Trent
Trent v. Valley Electric Ass'n, Inc.
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Pregerson, J.
Victoria Trent appeals the district court’s grant of partial summary judgment in favor of defendants on her retaliatory discharge claim under § 704 of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a) (1981). We reverse and remand.
BACKGROUND
On February 8, 1988, the Valley Electric Association (“VEA”), a rural public utility company, hired Victoria Trent to read residential electric meters. On July 20, 1988, she attended a mandatory safety meeting. VEA hired Ruralite Services, Inc. to conduct the meeting. During his presentation, the instructor from Ruralite used foul language and made a series of sexually offensive references. These included a description of the sexual experiences of linemen at a Nevada brothel. Trent was the only woman present at the lecture.
Trent complained about the offensive remarks to Richard Burasco, VEA’s office manager. On August 19, 1988, Burasco asked Trent to put her complaint in writing. She submitted a written report to Ross Doh-len, VEA’s general manager and later spoke with him about the safety meeting incident. When Trent remarked she “was not one of the boys,” Dohlen replied that “for some purposes” she was. On August 31, 1988,…