ÿWPC}] ´ZËÔü¼= ZöUQ+Ñy‡ȵO3å¸ýÉæßŒ!.3i%‡ø&ƒí‚XÇäÙÃÚëOÆ™ÌQ,.ú†sÓ•ß> LóC¤O4\ê½Å«'¸îDøtÕfÀQN•ë†t)¢¢¦¢¦Òo¦ždp}(LCrwhó»Š#aJ"h0аØo1ö'À–@¶çÆf&¬Ã±•‹å÷û‚uA1w–Üé|[²u+ïP2VŒ\2Û÷ðP‰]J.üó­ßoÛ[V¹;y ÅÒ®t “ìÏxš“®pŸrdñSbtßöPp_µhÿ~¿™(+ KƆ}'«}îLê¢V¬‰€ÆtŠó¿˜yoûÖøC—íNFc ŸÔÙ`TÜ®Ý4Al¥2×çØ9ì›Bœ {Rv£”¹lɺ¤6eÏ&Æ·si:Ø ÜOP$nÀ RøRwþo7äȇ1®WG!ϳ=u–ttÔܓ˒^5 ƒ.jE·,Ìä™ü…éÂ}Ì_»ÝÏȸÄk¦,Úè„ÃßMfÏÔÓäd¦%û0';$4ãûÂÖ¿Xƃ+4þMI|ûgqw§˜í­<À·Í¼-ÕÍJô<º—!H2xˆŽ¢¨2`#É@ % 0D 0GS U:š 0¨Ô Ud8| nT´ N UN UTFX ^ ž wª 4®  Ñ EÓ fÕ a× më ë N^UBbb¤U>¬Ýêê1Ç6ø‘.Á¿ö€!Pv"v"v".Æ%Æ% Bô& ''''U00Zt>t> Î?žÜJÜJÜJÜJÜJÜJÜJÜJÜJ 1uzO 72ïO 0c!P!P!P!P!P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P„P4šUšUšUšU¯ÎY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 5eÈÇ,,,,ÈÇ0X(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó($¡¡Ô€Xœ·XXXÔ<þ6X9`("Courier NewTT(F:2#è$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€XP˜XXXÔÝ  ÝÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó<4šÛ 9Z+‹ Courier New «<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@<þ6X9`(CourierTTXXwþ6X@ÉüQX@(ÎáA Z‹6Times New Roman Regular´¾½Q 9Z+‹.Courier New Regularû›5ó ¦‰¡46Xy File3|x,øÀTABLE AÿU‹ÿÀÀÀL:\JUDGES\Boudin\TEMPLATE\OPINIONS\ALDRICH.WPT<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpi- ù-´è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular ÓÝ ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àThis€argument€is€predicated€on€the€fact€that€to€establishÐ ° Ða€case€of€hostile€work€environment€under€Title€VII,€a€plaintiffÐ †Ö Ðmust€demonstrate,€inter€alia,"that€the€work€environment€was€'bothÐ \¬ Ðobjectively€and€subjectively€offensive,€one€that€a€reasonableÐ 2‚ Ðperson€would€find€hostile€or€abusive,€and€one€that€[the€plaintiff]Ð X Ðin€fact€did€perceive€to€be€so.'"€€òòContoóó€v.€òòConcord€Hosp.,€Inc.óó,€265Ð Þ. ÐF.3d€79,€82€(1st€Cir.€2001)€(quoting€òòFaragheróó€v.€òòCity€of€BocaÐ ´  ÐRatonóó,€524€U.S.€775,€787€(1998)).€€Amicus€argues€that€"[i]t€cannotÐ Š Ú Ðbe€possible€that€the€Jordan's€Meats€workplace€was€both€objectivelyÐ ` ° Ðand€subjectively€offensive€such€that€a€reasonable€person€would€findÐ 6 †  Ðit€hostile€or€abusive,€and€that€Mr.€Azimi€in€fact€did€perceive€[itÐ  \  Ðto]€be€so,€and€yet€Mr.€Azimi€sustained€no€injury€from€thatÐ â 2  Ðexperience."ò òó ó€Ð ¸  Ð 'Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àAzimi€was€hired€in€November€1999€as€a€temporary€employeeÐ ° Ðand€did€not€become€a€permanent€employee€until€July€2000.ò òó ó ,Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àDefendants€suggest€that€the€lack€of€an€award€of€nominalÐ ° Ðdamages€may€be€important€to€the€issue€of€whether€Azimi€is€aÐ †Ö Ðprevailing€party€for€an€award€of€attorney's€fees.€€òòò òó óSeeóó€òòFarraróó€v.Ð \¬ ÐòòHobbyóó,€506€U.S.€103,€114€(1992)€(holding€that€an€award€of€nominalÐ 2‚ Ðdamages€makes€a€plaintiff€a€"prevailing€party"€within€the€meaningÐ X Ðof€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1988€and€thus€makes€plaintiff€eligible€forÐ Þ. Ðattorney's€fees).€€This€circuit€has€yet€to€resolve€whether€a€TitleÐ ´   ÐVII€and€ðð€1981€plaintiff€who€wins€a€liability€judgment€and€aÐ ° Ðdeclaratory€judgment,€but€not€a€damages€award,€counts€as€aÐ †Ö Ð"prevailing€party"€within€the€meaning€of€42€U.S.C.€ðð€2000e„5(k)€orÐ \¬ Ððð€1988.€€We€express€no€view€today€on€the€issue. ‡Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àThe€magistrate€judge's€recommended€decision,€which€wasÐ ° Ðadopted€by€the€district€court,€granted€summary€judgment€on€theÐ †Ö Ðmerits€of€the€unlawful€discharge€theory€under€Title€VII,€ðð€1981,Ð \¬ Ðand€the€Maine€Human€Rights€Act€(MHRA),€Me.€Rev.€Stat.€Ann.€tit.€5,Ð 2‚ Ððð€4551€òòet€seq.óó€€The€recommended€decision€also€held€that€Azimi€hadÐ X Ðfailed€to€exhaust€his€Title€VII€unlawful€discharge€claim,€and€AzimiÐ Þ. Ðdid€not€challenge€this€determination€before€the€district€court.€Ð ´  Ðò òó óThus,€technically€all€that€is€before€us€to€review€are€the€claimsÐ Š Ú Ðunder€ðð€1981€and€MHRA€for€unlawful€discharge.ò òó ó ·Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` à42€U.S.C.€ðð€1981a(a)(1)€provides:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àIn€an€action€brought€by€a€complaining€party€under€sectionÐ \¬ Ð706€or€717€of€the€Civil€Rights€Act€of€1964[,€42€U.S.C.€ððððÐ 2‚ Ð2000e-5€or€2000e-16]€against€a€respondent€who€engaged€inÐ X Ðunlawful€intentional€discrimination€(not€an€employmentÐ Þ. Ðpractice€that€is€unlawful€because€of€its€disparateÐ ´  Ðimpact)€prohibited€under€section€703,€704,€or€717€of€theÐ Š Ú ÐAct[,€42€U.S.C.€ðððð€2000e-2,€2000e-3,€or€2000e-16],€andÐ ` ° Ðprovided€that€the€complaining€party€cannot€recover€underÐ 6 †  Ðsection€1981€of€this€title,€the€complaining€party€mayÐ  \  Ðrecover€compensatory€and€punitive€damages€as€allowed€inÐ â 2  Ðsubsection€(b)€of€this€section,€in€addition€to€any€reliefÐ ¸  Ðauthorized€by€section€706(g)€of€the€Civil€Rights€Act€ofÐ ŽÞ  Ð1964,€from€the€respondent.Ðd´ Ð Ð  Ð ìÝ ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú*Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àOf€the€Northern€District€of€Florida,€sitting€byÐ ° Ðdesignation. FÝ ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àThe€Fifth€Circuit,€inòòóó€òòLeBlancóó,€identified€òòKerr„Selgasóó€asÐ ° Ða€ðð€1981€case.€€òòLeBlancóó,€211€F.3d€at€303€("[I]n€another€42€U.S.C.Ð †Ö Ððð1981€case,€the€First€Circuit€held€that€a€punitive€damages€awardÐ \¬ Ðmust€be€vacated€absent€either€a€compensatory€damages€award€or€aÐ 2‚ Ðtimely€request€for€nominal€damages.").€€It€is€clear€from€theÐ X Ðcontext€of€the€statement,€however,€that€the€òòLeBlancóó€court€meant€to€Ð Þ. Ðidentify€òòKerr„Selgasóó€as€a€case€under€ðð€1981a€(which€sets€out€theÐ ´  Ðdamages€available€under€Title€VII),€not€ðð€1981. $Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àAzimi€does€not€ask€for€plain€error€review€of€the€nominalÐ ° Ðdamages€issue.€€Regardless,€there€was€no€plain€error€here. d  Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àAzimi€argues€that€òòHarrisóó€v.€òòForklift€Systems,€Inc.óó,€510Ð ° ÐU.S.€17€(1993),€stands€for€the€proposition€that€a€plaintiff€needÐ †Ö Ðnot€demonstrate€any€specific€harm€in€order€for€a€claim€to€beÐ \¬ Ðcompensable,€and€that€he€was€thus€entitled€as€a€matter€of€law€to€anÐ 2‚ Ðaward€of€compensatory€damages.€€òòóóò òó óAzimi€misreads€òòHarrisóó.€€ThatÐ X Ðdecision€only€speaks€to€what€a€plaintiff€needs€(or€does€not€need)Ð Þ. Ðto€show€to€obtain€a€liability€judgment€in€a€Title€VII€hostile€workÐ ´  Ðenvironment€action.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€at€22€("Certainly€Title€VII€barsÐ Š Ú Ðconduct€that€would€seriously€affect€a€reasonable€person'sÐ ` ° Ðpsychological€well-being,€but€the€statute€is€not€limited€to€suchÐ 6 †  Ðconduct.€€So€long€as€the€environment€would€reasonably€be€perceived,Ð  \  Ðand€is€perceived,€as€hostile€or€abusive,€there€is€no€need€for€itÐ â 2  Ðalso€to€be€psychologically€injurious."€€(citation€omitted)).€€òòóóThisÐ ¸  Ðappeal€does€not€turn€on€that€issue.€€Indeed,€no€challenge€has€beenÐ ŽÞ  Ðraised€here€to€the€jury's€liability€verdict,€and€there€is€no€doubtÐ d´  Ðthat€the€jury€reasonably€found€that€Jordan's€Meats€subjected€AzimiÐ :Š  Ðto€an€abusive€working€environment€in€violation€of€Title€VII,Ð `  Ðregardless€of€whether€Azimi€demonstrated€psychological€injury.€€ItÐ æ6 Ðis€a€separate€question€altogether,€though,€whether€having€made€suchÐ ¼  Ða€liability€finding,€the€jury€was€òòrequiredóó€to€award€AzimiÐ ’â Ðcompensatory€damages.€€There€is€nothing€in€òòHarrisóó€to€override€theÐ h¸ Ðordinary€rule€that€causation€of€damages€must€be€proven€to,€and€isÐ >Ž Ðthe€province€of,€the€factfinder;€if€anything,€òòHarrisóó€cuts€againstÐ d ÐAzimi's€argument,€since€it€holds€that€a€jury€is€entitled€to€findÐ ê: Ðliability€without€necessarily€finding€psychological€injury. KÔ_ÔÝ ƒ#èÿÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ýà ` àThe€special€verdict€form€and€the€jury's€answers€read€asÐ ° Ðfollows:Ð †Ö ÐÌà8  àà ` à1.€Has€Plaintiff,€Abdul€Azimi,€proven€by€aÐ 2‚ Ðpreponderance€of€evidence€that€he€was€subjected€to€anÐ X Ðoffensive€work€environment€that€was€hostile€to€his€race,Ð Þ. Ðreligion€or€ethnic€origin?д Ð Ð  ÐÌà0  àYes€òò€€X€€óóà ¸ àNo€òò€€€€€óóÐ` °(#(# ÐÌà8  à[If€you€answered€Question€1€"YES,"€go€on€to€Question€2.€Ð  \  ÐIf€you€answered€Question€1€"NO,"€then€answer€no€furtherÐ â 2  Ðquestions.]и Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` à2.€Has€Plaintiff,€Abdul€Azimi,€proven€by€aÐ d´  Ðpreponderance€of€evidence€that€Defendant,€Jordan['s]Ð :Š  ÐMeats,€Inc.,€knew€or€should€have€known€of€the€offensiveÐ `  Ðhostile€work€environment€and€failed€to€take€adequate€andÐ æ6 Ðeffective€remedial€measures?м Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àYes€òò€€X€€óóà ¸ àNo€òò€€€€€óóÐ h¸ ÐÌà8  à[If€you€answered€Question€2€"YES,"€go€on€to€Question€3.€Ð d ÐIf€you€answered€Question€2€"NO,"€then€answer€no€furtherÐ ê: Ðquestions.]ÐÀÐ Ð  ÐÌòòóóà8  àà ` à3.€€Has€Plaintiff,€Abdul€Azimi,€proven€by€aÐ l¼ Ðpreponderance€of€evidence€that€Defendant€Jordan's€Meats,Ð B’ ÐInc.'s€unlawful€harassment€legally€caused€Plaintiff€to€beÐ h Ðdamaged€by€emotional€distress,€pain,€suffering,€emotionalÐ î> Ðanguish,€loss€of€enjoyment€of€life€and/or€inconvenience?ÐÄÐ Ð  ЀÌà  àYes€òò€€€€€óóà ¸ àNo€òò€€X€€óóÐ pÀ  ÐÌà8  à[If€you€answered€Question€3€"YES,"€go€on€to€Question€4.€Ð !l" ÐIf€you€answered€Question€3€"NO,"€then€answer€no€furtherÐ ò!B# Ðquestions.]ÐÈ"$Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` à4.€€What€amount€is€Plaintiff€entitled€to€recoverÐ t$Ä& Ðfrom€Defendant€as€compensation€for€those€damages€found€inÐ J%š ' Ðanswer€to€Question€3?Ð# &p!(Ð Ð  ¾ #Їà  àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à À àóó($òò€€€€€óó.òò€€óó)Ð ° Ðà0  à[Write€out€in€words]à À à[Figures]ІÖ(#(# ÐÌà8  à[Answer€question€5.]Ð2‚Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` à5.€€Has€Plaintiff,€Abdul€Azimi,€proven€by€aÐ Þ. Ðpreponderance€of€evidence€that€Defendant's€supervisory€orÐ ´  Ðmanagerial€personnel€acted€with€malice€or€with€recklessÐ Š Ú Ðindifference€to€Plaintiff's€federally€protected€right€toÐ ` ° Ðbe€free€from€unlawful€discrimination?Ð6 † Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àYes€òò€€€€€óóà ¸ àNo€òò€€€€€óóÐ â 2  ÐÌà8  à[If€you€answered€Question€5€"YES,"€then€answerÐ ŽÞ  ÐQuestion6.€€If€you€answered€Question€5€"NO,"€then€answerÐ d´  Ðno€further€questions.]Ð:Š Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` à6.€€What€amount€of€punitive€damages€should€beÐ æ6 Ðawarded€to€Plaintiff?м Ð Ð  Ðò òÌó óà  àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à À àóó($òò€€€€€óó.òò€€óó)Ð vÆ Ðà0  à[Write€out€in€words]à À à[Figures]ò òó ó PÝ ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àThat€is,€we€would€be€bound€unless€there€is€an€interveningÐ ° Ðand€contrary€Supreme€Court€precedent.