Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

download Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

of 11

Transcript of Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    1/11

    1

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

    CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

    OLI VER B. MI TCHELL, I I I ,

    Pl ai nt i f f ,v.

    SECRETARY, UNI TED STATESDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAI RS,

    Def endant s.

    ))))))))))

    No. CV 13- 6030- ODW ( CW)

    MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DISMISSING

    SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT WITH

    LEAVE TO AMEND

    Pl ai nt i f f Ol i ver B. Mi t chel l , I I I , i s appear i ng pro se and

    seeki ng t o pr oceed i n f or ma pauper i s, on a ci vi l r i ght s compl ai nt

    agai nst gover nment al def endant s. On Mar ch 12, 2014, Pl ai nt i f f f i l ed

    a Fi r st Amended Compl ai nt ( FAC) al l egi ng var i ous di scr i mi nat i on

    cl ai ms agai nst t he Secr et ar y of t he Depar t ment of Vet er ans Af f ai r s

    and two empl oyees of t he VA medi cal cent er i n West Los Angel es.

    [ Docket no. 30. ] On November 18, 2014, t he Cour t di smi ssed t he Fi r st

    Amended Compl ai nt wi t h l eave t o amend, f or f ai l ur e t o st at e a cl ai m.[ Docket no. 36. ]

    On December 22, 2014, Pl ai nt i f f f i l ed a Second Amended Compl ai nt

    ( SAC) , assert i ng a cl ai m f or vi ol at i on of Ti t l e VI I of t he Ci vi l

    Ri ght s Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U. S. C. 2000e et seq. , agai nst

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 1 of 11 Page ID #:432

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    2/11

    2

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    t he Secr et ar y of t he Uni t ed St at es Depar t ment of Vet er ans Af f ai r s. 1

    [ Docket no. 40. ] On March 23, 2015, Def endant Rober t A. McDonal d

    f i l ed a Mot i on t o Di smi ss t he SAC f or f ai l ur e t o st at e a cl ai m, or i n

    t he al t er nat i ve, f or a mor e def i ni t e st at ement . [ Docket no. 47. ]

    LEGAL STANDARD

    Compl ai nt s such as Pl ai nt i f f s ar e subj ect t o t he cour t s sua

    spont e r evi ew under pr ovi si ons of t he Pr i son Li t i gat i on Ref or m Act of

    1995 ( PLRA) , Pub. L. No. 104- 134, 110 St at . 1321 ( 1996) . See 28

    U. S. C. 1915A( a) . The cour t shal l di smi ss such a compl ai nt , at any

    t i me, i f t he cour t f i nds t hat i t ( 1) i s f r i vol ous or mal i ci ous, ( 2)

    f ai l s t o st at e a cl ai m on whi ch r el i ef may be gr ant ed, or ( 3) seeks

    monet ar y r el i ef f r om a def endant i mmune f r om such r el i ef . See 28

    U. S. C. 1915( e) ( 2) ( B) ( i n f or ma pauper i s compl ai nt s) ; Lopez v.

    Smi t h, 203 F. 3d 1122, 1126- 27 and n. 7 ( 9t h Ci r . 2000) ( en banc) .

    A cl ai m i s f r i vol ous when i t i s wi t hout basi s i n l aw or

    f act, and mal i ci ous when i t i s f i l ed wi t h t he i nt ent i on or desi r e

    t o har m anot her . Knapp v. Hogan, 738 F. 3d. 1106, 1109 ( 9t h Ci r .

    2013) ( quot i ng Andr ews v. Ki ng, 398 F. 3d 1113, 1121 ( 9t h Ci r . 2005) ) .

    Fai l ur e t o st ate a cl ai m has t he same meani ng on PLRA r evi ew t hat

    i t has i n r evi ew of a mot i on t o di smi ss under Fed. R. Ci v. P.

    12( b) ( 6) . I d. A Rul e 12( b) ( 6) mot i on t o di smi ss f or f ai l ur e t o

    stat e a cl ai m t ests t he l egal suf f i ci ency of a cl ai m.

