FILED
COUi i OF AE P r' LS
DIM10110M ii
2014 MAR 25 AN S: 50
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF W.
GI,.GN
DIVISION II
11
CITY OF VANCOUVER, a municipality; No. 43641 -8 -II
Appellant, PUBLISHED OPINION
STATE OF WASHINGTON PUBLIC
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
COMMISSION; VANCOUVER POLICE
OFFICERS GUILD,
Res
WORGEN, J. — The Public Employment Relations Commission ( Commission) found that
the city of Vancouver (City) committed an unfair labor practice by discriminating against
Vancouver Police Officers' Guild (Guild) president Ryan Martin out of animus over his union
activities. The City appeals, contending that the Commission ( 1) improperly applied judicial
precedent to the Guild' s discrimination complaint; ( 2) violated the Administrative Procedure Act
APA),_
chapter_ 05 RCW,_ engaging_ improper ml_making;_and ( 3) based its decision _
34. by in_ e on.___
factual findings unsupported by the record.
We hold that RCW 41. 56.030( 12) and RCW 41. 56. 160 show legislative intent to allow
the Commission to impose liability on individuals for unfair labor practices, but that the
Commission' s order did not impose personal liability on Police Chief Clifford Cook. We hold
also that the Commission applied an improper burden of proof in determining the City' s liability,
but that this error was harmless because the Commission' s findings show that the City
committed an unfair labor practice when judged under the proper burden of proof. We conclude
No. 43641 -8 -II
further that Martin suffered an adverse employment action when the City decided not to transfer
him to the motorcycle unit. Finally, we conclude that the Commission' s order was not an
exercise of rule -making authority and that the Commission' s findings of fact are supported by
substantial evidence. For these reasons, we uphold the Commission' s order.
FACTS
In April 2007, the City hired Cook as its chief of police. Cook is a devotee of the
community policing theory and planned to reorganize the police department consistently with it.
In 2008 a budget crisis forced a departmental hiring freeze that created shortages in the number
of police officers assigned to basic patrol ditties. To remedy these shortages, Cook eliminated
several specialty units within the department, including its motorcycle unit, and transferred the
officers from these units back to patrol.
In spring 2009, the department revived the motorcycle unit in a smaller form consisting
of two officers and two supervisory personnel. To expedite the revival, departmental officials
limited the pool of candidates for the officer positions to those that had served in the unit
previously; offcerg-Martin,-JohriDavis; Scott Nei11;- arid - en :Suvada: - - -- -- - - - - - - -- —
K
Shortly after Cook became police chief, Guild members elected Martin as the Guild' s
new president. Guild members " had perceived the Guild to be a little passive in the past, and
they wanted more of an aggressive stance" by their new president. Administrative Record ( AR)
at 467 -68. In the months between Martin' s election to the Guild' s presidency and the selection
of the officers for the motorcycle unit, Martin challenged the police department' s leadership on
behalf of the Guild' s members on several different occasions, filed grievances against the
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No. 43641 -8 -II
department for Guild members, and exercised Guild members' rights under the collective
bargaining agreement ( CBA) to block Cook' s attempts to reorganize the department.
The motorcycle unit selection panel interviewed the officer candidates just days after one
of Martin' s assertions of Guild rights to block one of Cook' s proposed policy changes. Three
panel members, Assistant Chief Chris Sutter, Lieutenant Amy Foster, and Corporal Robert
Schoene, met individually with Davis; Martin, Neill, and Suvada. The interviewers received the
applicants' letters of interest, resumes, performance evaluations, and a leave usage spreadsheet
for the previous two years, along with any letters of support from supervisors, The leave usage
spreadsheet included a field called " other" leave, which only Martin used. Exh. 27. This leave
included that granted to the Guild' s president for union business under the CBA.
After the interviews, the panel was to recommend the best qualified candidates to Cook,
who retained the ultimate authority to staff the unit. The panel unanimously selected Neill and
rejected Suvada. The choice for the secotid position came down to Martin and Davis. Sutter and
Foster preferred Davis. Schoene, who had supervised the two men in the old motorcycle unit
and who would serve as the supervisinge0- por9-in the reformed unit, preferred Martin. — — --
r
In discussions Schoene explained that he preferred Martin because, given the small size
of the new unit, "[ Martin] brought the most skills and ... connections within the City." AR at
653. One factor for determining the best qualified candidates was "[ t]he employee' s ability to
perform the specific technical skills required" for the assignment. Exh. 56 at 1. Schoene noted
that Martin had frequently testified in court, qualified as an expert witness in driving under the
influence cases, and had received certification as a drug recognition expert and a technical
collision investigator. None of the other candidates possessed these qualifications, and Schoen
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No. 43641 -8 -II
explained that Martin' s skills would best serve the reconstituted unit' s primary mission of traffic
enforcement.
Sutter responded that " the person with the most skills and qualifications is not always the
best fit for the unit." AR at 654. Instead, Sutter declared that the panel was " looking for
someone that is- supports the Chief' s vision and the Chief' s direction." AR at 654. Schoene
replied that " at my level in dealing with Officer Martin, he' s always in his work, he has always
portrayed a positive image of the Department." AR at 654. Schoene added that he could
understand if that' s an issue at [ Sutter' s] level in the decision -making but at my level, [Martin]
portrays that he supports the Chief in his everyday interaction with citizens as we perform our
duties." AR at 654. Sutter did not respond.
Schoene later brought up Martin' s leave usage as a possible weakness for his candidacy,
noting that Martin took blocks of flex time and vacation to visit his children in Arizona for
extended periods. Martin' s supervisors had noted this habit in his reviews, but each had also
stated that he was an extremely hard worker and recommended him for promotion. Schoene
admitted that, withthe smallerunit; M-
- actin' s l-eave habits mig t present an issue. Schoene - - --
-
reiterated, however, that he would select Martin over Davis, although, under pressure from
Sutter, Schoen allowed that Davis would also be a good fit. Sutter, for his part, commented in
his notes about the interviews that Schoene recommended Neill, but did not note Schoene' s
recommendation of Martin.
Neill had leave issues of his own. The spreadsheet providing the applicants' leave usages
showed that he used the most leave of any candidate in 2008. However, Schoene explained that
Neill had taken time off to care for a chronically ill family member and had made arrangements
Q 04 .
GEWftl
-
that allowed him to work full time in 2009. The police department' s leadership was aware that
Neill' s leave usage would return to levels much higher than Martin' s if this alternate care
disappeared.
