Norris v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
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Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
TERRI NORRIS, : : Plaintiff, : Civil Action No.: 16-cv-02120 (RC) : v. : Re Document No.: 17 : WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA : TRANSIT AUTHORITY, : : Defendant. :
MEMORANDUM OPINION
GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
I. INTRODUCTION
Terri Norris, an employee of Defendant Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(“WMATA”), brought this action alleging quid pro quo sexual harassment, hostile work
environment, gender discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation in October 2016. After
Norris’s age discrimination claim was dismissed in February 2017, WMATA now moves for
summary judgment on the four remaining claims. Having reviewed the parties’ filings, the Court
grants in part and denies in part WMATA’s motion for summary judgment.
II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 1
Plaintiff Terri Norris is a fifty-four-year-old African-American female, see Compl. ¶ 6,
ECF No. 1; July 25, 2014 EEOC Intake Questionnaire 1, Pl.’s Ex. 2, ECF No. 19, who was
1 In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, “[t]he evidence of the nonmovant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in [her] favor.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). Accordingly, where facts are disputed, the Court will view the evidence in the light most favorable to Norris. employed by Defendant WMATA at all times relevant to the claims in the complaint, see Compl.
¶ 13; Answer ¶ 13, ECF No. 7. WMATA is a transit authority created by interstate compact
among the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland to provide mass transit in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. See Compl. ¶ 11; Answer ¶ 11. In connection with its
mission, WMATA operates an extensive bus service system that provides half a million rides
every weekday to customers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. See WMATA Position
Statement 2, Def.’s Ex. 8, ECF No. 17. WMATA employs Service Operations Managers
(“SOMs”) in different geographic regions in the Washington, D.C. service area to oversee and
provide direction to its 2,500 bus operators. See id. The service area is divided into four
principal regions, including, as relevant to this suit, the Four Mile Region, which covers routes
serving Virginia and the Shepherd Parkway area of Southeast D.C. See id. Norris joined
WMATA in 1990 and became a SOM between 2000 and 2001. See Norris Dep. 9:1–9:12, Pl.’s
Ex. 1, ECF No. 19.
A. December 2013 Promotion and January 2014 Demotion
On December 1, 2013, Norris was promoted from SOM to Assistant Superintendent of
Street Operations, with a six-month probationary period. See Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶ 18, ECF
No. 19. As Assistant Superintendent, Norris was in charge of ensuring SOMs performed their
duties, handling administrative and HR requests or issues concerning SOMs, responding to
accidents, and overseeing departments in the Bus Operation Control Center. See Norris Dep.
12:18–13:12. She was assigned to the Four Mile Division and typically oversaw between 20 and
25 SOMs on her daily shift. See id. at 13:15–14:4.
As an Assistant Superintendent, Norris’s supervisors were Darlene Harrington, the
Superintendent of Street Operations, see Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶ 6; Norris Dep. 38:10–38:15,
2 and Dana Baker, the Director, Operations Control Center of Bus Transportation, Pl.’s Statement
of Facts ¶ 3; Walker Dep. 43:9–44:6, Pl.’s Ex. 3, ECF No. 19. Like Norris, both Harrington and
Baker are African-American females. See Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶¶ 2, 5. Norris sought
approval from Harrington, sometimes copying Baker, for a variety of communications to SOMs
during her time as Assistant Superintendent. See Norris SOM Communications, Pl.’s Ex. 6, ECF
No. 19. On one occasion, Norris was told by Baker that she was “documenting[,]” when Baker
needed “somebody [she] [could] trust.” Norris Dep. 76:16–77:13. Baker told Norris on another
occasion that she did not like working with women, see Norris Decl. ¶ 11, Pl.’s Ex. 19, ECF No.
19, and another WMATA employee who worked with Baker when she was Director also heard
her state on multiple occasions that she did not like working with women, see Collins Sr. Decl. ¶
2, Pl.’s Ex. 18, ECF No. 19.
Between December 2013 and January 2014, Norris was the subject of a formal
harassment complaint by a SOM, Sharron Young. See Norris Dep. 26:21–27:13. Young’s
complaint was eventually dismissed after WMATA investigated her claims. See Suppl. Norris
Dep. 28:16–29:10, Pl.’s Ex. 1, ECF No. 21. Norris had a difficult relationship with two other
SOMs, see id. at 36:2–36:14, 38:19–39:3, including Claire Fenelus, a SOM who ultimately took
part in a meeting with Norris, Harrington, and Baker on January 11, 2014 to resolve her issues
with Norris, see id. at 37:1–37:17, 84:5–84:9; Fenelus Letter, Pl.’s Ex. 7, ECF No. 19. It is
unclear whether Fenelus’s issues were actually resolved at the meeting. Compare WMATA
Demotion Memo. 1, Pl.’s Ex. 10, ECF No. 19, with Fenelus Letter. Norris also made her own
complaints of harassment against Baker and Harrington, first to Harrington and another
WMATA employee, Romaino Parahoo, on or around January 14, 2014, and then directly to both
Baker and Harrington at a January 27, 2014 meeting. See Norris Decl. ¶ 12–13. At the meeting,
3 Norris informed Baker and Harrington that she planned to file a harassment complaint with the
EEOC. See id. at ¶ 13.
On January 30, 2014, three days after the January 27 meeting and two months after her
promotion, Norris was demoted back to SOM. See Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶ 19. Norris
attended a meeting with Harrington, Baker, and another WMATA employee, Ray Alfred, where
Harrington read to Norris a demotion memorandum stating the reasons for her demotion. See
Def.’s Resps. To Pl.’s Interrogs. ¶ 13, Pl.’s Ex. 11, ECF No. 19. The memorandum, addressed
from Harrington to Norris and copying Baker, listed multiple issues with Norris’s behavior that
had allegedly led to her demotion: first, Norris had been repeatedly communicating with staff
without first clearing the communications with Harrington, despite Harrington giving Norris a
verbal warning on the issue following a December 2, 2013 communication; second, two
complaints of harassment had been filed by two separate SOMs against Norris in the past few
weeks; third, Norris had provided verbal approval to cover expenses for overnight hotel
accommodations for six SOMs on January 21, 2014 without first obtaining authorization; and
finally fourth, Norris had been involved in a “hostile, overly argumentative, and inappropriate
conversation with Linda Pinkard, Assistant Superintendent of Street Operations[,] . . .” on
January 22, 2014. See Demotion Memo., Pl.’s Ex. 10, ECF No. 19. Following her demotion,
Norris went on leave around March 2014 and resumed working as a SOM around April 2014.
See Norris Decl. ¶ 19–20.
B. July 2014 Assignment Selection
Prior to 2013, SOMs had been selecting their work assignments and shifts at WMATA
based on seniority, in a process known as “the pick[.]” Baker Aff. ¶ 10, Def.’s Ex. 1, ECF No.
17. Baker eliminated the pick in June 2013, and between June 2013 and July 2014 SOMs were
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
TERRI NORRIS, : : Plaintiff, : Civil Action No.: 16-cv-02120 (RC) : v. : Re Document No.: 17 : WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA : TRANSIT AUTHORITY, : : Defendant. :
MEMORANDUM OPINION
GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
I. INTRODUCTION
Terri Norris, an employee of Defendant Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(“WMATA”), brought this action alleging quid pro quo sexual harassment, hostile work
environment, gender discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation in October 2016. After
Norris’s age discrimination claim was dismissed in February 2017, WMATA now moves for
summary judgment on the four remaining claims. Having reviewed the parties’ filings, the Court
grants in part and denies in part WMATA’s motion for summary judgment.
II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 1
Plaintiff Terri Norris is a fifty-four-year-old African-American female, see Compl. ¶ 6,
ECF No. 1; July 25, 2014 EEOC Intake Questionnaire 1, Pl.’s Ex. 2, ECF No. 19, who was
1 In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, “[t]he evidence of the nonmovant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in [her] favor.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). Accordingly, where facts are disputed, the Court will view the evidence in the light most favorable to Norris. employed by Defendant WMATA at all times relevant to the claims in the complaint, see Compl.
¶ 13; Answer ¶ 13, ECF No. 7. WMATA is a transit authority created by interstate compact
among the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland to provide mass transit in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. See Compl. ¶ 11; Answer ¶ 11. In connection with its
mission, WMATA operates an extensive bus service system that provides half a million rides
every weekday to customers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. See WMATA Position
Statement 2, Def.’s Ex. 8, ECF No. 17. WMATA employs Service Operations Managers
(“SOMs”) in different geographic regions in the Washington, D.C. service area to oversee and
provide direction to its 2,500 bus operators. See id. The service area is divided into four
principal regions, including, as relevant to this suit, the Four Mile Region, which covers routes
serving Virginia and the Shepherd Parkway area of Southeast D.C. See id. Norris joined
WMATA in 1990 and became a SOM between 2000 and 2001. See Norris Dep. 9:1–9:12, Pl.’s
Ex. 1, ECF No. 19.
A. December 2013 Promotion and January 2014 Demotion
On December 1, 2013, Norris was promoted from SOM to Assistant Superintendent of
Street Operations, with a six-month probationary period. See Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶ 18, ECF
No. 19. As Assistant Superintendent, Norris was in charge of ensuring SOMs performed their
duties, handling administrative and HR requests or issues concerning SOMs, responding to
accidents, and overseeing departments in the Bus Operation Control Center. See Norris Dep.
12:18–13:12. She was assigned to the Four Mile Division and typically oversaw between 20 and
25 SOMs on her daily shift. See id. at 13:15–14:4.
As an Assistant Superintendent, Norris’s supervisors were Darlene Harrington, the
Superintendent of Street Operations, see Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶ 6; Norris Dep. 38:10–38:15,
2 and Dana Baker, the Director, Operations Control Center of Bus Transportation, Pl.’s Statement
of Facts ¶ 3; Walker Dep. 43:9–44:6, Pl.’s Ex. 3, ECF No. 19. Like Norris, both Harrington and
Baker are African-American females. See Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶¶ 2, 5. Norris sought
approval from Harrington, sometimes copying Baker, for a variety of communications to SOMs
during her time as Assistant Superintendent. See Norris SOM Communications, Pl.’s Ex. 6, ECF
No. 19. On one occasion, Norris was told by Baker that she was “documenting[,]” when Baker
needed “somebody [she] [could] trust.” Norris Dep. 76:16–77:13. Baker told Norris on another
occasion that she did not like working with women, see Norris Decl. ¶ 11, Pl.’s Ex. 19, ECF No.
