Kilby-Robb v. Duncan , 77 F. Supp. 3d 164 ( 2015 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PATRICIA KILBY-ROBB,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No. 1:12-cv-01718 (CRC)
ARNE DUNCAN, Secretary, U.S.
Department of Education,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Patricia Kilby-Robb, an African-American woman in her fifties, applied for a
promotion to a vacant Management Analyst position at the United States Department of Education
(“DOE”). After interviewing Kilby-Robb and Stacy Kreppel, another DOE employee, the
Department selected Kreppel. Kilby-Robb has now brought suit, alleging that DOE discriminated
against her on the basis of her age and race and retaliated against her for having filed a prior Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) claim. The Department moves for summary
judgment, arguing that it hired Kreppel simply because she was the more qualified applicant.
Because Kilby-Robb has not offered sufficient evidence to permit a reasonable juror to conclude
that the Department selected Kreppel for a discriminatory reason, the Court will grant the
Department’s motion on her discrimination claim. But because Kilby-Robb has produced plausible
evidence to support an inference that she was not selected because she had recently filed an EEOC
complaint, the Court will deny summary judgment to the Department on her retaliation claim.
I. Background
Kilby-Robb began working at DOE in 2000 as a National Representative before transferring
in 2002 to the Office of Innovation and Improvement (“OII”), which administers grant programs.
Def. Statement of Material Facts (“DSOF”) ¶ 1; Ex. 1(OII Homepage). In OII, Kilby-Robb was the
Team Leader for the Parent Information and Resource Centers, Def. Mot. for Summ. J. (“Def.
Mot.”) Ex. 7 (Kilby-Robb’s Resume), which fosters parental involvement in education programs
outside of ordinary public schools. DSOF ¶ 4; Def. Mot. Ex. 2 (Summary of Offices of Parental
Information and Resource Centers). According to Kilby-Robb’s resume, when she applied for the
vacant position she had a master’s degree in developmental psychology and education, was a PhD
candidate in education and psycho-educational studies, and had completed a number of
postgraduate programs. Id. Ex. 7. Before joining DOE, Kilby-Robb worked for over thirty years as
a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and school reform consultant. Id.
In November 2003, Kilby-Robb filed an EEOC complaint alleging that DOE discriminated
against her based on race and sex after she received a low performance rating. Kilby-Robb v.
Spellings, 522 F. Supp. 2d 148, 153 (D.D.C. 2007), aff’d, 309 F. App’x 422 (D.C. Cir. 2009). Just
over a year later, in December 2004, Kilby-Robb met with three members of OII’s senior
management: Nina Rees, Assistant Deputy Secretary for OII; John Fiegel, Kilby-Robb’s immediate
supervisor; and Marcie Brown, Rees’ Chief of Staff. Pl. Opp’n Ex A at 1005. According to Kilby-
Robb, Rees and Fiegel severely criticized her for filing the complaint, calling her “an
embarrassment” and asking whether she “wanted money [or] wanted to be happy.” Id. at 1005–06.
Kilby-Robb eventually brought suit in this Court based on the allegations in her EEOC complaint,
which the district court dismissed on summary judgment. Kilby-Robb, 522 F. Supp. 2d at 148,
aff’d, 309 F. App’x 422.
Stacy Kreppel began working at DOE in 1999 after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in
political science and a master’s degree in public policy. Def. Mot. Ex. 9 (Kreppel’s Resume). She
started as a Presidential Management Intern and was promoted to Management and Program
Analyst in 2001. Id. In 2003, she moved to OII to help implement the public school choice and
Supplemental Educational Services (“SES”) provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,
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115 Stat. 1425 (2002). Id. The public school choice provisions of the Act allow families to move
their children from public schools that are in need of improvement to other schools. Id. The SES
provision provides tutoring and other academic enrichment activities outside of the regular school
day to eligible public school children. Id. At OII, Kreppel reported to Thomas Corwin, Def. Mot.
Ex. 4b at 38–39 (Anderson’s Test. at EEOC Hr’g), the Associate Deputy Undersecretary of OII
from 2003 to 2004, Def. Mot. Ex. 4f at 170 (Rees’ Test. at EEOC Hr’g). Corwin’s duties included
advising Rees on school choice and SES. Id.In 2004, Corwin left OII to return to the Department’s budget office. Def. Mot. Ex. 4f.
