Feliciano v. El Conquistador, 218 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2000). · Go Syfert
Feliciano v. El Conquistador, 218 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2000). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“in evaluating whether el conquistador's stated reason for firing her was pretextual, the question is not whether feliciano was actually performing below expectations, but whether el conquistador believed that she was.”
417 citation events (402 in the last 25 years) across 16 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Miller v. NH Dept. of Corrections (nhd, 2001-11-13)
Treatment trajectory · 2000 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2000 2013 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Miller v. NH Dept. of Corrections (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
D.N.H. · 2001 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
in evaluating whether el conquistador's stated reason for firing her was pretextual, the question is not whether feliciano was actually performing below expectations, but whether el conquistador believed that she was.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Josian Marrero-Valentín v. Puerto Rico CVS Pharmacy LLC; ET AL.
D.P.R. · 2026 · confidence medium
It cannot rely “upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir.2000)(quoting Medina-Muñoz v. R.J.
cited Cited as authority (rule) José González-Ortiz, et al. v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, et al.
D.P.R. · 2026 · confidence medium
Corp., 331 F.3d 166, 173 (1st Cir. 2003) (quoting Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000)) (internal quotations omitted). 3.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) John B. Cruz Construction Co., Inc. v. Beacon Communities Corp.
1st Cir. · 2026 · confidence medium
In her view, "Cruz Construction did not meet the project schedule, had poor workmanship, and did not take into consideration how its work and failure to meet schedule obligations impacted [Camden] residents." In response to this record, Cruz Construction contends that Beacon "resented Cruz's participation" "[f]rom the outset" and "exaggerated small issues into large ones." But in discrimination cases, courts do not "assess[] the merits -- or even the rationality -- of employers' nondiscriminatory business decisions." Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 8 …
cited Cited as authority (rule) Casillas-Guardiola v. Bayer Puerto Rico, Inc.
D.P.R. · 2025 · confidence medium
Club, 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Torres v. Allied Pilots Association
D.P.R. · 2025 · confidence medium
It cannot rely “upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir.2000)(quoting Medina-Muñoz v. R.J.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Brooks v. SIMOS Insourcing Solutions LLC
D. Mass. · 2025 · confidence medium
Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000) (citations omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Quintana-Dieppa v. Department of the Army
1st Cir. · 2025 · confidence medium
Auth., 977 F.3d 20 , 34-35 (1st Cir. 2020) (quotation marks omitted) (citing Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 8, 10 (1st Cir. 2000)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jiménez Soto y otros v. Carolina Catering Corp. y otros
prsupreme · 2025 · confidence medium
Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1er Cir. 2000); Mulero-Rodriguez v. Ponte, Inc., 98 F.3d 670, 673 (1er Cir. 1996); Lipsett v. University of Puerto Rico, 864 F.2d 881, 899 (1er Cir. 1988).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ripoli v. State of Rhode Island Department of Human Services
1st Cir. · 2024 · confidence medium
"One size does not fit all, and the inquiry into pretext is the kind of inquiry in which 'everything depends on the individual facts.'" Id. (quoting Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 7 (1st Cir. 2000)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Perez-Abreu v. Metropol Hato Rey, LLC (2×)
D.P.R. · 2024 · confidence medium
“It is the settled law of this circuit that to survive a motion for summary judgment on a Title VII disparate treatment claim, a plaintiff must produce evidence that: (1) the employer's articulated reason for laying off the plaintiff is a pretext; and (2) the true reason is discriminatory animus.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000).
cited Cited as authority (rule) O'Sullivan v. Strategus RG, Inc.
D. Mass. · 2024 · confidence medium
Corp., 331 F.3d 166, 173 (1st Cir. 2003) (quoting Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Kinzer v. Whole Foods Market, Inc.
