Horsham v. Fresh Direct
Horsham v. Fresh Direct
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
Plaintiff Cyril Horsham, proceeding pro se, commenced the above captioned action on January 28, 2014, against Defendant Fresh Direct, alleging age and disability discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), and the New York -State Human Rights Law (“NYSHRL”). On February 6, 2014, Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom granted Plaintiffs application to proceed informa pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Docket Entry No. 4.) On June 19, 2014,
I. Background
The allegations in the Amended Complaint are assumed to be true for the purposes of deciding this motion.
a. Plaintiffs recovery from hernia surgery
After undergoing hernia surgery,
Plaintiff stayed’home as Al directed, but ho one' contacted him. (Id.) At the time, Plaintiff believed Defendant was allowing him time to heal, but he also noticed that he stopped receiving paychecks. (Id.) Toward the end of his six-week light duty time, Plaintiff visited his doctor to confirm he could resume working. (Id. at 4-5.) Plaintiffs doctor informed him that his recoveiy was behind schedule, but the doctor did not extend his- light duty time, instead he directed Plaintiff to “wear a [b]elt and secure [himjself when [he] returned to the job.” (Id.)
b. Plaintiff follows up with Defendant
Plaintiff .went to work at the epd of the six-week light duty time. (Id. at 5.) When Plaintiff arrived, Al informed Plaintiff that he was permitted to miss three months of work and retain his job. (Id.) Because Plaintiff had not previously filed an injury report, Plaintiff spoke with his Manager, “Madjie,” to create one. (Id.) Madjie asked'that Plaintiffs doctor prepare a letter stating he was fit to return to work. (Id.)
■Thereafter, based on concérns about Plaintiffs ' recovery,' Plaintiffs doctor scheduled a “CAT scan” for December 6, 2012. (Id. at 5-6.) Plaintiff also had additional follow-up appointments with his doctor. (Id. at 6.) Throughout this time period, Plaintiff informed the dispatcher, Al, about his status, and Al told Plaintiff he would relay the information to someone named “Michael.” (Id. at 5r-6.) At some point, Plaintiff visited his doctor to get the letter he needed before-returning to work, and he told his doctor that he was hesitant to begin working -because working with Defendant’s, truck contributed to his hernia. (Id. at 6.) The doctor suggested Plaintiff start with less physically demanding work, and then gradually resume his prior work. (Id.)
c. Plaintiff attempts to return to work
On April 26, 2013, Plaintiff delivered the doctor’s letter to Defendant. (Id.) That day, Plaintiff told his union that he had not been paid since the surgery. (Id.) In response, a union member gave Plaintiff a telephone number to call and “straighten” out his “entitlements.” (Id.) Plaintiff did not reach anyone at that number, but a union member called him back and informed Plaintiff that Defendant believed he walked away from his job. (Id. at 7.) The union member told Plaintiff to speak with HR. (Id.)
After failing to reach HR, Plaintiff complained to the “Labor Board.”
On May 14, 2013, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the New York State Division of
On June 26, 2013, Plaintiff received a letter from Defendant dated May 10, 2013 (the “May 10, 2013 Letter”), which he alleges was fraudulently dated and contained false statements.
Plaintiff contends that, given his prior performance with Defendant, he did not deserve to be placed on an unpaid disciplinary leave of absence after his surgery. (Id. at 1, 9.) Plaintiff further contends that by placing ' him on unpaid disciplinary léave, Defendant “eliminated [his] right to seek unemployment ... compensation because [he] was not officially fired from [his] job.” (Id. at 8.) Plaintiff asserts that Defendant’s “calculated efforts” to deny him the limited disability or workers’ compensation benefits he was entitled to “should be considered ... diserimi[na]to-ry.” (Id.) Plaintiff also asserts that Defendant’s conduct was discriminatory because it caused peoplé to “harbor negative thoughts towards [Plaintiff].” (Id. at 10.)
