STANLEY A. BOONE, United States Magistrate Judge.
Currently before the Court is Defendants California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Plaintiff Irma B. Sanchez ("Sanchez" or "Plaintiff") filed this action on November 8, 2012. On May 15, 2013, Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint. Plaintiff alleges seven causes of action for sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983; 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq. ("Title VII"); and the California Employment and Housing Act ("FEHA"), California Government Code sections 12940 et seq.
On January 16, 2015, Defendants CDCR and Smyth filed a motion for partial summary judgment on the second, fourth, sixth, and seventh causes of action. Plaintiff filed an opposition on February 11, 2015. On February 12, 2015, Plaintiff filed a corrected opposition and declaration. On February 18, 2015, Defendants CDCR and Smyth filed a reply and objections to Plaintiff's opposition.
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, "[s]ummary judgment is appropriate only if, taking the evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Smith v. Clark Cnty. Sch. Dist., 727 F.3d 950, 954 (9th Cir.2013) (citations omitted). A fact is
If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually does exist. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). In attempting to establish the existence of this factual dispute, the opposing party may not rely upon the denials of its pleadings, but is required to tender evidence of specific facts in the form of affidavits, and/or admissible discovery material, in support of its contention that the dispute exists. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 n. 11, 106 S.Ct. 1348. This requires the party opposing summary judgment to respond with more than mere hearsay and legal conclusions, Kaiser Cement Corp. v. Fischbach and Moore, Inc., 793 F.2d 1100, 1104 (9th Cir.1986), or "simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts[,]" Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348.
The Ninth Circuit has cautioned that in evaluating motions for summary judgment in employment discrimination cases, we must zealously guard an employee's right to a full and fair trial because "discrimination claims are frequently difficult to prove without a full airing of the evidence and an opportunity to evaluate the credibility of the witnesses." McGinest v. GTE Serv. Corp., 360 F.3d 1103, 1112 (9th Cir.2004). This sets a high standard for granting summary judgment in employment discrimination cases. Schnidrig v. Columbia Mach., Inc., 80 F.3d 1406, 1410 (9th Cir. 1996) (citations omitted). Very little evidence is required to survive summary judgment in an employment discrimination case because "because the ultimate question is one that can only be resolved through a `searching inquiry'-one that is most appropriately conducted by the fact-finder, upon a full record." Schnidrig, 80 F.3d at 1410 (citations omitted). Nevertheless, summary judgment is appropriate where there is a "[f]ailure to allege `specific facts' that establish the existence of a prima facie case" or "when evidence to refute the defendant's legitimate explanation is totally lacking' ... even though plaintiff may have established a minimum prima facie case." Hunt v. City of Portland, 726 F.Supp.2d 1244, 1255 (D.Or.2010) (citations omitted).
1. Sanchez has been employed by the CDCR as a correctional officer at California State Prison-Corcoran ("Corcoran") since 1994.
2. Smyth has been employed as a correctional officer with CDCR since 1995, and worked at Corcoran from 1997 through December 2014.
3. CDCR operates Corcoran. The inmate population at Corcoran is organized into facilities which typically include housing units for inmates, a yard, gym, dining facility, and other buildings.
5. Correctional officers bid for posts, and bids are won based on seniority.
6. In 2010, Sanchez's post was on the 3C facility in building 02 where she worked the second watch (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) five days per week.
7. In 2010, Smyth's post was on the 3C facility as a relief officer.
8. On Sundays, Smyth worked with Sanchez on the second watch in building 02.
9. During the other days of the week, Smyth worked in other buildings.
10. On September 28, 2010, Sanchez filed her first internal sexual harassment equal opportunity ("E.O.") complaint against Smyth.
11. Sanchez's September 28, 2010, complaint alleged that "sexual harassment by C/O S. Smyth over the last 7-8 months continues." Sanchez claimed that Smyth would stare at her, make comments of a sexual nature, she was uncomfortable doing cell searches with him, onetime he walked into the unisex staff restroom while she was inside, and he would hang-up the phone when male officers called for her.
12. Sanchez's complaint was referred to the CDCR Internal Affairs Office of Civil Rights for investigation in Bakersfield, California.
13. On January 3, 2011, Eric Lawton became the new program sergeant for facility 3C and thus became Sanchez's and Smyth's direct supervisor.
14. Within days of Lawton becoming the new program sergeant, Sanchez told him that she had filed a sexual harassment complaint against Smyth, and that she did not want to work with him alone.
15. On or about January 20, 2011, CDCR Office of Internal Affairs closed the investigation into Sanchez's complaint and concluded that no violation of CDCR's EEO policy was found.
16. Lieutenant Weaver met with Smyth and Sanchez and informed them that the investigation had been unsubstantiated, and that the two of them were expected to remain on the 3C facility, be professional, and carry out their duties.
17. On or about February 14, 2011, Sanchez had bid into a new post on the 3C facility, and began working in building 04.
18. With Sanchez's new post, she no longer worked with Smyth in the same building one day per week.
19. Smyth remained working on the 3C facility as a relief officer in the new bid.
20. Correctional officers are expected and required to perform duties which include search and escort duties, pat downs, helping with the morning meal release, working the steam line in the cafeteria, and filling other posts when needed by the institution, among other duties.
22. Lawton never told Sanchez she could not switch with other officers so that she would not have to work with Smyth.
23. Switching, or swapping as Sanchez calls it, is a voluntary decision among correctional officers to trade places at work, subject to supervisory approval.
24. When Lawton became the 3C facility program sergeant, he restructured the process for releasing inmates from their cells for morning meal.
25. Lawton would serve on the meal release team along with two other correctional officers. They would move from one building to the next until all of the inmates had been released for morning meal. When Lawton could not serve on the meal release team, he ensured that at least two officers were providing meal release coverage. Some days, he had to redirect officers from other duties to meet the two officer meal release team minimum.
26. On October 19, 2011, Lawton called building 02 and talked to Smyth.
27. On October 19, 2011, Lawton told Smyth that either Smyth or his partner were needed to go to building 04 for the meal release.
28. On October 19, 2011, Smyth went to perform the meal release.
29. At approximately 6:30 a.m. on October 19, 2011, Sanchez called Lawton regarding working with Smyth.
30. On October 19, 2011, Sanchez called officers on the 3C facility and asked if anyone wanted to swap with her. No one wanted to swap.
31. On October 19, 2011, Sanchez stayed in her office while Smyth released the inmates from building 04.
32. On October 19, 2011, when Smyth finished releasing the inmates from building 04, he went to building 03.
33. On October 19, 2011, Sanchez stayed in building 04 during the meal release.
34. On October 19, 2011, Sanchez's meal release duties required her to go to building 03.
35. On October 19, 2011, without having a partner present, Smyth released the inmates from building 03.
36. On October 19, 2011, Smyth called Lawton and told him that he had released the inmates from building 03 without a partner, and that Sanchez had stayed in building 04.
37. On October 19, 2011, Lawton instructed Smyth to standby on releasing building 02 pending the arrival of a second officer.
38. On October 19, 2011, it was unsafe for Smyth to perform he meal release without a partner.
40. Sanchez admitted to staying in her office while Smyth released the inmates from building 04, and she admitted to remaining in building 04 instead of going to building 03 with Smyth.
