Edner v. NYCTA-MTA
Edner v. NYCTA-MTA
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
Plaintiff Jean Baptiste Edner commenced this action on January 24, 2014, pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (“Title VII”), and the New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law § 290 et seq. (“NYSHRL”), alleging employment discrimination against the New York City Transportation Authority-MTA
I. Background
The allegations in the Amended Complaint are assumed to be true for the purposes of this motion. On or about November 21, 2010, Defendant NYCTA hired Plaintiff, an African-American of Haitian descent, as a Bus Operator. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 11, 13.) Like all new bus operators, Plaintiff began a six-month “probationary term,” during which he was required to show he would be a “satisfactory” Bus Operator. (Id. ¶ 14.) As part of the probationary term, Plaintiff was subject to supervisory rides known as “Probie Rides.” (Id. ¶¶ 16, 39.)
Throughout his probationary period, Plaintiff received poor reviews and disci
Plaintiff was involved in a series of bus accidents. The first, on April 28, 2011, occurred when a double-parked car reversed into Plaintiffs bus. (Id. ¶¶ 30-32.) As a result, Plaintiff was re-trained and evaluated, and someone recommended that Plaintiff receive counseling. (Id. ¶33.) Four months later, on September 15, 2011, Plaintiff had another bus accident when a protruding ladder struck Plaintiffs bus as he was executing a turn. (Id. ¶ 34.) Thereafter, Plaintiff again attended a counseling session on safe bus operation and yielding the right of way. (Id. ¶ 36.) In addition, the NYCTA and TWU Local 100 agreed that instead of firing Plaintiff, they would extend his probationary period by six months. (Id. ¶ 38.)
On April 8, 2012, Plaintiff had a second “Probie Ride,” and again received an unfair report of his performance. (Id. ¶¶ 39-52.) According to the supervising NYCTA dispatcher, Plaintiff committed driving errors and demonstrated poor judgment, which resulted in a customer, who was in a wheel chair, being unable to ride the bus. (Id. ¶ 40.) Plaintiff alleges that the dispatcher did not acknowledge that other factors caused these issues, specifically, the presence of a driverless bus crowding the bus stop and vehicles obstructing Plaintiffs view. (Id. ¶¶ 41-51.)
When Plaintiff reported to work on April 13, 2012, he spoke with an “MTA” supervisor, Mr. Kendall, about the “Probie Ride” and the poor report. (Id. ¶ 53.) Plaintiff tried to explain the discrepancies between the report and what happened, but in response, Kendall stated that Plaintiffs explanations amounted to “an excuse” for “every single thing.” (Id. ¶ 54.) Three days later, Plaintiff returned to Kendall’s office with TWU Local 100 representative, Ronald Carter. (Id. ¶ 55.) Carter reviewed the report, and Kendall asked for Plaintiffs badge, and had him sign a form terminating his position as Bus Operator. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges he received “no process” and unwillingly signed the form. (Id. ¶¶ 56-57.)
On March 18, 2013, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights (“NYSDHR”), which was duly filed with the EEOC.
On September 12, 2013, NYSDHR issued its investigation results, finding no probable cause to believe Defendant engaged in discrimination or retaliation. (NYSDHR Determination and Order After Investigation dated Sept. 12, 2013 (“NYSDHR Determination”) 1, annexed to Tapia Decl. as Ex. E.) Thereafter, on October 28, 2013, the EEOC issued Plaintiff his “Notice of Rights.” (EEOC Dismissal and Notice of Rights, annexed to Tapia Decl. as Ex. F.)
II. Discussion
a. Standards of Review
i. Rule 12(b)(1)
A district court may dismiss an action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) when the court “lacks the statutory or constitutional power to adjudicate it. . . .’ ” Cortlandt St. Recovery Corp. v. Hellas Telecomms., S.A.R.L., 790 F.3d 411 (2d Cir. 2015) (quoting Makarova v. United States, 201 F.3d 110, 113 (2d Cir. 2000)); Shabaj v. Holder, 718 F.3d 48, 50 (2d Cir. 2013) (quoting Aurecchione v. Schoolman Transp. Sys., Inc., 426 F.3d 635, 638 (2d Cir. 2005)). A plaintiff asserting subject matter jurisdiction has the burden to prove that it exists, and in evaluating whether the plaintiff has met that burden, “ ‘[t]he court must take all facts alleged in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of plaintiff,’ but ‘jurisdiction must be shown affirmatively, and that showing is not made by drawing from the pleadings inferences favorable to the party asserting it.’ ” Morrison v. Nat’l Austl. Bank Ltd., 547 F.3d 167, 170 (2d Cir. 2008) (citations omitted), aff'd, 561 U.S. 247, 130 S.Ct. 2869, 177 L.Ed.2d 535 (2010). A court may consider matters outside of the pleadings when determining whether subject matter jurisdiction exists. M.E.S., Inc. v. Snell, 712 F.3d 666, 671 (2d Cir. 2013); Romano v. Kazacos, 609 F.3d 512, 520 (2d Cir. 2010); Morrison, 547 F.3d at 170.
