BENTA Y. PEARSON, District Judge.
Plaintiff Alverta Williams ("Plaintiff or "Williams") filed the present race discrimination action against Defendant Richland County Children Services, Defendant Randy J. Parker ("Parker") in his individual and official capacity, Defendant Richland Newhope Center (collectively "Richland Defendants"), and Defendant Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging (the "Agency"), alleging violations of federal and Ohio statutory law. ECF Nos. 1; 14.
Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), Richland Defendants and the Agency filed motions to dismiss Plaintiff Williams' complaint. ECF Nos. 4; 15. Plaintiff opposes the motions, and the above named Defendants
For the reasons that follow, Richland Defendants' motion to dismiss is granted in part and denied in part. The motion is granted in part as to the § 1981 claim against Defendants Richland County Children Services, Richland Newhope Center, and Randy J. Parker in his official capacity, and the § 1985 claim, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract against all of the Richland Defendants. The motion is denied in part as to the § 1981 claim against Defendant Randy J. Parker ("Parker") in his individual capacity and the § 1983 claim against all of the Richland Defendants. The Court grants the Agency's motion to dismiss, in its entirety. The Agency is hereby removed as a Defendant to the instant lawsuit. ECP No. 15.
This case involves alleged discriminatory actions perpetrated by Richland Defendants and the Agency against Williams. Plaintiff Williams is an African-American owner of a company that, among other services, provides housing and transportation for the elderly and special needs individuals. ECF No. 1 at 3, ¶ 4, 7. Richland Defendants and the Agency assign these individuals to Williams' housing and transportation company. ECF No. 1 at 3, ¶ 7. Williams' claims that Richland Defendants and the Agency racially discriminated against her by implementing stricter operating standards, disparate placement of potential clients, and decreased transportation assignments. ECF No. 1.
Williams alleges Richland Defendants violated 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, and 1985, and asserts claims for state law breach of contract and tortious interference with contract. ECF No. 1.
Williams alleges that Richland Defendants placed only very difficult clients with her services while placing less difficult clients with the services of Caucasian competitors. ECF No. 1 at 5, ¶ 12. Williams asserts that Richland Defendants removed an aggressive patient from her home and placed the patient in a Caucasian owner's facility after the patient began "acting out" to an extent requiring police involvement. ECF No. 1 at 6-7, ¶¶ 19, 22-24. Defendant Parker refused to meet with Williams to discuss these issues. ECF No. 1 at 7, ¶ 25. She further claims that she has been subject to stricter operating standards, such as being precluded from owning the homes in which her clients are placed, while agencies owned by Caucasian competitors are permitted to own the placement homes. ECF No. 1 at 5, ¶ 14. Williams contends that she has received a smaller share of assignments for services than Caucasian competitors. ECF No. 1 at 5, ¶ 15.
Williams alleges that the Agency violated 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1985, O.R.C. § 4112, and asserts state law tortious interference with contract. ECF No. 14.
In Williams' more definite statement, she alleges that the Agency interrogated clients when they requested Williams' services and assigned those clients to competitors owned by Caucasians. ECF No. 14 at 3. The Agency has allegedly refused the clients' requests for Williams' services and reduced Williams' transportation assignments to fifty percent less than that of Caucasian competitors. ECF No. 14 at 3. In response, Williams complained of the assignment disparity to the Agency. ECF No. 14 at 3, 4. Williams alleges that the Agency initially responded that assignments are made on a rotating basis, and later added that the Caucasian competitor,
In deciding a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the Court must take all well-plead allegations in the complaint as true and construe those allegations in a light most favorable to the plaintiff. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007) (citations omitted). "To survive a motion to dismiss, 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, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). "While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by factual allegations." Id. at 1950. Despite the overruling of Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957), it remains that Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2), is intended to "give the defendant fair notice of what the plaintiffs claim is and the grounds upon which it rests." Although this pleading standard does not require great detail, the factual allegations in the complaint "must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
"Although this is a liberal pleading standard, it requires more than the bare assertion of legal conclusions. Rather, the complaint must contain either direct or inferential allegations respecting all the material elements to sustain a recovery under some viable legal theory." First Am. Title Co. v. Devaugh, 480 F.3d 438, 444 (6th Cir.2007) (quoting Se. Tex. Inns. Inc. v. Prime Hospitality Corp., 462 F.3d 666, 671-72 (6th Cir.2006)). In other words, claims set forth in a complaint must be plausible, not just than conceivable. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955. "[W]here well-pleaded facts do not permit the court to infer more than the mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint has alleged-but it has not `show[n]' — `that the pleader is entitled to relief.'" Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1950 (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2)).
