Rowan v. Lockheed Martin

Opinion

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206 2 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed No. 02-6160 ELECTRONIC CITATION: 2004 FED App. 0076P (6th Cir.) Martin Energy Systems File Name: 04a0076p.06 _________________ UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS COUNSEL FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ARGUED: David A. Burkhalter, II, BURKHALTER, _________________ RAYSON & ASSOCIATES, Knoxville, Tennessee, for Appellants. Edward G. Phillips, KRAMER, RAYSON, ROSCOE C. ROWAN, III and X LEAKE, RODGERS & MORGAN, Knoxville, Tennessee, CHARLES A. WASHINGTON , - for Appellee. ON BRIEF: David A. Burkhalter, II, Plaintiffs-Appellants, - BURKHALTER, RAYSON & ASSOCIATES, Knoxville, - No. 02-6160 Tennessee, for Appellants. Edward G. Phillips, KRAMER, - RAYSON, LEAKE, RODGERS & MORGAN, Knoxville, v. > Tennessee, Kenneth M. Brown, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for , - Appellee. LOCKHEED MARTIN ENERGY - MERRITT, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which SYSTEMS, INC., - SUTTON, J., joined. FEIKENS, D. J. (p. 12), delivered a Defendant-Appellee. - separate concurring opinion. - N _________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. OPINION No. 00-00361—Thomas W. Phillips, District Judge. _________________

Argued: January 29, 2004 MERRITT, Circuit Judge. Plaintiffs Rowan and Washington are former employees of Defendant Lockheed Decided and Filed: March 11, 2004 Martin Energy Systems, Inc. (“Lockheed”) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at its uranium enrichment plant. They were laid Before: MERRITT and SUTTON, Circuit Judges; off by Lockheed in December 1999 when Lockheed FEIKENS, District Judge.* conducted a “reduction in force” due to Department of Energy budgetary cutbacks. The plaintiffs allege that they were selected for termination because of age discrimination and that they were unlawfully denied alternative jobs at Lockheed which went to younger employees. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendant, and the primary problem on appeal is whether some statements about age and * retirement allegedly made by managers at the company raise The Honorab le John Feikens, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, sitting by designation.

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a sufficient inference of age discrimination to send the case to any event they failed to show that the reasons articulated by the jury. the defendant were not a sham and a pretext for age discrimination. Although we disagree with the trial court as I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY to whether or not the plaintiffs made out a prima facie case, we AFFIRM the judgment because no reasonable jury could In 1996 Congress ordered the Department of Energy to find that the reasons articulated by the defendant for why conduct an inquiry into whether the nuclear workforce was these two plaintiffs were laid off were a sham and a pretext. prepared to deal with the possibility that many of its experts might soon be retiring. Accordingly, the Department II. STANDARD OF REVIEW established the “Chiles Commission” to look into the problem. In 1998 this commission visited Lockheed’s Y-12 This Court reviews the District Court’s grant of summary plant, where the plaintiffs worked. Lockheed reported to the judgment de novo. Terry Barr Sales Agency, Inc. v. All-Lock Chiles Commission that 39% of the employees with “critical Company, Inc., 96 F.3d 174, 178 (6th Cir. 1996); Hartsel v. skills” in nuclear science and technology were in immediate Keys, 87 F. 3d 795, 799 (6th Cir. 1996). In doing so it must danger to retire, and that a total of 78% would be eligible to review all facts and draw all inferences in a light most retire within 10 years. Meanwhile, the Department of favorable to the non-moving party. Anderson v. Liberty Energy’s budget had been steadily declining throughout the Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). That is not to say that 1990’s, causing contractors like Lockheed to make severe job it only reviews evidence favorable to the non-moving party. cuts. In one of these reductions in force the plaintiffs lost Instead, it must review all the evidence in the record. Reeves their jobs. v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 148-49 (2000). The plaintiffs’ work at the plant did not place them in the critical skills category of workers. They each worked in the III. DISCUSSION Clean Air section of the Environmental Compliance Department, Rowan as an “air permit engineer” and Plaintiffs can establish an age discrimination case in two Washington in a “technical support” role, both helping to different ways. First, they can follow the McDonnell Douglas ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act. Rowan, who was burden-shifting analysis. Manzer v. Diamond Shamrock 57 when terminated, and Washington, who was 63, allege that Chemicals Co., 29 F.3d 1078, 1081 (6th Cir. 1994) (citing some of their supervisors made statements about the need to McDonnell Douglas v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802 (1973)). lower the average age at the plant in connection with the According to this analysis, plaintiffs first establish a prima layoffs. They also allege that their immediate supervisor facie case of age discrimination. Id. At that point the burden occasionally called them “old farts.” For its part, Lockheed shifts to the defendant, who must give legitimate, non- offers substantial evidence that its decisions were motivated discriminatory reasons for the adverse employment decision. by legitimate, non-age-biased reasons. LaPointe v. United Auto Workers Local 600, 8 F.3d 376, 379 (6th Cir. 1993) (citing McDonnell, 411 U.S. at 802). If they The trial court judge awarded summary judgment to the do so, the burden shifts back to the plaintiffs, who must defendant on the grounds that the plaintiffs had failed to make establish that the legitimate reasons offered by the defendant out a prima facie case of age discrimination, and because in were just a pretext for decisions actually motivated by an No. 02-6160 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed 5 6 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed No. 02-6160 Martin Energy Systems Martin Energy Systems

