Debra Johnson v. City of Oakland, California

MEMORANDUM

Appellant Debra Taylor Johnson appeals the district court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of Appellee, the City of Oakland (“City”), in her employment action alleging racial and gender discrimination in violation of Title VII. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo, Vasquez v. Cnty. of L.A., 349 F.3d 634, 639 (9th Cir.2003), and affirm.

The district court determined that Johnson established a prima facie case of discrimination and properly granted summary judgment because Johnson failed to meet her burden of establishing that the City’s decision denying her request for retroactive salary and cost of living allowance (“COLA”) increases was a pretext for discrimination. The City articulated a “legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason,” McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802 , 93 S.Ct. 1817 , 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973), for denying Johnson’s request, viz., her position was established at a flat-rate salary by City Council ordinance and was not eligible for salary increases, and Johnson had already received COLA increases that were approved by the City Council. Johnson has not persuaded us that a “discriminatory reason more likely…