Percy v. New York (Hudson Valley DDSO)
Percy v. New York (Hudson Valley DDSO)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION & ORDER
Plaintiff Violene Percy (“Percy”) brings this action against Defendants State of New York-Hudson Valley DDSO (“HVDDSO”), Local 412 of the CSEA, Inc. (“CSEA”),
The following facts are derived from Plaintiffs Complaint, (EOF No. 1), unless otherwise noted.
. On August 7, 2003, Plaintiff was hired by HVDDSO as an Assistant Development Aid. (Compl. ¶ 8.) Plaintiff was later promoted to the position of House Manager. (Id.) While employed by the Hudson Valley Developmental Disabilities State Office (“HVDDSO”), at an unspecified time, Plaintiff was hired by CSEA as a “delegate,” and in that capacity, she attended conventions and meetings on behalf of CSEA. (Id. ¶ 9.) CSEA paid for Plaintiff to engage in these activities, including by reimbursing her for travel and expenses. (Id.) Plaintiff worked for both HVDDSO and CSEA until she suffered "a constructive termination” on September 11, 2014 as a result of “[Defendants’] retaliatory acts.” (Id. ¶ 10.)
In January 2014, Plaintiff began to experience a “series of acts of sexual harassment” perpetrated by Defendant Townsend, who served as her Supervisor at both HVDDSO and CSEA. (Id. ¶ 12.) Specifically, Townsend began to “hit on” Plaintiff, suggesting to Plaintiff that she and Townsend should “sleep together.” (Id, ¶ 12.) During this same time, in or around January 2014, while Plaintiff was working an incident (the “Incident”) occurred involving a client served by HVDDSO. (Id. ¶ 13.) As part of HVDDSO’s investigation of the Incident, a series of meetings took place. (Id.) Plaintiff states that Townsend continued to sexually harass Plaintiff “through and in relation to this investigation, ... [by] refusing] to represent the Plaintiff [on behalf of CSEA] at several meetings related to the incident despite having represented other individuals involved in the same incident.” (Id.) Plaintiff contends that because Townsend did not represent her himself, she was treated differently than the other individuals involved in the incident in retaliation for declining his sexual Advances. (Id. at ¶ 14.)
In April 2014, Plaintiff was in the coffee room at the'CSEA office when Townsend entered. (Id. at 115.) When a secretary left the room, leaving Plaintiff and Townsend alone, he began making inappropriate ■comments and gestures to Plaintiff, including that they could.“satisfy each other .., making kisses gestures toward ... Plaintiff.putting his tongue out and quickly moving it up and down, and side. to .side, (Id.) This behavior continued although Plaintiff told Townsend to stop. (Id.)
■:On May 5, 2014, Plaintiff asserts that a secretary of CSEA told Plaintiff to call Townsend. (Id. at ¶ 16.) Plaintiff called Townsend, and ,he told her he “wanted to do her, that he [could] satisfy her, that he [had] the tool to make her scream, and he wanted to know, how big her private ,. .was.” (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that she told Townsend to stop on this occasion as well. (Id.) Later that month, on May 27, 2014, Plaintiff, Townsend and other CSEA members were on an Amtrak train returning from a convention in Atlanta. (Id. at ¶ 17.) Townsend told a person that was next to Plaintiff to switch seats with him so he could sit next to Plaintiff. (Id.) Townsend sat next to her and began asking her “why she was in love with a white man, telling her.that she should be with a black man only, and that because she is from an island she should be with an island guy like himself,” and that he “knew how to take care of her (sexually).” (Id.) Plaintiff told Townsend to stop, that nothing would transpire between them, and changed seats. (Id.)
After the May 27, 2014 incident on the train, Townsend continued to make sexual comments toward Plaintiff, “inappropriately placed his hands on her back, made comments regarding her job, and eventually pressured ... Plaintiff to resign as a
Plaintiff asserts that at all times relevant to the Complaint, Defendants were aware of the of the sexual harassment that Plaintiff suffered at the hands of Townsend, but took no action to ensure the harassment would stop, (Id. at ¶ 19.)
On or about September 2014, Plaintiff alleges she was “forced by CSEA and Townsend to either resign and ... [retain] her retirement option, or stay ... and dispute ... [the] charges” that had apparently arisen against her in relation to the Incident. (Id. at ¶23) (emphasis added). Plaintiff asserts that Defendants Townsend and CSEA threatened Plaintiff with arrest and criminal charges relating to the Incident if she chose to dispute them rather than resigning (id.), although other employees involved in the same Incident were represented by CSEA and Townsend without being pressured to resign, or threatened with arrest or criminal charges. (Id.) Plaintiff also alleges that Townsend and Pamela Alexander, another CSEA employee that routinely represented employees during employment disputes on behalf of CSEA, told Plaintiff they would not file a petition on her behalf or represent her in connection with the Incident. (Id.) Subsequently, on September 11, 2014, Plaintiff alleges she suffered a “constructive termination” because she was forced to resign from HVDDSO in retaliation for reporting the sexual harassment, refusing Townsend’s advances, and because CSEA failed to provide equal representation to her in connection with the aforementioned Incident. (Id. at ¶ 24.)
Plaintiff concludes her allegations by cursorily asserting that HVDDSO “con-structivefly] terminated]” her “based upon discriminatory, factors including sexual harassment.” (Id. at ¶ 26.)
Finally, according to the Complaint, throughout Plaintiffs employment with both HVDDSO and CSEA, she received “excellent evaluations,” (id. at ¶ 11), and at all relevant times she performed her duties in a satisfactory manner (id. at ¶ 20).'
