Hoffman v. Huntington Ingalls, Inc.
Filing
31
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 27 Motion to Dismiss. Ordered that this case is dismissed with prejudice. Signed by District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr on 4/26/21. (JCH)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
SOUTHERN DIVISION
JOHNNIE LAMAR HOFFMAN
v.
PLAINTIFF
CAUSE NO. 1:20-cv-143-LG-RPM
HUNTINGTON INGALLS
INCORPORATED
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS
BEFORE THE COURT is the [27] Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendant,
Huntington Ingalls Incorporated. Plaintiff filed a [29] Response, to which
Defendant [30] replied. After due consideration, the Court finds that the Motion
should be granted.
BACKGROUND
On March 5, 2020, Plaintiff Johnnie Lamar Hoffman filed this pro se action
in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Mississippi. He alleges that Defendant, his
employer, negligently failed to investigate claims that he fell asleep while driving a
forklift and thereafter forced him to resign under duress. (See generally Compl., ¶¶
XIV-XVIII, ECF No. 1). The case was removed to this Court on April 16, 2020. On
June 23, 2020, the Court issued an [11] Order on Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss,
finding that the Complaint sought mental and emotional distress damages, which
are barred by the exclusivity provisions of the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation
Statute, Miss. Code § 71-3-9 et seq. The Court allowed Plaintiff to file an amended
Complaint.
After an appeal, Plaintiff filed his [24] Amended Complaint, which clarifies
that he is “seeking monetary damages as compensation for monetary damages
caused by defendant’s behavior.” (Am. Compl., 1-2, ECF No. 24). Plaintiff accuses
Defendant of violating its “own company policies and safety guidelines” and failing
to conduct an investigation. (Id. at 2-3). Defendant again moved to dismiss,
arguing that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim as a matter of law. (See generally
Mem. Supp. Mot. Dismiss Pl.’s Am. Compl., ECF No. 28). Plaintiff filed a concise
[29] Response and Defendant a [30] Reply. The issues are now ripe for disposition
by the Court.
DISCUSSION
To survive a Motion to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), “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, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl.
Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). “A claim has facial plausibility when
the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable
inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. (citing
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). Therefore, “plaintiffs must allege facts that support the
elements of the cause of action in order to make out a valid claim.” City of Clinton,
Ark. v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 632 F.3d 148, 152-53 (5th Cir. 2010). The court
liberally construes pleadings filed pro se, like the Complaint filed in this case.
Johnson v. Atkins, 999 F.2d 99, 100 (5th Cir. 1993). However, “conclusory
allegations or legal conclusions masquerading as factual conclusions will not suffice
to prevent a motion to dismiss.” Fernandez-Montes v. Allied Pilots Ass’n, 987 F.2d
278, 284 (5th Cir. 1993).
Here, the nature of Plaintiff’s claim remains “less than clear,” but more can
be gathered from his Amended Complaint. (See Mem. Opinon & Order, 2, ECF No.
11). As before, Plaintiff maintains that Defendant’s failure to investigate false
accusations ultimately forced him to resign. (See generally Am. Compl., ECF No.
24). Plaintiff states that Defendant breached its own internal policies and a
collective bargaining agreement, but he clarifies that these alleged violations are
“not the basis of plaintiff’s suit against defendant” but rather “evidence of
defendant’s wrong doing.” (Id. at 3). Instead, Plaintiff compares his lawsuit to one
arising out of “an automobile wreck,” such that Defendant liable for damages “no
matter if the wreck was caused intentionally or accidently.” (Pl.’s Resp. Def.’s Mot.
Dismiss, 1, ECF No. 29). Hence, the Court concludes that Plaintiff seeks damages
under principles of tort liability.
However, such a cause of action does not appear to exist in Mississippi under
these facts. “Mississippi follows the common law rule that a contract of
employment for an indefinite term may be terminated at the will of either party.
The employee can quit at will; the employer can terminate at will. This means
either the employer or the employee may have a good reason, a wrong reason, or no
reason at all for terminating the employment contract.” Kelly v. Miss. Valley Gas
Co., 397 So.2d 874, 874-75 (Miss. 1984). Of course, “the employment-at-will
doctrine . . . is not absolute.” Swindol v. Aurora Flight Sciences Corp., 194 So.3d
847, 852 (Miss. 2016). “Employers may not fire employees for one of the publicpolicy reasons detailed in McArn, nor may they fire employees for reasons
‘independently declared legally impermissible.’” Id. (quoting McArn v. Allied BruceTerminix Co., Inc., 626 So.2d 603, 606 (Miss. 1993)). Plaintiff does not allege, nor
does it appear plausible from the facts submitted, that any of the public policy
exceptions are applicable here. The Court concludes that Plaintiff’s claim for
damages is precluded by the employment-at-will doctrine.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the [27] Motion to
Dismiss filed by Defendant Huntington Ingalls Incorporated is GRANTED. This
action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this the 26th day of April, 2021.
s/
Louis Guirola, Jr.
LOUIS GUIROLA, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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