GEORGE J. HAZEL, United States District Judge.
This is a retaliation case brought by Francis Schmidt ("Ofc. Schmidt") and his wife Donna Schmidt (collectively, "Plaintiffs"), against Ofc. Schmidt's former employer, the Town of Cheverly, Maryland ("Defendant"). Ofc. Schmidt alleges that he was retaliated against because he exercised his rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., the Prince George's County Human Relations Ordinance, Prince George Cty Code § 2-185 et seq., the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act ("FEPA"),
Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 39, came before the Court for a hearing on June 30, 2016. See Loc. R. 105.6 (D. Md. 2016). For the reasons that follow. Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted in part and denied in part.
Having previously addressed in some depth the relevant facts when the Court considered Defendant's earlier Motion to Dismiss, or Alternatively, Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court will not repeat that discussion here. See Schmidt v. Town of Cheverly. Md., No. GJH-13-3282, 2014 WL 4799039 (D.Md. Sept. 25, 2014) ("Schmidt I"). Rather, the Court will only summarize those facts necessary to resolve the present motion.
Defendant, the Town of Cheverly, is a municipal government entity located in Prince George's County, Maryland. ECF No. 4 ¶ 3. Ofc. Schmidt was employed as a police officer by Defendant from sometime in 2008 until August 2012. ECF No. 42-1 ¶ 1. At all times relevant to this action, Chief Harry Robshaw had authority with regard to Cheverly Police Personnel policies. ECF No. 42-1 at 1; ECF No. 39-29 ¶ 2. In December 2008, Chief Robshaw "shoved a pool cue" under Mrs. Schmidt's dress at a Christmas party. ECF No. 42-3 ¶ 5. Mrs. Schmidt did not initially report the incident for fear that Chief Robshaw would retaliate against her husband. ECF No. 4 ¶ 15; ECF No. 42-2 ¶ 4.
On September 29, 2011, Ofc. Schmidt suffered a hernia while at work. ECF No.
Mrs. Schmidt filed a "charge of discrimination" with the Prince George's County Human Relations Commission (the "PGCHR Commission") on November 15, 2011. ECF No. 42-12. She alleged that Chief Robshaw sexually harassed her on several occasions beginning in December 2009. Id. On November 29, 2011 Ofc. Schmidt filed his own Charge of Discrimination with the PGCHR Commission asserting discrimination based on disability as well as retaliation. ECF No. 42-13. He stated that he suffered a work-related injury, namely, a hernia, that Chief Robshaw did not permit others to donate paid leave, that he had been aiding his wife in her sexual harassment complaints, and that he heard that the Chief was not going to permit him to return to work because of his wife's actions. Id.
When Ofc. Schmidt returned to work on December 5, 2011, he was informed that Defendant was investigating whether Ofc. Schmidt was involved in and failed to report a hit and run accident in the summer of 2011. ECF No. 39-31. In April 2012, Ofc. Schmidt was suspended based on the hit and run allegations. ECF No. 42-1 ¶ 35. When Ofc. Schmidt was eventually permitted to return to work, he was often not allowed to enter the building, and at one point, was assigned menial tasks. Id at ¶ 36.
According to several police officers, during staff meetings between 2008 and 2011, Chief Robshaw regularly stated that he would punish anyone who attempted to exercise their right to report unfair or unlawful practices by him or the police department. ECF No. 42-4 at ¶ 8; see also ECF No. 4. ¶ 11-12. He further stated that he would "stack the trial board" — the entity responsible for handling internal disciplinary actions — and would seek to "terminate" any such employees. ECF No. 42-4 ¶¶ 8-9.
A hearing before a trial board was held in July 2012 on a total of 26 charges relating to the damage to the police car and Ofc. Schmidt's alleged failure to report the accident involving the police vehicle. ECF No. 39-26 at 1. The trial board found Ofc. Schmidt guilty of making false statements to investigators and failing to disclose damage to the car. ECF No. 39-26 at 13-14. The trial board recommended a 40 hour suspension, a $1,000 fine and removal from the police car take home program. ECF No. 39-26 at 20. On August 28, 2012, Chief Robshaw increased the punishment and terminated Ofc. Schmidt's employment. ECF No. 39-27 at 5. Chief Robshaw indicated that he considered Ofc. Schmidt's past job performance and the entire record of the hearing in making his decision. ECF No. 39-27 at 1. Additionally, in consultation with the State Attorney's Office, Chief Robshaw found that because there had been a determination that Ofc. Schmidt had been deceitful, testimony he gave in court on police matters would be discredited, meaning that he could no longer fulfill his duties. Id at 2.
