Miller v. McHugh
Miller v. McHugh
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
Marytherese Miller, a legal technician in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (“OSJA”) for the United States Military at West Point, New York (“West Point”), brings suit against her employer, John McHugh, Secretary of the Army (the “Government”).
The Government moves for summary judgment on the grounds that: (1) Miller cannot establish a prima facie case of discrimination because she is not disabled under the meaning of the ADA; (2) Miller cannot establish a prima facie case of discrimination based on failure to accommodate because her requests for accommodation were granted; (3) Miller cannot establish a prima facie case of retaliation because the Government’s ac
II. BACKGROUND
Miller has been employed as a legal technician for the OSJA at West Point since approximately 1987.
A. Miller’s First Surgery and Initial Requests for Worksite Accommodations
After a meniscus tear in February 2005, as well as significant knee pain, Miller underwent knee surgery in April 2005.
Beginning in September 2006, Miller was told by her supervisors, Colonel Brendan Donahoe and Captain Ann Ching, that she would need to use the stairs and that she would be subject to a fitness for duty hearing.
Miller’s request for a temporary work-site accommodation was granted on November 17, 2006.
B. Miller’s Requests for Parking Accommodation
Miller verbally requested a parking accommodation by phone before returning from work in order to avoid the stairs in West Point’s parking lot.
On February 7, 2007, Miller submitted her first formal written request to West Point for a Reserved Parking Spot.
C. Miller’s Job Reclassification
In 2006, Miller’s supervisor, Captain Greiser, was in the process of updating
Miller experienced no decrease in grade or salary at the time of her reclassification.
D. Miller’s Second Surgery and Informal EEO Complaint
In Miller’s Formal Memo requesting worksite accommodation, she notified the OSJA that she would need a second surgery.
Miller underwent her second surgery on April 26, 2008.
E. Miller’s 2007 Performance Evaluation and Other Employee Counseling
On June 22, 2007, Miller received her annual performance evaluation.
Miller also received periodic employee counseling and guidance sessions during 2007-2008.
F. Miller’s Formal EEO Complaints
On July 9, 2007, Miller filed her first formal EEO complaint.
Miller filed a second formal EEO complaint on March 21, 2008.
III. LEGAL STANDARD
A. Summary Judgment
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.”
“The moving party bears the burden of establishing the absence of any genuine issue of material fact.”
In deciding a motion for summary judgment, a court must “ ‘construe the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences against the movant.’ ”
B. Summary Judgment and Employment Discrimination
“ ‘[Sjummary judgment is appropriate even in discrimination cases, for ... the salutary purposes of summary judgment— avoiding protracted, expensive and harassing trials-apply no less to discrimination cases than to other areas of litigation.’ ”
“Because direct evidence of an employer’s discriminatory intent will rarely be found,” motions for summary judgment in employment discrimination actions should be evaluated with caution. “However, even in the discrimination context, a plaintiff must provide more than eonclusory allegations of discrimination to defeat a motion for summary judgment.”91
“Courts ‘must ... carefully distinguish between evidence that allows for a reasonable inference of discrimination and evidence that gives rise to mere speculation and conjecture.’ ”
“[T]he plaintiff must produce not simply some evidence, but sufficient evidence to support a rational finding that the legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons proffered by the defendant were false, and that more likely than not discrimination was the real reason for the employment action____To get to the jury, it is not enough ... to disbelieve the employer; the factfinder must also believe the plaintiffs explanation of intentional discrimination.”93
IV. APPLICABLE LAW
A. Failure to Accommodate
A federal employee’s “sole claim for discrimination on the basis of disability is under the Rehabilitation Act, if anywhere.”
No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in section 705(20) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service.95
Under the Rehabilitation Act, a plaintiff may allege “failure to make reasonable accommodations,” and such claims are analyzed under the familiar “burden-shifting analysis established for employment discrimination cases under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964” by McDonnell Douglas Corporation v. Green.
The Rehabilitation Act defines an “[individual with a disability” by reference to the ADA.
“[I]t is the responsibility of the individual with a disability to inform the employer that an accommodation is needed.”
If the plaintiff succeeds in establishing a prima facie case of discrimination, then the burden shifts to the employer to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action.
B. Retaliation
Title VII “makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee ‘because he [or she] has opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice by this subchapter, or because he [or she] has made a charge ... in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this subehapter.’ ”
A prima facie case of retaliation is established by showing: “(1) participation in a protected activity; (2) that the defendant knew of the protected activity; (3) an adverse employment action; and (4) a causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse employment action.”
A plaintiff may demonstrate causation in a retaliation claim: “(1) indirectly, by showing that the protected activity was followed closely by discriminatory treatment, or through other circumstantial evidence such as disparate treatment of fellow employees who engaged in similar conduct; or (2) directly, through evidence of retaliatory animus directed against the plaintiff by defendant.”
