SUE E. MYERSCOUGH, District Judge.
On November 7, 2014, pro se Plaintiff Marion Makeda-Phillips filed her Fourth Amended Complaint against Defendants Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Denise Westnedge, and Misty Caskey (d/e 62). Now pending are Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (d/e 77), Defendants' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (d/e 81), and Defendants' Motion to Strike Plaintiff's Declaration (d/e 86).
The Motion to Strike Plaintiff's Declaration is GRANTED because the Declaration is neither an affidavit nor signed under penalty of perjury and the statements therein contradict Plaintiff's deposition testimony. Moreover, because Plaintiff has failed to produce evidence upon which a jury could find in her favor, Defendants' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED as to the federal claims, and Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED. The Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff's state law claims, and those claims are dismissed without prejudice.
Plaintiff began working in the Illinois Secretary of State's Office in 1988. In 2009, Plaintiff began working as an Operations Associate in the Administrative Hearings Department of the Secretary of State's office. Defendant Westnedge was Plaintiff's supervisor. Defendant Caskey was Westnedge's assistant and also functioned as one of Plaintiff's supervisors. Defendant White is the Illinois Secretary of State.
Plaintiff indicates in her Motion for Summary Judgment that she is bringing her Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claim only against her employer, Defendant White. She brings her remaining claims against Defendants Westnedge and Caskey in their individual capacities and Defendant White in his official capacity for prospective relief only. At the time of Plaintiff's deposition on December 17, 2014, Plaintiff was on sick leave but still employed by the Secretary of State's Office.
Plaintiff originally filed suit in November 2012. Plaintiff has several times requested the Court appoint her counsel.
On November 7, 2014, Plaintiff filed her Fourth Amended Complaint. Plaintiff raises numerous claims purportedly pursuant to Title VI, the ADA, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
In Count I, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to intervene to protect Plaintiff from violations of her civil rights and conspired together to violate her civil rights. Plaintiff alleges she was suspended twice, once for "not being fast enough to complete mail" and once for making too "many mistakes and not completing other duties as assigned." Fourth Am. Compl. (d/e 62, p. 5 of 20). Plaintiff alleges she performed her duties in a competent and satisfactory manner but that she was suspended and refused a transfer on account of her race and because of her "Americans with Disability" claims.
In Count II, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to intervene to protect Plaintiff from violations of her civil rights, conspired together to violate her civil rights, and breached a written contract by violating Secretary of State policies regarding oral and written warnings and suspensions. Plaintiff alleges she helped others with their job duties, but Plaintiff never received help.
In Count III, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to intervene to protect Plaintiff from violations of her civil rights, conspired together to violate Plaintiff's civil rights, and retaliated against Plaintiff when she asked for a transfer to a different department because Plaintiff went to the "human rights and equal employment office."
In Count IV, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to intervene to protect Plaintiff from violations of her civil rights, failed to provide Plaintiff with necessary medical care, and conspired together to violate one or more of Plaintiff's civil rights. Plaintiff also alleges Defendant White knew about the civil rights violations and ignored them. According to Plaintiff, Defendant White received numerous e-mails and a visit from union stewardess Pam Fernandez concerning Plaintiff's civil rights being violated and he ignored everything.
In Count V, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to intervene to protect Plaintiff from violations of her civil rights, failed to provide Plaintiff with necessary medical care, and conspired together to violate one or more of Plaintiff's civil rights. Plaintiff asked to be transferred to Chicago, but these requests were allegedly denied due to her race and disability. Plaintiff claims that Mary Tumulty received the Chicago position even though Plaintiff had more "years" and experience.
In Count VI, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to intervene to protect Plaintiff from violations of her civil rights and conspired together to violate one or more of Plaintiff's civil rights. Plaintiff asked for help processing the mail, but she was denied help several times. Plaintiff had to assist other job workers with their job duties. Plaintiff was threatened with discipline on December 1, 2010. Plaintiff also wrote in her Fourth Amended Complaint: "Discriminatory Workplace Harassment." Fourth Am. Compl. (d/e 62, p. 15 of 20). Plaintiff asserts she was threatened with discipline by "[D]efendant" on December 1, 2010 and that "Defendant instructed Plaintiff to put aside her job duties to help others with their job duties."
On October 14, 2014, Judge Schanzle-Haskins extended discovery to January 28, 2015 and extended the dispositive motion deadline to February 13, 2015. On December 17, 2014, Defendants deposed Plaintiff. When questioned about her claims, what happened, and what evidence she had, Plaintiff responded that she did not recall or did not remember. In fact, throughout the deposition, Plaintiff answered that she did not know, did not recall, or did not remember over 170 times.
