Robles v. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Robles v. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
On this day, the court considered “Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment” (“Motion”) [ECF No. 48], filed July 15, 2015 by Defendants Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center a/k/a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso (the “Center”); Bradley P. Fuhrman, M.D., in his official capacity (“Dr. Fuhrman”); and Richard Lange, M.D., in his official capacity (“Dr. Lange” and collectively, “Defendants”); Plaintiff Carlos D. Robles’s (“Plaintiff’) “Plaintiffs Opposition to Defendants’ Second Motion- for Summary Judgment” (“Response”) [ECF No. 54], filed August 3, 2015; and “Defendants’ Reply in Support of [Them] Motion for Summary Judgment” (“Reply”) [ECF No. 56], filed August 13,2015.
After considering the Motion, Response, Reply, and applicable law, Defendants’ Motion is GRANTED.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
In 1993 or 1994, Plaintiff was diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (“HIV”).
Plaintiff was hired by the Center in of around' 1996 as a patient specialist and coder within the hospital’s OB-GYN department.
During the course of Plaintiffs employment. as a PSS, he requested multiple leaves of absence, pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), and several of these requests were granted.
For ihost óf Plaintiffs service as a PSS with the pediatrics unit, he was employed at the Ceiiter’s Blue Pod.
Plaintiff was next disciplined on October 21, 2011, receiving a “Letter of Final Warning” from Olivas for refusing service to two patients whose primary physician was no longer at the pediatrics unit despite prior instructions, as well .as for being insubordinate to a .supervisor, clinic office manager, and associates clinic administrator.
In the midst of these issues, Plaintiff made two unwritten requests to a supervisor for a reasonable accommodation for his difficulties.
The final incident occurred on September 10, 2013.
After this final incident, Alicia Gacharna (“Gacharna”), Administrator of the Center’s pediatrics unit, recommended Plaintiffs immediate dismissal on September 17, 2013 in light of the previously enumerated misconduct.
B. Procedural History
After pursuing administrative relief with the Equal Employment Opportunity* Commission (“EEOC”), Plaintiff filed suit against- the Center on July 9, 2014 in the 384th District Court of El Paso County, Texas.
Later the same day,
On October 23, 2014, Plaintiff filed his Second Amended Complaint.
II. PARTIES’ARGUMENTS
A. Defendants’Arguments
Defendants have six arguments against Plaintiffs claims. First, Defendants contend the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiffs failure-to-accommodate claims as Plaintiff has not exhausted them with the EEOC.
B. Plaintiffs Arguments
Plaintiff contends his failure-to-accommodate claims are “sufficiently encapsulate[d]” in his EEOC filings, such that they have been exhausted with the agency.
Although Plaintiffs Response does not address Defendants’ Rehabilitation-Act-
III. APPLICABLE LAW
Summary judgment should be granted only where “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
If the movant does meet this burden, however, the nonmovant must “go beyond the pleadings and by [his] own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.”
In reviewing the parties’ submissions, the court does not “weigh the evidence or evaluate the credibility of witnesses.”
IV. DISCUSSION
Plaintiff is advancing claims pursuant to the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. For the most part, employment discrimination claims under each statute “are judged under the same legal standards, and the same remedies are available under both [statutes].”
A. ADA Claims.
The ADA prohibits “discrimination] against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to ... discharge of employees ... and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.”
Although Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint lists all' of his ADA' claims under the umbrella of “disability discrimination,” the substance of his claims is slightly more elaborate. Essentially, Plaintiffs ADA claims take two forms: (1) Defendants disciplined, termináted, and otherwise discriminated against him due to his HIV (-“disparate treatment”); and (2) Defendants failed to accommodate his,medical condition (“failure-to-accommodate”). As thé Fifth Circuit ’ has observed, “[a] failure-to-accommodate claim under the ADA is distinct from a claim of disparate treatment.”
1. Disparate' Treatment
In a disparate treatment case under the ADA, “the employee may either present direct evidence that [he] was discriminated against because of [his] disability or alternatively proceed under the burden-shifting analysis first articulated in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green.”
Plaintiffs Response contends discriminatory treatment took two forms during his time at the Center: (1) discipline attributable to his disability;
a. Defendants’ Proffered Reasons
Once a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of disability discrimination, defendants can fulfill their shifted burden by “articulating] a nondiscriminatory reason with sufficient clarity to afford the employee a realistic opportunity to show that the reason is pretextual.”