On September 21, 2012, the PGCHR Commission dismissed Ofc. Schmidt's November 29, 2011 charge of discrimination. ECF No. 13-10. The EEOC adopted the
Plaintiffs initiated this action on August 22, 2013 in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland. ECF No. 1. On November 4, 2013 Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint to reflect receipt of the second-right to sue letter that they received from the EEOC regarding the October 2, 2012 discrimination charge. ECF No 4. On November 4, 2013, Defendant filed a Notice of Removal to this Court. ECF No. 1. On September 25, 2014 the Court issued an Order granting in part and denying in part Defendant's Motion to Dismiss or Alternatively, Motion for Summary Judgment.
Following discovery, Defendant filed the presently pending Motion for Summary Judgment. ECF No. 39. Subsequently, Plaintiff filed an Opposition motion, ECF No. 42. and Defendant filed their reply, ECF No. 43. On June 30, 2016, the Court heard oral argument on the motion.
Summary judgment is appropriate if "materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations..., admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials," Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c), show 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); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of demonstrating that no genuine dispute exists as to material facts. Pulliam Inv. Co. v. Cameo Props., 810 F.2d 1282, 1286 (4th Cir.1987). If the moving party demonstrates that there is no evidence to support the non-moving party's case, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to identify specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548. A material fact is one that "might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law." Spriggs v. Diamond Auto Glass, 242 F.3d 179, 183 (4th Cir.2001) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986)). A dispute of material fact is only "genuine" if sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party exists for the trier of fact to return a verdict for that party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. However, the nonmoving party "cannot create a genuine issue of material
In his Amended Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that Chief Robshaw retaliated against him for exercising his rights under Title VII, FEPA and the Prince George's County Human Relations Ordinance by: (1) participating in the investigation of his wife's sexual harassment claim, and (2) complaining of his disability, namely, the hernia he suffered on September 29, 2011.
Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin," 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a), and its anti-retaliation provision serves to "prevent[] an employer from interfering (through retaliation) with an employee's efforts to secure or advance enforcement of the Act's basic guarantees." Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 63, 126 S.Ct. 2405, 165 L.Ed.2d 345, (2006); 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a). To properly state a prima facie claim of retaliation under Title VII, a plaintiff must demonstrate three elements: "(1) he engaged in a protected activity, (2) his employer acted adversely against him, and (3) the protected activity was causally connected to the adverse action." Clarke v. DynCorp Int'l LLC, 962 F.Supp.2d 781, 789 (D.Md.2013) (citations omitted).
Plaintiff's primary allegation of Title VII retaliation is that he was discriminated against because of his participation in his wife's sexual discrimination complaint. This claim fails because Plaintiff does not present any evidence regarding the first element, engagement in protected activity.
Title VII's retaliation provision protects employees who oppose "not only employment actions actually unlawful under Title VII but also employment actions [he or] she reasonably believes to be unlawful." Boyer-Liberto v. Fontainebleau Corp., 786 F.3d 264, 282 (4th Cir.2015). Claims based on participation in an investigation related to a Title VII claim have also been judged under the same reasonable belief standard. See e.g. Allen v. Ohio Dept of Job & Family Servs., 697 F.Supp.2d 854, 894 (S.D.Ohio 2010); Johnson v. Univ. of Cincinnati, 215 F.3d 561, 582 (6th Cir.2000). Thus, the question before the Court is whether Ofc. Schmidt could reasonably believe that sexual discrimination against his wife, who was not an employee of the Cheverly Police Department,
Although a retaliation claim may lie in the case of "third-party retaliation," the cases that have allowed such claims involved cases where both the person filing the discrimination complaint and the person adversely affected were employees or former employees of the same company. See, e.g., Thompson v. N. Am. Stainless, LP, 562 U.S. 170, 178, 131 S.Ct. 863, 178 L.Ed.2d 694 (2011) (holding that an employee who was terminated after his fiancée filed a charge of discrimination had standing to sue employer for retaliation where his fiancée was employed by the same company). By contrast, in Reece v. Pocatello/Chubbuck School District No. 25, a public school teacher claimed he was retailed against in violation of Title VII for reporting female students' allegations of sexual harassment by the school principal. 713 F.Supp.2d 1222, 1225 (D.Idaho 2010). In granting the school district's motion for summary judgment, the Court stated that the Plaintiff could not "establish he held a reasonable belief that Title VII had been violated" because "Title VII only proscribes discrimination against an individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment." Id. at 1233 (emphasis added). The Court went on state that Plaintiffs "good faith belief the students were covered under Title VII is not enough; it must also be reasonable" and Plaintiff "could not have reasonably believed that he had opposed an unlawful employment practice by reporting sexual harassment claims made by students, who clearly are not employees of the District — no matter how broadly Title VII is construed." Id.