    Conservat i on For ce v. Sal azar , 646 F. 3d 1240, 1242 ( 9t h Ci r . 2011)

    ( quot i ng Navar r o v. Bl ock, 250 F. 3d 729, 732 ( 9t h Ci r . 2001) ) .

    Di smi ssal f or f ai l ur e t o st at e a cl ai m may be based on l ack of a

    1 On J anuar y 6, 2015, t he Cour t subst i t ut ed Rober t A. McDonal d,t he cur r ent Secr et ar y of Vet er ans Af f ai r s, as a Def endant i n pl ace off or mer Secr et ar y Er i k K. Shi nseki . [ Docket no. 41; see Fed. R. Ci v.P. 25( d) . ]

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 2 of 11 Page ID #:433

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    3/11

    3

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    cogni zabl e l egal t heor y or t he absence of suf f i ci ent f act s al l eged

    under a cogni zabl e l egal t heor y. Conservat i on For ce, 646 F. 3d at

    1242 ( quot i ng Bal i st r er i v. Paci f i ca Pol i ce Dep t , 901 F. 2d 696, 699

    ( 9t h Ci r . 1990) ) . A compl ai nt may al so be di smi ssed f or f ai l ur e t o

    st at e a cl ai m i f i t di scl oses a f act or compl et e def ense t hat wi l l

    necessar i l y def eat t he cl ai m. Frankl i n v. Mur phy, 745 F. 2d 1221,

    1228- 29 ( 9t h Ci r . 1984) ( ci t i ng 2A Moor e s Feder al Pr act i ce 12. 08) .

    To survi ve r evi ew f or f ai l ure t o st at e a cl ai m, a compl ai nt must

    al l ege f act s suf f i ci ent t o s tat e a f aci al l y pl aus i bl e cl ai m t o

    r el i ef . Conser vat i on For ce, 646 F. 3d at 1242 ( quot i ng Shr oyer v.

    New Ci ngul ar Wi r el ess Ser vs. , I nc. , 622 F. 3d 1035, 1041 ( 9t h Ci r .

    2010) ) . A compl ai nt i s pr oper l y di smi ssed under Rul e 12( b) ( 6)

    unl ess i t cont ai ns enough f acts t o st at e a cl ai m t o r el i ef t hat i s

    pl ausi bl e on i t s f ace. . . . Wel l - pl eaded f actual al l egat i ons ar e

    t aken as t r ue, but concl usory st at ement s or bar e asser t i ons are

    di scount ed. Reci nt o v. U. S. Dept . of Vet er ans Af f ai r s, 706 F. 3d

    1171, 1177 ( 9t h Ci r . 2013) ( ci t i ng Ashcr of t v. I qbal , 556 U. S. 662,

    681, 697, 129 S. Ct . 1937 ( 2009) ; ot her ci t at i ons and i nt er nal

    quot at i on mar ks omi t t ed) .

    I f a compl ai nt f ai l s t hi s r evi ew, a cour t may di smi ss i t wi t h or

    wi t hout l eave t o amend. Lopez, 203 F. 3d at 1126- 30. Leave t o amend

    shoul d be gr ant ed i f i t appear s t hat def ect s can be cor r ect ed,

    especi al l y i f a pl ai nt i f f i s appear i ng pr o se. I d. at 1130- 31. I f ,

    af t er car ef ul consi der at i on, i t i s cl ear t hat a compl ai nt cannot be

    cur ed by amendment , t he court may di smi ss wi t hout l eave t o amend.

    See Cat o v. Uni t ed St at es, 70 F. 3d 1103, 1107- 11 ( 9t h Ci r . 1995) .

    / /

    / /

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 3 of 11 Page ID #:434

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    4/11

    4

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    DISCUSSION

    1. The SAC Fails to Comply With the Federal Rules of Civil

    Procedure

    The pl eadi ng st andar d of Feder al Rul e of Ci vi l Pr ocedur e 8(a) ( 2)

    r equi r es a shor t and pl ai n st at ement of t he cl ai m showi ng t hat t he

    pl eader i s ent i t l ed t o r el i ef . Ashcrof t v. I qbal , 556 U. S. 662,

    677- 78 ( 2009) . Each al l egat i on must be si mpl e, conci se, and

    di r ect . Fed. R. Ci v. P. 8( d) ( 1) . To compl y wi t h Rul e 8, a

    pl ai nt i f f shoul d set f or t h who i s bei ng sued, f or what r el i ef , and

    on what t heor y, wi t h enough det ai l t o gui de di scover y. McHenr y v.