1st Cir. · 2024 · confidence medium
Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000) (quoting Thomas v. Eastman Kodak Co., 183 F.3d 38, 56 (1st Cir. 1999)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kurland v. City of Providence
D.R.I. · 2024 · confidence medium
The court views the facts at summary judgment “in the light most favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (st Cir. 2000) (citing Mulero—Rodriguez v. Ponte, Inc., 98 F.3d 670, 672 (1st Cir. 1996)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) FAZELI, MD v. NORTHBRIDGE STROUDWATER LODGE II LLC
D. Me. · 2023 · confidence medium
The accused employer can rebut that presumption by articulating “‘a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for its adverse employment action’ by identifying enough admissible evidence to ‘support a [rational] finding that unlawful discrimination was not the cause of the employment action.’” Straughn v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 250 F.3d 23, 33 (1st Cir. 2001) (alteration in original) (internal citations omitted) (first quoting Rodriguez-Cuervos v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 181 F.3d 15, 19 (1st Cir. 1999); then quoting Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Medero-Gonzalez v. The Baldwin School of Puerto Rico, Inc.
D.P.R. · 2023 · confidence medium
Even in cases of employment discrimination where courts must parse “elusive concepts such as motive or intent,” summary judgment is appropriate where the nonmovant relies only “upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000)(quoting Medina-Muñoz v. R.J.
cited Cited as authority (rule) O'Horo v. Boston Medical Center Corp.
D. Mass. · 2023 · confidence medium
Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, at 5 (1st Cir. 2000).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Citizens Bank, N.A.
D.R.I. · 2023 · confidence medium
Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Citizens Bank, N.A.
D.R.I. · 2023 · confidence medium
In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must examine the record evidence “in the light most favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) BAILEY v. DEJOY
D. Me. · 2023 · confidence medium
The Court need not reach this question here because it concludes USPS had a legitimate reason for evaluating, separating, and not rehiring Ms. Bailey as it did. selecting her for a continued position at USPS.13 To rebut a prima facie case of disparate treatment, USPS must “‘clearly set forth, through the introduction of admissible evidence, reasons for its actions which, if believed by the trier of fact, would support a finding that unlawful discrimination was not the cause of the employment action.’” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5-6 (1st C…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ortiz-Nieves v. Bernhardt
D.P.R. · 2022 · confidence medium
Once the employer meets his burden of production, the burden shifts back to plaintiff to demonstrate that the reasons proffered were merely pretextual, or a “coverup,” for a “discriminatory decision.” See Feliciano de la Cruz, 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000) (internal citations and quotations omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Oliver v. Providence Water Supply Board
D.R.I. · 2022 · confidence medium
In employment cases, summary judgment is appropriate when the party opposing the motion “rests merely upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000); Bonilla v. Electrolizing, Inc., 607 F. Supp. 2d 307, 314 (D.R.I. 2009).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Chisholm v. City of Warwick
D.R.I. · 2022 · confidence medium
In employment cases, summary judgment is appropriate when the party opposing the motion “rests merely upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Cty Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000); Bonilla v. Electrolizing, Inc., 607 F. Supp. 2d 307, 314 (D.R.I. 2009).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Carvalho v. Santander Bank, N.A.
D.R.I. · 2021 · confidence medium
The burden then shifts back to Ms, Carvalho to show that the reason proffered was a pretext or “a coverup” for a “discriminatory action.” McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 805 , At this third step, Ms. Carvalho’s burden of producing evidence to rebut Santander’s stated reason for its employment action “merges with the ultimate burden of persuading the court that she has been the victim of intentional discrimination.” Burdine, 450 U.S. at 256 ; Feliciano de la Cruz v. Hl Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5-6 (1st Cir. 2000)), The Court therefore must decide whether Ms…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Sweeney v. Santander Bank, N.A.