€€Azimi€presents€no€argumentÐ †Ö Ðthat€this€is€so. AZIMILemieux E.F.JazlowieckiMcTeagueHigbeeTokerHeidenMCLUF MHRCCastelliniMittonMotherFuckerbEmusselumMUSSELUMSdon't don'tbElongJORDANSMEATOsama i]tPiphusr]ightst]heir CmtyStachura W]eN]ominalnoneconomicLindemannAlmeydaAguadillaQuinonesPachecoharassers f]orMiloneMoceriWagenmannQuinoesDavetMaccarone h]ePeckhamCont'l Casc]ausationfactfindersSelgasG]enerallyDistribAmana cmts CushAdchemt]here TimmSalitrosE.E.O.C.Passatino HousLeBlancKolstadAss'nbackpayOrregoarguendoOrregos MHRAthe the DktColburnHannifinNicholsmovantNadhernyRoselandconclusoryBenoitFeliciano T]oNat'lSistemaUniversitarioretaliate[ionretaliat[ionHodgensZannino EviddecisionmakerMesnickAponteMetropolMatosReckitt R.J.Carigliameatpacking LEPconst'l SLLRutstein Syst]his a]nForsheeRiverboat t]he EEOCe]motionalVadieoverreadsm]edicalProvencher CVS I]nadditurpretextual MDOLprove[dAzimiDepo PSMFpick[ed ThENOTHingCarribbeanPassantinoa]lthoughgrabb[ingValentnsatory A]t GarcMEstabanBatistaVoutourTrishFinneganAmatosSmithDepo s]heositionSmithDep Chim ”Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àAzimi€does€not€argue€that€any€of€his€harassers€wasÐ ° Ðinvolved€in€the€decision€to€terminate€him.€€òòSeeóó€òòMedina„Munozóó,€896Ð †Ö ÐF.2d€at€10€("The€biases€of€one€who€neither€makes€nor€influences€theÐ \¬ Ðchallenged€personnel€decision€are€not€probative€in€an€employmentÐ 2‚ Ðdiscrimination€case.").€Nor€does€Azimi€allege€that€this€is€a€caseÐ X Ðlike€òòCarigliaóó€v.€òòHertz€Equipment€Rental€Corp.óó,€363€F.3d€77€(1stÐ Þ. ÐCir.€2004),€in€which€a€neutral€decisionmaker€is€induced€to€actÐ ´  Ðbased€on€inaccurate€information€provided€because€of€the€provider'sÐ Š Ú Ðdiscriminatory€animus.€€There€is€no€claim€that€Manning€or€AdamsÐ ` °  Ðwere€biased€against€Azimi€because€of€his€race,€religion,€orÐ ° Ðethnicity.€€The€record€shows€that€Manning,€Adams,€and€Azimi€had€aÐ †Ö Ðcordial€relationship€prior€to€the€events€of€November€7,€2001.ò òó ó3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a):i)(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àAzimi€points€out€that€his€complaint€requested€"suchÐ ° Ðfurther€relief€as€deemed€appropriate,"€ò òó óand€argues€that€thisÐ †Ö Ðstatement€is€tantamount€to€a€timely€request€for€nominal€damages.€ò òó óÐ \¬ ÐThere€is€nothing€in€this€vague€prayer€for€relief,€however,€thatÐ 2‚ Ðwould€compel€the€district€court€to€award€nominal€damages€or€thatÐ X Ðwould€even€give€notice€to€the€court€that€such€damages€were€beingÐ Þ. Ðsought.€€Azimi€also€argues€that€in€his€òòreplyóó€to€defendant'sÐ ´  Ðopposition€to€his€motion€for€a€new€trial,€he€wrote:€"[A]t€aÐ Š Ú Ðminimum,€the€court€should€award€nominal€damages€in€most€cases.€€AtÐ ` ° Ðthe€very€least,€the€court€should€do€so€in€this€case."€€Even€if€thisÐ 6 †  Ðperfunctory€statement,€articulated€belatedly€in€a€reply€briefÐ  \  Ðrather€than€in€the€motion€for€a€new€trial,€would€have€been€enoughÐ â 2  Ðto€put€the€court€on€notice€of€a€nominal€damages€claim,€the€nominalÐ ¸  Ðdamages€request€was€still€untimely. *Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àFour€circuits€have€recognized€the€disagreement,€but€haveÐ ° Ðavoided€the€issue€on€other€grounds.€€òòSeeóó€òòSalitrosóó€v.€òòChryslerÐ †Ö ÐCorp.óó,€306€F.3d€562,€575€(8th€Cir.€2002)€(reserving€the€questionÐ \¬ Ðwhether€punitive€damages€are€available€in€the€absence€ofÐ 2‚ Ðcompensatory€and€nominal€damages,€because€punitive€damages€could€beÐ X Ðpredicated€on€front€pay,€which€had€been€awarded);€òòCortióó€v.€òòStorageÐ Þ. ÐTech.€Corp.óó,€304€F.3d€336,€341„43€(4th€Cir.€2002)€(allowing€forÐ ´  Ðpunitive€damages€where€there€was€an€award€of€back€pay);òòóó€òòE.E.O.C.óó€v.Ð Š Ú ÐòòW&O,€Inc.óó,€213€F.3d€600,€615€&€n.5€(11th€Cir.€2000);€òòPassantinoóó€v.Ð ` ° ÐòòJohnson€&€Johnson€Consumer€Prods.,€Inc.óó,€212€F.3d€493,€515€(9thÐ 6 †  ÐCir.€2000). ¥Ý ƒ#è$ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àAzimi€vaguely€suggests€that€defendant's€evidence€was€notÐ ° Ðadmissible,€òòHodgensóó,€144€F.3d€at€160,€because€it€constitutedÐ †Ö Ðhearsay€evidence.€€ò òó óThe€argument€is€insufficiently€developed,€and€weÐ \¬ Ðthus€consider€it€waived.€€òòSeeóó€òòUnited€Statesóó€v.€òòZanninoóó,€895€F.2d€1,Ð 2‚ Ð17€(1st€Cir.€1990).€€In€any€event,€Azimi€offers€no€response€toÐ X ÐJordan's€Meats'€rejoinder€that€the€exhibits€were€business€records,Ð Þ. Ðòòseeóó€Fed.€R.€Evid.€803(6),€and€that€they€and€the€affidavit€wereÐ ´  Ðsubmitted€to€prove€not€the€underlying€events€but€the€informationÐ Š Ú ÐSmith€had€at€the€time€he€made€his€decision€to€terminate€Azimi.òòóóÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€X^ðXXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑTRXÜ3Ø'Xà3Ø' Letter3Ø'Letterÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÑ ? ÑÙ*ƒ !ÙÔ€ X«¶XXX^ðÔÔ€ °vn°X X«¶Ôò òÓ  ÓÓ  ÓUnited€States€Court€of€AppealsÔ€ „Ø„° °vnÔÐ ° ÐFor€the€First€Circuitó óÔ€ „õ„„ „ØÔÔ€ X^ðX„ „õÔÐ „Ô ÐÓÓÌÌßA€') °°` dE< ` AßÐ  à ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àÌNo.€05„2602Ð K › ÐÌà@$ìàABDUL€AZIMI,ˆÐ ÷ G  ÐÌà@ ìàPlaintiff,€Appellant,ˆÐ £ó  ÐÌà@tt)ìàv.ˆÐ OŸ  ÐÌà@ ìàJORDAN'S€MEATS,€INC.,ˆÐ ûK  ÐÌà@<< ìàDefendant,€Appellee.ˆÐ §÷ ÐÌßA€') °°` dE<R` AßÐ S£ ÐÌà@œ œ ìàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€UNITED€STATES€DISTRICT€COURTˆÐ 8ˆ ÐÓ  ÓFOR€THE€DISTRICT€OF€MAINEÐ ^ ÐÓjÓÌà@$ $ ìà[Hon.€Gene€Carter,€òòSenior€U.S.€District€Judgeóó]ˆÐ º  ÐÌßA€') °°` dE<e` AßÐ f¶ ÐÌà@„„'ìàBeforeˆÐ K› ÐÌÓ  Óà@@((ìà€Lynch€and€Howard,€òòCircuit€Judgesóó,Ð ÷G Ðand€Stafford,׃!×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú*Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€òòSenior€District€Judgeóó.Ð Í ÐÌÌßA€') °°` dE<N ` AßÐ O Ÿ" ÐÌÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àòòMichelle€Allotóó,€with€whom€òòDaniel€Batesóó,€òòJohn€Lemieuxóó,€andÐ 4!„$ ÐòòFarris€Lawóó€were€on€brief,€for€appellant.Ð  "Z% Ðà  àòòLawrence€C.€Wingeróó€for€appellee.Ð à"0& Ðà  àòòStephanie€E.F.€Jazlowieckióó,€with€whom€òòJeffrey€Neil€Youngóó,Ð ¶#' ÐòòMcTeague,€Higbee,€Case,€Cohen,€Whitney€&€Toker,€P.A.óó,€òòZachary€L.Ð Œ$Ü( ÐHeidenóó,€and€òòMaine€Civil€Liberties€Union€Foundationóó,€were€on€brief,Ð b%² ) Ðfor€Maine€Civil€Liberties€Union€Foundation,€amicus€curiae.Ð 8&ˆ!* ÐÌÔ*‹ƒ'ddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#‹ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ ä'4#,ä'4# ‹‹ÐÓêÓÐ SIH(˜#- `ã@38931„„‰`ã@‰‹‹SÐÔ_ÔÌâ ââ âAugust€3,€2006Ð )n$/ ÐÔ_ÔÐ RHCô)D%0" `ã@38931 `ã@ ‹‹RÐâ âÐ," H(˜#1 ? ,ÐÙ* !ÙÑ  ÑÓÓÑ8€^ðXXdÖdÈ8ÑÑ€ÑÓ*°,X°` ¨ ƒX°œX*ÓÓ=€^ðXÐXdÐd=Óà ` àò òòòóóLYNCH,€òòCircuit€Judgeó óóó.€€Ô‡X^ðXX X^ðÔA€federal€jury€in€Maine€found€thatÐ ° Ðâ âAbdul€Azimi,€a€Muslim€immigrant€from€Afghanistan,€had€sufferedÐ xÈ Ðracial,€religious,€or€ethnic€harassment€at€his€former€workplace,Ð $t ÐJordan's€Meats,€Inc.,€in€violation€of€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1981€and€TitleÐ Ð  ÐVII€of€the€Civil€Rights€Act€of€1964,€42€U.S.C.€ðð€2000e€òòet€seq.óó€Ð | Ì Ðà ` àThe€jury€did€not€find€that€Azimi€had€suffered€any€harmÐ ( x  Ðfor€which€it€would€award€compensatory€damages.€€Azimi€had€put€on€noÐ Ô$  Ðevidence€of€any€out„of„pocket€costs€he€had€incurred€for€medicalÐ €Ð  Ðtreatment€or€psychological€counseling,€or€of€any€wages€lost€as€aÐ ,|  Ðresult€of€the€abuse€he€suffered€at€his€workplace;€instead,€heÐ Ø( Ðrelied€only€on€his€own€testimony€and€the€testimony€of€his€wife€andÐ „Ô Ða€friend€about€his€emotional€distress€„„€testimony€that€the€juryÐ 0€ Ðreasonably€rejected€as€a€basis€for€awarding€compensatory€damages.Ð Ü, Ðà ` àOn€appeal,€Azimi,€supported€by€amicus€Maine€CivilÐ ˆØ ÐLiberties€Union€Foundation€(MCLUF),€advances€the€argument€that,€asÐ 4„ Ða€matter€of€law,€a€finding€of€a€hostile€work€environment€requiresÐ à0 Ðthat€there€be€an€award€of€compensatory€damages,€even€if€a€jury€hasÐ ŒÜ  Ðrejected€plaintiff's€causation„of„damages€evidence.€€This€argumentÐ 8!ˆ" Ðwas€long€ago€rejected€by€the€Supreme€Court.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð #ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ ä"4$ Ðà ` àAzimi€also€did€not€receive€nominal€damages.€€That€isÐ $à& Ðbecause€he€did€not€ask€for€them€in€a€timely€fashion;€he€chose€notÐ <&Œ!( Ðto€submit€the€question€of€nominal€damages€to€the€jury,€and€heÐ è'8#* Ðwaited€far€too€long€to€request€them€from€the€district€court.€€€HeÐ ”)ä$, Ðthus€has€forfeited€the€issue.€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð&#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Azimi€now€asserts€that€nominalÐ @+&. Ðdamages€must€be€awarded€as€a€matter€of€law€even€if€nominal€damagesÐ ° Ðwere€not€timely€requested.€€We€reject€the€argument.€€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðî#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ \¬ Ðà ` àBecause€Azimi€had€not€been€awarded€back€pay,€orÐ X Ðcompensatory€damages,€or€nominal€damages,€the€law€of€this€circuit,Ð ´  Ðat€least€with€respect€to€his€Title€VII€claim,€is€that€he€could€notÐ ` ° Ðreceive€punitive€damages.€€Although€Azimi€now€wishes€us€toÐ  \  Ðreconsider€that€rule,€he€failed€to€timely€raise€this€issue€with€theÐ ¸  Ðtrial€court.€€Further,€as€to€both€his€Title€VII€and€ðð€1981€claims,Ð d´  Ðhe€did€not€object€to€the€jury€instruction€on€punitive€damages€or€toÐ `  Ðthe€special€verdict€form,€both€of€which€stated€that€punitiveÐ ¼  Ðdamages€could€not€be€awarded€if€compensatory€damages€were€not.€Ð h¸ ÐIndeed,€his€argument€that€punitive€damages€ought€not€be€contingentÐ d Ðon€compensatory€damages€was€not€made€until€his€motion€for€a€newÐ À Ðtrial,€which€was€denied€by€the€district€court.Ð l¼ Ðà ` àAzimi€now€asks€that€we€hold€that€in€ðð€1981€cases,Ð h Ðwhatever€the€rule€in€Title€VII€cases,€there€is€no€prerequisite€thatÐ Ä Ðthere€be€nominal€or€compensatory€damages€before€punitive€damagesÐ pÀ  Ðmay€be€granted.€€We€decline€to€reach€the€issue;€it,€too,€was€notÐ !l" Ðpreserved.€€€Ð È"$ Ðà ` àFinally,€Azimi€contends€that€the€district€court€erred€inÐ t$Ä& Ðentering€summary€judgment€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðð#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔfor€Jordan's€Meats€on€Azimi's€unlawfulÐ  &p!( Ðdischarge€claims.€€Azimi€had€argued€that€his€discharge€wasÐ Ì'#* Ðdiscriminatory€and€that€it€was€also€in€retaliation€for€his€earlierÐ x)È$, Ðcomplaints€to€the€Maine€Human€Rights€Commission€(MHRC).€€TheÐ $+t&. Ðdistrict€court€found€that€Azimi€had€produced€no€evidence€of€pretextÐ ° Ðcountering€Jordan's€Meats'€explanation€that€it€terminated€Azimi'sÐ \¬ Ðemployment€because€he€engaged€in€serious€misconduct,€includingÐ X Ðthreatening€a€female€co„worker€in€a€dark€parking€lot.€€We€affirmÐ ´  Ðthe€district€court's€judgment€in€all€respects.€€This€caseÐ ` ° Ðpotentially€raised€a€number€of€serious€issues;€none€were€preservedÐ  \  Ðfor€appeal.Ð ¸  Ðà ` àWhere€appropriate,€we€recite€the€facts€in€the€light€mostÐ d´  Ðfavorable€to€the€jury's€verdict,€òòTorres„Riveraóó€v.€òòO'Neill„Cancelóó,Ð `  Ð406€F.3d€43,€45€(1st€Cir.€2005),€and€discuss€the€pertinent€factsÐ ¼  Ðwith€the€issues€raised.Ð h¸ ÐÓ  ÓI.Ð d ÐÓ  ÓA.à ` àòòAzimi's€Claim€for€Compensatory€DamagesóóÐ À Ðà ` àAzimi€was€employed€at€the€Jordan's€Meats€plant€inÐ l¼ ÐPortland,€Maine,€from€November€1999€ò òó óto€November€2001ò òó ó.€€During€theÐ h Ðperiod€Azimi€was€employed,€the€company€had€about€150€full-timeÐ Ä Ðemployees.€€Azimi€worked€in€various€positions€while€at€the€plant,Ð pÀ  Ðincluding€as€a€meat€slicer€and€a€meat€stripper.€€ò òó óAt€trial,€AzimiÐ !l" Ðtestified€that€he€had€been€the€subject€of€discriminatory€treatmentÐ È"$ Ðand€abusive€and€harassing€behavior€by€some€of€his€former€co„workersÐ t$Ä& Ðand€supervisors.€€The€incidents€of€maltreatment€are€myriad€andÐ  &p!( Ðoutrageous;€we€recite€only€a€few€examples.Ð Ì'#* Ðà ` àOn€multiple€occasions,€one€of€Azimi's€line€leaders,€SteveÐ x)È$, ÐMitton,€ò òó óphysically€obstructed€the€hot€water€tap€so€as€to€preventÐ $+t&. ÐAzimi€from€washing€his€hands,€which€were€swollen€from€handlingÐ ° Ðfrozen€meat.