LaGrant v. Gulf & Western Mfg. Co., Inc.
| Citation | 748 F.2d 1087 |
| Decision Date | 27 November 1984 |
| Docket Number | No. 83-1759,83-1759 |
| Parties | 36 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. 465, 35 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 34,794 Charles LaGRANT, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. GULF & WESTERN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., Defendant-Appellee. |
| Court | United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (6th Circuit) |
Susan S. Friedman, Friedman & Friedman, Robert Friedman (argued), Southfield, Mich., for plaintiff-appellant.
Michael A. Holmes (argued), Arthur J. Chmiel, Cross, Wrock, Miller & Vieson, Detroit, Mich., for defendant-appellee.
Before ENGEL and WELLFORD, Circuit Judges; and PHILLIPS, Senior Circuit Judge.
This is an age discrimination case. Appellant Charles LaGrant appeals the district court's order granting summary judgment to appellee Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company. LaGrant originally brought this action in a State court in Michigan, alleging age discrimination in violation of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Mich.Comp.Laws Ann. 37-2101--37-2804. Subsequently he amended the complaint to allege a violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. Secs. 621-634. Gulf & Western then removed the case to the United States District Court.
After the parties had conducted discovery, Gulf & Western filed a motion for summary judgment. The district court conducted a hearing on this motion and on LaGrant's motion to amend his pleading to allege handicap discrimination under Mich.Comp.Laws Ann. 37-1101--37-1607. The Court denied the motion to amend and indicated that it was prepared to grant the motion for summary judgment. The court found that appellant had presented no evidence of age discrimination. Counsel for appellant stated that he could take the deposition of a witness who would present such evidence. The court gave appellant ten days to depose the witness. The testimony of this witness did not support appellant's claim. The court then entered an order granting the motion for summary judgment.
The record supports the conclusion of the district judge that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the district court. 1
The discovery evidence is summarized in this Part I.
LaGrant was employed by Gulf & Western in January, 1970 for the position of Office Manager at its Southfield, Michigan facility. In January, 1978 his job title was changed to Manager, Administrative Services. In both positions he was responsible for office mail delivery, telephone and telex systems, remodeling offices and ordering new furniture, supplies, equipment, and maintaining company vehicles. He also supervised the company print shop and a records warehouse.
Larry Walatkiewicz, who eventually assumed LaGrant's duties, began working for Gulf & Western in November, 1972 as a mail clerk. He did not have a college degree as did LaGrant. He was promoted through a variety of lower level positions and on March 26, 1979, he was promoted to Supervisor, Office Services. LaGrant supervised Walatkiewicz at all times until January, 1980, when Walatkiewicz was promoted to Manager, Office Services.
Edward Klopfenstein became LaGrant's supervisor in February, 1978 when Klopfenstein became Vice President, Employee Relations at the Southfield facility. In late 1978, Gulf & Western began planning construction of a larger office facility, also in Southfield, Michigan. The company planned to bring other company operations into the area.
LaGrant was given several assignments to complete on an emergency basis, in addition to his duties as Manager, Administrative Services. At the completion of these duties in July, 1979, LaGrant required a five-week medical leave of absence due to mental and physical exhaustion. During this leave, Walatkiewicz and Mike Anderson assumed LaGrant's duties. Upon his return, LaGrant was given a "superior" job evaluation and a substantial increase in salary.
In October, 1979, Klopfenstein appointed LaGrant Project Director for the anticipated move of Gulf & Western's employees and offices into the new facility. These duties were in addition to those of his regular position. He was provided additional staff for assistance. He had twelve or thirteen regular employees at his disposal as well as a personal secretary and several temporary employees. Klopfenstein testified that LaGrant did not delegate work effectively and tried to do too much by himself. Nevertheless, he was rewarded by the company for his work during the move.
After the move, in January, 1980, LaGrant again required a month leave of absence due to exhaustion. This leave, like the previous one, was ordered by his physician. In his request for the leave of absence, LaGrant asked he wrote, "leave no time for thought or organization."
Gulf & Western divided LaGrant's duties into three parts and assigned two parts to other employees. Walatkiewicz became Office Manager in charge of Office Services, John Slater became Manager of Building Operations, and LaGrant remained Manager of Administrative Services. After the print shop closed in August, 1980, Slater was demoted from his position and his duties were assigned to LaGrant.
LaGrant's performance evaluation in December, 1980, which was prepared by Klopfenstein, indicated that LaGrant delegated work poorly. His overall performance evaluation was reduced from "superior" to "effective". His 1981 evaluation was similar. LaGrant prepared the evaluation of Walatkiewicz. Although he indicated weaknesses in completeness and self-expression, LaGrant stated that Walatkiewicz "has the rare combination of abilities to make a top-notch Administrative Services Supervisor or Manager." He recommended Walatkiewicz for the promotion to Office Manager in 1979, stating that if staffing problems were solved "additional areas of responsibility could be placed in this position."
By November, 1981, Gulf & Western experienced a serious downturn in its business. Determining that significant reductions were necessary, Executive Vice President Neil Feola issued a memorandum on December 11, 1981, ordering cutbacks in all departments with the goal of achieving a company-wide reduction of ten percent.
LaGrant prepared a memorandum to demonstrate that his department would be unable to make significant reductions. Klopfenstein then determined that Walatkiewicz' department would have to be cut more than ten percent. Klopfenstein decided that he could achieve the necessary reductions by consolidating the two separate departments into one, eliminating one of the department head positions, and reducing the total number of employees from seventeen to twelve. LaGrant was the only member of his department, Administrative Services, to be laid off. Three, all of whom were under thirty years old, were laid off from Office Services, Walatkiewicz' department. Another employee retired.
In deciding to retain Walatkiewicz rather than LaGrant, Klopfenstein testified in his deposition that he based his decision on qualifications and job performance. Klopfenstein determined that Walatkiewicz had higher performance evaluations than LaGrant in 1980 and 1981. Additionally, Klopfenstein determined that the consolidated department head position was essentially a recreation of the old job from which LaGrant had sought relief when he took his second medical leave of absence. The consolidation required reassignment of all supervisory responsibilities for Building Operations, Administrative Services, and Office Services to a single department head. Klopfenstein was concerned about LaGrant's difficulties in delegating responsibility.
Klopfenstein discussed his recommendation with Executive Vice President Feola, age 51. Feola agreed with the decision to lay off LaGrant. Gulf & Western President Edward Harris, age 58, made the final decision. Harris, Feola, and Klopfenstein all testified by deposition that age was not a factor and did not enter into the discussions leading to LaGrant's termination.
In his deposition, LaGrant testified that he believed age played a part in his termination because he could think of no other reason for the decision. He stated that he was not aware of any specific evidence to demonstrate that age played a role in the decision, although he suspected that Walatkiewicz' lower salary was a factor. He emphasized that he had been told by his supervisor, Klopfenstein, that his performance was satisfactory and stated his belief that Walatkiewicz could not perform...
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...federal courts have held that some additional showing is necessary to make a prima facie case. See, e.g., LaGrant v. Gulf & Western Mfg. Co., Inc., 748 F.2d 1087, 1091 (CA 6, 1984) ("[t]he plaintiff in such reorganization cases must come forward with additional ... evidence that age was a f......
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...an employer is making cutbacks due to economic necessity is insufficient to establish a prima facie case." LaGrant v. Gulf & Western Mfg. Co., 748 F.2d 1087, 1090 (6th Cir.1984). The task of formulating a standard to apply in all reduction in force cases is challenging, as the claims may ar......
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