To determine whether a claim should proceed, the Supreme Court has set forth a legal "plausibility standard" to assess whether the facts convincingly suggest actionable conduct, rather than merely describing conduct that actually occurred. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556 n. 3, 127 S.Ct. 1955; see RAKESH N. KILARU, The New Rule 12(b)(6): Twombly, Iqbal, and the Paradox of Pleading, 62 Stan. L.Rev. 905, 910-11 (2010). Applying this standard, district court judges should weigh the facts and determine, when necessary, whether they are sufficient to "nudge [the] claims across the line from conceivable to plausible" based on their "judicial experience and common sense." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955; Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1950. A suit may proceed as long as plaintiff's complaint crosses that threshold. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
Notably, a court's skepticism about whether the alleged conduct had actually occurred does not justify dismissal of a complaint. Alternatively, the Twombly Court instructed lower courts to ask whether the facts alleged in the complaint actually constitute actionable conduct. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 564-70, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (holding that the legal plausibility standard mandated dismissal).
In her first claim for relief, Williams alleges that she was denied the right to make and enforce contracts with all of the Defendants due to her race in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981. ECF No. 1 at 2. The Agency, however, moves to dismiss
In Arendale v. City of Memphis, 519 F.3d 587, 594-99 (6th Cir.2008), the Sixth Circuit held that a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 cannot be brought against state actors. See Arendale, 519 F.3d at 594-99 (upholding Jett v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 491 U.S. 701, 109 S.Ct. 2702, 105 L.Ed.2d 598 (1989)). Thus, with respect to Defendants Richland County Children Services, Richland Newhope Center, and the Agency, who are all identified by Williams in the complaint as "departments and/or municipal corporations," (ECF No. 1 at 3) the Court dismisses the § 1981 claim against them due to their governmental status.
Although Williams disputes the Agency's classification as a government entity by pointing out that the Ohio Revised Code defines "Area Agency on Aging" as "a public or private nonprofit entity"
In this case, Ohio statutory law reveals that the Agency is one of twelve regional offices established under the direction and control of the Ohio Department of Aging ("ODA"), pursuant to federal law-Older Americans Act. See R.C. 173.14 to 173.26., see also 1995 Ohio Op. Att'y Gen. No. 95-001, at *5. Accordingly, the Court finds that the Agency's entwinement with public institutions permits it to be categorized as such. See Hughes v. Region VII Area Agency on Aging, 542 F.3d 169, 177-180 (6th Cir.2008) (holding that Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellants Region VII Area Agency on Aging, which was likewise developed pursuant to the Older Americans Act, in the state of Michigan, acted under of color law given its pervasive entwinement with public institutions); see also Fuerst v. Ohio Dep't of Aging, 2007 Ohio 1926, P14 (Ohio Ct.Cl. 2007) ("It is undisputed [that one of twelve regional offices concerning aging] is a state entity under the direction and control of defendant, Department of Aging, pursuant to R.C. 173.15")
With respect to Defendant Randy J. Parker, Williams' § 1981 claim against him in his official capacity constitutes a claim against his employer, Richland County Children Services. Hester v. City of Memphis, 2007 WL 708568, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15512 (W.D.Tenn. Mar. 5, 2007). Therefore, this claim is likewise dismissed. See Arendale, 519 F.3d at 594-99 (6th Cir.2008).
Thus, the sole remaining § 1981 claim is against Parker in his individual capacity. The Richland Defendants contend, however, that this claim also fails on the basis that Williams has failed to established a prima facie case for racial discrimination under the statute. ECF No. 4 at 5.