“At the summary judgment stage, if the plaintiff presents at least a minimal amount of evidence to support the elements of the claim, the burden of production shifts to the defendant to proffer a legitimate non-retaliatory reason for the adverse employment action.”
C. Hostile Work Environment
An employee seeking to bring a hostile work environment claim must demonstrate that: (1) she is a member of a protected class; (2) she suffered unwelcome harassment; (3) she was harassed because of her membership in a protected class; and (4) the harassment was sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of employment and create an abusive work environment.
In order to prevail on a hostile work environment claim, a plaintiff must make two showings: (1) that “the harassment was sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim’s employment and create an abusive working environment” and (2) that there is a “specific basis for imputing the conduct creating the hostile work environment to the employer.”122
Evaluating a hostile environment involves reviewing the totality of the circumstances, including “the frequency of the discriminatory conduct; its severity; whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, or a mere offensive utterance; and whether it unreasonably interferes with an employee’s work performance.”
“EEOC regulations require an employee suing the federal government under the Rehabilitation Act to exhaust certain administrative remedies before initiating a suit in the district court.”
(1) the claim would fall within the reasonably expected scope of an EEOC investigation of the charges of discrimination; (2) it alleges retaliation for filing the EEOC charge; or (3) the plaintiff “alleges further incidents of discrimination carried out in precisely the same manner alleged in the EEOC charge.”130
E. The Privacy Act
The Privacy Act provides, in pertinent part, “Whenever an agency ... fails to comply with any other provision of this section, or any rule promulgated thereunder, in such a way as to have an adverse effect on an individual, the individual may bring a civil action against the agency, and the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction in the matters under the provisions of this subsection.”
A. Miller’s Disability Claims
Miller’s failure to accommodate claims include three alleged violations: (1) failure to accommodate her parking needs up until February 2007, (2) failure to provide her with advanced leave for her second scheduled surgery in May 2007, and (3) the movement of certain hearings to the Red Reeder Room rather than OSJA courtroom sometime after her second surgery. Miller’s failure to accommodate claims fail as a matter of law because (1) she has not produced evidence showing that she was disabled under the meaning of the ADA at the time of the requested parking accommodations and advanced leave, and (2) she has failed to produce evidence sufficient to raise a factual dispute as to whether she was reasonably accommodated regarding the advance leave and the hearings at Red Reeder.
1. Miller Was Not Disabled Under the ADA Prior to Her Second Surgery
Miller’s request for advanced leave and inability to secure parking accommodations both occurred in 2006 and 2007, prior to Miller’s second surgery.
Miller relies on her knee surgery and doctor’s notes to support the claim that she was disabled under the ADA.
a. Miller Was Not Regarded by Her Employer as Disabled
Miller has also not shown that her employer regarded her as disabled for purposes of the ADA.
2. Miller Has Not Shown She Was Not Reasonably Accommodated
Miller has also failed to raise facts showing that the Government did not properly accommodate her need for a second surgery and to avoid climbing stairs. In response to Miller’s request for eighty-eight hours of advanced annual leave, Captain Ching responded by written memo on May 8, 2007, informing Miller that the request could not be granted because there was a low likelihood that Miller could “pay back the advanced hours.”
Miller’s only allegation of failure to accommodate that arose after her second surgery concerns the movement of certain hearings to the Red Reeder Room, rather than Building 606.
B. Miller’s Retaliation Claims
Miller alleges four instances of retaliation by her employer in response to her complaints and EEO filings: (1) her job reclassification; (2) her lowered performance evaluation grade; (3) the movement of certain hearings to the Red Reeder Room; and (4) various employee counseling sessions and other worksite guidance given to her. Miller’s claims of retaliation fail as a matter of law because (1) her job reclassification occurred before any protected activity; (2) Miller has failed to rebut the non-retaliatory reasons put forward by the Government for Miller’s evaluation; (3) Miller has not shown any causal connection between protected events and the movement of certain hearings to the Red Reeder Room; and (4) her counseling sessions did not include any adverse employment consequences.
Miller’s job title was reclassified by Captain Ching on April 5, 2007.
While “[t]he plaintiffs burden at the beginning of the case is a light one,” the plaintiff must show “that the protected activity preceded the adverse action in order to satisfy the causation requirement.”
2. Miller Has Not Rebutted the Government’s Non-retaliatory Reason for Her Evaluation Score
Miller received performance evaluation scores of “successful” on her 2007 and 2008 evaluations, whereas she had received scores of “excellent” for at least the previous four years.
As an initial matter, Miller cannot base a claim of retaliation on her scheduled surgery.
Proceeding to step two of the McDonnell framework, the Government offers a non-retaliatory reason for Miller’s evaluation score — her reluctance to participate in staff trainings.
The third step of the McDonnell framework requires that “the plaintiff must then produce evidence that the proffered reason is a pretext.”
3. Miller Fails to Allege Causation Regarding the Hearings in the Red Reeder Room
All of Miller’s protected activity, complaint letters, EEO complaints, and the filing of this civil suit took place between May 8, 2007 and August 24, 2009.
