ÿWPC| ÉžÉ]½ŒL0IÁx¾yÁ4Ö8¼Ê²ðŸÒ½†±¿õY {fÁŸŒàU'@ʘ[¾5Ò¾¿GƒñãOÆGª$?¾æ ÄUUÚ$ñûé°Y9‚ã³ù|Ï…¢ñ[„‘†ÞújŠÔËÉøï›WŸ§ïE^® Ì‹rOD¡ÈyA¶4ˆ­%C@ÊÝ—lÙ¢+>¬Ä^cmšî‘Ù ½úñ6KלÒÂt”d)`äß¼‰a·›páG¶:¹¢D"G„>èõâ«køüÙ/p^jÉ; ëÜîly0¼ÈqŸF¹ÖŽp5³íЬýõ)ûÉå¹ÒßÕ$m ¨1—4=eÁø•BKªk¯ÇÅÓbŸç‚uF£ÎìaE31³x KP§ð½.¤>`ßæ.dÐÑø¢Õ½ešrµ±ümËPö·ö–,ªaÍD{t^0úò[ž&Ól©­é‡ÄA€Ê,º™ÏÓ¿l¨] ÿüþì…n›ÜJàµUÁ÷ïˆ~E¢×·pN‚àO…Ä?tôG ä,®¡§ˆï £5à¯ÓHb¥_pôª~•:v†÷£LÂÂyaù$AS€Q¢¯‹1Ò¹Ši"|ôvKË !îIaÏGî÷nEK=Ý€}J(#É0 %ùU 8ÿ 0x7U:¯ 0üéU.ånT Ng U@i ^ © wµ 4¹ Í Ü mÞ Eõ f÷ aù UB bO AW ²˜-J|w€ó 0Dsssssss“·JJJJ B_˜HP LaserJet 8150 PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0X<4šÛ 9Z+‹ Courier New (PÝð$¡¡Ô€XGÈXXXÔÔ€Nòp IXXGÈÔÓo Ó<þ6X9`("Courier NewTT(»2$¤¤Ý ƒÝð!ÝÔ€XLØXXXÔÔ€NüLXXLØÔÓo ÓÝ  ÝÓo ÓÔ€NüLLNüÔÒ„°ÒÒ„°ÒòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó<þ6X9`(Courier«<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@<þ6X9`(CourierTTXXwþ6X@ÉüQX@(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman 2¡U4  R‡3?,}£backup3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀøÀTABLE A<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpi- ù- 7Ô_ÔÓ  ÓÓ=€LØXÐXdÐd=Óà  àòò2óóFollowing€the€Supreme€Court's€lead,€òòseeóó€Ô‡XLØXXXÔòòSuttonóó€v.€òòUnitedÐ ° ÐAirlines,€Inc.óó,€527€U.S.€471,€489€(1999)Ô#†XLØXXXLØš#Ôòòóó,€we€have€assumed€in€priorÐ †Ö Ðcases€that€working€is€a€major€life€activity.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòGuzman„Ð \¬ ÐRosarioóó€v.€òòUnited€Parcel€Serv.óó,€397€F.3d€6,€11€(1st€Cir.€2005).€€WeÐ 2‚ Ðcontinue€to€do€so€here€because€the€Postmaster€General€did€notÐ X  Ðobject€below€or€on€appeal€to€the€district€court's€instruction€thatÐ ° Ðworking€is€a€major€life€activity,€and€the€instruction€was€notÐ †Ö Ðplainly€wrong.€ ¨Ô_ÔÓ  ÓÓ=€LØXÐXdÐd=Óà  àòò1óóAlthough€we€have€not€had€occasion€to€evaluate€disabilityÐ ° Ðharassment€as€a€viable€theory€of€recovery,€we€have€assumed€that€itÐ †Ö Ðis€viable.€òòSeeóóÔ‡XLØXXXÔ€òòArrieta„Colonóó€v.€òòWal„Mart€Puerto€Rico,€Inc.óó,€„„€F.3dÐ \¬ Є„,€2006€WL€74411,€at€*10€(1st€Cir.€Jan.€13,€2006)€(affirmingÐ 2‚ Ðdisability€harassment€verdict€where€the€defendant€did€not€challengeÐ X Ðthe€viability€of€a€disability„harassment€claim).€€Where€it€has€beenÐ Þ. Ðchallenged,€the€theory€has€survived.€€òòSeeóó€òòSilkóó€v.€òòChicagoóó,€194€F.3d€Ð ´  Ð788,€803„04€(7th€Cir.€1999)€(noting€that€"[m]ost€circuits€haveÐ Š Ú Ðassumed"€such€a€cause€of€action€to€lie);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòSoledadóó€v.€òòDep'tÐ ` ° Ðof€Treasuryóó,€304€F.3d€500.€506€(5th€Cir.€2002)€(recognizing€hostileÐ 6 †  Ðwork€environment€theory€for€Rehabilitation€Act€claim);€òòFoxóó€v.€òòGen.Ð  \  ÐMotors€Corp.óó,€247€F.3d€169,€176€(4th€Cir.€2001)€(explicitlyÐ â 2  Ðrecognizing€hostile€work€environment€theory€under€the€ADA).€Ð ¸  ÐIndeed,€the€Postmaster€General€has€not€challenged€Quiles'€theory€ofÐ ŽÞ  Ðrecovery.Ô#†XLØXXXLØ$#Ô #Ñ#€Xÿÿd#Ñ rÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÓ=€LØXÐXdÐd=Óà  àòò3óóIn€considering€the€"regarded€as€disabled"€issue,€the€Ð ° Ðdistrict€court€erroneously€stated€that€there€was€only€a€singleÐ †Ö Ðremark€by€a€supervisor€that€Quiles€was€a€safety€risk.€€òòSeeóóDist.Ð \¬ ÐCt.€Op.€at€10. GENARO Jos/QuetglaJordnQuetglasBoardmanSevillano DymQuiles QuilesBaymonD.P.R. L.L.MannieCerezoDep'tcaselawharassersMcMillanSee SeeNeiman CtyArlinenonlimitingPerlinSanistbehavorialEchazabal t]he misperceptionsU.S.C.C.A.N.AlbertsonKirkingburgDoebeleaffirmance SysMarrero GoyaO'RourkeOncaleSundownerServsScherringVazquezCoonsSec'yNovielloS]ubjectGorskiMesnick Jos)Garc1a R1oQuilescvCaleroArrietam]ostignorances(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ‰Ô_ÔÓ  ÓÓ=€LØXÐXdÐd=Óà  àòò4óóThe€district€court€concluded€that,€despite€the€comments€thatÐ ° ÐQuiles€was€potentially€violent,€the€supervisors€did€not€regard€himÐ †Ö Ðas€unfit€for€a€broad€class€of€jobs€because€they€did€not€seek€toÐ \¬ Ðhave€Quiles€fired.