(Rees Test. at EEOC Hr’g). As a result, according to the Department, Rees needed a senior-level
staff person to advise her on school choice and SES. Id. She and her deputy, Mike Petrilli, decided
to promote Kreppel into this position. Id. An email from Petrilli explained that Kreppel had
successfully assumed Corwin’s policy responsibilities related to school choice and SES, stating that
she had “more than demonstrated her capacity to work at high levels. . . . She’s basically doing
Tom’s old job on the policy front, and doing it well.” Def. Mot. Ex. 10. (Email from Petrilli to
Margo Anderson, Executive Officer for OII, Nov. 16, 2004). In February 2005, Rees and Margo
Anderson completed the description of duties for this new position, which included briefing Rees
on a regular basis, organizing and leading meetings, making presentations, and overseeing revisions
to guidance with respect to public school choice and SES. Def. Mot. Ex. 11 (Position Authorization
and Description). The position also required a solid understanding of other policy issues affecting
OII, including charter schools, magnet schools, teacher quality, and parental information and
outreach. Id. The two “selective factors” for the position, meaning the primary requirements, were
experience applying the public school choice and the SES provisions of No Child Left Behind. Id.;
Def. Mot. Ex. 12 (Vacancy Announcement).
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Kilby-Robb and Kreppel both applied for the position, and Vicki Cosey, the human
resources employee who managed the recruitment process, found them to be the only qualified
candidates. Pl. Opp’n Ex. B at 307–308 (Cosey’s Test. at EEOC Hr’g). Rees invited Kilby-Robb
to a meeting on August 2, 2005, and when Kilby-Robb inquired about an agenda for the meeting,
Rees replied that it would be an interview for the position. Pl. Opp’n Ex. A at 1074 (Email
exchange between Kilby-Robb and Rees about purpose of the meeting). Rees, with Anderson
present, interviewed each candidate separately. Def. Mot. Ex. 4h at 199–207 (Rees Test. at EEOC
Hr’g). Rees did not prepare standard interview questions or take notes during either of the
interviews. Id. According to Kilby-Robb, the interview did not go well. She says Rees told her to
sit at Rees’ desk instead of the conference table, and that Rees asked questions rapidly, while
interrupting and contradicting her responses. Pl. Opp’n Ex. A at 1002–03 (Kilby-Robb Interrog.).
For her part, Rees recalled being surprised at certain entries on Kilby-Robb’s application that
appeared inaccurate, such as one claiming that she had drafted regulations. Def. Reply Ex. 2 at
213–14 (Rees Test. at EEOC Hr’g). Ultimately, Rees selected Kreppel for the position. Def. Mot.
Ex. 17 at 2 (Rees’ Interrog.).
After exhausting all necessary administrative proceedings, Kilby-Robb brought suit in this
Court against DOE through its Secretary, Arne Duncan. She alleges that DOE discriminated
against her on the basis of race and age and retaliated against her in violation of Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act (“ADEA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 621–34, by awarding the position to Kreppel. DOE has
moved for summary judgment as to all of Kilby-Robb’s claims.
II. Standard of Review
Summary judgment is proper “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and
admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any
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material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
56(a). The party seeking summary judgment bears the burden to demonstrate the “absence of a
genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). To overcome a
motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party must “designate specific facts showing that
there is a genuine issue for trial.” Id. at 324 (quotation omitted). A dispute is genuine only if a
reasonable fact-finder could find for the non-moving party; a fact is only material if it is capable of
affecting the outcome of the litigation. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986);
Laningham v. U.S. Dep’t of the Navy, 813 F.2d 1236, 1241 (D.C. Cir. 1987). In assessing a party’s
motion, the court must “view the facts and draw reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to
the party opposing the summary judgment motion.” Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 378 (2007)
(quotation and brackets omitted).
III. Analysis
A. Race and Age Discrimination Claim
Title VII prohibits, among other things, an adverse employment action on the basis of race.
42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). Similarly, the ADEA prohibits discriminating against individuals on the
basis of age. 29 U.S.C. § 623. Courts analyze both statutes under the familiar McDonnell Douglas
framework, which first requires the plaintiff to demonstrate a prima facie case of discrimination.
Aka v. Washington Hosp. Ctr., 156 F.3d 1284, 1288 (D.C. Cir. 1998); Hall v. Giant Food, Inc., 175
F.3d 1074, 1077 (D.C. Cir. 1999). The burden then switches to the defendant to show that there
was a lawful reason for the employment action. McDonnell Douglass Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S.