Miller has not put forward evidence that raises a genuine issue of fact about what caused the movement to the Red Reeder Room. There is no evidence in the record that directly establishes that the move was motivated by a retaliatory purpose. In terms of circumstantial evidence, Miller can only point to the fact that the change was authorized some months after she began to engage in protected activity. However, “temporal proximity must be sufficiently close” in order to substantiate a charge of retaliation.
4. Miller’s Counseling Sessions and Other Guidance Involved No Adverse Employment Action
Miller’s counseling sessions and other guidance memoranda detailing her responsibilities as an employee do not rise to the level of adverse employment action.
C. Miller’s Hostile Work Environment Claims
Miller bases her hostile work environment claims on three inappropriate comments made by co-workers: (1) Captain Greiser’s asking Miller whether she “would be ready to climb Storm King Mountain for an office outing,”; (2) coworker Barnes’ asking Miller “how would you like me to kick your leg and see how it hurts?”; (3) co-worker Laiso’s remark, “Everyone hates you, I hate you!”, as well as a picture that Captain Adams, a superi- or, sent by e-mail to Miller and some of her co-workers.
In addition, to make out a prima facie case for a hostile environment, a plaintiff must establish “that she was harassed because of her membership in a protected class.”
D. Miller’s Privacy Act Claim
Miller argues that the Government has violated the Privacy Act by disclosing information about her condition to co-workers and by providing her phone number on an office roster without her consent.
VI. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted. The Clerk is directed to close this motion [Docket No. 80] and this case.
. John McHugh has been automatically substituted as defendant during the course of these proceedings pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(d).
. 29 U.S.C. § 701, et seq.
. 42 U.S.C. § 12101, ef seq.
. Id. § 2000e, et seq.
. 5 U.S.C. § 552a. Following a Stipulation and Order of Partial Dismissal entered on 6/23/10, Miller agreed not to pursue additional claims based on the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA”), 29 U.S.C. § 2611, et seq., and the Federal Employee Compensation Act ("FECA”), 5 U.S.C. § 8101, et seq.
. Both parties submitted written statements of facts pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1. See Rule 56.1(a)-(d); see also Rodriguez v. Schneider, No. 95 Civ. 4083, 1999 WL 459813, at *1 n. 3 (S.D.N.Y. June 29, 1999). Although Miller's response to Defendant's 56.1 statement contains correspondingly numbered paragraphs admitting or denying defendant's facts, Miller frequently adds argumentation, as does defendant, and bases certain factual statements on a contemporaneously submitted affidavit by Miller. See Defendant’s Statement Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1 ("Def. 56.1”); Plaintiff's Statement of Facts Law [sic] pursuant to local civil rule 56.1 ("PL 56.1”); 7/8/11 Affidavit of Marytherese Miller ("Miller Aff.”), Ex. A to 7/8/11 Verification of Peter J. Cresci, Esq. ("Cresci Ver.”). Miller’s affidavit, however, is often inconsistent with her earlier deposition testimony taken on March 9, 2011. See 3/9/11 Deposition of Marytherese Miller ("Miller Tr.”), Ex. A to 6/8/11 Declaration of Jaimie L. Nawaday ("Nawaday Deck”). Any material that first appears in the affirmation and that contradicts earlier deposition testimony must be ignored for the purposes of this motion. See Estate of Hamilton v. City of New York, 627 F.3d 50, 54 (2d Cir. 2010); Brown v. Henderson, 257 F.3d 246, 252 (2d Cir. 2001) ("factual allegations that might otherwise defeat a motion for summary judgment will not be permitted to do so when they are made for the first time in the plaintiff's affidavit opposing summary judgment and that affidavit contradicts her own prior deposition testimony.”). Accordingly, I deem defendant’s 56.1 statement admitted or denied as set forth by plaintiff except insofar as plaintiff relies on facts contained in Miller's affidavit that contradict earlier deposition testimony.
. See Pl. 56.1 ¶ 1; Miller Tr. at 21:10-11; Miller Aff. V 3.
. See Miller Tr. at 22:12-19; see also Position Description: Legal Technician, Ex. F to Cresci Ver.
. See Pl. 56.1 ¶ 1; Miller Tr. at 29:2-3.
. See Position Description: Lead Legal Technician, Ex. F to Cresci Ver.; Miller Aff. ¶ 7.
. See Miller Tr. at 111:16-19.
. See PL 56.1 ¶ 2.
. See Miller Tr. at 42:21-43:8, 47:20-48:4.
. See id. at 48:7, 54:19-20.
. See id. at 55:13-19, 56:21-25; see also 4/11/05 Doctor’s Note, Ex. C to Cresci Ver. The April 11 Doctor’s Note does indicate disability, though it does not specify restrictions on stair climbing.
. See 11/1/07 Testimony of Marytherese Miller ("Miller EEO Test. I"), Ex. O to Cresci Ver. at 38:23-40:13.
