{ "id": 291560, "name": "INTERSTATE MATERIAL CORPORATION, Petitioner-Appellant, v. THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION et al., Respondents-Appellees", "name_abbreviation": "Interstate Material Corp. v. Human Rights Commission", "decision_date": "1995-08-25", "docket_number": "No. 1\u201493\u20140920", "first_page": "1014", "last_page": "1026", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "274 Ill. App. 3d 1014" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "438 N.E.2d 458", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "107 Ill. App. 3d 864", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3020130 ], "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/107/0864-01" ] }, { "cite": "523 N.E.2d 5", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "168 Ill. App. 3d 494", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3512315 ], "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/168/0494-01" ] }, { "cite": "700 F. Supp. 67", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. 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App. 3d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "541 N.E.2d 1248", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "184 Ill. App. 3d 339", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2640204 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/184/0339-01" ] }, { "cite": "606 N.E.2d 1111", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "153 Ill. 2d 76", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4738801 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/153/0076-01" ] }, { "cite": "639 N.E.2d 1318", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "266 Ill. App. 3d 693", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 887299 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "698" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/266/0693-01" ] }, { "cite": "524 N.E.2d 1172", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "171 Ill. App. 3d 189", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3617961 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/171/0189-01" ] }, { "cite": "460 U.S. 711", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6198755 ], "weight": 6, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "716" }, { "page": "411" }, { "page": "1482" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/460/0711-01" ] }, { "cite": "846 F.2d 448", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1788459 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/846/0448-01" ] }, { "cite": "564 N.E.2d 265", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "206 Ill. App. 3d 283", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2561365 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "292" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/206/0283-01" ] }, { "cite": "467 N.E.2d 635", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 6, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "126 Ill. App. 3d 999", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3597404 ], "weight": 6, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/126/0999-01" ] }, { "cite": "431 U.S. 324", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1670 ], "weight": 9, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/431/0324-01" ] }, { "cite": "478 N.E.2d 449", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "133 Ill. App. 3d 273", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3529950 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/133/0273-01" ] }, { "cite": "450 U.S. 248", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6184064 ], "weight": 9, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "259-60" }, { "page": "219" }, { "page": "1097" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/450/0248-01" ] }, { "cite": "411 U.S. 792", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 10002 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/411/0792-01" ] }, { "cite": "272 Ill. App. 3d 969", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 252955 ], "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "976" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/272/0969-01" ] }, { "cite": "545 N.E.2d 684", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "687" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "131 Ill. 2d 172", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5570132 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "178-79" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/131/0172-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 U.S.C. \u00a7 621", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "U.S.C.", "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "et seq." } ], "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1219, "char_count": 29555, "ocr_confidence": 0.723, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.586887407282469e-07, "percentile": 0.6813744739558175 }, "sha256": "5f27b885191b89f9bdb65bbb0e7551cb9a303573a1efb7b8549e387052020380", "simhash": "1:40b621cc4adb42d6", "word_count": 4771 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:31:30.839378+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "INTERSTATE MATERIAL CORPORATION, Petitioner-Appellant, v. THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION et al., Respondents-Appellees." