Woods v. Teamsters Local 767
Filing
49
Memorandum Opinion and Order: After considering the pleadings and applicable legal authorities, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 40 . See Order for further specifics. (Ordered by Magistrate Judge Hal R. Ray, Jr on 10/22/2020) (skg)
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH DIVISION
LATRISHA A. WOODS,
Plaintiff,
v.
TEAMSTERS LOCAL 767,
Defendant.
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Civil Action No. 4:18-cv-00218-BP
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Before the Court are the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 40); Plaintiff’s Reply
and Brief in Support (ECF Nos. 44 and 45); Defendant’s Reply (ECF No. 46); Plaintiff’s Response
(ECF No. 47); and Plaintiff’s Request to Withdraw Response ECF No. 47 (ECF No. 48). After
considering the pleadings and applicable legal authorities, the Court GRANTS IN PART and
DENIES IN PART Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 40) and DISMISSES WITHOUT
PREJUDICE Plaintiff’s claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) for failure to
exhaust administrative remedies, DISMISSES WITH PREJUDICE her claims under Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) for failure to state a claim, DENIES Defendant’s
Motion to Dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5) and as to Plaintiff’s claim for
breach of Defendant’s duty of fair representation under the National Labor Relations Act
(“NLRA”), and DENIES Defendant’s Motion to Strike Jury Demand (ECF No. 40). Because of
these rulings, the Court also DENIES Plaintiff’s Request to Withdraw Response (ECF No. 48) as
MOOT. The Court also lifts the stay of discovery that it entered pending disposition of
Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.
Case 4:18-cv-00218-BP Document 49 Filed 10/22/20
I.
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BACKGROUND
In this employment discrimination case, LaTrisha A. Woods (“Woods”) sues her former
union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 767 (“Union”). ECF No. 39.
The following facts come from the Amended Complaint, and the Court accepts them as true for
purposes of considering the Union’s Motion to Dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12(b)(6). See Manguno v. Prudential Prop. & Case. Ins. Co., 276 F.3d 720, 725 (5th Cir. 2002).
Woods was an active member of the Union during her employment with United Parcel Service
(“UPS”). Id. at 2. On May 1, 2015, a co-worker and fellow union member, Eddy Lefleur
(“Lefleur”), assaulted Woods after her shift while she was waiting for her ride. Id. She immediately
informed her Union steward, who instructed her to inform her UPS manager. Id. On May 4, 2015,
Woods filed a formal complaint with UPS for sexual harassment against Lefleur. Id. at 3.
During an investigation by UPS, Woods claims Lefleur attempted to gain favor with management,
the Union, and other co-workers in an effort to disprove her complaint. Id. UPS determined
Woods’s complaint against Lefleur was unsubstantiated. Id. After discussions with her Union
steward and UPS human resources manager, Woods filed a complaint with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) on May 14, 2015. Id. at 2-3.
After she filed that complaint, Lefleur continued to verbally harass Woods by taking his
breaks near her workstation and talking about her negatively to other UPS employees and Union
members. Id. at 4. Woods again went to her Union steward, relayed her concerns to UPS, and
advised UPS and the Union that Lefleur should not be allowed near her. Id. After Woods filed her
claim, she was issued nearly ten notices of UPS’s intent to discharge/suspend her, and she filed
ten grievances over various concerns regarding Lefleur’s conduct, targeted treatment by UPS
managers, and the Union’s response. Id. The Union replaced her steward with Lefleur and gave
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her the option of dealing with him or another person “who was outspoken as to her dislike for” her
as her steward. Id.
On August 6, 2015, Woods suffered an anxiety attack and left the workplace by ambulance.
Id. at 5. On August 18, 2015, Woods was informed that she was no longer employed at UPS for
failing to timely file a grievance for a write up following an absence on July 10, 2015. Id. On July
14, 2015, Woods filed a grievance for harassment against her UPS manager, specifically stating
that she was “over supervised and written up for being out for a work-related injury.” ECF No. 444 at 1. Woods alleges that the Union concealed the information that UPS only had until August 11,
2015, to terminate her for not filing a grievance, but waited until after that date to terminate her.
ECF No. 39 at 5. A hearing for Woods to retain employment was set on November 10, 2015, in
Florida. Id. Woods voiced concerns that she would not be able to attend the hearing due to her
health and lack of funds to travel to Florida. Id. She requested an accommodation, but this request
was denied. Id. Woods alleges that a male employee who was fired within four days of her for the
same reasons had his hearing in Texas, while hers was held in Florida. Id. at 6. Additionally,
Woods claims that the male employee was granted his position back with UPS, while she was not.