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.À.R.L., 790 F.3d 411, 416-17 (2d Cir. 2015) (quoting Makarova v. United States,
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 Connecticut v. Am. Elec. Power Co., 582 F.3d 309, 320 (2d Cir. 2009)). A complaint must plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the- reasonable inference that the defendant is hable for the misconduct alleged.” Matson, 631 F.3d at 63 (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)); see also Pension Ben. Guar. Corp. ex rel. St. Vincent Catholic Med. Ctrs. Ret. Plan v. Morgan Stanley Inv. Mgmt. Inc., 712 F.3d 705, 717-18 (2d Cir. 2013). Although all allegations contained in the complaint are assumed true, this principle is “inapplicable to legal conclusions” or “[tjhreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
Analyzing a motion to dismiss an employment discrimination claim requires reference not only to the pleading standards discussed above, but also to 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), which governs a plaintiffs ultimate burden of proof at trial. Littlejohn v. City of New York, 795 F.3d 297, 307-08 (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 prima 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 plaintiff meets her burden at this stage, a “temporary presumption” of discrimination arises, and the burden shifts to the employer to articulate a legiti
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 case.. Littlejohn, 795 F.3d at 311; see Dawson v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 624 Fed.Appx. 763, 765-67, 2015 WL 5438790, at *1-2 (2d Cir. Sept. 16, 2015); Vega, 801 F.3d at 83-85; Williams v. N.Y.C. Horn. 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 Neto 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 under which she brings her claims. Vega, 801 F.3d at 83-85 (quoting Littlejohn, 795 F.3d at 307, 312); see Dawson, 624 Fed.Appx. at 767, 2015 WL 5438790, at *2 (“We apply [the Littlejohn]'standard in reviewing the district court’s dismissal of Plaintiffs ADA complaint.”).
b. Plaintiffs ADA discrimination claims
Construed liberally, the Amended Complaint alleges that Defendant discriminated against Plaintiff based oh his disability when it improperly placed him on unpaid disciplinary leave, denied him workers’ compensation and disability benefits, and failed to accommodate his disability. Defendant contends that Plaintiff has not pleaded sufficient facts to support any ADA discrimination claim and that any claims for workers’' compensation benefits must be field with the New York State Workers’ ' Compensation Board. (Def. Mem. 8-10.)
To. establish a prima facie case of discrimination under the ADA,
active to conduct occurring prior to the Act’s effective date, January 1, 2009, Parada v. Banco Indus. De Venezuela, C.A., 753, F.3d 62, 69 n. 2 (2d Cir. 2014), here, because Plaintiff challenges an alleged adverse action that occurred after January 1, 2009, the Court evaluates Plaintiff’s claim under the ADA framework as modified by the ADAAA and its accompanying regulations, see Price, 558 Fed.Appx. at 120-21 (2d Cir. 2014) ("[T]he ADAAA’s definition of 'substantially limits’ applies only to claims accruing after January 1, 2009.”).
Even absent an actual or recorded disability, an employee is still disabled if the employee is “regarded as having such an impairment.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102. Prior to the ADA’s 2008 amendment, a plaintiff who was “regarded as” disabled had to show that the employer regarded the plaintiff as having an impairment that substantially limited a major life activity. See Hilton v. Wright, 673 F.3d 120,128-29 (2d Cir. 2012) (discussing pre-amendment standard for assessing “regarded as” claims). However, as amended, an employee need not show that the employer perceived both the impairment and that it substantially limited a major life activity; instead:
An individual meets the requirement of “being regarded as having such an impairment” if the individual establishes that he or she has been subjected to an action prohibited under this chapter because of an actual or perceived physical or mental impairment whether or not the impairment limits or is perceived to limit a major life activity.