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE GORDON\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nOn June 9, 1986, and June 11, 1986, respondents, Donald Brandy and William Thomas, respectively, filed charges with the Illinois Department of Human Rights alleging purposeful discrimination by Interstate Material Corporation, hereinafter referred to as \"Interstate,\u201d in violation of sections 2 \u2014 102(A) and 6 \u2014 101(A) of the Illinois Human Rights Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 68, pars. 2 \u2014 102(A), 6 \u2014 101(A)). They alleged that Interstate discriminated against them because of their race when it laid them off while retaining others less senior but of a different race and also alleged that Interstate retaliated against them by withholding wages due them because they reported the alleged discriminatory treatment to a union representative who was not affiliated with Interstate.\nIn May 1987, when the Department of Human Rights did not complete its investigation within the statutory 300-day time period (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 68, par. 7 \u2014 102(G)), Brandy and Thomas filed complaints with the Illinois Human Rights Commission (the Commission). At the request of the complainants, their cases were consolidated by the Commission in June 1987. On October 4, 1989, one week before the scheduled administrative hearing, Brandy was granted leave to amend his complaint by deleting his retaliation claim; and on the day of hearing, Thomas\u2019 motion for voluntary withdrawal of his entire complaint was granted.\nOn June 27, 1991, the administrative law judge (ALJ) entered an interim recommended order and decision sustaining Brandy\u2019s discrimination charge and directed that he be reinstated and awarded back pay of $44,345 as well as attorney fees and costs. The ALJ ordered that Interstate cease and desist from discriminating on the basis of race in terminating or laying off employees and recommended the denial of Interstate\u2019s motion for sanctions against Brandy and Thomas based on the late withdrawal of Brandy\u2019s retaliation charge and Thomas\u2019 entire complaint. A recommended order and decision was entered by the ALJ on September 11, 1991, incorporating the interim order and recommending that Interstate be ordered to pay Brandy $73,125.20 for attorney fees and $435.33 for costs. On February 8, 1993, the Human Rights Commission issued its order and decision rejecting Interstate\u2019s exceptions and affirming and adopting the recommended order and decision of the ALJ. Interstate filed a direct appeal to this court pursuant to section 8 \u2014 111 of the Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/8 \u2014 111 (West 1992)) and Supreme Court Rule 335 (134 Ill. 2d R. 335).*\nOn appeal, Interstate contends that the Commission\u2019s finding that Interstate discriminated against Brandy on the basis of race was against the manifest weight of the evidence; that the Commission\u2019s award of back pay and attorney fees to Brandy was an abuse of discretion; and that the Commission\u2019s rejection of Interstate\u2019s motion for sanctions against Brandy and Thomas was an abuse of discretion.\nAt the hearing before the ALJ, Brandy introduced evidence to show that an employee (John Burgess, Jr.) having the same job functions but of a different race was treated more favorably; that there were problems with Burgess\u2019 work performance; that Brandy\u2019s supervisor used language and invectives reflecting racial bias; and that the reasons given by Interstate for Brandy\u2019s layoff were pretex-tual. Interstate contended that Brandy was laid off because of his job performance, his inability to drive a truck and a decrease in work orders.\nInterstate Material Corporation is an African-American, minority-owned ready-mix concrete supplier. In May 1986, three white males and Donald Brandy and William Thomas, who are African-Americans, were hired to work for Interstate by John Weaver, a white male, who worked as a supervising consultant to Interstate. Brandy and Thomas had previously worked as concrete finishers for Ebony Construction Company, a concrete placement and finishing company that shared common owners with Interstate. Two weeks later, Weaver hired two more white employees, one of whom was Norman Burgess, Jr. Ronald Siwinski, a white male, was the plant superintendent and immediate supervisor of Brandy, Thomas and Burgess. Siwinski reported to Weaver, who reported to Renee Bradford, Interstate\u2019s vice-president and chief operating officer. Bradford, as well as Interstate\u2019s president / owner, is African-American.\nAccording to Brandy, when he was hired, Weaver told him he did not know what Brandy would be doing, but that he would be working in the yard. Siwinski put Brandy and Thomas to work as \"troubleshooters\u201d in the \"pit.\u201d They ran gravel and sand up into the plant by a conveyor belt and cleaned the trucks and yard of concrete when necessary. After the first week, Brandy was trained to run the conveyor belt. When Burgess began work at Interstate, Brandy was in charge of the \"pit\u201d and Siwinski assigned Burgess to assist Brandy. Siwinski often gave Burgess direct instructions as to what he was to do. Two days after Burgess was hired, he was put in charge of the conveyor belt and \"pit.