ROSEMARY M. COLLYER, District Judge.
Ekram Siddique worked as a sales associate for Hecht's and its successor, Macy's, for many years. In 2009, he was working in Men's Suits at Macy's in downtown D.C. and often arrived for work 15 minutes late because he stayed with his youngest child while his wife took the other children to school. When a new director of human resources came to the store, Mr. Siddique's habitual tardiness became an issue, and Macy's warned him three times that he could no longer be late. Because he believed that he could not change his childcare obligations, Mr. Siddique asked to work a part-time shift in the evening hours. He did not accept either of the two part-time positions Macy's offered him and was separated from employment. Mr. Siddique now sues Macy's, on his own without a lawyer, claiming violations of the D.C. Human Rights Act and the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act.
Ekram Siddique is a foreign born citizen of the United States who speaks with an accent that is "noticeably Indian." Compl. [Dkt. 1-1] ¶¶ 2-4. He began working for Hecht's in August 1990 and, in 2006, worked at the Hecht's store in Friendship Heights, Maryland, just over the line from the District of Columbia. Id. ¶¶ 12-13; Resp. to Def. Statement of Undisputed Facts (Resp. to SUF) [Dkt. 28] ¶ 1. After Macy's acquired Hecht's in August 2006, the store in Friendship Heights closed, and Mr. Siddique moved to the Macy's store at Metro Center in downtown D.C. as a sales associate in the Men's Suits Department. Compl. ¶¶ 14-15; Def. Statement of Undisputed Facts (SUF) [Dkt. 23] ¶ 2. Macy's paid him on commission at a rate that averaged approximately $30/hour if paid on an hourly basis. Compl. ¶¶ 17-18; SUF ¶ 3. His performance reviews were excellent and over the course of his career he received numerous awards in recognition of his customer service. See Pl. Opp., Ex. 7 (Annual Reviews) [Dkt. 28-1].
Mr. Siddique has four children, born between 2000 and 2007. Compl. ¶ 20. In 2009, the time of the events here, his youngest son was two years old and suffered from medically-diagnosed behavioral problems. Compl. ¶ 21; Resp. to SUF ¶ 9. As a result, Mr. Siddique stayed with his youngest child while his wife took the other three children to school in the morning; this practice made him periodically arrive late for work. Resp. to SUF ¶¶ 6, 9. That is, instead of arriving at 9:30 when sales associates were due to start work, he would arrive closer to 9:45, which was still before the store actually opened at 10:00 A.M. but late to straighten the merchandise for the day. Id.
In early September 2009, Mr. Siddique had an argument with a fellow sales associate during which Mr. Siddique said to him, "we didn't come from the jungle." Resp. to SUF ¶ 14. The other man, a native of Senegal, considered this an insult and reported it to HR. SUF ¶ 14. Mr. Siddique states that his comment has been taken out of context and his statement meant only that he hoped to resolve their dispute amicably.
Def. Mot., Ex. 1(D) (Decision-Making Leave form) [Dkt. 23-5]. Decision-Making Leave is the final step in Macy's progressive discipline process and calls for an employee to absent himself on his next scheduled shift to decide whether he wants to continue to work for Macy's, i.e., work within its rules and policies. If the employee wants to remain at Macy's, he must then inform Macy's in writing how he plans to commit to meeting Macy's expectations. Younger Decl. ¶¶ 9, 10; Anninos Decl. ¶ 6. "An associate needs to make a written commitment following the Decision-Making Leave in order to work his next shift." Younger Decl. ¶ 10. Mr. Siddique consulted with his Union representatives, in-store Shop Steward Kelly Boddie and Union Representative Diettra Lucas. Mr. Siddique told Ms. Boddie that "he could not commit to arriving at work on time for his full-time schedule because he had to watch his baby while his wife took his other children to the bus stop in the morning." Def. Mot., Ex. 4 (Boddie Decl.) [Dkt. 23-13] ¶ 4.
Mr. Siddique and Ms. Boddie met with Ms. Anninos on September 22, 2009, to discuss Mr. Siddique's commitment in response to the Decision-Making Leave form. Ms. Boddie and Ms. Anninos both declare that Mr. Siddique never mentioned any medical condition of his youngest child. Boddie Decl. ¶ 9; Anninos Decl. ¶¶ 12, 13. Mr. Siddique admits that he "said during the meeting on 22nd September 2009 that It [sic] was not feasible to commit to arriving at work, sometime on time, when Macy's Management ... denied me 15 minute grace period that I requested for my for [sic] childcare needs." Resp. to SUF ¶ 21 (emphasis added). Ms. Anninos asked Mr. Siddique for his commitment letter so that he could return to work. Boddie Decl. ¶ 5. Mr. Siddique submitted a handwritten letter suggesting that he change from a full-time position to a part-time position in Men's Suits, working in the evenings so that he could "be on time by catching train early forty five minute [sic] from my schedule." Pl. Opp., Ex. 4 (Decision-Making Leave letter) [Dkt. 28-1].
