Lugo v. Internation Brother Hood of Electrical Worker Local #134 et al
Filing
117
MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order: For the reasons discussed in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion and Order, Titan's motion to dismiss 75 is granted in part and denied in part, Lonnie Stephenson's motion to dismiss 88 is granted, Local 13 4's motions to dismiss 94 , 99 are denied, and Local 538's motion to dismiss 96 is denied. Discovery in this matter may go forward consistent with these rulings. Rule 26(a)(1) initial disclosures must be exchanged within 21 days of thi s order. Further discovery scheduling and supervision are referred to Magistrate Judge Finnegan. The referral includes authority to conduct any settlement conference in which the parties may wish to participate. Signed by the Honorable John J. Tharp, Jr on 3/28/2017:Mailed notice(air, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
JOHN LUGO,
Plaintiff,
v.
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD
OF ELECTRICAL WORKER LOCAL
#134, EDWIN D. HILL, LONNIE R.
STEPHENSON, INTERNATIONAL
BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL
WORKERS LOCAL #538, MTS
TITAN ELECTRIC, INDUSTRIAL
CONSTRACTORS SKANSKA,
Defendants.
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No. 15 CV 03769
Judge John J. Tharp, Jr.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff John Lugo, a Hispanic electrician with American Indian heritage, has sued two
unions, two of his former employers, and one individual for racial discrimination and retaliation
in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2.1 One
of the employers, Industrial Contractors Skanska, Inc., opted to answer the second amended
complaint. The other employer, MTS Titan Electric, LLC (“Titan”), the two unions (“Local 134”
and “Local 538”), and Lonnie Stephenson have all moved to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P.
12(b)(6). For the reasons discussed below, Titan’s motion to dismiss is granted in part and
denied in part, the union locals’ motions to dismiss are denied, and Stephenson’s motion to
dismiss is granted in full.
1
A second individual defendant, Edwin Hill, was dismissed with prejudice from the first
amended complaint. See Lugo v. Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers Local #134, 175 F. Supp. 3d 1026,
1033 (N.D. Ill. 2016).
BACKGROUND
For the purpose of this motion to dismiss, the Court accepts all well-pleaded factual
allegations as true and draws all reasonable inferences in Lugo’s favor. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556
U.S. 662, 678 (2009). The Court need not accept as true legal conclusions and “mere conclusory
statements” supported by “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action.” Id. The
Court addresses Lugo’s interactions with each defendant separately in the hope of providing a
clearer timeline.
I. Local 134
Plaintiff John Lugo is a Hispanic electrician of American Indian heritage living in
Illinois. Second Am. Compl. (“Compl.”) ¶ 11. He was a member of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”) union from 1993 through 2007, although it is not
clear exactly when he was affiliated with the various locals during this period. Id. at ¶ 12. Lugo
states he had a “long history of membership and affiliation” with Locals 134 and 538, so
presumably he was a member of those units for at least some part of 1993-2007. Id. at ¶ 19. Lugo
communicated a number of times with his union in 2003 and again in late 2007 through 2008
regarding what he perceived to be disparate treatment of himself and other individuals based on
race. Id. at ¶ 20.2 He also communicated with the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”)
three times regarding perceived racial discrimination – on December 9, 2003, August 21, 2012,
and February 24, 2014. Id. at ¶ 31. Lugo left the IBEW union in 2007, he says, after he was
subjected to “racially motivated disparaging remarks” and being laid off when he complained.
Id. at ¶ 21.
2
Lugo’s complaint lists five communications to union officials in 2003 and one to the
National Labor Relations Board, one complaint to the union in November 2007, and five
complaints to the union in 2008. Compl. ¶ 20. These communications were to various union
officials and the local itself.
2
All this is the backdrop for Lugo’s more recent complaints about his treatment by Local
134. Lugo opted to remain unaffiliated with the union until 2012, when he decided to reapply
due to “pressure from other union members” and a lack of job placements. Id. at ¶ 26. In March
2012, he contacted Local 134 business representative Richard Murphy to re-apply for union
membership. Id. Lugo alleges that processing a union membership application typically takes a
“small number of days, typically less than 5” and that approval is normally “automatic” once a
completed application and dues are received. Compl. ¶ 27. Murphy, however, was aware of
Lugo’s prior complaints to the union and refused to provide Lugo with an application.3 Id. Lugo
contacted Murphy “every 2 to 3 days for five months via telephone and email” to try to get an
application, but Murphy still refused. Id. at ¶ 28.
Lugo finally received an application from Local 134 on July 9, 2012, which he submitted
“promptly” thereafter.4 Id. at ¶ 29. Two days later, Lugo’s credentials were altered from Group
One Member Journeyman Electrician, an experienced category, to “A2 agency payer.” Id. Lugo
alleges this “severely undermined” his employability and that he was laid off from “Grurt
Electric” three days later despite having worked there for five years. Id. Lugo contacted Murphy
to try to get his credentials restored and his application approved. Compl. ¶ 30. Lugo alleges his
Journeyman Electrician credentials (which are independent from union membership) were not
honored from January 195 to November 15, 2013 due to his race, while the credentials of
3
Lugo alleges the knowledge and the refusal in the same paragraph, but does not
specifically state that Murphy decided not to provide an application because of Lugo’s prior
conduct. However, it is a reasonable inference from Lugo’s allegations.