One week later, on December 24, 2014, Plaintiff filed her Motion for Summary Judgment asserting that she is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. She supports her Motion with various documents, including unsworn statements, her suspension letters, e-mails, documents filed in the Illinois Human Rights Commission, earlier versions of Plaintiff's complaints, Plaintiff's request for a transfer and reasonable accommodation, and documents filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), such as the Charge of Discrimination and the Dismissal and Notice of Rights. Plaintiff also filed a Declaration (d/e 84).
On February 4, 2015, Defendants filed their response to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment and their Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (d/e 81). Defendants also filed a Motion to Strike Plaintiff's Declaration (d/e 86). Defendants seek summary judgment on the basis that Plaintiff has no evidence supporting any of the claims she makes against Defendants. Defendants also argue they are entitled to qualified immunity as to the § 1983 claims.
Defendants attached to their Motion the affidavits of Defendants Westnedge and Caskey, which provide the following information.
Westnedge holds the position of "Executive II" with the Illinois Secretary of State's Administrative Hearings Department. Westnedge Aff. ¶ 1, Defs.' Cross-Motion, Exhibit 2 (d/e 82-2). Westnedge supervised Plaintiff from 2009 through 2012.
Plaintiff's job duties included handling incoming mail, which involved opening envelopes, date-stamping correspondence, and sorting and distributing the mail to the correct individual or section.
On May 2, 2011, Plaintiff was orally warned as a form of discipline with respect to her deficiencies.
Westnedge asserts that Plaintiff's performance issues significantly impaired the efficient functioning of the office, resulting in delayed work and time taken away from supervisors and other employees' duties.
Defendant Caskey is a supervisor of the support services section of the Administrative Hearings Department. Caskey Aff. ¶¶ 1, 2, Defs.' Cross-Motion, Exhibit 3 (d/e 82-2). Caskey began working with Plaintiff in 2009.
Caskey worked with Westnedge to try to help Plaintiff address her performance issues.
After Defendants filed their Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court sent Plaintiff a notice that the motion had been filed and gave Plaintiff the following admonition:
On February 25, 2015, Plaintiff filed a response to Defendants' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (d/e 85). Plaintiff argues that Defendants distort the facts, that Plaintiff does not have a photographic memory of the events, and that there are genuine issues of material fact such that the Court should grant Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff attached a December 21, 2012 document from her psychiatrist, Dr. Obul Reddy, stating that Plaintiff "has decompensated" and that he advised her to go on a medical disability leave from work for six months.
On February 25, 2015, Plaintiff submitted what she titled a Declaration, although it is neither notarized nor sworn in conformance with 28 U.S.C. § 1746, which requires that a declarant declare "under penalty of perjury that the forgoing is true and correct."
In January 2010, three weeks after she began working in the Administrative Hearings Department, Plaintiff was told she was making too many mistakes and not working fast enough. Deputy Director Jay Mesi told Plaintiff he would write her up and get her fired. During another meeting, Mesi told Plaintiff his dog could process the mail better than she could. Defendants Westnedge and Caskey constantly claimed Plaintiff made errors and did not work fast enough, but no investigation was made into their claims. Defendants Westnedge's and Caskey's constant harassment caused Plaintiff's major depressive disorder. Plaintiff asked many times for a transfer to another Department.
Defendants ask the Court to strike Plaintiff's Declaration. Defendants assert that the Declaration purports to state Plaintiff's recollection of certain events. Aside from the fact that the Declaration contains a hearsay statement from a witness who was never disclosed as a possible witness and whose role in the events is not clearly identified, Defendants assert that Plaintiff cannot defeat a motion for summary judgment by contradicting deposition testimony with a later-filed contradictory affidavit.
Plaintiff responds to the Motion to Strike by stating additional facts (such as that "Jeanine Stroger failed to properly investigate all of Plaintiff's allegations of discrimination and harassment") and attaching additional documents.
The Court strikes the Declaration for two reasons. First, it is neither an affidavit nor a declaration as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c)(4) because it is not notarized or signed under penalty of perjury pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746.
Second, a party cannot generally create an issue of fact by submitting an affidavit that contradicts prior deposition testimony.
In this case, Plaintiff offers no reason why she could not remember any details about her claims at her deposition but could remember specifics about her claims a few months later in a Declaration. Her claim in her response to the Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment that she does not have a photographic memory does not explain why she remembered the details a few months after her deposition.
At her deposition, Plaintiff was asked who harassed her, who threatened her with discipline, how she was threatened, and when she was threatened. Dep. Tr. 37-38 (d/e 82-1). Plaintiff responded to each question that she did not remember or did not recall.
