FOYE et al v. SEPTA et al

Filing 42

MEMORANDUM AND/OR OPINION SETTING FORTH THE REASONS WHY THE COURT IS RULING ON DOCKET NOS. 22, 23, 24 AND 35. AN APPROPRIATE ORDER FOLLOWS. SIGNED BY HONORABLE GENE E.K. PRATTER ON 3/28/17. 3/28/17 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED TO PRO SE PLAINTIFF AND E-MAILED TO COUNSEL.(rab, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

ERNEST FOYE, KELVIN HOLLY, and
LEGENE EDWARDS,
Plaintiffs,
v.
SEPTA and DARREN VOGELMAN,
Defendants.

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CIVIL ACTION

No. 15-1036

MEMORANDUM
PRATTER, J.

MARCH 28, 2017

Plaintiffs Ernest Foye, Kelvin Holly, and Legene Edwards, all African-American bus
operators, sued their former employer, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
(“SEPTA”) and Darren Vogelman, their supervisor. Each plaintiff alleges claims pursuant to
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (“Title VII”),
the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 951 et seq. (“PHRA”), and 42
U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983. In addition, Mr. Edwards separately alleges that Defendants violated
his rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C § 2601 et seq. (“FMLA”).
Defendants have moved for summary judgment as to each Plaintiff. They have also
moved to strike portions of the declarations submitted by Mr. Holly and Mr. Edwards. For the
reasons set forth below, the Court will grant summary judgment for Defendants as to Mr. Foye’s,
Mr. Holly’s, and Mr. Edwards’s claims under Title VII, the PHRA, and 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and

1

1983. The Court also grants summary judgment with respect to Mr. Edwards’s claims under the
FMLA. 1
I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 2
The following facts are undisputed unless otherwise described. Where there is a dispute,

the facts are presented necessarily in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs. See Abramson v.
William Paterson Coll. of N.J., 260 F.3d 265, 267 (3d Cir. 2001). While Plaintiffs bring the
same types of claims against Defendants, the facts of their individual cases differ.
A.

Kelvin Holly

Mr. Holly, who is African-American, worked for SEPTA as a bus operator in the
Southern Division. Mr. Vogelman was the Director of Transportation in that Division.
The terms and conditions of Mr. Holly’s employment were governed by a Collective
Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) between SEPTA and the Transport Workers’ Union Local 234.
The “performance” track of the CBA outlines six steps of progressive discipline applicable to
employees: (1) verbal warning; (2) written warning; (3) one day suspension; (4) three day
suspension; (5) Discharge with Dignity; (6) discharge. At the Discharge with Dignity stage,
employees may enter into a “Last Chance Agreement” in lieu of discharge. A Last Chance
Agreement consists of a one-day suspension followed by a one-year probationary period.
Employees are allowed one Last Chance Agreement in their SEPTA career. Mr. Holly entered

1

Because the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have not established a genuine dispute of material fact,
Defendants’ motion to strike various paragraphs from Mr. Holly’s and Mr. Edwards’s declarations—submitted in
support of their oppositions to the defense motions—is moot.
2

The Court has jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ federal claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and over Plaintiffs’
state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a).

2

into a Last Chance Agreement with SEPTA as part of a Union grievance arising from
performance-related violations on August 23, 2013. 3
On or about September 27, 2013, Mr. Holly was involved in an incident with a
pedestrian. According to the incident report signed by Mr. Holly, a pedestrian walked to the
curb and the right side mirror of Mr. Holly’s bus struck the left side of a pedestrian’s head,
knocking his glasses off. Mr. Holly did not call the SEPTA Control Center at that time. He
stopped the bus and spoke with the pedestrian, who stated that he was fine. Mr. Holly then
adjusted the right side mirror of the bus and drove the bus to SEPTA’s Southern Depot,
completing his “run.” Once he arrived at the Depot, he reported the incident to the Control
Center. Mr. Holly did not hand out incident report cards to passengers or get the name and
contact information of the pedestrian.
Mr. Holly was required to follow SEPTA’s Bus Division Rules (“BDR”) and Authority
Standard Rules (“ASR”). Following the incident, he was charged with violating:
•

ASR 12.A, which requires employees to report incidents by the quickest
means of communication;

•

BDR 53.A & B, which requires employees to “immediately contact the
Control Center in the event they are involved in any accident, blockade, or
mishap,” and “[i]f witnessing or involved in an accident with persons or to
property, however slight, the employee shall immediately contact Control
Center . . . ‘tag’ the event if camera equipped and attempt to obtain the
names of all witnesses as soon as practical . . .

•

Violation of Last Chance Agreement, which involves immediate discharge
for an employee on “last chance” probation charged with committing an
infraction for which discipline is justified.

Def. Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 20. The grievance procedure under the CBA involves four
steps: (1) an informal hearing where the employee is made aware of charges against him and the
3

The Agreement stated: “While on ‘last chance’ probation, should Mr. Holly be charged with committing
any infraction for which discipline is justified, he shall be subject to immediate discharge.” (Def. Ex I).

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proposed discipline; (2) a formal hearing; (3) a hearing conducted by a SEPTA Labor Relations
Manager; and (4) arbitration if the Union grievances are denied at steps (2) and (3) and the
Union elects to pursue arbitration. In Mr. Holly’s case, the Assistant Director for the Southern
Division recommended discharge at the informal hearing, and the Union’s subsequent grievance
was denied at the formal hearing level and the Labor Relations level. The Union elected not to
arbitrate. Mr. Holly invokes 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, Title VII, and the PHRA.
B.

Ernest Foye

Mr. Foye is an African-American former SEPTA bus operator, who worked out of the
Southern Division. Like Mr. Holly, he was a member of the Transport Workers’ Union Local
243 and was subject to the same Collective Bargaining Agreement, Authority Standard Rules,
and Bus Division Rules.
On September 9, 2013, Mr. Foye was involved in an incident with an individual while
operating a SEPTA bus. At first, the individual stood in front of Mr. Foye’s stopped bus,
blocking its path. The individual then moved to the bus’s open front door of the bus and placed
his hand in the bus’s doorway while the door was closing. With the individual’s hand caught in
the door, Mr. Foye drove the bus forward for approximately ten feet, at which point Mr. Foye
stopped the bus, opened the doors, and pushed the individual back from the bus. Mr. Foye then
allowed the individual to board the bus. When the individual got off the bus and was running
alongside it, Mr. Foye drove precariously close to him and did not abide by a STOP sign. This
entire series of events was captured by video surveillance on Mr. Foye’s bus.
Mr. Foye was charged with an array of rule violations, and he proceeded with the CBA’s
four-step grievance process. At the informal hearing, Mr. Vogelman recommended that Mr.
Foye be discharged. The Union’s subsequent grievances at the formal hearing level and the

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Labor Relations level were denied, and it did not pursue arbitration. During the grievance
proceedings, Mr. Foye admitted that he had made several “terrible mistakes” and took full
responsibility for his actions. See Def. Ex. E. Mr. Foye also makes his claims under 42 U.S.C.
§§ 1981 and 1983, Title VII, and the PHRA.
C.

Legene Edwards

Mr. Edwards is an African-American former SEPTA bus operator who worked out of the
Southern Division. Like the other Plaintiffs, Mr. Edwards was a member of Local 234 and was
subject to the CBA between the Union and SEPTA.
The CBA outlines a no fault attendance points system whereby points are assessed
against employees for incidents of non-attendance. An employee who accumulates twenty (20) 4
or more points is subject to progressive discipline. Points are reduced for regular attendance and
completion of progressive discipline. Points are not incurred for FMLA leave.
Under the CBA, an employee who accumulates 20 or more points will be subject to
progressive discipline each time his point total reaches 20 points. Def. Ex. C. Progressive
discipline under the “attendance track” includes: (1) a one-day suspension; (2) a five-day
suspension; (3) Discharge with Dignity; (4) Discharge. 5 As explained above, the CBA also
provides for a “Last Chance Agreement,” which an employee can choose in lieu of discharge. 6
SEPTA’s FMLA Policy allows eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, jobprotected leave per year to care for a qualifying family member (such as a spouse) with a serious
4

The 20-point threshold for discipline is increased two points for every five years of service.

