Mikkelsen v. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 of Kittitas County ( 2017 )

This opinion was filed for record .
FIETE
IN CLERKS OFFICE at. ^'.QOAnn-^ onC!"b^f'n.^1
SUPRBC COURT,ame OF WMStCNOTOM
DATE OCT 19
Pe^o'^
-fer SUSAN L; CARLSON
CHIEFousnce
f supReme^ourt clerk
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
KIMMIKKELSEN, NO. 93731-1
Petitioner,
V. EN BANC
PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 OF
KITTITAS COUNTY; JOHN HANSON;
PAUL ROGERS; ROGER SPARKS; and Filed OCT 1 9 201?
CHARLES WARD,
Respondents.
FAIRHURST, C.J.—The Public Utility District No. 1 of Kittitas County
(district) fired Kim Mikkelsen after 27 years of service. Mikkelsen sued the district,
alleging that, among other things, her dismissal violated the Washington Law Against
Discrimination (WLAD), RCW 49.60.180. Specifically, Mikkelsen claims that
Charles Ward, the general manager, exhibited a bias against women and older
employees and that gender and age discrimination were substantial factors in his
decision to fire her. She also argues that her dismissal violates the progressive
correction action policy the district distributed to its employees.
Mikkelsen v. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 ofKittitas County, No. 93731-1
First, we wish to clarify that under McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,411 U.S.
792, 93 S. Ct. 1817, 36 L. Ed. 2d 668 (1973), a plaintiff need not prove that she was
replaced by a member outside her protected class in order to establish a prima facie
case of discrimination. We affirm summary judgment dismissal of Mikkelsen's age
discrimination claim because Mikkelsen presented almost no evidence of age
discrimination. But we reverse summary judgment dismissal of Mikkelsen's gender
discrimination claim because the facts taken in the light most favorable to her create a
material issue of fact about whether gender discrimination was a substantial factor in
Ward's decision to fire her. The corrective action policy is ambiguous and could
plausibly be read as establishing a for-cause standard for dismissal; we therefore
reverse and remand that issue.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Mikkelsen began working for the district in 1984, when she was 30 years old.
Mikkelsen entered into an employment contract assigning her duties as manager of
accounting and finance for the district. She worked for the district part time to
accommodate her consulting business, which involved advising other utility businesses
on financing, administration, and accounting issues. The district has a three member
board of commissioners (Board) that directs operations. The Board hires a general
manager to oversee day-to-day operations. The general manager works with a three
member management team.
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From 1984 to 2009, Mikkelsen and the district thrived under three different
general managers. In 2009, however, Mikkelsen and three other employees became
concerned with the actions of then general manager Mark Kjelland. The employees
sent a letter to the Board expressing their concerns in compliance with the district's
whistleblower policy. Kjelland resigned from his position, and the Board did not
investigate the complaints. Following Kjelland's resignation, the Board asked
Mikkelsen to serve as an interim general manager. Mikkelsen accepted the position.
The Board later asked Mikkelsen to serve permanently as the general manager, but she
declined. The Board hired Ward as general manager in July 2010.
During her time as interim general manager, Mikkelsen spearheaded the
adoption of a "Corrective Action Policy" for the district. Clerk's Papers(CP)at 317.
At the time, the district had no such policy, which led to confusion and uncertainty
when employees required discipline. Mikkelsen adapted a corrective action policy
from Chelan County Public Utility District. The district management team and the
Board held meetings discussing the proposed policy. The Board ultimately adopted
the policy. Mikkelsen used the policy while interim general manager, issuing a verbal
warning to a line worker and documenting the warning in the employee's personnel
file. Ward also used the policy as general manager, issuing a verbal warning to a
different employee while Mikkelsen assisted as a witness.
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Once Ward began as general manager, Mikkelsen resumed her former position
as finance manager. Mikkelsen served on the management team under Ward along
with Matt Boast and Brian Vosburgh. Mikkelsen was the only female member of the
management team.
Mikkelsen and Ward worked well together at first, but their relationship
eventually deteriorated. According to Mikkelsen, Ward exhibited a unilateral,'"my
way or the highway'" management style. CP at 334. Mikkelsen alleged that Ward
would make impulsive decisions without gathering information and considering the
various consequences to the district. Mikkelsen also claimed that Ward was sometimes
belligerent with her and would undermine her authority by calling her
'"untrustworthy"' during meetings with other employees. Id.Mikkelsen believed that Ward's conduct was due in part to gender bias. She
testified that Ward "had a difficult time with women in upper management." CP at 86.
For example. Ward often talked over Mikkelsen in meetings. Ward would also
regularly disregard Mikkelsen's input. The male members of the management team
did not experience this same treatment.'
In December 2010, Ward began excluding Mikkelsen from communications in
which she typically participated. Ward discussed management issues over e-mail with
^ "What I'm saying is, if I suggested something, most likely it would not have been approved
by [Ward]. But if it was suggested by [Boast or Vosburgh] [the male members of the management
team], he would approve it." CP at 435-36.
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the male members ofthe management team, but he would not include Mikkelsen. Ward
also held some meetings without including Mikkelsen. When Ward first began as
general manager, he would have Mikkelsen act as acting manager when he was away
from the office. But eventually, he stopped asking Mikkelsen to serve as acting
manager and asked only the male members of the management team. Boast and
Vosburgh.
