I can't say whether Angela Powell-Puckett had any genuine claim of discrimination, retaliation or harassment against her former employer, AK Steel Corporation. I do know that Powell-Puckett's deposition is a textbook example of how a plaintiff can throw away whatever case she had to begin with. Here's a brief excerpt from the Sixth Circuit's opinion drawn from Powell-Puckett's depositition in which she simply refuses to testify about her own case:
Q: Why do you believe Bill Belding discriminated against you? Tell the court why.
A: Becuase I was a replacement worker.
* * * * *
Q: Any other reason why you think he discriminated against you besides you were a replacement worker?
A: I don't recall at this time.
Q: Okay. Any other reasons why you think that Bill Belding discriminated against you?
A: Don't recall at this time.
Q: Okay. Any other reasons why you think that Bill Belding harassed you beause of your race?
A: Retaliation
* * * * *
Q: All right. Well, ... tell me how he harassed you because of your race.
A: I don't recall at this time.
Q: Okay. Tell me how he retaliated against you because of your race.
A: I don't recall at this time.
Q: Okay. Tell me why you think aybody in supervision at AK Steel discriminated against you because of your race.
A: I don't recall at this time.
Q: Tell me why you think anybody in management discriminated agains you becuase of your gender.
A: I don't recall.
Q: Okay. Tell me why you think anybody in AK Steel management rtaliated against you because of any protected activity you engaged in.
A: Don't recall.
* * * * *
Q: What proof do you have ... that the company fired you because of your filings with the EEOC?
A: That's just what I feel.
Q: Do you have any other reasons why you feel that way?
A: I have plenty of reasons.
Q: Well, now is the time to tell them.
A: Don't recall at this time.
These are all appropriate questions, except the one that asks what "proof" Powell-Puckett has to present, which is simply formed improperly. Plaintiffs must be advocates for themselves at their deposition; if they can't or won't their case will get thrown out of court just like this one.
The case is Powell-Puckett v. AK Steel Corporation, No 12-4424 (December 2, 2013).
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