ÿWPCª 9ÃÍŬY„ã)ß;oñ‹óÄp5&¸ã﬛­‘)òë[íúlhõ„jèS‹J4LSUƒX:~@Ðp¨‰’BŠ9Ñ‘2‡¥E€Á0›êžo±Ø­ýD«C““ ×³× f®ÑGÖ£dø0w„¨™1¬?dܘÏg7ê ÞEhž'v#ûµ•\±‚@´Ê+lGÚ<‚—)<ÈšMi©–ºJ}¿ ‡ƒ”ªþ´ƒÝÁL„T$À‰‹9a>ø6DÝÖû΃ ƒdå»è´Ž)¡wA昅€‹Ú«ÄªR Dü3 üê­4µØ¸º°Ž !Ó™ù¹‘bUN\ %ª 0ˆ°#Á8 Œù Ú… ^ _ zk Òå UN·  m w Æ" Æè Æ®Æt4:NNôP &DEjlUN{ 0DÉ ^   k s {{{{{ ƒ  ‹‹  •••••••bŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸ 0ë§§§§ B’’ 0¤¯ D3S D-† 0K³³ ASþÆQ 0¤ 0D» A«ÿ(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular»(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\CUSTOM~1\OPINION3.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\Custom WP Templates\opinion3.wpt’sJ)â  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ;)´¥¡ êÝ ƒRÞI$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôìTò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔOn€appeal,€Ms.€Keeton€has€not€asserted€any€arguments€involving€her€claims€against€Mr.€Hill€or€Mr.€Chinander.\Opinion Summary3|x(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó?\Appellees Attorney Name & Appellee's Name. 3491012- ù-(|G2ÞI$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J|»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôìTò»»Ô d(|3ð$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J|»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ð$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J|»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J|»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼J|»»»ÔÑ8€ðXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îOmJ|ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼J|»îîOm #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓSeptember€6,€2000€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XðX»¼J|ÔÌò òÔ#†¼J|»XXðö#ÔCHRISTA€L.€KEETON€v.€ARLYN€HILL,€òòet€alóó.ó óÐ úJ ÐÌÔ€XðX»¼J|Ôà@@½½ìàò òÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%†¶ÔAppeal€from€the€Ô% ‡ ÔChancery€Court€Ô%†äÔfor€Davidson€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„298„III€€€€€€Ellen€Hobbes€Lyle,€ChancellorÐ  \ ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ã ` AßÐ ä 4  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„02272„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€10,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ ß/  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¶` AßÐ ·  Ðó óÌÔ% ‡ ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡XðXXXðÔPlaintiff,€a€former€employee,€appeals€from€the€trial€courtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment€to€her€formerÐ ²  Ðemployer€on€her€sexual€harassment€claim.Ô#†XðXXXð#ÔÔ%†ïÔ€Because€the€employer€successfully€demonstrated€theÐ žî  Ðelements€required€to€establish€€the€affirmative€defense€for€employers€recognized€in€òòParker€v.€WarrenÐ ŠÚ ÐCounty€Util.€Dist.óó,€2€S.W.3d€170,€175„76€(Tenn.€1999),€òòóówe€affirm€the€trial€court.Ð vÆ ÐÓüÓÌÔ% ‡$ Ôò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€RightÔ%†$CÔ;€Judgment€of€the€ChanceryÔ% ‡% ÔÔ%†%£Ô€CourtÐ Nž ÐAffirmed€and€Remandedó óÐ :Š ÐÌòòÓ  ÓPatricia€J.€Cottrell,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòóó€òòBen€H.€Cantrell,óó€P.J.,€M.S.Ð b Ðand€òòÔ% ‡' ÔWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.,Ô%†'§Ôóó€joined.Ð þN ÐÌLeslie€A.€Bruce€and€J.€Todd€Faulkner,€Nashville,€Tennessee€for€the€appellant,€Christa€L.€Keeton.Ð Ö& ÐÌÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%†q ÔDouglas€R.€Pierce€and€James€A.€Crumlin,€Jr.,€Nashville€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Arlyn€Hill,Ð ®þ ÐTom€Chinander,€and€Cook's€Pest€Control.