4
It is not clear whether this application was ever formally denied or just not approved.
The complaint does allege that Lugo was denied membership from July 2012 through January
2014. See Compl. ¶ 37.
5
It seems likely that Lugo’s credentials were not honored from 2012 until November
2013. The Court previously held as time-barred all discrimination taking place before January
19, 2013, and Lugo’s designation of the January 19 – November 15 period may be a result of that
3
Caucasian members and non-members were honored. Id. at ¶ 32. Lugo also alleges that during
this time Local 134 was aware of his previous complaints regarding racial discrimination. Id.
Lugo also alleges that during the same January 19 – November 15, 2013 period, Local 134
denied his applications for union membership on the basis of his race and that Caucasian
applicants were “routinely approved.” Id. at ¶ 31. He specifically notes that he applied for
membership again on or about March 15, 2013 and was denied. Id. at ¶ 44. He further alleges
that, through January 15, 2014, his credentials were manipulated in ways that prevented him
from gaining employment or got him fired.6 Id. at ¶ 37.
On March 16, 2013, Lugo became aware that he had been the subject of postings in a
union members-only Facebook group. Compl. ¶ 41. Lugo alleges the page contained a series of
posting by IBEW members regarding both Lugo’s race and his union status. Id. Lugo alleges the
posts contained racial epithets as well as threats that he should “have his teeth kicked in,” a
picture of a Mexican individual being hung from a tree, and a picture of “a Mexican man
wearing a sombrero with a rope around his neck being pulled by a truck with a confederate flag.”
Id. Lugo alleges the racial postings were later deleted, leaving only ones concerning his union
activity. Id. All the post authors Lugo identifies are members of Local 134, although it is not
clear if only Local 134 members participated.
On May 10, 2013, Lugo discovered a hangman’s noose in his bag while working for
Neutron Electric. Compl. ¶ 42. Lugo alleges other minority workers had also found nooses in
their tool bags. Id. Lugo reported the incident to Murphy on May 15, 2013, but Local 134 did not
ruling. See Lugo v. Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers Local #134, 175 F. Supp. 3d 1026, 1035 (N.D. Ill.
2016).
6
It is not clear if this manipulation refers to his downgrade from Journeyman Electrician
or some other conduct.
4
respond. Id. Lugo alleges he was also subjected to threats of assault, racial slurs, and was spat on
by Caucasian members of Local 134. Id. at ¶ 43. He reported these incidents to Murphy on April
15, September 15, and October 15, 2013 but received no response other than continued denials of
his requests for union membership and reclassification. Id.
Lugo filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) charge against
Local 134 on November 15, 2013 regarding his credentials and the denial of his application to
rejoin the union. See EEOC Charge, ECF No. 95 Ex. 1. Ten days later, on November 25, 2013,
Local 134 official Diane Gartland refused to allow Lugo to sign the “out of work book” that
union and non-union electricians used to seek work. Compl. ¶ 48. Instead of allowing him to
sign, Gartland rolled her eyes at Lugo and mumbled “I don’t care how many EEOC complaints
you file, you’re not signing this book, you better get used to selling tacos.” Id. The next day,
November 26, 2013, Lugo was granted union membership, but he was still not allowed to sign
the “out of work” book. Id. at ¶ 49.
Lugo received his right to sue letter from the EEOC on January 30, 2015 and filed his
first complaint in this lawsuit on April 29, 2015. Compl. ¶ 34.
II. Local 538
Lugo alleges he had some history of “membership and affiliation” with Local 538, by
which he presumably means during some portion of his first round of union membership from
1993-2007. Compl. ¶ 19. The first time Local 538 meaningfully enters the narrative of this case
is October 2014, when Lugo alleges Local 538 denied him membership from October 15-30,
2014 “as a direct result of racial discrimination and retaliation.” Id. at ¶ 37. Lugo also alleges that
Local 538 manipulated or altered his credentials during an unspecified period of time. Id at ¶ 40.
5
Lugo further alleges that Local 538 was aware of his prior complaints to union officials and
government agencies, presumably including the EEOC charge against Local 134. Id.
On October 21 2014, Lugo was terminated from his job at Skanska. Compl. ¶ 54.1.7 At
that time, an unidentified job steward of Local 538 told Lugo he would “never get a job there
after filing a race discrimination complaint” and that he should be “working landscaping or
removing insulation” rather than doing “white man work.” Id. at ¶ 54.2. Lugo further alleges that
Local 538 official Jim Baily told him, during an October 22, 2014 conversation in which Lugo
complained he had not received the proper pay rate at Skanska, “That pay rate is only for white
workers.” Id. at ¶ 38. Lugo further alleges that Local 538, along with Local 134, communicated
with each other and to various employers about Lugo, including racially motivated disparaging
remarks and denied Lugo work as a result of his EEOC charge. Id. at ¶ 37, 53.
