Lales v. Wholesale Motors Company
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
*** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Electronically Filed Supreme Court SCWC-28516 13-FEB-2014 09:28 AM IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I ---o0o--- GERARD R. LALES, Respondent/Plaintiff-Appellant, vs. WHOLESALE MOTORS COMPANY, dba JN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, JOHNNY MARTINEZ, and GARY MARXEN, SR., Petitioners/Defendants-Appellees. SCWC-28516 CERTIORARI TO THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS (ICA NO. 28516; CV. NO. 03-1-2415) FEBRUARY 13, 2014 RECKTENWALD, C.J., NAKAYAMA, AND McKENNA, JJ., CIRCUIT JUDGE BROWNING, ASSIGNED IN PLACE OF POLLACK, J., RECUSED, WITH ACOBA, J., CONCURRING AND DISSENTING SEPARATELY OPINION OF THE COURT BY RECKTENWALD, C.J. Gerard R. Lales filed a civil complaint against his former employer and supervisors for discriminatory conduct he *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** allegedly suffered while employed as a car salesman.1 Lales alleged that he was subjected to derogatory comments about his French national origin, and that he was terminated because he complained about the discriminatory conduct. Lales alleged state harassment and retaliation claims, federal harassment and retaliation claims, unlawful termination as against public policy, and breach of his employment contract. were alleged against each of the Defendants. All of the claims Defendants asserted that Lales was not discriminated against during his employment, and that he was terminated because he lied to a customer. The circuit court granted summary judgment in favor of Defendants. On appeal, the Intermediate Court of Appeals vacated in part and affirmed in part, and remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings. Lales v. Wholesale Motors Co., No. 28516, 2012 WL 1624013 (Haw. App. May 9, 2012). Specifically, the ICA vacated the circuit court s grant of summary judgment in favor of the employer and one of Lales s supervisors on the state harassment and retaliation claims, and vacated the grant of summary judgment in favor of the employer on the federal harassment and retaliation claims, as well as the public policy 1 Lales was formerly employed by Wholesale Motors Company, dba JN Automotive Group (JN), and his former supervisors were Johnny Martinez and Gary Marxen, Sr. The employer and supervisors are referred to collectively as Defendants. -2- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** claim. The ICA affirmed the circuit court s grant of summary judgment on the remaining causes of action.2 As set forth below, we affirm in part and vacate in part the judgment of the ICA. Specifically, we conclude that individual employees are not liable as employers under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2). Accordingly, we vacate the ICA s judgment on COAs 1 and 2, with respect to supervisor Marxen, and affirm the circuit court s grant of summary judgment in favor of Marxen on those causes of action. We affirm the ICA s judgment with respect to the remaining causes of action. Specifically, with regard to the federal harassment claim against JN, we conclude that the affirmative defense set forth in Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998), does not support summary judgment because there remain issues of material fact as to whether JN s actions culminated in Lales s termination. We also take this opportunity to clarify that the Faragher affirmative defense is not applicable under Hawaii s anti-discrimination laws because the administrative rules of the Hawai#i Civil Rights Commission hold employers strictly liable for the discriminatory conduct of their agents and supervisory employees. Finally, we conclude that there were genuine issues of material fact regarding whether JN s proffered reasons for Lales s termination were pretextual, that 2 As discussed infra note 9, the ICA s affirmance on these causes of action has not been challenged. Accordingly, we do not address them. -3- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Lales produced sufficient evidence to raise genuine issues of material fact as to his state and federal harassment and retaliation claims, and that the basis for Lales s public policy claim is not clear from the record. I. Background The following factual background is taken from the record on appeal. A. Discrimination Complaints Lales filed a discrimination complaint against his employer, JN, and his supervisor, Marxen, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In a declaration attached to his complaint, Lales alleged that he was employed as a salesperson with JN Chevrolet from July 18, 2001, until June 23, 2002. During that time, Lales alleged that he was subject to derogatory remarks based on his French national origin by his supervisor Marxen, other supervisors, and co-workers. example, Lales alleged the following: Gary Marxen, the General Sales Manager, called me Frenchy[], and he wanted that name on my business card. I protested, however I was called Frenchy on a daily basis by Gary Marxen, other supervisors and co-workers. Gary Marxen frequently referred to me as a french bastard , and told me to go back to my country because America does not need French people. . . . Gary Marxen told Johnny Martinez, a salesperson who started at about the same time I did, to go and kick the ass of that French bastard. Johnny Martinez repeatedly harassed me by calling me Frenchy and telling me that the French are useless bastards . I complained about Johnny Martinez derogatory remarks and threats. Johnny Martinez was promoted to Sales Manager in approximately November, 2001. Despite my complaints -4- For *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** about his discrimination and harassment I was transferred to his sales team. I told Gary Marxen that I opposed this transfer. He responded by saying, fuck you, you French mother fucker, then you are fired. I did not want to lose my job so I remained on Johnny Martinez sales team. While on his sales team Johnny Martinez continued to harass me and discriminate against me. I protested the discrimination and harassment and months later was allowed to transfer to Carlton Hill s team. On April 2, 2002 Johnny Martinez threatened my [sic] me. At the time of this threat Johnny Martinez had just returned from a suspension for threatening an electrician who worked on property. He was again suspended for threatening me. In late May, Johnny Martinez again threatened me. I told Gary Marxen and Johnny Martinez that I was going to contact my lawyer. After I threatened to contact a lawyer, Johnny Martinez was terminated. Shortly after Johnny Martinez [s] termination I was transferred to Joey Dempsey s sales team. Joey Dempsey was a friend of Johnny Martinez. On my first day on his team Joey Dempsey told me that he was going to get me fired. I was terminated about 3 days later. I was terminated on June 23, 2002. The EEOC issued a determination as to the merits of the subject charge (EEOC Determination). The EEOC determined that it was unable to conclude that Lales was discharged in retaliation for opposing discrimination in the workplace, but that there [was] reasonable cause to believe that [JN] discriminated against [Lales] because of his national origin. The EEOC also transmitted the complaint to the HCRC. The HCRC subsequently issued Lales a Notice of Dismissal and Right to Sue letter (Right to Sue Letter). The Right to Sue Letter informed Lales of his right to file a private lawsuit against the Respondent in the State [c]ircuit [c]ourt[.] -5- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** B. Circuit Court Proceedings Lales filed a civil complaint in the circuit court against Defendants. He subsequently filed an amended complaint, asserting six causes of action (COA) against Defendants: (1) discriminatory acts in violation of Hawai#i Revised Statutes (HRS) chapter 378 (COA 1 or state harassment claim); (2) retaliatory discharge in violation of HRS chapter 378 because Lales filed a discrimination complaint (COA 2 or state retaliation claim); (3) breach of the employment contract (COA 3 or employment contract claim); (4) unlawful termination as against public policy (COA 4 or public policy claim); (5) discriminatory acts in violation of section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-23 (COA 5 or federal harassment claim); and (6) retaliatory discharge for opposing Defendants harassment in violation of 3 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1) provides: (a) Employer practices It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer -(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin[.] -6- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** section 704(a) of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a)4 (COA 6 or federal retaliation claim). 1. Marxen s motion for summary judgment Marxen filed a motion for summary judgment and argued, inter alia, that Lales did not obtain a Right to Sue Letter against Marxen.5 Marxen asserted that the EEOC Determination and the Right to Sue Letter did not mention or refer to Marxen as a party, nor did Marxen receive notice that he was a party to the complaint. In the alternative and citing Maizner v. State of Hawai#i Department of Education, 405 F. Supp. 2d 1225 (D. Haw. 2005), Marxen asserted that HRS chapter 378 precluded Lales from filing suit against individuals. 4 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a) provides: (a) Discrimination for making charges, testifying, assisting, or participating in enforcement proceedings It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against any of his employees or applicants for employment, for an employment agency, or joint labor-management committee controlling apprenticeship or other training or retraining, including on-the-job training programs, to discriminate against any individual, or for a labor organization to discriminate against any member thereof or applicant for membership, because he has opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice by this subchapter, or because he has made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this subchapter. 5 Martinez also filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Lales failed to exhaust his administrative remedies by not obtaining a Right to Sue Letter against Martinez. The circuit court granted summary judgment in favor of Martinez, and this ruling was not challenged on appeal or on certiorari. -7- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Attached to Marxen s motion for summary judgment was his declaration, in which he stated, inter alia, that he was JN s General Car Sales Manager and that his duties included hiring and firing of sales personnel, evaluation of sales personnel and managing sales personnel. Marxen stated that Lales was not subject to discrimination or retaliation based on national origin, Lales was transferred from Martinez s sales team because of a personality conflict, and Lales had not submitted any written complaints or made any oral complaints alleging discrimination or harassment. Marxen further stated that Lales referred to himself as Frenchy, and asked and encouraged others to do the same. 8. 9. 10. Marxen also stated the following: [] Lales received his termination notice on June 23, 2002 for missing a mandatory sales meeting and lack of production in sales. Thereafter, [] Lales approached me and pleaded to keep his employment promising he could improve his sales figure. Based upon his representations, I withdrew the termination notice. [] Lales sold a vehicle to [customers] that did not have air conditioning but [] Lales represented to the [customers] that the vehicle did come with air conditioning. On June 24, 2002, [] Lales [s] termination was reinstated after an investigation revealed that [] Lales was told the vehicle he sold did not have air conditioning but he misrepresented to the customers that it did. The termination notice was changed to reflect the June 24, 2002 termination date and reason for termination as lying to a customer. Various exhibits were also attached to Marxen s motion for summary judgment. Attached as Exhibit D was Lales s Response to Defendants Request for Admissions, in which Lales admitted that, while employed by JN, he used the nickname Frenchy when -8- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** referring to himself, referred to himself as Frenchy in written documents, and he did not submit any written complaints of discrimination or harassment by co-workers or management based upon his national origin. Attached as Exhibit E to Marxen s motion for summary judgment was a copy of the Termination Report dated June 23, 2002, in which Lales was dismissed from the company for missed training meeting - 6/17/02 and lack of production. Attached as Exhibit F was a copy of the June 23, 2002 Termination Report that had been subsequently re-dated June 24, 2002, and that had additional comments: lied to customer and the Used Car Manager[] causing us to install air conditioning[.] Lales filed a memorandum in opposition to Marxen s motion. Lales conceded that Marxen could not be held individually liable under Title VII, but that pursuant to HRS §§ 378-1 and 378-2 and Hawai#i case law, he was allowed to file discrimination and retaliation complaints against Marxen individually. Attached to the memorandum in opposition was Lales s declaration, in which he stated, inter alia: 5. 6. . . . Marxen referred to me as fucking French bastard, Frenchie, made derogatory remarks about French people, told . . . Martinez to beat my fucken French ass, and made remarks about French people. I was also subjected to ancestry harassment by [] Martinez and other employees at my workplace . . . . During my work at [JN], someone placed feces on my car, for which a police report was made. [] Martinez was my immediate supervisor and referred to me as French fries, Pepe Le Pieu, I was told that I stink, that French -9- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** women are just whores, French are whimps [sic] and other derogatory remarks. I asked to be transferred because of [] Martinez s behavior towards me which included threats. . . . . 10. I was told I could participate in [a] radio show, however, this was stopped by [] Marxen who said he did not want my French accent on the radio to sell American cars. . . . . 12. I was terminated for false reasons, specifically that I did not sell enough vehicles. This is untrue. The sales statistics show that I did not have the lowest sales at the time of my termination. 13. I was not told I was terminated for selling a truck which did not contain air conditioning to a customer. I did not see the termination notice . . . and did not sign that notice. I deny that I told the customer the truck had air conditioning. 14. I was told I was terminated for not attending a meeting. However, I was not aware of a sales meeting and did not recall receiving notice concerning this meeting. I have not known anybody to be terminated for not attending a sales meeting. 