. See Miller Tr. at 53:16-23.
. See 9/15/05 Doctor's Note, Ex. C to Nawaday Decl.
. See Miller EEO Test. I at 41:20-44:5.
. See 10/26/06 E-mail Communications with Col. Swope ("Swope Comm.’’), Ex. D to Nawaday Decl.; also included as Ex. N to Cresci Ver.
. Id. Accord Miller Tr. at 71:16-25 ("[Mr. Billelo] contacted my supervisor and told her that that is the correct procedure that has to be done for an accommodation request.”).
. See Miller Tr. at 71:16-25. See also 5/8/07 EEO Informal Complaint (“Informal EEO Complaint”), Ex. J to Nawaday Decl. at Testimony of CPT Ann Ching ("he thought they had to hold a Fitness for Duty because they had no office documentation about [] her accommodation’ ’).
. See 11/7/06 Memorandum, Subject: No Elevator at Nininger Hall ("Formal Memo”), Ex. E to Nawaday Deck; also included as Ex. N to Cresci Ver. Describing her situation, Miller stated, "I do not believe that I am disabled or that I am truly a 'qualified individual with a disability,’ under Title II of the ADA ... since none of my major life activities are limited.” See id. ¶ 3. Specifically, Miller claimed to be in need of a "temporary situation.” See id.
. See id. ¶ 7.
. See 11/2/06 Doctor’s Note, Ex. E to Nawaday Deck
. See 11/17/06 Temporary Worksite Accommodation ("Worksite Accommodation”), Ex. F to Nawaday Deck; also included as Ex. N to Cresci Ver.
. See Miller Tr. at 165:6-8.
. See Miller Aff. ¶ 18; see also 4/29/10 Proposed Amendment, Ex. N to Cresci Ver. ¶ 2 ("The commandant determined that the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) courtroom was not a suitable primary alternate HIH and CAB location. The Honor Committee now schedule the Red Reeder Room as the secondary HIH location.”).
. See Miller Tr. at 165:9-12.
. See 5/24/11 Medical Exam by Dr. Sally Dorfman, Ex. D to Cresci Ver. ("You declined the accommodation.”). The accommodation afforded was some form of a "scooter.” See Defendant's Reply in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment at 6 n. 7.
. See Miller Tr. at 48:12-20.
. See id. at 48:24-49:10.
. See id. at 49:22-50:13; see also Miller EEO Test. I at 40:15-41:4.
. See Miller Tr. at 58:8-19. Even while Miller had a valid New York State Parking Pass, she was not always able to avoid the parking lot stairs. The New York State Pass, unlike the West Point Pass, entitles its holder to a handicapped space generally rather than to an assigned parking space, and West Point did not have enough handicapped spots. See id. at 50:14-52:2.
. See id. at 77:20-23.
. See 2/1/01 Request for Reserved Parking Spot ("Parking Request”), Ex. G to Nawaday Decl.
. See 2/13/07 Reasonable Parking Accommodation ("Parking Request Grant”), Ex. C to Cresci Ver. This information was then communicated to Miller on February 20, 2007, see 2/20/07 Request for Reserved Parking, Ex. G to Nadaway Decl.
. See 6/2/11 Reasonable Parking Accommodation, Ex. C to Cresci Ver.
. See Miller Tr. at 81:15-23, 89:14-90:15.
. See id. at 98:18-23.
. See id. at 99:6-20.
. See id. at 109:2-110-21.
. See Position Description: Lead Legal Technician, Ex. F to Cresci Ver. This standard is maintained pursuant to the General Schedule Leader Grade Evaluation Guide, HRCD-5 June 1998, Ex. E to Cresci Ver., at 2.
. See 4/5/07 Change in Position Description, Ex. M to Nawaday Decl.
. See Miller Tr. at 112:19-113-2.
. See 7/8/07 Notification of Personnel Action, Ex. F to Cresci Ver.
. See Miller Tr. at 133:16-134:11.
. See id. at 131:18-132:9.
. See id. at 133:6-134:11.
. See Formal Memo ¶ 7.
. See 4/26/01 Request for Advance Annual Leave, Ex. H to Nawaday Deck
. See 5/8/07 Denial of Request for Advanced Annual Leave, Ex. I to Nawaday Deck; Informal EEO Complaint, Witness Statement of CPT Ann Ching. In addition to the denial, Captain Ching asserted that Miller had backdated her written request for advanced annual leave. See Denial of Request for Advanced Annual Leave ¶ 3.
. See 5/8/07 Denial of Request for Advanced Annual Leave ¶¶ 6-7.
. See Miller Tr. at 122:21-127:15.
. See Informal EEO Complaint.
. See id. at Section V — Matter(s) Giving Rise to Complaint.
. Id.
. Id.
. See Miller Tr. at 131:10-12.
