Denson v. Beavex Incorporated et al
Filing
26
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DENYING 19 Supplemental MOTION for Continuance of Defendants' MSJ etc, DENYING 15 Opposed MOTION for Continuance of Disposition of Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment for Discovery MOTION for Exten sion of Time to Submit Memorandum in Support MOTION to Reopen Discovery, DENYING 25 Opposed MOTION for Leave to File Plaintiff's Complaint, DENYING 14 MOTION to Remand, GRANTING 12 MOTION for Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Law in Support, DENYING 16 20 22 MOTION for sanctions.(Signed by Judge Gray H. Miller) Parties notified.(rkonieczny, 4)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
CEDRIC DENSON ,
Plaintiff,
v.
BEAVEX INCORPORATED , et al.,
Defendants.
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
CIVIL ACTION H-13-1493
M EMORANDUM O PINION & O RDER
Pending before the court are the following motions: (1) a motion to remand filed by plaintiff
Cedric Denson (“Denson”) (Dkt. 14); (2) Denson’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint
(Dkt. 25); (3) a motion for summary judgment filed by defendants BeavEx Incorporated (“Beavex”)
and Diana Montemayor (“Montemayor”) (collectively, the “defendants”) (Dkt. 12); (4) a motion to
continue the submission date of defendants’ motion for summary judgment, motion to reopen
discovery, and motion for extension of time to submit a memorandum in support (the “first
continuance motion”) (Dkt. 15); (5) a supplemental motion for continuance, reopening discovery,
and entry of a new scheduling order (the “second continuance motion”) (Dkt. 19); (6) defendants’
Rule 56(h) motion for sanctions (Dkt. 22 at 8–10); and (7) defendants’ motion for sanctions under
28 U.S.C. § 1927 (Dkt. 20 at 3–7).
After reviewing the briefing, record evidence, and applicable law, the court finds as follows:
Denson’s motion to remand (Dkt. 14) is DENIED; Denson’s motion for leave (Dkt. 25) is DENIED;
Denson’s first and second continuance motions (Dkts. 15 & 19) are DENIED; defendants’ motion
for summary judgment (Dkt. 12) is GRANTED; and defendants’ motions for sanctions (Dkts. 20
& 22) are DENIED. Defendants’ initial motion for sanctions (Dkt. 16), which was amended on July
7, 2014, is DENIED AS MOOT.
I. BACKGROUND
A.
Factual Background
Denson is an African-American, heterosexual male who was employed by Beavex from
August 2009 through April 2012. Dkt. 1, Ex. 1-B (original petition) at 3; Dkt. 12, Ex. A (Denson
depo.) at 13:5–18. Denson was a second-shift dispatcher, in which he was responsible for
dispatching couriers to customers’ locations to meet their delivery and shipment needs. Dkt. 12, Ex.
A at 50:24–51:23. At all relevant times, Denson reported to Beavex Operations Manager Diana
Montemayor, a Hispanic female.1 Dkt. 12, Ex. B (declaration of Sandra Foster) at 2 ¶ 6.
On February 8, 2011, eighteen months after he was hired as a Beavex employee, Denson
received a warning for failing to notify Montemayor or Beavex’s Terminal Manager, Art Dekenipp,
that a driver on Denson’s shift had lost his key at a client location. Dkt. 12, Ex. C (written
disciplinary report) at 1. Denson was specifically warned that “[f]urther infractions may result in
additional reprimands, up to and including termination of employment.” Id.
On April 27, 2011, Denson received a second written warning for failing to ensure and verify
pickup of a client’s packages and failing to follow proper driver dispatch procedures. Dkt. 12, Ex.
D (second written disciplinary report). Denson was again warned that additional infractions could
lead to further discipline, up to and including termination. Id. Although Denson does not recall this
written reprimand, he does not dispute its occurrence. Dkt. 12, Ex. A at 103:3–104:1. On the same
day, Denson’s co-worker Phyllis Pharr, a white female, also received a written warning for failure
1
Denson pled in his original petition that M ontemayor is a homosexual Hispanic female that preferred to hire
other Hispanic workers, including her friends and family members as drivers. Dkt. 1, Ex. 1-B at 6–7. Denson also
claimed that M ontemayor favored homosexual over heterosexual employees. Id. at 3. Denson has not cited, however,
any proof to substantiate these assertions.
2
to follow dispatch procedures. Dkt. 12, Ex. B at 2 ¶ 7. Montemayor issued both Denson and Pharr’s
written warnings. Id.; Dkt. 12, Ex. D at 1.
On June 9, 2011, Denson received a written warning for failing to dispatch a driver to pick
up a client shipment. As on previous occasions, he was warned that future violations could lead to
dismissal. Dkt. 12, Ex. E (third written disciplinary report). The next day, on June 10, 2011, a firstshift dispatcher, JoAnn Garza (hispanic female) received a warning for failing to dispatch a driver
to pick up a client shipment. Dkt. 12, Ex. B at 2–3 ¶ 8. Both written warnings were administered
by Dekenipp, the terminal manager. Id.; Dkt. 12, Ex. E at 1. Dekenipp issued two additional
warnings on September 8, 2011. He administered a final written warning to Denson for failing to
ensure the proper handling of an infectious specimen for a client. Dkt. 12, Ex. F (fourth written
disciplinary report). This warning included a statement that he was being placed on a 90-day
probationary period and that “[a]ny additional service failure will result in termination of
employment. If you are unclear about these expectations, please be sure to raise your questions and
concerns.” Id. at 2. Dekenipp also administered a similar warning to Pharr, Denson’s white female
co-worker. Dkt. 12, Ex. B at 3 ¶ 9.
On October 1, 2011, Denson appealed his written warnings by sending an email to Human
Resources employee Thao Nguyen and Beavex’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Sandra
Foster. Dkt. 12, Ex. G. He complained that “[t]he Operations Manager [Montemayor] works about
5–6 hours a day and has minimal interaction with the dispatchers. There is clear favoritism for the
morning dispatcher with whom she has a personal friendship.” Id. at 1. Denson did not state in this
email that he felt discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation.
3
Between March 29 and April 5, 2012, Denson had renewed performance issues relating to
continued failures to follow dispatch procedures and notify management of problems implicating
customer service. Dkt. 12, Ex. H (termination letter); Dkt. 12, Ex. B at 3 ¶ 10; Dkt. 12, Ex. 8 to Ex.
B. On April 10, 2012, Montemayor terminated Denson’s employment. Dkt. 12, Ex. H. Her
termination letter stated that “[d]ue to the seriousness of these [performance] failures and previous
written warnings about similar issues, we have lost confidence in your ability and willingness to
successfully perform your job. Your employment is terminated effective immediately.” Id. at 1.
Plaintiff responded to his termination on April 24, 2012. Dkt. 12, Ex. I. He described his firing as
“unfair and unjust,” and alleged that “[e]mployees are treated differently based upon personal gain.”
Id. at 2. He did not state that any protected characteristic was a causal factor in his termination.
Foster approved Montemayor’s decision to terminate Denson in 2012, and she has not learned any
facts in the interim that would lead her to reconsider her approval. Dkt. 12, Ex. B at 3 ¶ 11.
B.
Procedural Background
On February 8, 2013, Denson filed his original petition against Beavex and Montemayor in
the 151st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. Dkt. 1, Ex. 1-B. Denson alleges that
Beavex discriminated against him on the basis of race and gender, in violation of Chapter 21 of the
Texas Labor Code. Id. at 3. Denson additionally alleges that Beavex negligently supervised
Montemayor and that Montemayor tortiously interfered with Denson and Beavex’s business
relations. Id. Denson served Montemayor on April 22, 2013, and Beavex was served on April 30,
2013. Dkt. 1 at 1 ¶ 2. Defendants timely removed the case on May 22, 2013. Dkt. 1. On September
13, 2013, the court issued a Rule 16 scheduling order, setting a deadline of March 7, 2014 for
completion of discovery and a May 15, 2014 deadline for the filing of dispositive motions. Dkt. 9.
4
Defendants served Denson with interrogatories and requests for production on August 23,
2013. Dkt. 16, Ex. A. Denson untimely responded to defendants’ written discovery requests on
October 23, 2013. Dkt. 16, Ex. C. On February 21, 2014, defendants’ counsel took Denson’s oral
deposition. Dkt. 16, Ex. D. The deposition was defended by Trey Thomas, an associate at the law
firm of lead counsel Laurence Watts. Id. at 2. Thomas actively defended the deposition and asked
questions of his client at the conclusion of defendants’ direct examination. Id. at 3. Denson did not
undertake any discovery whatsoever.
On May 15, 2014, defendants filed a motion for summary judgment as to all of Denson’s
claims. Dkt. 12. On May 20, 2014, Denson filed a motion to remand, claiming a lack of complete
diversity of citizenship among the parties. Dkt. 14. Specifically, Denson argues that Montemayor,
a Texas citizen, was properly joined and that she tortiously interfered with Denson’s employment
relationship by firing him for personal reasons. Id. at 7–9. Denson filed the first continuance motion
on June 4, 2014, the date on which the response to the defendants’ motion for summary judgment
was due. In that motion, he requested a postponement of the submission date for defendants’ motion
for summary judgment and additional time to conduct discovery, as he had performed no discovery
during the discovery period. Dkt. 15. Watts, Denson’s counsel, attributed this failure to certain
medical issues arising between 2010 and 2013 and his “simultaneous obligations in unrelated cases.”