    Renne, 84 F. 3d 1172, 1177 ( 9t h Ci r . 1996) . Concl usory al l egat i ons

    ar e i nsuf f i ci ent . See I qbal , 556 U. S. at 678 ( Rul e 8 demands mor e

    t han an unadorned, t he- def endant - unl awf ul l y- harmed- me accusat i on; a

    pl eadi ng t hat of f er s l abel s and concl usi ons or a f or mul ai c

    r eci t at i on of t he el ement s of a cause of act i on wi l l not do. )

    ( i nt er nal quot at i on mar ks and ci t at i on omi t t ed) . A compl ai nt

    vi ol at es Rul e 8 i f a def endant woul d have di f f i cul t y under st andi ng

    and r espondi ng t o t he compl ai nt . Caf asso, U. S. ex r el . v. Gener al

    Dynami cs C4 Syst ems, I nc. , 637 F. 3d 1047, 1059 ( 9t h Ci r . 2011) .

    Pl ai nt i f f s SAC does not cont ai n a shor t and pl ai n st at ement of

    t he cl ai m showi ng t hat [ pl ai nt i f f ] i s ent i t l ed t o rel i ef . Fed. R.

    Ci v. P. 8( a) ( 2) . I nst ead, t he SAC cont ai ns over 120 f act ual

    al l egat i ons ar r anged i n a l engt hy nar r at i ve of i nci dent s t hat

    occur r ed whi l e Pl ai nt i f f was an empl oyee f or t he Medi cal Car e Gr oupat t he VA Medi cal Cent er i n Los Angel es, an agency of t he Depar t ment

    of Vet er ans Af f ai r s. ( SAC 10118. ) Pl ai nt i f f s al l egat i ons f ai l

    t o i dent i f y each i ndi vi dual cl ai m and t he i nci dent s gi vi ng r i se t o

    each cl ai m. The SAC l umps al l of Pl ai nt i f f s f act ual al l egat i ons

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 4 of 11 Page ID #:435

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    5/11

    5

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    t oget her i n chr onol ogi cal or der r egar dl ess of t hei r r el at i on t o a

    par t i cul ar cl ai m. Pl ai nt i f f must l i st hi s f act ual al l egat i ons

    accor di ng t o t he cl ai ms that he i s asser t i ng. The Cour t i s not

    r equi r ed t o sor t t hr ough Pl ai nt i f f s al l egat i ons i n sear ch of a

    vi abl e cl ai m. I ndependent Towers of Wash. V. Wash. , 350 F. 3d 925,

    929 ( 9t h Ci r . 2003) ; see Gr eenwood v. Fed. Avi at i on Admi n. , 28 F. 3d

    971, 977 ( 9t h Ci r . 1994) . Pl ai nt i f f s f ai l ur e t o pl ai nl y and

    succi nct l y pr ovi de t he def endant wi t h f ai r not i ce of t he bases f or

    hi s al l egat i ons vi ol at es Rul e 8. See Caf asso, 637 F. 3d at 1059; see

    al so Amer i can Ass n of Nat ur opat hi c Physi ci ans v. Hayhur st , 227 F. 3d

    1104, 110708 ( 9t h Ci r . 2000) ( [ A] pr o se l i t i gant i s not excused

    f r om knowi ng t he most basi c pl eadi ng r equi r ement s. ) . 2

    2 The SAC al so f ai l s t o compl y wi t h Feder al Rul e of Ci vi lProcedur e 10. A par t y must st at e i t s cl ai ms or def enses i n number edpar agr aphs, each l i mi t ed as f ar as pr act i cabl e t o a si ngl e set ofci r cumst ances. Fed. R. Ci v. P. 10( b) . [ E] ach cl ai m f ounded on asepar at e t r ansact i on or occur r ence . . . must be st at ed i n a separ at ecount . Fed. R. Ci v. P. 10( b) . Separ at e count s wi l l be r equi r ed i f