792, 802 (1973). If the defendant does so, then the question on summary judgment becomes
whether, based on the totality of the parties’ evidence, a reasonable jury could determine that the
defendant’s proffered explanation was pretext for discrimination. Brady v. Office of Sergeant at
Arms, 520 F.3d 490, 494–95 (D.C. Cir. 2008).
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In a suit alleging discrimination in a hiring or promotion decision, a plaintiff ordinarily
demonstrates that the employer’s stated reasons were pretextual by proffering evidence that she was
substantially better qualified than the applicant ultimately selected, thereby raising the inference
that the employer’s actual reason for its hiring decision was discriminatory. Hamilton v. Geithner,
666 F.3d 1344, 1351–52 (D.C. Cir. 2012). A plaintiff can also establish pretext by “expos[ing]
other flaws” in the employer’s explanation for its selection decision. Id. at 1355–56. DOE here
argues that it selected Kreppel because she “was simply the most qualified for the position and
demonstrated this with accurate and comprehensive answers to the questions that were asked during
the interview and in her application.” Def. Mem. at 6 (internal quotation omitted). Kilby-Robb
responds with three broad arguments in an effort to show that the Department’s stated reasons for
hiring Kreppel were pretextual: first, that the Department improperly “preselected” Kreppel as part
of a broader practice of favoring Caucasian job applicants; second, that she was substantially more
qualified than Kreppel; and third, that the hiring process suffered from a variety of procedural flaws
that suggest a discriminatory motive on the part of the decisionmakers. The Court addresses each
argument below.
i. Preselection
“Preselection” refers to the practice of soliciting a particular candidate to apply for a job
vacancy. Preselecting a candidate for a position based upon his or her qualifications is not per se
improper. Nyunt v. Tomlinson, 543 F. Supp. 2d 25, 39 (D.D.C. 2008). When an employer
preselects a candidate based solely upon the candidate’s qualifications, the employer does not
violate federal discrimination law. Id. (citing Goostree v. Tennessee, 796 F.2d 854, 861 (6th Cir.
1986)). For preselection to raise an inference of discrimination, evidence must demonstrate that the
employer preselected a candidate out of a discriminatory motive or that the employer broadly uses
preselection as a method of disguising discrimination and did so in a particular case. See Glass v.
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LaHood, 786 F. Supp. 2d 189, 224–25 (D.D.C. 2011); Talavera v. Fore, 648 F. Supp. 2d 118, 135–
36 (D.D.C. 2009).
Applying these standards here, there is nothing facially discriminatory about the decision to
preselect Kreppel. Rees and Petrilli’s contemporaneous emails demonstrate that Department
officials sought to promote Kreppel because they believed she was already successfully performing
the specific requirements of the new job in her existing role, Def. Mot. Ex. 10, which is a legitimate
basis for preselecting a candidate. See Nyunt, 543 F. Supp. 2d at 39 (preselection motivated by a
desire to hire a “superbly qualified candidate” already working within the agency raises no
inference of discrimination). There is no evidence, nor has Kilby-Robb argued, that Rees or Petrelli
expected Kilby-Robb or anyone else to apply for this position at the time they preselected Kreppel.
Thus the preselection could not have been designed to mask discrimination targeted at Kilby-Robb.
Cf. Calhoun v. Johnson, 632 F.3d 1259, 1261 (D.C. Cir. 2011) (indicating that an employer’s
preselection was a factor in discriminating against an employee because the employer knew that the
employee was one of only two who qualified for the position and that the employee would likely
apply for it).
Kilby-Robb asserts that preselecting Kreppel was discriminatory because it violated DOE’s
competitive selection procedures. Def. Opp’n at 31–33. She points to testimony by Vicki Cosey,
the human resources manager, who stated that although preselection is a common method of
promoting government employees, she personally believed the practice raises the appearance of
partiality. Id. Ex. B at 328–36. The ethics of preselection in government hiring, however, is not at
issue in this case. The only relevant question is whether this instance of preselection violated
DOE’s ordinary or required practices so as to raise an inference that the actual reason for the
preselection was Kilby-Robb’s race. Kilby-Robb puts forth no evidence that DOE violated any
express or implied policy. As a result, she fails to establish that preselection here was used as
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pretext to discriminate against her. See Talavera, 648 F. Supp. 2d at 135 (without indicia of
discriminatory motive for preselection, there is no evidence of pretext).