\u201d\nWith respect to Burgess\u2019 work performance, Brandy testified that on one occasion, while he was working with Burgess, Burgess opened a chute after Brandy had already opened one. Siwinski had put Burgess in charge of the conveyor belt although Brandy did not know this at that time. According to Brandy, when a chute is opened, raw material falls onto the conveyor belt and is sent up for mixing in the cement production process. On the day in question, the weight from the additional materials caused the conveyor belt to separate in two parts, and work ceased until the belt was repaired. It took one day to shovel and clean up the sand that had fallen on the ground and in the tunnel.\nBrandy also testified that on May 28, 1986, four days after Burgess had been hired, the pit crew, consisting of Burgess, Brandy and Thomas, was assigned to put some gravel into a new pit for a City of Chicago cement order. Brandy and Thomas told Burgess that there was contaminated material in the pit and that it should not be used for that order. Burgess disregarded their warning and told them to run the gravel into the pit. Shortly thereafter, a City of Chicago inspector saw the contamination and caused the pit to be shut down.\nHenry Little, a former mechanic at Interstate, testified that, in June or July 1989, Burgess overloaded an end loader with gravel causing a hose in the engine of the vehicle to break. The vehicle could not be used until the hose was replaced. Little testified that Burgess was verbally reprimanded by Weaver.\nAfter the contamination incident, Siwinski told Brandy and Thomas not to come back to work for a day or two because the plant would be shut down until the contaminated material was cleaned up. Burgess was not laid off. Brandy and Thomas were never called back to work at Interstate.\nIn further support of his racial discrimination claim, Brandy presented evidence of racial bias on the part of Siwinski. Three witnesses, Henry Little, Clifford Braxton, a former mechanic at Interstate who was supervised by Siwinski, and Michael Thomas, who worked in various capacities under Weaver and Siwinski from October 1986 to August 1989, a time period after which Brandy had been laid off, testified that on many occasions they heard Siwinski refer to African-American employees as \"you people\u201d while referring to the white employees by name. In addition to hearing Siwinski use the phrase \"you people,\u201d Braxton also testified that in March 1989 he overheard Siwinski refer to African-American employees as \"niggers,\u201d stating \"those niggers in the plant don\u2019t know nothing. They are dumb. *** [W]hat I am, going to do is I am going to fire all of them and hire me a new crew.\u201d\nDuring Interstate\u2019s case, Siwinski testified that Brandy was hired as a driver-trainee and that he had informed Brandy that Brandy would be taught how to drive a ready-mix truck and would perform other functions within the company. Siwinski stated that Brandy\u2019s inability to drive a ready-mix truck at the time he was hired did not present a problem because Siwinski had taught others how to drive while on the job and intended to teach Brandy as well.\nWith respect to Brandy\u2019s work performance, Siwinski testified that on \"several occasions\u201d he saw Brandy and Thomas leaning on their shovels and that a couple of times he \"approached them\u201d and told them \"[t]here\u2019s no time to lean on shovels.\u201d He said that on one occasion he walked over to Brandy and Thomas and that \"they never even made an effort to even seem like they were going to do anything.\u201d When asked how many occasions he observed this type of conduct, Siwinski stated \"at least two or three times\u201d although, on cross-examination, he stated the number was \"exactly four times *** three, four times.\u201d Siwinski also stated that he attempted to teach Brandy how to drive a ready-mix truck. He considered Brandy to be a \"washout\u201d because Brandy could not shift gears. Siwinski stated that he discussed Brandy\u2019s driving ability with Weaver about three times and that he discussed Brandy\u2019s work habits with Weaver about three or four times. He testified that he did not have any discussions with Bradford about Brandy.\nAccording to Siwinski, Weaver made the decision to lay off Brandy and Thomas. This decision was based upon Siwinksi\u2019s recommendations and was accepted by Renee Bradford, Interstate\u2019s vice-president. As to the reasons Brandy and Thomas were let go, Siwin-ski first testified that he believed Brandy and Thomas were let go because of a lack of work due to a large decline in orders. He stated that Brandy was not let go because of his driving ability. On further questioning, Siwinski stated that he did not know why Weaver laid off Brandy and then stated that he believed Brandy was laid off because of his work habits.