A federal judge has made a summary judgment ruling in favor of Yale New Haven Hospital, dismissing a lawsuit filed on behalf of a former employee who claimed reverse discrimination.

Judge Stefan Underhill dismissed all seven counts that Mary Ellen Taylor, who is white, had leveled against the hospital, including reverse discrimination on the basis of race, hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and retaliation in violation of Title VII.

Underhill said Taylor, a nurse coordinator for the neuro-oncology team, failed to prove any of her claims. Taylor, the judge wrote in his 24-page ruling on Tuesday, had in fact been disciplined and supervisors had spoken to her about alleged ongoing demeaning comments she allegedly made toward her peers.

Underhill's ruling contains a litany of alleged bad conduct and behavior on the part of Taylor, who was suspended on at least two occasions before being fired from the hospital in March 2016.

Several of Taylor's alleged remarks were racially tinged, including one instance where she allegedly used the N-word about a biracial clinical secretary. Two black nurses' aides also reported that Taylor made racist remarks around them.

While still employed at Yale, Taylor “revealed a pattern of inappropriate and unprofessional behavior,” the hospital's senior employee relations specialist wrote as part of an investigation. Taylor's year-end employee evaluation in 2015 included the following statement, according to Underhill:  “She does not consistently display or demonstrate respect, empathy, enthusiasm and interest in the needs of others.”

At one point, Taylor allegedly told a secretary that a specific patient “just needs to die,” while also telling that secretary, “Your job sucks.”

For her part, Taylor alleges she was a victim of reverse discrimination and claimed that Khalia Fisher, to whom she reportedly used the N-word, retaliated against her and intentionally withheld new patient referrals and essential patient information. Taylor denied using the slur at Fisher.

In her lawsuit, Taylor wrote: “Plaintiff was disciplined several times and ultimately terminated because YNHH deliberately favored an African-American employee over plaintiff, a caucasian employee, solely because of race.”

Taylor also alleged in her suit that most of the comments attributed to her were lies and that Yale management ignored her claims that Fisher had allegedly retaliated against her.

“On Nov. 5, 2015, YNHH suspended plaintiff without pay, immediately siding with an African-American employee, without a proper investigation. … As a result of the defendant's unlawful conduct, plaintiff has suffered, and will continue to suffer damages, including but not limited to, substantial lost wages, fringe benefits, health insurance, retirement and pension benefits, mental and emotional distress and the ability to enjoy life's pleasures,” Taylor's lawsuit said.

Representing Yale New Haven Hospital are three Wiggin and Dana attorneys: Mary Gambardella, Christine Wachter and Caroline Park.

“The ruling is a reminder for employers of the importance of ongoing and documented performance management procedures, as well as comprehensive internal investigations. Our client is of course pleased with the result,” the firm wrote in a statement Wednesday.

Representing Taylor are Eugene Axelrod and Michael McMinn, both with Woodbridge-based Axelrod & Associates. Neither attorney responded to a request for comment Wednesday.