LAWRENCE E. KAHN, District Judge.
On January 12, 2012, Plaintiff Terri L. Thorpe ("Plaintiff"), a resident of Tioga County, New York commenced this action pro se. Dkt. No. 1 ("Complaint"). Plaintiff names Piedmont Airlines, Inc. ("Piedmont"), Ronald Hynes ("Hynes"), William Rocco ("Rocco"), and Michelle Foose ("Foose") as Defendants in this case. Id. at 2. Defendant Hynes is a resident of Chitenden County in Vermont; Defendant Rocco is a resident of Tompkins County in New York; and Defendant Foose is a resident of Dauphin County in Pennsylvania. Id. Defendant Piedmont is a corporation incorporated in Pennsylvania with a place of business in Binghamton, New York. Id. Plaintiff brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2, and N.Y. EXEC. L. § 290 et. seq. alleging discrimination and harassment on the basis of age. Id. at 1.
For the reasons stated below, Defendants' Motion to dismiss is granted in part and denied in part.
Plaintiff is a fifty-one year old female.
Upon joining the Binghamton Regional Airport office, Plaintiff worked with Defendant Hynes.
Subsequently, in February 2009, Defendant Hynes promoted Austin Johnson to a supervisory position. Id. at 3. Johnson was a young male, approximately twenty-five years old and a close friend of Defendant Hynes. Id. Plaintiff alleges that at the time Johnson was promoted, he lacked the qualifications and training requirements necessary to be appointed to a supervisory position. Id. Nonetheless, Johnson was given the opportunity to work alongside Defendant Hynes in training new recruits. Id. at 5. As a result of the promotion, Johnson was scheduled and permitted to attend the same training sessions as Plaintiff. Id. at 4-5.
In addition to denying Plaintiff training opportunities, Defendant Hynes revoked certain responsibilities from her without explanation, gave Johnson priority, and made several remarks to and about Plaintiff regarding her age. Id. at 5. For example, Defendant Hynes regularly called Plaintiff the "golden girl" in a derogatory fashion to imply that she was the "oldest supervisor, the oldest female," and the eldest among all the other agents. Id. at 6. Further, Defendant Hynes would encourage and instigate other derogatory remarks. Id. On July 7, 2010, Plaintiff was informed that Defendant Hynes told another supervisor, "Terri is such a fucking bitch and I cannot stand her." Id. at 6. The supervisor speaking with Defendant Hynes replied, "[Y]es she is a fucking bitch." Id. Plaintiff contends that she endured constant verbal and emotional abuse throughout her employment relationship with Defendants Hynes and Piedmont. Id. Plaintiff further claims that she raised her concerns with Defendant Hynes; however, the harassment and insults continued. Id. at 7. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Hynes took those actions to prevent her from advancing in her career and to force her into terminating her employment with Defendant Piedmont. Id. at 3.
Plaintiff further contends that she raised her concerns with Defendant Hynes's superior, Defendant Rocco. Id. at 7. Plaintiff and Defendant Rocco exchanged several emails and telephone calls regarding Plaintiff's complaints. Id. Defendant Rocco was aware of the problems between Plaintiff and Defendant Hynes, but took no action to correct the situation. Id. Plaintiff also brought her concerns to Defendant Foose, who worked in the Human Resources Department for Defendant Piedmont. Id. at 8. Defendant Foose dismissed Plaintiff's complaints by saying that Plaintiff had a "personality conflict" with Defendant Hynes and that there was nothing Defendant Foose could do for Plaintiff. Id. at 8.
On January 7, 2011, Plaintiff was terminated in a written communication citing her past history with the company. Id. at 7. Plaintiff claims that she never received any evaluation forms or discussion regarding her performance throughout the length of her employment with Defendant Piedmont. Id. at 8. In addition, Plaintiff claims that Defendant Piedmont's Human Resources Department did not make any effort to assist Plaintiff in addressing her concerns regarding the treatment by Defendant Hynes and the hostile working environment. Id. at 8.
