Barnes v. Sam's east Wholesale club # 8220 et al

Filing 30

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 7/16/2015. (lab)

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I THE UN I
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FOR TH E W ESTERN D I
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RG N A
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J 1' 2 1
UL
25
J
ULA C.
BY:
s

CLERK
.

SHI
RLEY A .BA RN ES,

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y'

Ci lA cton N o.7:
vi
i
15CV 00217
Pl ntf ,
ai if
M EM O M N DU M O PIN IO N
H on.Gl E.Conr
en
ad
Chi U nied St esD it i Judge
ef t
at
s rct

l ,
SAI Is EAST,w c .1qtgk,
M'
.

Def
endant
s.

ShilyA. r wa prvi l e oyedbySa ' EatI .ssa ' C1 'a isrti
re Banes s e ousy mpl
m s s,nc td m s ub' t t eal
)
w ar
ehous cl i Roanoke,Vi ni B a nes com m enced t sacton r at t t t m i i
e ub n
rgi a. r
hi i el ed o he er naton
ofherem pl entby tlng a pr K com pl nton M a 6, 5. Shenn ed a def nt Sn '
oym
ii
o
ai
y 201
m
s enda s m s
.

Cl he f m e s pe v s , i hol s Sa ha ,he f m e c or r Rac lHous he f m e
ub; r or r u r i or N c a l ny' r or r ow ke , he
e; r or r
at or
t ney,Ter y Grm es;and Thom asE.Bow ers,t Com m onw ealh' A tor f t Ciy of
r i
he
t s t ney or he t

Salm, r ni Thec tg a t Banesl vet pr e t f mapa rs anddie tdt
e Vigi a.
our r ned r ea o oc ed q or
upei,
rce he
U nie St t M a s lt s r t de e
t d a es r ha o e ve he f ndant . The de e nt s e nty m ove t dim i s
s
f nda s ubs que l
d o s s
B a ne 'com pl i . Ra he t n r s ndi t t def nda s m o i ,Ba ne fl d am oton f
r s
a nt
t r ha e po ng o he e nt ' tons r s ie
i or
l a t a e he c pl nt al w ih a pr pos a ende c pl i . The nm e d
e ve o m nd r om ai , ong t
o ed m
d om a nt
nde
co pl i addsas d e nt Donal S.Ca dw e l t Com m onw e t sAtor y f rt Ciy of
m a nt
ef nda s
d
l l, he
alh' t ne o he t
Roa ke Vi gi a a D a r lGr ha ,t D i e t r oft Ri hm ond of i e oft Equa
no , r ni , nd r el a m he r c o
he c
fc
he
l

Emplyme OpporuniyCommison(i
o nt
t t
si $
EEOC' .
'
)
Fort f l i r ons,t courtw ilgr B ar m oton f l
he olow ng eas
he
l ant nes' i or eave t fie an am ended
o l
com pl nt H ow ever t cl m sas ed i t am ended com pl ntagai G rm es,Bow ers
ai .
, he ai
sert n he
ai
nst i
,

1D ef ntSmn' Eas. l i i ore l na e i t pli ifscom pl ntasSa ' Eas W hol al
enda
s t nc. s nc r cty m d n he antf
ai
m s t
es e
Cl /8220. Thedockets lbe anended t r fec t sdef ntsc r ctna
ub /
hal
l
o e l t hi enda ' ore me.

Cad la Grhnm wilbedimis dpurua t 28U. C.j1915( ( ( , ndBaneswilbe
lwel, nd a
l
s s e s nt o
S.
e)2)B)a
r
l
r quied t r pond t t r m a ni de e n s m oton t di m i st a e d co pl ntz
e r o es
o he e i ng f nda t ' i o s s he m nde m ai .
Backaround

Ba ne w ase pl
r s
m oyed by Sam ' Cl f a oxi a e y 21 yea s H e em pl ym e w a
s ub or ppr m t l
r. r
o nt s
t r i t d on Fe ua y 4, 4. Att tm e ofhe t r i ton, r w a as i
e m na e
br r 201
he i
r e m na i Ba nes s sgned t w o k asa
o r

me rgree , t he docorsopi o t ts i k rilyha c pl dl' Am.Co .
mbe e tr due o r t ' nin ha he s s tal ndia pe .'
pa
mpl