41. On October 20, 2011, Lawton and Sanchez met in his office to discuss the previous day's meal release incident.
42. On October 20, 2011, Lawton verbally counseled Sanchez about how she had jeopardized staff safety by not participating in the meal release.
43. In response to Sanchez's refusal to perform her duties on October 19, 2011, Sanchez was issued a cease and desist memorandum on October 23, 2011.
44. During her deposition on August 14, 2014, Sanchez initially testified that she did not believe the cease and desist memorandum was disciplinary and that she did not know whether she was given this memorandum in retaliation for complaining about Smyth.
45. Sanchez stated in her November 9, 2011, EEO complaint that Counselor Ortega ("Ortega") received a "Hurt Feelings Report" in her mailbox on October 25, 2011. Ortega showed this document to Sanchez and Correctional Officer Cody.
46. On October 27, 2011, Sanchez found three copies of the same document on the desk she shared with another officer.
47. Sanchez does not know who put the document on her desk.
48. Sanchez believes the document was put on her desk in retaliation because several staff members had seen her crying a few days earlier.
49. Sanchez does not know if the staff members knew what she was crying about.
50. Sanchez believed the document was put on her desk because she had complained about working with Smyth.
51. On November 9, 2011, Sanchez filed a second internal EEO complaint.
52. Sanchez's November 9, 2011 complaint accused Smyth of stalking her, and calling her names.
53. Sanchez's November 9, 2011 complaint stated that on October 20, 2011, Lawton told her that she would be getting a letter of instruction, but on October 23, 2011, Lawton gave her a cease and desist order instead.
54. After having been investigated by CDCR Internal Affairs, Sanchez's November 9, 2011 complaint closed on July 31, 2012. No violation of CDCR's EEO policy was found.
56. To create a written record of the performance issue, Lawton issued Sanchez a written counseling on November 17, 2011.
57. CDCR's Department Operations Manual ("DOM") defines an employee counseling record as "[a] written record of counseling, documented on a CDC Form 1123, between a supervisor and subordinate which provides formal instruction about laws, rules, policies and employer expectations."
58. An employee counseling record is a form of corrective of action. CDCR's DOM provides that the purpose of corrective action is to help an employee change problem behavior or performance before discipline is necessary and may be imposed for any employee conduct or performance that is correctable by means of counseling and/or training (up to and including a Letter of Instruction).
59. The counseling record that was given to Sanchez on November 17, 2011, documented her refusal to perform meal release duties, and the safety issue that resulted from that refusal.
60. Sanchez admitted her duties on October 19, 2011, including going to other buildings to help with the meal release and she did not do that.
61. CDCR propounded interrogatories upon Sanchez. Interrogatory number six asked Sanchez to: Describe every act of retaliation for which YOU are seeking damages in this action, including: a. The name of the PERSON who retaliated against YOU; b. The approximate month and year the retaliation occurred; and c. A description of the retaliation.
62. Sanchez responded to interrogatory number six without objection stating: 1. Sgt. E. Lawton, October 23, 2011. Issued Officer Sanchez a cease and desist order; 2. Sgt. Lawton, November 17, 2011. Issued Officer Sanchez a disciplinary 1123 write up; 3. Sgt. Lawton assigned Officer Sanchez extra duties out of her building, including, but not limited to, additional cell searches in other buildings or inventory of property in other buildings. Despite being assigned as "release team," charged with releasing inmates for breakfast, Sgt. Lawton would take Officer Sanchez off the "release team," and place her on the "steam line," charged with monitoring inmate activity in the dining commons. Officer Sanchez had not been previously regularly assigned as "steam line." Meanwhile, Sgt. Lawton would have another officer replace Officer Sanchez on the "release team."
63. Sanchez did not supplement her interrogatory response.
64. During her deposition, Sanchez testified that she thought she was also retaliated against by being forced to work with Officer Smyth, because she received a hurt feelings report, and because Lieutenant Fresquez told her that he would find her a good job off the yard if she wanted to move.
65. Sanchez was issued a cease and desist memorandum on October 23, 2011, and a written counseling (CDCR Form 1123) on November 9, 2011, in response to her refusal to perform her duties on October 19, 2011.
67. Because the cease and desist order made no reference to Sanchez's refusal to perform her duties on October 19, 2011, the counseling dated November 17, 2011, was issued to create a written record of what had transpired that day to be used to correct performance deficiencies.
68. Sanchez testified that the cease and desist memorandum did not impact her ability to promote, transfer, or enter into work programs.
69. The written counseling was issued within 30 days of the performance incident, in accordance with CDCR DOM section 33030.8.
70. Safety and security is a top priority in a prison.
71. For operational, safety and security reasons, correctional officers may be diverted from their posts to perform other duties which include search and escort duties, yard duties, and filling other posts in the prison, to name a few.
72. Sanchez's work schedule did not change (she continued to work the same days and hours each week), she was not demoted, and she did not receive any reduction in pay when performing the alleged duties outside of her assigned post.
73. During her EEO interview on April 19, 2012, Sanchez admitted that part of her job description was doing jobs as needed other than in the housing unit.
74. During her EEO interview on April 19, 2012, Sanchez admitted that in 2011, Lawton would redivert other staff from their posts to do other duties.
75. During Sanchez's deposition, when asked if she had ever inventoried property before she had filed her complaint, Sanchez testified "I'm sure I have, but I don't remember. I'm sure I have."
76. During her deposition, Sanchez admitted that she had been assigned cell search duties outside of her yard as extra duties before she filed her complaint.
77. During her deposition, Sanchez admitted that she had been assigned cell search duties that did not follow a schedule before she made her complaint.
78. During her deposition, Sanchez testified that she had worked outside in the yard as part of an "extra duty" before she had filed her complaint against Smyth.
79. Sanchez believes Lawton purposefully assigned her to the steam line so that she would be near Smyth who was assigned to the cafeteria.
80. Sanchez never reported being assigned to the steam line in her November 9, 2011 EEO complaint.
81. Sanchez never reported being assigned to the steam line to the EEO investigator on April 12, 2012
82. During her deposition, Sanchez could not provide any specific dates or times of when the alleged extra duties began, and how long they lasted, other than that they started after 2010 and lasted "a while."
83. During her EEO interview on April 12, 2012, however, Sanchez stated that Lawton redirected her to perform other
84. In regards to being redirected, Sanchez told the investigator that "I didn't mind, I really don't. I'm a worker."
85. At her deposition Sanchez testified that being "forced" to work with Smyth occurred when "Sergeant Lawton would send him to go and release chow knowing that I did not want to work with him."
86. Smyth was directed off the 3C facility effective November 21, 2011, which meant that he would no longer be working anywhere near Sanchez.
87. On October 25, 2011, Correctional Counselor Ortega found a "Hurt Feelings Report" in her mailbox.
88. Sanchez's January 10, 2012, EEOC charge alleges that "[o]n or about December 2011, Lt. Fresquiz [sic] informed me to look for another job."
89. Sanchez told the investigator that Fresquez stated he did not like to see her cry, and that he wanted to see if he could place her "in another yard, or another job."