STANDARD ON A MOTION TO DISMISS
‘Under Rule 12(b)(6), the inquiry is whether the complaint “contain[s] suffi
As to a motion brought under Rule 12(b)(1), “[a] case is properly dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) when the district court lacks the statutory or constitutional power to adjudicate it.” Makarova v. United States, 201 F.3d 110, 113 (2d Cir. 2000). It is well-settled that the “plaintiff bears the burden of proving subject matter jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence.” Aurecchione v. Schoolman Transp. Sys., Inc., 426 F.3d 635, 638 (2d Cir. 2005) (citing Luckett v. Bure, 290 F.3d 493, 497 (2d Cir. 2002)). In reviewing a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss, the court “must accept as true all material factual allegations in the complaint, but [the court is] not to draw inferences from the complaint favorable to plaintiff.” J.S. ex rel. N.S. v. Attica Cent. Sch., 386 F.3d 107, 110 (2d Cir. 2004). The court “may consider affidavits and other materials beyond the pleadings to resolve the jurisdictional issue, but [it] may not rely on conclusory or hearsay statements contained in the affidavits.”
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff alleges that she was discriminated against when Defendant Townsend sexually harassed her, and retaliated against for reporting said harassment in violation of Title VII and NYSHRL. (See, e.g., Compl. ¶ 43) (stating, in cause of action under Title VII that she “seeks all remedies ... for discrimination based on sexual harassment by Defendant Townsend, and the retaliation of Defendant CSEA and Defendant Townsend for reporting the sexual harassment of Defendant Townsend”); (id. at ¶48) (alleging, under NYSHRL cause of action, that “Defendants” discriminated against Plaintiff for reporting sexual harassment by Townsend.)
I. Defendant CSEA
a. Statute of Limitations
Defendant CSEA asserts that the bulk of Plaintiffs allegations are time-barred,
Title VIPs statute of limitations bars claims based upon events that occurred more than 300 days prior to filing a charge of discrimination with a state or local employment agency. Garcia v. Yonkers Bd. of Educ., 188 F.Supp.3d 353, 358 (S.D.N.Y. 2016) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(l) and Lange v. Town of Monroe, 213 F.Supp.2d 411, 418 (S.D.N.Y. 2002)). Thus, only events that occurred during the 300-day period prior to June 5, 2015, when Plaintiff filed her Complaint with the EEOC, are actionable under Title VII, unless the period has been equitably tolled or extended. Nowak v. EGW Home Care, Inc., 82 F.Supp.2d 101, 106-07 (W.D.N.Y. 2000) (citing Van Zant v. KLM Royal Dutch
Where the “continuing violation” exception applies, Title VH’s 300-day limitations period can in fact extend. Id. (citing Lightfoot v. Union Carbide Corp., 110 F.3d 898, 907 (2d Cir. 1997); Lambert v. Genesee Hosp., 10 F.3d 46, 63 (2d Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 611 U.S. 1052, 114 S.Ct. 1612, 128 L.Ed.2d 339 (1994); Cook v. Pan Am. World Airways, 771 F.2d 635, 646 (2d Cir. 1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1109, 106 S.Ct. 895, 88 L.Ed.2d 929 (1986)). Under the continuing violation doctrine, where “a plaintiff has experienced a continuous practice and policy of discrimination, ... the commencement of the statute of limitations period may be delayed until the last discriminatory act in furtherance of it.” Washington v. County of Rockland, 373 F.3d 310, 317 (2d Cir. 2004) (alteration in original) (quoting Fitzgerald v. Henderson, 251 F.3d 345, 349 (2d Cir. 2001)); Nowak, 82 F.Supp.2d at 106 (W.D.N.Y. 2000) (“Under this exception, ... a timely EEOC charge concerning a particular discriminatory act committed in furtherance of an ongoing policy of discrimination extends the limitations period for all claims of discriminatory acts committed under that policy even if those acts, standing alone, would have been time-barred.”). Notably, “[t]he courts of this Circuit have generally been loath to invoke the continuing violation doctrine and will apply it only upon a showing of compelling circumstances.” Little v. Nat’l Broad. Co., 210 F.Supp.2d 330, 366 (S.D.N.Y. 2002). Given this reserved approach, as the legal authorities in Plaintiffs own memoraiidum reveal, the continuing violation exception is generally reserved for cases where there was an ongoing discriminatory policy .or practice. Id. at 907.
Hostile work environment claims fall within the continuing violation framework. These claims “may ... be based on events outside the statute of limitations period as long as (1) the acts occurring before the ... cutoff constitute part of the same actionable hostile work environment practice, and (2) at least one act contributing to the claim occurs within the filing period.” Garcia v. Yonkers Bd. of Educ., 188 F.Supp.3d 353, 359 (S.D.N.Y. . 2016) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see Langford v. Int’l Union .of Operating Engineers, Local 30, 765 F.Supp.2d 486, 496 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (“The Second Circuit has equated [hostile work environment] claims with -the “continuing violation” doctrine.”);. Little v. Nat’l Broad. Co., 210 F.Supp.2d at 367 (“A hostile work environment claim must meet the same requirements under the continuing violation doctrine”).-Here, Plaintiff asserts that she filed, her EEOC Charge within 300 days of the last discriminatory act— the “constructive termination” of her employment. (See PL Opp’n. to CSEA, at 6-7.) She contends that this forced resignation or termination was the last act.in a continuous practice and policy of sexual discrimination against her that perpetuated a hostile work environment, and as such, the continuing violation doctrine should encompass the alleged sexually 'charged interactions initiated by Townsend that occurred outside of the 300-day statute of limitations. (Id.)
