From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Campbell v. Obayashi Corp., Inc.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Mar 25, 2011
424 F. App'x 657 (9th Cir. 2011)

Opinion

No. 09-35511.

Submitted March 8, 2011.

The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).

Filed March 25, 2011.

Lafect Campbell, Seattle, WA, pro se.

Donald J. Mills, Jr., Seattle, WA, pro se.

Barry Alan Johnsrud, Laurie L. Johnston, Esquire, Gina Dawn Wolverton, Jackson Lewis LLP, Seattle, WA, for Defendant-Appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, James L. Robart, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. 2:08-cv-00181-JLR.

Before: FARRIS, LEAVY, and BYBEE, Circuit Judges.



MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

Lafect Campbell and Donald J. Mills, Jr., appeal pro se from the district court's summary judgment in their diversity action alleging employment discrimination in violation of the Washington Law Against Discrimination ("WLAD"). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court's grant of summary judgment, Olsen v. Idaho State Bd. of Med., 363 F.3d 916, 922 (9th Cir. 2004), and for an abuse of discretion the district court's order granting a counsel's motion to withdraw, LaGrand v. Stewart, 133 F.3d 1253, 1269 (9th Cir. 1998). We affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Campbell's race discrimination claim based on his discharge because Campbell failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether he was performing satisfactory work, or that his employer's proffered legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for his discharge were pretextual. See Chen v. State, 86 Wash. App. 183, 937 P.2d 612, 616 (Wash.Ct.App. 1997) (analysis for discriminatory discharge under the WLAD).

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Campbell's race discrimination claim based on his employer's manner of assigning tasks and providing equipment because Campbell failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether he was treated less favorably than similarly situated employees. See Johnson v. Dep't of Soc. Health Servs., 80 Wash.App. 212, 907 P.2d 1223, 1231-32 (Wash.Ct.App. 1996) (analysis for disparate treatment under the WLAD).

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Mills's constructive discharge race discrimination claim because Mills failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether his working conditions were "so intolerable that a reasonable person would have felt compelled to resign. . . ." Washington v. Boeing Co., 105 Wash.App. 1, 19 P.3d 1041, 1049 (Wash.Ct.App. 2000).

The district properly granted summary judgment on Mills's race discrimination claim based on temporarily receiving an incorrect pay rate because Mills failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether his employer's proffered legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason was pretextual. See Johnson, 907 P.2d at 1231-32.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in granting plaintiffs' counsel's motion to withdraw based on a conflict of interest. See Kayes v. Pac. Lumber Co., 51 F.3d 1449, 1465 (9th Cir. 1995) (district court did not abuse its discretion in ordering plaintiffs' counsel to withdraw where there was a conflict of interest).

Plaintiffs' remaining contentions are unpersuasive.

We do not consider plaintiffs' contentions raised for the first time on appeal. See Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am. v. ConocoPhillips Co., 546 F.3d 1142, 1146 (9th Cir. 2008).

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

Campbell v. Obayashi Corp., Inc.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Mar 25, 2011
424 F. App'x 657 (9th Cir. 2011)
Case details for

Campbell v. Obayashi Corp., Inc.

Case Details

Full title:Lafect CAMPBELL; Donald J. Mills, Jr., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. OBAYASHI…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Mar 25, 2011

Citations

424 F. App'x 657 (9th Cir. 2011)

Citing Cases

Stevenson v. Holland

Whether to grant or deny a motion to withdraw as counsel is within the court's discretion. Campbell v.…

Ramos v. Funding Rush, Inc.

The decision to grant or deny a motion to withdraw as counsel is within the court's discretion. Campbell v.…