19, and another WMATA employee who worked with Baker when she was Director also heard
her state on multiple occasions that she did not like working with women, see Collins Sr. Decl. ¶
2, Pl.’s Ex. 18, ECF No. 19.
Between December 2013 and January 2014, Norris was the subject of a formal
harassment complaint by a SOM, Sharron Young. See Norris Dep. 26:21–27:13. Young’s
complaint was eventually dismissed after WMATA investigated her claims. See Suppl. Norris
Dep. 28:16–29:10, Pl.’s Ex. 1, ECF No. 21. Norris had a difficult relationship with two other
SOMs, see id. at 36:2–36:14, 38:19–39:3, including Claire Fenelus, a SOM who ultimately took
part in a meeting with Norris, Harrington, and Baker on January 11, 2014 to resolve her issues
with Norris, see id. at 37:1–37:17, 84:5–84:9; Fenelus Letter, Pl.’s Ex. 7, ECF No. 19. It is
unclear whether Fenelus’s issues were actually resolved at the meeting. Compare WMATA
Demotion Memo. 1, Pl.’s Ex. 10, ECF No. 19, with Fenelus Letter. Norris also made her own
complaints of harassment against Baker and Harrington, first to Harrington and another
WMATA employee, Romaino Parahoo, on or around January 14, 2014, and then directly to both
Baker and Harrington at a January 27, 2014 meeting. See Norris Decl. ¶ 12–13. At the meeting,
3 Norris informed Baker and Harrington that she planned to file a harassment complaint with the
EEOC. See id. at ¶ 13.
On January 30, 2014, three days after the January 27 meeting and two months after her
promotion, Norris was demoted back to SOM. See Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶ 19. Norris
attended a meeting with Harrington, Baker, and another WMATA employee, Ray Alfred, where
Harrington read to Norris a demotion memorandum stating the reasons for her demotion. See
Def.’s Resps. To Pl.’s Interrogs. ¶ 13, Pl.’s Ex. 11, ECF No. 19. The memorandum, addressed
from Harrington to Norris and copying Baker, listed multiple issues with Norris’s behavior that
had allegedly led to her demotion: first, Norris had been repeatedly communicating with staff
without first clearing the communications with Harrington, despite Harrington giving Norris a
verbal warning on the issue following a December 2, 2013 communication; second, two
complaints of harassment had been filed by two separate SOMs against Norris in the past few
weeks; third, Norris had provided verbal approval to cover expenses for overnight hotel
accommodations for six SOMs on January 21, 2014 without first obtaining authorization; and
finally fourth, Norris had been involved in a “hostile, overly argumentative, and inappropriate
conversation with Linda Pinkard, Assistant Superintendent of Street Operations[,] . . .” on
January 22, 2014. See Demotion Memo., Pl.’s Ex. 10, ECF No. 19. Following her demotion,
Norris went on leave around March 2014 and resumed working as a SOM around April 2014.
See Norris Decl. ¶ 19–20.
B. July 2014 Assignment Selection
Prior to 2013, SOMs had been selecting their work assignments and shifts at WMATA
based on seniority, in a process known as “the pick[.]” Baker Aff. ¶ 10, Def.’s Ex. 1, ECF No.
17. Baker eliminated the pick in June 2013, and between June 2013 and July 2014 SOMs were
4 assigned to shifts and assignments based on their skills, experience, and on WMATA’s
operational needs. 2 See Pl’s Statement of Facts ¶ 8–9. During that time, Assistant
Superintendents worked together with the Superintendent of Bus Services to identify and
recommend work assignments for each SOM. See id. ¶ 10. Baker had final say as to the
assignments. See id. Starting in July 2014, SOMs were allowed to submit their preferred work
assignment choices for consideration by WMATA as part of the work assignment process. See
id. ¶ 11.
Because she had been demoted back to a SOM in January 2014, Norris participated in the
July 2014 work assignment process and submitted her work assignment preferences for
consideration. See id. ¶ 12. Norris submitted six choices for consideration. See id. She
indicated on her work selection form that “if possible, [she] would like to remain at FMTR
Region[,]” and only selected assignments located in the Four Mile Region, Work Selection
Choices, Pl.’s Ex. 13, ECF No. 19, in order to avoid working in another region under the
supervision of one of Baker’s friends at WMATA, see Norris Decl. ¶ 22. Of the six work
assignment preferences, at least four involved “early straight” schedules, starting in the early
morning and ending in the early afternoon every day. See Work Selection Choices; Pl.’s Work
Assignment Sheet, Pl.’s Ex. 15, ECF No. 19. 3 Norris prefers an early straight schedule and the
2 Norris disputes this timeline but refers to a July 2014 e-mail to refute the proposition that WMATA assigned SOMs to positions based on skills, experience, and operational needs in June 2013. See July 14, 2014 Pinkard E-Mail, Pl.’s Ex. 2., ECF No. 21. The e-mail does not contradict the timeline proposed by WMATA and instead is consistent with it, given the July 2014 change in the work assignment method acknowledged by WMATA. See id. 3 Norris contends that the Metro Way assignment she was interested in had an early- straight schedule. See Norris Decl. ¶ 20. However, the Metro Way assignment she selected in her work assignment form appears to have been an afternoon shift. See Work Selection Choices; Pl.’s Work Assignment Sheet.
5 majority of her shifts in the latter part of her career have been early straights. See Norris Dep.
14:5–14:22.
Norris received her sixth preferred choice in the July 2014 work assignment, a “swing
shift” from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 03:00 PM to 07:00 PM daily. See Work Selection
Choices; Pl.’s Work Assignment Sheet. The work assignment was located in the Four Mile
Region. See Pl.’s Work Assignment Sheet.
C. Non-Selection to Metro Way
One of the assignments Norris expressed an interest in as part of the July 2014 work
assignment process was Metro Way. See Norris Decl. ¶ 20; Work Selection Choices; Pl.’s Work
Assignment Sheet. Metro Way was a new type of bus service operating exclusive routes
between Alexandria and Arlington, VA, developed by Assistant Superintendent William Proctor
in conjunction with WMATA’s Planning Department and Virginia transportation officials. See
WMATA Position Statement at 7. Metro Way offered early straight shifts. See Pl.’s Work
Assignment Sheet.
Norris was not given a Metro Way assignment, despite selecting a Metro Way route as
her second choice on her work selection form. See Work Selection Choices; Pl.’s Work
Assignment Sheet. She reached out to Harrington after assignments were given out to ask
“[w]hy . . . Metro Way [was] not offered to [her][.]” July 29, 2018 Harrington E-mail, Pl.’s Ex.
16, ECF No. 19. Harrington replied on July 29, 2014 that she was not selected for the position
because “[o]ther candidate(s) were found to be better suited[.]” See id. The Metro Way
assignment went to two men and two women, all of whom had significantly less experience as
SOMs than Norris. See Pl.’s Work Assignment Sheet; October 20, 2014 Pick Spreadsheet, Pl.’s
Ex. 12, ECF No. 19.
6 D. Non-Selection to the Accident Investigation Team
Another assignment Norris sought to obtain in July 2014 was a slot on WMATA’s
Accident Investigation Team (“AIT”), a newly created unit where SOMs would exclusively
focus on investigating accidents across all regions in which WMATA operated. See Walker
Dep. 124:13–125:1; Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶ 14. The AIT assignment process operated
similarly to others in that Assistant Superintendents and the Superintendent made
recommendations to Baker, who had ultimate say over the assignments. See Pl.’s Statement of
Facts ¶ 14–15. However, SOMs did not have the opportunity to elect a preference for the
assignment on their work selection form. See Norris Dep. 135:1–135:13. Rather, Norris was first
told that she was qualified to join the AIT in June 2014. See August 14, 2014 WMATA Formal
Discrimination Complaint, Def.’s Ex. 5, ECF No. 17; June 26, 2014 Pinkard E-mail, Pl.’s Ex. 14,
Ex. 19. On June 26, Norris was included in an e-mail to 17 SOMs informing them that they had
“been identified by [their] Asst. Supt. has [sic] a candidate for the New Accident Investigation
Team[.]” See June 26, 2014 Pinkard E-mail.
Shortly after she learned about the AIT opportunity, Norris had a conversation about the
assignment with Assistant Superintendent Alphonso Walton. See Norris Decl. ¶ 26. Walton was
Norris’s supervisor, prepared her 2014 evaluation plan, and conducted her mid-year evaluation.
See id.; Norris 2014 Performance Management Form 3, Pl.’s Ex. 17, ECF No. 19. It is alleged
that Walton was also a known sexual harasser in the office, see Walker Dep. 166:4–166:19; Sept.
16, 2014 EEOC Charge, Def.’s Ex. 7, ECF No. 17, who regularly made inappropriate and
sexually explicit comments when talking to Norris, see Sept. 16, 2014 EEOC Charge, and who
was at some point disciplined for sexually harassing another WMATA employee, see Walker
Dep. 108:15–109:4. During the conversation between Norris and Walton, Norris alleges that
7 Walton told her to “trust him” and asked if she could “keep a secret from [her] husband[.]”
Norris Decl. ¶ 27; see also Sept. 16, 2014 EEOC Charge. Norris further alleges that Walton
pointed to her vagina and asked her to “give [him] some of that[,]” stating that he would “make
sure you get that assignment[.]” Norris Decl. ¶ 27; see also Sept. 16, 2014 EEOC Charge.
Norris refused his advances. See Norris Decl. ¶ 27.
