Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Accentcare Inc
Filing
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MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 55 MOTION for Leave to File Amended Complaint filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Ordered by Judge Sidney A Fitzwater on 9/20/2017) (Judge Sidney A Fitzwater)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
DALLAS DIVISION
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
VS.
ACCENTCARE INC.,
Defendant.
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Civil Action No. 3:15-CV-3157-D
MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER
The court must decide whether to grant plaintiff Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (“EEOC”) leave to file an amended complaint even though the deadline for
filing motions for leave to amend has expired. For the following reasons, the court grants
the EEOC’s motion.
I
Because this case is the subject of a prior opinion, EEOC v. AccentCare, Inc., 2017
WL 2691240 (N.D. Tex. June 21, 2017) (Fitzwater, J.) (“AccentCare I”), the court will
recount only the background facts and procedural history that are necessary to understand
the present decision.
The EEOC filed this lawsuit on September 29, 2015 under Title I of the American
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., alleging that defendant
AccentCare Inc. (“AccentCare”) refused to reasonably accommodate Alisia Beasley’s
(“Beasley’s”) disability (Bipolar Disorder) and discriminated against her by terminating her
employment because of her disability. On February 16, 2016 the court entered a scheduling
order that set February 29, 2016 as the deadline for a party to file a motion for leave to
amend the pleadings. On September 13, 2016 AccentCare moved for summary judgment,
which the court granted in part and denied in part on June 14, 2017.
On July 19, 2017 the EEOC filed the instant motion for leave to file an amended
complaint. It seeks to amend ¶ 15, which alleges, in relevant part, that “Beasley informed
her supervisor that she had seen her psychiatrist who took her off for an indefinite period of
time.” Compl. ¶ 15.1 The EEOC seeks to clarify its use of the term “indefinite” to
summarize Beasley’s email communication. The court held in AccentCare I that, “[u]nless
and until the EEOC amends its complaint to change this allegation, the EEOC may not
contradict its judicial admission that Beasley informed her supervisor that she had seen her
psychiatrist, who took her off for an indefinite period of time.” AccentCare I, 2017 WL
2691240, at *4. The EEOC now seeks to amend ¶ 15 of the complaint to reflect that
“Beasley informed Ms. Nelson that as a result of her medical condition, she would be out for
an ‘extended amount of time.’” P. Br., Ex. 1 at 4.2 The EEOC contends that it is seeking to
clarify factual information of which AccentCare had previous knowledge, and that it is not
seeking to allege new facts or assert new claims. AccentCare opposes the motion,
1
The EEOC also seeks to make other changes to the complaint, to which AccentCare
does not object.
2
The court is citing the record in this manner because the EEOC did not, as N.D. Tex.
Civ. R. 7.1(i)(1) requires, include its supporting materials in an appendix.
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contending that the EEOC has failed to explain the unreasonable delay in seeking to modify
the scheduling order, and that AccentCare would be significantly prejudiced by the proposed
amendment.
II
A
When, as here, the deadline for seeking leave to amend pleadings has expired, a court
considering a motion to amend must first determine whether to modify the scheduling order
under the Rule 16(b)(4) good cause standard. See S & W Enters., L.L.C. v. SouthTrust Bank
of Ala., N.A., 315 F.3d 533, 536 (5th Cir. 2003); Am. Tourmaline Fields v. Int’l Paper Co.,
1998 WL 874825, at *1 (N.D. Tex. Dec. 7, 1998) (Fitzwater, J.). To meet the good cause
standard, the moving party must show that, despite its diligence, it could not reasonably have
met the scheduling order deadline. See S & W Enters., 315 F.3d at 535. If the movant
satisfies the requirements of Rule 16(b)(4), the court must then determine whether to grant
leave to amend under the more liberal standard of Rule 15(a)(2), which provides that “[t]he
court should freely give leave when justice so requires.” Rule 15(a)(2); see S & W Enters.,
315 F.3d at 536; Am. Tourmaline Fields, 1998 WL 874825, at * 1.
The court assesses four factors when deciding whether to grant an untimely motion
for leave to amend under Rule 16(b)(4): “(1) the explanation for the failure to timely move
for leave to amend; (2) the importance of the amendment; (3) potential prejudice in allowing
the amendment; and (4) the availability of a continuance to cure such prejudice.” S & W
Enters., 315 F.3d at 536 (citation, internal quotation marks, and brackets omitted). The court
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considers the four factors holistically and “does not mechanically count the number of factors
that favor each side.” EEOC v. Serv. Temps., Inc., 2009 WL 3294863, at *3 (N.D. Tex. Oct.