€€But€the€jury€heard€evidence€about€the€complexÐ 2‚ Ðunion€grievance€proceedings€and€detailed€regulations€governingÐ X Ðemployee€management€in€the€Postal€Service€which€made€it€difficultÐ Þ. Ðto€fire€a€postal€employee.€€The€jury€reasonably€could€have€inferredÐ ´  Ðfrom€this€evidence€that,€instead€of€pursuing€a€formal€termination,Ð Š Ú ÐQuiles'€supervisors€engaged€in€a€course€of€harassment€to€force€himÐ ` ° Ðto€relinquish€his€position.€ Ñ  Ñ dÝ ƒÝð!ÝÔ€XLØXXXÔÔ€NüLXXLØÔÓo ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑTRXì3Ø'Xà3Ø' Letter3Ø'Letterÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÑ ? ÑÙ*ƒ !Ùò òÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡ N)¢LLNüÔÔ‡ œñ^›L N)¢ÔÑ€äªÑUnited€States€Court€of€AppealsÔ#† N)¢L› œñ^4#ÔÐ ° ÐÔ‡ uæf uL N)¢ÔFor€the€First€CircuitÔ#† N)¢L u uæfº#Ôó óÔ#†NüLL N)¢#ÔÐ à ÐÓ Óà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÌßA€') °°` dE<Õ` AßÐ Ö& ÐÌÔ‡XLØXLNüÔNo.€05„1591Ð   ÐÌà@ ìàGENARO€QUILES„QUILES,ˆÐ € Ð Ðà@ ìàPlaintiff,€Appellant,ˆÐ _ ¯ ÐÌà@tt)ìàv.ˆÐ m  ÐÌà@  ìàWILLIAM€J.€HENDERSON,€POSTMASTER€GENERAL,€ˆÐ Û+  Ðà@ ìàUNITED€STATES€POSTAL€SERVICE,ˆÐ º  Ðà@<< ìàDefendant,€Appellee.ˆÐ ™é  ÐÌßA€') °°` dE<V` AßÐ W§ ÐÌà@œ œ ìàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€UNITED€STATES€DISTRICT€COURTˆÐ E• ÐÌÓ  ÓFOR€THE€DISTRICT€OF€PUERTO€RICOÐ S ÐÌà@@ìì*ìà[Hon.€Juan€M.€Prez„Gimnez,€òòU.S.€District€Judgeóó]Ð Á ÐÌßA€') °°` dE<~` AßÐ Ï ÐÌà@@„„'ìàBeforeÐ m½ ÐÌà@@((ìà€Torruella,€Lipez,€and€HowardÐ +{ ÐòòCircuit€Judgesóó.Ð  Z ÐÌÌßA€') °°` dE<¦` AßÐ §÷  ÐÌÓ  Óà  àòòJos€F.€Quetglas€Jordnóó€with€whom€òòQuetglas€Law€Officesóó€wasÐ • å" Ðon€brief,€for€appellant.Ð t!Ä# ÐÓ  Óà  àòòStephen€J.€Boardmanóó,€Counsel€of€Record,€with€whom€òòH.S.€Garcaóó,Ð S"£$ ÐUnited€States€Attorney,€òòFidel€A.€Sevillano„Del€Roóó,€AssistantÐ 2#‚% ÐUnited€States€Attorney,€òòLori€J.€Dymóó,€Chief€Counsel€and€òòDavid€S.Ð $a& ÐFriedmanóó,€United€States€Postal€Service,€were€on€brief,€forÐ ð$@ ' Ðappellee.Ð Ï%!( ÐÌÌÔ*‹ƒ'ddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#‹ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ l(¼#+l(¼# ‹‹ÐÐ SIÐ( $, îâ@38768„„‰îâ@‰‹‹SÐÌFebruary€21,€2006Ð ¯)ÿ$. ÐÐ RHCŽ*Þ%/" îâ@38768 îâ@ ‹‹RÐÐ(Ð( $0  (ÐÑ  ÑÓßo ÓÑ€ÑÓ*°,X°` ¨ ƒX°œX*ÓÔ",USú ú, ú (ú:!ú&ú),ÔÑ€#@¸Ñò òÓ=€LØXÐXdÐd=Ó€à ` àÐ +í&0 ÐÓ=€LØXÐXdXÐXd=Óà@ìì*ìàˆÐ y-É(2? ÐÑäªÑâ âÑ8€LØXXdÖdÈ8Ñâ âÑ  ÑÑ8€LØXXdÖXXdÖ8Ñà ` àHOWARD,€òòCircuit€Judgeó óóó.€€This€appeal€arises€from€a€civilÐ ° Ðaction€under€the€Rehabilitation€Act€brought€against€the€PostmasterÐ ŒÜ ÐGeneral€of€the€United€States€by€Genaro€Quiles„Quiles,€a€formerÐ K› Ðpostal€employee.€€òòSeeóó€29€U.S.C.€ðð€791€òòet€seq.óó€€òòóóQuiles€alleges€thatÐ  Z Ðhis€Postal€Service€supervisors€harassed€him€because€of€hisÐ É  Ðdisability€and€retaliated€against€him€when€he€complained€about€theÐ ˆ Ø  Ðharassment.€òòóó€A€jury€found€for€Quiles€on€both€claims€and€awarded€himÐ G—  Ð$950,000€in€compensatory€damages,€which€the€district€court€reducedÐ V  Ðto€the€statutory€cap€of€$300,000.€€òòSeeóó€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1981a(a)(2).€Ð Å ÐThe€Postmaster€General€filed€a€post„trial€motion€for€judgment€as€aÐ „Ô Ðmatter€of€law,€which€the€district€court€allowed.€€We€reverse€andÐ C“ Ðreinstate€the€verdict€in€the€statutorily„capped€amount.Ð R ÐÓ  Óò òI.ó óÐ Á Ðò òà @ àó óÓ  Óà ` àThe€jury€could€have€found€the€following€facts.€€QuilesÐ í Ðbegan€his€employment€for€the€Postal€Service€in€1986€as€a€mailÐ \¬ Ðcarrier.€€In€1995,€he€was€assigned€to€the€Bayamon€Gardens€stationÐ k Ðwhere€he€worked€as€a€window€cashier.€€Among€his€duties,€he€soldÐ Ú *  Ðstamps€and€other€postal€products.€€His€immediate€supervisor€wasÐ ™"é" ÐDoris€Vazquez,€who€served€under€Virgilio€Lopez.