D. Mass. · 2021 · confidence medium
Corp., 331 F.3d 166, 173 (1st Cir. 2003) (quoting Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Taite v. Bridgewater State University
1st Cir. · 2021 · confidence medium
We keep our discussion brief because "[t]he same evidence used to show pretext can support a finding of discriminatory animus if it enables a factfinder 'reasonably to - 23 - infer that unlawful discrimination was a determinative factor in the adverse employment action.'" Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000) (quoting Thomas v. Eastman Kodak Co., 183 F.3d 38, 57 (1st Cir. 1999)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Staples v. Verizon Data Services, LLC
D. Mass. · 2021 · confidence medium
Corp., 331 F.3d 166, 173 (1st Cir. 2003) (quoting Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Alston v. Town of Brookline, MA
1st Cir. · 2021 · confidence medium
One size does not fit all, and the inquiry into pretext is the kind of inquiry in which "everything depends on the individual facts." Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 7 (1st Cir. 2000) (quoting Thomas v. Eastman Kodak Co., 183 F.3d 38, 58 (1st Cir. 1999)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Caesar v. AAA Northeast
D.R.I. · 2021 · confidence medium
In employment cases, summary judgment is appropriate when the party opposing the motion “rests merely upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Plesha v. Wolf
D.P.R. · 2021 · confidence medium
Feliciano de la 6 Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000) (quoting McDonnell 7 Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802 (1973)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hod v. The General Hospital Corporation (2×) also: Cited "see"
D. Mass. · 2021 · confidence medium
“Although evidence of national origin animus need not be of the smoking gun variety . . . the totality of the circumstances must permit a reasonable inference that the employer’s justification for the challenged action was a pretext for discrimination.” Id. at 8 (alterations and internal citation omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Airway Leasing, LLC v. MTGLQ Investors, L.P.
D.R.I. · 2021 · confidence medium
P. 56 motion for summary judgment, the court must examine the record evidence “in the light most favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Airway Leasing, LLC v. MTGLQ Investors, L.P.
D.R.I. · 2021 · confidence medium
P. 56 motion for summary judgment, the court must examine the record evidence “in the light most favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lopez-Rosario v. Programa Seasonal Head Start
1st Cir. · 2021 · confidence medium
Sheriff's Dep't, 659 F.3d 101, 106 (1st Cir. 2011) (quoting - 8 - Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000)) (explaining that in employment discrimination cases, "[s]imilarly situated candidates must share 'roughly equivalent qualifications to perform substantially the same work'").
discussed Cited as authority (rule) ALMODOVAR v. WILKIE
D. Me. · 2020 · confidence medium
Finally, “[o]nce the employer offers a nondiscriminatory reason for its action, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to show that the reason proffered was a ‘cover-up’ for a ‘discriminatory decision.’” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & County Club, 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000) (quoting McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Irvin Joseph v. P Old Dutch Mustard
D.N.H. · 2020 · confidence medium
Success depends on “persuading the [factfinder] that [the plaintiff] has been the victim of intentional discrimination.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 6 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000) (quoting Tex. Dep’t of Cmty. Affs. v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 256 (1981)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Joseph v. Old Dutch Mustard
D.N.H. · 2020 · confidence medium
Success depends on “persuading the [factfinder] that [the plaintiff] has been the victim of intentional discrimination.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000) (quoting Tex. Dep’t of Cmty. Affs. v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 256 (1981)).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Henderson v. MBTA (5×) also: Cited "see"
1st Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
Henderson independently has not met his burden to produce "evidence . . . permit[ting] a factfinder reasonably to infer that unlawful discrimination was a determinative factor in the [MBTA]'s decision." Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 8 (1st Cir. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Colarusso v. FedEx Corporate Services, Inc. (2×)
D. Mass. · 2020 · confidence medium
“The defendant must clearly set forth, through the introduction of admissible evidence, reasons for its actions which, if believed by the trier of fact, would support a finding that unlawful discrimination was not the cause of the employment action.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000) (citing St.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Drummond v. Siemens Industry, Inc.