!8
.
A f w dayspr o t Ba nes t nni to a whie m a e e e Sa ' Cl a a oa he
e
i r o r ' e na i n,
t n nt r d m s ub nd ppr c d
Ba nes B e a e he di no ha am e be s p c r Ba nesdie t d hi t t c t e s r c
r . c us
d t ve
m r hi a d, r
r c e m o he us om r e vi e
c er The m a s eq nty s i t t o c put r . W he Ba nesw a t r i t d,he
ount .
n ubs ue l hoplfed w om e s
n r
s e m na e
r
s r s , i hol Sa ha a a t r e pl ye Rac lH ous ,ac us d Ba ne ofbe ng
upe vior N c as l ny, nd no he m o e, he
e c e
r s
i
r ponsbl f t t oft com put s.
es
i e or he heft he
er

Folow i he t r i ton, r sr t i d Te r Grm e t r pr e he . Grm e fl d a
l ng r e m na i Ba ne e a ne r y i s o e es nt r
i s ie
char ofdi i i i wih t EEO C on Bar
ge
scrm naton t he
nes'behal . A fert EEOC i sued a r ghtt s
f
l he
s
i o ue

l t r Grm esnotte Ba nest the i e
ete , i
ii d r ha
nt nded t w ihd a f om r pr e i he . Gr m est n
o t rw r
e es ntng r
i
he

s ntBane abilf t s r c sr nde e i c
e
r s l or he e vi e e r d n onneci wih t EEOC pr e ngs
ton t he
oce di .
On Fe ua y 11 201 Ba ness ntTho asE.
br r , 5, r
e
m
Bow e s t Com m onw e lh' A to ne f
r , he
a t s t r y or
t Ciy ofSal m ,a l te r que tng a ' el i s i ton oft s il ng c i e t tw a
he t
e
e tr e si
s ony nve tga i
f
he hoplfi rm ha s

2Ba nesmove t a
r
d o mendhercompl nton J 1 ,201 l st n 21daysafe Sa ' Cl Sal ny,
ai
une 9
5,es ha
tr m s ub, ha

a dHo s tldt imoto t ds s. Pu s a toFe ea Rul o Ci l oc d r 1 ()1( , r e wa
n u e ie her in o imis ru n t d rl e f viPr e u e 5a( )B) Ban s s
enttedt amend hercompl nta am atrofcour east t s def
il o
ai s
te
s
o he e endant Acc di y,Sa ' Cl
s.
or ngl m s ub,
Sal
hany,and Hous consder d t a
e
i e he mende compl i t ha beenfld onJ l9,2015,a r ponded
d
ant o ve
ie
une
nd es

wi n f re nda stee fe , srqurdb Rue1 ()3 .
t ou te y h ra tr a e ie y l 5 a()
hi

c
ommitda g m' Cl on1J nuar 29, 4. l !31. Bane ltrlanedt tt rti
te t sa s ub
a y 201 7 d.
5
r s ae e r ha he eal
wae ecl i l t i Chej iditonoft g noke polc de rme . 1 !35.
rhous ub s ocaed n d urs ci
t
he Roa q ie pa t nt' d.
'
Bar ,pr
nes oceedi pro K a L f mapa rs fl t i t nt to a i tSam'
ng
nd q or
upei, ied he nsa acin gans
s
.

Cl Sa ha H o e,Gr m es a Bow e son M a 6,201 On J 19,2015,Ba ne fl a
ub, l ny, us
i , nd
r
y
5.
une
r s ied
m o i n f r l a t a e he e pl i . The am e
t o o e ve o m nd r om a nt
nded c pl i na est o addii l
om a nt m w
tona
de e nt ,
f nda s EEOC D iec orD a r lGr ha ,a D ona d S.Cal e l t Co m onw e lh'
r t
r el a m nd
l
dw l, he m
at s
Ator f t Ciy ofRoanoke.
t ney or he t
D i si
scus on

Under28U. C.j1 5,whi go r t f mapa rspr e ngs t c ti
S.
91
ch vens q or
upei oce di ,he our s
die t d t di m i sa c eta a tm e ' ft co tde e m i t tt c s i f i ous m a i i ,
r c e o s s as t t ny i ' i he ur t r nes ha he a e s rvol , lc ous
f ist s a e a c a m ,o s e da a s f o s eone who i i m une f o s h r le . 28 U . C.
a l o t t l i r e ks m ge r m om
sm
r m uc e i f
S.