Lugo filed a claim with the EEOC against Local 538, which was dated July 20, 2015 but
not received until August 4, 2015. See Supplemental Response, Ex. 4, ECF No. 71. Lugo
received his right to sue letter from the EEOC on September 29, 2015. Lugo filed his right to sue
letter on the docket in this case on October 9, 2015. See id.
III. Titan
Titan is “an electrical contracting company” based in Itasca Illinois. Compl. ¶ 8. Lugo
began working at Titan on November 15, 2014. Id. at ¶ 57. One month later, Titan Project
Manager Ken Kovach, during a conversation with Titan foreman Brett Epperson and a job
steward from Local 134, pointed to Lugo and said “so he is the one that filed with EEOC, can’t
believe he would do that to his own union. Somebody needs to call immigration on him.” Id. A
few days later, on December 24, Kovach told Lugo he was fired as a result of a “one-man layoff,
7
The complaint includes two paragraphs numbered “54.” This opinion will refer to the
first as “54.1” and the second as “54.2.”
6
reduction in force” while a Local 134 job steward who walked Lugo to his car said “you never
going to find a job around here.” Id. Lugo alleges Titan learned about his EEOC complaint
against Local 134 through Kovach, who was told by Local 134 official Donald Flinn and a Local
134 job steward. Id. at ¶ 58. Lugo alleges Titan and Local 134 coordinated to keep Lugo from
working in retaliation for his EEOC complaint against Local 134. Id. at ¶ 59.
Lugo filed a charge with the EEOC on October 2, 2015 stating that he had been “engaged
in activity relating to labor union membership,” had been laid off, and had been “discrimination
against because of my national origin, Hispanic, and in retaliation.” Ex. 11, ECF No. 71. He
received a right to sue letter from the EEOC on October 29, 2015. See Ex. 2, ECF No. 82.
IV. Stephenson
Lonnie Stephenson is currently the President of the Industrial Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, an international organization, and was formerly the International Vice President of
District Six of IBEW. Compl. ¶ 7. Stephenson’s alleged direct involvement is minimal. Lugo
alleges that Stephenson was informed via email (it is not clear by whom) about the racial
postings on the IBEW Facebook page and the noose found in Lugo’s tool bag. Id. at ¶ 42. Lugo
further alleges that Stephenson knew that “the same group of guys” were similarly harassing
other minority members, and failed to do anything to stop it. Id. Lugo similarly alleges that
Stephenson was informed of the incidents at Skanska and Titan (presumably his firing from both
and the racially charged comments). Id. at ¶ 59. Lugo alleges Stephenson was informed about
Lugo’s EEOC charge by Local 134. Id. at ¶ 53. It does not appear Lugo ever filed an EEOC
charge against Stephenson directly, although he did file charges against Stephenson’s employers
(the “IBEW International Office” and “IBEW District 6”) on July 20, 2015. See Ex. 1-2, ECF
7
No. 82. Lugo received right to sue letters on both of those charges on September 29, 2015. See
Ex. 6-7, ECF No. 82.
DISCUSSION
To survive a motion to dismiss, Lugo “does not need detailed factual allegations,” but
rather must only “provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (internal quotation marks omitted). The facts alleged “must be enough
to raise the right to relief above the speculative level.” Id. Lugo brings four claims against each
defendant – a racial discrimination claim and a retaliation claim under Title VII and a racial
discrimination claim and a retaliation claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. As Lugo is pro se, the Court
construes his complaint liberally. See Donald v. Cook County Sheriff's Dep't, 95 F.3d 548, 555
(7th Cir. 1996) (“It is, by now, axiomatic that district courts have a special responsibility to
construe pro se complaints liberally”). Local 134, Local 538, Stephenson, and Titan have all
moved to dismiss all the claims against them. Thus, the Court discusses all four claims against
each defendant in turn.
I. Local 134
A union discriminates in violation of Title VII and § 1981 “[i]f it discriminates in the
performance of its agency function.” E.E.O.C. v. Pipefitters Ass'n Local Union 597, 334 F.3d
656, 659 (7th Cir. 2003). Unions do not have an “affirmative duty . . . to investigate and rectify
discrimination by the employer,” only to refrain from discriminating themselves. Id. at 660.
Here, the union violated that duty under both Title VII and § 1981 so Local 134’s motion to
dismiss is denied.
A. Title VII Discrimination
Title VII explicitly bars a union from “exclud[ing]” or “expel[ing]” from its membership,
or otherwise “discriminat[ing] against, any individual because of his race, color, religion, sex, or
8
national origin.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(c)(1). Furthermore, a union may not “fail or refuse to refer
for employment any individual, in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any
individual of employment opportunities” on account of his race. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(c)(2).
Generally speaking, a racial discrimination complaint need only allege that an employer (or other
party liable under Title VII—here, a union) “instituted a (specified) adverse employment action
against the plaintiff on the basis of his race.” Lavalais v. Vill. of Melrose Park, 734 F.3d 629, 633
(7th Cir. 2013).
