Mappilaparampil v. Department of Treasury et al
Filing
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OPINION AND ORDER granting 8 Motion for Partial Dismissal. Signed by District Judge Sean F. Cox. (JHer)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Jaimon Jose Mappilaparampil,
Plaintiff,
v.
Case No. 10-12728
Honorable Sean F. Cox
Timothy F. Geithner,
Secretary of the Treasury,
Defendant.
_________________________________/
OPINION & ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S
MOTION FOR PARTIAL DISMISSAL
Plaintiff Jaimon Jose Mappilaparampil (“Plaintiff”), proceeding pro se, filed this action
against Defendant Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner (“Defendant”), alleging several
Title VII claims. Plaintiff also challenges a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board
(“MSPB”), which affirmed Plaintiff’s termination from employment with the Department of
Treasury (“the Department”). The matter is before the Court on Defendant’s Motion for Partial
Dismissal. (Doc. No. 8). Despite a show cause order issued on January 5, 2011, Plaintiff failed
to respond to Defendant’s motion. The Court heard oral argument on April 21, 2011. For the
reasons below, the Court GRANTS Defendant’ Motion for Partial Dismissal.
BACKGROUND
The following facts are summarized from Defendant’s brief and from an Initial Decision
of the United States Merit Systems Protection Board (“MSPB”) (Doc. No. 8, Ex. A).1
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Because Plaintiff has failed to respond to Defendant’s motion, the only facts available
to the Court are those set forth in Defendant’s motion and in the Initial Decision of the United
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In 1999, Plaintiff began his employment with the Department of Treasury as an
Information Technology Specialist. (Def.’s Br. at 2). In 2004, Plaintiff transferred to a different
team within the Department as part of a settlement of an unrelated EEO harassment complaint.
Plaintiff’s new position was in a “Tier I” department. Id. Benita Burton, a Supervisory IT
Specialist, managed Plaintiff’s new team. Id.
The MSPB’s Initial Decision discusses Plaintiff’s poor job performance in great detail.
Ms. Burton annually rated Plaintiff’s performance based on five Critical Job Elements (“CJE”).
Id. Employees were rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with a rating of 1 being “unacceptable” and a
rating of 5 being “outstanding.” Id. In March, 2005, Ms. Burton rated Plaintiff’s performance as
“minimally successful” and Plaintiff received a CJE rating of 2.5. Id. In 2006, Ms. Burton rated
Plaintiff’s performance as “unacceptable” and Plaintiff received a CJE rating of 1.2. Id. In
2007, Ms. Burton again rated Plaintiff’s performance as “unacceptable” and Plaintiff received a
CJE rating of 1.0. Id. On August 15, 2007, Ms. Burton placed Plaintiff on a 60-day
Performance Improvement Plain (“PIP”). Id.
Also in August 2007, Plaintiff submitted a request for reasonable accommodation with
the Department because of his high blood pressure. Id. at 3. Specifically, Plaintiff requested a
transfer to a Tier II or Tier III department under a different supervisor. Id. Ms. Burton denied
his request. Id.
A.
Department Of Treasury Agency Findings And The MSPB Decision
On November 8, 2007, after meeting with an EEO counselor, Plaintiff filed a claim with
the Department alleging discrimination. (Agency Dec., Resp., Ex. B.). Plaintiff’s claims made
States Merit Systems Protection Board.
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their up through the administrative process until they were reviewed by the Department’s Office
of Civil Rights and Diversity (“OCRD”). The issues before the Agency were:
Whether [plaintiff] was subjected to disparate treatment and/or
hostile work environment based on his national origin (Indian), sex
(male), disability (anxiety and elevated blood pressure) and in
reprisal for prior EEO activity when:
1. Beginning in October 2005, and continuing, [plaintiff’s] first level
supervisor and project lead have allegedly given him irrelevant work
assignments and asked for status assignment reports that do not
comport with Agency policies, standards and guidelines of systems
development;
2. On August 16, 2007, he was placed on a Performance
Improvement Plan;
3. On August 16, 2007, and September 5, 2007, his requests for
reasonable accommodation were denied;
4. In early November 2007, he learned he was not selected for the
position of PC Server and Web Application Developer with the IRS
under vacancy announcement (VA) number 07-WA1-MIE161-2210-13;
5. In early November 2007, he learned he was not selected for the
position of Lead Information Technology Specialist with the IRS
under vacancy announcement (VA) 07-WA1-MIE-148-2210-13;
6. On March 11, 2008, his first level supervisor gave him a Letter of
Oral Admonishment confirmed in writing; and;
7. On June 19, 2008, he received a performance appraisal with a
rating of “unacceptable.”
Id. at 3-4.
Meanwhile, on March 31, 2008, well after Plaintiff’s 60-day PIP period ended, Ms.