Here, as in Reece, it was not reasonable for Ofc. Schmidt to believe that his participation in the sexual discrimination complaint of his spouse, who was not an employee of the Cheverly police department, created an actionable violation under Title VII.
Plaintiff also raises identical state law claims under FEPA and the Prince George's County Human Rights Ordinance.
Ofc. Schmidt also alleges that Defendant retaliated against him for filing a charge of discrimination based on disability. ECF No. 42 at 19-21; see also ECF No. ¶ 111-15. Insofar as Ofc. Schmidt argues that any alleged retaliation occurred based on an assertion of his rights' under federal law, his claim must fail. Disability is not a protected class under Title VII, which only protects employment discrimination based on "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin," 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2. and Ofc. Schmidt did not allege retaliation based on an assertion of his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. § 12112 et seq., which protects against employment discrimination based on disability, in his Amended Complaint.
Ofc. Schmidt does allege, however, retaliation for complaining of his disability in violation of FEPA and the Prince George's County Human Relations Ordinance, which do prohibit discrimination based on disability. See ECF No. 4 ¶ 111-15. Since Ofc. Schmidt has shown a genuine dispute of material fact regarding this claim of retaliation, the Defendant's motion for summary judgment is denied as to these claims.
As a preliminary matter, Defendant argues that Ofc. Schmidt's claims under the Prince George's County Human Relations Ordinance must fail as neither Ofc. Schmidt or his wife were residents of Prince George's County during the events in question. See ECF No. 39-2 at 28. Although Defendant cites to § 2-185 of the Prince George's County Code, which explains that the purpose of the Human Relations Commission is to eliminate discriminatory practices in the "areas of housing, employment, law enforcement, education, public accommodations, commercial real estate, and any other facets of the lives of its citizens where such practices may be found to exist," the law does not state that residency is a requirement to bring a suit. Prince George Cty Code § 2-185 (2016). Therefore, the Prince George's County Code applies to Ofc. Schmidt.
Turning to the merits of his claim, the language in the Prince George's County Code defines a physical handicap as an impairment which "substantial[ly] limits one or more ... major life activities", Prince George Cty Code § 2-186(d)(14.1), and, thus, tracks the language in the ADA defining a disability as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual." 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1)(A). Furthermore, Maryland courts have "traditionally [sought] guidance from federal cases in interpreting Maryland's FEPA." Eubanks v. Mercy Med. Ctr., Inc., No. CV WDQ-15-513, 2015 WL 9255326, at *7 (D.Md. Dec. 17, 2015). Thus, federal court discussion regarding claims of hernias, such as the one suffered by Plaintiff, as disabilities is relevant to the determination of Plaintiffs state law claims.
The ADA's retaliation provision specifies that "[n]o person shall discriminate against any individual because such individual ... made a charge ... under this chapter." 42 U.S.C. § 12203(a). "To establish a prima facie retaliation claim under the ADA, a plaintiff must prove (1) he engaged in protected conduct (2) he suffered an adverse action, and (3) a causal link exists between the protected conduct and the adverse action." Reynolds v. Am. Nat. Red Cross, 701 F.3d 143, 154 (4th Cir.2012). "When those elements are satisfied, the burden shifts to the employer to rebut the presumption of retaliation by articulating a legitimate non-retaliatory
Ofc. Schmidt's filing of an EEOC complaint on October 2, 2012 alleging retaliation for his November 29, 2011 complaint regarding disability discrimination satisfies the first element of his claim. ECF No. 42-14. Defendant argues that Ofc. Schmidt's hernia is not recognized as a disability under the ADA, ECF No. 39-2 at 20, and until recent years Defendant's position was clearly supported by relevant case law. See Lundberg v. Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co., No. CIV. 01-2286(DWF/JSM), 2003 WL 21402605, at *5 (D.Minn. June 17, 2003)(holding that Plaintiff's hernia condition was not sufficient to render her disabled under the ADA). However, Defendant's argument fails to take into account the 2008 Amendments to the ADA and the subsequent case law that has developed since that time. As the Fourth Circuit recently noted, the "ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) was intended to make it easier for people with disabilities to obtain protection under the ADA. The regulation clarifies that the primary object of attention in cases brought under the ADA should be whether covered entities have complied with their obligations and whether discrimination has occurred, not whether the individual meets the definition of disability." Jacobs v. N.C. Admin. Office of the Courts, 780 F.3d 562, 572 (4th Cir. 2015) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Specifically, under the ADAAA, "the term `substantially limits' [is to be] interpreted and applied to require a degree of functional limitation that is lower than the standard for `substantially limits' applied prior to the ADAAA." 29 C.F.R. § 1630.20(j) (iv)).
