Keane v. Federal Express Corporation et al

Filing 32

ORDER Granting 22 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 7/27/2017. (jw)

UN I
TED STATES D I
STRI T CO U RT
C
SO UTH ERN D ISTRICT O F FLO RI A
D
M I IDI I
AM
V SION
CA SE N O .1 20818- J
6CV- LK
KA REN TEPPER K EA NE,

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ai i f

FEDERAL EXPRESS CO RPORATI
ON
and EDUA RDO E.U TSET,
D ef nda s
e nt .
/

O RD ER G R AN TI DEFEN DAN TS'M O TIO N FO R SU M M A R Y JUD G M ENT
NG
TH I M ATTER com e bef e t Cour upon D ef nt FEDERAL EXPRESS
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den
hi t o
endant t pr f ra l tm a e,non- s r m i or r as f t
s o of e egii t
di c i nat y e on or he
adve s e pl e actons.Def nt ha done s c endi t Pl ntf w as
r e m oym nt i
enda s ve
o, ont ng hat ai if
s pe
us nded pendi t i tga i ofa r tt ts vi at d t l or aton Sec iy
ng he nves i ton
epor ha he ol e he nf m i
urt
Polc Furhe ,Def nda sofert f l i non- et xt r ons f de otng
i y. t r
e nt f he olow ng
pr e ual eas
or m i
8

Pli if ( )t ei ve tg to c ime t tPli ifvi l td Fe Ex' I or ton
antf; 1 h n si a i n onfr d ha antf o ae d s nf ma i
Se u iy Polc ( Pli tf al we a ho l e o et wo k r m o ey, e u tng i
c rt iy; 2) a n if lo d n ury mpl ye o r e t l r s li n

a i c ur t r c d oft a e oy e' ho s a ( Pli ifsdie te o e
n na c ae e or h t mpl e s ur ; nd 3) a ntf r c mpl ye s
r t t Pl ntf wasa poorl
epored hat ai i f
eader putt com pa atfnanci rs and act
,
he
ny i
al i k,
ed
unpr es i l
of sonaly.
W ih t ,t bur now s fs t Pl ntf t r
t hat he den
hit o ai if o ebutt non- e exualr ons
he
pr t
eas

ofer by Def ndant W ih r pec t herI or a i Securt vi aton,Pl ntf
f ed
e
s. t es t o
nf m ton
iy ol i
ai if
conc
edest s vi at t I or a i Securt polcy,buti i t t ot r
hat he ol ed he nf m ton
iy i
ns s s hat he
em pl
oyeeshavevi at t polc wihoutr i a H ow e r Pl ntf ha not
ol ed he i y t
epr m nd.
ve , ai i f s
bot e t i cat t r oft e e pl s who w e e alegedl notr prm anded f
her d o ndi e he ace hos m oyee
r l
y
e i
or

vi atng t polcy.4w ihoutf ct s i ot
ol i he i
t
a s how ng henvie,Pl ntf m er y r i on a
s ai if el eles
c us y ale ton t ts wastea e l s f abl t ot sout i ofherr
oncl or l ga i ha he
r t d e s avor y han her
s de
ace.
The ef e,Pl ntf f l t de onsr t any f si catng di c i i i a t f l
r or ai if ais o m
ta e
act ndi i
s rm naton, nd hus ais
tr
o ebutt I or aton Sec iy vi aton as a l gii a e r on f s pe ng and
he nf m i
urt ol i
e tm t eas or us ndi
uli at l dem otng he .
tm e y
i
r

D ef nt addii l of e ed t i pendent lgii at r ons f de otng
enda s
tonaly f r wo nde
, e tm e eas
or m i
Pl ntf :he m ihandlng ofa houry e pl ,a poorl ade s p.W ih r pec t
ai if r s
i
n
l m oyee nd
e r hi
t es t o