Mikkelsen testified that Ward would frequently refer to the women at the office
as the '"girls,"' '"gals,"' or '"ladies,"' but he never referred to the men as '"guys,"'
'"men,"' or "'boys.'" CP at 318. During union negotiations regarding uniforms. Ward
mentioned he would wear any uniform paid for by the district as long as it was not
pink. Mikkelsen also claims that Ward would regularly rearrange his genitals when he
was around her or sitting in front of her. Mikkelsen did not witness Ward engage in
this same behavior around male employees. Mikkelsen claims that when she asked
Vosburgh about Ward's behavior, Vosburgh told her that Ward has "got a guy/girl
thing with you." CP at 87.^
In March 2011, Mikkelsen arranged a meeting with Ward to address their
communication breakdown and Ward's alleged gender bias. Ward told Mikkelsen that
he trusted her and that he would improve his behavior. Mikkelsen took notes during
^ However, Mikkelsen provided no testimony from Vosburgh supporting this statement to
oppose the district's motion for summary judgment. As the Court of Appeals noted, the statement is
inadmissible hearsay. Mikkelsen v. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 ofKittitas County, 195 Wn. App. 922,946
n.7, 380 P.3dl260 (2016).
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the meeting, and shortly afterward she noted that she "did not feel that [Ward] took
ownership of any gender bias or going around me to avoid ideas that may not be in
agreement with his." CP at 335. According to Mikkelsen, Ward's behavior did not
improve after this meeting.
In July 2011, communication between Mikkelsen and Ward had largely ceased.
John Hanson,the president ofthe Board, was apparently aware ofthe issue and called
Mikkelsen to see how things were going. After Mikkelsen told Hanson about Ward's
behavior,Hanson asked her what the Board could do. Mikkelsen suggested conducting
an anonymous survey to see if other employees shared her concerns. Hanson asked
Mikkelsen to create the survey. Although the survey does not mention Ward by name,
it contains many questions about the "General Manager," including a question that
asked whether "[t]he General Manager is biased on the basis of gender." CP at 265.
Mikkelsen e-mailed the survey to the Board, but she did not send the survey to
Ward. Mikkelsen admitted that Ward might interpret this decision as "going behind
his back." CP at 96. Roger Sparks, a member of the Board, suggested no action
regarding the survey until Ward returned from vacation. When Ward returned. Sparks
notified him about the survey, and Ward promptly fired Mikkelsen. Ward testified the
survey proved Mikkelsen was "out to get [him] and make the [district] look bad." CP
at 152. In August 2011, Ward invited Mikkelsen into his office and informed her she
was fired because '"it's not working out.'" CP at 319. Ward read from a script and
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did not provide Mikkelsen with any other reason for her termination. Mikkelsen asked
for a copy of her personnel file, which Ward provided. Mikkelsen's personnel file
contained no adverse history of being reprimanded, admonished, or disciplined while
employed at the district.
Ward wrote a memo to the Board explaining the termination. In the memo. Ward
accuses Mikkelsen of disrupting the workplace and undermining his authority. He
describes the early months as positive, but claims that Mikkelsen became combative
and insubordinate as time went on. He claims that Mikkelsen disrespected him
regularly, disagreed with his management choices, made unreasonable requests, and
kept information about billing from him.
In response to the Employment Security Department's inquiry after Mikkelsen
applied for unemployment benefits, the district explained Mikkelsen's termination by
writing that "Mikkelsen was an 'at will' employee and was terminated without cause."
CP at 402. The same form provides a series of boxes indicating the reasons for the
discharge, including insubordination, dishonesty, and the violation of company rules.
The district checked none ofthese boxes.
Mikkelsen was 57 years old when Ward fired her. The district replaced
Mikkelsen with Genine Pratt, then 51 years old. In December 2011, the Board fired
Ward for reasons not in the record.
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On November 8, 2011, Mikkelsen sued the district, the Board, and Ward for
wrongful discharge. She alleged that she was terminated in violation of the district's
corrective action policy and in violation of WLAD. Specifically, she claimed that age
and gender discrimination were substantial factors in her dismissal. She also alleged
that the district had negligently hired Ward and that her discharge amounted to
intentionally inflected emotional distress. The trial court granted the defendants'
motion for summary judgment and dismissed all ofMikkelsen's claims with prejudice.
The Court of Appeals, Division Three, affirmed in a partially published opinion. See
Mikkelsen v. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 ofKittitas County, 195 Wn. App. 922, 380 P.3d
1260 (2016). Mikkelsen sought this court's review regarding the discrimination issue
and the corrective action policy issue. We granted her petition for review. Mikkelsen
V. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 ofKittitas County, 187 Wn.2d 1009, 388 P.3d 495 (2017).
II. ISSUES
A. Is the replacement element required to establish a prima facie case of
discrimination under the McDonnell Douglas framework?
B. Can Mikkelsen show a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the
discrimination was a substantial factor in her dismissal?
C. Can Mikkelsen show a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the
corrective action policy modified her at-will employment status?
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III. ANALYSIS
A. Standard ofreview
We review a trial court's grant of summary judgment de novo. Camicia v.
Howards. Wright Constr. Co., 179 Wn.2d 684, 693, 317 P.3d 987(2014). Summary
judgment is proper only when there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c). We consider all
facts and reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party—
here, Mikkelsen. Young v. Key Pharm., Inc., 112 Wn.2d 216, 226, 770 P.2d 182(1989).