Central to Defendants’ case is a set of files documenting discipline taken against Plaintiff between April 2011 and September 2013. These incidents consist of repeated infractions regarding patient service, record keeping, coworker relations, and insubordination. Defendants contend that the allegations made in the documents comprise legitimate reasons not only for Plaintiffs discipline, but also his termination.
Although Plaintiff contends his discipline was unjust, he does not dispute the underlying incidents actually occurred.
6. Pretext Analysis
To survive summary judgment; Plaintiff must “produce substantial evidence indicating that the proffered legitimate nondiscriminatory reasonfs are] a pretext for discrimination.”
i. Treatment'of Similarly Situated Coworkers
Plaintiff contends multiple workers were treated more favorably with regard to discipline “despite committing identical errors [as] Plaintiff.”
To support a claim of disparate treatment, a plaintiff may present evidence that a similarly situated coworker was given more favorable treatment.
Employees with different supervisors, who work for different divisions of a company or who were the subject of adverse employment actions too remote in time from that taken against-- the plaintiff generally will not be deemed similarly situated. Likewise, employees who have different work- responsibilities or who are subjected to adverse employ-ment action for dissimilar violations are not similarly situated. This is because we require that an employee who proffers a fellow employee as a comparator demonstrate that the employment actions at issue were taken ‘under nearly identical circumstances.’-. The employment actions being compared will be deemed to have been taken under nearly identical circumstances when the employees being compared held the same job or responsibilities, shared the same*628 supervisor or had their employment status determined by the same person, and have essentially comparable violation histories. And, critically,, the plaintiffs conduct that drew the adverse employment. decision must have been ‘nearly identical’ to that of .the proffered comparator who allegedly drew dissimilar employment decisions.106
Plaintiff identifies multiple coworkers as having been “disciplined by new management put in place after Plaintiffs termination,” and in support, has submitted multiple disciplinary documents signed after his termination.
In deposition testimony, Plaintiff asserted errors made by three coworkers (Alex Perez, Isela Seanez, and Alma Martinez) during his employment were left unpunished, which Plaintiff contends is evidence of disparate treatment.
Finally,. Plaintiff makes - blanket statements that coworkers, generally were not being disciplined for “identical mistakes.”
ii. Failure to Investigate
Although Plaintiff has not shown discrimination regarding his coworkers’ treatment, Plaintiff contends discriminatory animus is indicated by his supervisors declining to investigate his allegations of discrimination.
Plaintiff has advanced a purported excerpt of Defendants’ policy regarding corrective actions, which states: “[c]orrective actions should be administered using sound management practices including ... conducting a thorough investigation of the concern or event.”
Even so, this does not demonstrate pretext. “Although an employer’s failure to follow its own policies may be probative of discriminatory intent, [courts] require discharged employees in discrimination cases to show, in addition, that they were treated differently from [other] employees.”
As Plaintiff has failed to present evidence of discriminatory animus in Defendants’ investigatory failures, he has not fulfilled his burden to show Defendants’ proffered reasons were pretextual.
iii. Leave-Related Emails
The final pretextual argument advanced by Plaintiffs Response centers on a set of emails concerning Plaintiffs
As an initial matter, it appears the FMLA leave encompassed by these emails is not related to HIV. Rather, it'appears the discussed leave is associated with a right arm fracture and carpal tunnel syndrome in Plaintiffs right wrist and/or hand.
The earliest provided email, from Karen Givan to Mary Olivas,
On June 5, 2012, Olivas forwarded Givan’s email (and other emails not included in the record) to Alicia Gacharna. Olivas’s email declared that “[d]uring [Plaintiff’s] FMLA absence, [they were] having to pull staff from other pods to cover the Blue Pod.”
Later that day, Gacharna emailed Lupe Sierra in response to Givah’s and Olivas’s emails. Therein, Gacharna' inquired whether they could “move forward with separation on [Plaintiff] since [they] need[ed] to fill the position and have someone working the blue pod as soon as possible.”
Last year around this time, we were given a directive from. Lubbock not to submit [a] Request for Separation for*631 Employment on employees who expired all leave entitlements, including but not limited to FMLA. We need to explore other options on employees who do expire their leave entitlement before any consideration for separation of employment is recommended.' In [Plaintiff’s] case, his FMLA entitlement expires June 7, 2012, his Health Care Certification form has an estimated date 'of return of June 17, 2012, Since it[’]s within two weeks, we can follow up then and see if he can perform any of [ ]his essential job functions. Please let me know if you have any questions.133
No other emails in this chain have been provided.
Viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, the emails contain-two potential bases of pretext: (1) Gaeharna’s request to terminate Plaintiff for his excessive leave and prolonged absence; and (2) Sierra’s recommendation to determine whether Plaintiff could perform his “essential job functions” once he returned. After' due consideration, neither of these bases is sufficient for Plaintiffs ADA disparate treatment claim to survive summary judgment.
In order to prevail on a claim for disparate treatment, Plaintiff must prove he is a qualified individual, meaning he is able to perform his job’s essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
In Hypes, the court observed a plaintiff, raising disability discrimination claims under the 'ADA and Louisiana law, was clearly fired for excessive absence.
Even though Plaintiffs excessive leave may have been associated with a disability, Defendants could still seek to terminate him on this' basis without violating the ADA,
Similarly, Sierra’s suggestion to evaluate whether • Plaintiff could perform essential job functions does not:evince discriminatory intent. Although Sierra’s email implies action may be taken if Plaintiff was no longer qualified to be a PSS, it does not indicate such action would be taken if Plaintiff could perform his essential job functions after returning. Furthermore, as Plaintiffs prolonged absence and underlying medical conditions were reasonable grounds for. doubting whether he -could perform as a PSS,
As there is nothing in the emails supporting discrimination, and furthermore, Plaintiff has otherwise failed to show pretext, he has not shown Defendants’ proffered reasons were pretextual. ■ Therefore, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs' ADA claim ,for disparate treatment.
2. Failure to Accommodate
Even though Plaintiff has not adequately supported his ADA claim for disparate treatment, his -ADA failure-to-accommodate claim requires a different analysis. Even assuming Plaintiff was not a qualified individual for his PSS position, he could demonstrate he would be a qualified individual with a reasonable accommodation, including reassignment to a vacant position for which he is qualified.
The ADA incorporates the exhaustion requirements applicable -to claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”).
I have been employed by [the Center] since June . 1996. My last position was Patient Service Specialist working under the [supervision of Mary Olivas.
Since the beginning of my employment, [the Center] has been aware of my medical .condition. Over the last three or so months, I have experienced side effects, due to my medication, that have affected my behavior at work.
I was terminated from my employment on September 24, 2013 by Alicia L. Gacharna/Administrator and Ms. Olivas for alleged performance issues.
I believe I have been discriminated against in violation of the [ADA], and as amended by the [ADA Amendments Act] of 2008.147
On its face, the EEOC Complaint specifies only one unlawful act by- Defendants or affiliated persons: • Plaintiffs September 24, 2013 termination. However, Plaintiff asserts the final sentence, generally alleging discrimination in violation of the ADA and ADA Amendments Act, “sufficiently encapsulates the failure to accommodate by Defendants [as] such a violation is defined as discrimination under the [two statutes].”
In Hamar, the plaintiff, filed a complaint with the EEOC alleging he was discharged, and furthermore, the plaintiff believed there had been discrimination “in that [he was] perceived as having a disability in violation of the [ADA].”
In light of Hamar, Plaintiffs EEOC Complaint does not state a failure-to-ac
Plaintiffs final argument is that even if the EEOC Complaint does not expressly advance a failure-to-accommodate claim, it “speaks to the exact factual circumstances surrounding what led to him requesting an accommodation.”
First, even if the facts in the EEOC Complaint are consistent with a failure-to-accommodate claim, this was not sufficient to exhaust administrative remedies. Rather, the EEOC Complaint only exhausted claims within the scope of the EEOC investigation that could reasonably be expected to grow out of Plaintiffs administrative filings.
Second, Plaintiffs EEOC Complaint does not indicate Defendants could have been aware of issues requiring an ADA accommodation.
There was no information in the EEOC Complaint indicating Plaintiff was asserting a failure-to-accommodate claim. As Plaintiffs EEOC Questionnaire responses similarly do not implicate such a claim, the claim has not been exhausted. As the expiration of the statutory exhaustion deadline means he can no longer timely exhaust the claim,
B. Rehabilitation Act Claims
Plaintiff has brought the same claims against Defendants under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as he has advanced pursuant to the ADA. As previously discussed, the failure of Plaintiffs .ADA claims’ necessarily means Plaintiff cannot succeed on any of his Rehabilitation Act claims. Therefore, Plaintiffs Rehabilitation Act claims will be dismissed with prejudice.
y. CONCLUSIÓN
“Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment” [ECF No. 48] is GRANTED. Accordingly, all of Plaintiff Carlos, D. Robles’s claims against Defendants Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center a/k/a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso; Bradley P. Fuhrman, M.D., in his ■ official capacity; and Richard Lange, M.D., in his official capacity are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
SO ORDERED.
. Id. at 22:12-23:18.