. See 3/18/09 Doctor's Note, Ex. C to Cresci Ver. ("No stair climbing, no long distance walking and please allow to park close to bldg.”); 1/21/10 Doctor’s Note, Ex. C to Cresci Ver. ("No stairs or incline. Level walking only.”); 3/24/11 Doctor's Note, Ex. C to Cresci Ver. ("Continue no stairs or incline.”).
. See 5/6/10 Doctor's Note, Ex. D to Cresci Ver. ("Please allow [Miller] to park close to the building.”).
. 5/24/11 Medical Exam by Dr. Sally Dorfman.
. See Miller Tr. at 43:9-11.
. See 6/22/07 Base System Civilian Evaluation Report ("2007 Evaluation”), Ex. B to Nawaday Decl.
. See Miller Tr. at 157:8-16.
. See Collected Base System Civilian Evaluation Reports of Maiytherese Miller from 2003-2010, Ex. B to Cresci Ver.
. EEO Fact-Finding Transcript of Captain Ching (“Ching Tr.”), Ex. K to Nawaday Deck, at 274:16-22.
. See Miller Tr. at 153:25-155:4; see also OSJA Evaluation and Performance Awards, Ex. L to Cresci Ver.
. See 2/27/07 Employee Counseling Regarding an Argument from Captain Ching, Ex. L to Nawaday Decl. ("This is not a disciplinary counseling”); 8/2/07 Employee Counseling Regarding Confrontation from Maj. Sutherland, Ex. L to Nawaday Deck (“Any further misconduct of this nature may result in disciplinary action.”); 8/24/07 Job Performance Guidelines and Expectations from Captain Adams, Ex. L to Nawaday Deck; 9/10/07 Work Standards for Success and Excellence from Captain Adams, Ex. L to Nawaday Deck; 1/17/08 Job Performance Counseling from Captain Adams, Ex. L to Nawaday Deck
. See Employee Counseling and Work Guidance Memos, Ex. L to Nawaday Deck
. See 7/9/07 Formal Complaint of Discrimination ("First EEO Complaint”), Ex. N to Nawaday Deck; also included as Ex. K to Cresci Ver.
. See id. Issues ¶¶ 1-7.
. See 3/21/08 Formal Complaint of Discrimination ("Second EEO Complaint”), Ex. O to Nawaday Deck; also included as Ex. K to Cresci Ver.
. See id. Section V — Matter(s) Giving Rise to Complaint.
. Plaintiff's Amended Complaint ("Am. Compk”) ¶ 8.
. Second EEO Complaint, Section V — Matter(s) Giving Rise to Complaint; see also Miller Aff. ¶ 24(c).
. Miller Aff. ¶ 24(d).
. See id. ¶ 24(a); see also Picture Exhibit, Ex. G to Cresci Ver.; Sworn Testimony of Christine Laiso, Ex. H to Cresci Ver. at 45:15-46:17 (stating that the picture was sent to several employees and was probably a joke).
. See Plaintiffs Brief in Opposition to Summary Judgment (“Opp. Mem.”) at 24.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a).
. Fincher v. Depository Trust & Clearing Corp., 604 F.3d 712, 720 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Roe v. City of Waterbury, 542 F.3d 31, 35 (2d Cir. 2008)).
. Zalaski v. City of Bridgeport Police Dep't, 613 F.3d 336, 340 (2d Cir. 2010).
. Cordiano v. Metacon Gun Club, Inc., 575 F.3d 199, 204 (2d Cir. 2009).
. Brown v. Eli Lilly & Co., 654 F.3d 347, 358 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)).
. Id. (quoting Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 607 F.3d 288, 292 (2d Cir. 2010)).
. Brod v. Omya, Inc., 653 F.3d 156, 164 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting Williams v. R.H. Donnelley, Corp., 368 F.3d 123, 126 (2d Cir. 2004)).
. Kaytor v. Electric Boat Corp., 609 F.3d 537, 545 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000)) (emphasis removed).
. Brod, 653 F.3d at 164 (quoting Wilson v. Northwestern Mut. Ins. Co., 625 F.3d 54, 60 (2d Cir. 2010)).
. Lu v. Chase Inv. Serv. Corp., 412 Fed.Appx. 413, 415 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting Weinstock v. Columbia Univ., 224 F.3d 33, 41 (2d Cir.
. Feingold v. New York, 366 F.3d 138, 149 (2d Cir. 2004) (quoting Abdu-Brisson, 239 F.3d at 466).
. Gear v. Department of Educ., No. 07 Civ. 11102, 2011 WL 1362093, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 30, 2011) (quoting Schwapp v. Town of Avon, 118 F.3d 106, 110 (2d Cir. 1997)).
. Fall v. New York State United Teachers, 289 Fed.Appx. 419, 420 (2d Cir. 2008) (quoting Bickerstaff v. Vassar Coll., 196 F.3d 435, 448 (2d Cir. 1999)). Accord Cameron v. Community Aid for Retarded Children, Inc., 335 F.3d 60, 63 (2d Cir. 2003) (" '[P]urely eonclusory allegations of discrimination, absent any concrete particulars,’ are insufficient” to satisfy an employee’s burden on a motion for summary judgment.) (quoting Meiri v. Dacon, 759 F.2d 989, 998 (2d Cir. 1985)).