42 U.S.C. § 12102; Hilton, 673 F.3d at 129 (finding that under the amended ADA, the employee only had to show that the employer “regarded him as having a mental or physical impairment ... [and] was not required to present evidence of how or to what degree [the employer] believed the impairment affected him”); Rodriguez v. Verizon Telecom, No. 13-CV-6969, 2014 WL 6807834, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 3, 2014) (“The ADAAA added a paragraph that exempts ‘regarded as’ claimants from being compelled to demonstrate that the disability they are perceived as having substantially limits a major life activity.”) “Whether' an individual is ‘regarded as’ having a disability ‘turns on the employer’s perception of the. employee’ and is therefore ‘a question of intent, not whether the employee has a disability.’” Simmons v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 340 Fed.Appx. 24, 27 (2d Cir. 2009) (quoting Francis v. City of Meriden, 129 F.3d 281, 284 (2d Cir. 1997)). However, “the ‘regarded as’ definition of disability does not apply to impairments that are both ‘transitory and minor,’ ” Jordan v. Forfeiture Support Assocs., 928 F.Supp.2d 588, 606 (E.D.N.Y. 2013) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 12102(3)(B)), which the statute defines as impairments with “an
Construed liberally, the Amended Complaint comes close, but fails to plead sufficient facts to support a claim for discrimination or failure to accommodate under the ADA. Although Plaintiff makes no allegations that Defendant is covered by the ADA, Defendant does not appear to contest that it is subject to the ADA. Nor does Defendant contest that Plaintiff was qualified to perform the essential functions of the job. However, as discussed below, Defendant argues that Plaintiff has failed to plead facts that he was disabled, that he was terminated because of the alleged disability, and that Defendant failed to accommodate his alleged disability. •
i. Plaintiffs disability
The Amended Complaint does not allege that Plaintiff was actually disabled or that he had a record of disability. Plaintiff makes vague references to his hernia and his treatment plan, stating .that he was hesitant to resume the same work that had contributed .to the hernia, and that his doctor limited him to light duty and suggested he “wear a belt to secure [himjself.” (Am. Compl. .7-8.) However, the Amended Complaint does not allege how any of this substantially limited a major life activity such as his ability to lift objects, stand, or work. See Troeger v. Ellenville Cent Sch. Dist., 523 Fed.Appx. 848, 852 (2d Cir. 2013) (“[Although lifting light objects may be a major life activity, an individual is not ‘disabled’ merely because he cannot lift heavier objects weighing, for instance, around twenty pounds.” (internal citations omitted)); Dechberry v. N.Y.C. Fire Dep% 124 F.Supp.3d 131, 151, 2015 WL 4878460, at *16 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 14, 2015) (“[P]laintiff does not allege any facts for the court to determine whether she is disabled within the meaning of the ADA. Although plaintiff arguably identifies her alleged disability , as ‘severe tendonitis’ and other unspecified injuries, to her upper extremities, she does not explain what ‘major life activity is ‘substantially limited.’ ”). Further, even if- Plaintiff was afraid of resuming work while he was still recovering, this fails to establish any physical limitations.
Liberally construing Plaintiff’s allegations, as the Court must, Plaintiff seems to also allege that he was “regarded as” disabled by Defendant. Plaintiff alleges that when he returned to work thirteen days after his surgery, he informed Defendant about all the details of his hernia surgery and his light duty limitation. (Am. Compl. 4.) Two weeks after his surgery, Plaintiff informed Defendant that he could return to light duty, but the dispatcher told Plaintiff not to return because he was “injured” and the dispatcher “could not use [him].” (Id.) Plaintiff followed those instructions and waited the entire six weeks that he was limited to light duty time, but never heard from Defendant. (Id. at 5.) Then, when Plaintiff tried to return' to work — approximately two months after his surgery — his dispatcher told him he could stay out of work for as long as three months, and Plaintiff’s manager directed him to bring a doctor’s report before returning to work. (Id.) These allegations plausibly suggest that Defendant perceived Plaintiff to have some kind of physical impairment that precluded him from returning to work.