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The CBA also includes a generalized progressive discipline scheme, which provides, “[w]hen appropriate,
progressive discipline will be imposed as follows [1] Verbal Warning [2] Written Warning [3] 1-Day Administrative
Suspension [4] 3-Day Suspension . . . [5] Discharge.” Def. Ex. C (sequential numbers added).
6

A letter agreement between the Union and SEPTA clarifies that “[i]n the event that an employee, who has
been discharged and is awaiting the ‘Last Chance’ agreement, should commit a rule infraction that warrants
discipline, and/or accumulates a sufficient amount of points for the next step of discipline, the employee will be
discharged.” Def. Ex. E.

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health condition. That permitted leave may be taken continuously, or on an intermittent or
reduced schedule basis. SEPTA’s FMLA Policy requires that an employee properly and timely
notify his supervisor, manager, or dispatcher, as well as AmeriHealth, the Third Party
Administrator (“TPA”) that handles FMLA matters for SEPTA, that he is taking FMLAqualifying leave. “If an employee does not contact the TPA, he/she may not qualify for FMLA
and may be subject to disciplinary action for attendance infractions.” Pl. Ex. P-1.
Employees are also required to provide information to AmeriHealth in order to process
FMLA claims. The FMLA Policy states:
Employees are obligated to cooperate with the TPA in the flow of information
necessary to administer FMLA leave. This includes, upon request, submitting a
complete and sufficient certification to support the need for leave. Failure to do so
may result in some or all of an absence not being treated as FMLA leave.
For leaves involving a serious health condition, the employee will be required to
have his/her treating health care provider complete a Medical Certification Form
in a timely manner. . . . It is the employee’s responsibility to submit the form to
the TPA in a timely manner, which means the employee must make a diligent,
good faith effort to return the form within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date
the form is issued to the employee.
Pl. Ex. P-1. The Policy explains that the “TPA, upon receiving all information to substantiate the
employee’s need and eligibility for FMLA, is solely responsible for approval or rejection of [the]
request.” Pl. Ex. P-1.
In July 2008, Mr. Edwards received FMLA leave to care for his wife, who was battling
cancer. Between 2008 and 2012, Mr. Edwards renewed his applications for FMLA leave several
times, and numerous absences were approved as FMLA-protected, for which he did not incur
points under SEPTA’s attendance points system. On May 15, 2013, however, Mr. Edwards
received a Discharge with Dignity for otherwise accumulating too many attendance points, and

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the Union grieved the decision. 7 As a result of the Discharge with Dignity, Mr. Edwards’s
attendance points were reduced by 10.
The Union had until August 2, 2013 to request a Last Chance Agreement, and it timely
submitted such a request. 8 In between the May 15, 2013 Discharge with Dignity and the Union’s
request for a Last Chance Agreement Mr. Edwards was assessed attendance points for numerous
absences. After exceeding the points threshold on June 24, 2013, he was again charged with
substandard attendance. The informal hearing addressing that charge was held in abeyance on
June 26, 2013.
On August 12, 2013, Mr. Edwards executed the Last Chance Agreement that the Union
requested in response to his grievance of the May 15, 2013 Discharge with Dignity. The
Agreement outlined that he would serve a one-day suspension without pay on August 20, 2013,
but that the one year probationary period began running on May 15, 2013—the date of his
discharge with dignity. It explained that should Mr. Edwards be charge with committing any
infraction for which discipline is justified while on probation, he would be subject to immediate
discharge. Mr. Edwards’s employment was terminated on August 12, 2013 for his having
violated the Last Chance Agreement.
The Union grieved Mr. Edwards’s discharge for violation of the Last Chance Agreement.
It took the position that SEPTA should not have assessed attendance points against Mr. Edwards

7

As part of the grievance process for the May 15, 2013 Discharge with Dignity, the Union requested an
attendance points audit. Two additional points were added to Mr. Edwards’s point total as a result of the audit from
an absence in August 2011.
According to the Formal Hearing disposition, Mr. Edwards had exceeded the allowable points threshold on
March 18, 2013 and was subject to a Discharge with Dignity. The Union grieved the discipline, but it was denied at
the Formal Hearing and Labor Relations Level.
8

The letter denying the grievance at the Labor Relations step explained that “if the authority does not
receive a ‘last chance’ request as a final settlement of this grievance or a demand for arbitration by August 2, 2013,
the discharge of Legene Edwards [] will become effective and he will be removed from service immediately.” Def.
Ex. L.

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for his June 24, 2013 absence because it was protected leave under the FMLA. The Union also
challenged SEPTA’s assessment of attendance points for Mr. Edwards’s August 16, 2011
absence, which was discovered during the audit in the previous grievance, and it generally
objected to SEPTA’s decision to hold the grievance in abeyance until the work resumption
agreement was signed. The grievance regarding Mr. Edwards’s violation of the Last Chance
Agreement was denied at the Formal Hearing and Labor Relations steps. The Union did not
pursue arbitration.
Mr. Edwards, too, brings his claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, Title VII, the
PHRA, and the FMLA.
II.

LEGAL STANDARDS
Upon motion of a party, summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions,

answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that
there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a
judgment as a matter of law.” Fed R. Civ. P. 56(c). A factual dispute is “material” if it might
affect the outcome of the case under governing law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S.
242, 248 (1986). An issue of fact is “genuine . . . if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury
could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id.
In evaluating a summary judgment motion, the court “must view the facts in the light
most favorable to the non-moving party” and make every reasonable inference in that party’s
favor. Hugh v. Butler Cty. Family YMCA, 418 F.3d 265, 267 (3d Cir. 2005). A party seeking
summary judgment bears the initial responsibility for informing the district court of the basis for
the motion and identifying those portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine
issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). Where the non-

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moving party bears the burden of proof on a particular issue at trial, the moving party’s initial
burden may be met by “pointing out to the district court that there is an absence of evidence to
support the non-moving party’s case.” Id. at 325. Summary judgment is proper if the nonmoving party fails to rebut by making a factual showing “sufficient to establish the existence of
an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at
trial.” Id. at 322.
III.

DISCUSSION
These Plaintiffs’ claims, albeit arising from different factual circumstances, are subject to

the same legal inquiry. Accordingly, the Court will address their common claims under Title
VII, PHRA, and 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983 and then turn to Mr. Edwards’s FMLA claims.
A.

Claims Under Title VII, the PHRA, and 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983

Each Plaintiff claims that SEPTA has discriminated against him on the basis of race in
violation of Title VII, the PHRA, 9 and § 1981. Plaintiffs’ § 1981 claims against Mr. Vogelman
are analyzed in the same manner as their claims under Title VII and the PHRA. Jordan v. Se.
Pennsylvania Transp. Auth., No. CIV.A. 10-3470, 2012 WL 4815414, at *16 (E.D. Pa. Oct. 10,
2012). The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has held that § 1981 does not provide an independent
cause of action against state governmental units like SEPTA, and instead, § 1983 provides the
exclusive remedy against state governments for violation of rights guaranteed in, or by, § 1981.
See McGovern v. City of Phila., 554 F.3d 114, 121 (3d Cir. 2009); see also Taylor v. Se. Pa.
Transp. Auth., 2007 WL 1074887, at *2 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 5, 2007) (“SEPTA is treated as a

9

The protections of the PHRA replicate those provided by Title VII, so the claims pursuant to these two
statutes are analyzed together. See Weston v. Pennsylvania, 251 F.3d 420, 425 n.3 (3d Cir. 2001), overruled in part
on other grounds by Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53 (2006) (“The proper analysis under
Title VII and the [PHRA] is identical, as Pennsylvania courts have construed the protections of the two acts
interchangeably.”).