90. Sanchez told Fresquez that "well, if I don't have to go, I would just want to stay here."
91. Fresquez never moved Sanchez.
92. Sanchez explained that she had this conversation with Fresquez during "his second day on the yard as a lieutenant" and that she did not think he was retaliating against her.
93. Sanchez stated that Fresquez "was probably just trying to get me another job and, you know, that way I wouldn't have to — um — be sexually harassed by — by Smyth."
94. Sanchez told the investigator that she was dropping her complaint against Fresquez.
95. At her deposition, however, Sanchez testified that she thought Fresquez retaliated against her when he asked if she wanted to be moved off the yard.
96. Sanchez testified that Fresquez "said he'd give me a good job somewhere else."
97. She believed Fresquez's conversation was retaliation because she had not bid to be moved off the yard.
98. When Smyth entered Sanchez's building to assist with the meal release on October 19, 2011, she stayed in her office while he released 200 inmates from her building.
99. When the inmates from Sanchez's building had been released, Sanchez was required to leave her building and go to the next building (03) to release inmates for morning meal.
100. Sanchez did not go building 03.
101. Sanchez filed her first internal EEO complaint on September 28, 2010. It was closed as unfounded on or around January 20, 2011.
102. The cease and desist memorandum was issued more than one year after Sanchez's September 28, 2010, EEO complaint.
103. While Sanchez had filed an EEOC charge on March 8, 2011, Lawton was unaware of the status or substance of the charge when he issued the cease and desist memorandum.
105. During her deposition, Sanchez could not provide specific dates of when the alleged "extra duties" began other than they started after 2010.
106. Sanchez did not complain about performing "extra duties" in her March 8, 2011 EEOC charge.
107. Sanchez did not complain about "extra duties" when she filed her internal EEO complaint on November 9, 2011.
108. Sanchez's first complaint about "extra duties" was in her January 10, 2012 EEOC charge, where she alleged that she had been subject to "increased work assignments including, but not limited to, more escorts and searches."
109. Sanchez attributes Lawton for the "extra duties," which must have started sometime after she filed her internal EEO complaint on November 9, 2011.
110. Sanchez testified at her deposition that she did not know why her supervisors would be forcing her to work with Smyth, but it could have been because she filed complaints against him.
111. Lawton gave Sanchez permission to switch (swap) with other officers to avoid contact with Smyth.
112. Sanchez statements to the EEO investigator on April 10, 2012, indicate that Sanchez was aware of the extent to which Lawton was trying to keep her and Smyth apart.
113. In the context of the extra duties, Sanchez went so far as to state that "Sergeant Lawton was probably trying to do his job. I — I kind of feel bad because he was caught in the middle of it."
114. During her deposition, Sanchez admitted that Lawton never personally told her that she could not swap with other officers on October 19, 2011.
115. Sanchez has no idea who put the hurt feelings report on her desk.
116. When asked why she believed it was put on her desk in retaliation for complaining about Smyth, Sanchez testified that it was because staff had seen her crying a few days earlier.
117. Sanchez does not know if the staff knew what she was crying about.
118. Sanchez thought she had received the report because she had complained about working with Smyth.
119. Sanchez's co-workers had received the same report in her mailbox on October 25, 2011.
120. The cease and desist memorandum set forth the expectation that Sanchez would conduct herself in a professional manner during any contact with Smyth, and with other staff, and inmates.
121. Sanchez testified that during meal release 200 inmates line-up out of their cells and then file out of the building to the dining hall.
122. During Sanchez's 20 year career with CDCR, there was only one time she completed the meal release without a partner. That incident upset Sanchez, and she testified that her safety was in jeopardy.
123. Sanchez testified that being female and doing the meal release alone was unsafe, and that it is "probably" safer when two officers perform the meal release together.
124. From time to time correctional officers are diverted from their posts to perform duties to meet institutional needs.
125. To the extent that Sanchez was diverted from her post to perform different duties, it was done to meet the operational, safety and security needs of the prison.
126. Smyth and Sanchez were co-workers. Smyth did not have supervisory authority
127. Sanchez admitted that any alleged harassment or retaliation by Smyth would have violated CDCR policy, and that sexually harassing her and retaliating against her was not one of his job responsibilities.
128. Sanchez testified that if Smyth was sexually harassing her or retaliating against her, his conduct would have been outside the scope of his duties.
129. On September 23, 2011, Smyth reported to building 04 as instructed for meal release coverage. When he arrived, Sanchez swapped with an officer from building 05. Smyth and that officer conducted the meal release together.
130. Sanchez does not know whether the cease and desist memorandum was ever placed in her supervisory file.
131. The written counseling that Lawton issued Sanchez on November 9, 2011, was given within 30 days of her refusal to perform her duties on October 19, 2011, in accordance with the CDCR DOM.
132. Sanchez admitted that being assigned to the steam line was not an extra duty.
133. After Warden Gipson learned that Sanchez had filed an internal discrimination complaint against Smyth, she redirected Smyth off of his post on the 3C facility and assigned him to work in a different area of the prison.
134. The purpose of redirecting Smyth was to minimize, if not eliminate, contact between Sanchez and Smyth while Sanchez's November 2011 EEO complaint was being investigated.
135. Sanchez told the EEO investigator on April 19, 2012 that: "I was making it difficult I guess as a supervisor for him to have to — uh — continuously, you know, break us apart, or listen — hear me out, you know, to where I would have to call Lawton and let him know that Smyth is in my unit again, I need to switch with somebody."
136. Mass movements, like releasing inmates from their cells for morning meal, create certain risks for staff and inmates.
137. Given the low ratio of correctional officers to inmates during mass movements, there is a heightened risk that inmates could attack correctional officers or other inmates, or otherwise become disruptive.
138. When Sanchez refused to assist with meal duties on October 19, 2011, this risk was elevated and handicapped the prison's ability to address any violent incidents.
139. When Sanchez refused to assist with the morning release Smyth did not have a partner on the floor to assist him or be available to provide immediate assistance in the event that inmates attacked him or became disruptive.
Plaintiff filed a statement of disputed facts and, in response, Defendants filed objections to the facts contained therein. Defendants object to the majority of Plaintiff's statement of disputed facts on the ground that they are immaterial to the present motion, irrelevant or both. Having reviewed the statement of disputed facts, the Court will sustain the objections with the following exceptions.
Defendants object to specific conduct of Defendant Smyth that was directed at
Defendants contend that this motion is not about whether Defendant Smyth sexually harassed Plaintiff. However, as discussed in more detail below, the Ninth Circuit held in Ray v. Henderson, 217 F.3d 1234 (9th Cir.2000), that harassment as retaliation for engaging in protected activity is actionable where the harassment is "sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim's employment and create an abusive working environment." Ray, 217 F.3d at 1245 (quoting Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21, 114 S.Ct. 367, 126 L.Ed.2d 295 (1993)). Therefore, Plaintiff's statements regarding the treatment that she was subjected to after complaining of the sexual harassment are relevant to determine the severity and pervasiveness of the alleged sexual harassment.
