Smith v. International Paper Co.

GRUENDER, Circuit Judge.

Lee Smith appeals the district court’s 1 grant of International Paper Company’s (“IP”) motion for summary judgment on his claim that IP retaliated against him by terminating his employment because he complained about his supervisor’s harassment. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

Lee Smith, an African-American man, worked for IP from August 23, 1999, to January 6, 2003. George Boyette, a Caucasian man, began supervising Smith, then a big chipper operator, in August 2001. Smith claimed that Boyette regularly yelled and cursed at him during his employment. On September 3, 2001,…