15. Before I was terminated, I complained orally to [] Marxen that I did not appreciate the remarks made concerning my ancestry. I also complained to my co-workers and others. I even sought advice from an attorney . . . about the hostile work environment and anti-discrimination on the basis of ancestry. The circuit court subsequently granted summary judgment in favor of Marxen. The circuit court stated that, with regard to the federal discrimination and retaliation claims (COAs 5 and 6), Lales conceded that suit against individuals was impermissible. As to COAs 1-4, the circuit court determined that Lales did not receive a Right to Sue Letter against Marxen because Marxen was not mentioned in the HCRC s right to sue letter. -10- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** 2. JN s motion for summary judgment JN also filed a motion for summary judgment. JN argued that it was entitled to summary judgment on Lales s retaliation claims (COAs 2 and 6) because there was a strong inference that JN had no discriminatory motive, and Lales could not produce any evidence that he was engaged in a protected activity.6 JN also argued that it was entitled to summary judgment on Lales s discrimination claims (COAs 1 and 5) because Lales failed to provide evidence that he was subjected to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct based on his national origin, Lales did not follow JN s procedure for filing harassment complaints, and there was no evidence that Lales suffered any injury because of the alleged discriminatory actions. Finally, JN asserted that it was entitled to summary judgment on Lales s breach of contract claim (COA 3) because it had no knowledge of the alleged discriminatory conduct. Although JN requested summary judgment as to all COAs, it did not provide any arguments to support summary judgment on the public policy claim (COA 4). 6 As explained further infra, Title VII and HRS § 378-2 protect an employee from discriminatory retaliation. As this court noted in Schefke v. Reliable Collection Agency, 96 Hawai#i 408, 425-26, 32 P.3d 52, 69-70 (2001), retaliation claims are subject to a burden shifting analysis, in which: (1) the plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case of retaliation by showing that (a) he or she was engaged in a protected activity, (b) his or her employer subjected the employee to an adverse employment action; and (c) a causal link existed between the protected activity and the adverse action; (2) the burden then shifts to the defendant to articulate a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for its decision; and (3) the burden then shifts back to the plaintiff to demonstrate that the defendant s offered reason for its action was pretext for a discriminatory motive. -11- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** JN attached to its motion for summary judgment the declarations of several of its employees and numerous exhibits. The declarations and exhibits set forth a version of the work environment and the events that led to Lales s termination that differed from the facts set forth in Lales s declaration. Several individuals declared that Lales introduced himself, and requested that he be called, by the nickname Frenchy. Marxen s son, the Used Vehicle Manager for JN, declared that he specifically asked Lales, before Lales sold the truck to the couple, whether Lales had informed the couple that the truck did not have air conditioning. Lales responded that he told the customers that the truck did not come with air conditioning. According to the declarations of Marxen, two Assistant Sales Managers, and the deposition of the husband, the couple returned the day following their purchase and demanded that JN provide air conditioning based on Lales s assurances. Attached as Exhibit Q to JN s motion for summary judgment was Lales s amended response to the request for admissions, wherein Lales admitted that, while employed by JN, he did not submit any written complaints to JN regarding people calling him Frenchy instead of Alex or Gerard, and he requested to be transferred to another sales team because he had a personality conflict with Martinez. -12- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Lales filed a memorandum in opposition to JN s motion for summary judgment. Lales argued that he established a prima facie case of retaliatory termination and that he raised facts that supported an inference that JN s proffered reason for his termination was pretext. Lales also asserted that summary judgment was not warranted because he presented material issues of fact in regard to his claim of harassment. Specifically, Lales pointed to his own declaration, in which he asserted that he was subjected to derogatory remarks and slurs about his French ancestry and national origin by JN employees. In addition, Lales argued that he presented material issues of fact that he suffered damages and that he should be awarded punitive damages for JN s egregious [and] outrageous conduct. Lales did not contest the dismissal of the breach of contract claim against JN. Attached to Lales s opposition was his declaration, which relayed facts substantially similar to those in the declaration he submitted in opposition to Marxen s motion for summary judgment. In addition, Lales declared: In late May 2003,[7] I verbally complained to [] Marxen about the harassment and [] Martinez 19. [] Marxen told me You Fucking French Bastard, get out of my office . He told [] Martinez to beat his F****** French Ass . . . . . 24. On June 23, 2006, within a month after I complained to [] Marxen, I was terminated for false reasons, specifically that I did not sell 18. 7 Lales was terminated in 2002; his reference to verbally complaining to Marxen in 2003 and subsequent references to his termination in 2006 appear to be incorrect. -13- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** 25. 26. enough vehicles by [] Marxen. This is untrue. The sales statistics show that I did not have the lowest sales at the time of my termination. I was told I was terminated for not attending a meeting. However, I was not aware of a sales meeting and did not recall receiving notice concerning this meeting. I have not known anybody to be terminated for not attending a sales meeting. After questioning these reasons, [] Marxen changed his mind and allowed me to continue to work. On June 24, 2006, I was terminated and told to leave for selling a Truck without air conditioning in it. This reason is false. I did not see nor sign the termination notice dated June 24, 2006. I deny that I told the customer the truck had air conditioning. The sales agreement does not list that the Truck had air conditioning. The Blue Book document given to [the customer] show the Truck was sold as is , without air conditioning. Other employees told [the customer] that the Truck had air conditioning in it and were not fired. Lales also attached numerous exhibits to his opposition to JN s motion for summary judgment. excerpts from Lales s deposition. Attached as Exhibit 11 were Lales stated that he complained to Marxen approximately one month before he was terminated that he was really tired of Martinez s behavior toward him, specifically, the way he treated me, the way he would almost on a daily basis threaten me physically to go to the boneyard and retaliating against me on a daily basis. following conversation occurred: Q. A. Q. A. What did Martinez do to retaliate against you? To retaliate against me, Martinez would - the only way Martinez could pick on me was the way I was different. I was different in the bunch. I mean, I was a different person. I mean, I m French, and I was different. So he couldn t pick on me at my work, my attendance, so he would pick on me the way I am. I m French. Is there anything else you told [] Martinez? Oh, I told [] Marxen that all this Frenchy thing already, I was just . . . fed up with it. It -14- The *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. had to stop. And not only that, [] Marxen didn t only tolerate this abuse, daily abuse to me, he encouraged it. And you told [] Marxen that? I did. Is there anything else you told [] Marxen? Yes. I don t recall at this time right now, but we had a good 20 minutes. Martinez was present. [] Martinez was present? Yes, he was. Okay. And what did [] Martinez say? [] Martinez said you French bastard, F-you, Fyou, F-you, F-you. And . . . Marxen told [] Martinez to kick this French bastard ass. At the meeting? Yeah, at that meeting one month before I got retaliated[.] In his deposition, Lales also discussed working on Martinez s sales team, and then stated that Paul Tucker, the desk manager, transferred Lales to another team after Lales complained about Martinez. Lales stated that he told Tucker that Martinez was discriminating against him, harassing him, and physically threatening him. The circuit court granted JN s motion and subsequently entered its Final Judgment. The circuit court subsequently filed an Amended Final Judgment, entering judgment in favor of Defendants and against Lales on all of Lales s COAs. Lales appealed the Amended Final Judgment. C. ICA Appeal Lales s Opening Brief raised five points of error, three of which are relevant to his application. Lales argued that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Marxen because Lales had a Right to Sue Letter that allowed him to file suit against Marxen for his discriminatory -15- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** actions. Lales also contended that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of JN because the circuit court: (1) viewed the evidence in the light most favorable to JN, contrary to the legal standard of viewing evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party; (2) erroneously ruled that when the same actor is both responsible for hiring and firing of an employee, a strong inference arises that there was no discriminatory motive ; and (3) erroneously applied the affirmative defense set forth in Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998), to Lales s state harassment claim. Specifically, Lales, citing HAR § 12-46-175, asserted that JN was strictly liable for the discriminatory actions of its supervisory employees. In their Answering Brief, Defendants argued that the circuit court properly granted summary judgment in favor of Marxen because Marxen s name was not contained in the HCRC s Right to Sue Letter. With regard to summary judgment in favor of JN, Defendants contended that the only evidence [Lales] could produce to support his contentions was his own conflicting testimony and inadmissible hearsay. Defendants noted numerous discrepancies in [Lales s] testimony[.] Defendants also argued that, contrary to Lales s assertion, HRS chapter 378 does not mandate that an employer be held strictly liable for harassment by its supervisors. Defendants further argued that the circuit -16- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** court properly granted summary judgment because there was no breach of contract and there was no public policy violation. On May 9, 2012, the ICA issued a memorandum opinion vacating in part and affirming in part the circuit court s Final Amended Judgment. Lales, 2012 WL 1624013, at *1, *18. In regard to the circuit court s grant of summary judgment in favor of Marxen on COAs 1 and 2 (state harassment and retaliation claims), the ICA concluded that the HCRC s Right to Sue letter was sufficient to authorize Lales to file suit against Marxen. Id. at *9. In addition, citing the plain language of HRS § 378-2 and the definition of employer in HRS § 378-1, the ICA determined that an individual employee, who is an agent of an employer, can be held individually liable as an employer. Lales, 2012 WL 1624013, at **10-12. Moreover, the ICA noted that employees are subject to individual liability when they aid and abet prohibited discriminatory practices, as set forth in HRS § 378-2(3). Id. at *10. The ICA then cited with approval the federal district court s decision in Sherez v. State of Haw. Dep t of Educ., 396 F. Supp. 2d 1138, 1146-48 (D. Haw. 2005), because Sherez offered a persuasive rationale that employees could indeed be held individually liable for discriminatory conduct. Id. at *11. The ICA also cited cases from this court that support the conclusion that liability under HRS § 378-2 extends to -17- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** employees in their individual capacity. Lales, 2012 WL 1624013, at *12 (citing Steinberg v. Hoshijo, 88 Hawai#i 10, 960 P.2d 1218 (1998); Sam Teague, Ltd. v. Haw. Civil Rights Comm n, 89 Hawai#i 269, 275-77, 971 P.2d 1104, 1110-12 (1999); and Schefke, 96 Hawai#i 408, 32 P.3d 52). Thus, the ICA determined that Lales was entitled to file suit against Marxen in his individual capacity under HRS § 378-2, and therefore, the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Marxen on COAs 1 and 2. Lales, 2012 WL 1624013, at *12, *18. The ICA then addressed the circuit court s grant of summary judgment in favor of JN. Id. at **13-18. With regard to COA 1 (state harassment claim), the ICA determined that under HAR § 12-46-175, employers are strictly and vicariously liable when a supervisor harasses an employee. **13-15. Lales, 2012 WL 1624013, at The ICA then discussed the rule set forth in Faragher, as applied to Title VII claims. Id. at **14-15. The ICA stated that an employer may raise the Faragher affirmative defense only when no tangible employment action is taken against an employee, and noted that the defense requires that: (1) the employer exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct any harassing behavior, and (2) the employee unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventive or corrective opportunities provided by the employer. Id. at **14. The ICA stated that because the alleged harassment by Marxen did not culminate in Lales s -18- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** discharge, the Faragher affirmative defense did not apply. at **15. Id. The ICA further stated that because the requirements set forth in Faragher were not met in this case, there was no need to address whether the affirmative defense would apply under HRS chapter 378. Id. Finally, the ICA stated that the circuit court erred in applying Faragher. Id. The ICA then determined that when the evidence was viewed in the light most favorable to Lales, the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of JN on the state and federal harassment claims (COAs 1 and 5), because the matters set forth in Lales s declaration . . . established that there were genuine issues of material fact regarding his claims[.] Id. at **15-16. In regard to the circuit court s grant of summary judgment in favor of JN on COAs 2 and 6 (retaliation claims), the ICA stated that, given the conflicting evidence of the parties, which must be viewed in the light most favorable to Lales, there was sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case of retaliation and that Lales presented sufficient evidence to establish genuine issues of material fact regarding whether JN s proffered reasons for Lales s termination were pretextual. Id. at **16-17. The ICA further determined that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of JN on COA 4 (public -19- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** policy claim) because Lales was not given a fair opportunity to respond inasmuch as JN did not address this claim in its motion for summary judgment. Id. at *18. Additionally, the ICA noted that to the extent that Lales s COA 4 is based on public policy derived from the provisions of HRS [c]hapter 378, it would be barred. Id. However, the ICA determined that because the substance of the public policy claim was unclear, and given that it was remanding the case for further proceedings, it would also vacate the circuit court s grant of summary judgment in favor of JN as to COA 4. Id. Accordingly, the ICA vacated the circuit court s Amended Final Judgment to the extent that it entered summary judgment in favor of Marxen on COAs 1 and 2, and entered judgment in favor of JN on COAs 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Id. The ICA affirmed the Amended Final Judgment on all other causes of action.8 Id. The ICA remanded the case to the circuit court for further proceedings. Id. The ICA filed its Judgment on Appeal on July 6, 2012. Defendants timely filed an application for writ of certiorari, and raise the following questions: I. Did the ICA make grave errors of fact by (1) largely ignoring the evidence presented by 8 The ICA also affirmed the circuit court s grant of summary judgment in favor of: (1) Martinez on all COAs; (2) Marxen on COAs 3 through 6; and (3) JN on COA 3. Id. In addition, the ICA vacated the circuit court s award of attorney s fees and costs in favor of Defendants. Id. These determinations are not challenged on appeal to this court and thus, they are not discussed further. -20- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** II. III. IV. V. [Defendants], and only viewing [Lales s] evidence in the light most favorable to him; (2) relying on conflicting evidence and uncorroborated self-serving statements submitted by [Lales] in a sham declaration; and (3) considering [Lales s] other inadmissible evidence[?] Did the ICA err in concluding that individual employees can be held liable as an employer under HRS § 378-2(1) and (2) in reliance on Sherez v. State of Hawai#i [Dep t] of Educ., 396 F. Supp. 2d 1138 (D. Haw. 2005), which has not been followed by the [United States District Court] since the Ninth Circuit ruled to the contrary in a memorandum decision in Lum v. Kauai County Council, 358 Fed. Appx. 860, 862 (9th Cir. [] 2009)? Did the ICA err by ignoring a substantial body of federal law to the contrary when it concluded that the Faragher affirmative defense cannot apply where a supervisor s harassment culminates in tangible employment action? Did the ICA err when it concluded that [Lales] had submitted sufficient evidence that the reason for his firing was pretextual, because the ICA evaluated whether the reason for [Lales s] termination was objectively correct rather than whether the [Defendants] believed that reason was correct? Did the ICA err when it held that the [c]ircuit [c]ourt should not have granted summary judgment on Count 4? (Formatting altered). II. A. Standards of Review Summary Judgment On appeal, the grant or denial of summary judgment is reviewed de novo. First Ins. Co. of Haw. v. A&B Props., Inc., 126 Hawai#i 406, 413, 271 P.3d 1165, 1172 (2012) (citing Nuuanu Valley Ass n v. City & County of Honolulu, 119 Hawai#i 90, 96, 194 P.3d 531, 537 (2008)). Furthermore, [S]ummary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. A fact is material if proof of that -21- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** fact would have the effect of establishing or refuting one of the essential elements of a cause of action or defense asserted by the parties. The evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. In other words, we must view all of the evidence and inferences drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Id. at 413-14, 271 P.3d at 1172-73 (citation omitted). B. Statutory Interpretation Statutory interpretation is a question of law reviewable de novo. First Ins., 126 Hawai#i at 414, 271 P.3d at 1173 (citation omitted). III. A. Discussion Marxen was not subject to individual liability under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2) for Lales s state harassment and retaliation claims (COAs 1 and 2) The Defendants argue that Marxen was not subject to individual liability for Lales s state harassment claim (COA 1) under HRS § 378-2(1)(A), or his state retaliation claim (COA 2) under HRS § 378-2(2), because those sections do not impose liability on individual employees.9 We agree. The legislature s inclusion of agent in the definition of employer under HRS § 378-1 did not signal an intent to impose liability on individual employees. Instead, by using the term agent, the 9 We do not reach the issue of Marxen s individual liability based on HRS § 378-2(3). See dissenting opinion at 11-17. Lales did not allege in either his Amended Complaint, responses to Defendants motions for summary judgment, or appeal to the ICA - that Marxen was individually liable under HRS § 378-2(3), and therefore, any argument now raised is waived. See Kau v. City & County of Honolulu, 104 Hawai#i 468, 474 n.6, 92 P.3d 477, 483 n.6 (2004) ( Legal issues not raised in the trial court are ordinarily deemed waived on appeal. (quoting Ass n of Apartment Owners of Wailea Elua v. Wailea Resort Co., 100 Hawai#i 97, 107, 58 P.3d 608, 618 (2002))). -22- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** legislature did nothing more than ensure that employers would be liable for the discriminatory conduct of their agents. Individual employees are therefore not personally liable as employers for harassment and retaliation claims under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2). It is well established that the fundamental starting point for statutory interpretation is the language of the statute itself. State v. Wheeler, 121 Hawai#i 383, 390, 219 P.3d 1170, 1177 (2009) (citation omitted). Where the statutory language is plain and unambiguous, this court s sole duty is to give effect to its plain and obvious meaning. Id. As relevant here, HRS § 378-2 (Supp. 2002)10 provided the following: It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice: (1) Because of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, color, ancestry, disability, marital status, or arrest and court record: (A) For an employer to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or discharge from employment, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual in compensation or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; . . . . (2) For any employer, labor organization, or employment agency to discharge, expel, or otherwise discriminate against any individual because the individual has opposed any practice forbidden by this part or has filed a complaint, testified, or assisted in any proceeding respecting the discriminatory practices prohibited under this part; (3) For any person whether an employer, employee, or not, to aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce the doing of any of the discriminatory practices forbidden by this part, or to attempt to do so[.] 10 HRS § 378-2 has since been amended in ways that are not relevant to the instant appeal. See 2009 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 1, § 2 at 793-95; 2011 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 34, § 4; 2011 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 206, § 2. -23- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Because HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2) clearly limit liability for engaging in discriminatory conduct to an employer, whether an individual employee like Marxen may be held personally liable for conduct prohibited under those sections turns on the definition of employer. Section § 378-1 defines an employer as any person,[11] including the State or any of its political subdivisions and any agent of such person, having one or more employees, but shall not include the United States. This language is subject to two possible interpretations. Under the first interpretation, an employer for purposes of HRS § 378-1 includes any person . . . having one or more employees. Under this reading, the definition of employer does not encompass individual employees. A number of federal courts have adopted this reading and have concluded that the reference to any agent of such person in HRS § 378-1 s definition of employer does not extend liability to individual employees under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2). See, e.g., White v. Pac. Media Group, 322 F. Supp. 2d 1101, 1114 (D. Haw. 2004); Maizner v. Haw. Dep t of Educ., 405 F. Supp. 2d 1225, 1237-39 (D. Haw. 2005); Lum v. Kauai County Council, Civ. No. 06-00068 SOM/LEK, 2007 WL 3408003, at *2-13 (D. 11 Person means one or more individuals, and includes, but is not limited to, partnerships, associations, or corporations, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, or the State or any of its political subdivisions. HRS § 378-1. -24- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Haw. Nov. 9, 2007), aff d, 358 Fed. Appx. 860 (9th Cir. 2009). However, Lales argues that HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 3782(2) impose liability on an employer, and that HRS § 378-1 defines an employer as any person . . . having one or more employees and any agent of such person. Thus, Lales argues that Marxen as an agent of JN is considered an employer for purposes of HRS § 378-1, and is therefore subject to personal liability under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2). A number of federal courts have adopted Lales s reading of HRS § 378-1 in concluding that a supervisory employee, as an agent of his or her employer, is a statutory employer who may be held individually liable for his or her discriminatory conduct. See, e.g., Black v. City & County of Honolulu, 112 F. Supp. 2d 1041, 1056-57 (D. Haw. 2000); Hale v. Publ ns, Inc., 468 F. Supp. 2d. 1210, 1226-29 (D. Haw. 2006); Sherez v. State of Haw. Dep t of Educ., 396 F. Supp. 2d 1138, 1146-48 (D. Haw. 2005). We respectfully reject that interpretation of employer under HRS § 378-1. In our view, the legislature s inclusion of agent in the definition of employer did not signal an intent to impose liability on individual employees. As set forth below, the history of Hawaii s employment discrimination law and the legislature s stated purposes in enacting that law give no indication that the legislature intended to impose liability on individual employees. -25- Instead, the legislature s *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** use of the word agent, simply represented an unremarkable expression of respondeat superior that discriminatory personnel actions taken by an employer s agent may create liability for the employer. Lissau v. S. Food Serv., Inc., 159 F.3d 177, 180 (4th Cir. 1998) (quotation marks and citations omitted) (analyzing analogous provision under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act).12 Because the definition of employer under HRS § 378-1 is ambiguous, this court has various tools at its disposal to determine its meaning, including: (1) examining the context with which the ambiguous words, phrases, and sentences may be compared, in order to ascertain their true meaning; (2) considering the reason and spirit of the law, and the cause which induced the legislature to enact it, in order to discover its true meaning; and (3) rejecting every construction which leads to an absurdity. See HRS § 1-15; Estate of Roxas v. Marcos, 121 Hawai#i 59, 68, 214 P.3d 598, 607 (2009). We first note that section 378-1 should not be viewed in isolation, but rather evaluated in the context of the entire statute. See Ah Mook Sang v. Clark, 130 Hawai#i 282, 297, 308 P.3d 911, 926 (2013) ( [W]e must read statutory language in the context of the entire statute and construe it in a manner 12 As the Supreme Court has stated, however, such common-law principles may not be transferable in all their particulars to Title VII. Meritor Sav. Bank, FSB v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 72 (1986); Burlington Indus., Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742, 764 (1998) (same); Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775, 791-92 (1998) (same). -26- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** consistent with its purpose. (quotation marks and citation omitted)). In this regard, elsewhere in HRS § 378-2 the legislature explicitly and unambiguously provided for employee liability, and in doing so recognized that employers and employees are distinct categories. Specifically, the legislature imposed aider-and-abettor liability on employees in HRS § 378-2(3), which makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice [f]or any person, whether an employer, employee, or not, to aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce the doing of any of the discriminatory practices forbidden by this part, or to attempt to do so. Thus, as the United States District Court observed in White, the legislature clearly knew how to include employees within a statute s scope and its failure to do so explicitly throughout the statute suggests that employees are only held liable for infractions under HRS § 378-2(3). 322 F. Supp. 2d at 1114 (quotation marks and citation omitted). Moreover, the history of Hawaii s employment discrimination law, and the legislature s stated purposes in enacting that law, contain no indication whatsoever that the legislature intended to impose liability on individual employees other than in HRS § 378-2(3). To the contrary, the statute appears to have been patterned on federal labor and employment discrimination laws which do not provide for individual liability. -27- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** The legislature enacted Act 180 in 1963, which made it unlawful: (1) [f]or an employer to refuse to hire, or employ or to bar or discharge from employment, any individual, or to discriminate against any individual in compensation or in the terms, conditions or privileges of employment based on race, sex, age, religion, color, or ancestry (predecessor to HRS § 3782(1)(A)); and (2) [f]or any employer, labor organization or employment agency to discharge, expel, or otherwise discriminate against any person because he has opposed any practice forbidden by this Act or because he has filed a complaint, testified or assisted in any proceeding respecting the employment practices and discrimination prohibited under this Act. 1963 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 180, § 1 at 223-24 (emphases added) (predecessor to HRS § 378-2(2)). When the legislature adopted Act 180 in 1963, it did not separately define employer. It is apparent, based on the language set forth above, that the legislature sought only to proscribe discriminatory harassment and retaliation by employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies. This interpretation is confirmed by the legislative history of the statute, which states that the purpose of the bill was to make it unlawful for an employer to refuse to employ, to pay less wages than other employees, to discharge an employee because of, or to otherwise discriminate against a person by reason of his race, -28- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** color, sex, national origin, or because such individual is between the ages of 40 to 65 years of age. H. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 31, in 1963 House Journal, at 591 (emphasis added); see also H. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 80, in 1963 House Journal, at 607 (same); S. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 399, in 1963 Senate Journal, at 810 (same); S. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 573, in 1963 Senate Journal, at 866. There is no indication that in proscribing harassment and retaliation by employers, the legislature also sought to address the conduct of individual employees. In contrast, at the same time the legislature made it unlawful for employers to harass or retaliate against any individual, the legislature explicitly stated that it was unlawful for any person whether an employer, employee or not, to aid, abet, incite, compel or coerce the doing of any of the practices forbidden by the Act, or to attempt to do so. 1963 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 180, § 1 at 224 (emphasis added) (predecessor to HRS § 378-2(3)). In other words, the legislature plainly understood how to proscribe the conduct of individual employees, and when it intended to do so, it did so explicitly and unequivocally. The following year, the legislature included a definition of employer, which was defined as any person having one or more persons in his employment, [including] any person acting as an agent of an employer, directly or indirectly. -29- 1964 *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Haw. Sess. Laws Act 44, § 2 at 45 (predecessor to HRS § 378-1). As relevant here, the legislative history indicates that the purpose of the bill was to provide definitions for certain ambiguous terms used in said Act, H. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 358, in 1964 House Journal, at 355, in order to avoid administrative and legal difficulties. 13 House Journal, at 381. H. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 455, in 1964 There is no indication in the legislative history, however, that by defining an employer as any person having one or more persons in his employment, [including] any person acting as an agent of an employer, the legislature also sought to extend the coverage of the law s harassment and retaliation provisions to the acts of individual employees. Indeed such an expansive definition of employer would be at odds with the plain language of Act 180, which the legislature had enacted just a year earlier. 1963 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 180, § 1 at 224. In 1981, the legislature again amended the definition of employer via Act 94, to read as it currently does. Haw. Sess. Laws Act 94, § 2 at 184-85. 1981 The legislature stated in the bill that its purpose in amending the definition of employer was to extend coverage of Part I of [HRS chapter 378] to employees of the State and local governments[.] 13 Id., § 1 at In defining employer, the legislature intentionally excluded the state and its political subdivisions. S. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 442, in 1964 Senate Journal, at 504-05. -30- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** 184. This purpose is further explained in the legislative history, which indicates that, in 1963, the legislature had intended to exclude the State and its political subdivisions from the definition of employer and instead to provide government workers with protection against employment discrimination under a separate law. 549, in 1981 House Journal, at 1166. H. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. Because the legislature never adopted such legislation, the legislature sought to [provide] the same protection against discrimination under State law [], to public employees as is already provided to employees in the private sector. Id.; see also S. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 653, in 1981 Senate Journal, at 1195; S. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 1109, in 1981 Senate Journal, at 1363. Based on this history of the definition of employer under HRS § 378-1, and the legislature s express proscription of individual employee conduct under the aider-and-abettor provision in HRS § 378-2(3), we conclude that in using the term agent, the legislature did nothing more than ensure that employers would be liable for the discriminatory conduct of their agents. Federal cases interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 support this conclusion. As this court has noted, the federal courts interpretation of Title VII is useful in construing Hawaii s employment discrimination law. Sam Teague, Ltd. v. Haw. Civil Rights Comm n, 89 Hawai#i 269, 281, 971 P.2d -31- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** 1104, 1116 (1999). The federal courts have considerable experience in analyzing these cases, and we look to their decisions for guidance. Furukawa v. Honolulu Zoological Soc., 85 Hawai#i 7, 13, 936 P.2d 643, 649 (1997). The federal courts interpretation of the definition of employer under Title VII is relevant here because that definition is substantially similar to the definition set forth in HRS § 378-1. Specifically, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, defines an employer as a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce who has fifteen or more employees for each working day in each of twenty or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, and any agent of such a person, but such term does not include [] the United States[.] 42 U.S.C. § 2000e (emphasis added). Federal court cases interpreting Title VII are also instructive here because both Title VII and the legislature s original definition of employer were adopted in the same year 1964 and each definition of employer was substantially similar to the definition of employer under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). See 29 U.S.C. § 152(2). Indeed, the definitional provisions of Title VII were patterned on those in the NLRA. See, e.g., Meritor, 477 U.S. at 75 n.1 (Marshall, J., concurring) ( The remedial provisions of Title VII were largely modeled on those of the [NLRA]. ); Albermarle Paper Co. v. Moody, -32- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** 422 U.S. 405, 419 (1975) (noting that the backpay provision of Title VII was expressly modeled on the backpay provision of the [NLRA] ); Low v. Hasbro, Inc., 817 F. Supp. 249, 250 (D.R.I. 1993) (noting that Title VII s definitional provisions were based on the language of the National Labor Relations Act ). Since 1947, the NLRA has provided that [t]he term employer includes any person acting as an agent of an employer, directly or indirectly[.] 29 U.S.C. § 152(2). Under the NLRA corporate officers have not been held personally accountable for the corporation s backpay liability absent circumstances equivalent to those that would justify piercing the corporate veil at common law. See, e.g., Donovan v. Agnew, 712 F.2d 1509, 1512 (1st Cir. 1983) (citations omitted). As relevant here, every federal court of appeals to consider the issue has concluded that the inclusion of agent in the definition of employer under Title VII simply represented an unremarkable expression of respondeat superior that discriminatory personnel actions taken by an employer s agent may create liability for the employer. See Lissau, 159 F.3d at 180- 81 (internal quotation marks omitted) (citing cases from the second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and D.C. circuits reaching the same conclusion). Given the substantially similar definitions of employer under Title VII and HRS § 378-1, we agree with these courts that by including -33- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** the term and any agent of such person in the definition of employer, the legislature sought only to impose liability on employers for the discriminatory conduct of their agents. Of course, we recognize that federal employment discrimination authority is not necessarily persuasive, particularly where a state s statutory provision differs in relevant detail. Furukawa, 85 Hawai#i at 13, 936 P.2d at 649. Here, however, HRS chapter 378 and Title VII do not differ in relevant detail. Although HRS chapter 378 reaches a broader range of employers than Title VII, because HRS § 378-1 defines an employer as any person . . . having one or more employees, whereas 42 U.S.C. § 2000e defines an employer as a person . . . who has fifteen or more employees, the fact that the legislature sought to reach employers with as few as one employee does not demonstrate that the legislature also sought to impose personal liability on individual employees as employers under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2). To the contrary, in crafting HRS chapter 378 it is clear that the legislature knew how to proscribe the conduct of individual employees and did so expressly when that was its intent. As noted above, HRS § 378- 2(3) makes it unlawful for an employee to aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce any discriminatory practice. The inclusion of this subsection supports the conclusion that the legislature did -34- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** not intend to impose personal liability on individual employees as employers under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2). Nevertheless, Lales cites to several cases decided by this court, which he asserts support a conclusion that individual employees may be held liable under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 3782(2). However, this court has never squarely addressed the issue of whether an individual employee is an employer under those sections. For example, in Steinberg v. Hoshijo, 88 Hawai#i 10, 960 P.2d 1218 (1998), a female complainant, Linda Louise Gould, filed a sexual harassment claim, under HRS § 378-2(1)(A), with the Hawai#i Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) against her former employer, Kailua Family and Urgent Medical Care (Clinic), and her former supervisor, Dr. Harold Steinberg. Gould alleged that during her employment with the Clinic, Dr. Steinberg subjected her to unwelcome sexual conduct. Id. at 12, 960 P.2d at 1220. The Clinic subsequently settled the claims against it, and was dismissed from the case. Id. at 14, 960 P.2d at 1222. The HCRC proceeded with the claim against Dr. Steinberg and found him liable for sexual harassment. Id. at 11, 960 P.2d at 1219. The circuit court affirmed the HCRC s decision against Dr. Steinberg, and Dr. Steinberg appealed to this court. 1223. Id. at 15, 960 P.2d at On appeal, this court affirmed the circuit court s order. Id. at 19, 960 P.2d at 1227. This court, however, did not consider the issue presented in this case, expressly noting that -35- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** [t]he parties [did] not dispute that Dr. Steinberg was an agent of the Clinic and therefore an employer as defined by HRS § 378-1. Id. at 18 n.10, 960 P.2d at 1226 n.10. In Sam Teague, 89 Hawai#i 269, 971 P.2d 1104, a female complainant, Yvette Shaw, filed a claim under HRS § 378-2(1)(A) with the HCRC, alleging discrimination because of her sex. Shaw s claim named both Sam Teague, Ltd., and its president and sole stockholder Sam Teague, and this court referred to both, collectively, as Employer. After a contested case hearing, the HCRC affirmed the hearings officer s findings and conclusions, finding that Employer had engaged in discriminatory practices. Id. at 274, 971 P.2d at 1109. The circuit court affirmed the HCRC s decision and Employer appealed. at 1109-10. Id. at 274-75, 971 P.2d Although this court noted that the HCRC had added Teague, in her personal capacity, to the complaint [b]ecause HRS § 378-1 [] defines employer to include agents of persons having one or more employees, this court was not confronted with the correctness of the HCRC s determination in this regard. 276-77, 971 P.2d at 1111-12. Id. at Moreover, it is unclear what impact the fact that Teague was the president and sole shareholder of the two-person business, Sam Teague, Ltd., had on the HCRC s conclusion that Teague was an employer under HRS § 378-1. Lastly, in Schefke v. Reliable Collection Agency, Ltd., 96 Hawai#i 408, 32 P.3d 52 (2001), an employee, Charles Schefke, -36- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** brought an action against his employer and its owners. Schefke alleged, among other things, age discrimination claims under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A), 378-2(2), and 378-2(3). 61. Id. at 417, 32 P.3d at As relevant here, the circuit court granted the owners motion for a directed verdict as to their individual liability. Id. at 419, 32 P.3d at 63. In concluding that the circuit court erred in granting directed verdicts in favor of the owners, however, it is not clear whether this court was addressing their individual liability under HRS §§ 378-2(1) and (2), or under HRS § 378-2(3). Id. at 442, 32 P.3d at 86. Moreover, Schefke involved discrimination claims against an employer and its owners, and not an individual employee, as is the case here. at 415, 32 P.3d at 59. Id. Accordingly, our holding that an individual employee is not liable as an employer under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 378-2(2) does not conflict with our precedent. Finally, we note that generally, in the case of ambiguous statutory language, an agency s interpretation of its own governing statute requires this court to defer to the agency s expertise and to follow the agency s construction of the statute unless that construction is palpably erroneous. Gillan v. Gov t Employees Ins. Co., 119 Hawai#i 109, 114, 194 P.3d 1071, 1076 (2008). Here, the HCRC has interpreted the definition of employer under HRS § 378-1 to include supervisory employees. See generally Santos v. Niimi, No. 92-001-E-SH (HCRC Nov. 4, -37- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** 1992) (Hearing Examiner s Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommended Order), adopted by (HCRC Jan. 25, 1993) (Final Decision and Order); Tseu v. Cederquist, Inc., No. 95-001-E-R-S (HCRC Mar.13, 1996) (Hearings Examiner s Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommended Order), adopted by (HCRC June 28, 1996) (Final Decision and Order); all available at http://labor.hawaii.gov/hcrc/contested-case-decisions/. However, for the reasons set forth above, the HCRC s construction of HRS § 378-1 is palpably erroneous. The first HCRC decision on this issue, Santos, relied on early federal court cases interpreting Title VII that held the statute provided for individual liability. See, e.g., Paroline v. Unisys Corp., 879 F.2d 100, 104 (4th Cir. 1989), vacated on other grounds, 900 F.2d 27 (4th Cir. 1990); Hendrix v. Fleming Cos., 650 F. Supp. 301, 302-03 (W.D. Okla. 1986); Thompson v. Int l Ass n of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, 580 F. Supp. 662, 668-69 (D.D.C. 1984); Watson v. Sears, Roebuck Co., 742 F. Supp. 353, 357 (M.D. La. 1990). However, as noted above, these cases have subsequently been overwhelmingly rejected by the federal courts of appeals, including the circuits in which those cases arose. See, e.g., Lissau, 159 F.3d at 180 (Fourth Circuit notes that [a]n analysis of Title VII s language and its remedial scheme leads us to join the other circuit courts and conclude that supervisors are not liable in their individual capacities for Title VII -38- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** violations. ); Haynes v. Williams, 88 F.3d 898, 901 (10th Cir. 1996) ( [W]e agree with the majority view that, taken as a whole, the language