Norris was ultimately not selected for the AIT. When she reached out to Harrington in
July to ask about the Metro Way assignment, she also asked “why . . . the accident investigation
team [was] offered to me by Mr. Walton and Ms. Pinkard then retrieved by Mr. Walton[.]” July
29, 2014 Harrington E-mail. Harrington replied: “[b]ased on your comment given to Mr. Walton
your preference was to remain in Virginia, therefore you were granted your pervious [sic]
assignment.” Id.
E. July 2014 EEOC Intake Questionnaire
On July 25, 2014, Norris complained about discrimination she allegedly suffered at
WMATA. As part of that process, Norris filled out an intake questionnaire with the EEOC. See
July 25, 2014 Intake Questionnaire at 1. On the portion of the questionnaire asking the basis for
her claim of employment discrimination, Norris checked the boxes for race, age, and
discrimination, but circled the box for sex. See id. at 2. She checked a box on the last page
indicating that she wanted to file a charge of discrimination. See id. at 4.
In an attachment filed a few days later on July 29, 2014, Norris indicated, inter alia, that
she was “demoted without training, corrective action, disciplinary action, written notification or
a thorough investigation.” Id. at 5. She pointed out that “through out [sic] [her] career [she]
ha[d] been informed that [she was] different in reference to [her] afrocentric style” and that
“Dana Baker never wanted [her] to be hired, therefore used false information for [sic] demotion.”
8 Id. She also suggested that “[w]orking a shift at another division could possibility [sic] result in
retaliation since I was demoted on January 27, 2014, after working as an Assistant
Superintendent for 7 weeks.” Id. at 6.
After discussing potential age discrimination in the failure to assign her to Metro Way,
Norris noted in the penultimate paragraph of the attachment: “in addition to this age
discrimination, I also experienced sexual harassment but I refused to support the claim at this
time because victims of sexual harassment are victimized[.]” Id. at 7. Norris did not otherwise
mention sexual harassment in the attachment. See id.
F. Procedural History
On September 16, 2014, Norris filed an official charge of discrimination with the EEOC,
alleging discrimination on the basis of age and sex as well as retaliation. See September 16,
2014 EEOC Charge. She filed her complaint with this Court on October 24, 2016, alleging quid
pro quo sexual harassment, hostile work environment, gender discrimination, age discrimination,
and retaliation. See Compl. ¶¶ 102–71. After WMATA moved to dismiss the age discrimination
claim for lack of jurisdiction and Norris consented, the Court dismissed the age discrimination
claim on February 6, 2017. See February 6, 2017 Minute Order; Def.’s Mot. Dismiss, ECF No.
3; Pl. Notice to Court, ECF No. 5. WMATA filed its answer on February 22, 2017, see Answer,
and the parties began discovery.
On December 8, 2017, WMATA moved for summary judgment on all remaining claims.
See Def.’s Mot. Summ. J., ECF No. 17. On January 23, 2018, Norris filed her opposition to the
motion, contesting summary judgment on all claims. See Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n Summ. J., ECF No.
19. WMATA submitted its reply on February 6, 2018. See Def.’s Reply to Opp’n, ECF No. 20.
9 III. LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Motion for Summary Judgment
A court may grant summary judgment when “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). A “material” fact is one capable of affecting the substantive outcome of the
litigation. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A dispute is
“genuine” if there is enough evidence for a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the non-
movant. See Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007).
The principal purpose of summary judgment is to streamline litigation by disposing of
factually unsupported claims or defenses and determining whether there is a genuine need for
trial. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323–24 (1986). The movant bears the initial
burden of identifying portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of any genuine issue of
material fact. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1); Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. In response, the non-
movant must point to specific facts in the record that reveal a genuine issue that is suitable for
trial. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324. In considering a motion for summary judgment, a court must
“eschew making credibility determinations or weighing the evidence[,]” Czekalski v. Peters, 475
F.3d 360, 363 (D.C. Cir. 2007), and all underlying facts and inferences must be analyzed in the
light most favorable to the non-movant, see Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. Nevertheless,
conclusory assertions offered without any evidentiary support do not establish a genuine issue
for trial. See Greene v. Dalton, 164 F.3d 671, 675 (D.C. Cir. 1999).
B. Title VII Employment Discrimination
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate
against its employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, 42 U.S.C. §
10 2000e–2(a), and prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee who has “opposed any
practice made an unlawful employment practice by[,]” or otherwise “made a charge” under, Title
VII, id. § 2000e–3(a). To prevail on an employment discrimination claim, a plaintiff must show
that she suffered an adverse employment action because of her race, color, religion, sex, or
national origin. See Baloch v. Kempthorne, 550 F.3d 1191, 1196 (D.C. Cir. 2008). To prevail on
an unlawful retaliation claim, a plaintiff must establish that she made a charge or opposed a
practice made unlawful by Title VII, that the employer took a materially adverse action against
her, and that the employer took the action because of the protected conduct. See Holcomb v.
Powell, 433 F.3d 889, 901–02 (D.C. Cir. 2006).
Direct evidence of discrimination usually entitles the plaintiff to a jury trial. Vatel v. All.
of Auto Mfrs., 627 F.3d 1245, 1247 (D.C. Cir. 2011). If there is no direct evidence of
discrimination, Title VII claims are assessed under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting
framework. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802–04 (1973). Under that
framework, the plaintiff bears the initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of
discrimination. See id. The burden then shifts to the employer to provide a “legitimate, non-
discriminatory reason” for the adverse employment action. Wiley v. Glassman, 511 F.3d 151,
155 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (citations omitted). If the employer can make such a showing, the burden
shifts back to the plaintiff to show that “the legitimate reasons offered by the defendant were not
its true reasons, but were a pretext for discrimination.” George v. Leavitt, 407 F.3d 405, 411
(D.C. Cir. 2005) (quoting Tex. Dep't of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253 (1981)).
Once an employer has asserted a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for an adverse
employment action under the McDonnell Douglas framework, the D.C. Circuit has emphasized
that the inquiry into the prima facie case becomes “an unnecessary and improper ‘sideshow.’”
11 Jones v. Bernanke, 557 F.3d 670, 678 (D.C. Cir. 2009) (quoting Brady v. Office of Sergeant at
Arms, 520 F.3d 490, 494 (D.C. Cir. 2008)). Courts instead “must resolve one central question:
Has the employee produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find that the employer's
asserted non-discriminatory reason was not the actual reason and that the employer intentionally
discriminated against the employee . . . ?” Brady, 520 F.3d at 494. In answering this question,
courts should consider “all the evidence, including ‘(1) the plaintiff's prima facie case; (2) any
evidence the plaintiff presents to attack the employer's proffered explanation for its action; and
(3) any further evidence of discrimination that may be available to the plaintiff (such as
independent evidence of discriminatory statements or attitudes on the part of the employer).’”
Carter v. George Washington Univ., 387 F.3d 872, 878 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (quoting Waterhouse v.
District of Columbia, 298 F.3d 989, 992–93 (D.C. Cir. 2002)).
IV. ANALYSIS
WMATA moves for summary judgment on all of Norris’s remaining claims. The Court
first addresses Norris’s claims for A. gender discrimination, followed by B. retaliation, C. quid
pro quo sexual harassment, and finally D. hostile work environment. For reasons discussed
below, the Court partially grants the motion. WMATA’s motion for summary judgment is
granted as to gender discrimination and granted as to retaliation with the exception of the
January 2014 demotion and the July 2014 failure to assign to Metro Way. The motion for
summary judgment is denied as to retaliation based on the January 2014 demotion and July 2014
failure to assign to Metro Way, quid pro quo sexual harassment, and hostile work environment.
A. Gender Discrimination
WMATA contends that Norris cannot prevail on her gender discrimination claim, either
based on her demotion on January 30, 2014 or on her shift and schedule change in July 2014.
12 Norris argues that there are sufficient disputed facts to support a gender discrimination claim as
to both 1) the January 30, 2014 demotion and 2) the failure to assign her to Metro Way or the
AIT. The Court addresses each argument in turn, and grants WMATA’s motion for summary
judgment in its entirety as to the gender discrimination claim.
1. January 30, 2014 Demotion
First, with respect to Norris’s demotion from the Assistant Superintendent position on
January 30, 2014, the parties dispute whether Norris has exhausted her administrative remedies
by filing a gender discrimination charge with the EEOC within the 180 days required by Title
VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–5(e)(1). WMATA also provides a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason
for the demotion that Norris argues is pretextual. Because the Court finds that Norris has not
exhausted her administrative remedies, it does not address the reasons for Norris’s demotion.
Before challenging an unlawful employment practice under Title VII in court, a plaintiff
must first file a charge with the EEOC “within a specified period (either 180 or 300 days,
depending on the State) ‘after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred[.]’” Ledbetter
v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 550 U.S. 618, 623–24 (2007) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–
5(f)(1)), superseded by statute on other grounds, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, Pub. L.
No. 111–2, 123 Stat. 5 (2009). The parties agree that the applicable period here is 180 days. 4
4 An EEOC charge must typically be filed within 300 days of the alleged discrimination in the District of Columbia, because a work-sharing agreement between the EEOC and the D.C. Office of Human Rights triggers the 300-day exception to the 180-day rule under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–5(e)(1). See Griffin v. Acacia Life Ins. Co., 925 A.2d 564, 568–69 n. 13 (D.C. 2007). However, as an interstate compact, courts have found that WMATA was conferred sovereign immunity by Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and thus that it is not subject to the D.C. Human Rights Act. See, e.g., Thompson v. WMATA, No. 01-7026, 2001 WL 1154420, at *1 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 9, 2001). The exception in 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–5(e)(1) therefore does not apply and the appropriate period for filing an EEOC charge against WMATA is 180 days.
