1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 MICHAEL QUIGLEY, Case No. 3:21-cv-00538-WHO

8 Plaintiff, ORDER ON MOTION FOR 9 v. JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS

10 UNITED AIRLINES, INC., et al., Re: Dkt. No. 28 Defendants. 11

12 13 Plaintiff Michael Quigley worked as a flight attendant for defendant United Airlines, Inc. 14 (“United”). He alleges discrimination, harassment, and related claims based on disability. United 15 moves for judgment on the pleadings (based on a failure to state a claim) on three of Quigley’s 16 claims: hostile work environment harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress (“IIED”), 17 and negligent supervision. The harassment claim is plausibly pleaded and survives. Quigley has 18 abandoned his defense of the IIED claim based on his repeated failure to respond to United’s 19 argument despite explicit warnings, so it is dismissed with prejudice. The negligent supervision 20 claim is inadequately pleaded, but dismissal is with leave to amend because it appears possible 21 that Quigley can cure the deficiencies. 22 BACKGROUND 23 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 24 Plaintiff Michael Quigley, a Florida resident, was employed by United as a flight attendant 25 beginning in 1996. First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) [Dkt. No. 20] ¶¶ 1, 11. In October 2018, 26 Quigley had a heart attack and was approved to take medical leave until December 2018. Id. ¶ 27 14a. He alleges that, before he went on leave, he was “primarily assigned to international flights.” 1 returned from medical leave, though, he alleges that he was “exclusively” assigned to domestic 2 flights, which gave him only four in-flight hours per flight. Id. 3 In January 2019, Quigley was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Id. ¶ 14b. He also 4 references having depression and anxiety. Id. ¶ 14c. He took medication for these conditions and 5 “openly discussed his condition and need to take medicine with his colleagues, including Paul 6 [Dhesi], and Mindy Drake.” Id. According to Quigley, he “discovered [Dhesi] and Drake 7 emptying 2 bottles of red wine into their own receptacles”; he confronted them about it and Dhesi 8 alleged told Quigley, “[g]o take your pills!” Id. ¶ 14d. He asserts that this “deeply offended” him. 9 Id. After that, he claims that he “regularly found himself being shunned and ostracized by his 10 coworkers,” “felt unwelcomed in the workplace,” and “often found it difficult to perform his job 11 duties, as he was required to collaborate with these colleagues.” Id. 12 In late January, Quigley went on medical leave for his bipolar disorder. Id. ¶ 14e. He 13 alleges that he informed now-dismissed defendant Robert Smith, a United inflight manager, and 14 United’s benefits manager that he would be doing so. Id. The leave was set to last until May 29. 15 Id. In April 2019, Smith allegedly called Quigley and, as Quigley puts it, “coldly said, ‘How are 16 you? By the way, we still need to have a meeting.’” Id. ¶ 14f (emphasis removed). As I noted in 17 my previous Order on Motion to Dismiss (“Prior Order”) [Dkt. No. 16], “[i]t is unclear what this 18 meeting was supposed to entail.” Prior Order 2. Quigley still does not reveal that information. 19 He does say that the meeting was supposed to take place in January 2019 but was cancelled 20 because of the medical leave. FAC ¶ 14f. Quigley says that because “Smith was trying to 21 reschedule the meeting while he was still on leave, Quigley protested, ‘no I am on medical 22 leave.’” Id. (emphasis removed). Smith allegedly also “referenced” Quigley not returning 23 previous phone calls about that meeting; Quigley repeated that he was on leave and so did not 24 respond. Id. 25 Two days before his medical leave was set to end, Quigley applied for long-term disability 26 leave through Prudential, which United uses as an administrator for that benefit. Id. ¶ 14g. 27 According to Quigley, United “made a mistake and informed Prudential that Quigley’s first date 1 Prudential denied Quigley’s disability leave because it was not the third-party administrator for 2 . . . December 2018.” Id. Quigley was “devastated” by this denial. Id. 3 Quigley’s medical leave was then extended to August 16, 2019. Id. ¶ 14h. When August 4 came, Quigley’s disability benefits ran out because of the error referenced above. Id. ¶ 14i. As a 5 result, Quigley’s health insurance was terminated. Id. Quigley alleges that he asked an employee 6 of United to fix the paperwork at least four times. Id. At some point, Smith also again tried to fill 7 out the paperwork but “made the same mistake.” Id. Although, as noted, Quigley says his health 8 insurance was already terminated, he also claims that Smith’s second alleged error caused his 9 health insurance and disability benefits to be terminated. Id. This negatively impacted his ability 10 (Quigley does not