€Ð šê ÐÓ ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÐ r  ÐÌÓ  Óà  àPlaintiff,€Christa€L.€Keeton,€worked€as€a€pest€control€technician€at€Cookððs€Pest€ControlÐ J"š! Ð("Cookððs")€from€1993€to€1997€when€she€was€fired€for€falsifying€company€documents€relating€to€herÐ 6#†" Ðwork€time.€€Ô‡XðXXXðÔShe€sued€her€corporate€employer,€Cook's,€her€immediate€supervisor,€Tom€Chinander,Ð "$r# Ðand€the€district€manager,€Arlyn€Hill,€for€retaliatory€discharge,€sexual€harassment,€sex€discrimination,Ð %^ $ Ðoutrageous€conduct€and€invasion€of€privacy.€€After€the€trial€court€granted€the€defendantsðð€motion€forÐ ú%J!% Ðsummary€judgment,€Ms.€Keeton€appealed€the€dismissal€of€the€sexual€harassment€claim.Ô#†XðXXXð #ÔÐ æ&6"& ÐÌà  àWhen€Cook's€Pest€Control€hired€Ms.€Keeton€in€1993,€she€was€required€to€review€a€policy€andÐ ¾($( Ðprocedures€manual€which€delineated€the€companyððs€sexual€harassment€policy.€€She€signed€anÐ ª)ú$) Ðacknowledgment€form€indicating€that€she€understood€that€she€was€ð ðcharged€with€knowledge€of€theÐ –*æ%* Ðcontents€of€this€manual.ðð€€This€written€policy€named€specific€individuals,€a€man€and€a€woman,€notÐ ‚+Ò&+ Ðâ âsupervisors€of€Ms.€Keeton,€who€were€to€be€contacted€if€employees€felt€they€were€being€subjectedÐ n,¾',ý Ðto€sexual€harassment.€€The€company's€sexual€harassment€policy€was€set€forth€on€page€717€of€theÐ ° Ðmanual€as€follows:Ð œì Ðâ âÌà8  àIt€is€Cook's€Pest€Control's€policy€to€prohibit€sexual€harassment€of€one€employee€byÐ tÄ Ðanother€employee€or€a€supervisor.Ð`°Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àThough€it€is€not€easy€to€define€precisely€what€sexual€harassment€is,€it€is€unwelcomeÐ 8 ˆ Ðsexual€behavior.€€The€most€blatant€type€of€harassment€takes€the€form€of€explicitly€orÐ $ t Ðimplicitly€offering€a€benefit€in€exchange€for€sex.€€However,€just€as€prohibited€is€theÐ  ` Ðmore€subtle€sexual€behavior€that€has€the€purpose€or€effect€of€unreasonably€interferingÐ ü L  Ðwith€an€individual's€work€performance€or€creating€an€intimidating,€hostile€orÐ è 8  Ðoffensive€environment.€€It€certainly€includes€unwelcome€jokes€or€comments,€sexualÐ Ô$  Ðadvances,€requests€for€sexual€favors,€unwanted€touching€or€other€verbal€or€physicalÐ À  Ðconduct€of€a€sexual€nature.€€Any€employee€who€feels€that€he€or€she€has€beenÐ ¬ü  Ðsubjected€to€sexual€harassment€should€immediately€report€the€matter€to€GeorgeÐ ˜è  ÐWhite,€Personnel€Director,€or€Lana€Jones,€Personnel€Assistant,€in€the€CorporateÐ „Ô  ÐOffice€(205„355„3285).€€Violations€of€this€policy€will€not€be€permitted€and€will€resultÐ pÀ Ðin€disciplinary€action€up€to€and€including€discharge.€€Employees€can€be€assured€thatÐ \¬ Ðno€one€will€be€retaliated€against€for€either€filing€a€complaint€or€participating€in€anÐ H˜ Ðinvestigation€of€sexual€harassment.Ð4„Ð Ð  ÐÌThe€manual€was€kept€in€Mr.€Hill's€office.€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àMs.€Keeton€also€received€sexual€harassment€training€in€March€of€1995€during€one€of€theÐ ä4 Ðmonthly€meetings€the€district€manager,€Mr.€Hill,€held.€€During€the€meeting,€he€read€the€sexualÐ Ð  Ðharassment€policy€to€her€and€other€employees.€€Ms.€Keeton€was€instructed€on€the€procedures€forÐ ¼  Ðreporting€such€harassment€which€included€the€individuals€to€whom€she€was€to€report.€€Plaintiff€laterÐ ¨ø Ðadmitted€that€during€the€meeting€Mr.€Hill€stated€that€sexual€harassment€would€not€be€tolerated.Ô‡XðXXXðԀР”ä ÐHowever,€she€also€claimed€that€during€the€class,€Mr.€Hill€described€an€incident€where€a€femaleÐ €Ð Ðharassed€a€male€and€commented,€ð ðIf€it€had€been€me,€I€would€have€been€flattered.ðð€€She€also€claimedÐ l¼ Ðthat€during€the€meeting€Mr.