Holmes v. IBM

DECISION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

McMAHON, District Judge.

Introduction

Plaintiff Cindy Holmes, an African-American woman, was hired to serve as a Production Technician by defendant IBM in July 2000. IBM utilized an employee evaluation system by which employees were assigned a “band” from 1 to 10 according to their skills, contributions, and impact. Holmes, who had worked for IBM from 1980 to 1993 before being re-hired in 2000, was re-hired as a Band 3 employee.

From 2000 to 2006, Holmes was not promoted to Band 4, despite repeatedly seeking such a promotion.…