Id.
Woods asserts that the Union violated Title VII by discriminating against her due to her
sex and creating a hostile working environment. Id. at 7-8. Further, she alleges that the Union
retaliated against her because she filed a charge of discrimination against her employer and the
Union. Id. at 8. She asserts the Union violated the ADA by retaliating against her for requesting a
reasonable accommodation due to health issues during her grievance hearing. Id. at 9. Finally,
although not stated specifically, she alleges facts to support a claim that the Union breached its
duty of fair representation under the NRLA. Id. at 4-6.
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In its Motion to Dismiss, the Union urges dismissal of Woods’s Amended Complaint
because she failed to timely effect service of process. ECF No. 40 at 2. The Union further asserts
that the Amended Complaint fails to state a claim. Id. Specifically, the Union argues that Woods
failed to exhaust her administrative remedies for her Title VII and ADA claims; did not allege
sufficient facts to support those claims; and does not allege sufficient facts to support her claim
that the Union breached its duty of fair representation. ECF No. 40-1 at 22-27. Finally, the Union
argues that if the Court does not dismiss the Amended Complaint in its entirety, the Court should
strike Woods’s jury demand as untimely under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38(d). Id. at 2.
Woods argues that the Court may rely on all the information she provided to the EEOC,
including emails, to determine whether she exhausted her administrative remedies, not just the
formal EEOC Charge of Discrimination she filed on May 14, 2015. ECF No. 44 at 3. She further
alleges that she notified the Union of her disability through various forms of communication. Id.
Finally, she claims that the Union failed to adequately represent her because it “willfully allowed
UPS termination to be upheld.” Id.
II.
LEGAL STANDARD
A.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5)
Rule 12(b)(5) “permits a challenge to the method of service attempted by the plaintiff, or
the lack of delivery of the summons and complaint.” Neely v. Khurana, No. 3:07-cv-1344-D, 2008
WL 938904, at *2 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 7, 2008); Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(5). A district court may dismiss
a case without prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) for failure of a plaintiff to
effect service on defendants within ninety days of filing the complaint. See, e.g., Davis v. Bank of
Am., NA, No. 3:12-cv-1036-M (BF), 2012 WL 4795591 (N.D. Tex. Oct. 9, 2012); cf. Drgac v.
Treon, No. H-07-4283, 2008 WL 4746984, at *1 (S.D. Tex. Oct. 27, 2008) (“A pro se plaintiff is
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entitled to notice before a district court dismisses an action, sua sponte, for failure to timely serve
the defendants under Rule 4(m) .... [But] pro se status and ignorance of the law do not constitute
cause for [plaintiff’s] failure to effect service in compliance with the rules.” (citing Lindsey v.
United States R.R. Ret. Bd., 101 F.3d 444, 446 (5th Cir. 1996); Kersh v. Derozier, 851 F.2d 1509,
1512 (5th Cir. 1988))).
To complete service of process in federal court, a plaintiff must first present a summons to
the clerk of the court, which the clerk in turn “must sign, seal, and issue ... to the plaintiff for
service on the defendant.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(b). If a defendant is not served within ninety days after
the complaint is filed, the court—on a motion or on its own, after notice to the plaintiff—must
dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a
specified time. “When service of process is challenged, the serving party bears the burden of
proving its validity or good cause for failure to effect timely service.” Systems Signs Supplies v.
United States Dep't of Justice, 903 F.2d 1011, 1013 (5th Cir. 1990). To establish good cause, a
plaintiff must demonstrate “at least as much as would be required to show excusable neglect, as to
which simple inadvertence or mistake of counsel or ignorance of the rules usually does not
suffice.” Id. (citation omitted). When considering an extension of time to perfect service, the court
“must first determine whether good cause exists. If good cause is present, [it] must extend time for
service. If good cause does not exist, the court may, in its discretion, decide whether to dismiss the
case without prejudice or extend time for service.” Thompson v. Brown, 91 F.3d 20, 21 (5th Cir.
1996) (citation omitted).
B.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)
Rule 12(b)(6) permits dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief
can be granted. The Rules require that each complaint contain “a short and plain statement of the
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claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). A complaint must
include sufficient factual allegations “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.”