. Pl.’s Resp., Ex. A-l, PL’s Dep: 24:16-20, ECF No. 54-1.
. Defs.' Mot, Ex. E, PL’s Dep. 54:3-55:5.
. Id. at 52:22-53:11,
. Pl.’s Resp., Ex. A-2, Pl.’s Dep. 111:12-112:10, ECF No. 54-2.
. Defs.’ Mot.,’ Ex. E, Pl.’s Dep. 56:14-23, 58:17-18.
. Id. at 56:8-11; Defs.’ Mot., Ex. A-l, "PSS Position Description,” at 1, ECF No. 48-3.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. See generally Defs.’ Mot., Ex. B-2, "Robles’ FMLA Application and Documents 2010-20139,” ECF No. 48-10; see also Defs.’ Mot., Ex. E, Pl.’s Dep. 97:3-23 (asserting Plaintiff was denied FMLA leave in late 2012 or early 2013 regarding a right hand injury).
. See generally Defs.’ Mot., Ex. B-2.
. Pl.’s Resp., Ex. A-2, Pl.’s Dep. 73:25-74:1.
. ■ Id. at 73:10-11:, 74:16-23.
. Based on the provided disciplinary files, it is unclear whether incidents on- January 9, 2013 and April 16, 2013 occurred at the Blue Pod. However, this ambiguity does not affect the court’s conclusions.
. Defendants have provided documentation of several disciplinary actions against Plaintiff as early as August 29, 2007. See Defs.’ Mot., Exs. A-3-A-6, ECF No. 48-3. However, in a letter recommending Plaintiff’s discharge from the Center, the earliest listed discipline is- dated April 14, 2011. .Id., Ex. A-12, "TTUHSC September 2013 Memo Recommending Robles’ Termination” ("Discharge Recommendation”), ECF No. 48-3. Therefore, the'court will assume discipline occurring before April 14, 2011 did not factor into Plaintiff's termination.
. See Defs.’ Mot., Ex. A-7, "Robles' September 2011 Disciplinary Reprimand,” at 1, ECF No. 48-3 (detailing these allegations as “incidents of previous counseling sessions”).
. Id. at 1-2.
. Defs.’ Mot,, Ex. A-8, "Robles’ October 2011 Letter of Final Warning,” at 1-2, ECF No. 48-3.
. Defs.’ Mot., Ex. A-9, "Robles’ June 2013 Letter of Final Warning,” at 2, ECF No. 48-3.
. Id. at 1-2.
. Id. at 1.
. Id.
. Id.
. id.
. Id.
. Pl,’s Resp., Ex. A-2, PL’s Dep. 104:9-24, ECF No, 54-2.
. Id. at 104:15-24,
. Id. at 105:3-17.
. Discharge Recommendation 2.'
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. The Discharge Recommendation indicates the children were enrolled in a Medicaid plan, and furthermore, Medicaid patients cannot be charged for services. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at 1-2. The Discharge Recommendation also highlighted a February 13, 2013 performance evaluation, in which Plaintiff was scored as "[o]ccassionally below expectations” in the areas of "Interpersonal Skills,” "Professionalism," and "Teamwork.” Id, at 1; - see also Defs.’ Mot., Ex. A-10, "Robles’ 2012 Annual Performance Review,” at 1-2, ECF No. 48-3.
. See Defs.’ Mot., Ex. A-2, "Robles’ September-24, 2013, Discharge Letter,” ECF No. 48-3.
. “Defendants’ Notice of Removal,” Ex. 4, at 4, "Plaintiff’s Original Petition” ("Original Petition"), ECF No. 1-4, filed Aug. 22, 2014.
. Id. at 7-9 ¶¶ 46-56.
. Id. at 8-9 ¶ 53. Plaintiff’s testimony implies he believes opposing parties' wrongdoing is attributable to his depression as well as his HIV. See, e.g., Pl.’s Resp., Ex. A-2, Pl.’s Dep. 133:8-13 (asserting Plaintiff’s requests for reasonable accommodations were made because of his "HIV medication and his depression”). However, Plaintiff's Response focuses on asserted links between his HIV and his discipline and termination. See, e.g., Pl.'s Resp.T7 (contending Defendants "have befen aware of Plaintiff's disability (being HIV positive) since the initiatioñ of his employment”) (parenthetical phrasé in original). Even when Plaintiff’s mental health is accounted for, the Order’s analysis remains the same,
. Original Pet. 9 ¶ 54.
. See Defs.' Notice Removal, Ex. 4, at 2, "Register of Actions” (recording both an "Original Petition” and an "Amended Petition” as being filed on July 9, 2014).