€€Luther€Alston€wasÐ X$¨$ Ðthe€station€manager.Ð &g!& Ðà ` àSoon€after€Quiles€moved€to€Bayamon€Gardens€station,Ð Ö'&#( ÐVazquez€began€to€bother€him.€€Vazquez€frequently€interfered€withÐ •)å$* ÐQuiles'€running€his€window,€dealing€with€customers,€and€handlingÐ T+¤&, Ðthe€cash€drawer€money.€€This€conduct€made€Quiles€"anxious€andÐ ° Ðnervous"€because€he€was€afraid€that€he€would€be€held€responsibleÐ o¿ Ðfor€any€accounting€errors.€€Quiles€complained€to€Lopez,€who€didÐ .~ Ðnothing€to€stop€the€interference.Ð í = Ðà ` àOn€October€4,€1997,€Vazquez€screamed€at€Quiles€because€heÐ ¬ ü Ðhad€gone€to€lunch€"without€authorization."€€The€incident€took€placeÐ k »  Ðin€front€of€several€employees€and€customers.€€ImmediatelyÐ *z  Ðthereafter,€Quiles€suffered€a€panic€attack€and€sought€psychiatricÐ é9  Ðhelp€for€anxiety€and€depression.€€Quiles€missed€three€days€of€workÐ ¨ø  Ðbecause€of€his€distress.€€When€Quiles€returned,€he€presented€toÐ g· ÐLopez€a€certificate€from€his€psychiatrist€stating€that€the€absenceÐ &v Ðwas€medically€necessary.Ð å5 Ðà ` àAfter€Quiles€returned€to€work,€Vazquez€interrupted€hisÐ ¤ô Ðwork€more€frequently.€€Quiles€complained€on€several€occasions,€butÐ c³ Ðneither€Lopez€nor€Alston€intervened.€€On€March€5,€1998,€Quiles€wasÐ "r Ðcrossing€the€street€outside€the€post€office€when€(so€the€jury€couldÐ á1 Ðhave€found)€Vazquez€drove€at€him€in€her€truck.€€Quiles€reported€theÐ   ð  Ðincident€to€his€supervisors€and€the€police.€€Afterwards,€QuilesÐ _"¯" Ðentered€a€state€of€"acute€anxiety."Ð $n$ Ðà ` àAs€a€result€of€Quiles'€worsening€mental€condition,€€hisÐ Ý%-!& Ðpsychiatrist€prescribed€a€week„long€leave€of€absence€andÐ œ'ì"( Ðrecommended€that€he€be€reassigned€from€his€cashier€duties€afterÐ [)«$* Ðreturning€to€work.€€Quiles€brought€Lopez€a€sealed€envelopeÐ +j&, Ðcontaining€the€medical€certificate€referencing€this€information.€Ð ° ÐLopez€opened€the€envelope,€read€the€medical€certificate,€andÐ o¿ Ðbrought€it€to€Vazquez.€€Vazquez€read€the€certificate€and€laughinglyÐ .~ Ðexclaimed,€"He€is€crazy!"€€Lopez€laughed€as€well.€€When€QuilesÐ í = Ðinformed€Alston€of€the€incident,€Alston€told€Quiles€to€"stopÐ ¬ ü Ðacting."€€Ð k »  Ðà ` àFrom€this€point€forward,€Vazquez€and€Lopez€called€QuilesÐ *z  Ð"crazy"€on€a€daily€basis.€€They€also€constantly€"joked"€in€front€ofÐ é9  Ðcoworkers€and€customers€about€the€fact€that€Quiles€saw€aÐ ¨ø  Ðpsychiatrist€and€took€medication€for€his€condition.€€ThisÐ g· Ðcommentary€included€remarks€about€the€effect€that€the€medicationÐ &v Ðhad€on€Quiles'€ability€to€have€sexual€relations€with€his€wife.€€€InÐ å5 Ðaddition,€Lopez€often€remarked€that€Quiles€posed€a€"great€risk"€toÐ ¤ô Ðthe€other€employees€because€he€was€under€on„going€psychiatricÐ c³ Ðtreatment.€€Alston€frequently€stated€that€Quiles€was€a€"risk€to€theÐ "r Ðfloor"€because€he€was€undergoing€psychiatric€treatment.€€AndÐ á1 ÐVazquez€remarked€several€times€a€day€that€Quiles€should€"not€beÐ   ð  Ðworking"€in€the€post€office€because€he€was€"crazy."Ð _"¯" Ðà ` àOn€April€14,€1998,€Quiles€filed€a€complaint€with€theÐ $n$ ÐEqual€Employment€Office€of€the€Postal€Service,€claiming€thatÐ Ý%-!& ÐVazquez,€Lopez,€and€Alston€had€harassed€him€because€of€his€mentalÐ œ'ì"( Ðdisability.€€Through€the€remainder€of€1998€and€1999,€the€harassmentÐ [)«$* Ðand€derogatory€comments€continued.€€Two€weeks€after€Quiles€filedÐ +j&, Ðhis€EEO€complaint,€Alston€threw€Quiles€out€of€his€office,€screamedÐ ° Ðat€him,€and€slammed€the€door€as€Quiles€was€leaving.€€Several€weeksÐ o¿ Ðlater,€Lopez€stopped€a€union€grievance€meeting€between€Quiles€andÐ .~ Ða€shop€steward€and€shouted€at€Quiles€in€front€of€coworkers.€€AlstonÐ í = Ðapproached€Quiles€in€the€bathroom€and€told€him€that€he€would€"soonÐ ¬ ü Ðbe€without€a€job,"€called€Quiles€a€"punk,"€challenged€Quiles€to€aÐ k »  Ðfight,€and€grabbed€his€(own)€crotch€while€calling€Quiles€aÐ *z  Ð"coward."