ÿWPCD  Q8D_6Кš‡&;]à/èšþãq·u¬¦Ìý‘öПšÆS- ôûh ÐŽ*è°OYë;b°‘vsÀ Äpœ;f™;›Û|Ȥ@iCtKÉ`âƒ?u}PÖоօ £—…5@ËۥĎ!&†Î»æšsჼ,kômvÖñʪ»€ì"”·a8"MP6nëÁŽ5û>c©X+KÆmZ@óu–àÏæé|æ+Ÿ²ñÏ4Óí-x¤¿ÕÐUz1n't0ȶýÐÉ³ÍØpÉqý© ¬^rq ˜é:oßiQØÞÇÐŒ(OØ^Þ3öŒ…),†„ æå@¢Å4$ùÚHñ=#y©Ë~FÒÆ£‡Ä²(°ðñú²Ã«½¥Ó¦†Ùkˆ¼MkÅogŠ’Ç²s]Älj™zµ–A'…¥Œ)­¬Þu*… õtƚŠ÷™ïàºó–×”¨¢7’¼ž[¢•ø¸3š­'Z5"háSšÏ’ÇððEöRî~,VnÂÄ’õTÏ]-ø÷ÏCŒ¿˜ ä½’(”‚âÌÝ5ÑOQ¡¸AáÎôÙý!ÀM^„sn‹6hÏ *Îì@–¨WBuG4íOÍHÓí¹:†®¨;ñ8ß)]’W#ÉÂUN‹ %Ù 0:ß U N ^ g ws 4w ‹ š mœ b³ h» N# # # # # # # # E% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % B' ˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularwj[1Ï 6hö0ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-  COAHighersdavidGagliano ESIMatheny Edd THRA BainCarvelf]ail i]t ADEAStanojevEbascoCarmikeBetkerurAultmanconclusoryp]rovide dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡XÝXXXÔÔ‡¼’y»XXÝÔÑ€ ÑÑ8€p–XXdédÈ8ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñà@ò ò ìàÔ#†XÝX»¼’y\#ÔÔ‡îgFîXXÝÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†XÝXîîgF#ÔÔ‡¼’y»XXÝԈРÓ# ÐÓ  ÓOn€Briefs€May€17,€2004€SessionÐ öF ÐÔ#†XÝX»¼’y¨#ÔÔ‡¼’y»XXÝÔÌò òÔ#†XÝX»¼’y?#ÔÔ‡¼’y»XXÝÔJEAN€ANN€TRUDEAU,€òòET€AL.€óóV.€DEPT.€OF€LABOR€AND€WORKFORCEÐ  f ÐDEVELOPMENT€FOR€THE€STATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€òòET€AL.óóÐ ' w ÐÌÔ#†XÝX»¼’y…#ÔÔ‡¼’y»XXÝÔAppeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Henry€CountyÐ I ™ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€19069€€€€Ron€E.€Harmon,€ChancellorÐ Z ª ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<{` AßÐ |Ì  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2003„01920„COA„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€26,€2004Ð œì  Ðó óÔ#†¼*¸»»¼’y=#ÔÔ#†Xp–X»¼*¸d#Ô________________________Ð ­ý  ÐÌÌÓ  ÓThis€is€an€age€discrimination€case.€€In€October€2001,€a€thirty„seven€year€old€woman€interviewed€forÐ h¸ Ða€job€position€at€the€defendantððs€Career€Center.€€She€was€recommended€for€hire€for€the€job.€Ð Q¡ ÐSubsequently,€the€defendant€Career€Center€began€accepting€applications€for€a€second€job€position,Ð :Š Ðsimilar€to€the€first.€€The€forty„five€year€old€aunt€of€the€first€applicant€submitted€an€application€forÐ #s Ðthe€second€job€position.€€The€second€job€position€was€never€filled.€€The€forty„five€year€old€jobÐ  \ Ðapplicant€filed€a€lawsuit,€alleging€that€she€was€not€hired€due€to€age€discrimination.€€The€trial€courtÐ õE Ðgranted€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€the€Career€Center.€€We€affirm,€finding€that€the€forty„five€yearÐ Þ. Ðold€applicant€failed€to€establish€a€òòprima€facieóó€case€of€age€discrimination.Ð Ç ÐÌà@å å ìàò òTennòò.€óóR.€App.€3;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óˆÐ ™é ÐÌòòHolly€M.€Kirby,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€Court,€in€which€òòAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó€and€òòDavidÐ l¼ ÐR.€Farmer,€J.óó,€joined.Ð U¥ ÐÌJames€L.€Harris,€Nashville,€for€the€appellant€Jean€Ann€TrudeauÐ '!w ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers€and€Brandy€M.€Gagliano,€Nashville,€for€the€appellee€the€Dept.€Of€WorkforceÐ ù"I  ÐDevelopment€for€the€State€of€TennesseeÐ â#2! ÐÌÌà@55'ìàò òOPINIONó óˆÐ &í!$ ÐÌà  àDefendant/Appellee,€the€Department€of€Labor€and€Workforce€for€the€State€of€TennesseeÐ p(À#& Ð(ð ðDept.