€Chinander€stated€to€her,€ð ðI€guess€Iððll€have€to€stop€sexually€harassing€youÐ X ¨ Ðnow.ððÔ#†XðXXXðE#ԀРD!” ÐÌà  àAfter€the€meeting,€the€participants,€including€Mr.€Hill,€signed€a€training€verification€whichÐ #l! Ðstated,€"I€went€over€all€the€materials€you€sent€to€the€District€Office€and€read€page€717€[whichÐ $X" Ðcontained€the€sexual€harassment€policy€quoted€above]€of€the€company€policy€to€the€following€Ð ô$D # Ðnamed.€€[signed]€Arlyn€Hill,€District€Mgr."€€The€record€shows€that€Ms.€Keeton€signed€this€statement,Ð à%0!$ Ðas€did€Mr.€Chinander.€€The€record€also€shows€that€Ms.€Keeton€contacted€the€personnel€assistant,€Ms.Ð Ì&"% ÐJones,€once€for€an€unspecified€reason.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àOver€the€years,€Plaintiff€had€received€disciplinary€notices€for€failing€to€report€her€time€andÐ )à$( Ðattend€required€meetings.€€According€to€Ms.€Keeton,€during€her€tenure€at€Cookððs€both€Mr.€Hill€andÐ |*Ì%) ÐMr.€Chinander€made€off„color,€sexually€oriented€remarks€and€gestures€to€her.€€At€her€deposition,€Ms.Ð h+¸&* ÐKeeton€offered€the€following€description€of€an€incident,€at€the€end€of€January€of€1997,€when€sheÐ ° Ðpassed€Mr.€Hill€in€the€hall,€and€he€purportedly€stated:Ð œì ÐÌà8  àð ðYour€beamers€are€on.ðð€€And€that€was€just€a€snide€remark,€because€I€think€I€even€hadÐ tÄ Ðon€a€jacket€and€I€just€said,€I€am€so€tired€of€hearing€that,€and€kept€on€walking.€€ThisÐ `° Ðwas€during€the€time€when€there€was€a€lot€of€ð!ð€I€was€getting€a€lot€of€€friction€from€himÐ L œ Ð.€.€.€I€donððt€know€if€he€[heard€my€remark]€or€not.Ð8 ˆÐ Ð  Ðà  àÌà  àMs.€Keeton€was€fired€on€February€3,€1997,€ostensibly€for€failing€to€service€two€customers€Ð  ` Ðwhile€presenting€documentation€(a€time€card)€to€her€employer€that€she€had.€€She€testified€that€thisÐ ü L  Ðwas€a€customary€practice.€€During€the€day€she€failed€to€service€the€customers,€she€made€two€workÐ è 8  Ðrelated€phone€calls€from€home,€but€also€admitted€to€running€errands€and€working€out€at€her€healthÐ Ô$  Ðclub.Ð À  ÐÌà  àMs.€Keeton€filed€the€underlying€action€on€January€30,€1998,€alleging€sex€discrimination,Ð ˜è  Ðretaliation,€and€sexual€harassment€under€the€Tennessee€Human€Rights€Act€as€well€as€the€commonÐ „Ô  Ðlaw€torts€of€invasion€of€privacy€and€outrageous€conduct.€€She€alleged€that€her€supervisors,€Mr.€HillÐ pÀ Ðand€Mr.€Chinander,€made€lewd€and€sexually€derogatory€remarks€to€her.€€The€complaint€stated€thatÐ \¬ Ðshortly€after€Ms.€Keeton€complained€about€the€harassment€to€Cookððs€at€the€end€January€1997,€sheÐ H˜ Ðwas€discharged.€€Ms.€Keeton€sought€both€compensatory€and€punitive€damages.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àCook's€Pest€Control,€Mr.€Hill€and€Mr.€Chinander€jointly€€moved€for€summary€judgment.€€TheÐ  \ Ðtrial€court€granted€the€motion€in€its€totality.€€It€found€that€summary€judgment€was€proper€on€theÐ øH Ðsexual€discrimination€claim€because€Plaintiff€demonstrated€no€pretext€in€response€to€DefendantsððÐ ä4 Ðlegitimate€nondiscriminatory€reason€for€firing€her:€that€she€falsified€her€time€card.€€It€also€determinedÐ Ð  Ðthat€summary€judgment€was€appropriate€on€the€retaliation€claim€because€the€record€contained€noÐ ¼  Ðproof€that€Defendants€ever€knew€that€Plaintiff€had€exercised€her€protected€civil€rights€before€she€wasÐ ¨ø Ðfired.€Based€on€findings€that€(1)€the€alleged€harassment€did€not€culminate€in€any€tangibleÐ ”ä Ðemployment€action,€(2)€the€defendants€sought€to€prevent€and€correct€any€sexually€harassing€behavior,Ð €Ð Ðand€(3)€Ms.€Keeton€unreasonably€failed€to€take€advantage€of€the€companyððs€preventative€andÐ l¼ Ðcorrective€procedures,€the€trial€court€granted€summary€judgment€on€the€sexual€harassment€claim.