Thomas v. Town of Se.
Thomas v. Town of Se.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff Timothy Thomas ("Plaintiff") initiated this action on November 16, 2015 by filing a federal complaint, which he thereafter amended on February 25, 2016 (the "Am. Compl."), against Defendants the Town of Southeast (the "Town"), Tony Hay, and Michael Bruen (collectively, "Defendants"). The Amended Complaint asserts various causes of action, including retaliation in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act,
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The following facts are taken from the Amended Complaint, Defendant's Rule 56.1 Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Def. 56.1") (ECF No. 36), Plaintiff's Rule 56.1 Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Plf. Resp.") (ECF No. 40), Defendant's Counter Response to Plaintiff's 56.1 Statement ("Def. Cntr.") (ECF No. 44), and are uncontested except where indicated.
Plaintiff was employed as a Road Maintenance Equipment Operator ("RMEO") in the Town's Highway Department for over eleven years. (See Plf. Resp. ¶¶ 2, 3.) As an RMEO, Plaintiff was required to perform *322inspections on the equipment and vehicles he operated prior to their use. (Id. ¶ 25; Declaration of James A. Randazzo in Support of Defendants' Motion ("Randazzo Decl.") (ECF No. 38), Ex. C at 50-54; Ex. F at 76-78.) After performing such inspections, Plaintiff and other employees like him were required to complete a pre-trip inspection form, and if they perceived any safety issues, they were required to inform the mechanic immediately. (See Plf. Resp. ¶ 25; Randazzo Decl., Ex. F at 76-78.)
In January of 2015, following an incident between Plaintiff and Defendant Bruen, Plaintiff was suspended without pay, pending charges pursuant to Civil Service Law § 75. (See Plf. Resp. ¶¶ 30-42.) Disciplinary charges were issued on February 4, 2015 and a disciplinary hearing presided over by William Wallens (the "Hearing Officer") followed (the " Section 75 Hearing"). (Id. ¶¶ 51-55.) Following the Section 75 Hearing, the Town Board voted to terminate Plaintiff. (Id. ¶ 68.)
Defendant Hay is the Supervisor of the Town and was in that position during the time relevant to Plaintiff's Amended Complaint. (See Plf. Resp. ¶ 4.) Defendant Bruen serves as the Highway Superintendent for the Town and has been in that position since approximately November 18, 2013. (Id. ¶ 6; Am. Compl. ¶ 32; Randazzo Decl., Ex. F at 38.) Plaintiff contends that after Bruen became the Highway Superintendent, he began to engage in a course of conduct which constituted harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment, with the alleged acquiescence and approval of Hay. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 32.)
In July of 2012, over a year before Bruen became Highway Superintendent, Plaintiff entered into a stipulation of settlement with the Town whereby he agreed to a disciplinary suspension of five days without pay in resolution of three allegations of misconduct.
In 2014, Plaintiff received five Letters of Counseling and/or Reprimand. (See Plf. Resp. ¶¶ 18-24.) In March and April, he received Letters of Reprimand for insubordination. (Id. ¶¶ 18-19.)
In the summer of 2014, Plaintiff was instructed to operate a 10-wheeler truck. (Id. ¶ 27.) The operation of such a truck was within Plaintiff's job description. (Id. ¶ 26.) After performing an inspection on the truck, Plaintiff complained to the mechanic on the job, Michael Burdick, that he would not drive the truck because it had bald tires.
On January 9, 2015, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights ("NYSDHR") which was dually filed with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") alleging, inter alia , that he was discriminated against on the basis of his age when he was denied the promotions in December 2013 and April of 2014. (See Plf. Resp. ¶¶ 28-29.) Thereafter, Bruen asked Plaintiff if he had filed the complaint, if he was "aware of what it was doing to the morale" of the department, and said that the complaint was "bringing down everything [Bruen] felt [they] had accomplished" in the department. (See Defs. Cntr. ¶¶ 84-85.) Plaintiff also contends that, at some unidentified time, Bruen referred to him as "a young mistaken boy." (Id. ¶ 91.)
On January 15, 2015, Plaintiff removed firewood from the Highway Department for his personal use without permission. (See Plf. Resp. ¶¶ 30, 66; Randazzo Decl., Ex. O at 60-61.)