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municipal agency in determining its liability under § 1983.”). Because SEPTA cannot be held
liable for employee actions through vicarious liability, Plaintiffs here must show that SEPTA
“implemented or executed a policy statement, ordinance, regulation, or decision officially
adopted and promulgated, or acted pursuant to governmental custom even though such a custom
has not received formal approval through the body’s official decision-making channels.”
Jordan, 2012 WL 4815414, at *16 (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted) (quoting
McGovern, 554 F.3d at 121).
When evaluating discrimination claims under Title VII, the PHRA, or 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981
and 1983, 10 courts apply the familiar three-part burden-shifting framework set forth in
McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973). Under McDonnell Douglas, a
plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case for discrimination. Id. at 802. If a plaintiff does
so, the burden then shifts to the defendant to advance a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for
its actions. Id. at 802–03. If the defendant advances a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for
its actions, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to prove that the defendant’s proffered reason is
merely a pretext for discrimination. Id. at 806–07. The McDonnell Douglas framework “was
never intended to be rigid, mechanized or ritualistic. Rather, it is merely a sensible, orderly way
to evaluate the evidence in light of common experience as it bears on the critical question of
discrimination.” Weldon v. Kraft, Inc., 896 F.2d 793, 798 (3d Cir. 1990).
To establish a prima facie case of disparate treatment based on race, whether under §
1981, Title VII, or the PHRA, a plaintiff must show (1) that he was a member of a protected
class; (2) that he was qualified for the position; (3) that he suffered an adverse employment

10

“Section 1983 race discrimination claims follow the standard employed in Title VII disparate treatment
claims and, absent direct evidence of discrimination, are analyzed under the familiar McDonnell Douglas[]
framework applied to Title VII and Section 1981 claims involving circumstantial evidence of discrimination.” Holt
v. Pennsylvania, No. CV 10-5510, 2015 WL 4944032, at *13 (E.D. Pa. Aug. 19, 2015).

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action; and (4) circumstances give rise to an inference of unlawful discrimination. See, e.g.,
Jones v. Sch. Dist. of Phila., 198 F.3d 403, 410–11 (3d Cir. 1999). A plaintiff may satisfy the
fourth prong through comparator evidence—in other words, “by showing that similarly situated
individuals outside the plaintiff’s class were treated more favorably [than the plaintiff].”
Anderson v. Wachovia Mortg. Corp., 621 F.3d 261, 273–74 (3d Cir. 2010); Tyler v. Se.
Pennsylvania Transp. Auth., No. CIV.A. 99-4825, 2002 WL 31965896, at *3 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 8,
2002), aff’d sub nom. Tyler v. SEPTA, 85 F. App’x 875 (3d Cir. 2003) (reciting the fourth prong
as “an employee in a non-protected class, otherwise similarly situated, was treated more
favorably than Plaintiff”).
To satisfy the fourth prong using comparators who are similarly situated, “the plaintiff
must show that ‘the other employee’s acts were of comparable seriousness.’” Glenn v. Raymour
& Flanigan, 832 F. Supp. 2d 539, 548 (E.D. Pa. 2011) (quoting Anderson v. Haverford C., 868
F. Supp. 741, 745 (E.D. Pa. 1994)). While the relevant factors for comparators are factdependent, in the context of workplace discipline, it is significant whether “the two employees
dealt with the same supervisor, were subject to the same standards, and had engaged in similar
conduct without such differentiating or mitigating circumstances as would distinguish the
conduct or their employer’s treatment of them.” Id. at 549 (quoting McCullers v. Napolitano,
427 Fed. App’x. 190, 195 (3d Cir. 2011)).
Defendants primarily argue that Plaintiffs have each failed to demonstrate the prima facie
case of race discrimination because their comparator evidence is inadequate. Defendants
separately urge that even if the Court determines that Plaintiffs can satisfy the prima facie case,
Plaintiffs have not met their McDonnell Douglas burden to show that Defendants’ proffered
reasons for their actions were pretextual.

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The Court agrees with Defendants that Plaintiffs’ comparator evidence does not satisfy
the fourth prong of the prima facie case. Therefore, summary judgment is proper. Moreover, if
the comparator evidence was satisfactory, summary judgment would still be warranted because
none of the Plaintiffs have pointed to evidence showing that Defendants’ proffered reasons for
their actions were pretextual. Consequently Plaintiffs cannot satisfy their burden under
McDonnell Douglas.
1.

Kelvin Holly

Mr. Holly has failed to proffer similarly situated individuals that may be used as
comparator evidence of discrimination, and therefore, he cannot satisfy the prima facie case. Mr.
Holly suggests five bus operators to be evaluated as comparators: (1) Daniel Vaughan, (2)
Robert Perna, (3) Stephen Coia, (4) Domenic Parenti, and (5) Elliot Lopez. 11
Mr. Vaughan, a Caucasian former bus operator who worked out of the Comly District,
struck a pedestrian who was crossing the street. Mr. Vaughan called the Control Center and
handed out incident cards at the time of the accident. While SEPTA initially recommended
discharge, the Union grieved the discipline and was ultimately given a one day administrative
suspension.
Mr. Perna, a Caucasian bus operator in the Callowhill District, twice struck pedestrians—
in July and November 2014. In July 2014, a pedestrian walked into the side of the bus. He
called the Control Center immediately thereafter and did not move the bus. While SEPTA
initially recommended discharge, he entered into a settlement with SEPTA through the Union

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The Court is limiting its analysis to the comparator conduct that is factually similar to the instant case.
Glenn, 832 F Supp. 2d at 548–49 (“While similarly situated does not mean identically situated, the plaintiff must
nevertheless be similar in all relevant respects” (internal quotation marks omitted)). Mr. Holly points to several
dissimilar incidents on the record that have no bearing on this case. For example, he references Mr. Perna’s receipt
of a one-day administrative suspension for not wearing a seatbelt and a time when Mr. Perna was not disciplined
after a ramp he was operating closed on a passenger’s toe. The Court will not address such dissimilar conduct.

12

that reduced his discipline to a written warning. In November 2014, a pedestrian walked into the
bus’s mirror, and he handed out incident cards and called the Control Center immediately. The
record does not show that he was disciplined after the November 2014 incident.
Mr. Coia, a Caucasian bus operator in the Comly District, was involved in an accident
when a pedestrian fell under the rear wheels of his bus, was run over, and ultimately died. At the
time of the accident, he called the Control Center and a supervisor and ambulance came to the
scene. Mr. Coia received a “preventable” classification from SEPTA, and testified at his
deposition that he was not otherwise disciplined.
Mr. Parenti, a Caucasian bus operator in the Comly District, struck a pedestrian at an
intersection and called the Control Center immediately. He received a one-day suspension.
Mr. Lopez, an Hispanic bus operator in the Southern District, allegedly struck a
pedestrian, but did not remember whether he was disciplined for the incident. Separately, he was
charged with failure to call control center following an accident with an unmanned vehicle.
Key differences distinguish Mr. Holly from the proffered comparators such that they are
not “similarly situated” and cannot be relied upon to satisfy the fourth prong of the prima facie
case. None of Mr. Holly’s suggested comparators were on Last Chance Agreements at the time
they were involved in incidents with pedestrians. The Last Chance Agreement to which Mr.
Holly was subject stated plainly that “should Mr. Holly be charged with committing any
infraction for which discipline is justified, he shall be subject to immediate discharge.” Def. Ex.
I. Because none of the proffered comparators were in a similar procedural posture as Mr. Holly
when he was disciplined for the September 2013 incident, SEPTA’s response to the alleged
comparators’ incidents cannot serve as a measure of discriminatory treatment. 12

12

Mr. Holly contests the Last Chance Agreement itself, arguing that it was time-barred, that Mr. Holly
entered into it under duress, and that it was imposed in a discriminatory manner. Whether the Last Chance