13 In its motion, WMATA argues that Norris failed to exhaust her administrative remedies
because she was demoted on January 30, 2014, had until July 30, 2014 to file an EEOC charge,
and did not do so until September 16, 2014. See Def.’s Mem. Supp. at 8. Norris retorts that she
filed an EEOC Intake Questionnaire on July 25, 2014, which was sufficient to exhaust her
administrative remedies. See Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 23–24. Courts have recognized that the filing
of an intake questionnaire with the EEOC can qualify as a “charge” under Title VII. See, e.g.,
Federal Express Corp. v. Holowecki, 552 U.S. 389, 402 (2008) (finding EEOC intake
questionnaire to qualify as an EEOC “charge” in the context of administrative exhaustion for
ADEA claim); Tucker v. Howard University Hospital, 764 F. Supp. 2d 1, 7 (D.D.C. 2011)
(applying Holowecki to EEOC intake questionnaire for Title VII claim). However, “[a] Title VII
lawsuit following the EEOC charge is limited in scope to claims that are ‘like or reasonably
related to the allegations of the charge and growing out of such allegations.’” Park v. Howard
Univ., 71 F.3d 904, 907 (D.C. Cir. 1995) (quoting Cheek v. Western and Southern Life Ins. Co.,
31 F.3d 497, 500 (7th Cir. 1994)); see also Marshall v. Honeywell Tech. Sols., Inc., 598 F. Supp.
2d 57, 61 (D.D.C. 2009) (finding that EEOC intake questionnaire did not constitute charge when
it did not contain or attach any description of the discriminatory conduct). And “if a filing is to
be deemed a charge it must be reasonably construed as a request for the agency to take remedial
action[.]” Holowecki, 552 U.S. at 402.
The intake questionnaire Norris points to does not constitute a charge for gender
discrimination as to the January 30, 2014 demotion. Norris filed the intake questionnaire on July
25, 2014, with attachments filed on July 29, 2014. 5 See EEOC Intake Questionnaire at 1, 5. She
5 Taking all inferences in Norris’s favor, the Court ignores the discrepancy between the filing date and the signature on the EEOC Intake Questionnaire.
14 did check box 2 on the last page of the questionnaire, indicating that she intended to file a charge
of discrimination. See id. at 4. However, while she checked the boxes for age and retaliation in
the section addressing the reasons for her claim of discrimination, she only circled the box for
sex. See id. at 2. And most importantly, in the attachment to the form, she only discussed
discrimination on the basis of age, retaliation (based on the January 30, 2014 demotion), and
briefly mentioned her race as a potential additional motive for discrimination. See id. at 5–7.
She noted in the penultimate paragraph of her attachment that:
[i]n addition to this age discrimination, I also experienced sexual harassment but I refused to support the claim at this time because victims of sexual harassment are victimized and conversations with sex topics are known throughout the department. Nevertheless, one of my Assistant Superintendents has made several sexual advances to me requiring sex for benefits. Conversation is one thing but sexual requests are another.
Id. at 7. In Holowecki, the plaintiff had submitted a detailed affidavit along with the
intake questionnaire and the filings altogether could be “reasonably construed as a request for the
agency to [act].” Holowecki, 552 U.S. at 402. In Hogan, the plaintiff alleged that she was
discriminated against on the basis of sex and provided specific instances of harassment by a
named employee. See Hogan, 764 F. Supp. 2d at 8. By contrast here, Norris failed to indicate in
any way that she was demoted because of her sex, and specifically indicated on her intake
questionnaire that she did not intend to support a claim for discrimination on the basis of sex.
See EEOC Intake Questionnaire at 7. And even disregarding the first sentence, to the extent the
penultimate paragraph in the attachment indicated any ground for discrimination on the basis of
sex, it was what the Court assumes to be the sexual advances made by Walton. As in Marshall,
where the plaintiff’s “bare allegation of discrimination with nothing else” was insufficient to
constitute a charge, Marshall, 598 F. Supp. 2d at 61, Norris’s intake questionnaire cannot
constitute a charge for discrimination on the basis of sex as to the January 30, 2014 demotion
15 when the only references to it are a circled box on the questionnaire and the mention of
unconnected sexual advances by a supervisor.
2. July 2014 Shift Change and Failure to Assign to Metro Way and the AIT
With respect to Norris’s schedule and shift change in July 2014, WMATA argues that
Norris cannot establish she was subjected to an adverse employment action because the change
in schedule “did not affect the terms and conditions of her employment.” Def.’s Mem. Supp. at
10. Norris contends that both the failure to assign her to Metro Way and the AIT were adverse
actions because both assignments would have allowed her to receive overtime pay, and the other
available assignments did not. See Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 39. The parties also dispute whether
WMATA has provided a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the failure to assign Norris to
either assignment. The Court addresses both arguments, and finds that WMATA has met its
burden and is entitled to summary judgment.
a. Adverse Employment Action
The D.C. Circuit has emphasized the “two elements for an employment discrimination
case: (i) the plaintiff suffered an adverse employment action (ii) because of the employee’s race,
color, religion, sex, or national origin.” Brady, 520 F.3d at 493. In refining the McDonnell
Douglas framework in Brady, the D.C. Circuit explained that the prima facie case for
discrimination generally becomes irrelevant once an employer has asserted a legitimate, non-
discriminatory reason for an adverse employment action. See Brady, 520 F.3d at 493. But
“[e]ven under the streamlined Brady inquiry, the employee must have ‘suffered an adverse
employment action[.]’” Dreidband v. Nielsen, 319 F. Supp. 3d 314, 320 (D.D.C. 2018) (quoting
Brady, 520 F.3d at 494). WMATA challenges whether the alleged discriminatory acts were
16 adverse in the first place, and the Court must resolve that issue before addressing McDonnell
Douglas’s burden shifting framework.
An adverse employment action is a “significant change in employment status, such as
hiring, firing, failing to promote, reassignment with significantly different responsibilities, or a
decision causing significant change in benefits.” Douglas v. Donovan, 559 F.3d 549, 552 (D.C.
Cir. 2009) (internal citations and quotations omitted). The harm suffered as a result of the action
must be “objectively tangible, not [p]urely subjective[.]” Shipman v. AMTRAK, 241 F. Supp. 3d
114, 122 (D.D.C. 2017) (quoting Ginger v. District of Columbia, 527 F.3d 1340, 1344 (D.C. Cir.
2008)). As a result, the D.C. Circuit has emphasized that “there are few circumstances in which
a mere lateral transfer can rise to the level of an adverse employment action[.]” Jones v. District
of Columbia Dep’t of Corrections, 429 F.3d 276, 281 (D.C. Cir. 2005). There must be
‘“materially adverse consequences affecting the terms, conditions, or privileges of []
employment’” in connection with the lateral transfer (or denial thereof), and ‘“[m]ere
idiosyncracies of personal preference are not sufficient to state an injury.’” Id. (quoting Brown v.
Body, 199 F.3d 446, 457 (D.C. Cir. 1999)).
And while overtime work can provide an employee with an objectively tangible monetary
advantage, which could qualify as a material consequence when evaluating the adverseness of a
lateral transfer, “working overtime . . . is not universally regarded as desirable[,]” and imposition
of overtime work on an employee has been found to be an adverse action in some cases. Bell v.
Gonzalez, 398 F. Supp. 2d 78, 97 (D.D.C. 2005) (citing Dickerson v. SecTek, Inc., 238 F. Supp.
2d 66, 76-77 & n. 5 (D.D.C. 2002)). Accordingly, while the loss of overtime can constitute an
adverse action in some circumstances, see, e.g., Walker v. England, 590 F. Supp. 2d 113, 143
17 (D.D.C. 2008), determining whether it does “is a fact-specific inquiry[,]” Robinson v. District of
Columbia, 275 F. Supp. 3d 95, 105 (D.D.C. 2017).
Based on the evidence provided by Norris in her opposition, the Court finds that the
failure to assign Norris to the AIT was not an adverse action. Norris argues in her opposition
that she suffered an adverse action because both the Metro Way and the AIT assignments offered
the opportunity for overtime, see Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 38–39, but only offers evidence to
support her argument as to the Metro Way assignment. The sum total of the evidence Norris
provides in support of her overtime claim can be summarized in a few sentences. The excerpts
from Norris’s deposition do not mention overtime. See generally Norris Dep. In her deposition,
Walker noted that SOMs did not use to receive overtime but now do, see Walker Dep. 173:16–
174:7, and that “SOMs assigned to [Metro Way] received no additional compensation or benefits
than [sic] SOMs working in other service areas[,]” Walker Dep. 132:7–132:10. Norris stated in
her declaration that the Metro Way assignment offered the opportunity for overtime. See Norris
Decl. ¶ 20. The record before the Court is thus devoid of any evidence supporting the claim that
the AIT assignment was overtime-eligible, while it contains conflicting statements as to whether
the Metro Way assignment was. Similarly, Norris argues in her opposition that she “has
established that she was interested in the [AIT] because of . . . comp overtime eligibility[.]” Pl.’s
Mem. Opp’n at 39. This is also unsupported by any of the evidence Norris provided in support
for her opposition, including in statements she made in her deposition and declaration. The only
reference to Norris’s interest in overtime work is in Norris’s declaration, and it concerns the
Metro Way assignment. See Norris Decl. ¶ 20.
It is axiomatic that conclusory assertions offered without any evidentiary support at the
summary judgment stage do not establish a genuine issue for trial. See Greene v. Dalton, 164
18 F.3d 671, 675 (D.C. Cir. 1999). Because Norris does not provide any evidence to support her
assertion that the AIT assignment was eligible for overtime or that she was interested in the
assignment because of the opportunity for overtime it offered, the Court finds that there is no
genuine issue of material fact and that the denial of the AIT assignment was not an adverse
action. On the other hand, although skimpy, Norris did provide some evidence supporting her
argument that the denial of the Metro Way assignment was adverse because of her interest in the
overtime opportunity it offered, and WMATA did not address the overtime argument in its
reply. 6 The Court thus declines to find that the failure to assign her to Metro Way was not
adverse as a matter of law.
b. WMATA’s Asserted Legitimate, Non-Discriminatory Reason
Because Norris has offered sufficient evidence to support her argument that the failure to
assign her to Metro Way was an adverse action, the Court must address McDonnell Douglas’s
burden-shifting framework. WMATA asserts a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the
failure to assign, and the Court must therefore “resolve [the] central question” of whether Norris
“produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find that the employer's asserted non-
discriminatory reason was not the actual reason and that [WMATA] intentionally discriminated
against [her][.]” Brady, 520 F.3d at 494. Norris cannot show that she was not selected for Metro
Way because of her gender, and the Court accordingly finds for WMATA.
