Vatel v. Alliance of Auto. Mfrs., No. 10-7013

Summary Judgment Affirmed in Employment Action

In Vatel v. Alliance of Auto. Mfrs., No. 10-7013, an action claiming that defendant terminated plaintiff because of her race and gender, the court affirmed summary judgment for defendant where plaintiff produced insufficient evidence to undermine her supervisor's explanation that he dismissed plaintiff because they had incompatible styles of work and her performance therefore did not meet his expectations.

As the court wrote:  "David McCurdy is President and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. In November 2007, McCurdy fired his assistant, Karen Vatel. McCurdy asserted that he dismissed Vatel because they had incompatible styles of work and her performance therefore did not meet his expectations. Vatel sued, claiming that McCurdy fired her because of her race and gender. Finding that Vatel had produced insufficient evidence to undermine McCurdy's stated reason for firing her, the District Court granted summary judgment to McCurdy and his employer. We agree with the District Court and therefore affirm."

Related Resources

• Read the DC Circuit's Decision in Vatel v. Alliance of Auto. Mfrs., No. 10-7013