13

Moreover, the parties have not pointed to any evidence that any of the alleged offenders
moved his bus without authorization following an incident or failed to immediately contact the
SEPTA Control Center. 13 As a result, none of the alleged comparators were charged with the
same violations in the same circumstances as Mr. Holly. While the comparators did receive less
severe discipline than Mr. Holly, the factual circumstances leading to their discipline differed
significantly from the conduct and procedural posture here. 14
Because Mr. Holly cannot make out his prima facie case, summary judgment for
Defendants is proper. However, Even if Plaintiff had established the prima facie case of race
discrimination, he has not shown that Defendants’ legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for
termination—violating an array of SEPTA rules while subject to a Last Chance Agreement—was
pretextual. Under McDonnell-Douglas, the burden then shifts to the plaintiff to show pretext. To
show pretext, “the plaintiff must point to some evidence, direct or circumstantial, from which a
factfinder could reasonably either (1) disbelieve the employer’s articulated legitimate reasons; or
Agreement itself, which Mr. Holly signed prior to the incident that led to his termination, was proper is not an issue
here. The propriety of the Last Chance Agreement is separate and apart from whether Mr. Holly’s November 2013
termination was motivated by racial discrimination. Further, the Court can find no evidence in the record supporting
Mr. Holly’s argument that SEPTA engaged in a policy or practice of imposing Last Chance Agreements in a
discriminatory manner. Moreover, as explained in greater detail in Section III.A.3 below, the Union (not SEPTA)
initiated a Last Chance Agreement.
13

Mr. Holly takes great pains to characterize the events of September 2013 as an “incident,” as opposed to
an “accident” in an effort to downplay the seriousness with which Mr. Holly was required to respond. This effort is
ultimately fruitless, however, because BDR 53.A&B applies to accidents “however slight.” See Def. Ex. N.
14

Defendants point out that the bulk of the comparators did not share Mr. Holly’s supervisor—Mr.
Vogelman—and were not assigned to Mr. Holly’s district. Mr. Holly takes the position that it is irrelevant whether a
comparator had a different supervisor in this case because SEPTA’s Labor Relations Managers have the final say
with respect to disciplinary decisions. Indeed, “[t]he Supreme Court has held that evidence offered in a
discrimination case concerning purported comparators with different supervisors is neither per se admissible nor per
se inadmissible.” Opsatnik v. Norfolk S. Corp., 335 F. App’x 220, 223 (3d Cir. 2009) (concluding that the
comparators offered by the plaintiff that were not subject to the same decision-authority, while not per se
inadmissible, “d[id] not cast doubt” on the defendants motive for terminating the plaintiff). It is clear from the
briefing that multiple individuals from SEPTA and the Union are involved in disciplinary matters. While
involvement by multiple individuals may downplay the relevance of any one supervisor in particular in this context,
it does nothing to undermine the comparators’ other distinguishing characteristics. Consequently, the comparators
put forth by Mr. Holly do not cast doubt on the rationale behind Mr. Holly’s termination.

14

(2) believe that an invidious discriminatory reason was more likely than not a motivating or
determinative cause of the employer’s action.” Burton v. Teleflex Inc., 707 F.3d 417, 427 (3d
Cir. 2013) (quoting Fuentes v. Perskie, 32 F.3d 759, 764 (3d Cir. 1994)). “Comparative
evidence may show pretext, [but] it is only relevant if the comparators are similarly situated.”
Maull v. Div. of State Police, 39 F. App’x 769, 773 (3d Cir. 2002) (internal quotation marks
omitted). Beyond the fact that the comparators put forth by Mr. Holly did not engage in similar
conduct, they were not similarly situated with respect to disciplinary posture because none of
them were on Last Chance Agreements with SEPTA. Consequently, the comparators received
from SEPTA cannot show pretext.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will grant summary judgment for Defendants on Mr.
Holly’s claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, Title VII, and the PHRA.
2.

Ernest Foye

Mr. Foye did not respond to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment. The Court
granted Mr. Foye additional time to file a response to the Motion after his former counsel’s
withdrawal from the case. 15 After Mr. Foye failed to file a response by the first deadline set by
the Court, the Court again directed him to file a response and required him to appear at the
hearing addressing Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgement. Mr. Foye neither filed a
response nor appeared at the hearing. Because the time for response has long passed, the Court
considers the Motion as unopposed, but will, nonetheless, evaluate the efficacy of the Motion on
its merits.
Like Mr. Holly, Mr. Foye set forth comparator evidence to support his discrimination
claims, and his alleged comparators suffer similar flaws. Defendants raised issues with the four

15

The Court granted Mr. Foye’s former counsel’s motion to withdraw based upon Mr. Foye’s
unresponsiveness.

15

comparators Mr. Foye referenced in the Amended Complaint: (1) Thomas D’Achino, (2) Elliot
Lopez, (3) Cathy Wilkes, and (4) Christopher Lopez. 16
Mr. D’Achino is a Caucasian former SEPTA “bus blocker” in the Southern District who
plaintiff alleges “came to work drunk, was given an alcohol test and proved positive and also
assaulted a dispatcher.” Am. Compl. ¶ 43. In 2003, Mr. D’Achino was discharged because he
tested positive for alcohol while on duty, in violation of the CBA. Mr. D’Achino was later
reinstated as part of a settlement between SEPTA and the Union.
Elliot Lopez is a Hispanic bus operator in the Southern District who had an altercation
with a passenger in March 2013. A customer on Mr. Lopez’s bus filed a complaint with SEPTA
alleging, among other things, that Mr. Lopez pushed another passenger off the bus. Mr. Lopez
was charged with violating an array of rules. Mr. Vogelman, who supervised Elliot Lopez,
recommended discharge. The Union grieved the recommendation and ultimately negotiated a
settlement with SEPTA, whereby he was reinstated.
Cathy Wilkes is a Caucasian bus operator who Mr. Foye alleges assaulted a passenger on
the bus. Am. Compl. ¶ 48. Christopher Lopez, a Hispanic male, allegedly “physically threw
someone off the bus.” Am. Compl. ¶ 45. The parties have not pointed to any evidence that such
incidents took place, and neither Ms. Wilkes nor Mr. Lopez were deposed in this case. The Court
finds, therefore, that they cannot serve as comparators for Mr. Foye.
Neither Mr. D’Achino nor Elliot Lopez is an appropriate comparator. Not only did Mr.
D’Achino hold a different position and supervisor when the incident occurred, the allegation that
Mr. D’Achino assaulted a dispatcher does not appear to be supported by the record. Even if he
had assaulted a dispatcher in the course of being confronted about a potential alcohol issue at

16

While the Amended Complaint references additional comparators, the Court agrees with Defendants’
conclusion that the other comparators did not bear sufficiently similar facts to warrant evaluation.

16

work, his conduct was so dissimilar that he could not serve as a comparator. Moreover, Mr.
D’Achino’s reinstatement with SEPTA resulted from a negotiated settlement, which was not
pursued in Mr. Foye’s case. Likewise, while Elliot Lopez engaged in similar conduct and
received similar rules violations, he is not an appropriate comparator because his reinstatement
followed a negotiated settlement between the Union and SEPTA. Especially given that SEPTA
reached a negotiated settlement, it could have believed that Mr. Lopez’s conduct warranted
different discipline. See Glenn, 832 F. Supp. 2d at 549–50 (concluding that the two individuals
were not similarly situated because “[a]n employer could still reasonably believe that their
respective conduct . . . required different levels of discipline”).
Because Mr. Foye has not put forth sufficient comparator evidence and has not otherwise
shown the fourth element of the prima facie case for race discrimination, Defendants are entitled
to summary judgment on Mr. Foye’s claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, Title VII, and
the PHRA. 17
3.

Legene Edwards

Like the other Plaintiffs, Mr. Edwards relies on comparator evidence to satisfy the fourth
prong of the prima facie case of race discrimination. And, like the others, his comparator
evidence is not sufficiently similar and the Court will grant summary judgment for Defendants as
to Mr. Edwards claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, Title VII, and the PHRA.

