MAZZEO v. LEW
Filing
35
OPINION AND ORDER re: 28 MOTION to Dismiss . filed by Jacob J. Lew. Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED. The Clerk is instructed to terminate the motion (Doc. #28) and close this case. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Vincent L. Briccetti on 6/28/17) (yv)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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MICHAEL MAZZEO,
:
Plaintiff,
:
:
v.
:
:
STEVEN T. MNUCHIN, Secretary, United
:
States Department of the Treasury,
:
Defendant.
:
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OPINION AND ORDER
16 CV 2747 (VB)
Briccetti, J.:
Plaintiff Michael Mazzeo, a former special agent in the Criminal Investigation division of
the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), brings this action against defendant Steven T. Mnuchin,
United States Secretary of the Treasury, 1 for discrimination based on plaintiff’s sex, race,
national origin, age, and disability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §
2000e (“Title VII”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C. § 621
(“ADEA”), and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 791 (“Rehabilitation Act”). Plaintiff
also brings a retaliation claim, alleging he was threatened with disciplinary action after he filed a
complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”).
Before the Court is defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to
Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. #28).
For the reasons set forth below, the motion is GRANTED.
The Court has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
1
Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin is substituted for former Secretary Jacob J. Lew. See Fed.
R. Civ. P. 25(d) (providing for automatic substitution of a public officer’s successor when the
officer ceases to hold office while the action is pending).
1
BACKGROUND
The following factual background is drawn from the amended complaint and an August
3, 2015, decision of the EEOC that plaintiff attached to, and relied on, in his opposition brief.
For purposes of deciding the pending motion, the Court accepts as true all well-pleaded
allegations in the amended complaint and draws all reasonable inferences in plaintiff’s favor.
Plaintiff is a white Italian-American male born in 1965, who at all relevant times was
employed as a special agent in the Criminal Investigation division of the IRS.
In December 2008, plaintiff suffered a left rotator cuff impingement injury during
defensive tactics training, and on November 5, 2009, underwent left rotator cuff repair surgery.
As a result of his shoulder injury, plaintiff was placed on limited duty in May 2010. Plaintiff
subsequently experienced a similar injury in his right shoulder.
In February 2011, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New
York (“SDNY”) notified plaintiff’s supervisors that they would no longer work with plaintiff,
nor prosecute any cases assigned to him, because they did not trust him. Plaintiff’s SDNY cases
were subsequently reassigned to other agents. On March 30, 2011, one of plaintiff’s supervisors
informed him she would hold weekly meetings with plaintiff to discuss the progress of his
investigations, and that he would be expected to develop investigations in the Northern District
of New York.
Following a physical examination of plaintiff, IRS medical review officer Dr. Phong
Dong Nguyen issued a report on August 11, 2011, concluding plaintiff was not able to perform
the duties of a special agent.
Plaintiff was scheduled for a fitness for duty examination on October 5, 2011 (which was
subsequently rescheduled due to a conflicting federal holiday), because of concerns regarding
2
plaintiff’s ability to perform fully his duties as a special agent in light of the limited range of
motion in his left shoulder following surgery, and his diagnosis of a right rotator cuff tear.
On October 5, 2011, plaintiff’s third-level supervisor proposed to suspend plaintiff’s
receipt of law enforcement availability pay (“LEAP”) 2 because, since May 2010, plaintiff had
been unavailable to work unscheduled overtime due to his ongoing medical issues.
On November 2, 2011, and again on September 27, 2012, plaintiff claims his supervisor
directed him “to use or lose” annual leave prior to his surgeries scheduled for November 10,
2011, and October 18, 2012, respectively. (Am. Compl. ¶ 15).
On November 10, 2011, plaintiff underwent a second surgery on his left shoulder. Prior
to this surgery, plaintiff was required to leave his government-issued vehicle, a 2008 Buick
Lucerne with 40,245 miles on it, at his office. While out on leave, plaintiff’s government-issued
vehicle was reassigned to another special agent.
On or about November 30, 2011, while on leave recovering from shoulder surgery,
plaintiff was removed as a user from certain IRS computer systems. On January 27, 2012,
plaintiff was restored as a user to the IRS computer systems.
On January 1, 2012, plaintiff’s LEAP was suspended. Beginning on January 29, 2012,
the receipt of LEAP no longer appeared on any of plaintiff’s SF-50 Personnel Action Forms.