herm i ha i oft houry em pl e,Pl ntf a guest s w asne i or ed t t
s ndlng he
l
oye ai if r
hat he
ver nf m ha
s coul notalow an houry em pl
he
d
l
l
oyee t wor r m ot y.H ow e ,Pl ntf f l t
o
k e el
ver ai if ais o
di put t s di notdevel a s t t acc a el ta t houry em pl e' tm e,
s e hat he d
op ysem o ur t y r ck he
l
oye s i
4N o a y,h v r teCo r c ngla fo terc r ta CJOc hiit (ne o e Plitf ctsa a
t bl owe e,h u t a e n rm h e od h t
c pnia mply e anif ie s n
e a l o s me n wh volt dt ep lc wi o trp i a d , sas W hi / u a in
x mp e f o o e o i ae h o iy t u e rm n ) i lo t ca c sa .
h
e
9

and t tasa r ul t empl
ha
es t he
oyee m ir por e hi hour .A st D ef ndant as e ton t t
s e td s
s
o
e
s' s r i ha
s w asapoorl r Pl ntf poi soutt s hascons s e l r cei postve
he
eade , ai if nt
hat he
i t nty e ved ii
r vi st oughoutheryear a Fe Ex untlhe ta f rt Ut ts m anage e t m .
e ew hr
st d
i r r ns e o se '
m nt ea

Howe ,Pl ntf doesnotpr s f s t r
ver ai if
e ent act o ebutt com pl nt r t by he m os
he
ai s epored
r
t

rc nte oye s na l t t anif( )f i dt r s leadice nc t tpu Fe
e e mpl e , mey,ha Plitf 1 al o e ov
e
s rpa y ha t d
Ex i fn nca rs ( s we alc o i e e ti i e e i ane pa ol s tm ;
n i a i l ik; 2) ho d a k f ntr s n mplm ntng w yr l yse
a d ( s keu pr e son ly t he s r nae du i he tnu ea M a g rof
n 3) po n of s i a l o r ubo di ts rng r e r s na e
Fi nce.Uli at y,undert undi put d r cor Pl ntf cannotdem ons r e t her
na
tm el
he
s e e d, ai if
tat hat
de oton w asdue t anyt ng ot rt herpoorper or ance.Pl i ifhast ef e
m i
o
hi
he han
f m
a ntf
her or
f l d t m eetherbur n unde t M c onnel D ougl fam ewor t r
aie o
de
r he D
l
as r
k o ebutDef ndant '
e
s
pr f r d non- e ext lr as f dem otng he .
of e e
pr t ua e ons or
i
r

The Cour nextt nst Pl ntf cl m t tFed Ex dicrm i t a ns he r by
t
ur o ai ifs ai ha
s i na ed gai t r ace
f lng t pr ot he t a s ni m a
aii o om e r o e or nage entposton.A pl ntf as er i a
m
ii
ai if s tng

dic i na i c am f rf iu et p o emus e tbls t t ( )s i ame rofa
s rmi ton l i o al r o r mot
t sa ih ha ; 1 he s mbe

p otce ca s ( s a idfra dwa quai dfraj bfrwhiht e oy r
r e td ls ;2) he pple o n s lie o o o c he mpl e
wa s e nga ia s ( d s t he q lfc to , hewa rj ce f e oy n ;
s e ki pplc nt; 3) e pie r uaiiains s
s ee td or mpl me t
a ( t e o rc ntnu d t s e a i a swih Pli ifsq lfc to o ti e
nd 4) he mpl ye o i e o e k pplc nt t antf ua ii a ins u sd
o he pr t ce ca s Lub tk v Ap id Ca d S . I c,29 F.d 1 01 1 5 ( 1h Ci.
f r o e t d ls . es y . ple r ys, n . 6 3 3 , 30 1 t r
20 )( ii M c nn lDou a , l U. a 8 )
02 ctng Do e
gl s 4 1 S. t 02 .
l t M oton,D ef nt cont t Pl ntf-aist s i f t s
n he
i
knda s
end hat ai iff l o ats y he econd and

t r pr ng ojaprmaf i d s rmi to c am f rf l et pr mo ebe a ePli if
hi o s ï i ac e ic i nai n li o àiur o o t c us antf
d
l
0

di nota y f t pos ton,and t s
d
ppl br he ii
he ucces f ca da e w a uli at y m or qualse
s bl ndi t s tm el
e
i d.