6 The Court notes that, in order to address the subjectivity inherent in overtime considerations, other courts in this circuit have found loss of overtime to be an adverse employment action only when “the trier of fact could reasonably conclude that plaintiff in the past sought opportunities for overtime pay or it was otherwise known to defendant that plaintiff desired such opportunities.” Bell, 398 F. Supp. 2d at 97; see also Robinson, 275 F. Supp. 3d at 105–06 (applying Bell to find that repeated denial of Plaintiff’s overtime requests constituted adverse employment action).
19 WMATA argues in its motion that, following the elimination of the “pick” in 2013,
“work assignments were distributed based on skills/experience level of the individual and the
operational needs of the department.” Def.’s Mem. Supp. at 11. It contends that candidates for
the Metro Way assignment were thus selected according to those operational needs. See id. In
her opposition, Norris argues that the stated reason is a pretext, and points to “several employees
with less experience and skills as an [sic] SOM . . . and under the age of 40” who were selected
instead of her. Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 39. WMATA retorts in its reply that two of four employees
chosen for Metro Way were women, and that all four “were better fits for the program.” Def.’s
Reply at 6.
On one hand, Norris has provided evidence to dispute WMATA’s asserted legitimate,
non-discriminatory reason for the failure to assign her to Metro Way. While WMATA argues
that work assignments were distributed in part based on experience, Norris points out, and
WMATA does not dispute, that the four employees selected for the Metro Way assignment had
much less experience than she did. See Pl.’s Mem. Supp. at 40; Pl.’s Work Assignment Sheet at
4. WMATA asserts in its reply that the employees selected were “better fits for the program[,]”
but does not support that assertion with any evidence from the record. Def.’s Reply at 6. 7
WMATA does not explain in any way how the individuals selected were better skilled than
Norris or better fit WMATA’s operational needs. There is therefore a dispute as to the validity
of its asserted legitimate, non-discriminatory reason.
7 In its reply, WMATA cites to its response to Norris’s third interrogatory in support for the claim that the employees selected were better qualified. See Def.’s Reply at 6. However, its response to the third interrogatory is a table listing the name, sex, and date of birth of all employees selected for Metro Way between 2014 and 2017. See Def.’s Resps. To Pl.’s Interrogs. ¶ 3, Pl.’s Ex. 11, ECF No. 19. The table does not offer any evidence to support the claim that those employees were better qualified than Norris.
20 On the other hand, Norris does not point to any evidence suggesting that the asserted
legitimate, non-discriminatory reason was a pretext for gender discrimination. To prevail once
an employer has asserted a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for an adverse employment
action, the employee must show that the reason was pretext and that the actual motive was
discrimination. See Brady, 520 F.3d at 494. And when an employer selects for a position or for
promotion an employee of the same protected category as the complaining employee, there is a
strong inference against discrimination. See Murray v. Gilmore, 406 F.3d 708, 715 (D.C Cir.
2005) (finding that employee’s claim for discriminatory termination on the basis of race could
not survive summary judgment because, even assuming pretext, she was replaced by another
employee of the same race); Brown v. Brody, 199 F.3d 446, 451 (D.C. Cir. 1999), abrogated on
other grounds by Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Ry., 548 U.S. at 53 (finding with respect to
employee’s non-selection for desirable transfer that district court “correctly observed that any
sexual discrimination claim would be baseless because two of the three employees selected for
that transfer were women”).
In Murray, the D.C. Circuit emphasized that its ruling “[did] not mean that a jury could
never infer discrimination when the plaintiff was replaced by a member of the same protected
class[,]” and gave the example of a situation where an employer “fired ten African–American
employees for pretextual reasons and replaced them with nine whites and one African
American.” 406 F.3d at 715. Under those circumstances, the D.C. Circuit explained that the
employee replaced by an African-American could “most likely” survive summary judgment. Id.
However, since the plaintiff in Murray had provided no evidence to suggest such a situation at
the summary judgment phase, the D.C. Circuit found that no reasonable jury could infer race
discrimination from her firing. See id. Here, Norris’s situation is similar to the plaintiff’s in
21 Murray. While all four employees selected for Metro Way appear to have been young and
inexperienced compared to Norris, it is uncontested that two of the four were women. See Pl.’s
Mem. Opp’n at 40; Def.’s Reply at 6. As in Murray, Norris does not provide any evidence of
gender discrimination to counter the strong inference against discrimination their selection
creates. The Court accordingly grants summary judgment to WMATA.
Because Norris did not exhaust her administrative remedies with respect to the January
30, 2014 demotion, the July 2014 failure to assign Norris to the AIT did not constitute an adverse
action, and Norris cannot overcome WMATA’s asserted legitimate, non-discriminatory reason
for the July 2014 failure to assign her to Metro Way, the Court grants the motion for summary
judgment in its entirety as to the gender discrimination claim.
B. Retaliation
As with Norris’s gender discrimination claim, WMATA contends that Norris cannot
prevail on her retaliation claim. Norris, however, points to the January 30, 2014 demotion,
failure to assign to Metro Way, and failure to assign to the AIT, as sufficient to support her
retaliation claim. For the reasons stated below, the Court denies the motion for summary
judgment as to the January 30, 2014 demotion and July 2014 failure to assign to Metro Way, but
otherwise grants it.
Inexplicably, despite Norris stating that her retaliation claim is in part based on the
January 30, 2014 demotion on multiple occasions in this litigation, including in her opposition to
the motion for summary judgment, see Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 22–23, WMATA entirely fails to
address the argument in either the motion or its reply. However, WMATA does argue that it has
a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for Norris’s demotion in response to her gender
22 discrimination claim. See Def.’s Reply at 4–5. The Court, therefore, considers whether Norris
has provided sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find that the asserted reason was a
pretext for retaliation. The Court finds that she has.
To establish a prima facie case of retaliation, Norris must show “that (1) she engaged in
statutorily protected activity; (2) her employer took an adverse personnel action against her; and
(3) a causal connection exists between the two.” Carney v. American Univ., 151 F.3d 1090,
1095 (D.C. Cir. 1998) (citing Mitchell v. Baldrige, 759 F.2d 80, 86 (D.C. Cir. 1985)). Informally
complaining to an employer about discrimination is covered as a protected activity under Title
VII, see, e.g., Richardson v. Gutierrez, 477 F. Supp. 2d 22, 27 (D.D.C. 2007), and showing
temporal proximity between the protected activity and the adverse action is sufficient to satisfy
the causal connection requirement, see Carney, 151 F.3d at 1095. WMATA presents no
arguments to refute that Norris met her prima facie case, but it does point to a legitimate, non-
discriminatory reason for the demotion in the form of the January 30, 2014 demotion memo.
Under the McDonnell Douglas framework, the Court must therefore assess whether Norris has
provided sufficient evidence to reasonably suggest that the stated reason was a pretext,
considering both the prima facie case, evidence that the stated reason is incorrect, and any other
evidence. See Carter, 387 F.3d at 878.
Norris has provided sufficient evidence challenging the asserted non-retaliatory reason
for her demotion to survive summary judgment. First, Norris asserts in her declaration that she
complained of harassment to Harrington and Baker on several occasions, including on January
27, 2014, see Norris Decl. ¶ 12–13, and WMATA makes no argument to refute that the
complaints occurred. The undisputed facts thus show that Norris’s demotion was an adverse
action causally connected to protected activity that occurred just a few days earlier. Second,
23 WMATA points to the January 30, 2014 demotion memo to support its claim that Norris was
demoted because she performed inadequately during her probationary period. See Def.’s Reply
4–6. However, Norris provides evidence casting doubt on the legitimacy of each example of
conduct that WMATA claims forms the basis for its non-retaliatory reason.
The demotion memo states that Norris repeatedly communicated with staff without first
clearing the communications with Harrington, despite Harrington giving Norris a verbal warning
on the issue following a December 2, 2013 communication, see Demotion Memo at 1, and Norris
herself acknowledges that she received a “verbal warning or a directive to refrain from sending .
. . emails to staff without prior approval[.]” Norris Dep. 82:3–82:11. But Norris also states that
she followed the directive, see id., and provides e-mails sent between December 2013 and
January 2014 showing that she requested approval on a variety of communications, see Approval
E-mails, Pl.’s Ex. 6, ECF No. 19. Norris also asserts that she followed the directive in her
declaration. See Norris Decl. ¶ 16. WMATA argues that Norris’s evidence is unconvincing but
provides no contrary evidence in its reply. See Def.’s Reply at 5–6.
WMATA further supports the demotion by pointing to complaints for harassment made
by two SOMs against Norris in January 2014, “which [WMATA] . . . concluded as having
merit.” Demotion Memo at 1. Norris first rebuts this assertion by pointing to a letter written by
one of the complaining SOMs, Claire Fenelus, indicating that her complaint was resolved at a
meeting prior to Norris’s demotion. See Fenelus Letter. WMATA notes in its reply that
Fenelus’s letter “uses hindsight to rationalize Ms. Fenelus’ filing of her . . . claim” but “does not
invalidate that a . . . claim was filed.” Def.’s Reply at 5. 8 However, WMATA does not contest
8 While the Court notes that Fenelus’s letter is unsworn, it is up to the parties to object to the admissibility of evidence under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(2). Because WMATA has not objected, the Court considers the Fenelus letter in its determination.
24 that the letter contradicts the demotion memo’s assertion that WMATA found Fenelus’s
harassment claim to have merit after the meeting. With respect to the complaint by the other
SOM, Sharron Young, WMATA supports the demotion by reference to a meeting held with
WMATA’s Office of Equal Employment and Employee Relations (“EEOR”) where Norris
allegedly declined to discuss the matter. See Demotion Memo at 2. But Norris states in her
deposition that Young’s harassment charge was dropped at the conclusion of the meeting. See
Suppl. Norris Dep. 29:7–29:10.