17

As with Mr. Holly, even if the Court were to conclude that the comparator evidence satisfied the prima
facie case, Defendants would remain entitled to summary judgment because Mr. Foye cannot demonstrate pretext.
Mr. Foye admitted to the conduct during his Labor Relations Hearing, and ample evidence (including video
surveillance) was reviewed by SEPTA supervisors. Mr. Foye has not put forth evidence showing that he was
terminated for any reason other than the rule violations to which he admitted, and therefore, he has not shown
pretext.

17

Mr. Edwards points to Mr. Vaughan as a comparator and alleges that Mr. Vaughan had
accumulated more attendance points than Mr. Edwards, but was not terminated. 18 Mr. Vaughan
is a SEPTA employee subject to the same disciplinary rules and CBA as Mr. Edwards. Mr.
Vaughan was dropped from SEPTA’s rolls in July 2014 for exceeding his allotted sick leave. He
was later reinstated pursuant to a negotiated settlement between SEPTA and the Union. Mr.
Vaughan was never supervised by Mr. Vogelman, and Mr. Vaughan was not on a Last Chance
Agreement when he was discharged. In fact, he was not eligible for a Last Chance Agreement in
2014 because he received one in 2004 when he violated the attendance points system. Not only
was Mr. Vaughan not subject to a Last Chance Agreement, he worked in a different department
and under a different supervisor than Mr. Edwards.
While Mr. Edwards and Mr. Vaughan were subject to the same CBA, they were in
entirely different disciplinary postures at the time of their terminations. Unlike Mr. Edwards,
whose discharge was the result of progressive discipline under the CBA, Mr. Vaughan was
dropped from the rolls due to expiration of sick leave. Moreover, Mr. Vaughan’s discharge was
not triggered by violation of a Last Chance Agreement. Indeed, he could not have been subject
to one. Furthermore, Mr. Vaughan was reinstated as part of a negotiated settlement with the
Union. Because there are differing and mitigating circumstances that significantly distinguish
Mr. Vaughan’s conduct and SEPTA’s treatment of him, he cannot serve as a comparator.
Mr. Edwards—making reference to Mr. Vaughan, other comparators in the Amended
Complaint, and other Plaintiffs in this case—appears to contest the imposition of a Last Chance
Agreement on him and other African American bus operators generally, urging that SEPTA has
a policy of imposing such Agreements in a discriminatory manner. This argument fails to
18

Mr. Edwards also references Mr. Holly and other comparators in the Amended Complaint, but despite
being subject to the same CBA and disciplinary rules, none engaged in similar conduct so any comparisons are
unavailing.

18

recognize, however, that the Union has to request a Last Chance Agreement—SEPTA does not
unilaterally imposed one upon employees. The CBA explains:
If the discharge is upheld through the Labor Relations step of the grievance
procedure, the employee’s active employment will terminate unless the Union
requests final settlement of the matter, with a “last chance.” Such a request by the
Union pursuant to this paragraph shall not be cited as, or constitute a precedent
with respect to any matter or discipline. Should the Union not request such a final
settlement, the grievance concerning the discharge may be filed for
arbitration . . .
CBA, Art. II Section 201(C)(6)(ii). In other words, the Last Chance Agreement arises as an
option during the grievance process and must be affirmatively requested by the Union itself.
Indeed, the record here includes a letter to SEPTA from the Union on Mr. Edwards’s behalf
stating “[i]n this instance the Union is recommending that Mr. Edwards be afforded the
opportunity of a ‘Last Chance’, as negotiated in our Labor Agreement effective March 15,
1992.” Def. Ex. O (emphasis added). Mr. Edwards has not pointed to any evidence that SEPTA
forced an agreement upon him. 19 To the extent that Plaintiffs allege a discriminatory policy or
practice through their allegation that Last Chance Agreements are administered in a
discriminatory manner, the Court rejects it. Mr. Edwards has not pointed to any evidence to
support his bare assertion that SEPTA discriminatorily imposed Last Chance Agreements on
African-American employees or any evidence that the grievance process works differently than
as outlined by the CBA. 20

19

While there is a notation on the charge sheet that Mr. Edwards indicated he was signing the Last Chance
Agreement in protest, even if he had not signed the agreement, he likely would have been discharged on August 2,
2013 pursuant to the letter following the Labor Relations hearing.
20

Plaintiffs generally allege violations of the Fourteenth Amendment. While Plaintiffs do not explicitly
bring a procedural due process claim, Mr. Edwards’s suggestion that the disciplinary process he engaged in prior to
termination was somehow faulty implies such a challenge. A procedural due process claim would also fail here
because Plaintiffs are members of a union. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has held that “[w]here a due process
claim is raised against a public employer, and grievance and arbitration procedures are in place, we have held that
those procedures satisfy due process requirements even if the hearing conducted by the Employer inherently
biased.” Dykes v. Se. Pennsylvania Transp. Auth., 68 F.3d 1564, 1571 (3d Cir. 1995) (internal quotation marks and

19

Even if the Court were to determine that Mr. Edwards had satisfied the prima facie case,
he has failed to produce sufficient evidence showing that Defendants’ proffered reason for
terminating Mr. Edwards was pretextual. Mr. Edwards has not pointed to any evidence on the
record showing that he was terminated for any other reason that violating the Last Chance
Agreement. And, for the same reasons detailed above, SEPTA’s differing approach towards Mr.
Vaughan cannot be used to show pretext because Mr. Vaughan was not “similarly situated.”
Accordingly, the Court grants summary judgment for Defendants on Mr. Edwards’s claims under
Title VII, the PHRA, and §§ 1981 and 1983.
B.

Mr. Edwards’s FMLA Claims

Congress passed the FMLA in order “to balance the demands of the workplace with the
needs of families.” 29 U.S.C. § 2601(b)(1). Under the FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to
a total of 12 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period in order to care for an employee’s
spouse if the spouse has a serious health condition. 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1). “Even when these
qualifying circumstances exist, employees cannot invoke rights under the FMLA if they fail to
provide adequate notice of their need for leave.” Lichtenstein v. Univ. of Pittsburgh Med. Ctr.,
691 F.3d 294, 301 (3d Cir. 2012) (citing 29 U.S.C. § 2612(e)). The requirement to provide
adequate notice extends to circumstances where leave is not foreseeable. “When the need for
leave is not foreseeable, an employee must comply with the employer’s usual and customary
notice and procedural requirements for requesting leave, absent unusual circumstances.” 29
C.F.R. § 825.303

alterations omitted) (quoting Jackson v. Temple University, 721 F.2d 931 (3d Cir.1983)). The Dykes Court
concluded that “[e]ven where, as here, a plaintiff alleges that the defendants [SEPTA and Local 234] acted in
concert to deprive him both of a meaningful hearing and of arbitration, we believe that the administrative process in
place has incorporated safeguards adequate to resolve these allegations in a manner consistent with the demands of
due process.” 68 F.3d at 1572. Accordingly, challenges to the underlying grievance procedure are without merit.

20

Once an employee invokes FMLA rights, employers may not “interfere with, restrain, or
deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise” those FMLA rights. 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(1).
Likewise, employers cannot “discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any
individual for opposing any practice made unlawful” by the FMLA. 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(2).
“The former provision is generally, if imperfectly, referred to as ‘interference’ whereas the latter
is often referred to as ‘retaliation.’” Lichtenstein, 691 F.3d at 301 (citing Callison v. City of
Phila., 430 F.3d 117, 119 (3d Cir. 2005)). An employee may be able to bring both an
interference and a retaliation claim if he is terminated for requesting FMLA-protected leave.
Erdman v. Nationwide Ins. Co., 582 F.3d 500, 509 (3d Cir. 2009).
While the Amended Complaint does not specify which FMLA claims Mr. Edwards
alleges, the briefing reveals that he intends to bring both an interference claim and a retaliation
claim. For the reasons expressed below, the Court will grant summary judgment for Defendants
on both claims.
1.