Foster and Sutter considered Martin' s time away from his unit while performing other
departmental tasks as a detriment to his candidacy. However, neither Foster nor Sutter
considered Davis' s absence from his primary duties to fulfill his other roles in the department a
detriment to his application.
The day after the interviews, Sutter contacted Pat Johns, who had just been chosen to fill
the sergeant' s position in the motorcycle snit, to discuss the choice between Davis and Martin.
Johns, like Schoene, had supervised both officers in the old motorcycle unit, and he
recommended Martin for the same reason given by Schoene, that Martin' s skills would provide a
crucial component" of a" successful team." AR at 631. When Sutter asked about Martin' s
leave use, Johns acknowledged it could be an issue, but he assured Sutter that he could work
with Martin to minimize any problems and continued to recommend Martin.' No one told Cook
about Joohns' s recommendation until afterCook hadmade the decision to deny the positionto
Martin.
Sutter gave Cook the panel' s recommendations, unanimously endorsing Neill for a
position, but splitting two votes to one in recommending Davis over Martin for the second
position. Sutter explained that he and Foster voted for Davis due to concerns about Martin' s
pattern of absences from his unit. Cook, though, was adamant that any consideration of Martin' s
Sutter and Foster both testified that Johns changed his recommendation to Davis after
becoming aware of Sutter' s concern over Martin' s leave. Johns denied this and the examiner
credited Johns' s testimony.
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No. 43641 -8 -II
absences exclude his union leave. Sutter Also passed along a warning from Schoene that a
decision not to select Martin would create problems. After reviewing the panel' s notes, Cook
met with Sutter and Foster and selected Neill and Davis for the motorcycle unit. Later, Cook
explained to Schoene that he simply counted votes: Neill had three, Davis had two, and Martin
had only one.
After Cook' s decision, the Guild filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the City.
The complaint alleged that the City had " interfered with, restrained, coerced and discriminated
against Officer Martin in violation of RCW 41. 56. 040 and RCW 41. 56. 140( 1)" by denying him
the motorcycle unit assignment. AR at 3. The Guild and the City contested these claims before
a hearing examiner.
The hearing examiner found that the City had " discriminated against Martin because of
his protected activities and interfered with employee rights in violation of RCW 41. 56. 140( 1)."
AR at 1233. The examiner found that Sutter offered pretextual reasons for selecting Davis over
Martin to cover his anti -
union bias based on three pieces of evidence. First, Sutter' s statement
about selecting someone who supported' ook' s vision for the department; rather than
the most -
qualified, betrayed anti -
union animus. Sutter made this statement near in time to Martin' s
challenges to the department' s leadership on behalf of the Guild' s members and his assertion of
their CBA rights to thwart Cook' s plans fer the department. Given this context, the examiner
found that Sutter made the comment to suggest that the panel should reject Martin' s candidacy
because of his Guild activities. Second, Satter selectively used or disregarded statements of
support by Schoene and Johns to buttress the case for Davis, when both men, in truth, supported
Martin. Finally, the examiner noted that Sutter considered Martin' s absence from his unit to
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No. 43641 -8 -II
fulfill his other departmental duties a detriment to his candidacy, but did not find Davis' s
absences for identical reasons to be problematic.
While the examiner found animus on Sutter' s part, she found Cook possessed no animus
of his own. Nonetheless, the examiner found that Cook had made his decision by simply
counting the votes on the interview panel for each candidate. Sutter' s vote thus determined the
denial of the position to Martin. Because Cook used files shaped by Sutter to perform his own
review, the examiner found that Cook' s independent investigation had not broken the causal
chain between Sutter' s animus and the unfair labor practice. The examiner explained that
t] he linchpin in this case is Cook' s reliance on the recommendation he received
from Sutter. Although Cook took steps to verify the information he was being
provided, his ultimate decision was colored by Sutter' s representation of the facts.
Thus, the decision not to offer Martin one of the two [ m] otor[ cyclist] [ o] fficers
positions was discriminatory.
AR at 1228 -29
The examiner' s order required "[ tlhe City of Vancouver" through its " officers and
agents" to " immediately ... remedy its unfair labor practices." AR at 1234. The remedial steps
included offering Martina positionin themotorcycle unit. ---- - - -- -_- - - - - - -- - - - _ - - --
The City appealed the examiner' s decision and order to the Commission. The
Commission affirmed the decision, adopting the examiner' s findings, conclusions and order as
its own, but it reversed the decision that Cook had no animus. The Commission declared that it
would hold decision makers like Cook " strictly liable" for the animus of subordinates, using its
interpretation of the subordinate bias theory of liability found in Staub v. Proctor Hospital,
U.S. _, 131 S. Ct. 1186, 179 L. Ed. 2d 144 ( 2011), which had issued after the examiner' s
7
No. 43641 -8 -II
decision and order. AR at 1382, 1394 -97 -& n. 6. Based on this interpretation, the Commission
declared that
where an employment decision is influenced by the union animus of a subordinate
or advisor to the decision maker, the decision will be found discriminatory, and a
remedial order will be issued unless the respondent can demonstrate that the
decision maker independently retched the same conclusion free from union
animus.
In cases such as this, a respondent will not be found in violation of
Chapter 41. 56 RCW if it demonstrates that the decision was made completely free
from the recommendation of the subordinates who displayed union animus.
However, once a subordinate has made a recommendation to a decision maker
that has been tainted by animus, it is not enough for the decision maker to say the
decision wasindependently.
made Credible evidence must exist that
demonstrates that the decision maker purged from the decision making process
the discriminatory recommendation.
Applying these principles to the case before us, the record clearly
demonstrates that Cook relied upon the tainted recommendation of Sutter when
making his decision. Although Cook testified that he considered selecting Davis
over Martin, Schoen testified that-Cook stated he simply counted the votes of the
members of the interview panel to make his final decision. The Examiner found
Schoene' s testimony credible. Furthermore, the record demonstrates that Cook
reviewed the notes of the interview panel, but did not conduct an independent
review of the applicants.
Because Cook relied upon the recommendation of Sutter and failed to
conduct an independent review free from union animus, Cook, as the final
decision maker, is held liable tinder Chapter 41. 56 RCW. The Examiner' s
decision is affirmed.
AR at 1382, 1396 -97. However, because the Commission adopted the examiner' s order as its
own, it imposed no individual penalties on Cook.
The City sought judicial review of the Commission' s decision and order, moving for
direct review by this court. The Clark County Superior Court certified the appeal and our
commissioner accepted the City' s petition for discretionary review.