Finally, WMATA justifies the demotion by arguing that Norris verbally approved hotel
stays for SOMs without authorization on January 21, 2014 and was involved in a dispute with
Pinkard on January 22, 2014, see Demotion Memo at 2, both of which Norris denies, see Norris
Decl. ¶ 16. Again, WMATA provides no supporting evidence in reply.
Several courts have found that an employee who challenges an asserted legitimate, non-
discriminatory reason only by providing evidence in the form of subjective, “self-serving and
conclusory statement[s]” denying the asserted reason does not establish a genuine issue of
material fact that can survive summary judgment. E.g. Hastie v. Henderson, 121 F. Supp. 2d 72,
81 (D.D.C. 2000); Akridge v. Gallaudet Univ., 729 F. Supp. 2d 172, 182 (D.D.C. 2010).
However, the D.C. Circuit has also emphasized that “‘there is no rule of law that the testimony of
a discrimination plaintiff, standing alone, can never make out a case of discrimination that could
withstand a summary judgment motion.’” Desmond v. Mukasey, 530 F.3d 944, 964 (D.C. Cir.
2008) (quoting George, 407 F.3d at 413). In Hastie, the plaintiff asserted without any supporting
evidence that she had completed more work than another employee who had received a higher
performance rating than her. See Hastie, 121 F. Supp. 2d at 80–81. In Akridge, the plaintiff
stated in her deposition that she was better qualified than other candidates for the same position
25 but provided no evidence to back that assertion. See Akridge, 729 F. Supp. 2d at 182. By
contrast, Norris does not make subjective, conclusory statements regarding circumstances over
which she lacks personal knowledge, but rather denies that she engaged in specific acts.
Moreover, as in Desmond, Norris’s statements are backed in several instances with
additional evidence. In Desmond, a former FBI trainee challenged his dismissal for failure to
“meet the suitability requirements of emotional maturity and cooperativeness.” Desmond, 530
F.3d at 952. Desmond challenged each alleged instance of improper conduct mentioned in his
dismissal letter, and provided evidence in the form of deposition testimony by FBI agents to
support his own statements. See id. at 963. Norris similarly backs her statements with copies of
e-mails and with a letter by one of the employees involved in the events alleged to form the basis
for her termination. And Norris’s performance evaluation for 2013 is devoid of any comment
mirroring those in the demotion memo, see 2013 Performance Evaluation, Pl.’s Ex. 4, ECF No.
19, despite the fact that the performance evaluation was completed in May 2014 and that several
of the alleged instances of improper conduct described in the demotion memo occurred in
December 2013. 9 The performance evaluation fails to mention a failure to comply with
supervisory directive or an inability to work well with subordinates. See id. Instead, not only
did Norris receive an overall performance rating of “solid performer[,]” see id. at 9, but mistakes
9 It is unclear whether Norris’s 2013 performance evaluation covered only her performance as a SOM or both her performance as a SOM and as an assistant superintendent. The evaluation form states that Norris’s role is “Service Operations Manager[,]” but also that the performance period is from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013, a month after Norris transitioned to assistant superintendent. See 2013 Performance Evaluation. Drawing “all justifiable inferences . . . in [her] favor” at the summary judgment phase, Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986), the Court infers that the performance evaluation covered the assistant superintendent position because Norris changed positions on December 1, 2013.
26 in the score calculation for her overall rating apparently prevented her from obtaining an accurate
rating of “role model[,]” see id.; Walker Dep. 100:17–105:20.
And finally, Norris has provided evidence that supports an inference of retaliatory intent.
In addition to the extremely short period of time between the time she raised her complaints and
her demotion, Norris further alleges that Baker told her during her time as an Assistant
Superintendent that she was “documenting” and therefore could not be trusted. See Norris Dep.
76:16–77:13. None of this is rebutted by WMATA in its reply.
Given that WMATA’s asserted legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for Norris’s demotion is
supported solely by the demotion memo, see Def.’s Reply at 4, and that Norris has put forward
evidence both rebutting the asserted reason and suggesting a retaliatory motive, there remains a
genuine issue of material fact as to the reason for the demotion and a reasonable juror could
conclude that retaliation was the actual motive. Consequently, the Court denies summary
judgment on the retaliation claim as to the January 30, 2014 demotion.
2. July 2014 Shift Change and Failure to Assign to Metro Way or the AIT
As with Norris’s gender discrimination claim, WMATA argues that it is entitled to
summary judgment because the July 2014 shift change was not an adverse action supporting a
claim for retaliation under Title VII, and because it has a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for
Norris’s non-selections. In response, Norris again claims that the lost opportunity for overtime
created by the AIT and MetroWay assignments is sufficient for the shift change to be adverse,
and argues that the proffered legitimate, non-retaliatory reason is a pretext for retaliation. The
Court denies summary judgment as to the failure to assign to Metro Way but otherwise grants it.
“In the retaliation context, an ‘adverse action’ has a broader meaning than in a
discrimination context.” Boone v. MountainMade Found. 64 F. Supp. 3d 216, 232 (D.D.C.
27 2014) (quoting Baird v. Gotbaum, 662 F.3d 1246, 1248–49 (D.C. Cir. 2011)). An employment
action can be adverse in the context of a retaliation claim if the alleged retaliatory act “well
might have ‘dissuaded a reasonable worker from making or supporting a charge of
discrimination.’” Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Ry. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 68,
(2006) (quoting Rochon v. Gonzales, 438 F.3d 1211, 1219 (D.C. Cir. 2006)). Norris fails to meet
even this more permissive standard with regards to the failure to assign her to the AIT.
As discussed in part IV.A.2., Norris only supports her argument that the failure to assign
her to the AIT or Metro Way was sufficiently adverse by arguing that her non-selection to these
two positions denied her the opportunity to earn overtime. This argument is supported only by
two sentences in her declaration, noting 1) that Metro Way was overtime-eligible, and 2) that she
was interested in Metro Way because of that overtime eligibility. See Norris Decl. ¶ 20. Absent
any evidence regarding the availability or desirability of overtime for the AIT, the Court finds
that Norris’s non-selection to the AIT was not adverse. Because Norris did support her argument
that her non-selection to Metro Way was adverse, the Court turns to McDonnell Douglas’s
burden-shifting framework. The Court accordingly considers whether Norris has provided
sufficient evidence to reasonably suggest that the stated reason for her non-selection to Metro
Way was a pretext concealing retaliation, considering both the prima facie case, evidence that
the stated reason is incorrect, and any other evidence. See Carter, 387 F.3d at 878.
As an initial matter, it is unclear whether Norris has established her prima facie case of
retaliation. Norris must show “that (1) she engaged in statutorily protected activity; (2) her
employer took an adverse personnel action against her; and (3) a causal connection exists
between the two.” Carney v. American Univ., 151 F.3d 1090, 1095 (D.C. Cir. 1998) (citing
Mitchell v. Baldrige, 759 F.2d 80, 86 (D.C. Cir. 1985)). Norris argues that she engaged in
28 protected activity as late as April 2014, see Pl.’s Mem. Opp. at 38, and the non-selection to
Metro Way occurred at some point in mid-to-late July, compare Work Selection Choices
(selecting a Metro Way shift as a preferred assignment as of July 16, 2014), with July 29, 2014
Harrington E-mail (indicating as of July 29, 2014 that Norris did not get the Metro Way
assignment). Taking all inferences in Norris’s favor, and assuming that her April 2014
complaint occurred towards the end of April, at a minimum two and a half months elapsed
between Norris’s protected conduct and her non-selection to Metro Way.
Norris contends that a causal connection exists “because of the short two-month period
between the two events[,]” and cites to caselaw in this circuit supporting that position. Pl.’s
Mem. Opp’n at 39. But without more, it is unclear whether a gap of two and a half months is
sufficient to support an inference of retaliation. Compare Taylor v. Solis, 571 F.3d 1313, 1322
(D.C. Cir. 2009) (noting when considering two and a half months gap that “an inference of
retaliatory motive based upon the ‘mere proximity’ in time . . . would be untenable on the record
here”), and Walker v. Johnson, 798 F.3d 1085, 1093 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (explaining that the D.C.
Circuit “previously rejected as ‘untenable’” an inference of retaliation based upon a two and a
half month gap, and rejecting inference of retaliation when protected activity occurred on April 7
and adverse action on June 25) (quoting Taylor, 571 F.3d at 1322), with Hamilton v. Geithner,
666 F.3d 1344, 1357–58 (noting that the D.C. Circuit has not established a bright-line rule and
“[i]nstead . . . evaluate[s] the specific facts of each case to determine whether inferring causation
is appropriate”), and Kilby-Robb v. Devos, 247 F. Supp. 3d 115, 129 (D.D.C. 2017) (noting that
“to rely on temporal proximity to prove causal relation, the temporal proximity must be ‘very
close’—generally less than three months) (quoting Lane v. Vasquez, 961 F. Supp. 2d 55, 67
29 (D.D.C. 2013)). The Court does not resolve this issue because WMATA does not address it in
its reply.
On the other hand, as discussed in part IV.A.2., Norris provides evidence to dispute the
alleged legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for her non-selection to Metro Way. WMATA argues
that work assignments were distributed based on skills, experience, and the needs of the business
during the July 2014 assignment process, Def.’s Mem. Supp. at 11, but Norris points out that she
had vastly more experience than the four employees selected for the Metro Way assignment, see
Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n. at 40. In July 2014, Norris had over a decade of experience as a SOM, while
the four employees selected all had very low seniority at WMATA. See October 20, 2014 Pick
Spreadsheet. One of the selected employees, Shikeara DeCruise, had been a SOM for less than a
year. See Walker Dep. 134:2–134:6. WMATA summarily argues that the four employees were
more qualified in its reply but does not explain why, or provide any evidence to support its
argument that they provided a “better fit[].” Def.’s Reply at 6. When challenging an asserted
legitimate, non-retaliatory reason based on qualifications, a qualifications gap between the
Plaintiff and the employee selected can justify an inference of retaliation when it is “great
enough to be inherently indicative” of retaliation. Porter v. Shah, 606 F.3d 809, 816 (D.C. Cir.