Id. at 2–4; Dkt. 15, Ex. A (Watts declaration) at 1. Watts did not explain why Thomas, or any other
attorney associated with his firm, failed to serve written discovery or seek depositions from the
defendants during the generous discovery period in this case. Finally, in his certificate of conference,
Watts stated that “Plaintiff’s counsel has initiated conference with counsel for Defendants, however,
due to the late hour, conference has not been accomplished and it should be presumed that
5
Defendants oppose this motion.” Dkt. 15 at 4 ¶ 14 (emphasis in original). Watts verified all of the
factual statements in his motion under penalty of perjury. Id. at 5.
Defendants responded to the first continuance motion on June 6, 2014. Dkt. 16. Defendants
contend that the motion should be denied because plaintiff has not shown how additional time would
lead to discovery creating a genuine dispute of material fact, nor has plaintiff demonstrated an
exercise of due diligence in discovery to date. Id. Defendants note that Watts’s first continuance
motion makes no mention as to why he prioritized other matters over this case or why he failed to
withdraw from this case due to his alleged medical issues and other case-related obligations. Id. at
5–6. In further response to these failures and Watts’s allegedly false statement that he attempted to
confer with opposing counsel before filing the first continuance motion,2 defendants move for
sanctions under Rule 56(h), which permits the court to assess fees and expenses against a party that
submits an affidavit in bad faith or “solely for delay.” FED . R. CIV . P. 56(h).
On June 24, 2014, Watts filed a second motion for a continuance. Dkt. 19. Watts repeats
that the reasons for his lack of discovery in this case include medical issues lasting through
September 2013 and a backlog of other cases in state court. Id. at 2–3. He adds that his “only lawyer
associate,” “A.O.,” resigned from Watts’s firm on July 8, 2013. Id. at 2. He also lists seven
proposed depositions of fact witnesses that he alleges “are of significance to Plaintiff’s claim.” Id.
at 4–5. He states that he “has engaged two new lawyer associates who once they become familiar
with this case will ease his burden, assist in Plaintiff’s processing of his claims, and facilitate a
2
W atts claims in his first continuance motion, filed on June 4, that he had not yet confirmed defendants’
position on the motion, although he had purportedly “initiated” conference with defense counsel. See Dkt. 15 at 4.
Defendants filed evidence that indicates that W atts did not initiate conference with defense counsel until two days later,
on June 6, 2014. Dkt. 16, Ex. F (Duddlesten declaration) at 1 ¶¶ 3–4; see also Dkt. 16, Ex. 1 (W atts email) to Ex. F at
1 (email from W atts to defense counsel conferring with them regarding their opposition, if any, to Denson’s motion for
a continuance— W atts apologizes “for the delay in conferring with you”). W atts explained at the oral hearing that he
intended to send his June 6 email on June 4, but he inadvertently saved the email to his drafts folder instead.
6
hearing court’s attempted delivery of a justice product for all parties.” Id. at 6. Watts concludes the
motion with an identical certificate of conference: “Plaintiff’s counsel has initiated conference with
counsel for Defendants, however, due to the late hour, conference has not been accomplished and
it should be presumed that Defendants oppose this motion.” Id. (emphasis in original). Once again
Watts verifies the statements of fact in his motion under penalty of perjury. Id. at 7.
On June 30, 2014, defendants responded to the second continuance motion. Dkt. 20.
Defendants re-urge their previous arguments that the court should deny a continuance of the
summary judgment submission date or reopen discovery. Id. at 1–2. Defendants add that Watts has
not addressed their earlier questions regarding (1) why Watts has prioritized other matters over this
case; (2) why has Watts had time to speak to media outlets about other cases but not devote any
attention to this case until the expiration of relevant deadlines; and (3) why Watts did not engage
other associates (Trey Thomas, who defended Denson’s deposition, Melissa Azadeh, or “A.O.”) to
assist with this case or withdraw from the matter due to his allegedly excessive workload. Id. at 2–3.
Concurrently with their response, defendants filed a motion for sanctions under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1927. Id. at 3. Defendants argue that Watts made two false statements to this tribunal which
unreasonably prolonged the proceedings and required defendants to incur unnecessary attorneys’ fees
to correct the record. Id. at 3–7. Specifically, the defendants point to Watts’s certificate of
conference in the first continuance motion, which defendants claim was materially false in stating
that Watts had initiated conference with defense counsel before filing his motion. Id. at 3–4.
Second, defendants criticize Watts for making, and verifying, the same allegedly false statement of
having initiated conference in the second continuance motion. Id. at 4. Defendants claim that they
had not received any calls or emails from Watts before he filed the motion, and thus his verified
7
statement to the contrary is objectively false and merits sanctions as vexatious conduct. Id. at 4–7;
Dkt. 20, Ex. A (Miguez declaration) at 1 ¶ 4.
