Ferguson v. Smart Warehousing et al
Filing
24
ORDER signed by Judge Brett H Ludwig on 9/7/21 GRANTING in part and DENYING in part Defendants' 14 motion to dismiss as follows: a. Defendants' motion to dismiss Ferguson's claims under the ADEA and Title VII against Defendant Alan Infante is GRANTED and those claims are DISMISSED. b. Defendants' motion to dismiss Ferguson's retaliation claims under the ADEA and Title VII against Smart Warehousing is also GRANTED and those claims are also DISMISSED. c. Defendants' motion to dismiss Ferguson's age and sex discrimination claims under the ADEA and Title VII against Smart Warehousing is DENIED. (cc: all counsel and mailed to pro se party)(kwb)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
TYRONE FERGUSON, SR,
Plaintiff,
v.
Case No. 20-cv-1587-bhl
SMART WAREHOUSING,
ALAN INFANTE,
Defendants.
______________________________________________________________________________
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART
DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS
______________________________________________________________________________
On October 19, 2020, plaintiff, Tyrone Ferguson, Sr., proceeding without a lawyer, filed
a complaint, along with a notice of right to sue letter issued by the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) (ECF No. 1.) Ferguson alleges employment discrimination
on the basis of sex and age, and claims he was terminated from his employment in retaliation for
his harassment complaint and for whistleblowing. (Id.) On December 16, 2020, the Court
screened the complaint, allowed Ferguson to proceed on his claims, and granted his motion for
leave to proceed without prepayment of the filing fee. (ECF No. 7.)
On February 25, 2021, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss, (ECF No. 14), supporting
brief, (ECF No. 15), and certificate of service. (ECF No. 17.) When Ferguson failed to file a
timely response, the Court issued an Order to Show Cause, giving him until July 9, 2021 to
explain why he failed to respond to the motion and explaining that if Ferguson did not respond
and provide reasons for his delay, his case would be dismissed. (ECF No. 19.) (Id.)
On July 9, 2021, Ferguson responded by filing a three-page reiteration of the factual
allegations in his complaint along with pictures and other documents. Ferguson does not explain
why he failed to respond timely to the motion initially. Nor does he offer any substantive
response to Defendants’ motion; his filing does not include legal citations or explain why he
believes Defendants’ arguments are incorrect. (ECF No. 20.) Because Ferguson is proceeding
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without a lawyer’s assistance, the Court will look past these failures and address the merits of
Defendants’ motion to dismiss. Based on the content of Ferguson’s complaint, the Court will
grant, in part, Defendants’ motion to dismiss.
BACKGROUND ALLEGATIONS
Ferguson’s complaint is not easy to follow. He alleges he was employed by Smart
Warehousing from sometime in 2018 until March 11, 2020. (ECF No. 1 at 1.) He contends he
initially reported to Mark Barari, who told him that Smart Warehousing preferred hiring women
because “they’re easy to control.” (Id. at 2.) He further alleges that Barari disciplined him for an
incident that never happened and that his tasks at work then became “unusual” and a “lot of
physical work labor.” (Id.) Ferguson’s next supervisor was Myles Gibson, a “very reckless
young man” who “favor[ed] females,” and, in 2019, had a consensual sexual relationship with a
female employee. (Id.) Ferguson claims he upset Gibson by confronting him about sending
intimate photos to a different female employee. (Id.) Ferguson reported Gibson’s
unprofessional behavior to Smart Warehousing’s human resources and also complained about
“harassment and other inappropriate behavior.” (Id. at 1-2.) Ferguson complains that Gibson
was not fired even after “[c]ursing out every one [sic] at SWH” in 2019. (Id. at 2.) Ferguson
also alleges he was told by a colleague that their employer did not like that Ferguson took
pictures and recorded conversations at work. (Id. at 4.)
In 2020, Ferguson began reporting to a new supervisor, Defendant Alan Infante. (ECF
No. 1 at 3-4.) Ferguson states that he told Infante that he had seen a lot of supervisors come and
go and that Infante “seemed to be upset” by that comment and by Ferguson’s complaint about
Gibson. (Id. at 4.) Infante then changed Ferguson’s start time and lunch hour. (Id.)
According to Ferguson, Smart Warehousing terminated his employment on March 11,
2020. (ECF No. 1 at 1, 4.) He alleges that Infante and Smart Warehousing made up the
performance issues for which he was terminated and that he was terminated for whistleblowing.
(Id. at 3-4.) Ferguson confirms he was 57 years old when he was terminated. (Id. at 4.) He filed
a complaint with the EEOC on April 14, 2020 alleging that Smart Warehousing discriminated
and retaliated against him by terminating his employment. (ECF No. 1-1 at 9.)
ANALYSIS
In their motion to dismiss, Defendants argue Ferguson’s complaint should be dismissed
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for his failure to state any valid claims. (ECF No. 14.) When
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deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the Court must “accept all well-pleaded facts as true
and draw reasonable inferences in the plaintiff’s favor.” Roberts v. City of Chicago, 817 F.3d 561,
564 (7th Cir. 2016) (citing Lavalais v. Vill. of Melrose Park, 734 F.3d 629, 632 (7th Cir. 2013)).
“To survive a motion to dismiss, the complaint must ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its
face.’” Roberts, 817 F.3d at 564 (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570
(2007)). “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.”
Roberts, 817 F.3d at 564-65 (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)). “The complaint
must do more than recite the elements of a cause of action in a conclusory fashion.” Roberts, 817
F.3d at 565 (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678).