Kilby-Robb alternatively argues that DOE used preselection in a discriminatory manner
more generally, citing to statistics showing that only one of OII’s eighteen new hires from 2002
through June 2005 was African-American. Def. Opp’n Ex. C (Promotions and New Hires
Composition Memo from Anderson to Rees, June 13, 2005). 1 Independent evidence of
discriminatory practices can demonstrate than an employer’s nondiscriminatory explanation for its
decision, such as the preselection here, was pretextual. See Czekalski v. Peters, 475 F.3d 360, 368
(D.C. Cir. 2007). While this statistic raises questions, it is not enough on its own to support an
inference that Kreppel’s preselection was discriminatory. Over that same period, OII promoted ten
individuals in the GS-13 to GS-15 bands, four of whom were African-American, four of whom
were Caucasian, and two of whom were Hispanic. Id. It also promoted thirteen individuals below
the GS-13 band, eight of whom were African-American, one of whom was Asian-American, and
four of whom were Caucasian. Id. Given that Kilby-Robb seeks to demonstrate that the decision to
promote Kreppel to a GS-14 position was fueled by discriminatory animus toward African-
American applicants, the fact that OII actually promoted more non-white applicants during the
relevant period instead undercuts her argument that OII’s hiring statistics reveal discriminatory
practices. See Krodel v. Young, 748 F.2d 701, 710 (D.C. Cir. 1984) (relevance of statistical
evidence dependent on similarity to plaintiff’s circumstance); Warner v. Vance-Cooks, 956 F.
1Kilby-Robb also points to testimony by Cosey that government agencies, in the early 2000s, were
not using “outstanding scholar certificates” for their intended purpose of hiring non-white
applicants. Pl. Opp’n Ex. B at 340–41. Cosey further explains, however, that the outstanding
scholar certificate program was not administered by OII, that misuse of certificates was a
government-wide problem, and that the problem was caused in part because the substantial majority
of applicants for applicable, entry-level positions were Caucasian. Id. at 341–42. Taken as a
whole, Cosey’s testimony regarding this program does not suggest an intent by OII to discriminate
against Kilby-Robb.
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Supp. 2d 129, 159 (D.D.C. 2013) (statistics not directed towards specific position or equivalent
positions are of lesser evidentiary weight). Furthermore, Kilby-Robb has put forth no evidence of
the overall racial composition of employees within OII, or the relevant applicant pool, to compare
to these promotion and hiring statistics. Cf. Holcomb v. Powell, 433 F.3d 889, 899 (D.C. Cir.
2006) (evidence that agency “employs members of plaintiff’s protected class at rates far below their
numbers in the applicant pool and the general population” permits an inference of discrimination)
(citing Aka, 156 F.3d at 1295 n.11).
ii. Qualifications
Kilby-Robb also argues that Kreppel’s hiring was discriminatory because she was more
qualified than Kreppel. Employers have discretion to select among equally qualified candidates as
long as their decisions are based on lawful criteria. Texas Dep’t of Community Affairs v. Burdine,
450 U.S. 248, 259 (1981). But a jury can infer discrimination if “a reasonable employer would
have found the plaintiff to be significantly better qualified for the job[.]” Hamilton, 666 F.3d at
1352 (citing Aka, 156 F.3d at 1294). If a reasonable jury would disagree with the employer’s
decision but find the question a close call, then the jury could not infer discrimination solely on the
basis of qualifications. Id. “To justify an inference of discrimination,” then, “the qualifications gap
must be great enough to by inherently indicative of discrimination.” Holcomb, 433 F.3d at 897
(citing Lathram v. Snow, 336 F.3d 1085, 1091 (D.C. Cir. 2003)); see also Fischbach v. D.C. Dep’t
of Corr., 86 F.3d 1180, 1183 (D.C. Cir. 1996) (“Title VII liability cannot rest solely upon a judge’s
determination that an employer misjudged the relative qualifications of admittedly qualified
candidates.”).
The D.C. Circuit’s prior cases on qualification gaps provide a useful framework for the
Court’s analysis of this issue. In Aka, the Circuit held that a reasonable jury could infer pretext
when the successful candidate for a pharmacy technician position had two months of directly
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relevant prior experience and no college education, while the plaintiff had 19 years of experience as
a hospital orderly and a master’s degree in business and professional administration. 156 F.3d at1296–97. In Hamilton, the person selected had no college degree or formal training and had
approximately eight years of relevant experience, little of which was from the decade immediately
preceding the hiring decision. 666 F.3d at 1353. The plaintiff, by contrast, had a master’s degree in
the field and 19 years of direct experience. Id. Even there, however, the court found that whether
the plaintiff was “‘significantly’” more qualified was a close question, requiring review of factors
other than the qualification gap. Id. at 1352 (quoting Holcomb, 433 F.3d at 897).