€€While€Azimi€was€only€allowed€access€to€the€cold€waterÐ \¬ Ðtap,€Mitton€permitted€other,€white€employees€to€use€the€hot€water.€ò òó óÐ X Ðà ` àÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔSubsequently,€Azimi€was€transferred€to€anotherÐ ´  Ðdepartment.€€There,€a€co„worker,€George€Libbyò òó ó,€made€numerousÐ ` ° Ðdisparaging€comments€to€Azimi€about€his€religion,€including:€"IfÐ  \  Ðyou€eat€pork€and€pussy,€you€become€strong€like€me."€€ò òó óWhen€AzimiÐ ¸  Ðtold€Libby€that€both€oral€sex€and€the€consumption€of€pork€wereÐ d´  Ðagainst€his€religion,€Libby€said,€"fuck€you€and€fuck€your€God;€fuckÐ `  Ðyour€religion."€€ò òó óOn€separate€occasions,€Libby,€whom€Azimi€describedÐ ¼  Ðas€weighing€about€three€hundred€pounds,€also€grabbed€Azimi€by€theÐ h¸ Ðneck€and€tried€to€shove€pork€into€Azimi's€mouth;€ò òó óheld€Azimi€by€theÐ d Ðwaist€and€pumped€him€from€behind,€simulating€sexual€intercourse;Ð À Ðò òó óand€told€Azimi€to€"suck€my€dick"€and,€when€Azimi€took€umbrage€atÐ l¼ Ðthe€commentÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð)'#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ,€picked€Azimi€up€and€dangled€him,€off€the€floor,€by€hisÐ h Ðarms,€while€other€co„workers€watched€and€laughedÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð++#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ.ò òó ó€€Libby€andÐ Ä Ðanother€co„worker,€Phil€Ryan,€also€called€Azimi€on€one€of€theÐ pÀ  Ðphones€in€the€plant€and€said€to€him,€among€other€things,€"Nigger,Ð !l" ÐSudan€[sic]€Hussein€is€waiting€for€you."Ð È"$ Ðà ` àIn€addition€to€a€number€of€other€instances€of€verbalÐ t$Ä& Ðabuse€and€maltreatment€by€co„workers,€Azimi€was€also€subject€toÐ  &p!( Ðother€offensive€conduct,€often€by€anonymous€perpetrators.€€ForÐ Ì'#* Ðexample,€he€received€an€unsigned€note€in€his€locker;€on€one€side€ofÐ x)È$, Ðthe€note€was€scrawled€a€swastika€and€on€the€other€side€was€written:€Ð $+t&. ÐÓÓà8 ` àHey€MotherFucker€Why€don't€You€GO€BACK€to€yourÐ ° ÐOwn€Country.ІÖ` x` x ÐÌà8 ` àYou€don't€bE€long€HERE€you€Fucking€musselumÐ2‚` x` x Ðà8 ` àYou€PIECE€of€Shit€WE€òòHATE€YOUóóÐX` x` x Ðà8 ` àALL€ThE€MUSSELUMSÐÞ.` x` x ÐÌà8 ` àYou€Don't€don't€bElong€here€AT€JORDANSMEAT.Њ Ú` x` x ÐÌà8 ` àYOUR€NOTHing€but€a€Fucking€òòNIGGERóó€.€.€.€.€€ò òó óÓÂ.ÓÐ6 † ` x` x Ðò òó óAzimi€also€once€found€pieces€of€pork€in€the€pockets€of€his€workÐ â 2  Ðjacket;€ò òó ófound€a€picture€in€his€locker€of€Osama€Bin€Laden,€on€whichÐ ŽÞ  Ðwas€written€the€words€"Abdul,"€"Mother€Fucker,"€and€"Your€Dad€needÐ :Š  Ð[sic]€Help";€and€discovered€that€his€goggles€and€hearing„protectionÐ æ6 Ðequipment€were€smashed€to€pieces,€ò òó óand€that€his€personal€shoes€hadÐ ’â Ðbeen€taken€from€his€work€locker€and€stuck€in€the€toilet.Ð >Ž Ðà ` àAzimi€testified€that€he€reported€the€harassment€to€hisÐ ê: Ðsupervisors;€that€Brian€Smith,€the€Human€Resources€Manager,€andÐ –æ Ðother€supervisors€failed€to€adequately€investigate€the€incidentsÐ B’ Ðand€to€impose€appropriate€punishment€on€the€wrongdoers;€and€thatÐ î> Ðthe€harassment€continued€despite€his€complaints€and€hisÐ šê Ðsupervisors'€promises€to€address€them.ò òó óÐ F –! Ðà ` àAfter€hearing€the€evidence,€the€jury€found,€by€way€of€aÐ ò!B# Ðspecial€verdict€form,€that€Azimi€"was€subjected€to€an€offensiveÐ ž#î% Ðwork€environment€that€was€hostile€to€his€race,€religion[,]€orÐ J%š ' Ðethnic€origin,"€and€that€Jordan's€Meats€"knew€or€should€have€knownÐ ö&F") Ðof€the€offensive€hostile€work€environment€and€failed€to€takeÐ ¢(ò#+ Ðadequate€and€effective€remedial€measures."€€ò òó óThe€jury,€however,Ð N*ž%- Ðanswered€"no"€to€the€question€of€whether€"Defendant€Jordan's€Meats,Ð ú+J'/ ÐInc.'s€unlawful€harassment€legally€caused€[Azimi]€to€be€damaged€byÐ ° Ðemotional€distress,€pain,€suffering,€emotional€anguish,€loss€ofÐ \¬ Ðenjoyment€of€life[,]€and/or€inconvenience."ØØ×ƒ,×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðê+#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€As€a€result€of€thisÐ X Ðfinding,€the€jury€followed€the€district€court's€instructions€andÐ ° Ðthe€special€verdict€form,€and€did€not€go€on€to€consider€what€amountÐ \¬ ÐAzimi€was€entitled€to€recover€as€compensation€for€any€injuriesÐ X Ðsuffered.€€There€were€no€objections€to€the€special€verdict€form€andÐ ´  Ðthe€jury€instructions,€a€point€that€we€analyze€later.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð¥8#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ ` ° Ðà ` àOn€appeal,€Azimi's€contention€is€that€the€jury€wasÐ  \  Ðrequired€to€award€compensatory€damages,€either€as€a€matter€of€lawÐ ¸  Ðor€because€the€evidence€compelled€it.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð:#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ d´  Ðà ` àAzimi,€supported€by€the€MCLUF,€first€argues€that€inherentÐ `  Ðin€a€finding€of€a€hostile€work€environment€is€a€finding€that€theÐ ¼  Ðâ âclaimant€suffered€damages,€such€that€any€liability€finding€must€beÐ h¸ Ðaccompanied€by€an€award€of€compensatory€damages.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×ò ò€€ó óAzimi€and€amicusÐ ° Ðâ âpresent€the€issue€as€one€of€inconsistency€in€the€jury€verdict.€Ð xÈ Ðò òó óThey€also€argue€that€the€importance€of€the€interests€at€stakeÐ $t Ðrequires€that€there€be€an€award€of€damages.€ò òó óÐ Ð  Ðà ` àBoth€arguments€have€been€repudiated€by€the€Supreme€Court.€Ð | Ì ÐIndeed,€in€òòCareyóó€v.€òòPiphusóó,€435€U.S.€247€(1978),€the€CourtÐ ( x  Ðrejected,€in€the€context€of€a€claim€under€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983,€theÐ Ô$  Ðarguments€(1)€that€injury€should€be€presumed€from€the€violation€ofÐ €Ð  Ða€constitutional€right€and€(2)€that€damages€should€be€awarded€forÐ ,|  Ða€deprivation€of€a€constitutional€right€regardless€of€whether€anyÐ Ø( Ðinjury€was€causedÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðÂ;#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€at€254.€€ò òó óThe€Court€noted€thatÐ „Ô Ð"[r]ights,€òòconstitutional€and€otherwiseóó,€do€not€exist€in€a€vacuum,"Ð 0€ Ðand€that€"[t]heir€purpose€is€to€protect€persons€from€injuries€toÐ Ü, Ðparticular€interests,"€such€that€without€proof€of€injury,€noÐ ˆØ Ðcompensatory€damages€are€possible.€€òòId.óó€(emphasis€added);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóóÐ 4„ ÐòòMemphis€Cmty.€Sch.€Distóó.€v.€òòStachuraóó,€477€U.S.€299,€307€(1986)Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð÷@#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ à0 Ð(noting€that€compensatory€damages€must€be€"grounded€inÐ ° Ðdeterminations€of€plaintiffs'€actual€losses");€òòCareyóó,€435€U.S.€at€Ð \¬ Ð264€("[W]e€hold€that€neither€the€likelihood€of€[mental€andÐ X Ðemotional]€injury€nor€the€difficulty€of€proving€it€is€so€great€asÐ ´  Ðto€justify€awarding€compensatory€damages€without€proof€that€suchÐ ` ° Ðinjury€actually€was€caused.").€€òòÐ  \  Ðà ` àCareyóó€establishes€that€there€is€no€presumption€of€injuryÐ ¸  Ðand€no€automatic€entitlement€to€damages.òòóó€€òòCf.óó€òòRutsteinóó€v.€òòAvisÐ d´  ÐRent„A„Car€Sys.,€Inc.óó,€211€F.3d€1228,€1239€(11th€Cir.€2000)Ð `  Ð(stating,€in€the€context€of€reversing€a€class€certification€in€aÐ ¼  Ððð1981€case,€that€òòCareyóó€"makes€clear€that€in€order€to€receiveÐ h¸ Ðcompensatory€damages,€individual€plaintiffs€must€prove€that€'injuryÐ d Ðactually€was€caused[,]'"€and€that€"[t]his€is€especially€true€sinceÐ À Ðcompensatory€damages€under€section€1981€can€include€damages€forÐ l¼ Ðemotional€and€psychological€distress").Ð h Ðà ` àIn€a€later€ðð€1983€case,€the€Court€reiterated€"thatÐ Ä Ðdamages€based€on€the€abstract€'value'€or€'importance'€ofÐ pÀ  Ðconstitutional€rights€are€not€a€permissible€element€of€compensatoryÐ !l" Ðdamages."€€òòStachuraóó,€477€U.S.€at€310;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòid.óó€("òòCareyóó€thusÐ È"$ Ðmakes€clear€that€the€abstract€value€of€a€constitutional€right€mayÐ t$Ä& Ðnot€form€the€basis€for€ðð€1983€damages.").€€That€role,€if€it€is€toÐ  &p!( Ðbe€played€at€all,€is€played€by€nominal€damages.€€òòId.óó€at€308€n.11Ð Ì'#* Ð("[N]ominal€damages,€and€not€damages€based€on€some€undefinableÐ x)È$, Ð'value'€of€infringed€rights,€are€the€appropriate€means€ofÐ $+t&. Ð'vindicating'€rights€whose€deprivation€has€not€caused€actual,Ð ° Ðprovable€injury.").€€So,€too,€here.Ð \¬ Ðà ` àNor€do€Title€VII€or€ðð€1981€provide€statutory€authorityÐ X Ðfor€automatic€or€presumptive€damages.€€"The€availability€ofÐ ´  Ðnoneconomic€damages€[under€these€causes€of€action]€does€not€meanÐ ` ° Ðthat€their€recovery€is€automatic€whenever€a€plaintiff€prevails."€Ð  \  ÐLindemann€&€Grossman,€2€òòEmployment€Discrimination€Lawóó€1828€(3d€ed.Ð ¸  Ð1996).€€"AÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð?C#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔn€award€of€damages€for€emotional€distress€must€beÐ d´  Ðsupported€by€competent€evidence€of€'genuine€injury,'"€òòBaileyóó€v.Ð `  ÐòòRunyonóó,€220€F.3d€879,€882€(8th€Cir.€2000)€(some€internal€quotationÐ ¼  Ðmarks€omitted)Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðÔM#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€(quoting€òòForsheeóó€v.€òòWaterloo€Indus.,€Inc.óó,€178€F.3dÐ h¸ Ð527,€531€(8th€Cir.€1999)),€the€proof€of€which€is€distinct€from€theÐ d Ðproof€required€to€show€discrimination,€òòseeóó€òòid.óó€(citing€òòBrowningóó€v.Ð À ÐòòPresident€Riverboat€Casino-Mo.,€Inc.óó,€139€F.3d€631,€636€(8th€Cir.Ð l¼ Ð1998));€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòid.óó€at€882€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð!O#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ(rejecting€the€argument€that€emotionalÐ h Ðharm€is€"inherent"€in€a€finding€of€liability€for€sexual€harassmentÐ Ä Ðunder€Title€VII,€and€noting€that€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðQ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ"[t]he€Equal€EmploymentÐ pÀ  ÐOpportunity€Commission€(EEOC)€has€made€clear€that€'[e]motional€harmÐ !l" Ðwill€not€be€presumed€simply€because€the€complaining€party€is€aÐ È"$ Ðvictim€of€discrimination'"€(some€internal€quotation€marks€omitted)Ð t$Ä& Ð(second€alteration€in€original)€(quoting€òòVadieóó€v.€òòMiss.€StateÐ  &p!( ÐUniv.óó,€218€F.3d€365,€376€(5th€Cir.€2000)€(quoting€òòóóEEOC€PolicyÐ Ì'#* ÐGuidance€No.€915.002€ðð€II(A)(2)€(July€14,€1992))Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð÷Q#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ));€òòóóLindemann€&Ð x)È$, ÐGrossman,€òòsupraóó,€at€1828€("To€qualify€[for€noneconomic€damagesÐ $+t&. Ðunder€the€employment€anti„discrimination€statutes],€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðPT#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔa€plaintiffÐ ° Ðmust€prove€that€he€or€she€sustained€noneconomic€injuries,€such€asÐ \¬ Ðemotional€distress,€pain€and€suffering,€harm€to€reputation,€andÐ X Ðother€consequential€injury,€caused€by€the€defendant's€unlawfulÐ ´  Ðconduct.")Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðIU#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ.€€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð²V#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔInjuries€allegedly€caused€by€the€violation€of€TitleÐ ` ° ÐVII€or€ðð€1981€must€be€proven€to€the€factfinder€„„€here,€a€juryÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð÷V#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€„„Ð  \  ÐwhichÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðÂW#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€may€reasonably€find,€within€the€law,€that€while€there€hasÐ ¸  Ðbeen€harassment,€the€plaintiff€has€not€been€injured€in€anyÐ d´  Ðcompensable€way€by€it.׃(×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€òòóóÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð!X#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€The€district€court€quite€correctly€andÐ `  Ðsuccinctly€noted€that€Azimi€was€improperly€trying€to€eliminateÐ ¼  Ðcausation€of€damages€from€the€case.€ò òó óÐ h¸ Ðà ` àAzimi's€alternative€argument€is€that€the€jury's€decisionÐ ° Ðnot€to€award€him€any€compensatory€damages€is€against€the€weight€ofÐ \¬ Ðthe€evidence.ò òó ó€€On€that€basis,€he€contends€that€the€district€courtÐ X Ðerred€both€in€denying€his€motion€for€a€new€trial€on€damages€and€inÐ ´  Ðrefusing€to€reconsider€that€denial.€€We€review€the€district€court'sÐ ` ° Ðdenial€of€motions€for€a€new€trial€and€for€reconsideration€for€abuseÐ  \  Ðof€discretion.€€òòValentðí ðn„Almeydaóó€v.€òòMunicipality€of€Aguadillaóó,€447Ð ¸  ÐF.3d€85,€103„04€(1st€Cir.€2006);€òòSotoóó€v.€òòFloresóó,€103€F.3d€1056,Ð d´  Ð1063€(1st€Cir.€1997).€€A€district€court€"may€grant€a€new€trial€onlyÐ `  Ðif€[it€is]€convinced€that€the€verdict€is€against€the€clear€weightÐ ¼  Ðof€the€evidence,€such€that€letting€it€stand€would€result€in€aÐ h¸ Ðmiscarriage€of€justice."€€òòValentðí ðÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðqY#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔn„Almeydaóó,€447€F.3d€at€104.€€"InÐ d Ðgeneral,€this€rule€applies€to€a€verdict€premised€on€a€finding€thatÐ À Ðno€damages€have€been€satisfactorily€proven."€€òòQuinones„Pachecoóó€v.Ð l¼ ÐòòAm.€Airlines,€Inc.óó,€979€F.2d€1,€4€(1st€Cir.€1992).€€"When€evidenceÐ h Ðof€damage€is€equivocal,€or€a€reasonable€jury€could€determine€thatÐ Ä Ðthe€plaintiff€failed€to€prove€an€essential€element€of€his€or€herÐ pÀ  Ðcase€(such€as€causation),€returning€a€'zero€damages'€verdict€isÐ !l" Ðacceptable€and€the€non-award€will€be€set€aside€only€if€manifestÐ È"$ Ðinjustice€is€in€prospect."€€òòId.óóÐ t$Ä& Ðà ` àAs€noted€above,€it€was€Azimi's€burden€to€prove€that€heÐ  &p!( Ðwas€injured€by€the€hostile€work€environment€at€Jordan's€Meats.€€TheÐ Ì'#* Ðonly€testimony€on€compensatory€damages€he€offered€came€from€him,Ð x)È$, Ðhis€wife,€and€a€close€friend€from€his€mosque.€€Azimi€testified€thatÐ $+t&. Ðthe€abuse€he€suffered€at€work€caused€him,€inter€alia,€to€becomeÐ ° Ð"stressed€emotionally,"€ò òó óto€lose€sleep€and€appetite,€ò òó óand€to€withdrawÐ \¬ Ðsocially€from€his€then€fiancee€(now€wife),€his€son,€and€hisÐ X Ðfriends.€ò òó ó€Azimi's€wife€testified€that,€as€a€result€of€the€workplaceÐ ´  Ðharassment,€Azimi€became€hurt,€quiet,€and€withdrawn;€that€heÐ ` ° Ðdeveloped€sleeping€problems;€and€that€their€marriage€becameÐ  \  Ðstrained.€€ò òó óAzimi's€friend€also€testified€that€during€the€time€AzimiÐ ¸  Ðworked€at€Jordan's€Meats,€Azimi€became€"distressed[€and]€sad"€andÐ d´  Ðdid€not€"want€to€do€anything."€€ò òó óNone€of€these€witnesses€testifiedÐ `  Ðthat€Azimi€sought€medical€treatment€or€counseling€because€of€theÐ ¼  Ðharassment,€that€he€suffered€any€out„of„pocket€costs€for€suchÐ h¸ Ðtreatment€or€counseling,€or€that€he€lost€any€wages€or€paid€timeÐ d Ðfrom€work€as€a€result€of€what€happened€at€work.Ð À Ðà ` àJordan's€Meats€presented€evidence€that€Azimi€instigatedÐ l¼ Ðor€participated€in€some€of€the€ugly€exchanges€with€his€co„workersÐ h Ðand€that€he€engaged€in€off„color€joking€and€teasing€with€at€leastÐ Ä Ðone€of€his€harassers;ò ò€ó óthat€Azimi€sought€a€permanent€position€atÐ pÀ  ÐJordan's€Meats€and€continued€to€work€at€the€plant€despite€theÐ 8!ˆ" Ðharassmentò òó ó;׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€ò òó óÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð^#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔand€that€Azimi's€wife€sought€work€at€Jordan's€MeatsÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðei#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€inÐ ä"4$ Ð2001,€well€after€most€of€the€harassing€incidents€of€which€AzimiÐ $à& Ðâ âcomplained€at€trial€had€taken€place.ò òó óÐ <&Œ!( Ðà ` àÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðÚi#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔThe€jury€heard€the€testimony,€and€it€was€up€to€itsÐ ° Ðâ âmembers€to€evaluate€it€and€the€witnesses'€demeanor€and€credibility.€Ð \¬ Ð"'Translating€legal€damage€into€money€damages€„„€especially€inÐ X Ðcases€which€involve€few€significant€items€of€measurable€economicÐ ´  Ðloss€„„€is€a€matter€peculiarly€within€a€jury's€ken'";€"[f]or€justÐ ` ° Ðthis€reason,€'[w]e€rarely€will€override€the€jury's€judgment€on€theÐ  \  Ðappropriate€amount€of€damages€to€be€awarded.'"€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðÝj#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðMm#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔòòMiloneóó€v.€òòMoceriÐ ¸  ÐFamily,€Inc.óó,€847€F.2d€35,€37€(1st€Cir.€1988)€(second€alteration€inÐ d´  Ðoriginal)€(quoting€òòWagenmannóó€v.€òòAdamsóó,€829€F.2d€196,€215€(1st€Cir.Ð `  Ð1987);€òòBrownóó€v.€òòFreedman€Baking€Co.óó,€810€F.2d€6,€11€(1st€Cir.Ð ¼  Ð1987));€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòQuinones„Pachecoóó,€979€F.2d€at€3Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðm#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€(noting€that€"aÐ h¸ Ðtrial€judge€does€not€sit€as€a€super-juror,€free€to€disregard€theÐ d Ðconsidered€verdict€of€a€properly€instructed€jury€'merely€because€heÐ À Ðdisagrees€with€it€or€would€have€found€otherwise€in€a€bench€trial'"Ð l¼ Ð(quoting€òòMiloneóó,€847€F.2d€at€37));€òòPeckhamóó€v.€òòCont'l€Cas.€Ins.€Co.óó,Ð h Ð895€F.2d€830,€837,€839€(1st€Cir.€1990)€(observing€that€"[c]ausationÐ Ä Ðquestions€.€.€.€are€normally€grist€for€the€jury's€mill"€and€thatÐ pÀ  Ðthe€appellate€court€"cannot€reject€possibilities€rooted€in€theÐ !l" Ðrecord€merely€because,€if€sitting€as€factfinders,€we€[might]€haveÐ È"$ Ðdrawn€a€different€set€of€conclusions")Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð^o#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ.€€Ð t$Ä& Ðà ` àAlthough€a€reasonable€jury€could€have€awarded€damagesÐ  &p!( Ðbased€on€the€evidence€presented,€there€is€no€plausible€argumentÐ Ì'#* Ðthat€on€these€facts€a€reasonable€jury€was€òòcompelledóó€to€give€aÐ x)È$, Ðcompensatory€damages€award.€€òòSeeóó€òòBaileyóó,€220€F.3d€at€880„81Ð $+t&. Ð(rejecting€plaintiff's€theory€that€jury€was€required€to€credit€hisÐ ° Ðevidence€of€emotional€harm€stemming€from€sexual€harassment,€andÐ \¬ Ðfinding€no€abuse€of€discretion€in€trial€judge's€denial€of€new€trialÐ X Ðon€damages);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòid.óó€at€881€(noting€that€"'[m]edical€or€otherÐ ´  Ðexpert€evidence€is€not€required€to€prove€emotional€distress'"€andÐ ` ° Ðthat€"'[a]€plaintiff's€own€testimony,€along€with€the€circumstancesÐ  \  Ðof€a€particular€case,€can€suffice€to€sustain€the€plaintiff's€burdenÐ ¸  Ðin€this€regard,'"€but€that€plaintiff€was€nonetheless€"required€'toÐ d´  Ðconvince€the€trier€of€fact€that€[he]€actually€suffered€distressÐ `  Ðbecause€of€the€[Title€VII€violation]€itself'"€(alterations€inÐ ¼  Ðoriginal)€(some€internal€quotation€marks€omitted)€(quoting€òòKimóó€v.Ð h¸ ÐòòNash€Finch€Co.óó,€123€F.3d€1046,€1065€(8th€Cir.€1997);€òòPriceóó€v.€òòCityÐ d Ðof€Charlotteóó,€93€F.3d€1241,€1250€(4th€Cir.€1996)));€òòcf.óóÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð¯r#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð×x#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔòòBeardóó€v.Ð À ÐòòFlying€J,€Inc.óó,€266€F.3d€792,€803„04€(8th€Cir.€2001);€òòWalkeróó€v.Ð l¼ ÐòòAnderson€Elec.€Connectorsóó,€944€F.2d€841,€843€(11th€Cir.€1991).òòóóÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðy#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ h ÐB.à ` àòòNominal€Damages€And€Punitive€DamagesóóÐ Ä Ðà ` àAzimi€also€appeals€the€denial€of€nominal€damages.€€OneÐ pÀ  Ðmight€ask€why€the€parties€should€care€on€appeal€about€whether€aÐ !l" Ðnominal€damages€award,€for€as€little€as€one€dollar,€should€beÐ È"$ Ðordered.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð t$Ä& Ðà ` àThe€reason€that€a€nominal€damages€award€is€significantÐ ° Ðhere€is€because€the€law€of€this€circuit€is€that€no€punitive€damagesÐ \¬ Ðmay€be€awarded€in€a€Title€VII€case€in€the€absence€of€an€award€ofÐ X Ðcompensatory€damages€or€of€nominal€damages.€€We€so€held€in€òòKerr„Ð ´  ÐSelgasóó€v.€òòAmerican€Airlines,€Inc.óó,€69€F.3d€1205€(1st€Cir.€1995),Ð ` ° Ðòòseeóó€òòid.óó€at€1214„15,€and€have€reiterated€the€ruleòòóó€in€dicta€inÐ  \  Ðsubsequent€cases,€òòseeóó€òòRodriguez„Torresóó€v.€òòCaribbean€Forms€Mfr.,Ð ¸  ÐInc.óó,€399€F.3d€52,€65€n.12€(1st€Cir.€2005);€òòCampos„Orregoóó€v.Ð d´  ÐòòRiveraóó,€175€F.3d€89,€97€(1st€Cir.€1999);€òòProvencheróó€v.€òòCVSÐ `  ÐPharmacy,€Div.€of€Melville€Corp.óó,€145€F.3d€5,€11„12€(1st€Cir.€1998)Ð ¼  Ð(noting€òòKerr„Selgasóó,€but€distinguishing€it€and€allowing€a€punitiveÐ h¸ Ðdamages€award€to€stand€on€the€basis€that€although€plaintiff€had€notÐ d Ðbeen€awarded€compensatory€or€nominal€damages,€he€had€been€awardedÐ À Ðbackpay).Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð)z#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€€Ð l¼ Ðà ` àIn€òòKerr„Selgasóó,€the€rule€that€punitive€damages€were€notÐ h Ðavailable€absent€an€award€of€nominal€or€compensatory€damages€wasÐ Ä Ðderived€from€the€common€law,€not€from€the€statutory€language.€€€òòSeeóóÐ pÀ  ÐòòKerr„Selgasóó,€69€F.3d€at€1214€("[G]enerally€a€claimant€may€notÐ !l" Ðrecover€punitive€damages€without€establishing€liability€for€eitherÐ È"$ Ðcompensatory€or€nominal€damages."€òòóó€(citing€òòCooper€Distrib.€Co.,Ð t$Ä& ÐInc.óó€v.€òòAmana€Refrigeration,€Inc.óó,€63€F.3d€262,€281„83€(3d€Cir.Ð  &p!( Ð1995);€òòRestatement€(Second)€of€Tortsóó€ðð€908€cmts.€b,€c€(1979))).€Ð ° ÐThe€òòKerr„Selgasóó€rule€has€been€criticized.€€òòSee,óó€òòe.g.óó,€òòCush„CrawfordóóÐ \¬ Ðv.€òòAdchem€Corp.óó,€271€F.3d€352,€357„59€(2d€Cir.€2001)€(disagreeingÐ X Ðwith€òòKerr„Selgasóó€because,€among€other€reasons,€"[t]here€is€.€.€.€noÐ ´  Ðone€common€law€rule"€and€"the€statutory€maxima€capping€punitiveÐ ` ° Ðdamage€awards€[under€Title€VII]€strongly€undermine€the€concernsÐ  \  Ðthat€underlie€the€reluctance€to€award€punitive€damages€withoutÐ ¸  Ðproof€of€actual€harm").òòóó€€And€at€least€three€circuits€do€not€makeÐ d´  Ðpunitive€damages€in€Title€VII€and€ðð€1981€cases€contingent€on€thereÐ `  Ðbeing€an€award€of€compensatory€or€nominal€damages.€€òòSeeóó€òòTisdaleóó€v.Ð ¼  ÐòòFed.€Express€Corp.óó,€415€F.3d€516,€534„35€(6th€Cir.€2005);€òòCush„Ð h¸ ÐCrawfordóó,€271€F.3d€at€359;€òòTimmóó€v.€òòProgressive€Steel€Treating,Ð d ÐInc.óó,€137€F.3d€1008,€1010„11€(7th€Cir.€1998).€€Indeed,€only€oneÐ À Ðother€circuit€appears€to€follow€the€òòKerr„Selgasóó€rule.׃[×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòSeeóóÐ l¼ ÐòòLouisiana€ACORN€Fair€Hous.óó€v.€òòLeBlancóó,€211€F.3d€298,€303€(5th€Cir.Ð h Ð2000)€(holding,€in€the€context€of€a€Fair€Housing€Act€case,€thatÐ Ä Ðâ âpunitive€damages€are€not€available,€absent€an€award€of€actualÐ pÀ  Ðdamages,€except€in€cases€where€a€violation€of€a€constitutionalÐ ° Ðright€has€occurred).