Ackerson v. The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia

Filing 28

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 11/7/17. (jcj)

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f GRK' OFFI u. . Dl T. N S CE S s COURT AT m OKE, VA FIED L I THE UN I N TED STATES DI UCT COURT STI FOR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF VI GN A CT R CHA RLOTTESV I LLE DI I ON V SI N2V 2ï 2 1 27 J% ,( J D ,cLn CLER BETSY ACKERSON, Pl i if a ntf , Ci lA c i N o. 1 vi ton 3: 7cv00011 M EM O M N D U M O PI I N N O THE RECTOR AN D V I TOR S OF SI TH E UN I ERSI OF V I I I , V TY RG N A By:Hon. l n E.Conr Ge ad Unie St t sDititJ e t d a e src udg Def nda . e nt Pl i ifBe s Ac r on br ug t sa ton a i tdef nda t Re t a Viio s o antf ty ke s o ht hi c i ga ns e nt he cor nd st r f teUnv riyo Vign a(s eUn v ri ' f ru e ua p y, ip rt te t n b s d o sx, h iest f r ii Gh i est ' o n q l a d s a ae rame t a e n e t y) s x di c i i ton, a e s rm na i nd r t la i n . he c pl i t a e a i to f or r om a n s bout une l pa a qua y nd poo r a c moda i f he m e c l c ton. The ca e i pr s nty be or t c t on c om tons or r di a ondii s s ee l f e he our d fn a ts p ril mo in t d s s t e Ru e 1 () 1 o t e Fe r l Ru e o Cii ee d n ' a t a to o imis md r l 2b () f à dea ls f vl P oc d r f rlc o s b e tmatr u id cin. Fo t er ao sae b lw, h mo in Wi r p u e o a k f u j c te j rs ito r h e s ns ttd eo t e to l l be de ed. ni B ackaround l De e e 201 te Un v riy hr d Ac ro a a Prj c M a a e fr Sr tgc n c mb r 2, h i est ie kes n s oe t n g r o tae i Pln n f ro ye r Am. mp . !2 - 0 I De e e 20 3 t Unv riy sn Ac e s n a nig o ne a . Co l! 9 3 . n c mb r 1 ,he ie st e t k ro a lte no iyi he t t t Uni st had e e d he a n m e by o yea t i el r tf ng r ha he veriy xt nde r ppoi t nt ne r mtl De e e 2 , 4 De . , 3 Ex e i nLetr Do k t 1 - 9 Co l ! 6 , 8 6 . c mb r 4 201 . c 6 201 tnso te , c e No. 6 1 Am. mp . ! 3 6 - 9 . ' ' On De mbe 22, 201 a De mbe 22, 201 t Uni r iy a n e e d Ac r on' ce r 4 nd ce r 5, he ve st gai xtnde ke s s co r c f r o ye r untl Dec m be 24,201 a D e m be 24,201 r s c i l Dec.22, . nt a t o ne a i. e r 5 nd ce r 6, e pe tve y. 201 Ext nson Le tr Doc tNo.1 2;De 2 2015Extnso Le tr Doc tNo.1 3. 4 e i te , ke 6c. 2, e i n te , ke 6- Be or t lte e e i e r d,i Aprl2016,Ac r on r eve a lte ex a ni f e he a tr xt nson xpie n i ke s ec i d e tr pli ng t tt Uni r iy ha r as i ha he ve st d e sgned hert t poston ofAs it ntVi Pr t Aprl11 201 o he ii ssa ce ovos . i , 6 Ex e so Letr Do k tNo 1 tn in te , c e . 6 4.Th lte sae ta Sthi po iin i l td i tr a d e etr ttd h t t l s sto s i e n em n l mi c udesD e e be 24,201 ' I oncl cm r 7. d. 1 l J 201 Ac r on fl d a Cha ge ofDicrm i to wih t Equa Em pl n une 6, ke s ie r s i nai n t he l oyme nt Op o tnt Co sin (EEOC' f rsx a d ds b ly- s d d srmi ai n a d rtlain p ru i mmiso & y & ' o t n ia ii ba e ic i n to n eaito . ) t Cha ge of Dic i nai n,Doc t No. 1 Ex.B. I t c r , Ac r o alege t t t r s rmi to ke 4 n he ha ge ke s n l d ha he Uni r iy ha r t it d a i the f e r ii he rgh s unde t Eq lPa Ac o 1 ve st