. Defs.’ Notice Removal, Ex. 4, at 21, First Am. Pet.
. Id. at 2 ¶¶ 6-7.
. Id. at 8-10 ¶¶ 48-58.
. Id. at 10-11 ¶¶ 59-68.
. Id. at 11 ¶ 67.
. See Defs.’ Notice Removal, ECF No. 1.
. : Although, the filing's text describes it as Plaintiff’s "Second Amended Complaint,” the filing is, erroneously styled "Plaintiff's First Amended Petition.” ECF No. 11.
. Second Am. Compl. 2-3 ¶ 7.
. Id. at 9-11 ¶¶ 50-59.
. 209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed. 714 (1908). ..
. Second Am. Compl. 11 — 13 ¶¶ 60-69.
. Id. at 14-16 ¶¶ 70-80.
. 'See, e.g'., id. at 10 ¶ 57 (making the enumerated allegations against the Center under the ADA). Plaintiff's Rehabilitation Act claim further alleges Defendants’ wrongful actions were intentional. Id. at 15 ¶ 78.
. Id. at 16-17 ¶ 82.
. See "Defendants’ Original Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint,” ECF No. 13. Although the Center, Dr. Fuhrman, and Dr. Mitchell jointly filed an answer in state court, the November 6th filing was the first pleading jointly filed by the Center, Dr. Fuhrman, and Dr. Lange. See Defs.’ Notice Removal, Ex. 4, at 49, "Defendants’ Original Answer and Affirmative Defenses.”
. Defs.’ Mot. 9-11. Alternatively, Defendants contend Plaintiff should be judicially estopped from asserting failure-to-accommodate claims based on statements made in his EEOC filings. Id. at 10.
. Id. at 11-12.
. Id. at 12-15.
. Id. at 15-16.
. Id. at 16-18.
. Id. at 18-20.
. Pl.’sResp. 7-8, 17-19.
. Id. at 19-20.
. Id. at 16 & n. 57 (citing id., Ex. A-2, at 112; Pl.’s Resp., Ex. F, "Affidavit," ECF No. 54-8).
. Id. at 11-12.
. Id. at 12-15. Plaintiff also argues that six depositions, previously found to be inadmissible, should be "made available to Plaintiff for use in his [Response].” Id. at 2-3; see also "Order Denying Plaintiff’s Motion for Reconsideration,” at 3-6, ECF No. 52, entered July 20, 2015 (upholding exclusion of six depositions due to multiple defects, including a coworker relationship between the deposition officer and Plaintiff's counsel). As Plaintiff's Response advances no new arguments favoring the depositions’ admissibility, Plaintiff’s request is denied.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a).
. Perez v. Region 20 Educ. Serv. Ctr., 307 F.3d 318, 323 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing Matsushita Elec. Indus, Co., Ltd v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)).
. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).
. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
. Blow v. City of San Antonio, Tex., 236 F.3d 293, 296 (5th Cir. 2001).
. Cheatham v. Allstate Ins. Co., 465 F.3d 578, 582 (5th Cir. 2006).
. Tubacex, Inc. v. M/V Risan, 45 F.3d 951, 954 (5th Cir. 1995).
. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548 (internal .quotation marks omitted).
. Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (citations omitted) (internal quotation, marks omitted).
. Spivey v. Robertson, 197 F.3d 772, 774-75 (5th Cir. 1999) (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248-49, 106 S.Ct. 2505).
. Little, 37 F.3d at 1075 (citing Lujan v. Nat’l Wildlife Fed'n, 497 U.S. 871, 888, 110 S.Ct. 3177, 111 L.Ed.2d 695 (1990)).
. Tubacex, 45 F.3d at 954.
. Caboni v. Gen. Motors Corp., 278 F.3d 448, 451 (5th Cir. 2002).
. Fowler v. Smith, 68 F.3d 124, 126 (5th Cir. 1995).
. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
. Kemp v. Holder, 610 F.3d 231, 234 (5th Cir. 2010) (per curiam) (citation omitted).
. Pinkerton v. Spellings, 529 F.3d 513, 519 (5th Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
. Id. at 516.
. 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a).
. Windhauser v. Bd. of Supervisors for La. State U. & Agric. & Mech. Coll., 360 Fed.Appx. 562, 565 (5th Cir. 2010) (per curiam) (unpublished) (citing 42 U.S.C. §§ 12112(a); (b)(5)(A)).
. See E.E.O.C. v. LHC Grp., Inc., 773 F.3d 688, 694 (5th Cir. 2014) (applying this standard to a claim for discriminatory termination), see also McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973).