B. The McDonnell Douglas framework
WLAD prohibits employers from discharging any employee on the basis of a
protected characteristic, including age and gender. RCW 49.60.180(2). But "[djirect,
'smoking gun' evidence of discriminatory animus is rare, since '[tjhere will seldom be
"eyewitness" testimony as to the employer's mental processes.'" Hill v. BCTIIncome
Fund-I, 144 Wn.2d 172, 179, 23 P.3d 440 (2001) (second alteration in original)
(quoting U.S. Postal Serv. Bd. of Governors v. Aikens, 460 U.S. 711, 716, 103 S. Ct.
1478, 75 L. Ed. 2d 403 (1983)). Accordingly, we have repeatedly emphasized that
plaintiffs may rely on circumstantial, indirect, and inferential evidence to establish
discriminatory action. Id. at 180. '"Indeed, in discrimination cases it will seldom be
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otherwise.'" Id. (quoting deLisle v. FMC Corp., 57 Wn. App. 79, 83, 786 P.2d 839(1990)).
Because intentional discrimination is difficult to prove, we have adopted the
evidentiary burden-shifting scheme announced in McDonnell Douglas.See Grimwood
V. Univ. ofPugetSound,Inc., 110 Wn.2d 355,362,753 P.2d517(1988). '"The shifting
burdens of proof set forth in McDonnell Douglas are designed to assure that the
plaintiff[has] his [or her] day in court despite the unavailability of direct evidence.'"
Hill, 144 Wn.2d at 180 (alterations in original) (internal quotation marks omitted)
(quoting Sellsted v. Wash. Mut. Sav. Bank, 69 Wn. App. 852, 864, 851 P.2d 716(1993)).
The McDonnell Douglas framework has three steps:
First, the plaintiff must make a prima facie case of discrimination by showing
that (1) she was within a statutorily protected class, (2) she was discharged by the
defendant,(3)she was doing satisfactory work, and(4)after her discharge,the position
remained open and the employer continued to seek applicants with qualifications
similar to the plaintiff. McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802; see also Grimwood, 110
Wn.2d at 362. If the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, it creates a rebuttable
presumption ofdiscrimination. Scrivener v. Clark Coll., 181 Wn.2d439,446,334P.3d
541 (2014).
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Second, the burden shifts to the defendant, who must "articulate a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action." Id.Third, if the defendant meets this burden, the plaintiff must produce sufficient
evidence showing that the defendant's alleged nondiscriminatory reason for the
adverse employment action was a pretext. Id. "An employee may satisfy the pretext
prong by offering sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact either
(1)that the defendant's reason is pretextual or (2)that although the employer's stated
reason is legitimate, discrimination nevertheless was a substantial factor motivating the
employer." Id. at 446-47.
Summary judgment for an employer is seldom appropriate in employment
discrimination cases because ofthe difficulty ofproving discriminatory motivation. Id.
at 445. "When the record contains reasonable but competing inferences of both
discrimination and nondiscrimination, the trier of fact must determine the true
motivation." Id.(citing Rice v. Offshore Sys., Inc., 167 Wn. App. 77,90,272 P.3d 865(2012)). To overcome summary judgment, the plaintiff needs to show only that a
reasonable jury could find that discrimination was a substantial factor in the employer's
adverse employment action. Mackay v. Acorn Custom Cabinetry, Inc., 127 Wn.2d 302,
310, 898 P.2d 284(1995).
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C. The replacement element is not essential to establishing a prima facie case of
discrimination under McDonnell Douglas
To establish a prima facie case of discrimination, Washington courts have held
that plaintiffs must prove that they were replaced by someone outside oftheir protected
group—^the replacement element. See, e.g., Domingo v. BoeingEmps. Credit Union,
124 Wn. App. 71, 80, 98 P.3d 1222 (2004)(requiring the plaintiff to prove that she
"was replaced by a person of the opposite sex or otherwise outside the protected
group"); see also Grimwood, 110 Wn.2d at 362. Despite this, the Court of Appeals
held that the plaintiff need not prove the replacement element to establish a prima facie
case. Mikkelsen, 195 Wn. App. at 942-43. The parties do not dispute this issue.
Instead,they disagree as to the second and third steps ofthe McDonnell Douglas test—
whether the district articulated a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for Mikkelsen's
dismissal and whether Mikkelsen demonstrated that reason was pretext. Regardless,
we address the issue in order to clarify that the replacement element is not required to
prove a prima facie case of discrimination under the first step of ihQ McDonnell
Douglas framework.
A review of federal authority reveals that the replacement element may have
been erroneously included in Washington courts' application of the McDonnell
Douglas framework. Indeed, no United States Supreme Court authority, including
McDonnell Douglas, requires the replacement element. In McDonnell Douglas, a
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failure-to-hire case, the court held that a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of
discrimination by showing
(i) that he belongs to a racial minority; (ii) that he applied and was
qualified for a job for which the employer was seeking applicants; (iii)
that, despite his qualifications, he was rejected; and (iv) that, after his
rejection, the position remained open and the employer continued to seek
applicants from persons of complainant's qualifications.
411 U.S. at 802. Some courts, including this one, reformulated these requirements for
wrongful discharge and required that the plaintiff show he was replaced by someone
outside his protected class. See Roberts v. Atl. Richfield Co., 88 Wn.2d 887, 568 P.2d
764(1977). In Roberts, an age discrimination case, we relied on a Fifth Circuit Court
of Appeals case to hold that a prima facie case of discrimination required a showing
that the plaintiff'"was replaced by a younger person.'" Id. at 892(quoting Wilson v.