Plaintiff also stated in the Declaration that Defendants Westnedge and Caskey constantly claimed that Plaintiff made errors and was not working fast enough but no investigation was made. However, at her deposition, Plaintiff could not recall how Defendants Westnedge and Caskey discriminated against her and could not remember the extreme and outrageous conduct she claims to have suffered. Dep. Tr. 21, 27 (d/e 82-1).
Therefore, because the statements in the Declaration contradict Plaintiff's deposition testimony, the Motion to Strike is granted.
Summary judgment is proper if the movant shows that no genuine dispute exists as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). When ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must consider the facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, drawing all reasonable inferences in the nonmoving party's favor.
The movant bears the initial responsibility of informing the court of the basis for the motion and identifying the evidence the movant believes demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.
However, when the nonmovant bears the ultimate burden of persuasion on a particular issue, the movant need only show there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmovant's case.
The non-moving party cannot rest on the allegations in her complaint but must offer support for those allegations.
In addition, the court is only required to consider the material specifically cited to by the parties, although the court may consider other materials in the record. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3). Nonetheless, a district court is "not required to scour every inch of the record for evidence that is potentially relevant to the summary judgment motion."
The Court concludes that Plaintiff has not submitted admissible evidence to show that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that she is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. Similarly, Plaintiff has not pointed to admissible evidence that demonstrates that genuine issues of material fact exist that would require denying Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment.
Therefore, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiff's federal claims. The Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff's state law claims.
In her Fourth Amended Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants discriminated against Plaintiff due to her race and her disability. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges her two suspensions and the denials of requests for a transfer were due to race and disability discrimination.
To avoid summary judgment on a discrimination claim brought under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, or the ADA, the same requirements apply: the plaintiff must point to direct or circumstantial evidence of discriminatory motivation to create a triable issue (the direct method) or establish a prima facie case of discrimination under the
There are two ways a plaintiff can prove discrimination via the direct method: (1) direct evidence; and (2) circumstantial evidence.
Plaintiff has not presented evidence of an outright admission by Defendants that shows the challenged actions were taken because of Plaintiff's race or alleged disability. Moreover, Plaintiff has not pointed to any evidence or made any argument that there is circumstantial evidence that points to a discriminatory reason for the suspensions and denial of a transfer. Therefore, Plaintiff cannot show a triable issue exists under the direct method.
Plaintiff can also survive a motion for summary judgment by using the indirect method of proof. To do so, Plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case by establishing (1) she was a member of a protected class; (2) she was meeting the employer's legitimate expectations; (3) she suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) other similarly situated employees who were not members of the protected class were treated more favorably.
Defendants argue that Plaintiff has no admissible evidence to establish a prima facie case of race or disability discrimination. The Court agrees.
Even assuming Plaintiff could prove the other elements of her prima facie case, a matter the Court does not decide, Plaintiff has not shown that similarly situated coworkers were treated more favorably. A plaintiff need not produce a "clone".
No such evidence is presented here. Plaintiff has not presented any admissible evidence of similarly situated white or nondisabled employees who engaged in similar conduct but were not disciplined or who received a transfer.
At her deposition, Plaintiff was asked if any white employees were treated more favorably than she was treated. Plaintiff responded, "I do not remember." d/e 82-1 p. 27. Nonetheless, Plaintiff submitted an Affidavit dated April 10, 2012 to the State of Illinois Human Rights Commission, which she attaches as Exhibit 26 to her Motion for Summary Judgment. In that Affidavit, Plaintiff asserted that Joyce Byrd, Linda Hawks, and George Teator told Plaintiff that Dawn Meyer and Mary Schnapp, white employees who had the job before Plaintiff, did not complete the mail on a daily basis and received help in completing the mail. Ex. 26 ¶¶ 8, 9. However, this statement is hearsay and not admissible.
Plaintiff suggests that other employees received help with the mail, and she did not receive help. However, she provides no other information about these employees to show that they were similarly situated to Plaintiff.
Plaintiff attaches to her Motion for Summary Judgment an e-mail referencing a going-away party for Mary Tumulty, who accepted a transfer to the Chicago office.
Even if Plaintiff could establish a prima facie case of race or disability discrimination, Defendants have offered a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for their actions.
Because Defendants articulated a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for their actions, Plaintiff must show pretext. The focus of the pretext inquiry is whether the stated reason is honest, not whether the decision is accurate or wise.
Similarly, to the extent Plaintiff alleges a racial harassment claim, Plaintiff has not pointed to evidence of harassment that is race-based, severe, or pervasive.
The Seventh Circuit has not yet decided whether a hostile work environment claim is actionable under the ADA.
Therefore, because Plaintiff has failed to present evidence demonstrating a genuine issue of material fact exists, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiff's discrimination and harassment claims.