and structure of amended Title VII continue to reflect the legislative judgment that statutory liability is appropriately borne by employers, not individual supervisors. ); Gary v. Long, 59 F.3d 1391, 1399 (D.C. Cir. 1995) ( [W]hile a supervisory employee may be joined as a party defendant in a Title VII action, that employee must be viewed as being sued in his capacity as the agent of the employer, who is alone liable for a violation of Title VII. ); Grant v. Lone Star Co., 21 F.3d 649, 653 (5th Cir. 1994) ( [W]e conclude that individuals who do not otherwise qualify as an employer cannot be held liable for a breach of title VII. ). Moreover, since its inception in 1963, Hawaii s employment discrimination law has proscribed individual employee conduct only to the extent that the employee aids, abets, incites, compels, or coerces discriminatory conduct. § 378-2(3). HRS As explained above, there is no indication that the legislature also sought to extend liability to individual employees for harassment and retaliation claims under HRS §§ 3782(1)(A) and 378-2(2), respectively. In sum, the legislature s inclusion of agent in the definition of employer under HRS § 378-1 did not signal an intent to impose liability on individual employees. Instead, by using the term agent, the legislature did nothing more than -39- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** ensure that employers would be liable for the discriminatory conduct of their agents. We therefore hold that Marxen was not subject to personal liability under HRS §§ 378-2(1)(A) and 3782(2) for Lales s state harassment and retaliation claims. B. The circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of JN on the state and federal harassment claims (COA 1 and 5) The Defendants contend that the circuit court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of JN on the state and federal harassment claims (COA 1 and 5). With regard to both the state and federal harassment claims against JN, the Defendants argue that the ICA misconstrued the Supreme Court s decision in Faragher. In regard to the federal harassment claim, Lales argues that the Faragher affirmative defense is not available in this case because there was tangible employment action taken against him, i.e., he was terminated. In regard to the state harassment claim, Lales argues that HAR § 12-46-175(d) imposes strict liability on employers for actions of their supervisory employees, thus precluding application of the Faragher affirmative defense under Hawai#i law. In reply, Defendants argue that the HCRC overstepped its statutory authority in enacting HAR § 12-46-175(d), and thus, this court should follow federal precedent and recognize the Faragher affirmative defense. As discussed below, the Court s decision in Faragher, while applicable to federal harassment claims, is not presently -40- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** implicated in this case because there remains a question of material fact as to whether JN s alleged discriminatory actions culminated in Lales s termination. Moreover, the Faragher affirmative defense is not applicable to Hawaii s antidiscrimination laws because the administrative rules impose strict liability on employers for harassment on the basis of ancestry by their agents and supervisory employees, and the HCRC acted within the scope of its administrative authority in enacting those rules. 1. Faragher Affirmative Defense In Faragher, the plaintiff, Beth Ann Faragher, filed an employment discrimination claim, pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, against her employer, the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Boca Raton (City), and her immediate supervisors Bill Terry, David Silverman, and Robert Gordon. 524 U.S. at 780-81. Faragher alleged that the City and her immediate supervisors created a sexually hostile atmosphere at work by subjecting her to, among other things, uninvited and offensive touching. Id. The district court determined, in relevant part, that the City could be held liable for the harassment by its supervisory employees: First, the court noted that the harassment was pervasive enough to support an inference that the City had knowledge, or constructive knowledge, of it. Next, it ruled that the City was liable under traditional agency principles because Terry and Silverman were acting as its agents when they committed the harassing acts. Finally, the court -41- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** observed that Gordon s knowledge of the harassment, combined with his inaction, provides a further basis for imputing liability on [sic] the City. Id. at 783 (citations omitted). On appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, a three-judge panel reversed the judgment against the City on the ground that it was not appropriate to hold the City liable for the supervisors conduct. Id. The Eleventh Circuit, sitting en banc, adopted the panel s conclusion. Id. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari and determined that it was appropriate to hold an employer vicariously liable for wrongful conduct of a supervisor when that supervisor is using his or her supervisory authority. 786. Id. at However, the Court determined that imposing liability based on the misuse of supervisory authority conflicted with its prior ruling that an employer was not automatically liable for harassment by a supervisor. at 72). Id. at 804 (citing Meritor, 477 U.S. The Court, therefore, identified the circumstances under which an employer could be held vicariously liable under Title VII for the actions of its supervisory employees: In order to accommodate the principle of vicarious liability for harm caused by misuse of supervisory authority, as well as Title VII s equally basic policies of encouraging forethought by employers and saving action by objecting employees, we adopt the following holding in this case and in Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742 [] (1998), also decided today. An employer is subject to vicarious liability to a victimized employee for an actionable hostile environment created by a supervisor with immediate (or successively higher) authority over the employee. When no tangible employment action is taken, a defending employer may raise an affirmative -42- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** defense to liability or damages, subject to proof by a preponderance of the evidence, see Fed. Rule Civ. Proc. 8(c). The defense comprises two necessary elements: (a) that the employer exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any sexually harassing behavior, and (b) that the plaintiff employee unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventive or corrective opportunities provided by the employer or to avoid harm otherwise. While proof that an employer had promulgated an antiharassment policy with complaint procedure is not necessary in every instance as a matter of law, the need for a stated policy suitable to the employment circumstances may appropriately be addressed in any case when litigating the first element of the defense. And while proof that an employee failed to fulfill the corresponding obligation of reasonable care to avoid harm is not limited to showing an unreasonable failure to use any complaint procedure provided by the employer, a demonstration of such failure will normally suffice to satisfy the employer s burden under the second element of the defense. No affirmative defense is available, however, when the supervisor s harassment culminates in a tangible employment action, such as discharge, demotion, or undesirable reassignment. See Burlington, 524 U.S.[] at 762-63[]. Faragher, 524 U.S. at 807-08. In sum, the Court determined that when no tangible employment action is taken against an employee, an employer can assert an affirmative defense against a claim of discrimination by one of its supervisors.14 However, the Court held that an employer would be held strictly liable for the discriminatory conduct of its supervisors if that conduct resulted in tangible employment action against the employee. 14 The United States Supreme Court recently held that, for purposes of holding an employer vicariously liable under Title VII, an employee must show that the alleged discrimination was committed by a supervisor, which the Court defined as an employee empowered by the employer to take tangible employment actions against the victim[.] Vance v. Ball State Univ., 133 S. Ct. 2434, 2439 (2013). In this case, it is undisputed that Marxen was a supervisor insomuch as he had the authority to hire, reassign, and terminate Lales. Accordingly, the Court s decision in Vance does not affect our holding. -43- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** 2. Summary judgment was not appropriate on Lales s federal harassment claim against JN because there remains an issue of material fact as to whether the alleged harassment culminated in Lales s discharge It is undisputed that the Faragher affirmative defense applies to federal harassment claims. In their application, the Defendants argue that the ICA ignored the substantial body of federal case law that permits the Faragher affirmative defense even if there [was] tangible employment action. See, e.g., Ferraro v. Kellwood Co., 440 F.3d 96, 102 (2d Cir. 2006) ( The word culminate requires that the tangible employment action be linked to the supervisor s discriminatory harassment. This reading comports with the purpose of the test to determine whether the supervisor s misconduct has been aided by the agency relation. If an official action taken by a supervisor is not part of his discriminatory harassment, it provides no evidence that the supervisor used his agency relation with the employer to further his misconduct. ). Specifically, Defendants assert that there was no evidence that the alleged harassment culminated in Lales s discharge. Contrary to Defendants assertion, summary judgment based on the Faragher defense was not appropriate in this case because there existed issues of material fact as to whether the alleged harassment by Marxen against Lales indeed culminated in -44- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Lales s discharge.15 See, e.g., Bennett v. Progressive Corp., 225 F. Supp. 2d 190, 204 (N.D.N.Y. 2002); EEOC v. Safelite Glass Corp., No. 4:10-CV-102-F, 2012 WL 3266333, at *12-*13 (E.D.N.C. Aug. 9, 2012) (holding that there were still genuine issues of material fact as to whether the harassment culminated in the employee s termination). In Bennett, a federal district court analyzed whether to grant employer Progressive Corporation s motion for summary judgment on a Title VII sexual harassment claim brought by a former employee, Janet Bennett. 225 F. Supp. 2d at 204. Bennett alleged that her supervisor, Larry Mitchell, made unwelcome comments about her and tried to have a sexual relationship with her. Id. at 197. Mitchell allegedly increased Bennett s workload when Bennett refused his sexual advances, and forced Bennett to drink alcohol while at work or on the job in an attempt to get Bennett to have a physical relationship with him. Id. at 198-99. Bennett did not report Mitchell s actions until nearly a year later, when she reported Mitchell s conduct to Michael Beney, Mitchell s supervisor and personal friend. 197-200. Id. at Beney subsequently terminated Bennett and Mitchell for 15 Ferraro is not inconsistent with this determination. In Ferraro, Laura Ferraro brought a discrimination claim against her employer under the New York State Human Rights Law and New York City Human Rights Law. 440 F.3d at 98. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit noted that Ferraro did not dispute the availability of the Faragher affirmative defense, and determined that the employer satisfied its summary judgment burden to show that any alleged discriminatory conduct did not culminate in Ferraro s termination. Id. at 99-100, 102. -45- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** consumption of alcohol on the job, which was against company policy. Id. at 202. Bennett filed a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against Progressive, and Progressive filed a motion for summary judgment arguing that it was not liable under Title VII because it satisfied the affirmative defense set forth in Faragher. Id. at 196, 202-10. The federal district court analyzed, inter alia, whether the sexual harassment culminated in Bennett s termination, and determined: In the instant case, factual questions remain as to the true reason for plaintiff s termination. She alleges that the hostile work environment Mitchell created coerced her, against her will, into drinking, and that such drinking was used as the reason for her termination. She alleges that the real reason she was fired was not due to a violation of the office alcohol policy, but rather because she lodged a complaint against Mitchell to Beney, and the company used her violation of the alcohol policy as a convenient means to head off any problems arising from the sexual harassment complaint lodged against Mitchell. Plaintiff alleges, and Mitchell does not deny, that Beney was friends with Mitchell and his wife, citing, among other things, Beney s participation as an usher in Mitchell s wedding. As such, sufficient factual disputes have been raised as to whether or not the termination, in the end, was a culmination, or result, of Mitchell s harassment. Id. 204-205. Accordingly, the court denied summary judgment in light of its holding that there were genuine issues of material fact as to Bennett s harassment claim under Title VII. Id. at 219. Similarly, in the present case, Lales presented sufficient evidence to raise an issue of material fact as to whether the alleged discriminatory conduct culminate[d] in -46- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** tangible employment action against Lales. For example, in his declaration, Lales stated that he was subjected by Marxen to derogatory remarks and slurs, such as being called Frenchie, fucking French Bastard, and being told by Marxen that he could not participate in a radio program where salespersons were allowed to get on the radio and announce slasher sales of vehicles because Marxen did not want [Lales s] French accent on the radio to sell American cars. Furthermore, Lales stated in his declaration that Marxen told him to call himself Frenchy and to put that name on his business card. Lales stated that he did not put Frenchy on his business card because he found this to be offensive. One month prior to his termination, Lales reported Martinez s discriminatory behavior to Marxen, and Marxen responded, You Fucking French Bastard, get out of my office[.] Lales said in his declaration that the initial reason given for his termination on June 23, 2002, was poor sales performance and missing a meeting. Upon confronting Marxen about JN s rationale for his termination, Marxen reinstated Lales. The next day, June 24, 2002, Lales was again terminated, this time for allegedly lying to a customer. The initial June 23, 2002 Termination Report was re-dated to reflect the new termination date, June 24, 2002. Furthermore, in addition to the original reason for Lales s termination, the re-dated June 24, 2002 -47- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Termination Report stated that Lales lied to customers and the