Nevertheless, the face of the Amended Complaint suggests that Defendant believed that Plaintiff had only a transitory impairment. After learning of Plaintiff’s hernia surgery and light duty limitation, Defendant first authorized Plaintiff to stay home for six weeks, and later allowed him to stay home for three months. Although this subsequent increase in the amount of time Plaintiff was permitted to be off of
ii. Alleged adverse actions
Liberally construed, the Amended Complaint alleges that Defendant discriminated against Plaintiff by improperly placing him on unpaid disciplinary leave, denying him workers’ compensation and disability benefits, and ultimately terminating, him. Defendant argues that this Court lacks jurisdiction as to Plaintiffs claims regarding workers’ compensation benefits, because such claims must be brought in a New York State administrative proceeding. (Def. Mem. 8-9 & n. 5.)
Placing an employee on unpaid leave can constitute an adverse employment action. See St. Juste v. Metro Plus Health Plan, 8 F.Supp.3d 287, 318 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (noting that “courts find that being required to take unpaid leave can be an adverse employment action”); Monterroso v. Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP, 591 F.Supp.2d 567, 583 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) (“Being placed on unpaid leave and termination of employment constitute adverse employment actions.” (citing Morris v. Lindau, 196 F.3d 102, 110 (2d Cir. 1999))). Similarly, a material loss of benefits constitutes a materially adverse change in working conditions that is sufficient to establish the adverse‘action required to state an ADA claim. See Terry v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 128, 138 (2d Cir. 2003) (“Examples of materially adverse changes include ‘termination of employment ...’ a material loss of benefits, significantly diminished material responsibilities, or other indices ... unique to a particular situation.’ ” (second alteration in original) (quoting Galabya v. N.Y.C. Bd. of Educ., 202 F.3d 636, 640 (2d Cir. 2000))); cf. Campbell v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 93 F.Supp.3d 148, 170 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (“Plaintiff cannot show that the failure to investigate Davenport’s claim against her affected any of her tangible job benefits, and thus cannot show that this was an adverse action.”).
The New York State Workers’ Compensation Law vests , the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board with jurisdiction over claims for benefits, see N.Y. Workers Comp. Law §§ 10-11, which can
Here, Plaintiff sufficiently alleges that Defendant subjected him to adverse actions. Plaintiff alleges that before Defendant terminated him, which was an adverse action, Defendant placed him on unpaid disciplinary leave and denied him disability benefits to which he was otherwise entitled. Although Defendant argues 'that Plaintiffs claim is barred by New York State’s Workers’ Compensation Law, liberally construing Plaintiffs pro se allegations, he asserts disability discrimination claims arising from Defendant .(1) placing him on unpaid disciplinary leave (2) denying him workers’ compensation benefits, and (3) terminating his employment. These claims are distinct from a claim for disability benefits. Plaintiff sufficiently alleges an adverse action.
iii. Inference of discrimination
“At the initial'stage of a litigation, the plaintiff burden is ‘minimal — hé need only plausibly allege facts that provide ‘at least minimal support for the proposition that the employer was motivated by discriminatory inteflt,’” in taking the adverse employment action. Vega, 801 F.3d at 85 (quoting Littlejohn, 795 F.3d at 311). Therefore, “to defeat a motion to dismiss ...' a plaintiff must plausibly allege that (1) the employer took' adverse' action against him, and (2) his [membership in the protected group] was a motivating factor in the employment decision.” Id. at 87.