On January 30, 2012, plaintiff returned to work and was assigned a 2007 Buick LaCrosse
with around 45,000 miles on it.
2
LEAP is compensation paid to special agents for unscheduled overtime, equal to 25
percent of the employee’s adjusted basic salary subject to a salary cap. To qualify for LEAP,
special agents are required to work, or be available to work, at an annual average rate of at least
2 hours per day beyond their regular 8-hour tour of duty, unless management approves a
temporary hardship exemption.
3
On or about March 5, 2012, plaintiff received a performance appraisal for the period
ending January 31, 2012, that “[in]accurately reflected and failed to fully credit his work
performance.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 19).
Plaintiff claims beginning on April 6, 2011, he was provided with incorrect information
from “Human Capitol officials” regarding leave buy back, and was incorrectly charged 643
hours of sick leave that should have been charged as leave without pay while plaintiff was
receiving workers’ compensation benefits. (Am. Compl. ¶ 20).
On June 28, 2012, plaintiff was again ordered to attend a fit for duty examination due to
concerns raised regarding plaintiff’s ongoing shoulder injuries. Dr. Robert Hendler performed
an orthopedic evaluation of plaintiff, and concluded plaintiff was not able to perform his job
duties safely and efficiently at that time. On July 24, 2012, Dr. Nguyen conducted a medical
fitness for duty evaluation of plaintiff, and agreed with Dr. Hendler that plaintiff was unable to
perform the full duties of a special agent.
On or about October 9, 2012, plaintiff was notified he no longer met the GS-1811
Treasury Enforcement Agent Qualification Standards, and that he would remain on temporary
restricted duty until further notice.
On October 18, 2012, plaintiff had surgery on his right shoulder, and on September 25,
2013, he was cleared to return to full duty.
On June 12, 2014, plaintiff’s LEAP was retroactively restored from January 29, 2012–
October 6, 2013.
On March 2, 2012, plaintiff filed an EEOC complaint against the IRS, which plaintiff
subsequently amended to add additional claims. On July 15, 2015, the EEOC held a
consolidated hearing during which plaintiff’s supervisor Joan Totani, among others from the
4
IRS, testified. Plaintiff claims Totani “was not completely truthful in her testimony.” (Am.
Compl. ¶ 26). On August 3, 2015, the EEOC issued a decision in favor of the IRS.
On August 4, 2015, approximately three weeks after the EEOC hearing, plaintiff was
called to a meeting with Totani and his second-level supervisor, Manny Muriel. According to
plaintiff, he was “inaccurately” told the meeting would not be “disciplinary” in nature. (Am.
Compl. ¶ 27). Plaintiff claims he was “threatened with discipline” for filing his EEOC complaint
at the August 4, 2015, meeting. (Id. ¶ 28). On August 18, 2015, Muriel sent plaintiff a followup email, instructing plaintiff to cease causing “discord and dissention amongst the employees or
management” or possibly face disciplinary action. (Id. ¶ 30; Bretz Decl., Ex. A).
On December 26, 2015, plaintiff resigned from his position with the IRS.
DISCUSSION
I.
Legal Standard
Pursuant to Rule 12(c), at any time after the pleadings are closed, but before trial
commences, a party may move for judgment on the pleadings. The legal standard applicable to a
Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings and a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule
12(b)(6) are identical. Hayden v. Paterson, 594 F.3d 150, 160 (2d Cir. 2010). Accordingly, in
deciding a motion under Rule 12(c), the Court evaluates the sufficiency of the complaint under
the “two-pronged approach” announced by the Supreme Court in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.
662, 679 (2009). First, plaintiff’s legal conclusions and “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of
a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements,” are not entitled to the assumption
of truth and are thus not sufficient to withstand a motion for a judgment on the pleadings. See id.
at 678. Second, “[w]hen there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their
veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief.” See id.
5
at 679.
To survive a Rule 12(c) motion, the allegations in the complaint must meet a standard of
“plausibility.” See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; see also Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550
U.S. 544, 564 (2007). A claim is facially plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that
allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct
alleged.” See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “The plausibility standard is not akin to a
‘probability requirement,’ but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted
unlawfully.” See id.