While Defendants argue that this motion is about what they did to help her avoid working with Defendant Smyth, the basis of Plaintiff's complaint is that her supervisors continued to allow Defendant Smyth to sexually harass her and made her work alone with him knowing that he was sexually harassing her. Plaintiff's position is that the hostile work environment itself was the adverse employment action and Defendant CDCR created the hostile work environment by allowing Defendant Smyth to sexually harass her in retaliation for her complaints. Accordingly, Defendants' objections on the grounds of materiality and relevance are overruled as to Plaintiff's statement of disputed facts numbers 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 24, and 25.
Defendants argue that it is immaterial and irrelevant whether Lt. Baer knew that Plaintiff intended to file an EEO complaint against Defendant Smyth when he directed Sgt. Lawton to issue the cease and desist order to Plaintiff. However, knowledge of the intent to file a complaint is relevant and material to the issue of whether there was a causal link between the protected activity and the adverse employment decision which is an element of the retaliation claim. Villiarimo v. Aloha Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 1054, 1064 (9th Cir.2002). Defendants' objections on the grounds of materiality and relevance are overruled as to Plaintiff's statement of disputed facts numbers 14, 15.
Defendants object to several statements on the grounds of lack of foundation and hearsay. "A witness may testify to a matter only if evidence is introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter." Fed. R.Evid. 602. Hearsay is "a statement that: (1) the declarant does not make while testifying at the current trial or hearing; and (2) a party offers in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement." Fed.R.Evid. 801(c). A statement made by the opposing party or by the party's agent or employee on a matter within the scope of the relationship is not hearsay when offered into evidence against the opposing party. Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(D).
Plaintiff's disputed statement number 16 states that Sgt. Lawton told Plaintiff's partners that they could no longer change positions with Plaintiff to allow her to
However, Officer Gaulden testified that it was Officer Benevides who needed
Defendants object to Plaintiff's disputed statement of fact number 18, that Sgt. Lawton admitted to staff that he put the "hurt feelings" memo into circulation in the yard on the ground that Plaintiff did not submit any admissible evidence to support the fact.
Officer Gaulden testified that during a general meeting after the memo was distributed, Sgt. Lawton "made a general apology. He said, `Some people don't know what's funny. Some people don't know what's not funny. I just found out I can't give this stuff out. I can't put this stuff around. So accept my apologies if I hurt anybody's feelings.'" (Depo. of Gaulden 99:418.) Defendants cite to sections of the deposition where Officer Gaulden states that Sgt. Lawton never directly told him that he was the person who distributed the memorandum, but the statements at the general meeting are admissible as statements of the opposing party and the inference could be drawn that Sgt. Lawton distributed the memo. Defendants' objection to disputed statement of fact number 18 is overruled.
Defendant CDCR moves for summary judgment on the second and fourth cause of action, retaliation in violation of Title VII and the FEHA. (Defendants' Memorandum in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment 14, ECF No. 60.)
Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiff's retaliation claims under Title VII and FEHA because Plaintiff has not suffered an adverse employment action; there is no evidence that her protected activity was the cause of any adverse employment action; and there was a legitimate business reason for any allegedly adverse employment action. (ECF No. 60 at 1428.)
Plaintiff's retaliation claim is subject to the burden shifting analysis of McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973). Davis v. Team Elec. Co., 520 F.3d 1080, 1089 (9th Cir.2008) (Title VII); Yanowitz v. L'Oreal USA, Inc., 36 Cal.4th 1028, 1042, 32 Cal.Rptr.3d 436, 116 P.3d 1123 (2005) (FEHA). First, the employee must establish a prima facie case of discrimination. Id. If the employee does, then the employer must articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the challenged action. Id. If the employer meets this burden, "the employee must show that the reason is pretextual either directly by persuading the court that a discriminatory reason more likely motivated the employer or indirectly by showing that the employer's proffered explanation is unworthy of credence." Id. (internal punctuation and citations omitted).
Section 2000e-2 provides that it is "an unlawful employment practice for an employer ... to discriminate against any
As relevant here, the anti-retaliation provision of Title VII provides that it is "an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against any of his employees ... because he has opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice" under Title VII. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a). To establish a prima facie case for a claim of retaliation under Title VII and the FEHA, Plaintiff must establish that 1) she engaged in activity to protect her rights under the statute; 2) an adverse employment decision was taken against her; and 3) there was a causal link between the protected activity and the adverse employment decision. McGinest, 360 F.3d at 1125 (Title VII); Villiarimo, 281 F.3d at 1064 (same); Yanowitz, 36 Cal.4th at 1042, 32 Cal.Rptr.3d 436, 116 P.3d 1123 (2005) (FEHA).
Plaintiff filed two complaints based on the alleged sexual harassment by Defendant Smyth. Plaintiff filed the first internal sexual harassment equal opportunity complaint against Smyth on September 28, 2010. (Undisputed Fact ("U.F.") 10.) On November 9, 2011, Plaintiff filed a second internal EEO complaint. (U.F. 51.) Defendants agree that this conduct is protected activity within Title VII.
Section 2000e-3(a) makes it illegal for the employer to retaliate against an employee for opposing any practice made unlawful under Title VII. This protection is afforded an employee who opposes a practice that is reasonably believed to be an unlawful employment practice. E.E.O.C. v. Crown Zellerbach Corp., 720 F.2d 1008, 1014 (9th Cir.1983). Plaintiff's complaints to CDCR and her supervisors that Defendant Smyth was sexually harassing her were sufficiently specific to constitute opposition to an unlawful employment practice. Id. Plaintiff's complaints to her supervisors and the CDCR that Defendant Smyth was sexually harassing her were also protected activity under both Title VII and the FEHA. Brooks v. City of San Mateo, 229 F.3d 917, 928 (9th Cir.2000). The first element of the retaliation claim is met.
The parties dispute whether adverse employment action was taken against Plaintiff. Defendants' argue that Plaintiff stated she was subjected to 1) a cease and desist order; 2) written counseling; 3) assignment of extra duties out of her building; 4) forcing her to work with Defendant Smyth; 5) receiving the "hurt feelings report";
The Ninth Circuit has taken an expansive view on what constitutes adverse employment action. Ray, 217 F.3d at 1241. Recently, the Supreme Court held that the protection afforded by Title VII's anti-retaliation provision extends beyond workplace or employment related acts and harm. Burlington, 548 U.S. at 67, 126 S.Ct. 2405. This does not extend to all retaliation, but that which is materially adverse to a reasonable employee. Id. at 67-68, 126 S.Ct. 2405. This means that the action "well might have dissuaded a reasonable worker from making or supporting a charge of discrimination." Id. at 68, 126 S.Ct. 2405 (internal punctuation and citations omitted.)
The FEHA requires that the adverse employment action must materially affect the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment to be actionable. Yanowitz, 36 Cal.4th at 1052, 32 Cal.Rptr.3d 436, 116 P.3d 1123. Although, broadly viewed this includes not only "so-called `ultimate employment actions' such as termination or demotion, but also the entire spectrum of employment actions that are reasonably likely to adversely and materially affect an employee's job performance or opportunity for advancement in his or her career." Id. at 1054, 32 Cal.Rptr.3d 436, 116 P.3d 1123.
