HURLEY, Senior District Judge:
Plaintiff Patrick Delia commenced this action alleging that his former employer, the United States Postal Service (the "Postal Service"), violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. ("Title VII"), by discriminating against him based upon his national origin and by retaliating against him because he filed administrative complaints of discrimination.
The material facts, drawn from the Amended Consolidated Complaint and the parties' Local Civil Rule 56.1 Statements, are undisputed unless otherwise noted.
Plaintiff is of Italian national origin. He began working for the Postal Service in
In addition to JFK, plaintiff worked at, inter alia, two other Postal Service facilities: the Western Nassau Processing and Distribution Center in Garden City, New York ("Western Nassau") between 1989 and 1999, and the Hempstead Main Post Office in Hempstead, New York ("Hempstead") from 2000 through 2004. Plaintiff retained his MPE mechanic title throughout this time period. His employment with the Postal Service ultimately came to an end in April 2004.
Stephen Vertescher served as the Supervisor of Maintenance Operations at Western Nassau, and as plaintiff's direct supervisor, between January and May 1999. Dominick Brunone served as the Manager of Maintenance at Western Nassau beginning in July 1998 and he remained in that capacity as of 1999 when plaintiff left that location. Brunone did not supervise plaintiff directly, "but rather was separated in the chain of command from the MPE mechanics by the Supervisors of Maintenance," including Vertescher. (Id. ¶ 29.) Dominick Bratta served as Acting Plant Manager and, later, as Plant Manager of Western Nassau between March and November 1999. Keith Fischer served as Western Nassau's Acting Plant Manager and, later, as Plant Manager between November 1999 and at least February 2001. (Id. ¶¶ 40-42.)
As of October 1998, plaintiff's job duties including cleaning out mail processing machines and changing "dye dates" to ensure that the proper date was stamped on each piece of mail processed by that machine. On January 8, 1999, plaintiff received a Letter of Warning (the "First LOW") charging him with two counts of "Failure to Follow Instructions" based upon his failure to correctly change the dye dates on December 17, 1998, which caused at least 30,000 pieces of mail to be "cancelled" using an incorrect date. (Decl. of Kelly Horan Florio ("Florio Decl."), Ex. AA.) Plaintiff asserts that even though "at least a half-dozen other employees shar[ed] responsibility for ensuring that type of error did not occur, only I was charged." (Decl. of Patrick Delia, dated July 18, 2011 ("Delia Decl.") ¶ 13.) According to plaintiff, Vertescher issued the First LOW at Brunone's direction.
On January 27, 1999, Vertescher received a Proposed Letter of Warning, signed by Brunone, which stemmed from the same dye date incident and stated: "This proposed letter of warning is being issued to you in lieu of a 7-day time-of suspension." (Florio Decl., Ex. BB.)
On May 6, 1999, Vertescher informed plaintiff that Acting Supervisor Michael Lutz had reported plaintiff "missing in action" for a portion of plaintiff's May 3, 1999
On May 7, 1999, plaintiff filed a request with the Postal Service's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") for "precomplaint counseling." (Delia Decl. ¶ 22.) Plaintiff asserted that Brunone had "unfairly" issued the First LOW and had "baselessly termed [him] a `high maintenance employee.'" (Id.) Plaintiff claimed that he was being discriminated against because of his "Italian heritage." (Id.) The EEO acknowledged receipt of plaintiff's request for pre-complaint counseling by letter dated May 20, 1999. (Delia Decl., Ex. 15; Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 285; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 148.)
On May 17, 1999, Brunone wrote a letter to Postal Service Inspector Felix Nater regarding a "Threatening Situation" involving plaintiff. (Florio Decl., Ex. DD.) Brunone informed Nater that plaintiff had called Lutz at home in connection with the May 6, 1999 "missing in action" incident, "which resulted in [Lutz] informing [Brunone] that [Lutz] never wanted to act as [plaintiff's] supervisor again." (Id.) Brunone stated that he "fe[lt] that Mr. Delia's call to [Lutz's] famil[y's] house made [Lutz] feel threatened." (Id.) Brunone continued:
(Id.) Brunone concluded by requesting Nater's assistance. Subsequently, Nater commenced an investigation into plaintiff's alleged conduct.
Defendant asserts that as part of this investigation, Nater "interviewed witnesses, including plaintiff, and reviewed plaintiff's Official Personnel File and criminal record," and that Nater "followed standard procedure" in conducting his investigation. (See Def.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 130, 131.) Plaintiff asserts that Nater did not follow "Threat Assessment Standard Operating Procedures" because he failed to interview certain witnesses, took statements only from witnesses "who were favorable to" the Postal Service, distributed copies of plaintiff's criminal record, and failed to take a written statement from plaintiff. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 131.)
On May 21, 1999, Nater interviewed Dennis Murphy, who recounted an altercation with plaintiff that purportedly took place in 1996. According to Murphy, plaintiff grabbed Murphy, spilled coffee on
On July 7, 1999 and July 12, 1999, Nater issued an Investigative Memorandum and Supplemental Investigative Memorandum, respectively, which detailed his investigation into plaintiff's conduct. In the July 12, 1999 Supplemental Investigative Memorandum, Nater noted that during plaintiff's June 8, 1999 interview, plaintiff had "stated [that] he was arrested twice for DWI and [had] one juvenile arrest for firecrackers" but "that there were no other arrests or convictions to report." (Florio Decl., Ex. FF at 1687.) However, Nater had uncovered evidence that, contrary to these assertions, plaintiff had been arrested six times between 1972 and 1992 and had been convicted in connection with five of those arrests.
On August 9, 1999, Brunone sent a follow-up memorandum to Nater describing an encounter he had with plaintiff the prior day. (Florio Decl., Ex. KK.) Brunone asserted that, as he drove away from the office, plaintiff drove up along side of him, partially crossed over into Brunone's lane (forcing Brunone to drive in the shoulder lane), and yelled profanities at Brunone. (Id.) Brunone further stated that his parents received a "strange phone call" that night and, based on the contents of that call, Brunone believed that plaintiff was trying to obtain Brunone's home address and telephone number. (Id.) Plaintiff disputes the veracity of Brunone's accusations, asserting that the "incident[s] never occurred and [were] created by Brunone because he knew the prior investigation did not contain reliable and truthful evidence of wrongdoing by Delia." (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 139.) Brunone's accusations were incorporated into two supplemental investigative memoranda issued by Nater dated August 17, 1999 and September 5, 1999, respectively.
On May 21, 1999, plaintiff was issued a Letter of Warning that charged him with "Failure to be Regular in Attendance." (Florio Decl., Ex. MM.) The Letter of Warning (the "Second LOW"), signed by Vertescher, listed seven dates between February and May 1999 on which plaintiff had taken some form of either annual or sick leave. The Second LOW further stated that a pre-disciplinary interview was held on May 20, 1999, during which plaintiff "did not provide any information that would indicate that discipline should not be issued." (Id. at 230.) Plaintiff asserts that he "had supervisory approval for each and every absence." (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 148.)