The issue of whether or not a hernia may qualify as a disability under the ADA, and parallel state laws, after the 2008 amendments is now an open question, with several federal district courts finding that it does qualify. See e.g. Bob-Maunuel v. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., 10 F.Supp.3d 854, 881 (N.D.Ill.2014)(finding that Plaintiff's hernia constituted a disability that substantially limited the major life activity of lifting); Butler v. BTC Foods, Inc., No. CIV. A. 12-0492, 2014 WL 336649, at *4 (E.D.Pa. Jan. 30, 2014)(holding that Plaintiff established for purposes of summary judgment a material question as to whether he was disabled because of hernia surgery). However, at least one federal court has found that it still does not qualify. See Brodzik v. Contractors Steel, Inc., 48 F.Supp.3d 1183, 1189 (N.D.Ind.2014)(finding that Plaintiff did not allege that his hernia was anything more than a one-time occurrence and thus not a substantial limitation in a major life activity). "Importantly, a plaintiff is not required to prove the conduct he opposed was actually an ADA violation. Rather, he must show he had a `good faith belief the conduct violated the ADA." Reynolds v. Am. Nat. Red Cross, 701 F.3d 143, 154 (4th Cir.2012)(internal citations omitted). Given the lack of clarity in the law, Ofc. Schmidt could reasonably believe that a hernia was covered under the ADA, and therefore, the FEPA and the Prince George's County Code. Thus, he was engaged in what he reasonably believed was protected activity and Ofc. Schmidt has established the first element of his prima facie case. In addition, Ofc. Schmidt easily establishes the second element of his prima facie case, adverse action, since it is uncontested that he was terminated on August 28, 2012. ECF No. 39-27 at 5.
The remaining dispute therefore is whether or not Ofc. Schmidt can satisfy
Defendant makes several arguments to challenge Plaintiff's causation claims. First, Defendant contends that "the absence of temporal proximity" between the EEOC filing and Ofc. Schmidt's termination negates Ofc. Schmidt's claim since Ofc. Schmidt filed his first EEOC complaint in November 2011 and was not fired until August 2012. ECF No. 39-2 at 23. But this ignores the fact that the investigation against Ofc. Schmidt, which would culminate in his eventual August 2012 termination, began the moment he returned to work on December 5, 2011. ECF No. 39-31.
Defendant next argues that because the Plaintiffs have alleged multiple theories for his termination, including that his termination was in retaliation for supporting his wife's sexual harassment charges and his pursuit of worker's compensation benefits, Ofc. Schmidt cannot establish but-for causation. ECF No. 39-2 at 24; see also Kern v. S. Baltimore Gen. Hosp., 66 Md.App. 441, 447-48, 504 A.2d 1154, 1157 (1986)(holding that employee must prove that the sole reason for their discharge was their filing of a worker's compensation claim to prevail on a claim of wrongful discharge under Maryland's Worker's Compensation Act). However, the assertion of multiple wrongful reasons for termination does not mean that Plaintiffs causation argument fails. See Ford v. Rigidply Rafters. Inc., 999 F.Supp. 647, 650 (D.Md.1998)(rejecting argument that employer could avoid liability since plaintiff alleged that his termination was in violation of both Title VII and the Maryland Worker's Compensation Act.)