Here, Lugo has alleged, within the 300 days between January 19, 2013 and November 15,
2013 (when he filed his EEOC charge), that Local 134 denied his application for membership,
including on March 15, 2013. Compl. ¶ 44. Combined with the allegations that during the listed
period Caucasian applicants were routinely approved but Lugo was denied “on the basis of his
race” (Id. at. ¶ 31), Lugo has charged a specific factual incident in which he was excluded from
membership by virtue of his race in violation of Title VII. Furthermore, Lugo’s allegation that,
during January through November of 2013, he was denied Journeyman Electrician credentials on
the basis of his race would also be a violation of Title VII because Lugo alleges doing so
deprived him of employment opportunities. See id. at ¶ 32; Association of Mexican-American
Educators v. California, 231 F.3d 572, 584 (9th Cir. 2000) (discriminatory licensing of teachers
a violation of Title VII); Tuli v. Brigham & Women's Hosp., Inc., 566 F. Supp. 2d 32, 53 (D.
Mass. 2008) (granting preliminary injunction against credentialing committee in Title VII case).
Local 134 argues that these allegations are conclusory, but the Court finds they provide sufficient
factual basis, providing a definite action (the denial of Lugo’s application and the refusal to
reissue his credentials) during a specific time period, on the basis of his race. This is all that is
needed at the pleading stage. See Lucas v. Vee Pak, Inc., 68 F. Supp. 3d 870, 878 (N.D. Ill. 2014)
9
(“To state a claim for employment discrimination, the plaintiff must simply aver that he suffered
an adverse employment action on account of his race.”) (citing Luevano v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
722 F.3d 1014 (7th Cir. 2013)). As such, the Court denies Local 134’s motion to dismiss with
regard to the Title VII discrimination claim.8
B. Section 1981 Discrimination
42 U.C.S. § 1981(a) prohibits racial discrimination in the “mak[ing] and enforc[ing]” of
contracts. This protection includes both the making and terminating of contracts as well as the
“enjoyment of all benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions” of such relationships. 42 U.S.C.
§ 1981(b). Title VII and § 1981 claims are judged by the same general standard. See E.E.O.C. v.
Pipefitters Ass'n Local Union 597, 334 F.3d 656, 658 (7th Cir. 2003). Therefore, the same facts
that give Lugo a cause of action under Title VII provide a cause of action under § 1981.
Although he has not specifically identified union membership as a “contract,” the Court assumes
that union membership, in which a member pays dues in exchange for certain benefits, is a
contract under § 1981. See Mendez v. Reinforcing Iron Workers Union Local 416, No. 2:09-CV02332-LRH, 2011 WL 6400284, at *3 (D. Nev. Dec. 20, 2011) (“ A union or hiring hall would
certainly violate § 1981's prohibition on racial discrimination in the making and enforcement of
contracts by limiting membership or benefits on account of race, thus adversely affecting not
only the worker's potential employment with outside employers but also the worker's contractual
relationship with the union itself.”); Dobbins v. Local 212, Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers, AFL-CIO,
292 F. Supp. 413, 442 (S.D. Ohio 1968) (“Membership in and/or a referral status in a union is a
contractual relationship and/or a link in the chain of making a contract. The subject matter is,
8
The Court’s prior order dismissed with prejudice any Title VII claims of discrimination
based on events prior to January 19, 2013 as time-barred. Lugo v. Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers
Local #134, 175 F. Supp. 3d 1026, 1035 (N.D. Ill. 2016). That dismissal stands and Lugo may
not rely on any such conduct by the union to prove his discrimination claims.
10
therefore, within 42 U.S.C. § 1981.”); James v. Ogilvie, 310 F. Supp. 661, 663 (N.D. Ill. 1970)
(“as membership in a labor union is a contractual relationship or at least a link in obtaining an
employment contract, the rights to union membership without regard to race or skin color also
exists under 42 U.S.C. § 1981”). Similarly, altering his credentials so Lugo did not qualify for
certain jobs would also prevent the making of employment contracts for those jobs. See Walker
v. Abbott Labs., 340 F.3d 471, 476 (7th Cir. 2003). Therefore, Local 134’s motion to dismiss
with regard to the § 1981 discrimination claim is denied.
C. Retaliation Claims
If a plaintiff engages in a protected activity and is subjected to an adverse employment
action as a result, he has a claim under Title VII for retaliation. Carlson v. CSX Transp., Inc., 758
F.3d 819, 828 (7th Cir. 2014). On a previous motion to dismiss, this Court dismissed without
prejudice Lugo’s retaliation claim against Local 134 because although Lugo had alleged he had
not been allowed to sign the out of work book, he had not explained why he was entitled to sign
the book or that Gartland knew about his EEOC complaint. Lugo v. Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers
Local #134, 175 F. Supp. 3d 1026, 1038 (N.D. Ill. 2016). Lugo has cured these infirmities in his
new complaint, alleging that all electricians, regardless of union membership, are allowed to sign
the book, and that Gartland referenced Lugo’s EEOC complaint when she refused to allow him
to sign the book. Compl. ¶ 48. Although Lugo was granted formal union membership the next
day, Lugo alleges that he was still prevented from signing the out of work book following this
grant of membership. Id. at ¶ 49.