*324Bruen again told Plaintiff he wanted to see him and his shop steward in his office immediately, and Plaintiff responded that he "would have the meeting right then and there" in the shop. (Id. ) Bruen again informed Plaintiff that the meeting would occur in his office. (Id. ) As the two were walking toward Bruen's office, Plaintiff behind Bruen, Plaintiff reiterated that he wanted to have the meeting in the shop, causing Bruen to turn around. (Id. ) Plaintiff continued walking toward Bruen and bumped into him, making physical contact. (Id. ) Bruen then asked Plaintiff if he was trying to walk through him and Plaintiff responded, "whatever it takes." (Id. ) During the meeting in Bruen's office, Plaintiff used foul and abusive language and spoke in an inappropriate manner. (Id. )
On January 22, 2015, Plaintiff was suspended without pay pending forthcoming disciplinary charges. (Id. ¶ 42.) The same day, Bruen gave a sworn statement to the Putnam County Sheriff's Department regarding the incident on January 16, 2015. (Id. ¶ 44.) As a result, Plaintiff was served with a criminal summons for harassment in the second degree, dated February 3, 2015. (Id. ¶ 47.) Plaintiff was not arrested, but did have to appear in court on two occasions. (Id. ¶¶ 48-49.) Plaintiff did not have to post bail and no travel restrictions were imposed on him. (Id. ¶ 50.) The criminal summons against Plaintiff was ultimately dismissed. (Id. ¶ 71.)
On February 4, 2015, Plaintiff was served with the Section 75 disciplinary charges. (Id. ¶ 51.) Twelve charges, including, inter alia , insubordination, absence without leave, and dereliction of duty were asserted. (See Randazzo Decl., Ex. L.) The Section 75 Hearing was held on February 27, 2015, March 9, 2015, and August 20, 2015 to assess whether the charges were meritorious and warranted termination. (Id. ¶ 54-56.) Plaintiff was present at the hearing, represented by counsel, and provided the opportunity to enter evidence, cross examine the Town's witnesses, offer testimony of his own witnesses, and testify on his own behalf. (Id. ¶¶ 56-57; Randazzo Decl., Ex. M, Ex. O at 1-2, 44-46.) The Hearing Officer issued a report and recommendation regarding the charges on December 8, 2015. (See Randazzo Decl., Ex. O at 65.) The Hearing Officer found Plaintiff guilty on charges 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 12, dismissed the others, and recommended termination. (See Plf. Resp. ¶ 61; Defs. Cntr. ¶ 87; Randazzo Decl., Ex. O at 48-64.) On December 11, 2015, the Town Board voted to accept and adopt the Hearing Officer's report and recommendation and terminated Plaintiff's employment. (See Plf. Resp. ¶ 68.)
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). The moving party bears the initial burden of pointing to evidence in the record, "including depositions, documents ... [and] affidavits or declarations," see Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A), "which it believes demonstrate[s] the absence of a genuine issue of material fact," Celotex Corp. v. Catrett ,
A genuine dispute of material fact exists when "the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson , 477 U.S. at 248,
Critically, in an opposition to a motion for summary judgment "[s]tatements that are devoid of any specifics, but replete with conclusions" will not suffice. Bickerstaff v. Vassar Coll. ,
DISCUSSION
II. Preclusive Effect of Section 75 Hearing Findings
It is well settled that "federal courts must give state-court judgments the same preclusive effect as they would receive in courts of the same states." Burkybile v. Bd. of Educ. of Hastings-On-Hudson Union Free Sch. Dist. ,
Plaintiff rightly contends that the fact that the Hearing Officer recommended that Plaintiff be terminated based on the disciplinary charges does not preclude this court from finding that he was terminated in retaliation for opposing unlawful discrimination. See *326Burkybile ,
Consequently, Plaintiff's disputes of the following findings of fact by the Hearing Officer, inter alia , are untenable: (1) Plaintiff needed Bruen's permission, but did not obtain it, prior to taking firewood from the Highway Department; (2) Plaintiff did not receive approval before being absent from work for two days in May of 2014; and (3) he made physical contact with Bruen on January 16, 2015.