unlawful bias against age. Id. This was the test followed by because of their age. Instead, they point to several statements the district court, who concluded that the plaintiffs had failed allegedly made by various members of Lockheed’s to make out a prima facie case, and that even if they had made management about the general need to lower the average age such a case they had failed to show that the reasons offered by of their workforce. Even if such statements were made, they the defense were only a pretext. would not constitute direct evidence of age-based bias against these particular plaintiffs. They might, however, raise some In order to establish a prima facie case of age suspicion as to Lockheed’s motives, and to that extent we discrimination, plaintiffs must show (1) that they were disagree with the district court that the plaintiffs fail to make members of a protected age class; (2) that they were out even a prima facie case of discrimination. But even discharged; (3) that they were qualified for the positions they granting that the plaintiffs made out a prima facie case, when held; and (4) that they were replaced by a younger worker. understood in context these statements could not lead a Cox v. DOT, 53 F.3d 146, 150 (6th Cir. 1995). However, in reasonable jury to conclude that the numerous legitimate “reduction in force” cases like this one, the fourth prong is reasons offered by Lockheed were merely a pretext for age- modified so that the plaintiffs must provide “additional direct, biased discrimination. circumstantial, or statistical evidence tending to indicate that the employer singled out the plaintiff for discharge for As the Supreme Court has pointed out, the ADEA “was impermissible reasons.” Ercegovich v. Goodyear Tire & prompted by [a] concern that older workers were being Rubber Co., 154 F.3d 344, 350 (6th Cir. 1998). If the deprived of employment on the basis of inaccurate and plaintiffs have made out a prima facie case of discrimination, stigmatizing stereotypes” that productivity and competence the defendant can be awarded summary judgment only if no decline with age. Hazen Paper Co. v. Biggins, 507 U.S. 604, reasonable jury could conclude that the reasons offered for the 610 (1993). Although the plaintiffs quote Hazen for the plaintiffs’ dismissals were only a pretext hiding a proposition that the ADEA “requires the employer to ignore discriminatory motive. an employee’s age,” id. at 612, they take that statement out of context. Employers may not consider an employee’s age for The Sixth Circuit also recognizes an alternative test not its own sake, but the ADEA does not prohibit them from discussed by the district court. If the plaintiffs can establish considering other factors that correlate with age. Id. at 611. direct evidence of discrimination, then they need not go In Hazen the plaintiffs were allegedly fired to keep their through the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting analysis. pensions from vesting, and although the vesting of pensions Talley v. Bravo Pitino Restaurant, Ltd., 61 F.3d 1241, 1248- correlates with age, the Supreme Court held that such a firing 49 (6th Cir. 1995). Direct evidence is evidence that proves did not constitute discrimination under the ADEA (though it the existence of a fact without requiring any inferences. may violate other federal statutes, such as ERISA). Id. at Manzer, 29 F.3d at 1081; Laderach v. U-Haul, 207 F.3d 825, 611-12. Since age and years of service are “analytically 829 (6th Cir. 2000); Jacklyn v. Schering-Plough Healthcare distinct,” a decision based on years of service is “not Prods. Sales Corp., 176 F.3d 921, 926 (6th Cir. 1999). necessarily ‘age-based.’” Id. at 611. By contrast, the ADEA protects against “inaccurate and stigmatizing stereotypes.” Id. The plaintiffs fail to offer any direct evidence of at 610. Similarly here, a concern about impending discrimination. They offer no facts which would tie the retirements of nuclear scientists and skilled workers is not the decision to select Rowen and Washington for termination same as a bias against age. We see no relevant difference No. 02-6160 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed 7 8 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed No. 02-6160 Martin Energy Systems Martin Energy Systems