"A plaintiff establishes a prima facie case under § 1981 by showing (1) membership
Contrary to Defendants' assertion, the Court finds that Williams' complaint alleges well-pleaded factual allegations that plausibly give rise to a § 1981 entitlement of relief. Because Williams indicates that she is an African-American, she meets the first required element-showing membership in a protected class. Additionally, by alleging that the Richland Defendants, including Parker, (1) placed difficult clients in her facility while placing less difficult clients in Caucasian competitors' facilities, (2) precluded Williams from owning homes while Caucasian competitors were allowed to own homes, and (3) provided Williams less assignments than Caucasian competitors, Williams pleads sufficient factual allegations indicating that she was treated differently from similarly situated non-members of the protected class,
Accordingly, the Court denies Richland Defendants motion to dismiss Williams' § 1981 claim against Parker in his individual capacity.
To establish a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a Plaintiff must demonstrate (1) the deprivation of a constitutional right and (2) Defendant's responsibility for the deprivation. Ellis ex rel. Pendergrass v. Cleveland Mun. Sch. Dist., 455 F.3d 690, 700 (6th Cir.2006).
In her second claim for relief, Williams asserts that Richland County Defendants' actions constituted a deprivation of three rights — the "right to freedom of enterprise", right to equal protection, right to due process of laws." ECF No. 1 at 10. The Court, however, finds that minimally, Williams has sufficiently pleaded a § 1983 claim under the Equal Protection Clause against the Richland Defendants.
As to Defendants Richland County Children Services, Richland Newhope Center, and Randy J. Parker, in his official capacity, Williams must put forth additional allegations to impose liability against these Defendants. The Supreme Court's instruction is clear: "[A] local government may not be sued under § 1983 for an injury inflicted solely by its employees or agents." Monell v. N.Y. City Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978). Thus, in order for a plaintiff to impose liability on a municipality under § 1983, a plaintiff must identify a municipal "policy" or "custom" that caused the plaintiffs injury. See Bd. of County Comm'rs of Bryan County, Okla. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 403, 117 S.Ct. 1382, 137 L.Ed.2d 626 (1997) (citing Monell, 436 U.S. at 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018); Pembaur v. City of Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 480-81, 106 S.Ct. 1292, 89 L.Ed.2d 452 (1986).
Doe v. Claiborne County, Tenn., 103 F.3d 495, 507-08 (6th Cir.1996) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
In this case, Williams' claims sufficiently allege unconstitutional policies or customs utilized by the Richland Defendants. Williams' alleges that the Richland Defendants (1) placed difficult clients in her facility while placing less difficult clients in Caucasian competitors' facilities, (2) precluded Williams from owning homes while Caucasian competitors were allowed to own homes, and (3) provided Williams less assignments than Caucasian competitors. ECF No. 1. Such allegations are sufficient, at the pleading stage, to demonstrate a factual basis of disparate treatment from similarly situated nonmembers of the protected class, which, as addressed above, is one way to establish a defendant's intent to discriminate. Richland Defendants' motion to dismiss Williams' § 1983 claim is therefore, denied.
The Richland Defendants, nonetheless seek dismissal of Williams' § 1983 claim against Defendant Randy J. Parker, in his individual capacity on the grounds of qualified immunity. Richland Defendants argue that to avoid dismissal on grounds of qualified immunity, Williams would have to show that Parker acted "objectively unreasonable under the circumstances." ECF No. 4 at 13-14. They argue that the removal of the aggressive patient from Williams' facility was not objectively unreasonable after circumstances requiring police involvement. ECF No. 4 at 15. Moreover, they argue that Parker
Williams responds by stating that a reasonable official under the same circumstances as Parker would know that Parker's actions violated constitutional rights. ECF No. 9 at 17.
Qualified immunity claims are analyzed under the following three-part test: (1) whether a constitutional right was violated; (2) whether that right was clearly established and one of which a reasonable person would have known; and, (3) whether the official's action was objectively unreasonable under the circumstances. Kinkus v. Village of Yorkville, 289 Fed.Appx. 86, 90 (6th Cir.2008).