. Tori v. Marist Coll., 344 Fed.Appx. 697, 699 (2d Cir. 2009) (quoting Weinstock, 224 F.3d at 42) (original emphasis removed).
. Rivera v. Heyman, 157 F.3d 101, 103 (2d Cir. 1998). The ADA, by contrast, provides no remedy for discrimination by the federal government, see 42 U.S.C. § 1211 1(5)(B)(i).
. 29 U.S.C. § 794(a).
. Regional Econ. Cmty Action Program, Inc. v. City of Middletwon, 294 F.3d 35, 48-49 (2d
. Ruiz v. County of Rockland, 609 F.3d 486, 491 (2d Cir. 2010).
. Stone v. City of Mount Vernon, 118 F.3d 92, 96-97 (2d Cir. 1997).
. See 29 U.S.C. §§ 705(20)(B), 794(d); see also Stone, 118 F.3d at 96 ("The terms common to both [the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act] are to be interpreted in the same way.”).
. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1). For the purposes of this motion the Court will ignore the 2009 amendments to the ADA regarding all actions taken prior to the amendments, see Wega v. Center for Disability Rights, Inc., 395 Fed.Appx. 782, 784 n. 1. (2d Cir. 2010) ("[T]here is no indication that Congress intended the ADA Amendments to have retroactive effect.”).
. See Colwell v. Suffolk County Police Dep’t, 158 F.3d 635, 641 (2d Cir. 1998) (quoting Bragdon v. Abbott, 524 U.S. 624, 631, 118 S.Ct. 2196, 141 L.Ed.2d 540 (1998)), superseded by statute as stated in Ragusa v. Malverne Union Free School Dist., 381 Fed.Appx. 85, 88 (2d Cir. 2010).
. Capobianco v. City of New York, 422 F.3d 47, 56 (2d Cir. 2005) (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(1)). Accord Toyota Motor Mfg., Ky., Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184, 197, 122 S.Ct. 681, 151 L.Ed.2d 615 (2002).
. See 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(l)(i)-(ii).
. Id. § 1630.2(j)(2)(i)-(iii).
. Brady v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 531 F.3d 127, 135 (2d Cir. 2008) (citing Graves v. Finch Pruyn & Co., 457 F.3d 181, 184 (2d Cir. 2006)).
. Brady, 531 F.3d at 135.
. Fink v. New York City Dep’t of Personnel, 53 F.3d 565, 567 (2d Cir. 1995).
. Id. Accord Gronne v. Apple Bank For Sav., 1 Fed.Appx. 64, 67 (2d Cir. 2001); Querry v. Messar, 14 F.Supp.2d 437, 445 (S.D.N.Y. 1998).
. See Ruiz, 609 F.3d at 492.
. See id.
. Kaytor, 609 F.3d at 552 (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a)).
. Treglia v. Town of Manlius, 313 F.3d 713, 719 (2d Cir. 2002).
. Hicks v. Baines, 593 F.3d 159, 164 (2d Cir. 2010) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
. See Sarno v. Douglas Elliman-Gibbons & Ives, Inc., 183 F.3d 155, 159 (2d Cir. 1999).
. Hicks, 593 F.3d at 165 (quoting Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 57, 126 S.Ct. 2405, 165 L.Ed.2d 345 (2006)).
. Beyer v. County of Nassau, 524 F.3d 160, 164 (2d Cir. 2008) (quoting Galabya v. New York City Bd. of Educ., 202 F.3d 636, 640 (2d Cir. 2000)).
. Gordon v. New York City Bd. of Educ., 232 F.3d 111, 117 (2d Cir. 2000) (citing Cosgrove v.
. Clark County Sch. Dist. v. Breeden, 532 U.S. 268, 273, 121 S.Ct. 1508, 149 L.Ed.2d 509 (2001) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
. Kaytor, 609 F.3d at 552-53.
. Id. at 553 (quoting Jute v. Hamilton Sundstrand Corp., 420 F.3d 166, 173 (2d Cir. 2005)).
. See Monterroso v. Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP, 591 F.Supp.2d 567, 584 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) (citing Meritor Sav. Bank, FSB v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 65, 106 S.Ct. 2399, 91 L.Ed.2d 49 (1986) and Tomka v. Seiler Corp., 66 F.3d 1295, 1305 (2d Cir. 1995)).
. Duch v. Jakubek, 588 F.3d 757, 762 (2d Cir. 2009) (quoting Feingold, 366 F.3d at 149-50).
. Harris v. Forklift Sys., Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 23, 114 S.Ct. 367, 126 L.Ed.2d 295 (1993).