Ð é9  Ðà ` àQuiles'€mental€condition€deteriorated.€€On€March€31,Ð ¨ø  Ð2000,€Quiles'€psychiatrist€found€him€totally€disabled€because€ofÐ g· Ðsevere€depression,€and€Quiles€began€a€leave€of€absence.€€Quiles€wasÐ &v Ðhospitalized€for€several€days€during€this€period€to€treat€hisÐ å5 Ðdepression.€€A€year€later,€Quiles€returned€to€his€position€becauseÐ ¤ô Ðof€financial€need.€€He€worked€until€August€14,€2003,€when€VazquezÐ c³ Ðagain€called€him€"crazy."€€This€triggered€a€relapse€of€Quiles'Ð "r Ðdepression€and€required€another€hospitalization.€€He€has€since€beenÐ á1 Ðtotally€disabled.Ð   ð  Ðà ` àFollowing€the€close€of€evidence,€the€Postmaster€GeneralÐ _"¯" Ðmoved€for€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòSeeóó€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€50(a).Ð $n$ ÐThe€district€court€denied€the€motion€and€submitted€the€case€to€theÐ Ý%-!& Ðjury.€€After€the€jury€returned€a€verdict€for€Quiles,€the€districtÐ œ'ì"( Ðcourt€allowed€the€Postmaster€General's€renewed€motion€for€judgmentÐ [)«$* Ðas€a€matter€of€law,€€òòseeóó€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€50(b),€and€enteredÐ +j&, ÐÑ#@¸Ñâ #âÑ  Ñâ #âÑ  Ñjudgment€against€Quiles.€€òòSeeóó€òòQuiles„Quilesóó€v.€òòHerndonóó,€No.€99„cv„Ð ° Ð01868€(D.P.R.€Mar.€22,€2005)€(Dist.€Ct.€Op.).€€The€court€rejectedÐ o¿ Ðthe€jury's€disability„harassment€finding€because€Quiles€had€notÐ .~ Ðdemonstrated€that€he€was€disabled.€€òòId.óó€at€8„11.€€The€court€alsoÐ í = Ðrejected€the€jury's€retaliation€finding€because€Quiles€had€failedÐ ¬ ü Ðto€prove€either€that€he€was€subjected€to€a€hostile€workÐ k »  Ðenvironment,€or€that€any€harassment€he€suffered€was€causallyÐ *z  Ðrelated€to€his€filing€of€an€EEO€complaint.€€òòId.óó€at€11„13.Ð é9  ÐÓ  Óò òII.ó óÐ ¨ø  ÐÓ  Óà ` àWe€review€the€ruling€on€a€motion€for€judgment€as€a€matterÐ „Ô Ðof€law€de€novo.€€òòCrowleyóó€v.€òòL.L.€Bean,€Inc.óó,€303€F.2d€387,€393€(1stÐ C“ ÐCir.€2002).€€Our€review€is€"weighted€toward€preservation€of€theÐ R Ðjury€verdict"€because€a€verdict€should€be€set€aside€only€if€theÐ Á Ðjury€failed€to€reach€the€òòonlyóó€result€permitted€by€the€evidence.€Ð €Ð ÐòòId.Ð ? Ðà ` àóóAs€a€Postal€Service€employee,€Quiles'€claim€arises€underÐ þN Ðthe€Rehabilitation€Act,€not€the€Americans€with€Disabilities€ActÐ ½   Ð(ADA).€€òòSeeóóòòMannieóó€v.€òòPotteróó,€394€F.3d€977,€982€(7th€Cir.€2005).€Ð |"Ì" ÐNevertheless,€the€liability€standards€are€the€same€under€eachÐ ;$‹$ Ðstatute.€€òòSeeóó€29€U.S.C.€ðð€791(g);òòCalero„Cerezoóó€v.€€òòUnited€StatesÐ ú%J!& ÐDep't€of€Justiceóó,€355€F.3d€6,€11€n.1€(1st€Cir.€2004).€€Therefore,Ð ¹' #( Ð"the€caselaw€construing€the€ADA€generally€pertains€equally€toÐ x)È$* Ðclaims€under€the€Rehabilitation€Act."€€òòCalero„Cerezoóó,€355€F.3d€atÐ 7+‡&, Ð19.Ð ° Ðà ` àò òA.€Disability€Harassmentó ó€òòÐ o¿ Ðà ` àóóThe€district€court€instructed€the€jury€that,€to€succeedÐ K› Ðon€a€claim€of€disability€harassment,€Quiles€had€to€prove€that€heÐ  Z Ðwas€(1)€disabled,€(2)€that€he€was€subjected€to€a€hostileÐ É  Ðenvironment,€and€(3)€that€the€hostility€was€directed€at€him€becauseÐ ˆ Ø  Ðof€his€disability.Ù*_Ù׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€Postmaster€General€has€not€challenged€thisÐ G—  Ðinstruction€either€below€or€on€appeal;€therefore,€it€provides€theÐ V  Ðstandard€against€which€we€measure€the€sufficiency€of€the€evidence.€Ð Å ÐòòSeeóó€òòRodriguez„Torresóó€v.€òòCaribbean€Forms€Mfr.óó,€399€F.3d€52,€58€(1stÐ „Ô ÐCir.€2005).€Ð C“ Ðà ` àIn€its€post„trial€ruling,€the€district€court€rejected€Ð R ÐQuiles'€disability„harassment€claim€because€Quiles€had€failed€toÐ Á Ðadduce€sufficient€evidence€to€ground€a€finding€that€he€wasÐ €Ð Ðdisabled.