Frances F. Shand, Plaintiff-appellant, v. University of Ca, Regents, Lawrence Livermore Nationallaboratory, Defendant-appellee, 2 F.3d 1158 (9th Cir. 1993)

MEMORANDUM^** 

Frances F. Shand appeals pro se from the district court's Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b) (6) dismissal of her Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA") complaint alleging that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the University of California (collectively "Livermore") harassed her in retaliation for filing a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"). Shand contends the district court erred by finding that she failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. We review de novo, Arcade Water District v. United States, 940 F.2d 1265, 1267 (9th Cir. 1991), and we affirm.

29 U.S.C. § 623(d) makes it unlawful to discriminate against an employee in retaliation for the employee's participation in any investigation or proceeding under the ADEA. 29 U.S.C. § 623(d). To establish a retaliation claim, Shand must allege facts showing that she was harassed following her engagement in protected activity of which the employer was aware. See Cohen v. Fred Meyer, Inc., 686 F.2d 793, 797 (9th Cir. 1982) (retaliation claim under Title VII); see also Merrick v. Farmers Ins., 892 F.2d 1434, 1441 (9th Cir. 1990) (applying Title VII discrimination case law to ADEA retaliation case). Conclusory allegations unsupported by the facts will not defeat a Rule 12(b) (6) dismissal. See Jones v. Community Redevelopment Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984).

On April 12, 1990, Shand alleged the following facts in her retaliation complaint filed with the EEOC. On January 22, 1990, she filed an age discrimination complaint with the EEOC regarding the "two-on-one" evaluation meeting utilized by Livermore. On January 25, 1990, Shand's supervisor threatened to take action against her if she did not agree to the "two-on-one" meeting. The threats caused an irregular heartbeat for which Shand had to seek medical treatment. Shand believed that the EEOC had notified Livermore regarding her first complaint on the day she filed it and that the supervisor's threats were in retaliation for her filing the first complaint. On January 30, 1990, Shand participated in the "two-on-one" evaluation.

In response to Shand's allegations, Livermore introduced a "notification-of-complaint" letter, dated January 31, 1990, which was received from the EEOC on February 5, 1990. On the basis of this letter, the district court found that Shand had failed to show that the supervisor had knowledge of Shand's first discrimination complaint prior to the alleged threats. We agree.

Shand's general belief, without any factual allegations, that Livermore was aware of her EEOC charge prior to the alleged threats does not support a cognizable retaliation claim. See Jones, 733 F.2d at 649-50. Therefore, the district court did not err by finding that Shand failed to state a retaliation claim and properly dismissed her complaint.¹ 

AFFIRMED.