d eala e gans r or xe csng r i t r he ua y t f 963 ($ ' 2 U. C.j20 ( ) a d t e Re a itto Ac,2 U. C.j7 4 e s q. Ac es n G EPA', 9 S. ) 6 d , n h h bl ain t 9 S. i 9, t e k ro rc ie h rEEOC Noieo lih t S eo J n ay 1 ,2 7 Am.Co l !9 a d fldhe e ev d e tc f tg t o u n a u r 2 01 , mp . , n ie r orgi c i nal ompli on Fe a y 15, 7. ant bnz r 201 On J 2, 7,heUni r iy s ntAc r on alte t tsa e i pe tne pa t une 201 t ve st e ke s e tr ha t t d, n ri nt r: g q u l tdtn a p it n wi te Uniest i s tt e pr b iso ' o r i e -e u p o nme t t h Y mi h v ri s e o x ie y t wn y t r on De mbe 24,201 Aswassa e i t e- a lt yo c e ms ce r 7. tt d n he m i o ur ouns lo M a e n y 24,201 t tda ei co it ntwiht c ntnued a r pi co e i ofne ry 7, ha t s nsse t he o i nd a d mplton al a 1ofyo l r s nsbiii s ...l lghtoft f r ng,t s c in t tyo l tr e po i lte . n i he o egoi hi onflns ha ur c r nta n m e wih t Uni r iy wile on De e be 24,201 a wil ure ppoit nt t he ve st l nd cm r 7 nd l no be r ne e t e w d. JJ! 1 5 4 Jme2, 7No ieo No -e p it n , c tNo 1 Ex. -. ! 4 - 7; t IS 201 tc f n r a ponme tDo ke . 4 A. Ac r on t n fl d a n e d c ke s he ie n m nde ompli ,i whih s pl a t t C ant n c he e ds ha C UVA r t lat e ai ed agans Acke s i Jme201 whe i srppe Ac r on o dute a notfed Ac r o t ti i t ron n t 7 n t ti d ke s f i s nd i ke s n ha t woul no r ne he c r t i De mbe 201 t r by t r na i Ac r on' e pl e d t e w r ontac n ce r 7, he e e mi tng ke s s m oym nt e fcie De e e 2 7. Am.Co .! 1 5 (eaito u d r te EPA) s e La!21 fe tv c mb r 01 ' ' mpl 8 rtlai n n e h ;e d s 7 (eaitonunde t Re biiain Ac) Thes mealgai f r t basso pli ifsne rtlai r he ha ltto t. n le ton o ms he i f antf' w Co V f rtlain unde Til V1 ft Ci lRiht Ac of 1 unt or eaito r te 1o he vi g s t 964,42 U. C.52000e S. , e s c I . !2 - 3. t el d ! 010 . The de e n hasm ove t dim is CountV a t ot rpa ag a i t a e d f nda t d o s s nd he he r r phs n he m nde c mpan c n anig smi ralg to f rlc o s be tmatrj ds it n. Th d fn n o lit o ti n i l le ains o a k f u j c te u dci a o e ee da t co e t tAc r o hasf ie t e us t r t iton cai sma i t e pori oft nt nds ha ke s n al d o xha t he eala i l m de n hos tons he a e m nded co a nta t t tt pl i ifha no s ts i d t pr r quiie f rf r lc t mpli nd hus ha he antf s t aife he e e st o ede a our J iditon i t sm a tr ' s ci n hi te . ur The pa te di notr ue t a hea i on t moto The m a tr has now be n f ly ri s d eq s rng he i n. te e ul bre e a i rpe f rr vi w. i f d nd s i o e e st andard ofRe e viw Rue 1 b ()p o i e f rte ds s a o camso e wh c t c u tlc s s b e t l 2()1 r v d s o h imis l f li v r ih he o r a k u j c ma trj rs ito W h r ,$ shee a d fnd n c aln e t e itn e o s b e tma tr te u id cin. e e û r , ee a t h le g s he xse c f u j c te a J idi to i f t he pl i if be r t bur n of pr ng t t t of s h f t by a ' s ci n n ac,t ur antf a s he de ovi he nzh uc acs p e o d rnc o t e ie c . U. e rlVu yu u v.J d v 5 5 F.d 3 7 3 7 (t Ci. rp n ea e f he vd n e' S. x e y r ' a ha , 5 3 3 , 4 4 h r 2009) l rviwi s hac le ac 'S yr gadt pl di asmeee de eont . n e e ng uc halnge, oul G e r he