13, 2009) (Fitzwater, C.J.), aff’d, 679 F.3d 323 (5th Cir. 2012).
B
1
The court first considers the EEOC’s explanation for failing to timely file a motion
for leave to amend. The EEOC contends that it did not realize until the court filed its
memorandum opinion and order in AccentCare I that use of the term “indefinite” to
summarize Beasley’s email communication in ¶ 15 of the complaint may have created
confusion for the court and the defendant. The EEOC maintains that, before the court issued
its decision in AccentCare I, the EEOC “relied on the liberal pleading standards of Rule
8(a)(2)” and “believed any uncertainty in the term ‘indefinite’ was addressed in [the]
subsequent statements in paragraph 15 of the original complaint.” P. Br. 4. AccentCare
responds that the EEOC was aware of the implications of the term “indefinite” and of
AccentCare’s reliance on the term “indefinite.” AccentCare also posits that the EEOC’s
belatedly seeking to modify the scheduling order does not concern a lack of prior awareness,
but is, instead, based on the court’s decision in AccentCare I, which sustained AccentCare’s
summary judgment objections, partially granted summary judgment, and recognized the
EEOC’s judicial admissions.
Although the court agrees that the EEOC was aware before the deadline for filing
motions for leave to amend of AccentCare’s reliance on the term “indefinite” in ¶ 15 of the
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complaint, the EEOC has demonstrated that it only recently became aware of the implications
of its use of the term “indefinite” to summarize Beasley’s email communication. The EEOC
only became aware through the court’s decision in AccentCare I, which held that the EEOC
was precluded from contradicting its judicial admission unless and until it amended its
complaint to change this allegation. See AccentCare I, 2017 WL 2691240, at *4. Because
the EEOC only became aware from AccentCare I of the potential consequences of its use of
the term “indefinite” in ¶ 15, the court holds that the EEOC has provided a sufficient
explanation for its failure to move for leave to amend by the court-ordered deadline.
2
The second factor the court considers is the importance of the amendment. The EEOC
contends that it is important to amend ¶ 15 to ensure that the factual allegations are correct.
The court agrees that the amendment is important.
The court recognizes that the EEOC was able to survive summary judgment on its
reasonable accommodation claim despite the allegation in ¶ 15 that Beasley had informed her
supervisor that her psychiatrist had taken her off for an indefinite period of time. AccentCare
contended that there was no evidence to support the first element of the claim—that Beasley
was a qualified individual with a disability—because the allegation that Beasley needed an
indefinite leave of absence for the treatment of Bipolar Disorder rendered her unqualified to
perform her job, since regular attendance at work is an essential job function. AccentCare
I, 2017 WL 2691240, at *5. AccentCare also maintained that there was no evidence of the
third element—failure to make a reasonable accommodation—because Beasley’s request for
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indefinite leave was not a reasonable accommodation. Id. at *6. The court nevertheless
concluded that there were genuine issues of material fact concerning both elements.
As for AccentCare’s contentions that Beasley was not qualified
because she needed an indefinite leave of absence, and that there
is no evidence that Beasley was ever cleared to return to work,
the EEOC has presented evidence that would enable a
reasonable jury to find that, in Beasley’s communications with
AccentCare, she was actually requesting a few days of leave
rather than indefinite leave, and that AccentCare terminated her
employment before acting on her leave request.
Id. at *6 (citation omitted). And regarding the third element, the court held that “[a]
reasonable jury could find . . . that AccentCare terminated Beasley’s employment rather than
reasonably accommodate her known limitations.” Id. at *7.