Here, OII listed several requirements for the Management Analyst position, but policy
expertise in SES and school choice were paramount. Def. Mot. Ex. 12 (Vacancy Announcement).
The department’s vacancy announcement listed the major duties and requirements as: 1) advising
OII management on the effectiveness of programs and operations; 2) possessing a deep
understanding of SES, school choice, and teacher quality to provide policy advice; 3) conducting
research, organizing and leading meetings, making presentations, and overseeing revisions to
guidance, with respect to school choice and SES; and 4) advising on charter schools, magnet
schools, teacher quality, and parental information and outreach. Def. Mot. Ex. 12 (Vacancy
Announcement). The Department listed the two “selective factors,” which are the primary criteria
required for the position, as experience with the SES and school choice provisions of No Child Left
Behind. Def. Mot. Ex. 11 (Position Authorization and Description); Ex. 12 (Vacancy
Announcement). It stated that the applicant’s “[w]ork in these areas must include extensive policy
analysis, editing, writing, and speaking on these issues.” Id. Ex. 11. These requirements make
clear that the position requires experience researching and advising on public school choice and
SES, as well as leading meetings and making presentations.
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Kreppel’s resume and application clearly demonstrate her expertise in the position’s central
tasks. She essentially performed the job during the prior two years, when she supported “the
effective implementation of the public school choice and SES provisions of NCLB,” Pl. Opp’n Ex.
A at 1242 (Kreppel’s Vacancy Application), advised Rees on policy issues, and drafted documents
and performed research on public school choice and SES. Id.; Def. Reply Ex. 11 at 175 (Rees’
Test.at EEOC Hr’g). Specifically, she had written numerous policy papers on SES and school
choice, including “the ‘Boehner-Gregg’ report, which provided thorough and detailed information
on six States’ and six districts’ implementation of school choice and SES.” Pl. Opp’n Ex. A. at
1243. Indeed, Kilby-Robb’s argument that the position was written with Kreppel in mind implicitly
acknowledges that the requirements of the position were closely aligned with Kreppel’s past work,
which included performing the responsibilities of the job after Corwin left OII. Pl. Opp’n at 30;
Def. Mot. Ex. 10. As explained previously, preselection is not itself evidence of discrimination, and
in this case only reinforces how well-qualified Kreppel was for this position.
Kilby-Robb contends that Kreppel could not possibly have taken over policy research in
SES and school choice because she had only a master’s degree and four years of work experience at
DOE by the time Corwin left. Pl. Opp’n at 36–37. Kilby-Robb does not explain, however, what
further qualifications an individual might need in order to perform in-depth policy research. She
merely posits that, as a matter of course, it would be “absurd” to believe a person could become an
expert in a set of regulations over this period of time. Id. Kilby-Robb also claims that she
personally knows that Kreppel is not a subject matter expert because, while Kreppel was an intern,
Kilby-Robb saw her give a PowerPoint presentation that did not demonstrate in-depth expertise in
SES and school choice. Pl. Opp’n Ex. E ¶ 22 (Kilby-Robb Decl.). But this is not inconsistent with
Kreppel becoming a subject matter expert in the time since she worked as an intern. And simply
because Kreppel had been given a low-level assignment while an intern does not mean she was
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incapable of work requiring more expertise. For example, Kreppel explained in her application
questionnaire that she leads a weekly school choice and SES Working Group by creating the agenda
and presenting to senior leadership. Pl. Opp’n Ex. A at 1244. She also states that she had
“presented SES and school choice data to public audiences at numerous conferences and
workshops” and regularly presents on SES and school choice to senior leadership within OII. Id.Aside from viewing certain presentations, Kilby-Robb acknowledged that she had no personal
knowledge of what Kreppel’s actual job duties were. Def. Reply Ex. 15 at 3 (Pl. Resp. to Def. First
Set of Req. for Admis.).