At this point there is disagreement as to what Macy's offered to Mr. Siddique. Macy's says it offered him a choice of two part-time positions. The first was a commissioned sales position in Ladies' Shoes, which Macy's states has a commission rate of 11%, compared to the 7.8% commission rate in Men's Suits. The second position was an hourly sales associate position in Domestics at his average hourly rate of roughly $30/hour, despite the normal pay range in that department between $8.80 and $17.50/hour. Younger Decl. ¶ 23. Ms. Boddie remembers that Macy's told Mr. Siddique that there was no part-time position in Men's Suits and that the only open part-time positions were in Ladies Shoes and Domestics but "[t]here was no discussion about what the pay rate would be in either of those positions." Boddie Decl. ¶ 5. Mr. Siddique disputes the rate at which Macy's claims it offered to pay him in either of the part-time positions Macy's offered him, but there is no dispute that Macy's offered two open part-time jobs to him. Resp. to SUF ¶ 27.
Mr. Siddique filed a complaint in D.C. Superior Court on September 7, 2010. On November 23, 2010, Macy's removed the case to this Court.
Under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment must be granted when "the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(a); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Moreover, summary judgment is properly granted against a party who "after adequate time for discovery and upon motion ... fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must draw all justifiable inferences in the nonmoving party's favor and accept the nonmoving party's evidence as true. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. A nonmoving party, however, must establish more than "[t]he mere existence of a scintilla of evidence" in support of its position. Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
Summary judgment is an effective and efficient way to resolve a case when there are no material facts in dispute. There are many facts relevant to this case that
Mr. Siddique raises four claims: (1) discrimination based on national origin in violation of the D.C. Human Rights Act (DCHRA), D.C. Code § 2-1401 et seq., (2) discrimination based on family responsibilities in violation of the DCHRA, (3) discrimination in violation of the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA), D.C. Code. § 32-501 et seq., and (4) retaliation for seeking reasonable accommodation in violation of the DCHRA and the DCFMLA. The Court will grant Macy's motion for summary judgment.
Mr. Siddique's first two claims allege violations of the DCHRA. The DCHRA makes it unlawful for an employer to discharge an individual "wholly or partially for a discriminatory reason" based upon, inter alia, "national origin" or "family responsibilities." D.C. Code § 2-1402.11(a)(1). The DCHRA is interpreted consistently with similar terms in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. See Arthur Young & Co. v. Sutherland, 631 A.2d 354, 361 n. 17 (D.C.1993) (explaining that the court looks to Title VII cases when construing the DCHRA). Courts use the three-part, burden-shifting test set forth by the Supreme Court for Title VI I cases in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973), when considering discrimination claims under the DCHRA. Wallace v. Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 57 A.3d 943, 955-56 (D.C.2012).
This test first requires a plaintiff to establish a prima facie case of discrimination by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. To establish a prima facie case of discriminatory discharge under the DCHRA, a plaintiff must show that: (1) he is a member of a protected class; (2) he was qualified for the position from which he was terminated; (3) he was terminated in spite of his qualifications for the position; and (4) a substantial factor for the termination was that he is a member of the protected class. Id. Once a plaintiff makes out a prima facie case, raising a rebuttable presumption of unlawful discrimination, the burden shifts to the defendant to rebut the presumption by articulating a "legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason" for its action. Id. (quoting McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802, 93 S.Ct. 1817). If the defendant offers evidence "from which the trier of fact can conclude that its action was not motivated by a discriminatory reason," the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant's proffered reason was a pretext to hide an unlawful discriminatory purpose. Id.
Mr. Siddique alleges that he was unlawfully removed from his position due
Mr. Siddique also alleges that Macy's violated the DCHRA when it removed him from his position "primarily due to his duties to care for his son." Compl. ¶ 97. As an initial matter, the Court notes that Mr. Siddique insists that he informed Macy's that his child required his attendance in the morning because of a health condition,
Local courts in the District of Columbia tend to give broad and generous interpretations to the DCHRA. "The DCHRA was passed to `underscore the Council's intent that the elimination of discrimination within the District of Columbia should have the highest priority.'" Exec. Sandwich Shoppe, Inc. v. Carr Realty Corp., 749 A.2d 724, 732 (D.C.2000) (quoting Dean v. District of Columbia, 653 A.2d 307, 319 (D.C.1995)). Executive Sandwich held that a lessee could sue its landlord under the DCHRA for discriminatorily refusing to allow assignment of a lease to Koreans. In that case, the plaintiff "allege[d] a direct harm to its [own] pecuniary interests," even though it was not the target of discrimination. Id. at 730. This result derived from precedent in the D.C. Court of Appeals that "the DCHRA is a remedial civil rights statute that must be generously construed." Id.; see also Wallace v. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, 715 A.2d 873, 889 (D.C.1998) (broadly construing DCHRA to allow suit against individual law firm partners).