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. In considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, courts “take all well-pleaded
facts as true, viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff . . . and ask whether the
pleadings contain ‘enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Yumilicious
Franchise, L.L.C. v. Barrie, 819 F.3d 170, 174 (5th Cir. 2016) (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 547).
“A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to
draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556
U.S. at 678. “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555).
In ruling on a motion to dismiss, a court may consider documents outside the complaint
when they are: (1) attached to the motion to dismiss; (2) referenced in the complaint; and (3) central
to the plaintiff’s claims. In re Katrina Canal Breaches Litig., 495 F.3d 191, 205 (5th Cir. 2007).
Additionally, a court may take judicial notice of matters of public record without converting a
motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment. See Randall D. Wolcott, M.D., P.A. v.
Sebelius, 635 F.3d 757, 763 (5th Cir. 2011) (“Generally, a court ruling on a 12(b)(6) motion may
rely on the complaint, its proper attachments, documents incorporated into the complaint by
reference, and matters of which a court may take judicial notice.”) (citation and quotation marks
omitted).
There exists a “well-established policy that the plaintiff be given every opportunity to state
a claim.” Ramming v. United States, 281 F.3d 158, 161 (5th Cir. 2001) (citing Hitt v. City of
Pasadena, 561 F.2d 606, 608 (5th Cir. 1977)). It is federal policy to decide cases on the merits
rather than technicalities, and thus when possible the Fifth Circuit has recommended that suits be
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dismissed without prejudice on Rule 12 motions. Great Plains Tr. Co. v. Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter & Co., 313 F.3d 305, 329 (5th Cir. 2002); Hines v. Wainwright, 539 F.2d 433, 434 (5th Cir.
1976) (vacating and remanding a Rule 12(c) dismissal with instructions to the district court to
dismiss without, instead of with, prejudice). As a result, courts generally allow plaintiffs at least
one opportunity to amend following a Rule 12 dismissal on the pleadings. Great Plains Tr. Co.,
313 F.3d at 329; see In re Online Travel Co. (OTC) Hotel Booking Antitrust Litig., 997 F. Supp.
2d 526, 548–49 (N.D. Tex. 2014) (Boyle, J.) (dismissing for failure to state a claim without
prejudice, as dismissing with prejudice would be “too harsh a sanction”). Nonetheless, courts may
appropriately dismiss an action with prejudice if a court finds that the plaintiff has alleged its best
case. Jones v. Greninger, 188 F.3d 322, 327 (5th Cir. 1999); Bazrowx v. Scott, 136 F.3d 1053,
1054 (5th Cir. 1998)). Moreover, courts may dismiss an action with prejudice if the defendant is
entitled to absolute immunity because the “plaintiff will never have a claim against the defendant
based on the particular facts alleged.” Boyd v. Biggers, 31 F.3d 279, 284 (5th Cir. 1994).
C.
Pro se pleading standards
A pro se plaintiff’s pleadings are liberally construed. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106
(1976). A “pro se complaint, however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards
than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Id.
III.
ANALYSIS
A.
Union’s Motion to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(5) is denied.
The Union argues that Woods’s Amended Complaint should be dismissed pursuant to
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5) because she did not effectuate service of process within
ninety days of filing her complaint. ECF No. 3. A review of the docket reveals that Woods was
not delinquent in effecting service on the Union.
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Woods filed her Complaint and a Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis on January 18,
2018. ECF Nos. 3 and 4. United States Magistrate Judge David L. Horan granted her Motion on
January 22, 2018. ECF No. 6 at 1. In his Order, Judge Horan explained that the Court was
conducting screening under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), and that “service of process shall not issue,
if at all, until the Court completes its screening of the complaint.” Id. Judge Horan entered his
Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendation that Woods’s case be transferred to the Fort Worth
Division on February 22, 2018, and Senior United States Judge Sam R. Cummings adopted Judge
Horan’s recommendation, transferring the case on March 19, 2018. ECF Nos. 9 and 10. The Clerk
of Court assigned a new case number and issued a form notifying Woods of her right to consent
to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge and a form containing instructions for nonprisoner pro se plaintiffs, such as Woods. ECF Nos. 11 and 12.
Nothing happened thereafter until October 16, 2019 when the Clerk of Court issued
another consent to proceed before United States Magistrate Judge form and made a docket entry
indicating that the case was preliminarily assigned to the undersigned. On February 25, 2020, the
undersigned required the Clerk to deliver summons forms and a copy of the Order to Woods, and
the Court directed her to return the forms to the Clerk for issuance. ECF No. 14. Woods returned
the summons form to the Clerk on March 23, 2020. ECF No. 15.