As discussed above, Williams sufficiently pleads that the Richland Defendants, including Parker, violated a constitutional right, i.e. her right to equal protection. Williams' right to be free from discriminatory treatment is clearly established and one of which a reasonable Executive Director of a County Children Services Agency would know. Lastly, although Williams' § 1981 and § 1983 claims are vague and directed generally at all Richland Defendants, her allegations state a plausible claim that Parker's conduct was objectively unreasonable under the circumstances. See Livingston v. Luken, 151 Fed.Appx. 470, 476 (6th Cir.2005) (upholding the district court's denial of qualified immunity despite the complaint's vague allegations against a city official, encompassed by general allegations against "defendants," because it was conceivable that plaintiff could present sufficient additional evidence to prove the official acted unreasonably). Accordingly, Richland Defendants' motion to dismiss the § 1983 claim against Parker, in his individual capacity is, therefore, denied.
Both Richland Defendants and the Agency argue that Williams' § 1985 claim must be dismissed because Williams fails to allege a factual basis to support the existence of a conspiracy. ECF Nos. 4 at 13; 15-1 at 2.
In response, Williams repeats her allegation that Richland Defendants and the Agency conspired against her on the basis of race. ECF No. 17 at 6.
To establish a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1985, a plaintiff must prove (1) a conspiracy involving two or more persons, (2) for the purpose of depriving, directly or indirectly, a person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws, and (3) an act in furtherance of the conspiracy which causes injury to a person or property, or a deprivation of any right or privilege of a citizen of the United States. Johnson v. Hills & Dales General Hosp., 40 F.3d 837, 839 (6th Cir.1994).
Williams' complaint fails to provide factual allegations contending a conspiracy involving Richland Defendants or the Agency. Thus, Williams does not plead sufficient factual allegations to state a plausible claim for relief for a violation of § 1985. Richland Defendants and the Agency's motions to dismiss Williams' § 1985 claim are, therefore, granted.
The Agency moves to dismiss Williams' violation of R.C. Chapter 4112 claim on the
In her opposition brief, Williams contends that the Agency faces liability under R.C. Chapter 4112 as it can be considered an employer of Williams, a place of public accommodation, or face liability under R.C. § 4112.02(J), which outlaws obstructing or preventing any person complying with R.C. Chapter 4112. ECF No. 17 at 6-8.
The record is clear: Williams presents no factual allegations establishing the Agency as a public accommodation or establishing that the Agency violated O.R.C. § 4112.02(J). As to Williams' claim that Agency is considered an employer, the Court must conduct a more detailed inquiry into her allegation.
Williams specifically argues that R.C. Chapter 4112 does not require a technical employer-employee relationship, and that the Agency should face liability as an employer because of the Agency's ability to control Williams' job performance and employment opportunities. ECF No. 17 at 7.
R.C. Chapter 4112 states, in pertinent part:
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice:
Section 4112.02(A) does not apply to independent contractors. Haynes v. Kirby Co., 78 F.3d 584 at *3 (6th Cir.1996). In Ohio, however, O.R.C. § 4112.02(A) will apply if the relationship between the parties is an employer-employee relationship, rather than an independent contractor relationship. Id. Courts distinguish employee and independent contractor status by determining whether the employer has the right to control the manner in which the work is performed. Id. The following elements are considered in determining the independent contractor/employee question: the hiring party's right to control the manner and means by which the product is accomplished; the skill required by the hired party; the duration of the relationship between the parties; the hiring party's right to assign additional projects; the hired party's discretion over when and how to work; the method of payment; the hired party's role in hiring and paying assistants; whether the work is part of the hiring party's regular business; the hired party's employee benefits; and tax treatment of the hired party's compensation. Simpson v. Ernst & Young, 100 F.3d 436, 443 (6th Cir.1996). No one factor is dispositive. Id.
After analyzing the aforementioned factors as well as additional case law within this Circuit, the Court finds Williams to be an independent contractor and not an employee of the Agency. Williams makes no allegations in the Complaint or arguments in the Brief in Opposition that the Agency retained any control over how she carried out her transportation assignments or the routes she took. There is also no indication that the Agency provided Williams with a car or other vehicle to conduct her transportation duties or that the Agency held Williams out as being an employee. Rather, Williams' complaint highlights the independent nature of her relationship with the Agency. The Complaint indicates that she operates her own business, a business that provides numerous services, only one of which is the transportation service which forms the basis of Williams' claims against the Agency. The Complaint also alleges that Williams does business with several different agencies, including all of the co-Defendants named herein. Williams' allegations also state that she is not paid by the Agency, but rather "from various sources, including but not limited to Medicaid/Medicare".