E:3
No. 43641 -8 -II
ANALYSIS
In its appeal the City urges that the Commission erroneously applied the subordinate bias
theory of liability found in Staub, improperly engaged in rulemaking with its order, and that
three findings made by the examiner and adopted by the Commission are not supported by
substantial evidence in the record. Before turning to these contentions, we briefly review the
Commission' s authority and the standard of review on appeal.
I. COMMISSION' S AUTHORITY AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
RCW 41. 5 6. 040 protects public employees' rights found in chapter 41. 56 RCW from
interfere[ ence] .... restrain[ t], coerc[ iohl, or discrimin[ ation]" by their employer.
Implementing these protections, RCW 41: 56. 140( 1) makes it an unfair labor practice for an
employer to " interfere with or discriminate against" employees exercising the rights protected by
chapter 41. 56 RCW. City of Federal Way V. Pub. Emp' t Relations Comm' n, 93 Wn. App. 509,
2
512, 970 P. 2d 752 ( 1998) ( citing RCW 4. 56. 140( 1)).
The legislature " empowered and directed [ the Commission] to prevent any unfair labor
practice-and - o issue appropriate remedial -
t - orders.- - RCW 4156:160( 1):
- - The Coiinirus sion s - --
remedial powers include the ability to issue " cease and desist" orders to any " person [ that] has
engaged in or is engaging in" an unfair labor practice. RCW 41. 56. 160( 1), ( 2). The
2
The Guild' s complaint alleged that the City both discriminated against Martin for his exercise
of protected rights and interfered with departmental employees' exercise of those rights. The
examiner determined the City had committed both violations, and the Commission adopted this
conclusion. The City only appeals the discrimination violation, but under the Commission' s
precedent the interference violation here 7s derivative of the discrimination violation and our
decision to affirm or reverse the discrimination violation also determines the fate of the
interference violation. Yakima Police Patrolmen' s Ass' n v. City of Yakima, 153 Wn. App. 541,
566, 222 P. 3d 1217 ( 2009) ( quoting Kozlowski v. Clark County, No. 18682 -U - 4 -4748, 2007
0
WL 4111397, at * 10 ( Wash. Pub. Emp' t kelations Comm' n Oct. 10, 2007).
9
No. 43641' - -II
8
Commission may order other relief, " such as the payment of damages and the reinstatement of
employees," where doing so " will effectuate the purposes and policy of [chapter 41. 56 RCW]."
RCW 41. 56. 160( 2).
We review a Commission decision concerning a violation of RCW 41. 56. 140 under the
standards prescribed by the APA. RCW 41. 56. 165; City of Vancouver v. Pub. Emp' t Relations
Comm' n, 107 Wn. App. 694, 702, 33 P. 3d 74 ( 2001). We review any questions of law, such as
the Commission' s interpretation of a statute or judicial precedent, de novo. City of Vancouver,
107 Wn. App. at 703. We may substitute our interpretation of the law for the Commission' s,
although we give the Commission' s interpretation of chapter 41. 56 RCW great weight and
substantial deference. City of Vancouver, 107 Wn. App. at 703. We review the Commission' s
factual findings " for substantial evidence in light of the whole record, i.e., evidence sufficient to
persuade a fair -
minded person of their truth." City of Vancouver, 107 Wn. App. at 703. When
performing this review, we may " not substitute [ our] judgment for that of the agency regarding
witness credibility or the weight of the evidence." Thomas v. Emp' t Sec. Dep' t, 176 Wn. App.
8091 813;- 309- P.3d-- 61- (2013). - Also, we consider-urielial 6iig— findings to beveritieson —
7 d-
appeal. Campbell v.Emp' t Sec. Dep' t, 174 Wn. App. 210, 215, 297 P.3d 757, review granted,
178 Wn.2d 1018, 311 P.3d 27 ( 2013).
H. SuBOP-
DINATE BIAS LIABILITY
The City first claims that the Commission erroneously interpreted and applied the
subordinate bias theory of liability found in Staub to the Guild' s complaint. Specifically, the
City contends that the Commission incorrectly read Staub as allowing the imposition of
individual liability on Cook and allowing the imposition of liability on the City with a burden of
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No. 43641 -8 -II
3
proof inconsistent with Washington law. The City also contends that the Commission erred by
applying Staub at all because Cook lacked knowledge of animus on Sutter' s part and because
Martin was not terminated, but merely dented a beneficial transfer. We hold that governing
statutes allow the Commission to impose liability on individuals for unfair labor practices, but
that the Commission' s order did not impose personal liability on Police Chief Cook. We hold
also that the Commission applied an improper burden of proof in determining City liability, but
that this error was harmless.
Washington adjudicates statutory'discrimination claims using the McDonnell Douglas
Corporation v. Green framework. See 411 U.S. 792, 93 S. Ct. 1817, 36 L. Ed. 2d 668 ( 1973).
The complaining party first bears the burden of establishing a prima facie case of discrimination.
Wilmot v. Kaiser Aluminum & Chem. Core., 118 Wn.2d 46, 67 -69, 821 P.2d 18 ( 1991). Adapted
to the context of unfair labor practices, establishing a prima facie case requires the complaining
party to show that "( 1) the employee has participated in protected activity or communicated to
the employer an intent to do so; ( 2) the employee has been deprived of some ascertainable right,
benefit or status; and ( 3) there is a causal b-
nnection between tho se events." – Yakima Police - - - - -- - --- - -
Patrolman' s Ass' n v. City of Yakima, 153 Wn. App. 541, 554, 222 P. 3d 1217 ( 2009) ( quoting
Pub. Sch. Emps. of Readan -Edwall v. Re& dan- Edwall Sch. Dist., No. 12593 -U - -2997, 1998
96
WL 1056978, at * 6 ( Wash. Pub. Emp' t Relations Comm' n Sept 29, 1998)).
If the complaining party makes this prima facie case, the employer may articulate a
3
Amicus curiae Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys devotes its brief to the
same burden of proof issue that the City makes.
11
100 . el I: all
legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment decision. Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d
at 70; Yakima Police, 153 Wn. App. at 554 (quoting Pub. Sch. Emps. of Reardan- Edwall, 1998
WL 1056978, at * 6). The employer bears the burden of production, not of persuasion, in
offering this permissible reason for the averse employment decision. Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 68
citing Baldwin v. Sisters of Providence in Wash., Inc., 112 Wn.2d 127, 134, 769 P. 2d 298
1989)); Yakima Police, 153 Wn. App. at 554 (citing Bonds v. City of Tacoma, No. 8702 -U - 0-
9
1898, 1995 WL 854141, at * 11 ( Wash. Pub. Emp' t Relations Comm' n June 20, 1995))..
