Arcenio E. Garcia, alleging violations of the' Civil Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. § 1981) and/or the Age Discrimination Employment Act (the “ADEA,” 29 U.S.C. § 621), sued the Pueblo Country Club (“PCC”). In his complaint, Mr. Garcia charged that PCC terminated him from his position as Grounds Maintenance Superintendent and subsequently failed to hire him as Golf Course Superintendent based upon his race, national origin, and/or age. The district court granted summary judgment to PCC. Exercising jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we reverse the district court’s dismissal and remand the case to the district court.
I. BACKGROUND
Mr. Garcia, who is in his early sixties, is a “Hispanic” male who worked for PCC in various capacities for over forty years. Aplt’s Br. at 3. According to Mr. Garcia’s complaint, at the time of his termination, in June of 1998, his position was that of Grounds Maintenance Superintendent, 1 a position that he had held since 1989. Mr. Garcia consistently received positive if not glowing recommendations from PCC in all areas of job performance. He also received high praise from club members and thе Board of Directors.
Since 1985, PCC had been considering the installation of a new irrigation system to improve the soil conditions of its golf course. The Board minutes reflect that, in *1236 1997 and after considering presentations and proposals from its Long Range Planning Committee, PCC proceeded to put the new irrigation system to a membership vote. The membership approved a plan with an estimated cost of $2.5 million. In conjunction with the adoption of the modernized irrigation systеm, the Board also “consider[ed] hiring a new person to run [the] course.” Aplt’s App. vol. 2, ex. 5, at 3. In March of. 1998, after considering at least two drafts, the Board finalized the job description for the Golf Course Superintendent position, and, in June of 1998, PCC hired John Finsterwald, a forty-one year old “non-minority” to fill the job. Aplt’s Br. at 7.
Mr. Garcia, alleging racial and national origin discrimination under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e) and 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and age-based discrimination under the ADEA, 28 U.S.C. § 621, filed a complaint and an amended complaint. Mr. Garcia later dismissed the Title VII claim. PCC moved for summary judgment on the remaining claims. As noted above, this appeal arises from the grant of that motion and the consequent dismissal of the case.
Mr. Garcia’s complaint did not specify how PCC discriminated against him, (e.g., through unlawful termination, failure to promote, to hire, or to rehire). The court reasoned that the “key issue” that would determine how the court would analyze the case was whether the 1998 Golf Course Superintendent pоsition constituted a “new job” for which Mr. Garcia needed to apply to be hired. Aplt’s App. vol. 1, ex. 5 (Order, filed May 31, 2001). The district court thus sought supplemental briefing as to whether or not PCC eliminated Mr. Garcia’s position when it created the “new” position of Golf Course Superintendent.
After briefing by both parties, the district court, noting the disparity in the job descriptions, determined that Mr. Garcia’s position had been eliminated. Accordingly, the district court construed Mr. Garcia’s claims to allege that PCC discriminated against him by failing to hire him for the newly created position. The district court then noted that because Mr. Garcia presented no direct evidence of discrimination, the analysis of his claim necessarily would proceed pursuant to the burden-shifting analysis of
McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
II. DISCUSSION
We review the grant or denial of a motion for summary judgment de novo, applying the same legal standard used by the district court pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c).
See Wolf v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am.,
A. Whether PCC Eliminated Mr. Garcia’s Position is a Disputed Issue of Material Fact
1. Material Issue of Fact
The district court concluded that whether or not Mr. Garcia’s position was eliminated was the “key issue” in this case because resolution of that issue would enable the court to determine “whether the case should be analyzed as an unlawful discharge case or a failure to promote, hire, or rehire case.” Aplt’s App. vol. 1, ex. 5 (Order, filed May 31, 2001).
2
“A disputed fact is ‘material’ if it might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.”
Richmond v. ONEOK, Inc.,
2. Disputed Issue of Fact
After noting the significance of job elimination, the district court proceeded to compare the old and new job descriptions. Based on this comparison, the district court determined that, under the new description: “The expectations of the Golf Course Superintendent changed significantly.” Aplt’s App. vol. 1, ex. 6, at 4 (Order, filed July 12, 2001). The court also noted that the position’s upgraded responsibilities and increased salary, coupled with the other major renovations inherent in PCC’s long-term plans, supported its finding that the position was a “new” onе.