The DCHRA does not have totally expansive limits, however. In dismissing a
However, the District of Columbia has adopted its own Family and Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA). See D.C. Code § 32-501 et seq. As relevant, the DCFMLA requires employers to provide 16 weeks of unpaid time off during a 24-month period for an employee to care for a family member with a serious health condition. See id. § 32-502(a)(4). If an employee qualifies for such leave, it can be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule when medically necessary for the family member with a serious health condition. See id. § 32-502(c). The District has also adopted a Parental Leave Act, allowing parents to take leave to attend school-related events, such as concerts, plays, sporting events, and parent-teacher conferences. See D.C. Code § 32-1201 et seq. The fact that these laws specifically protect qualified parents with sick children and children with school activities, counsels against reading the DCHRA to cover the same situations.
It is ultimately not necessary to decide whether Mr. Siddique's childcare responsibilities would be deemed protected under the DCHRA by D.C. courts because the record does not support Mr. Siddique's allegation that he was discriminated against because of these responsibilities. Macy's offers two kinds of legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for the disciplinary action resulting in his departure. First, Mr. Siddique was repeatedly late for work; he received multiple warnings that his tardiness did not comply with Macy's expectations. Indeed, in the September 22, 2009 meeting, Mr. Siddique informed Macy's that he could not commit to arriving on time in the future in his current position. Mr. Siddique's statement during his altercation with his fellow sales associate constituted an additional nondiscriminatory reason for Macy's to evaluate his continued employment as a sales associate in Men's Suits. Second, Mr. Siddique rejected the two part-time positions that Macy's offered him. See Luhrs v. Newday, LLC, 326 F.Supp.2d 30, 34 (D.D.C.2004) ("In addition, Ms. Luhrs's rejection of S & H's revised work schedule provides the defendants with `a legitimate non-discriminatory reason for the cessation of [her] employment.'"). Macy's offered Mr. Siddique a choice of a commission-pay part-time position in Ladies' Shoes or an hourly-pay part-time position in Domestics. Mr. Siddique declined both offers, understanding that "he would be resigning his employment with Macy's" and "he was not going to have a job." Boddie Decl. ¶¶ 6, 7. Mr. Siddique does not dispute the factual bases for these legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons.
Further, Mr. Siddique has not established that these reasons were mere pretext for discrimination due to his childcare responsibilities. Mr. Siddique has not provided sufficient evidence to conclude that Macy's provided other sales associates with flexible schedules for reasons not pertaining to family responsibilities but denied him his requested 15-minute grace period because of his childcare responsibilities. Although Mr. Siddique asserts that
In Count III, Mr. Siddique asserts a violation of the DCFMLA arising from Macy's failure "to accommodate [his] needs to care for his child's medically diagnosed issue" and its termination of him because he was regularly late. Compl. ¶ 103. As explained above, the DCFMLA requires employers to provide 16 weeks of unpaid time off during a 24-month period for an employee to care for a family member with "a serious health condition." D.C. Code § 32-502(a)(4). When the necessity for leave is foreseeable, the law requires the employee to "[p]rovide the employer with reasonable prior notice of the medical treatment or supervision." Id. § 32-502(g)(1). The DCFMLA prohibits any person from "interfere[ing] with, restrain[ing], or deny[ing] the exercise of or the attempt to exercise any right provided by the [DCFMLA]." Id. § 32-507(a). Further, the law makes it unlawful for an employer to discharge or discriminate against any person because the person opposes any practice proscribed by the law. Id. § 32-507(b)(1).
Mr. Siddique's DCFMLA claim cannot survive summary judgment because he has failed to establish that his child's medical condition constitutes a "serious health condition" under the DCFMLA.
In Count IV, Mr. Siddique alleges that Macy's retaliated against him in violation of the DCHRA by removing him from his position "only after he sought reasonable accommodations" and opposed discrimination prohibited by the DCHRA.
Mr. Siddique has not made out a prima facie case for retaliation under the DCHRA. Mr. Siddique cites as bases for protected activity his report of discrimination in 2007 and his request for accommodation on account of his family responsibilities.
It is unlikely that the DCHRA extends its reach to Mr. Siddique's request for "accommodation" to care for his son.
For the foregoing reasons, Macy's Motion for Summary Judgment [Dkt. 23] will be granted, and judgment will be entered in favor of Macy's. A memorializing Order accompanies this Opinion.
Def. Mot., Ex. 1 (Younger Decl.) [Dkt. 23-1] ¶ 14; id., Ex. 1(A) (Reminder One) [Dkt. 23-2]. Reminder Two was issued on August 5, 2009. It had the same format. Its third paragraph read: "Your performance/conduct is not meeting Macy's expectation(s). Specifically: On June 22, 2009, we discussed Ekram's tardiness. Since then Ekram has been tardy 8 times. Macy's policy is more than 7 tardies in a 90 day period results in disciplinary actions." Def. Mot., Ex. 1(B) (Reminder Two) [Dkt. 23-3].