Sealtest Foods Div. ofKraftco Corp., 501 F.2d 84, 86(5th Cir. 1974)).
Since Roberts, we have used the same formulation for age discrimination and
other contexts. See, e.g.. Hill, 144 Wn.2d at 188 (age discrimination); Riehl v.
Foodmaker, Inc., 152 Wn.2d 138, 150, 94 P.3d 930 (2004) (disabled plaintiff
demonstrated prima facie case by showing he was replaced by nondisabled person).
Relying on this authority, the Court ofAppeals has generally required that a discharged
plaintiff show replacement by a person from "outside the protected class." Kuest v.
Regent Assisted Living, Inc., Ill Wn. App. 36, 44,43 P.3d 23 (2002).
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The United States Supreme Court has not addressed whether the replacement
element is a necessary part ofthe McDonnell Douglas framework, but it did cast doubt
on the element in O'Connor v. Consolidated Coin Caterers Corp., 517 U.S. 308, 116
S. Ct. 1307, 134 L. Ed. 2d 433 (1996). There, the Court addressed whether the
petitioner was discharged in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967 (ADEA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634. Id. at 309. The Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals held that in order to establish a prima facie case of discrimination, the
petitioner needed to prove that "he was replaced by someone of comparable
qualifications outside the protected class." Id. at 310. The Court disagreed with this
element because the statute restricted the protected class to individuals aged 40 or older.
Id. at 311-12; 29 U.S.C. § 631(a). The Court concluded this limitation is irrelevant to
whether an employer discharged an employee for discriminatory reasons:
This language [in the ADEA] does not ban discrimination against
employees because they are aged 40 or older; it bans discrimination
against employees because of their age, but limits the protected class to
those who are 40 or older. Thefact that one person in the protected class
has lost out to another person in the protected class is thus irrelevant, so
long as he has lost out because of his age. ... Because it lacks probative
value, the fact that an ADEA plaintiff was replaced by someone outside
the protected class is not a proper element of the McDonnell Douglas
prima facie case.
O'Connor, 517 U.S. at 312(emphasis added).
Federal courts have relied on O'Connor to diminish and even dispense with the
replacement element in other discrimination contexts. See, e.g.,Pivirotto v. Innovative
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Sys., Inc., 191 F.3d 344, 354-55 (3d Cir. 1999). Nearly every federal court addressing
the issue has held that a discharged employee need not prove she was replaced by
someone outside her protected class in order to establish a prima facie case of
discrimination under McDonnell Douglas. Cumpiano v. Banco Santander P.R., 902
F.2d 148, 154-55 (1st Cir. 1990); Meiri v. Dacon,759 F.2d 989,995-96(2d Cir. 1985);
Pivirotto, 191 F.3d at 354-55; Nieto v. L&H Packing Co., 108 F.3d 621 (5th Cir.
1997); Jackson v. Richards Med. Co., 961 F.2d 575, 587 n.l2(6th Cir. 1992); Carson
V. Bethlehem Steel Corp., 82 F.3d 157 (7th Cir. 1996); Walker v. St. Anthony's Med.
Ctr., 881 F.2d 554, 558 (8th Cir. 1989); Perry v. Woodward, 199 F.3d 1126(10th Cir.
1999); Howard V. Roadway Express,Inc., 726 F.2d 1529,1534(11th Cir. 1984). These
courts generally recognize that rigid application of the replacement element could
result in dismissing meritorious claims. See, e.g., Pivirotto, 191 F.3d at 354("The fact
that a female plaintiff claiming gender discrimination was replaced by another woman
might have some evidentiary force .... But this fact does not, as a matter of law or
logic, foreclose the plaintiff from proving that the employer was motivated by her
gender ... when it discharged her.").
But not all of these courts apply the McDonnell Douglas framework uniformly.
As the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals noted in Perry, although most federal courts "do
not preclude a plaintiff from meeting the prima facie burden when the replacement or
new hire shares the protected attribute," some still require an "additional fact" giving
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rise to "an inference of discrimination." Perry, 199 F.3d at 1138. The Perry court
rejected this approach because it leads to uncertainty in the trial courts. Id. Instead,
the First, Second, and Tenth Circuits have dispensed with the replacement element and
held that a plaintiff need only show that her position was not eliminated. Id.This approach embraces "the basic standard originally articulated in McDonnell
Douglas which only required a plaintiff to show that the employer continued to seek
applicants." Id. 1139; McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802. The purpose of
establishing the prima facie elements under McDonnell Douglas is to "eliminate[] the
most common nondiscriminatory reasons for the plaintiffs rejection," namely,that the
plaintiff is unqualified for the position or that the position no longer exists. Tex. Dep't
of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253-54, 101 S. Ct. 1089, 67 L. Ed. 2d 207(1981). Therefore,"[a]n inference of discrimination is raised when an employer rejects
an otherwise qualified minority employment candidate and thereafter does not
eliminate the position for which the candidate was rejected." Perry, 199 F.3d at 1140.