€of€Laborðð),€has€an€office€in€Paris,€Tennessee,€commonly€referred€to€as€the€ð ðCareer€Center.ðð€Ð Y)©$' ÐThe€Dept.€of€Laborððs€employees€and€other€state€and€federal€agencies€provide€employment„relatedÐ B*’%( Ðservices€to€Tennessee€residents€at€the€Career€Center.€€District€Manager€Charles€Brown€(ð ðBrownðð)Ð ++{&) Ðsupervises€the€employees€at€the€Career€Center.Ð ,d'* Ðâ âÐ ý,M(+± Ðà  àIn€August€2001,€the€Career€Center€had€a€job€opening€for€the€position€of€EmploymentÐ ° Ðâ âSecurity€Interviewer€1€(ð ðESI€1")€as€a€temporary,€part„time€position€created€to€assist€with€heavyÐ ™é Ðworkloads.€€An€ESI€1€works€only€when€needed,€no€more€than€thirty€hours€a€week,€and€must€travelÐ ‚Ò Ðto€other€Department€of€Labor€offices€if€the€need€arises.Ð k» ÐÌà  àIn€August€2001,€Gala€Matheny€(ð ðMathenyðð),€who€was€37€years€old,€was€informed€by€MarkÐ =  ÐChandler,€a€Dept.€of€Labor€employee,€that€the€Career€Center€was€looking€to€fill€the€position€of€ESIÐ & v Ð1.€€By€October€2,€2001,€Chandler€had€received€Mathenyððs€completed€application€and€submitted€itÐ  _ Ðto€Brown€for€his€consideration.€€Two€days€later€on€October€4,€2001,€Brown€and€another€Dept.€ofÐ ø H ÐLabor€employee,€Edd€Goodman,€interviewed€Matheny€for€the€position€of€ESI€1.€€Later€that€day,Ð á 1  ÐBrown€recommended€to€his€supervisor€that€Matheny€be€hired€for€the€job.Ð Ê   ÐÌà  àShortly€after€Brown€recommended€Matheny,€a€second€ESI€1€position€became€available€atÐ œì  Ðthe€Career€Center.€€To€fill€this€second€position,€Brown€contacted€Rex€Smith,€an€employee€with€theÐ …Õ  Ðfederal€Workforce€Investment€Act,€and€asked€for€his€assistance€in€locating€applicants€for€theÐ n¾  Ðposition.€€Smith€contacted€Plaintiff/Appellant€Jean€Ann€Trudeau€(ð ðTrudeauðð)€and€informed€her€thatÐ W§  Ðthe€employment€office€was€accepting€applications€for€a€part„time€clerical€position.€€Trudeau€wasÐ @ Ðforty„five€years€old€at€the€time,€and€is€the€aunt€of€Matheny,€the€thirty„seven€year€old€applicant€whoÐ )y Ðhad€been€recommended€for€hire€for€the€first€position€of€ESI€1.€€Trudeau€submitted€an€application€toÐ b ÐSmith,€dated€October€17,€2001.Ð ûK ÐÌà  àIn€November€2001,€Matheny€was€hired€for€the€position€of€ESI€1€with€the€Dept.€of€Labor.€Ð Í ÐThe€second€position€of€ESI€1€was€never€filled.€€Brown€never€conducted€interviews€for€the€secondÐ ¶ Ðpart„time€position€and€never€recommended€any€of€the€applicants.€€Trudeau€was€never€contactedÐ Ÿï Ðabout€her€application.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àOn€December€26,€2001,€Trudeau€filed€this€age€discrimination€action€against€the€defendantÐ Zª ÐDept.€of€Labor€under€the€Tennessee€Human€Rights€Act€(ð ðTHRAðð).€€Trudeau€claimed€that€her€age,Ð C“ Ðforty„five€years€old,€placed€her€in€a€protected€class€under€the€statute,€and€that€she€was€not€hired€forÐ ,| Ðthe€position€of€ESI€1€because€of€her€age.Ð e ÐÌà  àDiscovery€ensued.€€In€his€deposition,€Brown€testified€that€on€October€4,€2001,€Matheny€wasÐ ç 7 Ðthe€only€applicant€for€the€first€job€position€of€ESI€1.€€He€testified€that€after€Matheny€wasÐ Ð!   Ðrecommended€to€be€hired,€another€ESI€1€position€became€available€at€the€Career€Center.€€BrownÐ ¹" ! Ðreceived€eight€applications,€including€Trudeauððs,€but€he€never€interviewed€any€of€the€applicants.