. See Mormol v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 364 F.3d 54, 58 (2d Cir. 2004) (citing Brennan v. Metropolitan Opera Ass'n, 192 F.3d 310, 318 (2d Cir. 1999)).
. Pucino v. Verizon Wireless Commc’ns, 618 F.3d 112, 119 (2d Cir. 2010) (emphasis in original).
. Boos v. Runyon, 201 F.3d 178, 181 (2d Cir. 2000).
. Id. (quoting 29 C.F.R. §§ 1614.105(a)(1), 1614.106).
. Williams v. New York City Hous. Auth., 458 F.3d 67, 69 (2d Cir. 2006) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(l) and Legnani v. Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane, S.P.A., 274 F.3d 683, 686 (2d Cir. 2001)).
. Williams, 458 F.3d at 70.
. Alfano v. Costello, 294 F.3d 365, 381 (2d Cir. 2002) (quoting Butts v. New York Dep’t of Hous., Pres. & Dev., 990 F.2d 1397, 1402-03 (2d Cir. 1993), superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in Hawkins v. 1115 Legal Serv. Care, 163 F.3d 684 (2d Cir. 1998)).
. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(g)(l)(D).
. International Union, Sec., Police, and Fire Prof'ls v. U.S. Marshal's Serv., 350 F.Supp.2d 522, 528 (S.D.N.Y. 2004).
. Bechhoefer v. United States Dep’t of Justice D.E.A., 209 F.3d 57, 60 (2d Cir. 2000) (quoting 5 U.S.C. § 552a(a)(4)) (emphasis in original).
. Dowd v. IRS, 776 F.2d 1083, 1084 (2d Cir. 1985).
. After Miller’s February 7, 2007, request was granted, she had no need for further parking accommodation. See Def. 56.1 ¶¶ 9-10; PI. 56.1 ¶ 9.
. Baerga v. Hospital for Special Surgery, No. 97 Civ. 0230, 2003 WL 22251294, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2003) (quoting Johnson v. Saint Clare's Hosp. & Health Ctr., No. 96 Civ. 1425, 1998 WL 236235, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. May 13, 1998)). Accord Heilweil v. Mount Sinai Hosp., 32 F.3d 718, 723 (2d Cir. 1994).
. See Opp. Mem. at 9-11.
. See 9/15/05 Doctor's Note, and 11/2/06 Doctor's Note respectively.
. See Miller Tr. at 58:11-13, 87:8-10.
. See Formal Memo ¶ 3.
. See 3/18/09 Doctor's Note; 1/21/10 Doctor’s Note; 3/24/11 Doctor's Note; 5/24/11 Medical Exam by Dr. Sally Dorfman.
. Miller’s affirmation further adds that she has difficulties in her abilities to "bend, stand, lift, prolonged standing, and sit for long peri
The Court also notes Miller’s assertions in her EEO testimony that as of November 2007, she had trouble sitting for long periods of time, lifting heavy objects, and was unsteady in her walking. See Miller EEO Test. I at 28:16-31:24. Despite these hardships, Miller’s only request for accommodation at work at that time was ”[t]o not have to climb the stairs.” See id. at 39:23.
. Contrast Watson v. Arts & Entm’t Television Network, No. 04 Civ. 1932, 2008 WL 793596, at *11 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 26, 2008) ("To the extent plaintiff is relying on the limitation of her ability to climb stairs, climbing stairs is not a major life activity.”) with Sussle v. Sirina Prot. Sys. Corp., 269 F.Supp.2d 285, 299 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) ("Climbing stairs likewise qualifies as a major life activity.”). See also Robinson v. Global Marine Drilling Co., 101 F.3d 35, 37 (5th Cir. 1996) (climbing stairs is not a sufficiently "basic, necessary function ... to qualify as a major life activity under the ADA”); Missick v. City of New York, 707 F.Supp.2d 336, 352-53 (E.D.N.Y. 2010) (same); Addoo v. New York City Bd. of Educ., No. 04 Civ. 2255, 2006 WL 5838977, at *8 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 18, 2006) (same).
. See Rogers v. City of New York, 359 Fed.Appx. 201, 203 (2d Cir. 2009) ("an inability to climb stairs, at least in the circumstances alleged, is not a substantial limitation of a major life activity so as to render Rogers disabled under the ADA”); Sussle, 269 F.Supp.2d at 312 ("The 'inability to walk long distances or to climb stairs does not in itself substantially limit' an individual’s ability to perform a major life activity.”) (citations omitted) (collecting cases).
. See 42 U.S.C. § 12102(l)(c).
. Colwell, 158 F.3d at 646 (emphasis in original). Accord Jacques v. DiMarzio, Inc., 386 F.3d 192, 201 (2d Cir. 2004).
. See, e.g., 11/17/06 Temporary Worksite Accommodation (granting temporary relocation of hearings so that Miller could “limit her climbing of stairs”).
. 5/8/07 Denial of Request for Advanced Annual Leave, Ex. I to Nawaday Decl. ¶ 6.
