Tran v. California

Summary

The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment and judgment as a matter of law for Caltrans in Connie T. Tran’s Title VII action alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. The court also upheld the taxation of costs to Tran, concluding that Caltrans provided legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons for its actions and that Tran failed to establish pretext or a sufficiently severe hostile work environment.

Holdings

1. The district court properly granted summary judgment to Caltrans because Caltrans demonstrated legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons for its adverse employment actions and Tran failed to create a triable issue that those reasons were pretextual.
2. The district court properly granted summary judgment to Caltrans because Caltrans produced legitimate, nonretaliatory reasons for its adverse employment actions and Tran failed to raise a triable issue that those reasons were pretextual.
3. The district court properly granted judgment as a matter of law to Caltrans because Tran failed to establish discrimination sufficiently severe to create a hostile or abusive work environment.
4. The district court did not abuse its discretion by approving Caltrans's application to tax costs because Caltrans was the prevailing party and filed a timely application.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the district court properly granted summary judgment to Caltrans on Tran's sexual-harassment claim concerning her husband's supervisor.
2. Whether the district court properly granted summary judgment to Caltrans on Tran's retaliation claim.
3. Whether the district court properly granted judgment as a matter of law to Caltrans on Tran's sexual-harassment claim concerning her supervisor.
4. Whether the district court abused its discretion by approving Caltrans's application to tax costs.

Disposition

affirmed