DALE A. DROZD, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff, Genesther Taylor, is proceeding in this action pro se. This matter was referred to the undersigned in accordance with Local Rule 302(c)(21) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The action came before the court on December 19, 2014, for hearing of defendant's motion to dismiss brought pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (hereinafter "Rule"). Attorney Kenneth Jones appeared telephonically on behalf of the defendant and plaintiff Genesther Taylor appeared in person on her own behalf. Argument was heard and defendant's motion was taken under submission.
For the reasons set forth below, the undersigned will recommend that defendant's motion to dismiss be granted in part.
Plaintiff commenced this action on November 12, 2013, by filing a complaint and a request to proceed in forma pauperis. (Dkt. Nos. 1 & 2.) On March 28, 2014, the undersigned issued an order granting plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis and dismissing plaintiff's complaint with leave to amend. (Dkt. No. 4.) In that order, the undersigned noted that it appeared that this action may be barred by the applicable statute of limitations and directed plaintiff to address the timeliness issue as well as the applicability of any tolling in any amended complaint. (
In her second amended complaint, plaintiff alleges that from August of 1980 until November 1, 2006, plaintiff was employed by the defendant, the California Department of Technology Services. (Sec. Am. Compl. (Dkt. No. 6) at 2.) On or about November 17, 1999, plaintiff "contacted Cal-OSHA and reported" that plaintiff and a number of her co-workers became ill as a result of "an odor coming from the COM room." (
Thereafter, and until her dismissal in 2006, plaintiff "endured harassment from employees and management," which plaintiff has recounted throughout her second amended complaint. (
On August 18, 2014, the undersigned issued an order directing service of plaintiff's second amended complaint on the defendant. (Dkt. No. 7.) On November 6, 2014, defendant filed the motion to dismiss now pending before the court. (Dkt. No. 9.) Plaintiff filed an opposition on December 11, 2014, (Dkt. No. 17), and defendant filed a reply on December 12, 2014.
The purpose of a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) is to test the legal sufficiency of the complaint.
In determining whether a complaint states a claim on which relief may be granted, the court accepts as true the allegations in the complaint and construes the allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.
In ruling on a motion to dismiss brought pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the court is permitted to consider material which is properly submitted as part of the complaint, documents that are not physically attached to the complaint if their authenticity is not contested and the plaintiff's complaint necessarily relies on them, and matters of public record.
The only allegations found in the second amended complaint that provide a basis for this court's original jurisdiction are with respect to the second amended complaint's claims arising under Title VII. (Sec. Am. Compl. (Dkt. No. 6) at 20-26.) Defendant's motion seeks dismissal of those claims on the grounds that plaintiff did not timely file this action.
"Discrimination claims under Title VII ordinarily must be filed with the EEOC within 180 days of the date on which the alleged discriminatory practice occurred."
Here, in her second amended complaint plaintiff alleges that the discrimination at issue occurred no later than November 1, 2006, when plaintiff's employment was terminated. (Sec. Am. Compl. (Dkt. No. 6) at 2.) Plaintiff also alleges that on July 12, 2007, she timely filed a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the California agency that enforces its discrimination laws, and that she received her right-to-sue letter on August 16, 2007. (
The second amended complaint's Title VII claims, therefore, are barred by the statute of limitations and are subject to dismissal.
Accordingly, the undersigned finds that defendant's motion to dismiss the second amended complaint's Title VII claims should be granted.
For the reasons stated above, the undersigned has found that the second amended complaint's claims that provide the purported basis for the court's subject matter jurisdiction over this action should be dismiss. The undersigned has carefully considered whether plaintiff could further amend the complaint to state a timely claim over upon which relief could be granted. "Valid reasons for denying leave to amend include undue delay, bad faith, prejudice, and futility."
As noted above, in addition to the federal cause of action addressed above, plaintiff's second amended complaint asserts a number of state law causes of action. A district court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims if the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). The court's discretion to decline jurisdiction over state law claims is informed by the values of judicial economy, fairness, convenience, and comity.
Of course, "primary responsibility for developing and applying state law rests with the state courts."
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff's November 24, 2014 motion for clarification (Dkt. No. 13) is denied without prejudice;
2. Plaintiff's November 25, 2014 motion for clarification (Dkt. No. 14) is denied without prejudice; and
3. Plaintiff's December 11, 2014 motion to vacate (Dkt. No. 18) is denied without prejudice.
IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED that:
1. Defendant's November 6, 2014 motion to dismiss (Dkt. No. 9) be granted in part;
2. The second amended complaint's claims brought pursuant to Title VII be dismissed without leave to amend;
3. The court decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the second amended complaint's various state law claims; and
4. This action be closed.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within seven days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order.