Mr. Garcia challenges the revision of the job description to include vaguely worded duties that had not been part of his maintenance position, namely, “[mjanagement of advanced irrigation system” and “[developing the Turf Grass Management Program, including ongoing advances in turf grass science.” Aplt’s App. vol. 2, ex. 4, at 3 (Comparison of Oct. 30, 1997 job description with March 19, 1998 job description). Under Mr. Garcia’s allegedly eliminated position, similar duties included “[mjust have irrigation specialist qualifications” and “[mjust have turf specialist qualifications.” Id Mr. Garcia maintains that he was able to operate the sprinkler system and, as such, possessed the requisite experience to fill the position as it had been revised. Perhaps more importantly, Mr. Garcia points to testimony that indicates his employer believed Mr. Garcia was qualified to perform the duties of the revised position. See Aplt’s App. vol. 3, ex. 17, at 124-25; 175-76 (Testim. of Club Manager Terry Stuive that he believed Mr. Gаrcia could complete all of the tasks listed on the revised job description).
In contrast, PCC maintains that the revised job description represented a significant change from the previous position and underscores the new position’s forty percent salary increase. PCC also contends that Mr. Garcia, an at-will employee, never applied for the purportedly upgraded position, although he was reminded to do so if interested. In addition, Mr. Garciа “never accepted” the newly created position of Repair/Maintenance Manager. Aple’s App. vol. 2, ex. 7, at 4. PCC insists that Mr. Garcia’s physical infirmities precluded his ability to perform the duties of either position. Finally, PCC suggests that Mr. Garcia acknowledged the position had been *1238 eliminated. See Aplts App. vol. 6, ex. 49, at 2.
We agree with the district court, that if PCC in fact eliminated Mr. Garcia’s position, he is foreclosed from seeking relief under a failure to hire, rehire, or promote claim. To estаblish a prima facie' case for any of these actions, a plaintiff must indicate that he applied for the position in question.
See Kendrick v. Penske Transp. Servs., Inc.,
We acknowledge that PCC may alter or upgrade the responsibilities of its employees, and that courts should “refrain from intruding into an employer’s policy apparatus or second-guessing a business’s decisionmaking process.”
Meiri v. Dacon,
Our purview is limited, for “whether a new or distinct contractual relationship was formed should not be measured in quantitative terms, like the amount of potential pay increase, but should instead be determined by whether there exists a meaningful, qualitative change in the contractual relationship.”
Hooks v. Diamond Crystal Specialty Foods, Inc.,
Although no bright-line test exists for evaluating a qualitative change in an employment relationship, we may consider whether a position that was previously non-supervisory became supervisory, or whether one position was hourly and one salaried.
See Hooks,
On the other hand, one might read the job descriptions as did the district court and discern that the positions are distinct. The district court focused on the salary disparity and the purported increase in responsibilities. In addition, PCC points 'to evidence that suggests that Mr. Garcia believed the position to have been eliminated. See Aplt’s App. vol. 6, ex. 49, at 2 (Functional Capacity Evaluation for Arse-nio Garcia dated Dec. 4, 1998) (“Client reports he worked at Pueblo Country Club for over 40 years. He reports that his position was eliminated оn June 30, 1998.”). We disagree with PCC that the evidence of job elimination is “uncontro-verted.” Aple’s Br. at 26. Rather, construing the facts in Mr. Garcia’s favor, we conclude there remains open a genuine issue of material fact surrounding the job elimination. •
In light of the disputed facts surrounding the two Golf Course Superintendent positions, we rely on the Second Circuit’s reasoning in
Quaratino v. Tiffany & Co.,
In reversing the district court’s grant of summary judgment, the Second Circuit noted that “[ejmployers have the right to restructure jobs and job responsibilities, but they cannot use that process to implement discriminatory objectives.” Id. The сourt determined that the district court exceeded its authority when it determined whether the “former position remained open or had been eliminated.” Id. Such a determination “was a question of fact that should have been determined by a jury, not by the trial court judge.” Id.
The Eleventh Circuit reached a similar conclusion in
Benson v. Tocco, Inc.,
Finally, in
Atchley v. Nordam Group,
Construing the facts, resolving all ambiguities, and drawing all inferences in Mr. Garcia’s favor, there is sufficient evidence in the record to raise a genuine issue of fact as to whether PCC eliminated Mr. Garcia’s position under circumstances giving rise to an inference of discrimination. The district court appeared to rely on the salary differential and the purported change in tasks, although there is testimony that Mr. Garcia was qualified to perform those tasks.