It is well established that termination, whether through discharge or resignation, is a single act, discrete in nature. See Lightfoot, 110 F.3d at 907 (“Completed acts such as a termination through discharge or resignation, a job transfer, or discontinuance of a particular'job-assignment, are not acts of a ‘continuing’ nature.”); Underwood v. Roswell Park Cancer Inst., 15-CV-684-FPG, 2017 WL
Such discrete incidences cannot extend the statute of limitations and revive otherwise untimely acts. Brown v. N.Y.C. Dep’t of Educ., 513 Fed.Appx. 89, 91 (2d Cir. 2013) (“The letter notifying Brown of her termination cannot save her hostile work environment claim, because her termination was a separate and discrete act.”); Patterson v. Cnty. of Oneida, 375 F.3d 206, 220 (2d Cir. 2004) (“[T]he mere fact that an employee was dismissed within the statutory period cannot be used to pull in[to the statutory period] a time-barred discriminatory act ... ”) (alteration and internal quotation marks omitted); Fierro v. New York City Dep’t of Educ., 994 F.Supp.2d 581, 587 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (“Although [plaintiff] alleges that the [untimely] hostile work environment created by defendants led to her constructive discharge, that allegation is insufficient to resuscitate her time-barred claims”); see also Skates v. Inc. Vill. of Freeport, 15-CV-1136 (SJF) (AYS), 2016 WL 1459659, at *10 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 28, 2016), report and recommendation adopted, 2016 WL 1452391 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 12, 2016) (plaintiffs “termination constitutes an unquestionably discrete act ‘with its own filing deadline ... As such, that act cannot be part of a preceding and continuing violation.’ ”) (internal citation omitted) (emphasis added); Fierro, 994 F.Supp.2d at 587 (citing Tucker v. MTA, et al., 11-CV-5781 (JPO), 2013 WL 55831, at *3 n.5 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 4, 2013) (continuing violation doctrine applies “when there is a continuous chain of discriminatory acts, not when the injury from the discriminatory acts continues past the [end of the limitations period]”) (internal quotation marks omitted); Sareen v. Port Auth. of N.Y. & N.J., 2013 WL 6588435, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) (“law in this Circuit is clear that ... discrete acts of discrimination ... do not implicate the continuing violation doctrine.”); Butler v. Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc., 12-CV-1791, 2013 WL 3324995, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. July 1, 2013) (“[E]ven if plaintiff had",not withdrawn the discriminatory termination claim, that claim could not serve as the foundation for plaintiffs continuing violation theory of a hostile work environment. An employee’s termination is the paradigmatic “discrete act” that cannot be part of a hostile' work environment claim.”). As such, because Plaintiffs' resignation of forced retaliatory'termination is a discrete act, it cannot be considered a continuation of the alleged sexual discrimination Plaintiff contends she experienced previously.
Similarly, Plaintiffs allegation that CSEA failed to provide her with equal representation and file a petition on her behalf with regard to the Incident, in retaliation for her refusal to accept Townsend’s sexual advances, are also a discrete acts. See Miner v. Town of Cheshire, 126 F.Supp.2d 184, 192-93 (D. Conn. 2000) (“That [plaintiff] has alleged several specific acts-of retaliation within the limitations period is unavailing with respect to her claims of sexual harassment. A plaintiff cannot resurrect claims of discrimination that are outside the limitations period through subsequent acts of retaliation
For these reasons, Plaintiffs discrimination claims stemming from conduct that occurred prior to the 300-day period, must be dismissed as alleged on the basis that they are time-barred.
b. Title VII Claim Against CSEA
Defendant contends that Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim under Title VII because she has not alleged facts sufficient to demonstrate that CSEA acted with any unlawful discriminatory or retaliatory motive. (See CSEA Mem. at 9.) Plaintiff contends that she was unlawfully forced to resign in retaliation for declining sexual advances made by her supervisor, Defendant Townsend, and that CSEA was aware of this conduct, but neglected to address it. (See Compl. ¶ 19; PI. Opp’n. to CSEA at 13.)
Title VII prohibits retaliation against employees for complaining of prohibited employment discrimination, “stating that “[i]t shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against any of his employees ... because [the employee] has opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice by [Title VII].” Cifra v. G.E. Co., 252 F.3d 205, 216 (2d Cir. 2001) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a)). To assert a prima facie case of retaliation, the plaintiff must plausibly allege: “(1) that she engaged in protected participation or opposition under Title VII;” (2) “that the employer was aware of this activity;” (3) “that the employer took adverse action against the plaintiff;” and (4) “that a causal connection exists between the protected activity and the adverse action, i.e., that a retaliatory motive played a part, in the adverse employment action.” Id; see also Nweke v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 25 F.Supp.2d 203, 230 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) (“To make out a pri-ma facie case of retaliation [against defendant labor unions,] plaintiff must show that (1) she was engaged in an activity protected under Title VII ... (2) the Unions were aware of [plaintiffl’s participation in the protected activity, (3) [plaintiff] suffered adverse union decisions, and (4) there was a causal connection between the her protected activity and the adverse action taken by the Unions”) (citing Malarkey v. Texaco, Inc., 983 F.2d 1204, 1213 (2d Cir. 1993)).
Assuming Plaintiff can establish a prima facie case of discrimination, “a presumption of retaliation, appears, and the employer must articulate some legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the employ
The Second Circuit Court has “clarified that, at the motion to dismiss stage, a plaintiff is not required to plead a prima fade case under McDonnell Douglas. Rather, a plaintiff “ ‘need only give plausible support to a minimal inference of discriminatory motivation.’” Boza-Meade v. Rochester Hous. Auth., 170 F.Supp.3d 535, 552 (W.D.N.Y. 2016) (citing Vega v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d 72, 84 (2d Cir. 2015)). Nonetheless, drawing all inferences in Plaintiffs favor as the Court must at this stage, Plaintiff plausibly alleges a prima facie case of retaliation. As to the first prong, Plaintiff asserts that she engaged in protected activity by declining Townsend’s sexual advances. (See Pl. Opp’n. to CSEA at 13.) Courts are split on the question of whether rejecting unwanted sexual advances constitutes protected activity. See Little, 210 F.Supp.2d at 385-86 (noting district courts are split on issue of whether resisting an employer’s sexual advances constitutes protected activity for purposes of establishing retaliation, collecting cases reflecting split, and finding that such a rejection does constitute protected activity on basis that “[t]he prohibition against retaliation is intended to protect employees who resist unlawful workplace discrimination[;] [sjexual harassment by an employer or supervisor is an unlawful practice, and an employee’s refusal is a means of opposing such unlawful conduct”); see also Pedrosa v. City of New York, 13-CV-01890 (LGS), 2014 WL 99997, at *9 n.1 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 9, 2014) (collecting cases reflecting split for retaliation claim under NYSHRL).
