Summary
surveying "well established case law" from several Circuits
Summary of this case from Bryant v. Neb. Furniture MartOpinion
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 36-3)
Former employee brought age discrimination against employer under Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Thelton E. Henderson, J., entered judgment on jury verdict in favor of employee, and employer appealed. The Court of Appeals held that there was sufficient evidence to support verdict.
Affirmed.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California Thelton E. Henderson, District Judge, Presiding.
Before B. FLETCHER, FERNANDEZ, and PAEZ, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Bank of America appeals the district court's denial of its motion for judgment as a matter of law following a jury verdict in favor of Virginia Marques on her claim of age discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634. We affirm.
We have carefully reviewed the record, and it is apparent that if the jury believed Marques, which we must assume it did, the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict. See Three Boys Music Corp. v. Bolton, 212 F.3d 477, 482 (9th Cir.2000); Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. v. Cooper Indus., Inc., 199 F.3d 1009, 1011 (9th Cir.1999); see also Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, ----, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 2110, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000).
For example, the jury could have properly determined that, as actually administered, bank policy did not preclude internal job seekers from obtaining the help of their supervisors rather than going through a formal application process. See Gay v. Waiters' & Dairy Lunchmen's Union, Local No. 30, 694 F.2d 531, 548-49 (9th Cir.1982); see also Binder v. Long Island Lighting Co., 57 F.3d 193, 200-01
Page 764.
(2d Cir.1995), overruled on other grounds, Fisher v. Vassar College, 114 F.3d 1332 (2d Cir.1997) (en banc). Moreover, it could have properly determined that Scott promised to help Marques obtain a job, that he violated that promise, and that his prior statements and actions showed that age discrimination was the reason for the inactivity which led to the loss of her position. See Mustafa v. Clark County Sch. Dist., 157 F.3d 1169, 1180 (9th Cir.1998); Samarzia v. Clark County, 859 F.2d 88, 91 (9th Cir.1989). While Marques' evidence was not overwhelming, it was sufficient.
AFFIRMED.