If the employer meets its burden of production for offering a permissible justification, the
complaining party bears the burden of persuasion in showing that the employee' s exercise of
rights protected under chapter 41. 56 RCW triggered the adverse employment decision. Wilmot,
118 Wn.2d at 70; Yakima Police, 153 Wn. App. at 554 (citing Pub. Sch. Emps. of Readan-
Edwall, 1998 WL 1056978, at * 6. The complainant may discharge this burden in one of two
ways. First, the complainant may show that the employer' s stated reason was pretextual.
Yakima Police, 153 Wn. App. at 554 ( citing Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 71 -73). Second, the
complainant may show that, although the employer' s stated reason was legitimate, animus - - -
toward the employee' s union activity " was nevertheless a substantial motivating factor" behind
the employer' s action. Yakima Police, 153 Wn. App. at 554 ( citing Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 71-
73).
A. Cook' s Liability
The City claims that the Commission erred with respect to Cook' s liability in two
different ways. First, the City maintains that the Commission lacks the power to impose liability
12
No. 43641 -8 -II
on individuals for an unfair labor practice because RCW 41. 56. 140 limits liability to employers.¢
Second, the City argues that the Commission misapplied Staub' s subordinate bias theory of
liability to impose on Cook. We find no error on the Commission' s part with regard to Cook' s
liability.
1.. The Commission' s power to impose individual liability.
Whether the Commission may impose individual liability under RCW 41. 56. 140 is a
question of statutory interpretation. When interpreting a statute, we attempt to " ascertain and
carry out the Legislature' s intent." Dep' t of Ecology v. Campbell & Gwinn, LLC, 146 Wn.2d 1,
9 -10, 43 P. 3d 4 ( 2002). To do so, we interpret the statute' s plain meaning, discerning this
meaning " from all that the Legislature has said in the statute and related statutes which disclose
legislative intent about the provision in question." Campbell & Gwinn, 146 Wn. 2d at 11. Only
where the provision is susceptible to more than one reasonable meaning after this analysis may
we " resort to aids to construction" such as interpretative canons or other extrinsic evidence of
legislative intent. Campbell & Gwinn, 146 Wn.2d at 12.
Municipalcorporations are artificial beings that cari oinlyactthroughtheir agents.
Broyles v. Thurston County, 147 Wn. App. 409, 428, 195 P. 3d 985 ( 2008). Recognizing this, the
legislature defined a " public employer" within the meaning of chapter 41. 56 RCW as " any
officer; board, commission, council, or other person or body acting on behalf of any public body
governed by [ chapter 41. 56 RCW], or any subdivision of such public body." RCW
41. 56. 030( 12). A related provision, RCW 41. 56. 160( 2), specifically allows the Commission to
4
RCW 41. 56. 140 provides that "[ i] t shall be an unfair labor practice for a public employer ...
t] o interfere with, restrain, or coerce public employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed
by this' chapter."
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No. 43641 -8 -II
direct various remedial orders against " any person" for unfair labor practices, and RCW 1. 16. 080
defines " person" to include individuals. ' Consequently, the plain text of RCW 41. 56.030( 12) and
RCW 41. 56. 160 shows a legislative intent to allow the Commission to impose liability on
individuals for unfair labor practices. The' City' s categorical argument that the Commission1may
never impose liability on individual supervisors cannot carry the field.
2. Cook' s individual liability under Staub.
The City next contends that the Commission erred in applying Staub to impose personal
liability on Cook because Staub concerned agency liability and Sutter was not Cook' s agent.
While we agree with the City' s characterization of Staub, we disagree that the Commission' s
order imposed liability on Cook and therefore reject the City' s contention.
In subordinate bias liability cases, " a biased subordinate, who lacks decision making
power, uses the formal decision maker as a dupe in a deliberate scheme to trigger a
discriminatory employment action." Equal Emp' t Opportunity Comm' n v. BCI Coca -Cola
Bottling Co. of Los Angeles, 450 F.3d 476, 484. (10th Cir. 2006). Subordinate bias liability
F(
recognizes t at i'--( esnot matterw et er t e subordinate personally - pulls the trigger "' on-
the adverse employment decision; the subordinate' s animus sets in motion the events that
culminate in the adverse employment action. Stacks v. Sw. Bell Yellow Pages, Inc., 27 F.3d
1316, 1323 ( 8th Cir. 1994) ( quoting Simpson v. Diversitech Gen., Inc., 945 F.2d 156, 160 ( 6th
Cir. 1991)). Because the employer has delegated power or influence over employment decisions
to the subordinate, any wrongful conduct on the subordinate' s part occurs within the course and
scope of employment. Long v. Eastfield Coll., 88 F.3d 300, 306 -07 ( 5th Cir. 1996); Shrager v.
Upjohn Co., 913 F.2d 398, 405 ( 7th Cir. 1990). Because the wrongful conduct occurs in the
14
No. 43641 -8 -H
course and scope of employment, we impute the discriminatory act to the agent' s principal.
Thola v. Henschell, 140 Wn. App. 70, 79, 164 P. 3d 524 ( 2007); Long, 88 F.3d at 306 -07;
Shrager, 913 F.2d at 404.
We agree with the City that Staub would not allow the Commission to impose personal
liability on Cook. Sutter lacked any agency relationship with Cook; the City, not Cook, was his
principal. See RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OV AGENCY § 1 ( 1958) crats. b, d, e ( definitions of
agency," " principal," and " agent "). Because the subordinate bias theory of liability rests on
agency principles, the lack of an agency relationship between Cook and Sutter would prevent the
imposition of liability on Cook under Staub.
However, we find no intent on the part of the Commission to impose liability on Cook.
We interpret an agency order in the same manner we interpret statutes. Office of Pub. Util.
Counsel v. NM Power Co., 344 S. W. 3d 446, 450 - ( Tex.
Tex. - 51 App. 2011); see Phillip Morris
USA Inc. v. Tolson, 176 N.C. App. 509, 515, 626 S. E.2d 853 ( 2006). Just as we interpret
statutory provisions in light of the statutory scheme as a whole, we interpret language in an order
in light of theorder asawhole.- See Phillip M& ris; 176-N C. App at 515; Cedar Rapids Steel - - -
- r- -
Transp., Inc. v. Iowa State Commerce Cbrnm' n, 160 N.W.2d 825, 838 ( Iowa 1968). Where an
order as a whole contains contradictory language, it is ambiguous. Phillip Morris, 176 N.C.
App. at 515 -16.
The Commission' s decision and order contain contradictory language about Cook' s
liability, creating ambiguity. The Commission adopted the examiner' s order. See AR at 1397.