FMLA Interference

To establish an interference claim under the FMLA, a plaintiff must show that:
(1) he or she was an eligible employee under the FMLA; (2) the defendant was an
employer subject to the FMLA’s requirements; (3) the plaintiff was entitled to
FMLA leave; (4) the plaintiff gave notice to the defendant of his or her intention
to take FMLA leave; and (5) the plaintiff was denied benefits to which he or she
was entitled under the FMLA.
Capps v. Mondelez Global, LLC, 847 F.3d 144, 155 (3d Cir. 2017) (quoting Ross v. Gilhuly, 755
F.3d 185, 191–92 (3d Cir. 2014)). In other words, the employee needs to show that he was
entitled to FMLA benefits and that the employer denied them. “Unlike an FMLA retaliation
claim, ‘[a]n interference action is not about discrimination, it is only about whether the employer

21

provided the employee with the entitlements guaranteed by the FMLA.’” Capps, 847 F.3d 144,
155 (3d Cir. 2017) (quoting Callison, 430 F.3d at 120).
Defendants argue that Mr. Edwards has failed to demonstrate that he was entitled to
benefits under the FMLA and therefore cannot satisfy the fifth prong of the prima facie case.
They urge that Mr. Edwards has failed to rebut the AmeriHealth letter denying his July 2013
request for FMLA benefits, so he cannot show that the absence that led to his termination was
FMLA-protected. Mr. Edwards, on the other hand, contends that Defendants “failed to wait for
Edwards to obtain his FMLA request approval in 2013, which would have covered the absences
used by Defendants to assess attendance points against him leading to his termination.” Pl.
Mem. in Opp. at 4. He points out that it was common practice for AmeriHealth approve
previously denied applications when provided with more information, and attendance points that
SEPTA had previously assessed would be removed upon learning of FMLA approval.
Defendants do not deny that they engaged in this practice. 21
Mr. Edwards takes the position that he was erroneously assessed attendance points for
absences on August 16, 2011 and June 24, 2013 because both of those events were FMLAprotected. Only the June 24, 2013 absence triggered the Last Chance Agreement violation that

21

The FMLA places some affirmative obligations on employees. Conoshenti v. Pub. Serv. Elec. & Gas
Co., 364 F.3d 135, 142 (3d Cir. 2004) holding modified by Erdman v. Nationwide Ins. Co., 582 F.3d 500 (3d Cir.
2009) (explaining that the regulations require employers to provide notice of FMLA rights and each time the
employee requests leave, the employer must provide a detailed explanation of the employee’s obligations and any
potential consequences for failing to comply); see also Hansler v. Lehigh Valley Hosp. Network, 798 F.3d 149, 157
(3d Cir. 2015) (citing 29 U.S.C. § 2613(b) and 29 C.F.R. § 825.305(c) and concluding that employers must advise
employees of deficiencies in their medical certificates submitted with FMLA applications and provide the employee
with seven days to cure the deficiency). Mr. Edwards does not argue that Defendants failed to comply with these
clear-cut affirmative obligations under the Act. Instead, he argues that SEPTA was obligated to wait, seemingly as
long as it took, for Mr. Edwards to perfect his FMLA application. Generally, however, “there is no FMLA right
[that employees] . . . be ‘left alone,’” and “[n]othing in the FMLA prevents employers from ensuring that employees
who are on leave from work do not abuse their leave” by enforcing internal policies that do not conflict with the
FMLA. Callison, 430 F.3d at 121. There is no argument here that Defendants’ policies conflict with the FMLA.

22

led to Mr. Edwards termination, however. Accordingly, the Court will focus on the
circumstances of that absence. 22
Mr. Edwards had additional absences that incurred attendance points in June 2013, after
receiving the Discharge with Dignity but before his termination. The record shows that he was
assessed six points for an absence on June 14, 2013 due to a pattern of Friday absences, bringing
his attendance point total to 20. Pl. Ex. P-5. 23 Mr. Edwards was absent again on June 24, 2013,
and the resulting points assessed against him triggered a step in discipline. SEPTA records show
that he was out for a “tooth” issue on June 24th. Def. Ex. M. Mr. Edwards asserts that he cared
for his wife that day.
Mr. Edwards recognizes that his FMLA approval expired in October 2012. See Edwards
Responses to SEPTA’s Suggested Timeline of Events at 6. While there is evidence supporting
that Defendants were aware of Mr. Edwards’s intention to renew his FMLA approval as early as
April 2013, AmeriHealth’s own records present a different timeline. An AmeriHealth Note
shows that Mr. Edwards did not file a recertification for the FMLA period ending on October 20,

22

Setting aside the fact that Mr. Edwards’s August 16, 2011 absence was unrelated to the Last Chance
Agreement violation triggering his termination, the challenge associated with that event lacks merit. There is
evidence that Mr. Edwards was approved to take intermittent FMLA leave between August 16, 2011 through
October 20, 2012, but Defendants argue that assessing points for the August 16th absence was warranted because
Mr. Edwards never called AmeriHealth to report FMLA leave that day. AmeriHealth records shows that Mr.
Edwards was out on August 8th and August 16th and that those absences were tagged as “no call days,” where
FMLA benefits were denied. Def. Ex. G. AmeriHealth’s letter approving Mr. Edwards’s initial FMLA leave
request explained that “[a]n employee is required to follow an employer’s normal call-out and call-in procedures
when taking FMLA leave. If you do not contact SEPTA and AmeriHealth Casualty prior to requesting FMLA time,
you may not be approved and could be subject to the attendance point policy.” Pl. Ex. P-3. Failure to provide
notice risks “hav[ing] the FMLA leave request delayed or denied.” Id.
Indeed, an employer does not “interfere” if it enforces its internal leave policy, as long as the policy does
not conflict with the FMLA. See Callison, 430 F.3d at 121 (affirming the district court’s grant of summary
judgment where an employee did not comply with employer’s internal policy). Because there is no evidence that the
SEPTA Policy conflicts with the FMLA, and Mr. Edwards has not pointed to any evidence showing that he called
AmeriHealth to report the August 16th absence, his argument regarding the points assessment lacks merit.
23

According to a note from AmeriHealth on October 2, 2013, Mr. Edwards called SEPTA, but not
AmeriHealth, for the absence on June 14th. Def. Ex. H. In his affidavit, Mr. Edwards contends that his June 14,
2013 absence was FMLA-approved and that he called AmeriHealth at 8:00 a.m. Pl. Ex. K ¶ 11.

23

2012. The Note, memorializing a conversation an AmeriHealth employee had with Mr. Edwards
on November 9, 2012, stated that “leave is now closed.” It also stated that AmeriHealth mailed a
recertification form to Mr. Edwards on that date. Another Note in AmeriHealth’s internal system
confirms that July 1, 2013 was the operative start date for Mr. Edwards’s requested FMLA leave.
The Note reported that as of October 20, 2013, Mr. Edwards “claim was closed 2012 and a new
claim [was] opened 7/2013.” Def. Ex. H.
AmeriHealth issued a letter showing that Mr. Edwards sought FMLA leave beginning
July 1, 2013. The letter stated that “AmeriHealth has received your request for leave under the
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) beginning 7/1/2013 due to Care of a family member.
This notice is to inform you that you are eligible.” Pl. Ex. P-16. In other words, the record
shows that Mr. Edwards was eligible to receive FMLA leave as of July 1, 2013, but was not yet
approved for leave. In the letter, AmeriHealth explained that leave would only be classified as
FMLA “[i]f [his] leave is approved,” and that he “w[ould] be notified when a decision has been
made.”
In order for FMLA leave to be approved, Mr. Edwards was required to submit additional
paperwork including a Certification of Health Care Provider Form. SEPTA’s FMLA Policy
imposes certification requirements for employees seeking leave. The Policy states:
Employees are obligated to cooperate with the TPA in the flow of information
necessary to administer FMLA leave. This includes, upon request, submitting a
complete and sufficient certification to support the need for leave. Failure to do
so may result in some or all of an absence not being treated as FMLA leave.
For leaves involving a serious health condition, the employee will be required to
have his/her treating health care provider complete a Medical Certification Form
in a timely manner. . . . It is the employee’s responsibility to submit the form to
the TPA in a timely manner, which means the employee must make a diligent,
good faith effort to return the form within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date
the form is issued to the employee.