On February 17, 2011, Plaintiff filed a Verified Complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights ("NYSDHR") alleging unlawful discriminatory practice relating to her employment with Defendant Piedmont. Dkt. No. 16-1 ("Verified Complaint") at 2. In her Verified Complaint, Plaintiff alleged acts of employment discrimination against Piedmont Airlines and the individual Defendants, based on age and sex that created a hostile work
Because Plaintiff did not request that the EEOC review her Verified Complaint, the EEOC issued a Dismissal and Notice of Rights adopting the findings of the NYSDHR. Dkt. 12-5 ("Notice"). The Notice stated that Plaintiff could "file a lawsuit against the respondent(s) under federal law based on [the] charge in federal or state court" within ninety days of the notice. Id. at 2. Subsequently, on January 13, 2012, Plaintiff filed the instant Complaint alleging discrimination and harassment by Defendants through her employment with Piedmont Airlines. Compl. 1.
To survive a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a "complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to `state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 663, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)); see also FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6). Such a determination "requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citation omitted). A court must accept as true the factual allegations contained in the complaint and draw all inferences in favor of the Plaintiff. See Allaire Corp. v. Okumus, 433 F.3d 248, 249-50 (2d Cir.2006). Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the pleading requirement is satisfied by "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a)(2). A complaint may be dismissed pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) only where it appears that there are not "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955. Plausibility requires "enough fact[s] to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence of [the alleged misconduct]." Id. at 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955. The plausibility standard "asks for more than a sheer possibility that a Defendant has acted unlawfully." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. "[T]he pleading standard Rule 8 announces does not require `detailed factual allegations,' but it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955). Where a court is unable to infer more than the mere possibility of the alleged misconduct based on the pleaded facts, the pleader has not demonstrated that he or she is entitled to relief and the action is subject to dismissal.
Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure states that "a party may amend its pleading only with the opposing party's written consent or the court's leave[,] ... [but][t]he court should freely give leave when justice so requires." FED. R. CIV. P. 15(a)(2); Local 802, Assoc. Musicians of Greater N.Y. v. Parker Meridien Hotel, 145 F.3d 85, 89 (2d Cir.1998); see Salahuddin v. Cuomo, 861 F.2d 40, 42 (2d Cir.1988) ("[t]he district court has discretion whether or not to grant leave to amend") (internal quotations omitted).
Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962). Additionally, the allegations of a pro se litigant are to be construed under a "less stringent standard[] than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers." Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21, 92 S.Ct. 594, 30 L.Ed.2d 652 (1972); see also Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir.2009). Accordingly, a pro se plaintiff should be given the opportunity "to amend at least once when a liberal reading of the complaint gives any indication that a valid claim might be stated." Gomez v. USAA Fed. Sav. Bank, 171 F.3d 794, 795-96 (2d Cir.1999).
Plaintiff raises claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and Title VII alleging harassment, age discrimination and termination from her employment based on age. Compl. 1. Section 1981 states, in part, that "[a]ll persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State ... to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens." 42 U.S.C. § 1981(a). Although the statute does not use the word "race," the Supreme Court has construed the statute to "forbid all `racial' discrimination in the making of private as well as public contracts." Saint Francis Coll. v. Al-Khazraji, 481 U.S. 604, 609, 107 S.Ct. 2022, 95 L.Ed.2d 582 (1987). The purpose of § 1981 is to guarantee equal rights to individuals of all races in making and enforcing contracts, and as such, the statute prohibits racial discrimination against whites and nonwhites alike. McDonald v. Santa Fe Trial Transp. Co., 427 U.S. 273, 295, 96 S.Ct. 2574, 49 L.Ed.2d 493 (1976).
Title VII states that "[i]t shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer... to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). This protection covers "`the entire spectrum of disparate treatment of men and women' in employment, which includes requiring people to work in a discriminatorily hostile or abusive environment." Harris v. Forklift Sys., Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21, 114 S.Ct. 367, 126 L.Ed.2d 295 (1993) (quoting Meritor Sav. Bank, FSB v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 64, 106 S.Ct. 2399, 91 L.Ed.2d 49 (1986)).