And even though Williams contends that the Agency has significant control over her duties, as the Agency dictates "whom she transports, the amount charged, the nature of the trips assigned, and whether the work is part of the defendant's regular business" (ECF No. 17 at 8), case law is clear that a worker's lack of discretion is not an indication of employee status, particularly when the lack of discretion is the result of governmental regulation. See NLRB v. Silver King Broadcasting, 1996 WL 253847, 2, 1996 U.S.App. LEXIS 12628, 6-7 (9th Cir.1996) (stating "`the fact that a putative employer incorporates into its regulations controls required by a government agency' does not contribute to employee status") (citations omitted); see also North American Van Lines, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 869 F.2d 596, 599 (D.C.Cir.1989).
Accordingly, the Agency's motion to dismiss Williams' claim of violation of R.C.
In their motion to dismiss, the Richland Defendants do not dispute the plausibility of Williams' breach of contract claim. In their arguments for dismissal of Williams' federal law claims, however, Richland Defendants insinuate that Williams' breach of contract claim would be more appropriately handled in state court. ECF No. 4 at 9-10.
In opposition, Williams does not elaborate on her breach of contract claim, but rather reiterates that the acts of Richland Defendants "constitute breach of contract." ECF No. 9 at 7.
The elements for a breach of contract claim are that a plaintiff must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence (1) that a contract existed, (2) that the plaintiff fulfilled his obligations, (3) that the defendant failed to fulfill his obligations, and (4) that damages resulted from this failure. Telxon Corp. v. Smart Media of Delaware, Inc., Case Nos. 22098, 22099, 2005 WL 2292800, at *20 (Ohio App. 9 Dist. Sept. 21, 2005).
Williams fails to allege facts regarding the existence of a contract. Moreover, Williams does not allege what her contractual obligation was or whether she fulfilled a contractual obligation, and she does not allege what Richland Defendants' obligation was or whether Richland Defendants failed to fulfill that obligation. Because Williams does not establish three of the necessary elements of a breach of contract claim, Williams fails to state a plausible claim entitling her to relief for breach of contract. Richland Defendants' motion to dismiss Williams' breach of contract claim is, therefore, granted.
In their motion to dismiss, Richland Defendants do not dispute Williams' tortious interference with contract claim, but, rather imply that state contract claims are better handled in state court. ECF No. 4 at 9-10.
The Agency claims immunity from Williams' tortious interference with contract claim on the basis that it is a political subdivision as defined by R.C. Chapter 2744, and that a political subdivision is immune from liability for intentional tort claims. ECF No. 15-1 at 5-7.
In response to the Richland Defendants' motion, Williams does not elaborate on her allegation of tortious interference with contract. Instead, Williams repeats that Richland Defendants' actions "constitute... interference with plaintiff's contractual relations." ECF No. 9 at 7. In response to the Agency's motion, Williams argues that the Agency is not a political subdivision entitled to immunity because it is a private, non-profit corporation. ECF No. 17 at 9.
The elements of the tort of tortious interference with contract are (1) the
As previously addressed, Williams fails to allege the existence of a contract. Because Williams does not establish a necessary element of a tortious interference with contract claim, Williams fails to state a plausible claim entitling her to relief for tortious interference with contract. Richland Defendants and the Agency's motions to dismiss Williams' tortious interference with contract claim are, therefore, granted.
For the reasons above, Richland Defendants' motion to dismiss is granted in part and denied in part. The motion is granted in part as to the § 1981 claim against Defendants Richland County Children Services, Richland Newhope Center, and Randy J. Parker in his official capacity, and the § 1985 claim, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract against all of the Richland Defendants. The motion is denied in part as to the § 1981 claim against Defendant Randy J. Parker in his individual capacity and the § 1983 claim against all of the Richland Defendants. The Court grants the Agency's motion to dismiss, in its entirety. The Agency is hereby removed as a Defendant to the instant lawsuit. ECF No. 15.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