The examiner' s order concluded only that the employer, the City, had violated the statute, AR
1233, and required only the City to carryout any actions to remedy the unfair labor practice. AR
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No. 43641 -8 -II
1234 -35. Contrary to this holding, the Commission' s order held, among other points, that
b] ecause Cook relied upon the recommendation of Sutter and failed to conduct an independent
review free from union animus, Cook, as the final decision maker, is held liable under Chapter
41. 56 RCW." AR at 1397 ( footnote omitted). This opposition is not reconciled by the
Commission' s footnote 6, which states that the examiner reached a substantially similar
conclusion without relying on Staub.
Given this ambiguity, we must interpret the order to give effect to the Commission' s
intent. See Campbell & Gwinn, 146 Wn.2d at 9 -12. We find no intent to impose individual
liability on Cook for two reasons. First, we presume that the Commission knew the common law
of agency underlying subordinate bias liability and the limits of that liability. See Staub, 131 S.
Ct. at 1191 -92. Even assuming that the Commission had the power to alter the limits of agency
liability, we presume that it had no intent to do so without a clear, unambiguous statement of this
intent. See In re Custody of BMH, 179 Wh. 2d 224, 131, 315 P. 3d 470, 478 -79 ( 2013). The very
ambiguity in the Commission' s order therefore defeats any claim that it imposed individual
liability on Cook. -Second; we must interpretthe Com nssion s intent from - hatit wtuallyd d;_-
- W
not just what it said. As noted, whatever language the Commission used about Cook' s liability,
it did not order any sanction on him in his individual capacity. Given this fact, it is difficult to
discern any intent on the Commission' s part to impose such individual liability. We read the
Commission' s order as properly limiting 'liability for the unfair labor practice to the City.
B. - The City' s Liability
The City next argues that the Commission erred by basing city liability on the showing
that Sutter' s union animus " influenced" Cook' s decision, claiming that this is incompatible with
16
No. 43641 -8 -II
the burden of proof required by Wilmot and similar cases. AR at 1396. The Commission
answers that it may find a causal link where the employer offers pretextual reasons for the
decision and notes that the examiner and the Commission found that the City did so here. We
agree that the Commission applied an improper burden of proof. We affirm nevertheless
because that error was harmless given the Commission' s findings, which show that the City
committed an unfair labor practice under the proper burden of proof
We turn first to the Commission' s argument that it could find an unfair labor practice
because Sutter offered pretextual reasons for selecting Davis over Martin. We agree that Sutter' s
offering of pretextual reasons for recommending Davis satisfies the Guild' s burden of showing
that Sutter' s animus caused, in part, Cook' s decision. See Sims v. MVM, Inc., 704 F. 3d 1327,
1336 -37 00th Cir. 2013). Sutter had no need to resort to pretext unless his true reason for the
recommendation was impermissible. See Shrager, 913 F.2d at 401.
However, the Guild' s and Commission' s use of subordinate liability injects new issues of
causation that the finding of pretext on Sutter' s part does not address. Cook made the ultimate
decision at issue, and We cannot infer ariftermissibTe motive on-his part for the-decision - -
because the finding of pretext related to Sutter, not Cook. As noted, the agency principles
underlying subordinate bias liability do not allow us to impute Sutter' s animus to Cook.
Therefore, we need to examine " the level of control a biased subordinate must exert over the
employment decision" in order to impose liability on the employer. BCI Coca -Cola Bottling
Co., 450 F. 3d at 486 -88. If Sutter' s recommendation had little or no effect on Cook' s ultimate
decision, either because Cook disregarded the recommendation or because he independently
reached his decision to deny Martin the position, we cannot say that Sutter' s animus caused
17
No. 43641 -8 -II
Cook' s decision, and the City is not liable for Sutter' s conduct. See Shrager, 913 F.2d at 405.
If, however, Sutter exercised the necessary control over the ultimate decision, the City bears
liability for a decision caused by his animas. BCI Coca -Cola Bottling Co., 450 F.3d at 486 -88.
Federal courts have determined that the necessary level of control varies based on the
5
language of the statutory provision proscribing the discriminatory act. See, e. g., Staub, 131 S.
Ct. at 1190 -91; Sims, 704 F.3d at 1334 -37; Simmons v. Sykes Enter., Inc., 647 F.3d 943, 949 -50
10th Cir. 2011); Lindsey v. Walgreen Co., 615 F.3d 873, 876 ( 7th Cir. 2010). Staub, for
example, addressed the requisite showing 'of control under the Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act, which specifically provided that "`[ a] n employer shall be
considered to have engaged in actions prohibited ... under subsection ( a), if the person' s
membership [ in the armed forces] ... is A motivating factor in the employer' s action. "' Staub,
131 S. Ct. at 1190 -91 ( quoting 38 U.S. C. § 4311( c)). The Supreme Court interpreted the phrase
is a motivating factor "' to mean that the employee must prove only that the subordinate' s
animus was a " causal factor" in the adverse employment decision, not necessarily a decisive
factor.---
Stau7; 131 5: Ct. at 1T91 = ( quot7rig 38 US C - -§
- 95 4311( c)): -- - --
RCW 41. 56. 140 does not prescribe any specific burden of proof for showing an unfair
labor practice. This is not unusual. Our'Supreme Court has previously addressed statutes that
forbid discrimination without prescribing the appropriate burden for proving a causal link
between protected activity and the adverse decision. See, e. g., Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 55, 70 -73.
In these cases the Supreme Court turned to public policy considerations to choose the
5
Admittedly, the federal courts have split over the requisite level of control, even when
interpreting the same statutory language. See BCI Coca -Cola Bottling Co., 450 F.3d at 486 -88
collecting cases and analyzing the issue).
M
No. 43641 -8 -H
complainant' s burden of proof from three different options: a liberal " to any degree" standard,
an intermediate " substantial factor" standard, and a stringent " but -
for" or " determinative factor"
standard. See Allison v. Hous. Auth. of Seattle, 118 Wn.2d 79, 85 -95, 821 P. 2d 34 ( 1991);
Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 69 -73. The Court selected the " substantial or important factor" as the
appropriate burden of proof for statutory discrimination cases. Allison, 118 Wn.2d at 85 -95;
Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 71 -73.