On that same day, the Clerk issued summons to the Union and delivered a copy of the
summons, USM 285 Form, and a copy of the Complaint to the United States Marshals Service
(“USMS”). ECF No. 16. The USMS did not serve process on the Union until April 22, 2020. ECF
No. 17. Twenty-seven days passed between the Court’s February 25, 2020 order and the issuance
of the summons. Fifty-seven days passed between the February 25 order and when the USMS
effected service.
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However, 825 days passed between the date Woods filed her initial Complaint and when
service was effected. Because she is proceeding in forma pauperis, Woods was entitled to rely
upon the court to “issue and serve all process and perform all duties in [in forma pauperis] cases.”
Lindsey, 101 F.3d 446 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2)). Likewise, Judge Horan in his order dated
January 22, 2018 informed her that “service of process shall not issue, if at all, until the Court
completes its screening of the complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).” ECF No. 6. The Court
did not grant that permission until the undersigned’s order of February 25, 2020. ECF No. 14. It
is unclear why it took so long for the Union to be served with process. However, there is no
evidence before the Court proving that Woods was responsible for the delay. As a result, she should
not be penalized for the delay in service, and the Union’s Motion to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(5)
is denied.
B.
Woods’s ADA claims must be dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative
remedies.
The Union argues that Woods’s claims under the ADA should be dismissed pursuant to
Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. In support of its argument, the Union
points to the Charge of Discrimination that Woods filed with the EEOC, which is attached to the
Union’s Motion as Exhibit 1. ECF No. 40-3 at 4. The Court considers this exhibit part of the
pleadings because it directly relates to the charges made in the Amended Complaint and the right
to sue letter attached. See Collins v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, 224 F.3d 496, 498 (5th Cir.
2000) (documents “attache[d] to a motion to dismiss are considered part of the pleadings, if they
are referred to in the plaintiff’s complaint and are central to her claim[s]”).
In the Charge of Discrimination, Woods checked the boxes for discrimination based on sex
and retaliation. ECF No. 40-3 at 4. She stated that on April 25, 2015 she was sexually harassed by
Lefleur. Id. She also stated that on May 1, 2015, Lefleur initiated unwanted sexual contact, and
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she reported him to UPS human resources and the Union steward. Id. She stated that UPS human
resources and the Union failed to correct the actions, and they did not provide reasons for not doing
so. Id. She stated she believed that she was discriminated against because of her “sex (female), in
violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.” Id.
The Union is correct that Woods failed to allege that she properly exhausted her
administrative remedies regarding her ADA claims. If “an employee timely files an EEOC charge
and receives a right to sue notice from the EEOC, the employee may pursue only those claims that
can ‘reasonably be expected to grow out of the charge of discrimination.’” Young v. City of
Houston, 906 F.2d 177, 179 (5th Cir. 1990). “An employee’s failure to include a claim in [her]
EEOC charge prevents the employee from suing on that claim, unless what was in the charge
would have led the EEOC to investigate and would have put the employer on notice that [the
employee] would be pursuing that claim.” Goswami v. Unocal, No. H-12-2953, 2013 WL
5520107, at *7 (S.D. Tex. Oct. 3, 2013).
Both in the boxes that she checked in the Charge, and in her description of the Union’s
alleged discrimination, Woods failed to assert any facts that would tend to prove a violation of the
ADA, which makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against employees or applicants
because of their disabilities. 42 U.S.C. § 12101 (2009). Woods’s Charge of Discrimination would
not put the EEOC or the Union on notice that she complained of violations of this act. Neither the
EEOC nor the Union would expect that an ADA claim of disability discrimination growing out of
her grievance and the process for hearing that grievance would arise from her the actions
mentioned in her EEOC claim. ECF No. 39 at 5-6. Accordingly, Woods’s claim under ADA is
dismissed.
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Ordinarily, a dismissal for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule 12(b)(6) is a ruling
on the merits of a case and would be with prejudice. Csorba v. Varo, Inc., 58 F.3d 636, 636 (5th
Cir. 1995) (per curiam) (citing Hitt v. City of Pasadena, 561 F.2d 606, 608 (5th Cir. 1977)). This
seems especially true here where Woods likely cannot remedy this situation by filing another
Charge of Discrimination and attempting to exhaust her administrative remedies at this time. As
noted previously, the Committee Hearing was held on November 10, 2015, and more than 300
days have passed since the last date on which the Union could have violated her rights under ADA.