. See id. ¶ 7.
. See Miller Tr. at 123:14-127:15.
. See Miller Aff. ¶ 18.
. See Miller Tr. at 165:6-12; 5/24/11; 5/24/11 Medical Exam by Dr. Sally Dorfman. Though Miller alleges in her affidavit that the Red Reeder Room "cannot be accessed without having to stand for a prolonged period of time, climb stairs or inclines,” Miller Aff. ¶ 18, this appears to conflict with her deposition testimony, and Miller’s submissions do not address why she rejected a proposed accommodation.
. See 4/5/07 Change in Position Description, Ex. M to Nawaday Decl.
. See Miller Tr. at 112:12-113:12.
. See Miller’s Informal Complaint. According to the informal complaint, Section V — Matter(s) Giving Rise to Complaint, as well as Miller’s affidavit she also previously contacted Colonel Colpo, the “Chief of Staff” at some point on May 7, 2007, “after receiving no satisfaction” from her immediate superiors. Miller Aff. ¶ 5.
. Miller’s claim that she was only informed of the reclassification on July 8, 2007, see PL 56.1 ¶ 19 (citing Miller's affidavit), flatly contradicts her deposition testimony, see Miller Tr. at 112:12-113:12.
. Raniola v. Bratton, 243 F.3d 610, 624 (2d Cir. 2001).
. See Miller’s Base System Civilian Evaluation Reports from 2003-2008, Ex. B to Cresci Ver.
. See id.
. See Miller Aff. ¶ 23(f); see also Miller's 2007 Evaluation.
. See Miller EEO Test. I at 97:24-98:3.
. Galdieri-Ambrosini v. National Realty & Dev. Corp., 136 F.3d 276, 292 (2d Cir. 1998).
. Id. Accord Jute, 420 F.3d at 175 (“Congress enacted the anti-retaliation clause to shield an employee from employer retaliation following the employee's attempt to challenge discriminatory conduct.”).
. See Ching Tr. at 274:7-275:7.
. Id.
. 11/1/07 Testimony of Marytherese Miller ("Miller EEO Test. II”), Ex. P to Nawaday Deck 73:22-74:2.
. McBride v. BIC Consumer Prod. Mfg. Co., 583 F.3d 92, 96 (2d Cir. 2009).
. See Fall, 289 Fed.Appx. at 420; see also El Sayed v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 627 F.3d 931, 933 (2d Cir. 2010) ("The temporal proximity of events may give rise to an inference of retaliation for the purposes of establishing a prima facie case of retaliation under Title VII, but without more, such temporal proximity is insufficient to satisfy appellant’s burden to bring forward some evidence of pretext.”); Robinson v. American Int'l Group, Inc., No. 08 Civ. 1724, 2009 WL 3154312, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2009).
. See Informal EEO Complaint; First EEO Complaint; Second EEO Complaint; Plaintiff's First Complaint filed on 8/24/09.
. See Miller Aff. ¶ 18.
. See Miller Tr. at 164:7-13. The change of location does not appear in any official documentation until April 2010. See 4/29/10 Proposed Amendment, Ex. N to Cresci Ver. ¶ 2. The accommodation offered to help Miller travel to the Red Reeder Room is not men
. See Gordon, 232 F.3d at 117.
. Ballard v. Children’s Aid Soc’y, No. 09 Civ. 5263, 2011 WL 1664980, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 28, 2011).
. See Dixon v. International Fed’n of Accountants, 416 Fed.Appx. 107, 110 (2d Cir. 2011) (four-month separation between protected activity and alleged retaliation alone fails to make out a prima facie case of causation).
. See Counseling Sessions and Guidance Memos, Ex. L to Nawaday Decl.
. Hicks, 593 F.3d at 164-65 (citations omitted).
. See Joseph v. Leavitt, 465 F.3d 87, 91 (2d Cir. 2006) ("[A]n employee does not suffer a materially adverse change in the terms and conditions of employment where the employer merely enforces its preexisting disciplinary policies in a reasonable manner.”).
. See Miller Aff. ¶ 24. Miller also alleges that she was “frozen out of meetings,” but
. Petrosino v. Bell Atlantic, 385 F.3d 210, 223 (2d Cir. 2004) (citations omitted).
. Id. (citations omitted).
. Monterroso, 591 F.Supp.2d at 584.
. See Picture Exhibit, Ex. G to Cresci Ver., showing Captain Adams fully clothed and striking what Miller refers to as an "Adonis Pose” while facing away from the camera. See Miller Aff. ¶ 24(a).
. See Miller Aff. ¶ 25.
. See International Union, Sec., Police, and Fire Prof'ls, 350 F.Supp.2d at 528.
. See 9/23/08 EEOC Testimony of Christine Henderson, Ex. J to Cresci Ver., at 31:2-32:17.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Marytherese MILLER v. John McHUGH, Secretary of the Army
- Cited By
- 14 cases
- Status
- Published