Facts

Raul Bonilla filed a lawsuit against United Air Lines Inc. alleging claims of retaliation and discrimination pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff was originally employed by defendant as a mechanic and was eventually promoted to the position of Senior Supervisor. Following a merger, defendant utilized a Talent and Selection Process in determining which employees retained their supervisory positions. Bonillas and other supervisors had to reapply for their positions. Bonillas was not selected to be supervisor and was demoted to mechanic. Plaintiff claimed that defendant also discriminated against him due to his posttraumatic stress disorder. Plaintiff alleged that defendant's decision not to retain him in his supervisor position constituted race, national origin, and disability discrimination.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendant argued that plaintiff was not qualified for the supervisor position because he ineffectively performed employee management duties. Defendant also argued that no individuals outside plaintiff's protected class were treated more favorably.

Result

The court granted defendant's motion for summary judgment. The court found, in part, that plaintiff's claims of race and national origin discrimination failed because the evidence, including plaintiff's poor performance evaluations, supported defendant's argument that plaintiff was not qualified for the position. The court also found that there was no evidence supporting plaintiff's claim that those outside his protected class were treated more favorably. The court also found that plaintiff's disability discrimination claim failed because plaintiff did not present evidence showing those involved in his hiring decision were aware that plaintiff had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Other Information

FILING DATE: Dec. 31, 2012.