€€The€Postmaster€General€defends€the€district€court'sÐ ? Ðruling€by€arguing€that€Quiles€not€only€failed€to€establish€he€wasÐ ° Ðdisabled,€but€also€that€he€failed€to€introduce€sufficient€evidenceÐ o¿ Ðof€either€a€hostile€environment€or€discriminatory€animus€on€theÐ .~ Ðpart€of€his€harassers.€€òòSeeóóòòMcMillanóó€v.€òòMass.€Soc.€for€theÐ í = ÐPrevention€of€Cruelty€to€Animalsóó,€140€F.3d€288,€298€n.3€(1st€Cir.Ð ¬ ü Ð1998)€(stating€that€the€court€of€appeals€may€affirm€a€judgment€asÐ k »  Ða€matter€of€law€on€any€ground€supported€by€the€record).€€We€beginÐ *z  Ðby€considering€whether€the€evidence€was€sufficient€for€the€jury€toÐ é9  Ðconclude€that€Quiles€was€disabled.Ð ¨ø  Ðà ` àAn€individual€is€disabled€if€he€(1)€has€a€physical€orÐ g· Ðmental€impairment€which€substantially€limits€one€or€more€major€lifeÐ &v Ðactivities,€(2)€has€a€record€of€such€impairment,€or€(3)€is€regardedÐ å5 Ðas€having€such€an€impairment.€€òòSeeóó€òòCalero„Cerezoóó,€355€F.3d€at€20.€Ð ¤ô ÐQuiles€contends€that€the€evidence€was€adequate€for€the€jury€to€findÐ c³ Ðhim€disabled€under€any€of€these€three€recognized€liabilityÐ "r Ðtheories.€€We€proceed€directly€to€the€third€category.€€Ð á1 Ðà ` àQuiles€argues€that€the€Postal€Service€regarded€him€asÐ   ð  Ðdisabled€because€his€supervisors€perceived€his€mental€impairment€asÐ _"¯" Ðsubstantially€limiting€his€ability€to€engage€in€the€major€lifeÐ $n$ Ðactivity€of€working.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€Postmaster€General€responds€that€QuilesÐ Ý%-!& Ðfailed€to€show,€as€he€must,€that€his€supervisors€perceived€him€asÐ ° Ðunable€to€work€in€a€broad€class€of€jobs.€€òòSeeóó€òòSullivanóó€v.€òòNeimanÐ o¿ ÐMarcus,€Group€Inc.óó,€358€F.3d€110,€117€(1st€Cir.€2004).€€TheÐ .~ Ðdistrict€court€accepted€the€Postmaster€General's€reasoning,€òòseeóóÐ í = ÐòòóóDist.€Ct.€Op.€at€10,€but€we€disagree.Ð ¬ ü Ðà ` àThe€purpose€of€protecting€those€who€are€regarded€asÐ k »  Ðdisabled€from€discrimination€is€to€prohibit€employers€from€relyingÐ *z  Ðon€"stereotypic€assumptions€not€truly€indicative€of€individualÐ é9  Ðability."€€òòSeeóó€òòSuttonóó,€527€U.S.€at€489;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòSch.€Bd.€of€NassauÐ ¨ø  ÐCty.óó€v.€òòArlineóó,€480€U.S.€273,€284€(1987)€("By€amending€[theÐ g· ÐRehabilitation€Act]€to€include€those€.€.€.€who€are€regarded€asÐ &v Ðimpaired€.€.€.€Congress€acknowledged€that€society's€€accumulatedÐ å5 Ðmyths€and€fears€about€disability€.€.€.€are€as€handicapping€as€areÐ ¤ô Ðthe€physical€limitations€that€flow€from€actual€impairment.").€€òòóóOneÐ c³ Ðway€for€an€employee€to€prove€that€his€employer€regarded€him€asÐ "r Ðdisabled€is€to€demonstrate€that€the€employer€mistakenly€believedÐ á1 Ðthat€an€actual,€nonlimiting€impairment€substantially€limited€one€orÐ   ð  Ðmore€major€life€activities.€€òòSeeóó€òòSuttonóó,€527€U.S.€at€489;€òòBaileyóó€v.Ð _"¯" ÐòòGeorgia„Pacific€Corp.óó,€306€F.3d€1162,€1169€(1st€Cir.€2002).€€€€òòóó€Ð $n$ Ðà ` àThere€was€evidence€that€Quiles'€supervisors€believed,Ð Ý%-!& Ðwithout€foundation,€that€his€mental€impairment€made€him€a€potentialÐ œ'ì"( Ðsafety€risk€to€his€coworkers.€€Lopez€stated€"on€several€occasions"Ð ° Ðthat,€because€Quiles€was€under€"psychiatric€treatment,"€he€was€"aÐ o¿ Ðrisk€to€the€security€.€.€.€of€the€Post€Office."׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Alston€stated€"onÐ .~ Ðseveral€occasions"€that€Quiles€was€"a€risk€to€the€floor€becauseÐ í = Ð[he]€was€under€psychiatric€treatment."€€Similarly,€Vazquez€€calledÐ ¬ ü ÐQuiles€"crazy"€"five,€six,€seven€times€a€day"€and€told€him€that€heÐ k »  Ð"should€not€be€working"€at€the€post€office.Ð *z  Ðà ` àThese€comments€indicate€that€Quiles'€supervisorsÐ é9  Ðperceived€him€to€be€potentially€violent€because€of€his€mentalÐ ¨ø  Ðimpairment.