Serri v. Santa Clara University: Court of Appeal Affirms Summary Judgment in Discrimination, Wrongful Termination Action

In Serri v. Santa Clara University (5/28/14) --- Cal.App.4th ---, Conchita Franco Serri sued Santa Clara University and a number of individuals for discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, and other employment-related claims. The trial court granted the defendants' motions for summary judgment, and Serri appealed. 

The primary issue on appeal was whether Serri raised a triable issue of material fact as to whether the University had a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason to terminate her employment or whether its reasons for doing so were untrue or pretextual. The Court framed the issue and its holding as follows: 

We are asked to determine whether an employee who is terminated for failing to perform an important job function can avoid summary judgment by arguing, based on expert evidence obtained for the purpose of opposing a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication, years after the employee’s termination, that the failure to perform did not and would not result in any adverse consequences to the employer. We hold that after-acquired expert evidence that there were no adverse consequences from an employee’s failure to perform does not create a triable issue of fact on the question whether the employee failed to perform his or her job duties and thus has limited relevance, if any, to the question of discrimination. 

In this case, expert evidence that the failure of performance did not harm the University, acquired years after Serri was terminated, did not create a triable issue of material fact on the question whether the University’s stated reasons for terminating Serri were untrue or pretextual such that a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the employer engaged in discrimination. Before she was terminated, Serri told the University her failure to prepare an Affirmative Action Plan could have adverse consequences, including the loss of federal grants. That the University ultimately suffered no adverse consequences did not create a triable issue on the questions whether the University had a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason to terminate her employment or whether its reasons for doing so were untrue or pretextual. 

Slip op. at 2.  

The opinion is available here.