“On a 12(c) motion, the court considers ‘the complaint, the answer, any written
documents attached to them, and any matter of which the court can take judicial notice for the
factual background of the case.’” L-7 Designs, Inc. v. Old Navy, LLC, 647 F.3d 419, 422 (2d
Cir. 2011) (quoting Roberts v. Babkiewicz, 582 F.3d 418, 419 (2d Cir. 2009)). “A complaint is
[also] deemed to include any written instrument attached to it as an exhibit, materials
incorporated in it by reference, and documents that, although not incorporated by reference, are
‘integral’ to the complaint.” L-7 Designs, Inc. v. Old Navy, LLC, 647 F.3d at 422 (quoting Sira
v. Morton, 380 F.3d 57, 67 (2d Cir. 2004)).
In reviewing a Rule 12(c) motion, the court may also consider “plaintiff’s relevant filings
with the EEOC and other documents related to the plaintiff’s claim, even if they are not attached
to the complaint, so long as those filings are either incorporated by reference or are integral to
and solely relied upon by the complaint.” Littlejohn v. City of N.Y., 795 F.3d 297, 305 n.3 (2d
Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks omitted).
6
Courts need not accept as true allegations in the complaint that are contradicted by more
specific allegations or documentary evidence integral to the complaint. L-7 Designs, Inc. v. Old
Navy, LLC, 647 F.3d at 422.
II.
Title VII Claim
Title VII makes it unlawful for an employer “to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any
individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation,
terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion,
sex, or national origin.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). Accordingly, a plaintiff asserting a Title VII
claim must allege (i) the employer discriminated against him (ii) because of his race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin.
With respect to the first element, an employer discriminates against a plaintiff “by taking
an adverse employment action against him.” Vega v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., 801
F.3d 72, 85 (2d Cir. 2015). An adverse employment action must be “more disruptive than a
mere inconvenience or an alteration of job responsibilities.” Galabya v. N.Y. City Bd. of Educ.,
202 F.3d 636, 640 (2d Cir. 2000) (internal citation omitted). Examples of adverse employment
actions include “termination of employment, a demotion evidenced by a decrease in wage or
salary, a less distinguished title, a material loss of benefits, significantly diminished material
responsibilities, or other indices unique to a particular situation.” Vega v. Hempstead Union
Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d at 85 (quoting Terry v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 128, 138 (2d Cir. 2003)).
With respect to the second element, “an action is because of a plaintiff’s race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin where it was a substantial or motivating factor contributing to the
employer’s decision to take the action.” Vega v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d at
85 (internal citation omitted). However, “[p]laintiff’s subjective belief that he was the victim of
7
discrimination—however strongly felt—is insufficient to satisfy his burden at the pleading
stage.” Doe v. Columbia Univ., 101 F. Supp. 3d 356, 371 (S.D.N.Y. 2015), vacated on other
grounds, 831 F.3d 46 (2016). Additionally, Title VII is not a general civility code for the
American workplace; the challenged actions must truly be discriminatory. See Oncale v.
Sundowner Offshore Servs., Inc., 523 U.S. 75, 80-81 (1998).
In making a plausibility determination at the motion for judgment on the pleadings stage,
the plaintiff’s burden is “minimal.” See Littlejohn v. City of New York, 795 F.3d 297, 311 (2d
Cir. 2015). The question is “whether the well-pleaded allegations plausibly give rise to an
inference of unlawful discrimination.” Vega v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d at
87. “An inference of discrimination can arise from circumstances including, but not limited to,
‘the employer’s criticism of the plaintiff’s performance in ethnically degrading terms; or its
invidious comments about others in the employee’s protected group; or the more favorable
treatment of employees not in the protected group; or the sequence of events leading to’” an
adverse employment action. Littlejohn v. City of New York, 795 F.3d at 312 (quoting Leibowitz
v. Cornell Univ., 584 F.3d 487, 502 (2d Cir.2009)). Thus, to defeat a motion for judgment on the
pleadings, plaintiff must allege “facts that directly show discrimination or facts that indirectly
show discrimination by giving rise to a plausible inference of discrimination.” See Vega v.
Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d at 87.
Here, plaintiff’s bare and conclusory allegations fail to state a claim of discrimination on
the bases of sex, race, or national origin.