Local 134 attaches to its motion evidence suggesting that Lugo was in fact allowed to
sign the out of work book and was sent to a job at Freeman Electric from November 25 (when
Lugo claims he was unable to sign the book) through December 7, 2013. Local 134 Mem. at 9,
11
ECF No. 95. Lugo disputes the authenticity of the attached evidence, claiming it has been altered
or mislabeled. Pl.’s Resp. at 4. ECF No. 106. These are exactly the sorts of factual disputes that
are inappropriate for resolution at the motion to dismiss stage, when the allegations made in the
complaint must be regarded as true. See In re Wade, 969 F.2d 241, 249 (7th Cir. 1992) (“The
district court is confined to the pleadings when considering a motion to dismiss.”). Although the
defendants are correct that documents attached to a motion may be considered if they are
“referred to in the plaintiff’s complaint and are central to his claim,” the cases referenced by
Local 134 were instances where the authenticity of the attached document was not at issue. See
Adams v. City of Indianapolis, 742 F.3d 720, 729 (7th Cir. 2014). It would be particularly
inappropriate to resolve a fact dispute over the authenticity of the out of work book logs,
moreover, when Lugo has not been provided access to the book.9 Thus, although it does not clear
the threshold of a plausible claim with much room to spare, the Court denies Local 134’s motion
to dismiss the Title VII retaliation claim. Retaliation is also actionable under § 1981, with the
same prima facie elements as a Title VII claim. See Antonetti v. Abbott Labs., 563 F.3d 587, 591
n. 4 (7th Cir. 2009). Therefore, the Court denies Local 134’s motion to dismiss with regard to
Lugo’s § 1981 claim as well.
II. Local 538
Lugo has alleged two specific incidents that might generate liability under Title VII and
§ 1981 for Local 538. First, he has alleged that his application for union membership was denied
from October 15, 2014 to October 30, 2014 as a result of racial discrimination. Compl. ¶ 37.
Lugo has alleged that union membership applications normally take around 5 days to process, so
15 days is something of an anomaly. See id. at ¶ 27. Second, Lugo alleged that following his
9
For his part, Lugo must of course understand that the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P.
11(b)(3) apply, so his factual contentions are required to “have evidentiary support.”
12
termination at Skanska, a Local 538 job steward told him he would “never get a job there after
filing a race discrimination complaint” and that being an electrician was “white man work.” Id.
at ¶ 54. When Lugo complained about the compensation he received from Skanska, Local 538
employee Jim Bailey said “[t]hat pay rate is only for white workers.” Id. at ¶ 55. Lugo has raised
Title VII and § 1981 racial discrimination claims as well as retaliation claims under both statutes.
A. Discrimination Claims
As an initial matter, Local 538 (as does Titan least in passing)10 asserts that Lugo’s Title
VII discrimination claims were dismissed with prejudice by this Court’s prior order. However,
Local 538 correctly acknowledges those claims were dismissed with prejudice with regard to the
first amended complaint because they were “beyond the scope of the original EEOC charge upon
which this lawsuit is based.” Lugo v. Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers Local #134, 175 F. Supp. 3d
1026, 1035 (N.D. Ill. 2016). Lugo (perhaps realizing his error) subsequently filed an EEOC
charge against Local 538, which was received by the EEOC on August 4, 2015 and Lugo
received an EEOC right to sue letter on September 29, 2015. See Ex. 4, 9, ECF No. 71. That
charge is timely for both of Lugo’s allegations, which occurred in October 2014. Furthermore,
Lugo filed these letters in a supplemental response on October 9, 2015. See ECF No. 69-71. In
his submission, Lugo specifically sought leave to file a Second Amended complaint and noted
that he wished to file such a complaint in order to “comport with the formalities of the law so as
to bring forth his charge and have it be heard.” Pl.’s Supp. Resp. at 4-5, ECF No. 71. This filing
was made within the 90 days during which Lugo could file a new complaint under those EEOC
charges. The Court denied Lugo’s motion to file a second amended complaint without prejudice
in light of the full-briefed motions to dismiss the first amended complaint, noting that it would
10
See Titan Mem. at 2, ECF No. 76.
13
consider whether it was appropriate to allow Lugo to file a second complaint after those motions
had been decided. See Order, ECF No. 72. The Court then granted the motions to dismiss the
first amended complaint, but allowed Lugo to file a second amended complaint within 30 days,
which Lugo did. Under these circumstances, and in light of the Court’s duty to construe pro se
submissions liberally, the Court considers Lugo to have exhausted his Title VII claims and to
have timely filed his claims. Ruling otherwise would require Lugo to file new lawsuits, in the
same court, when he already had a pending suit covering those claims, which would likely have
been assigned to the same judge. This would be a massive waste of judicial resources and be an
undue burden on a pro se plaintiff. Lugo was entitled to decide to combine his newly-authorized
suits with his original claims against Local 134 via a second amended complaint, which he
attempted to do in a timely fashion and did so in accordance with this Court’s rulings.11
As discussed above with regard to Local 134, denial of membership in a union on the
basis of race violates Title VII and § 1981. Local 538 contends that Lugo has failed to allege a
contract as required under § 1981, but union membership is a contract which Lugo alleges Local
538 refused to make on the basis of his race. Although two weeks is certainly a short period of
time, whether or not Lugo actually suffered the lost employment opportunities he alleges (or
otherwise had damages) is a question of fact to be determined on summary judgment.