€Ð X ¨ ÐThe€court€found€that€the€invasion€of€privacy€claim€failed€because€Plaintiff€conceded€in€her€responseÐ D!” Ðthat€this€claim€lacked€merit€and€the€outrageous€conduct€claim€failed€because€the€record€containedÐ 0"€  Ðno€evidence€of€such€conduct.Ð #l! ÐÌà@´´)ìàI.ˆÐ ô$D # ÐÌà  àBecause€Ms.€Keeton€is€challenging€the€entry€of€summary€judgment,€we€review€the€decisionÐ Ì&"% Ðof€the€trial€court€òòde€novoóó€with€no€presumption€of€correctness€on€appeal.€òòSee€Warren€v.€Estate€of€Kirkóó,Ð ¸'#& Ð954€S.W.2d€722,€723€(Tenn.€1997);€òòBain€v.€Wellsóó,€936€S.W.2d€618,€622€(Tenn.€1997).€We€mustÐ ¤(ô#' Ðconsider€the€proof€in€the€record€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€party€opposing€the€motion.€€òòSeeÐ )à$( ÐBerry€v.€Whitworthóó,€576€S.W.2d€351,€352„53€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1978).€€If,€upon€review,€a€genuineÐ |*Ì%) Ðissue€exists€or€if€there€is€doubt€as€to€whether€such€issue€exists,€the€summary€judgment€is€improperÐ h+¸&* Ðand€should€be€reversed.€€òòSeeóó€òòEvco€Corp.€v.€Ross,óó€528€S.W.2d€20,€24„25€(Tenn.€1975).€€However,€Ð ° ÐÔ‡ XðXXXðÔif€both€the€facts€and€the€conclusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€facts€permit€a€reasonable€person€to€reachÐ œì Ðonly€one€conclusion,€summary€judgment€should€be€granted.òòóó€òòSee€Robinson€v.€Omeróó,€952€S.W.2d€423,Ð ˆØ Ð426€(Tenn.€1997);òò€Bainóó,€936€S.W.2d€at€622.€Ð tÄ ÐÔ#†XðXX Xð˜/#ÔÌÓ  ÓII.à @ àÐ L œ ÐÓ1ÓÌà  à€Ms.€Keeton€argues€that€issues€of€material€fact€on€the€reasonableness€of€the€companyððs€sexualÐ $ t Ðharassment€policy€remain€to€be€tried.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€She€maintains€that€her€written€acknowledgment€that€she€hadÐ  ` Ðread€and€understood€the€companyððs€sexual€harassment€policy€is€overshadowed€by€her€depositionÐ ü L  Ðtestimony€that€she€never€read€the€policy.€€She€asserts€that€because€the€employee€manual€containingÐ è 8  Ðthe€sexual€harassment€policy€was€located€in€Mr.€Hillððs€office,€it€was€unreasonable€to€expect€her,€asÐ Ô$  Ða€sexually€harassed€employee,€to€go€to€her€harasser's€office€to€study€the€policy.€€Ms.€Keeton€furtherÐ À  Ðargues€that€the€sexual€harassment€training€was€a€sham€because€of€remarks€made€by€Mr.€Hill€and€Mr.Ð ¬ü  ÐChinander.€€Ms.€Keeton€maintains€that€the€sexual€harassment€training€intensified€her€anxiety€aboutÐ ˜è  Ðreporting€the€harassment.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àRecently,€courts€on€both€the€state€and€federal€levels€€have€recognized€an€affirmative€defenseÐ \¬ Ðfrom€vicarious€liability€for€employers€whose€employees€assert€claims€of€sexual€harassment€byÐ H˜ Ðsupervisors.€€Our€Supreme€Court€described€€that€defense€as€follows:Ð 4„ ÐÌà8  àWhen€no€tangible€employment€action€is€taken,€a€defending€employer€may€raise€anÐ  \ Ðaffirmative€defense€to€liability€or€damages,€subject€to€proof€by€a€preponderance€ofÐ øH Ðthe€evidence,€.€.€.€The€defense€comprises€two€necessary€elements:€(a)€that€theÐ ä4 Ðemployer€exercised€reasonable€care€to€prevent€and€correct€promptly€any€sexuallyÐ Ð  Ðharassing€behavior,€and€(b)€that€the€plaintiff€employee€unreasonably€failed€to€takeÐ ¼  Ðadvantage€of€any€preventive€or€corrective€opportunities€provided€by€the€employer€orÐ ¨ø Ðto€avoid€harm€otherwise.€.€.€.€No€affirmative€defense€is€available,€however,€when€theÐ ”ä Ðsupervisor's€sexual€harassment€culminates€in€a€tangible€employment€action.€.€.€.Ð €Ð ÐòòÔ_ÔFaragherÔ_Ôóó,€118€S.Ct.€at€2292-93;€òòEllerthóó,€118€S.Ct.€at€2270.Ðl¼Ð Ð  ÐÌòòParker€v.€Warren€County€Util.€Dist.