allege to what extent) to treat his “HIV, stress, anxiety, depression, and 11 bipolarism” and meant that he could not afford to see a doctor. Id. 12 In September 2019, Quigley told United that he was sick but could not afford to go to the 13 doctor. Id. ¶ 14j. He alleges that United required him to provide a doctor’s note to continue 14 taking leave. Id. He claims that he informed United employees about his inability to afford 15 medication, treat his HIV, or go to the doctor. Id. Quigley contends that United (he does not say 16 which employee) once again tried to schedule the meeting that had been cancelled. Id. ¶ 14k. In 17 October 2019, administrative supervisor Kathy O’Brien sent Quigley an email, as he characterizes 18 it, “accusing him of being non-compliant with his medical leave since September 1, 2019 because 19 he had not provided additional documentation to extend his medical leave.” Id. ¶ 14l. She asked 20 Quigley to submit documentation. Id. Quigley replied, explained the situation, and said that he 21 could not afford to get a doctor’s note. Id. ¶ 14m. O’Brien reiterated that he needed to submit the 22 proper paperwork and told Quigley, “I’m requesting that you provide the medical documentation 23 to support your absence. Unfortunately, this will be followed by a written directive as well.” Id. ¶ 24 14n (internal quotation marks and emphasis omitted). That day, Quigley received a performance 25 warning for failing to provide the documentation for this leave and leave in 2017 and 2018. Id. ¶ 26 14o. In late October, United scheduled the meeting with Quigley with “a few days’ notice” but he 27 was not able to attend due to illness. Id. ¶ 14p. 1 whom I previously dismissed from the suit as fraudulently joined. Id. ¶ 15a; Prior Order 10. He 2 claims that he has suffered various damages, including in lost income and benefits and 3 psychological and emotional distress. FAC ¶¶ 16–18. 4 II. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 5 Quigley filed his original complaint in state court against United, Smith, and Jacobsen. 6 Smith was never served. Prior Order 8. United and Jacobsen removed the case to this Court, Dkt. 7 No. 1, and moved to dismiss, Dkt. No. 10. Quigley did not move to remand the case. 8 In the Prior Order, I dismissed Jacobsen from the suit as fraudulently joined: the only thing 9 she was alleged to have done was transmit the termination letter, which was not actionable 10 harassment or IIED. Prior Order 10. United also moved to dismiss most of the claims as 11 preempted by the Railway Labor Act; while I agreed with it that two breach of contract claims 12 were preempted, I otherwise denied that portion of its motion. I agreed with United, however, that 13 all the claims it challenged failed to state a claim on which relief could be granted. Accordingly, I 14 dismissed most of the claims with leave to amend. 15 Quigley filed his FAC on March 19, 2021. It contains nine causes of action against 16 United: (1) discrimination in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”); (2) 17 hostile work environment harassment in violation of FEHA; (3) retaliation in violation of FEHA; 18 (4) failure to provide a reasonable accommodation in violation of FEHA; (5) failure to engage in 19 the interactive process in violation of FEHA; (6) failure to prevent discrimination, harassment, and 20 retaliation; (7) negligent hiring, supervision, or retention; (8) wrongful termination in violation of 21 public policy; and (9) IIED. The same day the FAC was filed, Quigley and the defendants agreed 22 to dismiss all defendants except United from the action. Dkt. No. 18. The parties apparently 23 agreed to do so in exchange for United answering the complaint, Dkt. No. 20, instead of moving to 24 dismiss. In the motion before me, United only moves for judgment on the harassment, negligent 25 hiring/supervision/retention, and IIED claims. See generally Motion for Judgment on the 26 Pleadings (“Mot.”) [Dkt. No. 28]. 27 LEGAL STANDARD 1 closed—but early enough not to delay trial—a party may move for judgment on the pleadings.” A 2 motion for judgment on the pleadings can “raise the defense of failure to state a claim.” 3 McGlinchy v. Shell Chem. Co.,

, 810 (9th Cir. 1988). When that is so, the court 4 employs “same test as a motion under Rule 12(b)(6).” Id. 5 Under FRCP 12(b)(6), a district court must dismiss a complaint if it fails to state a claim 6 upon which relief can be granted. To survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the plaintiff must 7 allege “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” See Bell Atl. Corp. v. 8 Twombly,

(2007). A claim is facially plausible when the plaintiff pleads facts 9 that “allow the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 10 misconduct alleged.” See Ashcroft v. Iqbal,

(2009) (citation omitted). There 11 must be “more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.”