Defendants argue that the cease and desist order and written counseling were not adverse employment actions because, as Plaintiff testified, they did not impact her ability to promote, transfer, or enter into work programs. Plaintiff provides no case law, but argues that the cease and desist letter were clearly intended to be a punitive measure against her arguing "Sgt. Lawton's angry, abusive and disrespectful response to [Plaintiff's] complaints form the backdrop and context for each of the written documents issued to her. The express purpose of the various `corrective' actions was to compel her to submit to Defendant Smyth's sexual harassment in silence." (Plaintiff's Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment 23, ECF No. 82.)
Plaintiff was issued a cease and desist order after she refused to release the inmates for their morning meal with Defendant Smyth on October 19, 2011. (U.F. 40, 43.) While Plaintiff argues she did not refuse to perform her duties, she just refused to work with Defendant Smyth, it is undisputed that it was Plaintiff's duty on this date to assist with the inmate release and she did not do so. (U.F. 31-34.) When Plaintiff refused to assist with the meal release, Defendant Smyth released the inmates without having a partner present. (U.F. 35.) Plaintiff's failure to assist with the meal release jeopardized staff safety. (U.F. 38, 60, 136-138.)
Due to her refusal to assist Defendant Smyth, he did not have a partner on the floor to assist him or be available to provide immediate assistance in the event that inmates attacked him or became disruptive. (U.F. 139.) The cease and desist memorandum set forth the expectation that Plaintiff was to conduct herself in a professional manner during any contact with Defendant Smyth, other staff and inmates. (U.F. 120.) The cease and desist memorandum did not address what had transpired on October 19, 2011. (U.F. 55.) The written counseling issued on November 17, 2011, addressed Plaintiff's refusal to perform the meal release duties and the
A cease and desist order begins the disciplinary process and was issued to Plaintiff to stop her refusal to work around Defendant Smyth and to report to her assigned post. (Depo. of Anthony Baer 67:7-68:7, ECF No. 77-3.) The written counseling document is a corrective action and the cease and desist order is to tell the employee to stop the behavior immediately. (Id. at 68:18-69:3.)
Written warnings and performance improvement plans are not adverse employment actions where they do not materially affect the terms and conditions of employment. Cozzi v. County of Marin, 787 F.Supp.2d 1047, 1061 (N.D.Cal.2011) (citations omitted). There is no dispute that Plaintiff did not assist in releasing inmates on the date in question and that it is a safety issue for a single officer to release inmates without assistance. The cease and desist order informed Plaintiff that she was to conduct herself in a professional manner during any contact that she may have with Defendant Smyth and or other staff members or the inmate population. (Cease and Desist Order, ECF No. 62-2 at 81.)
Although Plaintiff argues that the order inferred that she had engaged in irresponsible or unethical conduct, the order merely states that Plaintiff should adhere "to California Code of Regulations, Section 3391 which states in part irresponsible or unethical conduct or conduct reflecting discredit on themselves or the department, either on or off duty, shall be avoided by all employees." (Id.) Due to Plaintiff's refusal to assist with the inmate release, Defendant Smyth released the inmates without assistance, which jeopardized institutional security. This could reasonably be seen as irresponsible behavior on the part of Plaintiff. See Kortan v. California Youth Authority, 217 F.3d 1104, 1113 (9th Cir.2000) (evaluation that was not sub-average or undeserved was not adverse employment action).
While Plaintiff argues that the memorandum stated that it would be placed in her supervisory file, Sgt. Lawton states that he did not place the cease and desist order in her supervisory file. (Decl. of Eric Lawton ¶ 18, ECF No. 66). Further, Plaintiff testified that the cease and desist memorandum did not impact her ability to promote, transfer, or enter into work programs. (U.F. 68.)
The cease and desist memorandum made no reference to the October 19, 2011 incident. (U.F. 55.) The employee counseling record issued November 17, 2011 stated:
(Employee Counseling Record, ECF No. 62-2 at 85.) The action plan stated:
(Id.)
Plaintiff states that she was not provided with any type of action plan to prevent the situation from reoccurring, however, the action plan clearly informs Plaintiff that she is expected to receive approval prior to deviating from her assigned duties and to work cooperatively with all staff. The written counseling was a corrective action to help Plaintiff change problem behavior or performance before discipline was necessary. (U.F. 58.)
The cease and desist memorandum/order and written counseling were issued based upon Plaintiff's admitted failure to assist with the release of inmates. Neither document implemented any material change in Plaintiff's terms and conditions of employment. See Hoang v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 724 F.Supp.2d 1094, 1104 (D.Or.2010) (letter that did not implement material change in terms and conditions of employment is not by itself adverse employment action). The Court finds that the cease and desist memorandum and written counseling were not adverse employment actions as they did not affect the terms, conditions and privileges of Plaintiff's employment.
Defendant argues that the extra duties that Plaintiff alleges she was required to perform are collateral duties that are routinely performed by correctional officers. (ECF No. 60 at 17.) Plaintiff did not include any allegations regarding being required to work extra duties in her first amended complaint, nor did she address the extra duty assignments in her opposition to the motion for summary judgment.
Reassignment of job duties can be an adverse employment action and whether an assignment is materially adverse depends upon the circumstances of the particular case and is to be judged from the perspective of a reasonable person in Plaintiff's position considering all the circumstances. Burlington, 548 U.S. at 71, 126 S.Ct. 2405. The Ninth Circuit has held that assigning more or more burdensome work responsibilities is an adverse employment action. Davis, 520 F.3d at 1089.
In her declaration, Plaintiff states that she has been assigned increased work assignments. (ECF No. 83 at 17.) However, Plaintiff has not submitted any evidence that she was assigned increased work assignments or that her work assignment was more burdensome after she complained of sexual harassment. After she filed her complaints against Defendant Smyth, Plaintiff's work scheduled (days and hours) did not change. (U.F. 72.) Plaintiff was not demoted nor did she receive any reduction in pay. (Id.) Due to safety and security concerns, correctional officers may be diverted from their posts to perform other duties as needed. (U.F. 71.) It is undisputed that it is part of Plaintiff's job to perform other jobs as needed outside of the housing unit; and Sgt. Lawton rediverted other staff from their posts to do other duties. (U.F. 74.)
Plaintiff did not identify any duties that she was required to perform after she filed her complaints that she had not been assigned prior to making the complaints.
While Plaintiff did tell the EEO investigator that she had been redirected to perform other duties about nine or ten times and that the assignments were at least a good three and one-half weeks (U.F. 83), Plaintiff has presented no evidence that her work assignment was more burdensome or that she was assigned additional duties that were more burdensome. Plaintiff has not produced any evidence to create a triable issue of fact that adverse employment action was taken against her due to being assigned extra work assignments. The Court finds that Plaintiff was not subjected to an adverse employment action by being assigned extra duties.
Defendants argue that the hurt feelings report is a petty slight that does not constitute adverse employment action. (ECF No. 60 at 20.) Plaintiff does not address the hurt feelings report in her opposition to the motion for summary judgment.
