LESLIE G. FOSCHIO, Magistrate Judge.
In this employment discrimination case brought pursuant to Title VII and N.Y. Human Rights Law, Plaintiff alleges workplace harassment based on her gender and retaliation. On January 26, 2015, the court calendared a scheduling conference pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(b) ("Rule 16(b)") for March 5, 2015 (Doc. No. 11). On March 2, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion to "withdraw the lawsuit" based on Plaintiff's representation that the EEOC had agreed to reopen her case which, according to Plaintiff, revokes Plaintiff's right to sue (Doc. No. 15) ("Plaintiff's motion"). Plaintiff's motion also requests that, in the event the EEOC's reconsideration of the administrative complaint "with the EEOC allows it," Plaintiff be permitted to refile the instant action. Although Plaintiff's motion does not specify that such requested permission to refile would be for the purpose of recommencing the instant action in this court rather than state court on Plaintiff's state claims, the court presumes this is Plaintiff's intent.
At the Scheduling Conference with the parties conducted on March 5, 2015 (Doc. No. 16), the court discussed in general terms Plaintiff's motion and in lieu of entering a Scheduling Order, directed Defendants to respond to Plaintiff's motion by March 26, 2015; Plaintiff's reply was directed to be filed by April 9, 2015. In accordance with the court's order, Defendants filed the Declaration of James D. Donathen ("Donathen Declaration") together with Exhibits A-G ("Defendants' Exh(s). ___") (Doc. No. 17) and a Memorandum of Law (Doc. No. 18) ("Defendants' Memorandum") on March 25, 2015; in reply, Plaintiff filed her Affidavit in Support of [Plaintiff's] Motion on April 10, 2015 (Doc. No. 20) ("Plaintiff's Affidavit"). Oral argument was not deemed necessary.
The relevant facts are as follows: Plaintiff filed her discrimination charge of sexual harassment on February 25, 2014. Defendants' Exh. D. On July 29, 2014, the local EEOC office issued to Plaintiff a right to sue letter ("the July 29, 2014 Notice of Plaintiff's Right to Sue") finding no basis to proceed with Plaintiff's charge and advising Plaintiff of her right to pursue an action in this court within 90 days. Defendants' Exh. A. Plaintiff commenced the instant action on October 27, 2014. Defendants' Memorandum at 1.
In the meantime, Plaintiff pursued her administrative complaint with the local EEOC office complaining her charge had been mishandled by the EEOC Regional Office eventually persuading the EEOC Regional Office to reopen her case. Plaintiff's Affidavit at 2. Several months after Plaintiff filed this action, specifically on March 7, 2015, Plaintiff received a letter from John E. Thompson, EEOC Regional Director, confirming Plaintiff's prior discussions with Mr. Thompson and advising Plaintiff of EEOC's intention to reconsider the agency's no cause determination as stated in the July 29, 2014 Notice of Plaintiff's Right to Sue and stating that such "notice of intent to reconsider vacates the letter of dismissal." Defendants' Exh. B.
Although a court might ordinarily be expected to be eager to grant a request to withdraw a complaint, in this case where the Plaintiff's motion conditions Plaintiff's request upon granting Plaintiff the right to refile the instant action after the EEOC completes its intended reconsideration of Plaintiff's administrative charge, the court finds it is unable to do so for several reasons.
First, contrary to Plaintiff's apparent understanding based on her discussions with the EEOC, see Plaintiff's Affidavit at 1; Exh. A at 2, as the 90-day period within which to sue, required by 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(1) ("§ 2000e-5(f)(1)"), had expired at the time EEOC announced on March 7, 2015 its intent to reconsider, EEOC's reconsideration is without legal effect upon the July 29, 2014 Notice of Plaintiff's Right to Sue. See 29 C.F.R. §1601.21(b)(1)(2014) ("If the 90 day period has expired, the charging party has filed suit, or the charging party had requested a notice of right to sue pursuant to [29 C.F.R.] §1601.28(a)(1) or (2), the notice of intent to reconsider will vacate the dismissal or letter of determination, will
Additionally, given that Plaintiff's motion will be denied, and the action will therefore proceed in this court, an award of attorneys' fees incurred by Defendants in responding to Plaintiff's motion as Defendants request ("Defendants' request"), Defendants' Memorandum at 5, is unwarranted and, as such, Defendants' request is DENIED.
In light of this required action by the court, the court shall proceed to enter a case management order pursuant to Rule 16(b) following a conference with the parties.
Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff's motion (Doc. No. 15) is DENIED; Defendants' request is DENIED.
The parties shall appear before the undersigned on
SO ORDERED.