In this case, Plaintiff is "alleging that she was harassed, treated differently
The Court notes, however, that although Plaintiff states that the allegations of discrimination are based primarily on age discrimination, Plaintiff may also have a claim based on sex discrimination. If that were the case, Title VII might be an appropriate vehicle through which to seek relief; however, in order to state such a claim Plaintiff would have to allege specific facts regarding it.
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants are in violation of the NYSHRL. Compl. at 1. Plaintiff brings these state law claims pursuant to pendent and supplemental jurisdiction under 26 U.S.C. § 1367. Id. Defendants, however, contend that Plaintiff's allegations of discrimination based on the NYSHRL are barred by the election of remedies provision outlined in N.Y. EXEC. L. § 297(9). Mot. 6. For the following reasons, the Court finds such bar applicable to this case.
Plaintiff brings state law claims pursuant to the New York's human rights law. Specifically, § 296 of the NYSHRL states in relevant part that:
Further, § 297(9) states that "[a]ny person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice shall have a cause of action in any court of appropriate jurisdiction... and such other remedies as may be appropriate ... unless such person had filed a complaint hereunder or with any local commission on human rights...." N.Y. EXEC. L. § 297(9).
Defendants argue that Plaintiff's claims under NYSHRL are barred by the election of remedies provision in § 297(9). Mot. at 6. Specifically, Defendants contend that Plaintiff has brought a subsequent judicial action on the same issues that were litigated by the NYSDHR, and as a result, such claims are barred. Id. Plaintiff responds that despite the election of remedies provision, she may bring state law claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1367 because the Court may invoke supplemental and pendent jurisdiction so long as the state law claims are related to her federal claims. Compl. at 2.
Generally, when a plaintiff chooses to file a complaint with the NYSDHR, such filing constitutes an election to proceed in an administrative forum and such election bars a subsequent judicial course of action on the same facts. N.Y. EXEC. L. § 297(9); see also Emil v. Dewey, 49 N.Y.2d 968, 428 N.Y.S.2d 887, 406 N.E.2d 744 (1980). The Second Circuit has consistently held that "the remedies of administrative review through the Human Rights Division or judicial review are mutually exclusive." Moodie v. Fed. Reserve Bank of N.Y., 58 F.3d 879, 882 (2d Cir. 1995). Essentially, once a plaintiff has brought a complaint under the NYSDHR,
In the present case, it is undisputed that Plaintiff filed a timely Verified Complaint with the NYSDHR. In order to bring her NYSHRL claims in a subsequent judicial proceeding, however, Plaintiff's Verified Complaint had to be dismissed by the NYSDHR on the grounds of (1) administrative convenience, (2) untimeliness, or (3) the annulment of the election of remedies. N.Y. EXEC. L. § 297(9). Here, the Determination issued by the NYSDHR did not dismiss Plaintiff's claim on any of the aforementioned grounds, nor is there any proof that Plaintiff sought for her Verified Complaint to be dismissed on the grounds of administrative convenience.
Because Plaintiff's Verified Complaint with the NYSDHR was not dismissed on any of the aforementioned grounds, Plaintiff is statutorily barred from bringing her NYSHRL claims. Although Plaintiff commenced this litigation pro se, the Court cannot remedy this statutory bar. Contrary to Plaintiff's contention that the Court may exercise supplemental jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367, the Court may not exercise jurisdiction over state law claims that are barred by state law. Accordingly, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff's NYSHRL claims and therefore must dismiss such claims. See FED. R. CIV. 12(h)(3).
Although Plaintiff does not expressly indicate that she is bringing a cause of action under the ADEA, she alleges unlawful employment discrimination on the basis of her age in the instant Complaint. Compl. at 1. In her Complaint, Plaintiff states that "she was harassed [and] treated differently with regard to [her] employment and ultimately terminated because of age." Id. Therefore, the Court addresses the merits of Plaintiff's ADEA claim.
