Julie Gallagher v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

In 2002 Julie Gallagher (plaintiff) was hired as a sales representative at C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (the company) (defendant). Gallagher was frequently called a “bitch” by her coworkers and endured cruel comments about her weight. Because of the company’s open floor plan and use of cubicles, Gallagher often overheard her coworkers’ conversations, during which females were described in a vulgar manner. Gallagher was horrified by her coworkers’ behavior and left the office crying every day. Gallagher filed a Title VII complaint in federal district court against the company. Gallagher claimed that she was subjected to harassment based on sex and that the harassment created a hostile work environment. The company argued that much of the conduct of which Gallagher complained was not directed at her and would have taken place regardless of Gallagher’s presence or sex. The company claimed that, therefore, the offensive conduct was not based on sex. The district court agreed. The district court also held that Gallagher had failed to demonstrate that the harassment was subjectively and objectively severe and pervasive and that it had interfered with her job performance, because Gallagher continued to satisfy her work requirements. The district court granted summary judgment in the company’s favor. The matter was appealed.