Cf. Quaratino,
B. Whether Mr. Garcia Can Demonstrate Adverse Effect is a Disputed Issue of Material Fact
The district court also concluded that, even if PCC did not eliminate Mr. Garcia’s position, Mr. Garcia still could not recover. The district court based this alternative finding on a determination that Mr. Garcia could not demonstrate any adverse effect from PCC’s actions.
The district court believed that Mr. Garcia could not establish adverse action in connection with the elimination of his job because he declined to accept the lower-level Repair/Maintenance Manager position. Thus, the district court concluded, Mr. Garcia opted to terminate his employment with PCC.
Whether Mr. Garcia can establish adverse action is a disputed issue of material fact. We disagree with the district court’s assessment of this cause of action.
See Burlington Indus. v. Ellerth,
Although the circumstances surrounding Mr. Garcia’s discharge may be in dispute, Mr. Garcia can likely demonstrate, at thе very least, “a decision causing a significant change in benefits,” i.e., his eventual termination.
Burlington,
III. CONCLUSION
Because the facts stated in Mr. Garcia’s complaint, taken in the light most favorable to him, may properly state a claim of age discrimination under the ADEA, and/or discrimination based on *1242 race or national origin, we reverse and rеmand for further consideration of these claims. 5
Notes
. The actual title Mr. Garcia held is uncertain, but the title averred in the complaint is that of Grounds Maintenance Superintendent. See Aplt’s App. vol. 1, ex. 2, at 2 (Complaint). The district court, and Mr. Garcia on appeal, noted that Mr. Garcia’s title at the time of termination was Golf Course Superintendent. Various evaluation reports and correspondence utilize an assortment of job titles including: "Grounds Supr.,” id. vol. 2, ex. 1, at 8, 10, 12, 14, 32; "Interim Grounds Supervisor,” id. at 34; "Grds Supervisor,” id. ex. 13, at 2; “Greens Superintendent,” id. ex. 2, at 4; "Head Grounds Keeper,” id. at 14; "Golf Course Superintendent,” id. at 15; id. ex. 4, at 7 (Golf Course Superintendent job description). In his opening appellate brief, Mr. Garcia refers to his position as "Golf Course Superintendent” and notes that the position is "also called Grounds Superintendent.” Aplt’s Br. at 3.
. We note, as did the district court, that Mr. Garcia’s complaint failed to present a specific theory as to the alleged discriminatory act. We agree that the plaintiff avoided arliculat-ing a coherent theory for his cause оf action and appears to have gone out of his way to be of little or no assistance to the court.
. Mr. Garcia, although he suggests that PCC's invilation to apply for the "new” job was merely "setfting] him up to fail,” does not raise the argument that his application for the position would have been futile.
Cf. Bennett
v.
Quark,
. We note that PCC disputes that it "discharged” Mr. Garcia. PCC maintains that Mr. Garcia decided to terminate his employment with PCC and opted not to apply for the "new” position. Under either scenario, Mr. Garcia faced a significant change in his employment status, a change that may establish the adverse action prong of a discriminatory discharge case.
. We are dismayed with PCC's reliance upon errata from deposition testimony where that errata strayed substantively from the original testimony. See Aple's Br. at 35-36. PCC relies in part on testimony from the Club Manager Mr. Stuive that the reason he placed an advertisement in the Rocky Mountain Golf Coursе Superintendents' Newsletter was because he and the Board wanted "to have the right person in place." Id. at 36. In fact, however, Mr. Stuive actually testified that he did not know why there was an advertisement run for this position.
We do not condone counsel's allowing for material changes to deposition testimony and certainly do not approve of the use of such altered testimony that is controverted by the original testimony.
See, e.g., Coleman v. Southern Pac. Transp. Co.,
The purpose of Rule 30(e) is obvious. Should the reporter make a substantive error, i.e., he reported "yes" but I said "no,” or a formal error, i.e., he reported the name to be "Lawrence Smith” but the proper name is "Laurence Smith,” then corrections by the deponent would be in order. The Rule cannot be interpreted to allow one to alter what was said under oath. If that were the case, one could merely answer the questions with no thought at all then return home and plan artful responses. Depositions differ from interrogatories in that regard. A deposition is not a take home examination.
Greenway,