\nWith respect to Burgess\u2019 work performance, Siwinski testified that Burgess was not at fault for the contamination incident because Burgess had been instructed by John Weaver to mix the wrong material in the pit. Siwinski also stated that Burgess did not overload the end loader because the end loader was designed so that it could not be loaded beyond its carrying capacity. He further stated that the end loader was very old and that its hoses broke frequently and resulted in daily repair orders. It was Siwinski\u2019s opinion that the hose broke because of fatigue and that the amount of the load did not cause the hose to break.\nSiwinski also testified that he never used the word \"nigger,\u201d but admitted that he frequently used the phrase \"you people.\u201d He testified that he used that phrase to refer to whomever he was speaking to, including his family, and that it had no derogatory meaning to him.\nBased on the evidence summarized above, the ALJ issued an interim recommended order and decision finding that the preponderance of the evidence sustained Brandy\u2019s complaint of race discrimination. After hearing oral argument, the Human Rights Commission affirmed the ALJ\u2019s recommended order holding that there was evidence in the record, based on credible witness testimony, from which the ALJ could find:\n\"(1) that the reasons given by Interstate for laying off Brandy were untrue, (2) that a similarly situated white individual had a much poorer work record, but was retained, and (3) that the individual responsible for recommending the complainant\u2019s termination had used racist language with respect to [African-American] employees.\u201d\nEmployment discrimination actions brought under the Illinois Human Rights Act are to be analyzed in accordance with the framework set forth by United States Supreme Court decisions reviewing claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 2000e et seq. (1982)) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (29 U.S.C. \u00a7 621 et seq. (1982)). (Zaderaka v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n (1989), 131 Ill. 2d 172, 545 N.E.2d 684; ISS International Service System, Inc. v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n (1995), 272 Ill. App. 3d 969, 976.) That three-part analysis, set out in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green (1973), 411 U.S. 792, 36 L. Ed. 2d 668, 93 S. a. 1817, was explained in Zaderaka as follows:\n\"First, plaintiff must establish by a preponderance of the evidence a prima facie case of unlawful discrimination. If a prima facie case is established, a rebuttable presumption arises that the employer unlawfully discriminated against plaintiff. Second, to rebut the presumption, the employer must articulate, not prove (Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine (1981), 450 U.S. 248, 259-60, 67 L. Ed. 2d 207, 219, 101 S. Ct. 1089, 1097), a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its decision.\nFinally, if the employer carries its burden of production, the presumption of unlawful discrimination falls and plaintiff must then prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the employer\u2019s articulated reason was not its true reason, but was instead a pretext for unlawful discrimination. This merges with the plaintiff\u2019s ultimate burden of persuading the trier of fact that the employer unlawfully discriminated against plaintiff. [Citation.] This ultimate burden remains at all times with plaintiff. [Citation.]\u201d Zaderaka, 131 Ill. 2d at 178-79, 545 N.E.2d at 687.\nEmployment discrimination may be established by showing disparate treatment and disparate impact. (Valley Mould, & Iron Co. v. Illinois Human Rights Comm\u2019n (1985), 133 Ill. App. 3d 273, 478 N.E.2d 449.) The former theory requires proof that the employer simply treated some people less favorably than others because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The latter theory involves proof of employment practices that are facially neutral in their treatment of different groups but that in fact fall more harshly on one group than another and cannot be justified by business necessity. (International Brotherhood of Teamsters v. United States (1977), 431 U.S. 324, 335 n.15, 52 L. Ed. 2d 396, 415 n.15, 97 S. Ct. 1843, 1854-55 n.15.) Proof of discriminatory motive is required under the disparate treatment theory but not the disparate impact theory and may be inferred in some cases from the mere fact of differences in treatment. International Brotherhood of Teamsters v. United States, 431 U.S. 324, 52 L. Ed. 2d 396, 97 S. Ct. 1843; Burnham City Hospital v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n (1984), 126 Ill. App. 3d 999, 467 N.E.2d 635.\nPrima facie proof of discrimination in work force reduction cases, based upon disparate treatment, can be established upon a showing by the complainant that (1) he was within the protected class; (2) he was performing according to his employer\u2019s legitimate expectations; (3) he was terminated or demoted; and (4) others not in the protected class were treated more favorably. (Clyde v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n (1990), 206 Ill. App. 3d 283, 292, 564 N.E.2d 265, citing Oxman v. WLS-TV (7th Cir. 1988), 846 F.2d 448.) Once a prima facie case of discrimination has been established and the employer has articulated a legitimate reason for its actions, the complainant must show that a discriminatory reason more likely motivated the employer or that the employer\u2019s proffered explanation is unworthy of credence. (Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 67 L. Ed. 2d 207, 101 S. Ct. 1089; Burnham City Hospital v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n, 126 Ill. App. 3d 999, 467 N.E.2d 635; see Clyde v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n, 206 Ill. App. 3d 283, 564 N.E.2d 265.) It then becomes a question of fact as to which party\u2019s explanation of the employer\u2019s motivation is the more credible. United States Postal Service Board of Governors v. Aikens (1983), 460 U.S. 711, 716, 75 L. Ed. 2d 403, 411, 103 S. Ct. 1478, 1482; Burnham City Hospital v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n, 126 Ill. App. 3d 999, 467 N.E.2d 635.