ii. Rule 12(b)(6)
In reviewing a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a court must “accept all factual allegations in the complaint as true and draw inferences from those allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Tsirelman v. Daines, 794 F.3d 310, 313 (2d Cir. 2015) (quoting Jaghory v. N.Y. State Dep’t of Educ., 131 F.3d 326, 329 (2d Cir. 1997)); see also Matson v. Bd. of Educ., 631 F.3d 57, 63 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting Cow-
Analyzing a motion to dismiss an employment discrimination claim requires reference not only to the pleading standards referenced above, but also the burden-shifting framework established by the Supreme Court in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973), in which the Supreme Court set forth a burden-shifting scheme that governs a plaintiffs ultimate burden of proof at trial. Littlejohn v. City of New York, 795 F.3d 297, 306-309 (2d Cir. 2015) (discussing burden-shifting, citing Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000)); St. Mary’s Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 506, 113 S.Ct. 2742, 125 L.Ed.2d 407 (1993) (citing Texas Dep’t of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253-55, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981)). Under that framework, a plaintiff must first establish a pri-ma facie case of discrimination. Hicks, 509 U.S. at 506, 113 S.Ct. 2742; see also Dowrich-Weeks v. Cooper Square Realty, Inc., 535 Fed.Appx. 9, 11 (2d Cir. 2013); Ruiz v. Cty. of Rockland, 609 F.3d 486, 491 (2d Cir. 2010). The plaintiffs burden at this stage is “minimal.” Holcomb v. Iona Coll., 521 F.3d 130, 139 (2d Cir. 2008) (quoting Hicks, 509 U.S. at 506, 113 S.Ct. 2742). If a plaintiff meets her burden at this stage, a “temporary presumption” of discrimination arises, and the burden shifts to the employer to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the treatment. Vega v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d 72, 83-84 (2d Cir. 2015) (quoting Littlejohn, 795 F.3d at 310). If the employer articulates a reason, the burden ultimately shifts back to the employee to show that the employer’s reason was pretext. Id.
To survive a motion to dismiss, the plaintiff does not need to prove discrimination, or even allege facts establishing every element of the McDonnell Douglas prima facie case, but the facts alleged must give “plausible support to the reduced requirements” of the prima facie ease. Littlejohn, 795 F.3d at 311; see also Vega, 801 F.3d at 83-85; Williams v. N.Y.C. Hous. Auth., 458 F.3d 67, 71 (2d Cir. 2006) (“[T]he requirements for establishing a prima facie case under McDonnell Douglas [do not] apply to the pleading standard that plaintiffs must satisfy in order to survive a motion to dismiss.” (second alteration in original) (quoting Swierkiewicz v. Sorema, 534 U.S. 506, 511, 122 S.Ct. 992, 152 L.Ed.2d 1 (2002))); see also Awad v. City of New York, No. 13-CV-5753, 2014 WL 1814114, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. May 7, 2014) (noting that the elements of a prima facie case provide an outline of what would make a plaintiffs employment discrimination claim plausible). Thus, a plaintiff need only plead facts to give “plausible support” to plaintiffs “minimal” initial burden, which is governed by the statute un
b. Timeliness of Plaintiffs Title VII claims
Defendant argues that Plaintiffs Title VII claims are time barred because the underlying discriminatory conduct occurred outside the 300-day period for filing claims with the EEOC or the NYSDHR. (Def. Mem. 8-9.)
“A plaintiff may bring a claim under Title VII only for acts of discrimination that occurred within the statutory period set by 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1).” Patterson v. Cty. of Oneida, N.Y., 375 F.3d 206, 220 (2d Cir. 2004). Under that provision, where “the claimant has already filed the charge with a state or local equal employment agency,” the claimant must bring the Title VII claim “within 300 days of the alleged discriminatory action.” Sanderson v. N.Y. State Elec. & Gas Corp., 560 Fed.Appx. 88, 90 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Van Zant v. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, 80 F.3d 708, 712 (2d Cir. 1996)); see also Vega, 801 F.3d at 78-79 (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1)). This 300-day time period acts as a statute of limitations, Vega, 801 F.3d at 78-79; Patterson, 375 F.3d at 220, and claims arising from acts that occurred more than 300 days prior to the employee’s filing of a charge of discrimination with the EEOC are time-barred, Pietri v. N.Y.S. Off. of Court Admin., 936 F.Supp.2d 120, 133 (E.D.N.Y. 2013) (citing Ragone v. Atl. Video at Manhattan Ctr., 595 F.3d 115, 125-26 (2d Cir. 2010) and Klein v. N.Y. Univ., No. 07-CV-160, 2008 WL 3843514, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 14, 2008)).