between a concern that important employees are about to Seeing the average-age statements in their proper context retire and a concern that employee pensions are about to vest. of critical technological skills disposes of most of the plaintiffs’ evidence, since most of the statements alleged by Furthermore, the legislative history of the Act counsels the plaintiffs were of this sort. For example, the allegations against reading the statute as forbidding any consideration of against Van Hook (the president of Lockheed) and Gustavson age under any circumstances. As this Court has recognized, (an executive vice-president) only include such average-age the ADEA was not intended “to prevent an employer from statements, and the plaintiffs do not even allege that Van achieving a reasonable age balance in [its] employment Hook and Gustavson were involved in the selection of the structure.” Laugesen v. Anaconda Co., 510 F.2d 307, 312 n.4 plaintiffs for termination anyway. By the same reasoning we (6th Cir. 1975) (quoting legislative history from the ADEA). can also rule out one statement made by Eaton, their Instead, Congress recognized that at times an industry may be immediate supervisor, and all but one statement by Stone, faced with the problem of an aging work force, and advised another superior of the plaintiffs, whom they do allege was that such situations be treated “on a case-by-case basis.” Id. involved in their termination decision.1 In this case, the evidence indicates that the concern for the The plaintiffs also allege that Stone and Powell once average age of the work force in the plant was entirely commented on a golf course in 1992 that “the older people motivated by the findings of the Chiles Commission, which should go, bring in some new blood so that they will concluded that the nuclear industry was in danger of having understand the compliance findings.” While the content of a high percentage of its most important, highly skilled this statement cannot be dismissed as a legitimate concern workers retire soon. The worry was not that older people about the possibility of retirements, one stray statement were less capable than younger workers. On the contrary, the allegedly made seven years before the adverse decisions concern was that most of the workers with critical skills were obviously cannot count as direct evidence of unlawful age- eligible or nearly eligible for retirement, and that when those bias in those decisions, especially when the statement is as people retired the nuclear industry could potentially suffer tame as this one. And we agree with the district court that dearly. Although the statements allegedly made referred to even taking this evidence as true it could not support a jury the average age in the plant, there is every indication that concern for the average age was only motivated by a perfectly legitimate concern about upcoming retirements. Being 1 worried about one’s best workers retiring is a far cry from W e point out in passing tha t the district court was too quick to being motivated by “inaccurate and stigmatizing stereotypes.” conclude that Stone was not a decision-maker. Although that might be In this context, statements about average age do not amount the most reasonable inference after a trial, for the purposes of summary judgment the facts and inferences must be inte rpreted in the light most to direct evidence of discrimination. And while such favorable to the no n-moving party, in this case the plaintiffs. Pow ell’s statements might be suspicious enough to make out a prima alleged statement that “between us [i.e., S tone and P owell] we certainly facie case of discrimination, as we discuss below Lockheed made the decisions” could lead a reasonable jury to conclude that Stone offered overwhelming evidence that Rowan and Washington was involve d in the d ecision -making pro cess with Powell. In the end, this were selected from among their peers for entirely legitimate error does not matter, since as we explain herein none of the statements alleged ly made by Stone constitute direct evidence of unlawful reasons, and the plaintiffs fail to show that such evidence is discrimination or are sufficient grounds for a finding that the lawful just a pretext. reaso ns offere d by L ockheed are a sham and a p retext. No. 02-6160 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed 9 10 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed No. 02-6160 Martin Energy Systems Martin Energy Systems