Given that Kreppel was clearly qualified for the position, Kilby-Robb has a high bar to meet
in order to show that she was so much more qualified that a jury could reasonably conclude DOE
selected Kreppel for discriminatory reasons. Kilby-Robb’s qualifications, however, were less
closely aligned to the position’s requirements than were Kreppel’s. While Kilby-Robb certainly has
significant work experience, education, and training within the education field more broadly, her
resume and questionnaire answers demonstrate minimal experience performing the key
responsibilities of the Management Analyst role: She had never worked as a researcher or analyst,
did not draft policy memoranda or provide policy advice to senior members of OII, and had only
overseen contractors analyzing the SES or public school choice provisions of the No Child Left
Behind Act—along with many other provisions—but had not worked directly on that analysis. See
Def. Mot. Ex. 7 (Kilby-Robb’s Resume). For instance, her response to the application question
about experience applying public school choice and SES fails to mention any work on those
provisions; instead she describes her work as the Parent Information and Resource Centers Team
Lead, a consultant to low performing schools, and a local educator and administrator, but never
mentions SES or public school choice. Pl. Opp’n Ex. A at 1223–25 (Kilby-Robb’s Vacancy
Application). In her opposition to summary judgment, she provided a summary comparing her
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qualifications to Kreppel’s. Pl. Opp’n Ex. A at 1022–37 (Kilby Robb’s Interrog.). But even here,
Kilby-Robb does not explain her direct experience with researching or analyzing the relevant
statutory provisions. She states that she “monitor[ed] and support[ed] effective implementation of
[among other things, the] public school choice, and SES provisions.” Id. at 1022. She also
indicates that she received and disseminated reports and “reviewed letters drafted by others to
provide technical assistance to States, Districts, and local educational agencies on state
accountability systems, SES, public school choice, Parental Information and Resource Centers.” Id.
at 1023. But reviewing and disseminating reports is not the same as researching or drafting them.
Kreppel, by contrast, had significant experience with that precise work.
Further, Kilby-Robb provides no evidence to support her claim that the Department ignored
or misstated her qualifications. She simply asserts that the Department ignored her twenty-five
years as a local school educator and administrator where she administered “the policies in
question.” Pl. Opp’n at 38. Public school choice and SES, as provisions of the No Child Left
Behind Act, only came into existence four years before the vacancy announcement, along with the
rest of that Act. And while Kilby-Robb may have had relevant experience implementing other
programs that moved children out of faltering schools or provided tutoring, that experience is not
equivalent to providing research or drafting policy advice on specific regulations. Without more,
no reasonable jury could conclude that this experience demonstrates a significant qualifications gap
in Kilby-Robb’s favor.
Kreppel’s work at DOE demonstrated that she was qualified for the specific position OII
required. Indeed, her specialization in school choice and SES policy work indicates she was as or
more qualified than Kilby-Robb. 2 Accordingly, not only does the difference in qualifications
2
In her opposition, Kilby-Robb attempts to rely on a personnel expert whom she did not designate
under FRCP 26(a)(2) during discovery. FRCP 26(a)(2) requires parties to disclose experts and
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between the candidates fail to support an inference that the Department’s stated reasons promoting
Kreppel were pretextual, it bolsters the Defendant’s proffered justification.
iii. Procedural Irregularities
Along with disparate qualifications of the applicants, procedural irregularities in the
selection process also may demonstrate that the employer’s justification for a hiring or promotion
decision was pretextual. Hamilton, 666 F.3d at 1355 (citing Holcomb, 433 F.3d at 897)). In
Hamilton, for instance, the relevant agency manual required “documentation of a promotion action
‘sufficient for a reviewer to reconstruct the action in its entirety’ as well as maintenance of
complete promotion files for two years[,]” yet interviewers had retained almost no records in the
plaintiff’s case. Id. at 1356 (quoting Internal Revenue Manual § 6.335.1.12.16 (2002)).
Kilby-Robb contends that Rees and Anderson did not create a standard set of interview
questions or take notes during the interviews. But she does not explain why those practices are
necessary for DOE promotion interviews. DOE’s personnel manual sets forth the Department’s
merit promotion standards and instructs leadership on how to fill vacant positions. Pl. Opp’n Ex. A
at 1261–82 (DOE Personnel Manual Instruction). The manual states generally that interviews
should allow management to acquire additional information about the candidate and enable the
candidate to discuss the position and her qualifications. Id. at 1275–76. Outside of that, the manual
provides no guidance to selecting officials on whether to create interview questions, whether all
candidates should be asked the same questions, or whether to take notes during the interviews. Id.