Given the allegation that Townsend held a supervisory position as President of the CSEA, for the purposes of this motion, the Court finds that, by rejecting his sexual harassment, Plaintiff has plausibly alleged at this stage that she engaged in a protected activity. Laurin v. Pokoik, 02-CV-1938, 2005 WL 911429, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 18, 2005) (holding that the rejection of sexual advances is protected activity because plaintiff had few other avenues of complaining because perpetrator held superior position); see also Elmessaoudi v. Mark 2 Restaurant LLC, 2016 WL 4992582 *10 (S.D.N.Y. 2016) (“[T]his Court concludes that rejecting a supervisor’s sexual advances is protected activity sufficient to satisfy the first element of a prima facie retaliation case.”) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
As to the second prong, although thinly alleged, Plaintiff also asserts that she made CSEA aware of the harassment, and they failed to prevent or address it. (See PL Opp’n, to CSEA at 13-14.) The Court considers this factor in light of the assertion that Townsend was the President of CSEA, which could have reasonably affected her ability to report this conduct. As to the third factor, Plaintiff asserts, and CSEA does not dispute, that she experienced an adverse employment action in the form of an alleged forced resignation or constructive termination of both her positions at HVDDSO and CSEA. (Id. at 14.) Finally, as to the
ii. Defendant HVDDSO
HVDDSO contends that Plaintiff has failed 'to exhaust her administrative remedies against it because it was not named as a Respondent in her first EEOC proceeding which appeared to involve only CSEA and Townsend, and her Second EEOC Charge, which did name HVDDSO, was untimely filed. (See HVDDSO Mem. in Support of Mot to Dismiss (“HVDDSO Mem.”) at 5, ECF No. 29.) Plaintiff argues first, that she exhausted her administrative remedies prior to filing suit, and second, that to the extent that she did fail to exhaust her, administrative remedies, she is entitled to various exceptions, that permit her to proceed in a suit against HVDDSO. (See PI. Opp’n. HVDDSO Mot. to Dismiss (“PI. Opp’n. to HVDDSO”), at 10-14, ECF No. 55.)
a. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
As delineated in the standard above, on a motion to dismiss the complaint, the Court’s consideration is limited to “facts stated on the face of the complaint, in documents appended to the complaint or incorporated in the complaint. by reference, and to matters of which judicial notice may be taken,” Wilson v. Kellogg Co., 628 Fed.Appx. 59, 60 (2d Cir. 2016) (quoting Allen v. WestPoint-Pepperell, Inc., 945 F.2d, 40, 44 (2d Cir. 1991)). As part of Plaintiffs Complaint, she attaches an EEOC Right to Sue Letter, dated April 26, 2016 which corresponds with EEOC Charge Number 520-2015-02661 (“No. 02661”), and appears to list only CSEA as a party to be notified. (See Compl. at 14 (“First Right to Sue Letter”). As part of its motion, HVDDSO attaches the EEOC Charging Complaint associated with EEOC Charge No. 02661, dated June 5, 2015.
Defendant also submits a Notice of Charge of Discrimination corresponding with a second EEOC Charge Number 520-2016-00120 (“No. 00120”), dated January 29, 2016. (See Morris Decl., Ex. B (“Notice of Charge, No. 00120”.) This Notice of Charge is addressed to HVDDSO and directs HVDDSO to the EEOC Mediation Program as an opportunity to resolve the issues within the charge without “extensive investigation of expenditure of resources.” (See Notice of Charge, No. 00120.)
Generally, to bring a Title VII action in federal court, a plaintiff must first exhaust her administrative remedies by filing a timely charge with the EEOC and obtaining leave to file suit. See Legnani v. Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane, S.P.A, 274 F.3d 683, 686 (2d Cir. 2001) (“a claimant may bring suit in federal court only if she has filed a timely complaint with the EEOC and obtained a right-to-sue letter) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e), (f); 29 U.S.C. § 626(d); Shah v. N.Y. State Dep’t of Civil Serv., 168 F.3d 610, 613 (2d Cir. 1999) and Malarkey v. Texaco, Inc., 983 F.2d 1204, 1208 (2d Cir. 1993)). The Second Circuit has described the initial EEOC Complaint as an “essential ■ element” of the “Title VII... statutory scheme[ ] and, as such, a precondition to bringing such claims in federal court.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
Plaintiff concedes that the First Right to Sue letter issued by the EEOC does not' name HVDDSO, and thus, that she failed, at least initially, to identify HVDDSO as a respondent in the initial charging com
Other courts have declined to take judicial notice of correspondence between plaintiffs and the EEOC on a motion to dismiss. Davenport v. Bd. of Trustees of State Ctr. Cmty. Coll. Dist., 07-CV-00494 (OWW) (SMS), 2008 WL 170876, at *4 (E D. Cal. Jan. 18, 2008) (declining to take judicial notice of correspondence between plaintiff and EEOC, among other documents because ... “[ujnlike the court and agency records ... the [proffered] documents ... are subject to reasonable dispute as they are not public records and are not ‘capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.’”) (citing Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)).