While courts 12 do not require “heightened fact pleading of specifics,” a plaintiff must allege facts sufficient to 13 “raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” See Twombly,

. 14 In deciding whether the plaintiff has stated a claim, the Court accepts the plaintiff’s 15 allegations as true and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff. See Usher v. City 16 of Los Angeles,

(9th Cir. 1987). However, the court is not required to accept as 17 true “allegations that are merely conclusory, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable 18 inferences.” See In re Gilead Scis. Sec. Litig.,

(9th Cir. 2008). 19 If the court dismisses the complaint, it “should grant leave to amend even if no request to 20 amend the pleading was made, unless it determines that the pleading could not possibly be cured 21 by the allegation of other facts.” See Lopez v. Smith,

(9th Cir. 2000). In 22 making this determination, the court should consider factors such as “the presence or absence of 23 undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by previous 24 amendments, undue prejudice to the opposing party and futility of the proposed amendment.” See 25 Moore v. Kayport Package Express,

, 538 (9th Cir. 1989). Because the standards are 26 functionally the same, judgment on the pleadings can be granted with leave to amend. See, e.g., 27 Pac. W. Grp., Inc. v. Real Time Sols., Inc.,

, 569 (9th Cir. 2008). 1 DISCUSSION 2 United moves for judgment on three claims. I address each in turn. 3 I. HARASSMENT 4 Quigley’s second cause of action is for hostile work environment harassment in violation 5 of FEHA. FAC ¶¶ 28–35. “FEHA prohibits harassment of an employee.” Lawler v. Montblanc 6 N. Am., LLC,

(9th Cir. 2013); see also CAL. GOV’T CODE § 12940(j). Under 7 FEHA, a plaintiff must demonstrate that “(1) she is a member of a protected group; (2) she was 8 subjected to harassment because she belonged to this group; and (3) the alleged harassment was so 9 severe that it created a hostile work environment.” Id. “Harassment cannot be occasional, 10 isolated, sporadic, or trivial; rather the plaintiff must show a concerted pattern of harassment of a 11 repeated, routine or a generalized nature.” Aguilar v. Avis Rent A Car Sys., Inc.,

, 12 131 (1999) (internal alterations and citations omitted). 13 As a general matter, actions are not FEHA harassment if they are mere “commonly 14 necessary personnel management actions.” Lawler,

; Janken v. GM Hughes 15 Elecs.,

(1996). Such actions are those “of a type necessary to carry out 16 the duties of business and personnel management.” Janken,

. They usually 17 include things like “hiring and firing, job or project assignments, office or work station 18 assignments, promotion or demotion, performance evaluations, the provision of support, the 19 assignment or non-assignment of supervisory functions, deciding who will and who will not attend 20 meetings, [and] deciding who will be laid off.”

at 64–65. Harassment, on the other hand, 21 “consists of actions outside the scope of job duties which are not of a type necessary to business 22 and personnel management.” Lawler,

. This does not mean that employers can 23 act discriminatorily and cloak their actions in the garb of the management exception; instead, 24 “[t]hese actions may retrospectively be found discriminatory if based on improper motives, but in 25 that event the remedies provided by the FEHA are those for discrimination, not harassment.” 26 Janken,

. 27 In addition to discrimination liability, the California Supreme Court has held that the 1 furtherance of a supervisor’s managerial role can also have a secondary effect of communicating a 2 hostile message.” Roby v. McKesson Corp.,

(2009), as modified (Feb. 10, 3 2010). To establish this sort of liability, the actions must “establish a widespread pattern of bias.” 4

