Romero v. Union Pacific Railroad

615 F.2d 1303, 22 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 338, 1980 U.S. App. LEXIS 20282, 22 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 30,679
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 22, 1980
DocketNo. 78-2006
StatusPublished
Cited by58 cases

This text of 615 F.2d 1303 (Romero v. Union Pacific Railroad) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Romero v. Union Pacific Railroad, 615 F.2d 1303, 22 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 338, 1980 U.S. App. LEXIS 20282, 22 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 30,679 (10th Cir. 1980).

Opinion

SEYMOUR, Circuit Judge.

Plaintiff Abraisto Vincent Romero, a citizen of the United States whose national origin is Mexican-American, brought this action against the Union Pacific Railroad, and three Railroad employees, H. H. Brandt, D. D. Sorenson, and A. L. Young, as well as the United Transportation Union and R. B. Murdock, Union general chairman. The amended complaint alleges that the Railroad and its named employees violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., by delaying Romero’s reinstatement because of his national origin and in retaliation for his filing a discrimination complaint with the Wyoming Fair Employment Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Romero further alleges that the Union and its general chairman violated Title VII by consenting to and conspiring with the Railroad in the discrimination and retaliation, thereby also violating Title VII. In [1305]*1305addition, the suit charges a conspiracy in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3), and a common law count of infliction of serious mental distress based upon pendent jurisdiction. Romero seeks back pay for loss of income, compensatory damages for alleged embarrassment, humiliation and mental suffering, and punitive damages.

The defendants filed certain motions to dismiss, contending among other things that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the individual defendants under Title VII, that Romero failed to exhaust administrative remedies provided him under the National Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq., and that Romero failed to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3). In addition, all defendants filed motions for summary judgment on the Title VII claims.

The trial judge treated the various motions filed in the action as a single one for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. He then granted the motion for summary judgment on the Title VII claims without addressing the other issues. On appeal, Romero urges that there are controverted material issues of fact precluding summary judgment. We agree.

I.

The Title VII Summary Judgment Issue

On April 9, 1976, approximately five months after entering service as a Switch-man-Brakeman for the Union Pacific Railroad, Romero was involved in an incident at the Union Pacific clubhouse in Rawlins, Wyoming, with a maid employed by the Railroad. The maid claimed Romero was intoxicated and attacked her. As a result of the incident, Romero was arrested by the Rawlins police department and suspended by the Railroad pending the outcome of a Railroad investigation into possible rule violations.

On April 21, 1976, a formal fact finding proceeding was conducted by representatives of the Railroad. Romero was present and represented by Dick Tritt, local chairman of the Union, and K. P. Murphy, former local chairman of the Union. Romero denied that he attacked the maid, contending that he just covered her mouth because she was hysterical. Rec., vol. I, at 217. He admitted, however, that he had consumed four or five beers during the course of the evening. The hearing officer found that Romero was acting under the influence of alcoholic beverages and conducting himself in a manner that manifested a disregard for the safety of others, thereby subjecting the Railroad to criticism and loss of goodwill, all in violation of General Rules B and G and Operating Rules 700 and 701. As a result, Romero was dismissed from service on April 26, 1976.

Following his discharge, Romero voluntarily enrolled in the Employee Assistance Program of Union Pacific Railroad, a program designed to assist current and former employees in overcoming drug or alcohol related personal problems and to promote eventual reinstatement of rehabilitated individuals. The Railroad agrees that between April, 1976 and August, 1976, Romero worked with the Employee Assistance Program and received favorable reports. Rec., vol. I, at 175, 180. Then in August of 1976, the charges that had been filed in the justice court in Rawlins, Wyoming in connection with the alleged assault were dismissed with prejudice after Romero paid the complainant $500 for the damage to her hearing aid and glasses. Rec., vol. IV, at 38. Thereafter, Romero requested but was denied reinstatement by the Railroad.

In October, 1976, Romero filed complaints with the Wyoming Fair Employment Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charging the Railroad1 with national origin discrimination in its discharge and subsequent refusal to rehire [1306]*1306him. Rec., vol. I, at 91. In April, 1977, he also filed complaints against the Union,2 alleging national origin discrimination in its follow-up of the discharge, and retaliation 3 for his filing complaints against the Railroad. Rec., vol. I, at 92, 357.

Romero continued to request reinstatement by the Railroad until he was finally returned to service, with full seniority and other employment benefits, in July, 1977, approximately fifteen months after his discharge.

Romero contends that his reinstatement was unlawfully delayed because of his national origin and his filing of the discrimination complaints with the Wyoming Commission and the EEOC. In this connection, the investigator for the Wyoming Commission, David Garcia, found reasonable cause to believe the delay in Romero’s reinstatement was the result of discrimination and retaliation, although he concluded Romero had not been discriminated against in the original discharge. Rec., vol. I, at 267-268. After conciliation efforts failed, Romero obtained his right to sue letters from the EEOC on December 7, 1977, and thereafter filed this suit on March 6, 1978.

Following the submission of briefs and oral arguments on defendants’ motions, the trial court granted summary judgment. In so doing, the judge explained his reasoning in an accompanying Memorandum Opinion:

It is asserted that the plaintiff has not carried his burden. The plaintiff has not shown that a prima facie case of retaliation exists. From the facts, it is clear that the disciplinary action was not a result of plaintiff’s Complaint. The reason for discharge was that Company rules were violated. Plaintiff attacked a woman on Company property while under the influence of alcohol. There was a potential of great risk to other individuals and property if the plaintiff was retained in service. The reason plaintiff was not rehired when he felt he should have been was because he did not fully cooperate in the Employee Assistance Program and the severity of the rules violations required complete rehabilitation and assurances that further activities of this sort would not result. Clearly, the disciplinary action would have occurred irregardless of plaintiff’s pursuit of statutory remedies.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Untitled Case
D. Colorado, 2026
Untitled Case
D. Colorado, 2026
Newberry v. Mascaro
D. New Mexico, 2024
Powell v. Laborers Union 1271
426 F. App'x 615 (Tenth Circuit, 2011)
Hubbell v. World Kitchen, LLC
717 F. Supp. 2d 494 (W.D. Pennsylvania, 2010)
Collins v. Wal-Mart, Inc.
245 F.R.D. 503 (D. Kansas, 2007)
Brin v. Kansas
101 F. Supp. 2d 1343 (D. Kansas, 2000)
Reese v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp.
31 F. Supp. 2d 908 (D. Kansas, 1998)
Luttrell v. Runyon
3 F. Supp. 2d 1181 (D. Kansas, 1998)
Lohf v. Runyon
999 F. Supp. 1430 (D. Kansas, 1998)
Rubidoux v. Johnston
954 F. Supp. 1477 (D. Colorado, 1997)
Tietgen v. Brown's Westminster Motors, Inc.
921 F. Supp. 1495 (E.D. Virginia, 1996)
Snowdon v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
932 F. Supp. 1267 (D. New Mexico, 1996)
McKenzie v. Atlantic Richfield Co.
906 F. Supp. 572 (D. Colorado, 1995)
Nogueras v. University of Puerto Rico
890 F. Supp. 60 (D. Puerto Rico, 1995)
Scales v. Sonic Industries, Inc.
887 F. Supp. 1435 (E.D. Oklahoma, 1995)
Ball v. City of Cheyenne, Wyo.
845 F. Supp. 803 (D. Wyoming, 1993)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
615 F.2d 1303, 22 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 338, 1980 U.S. App. LEXIS 20282, 22 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 30,679, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/romero-v-union-pacific-railroad-ca10-1980.