2010) (citing Adeyemi v. District of Columbia, 525 F.3d 1222, 1227 (D.C. Cir. 2008)). Here,
Norris argues that she had significantly more seniority than all the selected employees, and
vastly more experience as a SOM than at least one of them. WMATA fails to respond to the
argument in its reply, or to point to any evidence of the selected employees’ better qualifications.
The evidence on the record thus indicates that there is a dispute of material fact as to whether
WMATA’s professed legitimate, non-retaliatory reason was a pretext for retaliation.
30 WMATA alternatively argues that Norris cannot prevail on her retaliation claim because
there is “no evidence that the manager who made the selection, Mr. William Proctor, had any
idea that [she] was engaging in protected activity.” Def.’s Reply at 6. The evidence on the
record contradicts WMATA’s assertion as to who was responsible for the Metro Way selection.
WMATA does provide evidence that Proctor was solely responsible for assigning employees to
Metro Way. See Baker Aff. ¶¶ 23–24. However, one of the facts the parties indicated was not in
dispute is that “Assistant Superintendents worked collaboratively with the Superintendent of Bus
Services to identify and recommend the work assignment for each SOM. Recommendations
were then submitted to Director Baker for review and approval.” Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶ 10.
This supposedly undisputed fact suggests that Baker, who was aware of multiple instances of
protected activity by Norris, was the one with ultimate approval authority for Metro Way. There
is therefore a dispute of material fact as to who had final say with regards to the Metro Way
assignment, and WMATA’s argument fails.
Because there is sufficient dispute with respect to WMATA’s asserted legitimate, non-
retaliatory reason for the Metro Way non-selection for a jury to reasonably find it to be false and
a pretext for retaliation, the Court denies summary judgment as to retaliation based on the failure
to assign Norris to Metro Way.
C. Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment
Norris brought a claim for quid pro quo sexual harassment based on Walton’s alleged
June 2014 statements offering to get her a spot on the AIT in exchange for sexual favors and her
31 subsequent non-selection to the AIT. 10 WMATA contends that Walton’s lack of ultimate control
over the AIT assignment process entitles it to summary judgment. The Court disagrees.
“[T]he gravamen of a quid pro quo claim is that a tangible job benefit or privilege is
conditioned on an employee's submission to sexual blackmail and that adverse [employment]
consequences follow from the employee's refusal.” Burton v. Batista, 339 F. Supp. 2d 97, 109
(D.D.C. 2004) (quoting Gary v. Long, 59 F.3d 1391, 1396 (D.C. Cir. 1995)). Under the
McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework, 11 the plaintiff must first make out its prima
facie case, and show 1) that she was a member of a protected class; 2) that she was subjected to
unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors; (3) that the harassment complained of
was based on sex; (4) that the employee's submission to the unwelcome advances was an express
or implied condition for receiving job benefits or that the employee's refusal to submit to the
10 In her responses to WMATA’s interrogatories, Norris indicated that “[t]he sexual harassment claim was dropped since WMATA reported Alfonzo Walton did not play a part in denying Plaintiff the opportunity to work the accident investigation assignment.” Pl.’s Resps. Def. Interrogs. ¶ 5, Pl.’s Ex. 9, ECF No. 19. However, in response to WMATA’s Motion for Summary Judgment, Norris now asserts that the claim is not waived after all, because “additional evidence has developed after answering her interrogatories.” Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 40 n.6. Norris never amended her complaint or otherwise indicated to the Court that she intended to drop the claim, and WMATA does not contend that it was prejudiced by the waiver’s retraction at the summary judgment stage. WMATA also presents substantive arguments regarding the claim in its motion and reply. The Court will therefore review Norris’s arguments against summary judgment. However, the Court notes that under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party is required to supplement its responses to interrogatories “in a timely manner if the party learns that in some material respect the . . . response is incomplete or incorrect[.]” Fed. R. Civ .P. 26(e). If Norris did not supplement her responses to WMATA’s interrogatories after discovering additional evidence, she failed to comply with the clear requirements of Rule 26. 11 The D.C. Circuit has not expressly indicated whether the burden-shifting standard of McDonnell Douglas applies to quid pro quo sexual harassment claims. However, several other circuits and courts in this circuit have analyzed quid pro quo sexual harassment claims under McDonnell Douglas. See, e.g., Heyne v. Caruso, 69 F.3d 1475, 1478–79 (9th Cir. 1995); Spencer v. General Elec. Co., 894 F.2d 651, 659 (4th Cir. 1990), abrogated on other grounds by Farrar v. Hobby, 506 U.S. 103 (1992); Akonji v. Unity Healthcare, 517 F. Supp. 2d 83, 93–94 (D.D.C. 2007).
32 supervisor's sexual demands resulted in an adverse job consequence; and (5) that respondeat
superior liability exists. See Stone-Clark v. Blackhawk, Inc., 460 F. Supp. 2d 91, 95 (D.D.C.
2006). WMATA argues that Norris has not satisfied elements 2 and 4 of her prima facie case
because her allegations of sexual harassment were unverified and because Walton was not the
ultimate decisionmaker for the AIT assignment. 12
First, WMATA argues that Norris was not subjected to sexual advances or sexual favors.
WMATA notes that “[a]fter being interviewed for a different sexual harassment investigation,
Plaintiff . . . filed her own claim of sexual harassment[.]” Def.’s Mem. Supp. at 4. WMATA
also points out that it “promptly conducted its investigation . . . and concluded there was no
evidence to support . . . sexual harassment.” Id. at 5. But while the timing of Norris’s sexual
harassment claim and the results of WMATA’s subsequent investigation may be relevant to the
veracity of that claim, the Court cannot make credibility determinations on summary judgment.
See Czekalski, 475 F.3d at 363. WMATA’s argument as to element 2 of the prima facie case is
essentially an attack on Norris’s credibility, because it is her word against Walton’s. The Court
will not address it at the summary judgment stage, and will leave the credibility determination
for trial. 13
12 WMATA does not make any arguments as to whether the AIT assignment was a “job benefit” or whether Norris’s non-selection to the AIT was an “adverse job consequence.” WMATA also does not indicate whether either standard is equivalent to the “adverse employment action” standard in a discrimination or retaliation claim. Because WMATA does not make the argument, the Court does not consider it. 13 Besides, the Court notes that Norris has corroborating evidence to support her allegations. The WMATA employee who interviewed Norris regarding her allegations against Walton noted that Norris “reiterated a lot of what [the employee] heard from other female witnesses about how Mr. Walton spoke to women, flirted, was very unprofessional[.]” Walker Dep. 166:7–166:10. And WMATA itself acknowledged in its responses to Norris’s interrogatories that “[t]he investigation revealed that it is highly unusual that several women, who have worked with a male colleague, would accuse him of sexual harassment, if nonce [sic] has ever occurred.” Def.’s Resps. to Pl.’s Interrogs. ¶ 9.
33 Second, WMATA contends that Walton did not have the authority to appoint Norris to
the AIT, because the assistant superintendents worked together to recommend candidates for
Baker’s final approval. See Def.’s Mem. Supp. at 5. However, while Norris does not dispute
the process through which AIT assignments were made, see Pl.’s Statement of Facts ¶¶ 14–15,
she notes that 1) Walton was one of the employees involved in making the recommendations for
the AIT assignment, and 2) she has evidence indicating that Walton played a role in her not
receiving the assignment. See Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 41–42. In the July 29, 2014 e-mail,
Harrington told Norris that she was not selected “based on [her] comments given to Mr. Walton”
about her preference to stay in Virginia. July 29, 2014 Harrington E-mail. Taking all inferences
in Norris’s favor, it would not be unreasonable for a jury to believe that Walton was directly
responsible for Norris not being recommended for the AIT assignment, by making comments to
others involved in the selection process to ensure that she would not be considered.
WMATA does not provide a legitimate reason for Norris’s non-selection in response to
her retaliation claim, but since it did so in response to her gender discrimination claim based on
the same event, the Court briefly addresses it. In its motion, WMATA argues that it selected
SOMs for the AIT “based on the operational needs of the department and in consideration of
[Norris’s] written choices.” Def.’s Mem. Supp. at 11. WMATA notes that “[n]one of the AIT
assignments were located in the Four Mile Region,” when Norris “expressed a desire in her
written choices to remain in the Four Mile Region.” Id. It concludes that “an appointment to the
AIT would have been inconsistent with Plaintiff’s written preferences” and that Norris ultimately
received an assignment from her list of preferences. Id. WMATA supports its claims regarding
the AIT assignment’s availability with a spreadsheet of July 2014 work assignments, showing no
AIT assignment in the Four Mile Region. See Def.’s Work Assignment Spreadsheet, Def.’s Ex.
34 3, ECF No. 17. But Norris retorts in her opposition that there were AIT assignments in the Four
Mile Region, and supports her allegations with a version of the very same spreadsheet containing
additional pages showing that two employees assigned to the AIT in July 2014 worked out of the
Four Mile Region. See Pl.’s Work Assignment Sheet. Because Norris provides evidence that
directly contradicts the asserted legitimate, non-discriminatory reason, a reasonable juror could
find that the asserted reason is a pretext covering up quid pro quo sexual harassment. 14
D. Hostile Work Environment
WMATA argues that it is entitled to summary judgment on Norris’s hostile work
environment claim because the single instance of alleged sexual harassment by Walton is not
enough to create a hostile work environment. Def.’s Mem. Supp. at 6–7. Norris retorts that the
claim is supported not just by Walton’s actions and her non-selection to the AIT, but also by a
multitude of other incidents between January and July 2014. See Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 43–44.