The ADEA states that "it shall be unlawful for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment,
The Court finds that the individual Defendants named in Plaintiff's Complaint — Defendants Hynes, Rocco, and Foose — cannot be held individually liable under the ADEA (or Title VII if applicable in this case). As a result, the Court analyzes the remaining issues in this case with Piedmont Airlines as the sole remaining Defendant.
Defendants contend that Plaintiff's ADEA claim, even if properly executed is untimely. Mot. 10. Specifically, Defendants contend that because Plaintiff filed her complaint with the NYSDHR on February 17, 2011, the discriminatory acts alleged by Plaintiff prior to April 23, 2010 are outside the scope of the 300-day statute-of-limitations period. Id. at 11. The Court, however, finds that Plaintiff's allegations of discriminatory conduct prior to April 23, 2010 may be considered in evaluating her ADEA claim as they were continuous acts of discrimination.
The statute of limitations under the ADEA is 300 days from the occurrence of the alleged unlawful activity, regardless of when it is filed with the state's human rights administrative agency. 29 U.S.C. § 626(d)(1)(B); see also Brodsky v. City Univ. of N.Y., 56 F.3d 8, 9 (2d Cir.1995); Reinhard v. Fairfield Maxwell, Ltd., 707 F.2d 697, 700 (2d Cir.1983). Because New York state has it's own law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age, New York is considered a "deferral state" under the ADEA, meaning that Plaintiff in this case is subject to the ADEA's 300-day statute-of-limitations. 29 U.S.C. §§ 626(d)(1)(B), (e); see also N.Y. EXEC. L. § 296(1)(a).
A discrimination claim "accrues when the plaintiff `knows or has reason to know' of the injury that is the basis of the action." Morse v. Univ. of Vermont, 973 F.2d 122, 125 (2d Cir.1992). The "timeliness of a discrimination claim is measured from the date the claimant receives notice of the allegedly discriminatory decision, not from the date the decision takes effect." O'Malley v. GTE Service Corp., 758 F.2d 818, 820 (2d Cir.1985); see also Miller v. Int'l Tel. & Tel. Corp., 755 F.2d 20, 23 (2d Cir.1985). However, in cases in which there is an ongoing policy or practice of discrimination, courts have applied the "continuing violation" doctrine.
In the present case, Plaintiff filed a Verified Complaint with the NYSDHR that was dual-filed with the EEOC on February 17, 2011. Mot. at 3. Defendants contend that pursuant to the 300-day statute of limitations period any claims prior to April 23, 2010 would not fall within the scope of the statute of limitations period. Dkt. No. 17 at 4. Further, Defendants assert that to the extent Plaintiff's allegations of discriminatory conduct are single discrete acts, they are exempt from the continuing violations doctrine. Id.
The Court finds that Plaintiff's statute of limitations for her ADEA claim began to run on February 17, 2011 when she filed her Verified Complaint with the state's administrative agency. Therefore, according to the 300-day period statute of limitations, claims arising from any acts prior to April 23, 2010, would be barred as they would be outside of the scope of the statute of limitations period. However, in the interest of justice and mindful of Plaintiff's pro se status, the Court finds that the continuing violations doctrine tolls Plaintiff's statute of limitations period and extends it to cover all acts alleged in Plaintiff's Complaint in their entirety.
Although Plaintiff may not have pleaded her allegations with the utmost specificity, it is plausible that the alleged discriminatory acts were not single, unrelated discriminatory acts but instead were acts in furtherance of a policy of discrimination. Plaintiff mentions numerous times in her Complaint and her Response to Defendants' Motion to dismiss that she tried to seek help from upper management officials only to find that her complaints were ignored despite management's knowledge of misfeasance. Dkt. 16 ("Response") at 2. Further, Plaintiff asserts that she approached the supervisory Defendants named in this case several times regarding the harassment and discriminatory behavior by Defendant Hynes, but her complaints were disregarded. Id. at 3.