24

Pl. Ex. P-1. Mr. Edwards failed to comply with the Policy. On July 24, 2013, AmeriHealth sent
a letter to Mr. Edwards informing him that his FMLA leave request was not approved because he
had not submitted a provider certificate. Def. Ex. H. When Mr. Edwards called AmeriHealth in
October 2013, the representative he spoke with reiterated that he was not approved because he
had not timely returned the provider certificate. 24
Based on the points assessed for his June 24, 2013 absence, Mr. Edwards was again
charged with substandard attendance. Mr. Edwards asserts that he showed the July 1, 2013 letter
from AmeriHealth to Mr. Vogelman during what was supposed to be an informal hearing on July
26, 2013. The Charge Sheet from July 26, 2013 shows that the hearing was held in abeyance
pending the outcome of Mr. Edwards’s FMLA request.
The Union requested a Last Chance Agreement on August 2, 2013 as part of its grievance
of Mr. Edwards’s May 15, 2013 Discharge with Dignity. On August 12, 2013, the parties met
again regarding the June 24, 2013 substandard attendance charge. In that meeting, Mr. Edwards
received the Last Chance Agreement that the Union had requested on August 2nd, and he was
discharged. In essence, because Mr. Edwards executed a Last Chance Agreement in lieu of
discharge in connection with his May 15, 2013 grievance procedure, he was on probation when
he accrued enough attendance points to push him over the threshold for discipline. 25 Mr.
Edwards’s defense—as memorialized in notes from the meeting—was that he was not aware of

24

Mr. Edwards argues that he was unable to return the certificate in a timely manner because the medical
provider was unavailable. The record shows that the certificate was signed on August 30, 2013.
25

The discharge was upheld at both the formal hearing and labor relations hearing steps. In the Labor
Relations step decision, SEPTA explained that
Although Operator Edwards didn’t sign his Work Resumption/Last Chance agreement until
August 12, 2013, his one year probationary period commenced May 15, 2013. During his
probationary period, he continued to accumulate attendance points until ultimately reaching 22
points. This constituted an infraction for which discipline is justified and thereby violated the last
chance agreement.
Def. Ex. T.

25

the Agreement and that because he signed it on the day of his discharge, it was signed under
protest.
The undergirding of Mr. Edwards’s FMLA claim is the idea that because AmeriHealth
and/or SEPTA may have previously exercised its discretion in accepting late paperwork, they
were obligated to do so with respect to his July 2013 claim. Mr. Edwards alleges that he
received the required oncologist certification on August 30, 2013—over a month after it was
originally due—and that he then submitted it to AmeriHealth. He takes the position, in essence,
that Defendants interfered with his FMLA rights by not waiting for him to perfect his
application.
The record demonstrates that SEPTA would sometimes, in fact, choose to alter
attendance records in light of later FMLA approval. Mr. Edwards points to an array of
Attendance Deviation Notices from July and August 2012 showing that absences were marked as
FMLA-approved after the August FMLA request was approved. The fact that SEPTA removed
attendance points in light of later FMLA approval also appears to be in line with SEPTA’s
attendance point policy. However, in those instances, as now, the FMLA does not require
SEPTA or AmeriHealth to disregard its internal policies in order to facilitate an employees’
request. Indeed, as noted above, an employer does not “interfere” if it enforces its internal leave
policy, as long as the policy does not conflict with the FMLA. See Callison, 430 F.3d at 121.
Indulgences do not necessarily become revisions to the Policy.
Furthermore, this case differs from those where courts have allowed FMLA interference
claims to proceed on the basis of an internal policy that altered employees’ understanding of the
scope of FMLA benefits. The FMLA permits employers to enact leave policies that are more
generous than the one the FMLA requires. See 29 U.S.C. § 2653. Courts generally “have been

26

reluctant to extend the ability of a Plaintiff to bring FMLA interference claims, or extending the
FMLA’s right to reinstatement beyond twelve weeks, when the employee takes leave beyond the
twelve-week FMLA entitlement period and is subsequently terminated.” Thurston v. Cherry Hill
Triplex, 941 F. Supp. 2d 520, 529 (D.N.J. 2008). While doing so is by no means universal, some
courts have permitted interference claims when the employee reasonably believed a generous
internal extended leave program provided FMLA protection. See, e.g., Santosuosso v. NovaCare
Rehabilitation, 462 F.Supp.2d 590, 597–98 (D.N.J.2006) (holding that “in light of the
Congressional encouragement for employers to provide more generous benefits than mandated
by law, . . . [] [the employee] should not lose her FMLA protections . . . . ”), Fry v. First Fidelity
Bancorporation, No. A. 95–6019, 1996 WL 36910 at *1 (E.D.Pa.1996) (holding that failure to
notify employees about conflicts between an internal leave policy and the FMLA, resulting in an
employee unwittingly forfeiting FMLA protections, may constitute interference); c.f Dogmanits
v. Capital Blue Cross, 413 F. Supp. 2d 452, 462 (E.D. Pa. 2005) (“[E]mployees who exhaust the
twelve weeks of leave provided under the FMLA stand to lose their entitlement to job restoration
even if their employers provide additional, non-FMLA, leave.”); Panto v. Palmer Dialysis
Ctr./Total Renal Care, No. CIV.A. 01-6013, 2003 WL 1818990, at *6 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 7, 2003)
(rejecting Plaintiff’s argument that Defendant is estopped from asserting that her leave was
confined to twelve weeks under the FMLA on the basis of a more generous internal leave policy
and concluding that “Defendant’s policy provides a more generous benefit, but it does not
convert this leave to an entitlement under the FMLA.”)
Not only is the Court not compelled to allow an interference claim to proceed on an
estoppel theory, the SEPTA points reversal practice in this case does not amount an internal
policy akin to the ones some courts have found support FMLA interference claim. The

27

employers in Santosuosso and Fry had formal internal extended leave policies that went beyond
the scope of the FMLA. There is no such allegation here—SEPTA’s policy appears to mirror the
FMLA requirements. Moreover, removing points in light of later FMLA approval does not alter
an employee’s baseline FMLA protections. In other words, the SEPTA leave policy does not
give the impression that it is more generous that the one mandated by FMLA. The FMLA does
not require SEPTA or AmeriHealth to disregard its internal policies in order to facilitate an
employees’ request, and, in fact, commands employees to follow them. 29 C.F.R. § 825.303
(“When the need for leave is not foreseeable, an employee must comply with the employer’s
usual and customary notice and procedural requirements for requesting leave, absent unusual
circumstances.”). And an employer does not “interfere” if it enforces its internal leave policy.
The Court commends employers’ flexibility in processing FMLA claims for employees
tending to loved ones and, on a human needs basis where difficult choices are often demanded,
sympathizes with Mr. Edwards. But the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has “made it plain that,
for an interference claim to be viable, the plaintiff must show that FMLA benefits were actually
withheld.” Capps, 847 F.3d at 156 (quoting Ross, 755 F.3d at 192). Here, Mr. Edwards’s
FMLA claim was denied, in keeping with the published and proper policy. Consequently, he
cannot proceed with his interference claim and summary judgment is appropriate.
2.

FMLA Retaliation

To establish a retaliation claim under the FMLA, a plaintiff must show that (1) he
invoked a right to FMLA-qualifying leave; (2) he suffered an adverse employment action; and
(3) the adverse action was causally related to his leave. See Erdman, 582 F. 3d at 508–09.
“Because FMLA retaliation claims require proof of the employer’s retaliatory intent,
courts have assessed these claims through the lens of employment discrimination law.”