On June 1, 1999, Brunone referred plaintiff to the Postal Service's Employee Assistance Program ("EAP"). Brunone indicated that the reasons for plaintiff's referral were "Misconduct/Disruptive Behavior," "Unsatisfactory Work Performance," and "Work Relationship." (Florio Decl., Ex. OO.) Plaintiff avers that when he arrived for the EAP interview, the counselor "had no idea why I was there." (Delia Decl. ¶ 52.)
On June 14, 1999, Brunone notified plaintiff in writing that: "[Y]ou are placed in an off-duty (without pay) status effective 10AM June 14, 1999 and [will] continue in this status until you are advised otherwise. The reason for the action is: Your retention in a duty status may result in injury to yourself and others." (Florio Decl., Ex. OO.)
Plaintiff asserts that at least one other non-Italian similarly situated employee who engaged in comparable misconduct
On or about July 30, 1999, plaintiff attended a pre-disciplinary hearing with Brunone, Labor Relations Specialist George Fredericks, and American Postal Workers Union ("Union") representatives Jim McCazzio and Joe Hild. During this hearing, Brunone and Fredericks asked plaintiff, inter alia, about the contents of his employment application. Plaintiff responded that he had told the truth on his application and had filled it out as he was instructed.
On August 10, 1999, the Postal Service issued plaintiff a Notice of Removal, effective September 13, 1999. The Notice of Removal, which was signed by Brunone and Bratta, set forth two charges against plaintiff. (Florio Decl., Ex. H.) First, plaintiff was charged with "Violation of the USPS Policy on Acts and Threats of Violence in the Work Place." The Notice outlined the May 6, 1999 incident with Lutz, as well as a subsequent conversation plaintiff had with Brunone, which Brunone perceived to be an attempt to "intimidate [him] from taking any administrative action against [plaintiff]." (Id. at 224.) The Notice further stated that plaintiff's "conduct is aggravated by the fact that [he] had altercations with other employees in the past including Mr. Dennis Murphy and Mr. Jeffrey Allen." (Id.) The Notice also set forth that Nater's background investigation had revealed plaintiff's arrest for (and ultimate plea of guilty to) a charge of assault in May 1992, which "further indicate[d] [plaintiff's] propensity for this type of conduct." (Id.) Finally, the Notice stated that the Postal Service had posted copies of its "Policy on Acts and Threats of Violence in the Workplace" (the "Workplace Violence Policy") throughout Western Nassau, and that these postings "indicate that there will be zero tolerance of acts [or] threats of violence in our workplace." (Id. at 225 (emphases omitted); see also Florio Decl., Ex. IIII.)
The second charge in the Notice of Removal was "Failure to List Arrests and Convictions on PS Form 2591 (Application for Employment)." (Id. at 225.) This charge asserted that plaintiff answered Question 18 of his employment application, which asked whether the applicant has "even been convicted of an offense against the law," by checking the "NO" box even though, as set forth above, plaintiff had at least two prior convictions at that time. The Notice of Removal, citing both the Employee and Labor Relations Manual Section 666 and the applicable collective bargaining agreement, concluded that plaintiff's submission of false information in his employment application constituted grounds for termination. Finally, the Notice of Removal stated that plaintiff's First and Second Letters of Warning were considered as part of the decision to terminate his employment.
Plaintiff contends that other Postal Service employees who engaged in similar (or even more severe) misconduct were disciplined in a less severe manner. For instance, Theodore Lowery, a postal worker at Western Nassau, was involved in a physical altercation with a female employee during the summer of 1999. According
On September 30, 1999, plaintiff filed a formal EEO Complaint alleging disparate treatment and retaliation. (Florio Decl., Ex. OOO.) Plaintiff listed the following as the bases for his complaint: (1) the First and Second Letters of Warning, (2) the May 6, 1999 "missing in action" incident, (3) plaintiff's June 1, 1999 referral to EAP counseling, (4) Nater's interview of plaintiff on June 8, 1999, (5) plaintiff's emergency placement on off-duty status without pay, and (6) plaintiff's termination, which was effective September 13, 1999.
Meanwhile, plaintiff also filed a grievance with respect to the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal, and an arbitration hearing was held over four dates in March and May 2000. Labor Relations Specialist Fredericks represented the Postal Service during the hearing. Plaintiff asserts that as part of Fredericks's closing remarks, Fredericks mentioned plaintiff's father and, "in an Italian accent, pronounced — and drawn out — pronounced [plaintiff's] father's name[,] Pasquale." (Pl.'s Dep. at 479-80.) Plaintiff further contends that Fredericks "told the arbitrator that my father taught me how to lie on [a] postal employment application [and how] to lie or be deceitful during my postal career." (Id. at 476.) According to plaintiff, Fredericks attempted to draw an association between plaintiff and his father (individuals of "Italian heritage") and "criminal activity," although plaintiff acknowledged that Fredericks never made any direct comments about plaintiff's Italian heritage. (Id. at 478-79.)
On July 6, 2000, Arbitrator Janet McEneaney issued an award in which she determined that the Postal Service did not have just cause to issue the Notice of Removal for Charge #1, (violation of the Workplace Violence Policy). (Florio Decl., Ex. XX at 1.) By contrast, the Arbitrator found that the Postal Service did have just cause to issue the Notice of Removal for Charge #2 (falsification of his employment application). (Id.) The Arbitrator concluded, however, that termination was not warranted and converted plaintiff's termination into a suspension without pay beginning on June 15, 1999 and running through the date of his reinstatement. (Id. at 29-30.) As for reinstatement, the Arbitrator held that plaintiff was "to be returned to an assignment at his present level of grade and pay at a facility in Nassau County other than the facility to which he is presently assigned." (Id. at 32.) Further, the plaintiff was directed to enter an anger management and treatment program. (Id.)
As part of the award, Arbitrator McEneaney specifically stated: "[I]f the Grievant commits an act which is found to warrant termination or is convicted of another crime, then the Grievant's employment with the Service will be terminated immediately." (Id.)
On July 12, 2000 plaintiff sought EEO pre-complaint counseling with respect to
As a result of the July 6, 2000 arbitration decision, plaintiff was reinstated to a position at Hempstead on or about August 12, 2000. Defendant asserts that plaintiff retained the same work grade level and base pay rate as he had at Western Nassau (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 207), although plaintiff contends that he was "forced to work in duties outside his work grade and job description." (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 208.) According to defendant, there was no mail processing equipment at Hempstead for the plaintiff to work on,
Plaintiff alleges that at some point after his reinstatement, his overtime opportunities in Hempstead were eliminated. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 208.) Defendant responds that when plaintiff was first assigned to Hempstead, his paycheck was still being charged to the Western Nassau payroll. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 209.) Although plaintiff received overtime assignments when he began working at Hempstead, at some point he was informed that his overtime requests were no longer authorized because "Western Nassau would not permit it." (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 227.) Accordingly, plaintiff filed a request for EEO pre-complaint counseling on November 16, 2000, alleging that Brunone was behind Western Nassau's decision to deny his overtime opportunities and that Brunone "has been relentless in his pursuit to cause me harm." (Florio Decl., Ex. QQQ at 925.)