b. Identity of Interest Exception
As discussed previously, to bring a Title VII claim against a party in federal court,
One such exception allows “a Title VII action to proceed against an unnamed party where there is a ‘clear identity of interest between the unnamed defendant and the party named in the administrative charge.’” Ganthier v. N. Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Sys., 298 F.Supp.2d 342, 347 (E.D.N.Y. 2004) (citing Johnson, 931 F.2d at 209). The identity of interest exception is composed of four factors: “1) whether the role of the unnamed party could through reasonable effort by the complainant be ascertained at the time of the filing of the EEOC complaint; 2) whether, under the circumstances, thé interests of a named [party] 'are so similar as the unnamed party’s that for the purpose of obtaining voluntary conciliation and compliance it would be unnecessary to include the unnamed party in the EEOC proceedings; 3) whether its absence from the EEOC proceedings resulted in actual prejudice to the interests of the unnamed party; [and] 4) whether the unnamed party has in some way represented to the complainant that its relationship, with the complainant is to be through the named party.” Senecal, 976 F.Supp.2d at 213-214 (citing Johnson, 931 F.2d at 209-10). No one factor is dispositive. Id.
As to the first factor, the Court finds that HVDDSO’s alleged role was ascertainable at the time Plaintiff filed her initial EEOC complaint such that she could have named HVDDSO. According to Plaintiffs own allegations, she was first employed by HVDDSO before becoming a union delegate of CSEA, and knew that Townsend was employed by HVDDSO at all relevant times. (Compl. ¶¶'8, 9, 12.) Plaintiff also alleges that CSEA represented her or should have represented her as a union member in an incident at HVDDSO, and thus knew they were separate entities. (See Compl. ¶ 23); see also Wallace v. Seacrest Linen, 04-CV-6035 (GBD), 2006 WL 2192777, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 2, 2006) (noting, in consideration of first factor in identity of interest analysis it could be concluded that “plaintiff knew the role of ■.. .'union defendant, to be different from that of employer defendant! ] since his union” had taken an adversarial position against employer in past representation of plaintiff). This factor bodes in favor of HVDDSO.
Furthermore, where courts have found an identity of interest’ between entities named in the EEOC charge and those not named, more has been required, .namely, the "two entities have been far more intertwined. See, e.g., Cook v. Arrowsmith Shelburne, Inc., 69 F.3d 1235, 1242 (2d Cir. 1995) (named and unnamed entities share identical interests where unnamed entity approved all personnel decisions at named entity “and thus [the two entities] ha[d] identical interests with respect to conciliation arid compliance.”); Dortz, 904 F.Supp. at 143 (finding the second element satisfied because employees of the unnamed party “were directly involved in the events giving rise to th[e] action” and employees of two entities shared responsibilities for administering joint program, jointly participated in policy-making, unnamed entity was bound by named entity’s discrimination policy, and named entity had right to secure compliance with EEOC law from unnamed entity) (emphasis added); Brodie v. New York City Transit Auth., 96-CV-6813 (LMM), 1998 WL 599710, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 10, 1998) (“the interests of the named and unnamed parties are not so similar as .to make inclusion of the unnamed parties unnecessary to fulfill the purposes of conciliation and compliance. Such similarity of interest has been found only in cases where the named and unnamed parties are aligned in some way such that, efforts at .conciliation with one would render similar efforts with the other unnecessary, as might be the case, for example, with regard to a parent company and its subsidiary.”) (citing Cook, 69 F.3d at 1241-42 (2d Cir. 1995)); see also Hafez v. Avis Rent A Car Sys., Inc., 242 F.3d 365 (2d Cir. 2000) (affirming denial of motion to add claims against supervisors not
Given relevant jurisprudence on this point, even accepting Plaintiffs allegations that CSEA and HVDDSO share an employee as true, the allegations do not support the inference that them interest are so similar that it would have been unnecessary to include HVDDSO in the EEOC proceedings. As such, this factor weighs in Defendant’s favor.
The third factor “asks Vhether [the unnamed party’s] absence from the EEOC proceedings resulted in actual prejudice to the interests of the unnamed party [.]’ ” Senecal, 976 F.Supp.2d at 226 (citing Johnson, 931 F.2d at 210.)) “Courts have found the third factor ... [weighs in Plaintiffs favor] where the agency in which the plaintiff filed his or her administrative charge took no conciliatory action.” Cappelli v. Jack Resnick & Sons, Inc., 13-CV-3481 (GHW), 2014 WL 4188084, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 22, 2014) (internal quotations marks and citations omitted); see Zustovich v. Harvard Maint., Inc., 08-CV-6856 (HB), 2009 WL 735062, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 20, 2009) (“By definition, then, where there is no conciliatory action in the agency proceeding, there is no prejudice to the unnamed party”); compare Cappelli, 2014 WL 4188084, at *4 (citing “Dismissal and Notice of Rights” and language therein indicating “[b]ased upon its investigation, the EEOC is unable to conclude that the information obtained establishes violations of the statutes”) with Compl. at 14 (Dismissal and Notice of Rights form indicating EEOC unable to conclude from investigation violation of statutes occurred); cf. Schaefer, 82 F.Supp.2d at 117 (“[T]he absence from the EEOC proceeding has prejudiced [the Union], since it has not been provided the opportunity to demonstrate its lack of involvement in any alleged discrimination” with regard to the charge in which it was not named). Because it is unclear whether the EEOC engaged in any attempt at conciliation from which HVDDSO was excluded, this factor does not weigh in favor of either party.