III. ADEA Retaliation
Defendants seek summary judgment on Plaintiff's ADEA retaliation claim arguing that Plaintiff cannot meet the protected activity prong because he could not have had a reasonable belief that the ADEA was being violated. (See Defs. Br. at 5-6.) Plaintiff contends that a retaliation claim is asserted "without regard to whether the allegations are valid or reasonable." (See Plf. Br. at 4.)
Under the ADEA, it is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an employee for complaining of age discrimination in the workplace. See
*327Gorzynski v. JetBlue Airways Corp. ,
To properly assert a retaliation claim, a Plaintiff need not prove successful on the underlying substantive ADEA discrimination claim. See Kessler ,
Plaintiff's argument that he had such a reasonable belief by virtue of the fact that he filed a complaint with the NYSDHR which was dual filed with the EEOC, (see Plf. Br. at 5), is a red-herring. The fact that the NYSDHR forwarded the complaint to the EEOC has no bearing on Plaintiff's reasonable belief. The issue before the Court is whether a 32 year old in Plaintiff's position, viewing the totality of the circumstances, would have had a reasonable belief that he was being discriminated against on the basis of his age.
A genuine belief that he had a claim for age discrimination is not the same as a good faith, reasonable belief. See Galdieri-Ambrosini ,
The ADEA explicitly states that protection thereunder is "limited to individuals who are at least 40 years of age."
Additionally, Plaintiff alleges his problems began after he complained of what he perceived to be an unsafe and dangerous condition, (Am. Compl. ¶ 35), but fails to allege how that incident, or any of the following, pertained to his age. Moreover, the crux of Plaintiff's beliefs that he was discriminated against on the basis of age appear to rest on the following facts: (1) the two promotions he applied to (in December 2012 and April 2014) were given to older employees;
Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on the ADEA retaliation claim.
IV. First Amendment Retaliation
Defendants also seek summary judgment on the Plaintiff's First Amendment retaliation claim on the basis that Plaintiff did not speak on a matter of public concern and only discussed issues personal in nature. (See Defs. Br. at 7-8.) Plaintiff's Opposition argues to the contrary. (See Plf. Br. at 9-10.) Plaintiff fails to raise a triable issue of fact.
Defendants have demonstrated their entitlement to summary judgment. The First Amendment "affords a degree of protection to public employees to exercise the right of free speech without risk of retaliation by the State employer if the employee's speech in question is 'on matters of public interest.' " Ricciuti v. Gyzenis ,
Relevant to the inquiry here are the first and third circumstances under which the First Amendment does not protect a public employee's speech.
First, Defendants have demonstrated that the objections Plaintiff made regarding the "bald tires" were not made as a public citizen, but rather in furtherance of his official job duties. (See Defs. Br. at 8.) To be protected, a public employee's speech must be made as a private citizen "and not in her role as employee" or "pursuant to official duties." Nagle v. Marron ,
Indeed, the record demonstrates that there are no issues of fact. The facts are as follows: Plaintiff was required to operate the 10-wheeler, (see Plf. Resp. ¶ 26), inspect the vehicle, and fill out a "pre-trip inspection" form before he used it, (see Plf. Resp. ¶ 25;
Second, Defendants sufficiently demonstrate that Plaintiff's filing of his *330grievances to the union and the complaint of age discrimination to the NYSDHR do not address matters of public concern and are instead overwhelming personal in nature. (Id. at 8-9.) "Whether an employee's speech addresses a matter of public concern is a question of law for the court to decide ...." Ruotolo v. City of New York ,
Plaintiff fails entirely to persuade this Court that his speech is protected. Plaintiff's Opposition contains two and a half pages of case law articulating the legal standard, and simply states that:
defendants would have us believe that plaintiff's speech was calculated to redress personal issues and was, thus, not a matter of public concern. This assertion is not true. At any rate, sufficient questions of fact exist.
(See Plf. Br. at 10.) Plaintiff points to no facts that would demonstrate how his speech addressed a matter of public concern or identify the issues of facts that allegedly exist and how such facts should persuade this Court to find in his favor. See Vasquez v. United States , No. 14-CV-1510 (DF),
As a matter of law, the filing of grievances with the union and a complaint with the NYSHRD, constitutes speech personal in nature. Plaintiff's complaint to the NYSHDR alleged discrimination and retaliation against him personally on the basis of his age but contained no overarching issues of public concern. (See Plf. Resp. ¶¶ 28-29.) See also Ruotolo ,
V. Fourteenth Amendment Due Process
Defendants also seek summary judgment on Plaintiff's alleged procedural and substantive due process claims. (See Defs. Br. at 10-11.)