Plaintiff was officially transferred to Hempstead's payroll as of February 14, 2001. Defendant contends, without citation to evidentiary support, that "[o]nce plaintiff became part of Hempstead's payroll, he began to work overtime again." (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 229.) Plaintiff disagrees and argues that he did not begin receiving overtime assignments again after he filed EEO Complaints in March 2001. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 229.)
Sometime in January or early February 2001, plaintiff went to Western Nassau to pick up certain equipment. While at the Western Nassau facility, plaintiff saw Jeffery Allen. Allen claims that plaintiff assaulted him and spilled a drink on his equipment. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 232.) Plaintiff denies that any such incident occurred. By letter dated February 6, 2001, plaintiff's supervisor Christine Cervasio informed plaintiff that he was no longer permitted to enter the Western Nassau facility for any reason. (Florio Decl., Ex. CCC.)
On March 9, 2001 plaintiff filed two formal EEO complaints of discrimination, which were consolidated by the Postal Service EEO. (Florio Decl., Ex. RRR.) Plaintiff alleged that he was discriminated against based upon his national origin and retaliated against for his prior EEO activity, as evidenced by, inter alia, the following: (1) the denial of overtime opportunities after his assignment to the Hempstead office, (2) management's failure to respond when a co-worker (presumably Allen) "attempted to provoke an altercation," and (3) the February 6, 2001 letter barring him from the Western Nassau facility. (Id. at 1-2.)
Although the July 6, 2000 arbitration award required plaintiff to enroll in an anger-management program within thirty days, apparently neither plaintiff nor the Postal Service took any steps to accomplish this until March 27, 2001, when Smith referred plaintiff to Mary Jo Kalmbach for EAP counseling. Kalmbach and Smith spoke about plaintiff's treatment sessions. According to plaintiff, Smith — rather than Kalmbach — was making decisions about how long plaintiff would have to attend the counseling sessions. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 240.) Accordingly, plaintiff discontinued attending the EAP sessions and began seeing a private psychologist at his own expense. (Id.)
On March 30, 2001, plaintiff filed a request for EEO pre-complaint counseling alleging that Brunone, Smith, and Fischer retaliated against plaintiff by unilaterally referring him to EAP counseling. (Florio Decl., Ex. TTT.) On August 27, 2001, plaintiff filed a formal EEO complaint with respect to these issues, which was dismissed on or about October 24, 2001 for failure to state a claim. Plaintiff's appeal from this dismissal was also denied.
On August 10, 2001, plaintiff again requested EEO pre-complaint counseling, alleging that Smith had retaliated against him for filing his prior EEO complaints by referring him to EAP counseling and then obtaining confidential information about him from his EAP counselor. Plaintiff filed a formal EEO complaint regarding these issues on December 10, 2001. (Florio Decl., Ex. VVV.) On May 20, 2002, the EEO dismissed plaintiff's complaint for failure to state a claim, and plaintiff's appeal from this dismissal was denied. (Florio Decl., Exs. WWW, XXX, YYY.)
In May 2002, plaintiff attended a training course at the National Center for Employee Development ("NCED") in Norman, Oklahoma. The Postal Service has a no-smoking policy that prohibits smoking
On June 12, 2002, Hempstead Supervisor of Customer Service Tom McGuinness issued plaintiff a Notice of Removal, which stated that plaintiff's employment with the Postal Service would be terminated as of July 15, 2002. (Florio Decl., Ex. III.) Plaintiff was charged with "Improper Conduct" and "Failure to Follow Instructions," both of which stemmed from the NCED Housing Facility's Room Discrepancy reports of evidence that plaintiff had (1) smoked in his room in the NCED Housing Facility, in violation of Postal Service and NCED policies, and (2) covered the smoke detector and alarm with towels. The Notice of Removal further stated that, in issuing this discipline, the Postal Service had considered his prior suspension for falsifying his employment application. (Id. at 2701.)
The Notice of Removal was co-signed by Hempstead Postmaster John Evelyn as a "Concurring Official." (Id.) Plaintiff asserts that upon his return from Oklahoma, Evelyn told him that "the whole thing was ridiculous," that he believed plaintiff would only receive a brief suspension as a result of the charges, and that he (Evelyn) "was following orders" when he signed the Notice of Removal. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 256, 263.)
Plaintiff asserts that other non-Italian Postal Service employees who violated the Postal Service's no-smoking policy were not disciplined. For instance, in 1999, Samuel Johnson, an African-American now-retired Postal Service employee, was sent to Oklahoma for NCED training. In a declaration submitted to this Court, Johnson asserts that while he was there, he was falsely accused of smoking in his NCED Housing Facility room. (Decl. of Samuel Johnson, dated June 29, 2011 ("Johnson Decl.") ¶ 4.) When Brunone, Johnson's manager at the time, was informed, he discussed the matter with Johnson, but did not discipline Johnson in any way. (Id.) Plaintiff also points to Evelyn's deposition testimony, in which he admitted that he had, at various times, smoked in the Hempstead facility. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 281.) Plaintiff asserts that Evelyn was never disciplined in connection with his violations of the Postal Service's no-smoking policy. (Id.) Plaintiff admitted during his own deposition, however, that he did not know if either Johnson or Evelyn had also been accused of covering smoke detectors or fire alarms. (Pl.'s Dep. at 845.)
Plaintiff grieved the issue of his removal, and the case proceeded to arbitration. An arbitration hearing was held over four days between December 2002 and November 2003. On the first day of the hearing, in December 2002, plaintiff was arrested on issues unrelated to his employment. Plaintiff asserts that the Postal Service orchestrated the logistics of his arrest so that he would be taken into custody in front of the arbitrator.
On March 31, 2004, Arbitrator Irene Donna Thomas issued an arbitration award denying plaintiff's grievance. Arbitrator Thomas concluded that the Postal Service had "just cause" to discharge plaintiff because "the evidence show[ed] that he violated the employer's no smoking policy AND covered the smoke detector and fire alarm in his hotel room at the employer's training facility." (Florio Decl., Ex. JJJ at 51.) Arbitrator Thomas found that "[b]ecause Arbitrator McEneaney's Award is in the nature of a `last chance agreement,' I must enforce termination as the penalty...." (Id.) Accordingly, plaintiff was officially terminated from the Postal Service in April 2004.