€€The€belief€that€the€mentally€ill€areÐ g· Ðdisproportionately€dangerous€is€precisely€the€type€ofÐ &v Ðdiscriminatory€myth€that€the€Rehabilitation€Act€and€ADA€wereÐ å5 Ðintended€to€confront.€€òòSeeóó€Michael€Perlin,€òòThe€ADA€&€Persons€withÐ ¤ô ÐMental€Disabilities:€Can€Sanist€Attitudes€Be€Undone?óó,€8€J.€L.€&Ð c³ ÐHealth€15,€27€(1994)€("A€series€of€behavorial€myths€has€emergedÐ "r Ðsuggesting€that€persons€with€mental€disabilities€are€.€.€.Ð á1 Ðdisproportionately€dangerous€.€.€.€.").€€In€enacting€the€ADA,Ð   ð  ÐCongress€established€a€defense€to€liability€if€the€employee€is€aÐ _"¯" Ð"direct€threat"€to€the€safety€of€others.€€42€U.S.C.€ðð€12113(b);Ð $n$ ÐòòChevron€U.S.A.€Inc.óó€v.€òòEchazabalóó,€536€U.S.€73,€78€(2002).€€But€theÐ Ý%-!& Ðaccompanying€legislative€history€emphasizes€that€"[t]heÐ ° Ðdetermination€that€an€individual€with€a€[mental]€disability€willÐ o¿ Ðpose€a€safety€threat€to€others€must€be€made€on€a€case„by„case€basisÐ .~ Ðand€must€not€be€based€on€generalizations,€misperceptions,Ð í = Ðignorances,€irrational€fears,€patronizing€attitudes,€or€pernicious€Ð ¬ ü Ðmythologies."€€H.€Rep.€No.€101„485(II),€101st€Cong.,€2d€Sess.Ð k »  Ð(1990),€reprinted€in€1990€U.S.C.C.A.N.€303,€338;€òòsee€alsoóóÐ *z  ÐòòAlbertson's,€Inc.óó€v.€òòKirkingburgóó,€527€U.S.€555,€569€(1999).Ð é9  ÐÓ?/ÓÓ  Óà ` àThe€supervisors'€remarks€also€suggest€a€shared€beliefÐ ¨ø  Ðthat€Quiles€was€substantially€limited€in€the€major€life€activity€ofÐ g· Ðworking€because€of€his€impairment.€€If€Quiles'€disability€trulyÐ &v Ðmade€him€a€safety€risk€to€coworkers€it€would€preclude€him€fromÐ å5 Ðholding€most€jobs€in€our€economy.׃"×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòSeeóóòòDoebeleóó€v.€òòSprint/UnitedÐ ¤ô ÐManagement€Co.óó,€342€F.3d€1117,€1132„35€(10th€Cir.€2003)€(concludingÐ c³ Ðthat€a€jury€could€find€that€employer€erroneously€regarded€itsÐ "r Ðemployee€as€substantially€limited€in€the€major€life€activity€ofÐ á1 Ðworking€where€the€employer€erroneously€believed€that€the€employee'sÐ   ð  Ðdepression€made€her€a€danger€to€her€coworkers).€€òòóóThe€evidenceÐ _"¯" Ðtherefore€was€sufficient€for€the€jury€to€conclude€that€the€PostalÐ ° ÐService€regarded€Quiles€as€disabled€because€his€superiorsÐ o¿ Ðerroneously€believed€that€he€was€unable€to€perform€a€broad€class€ofÐ .~ Ðjobs€due€to€his€mental€impairment.€€€Ð í = Ðà ` àWe€turn€next€to€the€Postmaster€General's€firstÐ ¬ ü Ðalternative€argument€for€affirmance:€Quiles€failed€to€adduceÐ k »  Ðsufficient€evidence€that€he€was€forced€to€endure€a€hostile€workÐ *z  Ðenvironment.€€The€Postmaster€General€acknowledges€that€Quiles€wasÐ é9  Ðsubject€to€daily€ridicule€about€his€mental€impairment.€€HeÐ ¨ø  Ðcontends,€however,€that€this€sort€of€conduct€is€common€in€blue„Ð g· Ðcollar€workplaces€such€as€a€post€office,€and€that€conduct€of€thisÐ &v Ðsort,€while€inappropriate,€does€not€constitute€a€hostile€workÐ å5 Ðenvironment.€€€Ð ¤ô Ðà ` àTo€establish€a€hostile€work€environment,€Quiles€had€toÐ c³ Ðshow€that€his€"workplace€[was]€permeated€with€discriminatoryÐ "r Ðintimidation,€ridicule,€and€insult€that€[was]€sufficiently€severeÐ á1 Ðor€pervasive€to€alter€the€conditions€of€€.€.€.€[his]€employment€andÐ   ð  Ðcreate€an€abusive€working€environment."€€òòHarrisóó€v.€òòForklift€Sys.,Ð _"¯" ÐInc.óó,€510€U.S.€17,€21€(1993);€òòMannieóó,€394€F.3d€at€982€(applyingÐ $n$ Ð"severe€and€pervasive"€standard€in€disability€harassment€case€underÐ Ý%-!& Ðthe€Rehabilitation€Act).€€Among€the€factors€relevant€to€thisÐ œ'ì"( Ðinquiry€are€the€severity€of€the€conduct,€its€frequency,€and€whetherÐ [)«$* Ðit€unreasonably€interfered€with€the€victim's€work€performance.€€òòSeeóóÐ +j&, ÐòòHarrisóó,€510€U.S.€at€23.Ð ° Ðà ` àThere€was€testimony€that€Quiles€was€subject€to€suchÐ o¿ Ðconstant€ridicule€about€his€mental€impairment€that€it€required€himÐ .