Baptiste
Baptiste v. LIDS
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Hamilton, J.
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Defendants’ motions for summary judgment came on for hearing before this court on December 11, 2013. Plaintiff Christian Ruiz Baptiste appeared by his counsel Derek C. Decker; defendants Genesco, Inc. (“Genesco”), and Hat World, Inc. (“Hat World”), appeared by their counsel Eric Meckley; and defendant Michael So-moon (“Somoon”) appeared by his counsel Daniel A. Croley. Having read the parties’ papers and carefully considered their arguments and the relevant legal authority, the court hereby GRANTS the motions as follows.
*936 BACKGROUND
Plaintiff is a dark-skinned United States citizen of Puerto Rican and Haitian ancestry. He was employed by Hat World at a LIDS store in San Francisco. 1 Plaintiffs employment with Hat World began on November 25, 2007, when he was hired as a part-time Sales Associate at store number 5968 located on Market Street in San Francisco, California (“the Market Street Store”). Deposition of Christian Ruiz Baptiste (“Baptiste Depo.”), 52-55, Exh. 1; Declaration of Carrie Baird (“Baird Deck”) ¶ 2.
The then-Store Manager, Paul Pamat-mat, considered plaintiff to be a “very responsible and trustworthy…