On November 21, 2002, plaintiff filed an EEO complaint alleging that his removal was discriminatory and retaliatory. (Florio Decl., Ex. MMM.) Although the EEO accepted plaintiff's complaint for investigation in April 2003, that complaint was dismissed on February 26, 2004 because plaintiff had commenced the present litigation.
Summary judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 is only appropriate where admissible evidence in the form of affidavits, deposition transcripts, or other documentation demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, and one party's entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. See Viola v. Philips Med. Sys. of N. Am., 42 F.3d 712, 716 (2d Cir. 1994). The relevant governing law in each case determines which facts are material; "only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). No genuinely triable factual issue exists when the moving party demonstrates, on the basis of the pleadings and submitted evidence, and after drawing all inferences and resolving all ambiguities in favor of the non-movant, that no rational jury could find in the non-movant's favor. Chertkova v. Conn. Gen. Life Ins. Co., 92 F.3d 81, 86 (2d Cir.1996) (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)).
To defeat a summary judgment motion properly supported by affidavits, depositions, or other documentation, the non-movant must offer similar materials setting forth specific facts that show that there is a genuine issue of material fact to be tried. Rule v. Brine, Inc., 85 F.3d 1002, 1011 (2d Cir.1996). The non-movant must present more than a "scintilla of evidence," Delaware & Hudson Ry. Co. v. Consol. Rail Corp., 902 F.2d 174, 178 (2d Cir.1990) (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505), or "some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts," Aslanidis v. U.S. Lines, Inc., 7 F.3d 1067, 1072
The district court, in considering a summary judgment motion, must also be "mindful of the underlying standards and burdens of proof," Pickett v. RTS Helicopter, 128 F.3d 925, 928 (5th Cir.1997) (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505), because the evidentiary burdens that the respective parties will bear at trial guide district courts in their determination of summary judgment motions. Brady v. Town of Colchester, 863 F.2d 205, 211 (2d Cir.1988). Where the non-moving party will bear the ultimate burden of proof on an issue at trial, the moving party's burden under Rule 56 will be satisfied if he can point to an absence of evidence to support an essential element of the non-movant's claim. Id. at 210-11. Where a movant without the underlying burden of proof offers evidence that the non-movant has failed to establish her claim, the burden shifts to the non-movant to offer "persuasive evidence that [her] claim is not `implausible.'" Brady, 863 F.2d at 211 (citing Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348).
Summary judgment is generally inappropriate where questions of the defendant's state of mind are at issue, Gelb v. Bd. of Elections of the City of New York, 224 F.3d 149, 157 (2d Cir.2000), and should thus be granted with caution in employment discrimination cases. Gallo v. Prudential Residential Servs., Ltd. P'ship, 22 F.3d 1219, 1224 (2d Cir.1994); Carlton v. Mystic Transp., Inc., 202 F.3d 129, 134 (2d Cir.2000). Nonetheless, "summary judgment remains available to reject discrimination claims in cases lacking genuine issues of material fact." Chambers v. TRM Copy Ctrs. Corp., 43 F.3d 29, 40 (2d Cir. 1994). "The summary judgment rule would be rendered sterile ... if the mere incantation of intent or state of mind would operate as a talisman to defeat an otherwise valid motion." Meiri v. Dacon, 759 F.2d 989, 998 (2d Cir.1985). "[T]he salutary purposes of summary judgment — avoiding protracted, expensive and harassing trials — apply no less to discrimination cases than to commercial or other areas of litigation." Id. "When no rational jury could find in favor of the nonmoving party because the evidence to support its case is so slight, there is no genuine issue of material fact and a grant of summary judgment is proper." Gallo, 22 F.3d at 1224.
In McDonnell Douglas Corporation v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802-804, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973), the Supreme Court first enunciated the now-familiar "burden-shifting" formula used in analyzing Title VII employment discrimination claims based on indirect or circumstantial evidence. This standard was further refined in Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 252-253, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981) and St. Mary's Honor Center v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 506-511, 113 S.Ct. 2742, 125 L.Ed.2d 407 (1993).
Under McDonnell Douglas and its innumerable progeny, a plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case of discrimination by showing: "(1) that she was within the protected age group, (2) that she was qualified for the position, (3) that she experienced adverse employment action, and
If the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, the burden then shifts to the employer to "articulate some legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for [the adverse act]." Leibowitz v. Cornell Univ., 584 F.3d 487, 499 (2d Cir.2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). The employer's burden of showing a legitimate non-discriminatory reason for its actions is not a particularly steep hurdle. Federal courts do not have a "roving commission to review business judgments," Mont. v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n of Rochester, 869 F.2d 100, 106 (2d Cir.1989) (quoting Graefenhain v. Pabst Brewing Co., 827 F.2d 13, 21 n. 8 (7th Cir.1987)), and thus, "[e]vidence that an employer made a poor business judgment generally is insufficient to establish a question of fact as to the credibility of the employer's reasons." Dister v. Cont'l Grp., Inc., 859 F.2d 1108, 1116 (2d Cir. 1988).
Should the employer satisfy its burden, the McDonnell Douglas framework and its presumptions and burdens disappear, leaving the sole remaining issue of "discrimination vel non." See Reeves, 530 U.S. at 143, 120 S.Ct. 2097. To rebut an employer's proffered non-discriminatory rationale for its actions and withstand summary judgment, a plaintiff must present more than allegations that are "conclusory and unsupported by evidence of any weight." Smith v. Am. Exp. Co., 853 F.2d 151, 154-55 (2d Cir.1988). "To allow a party to defeat a motion for summary judgment by offering purely conclusory allegations of discrimination, absent any concrete particulars, would necessitate a trial in all Title VII cases." Meiri, 759 F.2d at 998. Although intermediate evidentiary burdens shift back and forth under this framework, "[t]he ultimate burden of persuading the trier of fact that the defendant intentionally discriminated against the plaintiff remains at all times with the plaintiff." Reeves, 530 U.S. at 143, 120 S.Ct. 2097.
As set forth above, on May 6, 1999 plaintiff learned that he had been docked several hours pay because his Acting Supervisor Lutz believed that he had been "missing in action" for a portion of a prior shift. This was ultimately determined to be an error, and plaintiff's pay was subsequently restored. The Court concludes
Moreover, plaintiff's referral on June 1, 1999 to EAP counseling does not constitute an adverse employment action as a matter of law. The Postal Service has proffered uncontroverted evidence that the EAP was "a formal nondisciplinary program designed to assist employees ... in dealing with their problems ... that may adversely affect both an employee's job performance and personal life." (Florio Decl., Ex. HHHH at 857.) Moreover, an employee's participation in EAP "is voluntary and will not jeopardize the employee's job security of promotional opportunities." (Id. at 858.) Thus, plaintiff's June 1, 1999 EAP referral was not an adverse action. See Pierce v. Runyon, 1997 WL 269631, at *5, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7133, at *14 (N.D.Ill. May 14, 1997).