Plaintiff briefly states he suffered “disparate treatment and/or harassment due to his sex
(male), race (white), and/or National Origin (Italian American).” (Am. Compl. ¶ 1). The
amended complaint does not contain any other references to plaintiff’s race, sex, or national
8
origin, nor does it allege how plaintiff was discriminated against because of these characteristics.
In fact, the amended complaint does not contain any allegations of race-based, sex-based, or
national-origin based discrimination. It thus fails to provide even “minimal support for the
proposition that the employer was motivated by discriminatory intent.” Vega v. Hempstead
Union Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d at 85.
Moreover, as discussed further below, plaintiff fails to allege a “materially significant
disadvantage with respect to the terms of the plaintiff’s employment”—i.e., an adverse
employment action. Littlejohn v. City of New York, 795 F.3d at 312 n.10.
A.
The Weekly Meetings
Plaintiff claims the weekly meetings with his supervisor to discuss the status of his
investigations demonstrates he experienced discrimination. Plaintiff asserts he is not aware of
any other senior special agent in his group who was subjected to similar meetings, and that these
meetings caused him “humiliation, embarrassment, and victimization.” (Pl.’s Opp’n Br. at 2).
As a matter of law, however, being directed to meet with a supervisor once a week to
discuss work does not constitute an action sufficiently “materially adverse” to support a claim of
discrimination. See Byra-Grzegorczyk v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 572 F. Supp. 2d 233, 252
(D. Conn. 2008) (“[T]here is nothing materially adverse about requiring employees to attend
meetings. Meetings are part and parcel of a normal employer-employee relationship.”);
Morrison v. Potter, 363 F. Supp. 2d 586, 591 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) (“[B]eing called into a
supervisor’s office to discuss work issues” does not constitute an adverse action.); Castro v. N.Y.
City Bd. of Educ. Pers., 1998 WL 108004, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 12, 1998) (“[A]lthough
reprimands and close monitoring may cause an employee embarrassment or anxiety, such
intangible consequences are not materially adverse alterations of employment conditions.”).
9
Moreover, plaintiff does not allege the weekly meetings were held due to a
discriminatory intent on the part of his employer. In fact, the August 3, 2015, EEOC decision,
which plaintiff relied on in his opposition brief, indicates the weekly meetings were initiated
after the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York informed
plaintiff’s supervisors they would no longer prosecute plaintiff’s cases because they did not trust
him. (Pl.’s Opp’n Br., Ex. 1, at 4).
Accordingly, the weekly meetings do not support plaintiff’s discrimination claims.
B.
Annual and Sick Leave
Next, plaintiff alleges he was incorrectly instructed to use accumulated annual leave prior
to his shoulder surgeries, and that he was improperly charged 643 hours of sick leave that should
have been charged as leave without pay. According to plaintiff, defendant’s failure to properly
advise him regarding leave use and how to buy back leave demonstrates he was discriminated
against.
However, plaintiff does not claim he followed defendant’s direction and improperly used
his leave before his surgeries. Moreover, plaintiff does not allege any facts tending to show the
instruction to use his leave or the improper treatment of sick leave were motivated by a
discriminatory animus. Thus plaintiff’s conclusory statements regarding the improper
instruction to use his annual leave and the improper charge of sick leave fail to defeat
defendant’s motion.
C.
Reassignment of Government-Issued Vehicle
Plaintiff alleges he was required to leave his government-issued vehicle at his office
while he was out on medical leave. Upon his return, plaintiff’s vehicle had been reassigned to
another employee, and plaintiff was assigned a new vehicle “with substantially more mileage and
10
in need of repair.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 16). 3 Plaintiff also claims a “similarly situated” female
employee was allowed keep her government-issued vehicle while she was out on maternity
leave. (Pl.’s Opp’n Br. at 3).
Not being permitted to keep a government-issued vehicle while on leave and
subsequently being issued a different vehicle certainly does not amount to a “material adverse
change” in the terms and conditions of his employment. See, e.g., Demoret v. Zegarelli, 451
F.3d 140, 151 (2d Cir. 2006) (assignment of one vehicle instead of another does not constitute an
adverse employment action); Pierre v. Napolitano, 958 F. Supp. 2d 461, 481 (S.D.N.Y. 2013)
(temporary reassignment to car alleged to have various mechanical issues was “too trivial a
matter to constitute an adverse employment action”); Knox v. Town of Se., 2014 WL 1285654,
at *10 (S.D.N.Y. 2014), aff’d, 599 F. App’x 411 (2d Cir. 2015) (summary order) (loss of use of a
town vehicle “cannot be characterized as an ‘adverse employment action’ under even the most
liberal reading of the phrase”).