Finally, as to the fourth factor, there is no indication that HVDDSO represented to Plaintiff that her relationship with HVDDSO should be conducted through CSEA. Wallace, 2006 WL 2192777, at *7 (plaintiff failed to demonstrate fourth factor where “nothing in the record suggests that union defendant conveyed to plaintiff that plaintiffs relationship to union defendant should be conducted only through the employer.”) As such, applying the bulwark of case law on this point, Plaintiff has not demonstrated that the CSEA and HVDDSO share an identity of interest such that this exception should apply here,
c. Remaining Exceptions Asserted by Plaintiff
Plaintiff also asserts that her action should be allowed to proceed against HVDDSO despite a failure to exhaust because the EEOC could have inferred from the facts asserted in the Charging Com
Where a party is not named in the EEOC charge, and does not share an identity of interest with the named party, it is possible for a plaintiffs claims against the unnamed party to survive dismissal based upon this “common discriminatory theme” exception. Coleman v. Bd. of Educ., 96-CV-4293 (LAP), 1997 WL 452029, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 1997). However, “[c]ourts look to the allegations in the EEOC charge to determine whether the [EEOC] could have discerned [such a] scheme between the named and unnamed parties ... If the EEOC could have so inferred, the action against the unnamed party may properly continue. Id. (citing Johnson, 931 F.2d at 210)). However, where a plaintiff fails to make reference to the unnamed party, it follows that it would not have been possible for the EEOC to infer from the allegations in the charge that the unnamed entity was participating in a common scheme to discriminate against plaintiff. Coleman, 1997 WL 452029, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 1997) (claim against unnamed party fails to satisfy common .discriminatory scheme where plaintiff failed to mention unnamed party in EEOC charge, or to mention any of unnamed party’s discriminatory acts because “it would not have been possible for the EEOC to have inferred from the charge submitted to it that the [unnamed party] was participating in a common discriminatory scheme with the named party.”) (emphasis added); see Bright v. Le Moyne Coll., 306 F.Supp.2d at 257-58 (“Common discriminatory scheme_ex-ception is inapposite ... [where] plaintiffs EEOC charge does not even mention the unnamed Union.”) Although Plaintiff articulates this standard, she appears to argue only that, based upon the facts asserted in the federal complaint, the “involved parties” could “easily infer” a -common discriminatory theme. (See Pl. Opp’n. to HVDDSO at 10.)
The parties do not dispute that Plaintiffs first EEOC Charge, No. 02661: does not mention HVDDSO; does not indicate that HVDDSO played any-role in the discrimination; mentions only Plaintiffs and Townsend’s employment at CSEA; and complains of harassment by Townsend, as CSEA President, at, as Defendant points out, CSEA offices and events, among other allegations directly against CSEA, including that she'was constructively discharged from her position due to acts perpetrated specifically by CSEA, and Townsend in his role at CSEA (as specified in the Complaint). (See Haberman Deck, Ex A (Charging Complaint for EEOC Charge No. 51); Morris Deck, Ex A (same).) Defendant correctly notes that the Charge does not contain any mention that Plaintiff or Townsend were employed by HVDDSO, let alone that Plaintiff experienced any adverse employment action as an HVDDSO employee. (Id.) On this basis, the Court cannot' find that the EEOC could have inferred collusion between HVDDSO and CSEA from the allegations in the charging complaint, and as such, the “common discriminatory theme” exception does not apply.
Finally, Plaintiff argues that her claim against HVDDSO should survive despite failure to exhaust because her claims against HVDDSO are “reasonably related” to those contained in the initial EEOC Charge. As is apparent from the single case Plaintiff cites in support of this contention,
For the foregoing "reasons, the Court finds that Plaintiff has not exhausted her claims against HVDDSO, nor do any of the exceptions to exhaustion, identified by Plaintiff, apply in this instance. As such, Plaintiffs claims against HVDDSO are dismissed as asserted for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because she failed to exhaust administrative remedies.
a. Title VII Claim Against Townsend
Plaintiff asserts a Title VII claim against Townsend as an agent of HVDDSO and CSEA. (See generally, Compl. ¶ 6.) Defendant posits that, an individual cannot be held liable in his capacity as an agent for these entities. (See Townsend Mém. at 3.)
“The Second Circuit has determined that the remedial provisions .of Title VII do not provide for individual liability.” Garcia v. Yonkers Bd. of Educ., 188 F.Supp.3d 353, 360,(S.D.N.Y. 2016) (citing Tomka v. Seiler Corp., 66 F.3d 1295, 1313-14 (2d Cir. 1995), abrogated on other grounds by Burlington Indus., Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742, 118 S.Ct. 2257, 141 L.Ed.2d 633 (1998) and Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775, 118 S.Ct. 2275, 141 L.Ed.2d 662 (1998); see Patterson, 375 F.3d at 221 (2d Cir. 2004) (“individuals are not subject to liability under Title VII.”) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); id. (citing Boyd v. Presbyterian Hosp. in City of New York, 160 F.Supp.2d 522, 534 (S.D.N.Y. 2001)) (“an employer’s agent may not be held individually liable under Title VII, even if she has supervisory control over the Plaintiff’). Nor can a Title VII claim prevail against a defendant in his official capacity. Id . (“plaintiff cannot assert any Title VII retaliation claims against the Individual Defendants, even in their official capacities, arid all such claims are dismissed.”) As such, Plaintiffs Title VII claims against Defendant Townsend in his individual and official capacities are dismissed.