Plaintiff's Opposition contains no arguments regarding his claim for procedural due process whatsoever. (See Plf. Br. at 11.) To the extent Plaintiff alleged a procedural due process claim in his Amended Complaint, the Court deems it abandoned. It is therefore dismissed. See Kovaco v. Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corp. ,
*331As to the substantive due process claims, Plaintiff "recognizes the validity of the cases cited by defendants in asserting that the plaintiff's substantive due process claims must be analyzed under other Amendments," but nevertheless argues that a proper substantive due process claim has been asserted. (See Plf. Br. at 11.) This Court disagrees. "[W]here a specific constitutional provision prohibits government action, plaintiffs seeking redress for that prohibited conduct in a § 1983 suit cannot make reference to the broad notion of substantive due process." Velez v. Levy ,
Here, Plaintiff concedes that his claims should be analyzed under other Amendments, thus precluding a substantive due process claim regarding the same conduct, but then badly argues that "Plaintiff has, in his Response to Defendants' Rule 56.1 Statement, identified the constitutional rights at issue herein and that the actions of the defendants that were arbitrary and improper." (See Plf. Br. at 11.) Such an argument fails to identify any actions of defendants that violated Plaintiff's rights to substantive due process not already covered by claims under other Amendments. Moreover, a review of the record reveals that all of the alleged improper conduct by Defendants is subsumed by other Amendments. Plaintiff's substantive due process claim fails as well.
Defendants' Motion seeking summary judgment on the procedural and substantive due process claims is granted.
VI. Fourteenth Amendment - Equal Protection
The Equal Protection Clause holds that "[n]o State shall ... deny to any person within this jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws," U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1 and "is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike," Brown v. City of Oneonta ,
There are three types of equal protection claims: (1) selective enforcement; (2) discriminatory intent; and (3) class of one. Both selective enforcement and discriminatory intent require a demonstration that "the conduct [be] based on impermissible considerations such as race, religion, intent to inhibit or punish the exercise of constitution rights, or malicious or bad faith intent to injure a person." LeClair v. Saunders ,
As a matter of law, an Equal Protection claim asserted on the basis of a class-of-one theory is inapplicable to public employees. See Appel v. Spiridon ,
VII. Fourth Amendment - Malicious Prosecution
Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiff's malicious prosecution claim because, as a matter of law, he cannot demonstrate a liberty interest.
A malicious prosecution claim pursuant to Section 1983 is largely indistinguishable from a state law claim. In New York, a claim for malicious prosecution lies if plaintiff demonstrates four elements: (1) "the defendant initiated a criminal proceeding"; (2) the proceeding was terminated in plaintiff's favor; (3) "there was no probable cause for the criminal charge"; and (4) defendant acted maliciously. Rothstein v. Carriere ,
The undisputed facts demonstrate that Plaintiff was issued a summons for harassment in the second degree. (See Plf. Resp. ¶ 47.) Harassment in the second degree is a violation and therefore not a crime; certainly not a felony.
VIII. State Law Claims
In light of this Court's decision to grant judgment in Defendants' favor on each of Plaintiff's federal claims, it does not assess the merits of the state law claims and declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over them. Schaefer v. Town of Victor ,
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants' Motion is GRANTED and Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed with prejudice. The Clerk of the Court is respectfully requested to enter judgment in Defendants' favor. The Clerk of the Court is further respectfully requested to terminate the motion at ECF No. 35 and terminate the action.
SO ORDERED:
Plaintiff's attempts to dispute these facts are unavailing. The testimony cited by Defendants in support thereof, including that of Plaintiff at his hearing pursuant to
The allegations of misconduct included: (1) the harassment of Michael Burdick on May 17, 2012; (2) intentionally blowing "dirt, dust and material into Michael Burdick's office" while operating a blower; and (3) using a cellphone while operating a Town vehicle and operating that vehicle recklessly, ultimately colliding with another vehicle, causing property damage. (See Randazzo Decl., Ex. N at Town Ex. 11.)