Accordingly, the reassignment of plaintiff’s government-issued vehicle does not support
his discrimination claim.
D.
Removal from IRS Computer System
Plaintiff further alleges discrimination based on his removal from IRS computer systems
while he was out on leave for shoulder surgery. However, plaintiff readily admits his computer
access was restored upon his return to work. Moreover, plaintiff fails to allege how his removal
from IRS computer systems during his medical leave adversely impacted his employment, and
he fails to allege any facts that could support an inference that such removal from the computer
systems was motivated by discriminatory intent.
3
Plaintiff’s previous vehicle was a 2008 Buick Lucerne with 40,245 miles on it and his
replacement vehicle was a 2007 Buick LaCrosse with around 45,000 miles.
11
Accordingly, plaintiff’s removal from IRS computer systems while he was out on leave
does not support plaintiff’s discrimination claim.
E.
Ineligibility for LEAP Pay
Plaintiff next argues the determination at the beginning of 2012 that he was ineligible for
LEAP pay, which caused him to lose tax-free income, was discriminatory. However, plaintiff’s
LEAP benefits were restored retroactively in 2014. Moreover, plaintiff does not allege that any
discriminatory animus motivated the temporary suspension of his LEAP benefits, nor does he
assert any facts demonstrating the temporary loss of such payments—which was subsequently
corrected—was “more disruptive than a mere inconvenience.” See Pierre v. Napolitano, 958 F.
Supp. 2d 461, 480 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) (agent’s temporary loss of LEAP payments did not
demonstrate plaintiff faced an adverse employment action); see also Dressler v. New York City
Dep’t of Educ., 2012 WL 1038600 at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2012) (“A corrected administrative
error without attendant deleterious effect does not constitute an adverse employment action.”).
Thus, plaintiff’s temporary loss of LEAP benefits does not support his discrimination
claim.
F.
Performance Evaluation
Plaintiff asserts he was discriminated against when his annual performance review
“[in]accurately reflected, and failed to fully credit, his work performance.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 19).
However, “a negative performance review, without more, does not represent an adverse
employment action.” Chung v. City Univ. of N.Y., 605 F. App’x 20, 22 (2d Cir. 2015); Kpaka v.
City Univ. of N.Y., 2016 WL 4154891, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 2, 2016) (quoting Hawana v. City
of New York, 230 F. Supp. 2d 518, 528 (S.D.N.Y. 2002)) (“Negative evaluations can be adverse
employment actions only if they give rise to material adverse changes in work conditions.”).
12
Here, however, plaintiff has failed to allege his performance evaluation led to a
“materially adverse change in the terms or conditions of [his] employment.” Galabya v. N.Y.
City Bd. of Educ., 202 F.3d at 640 (internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover, plaintiff has
again failed to allege his performance review was motivated by discriminatory intent.
Therefore, plaintiff’s performance appraisal does not support his discrimination claim.
III.
Age Discrimination Claim
The ADEA prohibits an employer from “discharg[ing] any individual or otherwise
discriminat[ing] against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or
privileges of employment, because of such individual’s age.” 29 U.S.C. § 623(a). An individual
must be at least 40 years of age to be entitled to the statute’s protections. Id. § 631.
Similar to Title VII claims, a plaintiff need only meet a “minimal” pleading standard for
an age discrimination claim under the ADEA. Johnson v. Andy Frain Servs., Inc., 2016 WL
210098, at *2 (2d Cir. 2016) (summary order) (citing Roge v. NYP Holdings, Inc., 257 F.3d 164,
168 (2d Cir. 2001)). Additionally, the standard for determining whether an action was “adverse”
under the ADEA is the same as under Title VII. See Belizaire v. Rav Investigative & Sec.
Servs., 61 F. Supp. 3d 336, 348 (S.D.N.Y. 2014).
