Texas Jury Instruction 1.1.3 Public Employee Equal Protection Claim Race and/or Sex Discrimination Hostile Work Environment — Separate Liability. This instruction pertains to cases involving public employees who claim race and/or sex discrimination resulting in a hostile work environment. The key issue is whether a public employer can be held liable for the actions of its employees that create a hostile work environment based on race and/or sex. The instruction addresses the separate liability of the employer in such cases. It outlines the elements that the plaintiff (public employee) must prove to establish a separate liability claim against the employer. These elements may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case, but typically include: 1. Intent: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the employer intended to discriminate or allow discriminatory conduct to occur based on race and/or sex. This can be proven through direct evidence or by inference. 2. Hostile Work Environment: The plaintiff must establish that their work environment was hostile, meaning that it was permeated with discriminatory conduct, which was severe or pervasive enough to create an abusive working environment. 3. Causation: The plaintiff must establish a causal connection between the discriminatory conduct and the actions or inaction of the employer. This could involve showing that the employer knew or should have known about the hostile work environment and failed to take appropriate measures to address it. 4. Scope of Employment: The plaintiff must show that the discriminatory actions occurred within the scope of the alleged offender's employment, meaning that they were acting as an employee rather than in a personal capacity. It is important to note that this instruction may have variations and additional requirements based on the specific facts and circumstances of each case. For instance, there may be separate instructions for cases involving race discrimination, sex discrimination, or both. The inclusion of additional elements or criteria may also apply depending on the applicable laws, regulations, and legal precedents relevant to the case. Overall, Texas Jury Instruction 1.1.3 Public Employee Equal Protection Claim Race and/or Sex Discrimination Hostile Work Environment — Separate Liability provides a framework for the jury to consider when determining if a public employer can be held separately liable for a hostile work environment created by its employees based on race and/or sex discrimination. The instructions guide the jury in evaluating the evidence and ultimately reaching a fair and just decision.