Cotton v. Saint Louis University

Filing 6

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER... IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's lawsuit is DISMISSED due to her failure to properly exhaust her administrative remedies and file her claims within ninety (90) days of receipt of her EEOC right-to-sue letter. See 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that an appeal of this dismissal would not be taken in good faith. A separate Order of Dismissal shall accompany this Memorandum and Order. Signed by District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on 3/31/2017. (NEB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
DEBORA M. COTTON,
Plaintiff,
v.
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY,
Defendant.

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No. 4:17-CV-211 AGF

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court after expiration of plaintiff’s time to show cause why her
employment discrimination action should not be subject to dismissal for failure to properly
exhaust her administrative remedies.1 Plaintiff has failed to respond to the Court’s Order to Show
Cause. However, after carefully reviewing the record, the Court concludes that plaintiff failed to
properly exhaust her administrative remedies prior to bringing the present action to federal court.
Therefore, the action is subject to dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).2
Discussion
Plaintiff brings this action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §
2000e, et seq., for alleged race, color and age discrimination. Plaintiff also alleges that she was
subjected to a hostile work environment.3
1

On February 13, 2017, the Court ordered plaintiff to show cause why this action should not be
dismissed for failure to file the instant action within ninety (90) days of receiving her right-to-sue
letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”).
2
Because plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the Court is required to conduct an initial
review of the case and to dismiss it if it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which
relief can be granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e).
3
Plaintiff has attached a copy of her Charge of Discrimination to her complaint, in which she
alleges discrimination based on her race, sex and age. Plaintiff also alleges that she was retaliated
1

Plaintiff has attached two right-to-sue letters to her complaint: one from the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") dated September 29, 2016, and one from the
Missouri Commission on Human Rights ("MCHR") dated October 12, 2016. Plaintiff filed this
lawsuit on January 11, 2017.
A plaintiff in a Title VII action has ninety (90) days from receipt of the right-to-sue letter to
file a civil action. See 42 U.S.C. ' 2000e-5(f). Failure to file a timely civil action warrants
dismissal of the complaint. Braxton v. Bi-State Development Agency, 728 F.2d 1105, 1108 (8th
Cir. 1984).
The ninety-day period from the date of the receipt of the EEOC right-to-sue letter elapsed
on approximately Wednesday, December 28, 2016. Plaintiff did not file her suit until
approximately fourteen days after the ninety-day period ended. As a result, plaintiff’s complaint
is time-barred.
Plaintiff has failed to show adequate cause for her failure to file her lawsuit in a timely
manner. As such, the Court is obligated to dismiss this action for plaintiff’s failure to adequately
exhaust her administrative remedies.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s lawsuit is DISMISSED due to her failure to
properly exhaust her administrative remedies and file her claims within ninety (90) days of receipt
of her EEOC right-to-sue letter. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

against by her prior employer, Saint Louis University, and she states that she was subjected to a
constructive discharge. Plaintiff’s Charge was dated by her on May 26, 2015, and received by the
Missouri Commission on Human Rights on June 8, 2015. Plaintiff asserts that her constructive
discharge occurred on or about October 31, 2014.
2

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that an appeal of this dismissal would not be taken in good
faith.
A separate Order of Dismissal shall accompany this Memorandum and Order.
Dated this 31st day of March, 2017.

AUDREY G. FLEISSIG
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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