Unlike cases in which there is no clear relationship among the different acts of
Although Plaintiff's age discrimination claim was brought within the statute of limitations and was partly brought against the proper parties, namely Defendant Piedmont, the Court nonetheless finds that Plaintiff has failed to establish a prima facie case under the ADEA.
Evaluating an ADEA claim involves a four-step process. First, in order to establish a prima facie case of age discrimination, Plaintiff bears the initial burden of demonstrating "(1) that [she] is a member of the class protected by the statute; (2) that [she] was actively or constructively discharged; (3) that [she] was qualified to hold the position from which [she] was terminated; and (4) that the discharge occurred under circumstances giving rise to an inference of age discrimination." Ferrante v. Am. Lung Ass'n, 90 N.Y.2d 623, 665 N.Y.S.2d 25, 687 N.E.2d 1308, 1308 (1997) (citing McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973)).
In proving the last element of the prima facie case, courts have held that discriminatory intent may be established by the circumstances either leading to the adverse employment action or subsequent to such action. See Leibowitz v. Cornell Univ., 584 F.3d 487, 502-03 (2d Cir.2009). These circumstances exist where a substantially younger employee is re-assigned a plaintiff's duties subsequent to the plaintiff's discharge or a plaintiff is replaced by a younger employee. See, e.g., Carlton v. Mystic Transp. Inc., 202 F.3d 129 (2d Cir.2000); Viola v. Phillips Med. Sys. of N. Am., 42 F.3d 712, 712-17 (2d Cir.1994); Montana v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n of Rochester, 869 F.2d 100, 105 (2d Cir. 1989).
Once a plaintiff has established a prima facie case of age discrimination, the burden of proof shifts to the employer "to rebut the presumption of discrimination... through the introduction of admissible evidence, legitimate, independent, and nondiscriminatory reasons to support its employment
In the instant case, Plaintiff has failed to make a prima facie case of age discrimination. Although Plaintiff (1) qualifies as a member of the protected class under 29 U.S.C. § 633a(a), (2) suffered an adverse employment action as she was discharged from her position with Defendant Piedmont, and (3) presumably was qualified to hold her specific position with Defendant Piedmont, Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that the discharge from her position occurred under circumstances giving rise to an inference of age discrimination. Essentially, Plaintiff has failed to show that age was a motivating reason or determining factor of her termination.
Plaintiff's factual allegations are attributable to personal differences and difficulties with Defendant Hynes. Mot. at 14. Further, although Plaintiff describes events that establish a discriminatory practice, such allegations do not demonstrate that age contributed to such discrimination or her ultimate termination from employment. Mot. at 16; Compl. at 4-10. Further, there is no evidence of any correlation between Johnson's promotion to supervisor and Plaintiff's termination. See generally Compl. Although such factual information would not wholly prove age discrimination, it would provide sufficient proof that age was a factor and would demonstrate that Plaintiff may have been replaced by a substantially younger individual with identical responsibilities and duties. However, according to Plaintiff's current factual allegations, this is not the case. Therefore, because Plaintiff has failed to show that the alleged discrimination and termination from employment arose under circumstances giving rise to an inference of age discrimination, Plaintiff has failed to establish a prima facie case under the ADEA.
Based on a review of Plaintiff's current factual allegations, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has not pleaded a claim under the ADEA or Title VII. However, to the extent Plaintiff attempts to re-assert claims under the ADEA or assert claims under Title VII, Plaintiff must clearly specify facts that will conform to the standards of review for such statutory relief. A liberal reading of Plaintiff's pro se complaint suggests that amendment to state such claims might not be futile. Gomez, 171 F.3d at 795-96. Therefore, the Court finds that Plaintiff should be permitted leave to amend to bring her claims under the proper federal statutory schemes and with sufficient specificity.
Accordingly, it is hereby: