Gumbs v. State of Delaware Department of Labor

Filing 55

MEMORANDUM OPINION re 51 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Signed by Judge Richard G. Andrews on 8/11/2017. (ksr, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
TRINA R. GUMBS,
Plaintiff,
v.

Civil Action No. 15-190-RGA

STATE OF DELAWARE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
Defendant.

MEMORANDUM

The Magistrate Judge has filed a Report and Recommendation. (D.I. 51). It recommends
granting summary judgment to Defendant. Plaintiff has filed objections, to which the Defendant
has responded. (D.I. 52, D.I. 54). The matter is now before this Court. For the reasons that
follow, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Court OVERRULES Plaintiffs Objections (D.I.
52) and ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation. (D.I. 51).

I.

BACKGROUND
From 1996 to 2015, Trina Gumbs, Plaintiff, was employed at the Office of Anti-

Discrimination ("OAD"). (D.I. 15

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6). Plaintiff was promoted throughout her tenure and

eventually became a Labor Law Enforcement Supervisor.

(Id.~

7). Due to a vacancy, Plaintiff

was appointed as interim acting OAD Regulatory Specialist, which included a temporary pay
increase for the position. (Id.

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10). The OAD created a job posting for the Regulatory Specialist

position and listed two preferred qualifications: "(1) experience in resolving employment and/or
discrimination complaints; and (2) possession of a Juris Doctorate." (D.I. 45 at 7). Five
candidates, including Plaintiff and Daniel McGannon, were interviewed for the position. (Id.).

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McGannon, a lawyer with a J.D. and previous experience with employment discrimination, was
hired as the new Regulatory Specialist. (Id.).
Following McGannon's hiring, Plaintiff returned to her position and pay as a Labor Law
Enforcement Supervisor, subordinate to McGannon. (D.I. 15 if 20). "Because ofMcGannon's
unfamiliarity with the OAD's operations, [Plaintiff] began training him and performing some of
his duties." (D.I. 51 at 3). McGannon worked from the OAD's Wilmington, Delaware office,
while Plaintiff worked from the OAD's satellite office in Milford, Delaware. (D.I. 45 at 4).
Plaintiff filed a one-count complaint against Defendant for violation of the Equal Pay Act
("EPA"). This complaint has been amended. (D.I. 15).
II.

LEGAL STANDARDS
A. STAND ARD OF REVIEW
A magistrate judge may make a report and recommendation regarding a case-dispositive

motion. Beazer E., Inc. v. Mead Corp., 412 F.3d 429, 444 (3d Cir. 2005). "When reviewing the
decision of a Magistrate Judge on a dispositive matter, the Court conducts a de nova review." 28
U.S.C. §636(b)(l); FED. R. Crv. P. 72(b)(3); Masimo Corp. v. Philips Elec. N Am. Corp., 62 F.
Supp. 3d 368, 379 (D. Del. 2014). A summary judgment motion is considered a dispositive
motion. D. DEL. LR 72.1(3). "The district judge must determine de novo any part of the
magistrate judge's disposition that has been properly objected to." FED. R. Crv. P. 72(b)(3). The
Court may "accept, reject, or modify the recommended disposition ... " of the magistrate judge.
Id.

B. SUMMARY JUDGMENT
"The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine
dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter oflaw." FED. R.

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CIV. P. 56(a). When determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the court must
view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draw all reasonable
inferences in that party's favor. Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007); Wishkin v. Potter,
476 F.3d 180, 184 (3d Cir. 2007). A dispute is "genuine" only ifthe evidence is such that a
reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477
U.S. 242, 247-49 (1986).

III.

ANALYSIS
A. FAILURE TO PROMOTE
Defendant argues Plaintiff's claim is a failure to promote claim. (D.1. 45 at 21-23; D.I. 49

at 8-11). As did the Magistrate Judge, I disagree. Plaintiff's complaint clearly states her claim
as an EPA violation. (D.I. 15 at 4). I will not analyze the claim as a failure to promote claim
since Plaintiff has not alleged it.

B. EQUAL PAY ACT VIOLATION
Plaintiff's EPA violation claim must follow "a two step burden-shifting paradigm."

Tillman v. Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc., 538 F.Supp.2d 754, 773 (D. Del. 2008). In order for
Plaintiff to establish a prima facie case of unequal pay, Plaintiff "must demonstrate that she and a
member of the opposite sex (1) worked in the same establishment; (2) received unequal wages;
(3) for work that was equal in terms of skill, effort, and responsibility; and (4) that was
performed under similar working conditions." Id. (citing 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)(l)). The burden
then shifts to Defendant to show one of the four affirmative defenses "where different payment
to employees of opposite sexes 'is made pursuant to (i) a seniority system; (ii) a merit system;
(iii) a system which measures earnings by quantity or quality of production; or (iv) a differential

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based on any other factor other than sex."' Corning Glass Works v. Brennan, 417 U.S. 188, 19596 (1974) (citing 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)(l)).
The Magistrate Judge held that Plaintiff did create a disputed material fact on the issue of
whether the work was equal in terms of skill, effort, and responsibility. (D.I. 51 at 7-8). check
She therefore did not reach the affirmative defenses.
i. PRIMA FACIE CASE

The parties do not dispute that the requirements of three of the four prongs of the prima
facie case are met. Plaintiff objects to the finding of the Magistrate Judge that the third prong is
not met for two reasons: (1) the finding lacks a fact-intensive examination into the job duties and
responsibilities required by the EPA; and (2) McGannon's "additional supervisory tasks do not
constitute unequal responsibility as a matter oflaw." (D.I. 52 ~ 3).
As noted, Plaintiff and McGannon are of different genders. To satisfy the first prong of
the test, Plaintiff must demonstrate that she and McGannon "worked in the same establishment."
29 U.S.C. § 206(d)(l). The first prong is met because Plaintiff and McGannon both worked for
the OAD. (D.I. 47 at 11). To satisfy the second prong of the test, Plaintiff must demonstrate that
she and McGannon "received unequal wages." 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)(l). The second prong is met
because Plaintiff was Pay Grade 15, and McGannon was Pay Grade 18. (D.I. 47 at 17). There is
a pay difference between the pay grades that exceeded $10,000 per year. (Id.). To satisfy the
fourth prong of the test, Plaintiff must demonstrate that she and McGannon worked "under
similar working conditions." 29 U.S.C. § 206( d)(l ). The fourth prong requirements are met
because even though the parties worked in different locations, the OAD offices "had the same
capabilities and could carry out all the functions of the OAD." (D.I. 47 at 17). Therefore,
Plaintiff's and McGannon's work were performed under similar working conditions.

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The third prong is at issue in Plaintiff's objections. To satisfy the third prong of the test,
Plaintiff must demonstrate that she and McGannon performed work that "was equal in terms of
skill, effort, and responsibility." 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)(l). Plaintiff objects to the Magistrate
Judge's findings, arguing that there was no fact intensive evaluation of job duties and
responsibilities and that McGannon's additional supervisory tasks do not constitute unequal
"responsibility" as a matter oflaw. "Responsibility" concerns "the degree of accountability
required in the performance of the job, with emphasis on the importance of the job obligation."
29 C.F.R. § 1620.17.
Once Plaintiff returned to the Labor Law Enforcement Supervisor position, all the
Regulatory Specialist position accountability was passed to McGannon. The Regulatory
Specialist's core duties were hiring new employees, signing leave requests, overseeing the
mediation program, responding to Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") requests, handling
constituent contacts, handling community outreach, disciplining employees, and identifying
areas of improvements to policies and procedures. (D.I. 48 at 36, Dep. 29:13-31:1).
McGannon assumed the responsibility of all the core duties but delegated some tasks to
Plaintiff. Normally McGannon would be the sole person responsible for hiring, but Plaintiff was
involved on a panel for the hiring decision process for a new employee once. (D.I. 48 at 37-38,
Dep. 36:20-38:14). McGannon informed Plaintiff"that approving overtime was no longer her
responsibility" after Plaintiff approved a leave request. (D.I. 45 at p. 15 n. 90; D.I. 46 Ex. A).
McGannon oversaw all mediation programs, and Plaintiff did not oversee any of the mediation
programs. (D.I. 48 at 39, Dep. 43:6-7). McGannon oversaw all FOIA requests. (D.1. 46 Ex. J).
Although Plaintiff oversaw two outreach training engagements during McGannon's tenure as
Regulatory Specialist, McGannon conducted multiple outreach training engagements each year.

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(D.I. 48 at 40-41, Dep. 48:14-51 :13; D.I. 46 Ex. F). Although Plaintiff completed some of
McGannon's duties, Plaintiff and her subordinates answered to McGannon, and McGannon was
accountable for their work. Plaintiff even acknowledged McGannon's authority over her
position. (D.I. 46 Ex. H (discussing whether McGannon was reprimanding Plaintiff for a policy
change without his prior approval)). McGannon also had the responsibility to conduct
performance evaluations of Plaintiff and the entire staff. (D.I. 47 at p. 4; D.I. 48 at 43, Dep. 58:422). McGannon reviewed and revised Plaintiff's work. (D.I. 46 Exs. B-C).
Plaintiff contests that McGannon's additional supervisory tasks do not constitute unequal
responsibilities. (D.I. 52 if 2). I disagree. Plaintiff relies solely on two Fifth Circuit cases stating
that the "substantially equal test implies that there can be job responsibilities, including
supervisory duties that are so minor that the jobs still require equal pay." (D.I. 52 at 3 (citing Hill

v. JC. Penney Co., 688 F.2d 370, 373-74 (5th Cir. 1982); Hodgson v. American Bank of
Commerce, 447 F.2d 416, 422 (5th Cir. 1971))). In Hill v. JC. Penney Co., the court held the
supervisor position "entailed only theoretical responsibility" but had no real added responsibility.

Hill, 688 F.2d at 373-74. This case is distinguishable because McGannon and Plaintiff had
unequal responsibility. McGannon had real added responsibility for the Regulatory Specialist
core duties and for supervising his subordinates. Although some ofMcGannon's core duties
were also performed by Plaintiff, McGannon was solely accountable for the work performed.
No material facts are disputed. The actual duties and responsibilities of the Regulatory Specialist
and the Labor Law Enforcement Supervisor are not equal. The actual duties and responsibilities
of Plaintiff and McGannon are not equal. As the record shows, Plaintiff and McGannon do not
have equal responsibilities for equal work. Thus, the third prong is not met. Since Plaintiff is

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unable to demonstrate equal responsibility for equal work, she fails to establish a prima facie
case necessary to survive a motion for summary judgment.
ii. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES

Under the two step burden-shifting paradigm, the burden would shift to Defendant to
raise an affirmative defense once Plaintiff has demonstrated that each prong of the four prong
test. However, Plaintiff has not met her burden. Therefore, no analysis is needed to determine
whether Defendant has demonstrated an affirmative defense.

IV.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated herein, the Court OVERRULES Plaintiff's Objections (D.I. 52)
and ADOPTS the April 6, 2017 Report and Recommendation (D.I. 51). Defendant's Motion for
Summary Judgment (D.I. 44) is GRANTED.
A separate order will be entered.

rwliMM0(~
United States District Judge

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