~ Ðto€be€hospitalized€and€eventually€to€withdraw€from€the€workforce.€Ð í = ÐThis€evidence€was,€in€our€view,€sufficient€for€a€reasonable€jury€toÐ ¬ ü Ðfind€a€hostile€work€environment.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòArietta„Colonóó,€2006€WLÐ k »  Ð74411,€at€*10€(affirming€disability€harassment€verdict€where€theÐ *z  Ðevidence€showed€that€the€plaintiff€was€subject€to€"constantÐ é9  Ðmockery"€due€to€his€disability);€òòMarreroóó€v.€òòGoya€of€P.R.,€Inc.óó,€304Ð ¨ø  ÐF.3d€7,€19€(1st€Cir.€2002)€(similar);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòO'Rourkeóó€v.Ð g· ÐòòProvidenceóó,€235€F.3d€713,€735€(1st€Cir.€2001)€(rejecting€"blueÐ &v Ðcollar€workplace"€argument€similar€to€the€Postmaster€General's).€€Ð å5 Ðà ` àFinally,€we€consider€the€Postmaster€General's€otherÐ ¤ô Ðalternate€ground€for€affirmance:€the€hostile€conduct€at€issue€wasÐ c³ Ðnot€directed€at€Quiles€òòbecause€ofóó€his€disability.€€In€presentingÐ "r Ðthis€argument,€the€Postmaster€General€highlights€the€fact€thatÐ á1 ÐVazquez€harassed€Quiles€before€she€knew€of€his€impairment.Ð   ð  Ðà ` àThe€Supreme€Court€has€emphasized€that€the€federalÐ _"¯" Ðemployment€discrimination€laws€do€not€establish€"a€general€civilityÐ $n$ Ðcode"€for€the€workplace.€€òòOncaleóó€v.€òòSundowner€Offshore€Servs.òò,Ð Ý%-!& ÐóóInc.óó,€523€U.S.€75,€81€(1998).€€Rather,€an€employee€claimingÐ ¨'ø"( Ðharassment€must€demonstrate€that€the€hostile€conduct€was€directedÐ g)·$* Ðat€him€because€of€a€characteristic€protected€by€a€federal€anti„Ð &+v&, Ðdiscrimination€statute.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€at€80;€òòLee„Crespoóó€v.€òòSchering„Ð ° ÐPlough€Del€Caribe,€Inc.óó,€354€F.3d€34,€43€n.5€(1st€Cir.€2003).Ð o¿ Ðà ` àThe€Postmaster€General€correctly€posits€that€some€ofÐ .~ ÐÔ_ÔVazquezÔ_Ô's€conduct€does€not€constitute€actionable€harassment€becauseÐ í = Ðit€occurred€before€Vazquez€knew€that€Quiles€was€suffering€fromÐ ¬ ü Ðdepression.€€But,€even€discounting€this€conduct,€there€was€ampleÐ k »  Ðproof€that€Quiles€was€harassed€because€of€his€disability.€€On€MarchÐ *z  Ð5,€1998,€Quiles€brought€a€medical€certificate€to€Lopez€identifyingÐ é9  Ðhis€mental€impairment.€€And,€for€the€next€two€years,€Quiles'€Ð ¨ø  Ðsuperiors€harassed€and€ridiculed€him€relentlessly,€frequentlyÐ g· Ðmentioning€the€disability€in€the€course€of€their€actions.€€ThisÐ &v Ðevidence€was€sufficient€to€ground€the€jury's€finding€that€QuilesÐ å5 Ðwas€discriminated€against€because€of€his€perceived€disability.€€€€Ð ¤ô Ðà ` àò òB.à ¨ àRetaliationÐ c³ Ðà ` àó óAs€explained€above,€the€jury€also€found€that€Quiles'Ð ? Ðsupervisors€retaliated€against€him€after€he€complained€about€theÐ þN Ðharassment.€€The€Rehabilitation€Act€prohibits€retaliation€againstÐ ½   Ðemployees€for€complaining€about€violations€of€the€Act.€€òòSeeóó29Ð |"Ì" ÐU.S.C.€ðð€791;€òòCoonsóó€v.€òòSec'y€of€the€Treasuryóó,€383€F.3d€879,€887Ð ;$‹$ Ð(9th€Cir.€2004).€€To€prove€retaliation,€Quiles€had€to€establishÐ ú%J!& Ðthat€(1)€he€engaged€in€protected€conduct;€(2)€he€experienced€anÐ ¹' #( Ðadverse€employment€action;€and€(3)€there€was€a€causal€connectionÐ x)È$* Ðbetween€the€protected€conduct€and€the€adverse€employment€action.€Ð 7+‡&, ÐòòSeeóó€òòCalero„Cerezoóó,€355€F.3d€at€25.€€The€adverse€employment€actionÐ ° Ðrequirement€may€be€satisfied€by€showing€the€creation€of€a€hostileÐ o¿ Ðwork€environment€or€the€intensification€of€a€pre„existing€hostileÐ .~ Ðenvironment.€€òòSeeóó€€òòNovielloóó€v.€òòBostonóó,€398€F.3d€76,€89€(1st€Cir.Ð í = Ð2005);€òòGregoryóó€v.€òòDalyóó,€243€F.3d€687,€701€(2d€€Cir.€2001).€€And,€inÐ ¬ ü Ðproper€circumstances,€the€causation€element€may€be€established€byÐ k »  Ðevidence€that€there€was€a€temporal€proximity€between€the€behaviorÐ *z  Ðin€question€and€the€employee's€complaint.€€òòSeeóó€òòNovielloóó,€398€F.3dÐ é9  Ðat€86.