Acevedo-Torres v. Municipality of Arecibo

941 F. Supp. 2d 224, 2013 WL 1739375, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58806, 118 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 80
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedApril 23, 2013
DocketCivil No. 11-2195 (GAG)
StatusPublished

This text of 941 F. Supp. 2d 224 (Acevedo-Torres v. Municipality of Arecibo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Acevedo-Torres v. Municipality of Arecibo, 941 F. Supp. 2d 224, 2013 WL 1739375, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58806, 118 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 80 (prd 2013).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

GUSTAVO A. GELPÍ, District Judge.

On December 14, 2011, Damaris Acevedo-Torres (“Plaintiff’) filed this action against the Municipality of Arecibo (“Defendant”), alleging sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq., and Puerto Rico Law 100 of June 30, 1959 (“Law 100”), P.R. Laws Ann. tit. 29, §§ 146 et seq. The court previously granted in part and denied in part Defendant’s motion to dismiss (Docket No. 20.) All that remains before the court is Plaintiffs Title VII hostile work environment claim.

Presently before the court is Defendant’s motion for summary judgment (Docket No. 35). Plaintiff opposed the motion (Docket No. 41) and Defendant replied (Docket No. 49). After reviewing these submissions and the pertinent law, the court GRANTS Defendant’s motion for summary judgment at Docket No. 35.

I. Standard of Review

Summary judgment is appropriate when “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). “An issue is genuine if ‘it may reasonably be resolved in favor of either part/ at trial, and material if it ‘possess[es] the capacity to sway the outcome of the litigation under the applicable law.’” Iverson v. City of Boston, 452 F.3d 94, 98 (1st Cir.2006) (alteration in original) (internal citations omitted). The moving party bears the initial burden of demonstrating the lack of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. “The movant must aver an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case. The burden then shifts to the nonmovant to establish the existence of at least one fact issue which is both genuine and material.” Maldonado-Denis v. Castillo-Rodriguez, 23 F.3d 576, 581 (1st Cir.1994). The nonmovant may establish a fact is genuinely in dispute by citing particular evidence in the record or showing that either the materials cited by the movant “do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(1)(B). If the court finds that some genuine factual issue remains, the resolution of which could affect the outcome of the case, then the court must deny summary judgment. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

When considering a motion for summary judgment, the court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and give that party the benefit of any and all reasonable inferences. Id. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. Moreover, at the summary judgment stage, the court does not make credibility determinations or weigh the evidence. Id. Summary judgment may be appropriate, however, if the non-moving party’s case rests merely [227]*227upon “eonclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Forestier Fradera v. Mun. of Mayaguez, 440 F.3d 17, 21 (1st Cir.2006) (quoting Benoit v. Technical Mfg. Corp., 331 F.3d 166, 173 (1st Cir.2003)).

II. Relevant Factual Background

Plaintiff attempted to become a policewoman in Arecibo for three years prior to her acceptance at the police academy in 2007. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶¶ 1-2; 44 ¶¶ 1-2.) Plaintiff became a cadet on August 10, 2007, and completed the academy on February 16, 2008. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶¶ 7-8; 44 ¶¶ 7-8.) After serving a probationary period, Plaintiff became a career employee with Defendant. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶ 9; 44 ¶ 9.)

A. Plaintiffs Relationship with Jose Martinez Vargas

While Plaintiff and Jose Martinez Vargas (“Martinez Vargas”) attended the academy together, they did not spend much time together. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶¶ 23-24; 44 ¶¶ 23-24.) They maintained different patrol shifts and did not spend time with each other outside of work. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶¶ 25-27; 44 ¶¶ 25-27.) No romantic relationship existed between the two. (See Docket Nos. 33 IT 28; 44 ¶ 28.) On roughly two occasions, Plaintiff covered patrol duty with Martinez Vargas without incident. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶¶ 29-30; 44 ¶¶ 29-30.) During those occasions, Martinez Vargas did not discuss his personal life or topics outside the scope of their employment. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶ 31; 44 ¶ 31.)

B. The March 11, 2010 Incident1

Plaintiff was regularly assigned the watch duty of the Arecibo Coliseum (“Coliseum”) and estimates that she spent half her time on that duty (or similar watch duty) and half at the front desk at the precinct. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶¶ 32-34; 44 ¶¶ 32-34.) Plaintiff always performed the watch duty by herself as it was a single-person task. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶ 35; 44 ¶ 35.) When covering the Coliseum, Plaintiff would leave her belongings inside the ticket office, which had a heavy industrial door that could not be fully closed. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶¶ 37-38; 44 ¶¶ 37-38.) Plaintiff would begin her shift at 4:00 AM, sign in at headquarters and then receive her assignment for the day. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶ 39-41; 44 ¶ 39-41.) A few weeks before March 11, 2010, while off duty, Martinez Vargas showed up at the Coliseum requesting to use the bathroom. (See Docket No. 39-1 at 22.) Plaintiff allowed Martinez Vargas to use the bathroom, but they did not discuss much else because Plaintiff was busy. (See id. at 22-23.) Even though Plaintiff thought Martinez Vargas’ visit was strange, she did not inform her supervisors. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶ 49; 44 ¶ 49.)

On March 11, 2010, Plaintiff was again assigned the Coliseum duty and stopped at a gas station to purchase a newspaper and hot chocolate before proceeding to the Coliseum. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶¶ 42-43; 44 ¶¶ 42-43.) While at the gas station, Martinez Vargas call Plaintiff and inquired whether Plaintiff would be on the Coliseum duty that day and whether he could meet her there. (See Docket Nos. 33 ¶ 44; [228]*22844 ¶44.) Even though Martinez Vargas was off duty, he was waiting for Plaintiff, who arrived around 4:20 AM. (See Docket Nos.

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941 F. Supp. 2d 224, 2013 WL 1739375, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58806, 118 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 80, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/acevedo-torres-v-municipality-of-arecibo-prd-2013.