Don McDaniels v. Mobil Oil Corporation

MEMORANDUM

In this state employment discrimination case, before us for the third time, Plaintiff Don McDaniels appeals the district court’s order granting Defendant Mobil Oil Corporation’s (“Mobil”) Rule 50 motion for judgment as a matter of law with respect to McDaniels’ claim of retaliatory discharge. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 50. We review the district court’s order de novo, Summers v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 508 F.3d 923, 926 (9th Cir.2007), and may affirm on any ground supported by the record, City Solutions, Inc. v. Clear Channel Commc’ns, Inc., 365 F.3d 835 , 842 (9th Cir.2004). We affirm.

1. The district court erred in concluding that McDaniels failed to establish a prima facie case of retaliation. Retaliatory discharge claims brought under California common law are analyzed under the burden shifting framework of McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 , 93 S.Ct. 1817 , 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973). See Yanowitz v. L’Oreal USA, Inc., 36 Cal.4th 1028, 1042 , 32 Cal.Rptr.3d 436 , 116 P.3d 1123 (2005); see also Loggins v. Kaiser Permanente Int% 151 Cal.App.4th 1102, 1108-09 , 60 Cal.Rptr.3d 45 (2007). To establish a prima facie case of retaliation under that framework, McDaniels was…