Unfair labor practice complaints filed under RCW 41. 56. 140 are statutory discrimination
cases, and Wilmot and Allison govern the burden of proof for such complaints. City of Federal
Way, 93 Wn. App. at 512 -13. Consequently, a complainant seeking to use the subordinate bias
theory of liability must show that the sub'ordinate' s animus was a substantial factor in the
decision resulting in the unfair labor practice. This recognizes that subordinate bias liability
cases are, essentially, cases with multiple causes: the subordinate' s animus and the decision
maker' s ultimate decision. The Allison Court noted that the substantial factor test is the
appropriate burden of proof where multiple actors might have caused the complainant' s injury.
118-Wn.2dat 93 = ( uoting Robert Belton, Causation iaEinpIoyineniDiscrimination Law -34-
94- q - ,
WAYNE L. REv. 1235, 1248 ( 1988)).
The Commission' s order merely required that an agent with animus " influence[]' an
adverse employment decision. AR at 1396. This standard appears equivalent to the rejected " to
any degree" standard because an agent with animus could influence the ultimate decision by
having a trivial, but not remotely important, effect on the decision maker' s choice. The standard
adopted by the Commission is thus incompatible with the burden of proof assigned to
19-
No. 43641 -8 -II
complainants seeking to prove a statutory discrimination case under Washington law. See
Allison, 118 Wn.2d at 94.
Further, the Commission appears to have compounded its initial, burden -lowering error
by requiring the employer to show that " the decision was made completely free from.the
recommendation of the subordinates who displayed union animus" to escape liability. AR at
1396. This is contrary to the " substantial motivating factor" test and reverses the burden of
proof. Under Washington law, the complainant always bears the burden of proving causation in
any tort-like action. Baldwin, 112 Wn.2d at 135. This remains true in statutory discrimination
cases, which are, at root, intentional tort claims. Baldwin, 112 Wn.2d at 133 -36; Shrager, 913
F.2d at 405. To place the burden of proving a lack of animus on the employer eliminates the
complainant' s burden of proving causation in contravention of the Wilmot framework. 118
Wn.2d at 68 ( citing Baldwin, 112 Wn.2d at 134).
However, we find the Commission' s error harmless. Under the APA judicial relief is
appropriate only if the " person seeking relief has been substantially prejudiced by the action
complained of:"- RCW-34. 05570( 1)( d). - 11ased once examiner's findingof-facf 27 which it -- - - -- -
adopted, the Commission stated:
the record clearly demonstrates that Cook relied upon the tainted recommendation
of Sutter when making his decision. Although Cook testified that he considered
selecting Davis over Martin, Schoene testified that Cook stated he simply counted
the votes of the members of the interview panel to make his final decision. The
Examiner found Schoene' s testimony credible.
AR at 1397. The use of " relied" in this finding means that the Commission found that Cook
depended on Sutter' s recommendation to make his selection. BLACK' S LAw DICTIONARY 1404
9th ed. 2009) ( " Reliance" means "[ d] epetidence or trust by a person, esp. when combined with
P
No. 43641 -8 -II
an action based on that dependence or trust. — rely, vb. ").
This is essentially a finding of but -
for
causation and necessarily satisfies the lesser burden of proving that Sutter' s recommendation was
a substantial factor in Cook' s decision to select Davis. See Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 71 -73
showing needed to prove impermissible motive was a substantial factor is a lesser showing than
the one needed to prove it was a but -
for cause of an adverse employment action). The City
6
suffered no prejudice from the error, and we affirm.
C. Notice
The City next argues that this case differs from Staub because Cook had no notice of
Sutter' s anti -union animus and therefore had no reason to perform an independent investigation.
The City also claims the Commission should not have found liability unless Cook knew, or
should have known, of Sutter' s animus based on Washington precedent. We disagree, because
notice to the decision maker was not a prerequisite to the holding in Staub, and, even if it were,
under both the case law and the record before us, the City had knowledge of the subordinate' s
animus
First, the City contends that the d'e'cisionmaker in Staub had notice of the discriminatory
intent of the supervisors recommending the employee' s termination. The City misreads Staub.
6
Amicus curiae quote language from the examiner' s opinion stating that the evidence " did not
tip the scales" toward a finding that Cook' s decision was based on union animus. Br. of Amicus
Curiae Wash. State Ass' n of Mun. Attorneys at 8. Other language in the examiner' s opinion .
states that Cook' s decision was " not substantially base[ d] ... on union animus." AR at 1228.
Amicus curiae and the City rely on this type of language to suggest Sutter' s tainted
recommendation was not a substantial factor in Cook' s decision. But both of these passages,
read in light of the examiner' s full decision, mean that Cook' s decision was not based
substantially on his own union animus. The examiner found that Cook " relied [ o] n" Sutter' s
recommendation, which was tainted by anion animus, in reaching his decision. AR at 1233. The
Commission adopted this finding. As discussed below, substantial evidence supports this finding
as meaning that Sutter' s recommendation was a substantial factor in Cook' s decision.
21
No. 43641 -8 -II
No notice to the decision maker of any subordinate animus before the decision to terminate the
employee appears in the Supreme Court' s recitation of the facts of Staub. See 131 S. Ct. at 1189.
Nor do any of the other subordinate bias liability cases make the decision maker' s awareness of
the supervisor' s bias determinative of liability. See, e. g., Shager, 913 F.2d 399 -400. We
consider the role of the decision maker only to see if he or she acted as a supervening cause of
the adverse action. If he or she makes an independent choice to take the adverse action
substantially free of the subordinate' s animus, this supersedes the subordinate' s tainted act as the
cause of the adverse employment action, and the employer is not liable for the supervisor' s
animus. Staub, 131 S. Ct. at 1193. Notice to the decision maker is irrelevant to this inquiry.
More importantly, the City' s argument invites an abuse which Staub warned against. If
an employer may avoid liability by insulating a decision maker from notice, " then the employer
will be effectively shielded from [liability for] discriminatory acts" done by its agents. Staub,
131 S. Ct. at 1193. RCW 41. 56. 140( 1) reflects the legislature' s intent to hold employers
accountable for unfair labor practices. Tle argument offered by the City allows public
emp 1 oyersto si estep t _
e pu ispo licy againstdiscriminationfor union activity liysimply -
creating some kind of notice " firewall" between a decision maker and others in the employer
entity. We decline to encourage the erection of this sort of firewall by conditioning subordinate
bias liability on notice to the decision maker. See Staub, 131 S. Ct. at 1193.
Turning next to whether the City had such notice, Sutter acted within the authority
delegated to him by the City. The City eilipowered him to supervise and make recommendations
about the assignments of its other employees. Where the subordinate with animus acts within his
or her delegated powers over other employees, we charge the employer principal with
22
No. 43641 -8 -II
constructive knowledge of the wrongful conduct to provide an incentive to prevent it. See
Shrager, 913 F.2d at 405.
