Wilson v. Sharon Steel Corp.
Wilson v. Sharon Steel Corp.
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
This action arose as a result of the discharge of plaintiff, Allen B. Wilson, on August 15, 1972, for the alleged theft of a hoist from his employer, Sharon Steel Corporation (Sharon). Wilson opposed his dismissal through recourse to both the grievance arbitration procedure of his labor agreement and EEOC conciliation. Upon an unfavorable determination by the arbitrator and the failure of conciliation between his employer and the EEOC, Wilson brought this action. The Complaint was filed on October 11,1974. Wilson, individually and on behalf of all persons similarly situated,
Wilson appealed our dismissal of his Title VII and § 1981 claims. The Third Circuit vacated our order with regard to both claims, and remanded for reconsideration in light of their opinion. Wilson v. Sharon Steel Corp., 549 F.2d 276 (3d Cir. 1977). This memorandum constitutes that reconsideration.
I
In our earlier decision, we found that plaintiff’s Title VII claim was barred due to his failure to comply with § 706(f)(l)’s 90 day requirement for commencing actions under Title VII. Our decision was premised upon the infirmity of the EEOC's two letter policy
We have considered three letters in the determination of when Wilson had notice of his right to sue.
The issue before us is simple. If the conciliation letter contains sufficient notice of the right to sue, then this action is not timely, being brought nearly a year after receipt of notice. If notice was not giyen until the right to sue letter, the action is timely, being brought 88 days after notice of the right to sue.
Leaving our analysis of the two letter system and the requirements of the Act aside, we must, in compliance with the remand, find that the conciliation letter is inadequate to appraise a recipient of his right to sue. The letter is not sufficiently informative. It does not make reference to the possibility of suit being brought by Wilson. It suggests, in fact, that suit could be brought by the EEOC, thus any litigation by Wilson, himself, could be duplicative. Despite the fact that the letter does suggest that administrative proceedings are complete, there is nothing in the letter to indicate the significance of this fact to anyone but an attorney. Any complaining party
In contrast to the conciliation letter, the right to sue letter is informative. The letter was clearly drafted with special regard to § 706(f)(1). It is, in fact, probable that the EEOC intended this letter to commence the 90 day period rather than the conciliation letter. The right to sue letter specifically informs the recipient of his right to sue; there is no ambiguity concerning plaintiffs’ duties. Even the possibility of proceeding in forma pauperis is brought to the attention of the recipient. There is little question, therefore, that the right to sue letter does give adequate notice of plaintiff’s rights. Since there is no evidence of any adequate notice given to Wilson prior to receipt of the right to sue letter, this action is timely, being brought 88 days after receipt of the right to sue letter.
II
In our earlier decision, not only did we find Wilson’s Title VII action to be time-barred, but we also found his 42 U.S.C. § 1981 claim to be time-barred. Since the Civil Rights Acts contain no statutes of limitation, we looked to Pennsylvania law for the most analogous state statute of limitations. Polite v. Diehl, 507 F.2d 119 (3d Cir. 1974). We reasoned that:
“ . . . since the complaint alleges specific acts or courses of conduct which resulted in economic harm to plaintiff, it is properly construed as sounding in tort, i. e., tortious interference with a basic statutory right, the right to equality of treatment in employment.”
399 F.Supp. 403, 408. As a result, we applied. a two year statute of limitations, 12 P.S. § 34, dismissing the claim. The Circuit vacated our order, and remanded for reconsideration.
Subsequent decisions make reconsideration of this issue a useless exercise. It is now clear that the statute of limitations to be applied to a § 1981 employment discharge action in this Circuit is a six year statute. Meyers v. Pennypack Woods Home Ownership Ass’n, 559 F.2d 894 (3d Cir. 1977). Because a six year statute must be applied to this action, we find Wilson’s § 1981 claim to be timely.
Ill
In the Circuit opinion in this action it is mentioned that res judicata may bar Wilson’s claims. This issue has not been briefed on remand. We decide that if Sharon wishes to raise this issue, it should be done by a subsequent motion so that it might be properly briefed.
An order follows which we believe to be in compliance ■ with the instructions in the remand.
. Although plaintiff has brought this action as a class action, there has, as yet, been no class determination.
. We note that the two letter policy, the cause of substantial confusion and litigation, has been abandoned by the EEOC in favor of a single letter notification. See Lacy v. Chrysler Corp., 533 F.2d 353 (8th Cir. 1976).
. The conciliation letter is reproduced in full at 549 F.2d 276, 278; the right to sue letter at 549 F.2d 276, 278, n. 4; the form letter at 399 F.Supp. 403, 405.
. This form letter was appended to plaintiffs Brief in Reply to Defendant Sharon Steel Cor-_ poration’s Amended Motion to Dismiss and was referred to in that brief as the notice received by plaintiff. Plaintiff subsequently amended his complaint to include, as an exhibit, the conciliation letter actually received. Plaintiff did not amend his brief, however, nor did he point out to us the difference between the form letter and the letter actually received. As a result, we erroneously relied upon the letter contained in the brief in the consideration of Sharon’s Motion to Dismiss.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Allen B. WILSON v. SHARON STEEL CORPORATION, United Steelworkers of America, Local 1193, United Steelworkers of America, District 20, United Steelworkers of America, International
- Status
- Published