j1 5()2)B) Tos vi dimislf fiur t saeacai apl ntf mus esabls Sa a
91 e( ( .
ur ve s sa or al e o tt l m, ai if t t ih ç cil
f
pl us biiy' by pl di Sf c ua co e t ta l t c rt o dr w t r s bl i e e e
a i lt '
ea ng ûa t l nt nt ha lows he ou t a he ea ona e nf r nc
t tt de e nti la e f t m i co uc a l ge ' A s r tv.l l 556 U . 662,678
ha he f nda s i bl or he s nd t le d.
' hc of qba ,
S.

( ) ( botom,apl ntf mus C
2009 . C
At t
ai if t nudgeg r camsacos t lnefom co eva et
hej li r s he i r
nc i bl o

plu il' or ss ds s a. W a Mo eDog ,
a sb e t e it imis l' g r
'
s LLC v Co a t6 0F.d 3 9 3 4 6 (t Ci.
. z r, 8 3 5 , 6 - 5 4h r
201 ( i BelAt.Co p. Twombl 550U. 5 570(
2) quotng l l r y.
y,
S. 44,
2007). Whieapr y ltga '
)
l o - ii nts
q
pla ngsaelbeal c tue Gor nv. e 574F. 11 11 ( hCi.1 ) apr >
e di r i rly onsr d, do Le ke,
2d 47, 51 4t r 978, o .
q
com pl ntm us s ilcont n suf i entf sût r s ari t r i above t s
ai
t tl
ai
fci act to ai e ght o elef
he pecul i l '
atve evel'
and ûs at a cl m t r i t i pl i e on is f ' Twom bl 550 U . at555,570.
st e ai o elef hat s ausbl
t ace.'
v,
S.
1.

Sam ' Cl D ef
s ub
endants

Li aly consr
ber l
tued,Bar
nes'am ended com pl ntalegest Sam ' Cl unl f l
ai l
hat
s ub aw uly

t r i t d he e pl e ba e upon he a r c a di a lt a t tSa ha a Hous
e m na e r m oym nt s d
r ge, a e, nd s biiy, nd ha l ny nd
e

de a e herby cai ngt ts wa r s nsbl f t s plfi i i ntt tpr c dhe
fm d
l mi ha he s e po i e or he ho itng nc de ha e ede r

tr nai Sa sCl Sal ny,a Hous ( l tvey,ûheSa sCl dee nt' ha
e mi ton. m' ub, ha nd
e coleci l û
t m' ub fnda s' ve
)
m ovedt dim i st am ended com pl nt. To t ext B ar alegest ts w ast nat i
o s s he
ai
he ent nes l
ha he
enni ed n

vi a i oft A m e i nsw ih D ia lte A c , he Sa ' Cl de e
ol ton he
rca
t s biii s t t
m s ub f ndan s a gue t ts h c a m
t r
ha uc l i

i s j c t dimis lbe us iha no be n a nitai l e used. Tot e e Bar s
s ub e t o s s a ca e t s t e dmi srtvey xha t
he xtnt ne
a l gest ts w a t r i t d i vi a i ofTil V 1 oft Ci lRi ht Ac a t A ge
le
ha he s e m na e n ol ton
te l he vi g s t nd he

Dici nai i Empl
s rmi ton n
oymentAc,heSa sCl dee nt aguet ts hcli aes b e t
tt m' ub fnda s r ha uc ams r u j c
t di m i s lbe a e Ba ne f ie t f l s tw ihi 90 da ofr c i ng a r ghtt s l te f o
o s s a c us r s a l d o ie ui t n
ys e e vi
i o ue e t r r m
t EEO C. Li w i e t Sa ' Cl def nda sa guet ta cl i f s a
he
ke s , he m s ub e nt r
ha ny a m or l nder lbel or
,i ,

dea to i bar byt oneyea saut oflmiainss tf t i Vigi aCodej8. - 1
fmain s red he - r tt e i tto e orh n r ni
01247..
The c tde i t c i rt Sa ' Cl def nda s a g e sa t stm e s nc
our clnes o ons de he m s ub e nt ' r um nt t hi i , i e
Ba e hasnothad t opporuniy t r s nd. The c t ilr quie Ba nest fl a r pons
m s
he
t t o e po
our w l e r r
o ie ny es
e

t t Sa ' Cl de e nt moton t dim iswihi 21da
o he m s ub f nda s' i o s s t n
ys.
l1.