Plaintiff and other employees received a "hurt feelings report" between October 25 and 27, 2011. (U.F. 45, 46.) The hurt feelings report is a single page blank form. (Attached as Exhibit 9 at ECF No. 62-2 at 83.) The report states, "Is there permanent feeling damage", and "Did you require a tissue for your tears". It has a section to check off the reasons for filing the report, such as "I am thin-skinned", "I am a pussy", "I have woman-like hormones", "I am a queer", etc. (Id.) Next to name the report has "(little sissy filing report)" and requests the "Girly-man signature". While the report is juvenile, and is clearly inappropriate in any situation, it is not an adverse employment action. See Roberts v. Office of the Sheriff for Charles County, No. DKC 10-3359, 2012 WL 12762, at *9 (D.Md. January 3, 2012) ("The `Hurt Feelings Report' would seem to be a prime example of a `petty slight' that Burlington held does not constitute retaliation.").
During her interview with the Office of Internal Affairs, Plaintiff testified that on Lt. Fresquez's second day as lieutenant on the yard in December 2011, he pulled her into his office and told her that he did not like to see her stressed out and crying on the yard. He offered to see if he could place Plaintiff on another yard or another job. (ECF No. 62-1 at 8, 9.) Plaintiff asked him why and he told her because she had issues there and he did not like to see her upset. (Id.) Lt. Fresquez told Plaintiff that it was not good for her or the inmates to see her like this. (Id.) Lt. Fresquez told Plaintiff that he could find her a job at the hospital. (Id. at 9.) Plaintiff stated that she did not think he was trying to discriminate against her, but he was trying to find her another job so that she did not have to be sexually harassed by Defendant Smyth. (Id. at 10.) Plaintiff told Lt. Fresquez that she did not want to go. (Id. at 14.) Plaintiff told the hearing officer that Lt. Fresquez did not retaliate against her. (Id.)
Lt. Fresquez's offer to assist Plaintiff to find a different position because he had noticed that she was having issues at the facility and he did not like to see her upset would not dissuade a reasonable
Regardless that these individual actions did not constitute adverse employment action, Plaintiff has presented sufficient evidence that she was subjected to a hostile work environment in retaliation for making complaints against the sexual harassment by Defendant Smyth to survive summary judgment.
The Ninth Circuit held in Ray that harassment as retaliation for engaging in protected activity is actionable where the harassment is "sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim's employment and create an abusive working environment." Ray, 217 F.3d at 1245 (quoting Harris, 510 U.S. at 21, 114 S.Ct. 367). Determining whether an environment is sufficiently hostile requires looking "to the totality of the circumstances, including the `frequency of the discriminatory conduct; its severity; whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, or a mere offensive utterance; and whether it unreasonably interferes with an employee's work performance.'" Ray, 217 F.3d at 1245 (citations omitted). The plaintiff must "prove that the conduct at issue was not merely tinged with offensive sexual connotations, but actually constituted `discrimina[tion] ... because of... sex.'" Oncale, 523 U.S. at 81, 118 S.Ct. 998 (emphasis in original).
"Conduct that is not severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively hostile or abusive work environment — an environment that a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive — is beyond Title VII's purview." Oncale, 523 U.S. at 81, 118 S.Ct. 998 (citations omitted). "To be actionable under Title VII, a sexually objectionable environment must be both objectively and subjectively offensive, one that a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive, and one that the victim in fact did perceive to be so." Kortan, 217 F.3d at 1110 (citations omitted).
Plaintiff states that Defendant Smyth began harassing her in October 2009 by overtly making unwelcome sexual advances and offensive sexual comments and innuendo. (Decl. of Irma B. Sanchez ¶ 4, ECF No 83.) Even on days when he was not assigned to work in her building he would come into her unit and make contact with her. (Id.) He would stare at her breasts and crotch area. (Id.) He would look her up and down and fasten his eyes on either her crotch or breasts. (Id.) Defendant Smyth made explicit comments about having sex with his wife, reminded Plaintiff to perform breast cancer checks at work and by calling her at home. (Id. at ¶ 5.) On more than one occasion, Defendant Smyth touched Plaintiff with his hands or pelvis in a sexual manner. (Id.) When Plaintiff sat on the bottom bunk during cell searches, Defendant Smyth would put his crotch in her face. (Id.) He would "slip" and rub up against her buttocks in the cell. (Id.) Defendant Smyth would stand in front of Plaintiff's desk and flick his tongue in and out as if simulating oral sex. (Id. at ¶ 12.) He told her that
Defendants point to the actions that were taken, such as encouraging Plaintiff to file a complaint against Defendant Smyth, changing his work station to avoid contact, and that Sgt. Lawton never told Plaintiff that she could not swap with other officers to avoid working with Defendant Smyth to show that steps were taken to protect Plaintiff from Defendant Smyth. However, Plaintiff has submitted evidence that despite the reassignment, Defendant Smyth made up excuses to come to where Plaintiff was working to seek her out to sexually harass her and Defendant CDCR was aware of this and did not take action to prevent this contact. The mere presence of an employee who has engaged in particularly severe or pervasive harassment can create a hostile work environment. Ellison v. Brady, 924 F.2d 872, 883 (9th Cir.1991).
In determining whether there was a hostile work environment, it is the conduct of the harasser that must be severe and pervasive. Ellison, 924 F.2d at 877. Officer Gaulden testified that Defendant Smyth was initially spacing his appearances in their building. (Gaulden Decl. at 92:2325.) But after nothing was done about Plaintiff's complaints, Defendant Smyth came around once or twice a week and toward the end of 2011, Defendant Smyth was showing up every chance he got and was chasing Plaintiff down. (Id. at 93:1-4; 156:13-16; 19-21.)
On November 9, 2011, Defendant Smyth came into the housing unit. (Id. at 21:12-23:14.) Plaintiff was supposed to be working that day and had called in sick so Officer Gaulden was in the office. (Id. at 26:4-25.) Defendant Smyth appeared at the window of the office and his eyes were rolled back, he was stroking his chin with his hand and he was flicking his tongue in and out as if suggesting oral sex. (Id. at 24:3-25:25.) When Defendant Smyth saw that it was Officer Gaulden at the desk he appeared surprised. (Id. at 26:4-25.) Officer Gaulden directly asked Defendant Smyth if he was stalking Plaintiff. (Id. at 23:11-17.)
Plaintiff testified that on the date that she refused to work with Defendant Smyth, he came to the window of her office, made eye contact, and mouthed something of which Plaintiff only understood "Bitch". (ECF No. 62-1 at 3-4.) Defendant Smyth came to the window with a Styrofoam cup with a straw in his hand. (Id. at 5.) He looked in the window and made eye contact with Plaintiff and began simulating oral sex on the straw and laughed. (Id.) Plaintiff's allegations that she was subjected to offensive comments, leering, unwelcome physical contact, and Defendant Smyth's actions simulating oral sex and the frequency and duration of the alleged conduct, if proven, are sufficient for a trier of fact to find that the conduct was objectively offensive.
Further, Officer Gaulden testified that when Defendant Smyth came around Plaintiff would be totally useless for the rest of the day. (ECF No 83 at 43:20-24.) She would get very emotional and sit in the office with the lights off crying. (Id. at 44:1-4.) She would not be of any assistance to Officer Gaulden putting him in a very precarious position. (Id. at 44:1-8.) Plaintiff has submitted evidence to show that she found the conduct to be offensive.