Burton again rated Plaintiff’s performance as “unacceptable” and Plaintiff received a CJE rating
of 1.0. (Pl. Br. at 4). On September 5, 2008, “Territory Manager Lillie Ayers issued a notice
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proposing Plaintiff’s removal for unacceptable performance.” Id. at 4. Defendant eventually
terminated Plaintiff on February 12, 2009. Id.
After Plaintiff’s termination, he appealed the decision to the Merit Systems Protection
Board (“MSPB”), which is an agency within the executive branch that reviews federal employee
challenges to agency employment actions. Id. Plaintiff’s complaints of discrimination were
similar to those made in his EEO complaint to the Department. On November 3, 2009, an
Administrative Law Judge issued an Initial Decision affirming Plaintiff’s termination and
holding that Plaintiff did not meet his burden of proof with respect to any of the allegations.
(See MSPB decision, Resp., Ex. A). On June 10, 2010, the MSPB issued a Final Order denying
review of Plaintiff’s petition to the MSPB on the basis that there was no new evidence to be
reviewed and that the ALJ made no legal errors. (Final Order, Complaint, Ex. A).
While Plaintiff’s MSPB petition was pending, the Department issued a Final Agency
Decision on January 4, 2009, regarding Plaintiff’s EEO petition filed on November 8, 2007.
(Agency Dec., Doc. No. 8, Ex. B). Similarly, the agency found that the Plaintiff failed to
establish a prima facie case for discrimination and that there was no causation to establish a
retaliation claim. Id. The Final Agency Decision also stated that Plaintiff failed to show that
management’s legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for placing Plaintiff on a PIP were
pretextual. Id.
B.
Plaintiff’s EEOC Appeal
After the Department issued its Final Agency Decision regarding Plaintiff’s gender,
national origin, and disability discrimination claims, Plaintiff appealed the decision to the EEOC.
(Def.’s Br. at 5). The EEOC denied Plaintiff’s appeal on August 20, 2009 and denied Plaintiff’s
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request for reconsideration on October 15, 2009 (“EEOC Denial”). (EEOC Denial, Doc. No. 8,
Ex. C.) In Plaintiff’s EEOC Denial, the EEOC stated that Plaintiff had the right to file a civil
action within 90 days from the date Plaintiff received the decision. Id. The attached certificate
of mailing states that it was mailed on October15, 2009. Id.
ANALYSIS
Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges race, gender, age, national original, and disability
discrimination. (Complaint at 2). Plaintiff also alleges that Defendant denied his request for
reasonable accomodations, presumably for his disabilities, which include “high blood pressure,
anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and fear.” Id. Plaintiff’s race and age discrimination claims
were not included in Plaintiff’s prior Agency or EEOC complaint. (See Agency Dec. at 1).
Moreover, while there is nothing in Plaintiff’s Complaint indicating that Plaintiff is requesting
judicial review of the MSPB decision, Plaintiff confirmed at the April 21, 2011 hearing that he is
indeed seeking review of the decision. Defendant indicated to the Court that he has interpreted
Plaintiff’s claim to be a “mixed case” and agrees that Plaintiff is seeking judicial review of the
MSPB decision in addition to his Title VII claims.
In his motion, Defendant seeks dismissal of Plaintiff’s discrimination and retaliation
claims. Defendant makes three arguments in support of dismissal: (1) Plaintiff’s claims are timebarred; (2) Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies; and (3) Plaintiff has failed to
state a claim. (Def.’s Br. at 1).
A.
Plaintiff’s National Origin, Gender, Disability, And Retaliation Claims Are Time-Barred
Defendant first asserts that Plaintiff’s discrimination claims (except for Plaintiff’s race
and age discrimination claims) are time-barred because Plaintiff failed to file his complaint
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within 90 days of receiving his Right To Sue Letter. (Def.’s Br. at 8).
Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-16(c), in an action against the head of a department of the
federal government, an employee may file a civil action within 90 days of a final action taken by
the EEOC on a complaint of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
42 U.S.C. § 2000e-16(c). In this case, the EEOC issued its Final Order on October 15, 2009.
Plaintiff, however, alleges in his Complaint that he received his EEOC Final
Determination/Right to Sue Letter in February 2009. Nonetheless, Plaintiff did not file his
Complaint until July 9, 2010. Therefore, even when assuming the allegations in Plaintiff’s
complaint are true, Plaintiff failed to file his Complaint within 90 days of receiving his Right To
Sue Letter. Plaintiff’s national origin, gender, disability, and retaliation claims are time-barred.
See Burzynski v. Cohen, 264 F.3d 611, 618-19 (6th Cir. 2001).
B.
Plaintiff Did Not Exhaust His Administrative Remedies With Regard To His Race And
Age Discrimination Claims
Next, Defendant contends that Plaintiff’s race and age discrimination claims should be
dismissed because Plaintiff failed to raise those claims in his EEOC complaint, and therefore has
not exhausted his administrative remedies.