G ri es
m

Ba ne s m a iy c a m st ts i e tted t da a s f o Ter y Gr m es he f m er
r s um r l l i ha he s n il o m ge r m
r i , r or
a t ne f r ç nt ntona i l c i ofe otona dit e s'a C a i i pr e uton. Am .
tor y, o s e i l nti ton
i
m i l s r s ' nd s lc ous os c i '
m
'
Com pl 6. H ow e r he a e d c pl i i e ie y de d ofa l ga i s fc e t s ts y
.
ve , r m nde om a nt s ntr l voi
le tons uf i nt o a i f
t e e e sofeihe c us ofac i n.3 Se M as n v.Salypor Gl
he l m nt
t r a e
to
e
o
l t obalH ol ngs l ,98 F.
di , nc. 7

Su 2d707,71 ( D.Va. 3)(d'edifvor t tofi e i li lci ofe i l
pp.
0 E.
201 kf sa ed or ntntona nfiton motona
-h
di tes r quiesc
sr s e r onduc , e uli i s ve eem otona di tes , ha i ; o out a ous i c r c e ,
t r s tng n e r
i l sr s t t s s
r ge
n ha a t r

3Tot extntB a nesi e
he e
r nt nded t as e ta cl m f l m apr tceagai tG rm e , heralega i
o sr
ai or egal l aci
ns i s
l tons
t
l C.
ar i ufi e t sae apl i e cai f r lef SeeRute v.J e Bl
e ns tcint o tt
ausbl l m or e i .
tr on s, echman,W olz & Kely,P. ,568
-

S. 2d6 3 69 ( . 0 )(A c us o a to f rlga map a tc rq rstee se eofa at n y cin
E. 9 , 5 Va 20 2 ç a e f cin o e l lr cie e uie h xitnc n tore -le t
$
r a i hi whih ga rs t adut br achoft tdut by t def nta t ney,a t da
eltons p c ve ie o
y, e
ha y he enda tor
nd he magescl med by
ai
t pl ntf clentm us havebeenpr mat yca e byt de e
he ai if i
t
oxi el us d he f ndanta t ney' br ach. l t a e eofany
tor s e
n he bs nc

ij r ord ma e t eei noc u eofa to ' .
nu y a g ,h r s a s ein.)
'

a s e r m e i de ee ast go be
nd o xt e n gr , o
yond a lbounds ofde e y,a t be r ga ded a a r ous
l
c nc nd o
e r
s toci ,

a utel i olrbl i aci lze c
nd try nt ea e n vii d ommuniy.')(uoi Rus ov. hie 400S. 2d l 1
t '' q tng s W t,
E. 60, 62

( .1 ),Le sv.Kei708S. 2d 88 88 ( 2011 (tnana tonf maii
Va 991) wi
.
,
E. 4, 9 Va. ) ûl
ci or lcous
pr e uton,t pli ifmus pr f ee nt:ha t pr e utonwa ( )maiius ()
os c i he antf
t ove our lme s t the os c i
s 1 lco ' 2
,

i tt edb orwiht c rto oft de e nt ( wihoutpr ba ec us a (
nsiut y
t he oope ain he f nda ; 3) t
o bl a e; nd 4)
tr nae i amame notunf r bl t t pli if' Acc r i y,he cai a ns
emi td n
l r
avo a e o he antf.
).
o dngl r l ms gai t

Grmeswilbedimis purua t 28U. C.j1 5()2)B)
i
l
s sed s nt o
S.
91 e( ( .
1
11.