5 I previously granted United’s motion to dismiss this claim with leave to amend. Prior 6 Order 12–15. I explained that “[t]he paragraphs that make up the harassment count itself are, 7 again, conclusory legal elements” and that Quigley’s brief focused on seven allegations that 8 allegedly “sent a discriminatory message to plaintiff that she [sic] was unwelcome in the work 9 place.” Id. 14 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Quigley’s Opposition). As I noted, 10 Quigley’s claims were “poorly pleaded,” id. 1, and were in other ways quite muddled. The 11 discrimination claim—the evidence for which was closely related to the harassment claim, as these 12 cases often are, see Roby, 47 Cal. 4th at 710—was pleaded about both disability and age 13 discrimination, yet Quigley’s brief only defended an age discrimination claim. See Prior Order 10. 14 Accordingly, I identified seven separate incidents that Quigley focused on to establish harassment 15 but found that, separately or in combination, they did not plead an adequate claim. See id. 13–15. 16 To take a few examples, Quigley argued that there were “antagonistic and hostile non-job-related 17 comments” but he had identified none. Id. 13. Quigley also alleged that newer flight attendants 18 were given better schedules, which he argued evidenced discrimination based on age (but did not 19 relate to disability). Id. The upshot is that Quigley’s pleading and brief were confused and 20 unclear. 21 Now, Quigley has shifted focus purely to disability-based harassment, dropped the 22 muddled age-based pleading, and added more allegations. Taken as a whole, the FAC gets 23 Quigley over the plausibility line on this claim. He alleges that before he went on medical leave, 24 he was frequently assigned to more desirable international flights but when he came back, he was 25 “exclusively” put on less desirable domestic flights. FAC ¶ 14a. One of his co-workers told him 26 to “[g]o take [his] pills!” which “deeply offended” him. Id. ¶ 14d. Afterward, he was “regularly . 27 . . shunned and ostracized by his coworkers” and “felt unwelcome in the workplace.” Id. And 1 meeting during that time, even though he was permitted to not work. Id. ¶¶ 14f–14g. United 2 repeatedly failed to correct the paperwork error discussed above, even though he repeatedly 3 contacted them about it, resulting in termination of his health insurance. Id. ¶¶ 14i–14n. Despite 4 his lack of health insurance, United demanded that he produce a doctor’s note, even when he told 5 them he could not do so due to their error. Id. He was eventually terminated for this. Id. ¶ 14p. 6 All of this together plausibly indicates a “widespread pattern of bias” that sent a secondary 7 hostile message to Quigley that he was unwelcome due to his disability. See Roby,

709. That pattern is plausible in part because harassment “is generally concerned with the 9 message conveyed to an employee, and therefore with the social environment of the workplace.” 10

(emphasis removed). From what Quigley has alleged, it is plausible that the social 11 environment of his workplace conveyed a pervasive message that his disability was disfavored. 12 Cf. Fuqua v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., No. 16-CV-01193-JCS,

, at *24 (N.D. 13 Cal. Oct. 10, 2017) (denying summary judgment to a defendant on a FEHA harassment claim 14 because the plaintiff alleged some plausibly discriminatory comments coupled with incidents that 15 “straddled the line” between managerial acts and not).1 16 United’s counterarguments might carry water at a later stage but they do not persuade now. 17 Generally, United addresses each individual allegation, but the inquiry is whether the whole 18 gestalt of the FAC shows a plausible harassment case. Several of its particular arguments also 19 have other flaws. 20 It is true, as United argues and as I previously found, that some of these acts are inarguably 21 managerial or personnel actions—communicating about the meeting or terminating Quigley, for 22 instance. See Prior Order 14–15. But now, the allegations of altering flights due to medical leave 23 and co-worker hostility cast those decisions in a new light and plausibly indicate a widespread 24 pattern of bias. In that light, those acts might plausibly fall within Roby’s secondary-effects 25 doctrine. 26

27 1 I dismissed Jacobsen as fraudulently joined because the only allegation about her was that she 1 United argues that the actions by co-workers cannot help the claim because those 2 individuals were not supervisors and comments by “by an employee, other than an agent or 3 supervisor, shall be unlawful if the entity, or its agents or supervisors, knows or should have 4 known of this conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective action.” CAL. GOV. 5 CODE § 12940(j)(1); Mot. 9–10. That may be so at a later stage with a factual record; the question 6 now, however, is not whether these acts alone can result in liability to United, it is whether the 7 FAC as a whole plausibly alleges a hostile work environment, which can be based on a 8 widespread pattern of bias that results in a hostile message. Unlike United’s leading case on this 9 argument, Quigley’s claim is not solely based on behavior by co-workers. See Ayala v. Frito Lay, 10 Inc.,

, 910–11 (E.D. Cal. 2017); Mot. 9–10. To what extent United knew or 11 implicitly condoned the conduct will be revealed in discovery, but Quigley’s allegation is that it 12 was pervasive enough to permeate his work experience. 13 Relatedly, United singles out the allegation about requiring Quigley to get a doctor’s note 14 to extend his leave. Mot. 10. It contends that “employers may ‘require an employee to comply 15 with the employer’s usual and customary notice and procedural requirements for requesting 16 leave.’”