After reviewing the sanctions requests, the court set an oral hearing for the pending motions
on July 10, 2014. Dkt. 21. The court ordered that any further responses be filed no later than July
7, 2014. Id. In response to the court’s order, defendants amended their response to Denson’s first
continuance motion, Dkt. 22, and Denson filed a reply to defendants’ response. Dkt. 23.
The defendants’ amended response appears substantively identical to the first response.
Denson’s reply, however, provides new, curious information from Watts in response to defendants’
motions for sanctions. Watts states that Trey Thomas (who defended Denson’s deposition) left
Watts’s firm on June 2, 2014, while a new associate, “A.O.,” joined the office on June 9, 2014.3 Id.
at 2. Watts further claims that he did not disregard this case to focus on other matters, but rather that
an emergency temporary restraining order case took priority. Id. at 3. Watts then turns to the
controversy over his certificates of conference. With regard to his second motion, Watts states that
“[c]onference was accomplished prior to filing the motion,” under the theory that his earlier
conference as to the first motion on June 6 subsumed the opposition to his second motion for a
continuance. Dkt. 23 at 3–4 (emphasis in original). Finally, Watts requests that the court deny
sanctions and grant the requested extension of time for discovery, as, in his words, the defendants
“rely on misstatements of facts and dates.” Id. at 4.
3
W atts’s reply does not discuss whether the new associate, “A.O.,” whom he states joined his firm on June 9,
2014, is distinct from the associate “A.O.” that he verified in his second continuance motion as having left the firm on
July 8, 2013. Dkt. 19 at 2.
8
II. LAW & ANALYSIS
The parties have filed the following motions: (1) Denson’s motion to remand; (2) Denson’s
motion for leave to amend his complaint; (3) defendants’ motion for summary judgment;
(4) Denson’s two motions to continue the submission date of the motion for summary judgment; and
(5) defendants’ two motions for sanctions. The court will consider these motions in turn beginning
with the motion to remand, as it raises the threshold question of subject-matter jurisdiction. See Steel
Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env’t, 523 U.S. 83, 94, 118 S. Ct. 1003 (1998) (reiterating the longstanding rule that “‘[w]ithout jurisdiction the court cannot proceed at all in any cause’”) (quoting Ex
parte McCardle, 7 U.S. (Wall.) 506, 514 (1868)).
A.
Denson’s Motion to Remand
Denson argues that the court lacks diversity jurisdiction and should remand this case because
Montemayor, a Texas citizen, is a properly-joined defendant. Dkt. 14 at 2. Denson contends that
Montemayor tortiously interefered with his business relations with Beavex by terminating him for
personal reasons at Beavex’s expense. Id. at 8–9. Defendants respond that Denson has not
sufficiently pled that Montemayor, an agent of one of the contracting parties, acted for purely
personal motives or that Beavex objected to her decision, two prerequisites under Texas law for a
tortious interference claim against Montemayor. Dkt. 17 at 4–5. Defendants conclude that Denson
lacks any reasonable possibility of recovery against Montemayor, and thus she was improperly joined
as a defendant and does not divest the court of diversity jurisdiction. Id.
1.
Legal Standard
A defendant may remove an action to federal court if that court would have original
jurisdiction over the case. 28 U.S.C. § 1441. To establish subject-matter jurisdiction predicated on
9
diversity, complete diversity of citizenship must exist among the parties, and the amount in
controversy must exceed $75,000.00. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. A case may be removed despite the
presence of a non-diverse defendant if that defendant was joined improperly, i.e., without a legal
basis to do so. Hornbuckle v. State Farm Lloyds, 385 F.3d 538, 542 (5th Cir. 2004). As the
removing party, the defendant bears the heavy burden of demonstrating improper joinder. Travis
v. Irby, 326 F.3d 644, 649 (5th Cir. 2003). “Merely to traverse the allegations upon which the
liability of the resident defendant is rested, or to apply the epithet ‘[improper]’ to the joinder, will
not suffice: the showing must be such as compels the conclusion that the joinder is without right.”
Chesapeake & O.R. Co. v. Cockrell, 232 U.S. 146, 152, 34 S. Ct. 278 (1914); see also Smallwood
v. Ill. Cent. R.R. Co., 385 F.3d 568, 574 (5th Cir. 2004).
A defendant generally establishes improper joinder in one of two ways: “‘(1) actual fraud
in the pleading of jurisdictional facts, or (2) inability of the plaintiffs to establish a cause of action
against the non-diverse party in state court.’” Smallwood, 385 F.3d at 573 (quoting Travis, 326 F.3d
at 646–47). The defendants do not assert actual fraud in this case. As to the second possibility, to
prevent remand the defendants must demonstrate that “there is no reasonable basis for the district
court to predict that the plaintiff might be able to recover aganst the in-state defendant.” McDonal
v. Abbott Labs., 408 F.3d 177, 183 (5th Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
2.
