Marshall Johnson v. Lockheed Martin

MEMORANDUM

Marshall Johnson appeals from the district court’s summary judgment in his employment action alleging racial discrimination in violation of federal and state law. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo, Hawn v. Exec. Jet Mgmt., Inc., 615 F.3d 1151, 1155 (9th Cir.2010), and we affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Johnson’s racial discrimination claims under Title VII and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) because Johnson failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether defendant’s legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for his layoff were pretextual. See Vasquez v. County of Los Angeles, 349 F.3d 634 , 640-42 & n. 5 (9th Cir.2003) (discussing elements of a discrimination claim under Title VII and explaining that circumstantial evidence of pretext must be specific and substantial); see also Metoyer v. Chassman, 504 F.3d 919, 941 (9th Cir.2007) (“California courts apply the Title VII framework to claims brought under FEHA.”).

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Johnson’s claim that he was wrongfully terminated in violation of public policy because Johnson failed to…