€òòóóÐ \¬ Ðâ âòòóóà ` àOn€appeal,€Azimi€would€like€to€challenge€the€òòKerr„SelgasóóÐ X Ðrule€and€get€a€remand€for€a€trial€on€punitive€damages.€€He€arguesÐ ´  Ðthat€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1981a,€which€sets€forth€damages€available€inÐ ` ° Ðcertain€actions€under€Title€VII,׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€does€not€require€compensatory€orÐ  \  Ðnominal€damages€to€be€awarded€as€a€predicate€to€an€award€ofÐ ¸  Ðpunitive€damages.€€Rather,€he€argues,€that€provision€states€onlyÐ d´  Ðone€precondition€to€an€award€of€punitive€damages:€that€"theÐ `  Ðcomplaining€party€demonstrate[]€that€the€respondent€engaged€in€aÐ ¼  Ðdiscriminatory€practice€or€discriminatory€practices€with€malice€orÐ h¸ Ðwith€reckless€indifference€to€the€federally€protected€rights€of€anÐ d Ðaggrieved€individual."€€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1981a(b)(1)Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðã€#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ.€€ò òó óHe€also€arguesÐ À Ðthat€the€òòKerr„Selgasóó€rule€applies€only€to€Title€VII€cases€and€thatÐ l¼ Ðthis€circuit€has€never€addressed€whether€punitive€damages€wereÐ h Ðavailable,€in€the€absence€of€compensatory€or€nominal€damages,€underÐ ° Ððð€1981.€€ò òó óWe€do€not€address€these€arguments.€€His€objections€comeÐ \¬ Ðtoo€late.Ð X Ðà ` àAzimi€did€not€object€on€the€grounds€articulated€here€toÐ ´  Ðthe€jury€instructions€on€punitive€damages,€either€before€orÐ ` ° Ðimmediately€after€the€jury€was€instructed.€€Nor€did€he€object€onÐ  \  Ðthese€grounds€to€the€special€verdict€form.€€Indeed,€he€did€notÐ ¸  Ðraise€a€challenge€to€the€punitive€damages€instruction€until€heÐ d´  Ðfiled€his€motion€for€a€new€trial€on€damages.€€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð•Ž#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔHe€thus€has€forfeitedÐ `  Ðthe€issue,€òòseeóó€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€51(b)(2),€(c)(2)€(stating€that€aÐ ¼  Ðparty€that€has€been€informed€of€an€instruction€before€the€jury€isÐ h¸ Ðinstructed€and€before€final€jury€arguments€must€object€to€theÐ d Ðinstruction€on€the€record€"before€the€instructions€and€argumentsÐ À Ðare€delivered");€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€51(d)(1)(A),€if€notÐ l¼ Ðwaived€it€entirely.€€€òòóóWhen€the€issue€was€finally€presented€in€aÐ h Ðmotion€for€a€new€trial,€the€district€court€found€that€the€claimÐ Ä Ðcame€too€late.€€The€court€also€said€correctly€that€it€was€bound€byÐ pÀ  Ðthe€òòKerr„Selgasóó€rule.€ò òó ó€€Ð !l" Ðà ` àHad€Azimi€presented€the€issue€in€a€timely€fashion€beforeÐ È"$ Ðthe€district€court€and€preserved€it€for€appeal,€this€panel€wouldÐ t$Ä& Ðordinarily€also€be€bound€by€òòKerr„Selgasóó.׃.×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€But€we€do€not€addressÐ  &p!( Ðthe€question€because€Azimi€did€not€timely€raise€the€issue.€€For€theÐ Ì'#* Ðsame€reason,€we€also€do€not€address€the€question€of€whetherÐ ° Ðpunitive€damages€may€be€awarded€in€a€ðð€1981€case€in€the€absence€ofÐ \¬ Ða€compensatory€or€nominal€damages€award.€€Ð X Ðà ` àAzimi€asks€us€to€resort€to€plain€error€review.€€But€plainÐ ´  Ðerror€review€would€not€help€him€here.€€It€is€hardly€plain€that€theÐ ` ° ÐòòKerr„Selgasóó€rule€is€error.€€Moreover,€as€Azimi€concedes,€we€haveÐ  \  Ðnever€addressed€the€rule€in€the€context€of€a€ðð€1981€case,€so€thereÐ ¸  Ðis€no€plain€error€with€respect€to€that€argument€either.׃"×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€ò òó óÐ d´  Ðà ` àòòóóAzimi€did€have€an€easy€alternative€if€he€wanted€the€juryÐ `  Ðto€consider€awarding€him€punitive€damages:€he€could€have€asked€forÐ ¼  Ðnominal€damages€in€a€timely€fashion.Ð h¸ Ðà ` àIn€situations€in€which€an€employer€has€been€found€to€haveÐ d Ðviolated€the€law,€but€the€jury€awards€no€compensatory€damages,€theÐ À ÐSupreme€Court€has€said€in€procedural€due€process€cases€that€aÐ l¼ Ðdistrict€court€ordinarily€should€award€nominal€damages.€€In€òòFarraróóÐ h Ðv.€òòHobbyóó,€506€U.S.€103€(1992),€a€case€under€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983,€theÐ Ä ÐCourt€stated€that€a€finding€of€a€procedural€due€process€violationÐ pÀ  Ðâ âunaccompanied€by€a€finding€of€actual€injury€"obligates"€a€districtÐ !l" Ðcourt€to€award€nominal€damages.€€òòId.óó€at€112€(citing€òòCareyóó,€435€U.S.Ð ° Ðat€266).€€Ð \¬ Ðâ âà ` àThis€circuit€has€adopted€this€rule€of€obligatory€nominalÐ X Ðdamages,€but€we€have€thus€far€done€so€only€for€constitutionalÐ ´  Ðprocedural€due€process€claims.€€òòSeeóó€òòCampos„Orregoóó,€175€F.3d€at€98.€Ð ` ° ÐAzimi€asks€that€we€extend€the€rule€to€cover€his€Title€VII€andÐ  \  Ððð1981€claims.€€He€points€out€that€at€least€one€circuit€has€doneÐ ¸  Ðso,€at€least€with€respect€to€a€ðð€1981€claim;€indeed,€the€EighthÐ d´  ÐCircuit€has€held€that€"proof€of€a€Section€1981€violationÐ `  Ðautomatically€entitled€[plaintiff]€to€nominal€damages."Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðX’#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€€òòHicksóó€v.Ð ¼  ÐòòBrown€Group,€Inc.óó,€902€F.2d€630,€652€(8th€Cir.€1990),€òòvacated€onÐ h¸ Ðother€groundsóó,€499€U.S.€914€(1990).€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðå #ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€The€Eighth€Circuit€rule,Ð d Ðhowever,€is€not€the€rule€of€all€the€circuits;€in€fact,€the€EleventhÐ À ÐCircuit€has€expressly€refused€to€extend€òòCareyóó€to€Title€VII€claims.€Ð l¼ ÐòòSeeóó€òòWalkeróó,€944€F.2d€at€845€("Nothing€in€òòCareyóó€mandates€the€awardÐ h Ðof€nominal€damages€for€statutory€violations.")òòóó.€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðÑ¡#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Still,€we€willÐ Ä Ðassume€arguendo,€and€in€Azimi's€favor,€that€the€rule€set€forth€inÐ pÀ  ÐòòCampos„Orregoóó,€that€proof€of€deprivation€of€procedural€due€processÐ !l" Ðin€a€ðð€1983€action€usually€will€lead€to€an€award€of€nominalÐ È"$ Ðdamages,€extends€to€Title€VII€and€ðð€1981€cases.Ð t$Ä& Ðà ` àRegardless€of€whether€an€award€of€nominal€damages€isÐ  &p!( Ðobligated€in€a€Title€VII€and€ðð€1981€case€where€liability€has€beenÐ Ì'#* Ðfound,€a€request€for€nominal€damages€may€be€forfeited,€and€has€beenÐ x)È$, Ðforfeited€here.€€òòóóThis€court€has€made€clear€thatòòóó€"[a]lthough€nominalÐ $+t&. Ðdamages€are€recoverable€in€intentional€discrimination€cases€underÐ ° Ð42€U.S.C.€ðð€1981a(a)(1),€.€.€.€a€liability€verdict€[does€not]Ð \¬ Ðòòcompelóó[]€such€an€award€absent€a€timely€request."€€òòKerr„Selgasóó,€69Ð X ÐF.3d€at€1215;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòCampos„Orregoóó,€175€F.3d€at€98€(noting€thatÐ ´  Ðthe€entitlement€to€nominal€damages€is€not€"automatic"€and€that€"itÐ ` ° Ðis€incumbent€upon€the€plaintiff€to€make€a€timely€request€forÐ  \  Ðnominal€damages");€òòaccordóó€òòOliveróó€v.€òòFallaóó,€258€F.3d€1277,€1281„82Ð ¸  Ð(11th€Cir.€2001)€(agreeing€with€our€rule€and€citing€cases).€òòóóÐ d´  Ðà ` àIn€this€circuit,€a€"plaintiff€may€request€the€judge€toÐ `  Ðinstruct€the€jury€on€nominal€damages,€or€in€the€absence€of€such€anÐ ¼  Ðinstruction,€may€ask€the€trial€court€for€nominal€damages€on€theÐ h¸ Ðoccasion€of,€or€immediately€after,€the€return€of€the€verdictòòóó."€Ð d ÐòòCampos„Orregoóó,€175€F.3d€at€99.€€Our€rule€is€plaintiff„friendly€inÐ À Ðthe€sense€that€it€does€not€require€that€plaintiffs€make€a€strategicÐ l¼ Ðchoice€whether€to€ask€for€a€nominal€damages€instruction.€€Indeed,Ð h Ðthere€are€good€reasons€why€a€plaintiff€may€choose€not€to€give€aÐ Ä Ðjury€the€"out"€of€awarding€nominal€damages€as€an€alternative€toÐ pÀ  Ðawarding€compensatory€damages.€€Azimi€may€have€made€such€a€tacticalÐ !l" Ðchoice€here,€and€he€is€bound€by€his€choice.Ð È"$ Ðà ` àIf,€as€here,€the€plaintiff€chooses€not€to€give€the€juryÐ t$Ä& Ðthe€nominal€damages€question,€then€he€or€she€must€make€a€òòtimelyóóÐ  &p!( Ðrequest€to€the€court€by€requesting€nominal€damages€"on€the€occasionÐ Ì'#* Ðof,€or€immediately€after,€the€return€of€the€verdict."€€Azimi,Ð x)È$, Ðhowever,€did€not€make€a€timely€request€that€the€court€decideÐ $+t&. Ðwhether€nominal€damages€should€be€awarded.׃A×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð•£#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Indeed,€Azimi€did€notÐ ° Ðclearly€request€nominal€damages€until€July€26,€2005€„„€three€monthsÐ \¬ Ðafter€the€verdict€was€returned€on€April€25,€2005.€€That€request€forÐ X Ðnominal€damages€came€in€his€motion€for€reconsideration€of€theÐ ´  Ðdistrict€court's€denial€of€his€initial€motion€for€a€new€trial,€andÐ ` ° Ðwas€presented€only€after€the€district€court€noted,€in€denying€theÐ  \  Ðmotion€for€a€new€trial,€that€Azimi€was€not€entitled€to€punitiveÐ ¸  Ðdamages,€in€the€absence€of€an€award€of€compensatory€damages,Ð d´  Ðbecause€he€had€made€no€request€for€nominal€damages.€€In€that€sameÐ `  Ðorder,€the€district€court€correctly€stated€that€even€if€such€aÐ ¼  Ðrequest€had€been€made€in€the€initial€motion€for€a€new€trial,€theÐ h¸ Ðrequest€would€have€been€untimely€anyway.ò òó óÐ d Ðà ` àAs€a€general€rule,€a€plaintiff€must€make€a€timely€claimÐ À Ðfor€all€damages€he€seeks.€€This€rule€takes€on€special€importance€inÐ l¼ Ðcases€like€this€one,€in€which€the€availability€of€one€type€ofÐ h Ðdamages€is€conditioned€upon€the€award€of€another.€€There€is€a€rightÐ Ä Ðto€jury€trial€on€damages,€including€punitive€damages,€in€Title€VIIÐ ° Ðand€ðð1981€cases.€€òòSeeóó€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1981a(c)(1)€(providing€for€juryÐ \¬ Ðtrials€in€Title€VII€cases,€so€long€as€the€complaining€party€isÐ X Ðrequesting€compensatory€or€punitive€damages);€òòUnited€Statesóó€v.Ð ´  ÐòòBurkeóó,€504€U.S.€229,€240€(1992)€("42€U.S.C.€ðð€1981[]€permitsÐ ` ° Ðvictims€of€.€.€.€employment€discrimination€to€obtain€a€jury€trialÐ  \  Ðat€which€'both€equitable€and€legal€relief,€including€compensatoryÐ ¸  Ðand,€under€certain€circumstances,€punitive€damages'€may€beÐ d´  Ðawarded."€€(quoting€òòJohnsonóó€v.€òòRy.€Express€Agency,€Inc.óó,€421€U.S.Ð `  Ð454,€460€(1975))).€€If€the€jury€is€to€consider€whether€to€award,Ð ¼  Ðand€the€appropriate€sum€of,€punitive€damages,€then€the€issue€mustÐ h¸ Ðbe€submitted€to€the€jury€before€it€is€discharged.€€òòCf.óó€òòWalkeróó,€944Ð d ÐF.2d€at€845€(declining€to€reverse€district€court's€failure€to€awardÐ À Ðnominal€damages€for€a€Title€VII€violation€where€plaintiff€failed€toÐ l¼ Ðsubmit€the€issue€to€the€jury,€in€part€because€of€"[t]he€federalÐ h Ðcourt's€long€standing€policy€against€additur,€as€an€intrusion€onÐ Ä Ðthe€jury's€domain€and€violation€of€the€Seventh€Amendment").€€ThisÐ pÀ  Ðmeans€that€the€question€of€whether€preconditions€for€an€award€ofÐ !l" Ðpunitive€damages€are€metÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð`¯#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ,€such€as€the€preconditions€set€forth€inÐ È"$ ÐòòKerr„Selgasóó,€must€be€answered€either€before,€on€the€occasion€of,€orÐ t$Ä& Ðimmediately€after€the€jury€verdict.€€In€this€case,€both€the€motionÐ  &p!( Ðâ âfor€a€new€trial€and€the€motion€for€reconsideration€were€filed€longÐ Ì'#* Ðafter€the€jury€ended€its€deliberations.€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð»#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Azimi€thus€has€forfeitedÐ ° Ðhis€claim€for€nominal€damages.