ea ngs t ma r vi nc he is a m a co i revi nce o sdet pladi wihoutco ri t pr e ng t o s ue nd y nsde de uti he e ngs t nve tng he oce di o ne f rsl r u g n . Vea c v. v' o Id ne i, 7 F.d3 2 3 8( t Ci. 0 4 . o l mmayj d me t' ls o Go t f n o sa 3 0 3 9 , 9 4h r 2 0 ) ' Di scuss on i A pli ifs f iur t fl a c r wih t EEOC a t e us he a i sr tve a ntf' a l e o ie ha ge t he nd o xha t r dm nita i r med e unde Til V1 be or flng a Til VI cam i f de a c tde i s t cou tof e is r te 1 f e i te 1 li n e r l our prve he r . . * s b e tmatr u idcin o rt ecam. J ne v. l r Gr u Lt , 51F.d29 3 0( t u l c te J rs ito ve h li o s Cavet o p. d.5 3 7, 0 4h * D ee ntas m ove t dim is c ran algai ofr aiton unde pli ifsEPA a Re ltton A c fnda lo s o s s e ti le tons etlai r antf ' nd habiiai t cams b tiino ce rt th s camsaes be totee h uto r q ie n u nwhihted fn a trl s li , u ts t la ha to e li r u jc t h x a sin e urme t po c h ee d n ei . e Th EP d e n trqietepanift ehutami srt rme isbeoebigijaca nu drt EP i e A o s o eur h lit o x as d nitai e de fr rn n lh n e he A n f ve fd rlc ut S eCo nyo Wahilo v Gu tr 4 2U. 1 ,1 5n1 (98 ) Sml ry,h panifma n t e ea o r. e u t f s n n . ne, 5 S. 61 7 ,4 1 1. i l l te litf y o a b sb ett a e h uto rq ie n frh rcam u d rteRe blainAc. Se 0t v Maya dDe to e u jc o n x a sin e urme t o e li n e h ha ii to t e 1 . rln p' f t Pu .S ft & Co Sev .No CV 1 8-63 9 2 7WL 3 08 8 , t* ( Md Au , 2, 01 )Ct rcams b aey m r s, . 0 1 -3 4, 01 6 1 1 a 5 D. . g 2 2 7 Fo li b o g tp ru n t j5 4 o te Re a ltto Ac (9 U. C.j7 4 aj apanifi n rq ie t e a s r u h u sa t o 0 f h h bi ain t 2 S. i 9 (), litf s ot e urd o xh u t a miitaierme is' (leainsa ditr a q oainmak o t d) Bu seS e e v Asco 1 F. d nsrtv e de.) atrto n nen l u tto rs mit l. t e p ncr . h ri, 47 ' e Ap x3 3, 75(t Ci. 0 )(Th Re a itto Ac e pe syi opoae tesa d r so teAmeia swi p' 7 3 4h r20 5 $ e h blain t x rsl nc r rts h tn ad f h 1 i rc n t h 3 Ci. 0 9 ;S t v. rtUn o Na' Bn k 2 2 F.d 23 2 7 ( t Ci. 0 ) A plitf' r 2 0 ) mih Fis i n tl n , 0 3 4, 4 4h r 20 0 . anifs EEOC c r de s t s pe ofhe rghtt s i f de alc t J s 551 F. a 300. ha ge sne he co r i o ue n e r our. one , 3d t çonl t e dicrmi ton ca ms sa e i t i ta c r t e r a ona y r lt d t t ç y hos s i nai li t t d n he niil ha ge, hos e s bl ea e o he or gi l co pl i , a t e de l i na m a nt nd hos ve oped by r as bl i tga i of t or gi l co pl n e ona e nves i ton he i na m ai t n a bemanan di as bs q n Ti eVl lws i. 1 (nen l u tto mrk o te ) ty iti e n u e ue t t 1 a u t' d.itr a q oain l ' s mitd . Ho ve ,t Fourh Cic tha r cog z a e pto t t e usi r quie nt we r he t r ui s e ni ed n xce i n o he xha ton e r me f ce t n r t lai n c am s apli ifm a r ie f t fr ttm ei f de alcour t c am t t or rai e ai to l i : antf y a s or he is i n e r t he l i ha he e oye r t la e a i the f rflng a EEOC c r N e l v.St ne 958 F. 584, r mpl r e ai t d gans r o ii n ha ge. a on o , 2d 5 0 (t Ci. 1 9 ) Th s e c p in i Sh ie i bl c r l r o gh F u t Cic i') 9 4h r 9 2 . i x e to s G e n vt e o ol y f t e o rh ru ts t a a ge r ly a c pt prncpl t t t s ope of a Til