used car manager. The instant case is analytically similar to Bennett. Defendants argue that Lales was terminated because he lied to customers. In contrast, Lales s evidence is sufficient to raise the inference that Lales was subjected to a course of discriminatory conduct by Marxen that culminated in Lales s discharge, with the alleged lie to the customers serving as a convenient means for Lales s termination. Id. at 204-04. That conduct allegedly began with Marxen s use of derogatory remarks toward Lales, then continued with Marxen s alleged rejection of Lales s complaint to him approximately one month before Lales s termination (which was itself allegedly accompanied by another such remark), and culminated with Lales s termination only one day after an aborted attempt by Marxen to terminate him for missing a sales meeting and poor sales performance. These alleged circumstances are sufficient to raise the inference that Marxen utilized his authority as a supervisor to further his alleged discriminatory animus toward Lales by terminating him after he complained a situation to which the Faragher defense would not apply. Cf. Ferraro, 440 F.3d at 102 ( If an official action taken by a supervisor is not part of his discriminatory harassment, it provides no evidence that the supervisor used his agency relation with the employer to further his misconduct. ). -48- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Because there is an issue of material fact as to whether Marxen s harassment culminated in Lales s discharge, the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of JN on the federal harassment claim (COA 5).16 3. Summary judgment was not appropriate on Lales s state harassment claim against JN because HAR § 12-46-175(d) imposes strict liability on an employer for the discriminatory conduct of its supervisory employees Lales argues that the Faragher affirmative defense is not applicable to the state harassment claim because HAR § 12-46175(d) imposes strict liability on employers for actions of their supervisory employees. Defendants, however, argue that the HCRC overstepped its statutory authority in enacting HAR § 12-46175(d), and thus, the Faragher affirmative defense should be adopted. As explained below, HAR § 12-46-175(d) does not contradict or conflict with HRS chapter 378, and the HCRC did not overstep its statutory authority in imposing strict liability on employers for the discriminatory actions of their supervisors. Therefore, the Faragher affirmative defense is not applicable to the state harassment claim. 16 The ICA determined, Here, because the alleged harassment by Marxen did culminate in Lales s discharge, the Faragher affirmative defense did not apply. Lales, 2012 WL 1624013, at *15. To the extent this statement appears to resolve a factual dispute, it would not be proper in reviewing a motion for summary judgment. See Rodriguez v. Nishiki, 65 Haw. 430, 439, 653 P.2d 1145, 1151 (1982) ( It is not within the province of the trial court at summary judgment to resolve factual disputes. ). Nevertheless, the ICA did not err in vacating the circuit court s grant of summary judgment on the harassment claims (COAs 1 and 5) because Lales provided sufficient evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact. -49- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Pursuant to statutory authority, see HRS § 368-3(9) (Supp. 2002) (noting that the HCRC has the authority to adopt rules under chapter 91 ), the HCRC adopted HAR § 12-46-175, which provides, in relevant part: (d) (e) An employer is responsible for its acts and those of its agents and supervisory employees with respect to harassment on the basis of ancestry regardless of whether the specific acts complained of were authorized or even forbidden by the employer and regardless of whether the employer knew or should have known of their occurrence. The [HCRC] will examine the circumstances of the particular employment relationship and the job functions performed by the individual in determining whether an individual acts in a supervisory or agency capacity. With respect to conduct between fellow employees, an employer shall be responsible for acts of harassment in the workplace on the basis of ancestry, where the employer, its agent, or supervisory employee, knows or should have known of the conduct, unless the employer can show that it took immediate and appropriate corrective action. (Emphasis added). HAR § 12-46-175 provides the requirements for an ancestry harassment claim, and specifically distinguishes between supervisory liability and co-worker liability. 175(d) and (e). See HAR §§ 12-46- On one hand, HAR § 12-46-175(d) imposes strict liability on employers for actions of their supervisory employees for ancestry harassment, regardless of whether the acts were forbidden or whether the employer knew about this conduct. On the other hand, HAR § 12-46-175(e) imposes liability for conduct between fellow employees only if the employer, its agents, or -50- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** supervisory employees knew or should have known of the harassment. It is axiomatic that an administrative rule cannot contradict or conflict with the statute it attempts to implement. Agsalud v. Blalack, 67 Haw. 588, 591, 699 P.2d 17, 19 (1985) (citations omitted). Furthermore, an agency s authority to promulgate rules is limited to enacting rules which carry out and further the purposes of the legislation and do not enlarge, alter, or restrict the provisions of the act being administered. 870 (1987). Puana v. Sunn, 69 Haw. 187, 189, 737 P.2d 867, Here, there are no statutory provisions that preclude the HCRC from imposing strict liability on an employer for the actions of its supervisory employees. To the contrary, and as explained further infra, the statutory language provides the HCRC with broad rulemaking authority that authorized the promulgation of the rule at issue here. From its inception, the HCRC was given broad authority to create rules to enforce the State s anti-discrimination laws. In 1988, the legislature enacted the Hawai#i Civil Rights Act. 1988 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 219, § 1 at 387. The intent of the Hawai#i Civil Rights Act was to preserve all existing rights and remedies of the various state anti-discrimination laws,17 and to 17 At the time, the State s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations was the entity tasked with enforcing Hawaii s anti-discrimination laws. Under the department s administrative regulations at the time, (continued...) -51- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** provide a mechanism which provides for a uniform procedure for the enforcement of the State s discrimination laws. 1988 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 219, § 1 at 387 (emphasis added); HRS § 368-1. effectuate this intent, the legislature created the HCRC. To The powers and functions of the HCRC include adopt[ing] rules under chapter 91. HRS § 368-3. In addition, the legislature provided the HCRC with broad discretion to order remedies for violations of the antidiscrimination laws, including: [h]iring, reinstatement, or upgrading of employees with or without back pay[,] HRS § 36817(a)(1) (Supp. 2002), requiring [r]eporting as to the manner of compliance[,] HRS § 368-17(a)(6) (Supp. 2002), and ordering [o]ther relief the commission or the court deem[ed] appropriate. HRS § 368-17(a)(10) (Supp. 2002). Thus, the legislature granted the HCRC broad authority to promulgate and enforce rules that effectuate the State s antidiscrimination laws.18 Indeed, this court has held, an administrative agency can only wield powers expressly or implicitly granted to it by statute. However, it is well established that an administrative agency s authority includes those implied powers that 17 (...continued) employers were held strictly liable for the actions of their supervisory employees. See HAR § 12-23-115(d) (1986). 18 The HCRC s authority to promulgate rules is not without restrictions. Indeed, this court has stated that the HCRC exceeded its statutory authority in promulgating a regulation that allowed its executive director or any interested person to petition the commission for a declaratory ruling because that rule conflicted with a statutory provision. RGIS Inventory Specialist v. Haw. Civil Rights Comm n, 104 Hawai#i 158, 161, 86 P.3d 449, 452 (2004). -52- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** are reasonably necessary to carry out the powers expressly granted. The reason for implied powers is that, as a practical matter, the legislature cannot foresee all the problems incidental to carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the agency. Haole v. State, 111 Hawai#i 144, 152, 140 P.3d 377, 385 (2006) (citation omitted). The HCRC rules implicated in this case were reasonably necessary in interpreting the statute. For example, the legislature did not define the extent of an employer s liability or provide any defenses for discriminatory conduct. To carry out its power of providing a uniform procedure for the enforcement of the State s discrimination laws[,] HRS § 368-1, it was reasonably necessary for the HCRC to clarify these gaps left in the statute. Haole, 111 Hawai#i at 152, 140 P.3d at 385. With regard to HAR §§ 12-46-175(d) and (e), the HCRC clarified the extent to which an employer could be held liable for the actions of its employees, by providing that an employer could be strictly liable for the discriminatory conduct of its supervisory employees. It was within the HCRC s power to distinguish between supervisory employees and co-workers, Haole, 111 Hawai#i at 152, 140 P.3d at 385, and in so doing, the HCRC furthered the purpose of Hawaii s anti-discrimination statute. For the same reasons, these rules do not enlarge, alter, or restrict the provisions of HRS § 378-2. -53- Again, the HCRC s rules *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** merely interpreted the statute to effectuate the legislative purpose.19 See Puana, 69 Haw. at 189, 737 P.2d at 870. Because the HCRC is tasked with enforcing the mandates of HRS § 378-2, and the extent of an employer s liability for the conduct of supervisors and co-workers is not defined by statute, the HCRC s interpretation should be given deference. See Gillan, 119 Hawai#i at 114, 194 P.3d at 1076 ( [I]n the case of . . . ambiguous statutory language, the applicable standard of review regarding an agency s interpretation of its own governing statute requires this court to defer to the agency s expertise and to follow the agency s construction of the statute unless that construction is palpably erroneous. ); In re Water Use Permit Applications, 94 Hawai#i 97, 144, 9 P.3d 409, 456 (2009) 19 The dissenting opinion relies on the Restatement (Second) of Agency § 219 (1958) to conclude that HAR § 12-46-175(d) exceeds the scope of the HCRC s authority. Dissenting opinion at 34-44. Respectfully, however, HAR § 12-46-175(d) is consistent with the theory of agency set forth in the Second Restatement. As the dissenting opinion notes, see dissenting opinion at 39-40, § 219(d) subjects an employer to liability for the conduct of a supervisory employee where, inter alia, that employee was aided in accomplishing the tort by the existence of the agency relation. Similarly, HAR § 12-46-175(d) provides that the HCRC will examine the circumstances of the particular employment relationship and the job functions performed by the individual in determining whether an individual acts in a supervisory or agency capacity. In other words, by its express terms, HAR § 12-46-175(d) provides that the HCRC must determine whether the supervisory employee was aided . . . by the existence of the agency relation before strict liability will be imposed, and does not, as the dissenting opinion suggests, render[] employers liable for the tortious actions of their employees that may not have been aided by the supervisory status of the offending employees. Dissenting opinion at 45. Thus, under the plain language of the rule, the liability of employers for the acts of supervisors is not limitless. For example, where a supervisor has no authority over an employee, because the two work in wholly different parts of the employer s business, it may be improper to find strict employer liability. Meritor, 477 U.S. at 77 (Marshall, J., concurring). The last sentence of HAR § 12-46-175(d) appropriately accounts for such a situation. -54- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** ( [W]here an administrative agency is charged with the responsibility of carrying out the mandate of a statute which contains words of broad and indefinite meaning, courts accord persuasive weight to administrative construction and follow the same, unless the construction is palpably erroneous. (citation omitted)). It is not palpably erroneous for the HCRC to interpret HRS § 378-2 to impose strict liability on employers for the discriminatory conduct of its supervisors. See, e.g., Meritor, 477 U.S. at 76-77 (Marshall, J., concurring) ( [I]t is the authority vested in the supervisor by the employer that enables him to commit the wrong: it is precisely because the supervisor is understood to be clothed with the employer s authority that he is able to impose unwelcome sexual conduct on subordinates. ). Moreover, HRS § 368-1 provides that the intent of the Hawai#i Civil Rights Act, and its creation of the HCRC, was to preserve all existing rights and remedies of the various state anti-discrimination laws. 1988 Haw. Sess. Laws Act 219, § 1 at 387 (emphasis added); HRS § 368-1 (emphasis added). In this regard, prior to the creation of the HCRC, the administrative rules of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations the agency formerly tasked with enforcing Hawaii s antidiscrimination laws held employers strictly liable for the discriminatory actions of their supervisory employees. -55- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** HAR § 12-23-115(d) (1986) provided: An employer is responsible for its acts and those of its agents and supervisory employees with respect to harassment on the basis of ancestry regardless of whether the specific acts complained of were authorized or even forbidden by the employer and regardless of whether the employer knew or should have known of their occurrence. The department will examine the circumstances of the particular employment relationship and the job functions performed by the individual in determining whether an individual acts in a supervisory or agency capacity. The current language of HAR § 12-46-175(d), which the HCRC adopted in 1990, is nearly identical to the language of HAR § 12-23-115(d),20 which existed prior to the creation of the HCRC. When the legislature created the HCRC in 1988, it did not expressly preclude the HCRC from imposing strict liability on employers for the actions of their supervisory employees, as was already authorized under the existing administrative rules of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Given that one of the purposes of creating the HCRC was to preserve all existing rights and remedies, and that the legislature did not expressly foreclose the HCRC from adopting the then existing antidiscrimination rights and remedies, the HCRC did not violate its statutory mandate in adopting HAR § 12-46-175(d). In sum, HAR § 12-46-175(d) imposes strict liability on employers for the discriminatory conduct of their supervisory employees, and thus, the Faragher affirmative defense is not 20 The only difference between the two regulations is the reference to the department in HAR § 12-23-115(d) and commission in HAR § 12-46175(d). -56- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** applicable to HRS chapter 378.21 Accordingly, the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of JN on Lales s state harassment claim. C. There were genuine issues of material fact regarding whether JN s proffered reasons for Lales s termination were pretextual (COAs 2 and 6) In Schefke, this court adopted a tripartite burden- shifting test for retaliation claims under HRS § 378-2(2): (1) the plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case of such retaliation by demonstrating that (a) the plaintiff (i) has opposed any practice forbidden by HRS chapter 378, Employment Practices, Part I, Discriminatory Practices or (ii) has filed a complaint, testified, or assisted in any proceeding respecting the discriminatory practices prohibited under this part, (b) his or her employer, labor organization, or employment agency has . . . discharged, expelled, or otherwise discriminated against the plaintiff, and (c) a causal link has existed between the protected activity and the adverse action; (2) if the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of retaliation, the burden shifts to the defendant to provide a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action; and (3) if the defendant articulates such a reason, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to show evidence demonstrating that the reason given by the defendant is pretextual. 