óó,€2€S.W.3d€170,€175€(Tenn.€1999)€(citingòò€Faragher€v.€City€ofÐ D!” ÐBoca€Ratonóó,€524€U.S.€775,€1188€S.€Ct.€2275,€141€L.€Ed.€2d€662€(1998),€òòBurlington€Indus.,€Inc.€v.Ð 0"€  ÐEllerthóó,€524€U.S.€742,€1188€S.€Ct.€2257,€141€L.€Ed.€2d€633€(1998)).òòóóÐ #l! ÐÌà  àIn€order€to€fully€analyze€the€availability€of€the€òòóóaffirmative€defense€to€sexual€harassmentÐ ô$D # Ðrecognized€and€adopted€in€òòParkeróó,€we€must€first€look€to€the€trial€court's€findings€with€regard€to€Ms.Ð à%0!$ ÐKeeton's€sex€discrimination€claim.€€The€trial€court€specifically€found€that:Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà8  àCook's€is€entitled€to€summary€judgment€on€Plaintiff's€sex€discrimination€claimÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbecause,€even€assuming€a€òòprima€facieóó€case€of€sex€discrimination,€Plaintiff€has€notÐ )à$( Ðdemonstrated€pretext€in€response€to€Cook's€legitimate€nondiscriminatory€reason€forÐ ° Ðterminating€Plaintiff's€employment:€falsifying€company€documents€relating€to€herÐ œì Ðwork€time.ЈØÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àMs.€Keeton€did€not€present€this€finding€for€review€or€otherwise€challenge€the€disposition€ofÐ `° Ðher€sex€discrimination€claim€on€appeal,€and€the€record€supports€the€trial€court's€finding€of€fact.€€òòSeeóóÐ L œ ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(b),€36(a).€€€This€finding,€and€the€evidence€presented,€establish€that€Ms.€Keeton'sÐ 8 ˆ Ðdischarge€was€not€a€result€of€her€supervisor's€alleged€harassment.€€òòSee€Ellerthóó,€524€U.S.€at€765,€118Ð $ t ÐS.€Ct.€at€2270,€141€L.€Ed.€2d€at€655.€€Instead,€€her€discharge€was€the€result€of€the€falsification€of€herÐ  ` Ðtime€records.€€€This€finding,€which€remains€unchallenged,€satisfies€the€first€element€of€the€affirmativeÐ ü L  Ðdefense€available€under€òòParkeróó€permitting€employers€to€avoid€liability€for€supervisor€sexualÐ è 8  Ðharassment€under€Title€VII:€that€€a€tangible€employment€action€resulting€from€sexual€harassment€hasÐ Ô$  Ðnot€occurred.€€€òòSee€Lowry€v.€Powerscreen€USB,€Inc.óó,€72€F.€Supp.€2d€1061,€1070€n.10€(E.D.€Mo.Ð À  Ð1999)€(finding€that€a€plaintiff's€admission€that€her€discharge€was€due€to€her€falsification€of€a€workÐ ¬ü  Ðreturn€slip€entitled€her€corporate€employer€to€assert€the€òòóó€affirmative€defense).€Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àThe€second€element€of€the€affirmative€defense€requires€proof€that€Cook's€reasonably€soughtÐ pÀ Ðto€prevent€and€correct€any€sexually€harassing€behavior.€€òòSee€Parkeróó,€2€S.W.3d€at€176.€€The€recordÐ \¬ Ðshows€that€Cook's€implemented€a€sexual€harassment€policy€which€was€set€forth€in€its€policies€andÐ H˜ Ðprocedures€manual.€€This€policy€expressly€prohibited€sexual€harassment,€assured€employees€that€itÐ 4„ Ðwould€not€be€tolerated,€and€warned€that€there€would€be€serious€consequences€for€committingÐ  p Ðprohibited€behavior.€€It€advised€employees€who€felt€that€they€were€subjected€to€sexual€harassmentÐ  \ Ðto€"immediately€report€the€matter"€to€either€of€two€specific€individuals,€a€woman€and€a€man.€€TheseÐ øH Ðindividuals€were€not€Ms.€Keetonððs€supervisors€and,€in€fact,€worked€in€corporate€offices€in€anotherÐ ä4 Ðcity.€€Employees€were€assured€that€no€one€would€be€retaliated€against€for€either€filing€a€complaintÐ Ð  Ðor€participating€in€an€investigation€of€sexual€harassment.€€The€record€shows€that€the€policy€wasÐ ¼  Ðdisseminated€to€new€employees,€including€Ms.€Keeton,€who€were€required€to€read€the€sexualÐ ¨ø Ðharassment€policy€and€to€sign€an€acknowledgment€indicating€that€they€had€done€so.€€The€record€alsoÐ ”ä Ðshows€that€the€policy€was€orally€presented€to€Ms.