b. NYSHRL Claim Against Townsend as . Employee of HVDDSO
Defendant argues that Plaintiffs NYSHRL claims against HVDDSO are barred by the Eleventh Amendment, and as such, he cannot.be held liable for aiding and abetting HVDDSO in violation of this law. (See Townsend Mot. Dismiss, at 4, ECF No. 27.) Plaintiff concedes that this claim cannot be maintained against Townsend in his capacity as employee of HVDDSO,. a state agency. (See PI.; Opp’n. to Townsend Mot. to Dismiss, at 5, ECF No. 66.) Plaintiff argues, however, that his NYSHR law claim remains against Townsend as an employee of CSEA. (M) Defendant apparently concedes this point, as he did not move to dismiss Plaintiffs claim on this ground, nor did he submit a reply brief contesting this point. Thus, Plaintiffs NYSHRL claim is dismissed only qs asserted against Townsend in his capacity as an employee of HVDDSO.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the motions to,dismiss submitted by Defendants CSEA and Townsend are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Defendant HVDDSO’s motion is GRANTED. Should Plaintiff seek to file an Amended Complaint, he is directed to do so in accordance with this Opinion by September 20, 2017. Defendants, are directed to answer by October 20, 2017. The parties are directed to appear for an initial pre-trial conference on October 27, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at the United States Courthouse, 300 Quarropas Street,, .Courtroom 218, White Plains, New York 10601. The parties are also directed to submit a completed Scheduling Order (see attached) to the Court prior to the initial conference. Plaintiffs claims against HVDDSO are dismissed in accordance with this Opinion, and the Clerk of Court
SO ORDERED.
Attachment
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Rev. May 2014
Plaintiff(s),
—against—
Defendant(s).
CIVIL CASE DISCOVERY PLAN AND SCHEDULING ORDER
_CV_(NSR)
This CM Case Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order is adopted, after consultation with counsel, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16 and 26(f):
1. All parties [consent] [do not consent] to conducting all further proceedings before a Magistrate Judge, including motions and trial, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). The parties are free to withhold consent without adverse substantive consequences. (If all parties consent, the remaining paragraphs of this form need not be completed.)
2. This case [is] [is not] to be tried to a jury.
3. Joinder of additional parties must be accomplished by
4. Amended pleadings may be filed until _Any party seeking to amend its pleadings after that date must seek leave of court via motion.
5. Interrogatories shall be served no later than _, and responses thereto shall be served within thirty (30) days thereafter. The provisions of Local Civil Rule 33.3 [shall] [shall not] apply to this case.
6.First request for production of documents, if any, shall be served no later than
7.Non-expert depositions shall be completed by
a. Unless counsel agree otherwise or the Court so orders, depositions shall not be held until all parties have responded to any first requests for production of documents.
b. Depositions shall proceed concurrently.
c. Whenever possible, unless counsel agree otherwise or the Court so orders, non-party depositions shall follow party depositions.
8.Any further interrogatories, including expert interrogatories, shall be served no later than
9.Requests to Admit, if any, shall be served no later than
10.Expert reports shall be served no later than
11.Rebuttal expert reports shall be served no later than
12.Expert depositions shall be completed by
13.Additional provisions agreed upon by counsel are attached hereto and made a part hereof.
*597 14.ALL DISCOVERY SHALL BE COMPLETED BY
15. Any motions shall be filed in accordance with the Court’s Individual Practices.
16. This Civil Case Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order may not be changed without leave of Court (or the assigned Magistrate Judge acting under a specific order of reference).
17. The Magistrate Judge assigned to this case, is the Hon.
18. If, after entry of this Order, the parties consent to trial before a Magistrate Judge, the Magistrate Judge will schedule a date certain for trial and will, if necessary, amend this Order consistent therewith.
19. The next case management conference is scheduled for -¡_, at _(The Court will set this date at the initial conference.)
SO ORDERED.
Dated: White Plains, New York
Nelson S. Román, U.S. District Judge
. Fashioned on the docket as “Local 412 of the CSEA, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME AFL-CIO".
. Plaintiff does not allege how either Defendant-entity became aware of the alleged harassment, and asserts only that the "Defendants” were aware.
. This is the only reference to HVDDSO's involvement in Plaintiff's termination. Additionally, although Plaintiff asserts Townsend held a supervisory role in relation to her as an employee at HVDDSO, the Court notes that all the specific incidents' of sexual harassment alleged by Plaintiff appear to occur at CSEA events, and in connection with Townsend’s role as a member of CSEA. Plaintiff does not allege any additional facts regarding the role that Townsend held at HVDDSO either generally, or in relation to her, or for that matter, his title. Nor does Plaintiff proffer any allegations as to Townsend's involvement in her constructive termination in his role as employee of HVDDSO except to the extent that he was superior .to her, and the individual engaging in sexual harassment. Rather, all of her specific allegations as to his involvement in her resignation or termination appear to occur in his role as CSEA employee. Furthermore, in her cause of action under Title VII, Plaintiff alleges that she was retaliated against specifically by CSEA and Townsend (Compl. ¶ 43), to the extent that they refused to represent her as representatives of her labor union, and allegedly threatened to ensure she had criminal charges pressed against had she chosen not to resign presumably from both roles at CSEA and HVDDSO (see id. at ¶ 23).
. CSEA argues it should be dismissed because Plaintiff is unable to establish that she was employed by CSEA. (See CSEA Mem. at 11) ("[PJlaintiff cannot establish an employment
. CSEA, argues that the Court “must” reject Plaintiff's Title VII claims because they are more appropriately fashioned as a state law claim by Plaintiff for breach of CSEA’s duty to represent her as a union member under New York Civil Service Law § 209-a.2(c), which contains a shorter statute of limitations—without a single citation to any controlling federal case law. (See Def. Mem. at 7-8.) This argument is unavailing. Plaintiff asserts a Title VII claim and, at this stage, the Court determines whether she has alleged facts sufficient to support such a claim. See Nweke v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 25 F.Supp.2d 203, 219 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) (“Although the ... Supreme Court has held that the statute of limitations for breach of duty of fair representation claims is six months, ... examination of [plaintiff’s] Complaint reveals that she has alleged claims under Title VII, ... as opposed to a breach of the duty of fair representation ... [A] union may ... face liability under Title VII ... if it breaches its duty of fair representation. As to such claims, the statute of limitations under Title VII ...— not the six-month statute of limitations for breach of duty of fair representation—controls.”).