The Postal Service asserts that plaintiff cannot maintain a prima facie case of discrimination as to the issuance of the First or Second Letters of Warning because those warning letters do not constitute actionable adverse employment actions. (See Def.'s Mem. at 8) (citing Blake v. Potter, 2007 WL 2815637, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 25, 2007).) "Negative evaluations alone, without any accompanying adverse consequences are not adverse employment actions." Pellei v. Int'l Planned Parenthood Found./W. Hemisphere Region, Inc., 1999 WL 787753, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 1999). Here, however, it is not at all clear that the First and Second LOWs did not have "accompanying adverse consequences." In particular, plaintiff's August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal specifically stated that these Letters of Warning were "considered" as part of the decision to terminate his employment. (Florio Decl., Ex. F at 3.) Thus, a jury would have to determine whether and to what extent plaintiff's First and Second LOWs had "accompanying adverse consequences" for his employment.
With respect to the issuance of his First LOW, plaintiff asserts that even though six other employees were working on his shift at the time the dye date mistake occurred, he was the only one disciplined by Brunone. Plaintiff has, however, failed to proffer any evidence as to the national origins of these six employees. See Goldman v. Admin. for Children's Servs., 2007 WL 1552397, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. May 29, 2007) (finding that "`sweeping allegations,' in which plaintiff cannot even identify, and presents no evidence of, the race or national origin of alleged comparators, can not satisfy the similarly situated test"). Plaintiff also argues that although Brunone "issued
Plaintiff has failed, however, to show that the Second LOW was issued under circumstances giving rise to an inference of discrimination. Vertescher, not Brunone, issued the Second LOW and plaintiff has not asserted that Brunone had any role in Vertescher's decision to do so. Moreover, aside from generally disputing the merit of the charges contained in the Second LOW, plaintiff has offered absolutely no evidence that would give rise to an inference of discrimination.
The Postal Service has articulated a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for issuing the First LOW, i.e., plaintiff's involvement in the dye date mistake. Thus, the Court turns to the "ultimate question" of whether plaintiff has presented evidence which, if accepted by a jury, would permit the conclusion that he "was the victim of intentional discrimination." Reeves, 530 U.S. at 146, 120 S.Ct. 2097.
As evidence of pretext with respect to the issuance of the First LOW, plaintiff relies on his assertion that Brunone disciplined Vertescher less severely for his supervisory role in the same dye date incident. Defendant argues that Brunone "did not serve as the final decisionmaker with respect to Mr. Vertescher's discipline," because Brunone issued only a "Proposed" Letter of Warning. (Reply Mem. at 14.) This simply underscores plaintiff's point: although Brunone issued plaintiff a Letter of Warning, Brunone only issued Vertescher a "Proposed" Letter of Warning for his role in the same dye date incident. As noted above, a Proposed Letter of Warning is a "proposal for discipline" to be considered by another official. (Reply at 14.) The Postal Service asserts that Brunone actually "intended to discipline Mr. Vertescher more severely than plaintiff for the December 1998 dye date incident," and that, pursuant to Postal Service policies applicable to supervisory employees, "[a] letter of warning in lieu of a time-off suspension is [] a greater level of discipline than a letter of warning standing alone without reference to suspension." (Id. at 15.)
Plaintiff has also proffered evidence that, before he received the First LOW the same type of dye date mistake had occurred, but no other Postal Service employee received a warning letter. (See Pl.'s Opp'n at 11-12; Decl. of Larry Baronciani,
To the extent that plaintiff can demonstrate that any irregularities in Nater's investigation, as discussed infra, constitute actionable adverse employment actions, the Court finds that plaintiff still cannot make out a prima facie case of discrimination as to this claim. Even though plaintiff has pointed to some record evidence that Nater may not have conducted a perfect investigation,
Plaintiff also asserts that his June 14, 1999 emergency placement on off-duty status (effectively, an unpaid suspension) and his August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal were discriminatory.
Further, the Court finds that the Postal Service has articulated legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for placing plaintiff in emergency placement on off-duty status and for issuing the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal, specifically: (1) plaintiff's alleged violation of the Postal Service's zerotolerance Workplace Violence Policy, and (2) plaintiff's alleged falsification of his employment application by virtue of his omitting reference to certain of his arrests and convictions on that application form. The
To defeat the Postal Service's motion for summary judgment, plaintiff bears the "burden to demonstrate that there is a material issue of fact as to whether (1) defendant's asserted reason for [the suspension and Notice of Removal] is false or unworthy or belief and (2) `more likely than not,' plaintiff's [national origin was] the real reason for the [adverse actions]." Rommage v. MTA Long Island R.R., 2010 WL 4038754, at *8 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2010) (quoting Faldetta v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 2000 WL 1682759, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 9, 2000)) (alterations added).
First, plaintiff points to a remark that Labor Relations Specialist Fredericks purportedly made as part of his closing statement to Arbitrator McEneaney during the 2000 arbitration hearing. According to plaintiff, Fredericks "[using] an Italian accent, pronounced — [in a] drawn out [fashion] — pronounced [plaintiff's] father's name[,] Pasquale," and then stated that plaintiff's father "taught [plaintiff] how to lie on [the] postal employment application [and how] to lie or be deceitful during [his] postal career." (Pl.'s Dep. at 476, 479-80.) Plaintiff does not contend that either he (or his father) speaks with an Italian accent and that Fredericks was attempting to imitate and ridicule such an accent. Rather, plaintiff argues that Fredericks was inviting the Arbitrator to draw an association between people of "Italian heritage" (like plaintiff and his father) and "criminal activity," although he admits that Fredericks never made any direct comments about his Italian heritage. (Id. at 478-79.)
It would have been helpful to the Court to review a transcript of the proceedings during which Fredericks allegedly made this comment, although the Court recognizes the possibility that no such transcript exists. All that has been presented is plaintiff's recollection of Fredericks' closing statement, along with plaintiff's perception of Fredericks' pronunciation of the name "Pasquale." In any event, however, plaintiff has produced no evidence that Fredericks was involved in the decision to suspend plaintiff or to issue the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal. Thus, his comment could — at most — be considered a mere stray remark by a non-decisionmaker. See Siino v. N.Y. City Bd. of Educ., 213 F.3d 626, at *1 (2d Cir. May 1, 2000) ("`Stray remarks by non-decisionmakers or by decisionmakers unrelated to the decision process are rarely given great weight....'") (quoting Ezold v. Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen, 983 F.2d 509, 545 (3d Cir.1992)) (alteration in the original).