11
Because the Court concludes the claims are timely, there is no need to decide whether
tolling is appropriate. However, Local 538 acknowledges that the 90 day window to file suit can
be tolled for equitable reasons. See Zipes v. TWA, 455 U.S. 385, 393 (1982). For example, it can
be tolled when the plaintiff has made a good faith error, such a filing suit in the wrong court. See
Jones v. Madison Service Corp., 744 F.2d 1309, 1314 (7th Cir. 1984). Local 538 contends such
tolling should be inapplicable because Lugo did not file in the wrong court (he never filed a new
lawsuit at all). See Local 538 Mem. at 4, ECF No. 97. This reads the good faith error provision
too narrowly. Lugo did make a good faith error – he believed that moving to file an amended
complaint would have the same effect as filing a new lawsuit. To the extent that this belief was
erroneous, it was understandably so and in good faith. In a meaningful sense, Lugo did file his
paperwork in the wrong court, or at least on the wrong docket. Such an error does not warrant the
permanent dismissal of his claims.
14
Local 538’s contention that there is no contract under § 1981 is no more persuasive with
regard to the second set of facts, the remarks by the job steward and Jim Bailey. Local 538 points
out that Lugo has not alleged the existence, much less the terms, of any agreement with the union
under which the union undertook a duty to protect him from racial discrimination or racial
harassment by union employees. Relying on language from McKnight v. General Motors
Company, Local 538 argues that a union cannot have committed a violation of § 1981 unless its
collective bargaining agreement contains a clause not to discriminate and the union
“intentionally avoided asserting discrimination-based claims.” See Local 538 Mem. at 5;
McKnight v. GMC, 908 F.2d 104, 112 (7th Cir. 1990). That may be true to the extent that Lugo
was alleging the union had failed to adequately represent him in the face of an employer’s
discrimination. The Seventh Circuit, however, has recently held that “[n]either § 2000e–2(c) nor
§ 2000e–3(a) makes anything turn on the existence of a statutory or contractual duty violated by
the act said to be discriminatory.” Green v. Am. Fed'n of Teachers/Illinois Fed'n of Teachers
Local 604, 740 F.3d 1104, 1105 (7th Cir. 2014). Thus, Lugo does not need to have alleged a
violation of a collective bargaining agreement or a failure to assert discrimination claims in order
to claim the union discriminated against him in violation of § 1981.
Lugo does not allege a breach of any duty of fair representation by his union. Rather, he
appears to allege the union discriminated against him by preventing him from gaining electrical
work or being paid at the proper rate. However, these isolated comments do not demonstrate that
the union, as an organization, did anything beyond the alleged denial of membership to actually
prevent Lugo from gaining employment. (Although the comment from the job steward may be
evidence that doing so was the intent of the denial.) Lugo has similarly failed to explain how the
union might have manipulated his pay rate while he was employed at, and being paid by,
15
Skanska. Lugo has alleged that Local 538 and Skanska coordinated to deny him employment “in
retaliation for Plaintiff filing his EEOC complaint.” Compl. ¶ 55. However, this cannot support
any sort of coordinated effort to convince Skanska to fire or underpay him on account of his
race, although they may serve as evidence that union officials were in fact racially biased during
the relevant period. Therefore, the Court denies the motion to dismiss the discrimination claims
to the extent those claims concern Local 538’s denial of membership.
B. Retaliation Claims
Lugo also alleges that Local 538 retaliated against him for filing the EEOC complaint
against Local 134. (Lugo cannot claim Local 538 was retaliating for the filing of the EEOC
charge against Local 538, since that charge was not filed until after the events in question.) Local
538 first contends that Lugo cannot be said to have engaged in protected activity because his
charge was against Local 134.12 However, Lugo has alleged that Local 538 had knowledge of his
EEOC charge and the Local 538 job steward referenced Lugo’s “race discrimination complaint.”
Compl. ¶ 40, 54. Lugo has further alleged that Local 134 and Local 538 shared emails and
internal documents in which Local 134, Local 538, and Skanska made a “coordinated effort” to
prevent Lugo from gaining employment. Id. at ¶ 55.
The parties have been unable to locate a case, regarding EEOC exhaustion or protected
activity, in which a defendant allegedly retaliated on behalf of a charge filed against a different
entity. However, the Court concludes that it is possible to state a claim for retaliation based on
protected conduct against a third party. Thompson v. North American Stainless, LP, 562 U.S. 170
(2011), is instructive on this matter. There, the Supreme Court held that Title VII provided a
12
Local 538 also alleges Lugo has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies against
it. See Local 538 Mem. at 7-8. As discussed above, Lugo filed a timely charge against Local 538
following the alleged conduct, so it has by now had the benefit of the EEOC administrative
process.