Here, Defendant fired Plaintiff on April 13, 2012. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 53-57.) Plaintiff filed his complaint with the NYSDHR on March 18, 2013, making May 22, 2012 the relevant Title VII statute of limitations period. See Patterson, 375 F.3d at 220. As a result, claims based on acts occurring prior to May 22, 2012, like Plaintiffs termination, are time-barred. Plaintiff argues that his claims are not time-barred because he is entitled to the benefits of the “continuing violation” exception and equitable tolling. (Pl. Opp’n 11, Docket Entry No. 16.) The Court discusses each below,
i. Continuing violation exception
Plaintiff argues that because he has alleged that Defendant was “still committing” discriminatory acts against him until he filed his pro se complaint in this case, his action is timely. According to Defendant, Plaintiff complains about his termination, which is a discrete act, and therefore the continuing violation doctrine does not apply.
Under the continuing violation exception, if a plaintiff files a timely EEOC charge “as to any incident of discrimination in furtherance of an ongoing policy of discrimination, all claims of acts of discrimination under that policy will be timely even if they would be untimely standing alone.” Chin v. Port Auth. of N.Y. & N.J., 685 F.3d 135, 155-56 (2d Cir. 2012) (quoting Lambert v. Genesee Hosp., 10 F.3d 46, 53 (2d Cir. 1993)). The exception, however, presumes that at least one act was timely challenged within the 300-day period. See Patterson, 375 F.3d at 220 (“To bring a claim within the continuing violation exception, a plaintiff must at the very least allege that one act of discrimination in furtherance of the ongoing policy occurred within the limitations period.”); Bonner v. Guccione, 178 F.3d 581, 584 (2d Cir. 1999) (finding conduct outside the 300-day time period actionable “only if [the plaintiff] could demonstrate that she was subject to a continuous policy and practice of discrimination, and that one act in furtherance of the policy and practice fell within the 300-day period” (citing Acha v. Beame, 570
The continuing violation doctrine will not apply to “discrete acts” of discrimination, even if they are “related to acts alleged in timely filed charges.” Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 113, 122 S.Ct. 2061, 153 L.Ed.2d 106 (2002); see also Chin, 685 F.3d at 155-57 (discussing Morgan). Such discrete acts include termination, disparate disciplining, and negative performance evaluations. See Morgan, 536 U.S. at 114, 122 S.Ct. 2061; Valtchev v. City of New York, 400 Fed.Appx. 586, 589 (2d Cir. 2010) (affirming the district court’s finding that the plaintiffs negative evaluations and disciplinary proceedings were only discrete acts that did not trigger the continuing violation exception); Dimitracopoulos v. City of New York, 26 F.Supp.3d 200, 212 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (“The allegedly discriminatory ‘unsatisfactory’ rating for the 2011-2012 school year is a discrete act occurring before January 31, 2013.” (citing Valtchev, 400 Fed.Appx. at 589); Bright v. Coca Cola Refreshements USA, Inc., No. 12-CV-234, 2014 WL 5587349, at *13 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 3, 2014) (“Each of these claims is a discrete act to which the continuing violation doctrine cannot apply. This includes his performance reviews from before 2009, even though Nunez claims that reviews that occurred since 2009 were also discriminatory.”)); Fierro v. N.Y.C. Dep’t of Educ., 994 F.Supp.2d 581, 587 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (finding that in a § 1983 discrimination suit, the continuing violation doctrine did not apply to allegations that defendants, among other things, falsely accused the plaintiff of poor performance and subjected her to “unwarranted disciplinary hearings” because there were “merely several discrete acts”), appeal dismissed (Apr. 9, 2014); Pietri, 936 F.Supp.2d at 134 (denial of promotions, being subjected to disparate discipline and denial of transfer opportunities “are all discrete acts of discrimination and each incident ‘constitutes a separate actionable unlawful employment practice’ ” (citing Morgan, 536 U.S. at 114, 122 S.Ct. 2061) (additional internal quotation marks omitted)); Aiello v. Stamford Hosp. Inc., No. 09-CV-1161, 2010 WL 3925451, at *4 (D.Conn. Sept. 29, 2010) (“To the extent the Plaintiff alleges a cause of action pursuant to Title VII, the Plaintiff alleges discrete acts as opposed to repeated conduct, as he identifies specific dates upon which he believes he was inappropriately disciplined.”). If these discrete acts “fall outside the limitations period, [they] cannot be brought within it, even when undertaken pursuant to a general policy that results in other discrete acts occurring within the limitations period.” Chin, 685 F.3d at 157.