€Ð ¨ø  Ðà ` àThe€district€court€rejected€the€retaliation€claim€on€twoÐ g· Ðgrounds.€€It€concluded€that€Quiles€did€not€satisfy€the€adverse„Ð &v Ðaction€requirement€because€the€evidence€of€a€hostile€environmentÐ å5 Ðwas€insufficient.€€Dist.€Ct.€Op.€at€12„13.€€The€court€also€ruledÐ ¤ô Ðthat,€even€if€Quiles€had€introduced€sufficient€proof€of€a€hostileÐ c³ Ðenvironment,€he€had€failed€to€show€that€the€hostility€was€caused€byÐ "r Ðhis€complaint.€€òòId.óóÐ á1 Ðà ` à€We€have€already€addressed€the€hostile„environment€issueÐ   ð  Ðin€the€disability„harassment€discussion,€but€now€consider€it€as€itÐ _"¯" Ðrelates€to€the€retaliation€claim.€€The€relevant€conduct€is€thatÐ $n$ Ðwhich€occurred€òòafteróó€Quiles€complained€about€his€superiors'Ð Ý%-!& Ðdisability„related€harassment.€€òòSeeóó€òòGregoryóó,€243€F.3d€at€701.€Ð œ'ì"( Ðà ` à€There€was€proof€that,€within€a€few€weeks€of€QuilesÐ [)«$* Ðfiling€a€harassment€complaint€with€the€Postal€Service's€EqualÐ +j&, ÐEmployment€Office,€the€harassment€intensified.€€Prior€to€the€EEOÐ ° Ðcomplaint,€the€harassment€related€primarily€to€comments€concerningÐ o¿ ÐQuiles'€mental€impairment.€€But,€after€Quiles€filed€his€complaint,Ð .~ Ðthe€harassment€expanded€to€include,€òòinteróó€òòaliaóó,€threats€by€Alston,Ð í = Ðscreaming€tirades€directed€at€Quiles€by€both€Alston€and€Lopez,€andÐ ¬ ü Ðefforts€by€Lopez€to€interrupt€Quiles'€pursuit€of€a€union€grievance.Ð k »  Ðà ` à"Subject€to€some€policing€at€the€outer€bounds,€[theÐ *z  Ðhostile€environment€question]€is€.€.€.€to€be€resolved€by€the€trierÐ é9  Ðof€fact€on€the€basis€of€inferences€drawn€from€a€broad€array€ofÐ ¨ø  Ðcircumstantial€and€often€conflicting€evidence."€€òòGorskióó€v.€òòN.H.Ð g· ÐDep't€of€Corr.óó,€290€F.3d€466,€474€(1st€Cir.€2002)€(quotation€marksÐ &v Ðomitted);òòóó€òòsee€alsoóó€òòMarreroóó,€304€F.3d€at€19.€€We€cannot€say€on€thisÐ å5 Ðrecord€that€the€jury's€conclusion€that€Quiles€endured€a€hostileÐ ¤ô Ðwork€environment€after€he€made€his€EEO€complaint€was€irrational.Ð c³ Ðà ` àWe€also€think€that€there€was€sufficient€evidence€for€theÐ "r Ðjury€to€have€found€that€the€hostile€environment€was€motivated€by€aÐ á1 Ðdesire€to€retaliate€against€Quiles.€€The€district€court€found€noÐ   ð  Ðevidence€of€such€causation€because€Quiles€did€not€"even€present€oneÐ _"¯" Ðstray€hearsay€remark€as€to€the€motivation€for€these€particularÐ $n$ Ðsupervisors'€actions."€€Dist.€Ct.€Op.€at€13.€€But€there€is€noÐ Ý%-!& Ðrequirement€for€the€plaintiff€to€present€such€"smoking€gun"Ð œ'ì"( Ðevidence;€circumstantial€evidence€can€suffice.€€òòSeeóó€òòMesnickóó€v.€òòGen.Ð [)«$* ÐElec.€Co.óó,€950€F.2d€816,€828€(1st€Cir.€1991).€€The€proof€that€theÐ +j&, Ðintensified€harassment€commenced€shortly€after€Quiles€filed€his€EEOÐ ° Ðcomplaint€is€sufficient€evidence€from€which€the€jury€could€inferÐ o¿ Ðcausation.€€òòSeeóóòòGregoryóó,€243€F.3d€at€701€(concluding€thatÐ .~ Ðretaliation€complaint€can€be€based€on€evidence€of€intensifiedÐ í = Ðharassment);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòNovielloóó,€398€F.3d€at€93„94€(holding€thatÐ ¬ ü Ðevidence€of€increased€hostility€after€the€filing€of€a€Title€VIIÐ k »  Ðclaim€was€sufficient€evidence€of€retaliation€to€warrant€juryÐ *z  Ðtrial).Ð é9  ÐÓ¿PÓò òIII.Ð ¨ø  ÐÓ  Óà ` àó óQuiles€presented€sufficient€evidence€that€he€was€theÐ „Ô Ðvictim€of€harassment€by€his€supervisors€because€of€his€perceivedÐ C“ Ðdisability.€€He€also€presented€sufficient€evidence€that€hisÐ R Ðsupervisors€retaliated€against€him€after€he€complained€about€theirÐ Á Ðharassment.€€Accordingly,€the€district€court€erred€in€granting€theÐ €Ð ÐPostmaster€General's€motion€for€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€Ð ? Ðà ` àò òòòReversedóó€and€òòremandedóó.ó 󀀀РþN Ðà ` à€€€€€€€€€€€€à X àà ° àò òó óÔ#†NüLXXLØ#Ô