Plaintiff's allegations and the cease and desist memo suggest that although Sgt. Lawton was aware of Plaintiff's complaints that she was being sexually harassed by Defendant Smyth, she was expected to continue to work with him alone. See
Defendants also contend that Plaintiff cannot establish a causal connection between Plaintiff's protected activity and any adverse employment action. "Causation sufficient to establish the third element of the prima facie case may be inferred from circumstantial evidence, such as the employer's knowledge that the plaintiff engaged in protected activities and the proximity in time between the protected action and the allegedly retaliatory employment decision." Yartzoff v. Thomas, 809 F.2d 1371, 1376 (9th Cir. 1987).
Plaintiff filed a charge of discrimination with the DFEH and EEOC on March 8, 2011, after her complaints within the CDCR did not stop the alleged harassment by Defendant Smyth. (ECF NO. 83 at ¶ 4.) While Defendants argue that the time between Plaintiff filing complaints and their alleged lack of knowledge is sufficient to show lack of causation, Plaintiff's complaints to Sgt. Lawton on October 19, 2011 of the sexual harassment by Defendant Smyth were protected action covered by Title VII and the FEHA. Brooks, 229 F.3d at 928; see E.E.O.C. v. California Psychiatric Transitions, Inc., 644 F.Supp.2d 1249, 1278 (E.D.Cal.2009) (making complaints to officer of company about discriminatory practices is protected activity).
It is undisputed that within days of Lawton becoming the new program sergeant, Plaintiff informed him that she had filed a sexual harassment complaint against Defendant Smyth, and that she did not want to work with him alone. (U.F. 14.) At Plaintiff's request, Sgt. Lawton gave her permission to switch with other officers in the event she was expected to perform collateral duties with Defendant Smyth. (U.F. 21.) After Plaintiff refused to work with Defendant Smyth on October 19, 2011, Plaintiff alleges that Sgt. Lawton cut her off when she attempted to complain about the sexual harassment she was being subjected. (ECF No. 83 at ¶ 20.) Sgt. Lawton told Plaintiff to keep her mouth shut and that he did not have time to "babysit" to keep her away from Defendant Smyth. (Id. at ¶ 21.)
Less than a month after the incident, the action plan was developed which stated, "During all major recalls and releases you shall work cooperatively with all custody staff and walk the tiers to ensure all cell doors are closed." Within a short time of the incident, her co-workers were informed that they were no longer allowed to swap with her. Plaintiff alleges that she was placed on the steam line so that she had to work in the vicinity of Defendant Smyth who was in the kitchen. Sgt. Lawton's statement that he did not have time to "babysit" and the proximity in time of the action plan and Plaintiff's co-workers being informed they could no longer swap duties with Plaintiff to the October 19, 2011 incident are sufficient for a trier of fact to infer that Plaintiff was subjected to a hostile work environment because she complained about Defendant Smyth's sexual harassment. See Yartzoff, 809 F.2d at 1376 (transferring job duties within three months of filing first administrative complaint sufficient to infer causation for retaliation claim).
The burden now shifts to the Defendants to show that there was a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the challenged action. Davis, 520 F.3d at 1089. Defendants argue that there were legitimate business decisions for issuing the cease and desist order and the written counseling letter. However, the issue is whether there was a legitimate business decision for allowing Plaintiff to be subjected to a hostile work environment. Defendants have presented no argument or evidence on this issue. Defendants' have not met their burden to show that there was a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for subjecting Plaintiff to a hostile work environment. Accordingly, Defendants' motion for summary adjudication on Plaintiff's retaliation claims is denied.
Defendant Smyth moves for summary judgment on the sixth and seventh causes of action on the ground that he was not acting under color of state law. (ECF No. 60 at 28-30.) Plaintiff counters that Defendant Smyth's harassing conduct toward her took place while he was performing his duties as a correctional officer and Plaintiff would not have been required to submit to his sexual harassment but for the pretense of his authority under state law. (ECF No. 82 at 24-25.)
Section 1983 provides a cause of action for the violation of a plaintiff's constitutional or other federal rights by persons acting under color of state law. Nurre v. Whitehead, 580 F.3d 1087, 1092 (9th Cir. 2009); Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir.2006); Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir.2002). The issue to be addressed on this motion for summary judgment is whether Defendant Smyth was acting under color of law when he is alleged to have sexually harassed Plaintiff.
"The purpose of § 1983 is to deter state actors from using the badge of their authority to deprive individuals of their federally guaranteed rights." McDade v. West, 223 F.3d 1135, 1139 (9th Cir.2000). Generally, a public employee is acting under color of state law when acting in his official capacity or while exercising his responsibilities pursuant to state law. McDade, 223 F.3d at 1140. All actions that a government official takes are not state action simply by virtue of government employment. Johnson v. Knowles, 113 F.3d 1114, 1117 (9th Cir.1997).
There is no "rigid formula" to determine whether a public employee is acting under color of state law. Anderson v. Warner, 451 F.3d 1063, 1067 (9th Cir. 2006). While employment with the state is sufficient to render the defendant a state actor, whether he "is acting under color of state law turns on the nature and circumstances of the officer's conduct and the relationship of that conduct to the performance of his official duties." Anderson, 451 F.3d at 1068 (quoting Martinez v. Colon, 54 F.3d 980, 986 (1st Cir.1995)). Where the misuse of power that is possessed by virtue of state law and only possible because the actor is clothed with the authority of state law, the action is taken "under color of state law." United States v. Classic, 313 U.S. 299, 326, 61 S.Ct. 1031, 85 L.Ed. 1368 (1941). "It is firmly established that a defendant in a § 1983 suit acts under color of state law when he abuses the position given to him by the State." Anderson, 451 F.3d at 1068 (quoting West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 49-50, 108 S.Ct. 2250, 101 L.Ed.2d 40 (1988)). However, action that is not in any way related to the duties of the official is not under color of state law. Johnson, 113 F.3d at 1118.
Plaintiff does not cite any case finding that a co-worker acts under color of law when harassing another employee, but merely argues that the primary case relied on by Defendants, Dang Vang v. Vang Xiong X. Toyed, 944 F.2d 476 (9th Cir. 1991), rejected that very argument. In Dang Vang, the Ninth Circuit considered whether a public employee, whose job was to interview and find refuges suitable employment, was acting under color of state law when he allegedly raped several women. Id. at 478. The plaintiffs in Dang Vang alleged that the official raped them when they appeared for their interview, when he was supposed to be driving them to an interview, when assisting them to obtain a driver's license. (Id.) One plaintiff claimed that she was raped on sixteen occasions and each time it was on the pretext of a potential job opportunity. (Id.) The Dang Vang court looked to Murphy v. Chicago Transit Authority, 638 F.Supp. 464 (N.D.Ill.1986), a case in which a transit worker sued fellow employees under section 1983 for sexual harassment in the workplace. The issue in Murphy was whether the workers acted under color of law. 944 F.2d at 479.