In addition, the facts of this case s'u'ggest Cook had notice of concerns about anti -
union
animus affecting his decision. Schoene rioted that numerous people asked him, even before the
interviews, why the City bothered giving Martin an interview because he would not be selected
to the unit. Sutter alerted Cook to Schoenb' s concerns. When Schoen talked to him about the
selection process, Cook immediately, and Without prompting, declared that Martin' s union
activities had no effect on the decision. Cook' s statement shows his alertness to possible anti-
union animus in the decision making process. Thus, the City cannot avoid liability by claiming
that Cook, its decision maker, lacked notice of this animus.
D. Termination Versus the Denial of a Benefit
Finally, the City contends that Staub is inapplicable because the City denied Martin a
benefit rather than terminating him. We disagree, because adverse employment actions are not
confined to terminations, but also include loss of an ascertainable benefit.
TheCity failed to assign error to finding offact 6 making-itaverity onappeal The - - - _ --
finding states that the motorcycle unit assignment, although not accompanied by a " pay
premium," did carry certain benefits. Ali at 1230. These include, among others, serving as a
positive factor in promotional decisions, desirable shifts, and providing the possibility of
overtime. The City may not argue that Martin suffered no harm because of the denial of the
transfer. He lost the benefits the transfer would have given him.
RCW 41. 56. 140 embodies a legislative choice to protect workers from " retaliatory
action" for " exercis[ ing] their rights to engage in protected collective bargaining activity." City
23
No. 43641 -8 -II
of Federal Way, 93 Wn. App. at 513. Retaliatory action encompasses the infliction of injury
more subtle than termination. See, e. g., Francom v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 98 Wn. App. 845,
851, 861 -63, 991 P. 2d 1182 ( 2000) ( applying the Wilmot framework to analyze claims asserting
the worker received less desirable work shifts in retaliation for asserting statutory rights). The
Commission' s application of Wilmot recognizes this, requiring the complainant to show that the
employer deprived the employee of "some ascertainable right, benefit, or status."
See, e.g.,
Wash. Fed' n of State Amps. v. Univ. of Wash., No. 23649 -U -10 -6033, 2013 WL 1796444, at * 2-
6 ( Wash. Pub. Emp' t Relations Comm' n, Apr. 23, 2013) ( finding an adverse employment
decision based on a discipline letter, which could lead to consequences other than termination).
Because the legislature has charged the Commission with " administering [ the] special
field of law" of unfair labor practices, and has " endowed [ it] with quasi-judicial functions," it has
substantial expertise in the area, and weive substantial deference to its determination that unfair
practices include adverse events other than termination. Safeco Ins. Cos. v. Meyering, 102
Wn.2d 385, 391, 687 P. 2d 195 ( 1984); see City of Vancouver, 107 Wn. App. at 703. Martin' s
Imo the benefits conferred byselection othe motorcycle unit waspunishment forunion
activities, just as any termination would have been. We see no reason to disagree with the
Commission' s conclusion to this effect.
III. THE COMMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE IN RULE MAKING WITH ITS ORDER
The City next contends that the Commission' s decision creates a new rule by subjecting
supervisors in their individual capacity, rather than the employer itself, to liability for an unfair
labor practice. Because the Commission' s order did not hold Cook personally liable, it did not
constitute rule making.
FM
No. 43641 -8 -II
The APA sets out certain requirements for rule making. See RCW 34.05. 310 -.395. An
agency' s failure to comply with these procedures in enacting a rule requires invalidation of the
rule. Failor' s Pharm. v. Dep' t of Soc. & Health Servs., 125 Wn.2d 488, 497, 886 P. 2d 147
1994); RCW 34. 05. 570( 2)( c). But, as the Supreme Court has noted, " it is axiomatic that `[ f]or
rule making procedures to apply, an agency action or inaction must fall into the APA definition
of a rule."' Budget Rent -a -Car Corp. v. Dep' t ofLicensing, 144 Wn.2d 889, 895, 31 P.3d 1174
2001) ( quoting Failor' s Pharm., 125 Wn.2d at 493).
The APA defines both rules, the products of agency rule making, and orders, the products
of adjudicatory proceedings. A rule is
any agency order, directive, or regulation of general applicability (a) the violation
of which subjects a person to a penalty or administrative sanction; ( b) which
establishes, alters, or revokes any procedure, practice, or requirement relating to
agency hearings; ( c) which establishes, alters, or revokes any qualification or
requirement relating to the enjoyment of benefits or privileges conferred by law;
d) which establishes, alters, or 'revokes any qualifications or standards for the
issuance, suspension, or revocation of licenses to pursue any commercial activity,
trade, or profession, or ( e) which establishes, alters, or revokes any mandatory
standards for any product or material which must be met before distribution or
sale.
RCW 34. 05. 010( 16). An order, on the other hand, is " a written statement of particular
applicability that finally determines the legal rights, duties, privileges, immunities, or other legal
interests of a specific person or persons." kCW 34.05. 010( 11)( a).
At oral argument the City conceded that, absent the imposition of individual liability on
Cook, the Commission did not circumvent the rule making requirements of the APA. Wash.
Court of Appeals, City of Vancouver v. State of Wash. Pub. Emp' t Relations Comm' n, No.
43641 -8, oral argument ( Dec. 6, 2013), at 4 min., 5 sec. ( on file with court). Under the APA
definitions immediately above, the City' s concession is well offered. As discussed above, we do
25
No. 43641 -8 -II
not believe that the Commission' s order subjects Cook to individual liability or creates a rule
doing so. Instead, the Commission' s order is an exercise of the Commission' s quasi-judicial
power focusing on the Guild' s proof of a causal link between Sutter' s animus and the denial of
the motorcycle position to Martin.
IV. SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCP-SUPPORTS THE COMMISSION' S FINDINGS
Finally, the City also assigns error to three findings made by the examiner and adopted by
the Commission, claiming that they lack evidentiary support. We disagree.
A. Finding of Fact 22 Is Supported .b'y Substantial Evidence As Is Necessary to Affirm the
Commission' s Order
The City first assigns error to finding of fact 22, which reads,
t] he employer asserted that it did not select Martin for the motors officer position
because of the amount of leave time he used. The inclusion of union leave in
consideration, as well as the fact that the panel' s unanimous choice used more
leave than any candidate, lend[ s] Itself to a conclusion that the employer' s stated
reason was pretextual.
AR at 1232.
The City argues that the examiner erred in finding that the selection panel considered
Martin' s union leave. It contends that uncontroverted testimony from Sutter and Cook
demonstrates that Martin' s union leave was not considered.