Here, although Plaintiff seeks the benefit of the continuing violation exception, he does not allege discriminatory acts within the 300-day time period warranting the exception. Defendant fired Plaintiff on April 13, 2012- — in excess of the 300-day period — and there are no allegations that additional discriminatory conduct occurred after that date. Although Plaintiffs first Complaint noted that Defendant was “still committing” acts of discrimination against him on January 24, 2014, there are no facts supporting that assertion. Indeed, both Plaintiffs disparate treatment and failure to promote claims arise from his April 13, 2014 firing.
In addition to being outside the 300-day time period required for the exception, Plaintiffs termination and the failure to promote him are also discrete acts that are not entitled to the continuing vio
ii. Equitable tolling
Nor has Plaintiff shown that he is entitled to equitable tolling. Equitable tolling may apply where, among other reasons, the plaintiff “was unaware of his or her cause of action due to misleading conduct of the defendant.” Grys v. ERIndustrial Sales, Inc., 553 Fed.Appx. 61, 62 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Zerilli-Edelglass v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 333 F.3d 74, 80 (2d Cir. 2003)). “Equitable tolling is also proper where the plaintiff has shown that she: ‘(1) has acted with reasonable diligence during the time period she seeks to have tolled, and (2) has proved that the circumstances are so extraordinary that the doctrine should apply.’ ” Id. (quoting Zerilli-Edelglass, 333 F.3d at 80); Bolarinwa v. Williams, 593 F.3d 226, 231 (2d Cir. 2010).
Equitable tolling is “only appropriate in rare and exceptional circumstances, in which a party is prevented in some extraordinary way from exercising his rights.” Baroor v. N.Y.C. Dep’t of Educ., 362 Fed.Appx. 157, 159 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Zerilli-Edelglass, 333 F.3d at 80); Bertin v. United States, 478 F.3d 489, 494 n. 3 (2d Cir. 2007) (“Equitable tolling applies only in the rare and exceptional circumstance.” (quoting Smith v. McGinnis, 208 F.3d 13, 17 (2d Cir. 2000))). Where a plaintiff “is unaware that he has a cause of action because of defendant’s fraudulent acts or concealment,” equitable tolling will apply. Bennett v. U.S. Lines, Inc., 64 F.3d 62, 66 (2d Cir. 1995). However, where a non-defendant third party engages in such fraud or misleading conduct, the doctrine’s application is less clear. See Hannah v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 969 F.Supp.2d 229, 233 (D.Conn. 2013) (noting that “[t]here is some debate within the Second Circuit as to whether misleading conduct must have been at the hands of the defendant or whether misconduct by a third-party could make equitable tolling appropriate”).
Some district courts in this circuit have found a non-defendant’s misleading conduct insufficient to warrant equitable tolling. See Richardson v. Suffolk Bus Corp., No. 09-CV-3586, 2010 WL 2606266, at *6
Here, Plaintiff argues in concluso-ry fashion that his union misled him, causing him to miss the deadline to file his claims. However, the Amended Complaint contains no facts about misleading interactions with the union — such as who misled Plaintiff, how Plaintiff was misled, or when this occurred. Indeed, Plaintiff first raised the issue in his opposition to Defendant’s motion to dismiss. Similarly, there are no allegations that Defendant misled Plaintiff in any way. Therefore, based on the allegations in the Amended Complaint, the Court cannot find that Plaintiffs time-barred claims were equitably tolled.
Because Plaintiffs claims are time barred, they are dismissed.
c. Plaintiffs NYSHRL claim
Defendant argues that the Court lacks jurisdiction over Plaintiffs NYSHRL claim because Plaintiff previously filed a NYSDHR complaint based on the same conduct at issue in this case. (Def. Mem. 23-25.) Plaintiff asserts his current NYSHRL claim “is exempt from the jurisdictional bar because it is not the same claim as that alleged in Plaintiffs complaint with the NYSDHR.” (Pl. Opp’n 27.)