V1 lws tm a e e t a ki of ne al c e ed i i e ha he c te 1 a ui y xt nd o ny nd dic i i ton lke or r a e t al ga i c ane i t c r a gr w i o of s h s rm na i i elt d o le tons ont i d n he ha ge nd o ng ut uc alg to sd rn te p nd n y o t c s b f r t ( le ain u ig h e e c f he a e eo e he EEOCI' I (n en lq oain mak . d. itr a u tto r s ' omitd . Thi r edoe not' yi ca e i whih apl ntf co dha alege rtlai i te ) s ul s a ppl n s s n c ai if ul ve l d eaiton n ieiiilc ag t t EEOC, u ddno d s Cu e ln e v KCL Si Se v .LLC, v l h n ta h r e o he b t i t o o. mb ra d r . t r s. e Cii AcinNo. 8 9 4 2 0 W L 49 1 4, t* ( D. . c 1 , 0 ) to 0-9,09 27 4 a 3 E. Va De . 7 20 9 . ' The pa tesdiput whe he t sc e f lswihi t a bi o Ne on orClmbe lnde . ri s e t r hi as al t n he m t f al l ra r The de e nt a g s t t t s ca e r s mbl Cum be l r be a e t r l va a r e f nda r ue ha hi s e e es rande c us he e e nt dve s e pl ym e e nt o ur ed i Apr l 201 whe t U ni r iy no ii d pl ntf he c r c m o nt ve cc r n i 6 n he ve s t tf e ai i f r ont a t woul e r on D e e be 24,201 The de e ntc z t r z s t J 201 l te a a m e e ' d xpie cm r 7. f nda ha ac e i e he une 7 e tr s r r m i roft U ni r iy' de i i t t r i t t pl i if s e pl e i D e m be 201 e nde he ve s t s c s on o e m na e he a ntf m oym nt n ce r 7. At mos, ac or ng t t de e n , t nonr ne a of pli ifs co r c wa a m e e t c di o he f nda t he e w l antf nta t s r c eque e oft Uni r iy' pr o de s on t t r i t he e pl e e f ctve D e m be ons nc he ve s t s i r ci i o e m na e r m oym nt f e i ce r Dia iie Ac ( sblis t ADA) TheADA,i tr ,olwstep wes rme isa dpo e u e stfrhi TieVI o te t . n u n flo h o r,e de n rc d rs e ot n t 1 f h l Ci i Riht Ac o 1 6 a a n e . Th s l e a Ti e V1 plitf S e e wa r q ie t e h u th r v l g s t f 9 4, s me d d u, i k t 1 ar it p nc r s e ur d o x a s e l l a mi srt erme isbeo eisiuigalws i.)(nen lctto sa dq oainmak o te l. d nitai e de fr n tttn a ut' itr a i in n u tto r s mi d) v ' a t 4 2 ,2 7 Se De . Br 4 (iig Dea r S aeCo lc v Rik ,4 9U. 25 ( 9 0 ,a d 4 01 . e f' . ctn lwa e tt le e . c s 4 S. 0 1 8 ) n s Chad n v.Fema d z 45 U. 6 ( 9 1,whih g n r ly h l t tte saue o l tto s ro l n e , 4 S. 1 8 ) c e e al o d ha h tt t f i ain mi be ns t r n whe a a r e e pl e t e nt s h asno i e ofa f t r t r i ton,occ s gi o u n n dve s m oym n ve , uc tc u u e e m na i ur , n t whe t e l y n tn n ts o a ohe c n e u l e o t e a v re e e to cls, o n he mp o me t e ui ae r n t r o s q ei f h d e s v n c t ) c r Pl i if ho ve ,a guest tt r l va ad r e e o e e ntwast J 201 lte , antf, we r r ha he e e nt ve s mpl ym nt ve he une 7 e tr wlih,be us i occ r d a tr s ûld he c r a c lc ca e t ure fe he e r ha ge nd ompl i ,r e bl t e nt i ant es m es he ve n Ne on a pr de a ba i f t ne al ga i of r t iton i he n e al nd ovi s s s or he w le tons eala i n r m nded c ompl i ant wiho r uii a s ond EEOC c r t ut eq rng ec ha ge. Thus t s diput bois do t whdhe t J , hi s e l wn o r he une 201 lte wa m e e y a r m i r of a e rir a r e e oym e e n or t diput d 7 e tr s r l e nde n a le dve s mpl nt ve t he s e e pl e e