Unlike Title VII claims, however, a plaintiff claiming age discrimination under the
ADEA must establish “that age was the ‘but-for’ cause of the employer’s adverse action.” Vega
v. Hempstead Union Free Sch. Dist., 801 F.3d at 86 (quoting Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., Inc., 557
U.S. 167, 176 (2009)). Thus, to survive a motion for judgment on the pleadings, a plaintiff must
allege his age was “not merely a motivating factor” of the adverse employment action, but that
“he was terminated because of his age.” See Barone v. S&N Auerbach Mgmt., Inc., 2016 WL
1237871, at *1 (2d Cir. 2016) (summary order); see also Vega v. Hempstead Union Free Sch.
13
Dist., 801 F.3d at 86, 91 (“But-for causation does not . . . require proof that [the protected
characteristic] was the only cause of the employer’s action, but only that the adverse action
would not have occurred in the absence of the [prohibited] motive.” (alterations and internal
quotation marks omitted)).
Plaintiff claims he “suffered disparate treatment and/or harassment due to his . . . age.”
(Am. Compl. ¶ 1). Plaintiff fails, however, to plead any facts that give rise to an interference of
age discrimination—i.e., that his employer made comments regarding his age, that younger
employees were treated differently, or that any action whatsoever was taken due to an animus
relating to plaintiff’s age.
Merely asserting plaintiff was discriminated against due to his age, 4 without more, is the
type of threadbare and conclusory allegation that is insufficient to survive a Rule 12(c) motion.
See Hedges v. Town of Madison, 456 F. App’x 22, 23 (2d Cir. 2012) (summary order)
(affirming dismissal of ADEA claim brought by plaintiff who only alleged he was terminated
because he was nearing retirement age); Payne v. Malemathew, 2011 WL 3043920, at *2
(S.D.N.Y. July 22, 2011) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570) (“[P]laintiff’s
claim that he was the oldest employee is insufficient to ‘nudge [his] claims across the line from
conceivable to plausible.’”).
Moreover, plaintiff’s ADEA claim also fails because he does not allege his age was “the
but-for cause” of any adverse action he claims to have suffered. Nor does plaintiff allege, as
discussed above, that he suffered from any adverse employment action.
4
Plaintiff alleges he was born in December 1965, with the first of the allegedly
discriminatory acts occurring in March 2011, when he was 45 years old. By alleging he was 45
at the time the allegedly discriminatory conduct began, plaintiff has pleaded he was within the
age group protected by the ADEA when he suffered the allegedly adverse employment actions.
See 29 U.S.C. § 631(a).
14
IV.
Rehabilitation Act Claim
To state a claim for disability discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act, plaintiff must
allege (i) he is disabled within the meaning of the Act; (ii) he was excluded from participation in
a public entity’s services, programs, or activities or was otherwise discriminated against by a
public entity; and (iii) such exclusion or discrimination was due to his disability. See Hargrave
v. Vermont, 340 F.3d 27, 34 (2d Cir. 2003). The Rehabilitation Act defines a “disabled
individual” as a person who has “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or
more major life activities of such individual.” 29 U.S.C. § 705(20)(B).
In the amended complaint, plaintiff claims he was discriminated against “based on his
disability (physical)” when he was temporarily denied LEAP, provided inaccurate information
regarding annual leave, ordered to attend fit for duty examinations in 2011 and 2012, and when,
on October 9, 2012, he was notified he no longer met the GS-1811 Treasury Enforcement
Agency Qualification Standards and was not medically qualified for full duty as a special agent
for the IRS.
First, because the amended complaint is devoid of any details regarding plaintiff’s
alleged handicap or disability, plaintiff fails to state a claim under the Rehabilitation Act. 5 See
Hedges v. Town of Madison, 456 F. App’x 22, 24 (2d Cir. 2012) (summary order) (affirming
dismissal of Rehabilitation Act and ADA claims because “even the most liberal standard of
5
The August 3, 2015, EEOC decision found that in December 2008, plaintiff suffered a
left rotator cuff impingement injury during defensive tactics training at work, and on November
5, 2009, underwent left rotator cuff repair surgery. Plaintiff subsequently suffered a similar
injury in his right shoulder, and underwent surgery again in 2012. The shoulder injuries
eventually prevented plaintiff from lifting his arms above shoulder height, and plaintiff was
deemed “not able to safely and efficiently do all the duties of his job.” (Pl.’s Opp’n Br., Ex. 1 at
9). Accordingly, because plaintiff’s shoulder injuries substantially limited his major life
activities—namely, his job—plaintiff arguably was “handicapped” under the Rehabilitation Act.