\nFindings of fact by the Human Rights Commission \"shall be sustained [on judicial review from final orders] unless the court determines that such findings are contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.\u201d (775 ILCS 5/8 \u2014 111(A)(2) (West Supp. 1993).) A decision is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence only when, after reviewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the administrative agency, the court determines that no rational trier of fact could have agreed with the agency\u2019s decision because an opposite conclusion is clearly warranted. (E.g., Bultas v. Board of Fire & Police Commissioners (1988), 171 Ill. App. 3d 189, 524 N.E.2d 1172.) The mere fact that an opposite conclusion is reasonable or that the reviewing court might have ruled differently will not justify reversal of the administrative findings. If the record contains any evidence supporting the administrative agency\u2019s decision, the decision must be affirmed. Obasi v. Department of Professional Regulation (1994), 266 Ill. App. 3d 693, 698, 639 N.E.2d 1318, citing Abrahamson v. Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (1992), 153 Ill. 2d 76, 606 N.E.2d 1111.\nIn the instant case Brandy claimed racial discrimination based on disparate treatment. He established a prima facie case with proof that he was within the protected class of African-Americans; that he was performing the laborer tasks he had been hired to do; that he was laid off; and that Burgess, a similarty situated employee who performed the same job functions Brandy performed and who was not within the protected class, was not laid off. (See Village of Bellwood Board of Fire & Police Commissioners v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n (1989), 184 Ill. App. 3d 339, 541 N.E.2d 1248 (prima facie case of racially motivated discharge established by evidence that complainant was member of a protected class who was disciplined in a harsher manner than comparably situated persons of a different race); see also Clyde v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n, 126 Ill. App. 3d 283, 564 N.E.2d 265.) Interstate rebutted the presumption of discrimination by articulating several reasons for its decision to lay off Brandy; namely, poor work habits, inability to drive a ready-mix truck and decrease in work orders. It then became incumbent upon Brandy to show that Interstate intentionally discriminated by direct proof of racial motivation or by indirect proof that Interstate\u2019s proffered explanation was not credible. Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 67 L. Ed. 2d 207, 101 S. Ct, 1089; Burnham City Hospital v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n, 126 Ill. App. 3d 999, 467 N.E.2d 635.\nOn appeal Interstate argues that Brandy did not prove racial motivation or animus as a matter of law because the comments attributed to Siwinski, even if made, were sporadic, accidental and merely part of casual conversation. Interstate relies on Village of Bellwood Board of Fire & Police Commissioners v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n (1989), 184 Ill. App. 3d 339, 541 N.E.2d 1248, and two Federal cases cited therein, Johnson v. Bunny Bread Co. (8th Cir. 1981), 646 F.2d 1250, and Equal Employment Opportunity Comm\u2019n v. Murphy Motor Freight Lines, Inc. (D. Minn. 1980), 488 F. Supp. 381.\nThe comments made by Siwinski could be considered by the ALJ and the Commission as evidence of Siwinski\u2019s state of mind and the motivation for Siwinski\u2019s reports to Weaver which served as the basis for Brandy\u2019s layoff. Whether those comments alone would have sustained Brandy\u2019s ultimate burden of showing unlawful discrimination is a question we need not decide (see Village of Bellwood Board of Fire & Police Commissioners v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n, 184 Ill. App. 3d 339, 541 N.E.2d 1248 (sporadic racial slurs insufficient evidence of racial harassment); cf. Shager v. Upjohn Co. (7th Cir. 1990), 913 F.2d 398 (slur in and of itself not sufficient evidence of discrimination but is relevant evidence of discrimination with greater or lesser probative value depending on precise character of remark)), since additional proof of racial motivation was offered by Brandy in the form of Burgess\u2019 inadequate work performance. The ALJ concluded that Burgess\u2019 work performance was \"problematic\u201d and inferior to Brandy\u2019s; and while we might not agree with that finding, we must give deference to it. The difference in treatment accorded to Burgess and Brandy, where Burgess was retained and Brandy was laid off, especially where their job performances were unequal, supports an inference of discriminatory motive. (See International Brotherhood of Teamsters v. United States, 431 U.S. 324, 52 L. Ed. 2d 396, 97 S. Ct. 1843; Burnham City Hospital v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n, 126 Ill. App. 3d 999, 467 N.E.2d 635 (discriminatory motive may be inferred from mere fact of differences in treatment).) Furthermore, in addition to presenting proof of racial motive, Brandy presented evidence that discredited the reasons articulated by Interstate for Brandy\u2019s layoff.