We agree with Perry and clarify that the McDonnell Douglas firamework does
not require a plaintiff to prove that she was replaced by a person outside her protected
group to establish a prima facie case of discrimination. We already expressed some
skepticism toward the replacement element in Grimwood. There, we emphasized that
the McDonnell Douglas elements "are not absolutes" and that they were not intended
to be "'rigid, mechanized, or ritualistic.'" 110 Wn.2d at 362-63 (internal quotation
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marks omitted)(quoting Loeb v. Textron, Inc., 600 F.2d 1003, 1017 (1st Cir. 1979)).
Relying on Loeb, we noted that "the element of replacement by a younger person or a
person outside the protected age group is not absolute; rather, the proofrequired is that
the employer 'sought a replacement with qualifications similar to his own, thus
demonstrating a continued need for the same services and skills.'" Id. at 363 (quoting
Loeb, 600 F.2d at 1013). This reasoning is consistent with the original framework
articulated in McDonnell Douglas and other federal authority that requires only that a
plaintiff prove membership in a protected class, termination from a job for which she
was qualified, and that the employer continued to seek candidates for the position.
This does not mean that the discharged employee's replacement is irrelevant.
Indeed, "the attributes of a successor employee may have evidentiary force in a
particular case." Cumpiano, 902 F.2d at 155. We hold only that a plaintiff need not
prove the replacement element to establish a prima facie case of discrimination. After
establishing a prima facie case, the attributes of a successor employee may be relevant
to the second or third steps under the McDonnell Douglas framework.
D. Mikkelsen has demonstrated an issue of material fact as to whether gender
discrimination was a substantial factor in her dismissal—^but not as to age
discrimination
The parties agree with the Court of Appeals' rejection of the replacement
element, and therefore they seem to agree that Mikkelsen satisfied her initial burden by
establishing a prima facie case of discrimination. They dispute the second and third
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steps under McDonnell Douglas—^whether the district presented a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason for Mikkelsen's discharge and whether Mikkelsen presented
sufficient evidence showing that the district's proffered reason is pretext.
Under McDonnell Douglas, after the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of
discrimination, the burden shifts to the employer, who must articulate a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action.^ Scrivener, 181 Wn.2d
at 446. The employer "need not persuade the court that it was actually motivated by
the proffered reasons." Burdine, 450 U.S. at 254. The employer's burden is merely
one of production, rather than persuasion. St. Mary's Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S.
502,510,113 S. Ct. 2742,125 L.Ed.2d 407(1993). The employer need only introduce
"evidence which, taken as true, would permit the conclusion that there was a
nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse action." Id. at 509.
The district satisfied its burden here. When Ward fired Mikkelsen, he told her
that "'it's not working out.'" CP at 319. Ward wrote a memo to the Board, detailing
Mikkelsen's alleged history of disruptive and insubordinate behavior. Mikkelsen's
own testimony supports the inference that she and Ward had a dysfunctional
professional relationship. This is a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for
Mikkelsen's discharge. See, e.g., Thornton v. Neiman Marcus, 850 F. Supp. 538, 543
^ Briefly, we note that because the replacement element need not be proved, Mikkelsen easily
carries her initial burden. It is undisputed that she is a member of a protected class, that she was
discharged, that she was qualified for the position, and that the district looked for and replaced her
with a candidate possessing similar qualifications.
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(N.D. Texas 1994) (employer articulated legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for
termination by demonstrating plaintiffs "insubordination, poor work habits, and
history of disciplinary problems").
Under the final step of the McDonnell Douglas framework, the plaintiff must
produce sufficient evidence showing that the defendant's alleged nondiscriminatory
reason for the adverse employment action was a pretext. Scrivener, 181 Wn.2d at 446.
"An employee does not need to disprove each ofthe employer's articulated reasons to
satisfy the pretext burden of production." Id. at 447 (emphasis omitted). This is
because "[a]n employer may be motivated by multiple purposes, both legitimate and
illegitimate, when making employment decisions and still be liable." Id. To survive
summary judgment,the employee needs only to present evidence sufficient to create a
genuine issue of material fact whether "discrimination was a substantial factor in an
adverse employment action, not the only motivating factor." Id. at 447(citing Mackay,
127 Wn.2d at 309-11). Mikkelsen has met that showing.
The record, when viewed in the light most favorable to Mikkelsen, shows that
she was an exemplary employee for over 27 years. Mikkelsen and Ward worked well
together at first, but the relationship quickly soured after Mikkelsen offered
constructive criticisms of Ward's management style. Ward started working solely with
the other male managers and excluded Mikkelsen from electronic management
communications even though she was a manager. Ward appointed the male managers
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as acting general manager in his stead whenever he was away from the office even
though Mikkelsen had a year of experience running the PUD as interim general
manager.
In addition to excluding her from managerial communications, Ward spoke over
her during meetings, "denigrated [her] in front of contemporaries and subordinates,"
CP at 137, called her "untrustworthy," CP at 414, and described her decision to
implement new billing software as "real stupid" in front ofthem, CP at 100. Any time
Mikkelsen offered any suggestions during managerial meetings. Ward would flatly
dismiss them. To be heard, Mikkelsen had to filter her suggestions through her male
contemporaries because Ward would not take suggestions from her. Ward similarly
dismissed Mikkelsen's concerns of gender bias. When Mikkelsen suggested the labor
contract that they were negotiating should be more gender neutral. Ward dismissed her
suggestion and said that he would be willing to wear any uniform supplied by the
District "so long as it wasn't 'pink,'" presumably because the color is stereotypically
feminine. CP at 318.