96 Hawai#i at 426, 32 P.3d at 70 (brackets and citations omitted). Similarly, this court described the burden shifting test for retaliation claims brought under Title VII: 21 Contrary to the dissent s suggestion, HAR § 12-46-175(d) indeed allows the HCRC to conduct a case-by-case determination of whether the acts of a supervisor subject the employer to liability. See dissenting opinion at 4243. As noted above, the HCRC is required to examine the circumstances of the employment relationship to determine whether the individual acts in a supervisory or agency capacity. HAR § 12-46-175(d). An examination of the circumstances necessitates analyzing whether the acts of the supervisor appropriately subject the employer to liability. -57- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-1 to 2000e-17 (1994), . . . federal courts have held that, in a prima facie case of retaliation, an employee must show that (1) he or she engaged in a protected activity; (2) his or her employer subjected him or her to an adverse employment action; and (3) a causal link existed between the protected activity and the adverse action. If a plaintiff has asserted a prima facie retaliation claim, the burden shifts to the defendant to articulate a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for its decision. If the defendant articulates such a reason, the plaintiff bears the ultimate burden of demonstrating that the reason was merely a pretext for a discriminatory motive. Schefke, 96 Hawai#i at 425, 32 P.3d at 69 (brackets and citations omitted). Defendants argue that Lales did not submit sufficient evidence regarding his state and federal retaliation claims to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether JN s reason for his firing was pretextual. As discussed further below, Defendants argument is without merit. Because it is not now disputed that Lales established a prima facie case of retaliation, the burden shifted to JN to provide a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for Lales s termination. Schefke, 96 Hawai#i at 426, 32 P.3d at 70. Defendants argued that JN s legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for terminating Lales was that Lales lied to customers when telling them that there was air conditioning in a truck that he sold to them. See Tex. Dep t of Comm. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 256 (1981) ( [T]he employer s burden is satisfied if he simply explains what he has done or produc[es] evidence of -58- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons. ). Lales asserts that this reason was pretextual. Although Defendants presented evidence that contradicted Lales s evidence, Lales s evidence created genuine issues of material fact regarding whether JN s reasons for Lales s termination were pretextual. In his declaration attached to his opposition to JN s motion for summary judgment, Lales stated that he was subjected to derogatory comments about his ancestry and national origin at JN. Lales further asserted that approximately one month before his termination, Lales orally complained to Marxen about the discrimination, and Marxen responded, You Fucking French Bastard, get out of my office[.] One month later, on June 23, 2002, Marxen initially told Lales that he was terminated for not selling enough cars and for missing a meeting.22 Lales met with Marxen and questioned the rationale for his termination, stating that he had not been notified of the meeting and that other employees had lower sales than he did. Marxen then changed his mind and allowed Lales to continue to work the next day. The next day, however, Lales was terminated for allegedly lying to his customers about air 22 Marxen explained that JN regularly uses termination letters to motivate its employees: A lot of times, our terminations are idle threats. A lot of times, they re geared to they re used to motive [sic] the people to get them to go back to work, and laying around and coming in late, that type of thing, which I m not saying that s the case with [] Lales. -59- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** conditioning in the truck he sold them. Lales explicitly denied telling the customers that the truck had air conditioning.23 When considering the evidence in the light most favorable to Lales, see First Ins., 125 Hawai#i at 413-14, 271 P.3d at 1172-73, there are genuine issues of material fact as to the whether the reasons for Lales s termination were pretextual. In Burdine, 450 U.S. at 256, the United States Supreme Court stated that a plaintiff may establish pretext either directly by persuading the court that a discriminatory reason more likely motivated the employer or indirectly by showing that the employer s proffered explanation is unworthy of credence. See also Shoppe v. Gucci Am., Inc., 94 Hawai#i 368, 379, 14 P.3d 1049, 1060 (2000) (citing Burdine, 450 U.S. at 256). In this case, Lales s declaration offers sufficient evidence to raise an issue of fact about whether his termination was pretext for a discriminatory motive, specifically, because of (1) Marxen s allegedly hostile reaction to Lales s oral complaint, (2) the temporal proximity (amount one month) between the complaint and the termination, and (3) the aborted attempt to fire him on the previous day, which, given the surrounding circumstances 23 Although the ICA appeared to rely on Lales s statements that other employees at JN Automotive told the customers that the car had air conditioning, and those employees were not fired, [ROA vol. 11 at 170] these statements appear to be inadmissible hearsay, Hawai#i Rules of Evidence Rule 802, and accordingly, it appears that the ICA erred in considering these statements. However, any such error was harmless because there was still sufficient evidence to raise an issue of material fact as to whether JN s rationale for Lales s termination was pretextual. -60- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** suggested by Lales s declaration, raises an inference of retaliatory intent. Citing Villiarimo v. Aloha Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 1054 (9th Cir. 2002), Defendants argue that the ICA incorrectly accepted that the relevant issue was whether [Lales] had, in fact, lied to the customers, rather than if the reason for terminating [Lales] was false. Whether [Lales] lied or not is not material the question is whether [Defendants] believed that [Lales] had lied. However, Villiarimo is distinguishable from the present case. There, the employee, Reloynne Villiarimo, was a ramp supervisor for Aloha Island Air. Id. at 1058. The airline insisted that it terminated Villiarimo because she violated a rule in connection with an accident that resulted in damage to one of the airline s airplanes, and she had been dishonest during the investigation of the accident. Id. Villiarimo did not dispute that she failed to perform her job satisfactorily, which resulted in damage to the airplane. 1062 n.8. Id. at However, Villiarimo maintained that she was terminated because of her sex and that the reasons offered by the airline for her termination were pretextual. Id. at 1061-63. Villiarimo specifically argued that the airline s reason for her termination changed over time, that three of the airline s witnesses were not credible, and that a state agency had already determined, in the context of unemployment benefits, that she had not been fired for -61- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** work-related misconduct. Id. at 1063. In regard to the credibility of the witnesses, the Ninth Circuit stated that Villiarimo s assertion was unavailing because courts only require that an employer honestly believed its reason for its actions, even if its reason is foolish or trivial or even baseless. Id. (citation omitted). The Ninth Circuit noted that Villiarimo did not present evidence that the airline did not honestly believe its proffered reasons. Id. Defendants rely on this specific portion of Villiarimo to argue that JN honestly believed that it was firing Lales because he lied to customers about the air conditioning in their truck, and thus, this court should affirm the circuit court s grant of summary judgment. Defendants reliance on this portion, however, is misplaced because in the present case, there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether JN honestly believed its reasons for its actions, specifically given that Lales put forth evidence, through his declaration, that indicates an allegedly retaliatory intent on the part of Marxen when he terminated Lales. Accordingly, Defendants reliance on Villiarimo is not persuasive. Accordingly, the ICA did not err in reversing and remanding the circuit court s granting of summary judgment on Lales s retaliation claims against JN. -62- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** D. Lales produced sufficient evidence to raise genuine issues of material fact as to COAs 1, 2, 5, and 6 Defendants also generally challenge the evidence submitted by Lales in opposition to the motions for summary judgment. Defendants argue that because Lales s evidence was faulty, the circuit court s grant of summary judgment should be affirmed. More specifically, Defendants argue that the ICA gravely erred by: (1) largely ignoring the evidence presented by [Defendants], and only viewing [Lales s] evidence in the light most favorable to him; (2) considering inadmissible evidence and uncorroborated selfserving statements submitted by [Lales] in a sham declaration; and (3) considering [Lales s] inadmissible evidence to find that material facts existing so as to preclude summary judgment. As discussed below, Defendants arguments are without merit, and Lales s evidence was sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to all the challenged COAs. 1. The ICA did not improperly ignore evidence presented by Defendants Defendants argue that the ICA ignored evidence that they presented with their motion for summary judgment and relied only on Lales s evidence. Defendants point out that the background section of the ICA s memorandum opinion and the ICA s analysis rely largely on Lales s submissions to the circuit court. As set forth below, the ICA properly viewed the evidence in the light most favorable to Lales. Moreover, to the extent Defendants evidence conflicts with that of Lales s it raises a -63- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** dispute as to issues of material fact, making summary judgment inappropriate. This court has held that, once a summary judgment movant has satisfied its initial burden of producing support for its claim that there is no genuine issue of material fact, the party opposing summary judgment must demonstrate specific facts, as opposed to general allegations, that present a genuine issue worthy of trial. French v. Haw. Pizza Hut, Inc., 105 Hawai#i 462, 470, 99 P.3d 1046, 1054 (2004) (emphasis omitted). The evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. First Ins., 126 Hawai#i at 414, 271 P.3d at 1173. Here, the ICA specifically stated that it was viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Lales. 1624013, at *1 n.6, *15. Lales, 2012 WL The Defendants do not identify any legal authority that would require the ICA to explain how Defendants evidence conflicts with that evidence. Rather, the ICA was required to view the evidence in the light most favorable to Lales to determine whether there were disputed issues of material fact worthy of trial. Id. Here, for example, the ICA stated that it relied on the matters set forth in Lales s declaration in opposition to JN s motion for summary judgment to conclude that Lales was subjected to persistent, derogatory, and unwelcome statements and comments about his ancestry and national origin and that there were genuine issues of material fact -64- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** regarding [Lales s] claims against JN for harassment based on ancestry and national origin discrimination. 1624013, at *16. Lales, 2012 WL These facts were sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact and were, thus, worthy of trial. French, 105 Hawai#i at 470, 99 P.3d at 1054. Thus, Defendants argument that the ICA erred in not considering its evidence and only relying on Lales s evidence is without merit. 