    necessary t o enabl e t he def endant t o f r ame a r esponsi ve pl eadi ng ort o enabl e t he cour t and t he ot her par t i es t o under st and t he cl ai ms. Baut i st a v. Los Angel es Count y, 216 F. 3d 837, 840 ( 9t h Ci r . 2000)( ci t at i on omi t t ed) . Thus, t he f unct i on of t he compl ai nt i s not t ol i st ever y s i ngl e f act r el at i ng t o Pl ai nt i f f s cl ai ms, but r at her t ogi ve t he Def endant s f ai r not i ce of each cl ai m and t he gr ounds uponwhi ch i t r est s.

    Her e, Pl ai nt i f f has not separ at el y set f or t h hi s var i ous cl ai msi ncl udi ng t he suppor t i ng f act s f or each cl ai mas separ at e count s, soas t o the al l ow t he Cour t and Def endant t o underst and t he scope andnat ure of Pl ai nt i f f s al l egat i ons. I f Pl ai nt i f f wi shes t o f i l e an

    amended compl ai nt , he shal l set f or t h each of t hese cl ai ms as asepar at e count by cl ear l y number i ng and di st i ngui shi ng f r om oneanot her ever y ci vi l r i ght s cl ai m, i ncl udi ng t he under l yi ng f act ualal l egat i ons f or each cl ai m. Any cl ai m t hat i s not cl ear l y number edor separ at ed f r om al l ot her cl ai ms and accompani ed wi t h t he al l egedf act s suppor t i ng t hat cl ai m wi l l not be addr essed as a separ at e cl ai mf or r el i ef .

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 5 of 11 Page ID #:436

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    6/11

    6

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    2. The SAC Fails to State a Title VII Claim

    Const r ui ng t he SAC l i ber al l y, i t appear s t hat Pl ai nt i f f i s

    at t empt i ng t o st at e a cl ai m f or di scr i mi nat i on and r et al i at i on under

    Ti t l e VI I of t he Ci vi l Ri ght s Act . See 42 U. S. C. 2000e, et seq.

    a. Exhaustion Requirement

    As a t hr eshol d mat t er , Ti t l e VI I has exhaust i on r equi r ement s

    t hat must be met pr i or t o f i l i ng a cour t act i on. 42 U. S. C. 2000e-

    16( c) . A f eder al empl oyee must f i r st i ni t i at e cont act wi t h an EEO

    counsel or wi t hi n 45 days of t he dat e of t he al l eged di scr i mi nat i on or

    adver se act i on. See 29 C. F. R. 1614. 105( a) ( 1) ; Sommat i no v. Uni t ed

    St at es, 255 F. 3d 704, 707708 ( 9t h Ci r . 2001) . I f t he mat t er i s not

    r esol ved, t he empl oyee may submi t a f or mal admi ni st r at i ve compl ai nt .

    See 29 C. F. R. 1614. 106.

    Pl ai nt i f f has at t ached t o hi s compl ai nt an exhi bi t t hat

    r epr esent s t he Fi nal Agency Deci si on of t he VA r egar di ng cl ai ms f or

    di scri mi nat i on f or whi ch Pl ai nt i f f i ni t i at ed cont act wi t h an EEO

    counsel or i n Mar ch 2013, and f or whi ch Pl ai nt i f f f i l ed a f or mal

    admi ni st r at i ve compl ai nt on Apr i l 25, 2013. ( See FAC 1724. )

    However , i t appears t hat t he cl ai ms accept ed by t he agency were based

    sol el y on al l egat i ons t hat occur r ed on or af t er Pl ai nt i f f s

    r esi gnat i on i n Mar ch 2011, wher eas t he SAC consi st s of al l egat i ons

    t hat dat e back t o Febr uar y 2008. Al l egat i ons of di scr i mi nat i on not

    i ncl uded i n t he pl ai nt i f f s admi ni st r at i ve char ge may not be

    consi der ed by a f eder al cour t unl ess t he new cl ai ms are l i ke orr easonabl y rel at ed t o t he al l egat i ons cont ai ned i n t he EEOC char ge.