Mikkelsen believed Ward ascribed to patriarchal gender roles and preferred that
his female subordinates be submissive. According to Mikkelsen, Ward's misogynistic
beliefs were obvious given the way he accepted criticism from her male contemporaries
but not from her, and how he referred to his female clerical staff as "'girls,' 'gals,' or
'ladies'" but avoided calling his male maintenance crew "'guys' or 'men' or 'boys'"
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or other gender specific terms. Id. Even the other male managers noticed how Ward
treated Mikkelsen differently and described this treatment as a "guy/girl" issue. CP at
115. Additionally, whenever Ward entered Mikkelsen's office, he would "pretty
consistent[ly]," CP at 134, "reach into his pockets and rearrange his genitals" before
he would sit down, CP at 88. The fact that he did not adjust himself during staff
meetings or other times when males were present suggested that this adjustment was a
deliberate show of male dominance rather than a gesture of comfort.
The evidence Mikkelsen presented, taken together, demonstrates a genuine
dispute of material fact as to whether the breakdown in communication between
Mikkelsen and Ward occurred because she is a woman. From this record, a reasonable
jury could believe that Ward fired Mikkelsen because she was an assertive woman who
challenged his gender stereotypes, or the jury could believe that Ward harbored no
gender bias and fired Mikkelsen simply because their personalities and management
styles clashed. Either inference is reasonable. Where there are '"'"reasonable but
competing inferences of both discrimination and nondiscrimination, 'it is the jury's
task to choose between such inferences,"'—not the court's. Hill, 144 Wn.2d at 186
(quoting Carle v. McChord Credit Union,65 Wn.App.93,102,827 P.2d 1070(1992)).
We therefore reverse summary judgment dismissal of Mikkelsen's gender
discrimination claim.
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We affirm summary judgment dismissal of Mikkelsen's age discrimination
claim because Mikkelsen presented almost no evidence of age discrimination.
Mikkelsen testified that Ward once referred to long term employees as "old and stale"
and that Ward had a "fixation" on a 72-year-old employee. CP at 90. But Mikkelsen's
testimony suggests that Ward was simply marveling that some employees had worked
for the same employer for so long. Mikkelsen presents no evidence that Ward treated
older employees differently or that her age played a role in Ward's decision to fire her.
The trial court properly concluded that age discrimination was not a substantial factor
in Ward's decision to fire Mikkelsen.
E. Mikkelsen can show a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the corrective
action policy modified her at-will employment status
Mikkelsen also argues her discharge violated the district's corrective action
policy. The corrective action policy grants the district broad discretion to implement
any disciplinary action in any situation. But, when read as a whole, the policy is
ambiguous, and whether it constitutes a promise for specific treatment is a question of
fact sufficient to survive summary judgment. Therefore, we reverse the trial court's
order granting summary judgment on this issue.
The district adopted the corrective action policy in November 2009, while
Mikkelsen was the interim general manager. Although the policy grants the district
discretion to implement various disciplinary actions, the policy emphasizes that
employees should be treated fairly. The policy states as a general principle:
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Corrective action should be fair. This means, while the District retains the
discretion to determine what action is appropriate in any particular
situation, the corrective action should be equal with the misconduct or
performance deficiency at issue, and whenever possible, performance
issues typically should be addressed, at least initially, with an eye to
improvement.
CP at 343. The policy also considers "Employee Rights":
Corrective action must be administered with due consideration of, and
respect for, employee rights and expectations, whether those rights and
expectations derive from employment policies, operation of law, or
contract. . . .
Supervisors will not fail first to review disciplinary actions on difficult
issues with the General Manager, particularly when especially severe
corrective action, such as suspension and/or discharge, is under
consideration.
CP at 344. Under "Reasons for Corrective Action," the policy provides:
Violations of the District's standards of conduct and/or the failure or
refusal to meet work performance requirements are unacceptable and may
result in corrective action. The acceptability ofcertain conduct often turns
on the specific facts and circumstances involved. No organization can
accurately anticipate and list every type of conduct or work performance
that is unacceptable. The District does not try to do so here. Instead, the
District provides some examples, which are intended to illustrate broadly,
without limiting, the types of conduct and work performance it may
consider unacceptable, and to what degree. These are only guidelines. To
be able to respond appropriately to whatever particular circumstances may
arise in the future, the District must, reserve the right to determine the
categorization of, and response to, any conduct or performance concern,
regardless of where it falls within the broad parameters set forth below.
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Mikkelsen v. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 ofKittitas County, No. 93731-1
The policy lists three categories of offenses: minor, intermediate, and major.
For major offenses,the policy provides that"[mjajor offenses and performance-related
concerns are actions typically considered severe enough to call for prompt and severe
corrective action up to and including immediate discharge without prior warning or
counseling." CP at 345. The nonexclusive list ofexamples for major offenses includes
repetition of an intermediate offense, unauthorized use or release of confidential
information, insubordination or refusal to carry out instructions, misusing or damaging
district property, falsifying records, unlawful harassment or discrimination, abusive or
violent conduct, violating the alcohol policy, unauthorized possession offirearms, and
failure to follow safety and security procedures. Following this list, the policy
provides:
This policy is not intended to be a complete list of all circumstances that
may result in corrective action or discharge. The rules set out here are
intended only as guidelines, and do not give any employee a right to
continued employment or any particular level of corrective action.
CP at 346.