Because the evidence in the record, when taking all inferences in Norris’s favor, points to
pervasive enough conduct to reasonably be perceived to constitute a hostile work environment,
the Court denies the motion for summary judgment as to the hostile work environment claim.
14 WMATA advances a different argument in its reply, and instead claims that Norris was not assigned to the AIT because “she selected shifts that were not compatible to the Accident Team” and WMATA honored “her desire to remain on those exact shifts[.]” Def.’s Reply at 6 (citing Work Selection Choices). This argument is also unavailing. First, courts generally decline to consider arguments raised for the first time in a reply brief. See, e.g., Dorriz v. District of Columbia, 133 F. Supp. 3d 186, 196 (D.D.C. 2015) (citing Am. Wildlands v. Kempthorne, 530 F.3d 991 (D.C. Cir. 2008) and rejecting summary judgment on the basis of arguments raised in reply). Second, Norris indicated in her deposition that the AIT assignment could not be selected on the work preferences form employees filled out in July 2014. See Norris Dep. 135:1–135:14. WMATA does not provide any evidence to the contrary. A reasonable juror could therefore find that this second asserted legitimate, non-retaliatory reason is false and a pretext for retaliation.
35 To make a prima facie case of hostile work environment under Title VII, an employee
must establish “(1) [that] the employee was a member of a protected class; (2) [that] the
employee was subjected to unwelcome sexual harassment; (3) [that] the harassment complained
of was based upon sex; (4) [that] the charged sexual harassment had the effect of unreasonably
interfering with the plaintiff's work performance and creating an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive working environment; and (5) the existence of respondeat superior liability.” Lyles v.
District of Columbia, 17 F. Supp. 3d 59, 67 (D.D.C. 2014) (quoting Davis v. Coastal Intern.
Sec., Inc., 275 F.3d 1119, 1122 (D.C. Cir. 2002)). Importantly, sexual harassment rises to the
level of creating a hostile work environment “only if it is ‘so severe or pervasive as to alter the
conditions of the victim’s employment and create an abusive working environment.’”
Taylor, 571 F.3d at 1318 (quoting Meritor Sav. Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 67 (1986)). Courts
must “look[ ] to the totality of the circumstances, including the frequency of the discriminatory
conduct, its severity, its offensiveness, and whether it interferes with an employee’s work
performance.” Baloch, 550 F.3d at 1201.
WMATA argues that the single allegation of sexual harassment by Walton is not
sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of Norris’s employment. See Def.’s Reply
at 6. However, when considering all the evidence, Norris points to multiple instances of conduct
that together could be reasonably construed as pervasive enough to support a claim for hostile
work environment. In her opposition, Norris alleges that she was subjected to unwelcome sexual
advances by Walton, who offered to get her the AIT position if she would “keep a secret from
[her] husband” and “give [him] some of that[.]” Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n at 43. In connection with her
demotion, she alleges that her request for a meeting with Fenelus was delayed for 30 days. See
id. at 44. After she was demoted, she alleges that she was “returned to BLTR under the
36 supervision of Ms. Pinkard, who provided supporting information for [her] demotion[,]” id. at
43, her leave requests went unanswered for a lengthy period of time without explanation, see id.
at 44, her schedule adjustment requests were denied, see id., she was denied an open slot on a
Four Mile shift, see id., an early straight shift was eliminated in May 2014, see id., and she was
“assigned to a very dirty old vehicle and refused detail services for the vehicle.” Id. And finally
in connection with the July 2014 assignment process, Norris alleges that she was denied the AIT
and Metro Way assignment, and received her sixth choice for a work assignment. See id.
Beyond the arguments made in Norris’s opposition, the record before the Court contains
a number of significant additional facts. Norris mentioned in her EEOC charge that “Walton
would regularly, when speaking to her, make inappropriate and sexually explicit and offensive
comments[,]” see EEOC Charge at 3, and in her WMATA complaint she noted that the June
2014 advances were “not the first time Mr. Walton made sexual advances towards [her][,]”
WMATA Formal Discrimination Complaint at 2. In the complaint in this case, Norris similarly
stated that Walton had made inappropriate comments to her starting in May 2014, including that
her and her husband “ain’t doing nothing” and she “ought to give [him] some.” Compl. ¶ 67.
She stated that Walton had placed his hand on her knee on several occasions. See Compl. ¶ 78.
And WMATA itself noted in October 2014 that Norris had reported that “after [she] began
reporting to Mr. Walton, he began asking [her] for sexual favors[,] . . . frequently talked about
sex[,] . . . [and] would sometimes put his hand on [her] knee[] during conversations.” October
21, 2014 WMATA Findings Letter, Def.’s Ex. 6, ECF No. 17. WMATA also acknowledged that
Walton was disciplined for sexually harassing another SOM. Walker Dep. 108:15–108:21. In
the course of that investigation, WMATA “heard from other female witnesses about how Mr.
Walton spoke to women, flirted, [and] was very unprofessional[.]” Id. at 166:4–166:14. Walton
37 received a fifteen day suspension and a 6-month suspension of his supervisory duties, but
WMATA’s EEOR did not recommend a demotion—and Walton was not demoted—in part due
to the fact that “within . . . the bus department, there’s a lot of fraternization” that the EEOR had
to take into consideration. Id. at 109:1–109:16.
Taking all inferences in Norris’s favor, the record thus points to 1) one instance of sexual
advances by Walton in June 2014, the rejection of which may have caused Norris to lose a
position on the AIT team, and 2) multiple instances of harassing verbal and physical conduct by
Walton over the prior months, including sexual advances and touching Norris on the knee on
several occasions. This goes well beyond the “single proposition by an assistant superintendent”
that WMATA contends forms the basis for Norris’s claim. Pl’s Mem. Supp. at 6.
In this circuit, “even multiple instances of physical contact and sexual advances may not
be sufficient” to sustain a hostile work environment claim, and “incidents involving only verbal
comments . . . must generally be quite pervasive and severe to be actionable.” Bergbauer v.
Mabus, 934 F. Supp. 2d 55, 77 (D.D.C. 2013). 15 Courts in this circuit have accordingly granted
employers summary judgment on hostile work environment claims involving multiple isolated
incidents. See, e.g., Akonji, 517 F. Supp. 2d at 97–99 (finding no hostile work environment
despite five distinct instances of sexual harassment by co-workers over eighteen months,
15 On the other hand, the D.C. Circuit recently suggested that a single, extremely severe verbal comment alone could support a hostile work environment claim in the race discrimination context, which begs the question whether sufficiently severe, isolated instances of sexual harassment may do so as well. See Ayissi-Etoh v. Fannie Mae, 712 F.3d 572, 577 (D.C. Cir. 2013) (noting that use of deeply offensive racial epithet on one occasion “might well have been sufficient to establish a hostile work environment”); see also Jones v. Family Health Ctrs. of Baltimore, 135 F. Supp. 3d 372, 379 (D. Md. 2015) (citing Boyer-Liberto v. Fontainebleau Corp., 786 F.3d 264, 280 (4th Cir. 2015) (en banc)) (noting that the Fourth Circuit found a single slur sufficient to engender a hostile work environment in Boyer-Liberto, and finding that “[i]f isolated uses of an offensive epithet can render a workplace hostile, . . . unwanted sexual contact can do so as well”).
38 including touching plaintiff's buttocks and thigh, trying to kiss her, calling her beautiful, and
asking her to accompany him on weekend trip); Carter v. Greenspan, 304 F. Supp. 2d 13, 25
(D.D.C. 2004) (finding no hostile work environment despite co-worker touching plaintiff on her
knee, placing her breast on his arm, and placing her fingers on his buttocks on separate
occasions).
However, the conduct at issue here is pervasive enough to be distinguishable from those
cases. Norris returned to work in April 2014, after taking leave in March 2014 following her
demotion, and she alleges that Walton began making inappropriate comments to her soon
thereafter, see Compl. ¶ 67; October 21, 2014 WMATA Findings Letter. Norris alleges in her
complaint that Walton made “increasingly inappropriate statements toward [her][,]” Compl. ¶ 67,
and provides evidence that the inappropriate statements eventually escalated to a request for a
quid pro quo exchange of sex for a work assignment in June 2014, see Norris Decl. ¶ 27. In
Akonji, the plaintiff pointed to five incidents spread out over eighteen months. See 517 F. Supp.
2d at 97–99. In Carter, the plaintiff pointed to three incidents over three months. See 304 F.
Supp. 2d at 19. The evidence on the record here points to at a minimum five incidents within
two months, escalating to a very severe incident in which a work assignment was conditioned
upon Norris’s acceptance of sexual advances. And Norris alleged that Walton “would make
increasingly inappropriate statements” and “would . . . sometimes put his hand on [her] knee” in
the period leading to his final sexual advances in connection with the AIT assignment, Compl. ¶¶
67, 78 (emphasis added), suggesting that the incidents “were ongoing, and happened repeatedly.”
Lyles, 17 F. Supp. 3d at 68.
Taking all the evidence on the record, none of which WMATA addresses in its motion
for summary judgment aside from the quid pro quo request for sexual favors, Norris has alleged
39 a pattern of behavior by Walton over several months that includes repeated requests for sexual
favors and unwanted touchings, and culminated in a quid pro quo request for sexual favors in
exchange for an assignment on the AIT. The Court finds that the behavior is sufficiently severe
or pervasive that a reasonable juror could find that it altered the conditions of Norris’s
employment. WMATA’s motion for summary judgment as to the hostile work environment
claim is denied.
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, WMATA’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED as
to Norris’s gender discrimination claim. WMATA’s motion is GRANTED as to Norris’s claim
for retaliation except as to the January 30, 2014 demotion and July 2014 non-selection to Metro
Way, and is DENIED as to Norris’s claim for retaliation based on the January 30, 2014 demotion
and July 2014 failure to assign to Metro Way. WMATA’s motion is DENIED as to Norris’s
quid pro quo sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims. An order consistent with
this Memorandum Opinion is separately and contemporaneously issued.
Dated: October 19, 2018 RUDOLPH CONTRERAS United States District Judge
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