. LHC Grp., 773 F.3d at 694.
. Id. at 697 (quoting Zenor v. El Paso Healthcare Sys., Ltd., 176 F.3d 847, 853 (5th Cir. 1999)) (internal punctuation marks omitted). The LHC Group court implied this formulation is favored whenever "plaintiffs may draw on their employment history to prove a nexus between their protected trait and [an adverse employment decision].” Id. at 696. Accordingly, this formulation encompasses Plaintiff’s allegations of discriminatory discipline and discriminatory discharge.
. Id. at 694.
. Id.
. See, e.g„ PL's Resp. 5 (contending "management ,.. would single [Plaintiff] out and discipline him harshly for alleged errors and/or mistakes which were being made by most coworkers, few of whom were ever disciplined like Plaintiff was, and none of whom received the harsh consequences and reprimands issued to Plaintiff by management”); id. at 17 (contending Plaintiff suffered side effects from HIV medication, thereby affecting his behavior at work),
. See id. at 16 (averring Plaintiff can demonstrate Defendants subjected him to "adverse employment acts,” specifically "disparate treatment regarding discipline and ultimate termination”).
. Patrick v. Ridge, 394 F.3d 311, 317 (5th Cir. 2004) (citing Tex. Dep’t of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 255-56, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981)) (internal quotation marks and emphasis removed).
. Defs.' Mot. 18-20.
. PL's Resp, 10.
. Shackelford v. Deloitte & Touche, LLP, 190 F.3d 398, 408-09 (5th Cir. 1999) (emphasis removed). Similarly, whether Plaintiff's supervisors had personal, rather than secondhand, knowledge of these incidents is irrelevant, as the accuracy of supervisors’ beliefs does not affect whether their beliefs are the real reason for their actions. See Sandstad v. CB Richard Ellis, Inc., 309 F.3d 893, 899 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing Evans v. City of Hous., 246 F.3d 344, 355 (5th Cir. 2001)) ("The issue at the pretext stage is whether [the defendant’s] reason, even if incorrect, was the real reason for [the plaintiff's] termination.”).
. Plaintiff has submitted multiple notes from patients and children praising his performance. See generally Pl.’s Resp., Ex. E, ECF No. 54-7. Plaintiff contends these documents "create a genuine issue of fact as to whether Plaintiff deserved the level of discipline he received.” Pl.’s Resp. 13. This argument is not persuasive, as Plaintiff's documerits do not dispute whether Defendants perceived his overall performance as warranting discipline or termination. •
. See Feist v. La., Dep’t of Justice, Office of the Att’y Gen., 730 F.3d 450, 455 (5th Cir. 2013) (holding a defendant satisfied its bur,den on summary judgment for a retaliation claim by providing two examples of a plaintiff's "substandard work”).
. Laxton v. Gap Inc., 333 F.3d 572, 578 (5th Cir. 2003) (citation omitted).
. Pl.'s Resp. 12.
. See Abarca v. Metro. Transit Auth., 404 F.3d 938, 941 (5th Cir. 2005) (per curiam) (finding a plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case of discrimination as he "failed to identify any employee with whom he was similarly situated, but who was treated more favorably”). • -
. 574 F.3d 253, 259-60 (5th Cir. 2009) (footnotes and citations omitted).
. Pl.’s Resp. 11 — 12; see also id., Ex. D, ECF No. 54-6.
. The Response's disciplinary documents allude to only one disciplinary incident occurring during Plaintiff’s employment. Specifically, one document-noted Cynthia Lopez had received a "Letter of Final Warning” on November 7, 2012 from an unknown supervisor for "[fjailure to follow Inter-Departmental Policy (Absenteeism) [and] excessive and unexpected absences/tardies.” Pl.’s Resp., Ex. D, at 17. As Cynthia Lopez’s alleged misconduct was not substantially similar to Plaintiff’s alleged • misconduct, this isolated instance is irrelevant. ,Compare id. at 6-1-8 (documenting incidents associated with Cynthia Lopez’s absences, tardies, and misuse of the Center's phone system), with Defs.’ Mot., Exs. A-7-A-9, A-ll-A-12 (documenting Plaintiff's incidents associated with insubordination, rudeness; patient service deficiencies, and record keeping errors).
. Pl.’s Resp. 12.
. See generally id., Ex. D.
. Pl.’s Resp., Ex. A-3, Pl.’s Dep. 255:23-257:14, ECF No. 54-3; see also Pl.’s Resp. 8-9. Although the deposition transcript spells Seanez's name as "Isela Saenz,” disciplinary documents identify her as'"Isela Seanez.”