׃%×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð \¬ Ðâ âÓ  ÓII.Ð X ÐÓÓòòGrant€of€Summary€JudgmentÐ ´  Ðon€the€Unlawful€Discharge€ClaimsóóÓ½ÓÐ Š Ú ÐÓž½Óà ` àWe€turn€to€Azimi's€final€argument:€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðÀ¼#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔthat€his€unlawfulÐ 6 †  Ðdischarge€claims€should€not€have€been€resolved€against€him€onÐ â 2  Ðsummary€judgment.׃<×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð ŽÞ  Ðà ` àThe€district€court,€after€oral€argument,€adopted€andÐ :Š  Ðaffirmed€the€magistrate€judge's€recommended€decision€grantingÐ æ6 Ðsummary€judgment€in€favor€of€Jordan's€Meats€on€Azimi's€unlawfulÐ ’â Ðdischarge€claims.€€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðµ¾#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔWe€review€the€court's€grant€of€summary€judgmentÐ >Ž Ðde€novo,€òòColburnóó€v.€òòParker€Hannifin/Nichols€Portland€Div.óó,€429€F.3dÐ ê: Ð325,€329€(1st€Cir.€2005),€drawing€all€reasonable€inferences€inÐ –æ Ðfavor€of€the€non-movant,€òòNadhernyóó€v.€òòRoseland€Prop.€Co.óó,€390€F.3dÐ B’ Ð44,€48€(1st€Cir.€2004).€€"'Even€in€employment€discrimination€casesÐ î> Ðwhere€elusive€concepts€such€as€motive€or€intent€are€at€issue,'Ð šê Ðsummary€judgment€is€appropriate€if€the€non-moving€party€restsÐ F –! Ð'merely€upon€conclusory€allegations,€improbable€inferences,€andÐ ° Ðunsupported€speculation.'"€€òòBenoitóó€v.€òòTechnical€Mfg.€Corp.óó,€331Ð \¬ ÐF.3d€166,€173€(1st€Cir.€2003)€(quoting€òòFeliciano€de€la€Cruzóó€v.€òòElÐ X ÐConquistador€Resort€&€Country€Clubóó,€218€F.3d€1,€5€(1st€Cir.€2000)).Ð ´  Ð"[T]o€defeat€a€properly€supported€motion€for€summary€judgment,€theÐ ` ° Ðnonmoving€party€must€establish€a€trial-worthy€issue€by€presentingÐ  \  Ð'enough€competent€evidence€to€enable€a€finding€favorable€to€theÐ ¸  Ðnonmoving€party.'"€€òòLeBlancóó€v.€òòGreat€Am.€Ins.€Co.óó,€6€F.3d€836,€842Ð d´  Ð(1st€Cir.€1993)€(quoting€òòGoldmanóó€v.€òòFirst€Nat'l€Bank€of€Bostonóó,€985Ð `  ÐF.2d€1113,€1116€(1st€Cir.€1993)).Ð ¼  Ðà ` àIn€analyzing€Azimi's€unlawful€discharge€claim,€we€employ,Ð h¸ Ðas€did€the€parties€and€the€district€court,€a€modified€version€ofÐ d Ðthe€framework€established€in€òòMcDonnell€Douglas€Corp.óó€v.€òòGreenóó,€411Ð À ÐU.S.€792€(1973)Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðùÀ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ.€òòóó€òòRivera-Garcðí ðaóó€v.€òòSistema€Universitario€Ana€G.Ð l¼ ÐMðé ðndezóó,€442€F.3d€3,€5€(1st€Cir.€2006).€€Under€this€framework:Ð h ÐÓÓà8 ` àa€plaintiff€employee€must€carry€the€initialÐ Ä Ðburden€of€coming€forward€with€sufficientÐ šê Ðevidence€to€establish€a€prima€facie€case€ofÐ pÀ  Ðdiscrimination€or€retaliation.€€If€he€does€so,Ð F –! Ðthen€the€burden€shifts€to€the€employer€"toÐ !l" Ðarticulate€some€legitimate,€nondiscriminatoryÐ ò!B# Ðreason€for€the€employee's€[termination],"Ð È"$ Ðsufficient€to€raise€a€genuine€issue€of€fact€asÐ ž#î% Ðto€whether€it€discriminated€against€theÐ t$Ä& Ðemployee.€.€.€.€If€the€employer's€evidenceÐ J%š ' Ðcreates€a€genuine€issue€of€fact,€theÐ  &p!( Ðpresumption€of€discrimination€drops€from€theÐ ö&F") Ðcase,€and€the€plaintiff€retains€the€ultimateÐ Ì'#* Ðburden€of€showing€that€the€employer's€statedÐ ¢(ò#+ Ðreason€for€terminating€him€was€in€fact€aÐ x)È$, Ðpretext€for€retaliat[ion€or€discrimination]Ð N*ž%- Ð..€.€.ÓïÈÓÐ$+t&.` x` x ÐòòHodgensóó€v.€òòGen.€Dynamics€Corp.óó,€144€F.3d€151,€160-61€(1st€Cir.Ð ° Ð1998)€(first€alteration€in€original)€(citations€omitted)€(quotingÐ \¬ ÐòòMcDonnell€Douglasóó,€411€U.S.€at€802).Ð X Ðà ` àJordan's€Meats€does€not€argue€that€Azimi€failed€to€makeÐ ´  Ðout€a€prima€facie€case€of€unlawful€discharge;€rather,€it€contendsÐ ` ° Ðthat€Azimi€failed€to€produce€sufficient€evidence€to€allow€aÐ  \  Ðreasonable€jury€to€conclude€that€his€firing€was€a€pretext€and€wasÐ ¸  Ðactually€motivated€by€retaliation€or€discrimination.€ò òó ó€We€thusÐ d´  Ðassume€that€Azimi€has€made€out€a€prima€facie€case€and€go€directlyÐ `  Ðto€the€issues€of€pretext€and€motivation.Ð ¼  Ðà ` àJordan's€Meats€produced€admissible€evidence€that€BrianÐ h¸ ÐSmith,€the€Human€Resources€Manager,€and€Russell€Cram,€Azimi'sÐ d Ðimmediate€supervisor,€jointly€made€the€decision€to€discharge€AzimiÐ À Ðafter€he€engaged€in€five€related€acts€of€what€the€company€perceivedÐ l¼ Ðto€be€"serious€misconduct."€€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð!È#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔò òó óSpecifically,€Smith's€affidavit€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð Ò#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔlistedÐ h Ðthe€following€incidents€as€having€led€to€the€termination€of€Azimi'sÐ Ä Ðemployment:€(1)€Azimi€threatened€and€intimidated€a€female€co„Ð pÀ  Ðworker,€Mercedes€Manning,€while€she€was€alone€in€a€dark€parking€lotÐ !l" Ðat€6€a.m.€before€work;€(2)€Azimi€attempted€a€second€time€toÐ È"$ Ðapproach€Manning€in€the€parking€lot;€(3)€Azimi€lied€when€confrontedÐ t$Ä& Ðwith€Manning's€allegationsÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðrÒ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ;€(4)€Azimi€made€a€false€allegationÐ  &p!( Ðagainst€co„worker€Harry€Adams;€and€(5)€Azimi€threatenedÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð“Ô#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Adams€inÐ Ì'#* Ðthe€presence€of€their€supervisor,€Russell€Cram.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðDÕ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€€Smith€stated€thatÐ x)È$, ÐJordan's€Meats€"would€never€let€„„€and€.€.€.€had€never€let€„„€anyÐ $+t&. Ðemployee€get€away€with€the€kind€of€misconduct€engaged€in€by€Mr.Ð ° ÐAzimi."Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðÓÕ#Ôò òÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔó ó€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðñÖ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ \¬ Ðà ` àSmith's€affidavit€was€supported€by,€inter€alia,€businessÐ X Ðrecords€of€Jordan's€Meats,׃_×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€òòseeóó€Fed.€R.€Evid.€803(6),€whichÐ ´  Ðconsisted€of€contemporaneous€notes,€which€were€taken€by€two€staffÐ ` ° Ðmembers€of€the€Human€Resources€Department€at€the€meeting€in€whichÐ  \  ÐManning€reported€that€Azimi€threatened€her,€and€which€detailÐ ¸  ÐManning's€allegations€and€the€staff€members'€personal€observationsÐ d´  Ðof€Manning's€demeanor;€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð7×#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔò òó óa€signed€statement€from€Manning€reiteratingÐ `  Ðher€allegations€against€Azimi;€a€signed€statement€from€Cram,€whoÐ ¼  Ðwas€Azimi,€Adams,€and€Manning's€immediate€supervisor,€stating€hisÐ h¸ Ðfirsthand€observation€of€Azimi€"angrily€threatening€[Adams],"€asÐ d Ðwell€as€other€reasons€for€his€recommending€that€Azimi€be€firedÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðûÙ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔò òó ó;€andÐ À Ða€written€record€of€the€company's€investigation€of,€and€responseÐ l¼ Ðto,€two€complaints€made€by€Azimi€of€what€the€company€characterizedÐ h Ðas€"minor"€harassment€by€co„workersÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðÁÛ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ.Ð Ä Ðà ` àWe€initially€describe€Manning's€complaints€against€AzimiÐ pÀ  Ðabout€two€incidents,€one€on€November€8€and€another€on€November€12,Ð !l" Ð2001.€€We€focus€on€the€Manning€incidents€for€several€reasons.€Ð È"$ ÐFirst,€Azimi's€opposition€to€summary€judgment€did€not€deny€thatÐ ° ÐManning€made€those€allegations€against€him€and€did€not€argue€thatÐ \¬ ÐManning€had€any€reason€to€falsely€accuse€him.€€Second,€no€inferenceÐ X Ðof€pretext€can€be€raised€from€the€company's€response€to€Manning'sÐ ´  Ðcomplaint.€€Jordan's€Meats'€investigation€into€Manning'sÐ ` ° Ðallegations,€which€was€conducted€in€large€part€by€persons€who€hadÐ  \  Ðno€prior€history€with€Azimi,€was€reasonable€and€led€the€company€toÐ ¸  Ðconclude€that€Manning€was€credible€and€that€Azimi€was€not.€€TheÐ d´  Ðseverity€of€the€discipline€that€Jordan's€Meats€meted€out€as€aÐ `  Ðconsequence€„„€termination€of€employment€„„Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðòÜ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€does€not€itself€raiseÐ ¼  Ðany€inference€of€pretext€or€of€discrimination€or€retaliation.€Ð h¸ ÐThird,€Azimi€has€produced€no€evidence€of€disparate€discipline€toÐ d Ðshow€that€other€employees€who€engaged€in€equivalent€conduct€ofÐ À Ðphysically€intimidating€and€also€threatening€a€vulnerable€femaleÐ l¼ Ðco„worker€in€order€to€induce€her€to€lie€and€then€lying€about€itÐ h Ðwere€not€terminated.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðpá#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ Ä Ðà ` àManning's€charge€was€that€Azimi€confronted€her€while€sheÐ pÀ  Ðwas€alone€in€the€dark€parking€lot€at€6€a.m.€on€November€8Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð•ã#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€andÐ !l" Ðdemanded€that€she€substantiate€his€version€of€an€altercation€thatÐ È"$ Ðhad€occurred€between€him€and€Adams,€which€Manning€had€witnessed€theÐ t$Ä& Ðday€earlier.€€According€to€Manning's€signed€statement,€AzimiÐ  &p!( Ð"threatened€that€if€[she]€did€not€tell€the€boss€what€[Azimi]€wantedÐ Ì'#* Ðthat€[Azimi]€would€tell€the€supervisor€that€Adams€touches€himselfÐ x)È$, Ðin€front€[of€her]€(demonstrated€by€grabbing€his€crotch)€and€thatÐ $+t&. ÐAdams€touches€[her]€in€a€sexual€way."€€Manning€stated€that€Azimi'sÐ ° Ðaccusations€were€untrue€and€that€Adams€had€never€touched€her€orÐ \¬ Ðhimself€in€her€presence.€€Ð X Ðà ` àAccording€to€Manning's€statement,€after€Azimi€threatenedÐ ´  Ðher€in€the€parking€lot,€Manning€"did€not€know€what€to€do."€Ð ` ° ÐTherefore,€that€very€day,€she€confided€in€a€fellow€co„worker,Ð  \  ÐEstaban€Batista.€€At€Batista's€encouragement,€Manning€reported€theÐ ¸  Ðincident€to€her€supervisor,€Cram,€the€next€morning,€which€wasÐ d´  ÐFriday,€November€9.€€ò òó óAfter€telling€Cram€her€account€of€the€events,Ð `  Ðshe€was€interviewed,€in€Cram's€presence,€by€two€members€of€theÐ ¼  ÐHuman€Resources€Department,€Sonya€Voutour€and€Trish€Thorpe.€€AlsoÐ h¸ Ðpresent€at€the€meeting€was€Norma€Finnegan,€Manning's€co„worker,€whoÐ d Ðtranslated€for€Manning,€whose€first€language€is€Spanish.€€Voutour'sÐ À Ðcontemporaneous€notes,€from€which€we€quote,€give€Manning's€accountÐ l¼ Ðof€the€November€8€incident:Ð h ÐÓÓà8 ` àAt€approximately€6:10€am€on€Thursday,€NovemberÐ Ä Ð8,€2001[,]€Mercedes€arrived€at€the€parking€lotÐ šê Ðacross€the€street€from€Amatos.€€Abdul€AzimiÐ pÀ  Ðwas€in€the€parking€lot€and€came€up€to€her€carÐ F –! Ðas€she€pulled€into€the€parking€lot.€€AbdulÐ !l" Ðtold€Mercedes€to€park€her€car€in€this€spot.€Ð ò!B# ÐMercedes€was€frightened€and€said,€NO€and€thatÐ È"$ Ðshe€would€park€on€the€other€side€of€theÐ ž#î% Ðparking€lot.€€Abdul€kept€insisting€that€sheÐ t$Ä& Ðpark€her€car€here.€€Mercedes€parked€on€theÐ J%š ' Ðother€side€still.€€Abdul€came€up€to€where€sheÐ  &p!( Ðparked€her€car€and€walked€with€her€to€theÐ ö&F") Ðbuilding.€€Abdul€told€her€that€she€must€tellÐ Ì'#* Ðher€supervisor,€Russ€Cram[,]€that€Harry€AdamsÐ ¢(ò#+ Ðused€a€"Bad€Word"€when€they€were€arguingÐ x)È$, Ðyesterday€(Wednesday).€€Mercedes€told€him€thatÐ N*ž%- Ðthe€problem€was€between€Harry€and€himselfÐ $+t&. Ð(Abdul)€and€not€with€her.