€Keeton€and€her€coworkers€by€Mr.€Hill.€€Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àWe€find€that€Cook's€satisfied€its€burden€of€establishing€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidenceÐ X ¨ Ðthat€it€exercised€reasonable€care€to€prevent€and€promptly€correct€sexually€harassing€behavior.Ð D!” ÐEmployers€need€not€prove€success€in€preventing€harassing€behavior€in€order€to€demonstrate€that€theyÐ 0"€  Ðexercised€reasonable€care€in€preventing€and€correcting€sexually€harassing€conduct.€òòóó€òòSee€Caridad€v.Ð #l! ÐMetro-North€Commuter€R.R.,€óó191€F.3d€283,€295€(2d€Cir.€1999),€òòcert.€denied€sub€nom.€€Metro-NorthÐ $X" ÐCommuter€R.R.€v.€Norrisóó,€__U.S.€__,€120€S.€Ct.€1959,€146€L.€Ed.€2d€791€(2000).€òòóóCook's€efforts€toÐ ô$D # Ðmaintain€and€distribute€a€policy€prohibiting€sexual€harassment€and€to€provide€a€mechanism€forÐ à%0!$ Ðemployees€to€report€such€conduct€directly€to€the€Personnel€Department€demonstrate€its€exercise€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðreasonable€care€to€prevent€sexual€harassment.€òò€See€Faragheróó,€524€U.S.€at€___,€118€S.€Ct.€at€2293,Ð ¸'#& Ð141€L.€Ed.€2d€at€689€("While€proof€that€an€employer€had€promulgated€an€antiharassment€policy€withÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcomplaint€procedure€is€not€necessary€in€every€instance€as€a€matter€of€law,€the€need€for€a€stated€policyÐ )à$( Ðsuitable€to€the€employment€circumstances€may€appropriately€be€addressed€in€any€case€when€litigatingÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€first€element€of€the€defense.");€òòsee€also€Fierro€v.€Saks€Fifth€Avenue,óó€13€F.€Supp.€2d€481,€491Ð h+¸&* Ð(S.D.N.Y.€1998)€(noting€that€the€existence€of€an€anti-harassment€policy€with€complaint€procedureÐ ° Ðis€"an€important,€if€not€dispositive,€consideration").€€A€policy€meeting€these€parameters€was€foundÐ œì Ðto€show€the€exercise€of€reasonable€care€in€òòMontero€v.€AGCO€Corp.óó,€19€F.€Supp.€2d€1143,€1146€(E.D.Ð ˆØ ÐCal.€1998),€òòaff'dóó,€192€F.3d€856€(9òòthóó€Cir.€1999).€€òòSee€also€Caridad,€óó191€F.3d€at€295.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àThe€third€element€of€the€òòParkeróó€affirmative€defense€requires€proof€that€the€employeeÐ L œ Ðunreasonably€failed€to€take€advantage€of€any€preventive€or€corrective€opportunities€that€wereÐ 8 ˆ Ðprovided€by€the€employer€or€were€otherwise€available.€òòóó€òòSee€Parkeróó,€2€S.W.3d€at€176.€This€element,Ð $ t Ðwhich€requires€proof€that€Ð  ` ÐÌà8  àthe€employee€failed€in€a€coordinate€duty€to€avoid€or€mitigate€harm[,]€reflects€anÐ è 8  Ðequally€obvious€policy€imported€from€the€general€theory€of€damages,€that€a€victimÐ Ô$  Ðhas€a€duty€"to€use€such€means€as€are€reasonable€under€the€circumstances€to€avoid€orÐ À  Ðminimize€the€damages"€that€result€from€violations€of€the€statute.€òòFord€Motor€Co.€v.Ð ¬ü  ÐEEOCóó,€458€U.S.€219,€231,€n.€15,€102€S.Ct.€3057,€3065,€n.€15,€73€L.Ed.2d€721€(1982)Ð ˜è  Ð(quoting€C.€McCormick,€òòLaw€of€Damagesóó€127€(1935)€(internal€quotation€marksÐ „Ô  Ðomitted)).€An€employer€may,€for€example,€have€provided€a€proven,€effectiveÐ pÀ Ðmechanism€for€reporting€and€resolving€complaints€of€sexual€harassment,€availableÐ \¬ Ðto€the€employee€without€undue€risk€or€expense.€If€the€plaintiff€unreasonably€failedÐ H˜ Ðto€avail€herself€of€the€employer's€preventive€or€remedial€apparatus,€she€should€notÐ 4„ Ðrecover€damages€that€could€have€been€avoided€if€she€had€done€so.€If€the€victim€couldÐ  p Ðhave€avoided€harm,€no€liability€should€be€found€against€the€employer€who€had€takenÐ  \ Ðreasonable€care,€and€if€damages€could€reasonably€have€been€mitigated€no€awardÐ øH Ðagainst€a€liable€employer€should€reward€a€plaintiff€for€what€her€own€efforts€couldÐ ä4 Ðhave€avoided.