2. Lales s declaration was consistent with his prior admissions and deposition statements, and thus, did not constitute a sham affidavit Defendants argue that the ICA erred in relying on Lales s conflicting, contradicting, uncorroborated, and selfserving statements to conclude that there were genuine issues of material fact. Defendants argue that [b]ased on the numerous inconsistencies and contradictions, the circuit court rightly disregarded conflicting portions of [Lales s] Declaration as self-serving and essentially a sham. As explained infra, the circuit court improperly made credibility determinations when it discounted Lales s declaration that was attached to his opposition to JN s motion for summary judgment. Moreover, Lales s declaration was not a sham and is not clearly and unambiguously inconsistent with his statements made in a prior deposition and prior admissions. -65- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Although Defendants argue that the circuit court did not err in explicitly stating that it made a credibility determination, it is clear that in ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must not make credibility determinations. Del Rosario v. Kohanuinui, 52 Haw. 583, 587 n.4, 483 P.2d 181, 183 n.4 (1971) ( The clash of evidence on this point makes a precise factual determination impossible and prompts a consideration of . . . credibility, an improper matter for summary judgment resolution. ). Moreover, Defendants argument relies on a federal doctrine prohibiting sham affidavits. In general, the sham affidavit doctrine applies when the affidavit of a non-moving party in a motion for summary judgment contradicts or is inconsistent with his or her previous deposition testimony. See 10A Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice & Procedure § 2726 (3d ed. 1998). Under this doctrine, a non-moving party generally cannot create a genuine issue of fact simply by submitting an affidavit contradicting his [or her] own prior testimony. Van Asdale v. Int l Game Tech., 577 F.3d 989, 998 (9th Cir. 2009). The purpose of the sham affidavit doctrine is to preserve the utility of summary judgment as a procedure for screening out sham issues of fact. Kennedy v. Allied Ins. Mut. Co., 952 F.2d 262, 266 (9th Cir. 1991) (quoting Foster v. Arcata -66- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Assocs., Inc., 772 F.2d 1453, 1462 (9th Cir. 1985)); see also Van Asdale, 577 F.3d at 998. However, the sham affidavit doctrine does not prohibit the non-moving party from elaborating upon, explaining, or clarifying prior testimony elicited by opposing counsel on deposition in his or her affidavit. F.3d at 999 (citation omitted). Van Asdale, 577 Furthermore, the sham affidavit doctrine does not prohibit attempts by the non-moving party to clarify inconsistencies that result from an honest discrepancy, mistake, or newly discovered evidence. Id. (citation omitted). The Ninth Circuit has held that two requirements must be met before the court can strike an affidavit and grant summary judgment: (1) the trial court must make a factual determination that the contradiction was indeed a sham produced to avoid summary judgment and (2) the inconsistencies have to be clear and unambiguous to justify striking the affidavit. Id. at 998-99. If either requirement is not met, the court must consider the non-moving party s affidavit in its determination to grant or deny summary judgment. Id. at 999. This court has not explicitly adopted or rejected the sham affidavit doctrine as set forth by the Ninth Circuit, and we need not resolve this issue here. Even assuming arguendo that the sham affidavit doctrine is available, it would not be applicable in the instant case because Lales s declaration was -67- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** not clearly and unambiguously inconsistent with his prior deposition and admissions. Here, Defendants argue that the circuit court properly made a credibility determination regarding numerous factual inconsistencies in [Lales s] own admissions that undermine his claims[,] such as: (1) the allegedly changing circumstances regarding Lales s meeting with Marxen, in which Lales requested to be transferred from Martinez s supervision, and (2) Lales s alleged inconsistent statements regarding his consent to the use of the name Frenchy. However, these inconsistencies are not so clearly and unambiguously inconsistent that Lales s declaration would be disregarded under the sham affidavit doctrine. Id. at 998-99. Defendants argue that Lales s rendition of his conversation with Marxen regarding changing sales teams was inconsistent because he admitted that he requested a transfer from Martinez s sales team because of personality conflicts, and also stated in his prior deposition that he told [] Marxen that [he] was really tired of [] Martinez[ s] behavior toward [him], the way he treated [him], the way he would almost on a daily basis threaten[] [him] physically to go to the boneyard and retaliat[ed] against [him] on a daily basis. However, these statements are not inconsistent with Lales s subsequent declaration, wherein Lales stated, I verbally complained to [] -68- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** Marxen about the harassment and [] Martinez and that he asked to be transferred from Martinez s team because of Martinez s behavior toward him, which included derogatory remarks toward Lales, such as French fries, French are [wimps], French do not know how to fight, French people stink, and French women are whores[.] Thus, Lales s statements regarding his conversation with Marxen were not inconsistent inasmuch as the declaration merely clarified his prior statements. Defendants also contend that Lales s declaration is inconsistent with Lales s admission that he never submitted complaints to management regarding the use of the nickname Frenchy[,] and a deposition in which Lales stated that he used the name Frenchy and signed this nickname on documents. Lales stated in his subsequent declaration that he never consented to any of these discriminatory remarks made concerning [his] national origin/ancestry or the derogatory treatment of [him] by Defendant[,] and that he felt like the name Frenchy was offensive. Lales s statement in his declaration is not inconsistent with his prior admission and statement in his deposition. First, contrary to Defendants characterization of Lales s admission, Lales only admitted that he never submitted written complaints to management regarding the use of the name, Frenchy. Second, in a deposition Lales stated that he probably did refer to himself as Frenchy, but explained that he -69- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** did so out of fear of retaliation. Therefore, it is not inconsistent for Lales to state in his declaration that he did not consent to being called Frenchy. Lales clearly stated in his admission that he did not file a written complaint, but stated that he orally complained, and he expressly stated a few times in his deposition that he used the name Frenchy because of his fear of retaliation. Lales s declaration explained the prior statements that he made. Accordingly, the challenged portions of the declaration are not clearly and unambiguously inconsistent with Lales s prior deposition statements and admissions. Thus, Lales s declaration was not a sham. 3. The ICA did not improperly rely on inadmissible evidence Defendants contend that the ICA improperly relied on speculation and conclusory statements by Lales and also evidence that was conflicting and inadmissible. Defendants appear to assert that the ICA improperly relied on the following exhibits and statements that were attached to Lales s opposition to JN s motion for summary judgment: (1) an EEOC interview and statements, which were not authenticated or sworn to; (2) an EEOC Determination letter, which Defendants assert was hearsay; (3) a complaint of another employee against JN, which Defendants also assert was hearsay; (4) copies of newspaper and blog articles; and (5) Lales s statement in his declaration that other employees -70- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** lied to the customers about the air conditioning and were not fired. Also, Defendants contend that Lales made many inadmissible, conclusory statements in his declaration that were not based on personal knowledge, such as: (1) claiming that he was hired by Carlton Hill; (2) asserting that he was transferred by Paul Tucker; and (3) using the legal terms discriminated and retaliation. As discussed below, the ICA did not rely on inadmissible evidence in its determination. Hawai#i Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) Rule 56(e) (2000), provides, in relevant part: Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein. Sworn or certified copies of all papers or parts thereof referred to in an affidavit shall be attached thereto or served therewith. The court may permit affidavits to be supplemented or opposed by depositions, answers to interrogatories, or further affidavits. When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the adverse party s pleading, but the adverse party s response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If the adverse party does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against the adverse party. (Emphasis added). Here, the ICA did not rely on the EEOC interview and statements, EEOC Determination letter, complaint of a fellow employee, or newspaper and blog articles in concluding that Defendants were not entitled to summary judgment, and the ICA did not mention these exhibits in its memorandum opinion. -71- See Lales, *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** 2012 WL 1624013, at **1-18. The ICA relied only on Lales s declarations to determine that there were genuine issues of material fact regarding Lales s claims against JN for harassment based on ancestry and national origin discrimination. Id. at *16. As to the retaliation claims, the ICA relied on Lales s statement that he complained to Marxen about the harassment, and that Lales was subsequently terminated within one month of reporting the alleged discriminatory conduct. Id. at *17. Although the ICA did not specifically state what it relied on to conclude that there was an issue of material fact as to whether JN s proffered reasons for Lales s termination were pretextual, Lales stated in his declaration that he denied telling the customers that the truck had air conditioning. All these statements by Lales would be admissible because they are from his personal knowledge. See HRCP Rule 56(e). In addition, the allegedly improper evidence was not necessary to the ICA s outcome. Accordingly, Defendants arguments regarding this evidence are misplaced. With regard to Defendants argument that Lales s Declaration contained inadmissible conclusory statements, those alleged conclusory statements are irrelevant because the ICA did not rely on them in making its determination to vacate summary judgment. In regard to the claim that Lales used the legal terms -72- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** discriminated and retaliation throughout his declaration, again, there is no indication that the ICA relied on Lales s use of these terms in making its determination. Thus, the ICA did not rely on inadmissible evidence to conclude that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment. E. The circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of JN on COA 4 Defendants assert that the ICA erred in vacating summary judgment in favor of JN on COA 4 because the remedies available to Lales in COA 4 were covered by remedies in HRS chapter 378, and accordingly, the circuit court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of JN on COA 4. As discussed below, Defendants assertion has merit if the public policy claim was derived from the provisions of HRS chapter 378. However, inasmuch as the parties did not address the basis for Lales s public policy claim in relation to JN s motion for summary judgment, the basis for COA 4 is unclear, and thus, the ICA did not err in vacating summary judgment. Although JN challenged all of Lales s claims in its motion for summary judgment, it did not provide any argument regarding why the circuit court should have granted summary judgment on COA 4 in its memorandum in support of his motion. the hearing on JN s motion for summary judgment and after being At asked by Lales s counsel if the circuit court also ruled on the -73- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** public policy count, the circuit court stated, I am granting Summary Judgment on all counts. The public policy count runs . . . together with the reasoning that I have previously cited. The circuit court did not address the public policy issue in its findings of fact and conclusions of law. In Ralston, this court described the burden in motions for summary judgment, First, the moving party has the burden of producing support for its claim that: (1) no genuine issue of material fact exists with respect to the essential elements of the claim or defense which the motion seeks to establish or which the motion questions; and (2) based on the undisputed facts, it is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. Only when the moving party satisfies its initial burden of production does the burden shift to the nonmoving party to respond to the motion for summary judgment and demonstrate specific facts, as opposed to general allegations, that present a genuine issue worthy of trial. 129 Hawai#i at 56-57, 292 P.3d at 1286-87 (emphasis added). In the instant case, JN never provided support for its motion for summary judgment on the public policy claim. As such, Lales was not required to present evidence sufficient to raise an issue of material fact as to whether JN s termination of Lales violated public policy. Id. Moreover, Lales was not given an opportunity to respond to any arguments regarding the public policy claim. See Edwards v. Honeywell, Inc., 960 F.2d 673, 674 (7th Cir. 1992) (noting that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment on grounds to which [the non-moving party] was given either an inadequate opportunity or no opportunity to respond ). Thus, the ICA did not err in vacating the circuit -74- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** court s grant of summary judgment in favor of JN on the public policy claim. In their application, Defendants contend that Lales s public policy claim is based on the same factual basis as the counts based in HRS chapter 378. Defendants cite to the first amended complaint and argue that Lales did not allege any new facts or any new elements in his Amended Complaint relating to [COA] 4. In his first amended complaint, Lales reincorporate[d] and reallege[d] paragraphs 1 through 27 and asserted that his termination was in violation of public policy for which [Defendants] are liable. Although it may appear that the public policy claim would be based on the same facts as the HRS chapter 378 claims, the record is unclear as to the scope of the public policy claim. As Defendants and ICA note, however, should the circuit court determine on remand that the public policy claim is indeed derived from HRS chapter 378, such a claim would be barred. In Takaki v. Allied Machinery Corporation, the ICA stated, If . . . the statutory or regulatory provisions which evidence the public policy themselves provide a remedy for the wrongful discharge, provision of a further remedy under the public policy exception is unnecessary. 87 Hawai#i 57, 63, 951 P.2d 507, 513 (App. 1998); see also Ross v. Stouffer Hotel Co., 76 Hawai#i 454, 464, 879 P.2d 1037, 1047 (1994) (noting that a claim for wrongful -75- *** FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER *** termination in violation of public policy cannot be asserted where the policy sought to be vindicated is already embodied in a statute providing its own remedy for its violation ). Therefore, the ICA did not err in vacating the circuit court s granting of summary judgment in favor of JN on the public policy claim. IV. Conclusion In sum, summary judgment in favor of Marxen on COAs 1 and 2 was appropriate in this case. However, summary judgment in favor of JN on COAs 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, was inappropriate. Therefore, we affirm in part and vacate in part the ICA s judgment and remand to the circuit court for further proceedings. Christopher J. Muzzi for petitioner /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald /s/ Paula A. Nakayama Daphne E. Barbee for respondent /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna /s/ R. Mark Browning -76-
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