(quoting Buckman v. MCI World Com Inc., 374 Fed. App’x. 719, 720 (9th Cir. 2010), 17 citing CAL. GOV. CODE § 12945.2;

). To start, again, the question is not about 18 the allegation in isolation. Moreover, United’s argument is premature: It would be improper to 19 assume at the pleading stage that this was within its custom or practice or that following that 20 practice here was not pretextual. United’s attempt at burden-shifting is revealed by its argument 21 that “[t]here is no allegation by Plaintiff that asking for a doctor’s note was outside United’s usual 22 and customary procedural requirements for requesting leave.” Mot. 10. There is no authority for 23 the view that Quigley must be held to that high a standard to survive on the pleadings. Instead, the 24 parties will eventually present evidence on usual and customary procedures. 25 United turns next to Smith’s alleged paperwork errors. I agree with United that there is no 26 indication in the FAC that the errors were intentional on Smith’s part, other than Quigley’s 27 assertion that it is so. See Mot. 10. And I previously held that all that was pleaded was a “run-of- 1 United’s four other related failures to correct the issue added to the other allegations discussed 2 above is sufficient to plausibly show there was pervasive bias. 3 Finally, United takes aim at the allegation that Quigley’s assignments were radically 4 changed when he got back from medical leave. Mot. 10. As noted, this allegation is new in the 5 FAC. It does perhaps the most work to tip the scales toward plausibility. United’s sole argument 6 on it, though, is simply that there is not a sufficient causal allegation connecting it to Quigley’s 7 disability. At this stage, Quigley cannot know what internal deliberations went in to the decision, 8 but he has pleaded enough to make harassment plausible. The only intervening event alleged 9 between being given mostly international flights and “exclusively” domestic flights was the 10 medical leave. Therefore, one reasonabe inference, Usher,

, is that the one resulted 11 from the other. Tellingly, United could find no case that required more than this. 12 United’s arguments are better aimed at summary judgment or trial. Quigley has plausibly 13 alleged a hostile work environment based on disability in violation of FEHA. The motion for 14 judgment on this claim is DENIED. 15 II. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS 16 Quigley’s ninth cause of action is for IIED. FAC ¶¶ 77–84. I previously found that this 17 claim was inadequately pleaded for largely the same reasons that the harassment and 18 discrimination claims were (all had roughly the same allegations). Prior Order 20–21. 19 In the briefing on the prior motion, United “argue[d] the claim is also foreclosed by 20 California’s workplace compensation framework.” Prior Order 22 n.5. I explained that “Quigley 21 does not address this argument. I do not either, because I grant United’s motion on other grounds. 22 If Quigley chooses to reallege the IIED claim against United, he must be prepared to explain why 23 it is not foreclosed on that basis.”

(emphasis added). 24 Quigley chose to reallege the claim and United again argues that it fails under normal 25 12(b)(6) principles and under the workers’ compensation exclusivity doctrine. Mot. 12–14. His 26 brief once again does not say one word about that doctrine. See Oppo. 7–10. It solely addresses 27 why he thinks the allegations plausibly amount to IIED. (Much of that section of the brief is also 1 claims can be barred by the workers’ compensation exclusivity doctrine. See, e.g., Yau v. Santa 2 Margarita Ford, Inc.,

(2014). 3 Quigley is obligated to respond to United’s grounds for dismissal no matter the cautions he 4 is given, but his repeated failure to do so is especially significant because I explicitly warned him 5 about this precise issue when granting leave to amend. His lack of any argument means that he 6 has waived or abandoned this issue. See Chavez v. Wynar,

, 909 (N.D. Cal. 7 2019); Costabile v. Natus Med. Inc.,

(N.D. Cal. 2018); Lee v. Retail 8 Store Emp. Bldg. Corp., No. 15-CV-04768-LHK,

, at *20 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 24, 9 2017). Cf. Jenkins v. Cty. of Riverside,

, 1095 n.4 (9th Cir. 2005); Walsh v. Nevada 10 Dep’t of Hum. Res.,

(9th Cir. 2006). I am more skeptical than United that 11 Quigley’s claim would be barred by the doctrine, see, e.g., Brooks v. Corecivic of Tennessee LLC, 12