However, because plaintiff failed to plead any facts relating to his shoulder injuries in the
amended complaint, he has failed to plead the disability element of a Rehabilitation Act claim.
15
pleadings does not require a court” to infer disability where plaintiff did not allege he was
disabled under either Act, but instead provided a list of medical conditions).
Moreover, plaintiff has not alleged any facts tending to give rise to even a minimal
inference of discriminatory intent. See Elbert v. N.Y. State Dep’t of Corr. Servs., 751 F. Supp.
2d 590, 594–95 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (quoting Garcia v. S.U.N.Y. Health Sciences Ctr. of Brooklyn,
280 F.3d 98, 112 (2d Cir. 2001) (plaintiff must allege his mistreatment “was motivated by either
discriminatory animus or ill will due to disability.”).
Accordingly, plaintiff fails to state a Rehabilitation Act claim.
V.
Retaliation Claim
“To establish a prima facie case of retaliation, an employee must show that (1) she was
engaged in protected activity; (2) the employer was aware of that activity; (3) the employee
suffered a materially adverse action; and (4) there was a causal connection between the protected
activity and that adverse action.” Lore v. City of Syracuse, 670 F.3d 127, 157 (2d Cir. 2012).
“Title VII retaliation claims must be proved according to traditional principles of but-for
causation.” Univ. of Tex. Sw. Med. Ctr. v. Nassar, 133 S. Ct. 2517, 2533 (2013).
Retaliation claims under Title VII, the ADEA, and the Rehabilitation Act are analyzed
under the same framework. See Terry v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 128 (2d Cir. 2003) (Title VII and
ADEA); Treglia v. Town of Manlius, 313 F.3d 713, 719 (2d Cir. 2002) (Title VII and
Rehabilitation Act).
“The term ‘protected activity’ refers to action taken to protest or oppose statutorily
prohibited discrimination.” Wright v. Monroe Cmty. Hosp., 493 F. App’x 233, 236 (2d Cir.
2012) (summary order) (quoting Cruz v. Coach Stores, Inc., 202 F.3d 560, 566 (2d Cir. 2000)).
Importantly, the adverse employment action element of a retaliation claim “is not limited
16
to discriminatory actions that affect the terms and conditions of employment.” Burlington
Northern & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 64 (2006). Instead, it is understood to
“appl[y] broadly to ‘employer actions that would have been materially adverse to a reasonable
employee or job applicant.’” Hicks v. Baines, 593 F.3d 159, 165 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting
Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. at 57). “Actions are ‘materially
adverse’ if they are ‘harmful to the point that they could well dissuade a reasonable worker from
making or supporting a charge of discrimination.’” Id. (quoting Burlington Northern & Santa Fe
Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. at 57).
Plaintiff claims he was retaliated against for filing two EEOC complaints that were
consolidated for hearing on July 15, 2015. Approximately three weeks after the hearing, on
August 4, 2015, plaintiff claims his second level supervisor, Manny Muriel, directed plaintiff to
report to Muriel’s office for a meeting with Muriel and plaintiff’s supervisor, Joan Totani.
Plaintiff further claims he was “inaccurately” advised the meeting was “not disciplinary in
nature.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 27). At the August 4, 2015, meeting, plaintiff claims he was
“threatened with discipline due to his filing of the two EEO complaints” and was “further
threatened . . . with civil action for slander with regard to [his] comments that SSA Totani’s
testimony at the July 15, 2015 hearing was not completely truthful.” (Id. ¶ 28). According to
plaintiff, “[b]ut for the EEO complaint and a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
(TIGTA) complaint,” he would have been disciplined. (Id. ¶ 27).
Muriel sent plaintiff a “follow-up” email on August 18, 2015, that “put the threat of
discipline into writing, all designed to retaliate against [plaintiff] for his EEO activity.”
(Id. ¶ 29). The email “recaps [the] discussion at the August 4, 2015 meeting” and concludes:
17
“You are NOT to cause discord or dissention amongst the employees or management. If this
conduct continues, it could lead to disciplinary action.” (Id. ¶ 30).