€Ð ¢#ò" ÐThe€position€was€never€filled,€because€an€anticipated€increase€in€workload€never€materialized.€€InÐ ‹$Û# Ðher€deposition,€Trudeau€maintained€that€she€and€Matheny€applied€for€the€same€job,€but€had€noÐ t%Ä $ Ðdocumentation€or€other€evidence€to€support€her€belief.Ð ]&­!% ÐÌà  àOn€April€28,€2003,€the€Dept.€of€Labor€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€The€Dept.€ofÐ /(#' ÐLabor€asserted€that€Trudeau€could€not€establish€a€òòprima€facieóó€case€of€age€discrimination€because€sheÐ )h$( Ðhad€no€evidence€that€she€was€rejected€in€favor€of€a€substantially€younger€person.€€The€Dept.€of€LaborÐ *Q%) Ðasserted,€òòinter€aliaóó,€that€Trudeau€and€Matheny€applied€for€similar€but€different€positions,€and€thatÐ ê*:&* Ðthe€job€Trudeau€applied€for€was€never€filled.€€The€Dept.€of€Labor€contended€that€when€BrownÐ Ó+#'+ Ðinterviewed€and€recommended€Matheny€for€the€position,€Trudeau€had€not€yet€applied€for€the€secondÐ ° Ðjob€position€of€ESI€1.€€Therefore,€Brown€was€unable€to€even€consider€Trudeau€for€the€position€filledÐ ™é Ðby€Matheny.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌà  àIn€opposition€to€the€Dept.€of€Laborððs€motion€for€summary€judgment,€Trudeau€asserted€thatÐ T¤ Ðwhether€she€applied€for€the€same€job€that€Matheny€later€received€was€a€question€of€fact€andÐ =  Ðinappropriate€for€summary€judgment.€€Trudeau€maintained€that€the€reason€provided€by€the€Dept.€ofÐ & v ÐLabor€for€its€hiring€decision€relied€on€Brownððs€testimony€and€witness€credibility€should€be€reservedÐ  _ Ðfor€the€trier€of€fact.€€Trudeau€claimed€that€she€did€not€need€to€provide€evidence€that€the€Dept.€ofÐ ø H ÐLaborððs€reason€for€its€hiring€decision€was€mere€pretext€in€order€to€overcome€its€motion€for€summaryÐ á 1  Ðjudgment.Ð Ê   ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€found€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€and€granted€summary€judgment€inÐ œì  Ðfavor€of€the€Dept.€of€Labor.€€From€that€order,€Trudeau€now€appeals.Ð …Õ  ÐÌà  àTrudeau€raises€two€issues€on€appeal.€€First,€Trudeau€asserts€that€she€has€satisfied€threeÐ W§  Ðelements€of€a€òòprima€facieóó€age€discrimination€claim€and€the€remaining€element€is€a€genuine€issue€ofÐ @ Ðmaterial€fact.€€Trudeau€maintains€that€the€evidence€presented€proves€she€is€a€member€of€a€protectedÐ )y Ðclass,€she€was€qualified€for€the€position€in€question,€and€was€denied€the€position€in€favor€of€someoneÐ b Ðeight€years€younger.€€Trudeau€contends€that€the€remaining€element,€whether€she€and€MathenyÐ ûK Ðapplied€for€the€same€position,€is€a€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€rendering€the€case€inappropriate€forÐ ä4 Ðsummary€judgment.€€Second,€Trudeau€asserts€that€she€is€not€required€to€prove€that€the€Dept.€ofÐ Í ÐLaborððs€proffered€reason€for€its€hiring€decision€is€mere€pretext€in€order€to€overcome€its€motion€forÐ ¶ Ðsummary€judgment.Ð Ÿï ÐÌà  àWe€review€the€trial€courtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment€òòde€novoóó€with€no€presumption€ofÐ qÁ Ðcorrectness.€€ò òòòWarren€v.€Estateó óóó,€954€S.W.2d€722,€723€(Tenn.€1997).€€Summary€judgment€isÐ Zª Ðappropriate€where€ð ðthe€pleadings,€depositions,€answers€to€interrogatories,€and€admission€on€file,Ð D” Ðtogether€with€affidavits,€if€any,€show€that€there€is€no€genuine€issue€as€to€any€material€fact€and€thatÐ -} Ðthe€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.