ntis l. m oym nt ve t e f The c tbei ve t tt J 201 lte wast lter Be us t Uni r iy ha our le s ha he une 7 et r he a t . ca e he ve st d pr vi l s t t lm is whe e e ng pl i if s e pl m e w iho e e or i t e e ousy e enn i t n xt ndi a ntf ' m oy nt t ut ver nf c ng hos lmis t co t be ive t t t Aprl 201 lte di no c l i y e tbls t t t i t , he ur le s ha he i 6 e tr d t oncusvel s a ih ha he pl i ifsempl e woul bet r na e i Dec mbe 201 Ra he ,t Apdl2016 lte l f antf oym nt d e mi t d n e r 7. t r he e tr e t ope t pos i lt t tpli ifse oyme c d bee e n he sbiiy ha antf' mpl nt oul xtnded a a 1ofpl i ipsprort r s s l antf i em ofe oyme ha be n. The J 201 lte i or d t pl i iff t frttm e t the mpl nt d e une 7 e tr nf me he antf or he is i ha r c r c woul notbe r ne e Cours ha r ogni d t t( r a em pl ye s ks r ne al ont a t d e w d. t ve ec ze ha t whe e n o e ee e w of az e oym e t c r c ,no r ne l o a e oyme c r c c tt t a a r e l mpl n onta t n-e wa f n mpl nt onta t onsiues n dve s e oyme a ton f pur es o Til VI .... Se Lebo t v.Cor l Uni ,58 F. mpl nt c i or pos f te l ' e i wiz ' ne l v. 4 3d 48 ,5 (d Ci. 0 9 (olcigc s sfo ohe crut e p iil a di lct h l igt e 7 01 2 r 2 0 ) c le tn a e ' m t r ic is x lcty n mp iil o dn h r y s me .Thus t c tfndst tt sc er s e t ca sofc s si iidi Ne on. a ) ,he our i ha hi as eembls he ls a e dentfe n al Be us t Jme 201 lte is d a trlt pl ntf fl d he EEOC c r , t ca e he t 7 e tr s ue fe he ai if ie r ha ge he pli tf sr t lai n cai sba ed on t lte ne d no be a i sr tvel e use s l ng a a n if e ai to l m s he e tr e t dm nita i y xha t d o o s t pl i ifa lgest tt nom e walofhe c r c oc ur e asr s tofhe slng t EEOC he antf le ha he ne r onta t c r d e ul r i he c r ha ge. I a a s t t co tt t t pli if ha done s Be us a ac m a by a t ppe r o he ur ha he antf s o. ca e n t de n e pl ye i r t lai f rt flng ofa EEOC c r i r as bl r lt t t c r e,no m o r n e ai ton o he ii n ha ge s e ona y e aed o hat ha g a to lc ddiina hrgei rquie J s 551F. a 304 (e ogni ngt twhe eNe l a is i s e rd. one , 3d t r c zi ha r aon pple , t ( e til tlsu t a ( panifs rtlain cam rltsb c t t frtEEOC c a g '. t rany el s h t t li tf') eaito li eae a k o he is c he h r e' ) Thus t pli if di not ne d t e us a nita i r m e e t i , he antf d e o xha t dmi sr tve e di s o nvoke f r l c ur ede a o t jlidcino e h rcamso r tl to b s do t eJ n 2 7lte. t s ito v r e li f eai in a e n h u e 01 etr r a Ac o dngy t e c u tlnd ta i ha s be tmatrj rs ito o e te p rin o c r i l, h o r s h t t s u j c te u idcin v r h o t s f o pl i ifs n e antf m nded co pl i alegi r t iton bas o t nom e m ant l ng eala i ed n he newa of he co r c i l r nta t n J 201 une 7. Conc us bn l i ' u Fort r as sae t c t l de t de e ntspa ta m oto t dimis. The he e ons tt d, he our wil ny he f nda ' ri l i n o s s Clr i die t t s nd c esoft sm e and opi on a t a ompan ng o de t al e k s r ced o e opi hi mor um ni nd he cc yi r r o 1 c m s lofr co d. ot e e r a r v mb r 1 . oA'Eo: in V d yo xo e e, 20 7 r Ths Unied St t Diti tJ t aes src udge 6

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