Kilby-Robb offers no other guidelines or regulations containing more stringent requirements. See
provide a written report of the expert’s testimony. Because Kilby-Robb failed to properly disclose
the expert testimony, DOE did not have an opportunity to depose the witness or obtain its own
expert to offer opposing testimony. Therefore, the Court excludes the expert testimony under
FRCP 37(c)(1). See Wannall v. Honeywell International, 292 F.R.D. 26, 35–36 (D.D.C. 2013)
(excluding expert not disclosed prior to summary judgment briefing); Mitchell v. Bannum, No. 06-
491, 2007 WL 3054863, at *1–2 (D.D.C. Oct. 19, 2007) (same); Kasparian v. Eli Lily, No. 06-290 ,
2007 WL 7700419N, at *1 (D.D.C. April 17, 2007) (same).
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Hicks v. Gotbaum, 828 F. Supp. 2d 152, 163 (D.D.C. 2011) (failure to appoint representative or
investigate allegations not evidence of irregular procedures where plaintiff did not demonstrate
these activities were the agency’s regular practice); cf. Hamilton, 666 F.3d at 1356 (basing its
reasoning on the specific published agency rules that had been violated in the plaintiff’s case).
Kilby-Robb instead points to the testimony of Vicki Cosey, the human resource specialist who
managed the recruitment process, who opined that all candidates should be asked the same
questions during interviews. Pl. Opp’n at 32, Ex. B at 335–36 (Cosey’s Test. at EEOC Hr’g). Even
assuming standard interview questions are preferable, Cosey’s testimony does not demonstrate that
using unique questions is procedurally improper. Nor does Cosey say that DOE typically uses
standard questions, or that the interview questioning here was in some way suspect or unorthodox.
Although Kilby-Robb asserts that Rees asked inappropriate questions, none of the questions she
cited—which include “Why did you apply for this type of job?” and “When did you lead the work
of others?”—strike the Court as inappropriate or discriminatory. Kilby-Robb also accuses Rees of
being gruff in the interview. That alone, however, is insufficient to raise an inference of
discrimination or pretext.
Kilby-Robb further claims that Rees invited her to a meeting without further describing its
purpose, and that she had to send an email response to find out that it would be her interview. Pl.
Opp’n at 6, Ex. A at 1074 (Emails between Kilby-Robb and Rees). Besides the minor
inconvenience of not knowing the meeting itinerary for a few hours, it is unclear what significance
Kilby-Robb attributes to this minor oversight. Nor does Kilby-Robb explain what policies Rees
may have violated or how the manner in which she learned of the interview demonstrates pretext.
Id. at 1261–82.
Finally, pointing to a requirement in the personnel manual that candidates be ranked by “a
promotion panel or the personnel office staff[,]” Pl. Opp’n, Ex. A at 1262, 1274 (DOE Personnel
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Manual Instruction), Kilby-Robb asserts that DOE violated its procedures by failing to rank her and
Kreppel. Pl. Opp’n at 32. But Kilby-Robb has failed to establish that the candidates were not
ranked in this manner. She cites to testimony by Rees, the selecting official, who acknowledges
that she did not rank either candidate during the interview process. Id. Ex. B at 206–207 (Rees
Test. at EEOC hearing). Cosey testified, however, that rankings are not required at the interview
stage, and that the candidates were ranked earlier in the process. See id. at 278–79, 309 (Cosey
Test.) (explaining DOE candidate rating procedures). Absent some specific evidence by Kilby-
Robb as to how candidates must be ranked and how that process was violated, she has not put forth
evidence demonstrating irregular practices. Accordingly, the Court will dismiss Kilby-Robb’s
discrimination claims under Title VII and the ADEA.
B. Retaliation Claim
Kilby-Robb also alleges that the Department promoted Kreppel over her in retaliation for
her prior EEOC claim of race discrimination. To make out a prima facie case of retaliation, a
plaintiff must show that “(1) [s]he engaged in protected activity; (2) [s]he was subjected to an
adverse employment action; and (3) there was a causal link between the protected activity and the
adverse action.” Hamilton, 666 F.3d at 1357 (quoting Woodruff v. Peters, 482 F.3d 521, 529 (D.C.
Cir. 2007)). An EEOC complaint constitutes protected activity, and nonselection for a promotion
can constitute an adverse employment action. See id. The Supreme Court recently held that in
retaliation suits under Title VII, a plaintiff must show that retaliation was a “but for” cause of the
adverse employment action, meaning “that the unlawful retaliation would not have occurred in the
absence of the alleged wrongful action or actions of the employer.” Univ. of Tex. Sw. Med. Ctr. v.