, at *6 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 4, 2020) (finding IIED claim based on alleged 13 discrimination and harassment not barred), but United does not have to defend against claims that 14 Quigley himself will not defend, especially in light of an explicit warning. Accordingly, the claim 15 is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. 16 III. NEGLIGENT HIRING, SUPERVISION, OR RETENTION 17 Quigley’s seventh cause of action is for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention. FAC 18 ¶¶ 67–70. I previously found the claim inadequately pleaded and its basis vague. Prior Order 17– 19 19. 20 This time around, Quigley makes the basis of the claim clear. He alleges that United’s 21 supervision of Smith—who is alleged to have twice messed up the benefits paperwork—was 22 negligent:

23 Defendants breached these duties by failing to supervise Smith, with knowledge of plaintiff’s diminishing health, intentionally failed submit the appropriate paperwork to 24 Defendants third party administrator which resulted in the cancelation of Plaintiff’s insurance. Then, despite being put on notice by plaintiff of Smith’s acts which resulted in 25 the termination of plaintiff’s insurance, and without requiring Smith to correct the 26 intentional error; defendants required plaintiff to obtain a doctor’s note to allow plaintiff to remain on leave. 27 FAC ¶ 69. 1 In California, “[a]n employer can be liable to a third person for negligently hiring, 2 supervising, or retaining an unfit employee.” Alexander v. Cmty. Hosp. of Long Beach,

App. 5th 238, 264 (2020) (internal quotation marks omitted). A plaintiff must show: “(1) a legal 4 duty to use reasonable care, (2) breach of that duty, and (3) proximate cause between the breach 5 and (4) the plaintiff’s injury.” Mendoza v. City of Los Angeles,

, 1339 6 (1998). This liability “is based upon the facts that the employer knew or should have known that 7 hiring the employee created a particular risk or hazard and that particular harm materializes.” Doe 8 v. Cap. Cities,

(1996). To establish liability for negligent 9 supervision, “a plaintiff must show that a person in a supervisorial position over the actor had 10 prior knowledge of the actor’s propensity to do the bad act.” Z.V. v. Cty. of Riverside,

App. 4th 889, 902 (2015). 12 In the Prior Order, I explained that “there is no allegation that United knew or should have 13 known that Smith would make this error. Cf. Cty. of Riverside, 238 Cal. App. 4th at 903–04; 14 Juarez v. Boy Scouts of Am., Inc.,

(2000).” Prior Order 18–19. Quigley 15 attempts to show the required foreknowledge now by arguing that he informed O’Brien about 16 Smith’s behavior. Oppo. 7. It is unclear what the relationship was between O’Brien and Smith 17 and O’Brien and United, and therefore whether it is sufficient to impute her knowledge to United. 18 When an employer is liable under this theory, it must be because of the employer’s own actions, 19 not via vicarious liability. Delfino v. Agilent Techs., Inc.,

(2006). I 20 will give Quigley one further opportunity to add allegations that can draw a close enough 21 connection because it seems possible he can. 22 In the Prior Order, I noted that no authority had been presented that would help Quigley 23 show that, even if there was a failure in supervision, it was a negligent one. I observed that it did 24 not seem that a paperwork error like this would evidence that an employee is “unfit,” which the 25 law also requires. See, e.g., Roman Cath. Bishop v. Superior Ct.,

, 1564 26 (1996). Quigley’s brief is of no help on this front, and I have not otherwise found a case that 27 would show actions like this suffice. (United does not have an on-point case going its way either, 1 every slipup qualifies—and Quigley must plausibly allege actions that meet that standard. 2 || Accordingly, this claim is DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND one final time.” 3 CONCLUSION 4 The motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN 5 PART. It is DENIED on the harassment claim, GRANTED WITH PREJUDICE on the ITED 6 || claim, and GRANTED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND on the negligent supervision claim. Any 7 amended complaint shall be filed within 14 days. 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. 9 Dated: June 24, 2021 10 . 11 liam H. Orrick United States District Judge

15 16

= 17

Z 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 07 > To the extent United argues that I held that these allegations are categorically not negligent, I reject that argument; my decision was based on the authority (not) presented at the time and my 28 own independent search. Quigley had and has done none of the basic work of showing that these actions fell below the standard of care.