See E.E.O.C. v. Rock-Tenn Servs. Co., Inc., 901 F. Supp. 2d 8109, 822 (N.D. Tex. 2012) (“Title
VII requires that an employee file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC within 300 days of
the alleged discriminatory practice”); see also 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1). However, “[w]hen a
district court dismisses a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to exhaust administrative remedies,
the dismissal is without prejudice to the claimant's right to return to court after it has exhausted its
administrative remedies.” Martin K. Eby Const. Co., Inc. v. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, 369 F.3d
464, 467 n. 5 (5th Cir. 2004) (citing Taylor v. United States Treasury Dep't, 127 F.3d 470, 478
(5th Cir. 1997); Stroy, 896 F.3d at 698 n.2; Crawford v. Tex. Army Nat'l Guard, 794 F.2d 1034,
1035, 1037 (5th Cir. 1986)). Accordingly, Woods’s ADA claims are dismissed without prejudice.
C.
Woods’s Title VII claims must be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon
which relief can be granted.
The Union further argues that Woods failed to satisfy the Twombly pleading standard in
her Title VII and ADA claims. ECF No. 40-1 at 21-22. Because Woods failed to exhaust her
administrative remedies regarding her ADA claim, the Court will address only the Motion as it
relates to her remaining claims under Title VII.
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1.
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Woods does not state a claim for sex discrimination under Title VII.
“Employment discrimination plaintiffs must exhaust administrative remedies before
pursuing claims in federal court.” Taylor v. Books A Million, Inc., 296 F.3d 376, 378-79 (5th Cir.
2002). Administrative exhaustion “occurs when the plaintiff files a timely charge with the EEOC
and receives a statutory notice of right to sue,” Taylor, 296 F.3d at 379, or when she “files a timely
charge with a state or local agency with authority to grant or seek relief from the alleged unlawful
employment practice.” Dao, 96 F.3d at 789.
The plaintiff “must file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC within 180 days of the
date of the alleged discrimination, or within 300 days of the alleged discrimination if [she]
institutes [her] action with the appropriate state agency” and “receives a statutory notice of right
to sue.” Owens v. Dallas Cty. Cmty. Coll. Dist., No. 3:16-CV-3162-L, 2017 WL 3190727, at *2
(N.D. Tex. May 16, 2017) (citing Dao, 96 F.3d at 789; 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1)); see also
Gonzales v. Pan Am. Labs, L.L.C., No. 3:14-CV-2787-L, 2015 WL 5731289, at *2 (N.D. Tex.
Sept. 29, 2015) (citing Taylor, 296 F.3d at 378-79).
Under Title VII, the plaintiff has ninety days to file a civil action after she receives her
right to sue letter from the EEOC. Nilsen v. City of Moss Point, Miss., 674 F.2d 379, 381 (5th Cir.
1982) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(1) (1994)). The courts strictly construe the ninety-day
deadline for filing suit, and courts in the Fifth Circuit “have repeatedly dismissed cases in which
the plaintiff did not file a complaint until after the ninety-day limitation period had expired.”
Taylor, 296 F.3d at 379. Filing an EEOC charge is not a requirement for the Court to have
jurisdiction, but it “is a precondition to filing suit in district court.” Dao, 96 F.3d at 789.
Here, Woods administratively exhausted her Title VII claim because she timely filed a
Charge of Discrimination with the EEOC on May 14, 2015, which was within 180 days of April
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25, 2015 and May 1, 2015, the dates when the Union “failed to correct the actions” of UPS. ECF
No. 40-3 at 4. In her Charge of Discrimination, Woods alleges that UPS “discriminated against
[her] because of [her] sex (female), in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended.” Id. The EEOC issued Woods a notice of right to sue letter on October 31, 2017 based
upon these allegations. Id. at 6. Woods then initiated this lawsuit on or before the ninety-day
statutory filing deadline for a Title VII claim. ECF No. 3. Therefore, Woods administratively
exhausted her Title VII claims.