I. Ferguson Cannot Assert Title VII or ADEA Claims Against Infante.
Defendants contend that any claims against defendant Alan Infante must be dismissed
because Infante is not an “employer” under Title VII or the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act (“ADEA”). (ECF No. 15 at 5.) The Court agrees. The Seventh Circuit makes clear that
individual supervisors in their individual capacities do not “fall within Title VII’s definition of
employer,” Williams v. Banning, 72 F.3d 552, 555 (7th Cir. 1995), and that “there is no
individual liability under the ADEA.” Horwitz v. Bd. of Educ. of Avoca Sch. Dist. No. 37, 260
F.3d 602, 610 n.2 (7th Cir. 2001). The claims against Infante must be dismissed.
II. Ferguson’s Complaint Sufficiently Alleges Sex and Age Discrimination Claims
against Smart Warehousing.
Defendants also argue that Ferguson fails to state claims for age discrimination under the
ADEA and for sex discrimination under Title VII. (ECF No. 15 at 9-14). The Court
acknowledges that “the pleading requirement for employment-discrimination claims is minimal.
A plaintiff need only identify the type of discrimination, when it occurred, and by whom.” Clark
v. L. Off. of Terrence Kennedy, Jr., 709 F. App'x 826, 828 (7th Cir. 2017) (citations omitted);
Swanson v. Citibank, N.A., 614 F.3d 400, 404-05 (7th Cir. 2010).
With respect to his ADEA claim, Ferguson alleges:
It is a fact on March 11, 2020 I was terminated from my employment. I believe that
Respondent discriminated against me on the basis of my … age (1962) … in violation of
… the Age Discrimination in Employment act of 1967, as amended and Section 4(d).
(ECF No. 1 at 1.)
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These allegations, albeit in purely conclusory fashion, allege the required elements of an
ADEA claim. While the balance of Ferguson’s allegations do not support these allegations (and
suggest other causes for his termination), Ferguson has done enough to state an ADEA claim.
As for his Title VII claim, Ferguson alleges:
It is a fact on March 11, 2020 I was terminated from my employment. I believe that
Respondent discriminated against me on the basis of my sex (male) … in violation of Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended and Section 704(a) …
(ECF No. 1 at 1.) Ferguson also alleges that Myles Gibson “would favor females more than
me.” (ECF No. 1 at 2.) He also alleges that Mark Barari said that Smart Warehousing “likes
working with females because they’re easy to control.” (ECF No. 1 at 2.) Finally, in reference to
an incident where a female employee was not fired despite damaging thousands of dollars’ worth
of merchandise, he asserts “[a]gain SWH favoring females.” (ECF No. 1 at 3.)
As with his ADEA claim, Ferguson has alleged just enough to survive a motion to
dismiss. He identifies a type of discrimination (sex), the general time it occurred, and the actors.
That is enough. Swanson, 614 F.3d at ___. His additional allegations, including contentions that
he was terminated “for being a Whistle blower [sic]” and also “for pulling the wrong items,”
would seem to undercut his discrimination claim. (ECF No. 1 at 3-4.) But he is entitled to plead
in the alternative and, if he cannot support his claims with evidence, will be hard pressed to
avoid summary judgment.
III. Ferguson Fails to State Plausible Retaliation Claims.
Defendants contend that Ferguson’s ADEA and Title VII retaliation claims must also be
dismissed. (ECF No. 15 at 14-20.) To state a claim for retaliation in violation of the ADEA, a
plaintiff must allege facts sufficient for the Court to infer “that he engaged in statutorily
protected activity, that he suffered a materially adverse action, and that the two are causally
related.” Barton v. Zimmer, Inc., 662 F.3d 448, 455 (7th Cir. 2011) (citing Horwitz v. Bd. of
Educ., 260 F.3d 602, 612 (7th Cir. 2001). Statutorily protected activity can consist of opposing,
complaining, investigating, or litigating any conduct prohibited by the ADEA. 29 U.S.C.
§623(d). To state a claim for retaliation under Title VII, “a plaintiff must (though she need not
use the specific terms) allege that she engaged in statutorily protected activity and was subjected
to adverse employment action as a result of that activity.” Huri v. Off. of the Chief Judge of the
Cir. Ct. of Cook Cty., 804 F.3d 826, 833 (7th Cir. 2015) (citing Luevano v. Wal–Mart Stores,
Inc., 722 F.3d 1014, 1029 (7th Cir. 2013)). “In the retaliation context, ‘adverse employment
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action’ simply means an employer's action that would dissuade a reasonable worker from
participating in protected activity.” Id. (citing Chaib v. Indiana, 744 F.3d 974, 986-87 (7th Cir.
2014) (overruled on other grounds by Ortiz v. Werner Enterprises, Inc., 834 F.3d 760 (7th Cir.
2016)).
In the same section of his complaint cited above, Ferguson alleges that he made some sort
of complaint regarding harassment and whistleblowing and that he was terminated from his
employment. (ECF No. 1 at 1, 4.) However, he does not state when he made his complaint, how
he made his complaint, or what the complaint complained about. The Court therefore cannot
draw a reasonable inference that Ferguson engaged in protected activity, and that the protected
activity caused his termination. Ferguson’s retaliation claims will be dismissed.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. Defendants’ motion to dismiss, ECF No. 14 is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as
follows:
a. Defendants’ motion to dismiss Ferguson’s claims under the ADEA and Title VII
against Defendant Alan Infante is GRANTED and those claims are DISMISSED.
b. Defendants’ motion to dismiss Ferguson’s retaliation claims under the ADEA and
Title VII against Smart Warehousing is also GRANTED and those claims are also
DISMISSED.
c. Defendants’ motion to dismiss Ferguson’s age and sex discrimination claims under the
ADEA and Title VII against Smart Warehousing is DENIED.
Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 7, 2021.
s/ Brett H. Ludwig
BRETT H. LUDWIG
United States District Judge
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