With regard to Plaintiff’s Title VII race discrimination claim, a claimant must exhaust his
administrative remedies before filing an action with the court. Section 2000e-16(c) provides that
a claimant may only pursue court action if he or she disagrees with a final agency disposition or
disposition of the EEOC after a discretionary appeal. West v. Gibson, 527 U.S. 212, 218-19
(1991); Brown v. GSA, 425 U.S. 820, 833 (1976).
Here, Plaintiff did not allege a race discrimination claim when he filed an EEO complaint
with Defendant or when he pursued an appeal to EEOC. (See Agency Dec. at 1; see also EEOC
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Denial) . Therefore, Plaintiff has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies regarding this
claim.
Plaintiff’s age discrimination claim is not governed by 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-16. Rather,
age discrimination is governed by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”).
Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 633a, “[a] federal employee complaining of age discrimination... does
not have to seek relief from his employing agency or the EEOC at all. He can decide to present
the merits of his claim to a federal court in the first instance.” Stevens v. Department of
Treasury, 500 U.S. 1, 6 (1991).
Although a claimant may file an ADEA claim directly with a federal court, Section 15(d)
of the Act, 29 U.S.C. § 633a(d), provides:
When the individual has not filed a complaint concerning age
discrimination with the Commission, no civil action may be
commenced by any individual under this section until the individual
has given the Commission not less than thirty days' notice of an intent
to file such action. Such notice shall be filed within one hundred and
eighty days after the alleged unlawful practice occurred. Upon
receiving a notice of intent to sue, the Commission shall promptly
notify all persons named therein as prospective defendants in the
action and take any appropriate action to assure the elimination of
any unlawful practice.
29 U.S.C. § 633a(d) (emphasis added).
In this case, Plaintiff has not alleged that he provided the EEOC with at least 30 days
notice of his intent to file his age discrimination action. He also has not provided any evidence
establishing that he filed such notice within 180 days after the alleged unlawful practice.
According to records provided by both the Plaintiff and Defendant, Plaintiff’s Complaint appears
to be the first instance in which Plaintiff alleges age discrimination. Therefore, Plaintiff has
failed to exhaust his administrative remedies with regard to his age discrimination claim.
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C.
Plaintiff Has Sufficiently Pleaded Discrimination, Retaliation, and Accommodation
Claims
Alternatively, Defendant contends that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which
relief can be granted, and his claims should be dismissed pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6).
In assessing a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), the Court
must treat all well-pleaded allegations in the complaint as true. Kostrzewa v. City of Troy, 247
F.3d 633, 638 (6th Cir. 2001). In order for a complaint to survive a motion to dismiss for failure
to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), “[f]actual allegations must be enough to raise a right of
relief above the speculative level, on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are
true (even if doubtful in fact).” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007).
“While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by
factual allegations.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1950 (2009). Dismissal is only proper if,
based upon the pleadings, the plaintiff does not have a “reasonably founded hope” of making his
or her case. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
Plaintiff’s allegations are marked on a form Complaint for Title VII actions. Plaintiff
checked boxes indicating that Defendant discriminated against Plaintiff based on his race,
gender, age, national origin, and disabled status. Plaintiff checked additional boxes indicating
that Defendant discriminated against him by failing to employ, failing to promote, and
terminating Plaintiff. Plaintiff also alleged, “harassment in office, denial of reasonable
accommodation rqst, closed door shouting – retaliation; targeting and singling out for filing EEO
complaint.” (Complaint at 2).
Courts generally hold pro se claimants to a less stringent pleading standard than
claimants who are represented by lawyers. See Wells v. Brown, 891 F.2d 591, 594 (6th Cir.
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1989). Although Plaintiff has failed to plead many facts specific to his allegations, he has
sufficiently articulated claims for discrimination, retaliation, and failure to accommodate.
As discussed above, however, Plaintiff’s claims are either time-barred, or Plaintiff has
failed to exhaust his administrative remedies.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons above, the Court shall GRANT Defendant’s Motion for Partial
Dismissal.
Accordingly, Plaintiff’s national origin, gender, disability discrimination/disparate
treatment, age, retaliation, and accommodation claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
Therefore, the only claim remaining in this case is Plaintiff’s request for judicial review
of the Merit Systems Protection Board decision.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: May 5, 2011
S/ Sean F. Cox
Sean F. Cox
U. S. District Court Judge
I hereby certify that on May 5, 2011, the foregoing document was served upon counsel of record
by electronic means and upon Jaimon Jose Mappilaparampil by First Class Mail at the address
below:
Jaimon Jose Mappilaparampil
1874 Sunburst
Troy, MI 48098
Dated: May 5, 2011
S/ J. Hernandez
Case Manager
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