ÐÐ Ð Ð  ÐÌòòÔ_ÔFaragherÔ_Ôóó,€524€U.S.€at€806„07,€118€S.€Ct.€at€2292,€141€L.€Ed.€2d€at€688.€€€Proof€that€an€employeeÐ ¨ø Ðfailed€to€fulfill€the€corresponding€obligation€of€reasonable€care€to€avoid€harm€will€normally€sufficeÐ ”ä Ðto€satisfy€the€employer's€burden€under€the€third€element€of€the€defense.€€òòSee€idóó.,€524€U.S.€at€807,€118Ð €Ð ÐS.€Ct.€at€2293,€141€L.€Ed.€2d€at€689.€€Such€proof€is€clearly€evident€here.Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àThe€record€shows€that€Ms.€Keeton€began€working€for€Cook's€on€November€15,€1993.€€OnÐ D!” Ðher€first€day€of€employment,€she€signed€a€document€stating€that€she€had€read€the€company's€policyÐ 0"€  Ðmanual.€€Ms.€Keeton€signed€a€second€document€dated€March€3,€1995€which€stated€that€Mr.€Hill€hadÐ #l! Ð"read€page€717€of€the€company€policy"€to€her.€€€The€record€shows€that€page€717€contained€theÐ $X" Ðcompany's€sexual€harassment€policy.€€€€Ð ô$D # ÐÌà  àThe€record€also€shows€that€Ms.€Keeton€never€provided€the€company€with€notice€of€theÐ Ì&"% Ðprohibited€conduct€allegedly€committed€by€Mr.€Chinander€and€Mr.€Hill.€€She€never€availed€herselfÐ ¸'#& Ðof€the€procedures€set€forth€in€the€sexual€harassment€policy,€notwithstanding€the€fact€that€she€hadÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcontacted€the€one€of€the€individuals€named€in€the€policy€€on€a€previous€occasion€for€an€unrelated,Ð )à$( Ðunspecified€purpose.€€Inasmuch€as€the€fact€that€the€policy€and€procedures€manual€was€kept€in€Mr.Ð |*Ì%) ÐHill's€office€did€not€prevent€Ms.€Keeton€from€contacting€that€individual€on€the€previous€occasion,Ð h+¸&* Ðwe€find€it€unreasonable€that€Ms.€Keeton€did€not€avail€herself€of€the€remedies€the€company€madeÐ ° Ðavailable€to€victims€of€sexual€harassment.€Under€these€circumstances,€where€the€company€had€aÐ œì Ðreasonable,€broadly€disseminated€policy€prohibiting€sexual€harassment,€we€find€that€Ms.€Keeton'sÐ ˆØ Ðfailure€to€report€the€alleged€harassment€was€unreasonable.€€òòSee€id.óó€Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àThis€finding€is€supported€by€other€cases€following€òòEllerth€óóand€òòFaragher.€óó€In€òòHill€v.€AmericanÐ L œ ÐGen.€Fin.€Corp.óó,€218€F.3d€639€(7òòthóó€Cir.€2000),€the€Seventh€Circuit€found€that€an€employee€whoÐ 8 ˆ Ðcomplained€of€sexual€and€racial€harassment€by€a€supervisor€in€two€letters,€one€anonymous€and€oneÐ $ t Ðsigned€with€a€false€name,€€failed€to€take€advantage€of€the€opportunities€her€employer€presented€toÐ  ` Ðprevent€sexual€harassment.€€The€court€noted€that€the€employer€had€a€sexual€harassment€policy€inÐ ü L  Ðplace€and€as€soon€as€the€employee€made€an€official€complaint,€the€company€immediately€tookÐ è 8  Ðcorrective€action.€€òòHillóó,€218€F.3d€at€643.€€On€these€facts,€the€court€found€that€the€employer€wasÐ Ô$  Ðentitled€to€summary€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòSee€id.óó€at€644.€€€In€òòMadray€v.€Publix€Supermarkets,Ð À  ÐInc.óó,€208€F.3d€1290,€1301€(11òòthóó€Cir.€2000),€the€two€employee€plaintiffs€admitted€that€they€understoodÐ ¬ü  Ðtheir€employer's€complaint€procedures€and€knew€who€to€contact€under€the€sexual€harassment€policy.€Ð ˜è  Ð"Yet€despite€knowing€exactly€who€they€should€contact€regarding€sexual€harassment,€the€plaintiffsÐ „Ô  Ðchose€to€complain€informally€to€managers€that€were€not€authorized€to€receive€such€complaints€underÐ pÀ Ðthe€.€.€.€sexual€harassment€policy."€€òòMadrayóó,€208€F.3d€at€1301.