Santiago v. YWCA of El Paso Foundation
3:14-cv-00247
W.D. Tex.Jul 24, 2014Background
- Case: Santiago v. YWCA of El Paso Foundation, Western District of Texas, El Paso Division (EP-14-CV-247-KC).
- Plaintiff alleges racial discrimination/retaliation under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 for firing after reporting a supervisor’s racially insensitive comments.
- Defendant moves for summary judgment on § 1981 liability, arguing no employer relationship.
- Plaintiff admits she was never employed by Defendant; Defendant is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation with no employees.
- Court deems undisputed the facts from Defendant’s Proposed Undisputed Facts and White Affidavit due to lack of response, and holds no employment relationship exists.
- Court grants summary judgment, disposing of the case.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether §1981 liability attaches to a non-employer defendant | Plaintiff argues §1981 can reach non-employers under some circumstances | Defendant contends no liability absent an employment relationship | No liability; no genuine employment relationship; summary judgment granted |
Key Cases Cited
- Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986) (burden on movant to show absence of genuine issue of material fact)
- Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242 (1986) (summary judgment standard; genuine disputes required)
- Foley v. Univ. of Hous. Sys., 355 F.3d 333 (5th Cir. 2003) (§1981 in employment context; non-employers may be liable under certain circumstances)
- DeCorte v. Jordan, 497 F.3d 433 (5th Cir. 2007) (employment-discrimination standards in §1981 context)
- Raggs v. Miss. Power & Light Co., 278 F.3d 463 (5th Cir. 2002) (application of §1981 and related standards in employment disputes)
- Sossamon v. Lone Star State of Tex., 560 F.3d 316 (5th Cir. 2009) (standards for evaluating factual disputes in §1981 actions)
- Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc; evidentiary sufficiency for summary judgment)
- Miller v. Wachovia Bank, N.A., 541 F. Supp. 2d 858 (N.D. Tex. 2008) (non-employer liability under §1981 in employment context (district court))