1. Disciplinary leave and denial of benefits
Liberally construing the Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs allegations indicate that Defendant placed him . on unpaid disciplin
However, the allegations as to when Defendant stopped paying Plaintiff are unclear and, at times, contradictory. The Complaint first asserts that after he informed Defendant about his injury, and was told to stay home, Plaintiff realized he “was not receiving Payment Checks from [Defendant],” (Am. Compl. 4.) Plaintiff then alleges that he told his dispatcher that “[Defendant] had stopped paying me when I came out of surgery.,” {Id. at 6.) Similarly, Plaintiff later alleges that it was after his complaint to the NYSDHR that he “realized!’ Defendant placed him on disciplinary leave “the very day [he] came out of ■ surgery.” {Id. at. 8.) To- the extent Plaintiff was not being paid even before he informed Defendant about his injury, those facts would not support an inference of discrimination. -, Given the inconsistencies in the allegations as to when Defendant stopped paying Plaintiff and placed him on leave, Plaintiffs allegations do not raise an inference of discrimination.
Plaintiff also attempts to raise an inference of discrimination by showing that Defendant treated him differently from other injured workers when it denied him benefits and plaeed him on disciplinary leave. Such disparate treatment in granting or denying benefits could support an inference of disability discrimination.
Here,' assuming Plaintiff had pleaded a disability, his allegations about disparate treatment appear to raise an inference of discrimination. Plaintiff alleges that, unlike him, other injured workers were “never ... put on [l]eave of [absence and deprived of their pay,” and alleges that he witnessed such workers “come in to collect their checks as- they usually do when they normally work.” (Am. Compl. 3, 7.) Although “the Amended Complaint is otherwise silent as to these comparators,” Henry v. NYC Health & Hosp. Corp., 18 F.Supp.3d 396, 408 (S.D.N.Y. 2014), Plaintiff does allege that the other workers, like him, were injured. Plaintiff does not explicitly state that the other workers who received benefits were not disabled, but because he is proceeding pro se, these allegations still support his disparate treatment claim. Plaintiff need only raise a “minimal inference” of discrimination at this stage, however, Plaintiff must still adequately plead that he was disabled or perceived as disabled.
2. Termination
Plaintiff makes only vague allegations about the circumstances surrounding his termination, asserting that Defendant fired him some time during his leave of absence because Defendant believed he “walked off” the job. . (Am. Compl. 7.). Plaintiff alleges that he remained in frequent communication -with the company dispatcher and HR, which suggests that Defendant should have known that Plaintiff did not “walk off” his job. However, these facts alone do riot suggest that Plaintiff was terminated under circumstances giving rise to an inference of disability discrimination.
Because the Amended Complaint fails to allege that Plaintiff was disabled as defined in the ADA, his claim fails at the outset, and the Court dismisses Plaintiffs ADA claims arising from the disciplinary leave,, denial of benefits and his termination..
c. Plaintiffs ADA failure to accommodate claim
Liberally construed, the Amended Complaint claims that Defendant failed to accommodate Plaintiffs’ disability. (See Am. Compl. 9 (“[Defendant] was never interested in offering me positions.... [that] I was capable of doing.”).) To establish a prima facié case of failure to accommodate a disability, a plaintiff must show that, among other things, he is a person with a disability under the meaning of the ADA. McBride v. BIC Consumer Prods. Mfg. Co., Inc., 583 F.3d 92, 96-97 (2d Cir. 2009); see also Ugactz v. United Parcel Serv. Inc., No; 10-CV-1247, 2013 WL 1232355, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 26, 2013) (detailing requirements for a failure to accommodate claim). As discussed above, Plaintiff has failed to adequately allege that he was disabled under the ADA. Accordingly, his failure to accommodate claim must be dismissed.
Defendant argues that the Court lacks jurisdiction- over Plaintiffs NYSHRL claims because Plaintiff previously filed a complaint with the NYSDHR raising the same claims. (Déf. Mem. 5-7.)
