within the scope of his
employment.”). Additionally, Marquez has offered no evidence that either Valdez
or Newcomb “had knowledge of the statement’s falsity and . . . recklessly
disregarded this knowledge.” See Woody, 189 P.3d at 810.
42 U.S.C. § 1983
Section 1983 authorizes suit against “Every person who, . . . subjects”
another person to “the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured
by the Constitution and laws.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. “States or governmental entities
6 that are considered ‘arms of the State’ for Eleventh Amendment purposes” are not
“persons” under section 1983 and cannot be sued under that section. Will v. Mich.
Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 70–71 (1989).
Harborview is an “arm of the State” and therefore not a “person” within the
meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Hontz v. State, 714 P.2d 1176, 1180 (Wash.
1986). Any statutory provisions waiving Washington State’s sovereign immunity
from suit are irrelevant to whether an entity is a “person” for purposes of section
1983. Cf. Lapides v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Ga., 535 U.S. 613 (2002). The
scope of liability under section 1983 is a separate inquiry from the scope of a
State’s immunity, even if both rely on Eleventh Amendment jurisprudence
defining an “arm of the State.”
AFFIRMED.