€€Abdul€frightenedÐ ú+J'/ Ðher€by€insisting€that€she€must€tell€Russ€CramÐ ° Ðthat€Harry€used€a€"Bad€Word"€with€Abdul€duringÐ †Ö Ðthe€incident.€€Mercedes€asked€why€he€wasÐ \¬ Ðgetting€her€involved€with€a€problem€betweenÐ 2‚ ÐHarry€and€himself€(Abdul).€€Abdul€toldÐ X ÐMercedes€that€if€she€did€not€tell€Russ€thatÐ Þ. ÐHarry€used€a€"Bad€Word"€with€Abdul€then€heÐ ´  Ðwould€say€bad€things€to€people.€€MercedesÐ Š Ú Ðdemonstrated€the€gesture€Abdul€used€whenÐ ` ° Ðsaying€the€next€line.€€Mercedes€lifted€herÐ 6 †  Ðsweatshirt€up€a€bit€and€grabbed€for€her€crotchÐ  \  Ðarea.€€Abdul€told€her€that€he€would€tellÐ â 2  Ðpeople€that€Harry€would€grab€himself,€in€aÐ ¸  Ðsexual€way,€and€point€it€toward€Mercedes.€€HeÐ ŽÞ  Ð(Abdul)€would€also€tell€people€that€HarryÐ d´  Ðwould€grab€Mercedes€in€a€sexual€way.€€MercedesÐ :Š  Ðtold€Abdul€that€it€wasn't€her€problem[,]€andÐ `  Ðthe€problem€was€between€Harry€and€himselfÐ æ6 Ð(Abdul).ò òó óÓsëÓм ` x` x Ðà ` àOther€contemporaneous€notes€by€Thorpe€of€the€meeting€areÐ h¸ Ðconsistent€with€Voutour's€and€add€that€"Mercedes€was€visibly€upsetÐ d Ðand€near€tears€many€times"€as€she€told€her€story.€€Thorpe€alsoÐ À Ðnoted€that€Manning€said€that€she€told€Azimi€that€she€did€not€hearÐ l¼ ÐAdams€say€what€Azimi€accused€Adams€of€saying€and€asked€Azimi€why€heÐ h Ð"wanted€his€problem€to€be€her€problem."€€Thorpe€also€noted€thatÐ Ä ÐManning€denied€that€Adams€had€ever€touched€her,€and€said€that€sheÐ pÀ  Ðwas€happily€married.€€Finally,€Thorpe€noted€that€"Mercedes€statedÐ !l" Ðthat€she€was€worried€about€coming€into€work€because€it€is€dark€whenÐ È"$ Ðshe€arrives,"€and€that€Cram€told€Manning€that€he€would€make€sureÐ t$Ä& Ðthat€someone€would€be€there€to€escort€her€into€the€plant€in€theÐ  &p!( Ðmorning.ò òó óÐ Ì'#* Ðò òó óà ` àIn€sum,€Manning€told€the€Human€Resources€Department€thatÐ x)È$, Ðshe€was€afraid€of€Azimi,€and€to€others€she€appeared€genuinelyÐ $+t&. Ðafraid.€€Manning€also€told€the€Human€Resources€Department€andÐ ° Ðreiterated€in€her€own€signed€statement€that€Azimi€insisted€that€sheÐ \¬ Ðget€involved€in€his€problems,€that€Azimi€told€her€to€lie,€and€thatÐ X Ðwhen€she€refused,€Azimi€threatened€to€disseminate€lies€about€herÐ ´  Ðand€Adams€concerning€the€sensitive€topic€of€sexual€conduct.€€It€isÐ ` ° Ðself„evident€that€Azimi's€threatened€statements€would€cause€seriousÐ  \  Ðproblems€for€Manning€with€her€husband,€with€Adams,€and€in€herÐ ¸  Ðworkplace.Ð d´  Ðà ` àAccording€to€Manning's€statement,€on€Monday,€November€12,Ð `  Ðthe€next€work€day€after€she€reported€the€incident€with€Azimi€to€herÐ ¼  Ðsupervisor€and€the€Human€Resources€Department,€she€saw€AzimiÐ h¸ Ðsitting€in€his€car€in€the€same€parking€lot,€with€his€car's€lightsÐ d Ðoff€and€engine€running,€which€caused€her€to€be€"afraid"€that€he€wasÐ À Ðplanning€to€confront€her€again.€€ò òó óAccording€to€Smith's€deposition,Ð l¼ Ða€supervisor€had€to€go€to€the€parking€lot€and€escort€Manning€intoÐ h Ðthe€plant.€€ò òó óAs€a€result€of€the€incidents,€Manning€said€that€sheÐ Ä Ðfiled€a€complaint€against€Azimi€with€the€Portland€Police€DepartmentÐ pÀ  Ðshortly€after€the€November€12€incident.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð~ä#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔò òó óÐ !l" Ðà ` àJordan's€Meats€placed€Azimi€on€indefinite€suspensionÐ È"$ Ðwhile€the€company€initiated€an€investigation€of€Manning'sÐ t$Ä& Ðallegations,ò òó ó€and,€the€record€shows,€Azimi€was€eventually€terminatedÐ  &p!( Ðon€November€19,€2001,€ten€days€after€Manning€made€her€initialÐ Ì'#* Ðcomplaint.€€According€to€Smith's€deposition,€as€€part€of€theÐ x)È$, Ðinvestigation,€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð,ÿ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔSmith,€who€was€out€of€town€on€November€8€and€9,Ð $+t&. Ðpersonally€interviewed€Manning€when€he€returned€to€the€plant€onÐ ° ÐNovember€12.€€Manning€repeated€to€Smith€the€allegations€againstÐ \¬ ÐAzimi€and€told€Smith€of€her€plans€to€file€a€police€report€about€theÐ X Ðincident.€€Smith€stated€in€his€deposition€that€the€police€did,€inÐ ´  Ðfact,€follow€up€on€Manning's€allegations.€€Ð ` ° Ðà ` àA€few€days€after€speaking€with€Manning,€Smith€and€CramÐ  \  Ðinterviewed€Azimi.€€According€to€Smith's€affidavit,€AzimiÐ ¸  Ð"repeatedly€and€strongly€denied€any€and€all€wrongdoing€and€gaveÐ d´  Ðexculpatory€explanations€for€his€parking€lot€conduct€(i.e.,€that€heÐ `  Ðwas€just€there€smoking€a€cigarette€and€not€waiting€for€Ms.Ð ¼  ÐManning[,]€that€Ms.€Manning's€English€is€so€poor€that€he€could€notÐ h¸ Ðpossibly€have€threatened€her€as€she€claims,€and€she€must€haveÐ d Ðmisunderstood€what€happened)."€ò òó óÐ À Ðà ` àSmith€explained€that€he€ultimately€credited€Manning'sÐ l¼ Ðaccount€for€several€reasons.€€According€to€Smith's€affidavit,€heÐ h Ðand€his€staff€spoke€directly€with€Manning,€and€from€personalÐ Ä Ðobservation,€he€noted€that€Manning,€whom€he€described€as€"a€small,Ð pÀ  Ðvulnerable,€Hispanic€woman,"€struck€him€as€genuinely€"terrified"€ofÐ !l" ÐAzimi.€€ò òó óAt€his€deposition,€Smith€said€that€he€was€convinced€thatÐ È"$ ÐManning€did,€in€fact,€understand€what€Azimi€had€said€to€her€thatÐ t$Ä& Ðday€in€the€parking€lot,€because€Smith€himself€had€engaged€inÐ  &p!( Ðconversations€in€English€with€Manning€and€it€was€his€experienceÐ Ì'#* Ðthat€"[s]he€can€understand€[English]€a€lot€better€than€she€speaksÐ x)È$, Ðit."ò òÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð<#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔó ó€€Smith€also€testified€that€Cram€had€told€him€that€Manning'sÐ $+t&. Ðaccount€was€corroborated€'almost€verbatim'€by€someone€else.€€InÐ ° Ðfact,€Smith's€impression€was€that€Cram€had€told€him€that€this€otherÐ \¬ Ðsource€was€Azimi€himself.€€ò òó óFinally,€Smith€noted€that€Manning€wasÐ X Ðnot€involved€in€any€of€the€previous€incidents€of€harassmentÐ ´  Ðcomplained€of€by€Azimi.€ò òó óÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð8 #ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ ` ° Ðà ` àIn€addition€to€Manning's€allegations,€Smith€also€reliedÐ  \  Ðon€as€grounds€for€terminating€Azimi€the€signed€statement€by€Cram,Ð ¸  Ðin€which€Cram€detailed€a€number€of€other€reasons,€in€addition€toÐ d´  Ðthe€incidents€with€Manning,€why€he€supported€terminating€Azimi'sÐ `  Ðemployment.€€Of€particular€significance€to€Smith€was€Cram'sÐ ¼  Ðstatement€that€"on€the€afternoon€of€November€7,€2001€in€my€officeÐ h¸ Ðand€in€my€presence,€[Azimi]€very€angrily€threatened€another€maleÐ d Ðteam€member€[Adams]€to€settle€things€outside."€€Cram€said€that€heÐ À Ðwas€"concerned€and€frightened"€by€"the€terrifying€expression€onÐ l¼ Ð...€Azimi's€face€and€in€his€eyes€when€he"€made€this€threat.€€CramÐ h Ðalso€noted€that€"Azimi€had€a€history€of€not€being€cooperative€with"Ð Ä Ðco„workers€and€that€"[m]any€allegations€were€made€against€.€.€.Ð pÀ  ÐAzimi,€but€he€always€denied€any€wrong€doing."€€ò òó óFinally,€Cram€statedÐ !l" Ðthat€"there€have€been€credibility€issues"€with€Azimi.€€As€anÐ È"$ Ðexample,€Cram€said€that€one€of€Azimi's€co„workers€had€reported€thatÐ t$Ä& Ðan€anonymously€written€racist€note€that€Azimi€found€in€his€lockerÐ  &p!( Ðwas€actually€planted€by€Azimi€himself;€the€co„worker€"explained€inÐ Ì'#* Ðvivid€detail€that€.€.€.€Azimi€had€showed€him€the€note€and€admittedÐ x)È$, Ðhe€had€planted€it."€€ò òó óSmith€confirmed€at€his€deposition€that€theÐ $+t&. Ðemployee,€Kurt€Chim,€had€indeed€come€forward€in€February€2001,Ð ° Ðabout€a€year€after€Azimi€complained€about€the€note,€and€told€SmithÐ \¬ Ðthat€he€had€talked€with€Azimi,€that€Azimi€had€admitted€placing€theÐ X Ðnote€in€his€own€locker,€and€that€Azimi€believed€the€planting€of€theÐ ´  Ðnote€would€help€him€get€hired€full€time.€€ò òó óChim,€whom€Smith€foundÐ ` ° Ðcredible,€explained€that€he€had€not€wanted€to€get€involvedÐ  \  Ðinitially€because€he€did€not€want€to€be€perceived€as€a€"rat."€€ò òó óÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðC #ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔChimÐ ¸  Ðalso€told€Smith€that€he€had€gone€to€high€school€with€Azimi€and€thatÐ d´  Ðit€was€his€opinion€that€Azimi€had€always€been€a€dishonest€person.ò òó óÐ `  Ðà ` àWhether€Azimi€told€the€truth€about€the€Manning€and€AdamsÐ ¼  Ðincidents€is€not€the€point.€€Jordan's€Meats€had€a€substantial€basisÐ h¸ Ðfor€concluding€that€Azimi€was€not€credible€and€had€engaged€in€theÐ d Ðmisconduct€charged.Ð À Ðò òÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðH#Ôó óÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔà ` àIn€response€to€these€specific€reasons€that€Jordan's€MeatsÐ l¼ Ðoffered€for€terminating€him,€Azimi€offered€only€the€followingÐ h Ðevidence€in€support€of€his€opposition€to€summary€judgment:€(1)€hisÐ Ä Ðown€deposition€testimony,€which€he€characterizes€as€denyingÐ pÀ  ÐManning's€allegations;€and€(2)€an€administrative€decision€by€theÐ !l" ÐMaine€Department€of€Labor€(MDOL)Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðŒ#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€regarding€his€eligibility€forÐ È"$ Ðunemployment€benefits.€€He€also€relies€on€two€other€arguments:€(1)Ð t$Ä& Ðthat€he€was€terminated€for€his€misconduct,€while€others€were€notÐ  &p!( Ðdisciplined€for€what€he€claims€was€equivalent€misconduct;€and€(2)Ð Ì'#* Ðâ âthat€he€was€fired€nine€months€after€he€filed€his€second€complaintÐ x)È$, Ðwith€the€MHRC€and€two€months€after€the€September€11,€2001€attacks.€Ð ° ÐWe€consider€each€in€turn.Ð \¬ Ðâ âà ` àAzimi's€opposing€statement€of€material€facts€merelyÐ X Ðoffered€this€conclusory€allegation:Ð ´  ÐÓÓà8 ` àIn€retaliation€for€Mr.€Azimi's€charges€ofÐ ` ° Ðdiscrimination€filed€[with]€the€Maine€HumanÐ 6 †  ÐRights€Commission€and€as€a€further€act€ofÐ  \  Ðdiscrimination,€Defendant€discharged€PlaintiffÐ â 2  Ðon€false€grounds€on€November€19,€2001.€€AzimiÐ ¸  ÐDeposition€at€249„264.ò òó óÓfÓÐŽÞ ` x` x ÐThe€referenced€deposition€pages€do€not€refute€the€employer'sÐ :Š  Ðexplanation€about€believing€what€Manning€and€Cram€said€hadÐ æ6 Ðhappened.€Those€pages€merely€recount€Azimi's€version€of€theÐ ’â ÐNovember€8€incident,€which€was€that€he€was€smoking€a€cigarette€byÐ >Ž Ðhis€car€in€the€parking€lot€when€Manning€approached€him€and€said€"IÐ ê: Ðam€sorry"€and€something€about€"Harry€Adams";€that€Azimi€did€notÐ –æ Ðunderstand€what€Manning€was€saying€because€she€was€speakingÐ B’ ÐSpanish;€that€the€only€thing€he€said€to€Manning€was€that€she€shouldÐ î> Ð"talk€to€Russell";€and€that€he€and€Manning€walked€into€the€plantÐ šê Ðtogether.€€Azimi€did€not€deny€that€Manning€made€the€complaintsÐ F –! Ðagainst€him,€did€not€explain€why€the€account€that€Manning€gave€onÐ ò!B# Ða€consistent€basis€each€time€she€described€it€differed€so€much€fromÐ ž#î% Ðhis€own,€and€did€not€give€any€reason€why€Manning€would€lie€to€herÐ J%š ' Ðemployer€about€what€happened€in€the€parking€lot.€ò òó óÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð–#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ ö&F") Ðà ` àÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðµ!#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔAzimi's€denial€of€wrongdoing€is€not€enough€to€raise€anÐ ¢(ò#+ Ðinference€of€pretext,€on€these€facts,€where€the€company€undertookÐ N*ž%- Ða€reasonable€investigation,€heard€his€side€of€the€story,€andÐ ú+J'/ Ðdecided€that€his€accuser's€was€more€credible.