Younger v. D.C. Pub. Sch.
Younger v. D.C. Pub. Sch.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff Camilla Younger is pursuing a claim of employment discrimination on the basis of age under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
I. FACTS
Ms. Younger served DCPS as a dual-certified art teacher and attendance officer from 1992 to 2010. Prior to the 2008-2009 school year, Ms. Younger taught full-time at Woodson Senior High School (WSHS). Am. Compl. [Dkt. 2] ¶ 34. Starting in 2007, Ms. Younger also taught part-time as an evening art teacher at Roosevelt Senior Alternative High School (Roosevelt STAY). Ex. 1, Mot. for Summ. J., Deposition of Camilla Younger (Younger Dep.) [Dkt. 58-1] at 93:8-11. After the 2007-2008 school year, WSHS was closed and its students were transferred to temporary locations. Am. Compl. ¶ 34. Ms. Younger asked to be transferred to a temporary high school location, but was instead moved to Woodson Ninth Grade Academy, located inside Ron Brown Middle School.
Ms. Younger's experience at Woodson Ninth Grade Academy was not ideal. She alleges multiple instances of physical altercations with students during the 2008-2009 school year, see
Ms. Younger alleges that her working conditions worsened in the next school year. See
During the summer of 2010, Ms. Younger interviewed with several DCPS principals for a new position. Among those with whom she talked was Tanisia Williams-Minor, Principal at the Youth Engagement Academy.
DCPS argues that Ms. Younger was never offered a position at the Youth Engagement Academy. Because Principal Williams-Minor either withdrew or did not offer a position to Ms. Younger, and it was too late to apply to transfer elsewhere, Ms. Younger was unable to transfer to a new school before the 2010-2011 school year.
Principal Slade learned in August 2010 that Ms. Younger had continued to teach at Roosevelt STAY during the period she *161claimed she was unable to return to Woodson Ninth Grade Academy. On August 16, 2010, Ms. Younger received a notice of termination from the Director of Labor Management and Employee Relations at DCPS, which stated that she would be terminated effective August 27, 2010. See Ex. 6, Mot. for Summ. J., Notice of Termination [Dkt. 58-1].
After exhausting her administrative remedies, and acting pro se , Ms. Younger filed a Complaint on August 27, 2013, see Compl. [Dkt. 1], and an Amended Complaint shortly thereafter, see Am. Compl. On July 25, 2014, the Court granted in part and denied in part Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, dismissing all claims except Count 1, which alleges that DCPS discriminated against Ms. Younger due to her age when Principal Williams-Minor withdrew or refused to grant her a transfer and when Principal Slade discharged her; and Count 5, alleging that DCPS retaliated against Ms. Younger for pursuing her workers' compensation claim. See Younger v. DCPS (Younger I ),
DCPS filed the instant Motion in Limine on May 25, 2018. See Mot. in Limine [Dkt. 80]. It is ripe for review.
II. LEGAL STANDARDS
Evidence is admissible at trial if it is relevant and not more prejudicial than probative. General relevance is covered by Rule 401 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. "Evidence is relevant if: (a) it has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence; and (b) the fact is of consequence in determining the action." Fed. R. Evid. 403. Rule 402 states that "[i]rrelevant evidence is not admissible." Fed. R. Evid. 402.
However, relevance does not end the determination at trial. Relevant evidence may also be excluded for "prejudice, confusion, waste of time, or other reasons." Fed. R. Evid. 403 ("The court may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger of one or more of the following: unfair prejudice, confusing the issue, misleading the jury, undue delay, wasting time, or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence.").
III. ANALYSIS
DCPS moves in limine for the Court to (1) exclude all of Ms. Younger's exhibits as irrelevant and/or prejudicial to DCPS; (2) exclude any and all evidence or testimony related to Ms. Younger's termination as irrelevant; and (3) make a finding that Ms. Younger is not entitled to backpay or frontpay damages due to her lawful termination in August 2010.
The only claim remaining to be decided at trial is Count 1, alleging that DCPS failed to transfer Ms. Younger to a position at the Youth Engagement Academy because of her age. Therefore, only evidence (exhibits and testimony) related to Ms. Younger's request for transfer, interview for the position at the Youth Engagement Academy, and the decision not to approve the transfer will be admitted. This Court previously held that Ms. Younger's termination by DCPS was lawful and, therefore, that claim will not be presented at trial. Neither party may present evidence or testimony related to Ms. Younger's termination as it is not relevant.
DCPS also challenges Ms. Younger's right to receive a damages award, *162even if a jury finds age discrimination in the refusal to transfer her to the Youth Engagement Academy. Compensatory damages in cases alleging discrimination because of age can only include backpay and frontpay and cannot include pain and suffering. See Comm'r v. Schleier ,
This Court has already found that "Ms. Younger has conceded that her claims involving [her termination] cannot be proved." Younger II ,
IV. CONCLUSION
The Court will grant in part and deny in part DCPS's motion in limine. The Court will permit Ms. Younger to present testimony and evidence related to the attempted transfer to the Youth Engagement Academy and will exclude any testimony and evidence related to her termination. The Court will also limit Ms. Younger to nominal damages because her termination makes her ineligible for compensatory damages. A memorializing Order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
Because each principal was involved in different allegedly discriminatory acts, the Court will distinguish Principal Slade and Principal Williams-Minor throughout.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Camilla YOUNGER v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published