Analysis
To recover against Montemayor for tortious interference, Denson must plead and prove:
(1) the existence of a contract subject to interference; (2) the occurrence of a willful and intentional
act of interference; (3) that actual damage or loss occurred; and (4) that the alleged interference was
a proximate cause of the damage or loss. See Holloway v. Skinner, 898 S.W.2d 793, 795–96 (Tex.
10
1995). The defendants’ removal arguments center on Denson’s alleged inability to recover through
a failure of pleading the second element, i.e., that Montemayor’s termination decision could not be
a willful and intentional act of interference.
When a defendant to a tortious interference claim is both an agent of a contracting party and
the third party who allegedly induced the entity’s breach, the second element becomes particularly
important. Id. at 796. The plaintiff must show that the agent acted solely in his or her own interests,
as the agent’s acts for the principal are otherwise deemed acts of the principal itself. ACS Investors,
Inc. v. McLaughlin, 943 S.W.2d 426, 432 (Tex. 1997). An agent’s mixed motives—benefitting the
principal and the agent—are insufficient to establish liability. Id.
In this case, Denson has merely pled that Montemayor “influenced his termination” because
she “preferred Hispanic, Caucasian and gay employees,” a predilection that Denson alleges led to
his being “subjected to consistent surveillance and scrutiny of his actions.” Dkt. 1, Ex. 1-B at 3–4.
Denson further pleads that Montemayor terminated his employment after an incident in April 2012
involving a Bank of America driver. Id. at 7. While Denson alleges that her decision was without
justification, he does not dispute that the incident was a causal factor in his termination. Id.
These allegations, at best, show that Montemayor had mixed motives for terminating
Denson’s employment, some of which benefitted her based on her allegedly unlawful preferences
and some of which were in Beavex’s interests for employee discipline. Denson’s pleading thus does
not show that Montemayor’s termination decision was solely in her own interests, and he fails to
state a claim for tortious interference. ACS Investors, 943 S.W.2d at 432. As Denson does not have
a reasonable basis for recovery against Montemayor, she is not a properly-joined defendant and her
Texas citizenship will be disregarded in the jurisdictional analysis. The parties agree that the
11
complete diversity and amount-in-controversy requirements are otherwise met, and the court thus
has diversity jurisdiction over the case. Denson’s motion to remand (Dkt. 14) is DENIED.4
B.
Denson’s First & Second Motions for Continuance
As stated above, Watts has twice requested a continuance of the submission date of
defendants’ motion for summary judgment, so that he may have more time to conduct discovery in
this matter. Dkts. 15 & 19. Watts claims that he was unable to conduct any discovery due to
multiple illnesses, surgery, and a backlog of other unrelated cases. See, e.g., Dkt. 19 at 2–3.
Defendants respond that Watts has not clearly demonstrated why he was unable to prosecute the case
at all in 2013 when the medical issues were largely resolved by 2012, or why he did not withdraw
from the matter or refer it to one of his associates. Dkt. 22 at 5–8.
1.
Legal Standard
Under Rule 56(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, “[i]f a nonmovant shows by
affidavit or declaration that, for specified reasons, it cannot present facts essential to justify its
opposition, the court may: (1) defer considering the motion or deny it; (2) allow time to obtain
affidavits or declarations or to take discovery; or (3) issue any other appropriate order.” FED . R. CIV .
P. 56(d). A party seeking additional time under this rule must demonstrate an exercise of “due
diligence in discovery.” Baker v. Am. Airlines, Inc., 430 F.3d 750, 756 (5th Cir. 2005).
4
The court has reviewed Denson’s eleventh-hour motion for leave to amend his complaint, filed in a clear
attempt to defeat the court’s subject-matter jurisdiction. See Dkt. 25. Denson’s proposed amendment comes almost eight
months after the pleadings deadline of October 30, 2013, Dkt. 9, and Denson’s reasons for delay are well outside the
realm of “good cause” under Rule 16. Further, Denson’s amendment would be futile, as he has still failed to plead that
Beavex objected to Montemayor’s decision to terminate Denson’s employment, a necessary showing for a tortious
interference claim against a corporate agent. Powell Indus., Inc. v. Allen, 985 S.W .2d 455, 457 (Tex. 1998); see Dkt.
12, Ex. B at 3 ¶ 11 (Foster’s testimony that she approved of Denson’s termination at the time the decision was made and
continues to agree with Montemayor’s decision). Thus, after considering the factors relating to a motion for leave to
amend in these circumstances, Denson’s motion (Dkt. 25) is DENIED.