ðð€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.04.€€We€ð ðmustÐ f Ðview€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€nonmoving€party,ðð€giving€that€party€the€benefitÐ ÿO Ðof€all€reasonable€inferences.€€ò òòòWarrenó óóó,€954€S.W.2d€at€723€(quoting€ò òòòBain€v.€Wellsó óóó,€936€S.W.2d€618,Ð è 8 Ð622€(Tenn.€1997)).Ð Ò!"  ÐÌà8  àOnce€it€is€shown€by€the€moving€party€that€there€is€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact,Ð ¤#ô" Ðthe€nonmoving€party€must€then€demonstrate,€by€affidavits€or€discovery€materials,Ð $Ý# Ðthat€there€is€a€genuine,€material€fact€dispute€to€warrant€a€trial.€€In€this€regard,€RuleÐ v%Æ $ Ð56.05€provides€that€the€nonmoving€party€cannot€simply€rely€upon€his€pleadings€butÐ _&¯!% Ðmust€set€forth€òòspecificóó€òòfactsóó€showing€that€there€is€a€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€forÐ H'˜"& Ðtrial.€€ò òòòByrd€v.€Halló óóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€211€(Tenn.€1993).Ð1(#'Ð Ð  ÐÌUnless€the€facts€and€legal€conclusions€drawn€from€the€facts€reasonably€permit€only€one€conclusion,Ð *T%) Ðsummary€judgment€is€inappropriate.€€ò òòòCarvel€v.€Bottomsó óóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.€1995).Ð í*=&* ÐÐ ×+''+ Ðà  àUnder€the€THRA,€section€4„21„401€of€the€Tennessee€Code€Annotated,€ð ð[i]t€is€aÐ ° Ðdiscriminatory€practice€for€an€employer€to€.€.€.€[f]ail€or€refuse€to€hire€or€discharge€any€person€orÐ ™é Ðotherwise€to€discriminate€against€an€individual€with€respect€to€compensation,€terms,€conditions€orÐ ‚Ò Ðprivileges€of€employment€because€of€such€individualððs€.€.€.€age.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„21„401Ð k» Ð(1998).€€The€Tennessee€statute€notes€that€ð ð[i]t€is€the€purpose€and€intent€of€the€general€assembly€byÐ T¤ Ðthis€chapter€to€ð ð[p]rovide€for€execution€within€Tennessee€of€the€policies€embodied€in€the€federalÐ =  ÐCivil€Rights€Acts€of€1964,€1968,€and€1972€and€the€Age€Discrimination€in€Employment€Act€of€1967Ð & v Ð(ð ðADEAðð),€as€amended.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„21„101€(1998).Ð  _ ÐÌà  àUnder€these€federal€statutes,€a€plaintiff€can€establish€a€òòprima€facieóó€case€of€employmentÐ á 1  Ðdiscrimination€by€two€methods.€€By€the€first€method,€the€plaintiff€provides€direct,€statistical,€orÐ Ê   Ðcircumstantial€evidence€that€the€unlawful€discrimination€was€the€motivating€factor€in€the€employerððsÐ ³  Ðdecision.€€ò òòòBlackwell€v.€Sun€Elec.€Corp.ó óóó,€696€F.2d€1176,€1180€(6th€Cir.€1983);€ò òòòsee€Stanojev€v.Ð œì  ÐEbasco€Services,€Inc.ó óóó,€643€F.2d€914,€920€(2d€Cir.€1981).€€By€the€second€method,€the€plaintiff€reliesÐ †Ö  Ðon€the€framework€established€by€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€in€ò òòòMcDonnell€Douglas€v.€Greenó óóó,Ð pÀ  Ð411€U.S.€792€(1973).€€ò òòòMcDonnell€Douglasó óóó€addressed€racial€discrimination,€but€a€modified€versionÐ Zª  Ðof€its€framework€has€been€applied€to€age€discrimination€claims€brought€under€the€ADEA€and€theÐ D” ÐTHRA.€€ò òòòMoore€v.€Nashville€Elec.€Pwr.€Bd.ó óóó,€72€S.W.3d€643,€651„52€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001)€(citingÐ -} Ðò òòòCooley€v.