Wachtel v. JTG, Inc. et al

Filing 18

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Liam O'Grady on 8/14/2017. (awac, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Alexandria Division

Natalia Wachtel,

Plaintiff.
Civil Action No. 1:17-cv-620

Hon. Liam O'Grady
Hon. Michael S. Nachmanoff

JTG, Inc., el al.,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This matter comes before the Court on Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the Claim for

Punitive Damages (Dkt. No.7), and Defendant Ahmed Shehata's Motion to Dismiss for failure to
state a claim. (Dkt. No. 10). For the reasons set forth below, the Motion to Dismiss the Claim
for Punitive Damages is GRANTED and the Motion to Dismiss for failure to slate a claim is
DENIED.
I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff, Natalia Wachtel, is a former employee of Defendant JTG, Inc., a Virginia
corporation offering language and cross-cultural communications consulting services with its
principal place of business in Virginia. Defendant, Ahmed Shehata is the President and Chief

Executive Officer of JTG, Inc. Plaintiffwas hired by Defendants on or about April 29, 2014 in
the poshion of "Project Manager." Plaintiffwas classified in this position as a full-time, exempt,
at-will employee with an annual salary of $50,000. Plaintiff received two raises over the next
two years culminating in a salary increase to $55,620 on May 2016. Plaintiffs listed duties