12
2.
Analysis
Watts’s explanation for his conduct falls far short of any reasonable definition of the “due
diligence” standard. Neither Watts, nor any of his associates for that matter, took any discovery
during the discovery period in this case. Watts responded in numerous filings and at the oral hearing
that other cases took precedence over this matter, including a temporary restraining order for child
custody, but he has not adequately explained why other cases and purported medical issues prevented
anyone at his firm from pursuing even basic written discovery during the six-month discovery
window in this case. And while this court understands the impact that medical issues may have on
one’s ability to zealously represent his or her clients, this issue should have been raised and
addressed much sooner—by Watts himself. The Texas Disciplinary Rules enunciate the relevant
ethical duty as follows: “A lawyer shall decline to represent a client or, where representation has
commenced, shall withdraw . . . from the representation of a client, if . . . the lawyer’s physical,
mental or psychological condition materially impairs the lawyer’s fitness to represent the client.”
TEX . DISC . R. 1.15(a)(2). At any rate, Watts’s failure to prosecute this case, and his explanation
therefor, are insufficient to warrant an extension of discovery before the summary judgment
submission deadline. Denson’s motions for continuance (Dkts. 15 & 19) are DENIED.
C.
Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment
Defendants move for summary judgment as to Denson’s four live claims: (1) race
discrimination; (2) sex discrimination; (3) negligent supervision; and (4) tortious interference. Dkt.
12. Denson has not responded to defendants’ motion with any argument or evidence in opposition.
1.
Legal Standard
Summary judgment is proper if “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any
material fact and the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” FED . R. CIV . P. 56(a); see
13
also Carrizales v. State Farm Lloyds, 518 F.3d 343, 345 (5th Cir. 2008). The mere existence of
some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported
motion for summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247–48, 106 S. Ct.
2505 (1986). A dispute is “material” if its resolution could affect the outcome of the action. Burrell
v. Dr. Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Grp., Inc., 482 F.3d 408, 411 (5th Cir. 2007). “[A]nd a fact is
genuinely in dispute only if a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.”
Fordoche, Inc. v. Texaco, Inc., 463 F.3d 388, 392 (5th Cir. 2006).
The moving party bears the initial burden of informing the court of all evidence
demonstrating the absence of a genuine dispute of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S.
317, 323, 106 S. Ct. 2548 (1986). Only when the moving party has discharged this initial burden
does the burden shift to the non-moving party to demonstrate that there is a genuine dispute of
material fact. See id. at 322. If the moving party fails to meet this burden, then it is not entitled to
summary judgment, and no defense to the motion is required. See id. “For any matter on which the
non-movant would bear the burden of proof at trial . . ., the movant may merely point to the absence
of evidence and thereby shift to the non-movant the burden of demonstrating by competent summary
judgment proof that there is an issue of material fact warranting trial.” Transamerica Ins. Co. v.
Avenell, 66 F.3d 715, 718-19 (5th Cir. 1995); see also Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322–25. To prevent
summary judgment, the non-moving party must “set forth specific facts showing that there is a
genuine issue for trial.” (former FED . R. CIV . P. 56(e)) (emphasis added).
When considering a motion for summary judgment, the court must view the evidence in the
light most favorable to the non-movant and draw all justifiable inferences in favor of the nonmovant. Envtl. Conservation Org. v. City of Dall., 529 F.3d 519, 524 (5th Cir. 2008). The court
must review all of the evidence in the record without making credibility determinations or weighing
14
any evidence. Moore v. Willis Indep. Sch. Dist., 233 F.3d 871, 874 (5th Cir. 2000). Additionally,
the court must disregard all evidence favorable to the moving party that the jury is not required to
believe while giving credence to the evidence favoring the non-moving party and the uncontradicted
evidence supporting the moving party. Id. However, the non-movant cannot avoid summary
judgment simply by presenting conclusory “allegations and denials, speculation, improbable
inferences, unsubstantiated assertions, and legalistic argumentation.” TIG Ins. Co. v. Sedgwick
James of Wash., 276 F.3d 754, 759 (5th Cir. 2002). By the same token, the moving party will not
meet its burden of proof based on conclusory “bald assertions of ultimate facts.” Gossett v. Du-RaKel Corp., 569 F.2d 869, 872 (5th Cir. 1978); see also Galinda v. Precision Am. Corp., 754 F.2d
1212, 1221 (5th Cir. 1985).
2.
Analysis
a.
Race & Sex Discrimination
The Texas Labor Code prohibits an employer from discriminating against its employees on
the basis of “race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age.” TEX . LAB. CODE § 21.051.
One of the purposes of this statute, according to the Texas legislature, is to provide for “the
execution of the policies of Title VII of the [federal] Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its subsequent
amendments.” Id. § 21.001(1); Quantum Chem. Corp. v. Toennies, 47 S.W.3d 473, 476 (Tex. 2001).