Initially, we note that the City, although generally assigning error to finding of fact 22,
does not argue that the examiner erred by finding that the selection of Neill, despite his use of
more leave than Martin, led to a conclusion the leave issue was pretextual. This portion of the
finding is therefore a verity on appeal. Although we find that a portion of finding of fact 22 is
not supported by substantial evidence, as discussed below, we sustain the finding of pretext on
the unchallenged portion, which is a verity on appeal.
No. 43641 -8 -II
We also note that the examiner found Sutter lacked credibility. The examiner' s written
opinion determined that " Sutter' s memory and account of events are unreliable and contradictory
to the testimony of other witnesses." AR at 1226. We defer to this credibility determination.
Nonetheless, we hold that substantial evidence does not support the challenged portion of
finding of fact 22. The only evidence that Indicates the panel considered the Guild leave was its
inclusion into exhibit 27. No evidence from Foster or Schoene stated that they considered the
other" leave column, and Sutter explicitly denied doing so. While we must discount Sutter' s
statement somewhat given the examiner' s finding that he lacked credibility, Cook was adamant
that Martin' s Guild leave was not factored into consideration. Given the absence of anyone
stating they considered Guild leave, the fact that it was included in the interview packet does not
rise to the level of substantial evidence.
B. Substantial Evidence Supports Fii - ing of Fact 24
The City next argues that the evidence does not support finding of fact 24, which
provides:
Sutte- -asserted that hisonlyconcetn -
r with- se ecting artin to-
the motors position
was his leave use. However, Sutter testified that he wanted someone for the
position who shared the Chief' s " Sutter' s statement suggests that by
vision."
looking for someone who shared the Chief' s vision, he wanted someone who did
not make statements or engage in activities in opposition to the Chief, as Martin
did in his capacity as union president.
AR at 1232 -33.
The City argues that Sutter' s comment was an " isolated statement" that cannot give rise
to an inference that his recommendation of Davis was pretextual. Br. of Appellant at 43.
Specifically, the City contends that Sutter did not direct his statement about supporting the police
27
No. 43641 -8 -II
chief' s vision at Martin and that the comment therefore cannot provide evidence of anti -union
animus.
We have, on at least two occasions, held that an offhand comment not directed at the
complainant does not suffice to show an employer took discriminatory action. Scrivener v. Clark
Coll., 176 Wn. App. 405, 414 -16, 309 P. 3d 613 ( 2013), review granted, 316 P. 3d 495 ( 2014);
Kirby v. City of Tacoma, 124 Wn. App. 454, 467 n. 10, 98 P. 3d 827 ( 2004). However, the City' s
argument cannot survive a review of the record. The comment at issue came in the context of
Schoene' s summary of why Martin' s skills made him the most qualified for a position in the
unit. While Sutter did not utter Martin' s name when stating that the best fit for the unit would be
someone supportive of the police chief' s vision, the other panel members viewed the statement
as a specific reference to Martin. Schoene immediately answered that he understood that Martin
had difficulties with upper management, abut, at his level in the department, Martin had always
seemed supportive of the chief' s vision. Sutter did not reply that Schoene misunderstood him,
indicating that Schoene correctly understood the comment targeted at Martin. In context, this
was not an o an - comment.
The City also argues that the examiner disregarded Sutter' s explanation of his comment
on cross -examination, which was that he meant that Martin' s absences would undercut the
presence in the community the police chief envisioned for the unit. The examiner can refuse to
credit testimony, and we will not upset these determinations. Thomas, 176 Wn. App. at 813. As
discussed above, the examiner found Sutter lacked credibility, so the examiner could refuse to
consider Sutter' s explanation as truthful. Further, Sutter did not offer this explanation to correct
Schoene at the time, offering it only at trial, which allowed the examiner to conclude the
No. 43641 -8 -H
explanation was pretextual and unworthy of credence. Emmel v. Coca -Cola Bottling Co. of
Chicago, 95 F. 3d 627, 634 ( 7th Cir. 1996) ,(the fact finder may determine an explanation is
pretextual when offered only at trial despite earlier opportunities to do so).
The record contains evidence of the numerous ways Martin, as Guild president, used the
CBA to block Cook' s realization of his vision for the department. One of Martin' s invocations
of the CBA to impede Cook' s reforms to the department occurred contemporaneously with the
panel' s interviews. See Wilmot, 118 Wn.2d at 69 ( temporal proximity between event and alleged
retaliatory action important in establishing pretext). Given these activities, their timing, and
Sutter' s awareness of them, substantial evidence supported the examiner' s finding that Sutter' s
statement betrayed his animus towards Martin for Martin' s protected activities and that his
concerns about Martin' s leave use were pretextual.
C. Substantial Evidence Supports Finding of Fact 27
Finally, the City assigns error to fending of fact 27, which reads, " Although Cook' s
decision not to select Martin was not substantially based on union animus, he relied in making
that decision on a tainted recommendati6h rom utter." AR at 1233.
The City, although assigning error to this finding, makes no argument as to why the
finding is erroneous. We decline to " consider assignments of error unsupported by argument or
authority." Nelson v. Dep' t of Labor & Iyidus., 175 Wn. App. 718, 728, 308 P.3d 686 ( 2013).
Even if we were to reach the merits of the City' s argument, substantial supporting evidence
exists in the record. Schoene testified about his meeting with Cook and stated that Cook had
described how he made the decision by simply counting votes. Cook himself acknowledged the
29
No. 43641 -8 -II
meeting and stated that he discussed his decision making process with Schoene while they
talked. We affirm the finding.
V. ATTORNEY FEES
The City and the Guild both request attorney fees. Both make this request in the final
sentence of their conclusion sections. Neither the City nor the Guild provides argument or
citation to authority showing their entitlement to attorney fees. Because they fail to comply with
the requirements of RAP 18. 1, we reject their " bald request[ s] for attorney fees on appeal."
Wilson Court Ltd. P' ship v. Tony Maroni' s, Inc., 134 Wn.2d 692, 710 n.4, 952 P.2d 590 ( 1998).
CONCLUSION
Although we find the Commission applied an erroneous burden of proof, we find the
error harmless and affirm its decision that the City committed an unfair labor practice by denying
Martin the position in the motorcycle unit. We affirm the Commission' s order requiring the City
to remedy its unfair labor practices by offering Martin a position in that unit as well as taking
other measures.
ag.
BJrr iGEN, 14
We concur: F: r
JbHANSON, A.C. J.
MAXA, J.
J,
30