In furtherance of his efforts to show pretext, plaintiff asserts that Postal Service employees Mullins and Lowery, who were involved in physical altercations in the workplace (which are arguably more serious offenses than acting in a threatening and intimidating manner), received less severe discipline from Brunone. "A plaintiff may show pretext by demonstrating that similarly situated employees of a different [national origin] were treated more favorably." Rommage, 2010 WL 4038754 at *9 (citing Hargett v. Nat'l Westminster Bank, USA, 78 F.3d 836, 839 (2d Cir. 1996)).
The Postal Service contends that Mullins is not an appropriate comparator because plaintiff and Mullins were not similarly situated in "all material respects," as is required under Second Circuit case law. See Norville v. Staten Island Univ. Hosp., 196 F.3d 89, 95 (2d Cir.1999). The Circuit has recognized that "[w]hat constitutes `all material respects' [] varies somewhat from case to case and ... must be judged based on (1) whether the plaintiff and those he maintains were similarly situated were subject to the same workplace standards and (2) whether the conduct for which the employer imposed discipline was of comparable seriousness." Graham v. Long Island R.R., 230 F.3d 34, 40 (2d Cir.2000).
The Postal Service asserts that, unlike plaintiff, Mullins was a supervisor at the time of his alleged misconduct. (See Def.'s Mem. at 15) Defendant has not, however, explained why this distinction is relevant. The Postal Service's Workplace Violence Policy explicitly states that it is applicable to all employees — not just to non-supervisory employees. (See Florio Decl., Ex. IIII.) And the Postal Service has not suggested that supervisory employees were subject to a different set of standards with respect to violence or threatening actions in the workplace. Thus, plaintiff has proffered evidence that he and Mullins were subject to the same workplace standards. See Graham, 230 F.3d at 40.
Mullins, who physically touched another employee during the course of a verbal altercation, was not charged with a violation of the Postal Service's Workplace Violence Policy. Instead, Brunone charged Mullins with "Inappropriate Conduct" and issued him a Proposed Letter of Warning in lieu of a suspension. (See Florio Decl., Ex. LLL.) Plaintiff, by contrast, who was alleged to have used intimidating language with Lutz and Brunone, was charged with a violation of the Workplace Violence Policy, placed in emergency placement on unpaid off-duty status, and ultimately issued a Notice of Removal. (Florio Decl., Ex. H.) Given these facts, plaintiff has raised a question for the jury as to whether he received more severe discipline for conduct that was of "comparable seriousness" to Mullins' conduct.
The Postal Service argues, without elaboration, that Mullins is an inappropriate comparator because plaintiff has failed to show that "he and Mullins had similar prior discipline histories." (Def.'s Mem. at 15.) It is well-settled that comparators will not be considered "similarly situated" when they do not have comparable disciplinary histories. See Rommage, 2010 WL 4038754 at *9 (collecting cases). Brunone testified that he based his decision to suspend plaintiff on, inter alia, plaintiff's prior altercations with Murphy and Allen.
Finally, the Postal Service asserts that the circumstances giving rise to the disciplines meted out to plaintiff and Mullins, respectively, differ markedly and, thus, plaintiff and Mullins are not similarly situated. (Def.'s Mem. at 15.) The Court finds that this issue is appropriately resolved
Plaintiff also asserts that he was similarly-situated to Lowery, and that Brunone disciplined him more severely than Lowery, who, in July 1999, pushed and repeatedly grabbed a female employee's backside. According to plaintiff, Lowery was given a four-month suspension and a Last Chance Agreement, but was not issued a Notice of Removal. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 327-31.) Defendant contends that Lowery was, in fact, issued a "Proposed Notice of Removal" based upon his misconduct, which was also deemed a violation of the Workplace Violence Policy. (Decl. of Dominick Brunone, dated Oct. 14, 2011 ("Brunone Decl."), Ex. B.) According to defendant, however, as a result of arbitration, Lowery's "removal was modified to a last chance agreement, which permitted Lowery to remain employed and provided him with a last chance to correct his behavior." (Reply Mem. at 16.) Defendant contends, therefore, that because both Lowery and plaintiff were suspended and ultimately received "last chance agreements" as a result of their respective arbitrations, "plaintiff and Lowery received similar treatment." (Id. at 17.) Defendant does not address, however, whether and to what extent Lowery's "Proposed Notice of Removal" differed from plaintiff's "Notice of Removal," nor does it explain whether the former was a less severe form of punishment than the latter.
Plaintiff claims that Brunone's decision to place him in emergency placement on off-duty status and commence an internal investigation, the outcome of which ultimately led to the issuance of his Notice of Removal, was entirely unjustified based upon the facts before Brunone at the time. See James v. N.Y. Racing Ass'n, 233 F.3d 149, 156-57 (2d Cir.2000) (finding that "evidence satisfying the minimal McDonnell Douglas prima facie case, coupled with evidence of falsity of the employer's explanation, may or may not be sufficient to sustain a finding of discrimination"; "the test for summary judgment is whether the evidence can reasonably support a verdict in plaintiff's favor"). As noted above, Brunone based his decision to suspend plaintiff on three factors: (1) plaintiff's May 6, 1999 telephone call to Lutz, and the information Brunone subsequently received from Fuchs, (2) plaintiff's prior altercations with Murphy and Allen, and (3) Brunone's own interaction with plaintiff in his office on May 7, 1999. The record is replete with questions of fact as to whether these factors justified Brunone's decision to suspend plaintiff and, ultimately, whether any of the allegations that plaintiff had violated the Postal Service's Workplace Violence Policy were ever substantiated. For example, plaintiff hotly disputes Brunone's account of what Lutz told him transpired during the May 6, 1999
Plaintiff acknowledges that the Arbitrator found the second charge lodged against him in the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal — i.e., the falsification of his employment application by failing to list certain of his prior arrests and convictions — was substantiated by the evidence presented, although plaintiff maintains that the Arbitrator decided the issue wrongly.
In its reply papers, the Postal Service has submitted the Declaration of Stephen Yamond, who has served as the Manager of Human Resources for the Postal Service since March 2008. Yamond cites to a different document — entitled "Permanent Documents" — as evidence that the employment application for any individual hired by the Postal Service is required to be permanently maintained in the employee's Official Personnel Folder. (Decl. of Stephen Yamond, dated Oct. 12, 2011 ("Yamond Decl.") ¶¶ 1, 3-6 & Ex. A.) According to Yamond, the document relied upon by plaintiff applied to retention requirements
Overall, the Court finds that plaintiff has demonstrated the existence of questions of fact as to whether the Postal Service's stated reasons for suspending plaintiff and issuing the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal were pretextual. Plaintiff has pointed to evidence that could allow a reasonable jury to determine that Brunone disciplined other non-Italian similarly situated employees in a less severe manner after they committed comparable misconduct. Plaintiff has also raised questions of fact as to whether plaintiff's suspension and ultimate termination for violating the Postal Service's Workplace Violence Policy, charges initiated and pursued by Brunone, were based upon insufficient and unsubstantiated information, which could show that the Postal Service's stated reasons for his suspension and termination in 1999 were pretextual. Finally, plaintiff has raised factual questions as to whether the Postal Service failed to comply with its own document retention policies by basing the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal upon plaintiff's alleged falsification of his employment application, which could also evidence pretext. Therefore, the Postal Service's motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff's discrimination claims based upon his suspension and August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal is denied.