“In analyzing discrimination claims under Title VII, the ADEA, and the ADA, courts in
the Fifth Circuit apply the analysis set out in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792
(1973).” Goswami, 2013 WL 5520107 at *5. “The first step requires the plaintiff to make a prima
facie showing of discrimination.” Id. (citing McDonnell Douglas Corp., 411 U.S. at 802; Rachid
v. Jack in the Box, Inc., 376 F.3d 305, 312 (5th Cir. 2004)). In a Title VII case, the plaintiff does
this by showing that she: “(1) [is a member] of a protected group or class; (2) [is] qualified for [her
position]; (3) suffered [an] adverse employment [action]; and (4) similarly situated individuals
outside the protected class were treated more favorably.” Moore v. True Temper Sports, Inc., No.
1:10-CV-178-NBB-DAS, 2011 WL 4498882, at *2 (N.D. Miss. Sept. 27, 2011).
A plaintiff asserting violations of Title VII need not make a showing of each element of
her prima facie case at the pleading stage. See Raj v. Louisiana State Univ., 714 F.3d 322, 331 (5th
Cir. 2013) (citing Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 510-12 (2002)). However, the
plaintiff “must set forth allegations that would enable the court to reasonably infer that [her]
employer or employment agency discriminated against [her] . . . .” Thornton v. Dallas I.S.D., No.
13-CV-3012-P, 2014 WL 46398, at * 3 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 6, 2014).
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Here, Woods’s claims of discrimination do not properly state a claim for violations of Title
VII. Woods does not allege in the Amended Complaint specific facts to demonstrate an adverse
action against her on the part of the Union. See ECF No. 39. Woods does allege that the Union
handled her grievance in a different manner from a male employee whom UPS fired within four
days for the same reasons and whose employment was reinstated. Id. at 6. However, she does not
allege facts that demonstrate that his circumstances were nearly identical to hers or that they were
similarly situated in any material respect, other than the temporal proximity of the terminations
and nature of the hearings. See ECF Nos. 39, 44, 45. Woods alleges only that she suffered an
adverse employment action because the Union did not adequately represent her in the post
termination hearing process with UPS, as evidenced by the outcomes of the two hearings. ECF
No. 39 at 4-6. However, Woods does not bridge the causal link between her termination and the
Union’s allegedly discriminatory practices. For this reason, Woods’s claim of discrimination based
on sex against the Union does not satisfy the Twombly standard and is dismissed.
2.
Woods does not State a Claim of Retaliation under Title VII.
In analyzing retaliation claims under Title VII, a plaintiff must plead that “(1) she engaged
in activity protected by Title VII, (2) she suffered a materially adverse employment action, and (3)
there was a causal link between the protected activity and the adverse employment action.” Jenkins
v. City of San Antonio Fire Dep’t, 784 F.3d 263, 269 (5th Cir. 2015). A labor organization such as
the Union cannot discriminate against any member “because [s]he has opposed any practice made
an unlawful employment practice by [Title VII] or... made a charge, testified, assisted, or
participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under [Title VII].” 42 U.S.C.
§ 2000e-3(a)); Warner v. Lear Corp., No. 3:15-CV-1878-D, 2016 WL 339606, at *4-5 (N.D. Tex.
Jan. 28, 2016) (court dismissed plaintiff’s Title VII retaliation claim against a labor union for
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failure to allege “specific facts, showing the casual link between the protected activity and the
adverse employment action”).
Woods’s claims of retaliation do not properly state a claim against the Union. As with her
sex discrimination claim, Woods does not allege in the Amended Complaint specific facts to
demonstrate a protected activity and an adverse action against her on the part of the Union. See
ECF No. 39. Woods only alleges that she suffered an adverse employment action because the
Union did not adequately represent her in the post termination hearing process with UPS. Id. at 46. This does not state a causal link between any protected activity and the Union’s representation
in her grievance hearing or any other action taken against her by the Union. For this reason,
Woods’s retaliation claim under Title VII does not satisfy the Twombly standard and is dismissed.
The Court dismisses Woods’s claims under Title VII with prejudice because it is convinced
that Woods has stated her best, though legally insufficient, case for employment discrimination
against the Union. She has had numerous opportunities to state a claim against the Union for sex
discrimination or retaliation. She responded to Magistrate Judge Horan’s Questionnaire. See ECF
No. 8. She amended her complaint. See ECF No. 39. She vigorously opposed the Union’s motion
to dismiss her original complaint and argued her opposition in an oral telephonic hearing before
the Court. See ECF Nos. 28, 29, 33, and 38. She has filed detailed responses to the Union’s Motion
to Dismiss at issue. ECF No. 44, 45. She attempted to file a sur-reply, which she later requested to
withdraw because it was not proper to be filed. ECF No. 47 and 48. With the facts available in this
case, the Court concludes that Woods has stated her claims to the best of her ability, and dismissal
of those claims should be with prejudice.
