Martin v. Auburn University Montgomery

908 F. Supp. 2d 1259, 2012 WL 5463846, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 160339
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedNovember 8, 2012
DocketCivil Action No. 2:11cv715-WHA
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 908 F. Supp. 2d 1259 (Martin v. Auburn University Montgomery) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Martin v. Auburn University Montgomery, 908 F. Supp. 2d 1259, 2012 WL 5463846, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 160339 (M.D. Ala. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

W. HAROLD ALBRITTON, Senior District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

This case is before the court on a Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. # 24), filed by Auburn University Montgomery on September 7, 2012, and a Motion to Strike Affidavits and Other Evidence filed by Auburn University Montgomery on October 9, 2011 (Doc. # 34).

Several Plaintiffs filed a Complaint in this court on June 24, 2011, alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The court granted a motion to sever the various Plaintiffs’ claims, and then ruled on subsequent Motions to Dismiss filed by Auburn University Montgomery (“AUM”). As a result of those rulings, the' instant case by Plaintiff Richard Martin (“Martin”) is proceeding on Count II of Martin’s Amended Complaint on claims that Martin was denied tenure and constructively discharged on basis of his gender.

AUM has moved for summary judgment on these remaining claims, as well as a claim for pattern and practice discrimination.

For the reasons to be discussed, the Motion for Summary Judgment is due to be GRANTED, and the Motion to Strike is due to be GRANTED in part and DENIED as moot in part.

II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

Summary judgment is proper “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.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

The party asking for summary judgment “always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion,” relying on submissions “which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Id. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. Once the moving party has met its burden, the nonmoving party must “go beyond the pleadings” and show that there is a genuine issue for trial. Id. at 324,106 S.Ct. 2548.

Both the party “asserting that a fact cannot be,” and a party asserting that a fact is genuinely disputed, must support their assertions by “citing to particular parts of materials in the record,” or by “showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(1)(A),(B). Acceptable materials under Rule 56(c)(1)(A) include “depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials.”

To avoid summary judgment, the non-moving party “must do more than show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Elec. [1264]*1264Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). On the other hand, the evidence of the nonmovant must be believed and all justifiable inferences must be drawn in its favor. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

After the nonmoving party has responded to the motion for summary judgment, the court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a).

III. FACTS

The submissions of the parties establish the following facts, construed in a light most favorable to the non-movant:

The Plaintiff, Martin, began his employment with AUM in a tenure-track position in the Department of Justice and Public Safety in the 2007-08 academic year. This Department is within the School of Sciences. Martin had spent more than 30 years in higher education, and had received tenure at two previous institutions. The schools at which he previously had been tenured did not require publications. (Martin Dep. at p. 161:21-23). Martin characterizes his publication history during his academic career as including 40 publications and 40 book reviews, although some of the publications included in that calculation were published after Martin left AUM. Martin also has had extensive committee memberships, administrative responsibilities, and other professional experience during his academic career.

When Martin was hired at AUM, he was provided a faculty handbook with tenure policies and procedures. The AUM Handbook provides that a faculty member’s previous fulltime service in another institution of higher learning may be a significant factor in determining the length of that faculty member’s probationary period. (Doc. # 26-2, Tab 3 at p. 44). The Handbook further provides that a tenure applicant will be evaluated on teaching, research, and service. (Id.). AUM has provided the Declaration of Chancellor John Veres (“Veres”) in which he states that with respect to research, a tenure applicant’s entire career and body of work is reviewed and considered. (Doc. # 26-2 at ¶ 10).

The AUM Handbook sets forth a process for seeking tenure. According to the Handbook, a faculty member applies for tenure to the Department Head, who then has the tenured members of the faculty of the Department review the candidate’s credentials, and each presents a written statement of his or her positive or negative vote. These statements and the Department Head’s written recommendation are sent to the Dean, who adds his or her own recommendation to the tenure application materials, and all materials are forwarded to the Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. The University Committee on Promotion and Tenure, consisting of six academic Deans and three members of the tenured faculty, votes by secret paper ballot. All tenure materials are then forwarded to the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, the Chancellor, and ultimately the President of Auburn University. (Doc. # 26-2, Tab 3 at p. 43-46). An applicant denied tenure has the right to appeal the denial to an Appeals Committee.

Before engaging in the tenure application process, Martin underwent pre-tenure review. Martin provides evidence of a Memorandum dated March 10, 2009, from Dr. Glen E. Ray, Interim Dean of the School of Sciences, in which he states that Martin’s pre-tenure review committee finds Martin’s research to be the area most in need of improvement, and in which [1265]*1265he recommends that Martin have at least three articles in peer-reviewed journals. (PI. Ex. C). He also states that book chapters are acceptable. (Id.). Martin states that at the time he applied for tenure at AUM, he had met that recommendation because he had three peer-reviewed journal articles and a fourth under review, which was published during the tenure process.

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Bluebook (online)
908 F. Supp. 2d 1259, 2012 WL 5463846, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 160339, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/martin-v-auburn-university-montgomery-almd-2012.