Plaintiff also asserts discrimination claims based upon his reassignment to Hempstead (as opposed to Hicksville), the temporary elimination of his overtime assignments after his reassignment, the Postal Service's February 6, 2001 decision to ban him from entering the Western Nassau premises, and his referral to EAP counseling in March 2001 (as required by Arbitrator McEneaney's July 6, 2000 award). Even assuming arguendo that these events constitute actionable adverse actions, the Court finds that plaintiff has failed to proffer evidence that would raise a genuine question of fact as to whether these events occurred under circumstances permitting an inference of discrimination. Plaintiff has not pointed to any direct evidence of discrimination, such as disparaging
With respect to plaintiff's June 12, 2002 Notice of Removal, the Court will assume that plaintiff has established a prima facie case of discrimination, (see Section II.D, above), and finds that the Postal Service has articulated a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for issuing that Notice of Removal, to wit: plaintiff's violation of the Postal Service's no-smoking policy, plaintiff's act of covering the smoke detector and fire alarm in his NCED Housing Facility room, and the fact that Arbitrator McEneaney's award had stated that "`if [plaintiff] commits an act which is found to warrant termination ... then the [plaintiff's] employment with the Service will be terminated immediately.'" (Florio Decl., Ex. III at 2 (quoting Arbitrator McEneaney's July 6, 2000 Award at 32).)
The parties do not discuss the analytical impact of Arbitrator Thomas's March 31, 2004 arbitration award, which concluded that the Postal Service had "just cause" to discharge plaintiff. The Second Circuit has made clear that:
Collins v. New York City Transit Auth., 305 F.3d 113, 119 (2d Cir.2002).
(Id. at 5 (footnote omitted).) Plaintiff has made no suggestion that, despite this clear language in the Arbitrator's opinion, his arrest somehow influenced the fairness of the proceeding. Further, plaintiff has not pointed to any evidence that was not also presented to the Arbitrator during the hearing. Plaintiff's "termination occurred, therefore, only after a decision, based on substantial evidence, of an undisputedly independent, neutral, and unbiased adjudicator that had the power to prevent the termination. This fact is highly probative of the absence of discriminatory intent in that termination." Collins, 305 F.3d at 119; see also Hand v. N.Y. City Transit Auth., 159 Fed.Appx. 282, 283-84 (2d Cir. 2005) (unpublished); Halstead v. N.Y. City Transit Auth., 78 Fed.Appx. 750, 752 (2d Cir.2003) (unpublished); Guerrero v. Conn. Dep't of Children & Families, 315 F.Supp.2d 202, 209-10 (D.Conn.2004).
Furthermore, plaintiff's claims that he was disciplined more severely for violations
Accordingly, defendant's motion for summary judgment is granted with respect to plaintiff's discrimination claims stemming from his June 12, 2002 Notice of Removal.
Plaintiff's Title VII retaliation claims
Plaintiff bases his retaliation claims on three separate instances of protected activity.
First, plaintiff asserts that he "instituted his EEO complaint procedure on or about May 7, 1999" by filing a request for EEO pre-complaint counseling. (Pl.'s Opp'n at 31.) Plaintiff's request "was acknowledged by letter from Postal's EEO on May 20, 1999." (Id.) The next day, May 21, 1999, plaintiff was issued the Second LOW for attendance problems. Approximately two weeks later, on June 1, 1999, plaintiff was referred to EAP counseling, and two weeks after that, on June 14, 1999, plaintiff was placed on emergency placement in unpaid off-duty status. And on August 10, 1999, approximately three months after he initiated the Postal Service's internal complaint procedure, plaintiff received a Notice of Removal.
The Postal Service does not contest plaintiff's assertion that his May 7, 1999 request for EEO pre-complaint counseling constituted protected activity, i.e., "action taken to protest or oppose statutorily prohibited discrimination." See Cruz v. Coach Stores, Inc., 202 F.3d 560, 566 (2d Cir. 2000). Nor does the Postal Service contest that plaintiff's June 14, 1999 emergency placement on unpaid off-duty status and August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal are actionable adverse employment actions. The Postal Service argues, however, that plaintiff's Second LOW and June 1, 1999 referral to EAP counseling did not constitute actionable adverse employment actions that "well might have dissuaded a reasonable worker from making or supporting a charge of discrimination." See Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 61-62, 66, 126 S.Ct. 2405, 165 L.Ed.2d 345 (2006).
The Court agrees that referral to EAP counseling is not an actionable adverse action, for the reasons set forth above. (See Section II.B.1.a.) With respect to the Second LOW, the Postal Service cites one case for the proposition that a Letter of Warning does not constitute a materially adverse employment action in the context of a retaliation claim. (See Def.'s Mem. at 19.) This case is distinguishable, however, because the Second LOW was considered as part of the Postal Service's decision to issue the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal. See Simon v. N.Y. City Bd. of Educ., 2006 WL 1210959, at *8 (E.D.N.Y. May 2, 2006) (finding disciplinary letters that "ultimately led to plaintiff's termination" "should be viewed as adverse employment actions"). Moreover, the cumulative effect of the Second LOW, plaintiff's June 14, 1999 emergency placement in off-duty status, and the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal rise to level of "materiality delineated in Burlington Northern." See Lore v. City of Syracuse, 583 F.Supp.2d 345, 367-68 (N.D.N.Y.2008).