Under the NYSHRL, an individual who files a complaint with the NYSDHR is jurisdietionally barred from filing a lawsuit in state or federal court for the same claims. See N.Y. Exec. Law § 297(9); Desardouin v. City of Rochester, 708 F.3d 102, 106 (2d Cir. 2013). (“The District Court properly ruled that her NYSHRL claim was barred on the' basis of election of remedies ... which ... precludes resort to courts after claims have been filed with a local commission on human rights.”). “The election of remedies bar is jurisdictional, such that claims dismissed pursuant to it must be dismissed under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) rather than 12(b) (6).” Higgins v. NYP Holdings, Inc., 836 F.Supp.2d 182, 187 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (citing Moodie v. Federal Reserve Bank, 58 F.3d 879, 882 (2d
Cir. 1995)). The election of remedies bar has been construed to cover claims arising out of the “same incident on which plaintiffs SDHR complaint was based [i.e.,] ... if they are based on the same operative events.” Williams v. City of New York, 916 F.Supp.2d 517, 521 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) (alteration omitted) (quoting Higgins, 836 F.Supp.2d at 188-89).
Here, Plaintiff filed a complaint with NYSDHR on May 14, 2013, making vague allegations centering. on unfair treatment based on age and disability, and alleging facts identical to those in this case. (See NYSDHR Compl. 9-13, 17-18 (discussing Plaintiffs hernia, surgery, and attempts to return to work).) The Amended Complaint emphasizes the improper denial of benefits, but in the “Acts of Discrimination” section of his NYSDHR Complaint, Plaintiff did not check any of the boxes, including “Denied me leave time or other benefits,” and only wrote “Unfair Treatment.” (Id. at 6.) However, in an attached type-written statement of facts,
e. Leave to amend
The Amended Complaint makes allegations of disability discrimination under the ADA without providing factual allegations showing that Plaintiff was disabled because of his hernia operation or that Defendant perceived him to be disabled. For example, although it is clear Plaintiff underwent hernia surgery, he does not describe how the hernia surgery affected or limited him in any major life activity like lifting, standing, walking or working. Plaintiff alleges that his doctor prescribed light work duty post-surgery, but fails to provide any detail as to the physical limitations necessitating light duty rather than his normal work. Further, Plaintiff fails to allege why, after his manager requested a doctor’s report, he did not return to Defendant until April 26, 2013, or why, despite his dispatcher stating he could be out work for three months, Plaintiff was out of work for six or seven months.
Although Plaintiffs allegations as to his ADA claim are insufficient to state a claim, the Court will grant Plaintiff leave to file a second amended complaint within thirty (30) days of the date of this Memorandum and Order as to those claims. Plaintiff is informed that if he elects to file a second amended complaint it must contain more details regarding his alleged disability and how that disability affected (1) his life activities generally, and (2) his work with Defendant specifically. Each event in his story should be described in a separate numbered paragraph. Plaintiff is further informed that a second amended complaint does not simply add to his Amended Complaint. Once a second amended complaint is filed, it completely replaces the prior Amended Complaint. Therefore, Plaintiff must include in the second amended complaint all the necessary information that was contained in the prior Amended Complaint, and should attach all relevant documents. The second amended complaint must be captioned as a “Second Amended Complaint,” and 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 ADA claims, and grants Plaintiff leave to file a Second Amended Complaint within thirty (30) days of this Memorandum and Order as to the ADA claims.
SO ORDERED.
. Although the Amended Complaint contains no citations to statutes, Plaintiff removed all allegations of age discrimination. Therefore, the Court only addresses Plaintiff’s disability claims arising under the ADA and NYSHRL.
. The Amended Complaint totals ten pages, but has no pagination. It also includes a cover letter to the Court regarding Plaintiff’s prior attempt to submit the Amended Complaint. (Am. Compl. 1.) .The Court refers to the specific page of the ten-page Amended Complaint as if the pages were consecutively paginated, beginning with the cover letter as page 1.
. Defendant claims that Plaintiff was not employed by Fresh Direct, but rather UTF Trucking, and asserts that Plaintiff misi'dentifies Fresh Direct as the Defendant-employer. (Def. Mem. 1.) However, Defendant does not argue that this alleged error forecloses Plaintiff’s claims against Fresh Direct.