Under the NYSHRL, an individual who files a complaint with the NYSDHR is jurisdictionally barred from filing a lawsuit in state or federal court for the same cause of action. See N.Y. Exec. Law § 297(9) (“Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice shall have a cause of action in any court of appropriate jurisdiction for damages ... unless such person had filed a complaint hereunder or with any local commission on human rights.”); Waller v. Muchnick, Golieb & Golieb, P.C., 523 Fed.Appx. 55, 56 n. 1 (2d Cir. 2013) (“Under New York law, a litigant who files a claim with the NYSDHR cannot bring the same claim in federal court; the District Court, therefore, properly concluded that it lacked jurisdiction over plaintiffs claims arising out of New York state and city law.”).
“So long as ‘substantially the same facts are involved, ... the doctrine of election of remedies will bar any subsequent court
Contrary to Plaintiffs claim, the NYSDHR Complaint addresses the same incidents underlying the Amended Complaint.
d. Leave to amend
The Amended Complaint alleges race and national origin discrimination in violation of Title VII, but fails to sufficiently allege that Plaintiffs claims are timely. Although Plaintiff asserts that any filing delay resulted from his union misleading him, the Amended Complaint contains no allegations concerning his union or em
Although Plaintiff is no longer pro se, the Court will grant Plaintiff leave to file a second amended complaint. Plaintiff is informed that if he elects to file a second amended complaint, he must allege how his claims are timely. Once a second amended complaint is filed, it will completely replace the prior Amended Complaint and any prior allegations. Therefore, the second amended complaint must contain all necessary information — allegations, documents, and exhibits — set forth or attached to the prior Amended Complaint or any other complaint. The second amended complaint must be captioned “Second Amended Complaint,” and it must bear the same docket number as this Memorandum and Order.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the Court dismisses Plaintiffs NYSHRL claims against Defendant with prejudice. The Court also dismisses Plaintiffs Title VII claims, but grants Plaintiff leave to file a Second Amended Complaint as to these claims.
SO ORDERED.
. Plaintiff filed a similar action against the union, Transit Workers Union Local 100-ATU, on the same day, alleging unlawful termination of employment, retaliation and "lack of assistance” in violation of Title VII. See Compl., Edner v. TWU Local 100, No. 14-CV-580 (E.D.N.Y. 2014). By Memorandum and Order dated May 7, 2014, the Court granted Plaintiff thirty days leave to amend his complaint in that action. (May 7, 2014 Order, Docket Entry No. 5.) Plaintiff never filed an amended complaint and the action was dismissed. (Aug. 25, 2014 Order, Edner v. TWU Local 100, No. 14-CV-580, Docket Entry No. 7.)
. Plaintiff's initial pro se Complaint attached various documents in support of his claims, including his NYSDHR Complaint and EEOC “Notice of Rights.” (Compl. 6, 15-22.) Plaintiff did not attach these documents to the Amended Complaint, but now submits them with a declaration of his counsel in opposition to Defendant's motion to dismiss. (Wolfson Decl., Exs. B-C.) Defendant also submitted documents, including Plaintiff's NYSDHR Complaint, EEOC Notice of Rights, and Determination and Order after Investigation in support of their motion. (See Decl. of Ricardo Tapia (“Tapia Decl.”), Exs. C, E-F, Docket Entry No. 18.) The Court reviews these documents as integral to the Amended Complaint. See Int’l Audiotext Network, Inc. v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 62 F.3d 69, 72 (2d Cir. 1995) ("[T]he complaint is deemed to include any written instrument attached to it as an exhibit or any statements or documents incorporated in it by reference.” (quoting Cortec Indus., Inc. v. Sum Holding L.P., 949 F.2d 42, 47 (2d Cir. 1991))); see also L-7 Designs, Inc. v. Old Navy, LLC, 647 F.3d 419, 422 (2d Cir. 2011).
. The parties submitted identical copies of Plaintiff’s NYSDHR Complaint, which totals twelve pages, including the exhibit identification page. However, the NYSDHR Complaint is not consecutively paginated, and the parties’ exhibits bear different and, at times, illegible ECF page numbers. As a result, the Court refers to the specific page of the twelve-page NYSDHR Complaint as if the pages were consecutively paginated, beginning with the exhibit identification page as page 1.
. In response to Defendant’s argument that Plaintiff’s disparate treatment and failure to promote claims should be dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies, Plaintiff makes the contrary argument. Plaintiff asserts that he has exhausted his administrative remedies even though he only claimed retaliation in his NYSDHR Complaint because his claims in the Amended Complaint are similar to those raised in his NYSDHR Complaint. See Tanvir v. N.Y.C. Health & Hosps. Corp., 480 Fed.Appx. 620, 621 (2d Cir. 2012) ("[A] claim that was not presented to the EEOC [or NYSDHR] may still be pursued where the claim is ‘reasonably related' to the claims that were brought before the agency.”).
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