Turning to the causation prong of the prima facie case, plaintiff has pointed to no direct evidence that the Postal Service harbored a retaliatory animus against him. See Lomotey v. Conn. Dep't of Transp., 2012 WL 642763, at *24 (D.Conn. Feb. 28, 2012) (noting that one way a plaintiff may prove causation is to offer "direct evidence of retaliatory animus such as negative comments from his supervisors regarding his [internal] complaints or prior lawsuits"). Proof of a causal connection, however, may also be demonstrated "indirectly, by `showing that the protected activity was followed closely by discriminatory treatment, or through evidence such as disparate treatment of fellow employees who engaged in similar conduct.'" Senno v. Elmsford Union Free Sch. Dist., 812 F.Supp.2d 454, 474 (S.D.N.Y.2011) (quoting DeCintio v. Westchester Cnty. Med. Ctr., 821 F.2d 111, 115 (2d Cir.1987)) (emphases omitted, alterations added). As set
Additionally, the Second Circuit has made clear that "a close temporal relationship between a plaintiff's participation in protected activity and an employer's adverse actions can be sufficient to establish causation." Treglia v. Town of Manlius, 313 F.3d 713, 720 (2d Cir.2002). The Second Circuit "has not drawn a bright line to define the outer limits beyond which a temporal relationship is too attenuated to establish a causal relationship." See Gorman-Bakos v. Cornell Coop. Extension of Schenectady Cnty., 252 F.3d 545, 554 (2d Cir.2001). Here, after the Postal Service's EEO acknowledged receipt of plaintiff's request for pre-complaint counseling on May 20, 1999, one day elapsed before plaintiff was issued the Second LOW, approximately three-and-a-half weeks elapsed before plaintiff was suspended, and just under three months elapsed before plaintiff received the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal. The Court finds that this temporal proximity is sufficient to allow plaintiff to meet his minimal prima facie burden regarding his retaliation claim. See Burkybile v. Bd. of Educ. of Hastings-On-Hudson Union Free Sch. Dist., 411 F.3d 306, 314 (2d Cir.2005) (citing Grant v. Bethlehem Steel Corp., 622 F.2d 43, 45-46 (2d Cir.1980)).
The Postal Service has articulated a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for issuing plaintiff's Second LOW, i.e., plaintiff's absence from work on seven dates between February and May 1999. (Florio Decl., Ex. MM.) And, as set forth above, the Postal Service has articulated a legitimate, non-retaliatory basis for suspending plaintiff and ultimately issuing the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal: Brunone's concerns that plaintiff had violated the Postal Service's Workplace Violence Policy.
"[O]nce the employer has proffered its non[retaliatory] reason, the employer will be entitled to summary judgment... unless the plaintiff can point to evidence that reasonably supports a finding of [retaliation.]" James, 233 F.3d at 154. Here, plaintiff not only relies on the temporal proximity between his May 7, 1999 request for EEO pre-complaint counseling and the adverse employment actions, he also has proffered evidence that could demonstrate that similarly situated comparators were disciplined less severely than he (see Sections II.B.4 & II.D.2). Further, plaintiff has pointed to record evidence undermining the Postal Service's stated reasons for issuing his Second LOW, i.e., his assertion that he had supervisor approval for each of his absences. Finally, and as set forth above, plaintiff has also raised questions of fact as to (1) whether plaintiff's suspension and ultimate termination for violating the Postal Service's Workplace Violence Policy, charges initiated and pursued by Brunone, were based upon insufficient and unsubstantiated information, and (2) whether the Postal Service failed to comply with its own document retention policies by issuing the Notice of Removal based upon a charge that plaintiff allegedly falsified his employment application.
Thus, the Postal Service's motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's first claim of retaliation is denied.
Plaintiff asserts that his reassignment to Hempstead, "where there were no
The Postal Service has asserted a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for reassigning plaintiff to Hempstead, as opposed to plaintiff's preferred facility in Hicksville. According to the Postal Service, there were no vacancies at Hicksville at the time and that, even if there was a vacancy in Hicksville, the applicable collective bargaining agreement would have required that the vacancy be filled by an employee with seniority, which plaintiff did not have. (See Def.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 196-200.)
Plaintiff has not met his burden of demonstrating that this proffered rationale was a mere pretext for retaliation. It is well-settled that the temporal proximity that gives rise to an inference of retaliation, without more, is insufficient to satisfy plaintiff's burden of coming forward with some evidence of pretext. Simpson v. N.Y. State Dep't of Civil Servs., 166 Fed. Appx. 499, 502 (2d Cir.2006) (summary order) (citing Quinn v. Green Tree Credit Corp., 159 F.3d 759, 770 (2d Cir.1998)). Aside from the relatively small time gap between plaintiff's protected activity and his reassignment, plaintiff offers no evidence that could lead a reasonable juror to conclude that the Postal Service's articulated rationale is pretextual. Although plaintiff makes clear that he disagrees with the Postal Service's stated rationale for placing him in Hempstead (see Pl.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 196-200), he has proffered no evidence that this decision was a pretext for unlawful retaliation. Nor does plaintiff cite to any record evidence in support of his assertion that Arbitrator McEneaney's July 6, 2000 decision "obligat[ed]" the Postal Service to "make sure [plaintiff] went to Hicksville" in particular, (see id. ¶ 197), as opposed to any "facility in Nassau County" other than Western Nassau (see Florio Decl., Ex. XX at 32).
Accordingly, the Postal Service's motion is granted as to plaintiff's second retaliation claim.
Finally, plaintiff asserts that he filed an EEO complaint on May 20, 2002, and that the Postal Service issued a Notice of Removal on June 20, 2002, a mere four weeks later. (Pl.'s Opp'n at 32.) As an initial matter, plaintiff has pointed to no record evidence that he actually did file an EEO claim on May 20, 2002. Based upon the Court's review of the evidence presented, the only EEO-related activity that occurred on May 20, 2002 was the EEO's dismissal of plaintiff's December 10, 2001 complaint for failure to state a claim. (See Florio Decl., Ex. WWW.) The Postal Service, however, appears to concede that plaintiff did engage in "prior protected activity [] in May 2002," (see Reply Mem. at 18 n. 11), and so, the Court will assume arguendo that plaintiff did so.
As discussed above, the temporal proximity between plaintiff's protected activity and the June 20, 2002 Notice of Removal (four weeks) is sufficient to establish the causation prong of plaintiff's prima facie
Plaintiff has failed to come forward with any evidence beyond temporal proximity, which, as discussed above, can give rise to an inference of retaliation for purposes of establishing a prima facie case, is insufficient on its own to satisfy plaintiff's burden of evidencing pretext. Moreover, Arbitrator Thomas concluded, after a thorough and impartial arbitration proceeding, that the Postal Service had just cause to issue the June 20, 2002 Notice of Removal. "[T]he decision by the arbitrator `is highly probative of the absence of discriminatory intent' and `will attenuate a plaintiff's proof of the requisite causal link' between the termination and the protected activity." Rommage, 2010 WL 4038754 at *16 (quoting Collins, 305 F.3d at 119) (dismissing retaliation claim).
Thus, the Postal Service's motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff's third claim of retaliation is granted.
For the reasons set forth above, the Postal Service's motion for summary judgment is denied as to (1) plaintiff's discrimination claims based upon the First LOW, his emergency placement on unpaid off-duty status, and the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal, and (2) plaintiff's retaliation claims based upon the Second LOW, his emergency placement on unpaid off-duty status, and the August 10, 1999 Notice of Removal. The Postal Service's motion for summary judgment is granted in all other respects. Plaintiff's motion to strike is denied, for the reasons articulated in footnotes 13 and 21, above.
The parties are directed to contact the Court within thirty days of the date of this Order to schedule a final pretrial conference.