finding that the legitimate reasons offered by the defendant 314 (6th Cir. 1989). The plaintiffs may not simply substitute were a pretext masking unlawful discrimination. their own business judgment for that of the defendant. Rather, to survive a summary judgment motion they must The defendant offers overwhelming evidence that the show that a reasonable jury could conclude that the actual decision to discharge the plaintiffs specifically was not a reasons offered by the defendant were a mere pretext for pretext for age discrimination, much of which was detailed by unlawful age-discrimination, not that other reasonable the district court. For example, the 44-year-old Seeber, who decision-makers might have retained the plaintiffs. In this with Rowan held one of two “less technical” air permit case no reasonable jury could reach that conclusion. engineering positions, was retained over Rowan even though they both performed air permitting support work. But Seeber Finally, the plaintiffs allege that Eaton, their immediate had longer company service than Rowan (25 years to 21 supervisor, called them “old farts” on a “fairly regular basis.” years) and more time in position (9 years to 8 years). More Unlike the statements about the average age in the plant, importantly, Seeber had been responsible for more using such age-based slurs may well betray a bias that older sophisticated work. For example, for years Seeber had workers are less valuable or competent. However, such provided air permit support to the Enriched Uranium statements will not constitute direct evidence. Since the Operations processing facility, the most complicated area of plaintiffs do not allege that they were made in relation to the the Y-12 plant, and an area in the midst of a crucial decision to discharge the plaintiffs as part of the reduction in “resumption program.” Seeber’s experience and expertise force, an inference is required that such a bias may have clearly exceeded Rowan’s, and were needed in order for the played a role in the decision to select these plaintiffs. In fact, plant to negotiate a Title V permit for the Enriched Uranium the evidence does not support the conclusion that Eaton was Operations. Similarly, Lockeed cites numerous legitimate a decision-maker in connection with the discharges in the first reasons for discharging Washington instead of his co-workers place, and therefore whatever statements he made are Skinner and Cunningham. Washington’s technical support irrelevant anyway. “‘[S]tatements by non-decision makers, position was being eliminated, and both Skinner and or statements by decision makers unrelated to the decisional Cunningham consistently received higher performance process itself [can not] suffice to satisfy the plaintiff’s burden’ evaluations than Washington while doing more complex of demonstrating animus.” Bush v. Dictaphone Corp., 161 work. Washington spent most of his time performing F.3d 363, 369 (6th Cir. 1998) (quoting Price Waterhouse v. activities unrelated to the Clean Air program. By contrast, Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228, 277 (1989)). Skinner was the Title V permitting lead, and Cunningham was the coordinator of a program which involved radiological Although Eaton was not involved in the decision to select monitoring using unique regulations. Rowan and Washington for termination, the plaintiffs argue that he was involved in the decision not to transfer them to The plaintiffs allege that they had other qualifications that other jobs within the plant that were filled with younger Lockheed should have considered. In order to prove workers. As evidence for this proposition they cite a discrimination, though, the plaintiffs must directly confront “smoking gun” memo dated October 7th, 1999 from Eaton to the asserted justification for the discharge. Reeves v. Powell in which Eaton writes, “How about you and I get Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 148 together the week of 10/25 to discuss assignment changes in (2000); Gagne v. Northwestern Nat. Ins. Co., 881 F.2d 309, prep for 11/12.” The plaintiffs argue that this memo No. 02-6160 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed 11 12 Rowan, et al. v. Lockheed No. 02-6160 Martin Energy Systems Martin Energy Systems

demonstrates that Eaton was involved in transfer decisions _________________ related to the November 12th layoff. In fact, the memo shows nothing of the sort. The October memo does not show that CONCURRENCE Eaton was involved in the decision to terminate the plaintiffs, _________________ as that decision had already been finalized in August. Nor does it show that Eaton was involved in the decision not to FEIKENS, District Judge. transfer the plaintiffs. For one thing, “assignment changes” are not the same thing as transfers. More importantly, the I concur with the result that the Court reaches in this case. transfers in question were not even being discussed at the time of this memo. The specific jobs that the plaintiffs claim I write separately to state that I fully agree with the Court’s they should have been transferred to were filled either well statement that the evidence in this case “indicates that the before the reduction in force (the jobs filled by Fields and concern for the average age of the work force in the plant was Owens), or well after the plaintiffs had left the payroll (the entirely motivated by the findings of the Chiles reassignments of Cunningham, Evans, Duke and Beck). The Commission...” I conclude from this that the statements latter transfers were related to each other, and were set off by related to the average age of the work force are not suspicious a chain of events occurring between January and May of and therefore do not make out a prima facie case of 2000, months after the plaintiffs’ positions had already been discrimination. Therefore, I would affirm the District Court eliminated, and months after the memo by Eaton that on its conclusion in this regard. plaintiffs speciously call a “smoking gun.” In short, the plaintiffs fail to tie Eaton’s alleged age-bias to any adverse decision affecting them. For all the reasons articulated above, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.