As a result, Texas courts use analogous federal statutes and applicable case law to guide their reading
of the Texas Labor Code’s anti-discrimination provisions. Quantum, 47 S.W.3d at 476.
When a plaintiff lacks direct evidence of discrimination in his claim of unlawful termination,
he may still prove his claim with indirect evidence through the familiar McDonnell Douglas threestep analysis. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802–04, 93 S. Ct. 1817 (1973);
Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Hines, 252 S.W.3d 496, 508 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, pet.
15
denied). First, to avoid summary judgment, a plaintiff must show a genuine dispute of material fact
as to the four elements of a prima facie case of discrimination. Willis v. Coca-Cola Enters., Inc., 445
F.3d 413, 420 (5th Cir. 2006); Hines, 252 S.W.3d at 508. To establish a prima facie case, the
plaintiff must show (1) he is a member of a protected class; (2) he was qualified for his position;
(3) he suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) others similarly situated were treated more
favorably. Willis, 445 F.3d at 420; Rutherford v. Harris Cnty., 197 F.3d 173, 184 (5th Cir. 1999).
Once the plaintiff makes this showing, the burden of production shifts to the defendant employer to
identify a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the adverse employment action. Johnson v.
Louisiana, 351 F.3d 616, 621 (5th Cir. 2003). Finally, the plaintiff, who always bears the burden
of persuasion to prove discrimination, must raise a genuine dispute of material fact that the nondiscriminatory reason is pretextual. Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133,
142–43, 120 S. Ct. 2097 (2000); Willis, 445 F.3d at 420; Hines, 252 S.W.3d at 508.
Here, even assuming that Denson has met his initial prima facie burden, defendants have
offered an undisputed, legitimate non-discriminatory reason for his termination. Enplanar, Inc. v.
Marsh, 11 F.3d 1284, 1294 (5th Cir. 1994). Specifically, Beavex produced ample evidence
regarding Denson’s discipline for rules violations, which Beavex proffers was the “direct—and the
only—reason for Plaintiff’s termination.” Dkt. 12 at 13 (citing Dkt. 12, Ex. B at 3 ¶ 11). Denson
has offered no evidence that Beavex’s “proffered reasons were false, and . . . that the real reason for
his discharge was because he was a member of a protected class.” Pegram v. Honeywell, 361 F.3d
272, 281 (5th Cir. 2004). Denson’s discrimination claims under the Texas Labor therefore may not
proceed because a rational factfinder could not find that Beavex discriminated against Denson on
the basis of race or sex. See Pratt v. City of Hous., 247 F.3d 601, 606–07 (5th Cir. 2001).
16
b.
Negligent Supervision
Denson claims that Beavex negligently supervised Montemayor, his supervisor, by permitting
her to engage in her unlawful racially and sexually discriminatory conduct. Dkt. 1, Ex. 1-B at 7.
Defendants respond that Denson’s tort claim for negligent supervision is preempted by her
antidiscrimination causes of action. Dkt. 12 at 17.
Texas courts have generally recognized that employers “have a duty to use ordinary care in
providing a safe work place.” See Leitch v. Hornsby, 935 S.W.2d 114, 117 (Tex. 1996). However,
the Texas Supreme Court has also found that the comprehensive Labor Code provisions may
supplant other general tort or administrative remedies aimed at the same conduct. Waffle House, Inc.
v. Williams, 313 S.W.3d 796, 807–08 (Tex. 2010). In Williams, the court held that the plaintiff’s
negligent supervision claim was preempted by the Labor Code because “[t]he gravamen of Williams’
complaint is sexual discrimination in the form of a hostile or abusive work environment, a wrong
the [Labor Code] was specifically designed to remedy.” Id. at 809. The Williams court explained
that the Labor Code “implements a comprehensive administrative regime, . . . affords carefully
constructed remedies, and [to allow] the alternative remedy would render the limitations in the
[Labor Code] utterly meaningless and defeat the [Labor Code’s] comprehensive statutory scheme.”
Id. at 807–08 (internal quotation marks omitted). The court was concerned that if an employee could
assert claims under the Labor Code and common law, then “employees would have little incentive
to submit to the administrative process the Legislature considered necessary to help remedy
discrimination in the workplace. Such a result would frustrate clear legislative intent.” Id. at 808.
The court agrees with the defendants in this case that Denson’s negligent supervision claim
is preempted under Williams’s reasoning. The essence of Denson’s claim for negligent supervision
is that Montemayor discriminated against him and Beavex failed to prevent or stop that conduct. He
17
has not demonstrated with actual evidence that Montemayor engaged in misconduct that would
support a tort claim outside the purview of the Labor Code. In these circumstances, Denson’s
negligent supervision claim is barred under Texas law and must be dismissed.
c.