Bow ers and C al el
dw l

Thom as Bow ersand Donal Cal
d dwel ar m entoned onl i CountFourofB ar
l e
i
yn
nes'
am ended com pl nt I t count B ar cl m s t tshe pr ousl sentBow er t
ai . n hat
, nes ai ha
evi y
s, he

Commonwe t sAto ne f t Ciy ofSa e ,alte r ue tng t the i tgaet
alh' tr y or he t
l m et r eq si ha
nvesi t he
s itng c i e t tw a co m it a Smu' Cl on J nua y 29,201 a t tunbe
hoplfi r m ha s m ted t
s ub
a r
4, nd ha
know ns t
to

he,h wae o s cu i lc tdwihntej rs ito o t eRo no poied pat n . S e
rt e r h u e lb s o ae t i h u id cin f h a ke lc e rme t h
a kst tt c ti s a or rr quii t tB o e sa Ca dw e l t Co m onw e t s
s ha he our s ue n de e rng ha w r nd l l, he m
alh'
Ator y f t Ciy ofRoa
t ne or he t
noke,i tga e t i i nt
nvesi t he nc de .

Unde t fde a ma mussaut dititc 'sha j iditontoc
r he e r l nda
tt e, src oul ve urs ci û ompela ofier
t
t
n fc
or e pl ee oft Unied St t orany a ncy t r t pe f a dut owe t t pl i if'
m oy
he t
a es
ge
he eof o r onn
y
d o he a ntf '

28U. C.j 1
S.
361. Howe r Se r lcou t ha nogenea po rt c
ve ,t de a rs ve
f
rl we o ompe acin bysae
l to
tt
ofi il. Da sv.La i 851F. 72,75( Ci.1 ,s eas I r Car No.86- 4,
tcas' vi
'
nsnc,
2d
2d r 988) e lo n e r,
.
801

1 U. App.
986 S. LEXI 37 a *1( hCi. t24,1 (d derlc t onl ha ma mus
S 484, t 4t r Oc . 986) t
Fe a ours y ve nda

j rs ito o e f d rlo tcas F d rlc u t h venoj rs ito t c mpe saeo fcast
u idcin v r e ea fiil. e ea o rs a
u id cin o o l tt fiil o
pef m adut unde saelw, e sf rl urs cini s wa i rd. Suc i no t
ror
y
r tt a unls edea j idito s ome y mpaie
h s t he
ca ehee.'. Be a eBower a Cadweli t i r peci c pa te a Co
s r'
) c us
s nd l l,n her es tve a ciis s mmonwe t s
alh'

A tor f t Ciy of Sal and Com m onw ealh' Ator f t Ciy ofRoanoke,ar sat
t ney or he t
em
t s t ney or he t
e te

ofi i s t co tl kst a t iy t gr ntt r le r ques e by Ba nes A c or ng y,he
t c al , he ur ac he u hort o a he e i f e
td
r . c di l
r
cl i s a i tBowe sa Ca dw e lw ilbe di m i s d.
a m ga ns
r nd l l l
s se
G raham

l he a e d c pl i ,Ba nesls s EEOC D ie t D a r l G r ha a a a tona
n r m nde om a nt r
it
r c or r e l a m s n ddii l
def
endant H ow ever t am e
.
, he
nded com pl ntcont ns no alegatons ofwrongdoi by Gr
ai
ai
l i
ng
aham .

Ac or ngl a cam agans Grhn i as s j tt dimis l
c di y, ny li
i t a m s lo ubec o s sa.
Concl on
usi

Fort r a o s a e t co tw ilg a Ba ne 'm oton f r l a t f l a n e
he e s ns t t d, he ur l r nt r s
i o e ve o ie n m nded
c pl i . He c a m si t a e
om a nt
r l i n he m nded co pl nta ns Grm e ,
m ai gai t i s Bow e s Ca d el,a Gr ha
r , l w l nd a m

wi bed s se wih u p eu ie p s a tt 28U.. j 1 5 e( )B) a Ba wswil e
l imis d t o t rj dc , uru n o
l
SC. 91 ()2 ( , nd n
lb
r quiedt r pond t t m o i t dimisfl d byt Sa ' Cl de e n s
e r o es
o he ton o s s ie
he m s ub f nda t .
The Cl r i di e t d t s nd co esoft sm e or
ek s r ce o e
pi
hi m andum opi on a t a om pa ng
ni nd he cc
nyi
or rt t pl i ifa a lc
de o he a ntf nd l ouns lofr or
e
ec d.

ENTER: i 1 M d yo Jl, 01 .
Ths Q a f uy 2 5

Chi fUnied St t D i t i tJ
e
t
a es sr c udge