ROSEMARY M. COLLYER, District Judge.
Mohammad Alraee is a former professor of the University of the District of Columbia. Proceeding pro se, he brought this suit against the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia and several of its employees (collectively "UDC"), alleging that UDC terminated him in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. Mr. Alraee also raises breach of contract and tort law claims arising from events that occurred while he was a professor at UDC.
In August 2008, Mr. Alraee was appointed as a full-time, tenure-track faculty member in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences' Department of Engineering, Architecture & Aerospace Technology at UDC. Compl. [Dkt. 1-1], Ex. B at 1. He was on probationary status. See Compl., Ex. C at 1. During the time of his employment, Mr. Alraee was also subject to the terms of a Sixth Master Agreement — a collective bargaining agreement ("CBA") between UDC and UDC's Faculty Association/National Education Association. See Compl., Ex. B at 5-6; Defs.' Mot. to Dismiss [Dkt. 4] at 1.
Mr. Alraee's claims center on his termination by UDC. In August of 2009, UDC sent Mr. Alraee a letter informing him that he was required to submit a faculty performance evaluation for the 2008-2009 school year. Mr. Alraee failed to submit the evaluation by the deadline specified in the letter. Compl., Ex. A at 2, Ex. B at 1-2. Over the coming months, Mr. Alraee engaged in a number of communications with UDC faculty regarding this requirement. Compl., Ex. B at 2-4. Mr. Alraee asserts that at some time he submitted the required evaluation, which was accepted by UDC. Id. at 4. However, Mr. Alraee received a letter on March 23, 2010, stating that his appointment as faculty member would not be renewed. Id. As bases for his removal, the letter cited his failure to provide his annual evaluation, his failure to respond to requests for his annual evaluation, and a recommendation by Dr. Ben Latigo, the Dean of the School of Engineering,
Despite the reasons provided in the March 23 letter, Mr. Alraee alleges that he was dismissed without explanation and was never given a chance to appeal the dismissal. Compl., Ex. A at 2. He states that he received disparate treatment with regard to the annual evaluation requirement and that the reasons for his termination provided in the letter were pretextual. See Compl., Ex. A at 4 (stating that UDC "g[ave] preference to other teachers and [was] flexible with them by allowing them to file evaluations late but disallowing [Mr. Alraee], penalizing [him] and then terminating [his] employment."); id., Ex. C at 3-4. Additionally, Mr. Alraee claims that two incidents, which occurred shortly before his dismissal, "prompted" his termination. Compl., Ex. A at 3.
One incident pertains to actions taken by student Joseph Federicio. Mr. Alraee asserts that Mr. Federicio unlawfully obtained Mr. Alraee's personal and academic records and used them to defame Mr. Alraee. He also claims that Mr. Federicio engaged in illegal surveillance of Mr. Alraee's activities and at one point, assaulted him. Mr. Alraee filed a personal grievance against Mr. Federicio based on these allegations. Before the Court, Mr. Alraee alleges that UDC failed to safeguard his files or to take action against Mr. Federicio for his conduct. Compl., Ex. A at 2-3.
The second incident occurred in April 2010 when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a facilities inspection at UDC. During the inspection, Mr. Alraee provided the FAA with suggestions on improving UDC's facilities. FAA issued a report documenting the poor condition of the facilities and concluding that UDC failed the inspection. Mr. Alraee claims that, although his performance met FAA standards, he and another professor received an email from UDC faculty leaders threatening disciplinary action following the FAA report. Mr. Alraee believes his statements to the FAA were a reason for his termination. Compl., Ex. A. at 2-3.
Mr. Alraee advances a number of claims arising from these facts. First, he asserts that his termination violated Title VII. Mr. Alraee, a Muslim, claims that UDC discriminated against him by terminating him on account of his religion. See Compl., Ex. C at 3-4. He also claims: (1) breach of contract, (2) libel and slander, (3) abuse of process, (4) deceit (misrepresentation), (5) harassment, (6) invasion of privacy, and (7) negligence. Mr. Alraee's breach of contract and abuse of process claims concern UDC's alleged failure to adhere to the terms of the CBA during Mr. Alraee's employment with the University. His libel and slander, deceit (misrepresentation), invasion of privacy, and negligence claims concern UDC's inaction with regard to Mr. Federicio's conduct. For his harassment claim, he alleges that a UDC official accused him of stealing student records. Compl., Ex. A at 4. Lastly, Mr. Alraee raises a wrongful termination claim, asserting that UDC "terminat[ed] [him] for wrongful reasons" — namely because of his discussions with the FAA inspector and "recognition by [UDC] of its culpability" with regard to Mr. Federicio's actions. Id. at 3-4. Since his termination, Mr. Alraee states that he has been unable to find work, which he attributes to the discriminatory termination by UDC and the dissemination of information from his personal and academic records. Id. at 3.
A motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) challenges the adequacy of a complaint on
In deciding a motion under Rule 12(b)(6), a court may consider the facts alleged in the complaint, documents attached to the complaint as exhibits or incorporated by reference, and matters about which the court may take judicial notice. Abhe & Svoboda, Inc. v. Chao, 508 F.3d 1052, 1059 (D.C.Cir.2007). To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim for relief that is "plausible on its face." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955. When a plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged, then the claim has facial plausibility. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). "The plausibility standard is not akin to a `probability requirement,' but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Id.
A court must treat the complaint's factual allegations as true, "even if doubtful in fact." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. But a court need not accept as true legal conclusions set forth in a complaint. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. "Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice." Id. "While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by factual allegations. When there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief." Id. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
Mr. Alraee claims that his termination from his position as a professor at UDC was discriminatory, in violation of Title VII. UDC contends that the Title VII claim fails because Mr. Alraee failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. The Court agrees.
Mr. Alraee does not state anywhere in his Complaint or his opposition that he filed a discrimination charge with either the EEOC or the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights at any time. His statement in his opposition that his attorney told him he had a year to file his Complaint does not save his Title VII claim. See Pl.'s Opp'n [Dkt. 10] at 1. Having failed to file a timely charge, Mr. Alraee has not met the prerequisite for filing a lawsuit, and it must be dismissed.
Mr. Alraee has no remaining federal claims. The Court has supplemental jurisdiction over Mr. Alraee's state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a), which provides a district court with supplemental jurisdiction over "claims that are so related to claims in the action within [the court's] original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or controversy under Article III of the United Sates Constitution."
For the foregoing reasons, the District's motion to dismiss [Dkt. 4] will be granted