The policy then provides goals for implementing corrective action:
The general goal of the District's corrective action policy is to correct
unsatisfactory behavior or performance. To that end, where appropriate
in its judgment, the District will apply less severe corrective action
initially, and more severe measures ifthe problem persists. However,this
is only a guideline. The District does not promise employees a specific
formula of corrective action will be followed in every instance. Different
circumstances warrant different responses. Unless otherwise prohibited
by law, when the District concludes an employee has not adhered to its
standards or performance otherwise is unsatisfactory, the District may
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take the corrective action it decides is appropriate under the
circumstances, which may involve any one or combination of the steps
identified below, up to and including immediate discharge without prior
corrective action or notice.
Id.Finally,the policy provides definitions and procedures for implementing specific
corrective actions in order of severity: verbal warning, written warning, probation,
suspension, and discharge. For discharge, the policy provides:
This is generally used in cases of major offenses, repeated or uncorrected
minor or intermediate offenses after at least one written warning,
continued performance deficiencies (previously identified in a written
warning), or unacceptable responses to corrective action taken by the
employee. In general, discharges are to be reviewed by the General
Manager before being communicated to the employee. In some cases,
however, this may not occur. If an employee is discharged before the
decision is reviewed by the General Manager, the discharge will still be
effective immediately but the District may, at its discretion, reverse the
discharge after it is reviewed. The discharge decision should be
documented by the employee's direct supervisor in a memorandum,
which identifies the reason(s)for the termination,the previous attempts to
correct the situation, if any, and the terms of the termination. The
termination letter must be placed in the employee's personnel file.
CP at 347.
Generally, an employment contract indefinite in duration is terminable at will.
Thompson v. St. Regis Paper Co., 102 Wn.2d 219, 223, 685 P.2d 1081 (1984). But,
under certain circumstances, "employers may be obligated to act in accordance with
policies as announced in handbooks issued to their employees." Id. at 229. For
example, ifthe employer has made promises ofspecific treatment in specific situations
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Mikkelsen v. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 ofKittitas County, No. 93731-1
on which the employee justifiably relies, those promises are enforceable and may
modify an employee's at-will status. Id. at 230. Under this theory, Mikkelsen must
show "(1) that a statement (or statements) in an employee manual or handbook or
similar document amounts to a promise of specific treatment in specific situations,(2)
that the employee justifiably relied on the promise, and (3) that the promise was
breached." Korslund v. DynCorp Tri-Cities Servs., Inc., 156 Wn.2d 168, 184-85, 125
P.3d 119 (2005), overruled on other grounds by Rose v. Anderson Hay & Grain Co.,
184 Wn.2d 268, 358 P.3d 1139 (2015). "[T]he crucial question is whether the
employee has a reasonable expectation the employer will follow the discipline
procedure, based upon the language used in stating the procedure and the pattern of
practice in the workplace." Payne v. Sunnyside Cmty. Hosp., 78 Wn. App. 34,42, 894
P.2d 1379 (1995). "[Wjhether an employment policy manual issued by an employer
contains a promise of specific treatment in specific situations, whether the employee
justifiably relied on the promise, and whether the promise was breached are questions
offact." Burnside v. Simpson Paper Co., 123 Wn.2d 93, 104-05, 864 P.2d 937(1994).
Therefore, summary judgment is proper only if reasonable minds could not differ in
resolving these questions. Id. at 105.
The corrective action policy here contains many provisions suggesting the
district has broad discretion in implementing disciplinary procedures. But these
provisions are at odds with other parts ofthe policy that seem to promise fair treatment
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and arguably establish a for-cause requirement for discharge. Therefore, the policy is
ambiguous and could plausibly be read as modifying Mikkelsen's at-will status.
Because the question of whether the policy constitutes a promise for specific treatment
is a question offact, and because the summaryjudgment standard requires that we view
all factual inferences in the light most favorable to Mikkelsen, we think the ambiguity
in the policy creates a genuine issue of material fact sufficient to survive summary
judgment.
The district contends the policy contains a disclaimer negating any inference that
the policy constitutes a promise for specific treatment in disciplinary proceedings.
Specifically, the policy provides that "[t]he rules set out here are intended only as
guidelines, and do not give any employee a right to continued employment or any
particular level of corrective action." CP at 346. Relying on Kuest, the Court of
Appeals held this provision prevented the policy from modifying Mikkelsen's at-will
status. But the disclaimer in Kuest was far more explicit than the alleged disclaimer
here:
"I further understand that neither the policies and procedures of the
Community, as described in the Handbook or as may otherwise exist, nor
the Handbook, nor any custom or practice ofthe Community are intended
to be nor do constitute a contractual arrangement or agreement between
the Community and myself of any kind including but not limited to
duration of my employment with the Community. I understand that my
employment is 'at wilV and may he terminated, with or without cause, by
me or by the Community, at any time and that no employee of the
Community is authorized to make nor may I rely upon any oral or written
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assurance ofcontinued employment made to me,other than in writing, but
the President of Regent Assisted Living."
111 Wn. App. at 49 (emphasis added). The alleged disclaimer here is much more
ambiguous. One could reasonably read the provision as stating that the district may,
within its discretion, apply any corrective action in a given situation, up to and
including discharge. But the provision does not suggest that corrective action may be
arbitrary, nor does it emphasize that employees subject to the policy remain at will.