The Murphy court stated that the defendants were only capable of harassing the plaintiff because their jobs enabled them to have frequent encounters and it could be said that their conduct was only made possible because of the authority given them by their state jobs and the exercise of that authority. Id. at 480. However, the Murphy court found that does not mean the employees acted under color of state law. Id. Action taken under color of state law must relate to the duties and powers incidental to the employees job. Id. To be related to state authority, the conduct must bear some similarity to the nature of the powers and duties assigned to the employees. Id. Because the defendants conduct in Murphy had nothing to do with, and bore no similarity to the nature of their jobs, they did not act under color of state law. Id.
Applying these principles, the Dang Vang court found that there was sufficient evidence that the defendant used his government position to exert influence and control over the women to sexually assault them. Id. As the defendant acted in abuse of his state authority in raping the plaintiff's his conduct was taken under color of
This action is distinguishable from Dang Vang. The official in Dang Vang used his position to assert authority over the plaintiffs. He was purporting to act in the performance of his duties to get the plaintiffs in a position where he was able to rape them. Plaintiff has not included any evidence that Defendant Smyth was purporting to act in the performance of his duties when he sexually harassing her or that he used his position to influence her behavior.
The Ninth Circuit considered a case similar to Dang Vang, in Anderson. In Anderson an off duty correctional officer was involved in an automobile accident and invoked his law enforcement status to keep bystanders from interfering with his assault on the driver of the other vehicle. 451 F.3d at 1065-66. The Ninth Circuit found that three elements must be satisfied to find that the officer was acting under the color of state law.
Anderson, 451 F.3d at 1068-69. The Ninth Circuit found that the first two elements were met because the officer stated that he was a law enforcement officer which caused the bystanders to not interfere. Id. at 1069.
In considering the third factor, whether the challenged conduct is related in some meaningful way to the officer's governmental status or performance of his duties, the Anderson court found it does not mean that the officer must be acting within the scope of his authority. Anderson, 451 F.3d at 1069. Related in some meaningful way just means "that the challenged conduct must have a sufficiently close relationship to the officer's "governmental status" or to "the performance of his duties."" Id. A key aspect of this factor is that the official must have invoked his actual status. Id. When the officer in Anderson told the bystanders that he was a law enforcement officer, he was invoking his governmental status, and hence, acting under the color of state law. Id.
Similarly, in McDade, an employee of the District Attorney's Office accessed a private database to obtain the address of her husband's ex-wife to serve her with a subpoena. 223 F.3d at 1138. The Ninth Circuit found that the defendant "acted under the pretense of state employment by asserting her state-authorized passcode to enter into the database." Id. at 1141. Because the act that she committed was related to her official duties, the defendant was acting under the color of state law. Id.
Several other circuits have also considered the issue. In deciding whether a police officer violated federal rights while
The court assessed the nature of the officer's conduct in light of the totality of the surrounding circumstances. Martinez, 54 F.3d at 987. The Martinez court found that the officer was not purporting to exercise under any power possessed by virtue of law, but was solely intent on a personal frolic, tormenting an acquaintance. Id. Martinez held that such conduct is not action under color of law. Id. The court stated that even if an argument was made that the conduct was possible solely because of the officer's status as a police officer, that would not be sufficient to find action under the color of state law. Id. at 987-88.
The Fourth Circuit considered whether school district employees acted under color of state law when they allegedly retaliated against another employee for testifying in a grand jury investigation by pretending to hang him. Hughes v. Halifax County School Bd., 855 F.2d 183, 184 (4th Cir. 1988). The plaintiff argued that this was state action "because he was accosted by county employees with retaliation in their eyes, on county land, with a county-owned rope, during work hours." Hughes, 855 F.2d at 186. The court found that cases where police officers and judges have been found to be acting under color of state law are distinguishable because those individuals were purporting to act under the authority vested in them by the state; and the acts were made possible because of the privileges of their employment. Id. at 186-87. They were literally clothed in the state power or acting behind badges. Id. at 187. The court held that the indicia of authority was not the same and if these actions amounted to state action then any state employee who commits a tort would have potentially violated section 1983, and such a result cannot be endorsed. Id.
In a case similar to this, Woodward v. City of Worland, 977 F.2d 1392 (10th Cir. 1992), the Tenth Circuit considered a claim that law enforcement officials were acting under color of state law when they sexually harassed a police dispatcher. The Tenth Circuit found that "[t]ypically, liability under the Equal Protection Clause for sexual harassment in the workplace is predicated upon some authority that the wrongdoer has over the victim. Otherwise, it is difficult to establish that the abusive action was perpetrated `under color of state law' rather than as an essentially private act of sexual harassment." Woodward, 977 F.2d at 1401.
The conduct at issue here is similar to Woodward, Martinez, Hughes, and Murphy, that one did not act under color of law, because Defendant Smyth was not purporting to act under his authority as a correctional officer nor were his actions meaningfully related to his duties as a
Applying the test set forth in Anderson, it is undisputed that Defendant Smyth was not Plaintiff's supervisor, nor is there any evidence that he had any actual authority over her. (U.F. 127.) It is also undisputed that sexual harassment is not within the duties of Defendant Smyth. (U.F. 127, 128.) The actions Defendant Smyth allegedly took in sexually harassing Plaintiff do not bear any similarity to the nature of the powers and duties assigned to correctional officers. Plaintiff has presented no evidence that Defendant Smyth was purporting to act under the authority invested in him by the State when he sexually harassed her or that his actions had a sufficiently close relationship to be related in some meaningful way to his governmental status or the performance of his duties. Anderson, 451 F.3d at 1069.
The conduct which Plaintiff was subjected to is not related in some meaningful way either to Defendant Smyth's governmental status or to the performance of his duties. Martinez, 54 F.3d at 987. The comments made by Defendant Smyth, the physical contact he made with Plaintiff, and the simulations of oral sex do not bear any similarity to the nature of the powers and duties assigned to a correctional officer. Dang Vang, 944 F.2d at 480. Based upon the evidence before this Court, Defendant Smyth was solely intent on a personal frolic, tormenting Plaintiff, Martinez, 54 F.3d at 987. He was essentially engaged in private acts of sexual harassment, and was not clothed with the authority of state law. Woodward, 977 F.2d at 1401.
The Court finds that Plaintiff has not met her burden of establishing that a genuine issue of material fact exists. Accordingly, the Court finds that Defendant Smyth was not acting under color of state law by engaging in the alleged conduct. See Woodward, 977 F.2d at 1401; Barfield v. Arizona, No. CV-90-00864-PHX-FJM, 2010 WL 3719221, *10 (D.Ariz. September 15, 2010) (finding actions not taken under color of state law in similar circumstances). As Defendant Smyth was not acting under color of state law while engaging in the alleged conduct, Defendants' motion for summary judgment on claims brought on claims six and seven under section 1983 is granted.
Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that;
IT IS SO ORDERED.
(Depo. of Rodney Anthony Gaulden, Sr. 44:15-20, ECF No. 77-1 at 9.) Officer Gaulden was questioned about a memorandum, and he testified:
(Id. at 101:20-:103:22.)
Officer Gaulden testified that Sgt. Lawton allowed them to swap out as long as the posts are covered. (Id. at 131:16-132: 8.) Officer Gaulden stated that Officer Benevides told him Sgt. Lawton said they could no longer swap out. (Id. at 132:9-11.)