    B. K. B. v. Maui Pol i ce Dep t , 276 F. 3d 1091, 1100 ( 9t h Ci r . 2002)

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 6 of 11 Page ID #:437

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    7/11

    7

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    ( i nt er nal quot at i ons omi t t ed) . The Cour t i s unabl e t o di scer n f r om

    t he f ace of t he compl ai nt or t hi s exhi bi t whet her Pl ai nt i f f has

    exhaust ed hi s admi ni st r at i ve r emedi es f or al l of t he cl ai ms. Thus,

    Pl ai nt i f f shoul d be gi ven l eave t o amend t o ei t her cur e t hi s

    def i ci ency, or expl ai n how any new cl ai ms are l i ke or r easonabl y

    r el at ed t o t he al l egat i ons pr evi ousl y submi t t ed i n Pl ai nt i f f s

    f or mal admi ni st r at i ve compl ai nt .

    b. Disparate Treatment

    Pl ai nt i f f al l eges t hat he was di scr i mi nat ed agai nst based on hi s

    r ace ( Af r i can Amer i can) , col or ( Bl ack) , sex ( mal e) , and sexual

    or i ent at i on. ( SAC 1, 9. ) Ti t l e VI I of t he Ci vi l Ri ght s Act

    pr ovi des t hat al l per sonnel act i ons af f ect i ng f eder al empl oyees shal l

    be made f r ee f r om any di scr i mi nat i on based on r ace, col or , r el i gi on,

    sex, or nat i onal or i gi n. 3 42 U. S. C. 2000e16. To est abl i sh a

    prima facie case of di spar at e t r eat ment under Ti t l e VI I Pl ai nt i f f

    must show t hat : ( 1) he i s a member of a pr otected cl ass; ( 2) he was

    qual i f i ed f or hi s posi t i on; ( 3) he exper i enced an adver se empl oyment

    act i on; and ( 4) si mi l ar l y si t uat ed i ndi vi dual s out si de hi s pr ot ected

    cl ass wer e t r eat ed mor e f avor abl y, or ot her ci r cumst ances sur r oundi ng

    t he adver se empl oyment act i on gi ve r i se t o an i nf er ence of

    di scr i mi nat i on. Pet er son v. Hewl et t Packar d Co. , 358 F. 3d 599, 603

    ( 9t h Ci r . 2004) ; see al so Raad v. Fai r banks Nor t h St ar Bor ough School

    3 Di scr i mi nat i on on t he basi s of sexual or i ent at i on al one i s

    not act i onabl e under Ti t l e VI I . See Rene v. MGM Gr and Hot el I nc. ,305 F. 3d 1061, 1068 ( 9t h Ci r . 2002) ( We woul d hol d t hat anempl oyee s sexual or i ent at i on i s i r r el evant f or pur poses of Ti t l eVI I . I t nei t her pr ovi des nor pr ecl udes a cause of act i on f or sexualhar assment . ) . However , t he Ni nt h Ci r cui t has hel d t hat same- sexsexual har assment mot i vat ed by a gener al host i l i t y t owar d a gender ,and gender st er eot ypi ng, i s act i onabl e. See i d. at 1068; Oncal e v.Sundowner Of f shor e Ser vs. , I nc. , 523 U. S. 75, 77 ( 1988) .

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 7 of 11 Page ID #:438

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    8/11

    8

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    Di st . , 323 F. 3d 1185, 119596 ( 9t h Ci r . 2003) ( ci t i ng McDonnel l

    Dougl as Cor p. v. Gr een, 411 U. S. 792 ( 1973) ) .