\nThe record shows that Siwinski gave three reasons for Brandy\u2019s layoff. He testified that he observed Brandy leaning on his shovel; that Brandy was required to drive a ready-mix truck but was not able to learn that skill; and that the company experienced a large decrease in orders for cement. It then became a question of fact as to which party\u2019s explanation of the employer\u2019s motivation was the more credible. (United States Postal Service Board of Governors v. Aikens, 460 U.S. 711, 75 L. Ed. 2d 403, 103 S. Ct. 1478; Burnham City Hospital v. Human Rights Comm\u2019n, 126 Ill. App. 3d 999, 467 N.E.2d 635.) The ALJ found Siwinski\u2019s testimony to be inconsistent as to which of these reasons was the determinative factor. The ALJ rejected Interstate\u2019s evidence that Brandy was hired to be a truck driver and found that Brandy was hired as a laborer. The ALJ found that Brandy\u2019s inability to drive a ready-mix truck was inconsequential to his continued employment. The ALJ also rejected Interstate\u2019s evidence that Brandy\u2019s job performance was the reason for his layoff. The ALJ found Siwinski\u2019s testimony inconsistent as to the number of times he saw Brandy lean on his shovel and concluded that the vagueness in Siwinski\u2019s answers gave the \"impression\u201d that Siwinski \"probably did not intend for them [his observations of Brandy] to become the basis for Complainant\u2019s termination.\u201d The ALJ also opined that, even assuming Siwinski\u2019s testimony was accepted, complainant\u2019s job of shovelling sand would require him to pause for brief moments to rest and could not have been proof of poor work performance. Finally, the ALJ concluded that there was no large decline in work orders or in the amount of concrete delivered by Interstate as compared to the time prior to Brandy\u2019s layoff. Based upon these credibility determinations and a weighing of the evidence, the ALJ found Interstate\u2019s proffered reasons to be pretextual and further found that Brandy had set forth sufficient proof that Interstate\u2019s layoff decision was racially motivated and that that decision amounted to racial discrimination in violation of the Human Rights Act.\nInterstate also attempts to defeat Brandy\u2019s contentions of racial motivation or animus by relying on the fact that it is a minority-owned company with a stated purpose of \"enabling African-Americans] to participate in the ready-mix industry.\u201d This fact is not dispositive, however. (Cf. Castaneda v. Partida (1977), 430 U.S. 482, 499, 51 L. Ed. 2d 498, 513, 97 S. Ct. 1272,1282 (court stated \"[bjecause of the many facets of human motivation, it would unwise to presume as a matter of law that human beings of one definable group would not discriminate against other members of their group\u201d); Eccleston v. Secretary of Navy (D.D.C. 1988), 700 F. Supp. 67, 69 (African-American supervisor discriminated against African-American employee by promoting white employee; court stated \"[tjhere is no question that a[n African-American] may consciously or unconsciously discriminate against another black and be liable under Title VII\u201d).) In this context, Interstate also indirectly raises as error the ALJ\u2019s refusal to allow Interstate\u2019s attorney, who also was its owner and president, to testify concerning his state of mind and Interstate\u2019s history regarding racial discrimination. While we have no reason to doubt the owner\u2019s sincerity and lack of racial animus or bias, his intentions or state of mind would not be dispositive of the facts of this case since he did not purport to have involvement in the decision to lay off Brandy. Moreover, even if the owner had participated in the layoff decision, as in fact the African-American vice-president had done, such participation, even if itself devoid of racial animus, would not insulate Interstate from liability where that participation merely adopted the recommendation of a racially motivated or biased supervisory employee. See Shager v. Upjohn Co. (7th Cir. 1990), 913 F.2d 398 (Title VII age discrimination case reversing summary judgment to employer; court held company can be liable where personnel committee acted as conduit for supervisory manager\u2019s prejudice and discriminatory actions).