. “[A]lleged incidents that may not be considered for purposes of establishing liability for a hostile work environment, because they occurred outside the limitations period ... nevertheless may be admissible and probative as background evidence to support a claim based on alleged conduct that falls within the limitations period.” McGullam v. Cedar Graphics, 609 F.3d 70, 86 (2d Cir. 2010) (Calabresi, J., concurring) (internal citations omitted). As such, discovery is often "had into these time-barred events only to the extent that they shed light on events” that are untimely. Germany v. N.Y.S. D.O.C.S., 03-CV-148 (GEL), 2003 WL 22203724, at *6 n.9 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 22, 2003).
. CSEA’s arguments do not extend to this step of the analysis, as it contends that it is not Plaintiffs nor Townsend’s employer, and that Plaintiff otherwise fails to state a plausible claim under Title VII. (See, e.g., CSEA Mem. at 9-12.)
. See Jordan v. Forfeiture Support Assocs., 928 F.Supp.2d 588, 591 (E.D.N.Y. 2013) ("Although plaintiff’s EEOC Charge was submitted by .defendant, the ‘[c]ourt takes judicial
. “At the motion to dismiss stage, courts may consider ... ‘documents either in plaintiff[’s] possession or of which plaintiff[ ] had knowl- . edge and relied on in bringing suit.’ " Nelson v. MillerCoors, LLC, 15-CV-7082 (WFK) (RML), 246 F.Supp.3d 666, 672, 2017 WL 1403343, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2017) (citing Brass v. Am. Film Techs., Inc., 987 F.2d 142, 150 (2d Cir. 1993)).
. "Form 5" is not offered in support of her Plaintiffs Opposition.
. The third exhibit is a letter dated April 6, 2016, from the EEOC to Plaintiff’s counsel, with a subject line referencing Charge No. 02661 with the caption "Violene Percy v. Hudson Valley DDSO/OPWDD.” (See Haben-nan Decl. at Ex. 3.) The letter indicates it encloses a copy of the position statement submitted by the respondent in connection with Charge No. 02661. (Id. Ex. 3.) HVDDSO argues that this was a typographical error, because HVDDSO was only given an opportunity to submit a position statement in response to the Second EEOC Charge, No. 00120, and ultimately declining, never submitted any position statement to the EEOC. (See HVDDSO Mem. at 4 n.5.) Plaintiff declined to submit the enclosure along with the letter, so it is unclear which parties’ position statement was actually appended to the April 6, 2016 Letter. Defendant also notes that, despite Plaintiff's contention that she never filed a second charge, in part of the email correspondence between Plaintiff's counsel and the EEOC, offered by Plaintiff, the EEOC indicates that they are in receipt of two charges involving Plaintiff. (See HVDDSO Reply at 4) (citing Habennan Decl. at Ex 2.) However, for the reasons stated infra, the Court need not, and thus declines to consider these documents for the purpose of rendering a decision, and as such, declines to convert this motion into one for summary judgment on this issue.
.It is not clear to the Court whether the April 6, 2016 letter is a public document. See Kruger v. Cogent Commc'ns, Inc., 174 F.Supp.3d 75, 85 (D.D.C. 2016) (considering EEOC document though unclear whether it was a public document, only where court had converted relevant portion of motion into motion for summary judgment). However, for
. Courts have described the identity of interest exception as "intended to protect parties not versed in the vagaries of Title VII and its jurisdictional and pleading requirements” and "most commonly [applied] in the context of pro se administrative complaints.” Cole v. Cent. Park Sys., Inc., 09-CV-3185 (RRM) (CLP), 2010 WL 3747591, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 20, 2010) (citing Tarr v. Credit Suisse Asset Mgmt., 958 F.Supp. 785, 794 (E.D.N.Y. 1997)) (noting plaintiffs administrative charges were filed with the assistance of legal counsel, and "agreeing with the majority of district courts examining the issue ... that
. Nor is the Court convinced by Plaintiff's argument that by erroneously identifying Pamela Alexander, a CSEA employee, as an employee of OPWDD Labor Relations (with HVDDSO being a regional office of OPWDD), the EEOC could have inferred a common discriminatory scheme between the two entities. (See,Pi Opp’n. to HVDDSO at 2 (arguing reference sufficient to satisfy exception); see Gonzalez v. Police Com’r Bratton, 96-CV-6330 (VM), 2000 WL 1191558, at *28 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 22, 2000) ("several references” to un
.As to Plaintiff's argument that CSEA and HVDDSO are so closely related that notice to CSEA suffices as notice to HVDDSO, the Court has addressed this contention as part of its “identity of interest” discussion, see supra, at 590-91, and finds an exception is not ap- ■ propriate on this, ground either, See Cole, 2010 WL 3747591, at *6 (“courts in the Second Circuit have held consistently that unions and employers generally do not share the clear identity of interest necessary to waive Title VII and ADEA notice requirements").
. Plaintiff cites Gaston v. New York City Dep’t of Health Office of Chief Med. Examr., 432 F.Supp.2d 321 (S.D.N.Y. 2006). (See Pl. Opp'n. to HVDDSO at 12.) But this is inappo-site because this" case involves a plaintiff's attempt to assert additional claims against parties already named in the EEOC Charge.
. Because the Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to exhaust his administrative claims against HVDDSO, it need not consider HVDDSO's .alternate arguments in favor of dismissal, but notes that Plaintiff has conceded that her NYSHRL claim against HVDDSQ is.barred by the Eleventh, Amendment and is assumed to have abandoned this
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Violene PERCY v. The State of NEW YORK (HUDSON VALLEY DDSO), Local 412 of the CSEA, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME AFL-CIO, and Basil Townsend
- Cited By
- 22 cases
- Status
- Published