Burnett v. Tyco Corporation
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
203 F.3d 980 (2000)
- Written by Caitlinn Raimo, JD
Facts
Jenny Burnett (plaintiff) was an employee at Grinnell Corporation (Grinnell) (defendant), a subsidiary of Tyco Corporation (Tyco) (defendant). According to Burnett, Grinnell’s personnel manager, Jim Phillips, engaged in three instances of sexual harassment directed toward her: (1) during a meeting in July 1994, Phillips put a pack of cigarettes and a lighter under Burnett’s tank top and bra strap; (2) during a meeting two weeks later, Phillips made a comment about Burnett losing her “cherry”; and (3) in December 1994, Phillips made a lewd comment regarding a Christmas sweater Burnett wore. Burnett sued, contending that Phillips’s statements and conduct created a hostile work environment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). Grinnell and Tyco moved for summary judgment, which the district court granted. Burnett appealed, contending that the district court erred in finding there was no genuine issue of material fact as to whether the work environment at Grinnell was objectively hostile.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Siler, J.)
Dissent (Martin, C.J.)
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