    Ti t l e VI I does not prohi bi t al l unf ai r t r eatment i n t he

    wor kpl ace; r at her i t i s di r ect ed onl y at di scr i mi nat i on because of

    member shi p i n a pr otect ed cl ass. 42 U. S. C. 2000e- 2( a) ( 1) ; Oncal e

    v. Sundowner Of f shor e Ser vs. , I nc. , 523 U. S. 75, 80 ( 1998) . Thus, an

    essent i al el ement of ever y Ti t l e VI I cl ai m i s a causal r el at i onshi p,

    however pr oved, bet ween pr otect ed st atus and t he chal l enged

    empl oyment act i on. See Oncal e, 523 U. S. at 8081. The SAC

    i dent i f i es Pl ai nt i f f s race/ col or and gender , however i n i t s cur r ent

    pl eadi ng f or m, i t does not appear t hat Pl ai nt i f f pr ovi des suf f i ci ent

    f act s t o est abl i sh t hat he was di scr i mi nat ed agai nst because of hi s

    member shi p i n t hese pr ot ect ed cl asses. Because Pl ai nt i f f may cur e

    t hi s pl eadi ng def i ci ency by al l egi ng addi t i onal f act s, t he cour t

    shoul d gr ant Pl ai nt i f f l eave t o amend hi s Ti t l e VI I cl ai m. 4 However ,

    4 Pl ai nt i f f al so appear s t o al l ege a const r uct i ve di schar gecl ai m based on har assment t hat he exper i enced f r om Febr uar y 2008 t o

    when he was f orced t o r esi gn hi s posi t i on on March 15, 2011. ( SAC 1. ) To set f or t h aprima facie case of Ti t l e VI I di scr i mi nat i onunder a const r uct i ve di schar ge t heor y, Pl ai nt i f f must pr ove, i n l i ghtof t he t ot al i t y of t he ci r cumst ances, t hat a r easonabl e per son i nPl ai nt i f f s posi t i on woul d have f el t he had no choi ce but t o qui t duet o t he i nt ol er abl e and di scr i mi nat or y wor ki ng condi t i ons. Wat sonv. Nat i onwi de I ns. Co. , 823 F. 2d 360, 361 ( 9t h Ci r . 1987) ( quot i ngSat t er whi t e v. Smi t h, 744 F. 2d 1380, 1381 ( 9t h Ci r . 1984) ) . Thest andar d i s an obj ect i ve one whi ch f ocuses on a reasonabl e per son sr eact i on t o t he wor ki ng condi t i ons and not t he subj ect i ve i nt ent oft he empl oyer . I d. To est abl i sh t hat he was const r uct i vel y

    di schar ged, a pl ai nt i f f must demonst r at e the pr esence of aggr avat i ng f act or s, such as a cont i nuous pat t er n ofdi scr i mi nat or y t r eat ment . I d. ( emphasi s added i n or i gi nal )( quot i ng Sat t er whi t e, 744 F. 2d at 1382) . The pl ai nt i f f s wor ki ngcondi t i ons must be suf f i ci ent l y ext r aor di nar y or egr egi ous t o amountt o a const r uct i ve di schar ge. See Br ooks v. Ci t y of San Mat eo, 229F. 3d 917, 930 ( 9t h Ci r . 2000) ( ci t i ng Tur ner v. Anheuser - Busch, I nc. ,7 Cal . 4t h 1238, 1246 ( 1994) ) .

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 8 of 11 Page ID #:439

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    9/11

    9

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    Pl ai nt i f f i s r emi nded t o separ at el y set f or t h each cl ai m i ncl udi ng

    t he f act s t o suppor t each cl ai m of di scr i mi nat i on on t he basi s of a

    pr ot ect ed cl ass as separ at e count s so as t o t he al l ow t he Cour t and

    Def endant t o under st and t he scope and nat ur e of Pl ai nt i f f s

    al l egat i ons.

    c. Retaliation

    Pl ai nt i f f al so al l eges repr i sal and r et al i at i on f or pr i or EEO

    act i vi t y. ( SAC 9. ) Ti t l e VI I makes i t unl awf ul t o di scri mi nat e

    agai nst an empl oyee who f i l es a compl ai nt . I n or der t o est abl i sh a

    prima facie case of r et al i at i on under Ti t l e VI I , a pl ai nt i f f must

    demonst r at e ( a) t hat [ he] engaged i n pr ot ect ed act i vi t y; ( b) t hat