. Pl.’s Resp., Ex. A-3, Pl.’s Dep. 256:8-15.
. Id. at 255:23-256:5.
. Pl.’s Resp., Ex. D, at 2-3.
. PL’s Resp., Ex. A-3, Pl.’s Dep. 257:10-14.
. Pl.'s Resp,, Ex. D, at 23.
. Pl.’s Resp. 12; see also id.., Ex. A-2, Pl.’s Dep. 238:4-19 (asserting Plaintiff bad personal knowledge that his coworkers were not disciplined despite "having issues with patients”).
. See Bauer v. Albemarle Corp., 169 F.3d 962, 967 (5th Cir. 1999) (quoting E.E.O.C. v. La. Office of Cmty. Servs., 47 F.3d 1438, 1448 (5th Cir. 1995)) ("This court has consistently held that an employee’s 'subjective belief of discrimination' alone is not sufficient to warrant judicial relief. ”).
. Pl.’s Resp. 13 n. 49. Plaintiff has not included,an official copy of the policy with his Response. As Defendants have not contended Plaintiff has quoted their policy inaccurately, the .court accepts, this version as official.
. Id. at 12-13; see also id., Ex. A-2, Pl.’s Dep. 82:15-20 (internal quotation marks omitted) (stating he complained to supervi- ■ sors on the grounds that they only disciplined him even though he "kn[e]w -for a fact” they left coworkers’ misconduct unpunished).
. Hamilton v. AVPM Corp., 593 Fed.Appx. 314, 321 (5th Cir. 2014) (per curiam) (unpublished) (citing Turner v. Baylor Richardson Med. Ctr., 476 F.3d 337, 346 (5th Cir. 2007)).
. Furthermore, Plaintiff has disclaimed any intent to pursue FMLA claims. See Pl.’s Resp. 14 (“Plaintiff’s [Second] Amended Complaint does not allege a cause of action of FMLA violation and/or retaliation. ”).
. Id: at' 14-15. The emails have been provided as Exhibit C to Plaintiff's Response. See ECF No. 54-5.
.. If the timeframe is extended to the start of 2011, it encompasses problems with Plaintiff’s rotator cuff and shoulders. See Defs.’ Mot., Ex. B-2, at 1-13.
. Natalie Campa, Laura Rodriguez, and Lupe Sierra were contemporaneously sent copies of the email.
. Pl.’s Resp., Ex. C, at 2. Plaintiff has testified his supervisors at one point miscalculated the amount of FMLA leave he took, possibly during the period discussed in the emails. Pl.’s Resp., Ex. A-2, PL’s Dep. 99:13-100:7. However, Plaintiff does not detail the basis for his assertion other than stating he and his counsel made their own, undescribed, calculation. Id. at 99:23-100:3.
. PL’s Resp., Ex. C, at 2.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at 1.
. Copies of this email were sent to Rebecca Salcido and Laura Rodriguez.
. PL’s Resp., Ex. C, at 1.
. LHC Grp., 773 F.3d at 697 (citation omitted); Hypes ex rel. Hypes v. First Commerce Corp., 134 F.3d 721, 726 (5th Cir. 1998) (per curiam).
. See PSS Position Description 1 (stating that a PSS’s ”[w]ork is performed in usual clinic conditions and requires a high degree of contact with patients [and Center] staff”); see also Hypes, 134 F.3d at 727 (citing Rogers v. Int’l Marine Terminals, Inc., 87 F.3d 755, 759 (5th Cir. 1996); Tyndall v. Nat’l Educ. Ctrs., Inc. of Cal., 31 F.3d 209, 213 (4th Cir. 1994); Law v. U.S. Postal Serv., 852 F.2d 1278, 1279-80 (Fed.Cir. 1988) (per curiam); Walders v. Garrett, 765 F.Supp. 303, 309-10 (E.D.Va. 1991), aff'd, 956 F.2d 1163 (4th Cir. 1992); Santiago v. Temple Univ., 739 F.Supp. 974, 979 (E.D.Pa. 1990), aff'd, 928 F.2d 396 (3d Cir. 1991)) (“Other courts are in agreement that regular attendance is an essential function of most jobs.”).
. Hypes, 134 F.3d at 726.
. Id.
. No opinions are intended regarding whether Plaintiff's allegations would support an FMLA claim. As Plaintiff has not asserted
. For Plaintiff’s then-ongoing FMLA leave, Plaintiff's physician asserted Plaintiff could perform "no work” during treatment of his carpal tunnel -syndrome. Defs.’ Mot,, Ex, B- ' 2, at 12.