Finally, Defendant argues that Chief Robshaw has a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for firing Ofc. Schmidt — that is that Ofc. Schmidt had been untruthful to an investigator in the LEOBR proceedings and the Chief was concerned about the impact that would have on the Department's reputation and the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office's ability to prosecute cases involving Ofc. Schmidt. ECF No. 39-27 at 3-5. In response, Ofc. Schimdt has submitted sworn affidavits from two of his fellow officers alleging that the investigation itself was a pre-textual retaliation for Ofc. Schmidt's allegations. ECF No. 42-4 at 4; ECF No. 42-5 at 4. As the Supreme Court has stated, "[i]n appropriate circumstances, the trier of fact can reasonably infer from the falsity of the explanation that the employer is dissembling to cover up a discriminatory purpose." Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing
Presented with this conflicting evidence, a reasonable fact finder could find that Ofc. Schmidt's filing of an EEOC claim based on his disability was a but-for cause of Defendant's adverse actions. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) ("the judge must ask himself not whether he thinks the evidence unmistakably favors one side or the other but whether a fair-minded jury could return a verdict for the plaintiff on the evidence presented"). Thus, Defendant's motion for summary judgment is denied as to Ofc. Schmidt's state law based disability retaliation claims.
In Count III of the Amended Complaint, Plaintiff asserts a claim under the common law tort of wrongful discharge, alleging that he was terminated in retaliation (a) for exercising his right to file a worker's compensation claim under the Maryland Worker's Compensation Statute and (b) for exercising his rights under the Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights ("LEOBR"). See ECF No. 4 ¶¶ 128-140. Even assuming that Plaintiff could establish a prima facie case of wrongful discharge, both of these claims are barred by governmental immunity.
The right to governmental immunity is "deeply ingrained in Maryland law and may not be waived in the absence of express or implied statutory authority." Williams v. Prince George's Cty., MD, 157 F.Supp.2d 596, 603 (D.Md.2001) (internal quotations and citations omitted). This right can be invoked by local governments, including municipalities such as Defendant.
The Local Government Tort Claims Act ("LGTCA"), Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. §§ 5-301-304, in turn, "requires the government to assume financial responsibility for a judgment against its employee by abolishing that immunity the government may have had against responsibility for the acts of its employees." Khawaja v. Mayor & City Council. City of Rockville, 598 A.2d 489, 494 (1991). However, the LGTCA "does not waive governmental immunity or otherwise authorize any actions directly against local governments." Livesay v. Balt. Cty., 384 Md. 1, 862 A.2d 33, 44 (2004) (internal citations omitted); see also Hoffman v. Balt, Police Dep't, 379 F.Supp.2d 778, 790 (D.Md.2005) (noting that "the LGTCA does not waive [governmental] immunity"). Therefore, absent a claim against an individual town employee such as Chief Robshaw, the Plaintiff's common law tort claim fails and
Finally, in Count IV, both Plaintiffs, Ofc. Francis Schmidt and Mrs. Schmidt, allege "harm to the marital unit" based on the "defendant's tortious conduct" and "indirectly by the financial and emotional strain to [Ofc. Schmidt] which has rendered him unable to participate in marital and family life and to provide the financial and emotional support he would have provided but for Defendant's wrongful conduct." ECF No. 4 ¶¶ 146.
As mentioned in Schmidt I "harm to the marital unit" is a tort not yet seen in Maryland. See Schmidt I, 2014 WL 4799039, at *13, n. 14, Plaintiffs' claim is better described as "loss of consortium," which is based on "a right to recover for an injury to the marital unit." See Gillespie-Linton v. Miles, 58 Md.App. 484, 473 A.2d 947, 949 (Md.Ct.Spec.App.1984). A claim of "loss of consortium" is a derivative claim, predicated on a finding of harm under the tort of wrongful discharge in Count III. Since the Court found that Defendant is entitled to summary judgment as to Count III, the Court must also find that the Defendant is entitled to summary judgment on the derivative claim of loss of consortium.
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 39, is granted in part and denied in part. Specifically, Defendant's Motion is granted with respect to Counts III and IV of the Complaint. ECF No. 4. With respect to Count II, Defendant's motion is granted as to Plaintiff's Title VII and state analogue claims and to Plaintiff's ADA claims, which were argued but not alleged in the Amended Compliant. However Defendant's motion is denied with respect to Plaintiff's EEO reprisal claims based upon his assertion of rights under state law in Count II regarding his disability. A separate Order follows.