\nThe ALJ and the Commission found Brandy\u2019s evidence more credible and determined that Brandy had proved racial discrimination by a preponderance of the evidence. While the evidence does not overwhelmingly compel such an ultimate finding, that is not the standard for review. It is not our function to retry the case or to second-guess the Commission. If there is any evidence to support the Commission\u2019s findings and decision, it must be affirmed. Here, while there is some evidence to support a contrary decision, there also is sufficient evidence to support the Commission\u2019s decision. Thus, it is not against the manifest weight of the evidence, and we must affirm.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the order and decision of the Human Rights Commission is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nCOUSINS, P.J., and McNULTY, J., concur.\nDuring the course of the instant appeal, Interstate filed a motion for leave to supplement the record with four documents: Interstate\u2019s answer to Thomas\u2019 charge; Thomas\u2019 answers and supplemental answers to Interstate\u2019s interrogatories; and Thomas\u2019 response to Interstate\u2019s request to produce. The Commission objected, and the matter was taken with the case.\nGenerally, a party cannot supplement the record with evidence that was not before the administrative agency nor can the reviewing court go beyond the administrative agency\u2019s record. (Jackson v. Department of Labor (1988), 168 Ill. App. 3d 494, 523 N.E.2d 5; Village of Western Springs v. Pollution Control Board (1982), 107 Ill. App. 3d 864, 438 N.E.2d 458; see Official Reports Advance Sheet No. 26 (December 22, 1993) Rules 335(d), (i)(2), eff. February 1, 1994; 735 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 110 (West Supp. 1993).) Interstate\u2019s answer to Thomas\u2019 charge was filed with the Department of Human Rights (see 775 ILCS 5/7A \u2014 102(A), (B) (West 1992) (formerly Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 68, pars. 7A \u2014 102(A), (B))) and not with the Human Rights Commission. As Interstate did not seek to supplement the Commission\u2019s record with that document, it was not made a part of the Commission\u2019s record and cannot be considered by this court on appeal.\nInterstate also is barred from supplementing the record on appeal with Thomas\u2019 answers to interrogatories and his response to a request to produce prepared during proceedings before the Commission. In accordance with section 5300.725 of the Illinois Administrative Code (56 Ill. Adm. Code \u00a7 5300.725 (1992)), discovery materials and documents are not filed with the Commission. They do not become a part of the Commission\u2019s record unless the party seeks to include those documents by motion made to the Commission. As Interstate did not file such a motion with the Commission, it is barred from supplementing the record on appeal with those documents as well.\nMoreover, even if we were to allow Interstate\u2019s motion to supplement the record, we do not believe that the documents in question would require a reversal on the issue of sanctions. See infra footnote 5, which appears in the nonpublished portion of this opinion.\nIn order to comply with appellate court page limitations specified by revised Supreme Court Rule 23, discussion of the issues relating to the Commission\u2019s award to Brandy and the Commission\u2019s denial of Interstate\u2019s motions for sanctions against Brandy and Thomas has been designated nonpub-lishable. The entire unabridged decision is contained in the full opinion of Interstate Material Corp. v. Illinois Human Rights Comm\u2019n, Docket No. 1\u201493\u20140920.\nThe ALJ weighed the conflicting testimony, determined that Siwinski made the alleged comments, and rejected Siwinski\u2019s attempt to negate the racial overtones to those comments. As there is evidence to support these factual findings, we are bound by them. 775 ILCS 5/8 \u2014 111(A)(2) (West Supp. 1993); see Obasi v. Department of Professional Regulation, 266 Ill. App. 3d 693, 639 N.E.2d 1318.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE GORDON" } ], "attorneys": [ "Rufus Cook and Barbara J. Revak, both of Cook & Revak, Ltd., of Chicago, for petitioner.", "Roland W. Burris, Attorney General, of Chicago (Rosalyn B. Kaplan, Solicitor General, and Brian F. Barov, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for respondent Human Rights Commission.", "Ronald B. Schwartz, of Chicago-Kent College of Law, of Chicago, for respondent William Thomas.", "Naomi Avendano and Allen Cherry, both of Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, of Chicago, for respondent Donald Brandy." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "INTERSTATE MATERIAL CORPORATION, Petitioner-Appellant, v. THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION et al., Respondents-Appellees.\nFirst District (5th Division)\nNo. 1\u201493\u20140920\nOpinion filed August 25, 1995.\nRufus Cook and Barbara J. Revak, both of Cook & Revak, Ltd., of Chicago, for petitioner.\nRoland W. Burris, Attorney General, of Chicago (Rosalyn B. Kaplan, Solicitor General, and Brian F. Barov, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for respondent Human Rights Commission.\nRonald B. Schwartz, of Chicago-Kent College of Law, of Chicago, for respondent William Thomas.\nNaomi Avendano and Allen Cherry, both of Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, of Chicago, for respondent Donald Brandy." }, "file_name": "1014-01", "first_page_order": 1032, "last_page_order": 1044 }