28

Lichtenstein, 691 F.3d at 302. Accordingly, claims based on circumstantial evidence are
assessed under the McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973), and claims based
on direct evidence are assessed under the mixed-motive framework set forth in Price Waterhouse
v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228 (1989). Lichtenstein, 691 F.3d at 302; accord Ross, 755 F.3d 185, 193
(3d Cir. 2014).
Under the McDonnell Douglas framework, a plaintiff must first establish a prima
facie case of discrimination. If the plaintiff succeeds, the defendant must
articulate a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the adverse employment
action. The burden then shifts back to the plaintiff to prove, by a preponderance of
the evidence, that the articulated reason was a mere pretext for discrimination.
Ross, 755 F.3d at 193 (internal citations omitted). 26 There is no dispute that Mr. Edwards
suffered an adverse action—termination of his employment. Accordingly, Mr. Edwards must
satisfy two elements of the prima facie case: invocation of the FMLA right and causation. Mr.
Edwards has not satisfied the prima facie case, and even if he had, Mr. Edwards has not shown
that Defendants’ proffered reason for terminating him—violating the Last Chance Agreement—
was pretextual. Therefore, the Court will grant summary judgment for Defendants.
a.

Invoking a FMLA Right

An employee must provide adequate notice to his employer in order to invoke FMLA
rights. 29 U.S.C. § 2612(e)(2). “[T]he ‘critical test’ is not whether the employee gave every
necessary detail to determine if the FMLA applies, but ‘how the information conveyed to the
employer is reasonably interpreted.’” Lichtenstein, 691 F.3d at 303 (quoting Sarnowski v. Air
26

Mr. Edwards makes fleeting reference to Price Waterhouse, observing generally that the mixed-motive
framework applies to cases that present “direct evidence that [Mr. Edwards’s] FMLA leave was a substantial factor
in the decision to fire [him].” Pl. Br. in Opp. 22. Mr. Edwards fails to explain how the Price Waterhouse
framework applies to this case or point to the purported direct evidence on the record, and the Court’s review of the
record does not identify evidence so “revealing of retaliatory animus that it is unnecessary to rely on the McDonnell
Douglas” burden-shifting framework. Walden v. Georgia-Pac. Corp., 126 F.3d 506, 512 (3d Cir. 1997).
Furthermore, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has not yet decided the issue of whether mixed-motive analysis
remains viable for FMLA claims. See Capps, 847 F.3d at 151 n.5, Lichtenstein, 691 F.3d at 302. Given that Mr.
Edwards has not shown that a mixed-motive framework is necessary, the Court will proceed under McDonnell
Douglas.

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Brooke Limousine, Inc., 510 F.3d 398, 402 (3d Cir.2007)). While Defendants focus on July 2013
as the operative date of Mr. Edwards’s request for FMLA leave, there is evidence on the record
as early as April 2013 showing that SEPTA had notice of Mr. Edwards’ intent to take FMLA
leave. On April 12, 2013, both Mr. Edwards and Mr. Vogelman signed a noted stating that “L.
Edwards states he has filed for FMLA.” Pl. Ex. P-15. Mr. Vogelman explained at his deposition
that he agreed to postpone the informal hearing for Mr. Edwards’s March 18, 2013 absence
triggering discipline in order to “give[] [Mr. Edwards] the benefit of the doubt.” Vogelman
Dep. 90:20-22.
Mr. Edwards gave additional notice in June 2013. On June 14, 2013, there is “wife sick”
notation in Mr. Edwards SEPTA attendance points history report. Pl. Ex. P-6. In Lichtenstein,
the court vacated the District Court’s grant of summary judgment when the employer was on
notice that one of the dates on which the plaintiff was absent from work was likely taken for an
FMLA-qualifying reason and the employer had considered such activity a negative factor that
further justified her termination. 691 F.3d at 309. There, plaintiff had a “sick mom” notation in
the entry log for one of the absences leading up to employment termination. That notation, along
with other evidence, provided sufficient basis on which to infer notice to the employer.
Accordingly, a jury could reasonably conclude in this case that Mr. Edwards had invoked his
FMLA rights prior to June 24, 2013—the date on which he allegedly took FMLA leave and the
absence that triggered his termination.
b.

Causation

Mr. Edwards must also show that a reasonable jury could conclude that a causal link
exists between Mr. Edwards’s leave, which he alleges was FMLA-protected, and his
employment termination. Causation may be shown through temporal proximity alone if it is

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unduly suggestive. LeBoon v. Lancaster Jewish Cmty. Ctr. Ass’n, 503 F.3d 217, 232 (3d Cir.
2007). When temporal proximity is insufficient, the Court evaluates the proffered evidence as a
whole, including “intervening antagonism or retaliatory animus, inconsistencies in the
employer’s articulated reasons for terminating the employee, or any other evidence in the record
sufficient to support the inference of retaliatory animus.” Id. at 232–33. The Third Circuit Court
of Appeals has observed that the case law does not place limits on the type of evidence courts
consider in evaluating causation and has urged that courts view evidence using a wide lens. See
Farrell v. Planters Lifesavers Co., 206 F.3d 271, 281 (3d Cir. 2000). Employing a wide lens in
this case, however, does not reveal sufficient evidence that a jury could find causation.
Here, Mr. Edwards does not attempt to satisfy causation based on temporal proximity and
instead argues that he has shown that Defendants engaged in a pattern of antagonism and
retaliatory animus following his invocation of FMLA leave. He does not, however, point to any
specific evidence. In fact, Mr. Edwards bases his FMLA claims, to some extent, on his
understanding that SEPTA engaged in a pattern of accommodating FMLA leave—not restricting
it—and his own expectation that Defendants would again wait for him to satisfy the Policy
requirements in his own time. The record demonstrates that Defendants postponed an informal
hearing in April 2013 in light of the possibility that Mr. Edwards’s absences would be FMLAprotected and likewise held the July 26, 2013 hearing in abeyance due to the potential that his
absences were covered by FMLA leave. Mr. Edwards has not pointed to evidence showing a
pattern of antagonism supporting causation. Likewise, Mr. Edwards has not pointed to any
evidence on the record showing inconsistencies in the reasoning behind his termination.
In Lichtenstein, the court found sufficient evidence of causation based upon temporal
proximity and the fact that it included the date on which it knew the plaintiff was absent due to

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her “sick mom” in the list of absences it considered in deciding to terminate the plaintiff. This
case is distinguishable from Lichtenstein with respect to causation, however, because there is a
determination on the record about whether Mr. Edwards actually received FMLA approval.
AmeriHealth denied Mr. Edwards’s application for FMLA benefits for failure to comply with the
requirements, and, as a result, Mr. Edwards’ absence on June 24, 2013 was not FMLA-protected.
Therefore, a reasonable jury could not infer causation. 27
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will grant the summary judgment for Defendants as
to Mr. Holly’s, Mr. Foye’s, and Mr. Edwards’s claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and §1983, Title
VII and the PHRA. The Court will also grant summary judgment as to Mr. Edwards’s FMLA
claims. An appropriate Order follows.

BY THE COURT:

S/Gene E.K. Pratter
GENE E.K. PRATTER
United States District Judge

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Even if the Court were to disregard AmeriHealth’s denial of FMLA benefits at the prima facie case
stage, the denial undermines any argument that the termination was pretextual. Mr. Edwards has not identified
sufficient evidence to rebut Defendants’ legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for his termination. Mr. Edwards was
terminated for violating his Last Chance Agreement by accruing too many attendance points while on probation.
Defendants argue that because Mr. Edwards ultimately cannot demonstrate that his absence on June 24, 2013—
which triggered discipline under the attendance points system—was an FMLA-protected absence, he cannot show
that Defendants’ reason for termination was pretextual. Mr. Edwards does not put forth any evidence with respect to
pretext, and the Court’s review of the record does not unearth evidence that Mr. Edwards’s termination was
motivated by anything other than his violation of the Last Chance Agreement. While it may be the case that
attendance points incurred for FMLA absences could support pretext (or causation, as addressed above), that
situation does not present itself here, where Mr. Edwards’s request for FMLA benefits was denied.

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