Despite the fact that the EEOC was able to survive summary judgment as to the
reasonable accommodation claim, unless the court grants the EEOC leave to amend, it will
be saddled at trial with the judicial admission that Beasley informed her supervisor that she
had seen her psychiatrist, who had taken her off for an indefinite period of time. This is so
despite evidence in the record—as the EEOC’s proposed amended complaint seeks to
allege—that Beasley actually informed Kimberly Nelson (“Nelson”) that she would be out
for an extended amount of time. See id. at *2 (citing D. App. 53, 56). If leave to amend is
granted, the admission in ¶ 15 of the complaint will be an evidentiary admission, but it will
lose its binding force. See id. at *4 n.2 (citing White v. ARCO/Polymers, Inc., 720 F.2d 1391,
1396 n.5 (5th Cir. 1983); Bank One, Tex., N.A. v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 939 F. Supp.
533, 541 (N.D. Tex. 1996) (Fitzwater, J.)). The proposed amendment is therefore important.
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3
Under the third factor, the court evaluates the potential prejudice in allowing the
amendment.
AccentCare maintains that allowing the EEOC to amend ¶ 15 would prejudice it
because discovery has already closed and the EEOC has been aware of AccentCare’s reliance
on the admission made in ¶ 15 for more than one year. AccentCare also posits that allowing
the EEOC to amend its complaint would permit the EEOC to plead around the court’s ruling
on AccentCare’s objections. The court concludes that AccentCare will not likely suffer
prejudice because amended ¶ 15 does not allege any new facts.
As the court has pointed out above, there is already evidence in the summary
judgment record that Beasley informed Nelson that she would be out for an extended amount
of time. There is evidence that, in an email, Beasley told Nelson that, “[d]ue to medical
conditions I will be out of office for an extended amount of time.” AccentCare I, 2017 WL
2691240, at *2 (citing D. App. 53, 56). And there is proof that, in another email, Beasley
informed Dena Besh that “[m]y doctor has taken me off work for an extended amount of
time, he has not provided me with a return to work date.” Id. at *2 (citing D. App. 56).
AccentCare therefore is not prejudiced by the EEOC’s amending its complaint to make an
allegation that is supported by evidence that is already in the record.
4
The fourth factor considers the availability of a continuance to cure any prejudice.
The trial of this case is currently set for the two-week docket of January 22, 2018. The court
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can continue the trial, if necessary, to cure any prejudice caused by allowing the amendment
to ¶ 15 of the complaint. This is so because no additional discovery appears to be necessary
given the presence in the current record of supporting evidence for the EEOC’s amended
allegation. And any prejudice caused by the need for additional trial preparation time arising
from allowing this amendment can be accommodated by a trial continuance.
5
Assessing the factors as a whole, the court holds that the EEOC has met the good
cause standard for modifying the scheduling order. The EEOC has given a sufficient
explanation for its failure to timely move for leave to amend, and the amendment it seeks is
important. Moreover, the court is not persuaded that AccentCare will be prejudiced by the
court’s allowing the EEOC leave to amend, and the court can sufficiently address any
prejudice by granting a trial continuance.
C
The court now decides under the Rule 15(a) standard whether leave to amend should
be granted. See S & W Enters., 315 F.3d at 536.
Rule 15(a)(2) provides that “[t]he court should freely give leave when justice so
requires.” Rule 15(a)(2). Granting leave to amend, however, “is by no means automatic.”
Wimm v. Jack Eckerd Corp., 3 F.3d 137, 139 (5th Cir. 1993) (quoting Addington v. Farmer’s
Elevator Mut. Ins. Co., 650 F.2d 663, 666 (5th Cir. Unit A July 1981)). The court may
consider factors such as undue delay, bad faith or dilatory motive on the part of the movant,
repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue prejudice to
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the opposing party, and futility of amendment. Id. (citing cases).
AccentCare does not argue that the proposed amendment is futile. And having
considered the EEOC’s motion under the standard of Rule 15(a)(2), the court concludes that
it should be granted.
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For the foregoing reasons, the court grants the EEOC’s July 19, 2017 motion for leave
to file an amended complaint. The EEOC must file its amended complaint within seven days
of the date this memorandum opinion and order is filed.
SO ORDERED.
September 20, 2017.
_________________________________
SIDNEY A. FITZWATER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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