Kristin Jones v. Douglas County Sheriff's Dept.
Opinion
The sheriff's department of Douglas County decided not to reinstate Kristin M. Jones. She sued Douglas County, alleging retaliation and sex, pregnancy, and disability discrimination, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-2 and 2000e-3 ; the Americans
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with Disabilities Act,
The complaint alleges the following facts. Jones was a deputy sheriff for Douglas County. She used prescription pain medication for migraine headaches and chronic neck and back pain. After her health deteriorated, she failed a remedial qualification for the Emergency Services Unit. Douglas County tried to remove her from that unit despite retaining a male with health issues. She later requested accommodations to stay in the Fugitive Warrants unit. The head of that unit denied her request, transferred her, and disciplined her for objecting to the transfer and requesting accommodations. Midway through pregnancy, she requested light duty and Douglas County reassigned her to a desk position.
Her pregnancy exacerbated her health conditions. She struggled to stay awake at work. At Douglas County's request, the Nebraska State Patrol (with the Nebraska Attorney General) investigated Jones based on her trouble staying awake. The Patrol concluded she had acquired a controlled substance through fraud. Charged with a felony, she pled not guilty. Douglas County put her on administrative leave and terminated her one month later, in July 2014. A state court found her not guilty in July 2015.
Four months later, Jones learned of an open position for deputy sheriff. Her counsel sent a letter requesting that "Jones be reinstated with both back pay and the benefits she was denied during her leave." Douglas County denied her request on December 18, 2015. She filed a charge of discrimination with the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission (dual-filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). She alleged that by denying her reinstatement request, Douglas County retaliated and discriminated against her. The NEOC found no reasonable cause; the EEOC adopted its findings.
Jones sued Douglas County. The district court dismissed. It found that her claims were based on the facts of her termination, and that she could not "revive her time-barred claims by demanding reinstatement and relying on Douglas County's refusal as a new, discrete discriminatory act."
Jones v. Douglas Cty. Sheriff's Dep't
,
This court reviews de novo the grant of a motion to dismiss, accepting "the allegations contained in the complaint as true and mak[ing] all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party."
Martin v. Iowa
,
Jones had to file a charge of discrimination within 300 days after the alleged discriminatory
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practice.
42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1)
;
Jones's complaint and charge of discrimination allege Douglas County refused to reinstate her due to her sex. A reinstatement denial is a discrete employment action.
See
Parisi v. Boeing Co.
,
Jones bases her Title VII claim solely on disparate treatment. To establish a prima facie case, she "must show that she is a member of a protected class who was qualified for but was denied reinstatement, while a similarly situated employee outside of her protected class ... was reinstated."
Jones v. Frank
,
Her NFEPA claim, mirroring her Title VII claim, likewise fails.
See
Edwards v. Hiland Roberts Dairy Co.
,
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The judgment is affirmed.
The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Kristin M. JONES, an Individual, Plaintiff - Appellant v. DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, of Douglas County, Nebraska, a Political Subdivision of the State of Nebraska, Defendant - Appellee
- Cited By
- 114 cases
- Status
- Published