The Hearing Officer dismissed the charges pertaining to these Letters of Reprimand. (See Randazzo Decl., Ex. O at 48-50.)
Plaintiff cannot maintain that he did not commit any wrongdoing in this regard, (see Plf. Resp. ¶ 24), as the Hearing Officer found Plaintiff guilty of the charge related to this Letter of Counseling. (See Randazzo Decl., Ex. O at 51-53.) As described in further detail below, infra I, the findings of fact made by the Section 75 Hearing Officer are entitled to preclusive effect. Matusick v. Erie Cnty. Water Auth. ,
"Bald tires" refers to tires that are overly worn and should be changed. (See Randazzo Decl., Ex. C at 49-50; Ex. D at 211-215.)
Defendants dispute that such a comment was ever made. (See Defs. Cntr. ¶ 91.)
Plaintiff's attempt to dispute the fact that he needed prior permission to take firewood from the Highway Department is unavailing. The Hearing Officer's factual finding to the contrary is afforded preclusive effect.
To the extent Plaintiff disputes any of the facts pertaining to this incident, including, inter alia , that he did not swear in the lunchroom, leave the building without responding to Bruen, or made physical contact with Bruen, (see Plf. Resp. ¶¶ 30-42), such attempts fall flat. As previously indicated, and more thoroughly described below, infra I, this Court grants preclusive effect to the findings of fact made during the Section 75 Hearing.
Defendants also seek dismissal of any substantive ADEA claim, as Plaintiff is not within the protected age group. (See Defs. Br. at 5.) The Court need not address the merits of this argument, as Plaintiff confirms that he is not pursuing such a claim. (See Plf. Br. at 4.)
To the extent that Plaintiff cites Deravin v. Kerik ,
The position offered in December of 2013 was also offered a year earlier in September 2012. (See Plf. Resp. ¶ 10.) Plaintiff applied to the position at that time and was not offered the promotion then either. (Id. ) Bruen was not Highway Superintendent at the time. (Id. ¶ 11.)
Defendants dispute that Bruen ever made such a statement to Plaintiff. (See Defs. Cntr. ¶ 92.) The Court need not deny summary judgment on this ground, because, even assuming Bruen did call Plaintiff a "young mistaken boy", it is insufficient to convince this Court that Plaintiff had a reasonable belief that he was being targeted for his age.
Defendants construe Plaintiff's First Amendment claim as concerning three incidents of alleged protected speech: (1) his complaints about the bald tires; (2) filing grievances with his union; and (3) filing a complaint with the NYSDHR. (See Defs. Br. at 7.) The First Amendment claim as alleged in the Amended Complaint, however, appears to only concern the complaints regarding his concerns that the bald tires were dangerous. (See Am. Compl. 117-27.) Plaintiff's Opposition fails to articulate what speech he is claiming is protected by the First Amendment. (See Plf. Br. at 8-10.) The Court concludes that, based on the Amended Complaint, Plaintiff's purported protected speech pertained to the complaints about the bald tires only. Nevertheless, it will also briefly address the remaining instances of alleged speech.
Plaintiff's contention that he disputes "that the cited references stand for the fact asserted" in paragraph 25 of Defendants' 56.1 fails to raise a material issue of fact, and is plainly incorrect. Plaintiff explicitly testified in his hearing pursuant to
Plaintiff's counsel completely ignores this binding Second Circuit precedent, despite an obligation to advise the Court of unfavorable binding precedent. Instead, Plaintiff relies on cases from 1997 and 1998 to support his arguments and cherry picks favorable portions of those decisions to make a disingenuous argument, thereby disregarding the propositions for which those cases stand. Sassower and Willner relied on Murphy for the proposition that post-arraignment court appearances, alone, are sufficient for a Fourth Amendment liberty violation. See Sassower v. City of White Plains ,
Though the Second Circuit held that the "number of appearances may bear upon whether there was a seizure", leaving open the possibility that multiple court appearances, even in the pre-arraignment, non-felony summons circumstances can give rise to a liberty deprivation, Burg ,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Timothy THOMAS v. TOWN OF SOUTHEAST, Tony Hay, and Michael Bruen
- Cited By
- 8 cases
- Status
- Published