€€òòóó"In€assessingÐ ° Ðpretext,€a€court's€'focus€must€be€on€the€perception€of€theÐ \¬ Ðdecisionmaker,'€that€is,€whether€the€employer€believed€its€statedÐ X Ðreason€to€be€credible,"€subject€to€some€limitations€not€presentÐ ´  Ðhere.€€òòMesnickóó€v.€òòGen.€Elec.€Co.óó,€950€F.2d€816,€824€(1st€Cir.€1991)Ð ` ° ÐÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð"#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ(quoting€òòGrayóó€v.€òòNew€Eng.€Tel.€&€Tel.€Co.óó,€792€F.2d€251,€256€(1stÐ  \  ÐCir.€1986));€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòRivera-Aponteóó€v.€òòRest.€Metropol€#3,€Inc.óó,€338Ð ¸  ÐF.3d€9,€11-12€(1st€Cir.€2003)€("Whether€a€termination€decision€wasÐ d´  Ðwise€or€done€in€haste€is€irrelevant,€so€long€as€the€decision€wasÐ `  Ðnot€made€with€discriminatory€animus.").€€Although€an€"employer'sÐ ¼  Ðgood€faith€belief€is€not€automatically€conclusive,"€òòZapata-Matosóó€v.Ð h¸ ÐòòReckitt€&€Colman,€Inc.óó,€277€F.3d€40,€46€(1st€Cir.€2002),€"[i]t€isÐ d Ðnot€enough€for€a€plaintiff€merely€to€impugn€the€veracity€of€theÐ À Ðemployer's€justification;€he€must€elucidate€specific€facts€whichÐ l¼ Ðwould€enable€a€jury€to€find€that€the€reason€given€is€not€only€aÐ h Ðsham,€but€a€sham€intended€to€cover€up€the€employer's€real€[andÐ Ä Ðunlawful]€motive"€of€discrimination,€òòMesnickóó,€950€F.2d€at€824Ð pÀ  Ð(internal€quotation€mark€omitted)€(quoting€òòMedina-Munozóó€v.€òòR.J.Ð !l" ÐReynolds€Tobacco€Co.óó,€896€F.2d€5,€9€(1st€Cir.€1990)).€€Azimi€hasÐ È"$ Ðnot€made€that€showing€here.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð%#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ t$Ä& Ðà ` àAzimi€also€relies€on€a€decision€from€an€unemploymentÐ  &p!( Ðbenefits€hearing€before€the€MDOL,€in€which€the€MDOL€concluded€thatÐ Ì'#* ÐJordan's€Meats€had€not€met€its€burden€of€proving€that€Azimi€wasÐ x)È$, Ðineligible€to€receive€certain€unemployment€benefits€because€he€hadÐ $+t&. Ðengaged€in€misconduct€within€the€meaning€of€Me.€Rev.€Stat.€Ann.Ð ° Ðtit.€26,€ðð€1043(23)(A)(10).€€òòSeeóó€Me.€Rev.€Stat.€Ann.€tit.€26,Ð \¬ Ððð1193(2)€(disqualifying€a€claimant€"discharged€for€misconductÐ X Ðconnected€with€his€work"€from€benefits€for€a€certain€period€ofÐ ´  Ðtime).€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðG*#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Azimi€observes€that€the€MDOL€had€reached€its€decision€inÐ ` ° Ðlarge€part€because€it€determined€that€Manning's€English€skills€wereÐ  \  Ðso€limited€as€to€undermine€Jordan's€Meats'€account€of€the€parkingÐ ¸  Ðlot€incident.€€Azimi€argues€that€the€MDOL's€reasoning€is€enough€toÐ d´  Ðraise€a€material€dispute€of€fact€about€the€credibility€of€Jordan'sÐ `  ÐMeats'€explanation€for€terminating€him.Ð ¼  Ðà ` àThe€MDOL€decision,€however,€does€not€in€its€conclusion€orÐ h¸ Ðrationale€help€him.€€That€decision€merely€found€the€òòemployeróó€hadÐ d Ðnot€"prove[d]€that€[Azimi's]€conduct€[met]€the€statutory€definitionÐ À Ðof€misconduct."€€It€did€not€address€or€find€that€Jordan's€Meats€hadÐ l¼ Ðno€reasonable€basis€to€believe€that€Azimi€had€engaged€in€misconductÐ h Ðor€even€that€Manning€herself€was€not€credible;€in€fact,€the€MDOLÐ Ä Ðspecifically€noted€that€Manning,€who€was€called€to€testify,Ð pÀ  Ð"testified€that€she€felt€threatened€by€the€encounter€in€the€parkingÐ !l" Ðlot."€€ò òó óÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðT-#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔNor€did€the€MDOL€even€purport€to€address€the€questions€ofÐ È"$ Ðwhether€Azimi€had€been€more€harshly€disciplined€than€a€similarlyÐ t$Ä& Ðsituated€employee,€or,€if€so,€whether€the€difference€in€treatmentÐ  &p!( Ðwas€motivated€by€an€intent€to€discriminate€or€retaliate.Ð Ì'#* Ðà ` àIn€contrast,€at€the€summary€judgment€stage,€it€is€up€toÐ x)È$, ÐAzimi€to€produce€sufficient€evidence€to€generate€a€material€disputeÐ $+t&. Ðof€fact€that€Jordan's€Meats'€articulated€reasons€for€firing€himÐ ° Ðwere€pretext.€€Most€importantly€„„€even€if€Azimi€were€to€show€thatÐ \¬ Ðhe€did€not,€in€fact,€threaten€Manning€and,€further,€that€Jordan'sÐ X ÐMeats€knew€that€he€did€not€and€fired€him€anyway€„„€Azimi€still€mustÐ ´  Ðproduce€sufficient€evidence€from€which€a€jury€could€reasonablyÐ ` ° Ðinfer€that€the€real€reason€Jordan's€Meats€fired€him€was€because€ofÐ  \  Ðdiscrimination€or€retaliation.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðC2#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ ¸  ÐÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðœ6#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔà ` àAzimi€argues€that€a€jury€could€reasonably€infer€thatÐ d´  ÐJordan's€Meats€was€motivated€by€discriminatory€or€retaliatoryÐ `  Ðanimus,€because€he€was€terminated€for€his€misconduct€while€otherÐ ¼  Ðemployees€were€disciplined€more€leniently€for€similar€misbehavior.€Ð h¸ ÐThere€were€four€types€of€misconduct€leading€up€to€the€terminationÐ d Ðdecision,€according€to€Smith:€(1)€the€two€incidents€in€the€parkingÐ À Ðlot€with€Manning;€(2)€lying€about€the€Manning€incident;€(3)€makingÐ l¼ Ðfalse€allegations€against€Adams;€and€(4)€threatening€Adams€in€theÐ h Ðpresence€of€Cram.€€This€case€does€not€involve,€as€Azimi€seems€toÐ Ä Ðargue,€only€the€third€and€fourth€categories€of€misconduct.€€ThisÐ pÀ  Ðcase€involves,€in€addition€to€those€two€categories,€intimidating€aÐ !l" Ðfemale€co„worker€in€a€dark€parking€lot,€threatening€to€spreadÐ È"$ Ðrumors€about€her€if€she€did€not€lie,€and€putting€her€in€genuineÐ t$Ä& Ðfear.€€Azimi€has€provided€no€evidence€of€comparable€misconduct€andÐ  &p!( Ðhas€not€met€his€burden€of€providing€evidence€that€the€employment€ofÐ Ì'#* Ðco„workers€who€had€committed€misconduct€similar€to€that€act€or€thatÐ x)È$, Ðcombination€of€acts€were€not€also€terminated.Ð $+t&. Ðà ` àIn€his€statement€of€material€facts,€Azimi€refers€toÐ ° ÐJordan's€Meats'€failure€to€terminate€the€employment€of€co„workersÐ \¬ Ðwhom€he€accused€of€calling€him€names€and€using€off„color€or€obsceneÐ X Ðlanguage.€€Use€of€such€language,€not€uncommon€on€a€meat„processingÐ ´  Ðplant€floor,€is€simply€not€similar€to€the€conduct€in€which€AzimiÐ ` ° Ðwas€reported€to€have€engaged.€€More€serious€are€his€claims€thatÐ  \  ÐGeorge€Libby€engaged€in€inappropriate€roughhousing€by€"grabb[ingÐ ¸  ÐAzimi]€hard€by€the€waist€[and]€thrusting€his€[Libby's]€groin€intoÐ d´  Ð[Azimi's]€buttocks,"€and€thatÔ#† X^ðXXX^ðó6#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€Azimi€felt€threatened€when€anotherÐ `  Ðco„worker€said€that€she€was€going€to€break€his€"fucking€teeth€out."€Ð ¼  ÐThat€Jordan's€Meats,€which€investigated€the€incidents,€concludedÐ h¸ Ðthat€neither€Libby's€conduct€nor€an€angry€exchange€between€mutuallyÐ d Ðabusive€co„workersÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð?#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€was€the€equivalent€of€the€behavior€for€whichÐ À ÐAzimi€was€terminated€does€not€raise€an€inference€of€discrimination.€Ð l¼ ÐIndeed,€Jordan's€Meats€had€reason€to€believe€that€Azimi€may€haveÐ h Ðbeen€the€instigator€of€some€of€these€verbal€and€physical€exchanges.Ð Ä Ðà ` àIn€fact,€there€was€undisputed€evidence€in€the€summaryÐ pÀ  Ðjudgment€record€that€at€least€one€co„worker,€Libby,€complained€thatÐ !l" ÐAzimi€himself€had€directed€verbal€insults€and€physical€conductÐ È"$ Ðtoward€Libby,€which€was€offensive€and€threatening.€€Yet€Azimi€wasÐ t$Ä& Ðnot€disciplined€as€a€result.€€Libby€complained€to€Smith€that€AzimiÐ  &p!( Ðhad€called€Libby€names,€such€as€"fat€ass";€that€Azimi€also€hadÐ Ì'#* Ðâ âgrabbed€him€from€behind€and€humped€him;€that€Azimi€had€"on€manyÐ x)È$, Ðtimes"€tried€to€grab€him€and€restrain€him;€and€that€Libby€wasÐ ° Ðafraid€of€Azimi.ò òó óÐ \¬ Ðâ âà ` àThe€record€shows€that€Jordan's€Meats€did,€in€fact,Ð X Ðdiscipline€Libby€and€other€co„workers€whom€the€company€found€toÐ ´  Ðhave€harassed€Azimi.€€The€female€co„worker€who€threatened€to€breakÐ ` ° ÐAzimi's€teeth€was€issued€a€warningò òó ó;€Libby€was€suspended€for€threeÐ  \  Ðdays€for€his€harassment€of€AzimiÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð/A#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ€and€would€have€been€terminated€ifÐ ¸  Ðhis€conduct€had€not€improved;€and€another€co„worker,€Phil€Ryan,€wasÐ d´  Ðsuspended€for€one€day€for€phoning€Azimi€and€making€racist€comments,Ð `  Ðafter€Ryan€said€Azimi€called€him€"a€fat€ass"€and€told€him€that€heÐ ¼  Ðwas€going€to€"cut€his€fat€ass."Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðG#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔÐ h¸ ÐÔ#† X^ðXXX^ð·H#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔà ` àNor€does€Azimi€offer€any€evidence€from€which€a€jury€couldÐ d Ðreasonably€infer€that€the€individuals€who€made€the€decision€toÐ À Ðterminate€him€„„€specifically,€Smith€and€Cram€„„€harbored€any€typeÐ l¼ Ðof€discriminatory€or€retaliatory€animus€toward€him.€€That€Smith,€asÐ h Ðthe€Human€Resources€Manager,€and€Cram,€as€Azimi's€supervisor,€dealtÐ Ä Ðwith€some€of€Azimi's€complaints€of€pre„termination€harassment,€isÐ pÀ  Ðnot€enough€to€allow€the€inference€that€they€terminated€him€becauseÐ !l" Ðof€unlawful€animus.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðI#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔ׃1×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ô#† X^ðXXX^ðÄK#ÔÔ‡X^ðXX X^ðÔIn€fact,€the€evidence€in€the€record€tends€toÐ È"$ Ðshow€that€Smith€and€Cram€were€sympathetic€to€many€of€Azimi'sÐ ° Ðcomplaints€and€were€trying€to€stamp€out€any€discrimination€at€theÐ \¬ Ðcompany.€€For€example,€according€to€Smith's€deposition,€when€AzimiÐ X Ðfound€the€note€in€his€locker€in€1999,€Smith€undertook€anÐ ´  Ðinvestigation.€€He€even€forwarded€the€note€and€handwriting€samplesÐ ` ° Ðto€a€handwriting€expert,€who€could€not€identify€the€author.€€ò òó óSmithÐ  \  Ðthen€had€several€meetings€with€small€groups€of€employees€on€threeÐ ¸  Ðshifts,€informed€them€that€the€letter€was€despicable€and€that€suchÐ d´  Ðconduct€would€not€be€tolerated€in€the€company,€and€distributed€aÐ `  Ðmemo€he€wrote€on€workplace€behavior€and€diversity€awareness.Ð ¼  Ðà ` àFinally,€Azimi€suggests€that€a€reasonable€factfinderÐ h¸ Ðcould€infer€animus€from€the€fact€that€he€was€fired€within€nineÐ d Ðmonths€of€the€filing€of€his€second€complaint€with€the€MHRC€andÐ À Ðwithin€two€months€after€the€September€11,€2001€attacks€on€the€WorldÐ l¼ ÐTrade€Center€and€other€targets.€€ò òó óNine€months€is€simply€too€long€aÐ h Ðtime€lapse€to€support€an€inference€of€retaliatory€animus.€€WhenÐ Ä ÐAzimi€has€proffered€no€additional€evidence€of€discriminatory€animusÐ pÀ  Ðon€the€part€of€Smith€or€any€other€decisionmaker,€the€fact€that€heÐ !l" Ðwas€fired€two€months€after€September€11€also€is€not€enough€toÐ È"$ Ðgenerate€a€material€dispute€of€fact€on€the€unlawful€dischargeÐ t$Ä& Ðâ âtheory.Ð  &p!( Ðà ` àDrawing€all€reasonable€inferences€in€Azimi's€favor,€weÐ ° Ðâ âconclude€based€on€our€review€of€the€summary€judgment€record€thatÐ \¬ Ðsummary€judgment€was€warranted€in€relation€to€the€unlawfulÐ X Ðdischarge€claims.€€The€law€does€not€protect€the€jobs€of€those€whoÐ ´  Ðthreaten€other€employees€with€harm,€even€if€they€themselves€haveÐ ` ° Ðbeen€mistreated.€€That€Azimi€was€wronged€gave€him€no€right€to€doÐ  \  Ðwrong.Ð ¸  ÐÓ  ÓIII.Ð d´  ÐÓ©UÓà ` àJudgment€òòaffirmedóó.€€Each€side€shall€bear€its€own€Ô_Ôcosts.Ô#† X^ðXXX^ð\L#ÔÐ `  ÐÌÌÌà@ìì*ìàÔ_Ô