€Carmike€Cinemas,€Inc.ó óóó,€25€F.3d€1325,€1328„30€(6th€Cir.€1994).€€Under€this€framework,Ð g Ðto€establish€a€òòprima€facieóó€case€of€age€discrimination€for€failure€to€hire,€a€plaintiff€must€prove€that:€Ð Q Ðð ð(1)€she€was€a€member€of€the€protected€classðð€(at€least€40€years€old);€ð ð(2)€she€applied€for€and€wasÐ ê: Ðqualified€for€the€positionðð€in€question;€ð ð(3)€she€was€considered€for€and€denied€the€position;€and€(4)Ð Ó# Ðshe€was€rejected€in€favorðð€of€a€substantially€younger€person€with€similar€qualification.€€ò òòòBush€v.Ð ¼  ÐDictaphone€Corp.ó óóó,€161€F.3d€363,€368€(6th€Cir.€1998);€ò òòòBetkerur€v.€Aultman€Hospital€Assoc.ó óóó,€78Ð ¦ö ÐF.3d€1079,€1095€(6th€Cir.€1996).€€If,€and€only€if,€the€plaintiff€establishes€a€òòprima€facieóó€case,€then€theÐ à Ðdefendant€must€proffer€a€legitimate,€nondiscriminatory€reason€for€its€actions.€€If€the€defendant€doesÐ yÉ Ðso,€the€plaintiff€must€rebut€this€with€evidence€that€the€asserted€nondiscriminatory€reason€is€mereÐ b² Ðpretext€for€discrimination.€€ò òòòBushó óóó,€161€F.3d€at€369.€Ð K› Ðò òòòóóó óÌà  àIn€this€case,€Trudeau€does€not€purport€to€have€any€direct€evidence€to€support€her€claim.€Ð n ÐInstead,€she€relies€on€the€ò òòòMcDonnell€Douglasó óóó€framework€to€establish€her€òòprima€facieóó€case€of€ageÐ  W Ðdiscrimination.€€Therefore,€she€maintains€that€she€was€rejected€for€the€job€position€in€question€inÐ ñ A Ðfavor€of€a€substantially€younger€person.€€Trudeau€asserts€that€she,€at€forty„five€years€old,€wasÐ Ú!*  Ðrejected€in€favor€of€her€niece,€Matheny,€who€was€thirty„seven€years€old.€€However,€it€is€undisputedÐ Ã"! Ðthat€on€October€4,€2001,€Matheny€was€interviewed€and€recommended€for€the€position€of€ESI€1€withÐ ¬#ü" Ðthe€Dept.€of€Labor.€€Thereafter,€the€defendant€began€to€seek€applicants€for€a€second€job€position€ofÐ •$å# ÐESI€1.€€On€October€17,€2001,€Trudeau€and€seven€other€individuals€submitted€applications€for€theÐ ~%Î $ Ðsecond€position,€which€was€never€filled.€€In€November€2001,€Matheny€was€offered€the€first€positionÐ g&·!% Ðof€ESI€1.Ð P' "& ÐÌà  àBased€on€these€undisputed€facts,€it€is€clear€that€Matheny€and€Trudeau€applied€for€differentÐ ")r$( Ðjobs.€€Matheny€was€interviewed€and€recommended€for€hire€for€the€first€position€before€Trudeau€evenÐ  *[%) Ðapplied€for€the€second€position.€€Trudeau€alleges€that€she€is€similarly€situated€to€Matheny,€butÐ ô*D&* Ðproffers€no€evidence€that€she€and€Matheny€applied€for€the€same€job.€€In€order€to€create€a€genuineÐ Ý+-'+ Ðissue€of€fact€to€overcome€the€defendantððs€motion€for€summary€judgment,€Trudeau€must€offer€moreÐ ° Ðthan€conclusory€allegations.€€This€she€has€failed€to€do.Ð ™é ÐÌà  àSince€Trudeau€has€failed€to€proffer€evidence€to€establish€a€òòprima€facieóó€case€of€ageÐ k» Ðdiscrimination,€we€must€conclude€that€the€trial€court€did€not€err€in€granting€summary€judgment€inÐ T¤ Ðfavor€of€the€defendant€Dept.€of€Labor.Ð =  ÐÌà  àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€to€be€taxed€to€Appellant€JeanÐ  _ ÐAnn€Trudeau,€and€her€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.Ð ø H ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à__________________________________________Ð œì  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHOLLY€M.€KIRBY,€JUDGE€