€€The€Eleventh€Circuit€grantedÐ \¬ Ðsummary€judgment€to€the€employer€after€concluding€that€the€employees€unreasonably€delayedÐ H˜ Ðutilizing€the€employer's€complaint€procedures.€€€€òòSee€id.óó€at€1302;€òòsee€also€Montero,óó€192€F.3d€at€863Ð 4„ Ð(finding€an€employee's€delay€in€utilizing€an€employer's€established€complaint€procedures€equated€toÐ  p Ðunreasonably€failing€to€take€advantage€of€the€company's€preventive€and€corrective€opportunities).€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àMs.€Keeton€asserts€that€the€above„quoted€comments€she€made€to€Mr.€Hill€as€they€passed€inÐ ä4 Ðthe€hall€shortly€before€her€firing€constituted€notice€of€the€harassment.€€She€maintains€that€becauseÐ Ð  ÐDefendants€had€notice€of€the€harassment,€her€failure€to€lodge€a€formal€complaint€did€not€precludeÐ ¼  ÐDefendantsðð€liability.€€For€this,€Ms.€Keeton€relies€on€òòHollis€v.€Fleetguard,€Inc.óó€668€F.€Supp.€631Ð ¨ø Ð(M.D.€Tenn.€1987),€òòaffððd,óó€848€F.2d€191€(6òòthóó€Cir.€1988).€€€She€claims€that€this€notice€triggered€a€dutyÐ ”ä Ðto€investigate€her€complaint.€Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àWe€reject€Ms.€Keeton's€contention€that€her€comment€to€Mr.€Hill€constituted€notice€of€herÐ X ¨ Ðcomplaint.€€The€record€contains€an€affidavit€by€Mr.€Hill€which€states€that€"at€no€time€did€she€everÐ D!” Ðmake€known€to€me€any€complaints€that€she€might€have€concerning€sexual€harassment.€€Specifically,Ð 0"€  ÐI€never€heard€her€state€that€she€was€'sick'€of€any€comments."€€At€her€deposition,€Ms.€Keeton€admittedÐ #l! Ðthat€she€was€unsure€that€Mr.€Hill€had€heard€her.€€She€has€presented€no€evidence€to€counter€Mr.€Hill'sÐ $X" Ðsworn€statement.€€In€any€event,€Ms.€Keeton€was€aware€that€the€companyððs€sexual€harassment€policyÐ ô$D # Ðlisted€individuals€other€than€Mr.€Hill€as€the€proper€person€with€whom€to€file€complaints.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àMoreover,€her€reliance€on€òòHollis€óó€is€misplaced.€€òòHollisóó€was€issued€years€before€the€SupremeÐ ¸'#& ÐCourt€released€the€òòEllerth€óóor€òòFaragheróó€cases€recognizing€the€affirmative€defense€at€issue€here.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àMs.€Keeton€also€asserts€that€her€failure€to€avail€herself€of€the€companyððs€procedure€forÐ |*Ì%) Ðpreventing€sexual€harassment€was€not€unreasonable€in€view€of€the€comments€made€by€Mr.€Hill€andÐ h+¸&* ÐMr.€Chinander€during€the€training.€€We€do€not€believe€that€the€statements,€assuming€they€were€made,Ð ° Ðwere€sufficient,€in€and€of€themselves,€to€make€Ms.€Keetonððs€failure€to€report€the€alleged€sexualÐ œì Ðharassment€reasonable.€€She€never€attempted€to€contact€the€personnel€officers,€never€informed€themÐ ˆØ Ðof€her€experiences€during€the€training,€and€had€no€reasonable€basis€for€ignoring€the€companyððsÐ tÄ Ðpledge€to€investigate€and€eliminate€sexual€harassment.€€While€we€agree€that€a€good€written€policyÐ `° Ðcannot€save€an€employer€from€liability€in€the€face€of€facts€demonstrating€the€employerððs€disregardÐ L œ Ðfor€the€policy€or€its€implementation,€Ms.€Keeton€has€simply€failed€to€provide€any€such€facts.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà@vv(ìàIII.ˆÐ  ` ÐÌà  àAccordingly,€we€affirm€the€trial€court's€decision€to€grant€the€motion€for€summary€judgmentÐ è 8  Ðasserted€by€Arlyn€Hill,€Tom€Chinander,€and€Cook's€Pest€Control.€€This€case€is€remanded€for€anyÐ Ô$  Ðfurther€proceedings€which€may€be€necessary.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€Appellant,€ChristaÐ À  ÐL.€Keeton,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________________Ð \¬ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPATRICIA€J.€COTTRELL,€JUDGE