In addition to the alleged disclaimer, the policy repeatedly emphasizes the
district's discretion in determining corrective outcomes. See, e.g., CP at 346 ("[T]he
District may take the corrective action it decides is appropriate under the
circumstances, which may involve any one or combination of the steps identified
below, up to and including immediate discharge without prior corrective action or
notice."). Indeed, rather than promising "specific treatment in specific situations,"
Thompson, 102 Wn.2d at 230 (emphasis omitted), one provision seems to state the
exact opposite: "The District does not promise employees a specific formula of
corrective action will be followed in every instance." CP at 346; see also Thompson,
102 Wn.2d at 231 ("[Pjolicy statements as written may not amount to promises of
specific treatment and merely be general statements of company policy and, thus, not
binding. Moreover,the employer may... write them in a manner that retains discretion
to the employer.").
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But despite this discretionary language, other provisions suggest the district
promised to refrain from arbitrary corrective action. Taken as a whole,the policy could
plausibly be read as requiring fair treatment during disciplinary proceedings and
establishing a for-cause requirement for discharge. For example, although the
provisions above suggest the district has broad discretion in taking any number of
corrective actions, they do not state that the district may impose corrective action
without cause. As a whole, the policy seems to suggest the opposite. Near the
beginning ofthe policy, under"Employee Rights," the policy provides that"Corrective
action must be administered with due consideration of, and respect for, employee rights
and expectations, whether those rights and expectations derive jhom employment
policies, operation oflaw, or contract." CP at 344(emphasis added). This compulsory
language indicates an obligation on the employer. See Stewart v. Chevron Chem. Co.,
111 Wn.2d 609, 613-14, 762 P.2d 1143 (1988)(discussing whether statements in an
employment policy were mandatory or discretionary). Discharge is included in the
policy's list ofthe different forms of corrective action. Therefore, taken together with
the "Employee Rights" section at the beginning ofthe policy, the policy indicates that
discharge may occur only "with due consideration of, and respect for, employee rights
and expectations, whether those rights and expectations derive from employment
policies, operation oflaw, or contract." CP at 344.
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The section describing the circumstances for discharge could establish an
expectation that employees may not be fired without cause. Discharge is permitted "in
cases of major offenses, repeated or uncorrected minor or intermediate offenses after
at least one written warning, continued performance deficiencies(previously identified
in a written warning), or unacceptable responses to corrective action by the employee."
CP at 347. Employees are entitled to union representation during any meeting related
to disciplinary action. Supervisors must review disciplinary action with the general
manager, "particularly when especially severe corrective action, such as suspension
and/or discharge, is under consideration." CP at 344. Discharge decisions "should be
documented by the employee's direct supervisor in a memorandum, which identifies
the reason(s) for the termination, the previous attempts to correct the situation, if any,
and the terms ofthe termination." CP at 347. Discharge may be subject to review by
the Board.
These provisions suggest that dismissal may not occur arbitrarily or without
cause. Combined with the policy's statement that corrective action "must" be
administered fairly and in light ofemployee's reasonable expectations,the policy could
plausibly be read as constituting a promise for specific treatment that modifies
Mikkelsen's at-will employment status.
The Court of Appeals has held that ambiguous discipline policies create an issue
offact as to whether the employer made a binding promise to follow certain discipline
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procedures. See Payne, 78 Wn. App. at 42(summary judgment was improper when
disclaimer permitting discharge '"without notice, for any reason or no reason'" was
inconsistent with the employer's "choice of terms" in other parts of the discipline
policy); Wlasiukv. Whirlpool Corp.,81 Wn.App. 163,172,914 P.2d 102(1996)("The
statement 'nothing contained herein shall be deemed . . . to confer or modify any
specific employee benefit' is ambiguous in a paragraph which also states that the
booklet is only a 'general outline' and that 'additional benefits and policies may
apply.'" (alteration in original)). Further, the presence of discretionary language may
not be sufficient for summary judgment when other representations negate that
language. See, e.g., Swanson v. Liquid Air Corp., 118 Wn.2d 512, 532, 826 P.2d 664(1992)("We reject the premise that this disclaimer can, as a matter of law, effectively
serve as an eternal escape hatch for an employer who may then make whatever
unenforceable promises of working conditions it is to its benefit to make."). Likewise,
the policy here is ambiguous because the discretionary language is inconsistent with
other provisions in the policy that suggest employees may not be discharged without
cause. Therefore, whether the policy, the history of its usage, or any other
representations from the district constitute a promise for specific treatment is a question
of fact sufficient to survive summary judgment.
Finally, Ward contends that the court should nevertheless affirm dismissal of
Mikkelsen's claims as they relate to him. He claims that he was not a party to the
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implied contract created by the corrective action policy and that he is immune under
several statutory provisions. See RCW 4.24.470; RCW 54.12.110. We decline to
address these issues because neither the trial court nor the Court of Appeals reached
them. Ward will have an opportunity to raise these issues on remand.
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IV. CONCLUSION
We affirm summary judgment dismissal of Mikkelsen's age discrimination
claim because she presented almost no evidence of age discrimination. However, we
reverse summary judgment dismissal of Mikkelsen's gender discrimination claim
because Mikkelsen presented evidence that,taken together, provides a reasonable basis
for a jury to find that Ward fired her because she was an assertive woman who did not
conform to patriarchal stereotypes. Because the corrective action policy could
plausibly be read as establishing a for-cause standard for dismissal, we reverse and
remand to the trial court to determine whether the policy and any other representations
amounted to a promise for specific treatment in disciplinary proceedings.
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dO.
WE CONCUR:
y
34