Pl ntf
ai ifconce t s di notappl f t poston,buti s st ts di nota y
des hat he d
y or he ii
nsit ha he d
ppl
bec
ause Utett d hers w asnotqualfe How e ,Pl ntf a s ton i r ut by
s ol
he
ii d,
ver ai i fs s er i s ef ed
t undiput r or f s l ed,t r cor s
he
s ed ec d àct . nde he e d hows t Pl ntf di notexpr s
hat ai i- d
f
es

i ee tt Ute u iov rt l h c rt j posigha cosd fri en l
ntrs o s t ntl e wo nonts /e he ob tn d l e o ntr a
applcant .The r d f rt confnns t tPl ntf wasaw a e t i i Fe Ex' ofi i
i s
ecor u her
i
ha ai if
r hat t s d
s f c al

p iyt po t o va a isfrs v nd y b o eco igi t i ena a pia s The
olc o s j b c nce o e e a s efr lsn t o ntr l p lc nt.

polc mo e ve sae t tti t e o esrs nsblt t a pl f raj bva a y
iy r o r tts ha i s he mplye ' e po iiiy o p y o o c nc
ofi e es w ihi t aloted s n da pe i Her t s orm a
nt r t t n he l t eve y rod. e, he eni
nagem entposton
ii

waspos e i e naly on Sept ber 1 201 a cl e on Sept be 20,201 l i
t d ntr l
em
3, 3, nd os d
em r
3. t s
undi put t Pl i ifdi nots i an a i ton a t tm esand di notconfont
s ed hat a ntf d
ubm t pplca i t hat i
d
r
Ut e aboutheri er ti t poston untlN ovem ber26,201 M or
st
nt es n he ii
i
3.
eover Pl ntf
, ai i f
adm is i he Decl a i t s di noti taly a y f t poston beca e s had
t n r
ar ton hat he d
nii l ppl br he ii
us he

n b e itrse i t oba a e ts d. c r i y,ii o nv emi yun s e
ot e n nee td n hej s dv rie Ac o dngl t s ve h l ngl diputd
t Pl ntf f l d t appl f t s orm anagem entposii Pl ntf t r or t l
hat ai if aie o
y br he eni
ton. ai i- he ef e àis
f

t saeaprn a i ca m J d s rmi to a t t pr moton.
o tt
imf c e li br ic i nai n s o he o i

Ac odi l Dee nt aee ildt s mmayj dgme a t t
c r ngy, fnda s r ntte o u r u
nt s o he
di c i i ton cl m .
s rm na i
ai
2. Ret i i
alaton

W ih r s c t c amsf rr t lai n, pli tf m u tpr vet t ( )s ee a d
t e pe t o li o eaito a a n if s o ha : 1 h ng ge
i asau o iypr t ce e r s i n; 2)s s f r d a a ve s e o n a to a
n tt t rl o e t d xp e so ( he ufe e n d r e mplyme t c i n; nd

( )t ea ve s e oy nta ton wa c u a l lnke t t sa ut iy pr e td
3 h d r e mpl me c i
s a s ly i d o he tt orl otc e

a t t Ol ta v Ta o Bel 1 1F.d 1 ,1 0 ( 1h Ci.1 8 . r , antf
ci y. mse d . c l, 4 3 457 46 1 t r 99 ) He e Pl i if
vi
alegest s e
l
hat he ngaged i apr ec ed acton w he s s
n
ot t
i
n he oughtt pl e he em pl
o ac r
oyee,

Bet Hars it ahgh r obca sfc to Plitf frhe camst ts es frda
ty ri,no i e j lsiiain. anif u t r li ha h ufee n
adve s empl e acton w hen s w ass equenty i s d a doc ent couns i
re
oym nt i
he
ubs
l s ue
um ed
elng

frha n adie te oy ewor ngi a i o r obclsii to Asdic s d
o vig rc mpl e
ki n n mprpe j a sfcain.
s use
above a docum ent couns i i notcons de e di ci i a Fed Ex,a t e or
,
ed
elng s
i r d s plne t
nd her f e
doesnotcons iut an a r e e pl e acton.I i w orh notng,how ever t
tt e
dve s m oym nt i t s
t
i
, hat