D.R.I. · 2020 · confidence medium
In employment cases, summary judgment is appropriate when the party opposing the motion “rests merely upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000); Bonilla v. Electrolizing, Inc., 607 F. Supp. 2d 307, 314 (D.R.I. 2009).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Alicea v. Veteran's Affairs Adm. (2×) also: Cited "see"
D.P.R. · 2020 · confidence medium
To do so, “[t]he defendant must clearly set forth, through the introduction of admissible evidence, reasons for its actions which, if believed by the trier of fact, would support a finding that unlawful discrimination was not the cause of the employment action.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, 218 F. 3d 1, 5-6 (1st Cir. 2000) (quoting St.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Buerman v. Witkowski
D.R.I. · 2020 · confidence medium
In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must examine the record evidence “in the light most favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences 2 New Penn makes this claim pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 28-35-58, which provides that if an employee has been paid workers’ compensation benefits, “the person by whom the compensation was paid shall be entitled to indemnity from the person liable to pay damages, and to the extent of that indemnity shall be subrogated to the rights of the employee to recover those damages.” in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. E…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Theidon v. Harvard University
1st Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
Corp., 331 F.3d 166, 173 (1st Cir. 2003) (quoting Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000)). 34Theidon never explains why, in her opinion, Harvard's internal communications among University leaders, including the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, regarding her complaints of bias would have been inappropriate merely because they came up again during her tenure review. - 55 - 4.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Continental Casualty Company v. Caramadre
D.R.I. · 2020 · confidence medium
P. 56 motion for summary judgment, the court must examine the record evidence “in the light most favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000) (citing Mulero-Rodriguez v. Ponte, Inc., 98 F.3d 670, 672 (1st Cir. 1996)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Tortorella v. Computer Sciences Corporation
D.R.I. · 2020 · confidence medium
In employment cases, summary judgment is appropriate when the party opposing the motion “rests merely upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000); Bonilla v. Electrolizing, Inc., 607 F. Supp. 2d 307, 314 (D.R.I. 2009).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Padilla v. PNC Bank
D.R.I. · 2020 · confidence medium
In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must examine the record evidence “in the light most favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. Kl Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (st Cir. 2000) (citing Mulero—Rodriguez v. Ponte, Inc., 98 F.3d 670, 672 (1st Cir. 1996)). “[W]hen the facts support plausible but conflicting inferences on a pivotal issue in the case, the judge may not choose between those inferences at the summary judgment stage.” Coyne v. Taber Partners [, 53 F.3d 454, 460 (1st Cir…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Saltzman v. Whisper Yacht, Ltd.
D.R.I. · 2019 · confidence medium
In ruling on a motion for summary judgment,6 the court must examine the record evidence “in the light most favorable to, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000) (citing Mulero-Rodriguez v. Ponte, Inc., 98 F.3d 670, 672 (1st Cir. 1996)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ferrer-Marrero v. Misey Restaurant, Inc.
D.P.R. · 2019 · confidence medium
The First Circuit has recognized that “there is no ‘mechanical formula’ for finding pretext.” Che v. MBTA, 342 F.3d 31, 39 (1st Cir. 2003) (quoting Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2000)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lima v. East Providence
D.R.I. · 2019 · confidence medium
In employment cases, summary judgment is appropriate when the party opposing the motion “rests merely upon conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000); Bonilla v. Electrolizing, Inc., 607 F. Supp. 2d 307, 314 (D.R.I. 2009).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Reyes-Caballero v. Oriental Bank
D.P.R. · 2019 · confidence medium
While bearing in mind 24 1 that at this stage the facts must be viewed “in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party,” 2 Feliciano de la Cruz v. El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, 218 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2000), the 3 Court deems as uncontested the following proposed facts denied or qualified by Plaintiff: 10, 19, 31, 4 32, 33, 34, 39, 40, 42, 53, 56, 64, 65, 66, 68, 75, 76, 79 and 80. 5 Generally, Plaintiff did not properly contest these facts because their propositions were not 6 strictly limited to the issues raised by Defendant and, in other instances, a mere corroboration int…
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Feliciano
v.
El Conquistador
99-1810.
Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Jun 20, 2000.
218 F.3d 1
Cited by 9 opinions  |  Published

United States Court of Appeals For the First Circuit

No. 99-1810

MARIA D. FELICIANO DE LA CRUZ, ERASMO JIMENEZ, AND THEIR CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP, Plaintiffs, Appellants, v. EL CONQUISTADOR RESORT AND COUNTRY CLUB AND HUGH A. ANDREWS Defendants, Appellees.

ERRATA SHEET

The opinion of this court issued June 6, 2000 is amended as follows:

On the cover page, in the list of counsel, “McConnell Validés” should be “McConnell Valdés.”