Lewis Rice Attorneys Win Summary Judgment for Graybar in Gender Suit Alleging Discrimination Based upon Alleged Enforcement of “Traditional Notions of Civility”
January 29, 2019A United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts recently entered judgment in favor of Graybar Electric Company, Inc. in a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by Michael Granger. Mr. Granger asserted gender discrimination claims under the Massachusetts Anti-Discrimination Law against Graybar, his former employer. He alleged that his termination from employment was motivated by a genderized and paternalistic desire to protect a female co-worker and was, therefore, unlawful. Mr. Granger pointed out that his female co-worker was not terminated for her involvement in an argument Mr. Granger initiated with her. He also contended that, if the argument had been between two men, instead of between a man and a woman, he would not have been disciplined and ultimately terminated. The Court rejected these arguments, and noted:
Granger contends that “[i]n this case, the record suggests that Graybar was enforcing traditional notions of civility which more easily tolerate a man yelling profanities at another man or a woman making threats against a man than they do a man yelling profanity at a woman.” *** I disagree. The record suggests that this was a case of an out of control, angry employee who acted in a highly inappropriate and unprofessional manner toward a co-worker and was terminated for that conduct.
Lewis Rice attorneys Neal F. Perryman and Sarah E. Mullen successfully represented Graybar; Neal argued the summary judgment motion in the District Court. The case is reported at Granger v. Graybar Electric Company, Inc., 335 F. Supp. 3d 188 (D. Mass. 2018).