. See Owusu-Ansah v. Coca-Cola Co., 715 F.3d 1306, 1312 (11th Cir. 2013) (holding a fitness-for-duty evaluation was valid under the ADA as the employer "had a reasonable, objective concern about [the plaintiff’s] mental state, which affected job performance”); Butler v. La. Dep't of Pub. Safety & Corrections, No. 3:12-CV-00420-BAJ-RLB, 2013 WL 2407567, at *6 (M.D.La. May 29, 2013) (citing Brownfield v. City of Yakima, 612 F.3d 1140, 1146 (9th Cir. 2010); Sullivan v. River Valley Sch. Dist., 197 F.3d 804, 811 (6th Cir. 1999)) ("To show Plaintiff’s -psychiatric evaluation complied with the ADA, Defendants must demonstrate they had reason to believe Plaintiff could not safely perform the job prior to the evaluation.”), .
. 42 U.S.C. § 12111(9)(B).
. Id. § 12112(b)(5)(A).
. Dao v. Auchan Hypermarket, 96 F.3d 787, 789 (5th Cir. 1996) (per curiam).
. See Pacheco v. Mineta, 448 F.3d 783, 789 (5th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted) (applying this standard to Title VII claims); Dao, 96 F.3d at 789 ("[T]he ADA incorporates by reference the procedures applicable to actions under Title VII____”).
. Dao, 96 F.3d at 789. Although exhaustion of ADA claims is a prerequisite to suit, it does not appear to be a jurisdictional one,
. Defs.’ Mot., Ex. C, "Robles’ EEOC Charge of Discrimination,” at 1, ECF No. 48-6.
. Pl.’sResp. 7.
. 211 Fed.Appx. 309 (5th Cir. 2006) (per curiam) (unpublished).
. Id. at 310. The Hamar plaintiff’s, administrative complaint also stated his employer did not provide a reason for the discharge. Id.
. Id.
. Id. (citing 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a), (b)(5)(A)).
. Id. The Hamar court also observed that "the three [other] circuits that have considered this very same question [prior to Hamar ] agree,” Id. (citing MacKenzie v. Denver, 414 F.3d 1266, 1274 n. 13 (10th Cir. 2005); Jones v. Sumser Ret. Vill., 209 F.3d 851, 854 (6th Cir. 2000); Green v. Nat’l Steel Corp., 197 F.3d 894, 897-98 (7th Cir. 1999)).
. See Defs.’ Mot., Ex. D, “Robles’ EEOC Intake Questionnaire,” ECF No. 48-7, at 4.
. On the EEOC Questionnaire, the word "fired” was twice misspelled as "fried.” EEOC Questionnaire 2.
. The court assumes the notation "pt” on the EEOC Questionnaire is shorthand for "a patient.” Id.
. Id. at 3.
. Pl.’s Resp. 1'8.
. Pacheco, 448 F.3d at 789 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also Dao, 96 F.3d at 789.
. Plaintiff’s argument also fails to account for the potential contradiction in his EEOC Questionnaire, in that he denied ever asking the center for either changes to his job or assistance. EEOC Questionnaire 3.
. Regardless of whether Defendants could have known accommodations were needed, the issue is what the EEOC could have inferred from Plaintiff’s administrative filings.
. EEOC Compl. 1. The EEOC Complaint’s express terms refer to "three or so months” before the administrative filing, rather than Plaintiff’s last months of employment. However, as Plaintiff was terminated approximately six months before the EEOC Complaint was filed, the "three or so months” phrase clearly refers to months before termination, rather than months before the administrative filing.
. Id.
. Cf. Taylor v. The Principal Fin. Grp., Inc., 93 F.3d 155, 165 (5th Cir. 1996) (“Where the disability, resulting limitations, and necessary reasonable accommodations, are not open, obvious, and apparent to the employer ..., the initial burden rests primarily upon the employee ... to specifically identify the disability and resulting limitations, and to suggest the reasonable accommodations.”).
. As Plaintiff was terminated on September • 24, 2013, he had until no. later than July 21, 2014 (300 days after his termination) to present this claim to the EEOC. See Ramirez v. City of San Antonio, 312 F.3d 178, 181 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-5(e), 12117) ("Under the ADA, a plaintiff must file a charge of discrimination within 300 days of the alleged discriminatory act.”).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Carlos D. ROBLES v. TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER a/k/a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at el Paso Bradley P. Fuhrman, M.D., in his official capacity and Richard Lange, M.D., in his official capacity
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published