Pli ifas fist stsyt frtp o o aprmaf cec s f rtlai b c u e
antf lo al o aif he is r ng f i a i a e or eaiton e a s
Pl i ifdi notengage i a sat or l pr e ed a i t
a ntf d
n t ut iy ot ct ctviy,

Pli ifa s rsta rpo tn Hars j bmica sfc to wa ap otce a tvi
antf se t h t e rig ri' o s lsiiain s r e td ci t
y
bec e Pl i i fbeleve t tHar i wasnotbei pr ot due t bei a A f i
aus a ntf i d ha
rs
ng om ed
o ng n rcan
A m e i n wom a H oweve ,Pl ntf efors t consr herr
r ca
n,
r ai ifs f t o
tue
eques t pr ot Be t
t o om e ty

Ha st ahihe j bca sfc to a ac mplitfrrcal s rmi to ae
ni o g r o ls iiain s o an o a i dic i nain r
c r t d by t undiput f ct i t r d.The r d s st Pl ntf ne
ontovere
he
s ed a s n he ecor
ecor how hat ai i f ver
fl a ki ofcom pl ntf dicrm i ton w ih r pe t H a rs.Furt m or
ied ny nd
ai or s i na i
t es ct o r i
her e,
Pl i ift tfed t tatt tm e s s
antf esii ha he i he oughtt r as iy Har i pos ton,Pl ntf ne
o ecl s f
rs' ii
ai if ver
m a a m e i w ha s vert Hari aboutdi c i i ton. ken i t lghtm os
de ny nton
t oe
o
rs
s rm na i Ta
n he i
t

fvo a et h r Pli ifsg dfih, ube tv beifta Ha rs j mica sfc to
a rbl o e , antf oo at s j cie le h t ri' ob s lsiiain
wa ar s l ofdic i na i i no s fc e ty p o tvet s ppo ta ob e tvey
s e u t s rmi ton s t ufiin l r bai o u r n j ci l
r s
ea onabl i e e t tPl i ife
e nf r nce ha a ntf ngage i apr ec ed actviy.I
dn
ot t
i t ndee Pl ntf's
d, ai it
1
2

t tm ony alude t no f t w hi m i s
es i
l so
ac s ch ght uppor herconcl i t tH a rsw asbeng
t
us on ha r i
i

di c i i ed aga ns on t bass ofherr ce orgende ,and Pl ntf ot r s f l t
s rm nat
i t he i
a
r
ai if he wi e ais o
ciet anyt ng i t r cor whi h woul s
t o
hi n he e d
c
d uppor t concl i A c di y,as
t hat
uson. cor ngl

Pl ntf i una et s
ai if s bl o how t s was e
hat he
ngaged i a pr e ed a i t Pl i i fi una e
n
ot ct ctviy, a ntf s bl

t etbihuprmaf i c s f he cam t ts wa rtlae a i ti vilto of
o sa ls
i ace a e or r li ha he s eaitd gans n oain
t Ci lRiht Ac, ndDee da i e ildt s
he vi g s ta
fn nts ntte o ummayj dg nto t scam, s
r u me n hi li a
w el.
l

CO N CLU SI N
O
l i O RD ER ED ,ADJUD G ED ,a D ECREED t tD ef nt M oton f
ts
nd
ha
enda s'
i or

S
umma y J g e ( 22 , , ndt s m ei, r b GR ANTED . s pa ae
r ud m nt DE ) be a he a s he e y
By e r t
Or r t Cour s lent Fi J
de , he
t hal er nal udgm enton behal ofD ef ndant a agai tPl ntf .
f
e
s nd
ns ai if

DO NE a OR DER ED i Cha ber att Ja esLawr nce K i Feder J tce
nd
n
m s he m
e
ng
al usi
Buidi and U nied St esCourhous i M i i Fl i t s27t da ofJ y,201
l ng
t
at
t e n am , orda, hi
h y
ul
7.

*

J M ES LA
A
N CE KI G
N
UN I
TED STATES D I
STRI J DG E
U
SOUTH ERN D I
STRI OF FLORI A
CT
D

Cc:

A l couns ofr or
l
el ec d

1
3