16
retaliation cause of action when the plaintiff was fired in retaliation for his fiancée filing an
EEOC charge. See id. at 174-75. The Supreme Court deemed it “obvious that a reasonable
worker might be dissuaded from engaging in protected activity if she knew that her fiancé would
be fired.” Id. at 174. The situation here is analogous – Lugo may well have been dissuaded from
filing his complaint against Local 134 if he believed that other locals and employers would
refuse to employ him on that basis. Thus, the Court finds Lugo has stated a plausible protected
activity.13
The next question is whether Local 538 took an adverse employment action against Lugo.
An adverse employment action is any “employer's action that would dissuade a reasonable
worker from participating in protected activity.” Huri v. Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit
Court of Cook Cty., 804 F.3d 826, 833 (7th Cir.2015) (internal quotation marks omitted). Lugo
has alleged that the denial of his union membership was in part due to retaliation.14 Compl. ¶ 37.
Originally the Court denied Lugo’s retaliation claim because the one year gap between the
charge and the denial was too great for timing alone to account for the Local’s action. Lugo, 175
F. Supp. 3d at 1039. Lugo, however, has now provided contemporaneous (with the denial of
membership) statements in the form of the job steward’s statement that he would “never get a job
there after filing a race discrimination complaint.” Compl. ¶ 54. He has further alleged that Local
134 and Local 538 exchanged emails to coordinate an effort to have him fired in retaliation for
13
Additional support for this proposition may be found in cases holding that
discrimination based on the race or national origin of a person's spouse or partner falls within the
protections of Title VII. Although the Seventh Circuit has not decided that question, it has noted
that the other circuits that have addressed it have concluded that an employer may violate Title
VII if it takes action against an employee because of the employee's association with a person of
another race. See Cortezano v. Salin Bank & Trust Co., 680 F.3d 936, 939 (7th Cir. 2012)
(collecting cases).
14
Lugo alleges that this denial was due both to racial discrimination and retaliation.
Either, or both, plausibly could be the cause.
17
his EEOC complaint. Id. at ¶ 55. The Court finds these allegations clear the bar (albeit again with
little room to spare) of connecting Lugo’s EEOC charge against Local 134 to the alleged denial
of membership.
III. Titan
Lugo brings both racial discrimination and retaliation claims under both Title VII and
§ 1981 against Titan. Titan argues that Lugo has failed to state a plausible claim for either,
because he has not alleged anything related to his race and because Lugo has failed to allege
sufficiently specific facts for his retaliation claim. For the reasons discussed below, the racial
discrimination claims are dismissed but the retaliation claims survive.
A. Discrimination Claims15
In order for his claims to survive a motion to dismiss, Lugo must allege both an adverse
employment action and that it was a result of his race. See Lavalais v. Vill. of Melrose Park, 734
F.3d 629, 633 (7th Cir. 2013). Lugo alleges he was terminated by Titan on December 24, 2014 as
a result of a “one-man layoff, reduction in force.” Compl. ¶ 57. Lugo also alleges that Titan’s
Project Manager, Ken Kovach, said on December 15, 2014, “So [Lugo] is the one that filed with
EEOC, can’t believe he would do that to his own union. Somebody needs to call immigration on
him.” Id. Titan argues that this comment’s reference to “immigration” is insufficient to support a
race discrimination claim where the Seventh Circuit has already held that Title VII does not
protect against “discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status.” Cortezano v. Salin
Bank & Trust Co., 680 F.3d 936, 940 (7th Cir. 2012). References to “immigration,” however,
could also be coded references to race rather than genuine discussions of immigration status,
15
In its reply, Titan argues the discrimination claims were dismissed with prejudice from
this suit by the Court’s prior order. That argument is incorrect for the reasons given with regard
to Local 538. See Part II.A.
18
especially in the context of Hispanic employees. See Rodriguez v. Host Int'l, Inc., No. 12 C 3705,
2013 WL 6134969, at *5 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 20, 2013) (concluding that “telling Hispanic employees
to go back to their home countries and threatening to call immigration” contributed to a hostile
work environment).
Nevertheless, Lugo’s racial discrimination claims fail for a more basic reason – he has
never alleged he was actually terminated by Titan on the basis of his race. Instead, Kovach’s
statement explicitly mentions immigration as a method of retaliating for the EEOC complaint.
Lugo’s later allegations state that “Defendant Titan through its agent Kovach retaliated against
Plaintiff for the filing of his EEOC Complaint.” Compl. ¶ 58. Lugo goes on to allege a
“coordinated effort to thwart [Lugo’s] employment opportunities in retaliation” for the EEOC
complaint. Id. at ¶ 59. Thus, Lugo has never specifically alleged that Titan took this action on the
basis of his race. Rather, Titan plainly (if the allegations are true) did so on the basis of
retaliation. Therefore, Titan’s motion to dismiss is granted at to the Title VII and § 1981 racial
discrimination claims.
