Satterwhite v. All Starz Children's Academy, Inc. et al

Filing 32

ORDER denying 26 First Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint, adopting 31 Memorandum and Recommendation, denying 19 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim and denying 21 Motion to Dismiss - Signed by District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan on 3/13/2017. (Tripp, S.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN DIVISION
NO. 5:16-CV-141-FL

BRENNA M. SATTERWHITE,
Plaintiff,
v.
ALL STARZ CHILDREN’S ACADEMY,
INC.; ALL STARZ CARY, INC.,
Defendants.

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ORDER

This matter is before the court upon motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed by
defendant All Starz Children’s Academy, Inc. (“All Starz Children’s”) (DE 19); motion to dismiss
for failure to state a claim and lack of subject matter jurisdiction filed by defendant All Starz Cary,
Inc. (“All Starz Cary”) (DE 21); and plaintiff’s conditional motion for leave to amend (DE 26).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), United States Magistrate Judge James E. Gates entered a
memorandum and recommendation (“M&R”) wherein it is recommended that the court deny
defendants’ motions and deny as moot plaintiff’s motion. No objections were filed.
Absent a specific and timely filed objection, the court reviews only for “clear error,” and
need not give any explanation for adopting the M&R. See Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Ins.
Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005). Upon careful review of the record, “the court may accept,
reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate
judge.” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). In this case, upon careful review of the M&R and the record in this
matter, the court adopts as its own the recommendation in the M&R.

As correctly determined in the M&R, plaintiff has stated a Title VII claim for disparate
treatment because of plaintiff’s pregnancy, where she allegedly is a member of a protected class,
adverse employment action was taken against her, she had satisfactory job performance, and her
position was filled by someone outside the protected class. See Miles v. Dell, Inc., 429 F.3d 480,
485 (4th Cir. 2005); 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(k) (establishing pregnancy as a protected class). In addition,
plaintiff properly has named All Starz Cary as a defendant, even though it was not named along with
All Starz Children’s in the administrative charge of discrimination, because of alleged facts
establishing that All Starz Cary is substantially identical to All Starz Children’s. See Alvarado v.
Bd. of Trustees of Montgomery Cmty. Coll., 848 F.2d 457, 458 (4th Cir. 1988). Finally, the M&R
correctly determined that plaintiff’s demand for punitive damages and emotional distress damages
properly are not subject to dismissal at this juncture in the case. Accordingly, defendants’ motions
to dismiss must be denied and plaintiff’s conditional motion to amend must be denied as moot.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the court ADOPTS the M&R and DENIES defendants’ motions to
dismiss (DE 19, 21). Plaintiff’s conditional motion to amend (DE 26) is DENIED. The clerk is
DIRECTED to continue management of this matter. An initial order regarding planning and
scheduling will follow.
SO ORDERED, this the 13th day of March, 2017.

_____________________________
LOUISE W. FLANAGAN
United States District Judge

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