The Court concludes that plaintiff fails to allege he suffered materially adverse action
sufficient to support a retaliation claim. “Courts in this circuit have held that ‘reprimands that do
not lead to materially adverse employment consequences are not actionable forms of
retaliation.’” Frazier v. City of N.Y. Dep’t of Correction, 2016 WL 4444775, at *3 (E.D.N.Y.
Aug. 23, 2016) (internal quotation marks omitted) (collecting cases). 6
Plaintiff does not claim he suffered any other employment consequences or actual injury
as a result of his employer’s allegedly adverse action. In fact, plaintiff claims he would have
been disciplined but for his EEOC and TIGTA complaints. See Tepperwien v. Entergy Nuclear
Operations, Inc., 663 F.3d 556, 569 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Ry.
Co. v. White, 548 U.S. at 67) (“Title VII does not protect an employee from ‘all retaliation,’ but
only ‘retaliation that produces an injury or harm.’”).
Additionally, plaintiff states in a conclusory fashion and without any support that he was
threatened with discipline due to his filing of the two EEOC complaints. However, the only fact
on which plaintiff relies in making this claim, a quote from an email, actually undermines
plaintiff’s retaliation claim. The email threatens plaintiff with discipline based on plaintiff’s
causing “discord and dissention amongst the group employees and management” rather than his
6
The Second Circuit has held that the placement of a formal reprimand letter related to the
employee’s protected activity in an employee’s file could deter a reasonable employee from
exercising her rights, and thus satisfies the Burlington Northern materiality standard. See Millea
v. Metro-N. R. Co., 658 F.3d 154, 165 (2d Cir. 2011). Here, however, plaintiff was not issued a
formal reprimand letter. Moreover, the August 18, 2015, email was not directly related to
plaintiff’s EEOC complaints, nor did it dissuade plaintiff from filing a second complaint with
TIGTA on August 19, 2015, alleging Totani committed perjury at the July 15, 2015, EEOC
hearing.
18
EEOC activity. Moreover, the email clearly specifies the types of conduct that could lead to
discipline—none of which is related to EEOC or otherwise protected activity.
Specifically, the email states that Muriel had received numerous complaints regarding
plaintiff’s conduct, including that plaintiff had asked other employees what feedback they
received on their annual performance evaluations, and had created unnecessary stress for a
pregnant colleague by discussing a new career ladder structure and promotional decisions.
Muriel stated “[a]lthough I cannot specifically prevent you from engaging in these types of
conversation[s,] you are to minimize non work related discussions which are disruptive to group
operations.” (Bretz Decl., Ex. 1). The email further explains that plaintiff’s disruptive conduct
was causing discord and dissension, and directs plaintiff to cease such conduct and “comply with
government-wide standards of conduct as well as local office standards of conduct, work
procedures, and office practices established to accomplish the work of the Service.” (Id.). 7
Because “oral and written warnings” that apply the employer’s disciplinary policies “do
not amount to materially adverse conduct,” Chang v. Safe Horizons, 254 F. App’x 838, 839 (2d
Cir. 2007) (summary order), plaintiff’s retaliation claim must be dismissed. 8
7
The only references to plaintiff’s EEOC activity in the email are: (i) Muriel’s discussion
of plaintiff’s statements accusing Totani of committing perjury at plaintiff’s EEOC hearing,
which conflicted with the EEOC administrative judge’s finding that “Totani’s hearing testimony
with regard to the material facts of this case [was] clear, consistent, and credible” (Bretz Decl.,
Ex. 1); and (ii) Muriel’s statement that the EEOC decision had previously been sent to plaintiff,
despite his claims to the contrary.
8
Plaintiff claims he resigned from his employment with the IRS, effective December 26,
2015. Plaintiff does not claim his resignation was involuntary, nor does he allege a constructive
discharge claim, i.e., that the IRS “intentionally create[d] a work atmosphere so intolerable that
he [was] forced to quit involuntarily.” See Petrosino v. Bell Atlantic, 385 F.3d 210, 229 (2d Cir.
2004).
19
CONCLUSION
Defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED.
The Clerk is instructed to terminate the motion (Doc. #28) and close this case.
Dated: June 28, 2017
White Plains, NY
SO ORDERED:
____________________________
Vincent L. Briccetti
United States District Judge
20
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