Tortious Interference
As stated above, a plaintiff must plead and prove four elements of a tortious interference
claim: (1) the existence of a contract subject to interference; (2) the occurrence of an act of
interfernce that was willful and intentional; (3) that the act was a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s
claimed damages; and (4) that actual loss or damage occurred. Holloway, 898 S.W.2d at 795–96.
When the plaintiff alleges that an agent of a contracting party herself interfered with a contract, the
plaintiff must prove the agent acted solely in furtherance of his or her personal interests, thereby
departing from the agent’s representation of the principal’s business interests. Id. at 796.
With regard to Denson’s motion to remand, the court has already found that Denson did not
adequately plead that Montemayor acted solely in her personal interests in dismissing Denson. See
infra, Part II.A.2. And because Denson has failed to respond to defendants’ motion for summary
judgment, he has not offered any evidence to overcome his summary judgment burden in any case.
Denson’s tortious interference claim against Montemayor will therefore be dismissed.
3.
Conclusion
Denson has pled but offered no evidence to support his claims of race and sex discrimination,
negligent supervision, and tortious interference. Defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Dkt.
12) is GRANTED, and Denson’s claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
18
D.
Defendants’ Motions for Sanctions
Finally, defendants move for sanctions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(h) and 28
U.S.C. § 1927. Dkt. 22 at 8–10; Dkt. 20 at 3–7. Denson and Watts respond that defendants have
not shown “any appropriate grounds for sanctions.” Dkt. 23 at 4.
1.
Rule 56(h) Sanctions
Rule 56(h) provides the court with the power to impose appropriate sanctions “[i]f satisfied
that an affidavit or declaration under [Rule 56(h)] is submitted in bad faith or solely for delay.” FED .
R. CIV . P. 56(h). The advisory committee’s note applicable to the 2010 amendment to subdivision
(h) provides: “Sanctions are made discretionary, not mandatory, reflecting the experience that courts
seldom invoke the independent Rule 56 authority to impose sanctions.” Id. (emphasis added).
Defendants argue that Watts’s declaration filed in support of the first motion for a
continuance, coupled with his allegedly false statement in the certificate of conference, are unethical
and solely aimed at preventing the inevitable dismissal of this case. Dkt. 22 at 8–10. At the oral
hearing Watts explained that he believed that he had initiated conference with defendants at the time
of the first motion’s filing, but his statement was erroneous due to an email error that he did not
realize until June 6, when he actually initiated conference. Defense counsel responded that Watts
should have corrected the record sooner and should be held responsible for his lack of diligence.
Although this is a close case, the court cannot say, based on the record presented, that Watts’s
declaration filed with his continuance motion was done “in bad faith or solely for delay.” The
defendants’ first motion for sanctions (Dkt. 22) is DENIED.
2.
Sanctions Under § 1927
Section 1927 of Title 28 provides that an “attorney . . . who so multiplies the proceedings in
any case unreasonably and vexatiously may be required by the court to satisfy personally the excess
19
costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees reasonably incurred because of such conduct.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 1927. An attorney’s conduct may be considered unreasonable and vexatious upon a showing of
“evidence of bad faith, improper motive, or reckless disregard of the duty owed to the court.”
Edwards v. Gen. Motors Corp., 153 F.3d 242, 246 (5th Cir. 1998) (citations omitted). Because
sanctions under this section are considered penal in nature, the statute is “strictly construed.”
Travelers Ins. Co. v. St. Jude Hosp. of Kenner, La., Inc., 38 F.3d 1414, 1416 (5th Cir. 1994).
The court is quite concerned by the lack of diligence demonstrated by plaintiff’s counsel in
prosecuting this case. Watts should have dedicated at least some his time or his associates’ time to
this matter during discovery—Denson deserved no less and probably more. Watts’s explanations
for his failure are not only unpersuasive, they actually support the defendants’ position. Nonetheless,
Watts’s conduct is not so vexatious as to merit sanctions under a strict construction of 28 U.S.C.
§ 1927. Defendants’ second motion for sanctions (Dkt. 20) is DENIED.
III. CONCLUSION
Denson’s motion to remand (Dkt. 14) is DENIED, Denson’s motion for leave (Dkt. 25) is
DENIED, Denson’s first and second continuance motions (Dkts. 15 & 19) are DENIED,
defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Dkt. 12) is GRANTED, and defendants’ motions for
sanctions (Dkts. 20 & 22) are DENIED. Defendants’ initial motion for sanctions (Dkt. 16), which
was amended on July 7, 2014, is DENIED AS MOOT.
Signed at Houston, Texas on July 17, 2014.
___________________________________
Gray H. Miller
United States District Judge
20
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?