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D.
Page 16 of 18 PageID 507
Woods asserts a claim under the NLRA.
In her Amended Complaint, Woods states that the Union “failed to meet its legal and
contractual obligations” as to the collective bargaining agreement between the Union and UPS.
ECF No. 39 at 1. Although Woods does not explain her claim against the Union for failure to meet
this duty in great detail, she does allege facts that support a viable claim under the NLRA at this
stage of the case.
A union breaches its statutory duty of fair representation when its “conduct toward a
member of the collective-bargaining unit is arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith.” Vaca v.
Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 190 (1967). Negligence or a mistake in judgment does not breach the duty of
fair representation, rather “the critical question is whether a union’s conduct was arbitrary,
discriminatory, or in bad faith, such that it undermined the fairness or integrity of the grievance
process.” McCall v. Southwest Airlines Co., 661 F. Supp. 2d 647 (N.D. Tex. 2009) (citing Landry
v. The Cooper/T. Smith Stevedoring Co., 880 F.2d 846, 852 (5th Cir. 1989) (internal citations and
quotation marks omitted)). Union error is “arbitrary if it reflects a reckless disregard for the rights
of the individual employee.” Peterson v. Kennedy, 771 F.2d 1244, 1254 (9th Cir. 1985).
Woods alleges that the Union failed to adequately represent her throughout her time at UPS
after her initial complaint against Lefleur. ECF No. 39. Woods alleges that the Union concealed
information pertinent to her termination and grievance hearing. Id. at 5. She claims that the Union
“took steps to make sure she would not be able to participate in the post termination hearing
process.” Id. at 5-6. She asserts that the Union failed to interview her before the grievance hearing.
ECF No. 45 at 3-4. Finally, she argues that she filed a timely grievance in response to UPS’s Intent
to Discharge. Id. at 4.
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Page 17 of 18 PageID 508
The Union argues that Woods’s claims are conclusory allegations that fail to allege the
Union’s “conduct with regard to Plaintiff’s grievance was arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith,
or outside the bounds of reasonableness.” ECF No. 40 at 27. Liberally construed, as the Court must
with the pleadings of a pro se party such as Woods, the Amended Complaint appears to state a
claim for the Union’s violation of its duty of fair representation sufficient to withstand a motion to
dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6). Accordingly, the Court denies the Union’s Motion to Dismiss
Woods’s claim for breach of the Union’s duty of fair representation under the NRLA.
E. Woods’s Request for Motion for Jury Trial is Timely.
The Union argues that Woods’s demand for a jury trial is untimely because the Amended
Complaint does not contain any “new issues” raised and thus is untimely under Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure Rule 38(b). ECF No. 40-1 at 29. However, on January 18, 2018 when Woods filed
her Original Complaint, she included a jury demand. See ECF No. 3 at 2. Her Complaint included
the following language “TITLE: COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL.” Id.
Under Rule 38(b) “on any issue triable of right by a jury, a party may demand a jury trial
by: (1) serving the other parties with a written demand—which may be included in a pleading—
no later than 14 days after the last pleading directed to the issue is served...” Fed. R. Civ. P.
38(b)(1). Because Woods demanded a jury trial in her original pleading, the demand is timely. The
Court will issue an amended scheduling order by separate filing that includes deadlines for a jury
trial commencing on the same date and time as the non-jury trial setting currently entered.
IV.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Defendant’s
Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 40) and DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiff’s ADA
claim for failure to exhaust her administrative remedies, DISMISSES WITH PREJUDICE her
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Page 18 of 18 PageID 509
Title VII claims for failure to state a claim, DENIES Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5) and as to the Plaintiff’s claim for breach of Defendant’s duty of
fair representation under the NLRA, and DENIES Defendant’s Motion to Strike Jury Demand
(ECF No. 40). As a result of these ruling, the Court also DENIES Plaintiff’s Request to Withdraw
Response (ECF No. 48) as MOOT.
The discovery stay entered on July 24, 2020 is hereby LIFTED, and the parties may
proceed to conduct the discovery necessary to prepare this case for jury trial of the issues properly
presented.
It is so ORDERED on October 22, 2020.
______________________________________
Hal R. Ray, Jr.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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