    [ he] suf f er ed a mat er i al l y adver se act i on t hat woul d det er a

    r easonabl e empl oyee f r om maki ng a charge of empl oyment

    di scr i mi nat i on; and ( 3) t hat t her e i s a causal connect i on bet ween

    t he pr ot ect ed act i vi t y and t he adver se act i on. Por t er v. Cal i f or ni a

    Dept . of Cor r ect i ons, 419 F. 3d 885, 894 ( 9t h Ci r . 2005) . I f t he

    pl ai nt i f f pr ovi des suf f i ci ent evi dence t o show aprima facie case of

    r et al i at i on, t he bur den t hen shi f t s t o t he [ def endant ] t o ar t i cul at e

    a l egi t i mat e, non- r et al i at or y r eason f or [ i t s] acti ons. I d. at 894.

    I f t he def endant set s f or t h such a r eason, pl ai nt i f f bear s t he

    ul t i mat e bur den of submi t t i ng evi dence i ndi cat i ng t hat t he

    [ def endant s] pr of f er ed r eason i s mer el y a pr et ext f or a r et al i at or y

    mot i ve. I d.

    Because the SAC f ai l s t o al l ege f act s t hat woul d suppor t acausal connect i on bet ween Pl ai nt i f f s pr ot ect ed act i vi t y and t he

    adver se empl oyment act i on, t he r et al i at i on cl ai m shoul d be di smi ssed

    wi t h l eave t o amend.

    / /

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 9 of 11 Page ID #:440

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    10/11

    10

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    ORDERS

    I t i s t her ef or e ORDERED as f ol l ows:

    1. The SAC i s di smi ssed wi t h l eave t o amend. 5

    2. Wi t hi n t hi r t y ( 30) days of t he f i l i ng of t hi s Memor andum

    and Or der , Pl ai nt i f f may f i l e a Thi r d Amended Compl ai nt whi ch

    cor r ect s t he def ect s di scussed above and compl i es wi t h t hese

    r equi r ement s:

    ( a) The Thi r d Amended Compl ai nt must bear t he present case number

    CV 13- 6030- ODW ( CW) .

    ( b) I t must be compl et e i n i t sel f and may not i ncor por at e by

    r ef er ence any par t of any pr i or compl ai nt .

    ( c) Pl ai nt i f f may not use et al . i n t he capt i on, but must cl ear l y

    name each def endant agai nst whom a cl ai m i s st at ed i n t he Thi r d

    Amended Compl ai nt . ( The cl erk uses t he capt i on t o make sur e t hat

    def endant s ar e cor r ect l y l i st ed on t he docket . )

    ( d) Pl ai nt i f f may not add new par t i es wi t hout t he cour t s

    per mi ssi on.

    3. I f Pl ai nt i f f f i l es an amended compl ai nt , t he cour t wi l l

    i ssue f ur t her or der s as appr opr i at e; i f not , t he magi st r at e j udge

    wi l l r ecommend t hat t hi s act i on be di smi ssed, wi t hout pr ej udi ce, f or

    f ai l ur e t o pr osecut e or t o compl y wi t h cour t or der s, as wel l as f or

    t he reasons s t at ed above.

    4. The cl er k shal l serve t hi s Memor andum and Or der on

    Pl ai nt i f f .

    5 Gi ven t he Cour t s sua spont e di smi ssal of Pl ai nt i f f s SAC,Def endant s Mot i on t o Di smi ss, or f or a mor e def i ni t e st at ement , i sdeni ed as moot .

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 10 of 11 Page ID #:441

  • 7/25/2019 Oliver B. Mitchell v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Docket 54

    11/11

    11

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    11

    12

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    18

    19

    20

    21

    22

    23

    24

    25

    26

    27

    28

    I T I S SO ORDERED.

    Dat ed: November 24, 2015

    ______________________________CARLA M. WOEHRLE

    Uni t ed St at es Magi st r at e J udge

    Case 2:13-cv-06030-ODW-CW Document 54 Filed 11/24/15 Page 11 of 11 Page ID #:442