. The Amended Complaint does not specify when Plaintiff underwent surgery; however his initial pro se Complaint stated that it was in October of 2012, (Compl. 6, Docket Entry No. 1.)
. Plaintiffs reference to the "Labor Board” appears to be a reference to the' New York State Division of Human Rights. Throughout the Amended Complaint, Plaintiff refers to his interaction with the "Human Rights Department] of the Labor Board.” (Am. Compl. 7-8.)
. According to Plaintiff, injured workers are normally placed on limited disability and receive benefits. (Am. Compl. 6.)
. Plaintiff attached an EEOC right to sue letter, issued on January 14, 2012, to his first Complaint. (Compl. 17.) However, the Amended Complaint does not reference or attach the EEOC letter or any determination by NYSDHR. The Court considers the NYSDHR letter as a document integral to the Complaint. See L-7 Designs, Inc. v. Old Navy, LLC, 647 F.3d 419, 422 (2d Cir. 2011) (“A complaint is [also] deemed to include any written instrument attached to it as an exhibit, materials incorporated in it by reference, and documents that, although not incorporated by reference, are ‘integral’ to the complaint.”); 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 Cortee Indus., Inc. v. Sum Holding L.P., 949 F.2d 42, 47 (2d Cir. 1991))).
. Although unclear, it appears this letter was in response to Plaintiffs ‘‘Labor Board” complaint.
. In 2008, Congress enacted the ADA Amendments Act (the "ADAAA”), which took effect on January 1, 2009. See ADA Amendments Act of 2008, Pub.L. No. 110-325, 122 Stat. 3553 (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.). The ADAAA broadened aspects of the ADA and found that the Supreme Court’s interpretation of when an impairment "substantially limits” a major life activity created “an inappropriately high level of limitation than was intended by Congress.” Price v. City of New York, 558 Fed.Appx. 119, 120-21 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Pub.L. No. 110-325 § 2(a)(7) & (b)(5)). Although the ADAAA is not retro-
. Indeed, as Plaintiff alleged, and Defendant asserts on its motion to dismiss, Defendant believed he walked off the job. (Am. Compl. 7.)
. Although Defendant argues that any Workers’ Compensation-related claim fails because the Court lacks jurisdiction over such claims, this ignores the essence of Plaintiff's claim— that Defendant discriminated against him based on his disability when.it denied him those benefits. In these circumstances, the Workers’ Compensation Law is not a bar to Plaintiff's federal discrimination claim. See Lopez v. S.B. Thomas, Inc,, 831 F.2d 1184, 1190 (2d Cir. 1987).
. Defendant asserts that any failure to accommodate claim fails because (1) the May 10, 2013 Letter was an attempt to engage in the interactive process to accommodate Plain
It appears that Plaintiff apprised Defendant of his injury and requested an assignment to light duty work, and, although' Defendant indicated it would call him about such work, it never did. While Defendant cites the May 10, 2013 Letter as its attempt to engage in the interactive process, Plaintiff contests the letter’s authenticity in the Amended Complaint. (Am. Compl. 10—11; Pl. Opp’n 11-15; May 10, 2013 Letter.) In addition, Defendant suggests that Plaintiff failed to allege whether a light duty accommodation eliminated the “essential functions” of his job, but it is unclear that such a showing is required at this stage. See Rodriguez v. City of New York, No. 13-CV-6138, 2015 WL 332989, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 23, 2015) ("The determination of the essential functions of the job is a factual question, resolution of. which is inappropriate in the context of a motion to dismiss.” (quoting Abbasi v. Herzfeld & Rubin, P.C., No. 94-CV-2809, 1995 WL 303603, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. May 17, 1995))). Because Plaintiff has failed to allege a disability, the Court will not resolve these issues.
Reference
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- Cyril HORSHAM v. FRESH DIRECT
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- Published