Plaintiff also alleges in her Fourth Amended Complaint that she was retaliated against because she "went to" the Human Rights Commission and EEOC. Plaintiff attached to her Motion for Summary Judgment a document from the EEOC, showing a date of filing as March 29, 2011. Pl.'s Mot. for Summ. J., Attachment (d/e 77-4 p. 10 of 15). Plaintiff also attached documents relating to the Illinois Human Rights Commission, one of which suggests a date of filing of July 2011 and one of which suggests a date of filing after August 2012.
A claim of retaliation, whether under Title VII or the ADA can be proved using the direct or indirect method of proof described above.
Under the direct method, Plaintiff has to present direct or circumstantial evidence that she was retaliated against because she engaged in protected activity. Under the indirect method, Plaintiff has to show (1) that she engaged in protected activity, such as filing a charge of discrimination; (2) that she performed her job satisfactorily; (3) that she suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) that she was treated less favorably than other similarly situated employees who did not engage in protected activity.
As the Court found with respect to Plaintiff's claims of race and disability discrimination, the Court finds Plaintiff has not pointed to any direct or circumstantial evidence that she was retaliated against because she engaged in a protected activity. Similarly, Plaintiff has not pointed to evidence that she was treated less favorably than other similarly-situated employees who did not engage in protected activity. Finally, Plaintiff has not provided any evidence to rebut as pretext Defendants' stated reason for the employment actions that Plaintiff was not performing her job duties satisfactorily and was not qualified for the position of Operations Associate. Therefore, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiff's retaliation claims.
Plaintiff also alleges that her employer, Defendant White, failed to provide a reasonable accommodation in the form of a transfer in violation of the ADA. The proper defendant in an ADA claim is the plaintiff's employer, and supervisors are not personally liable under the ADA.
The ADA prohibits employment discrimination against disabled employees. Discrimination includes failing to make "reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability." 42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(5)(A).
An individual is disabled under the ADA if she (1) has "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (2) has "record of such an impairment"; or (3) is "regarded as having such an impairment." 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1). Plaintiff bases her claim on the first definition.
To defeat Defendants' motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff must present the Court with evidence that, if believed by the trier of fact, would establish the elements of her claim.
Defendant White asserts that Plaintiff has submitted no admissible evidence that she suffered from depression. Defendant White also asserts that Plaintiff has not demonstrated in the record that her depression substantially limits her ability to perform a major life activity. Finally, Defendant White argues that the failure to be able to work with a particular supervisor does not establish that Plaintiff is disabled. Defendant White notes that the significance of the documents Plaintiff submits are not explained and the documents are not accompanied by any evidentiary foundation with respect to their authenticity.
The Court agrees with Defendant White that many of the documents Plaintiff attaches to her pleadings are not authenticated.
Even assuming Plaintiff suffers from depression, merely having a medical condition is not enough for Plaintiff to be considered disabled.
Depending on the severity, depression can cause a substantial limitation on a major life activity.
Major life activities include "caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working." 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A). A major life activity also includes "the operation of a major bodily function," including neurological and brain functions. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(B).
Although the mental or physical impairment must "substantially limit" a major life activity for an individual to be considered disabled, the 2008 amendments to the ADA clarified that the term "substantially limit" should be broadly construed in favor of expansive coverage.
Even under this broader definition of "substantially limits," Plaintiff has presented no evidence to support her claim that her depression substantially limits one or more major life activities. When asked in her deposition to describe her major depressive disorder, Plaintiff responded, "I do not recall." Page 29;
Defendants tried to question Plaintiff during her deposition about how her physical or mental impairment substantially limited one or more major life activities. She testified she could drive, read, and did not have any problem with her eyesight (except that she wore glasses). Dep. Tr. 23. Plaintiff could not recall whether, at the time in question, she could wash dishes, make a bed, make meals, comb her hair, brush her teeth, bathe herself, or go to the bathroom without assistance.
The Court notes that Plaintiff is currently on sick leave from her job (according to Plaintiff's deposition testimony). Dep. Tr. at 16. But the Court does not have additional information about Plaintiff's sick leave. Plaintiff did not remember how long she had been on sick leave and only stated she was under the care of a therapist or psychiatrist.
Plaintiff also submitted with her Motion for Summary Judgment a document that suggests Plaintiff did not have any restrictions. The Request for Reasonable Accommodation form completed by Plaintiff's physician indicates that Plaintiff had no work or job restrictions except that she needed to work for a different supervisor.
Therefore, the Court finds Defendant White is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiff's ADA failure-to-accommodate claim.
Because the federal claims are dismissed, the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff's state law claims of breach of contract and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.