B. Retaliation Claims
As to the retaliation claims, Titan argues that the facts alleged in Lugo’s complaint
(Kovach’s conversation, as well as the communication between Kovach and Local 134 in which
Titan was made aware of the EEOC charge) are not entitled to the presumption of truth because
they are “devoid of a sufficient factual basis.” Titan Mot. at 12, ECF No. 75. Titan references
Yeftich v. Navistar, Inc., 722 F.3d 911 (7th Cir. 2013), where the Seventh Circuit found the
plaintiff had failed to state a plausible claim where it alleged “intentional, willful, wanton, and
malicious” conduct without suggesting a motive for the defendant’s actions. Id. at 916. Lugo has
provided more specific facts than in Yeftich: that on a specific date, a specific employee said
19
specific things, having been informed in the 10 days prior about Lugo’s specific EEOC
complaint. Titan goes on to seemingly argue that Lugo’s allegations are not entitled to the
presumption of truth because “Plaintiff does not allege that he was a participant or even present
for the conversation.” Titan Mot. at 12. However, a Plaintiff may rely on information and belief
or hearsay within his complaint at the motion to dismiss stage. See Lewis v. City of Chicago, No.
14 C 7317, 2016 WL 3752974, at *2 (N.D. Ill. July 13, 2016); Widmar v. Sun Chem. Corp., No.
11 C 1818, 2012 WL 1378657, at *7 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 19, 2012). In fact, the Seventh Circuit has
allowed second-hand remarks to constitute the basis for Title VII claims in the context of a
hostile work environment. See Dandy v. UPS, 388 F.3d 263, 272 (7th Cir. 2004). Admissible
evidence, supported by personal knowledge, is not necessary to prove the existence of these
conversations until summary judgment. See Motise v. Parrish, 297 F. App'x 149, 153 (3d Cir.
2008) ("conclusory statements, general denials and factual allegations not based on personal
knowledge are insufficient to avoid summary judgment”).
Furthermore, Lugo has now cured the causation problem of his first complaint, which
originally relied on timing alone between the filing of his EEOC charge against Local 134 and
his subsequent firing 11 months later. Now, Lugo has alleged facts that, if true, would plausibly
explain why Titan hired him after the EEOC charge but then fired him for it – Titan did not
become aware of the EEOC charge until Local 134 told Kovach about it after Lugo was hired.
See Compl. ¶ 58. This allegation, combined with Kovach’s alleged remark about his EEOC
complaint, is sufficient to suggest a causal connection at the motion to dismiss stage. Therefore,
the motion to dismiss is denied as to the retaliation claims.
20
IV. Stephenson
The Title VII claims against Lonnie Stephenson were dismissed with prejudice by this
Court’s prior order because individuals are not liable under Title VII. See Lugo, 175 F. Supp. 3d
at 1033. To the extent that Lugo’s complaint attempts to reassert Title VII claims against
Stephenson, the motion to dismiss is granted again.
Stephenson’s involvement, as alleged in the complaint, remains minimal – only that he
was informed via email about harassment and terminations at Skanska and Titan and failed to
act. Compl. ¶ 42, 59. Stephenson raises numerous problems with Lugo’s allegation that this
minimal inaction subjects him to individual liability. The Seventh Circuit has held that “inaction,
unless invidious, is not discrimination in any accepted sense of the term.” EEOC v. Pipefitters
Ass'n Local Union 597, 334 F.3d 656, 660 (7th Cir. 2003). Nowhere has Lugo alleged that
Stephenson acted with any racist or retaliatory intention.16 Thus, Stephenson could not have
violated Lugo’s rights under § 1981.
In addition to the lack of causation between Lugo’s race and/or protected activity, Lugo’s
claims against Stephenson fail because the overarching IBEW organization, of which Stephenson
is an employee, is not the same as the union locals alleged to have discriminated and retaliated
here. Lugo does not allege he ever went beyond the locals and asked the international
organization for help. Although Lugo cites a Sixth Circuit decision finding a national union
organization can, when there is an agency relationship, be liable for failing to “oppose the local’s
16
The closest Lugo comes is the conclusory omnibus allegation that all the defendants
“acting with full knowledge of Plaintiffs [sic] complained of disparate treatment of minorities by
Defendant, subsequently intentionally denied Plaintiffs union application, employment, and/or
changed or manipulated his legitimate credential as a Journeyman Electrician in a discriminatory
manner on the basis of Plaintiff’s race.” Compl. ¶ 62. Even if this allegation were not conclusory,
none of the listed actions are actions taken by Stephenson, so the racial motivation would still
not be imputed to Stephenson.
21
discriminatory conduct,” it is not clear this would extend to a duty for an individual employee of
the national union to oppose the discrimination. See Alexander v. Local 496, Laborers' Int'l
Union, 177 F.3d 394, 409 (6th Cir. 1999). Furthermore, before reaching that point, Lugo must
“sufficiently allege that an agency relationship existed” between Stephenson and the Locals.
Cumis Ins. Soc'y v. Peters, 983 F. Supp. 787, 796 (N.D. Ill. 1997). Here, Lugo has not alleged
any facts concerning the relationship between Stephenson and the locals or between the locals
and the international IBEW. Therefore, the § 1981 claims are dismissed with prejudice.
*
*
*
In sum, all claims against Lonnie Stephenson are dismissed with prejudice for failure to
state a claim. All discrimination claims against Titan are dismissed with prejudice, although the
retaliation claims remain. All the claims against Local 134 and Local 538 remain.
Dated: March 28, 2017
John J. Tharp, Jr.
United States District Judge
22
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