Nassar, 133 S. Ct. 2517, 2533 (2013). The same burden-shifting framework applies to retaliation
claims as to discrimination claims; once a defendant demonstrates a nondiscriminatory justification
for the adverse action, “a court reviewing summary judgment looks to whether a reasonable jury
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could infer retaliation from all the evidence, which includes not only the prima facie case but also
the evidence the plaintiff offers to attack the employer’s proffered explanation for its action and
[plaintiff’s] evidence of retaliation.” Gaujacq v. EDF, Inc., 601 F.3d 565, 577 (D.C. Cir. 2010)
(quotation omitted).
Kilby-Robb filed her EEOC complaint against the Department in November 2003. Kilby-
Robb, 522 F. Supp. 2d at 153. She alleges that in a December 2004 meeting Rees asked her if she
“wanted money [or] wanted to be happy,” and that John Fiegel, her immediate supervisor, called
her an embarrassment and repeated several times that she had made a mockery out of civil rights by
filing her EEOC complaint. Pl. Opp’n Ex. A at 1005–06. Rees and Fiegel allegedly added that
Kilby-Robb “had no right to file” her EEOC complaint. Id.Temporal proximity between an adverse employment action and protected activity may
alone raise an inference of discrimination sufficient to overcome summary judgment. Hamilton,
666 F.3d at 1357. Here, however, Kilby-Robb filed her November 2003 EEOC complaint twenty
months before the August 2005 hiring decision, which is too attenuated to support an inference of
retaliation. See id. at 1357–58 (delay of more than three months is generally too long to support
inference of retaliation). But a plaintiff claiming retaliation may also provide direct evidence—
meaning “expressions by the decision maker that are evidence of discriminatory or retaliatory
intent[,]” Hampton v. Vilsack, 760 F. Supp. 2d 38, 49 (2011)—in lieu of temporal proximity.
Dudley v. Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth., 924 F. Supp. 2d 141, 180 (D.D.C. 2013) (citing
Winston v. Clough, 712 F. Supp. 2d 1, 11 (D.D.C. 2010). Kilby-Robb’s account of the statements
of Rees and others at the December 2004 meeting, which the Court must accept as true for the
purpose of this summary judgment motion, is direct evidence tending to show that Rees harbored a
retaliatory animus towards Kilby-Robb. Although Rees’ statements are not specifically tied to the
selection decision at issue here, they are sufficient for a reasonable jury to infer that Rees’ opinion
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of Kilby-Robb’s EEO complaint influenced her later hiring decision. Kilby-Robb’s retaliation
claim thus turns on questions of intent and witness credibility, which are not appropriately resolved
on summary judgment.
To establish causation under the Supreme Court’s recent line of cases, Kilby-Robb must
demonstrate that retaliation was the “but for” cause of the adverse employment action, a more
restrictive standard than for claims of discrimination. See Nassar, 133 S. Ct. at 2533. While Kilby-
Robb has not presented sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to conclude that she was
substantially more qualified than Kreppel, the relative difference in their qualifications does not so
greatly favor Kreppel that no reasonable jury could conclude Kilby-Robb would have been
promoted but for the alleged retaliatory animus of Rees. A fellow court in this district reasoned
similarly in Youssef v. Holder, No. 11-1362, 2014 WL 3796393 (D.D.C. Aug. 1, 2014). There, the
court granted summary judgment to the employer on the plaintiff’s claim of national origin
discrimination because the plaintiff failed to demonstrate that he was significantly more qualified
than the selectee, but it permitted the plaintiff’s retaliation claim to go forward. Id. at *2. The
defendant moved for reconsideration, arguing that Nassar compelled the opposite result, but the
court reasoned that the plaintiff’s failure to prove superior qualifications was not necessarily
inconsistent with a jury finding that retaliation was the but for cause of his nonselection. Id. While
this is a close case, the Court concludes for similar reasons that Kilby-Robb has put forth sufficient
evidence to support an inference of retaliation and thus survive summary judgment on this claim.
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IV. Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, the Court will grant Defendants’ motion for summary
judgment with respect to Kilby-Robb’s claims of discrimination under Title VII and the ADEA and
deny its motion with respect to Kilby-Robb’s claims of retaliation. The Court will issue an order
consistent with this memorandum opinion.
CHRISTOPHER R. COOPER
United States District Judge
Date: January 8, 2015
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