Almonte v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York, Inc.

959 F. Supp. 569, 155 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2518, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3189, 73 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1296
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedMarch 13, 1997
DocketCivil 3:95CV1458(PCD)
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 959 F. Supp. 569 (Almonte v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Almonte v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York, Inc., 959 F. Supp. 569, 155 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2518, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3189, 73 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1296 (D. Conn. 1997).

Opinion

RULING ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

DORSEY, Chief Judge.

Plaintiff Victor M. Almonte sued defendants, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York (“Coca-Cola”), Robert Marquis (“Marquis”), and Leonard Marley (“Marley”), *571 after Coca-Cola terminated plaintiffs employment. Plaintiffs amended complaint alleges violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1981, state common law claims for negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, false arrest and false imprisonment, and a state statutory claim under Connecticut General Statute § 31-51 q.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff was employed as a General Laborer by Coca-Cola at its East Hartford plant during 1987, 1988, and from 1991 through October 1994. Plaintiffs employment during the relevant time period was governed by a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) between Coca-Cola and Local Union No. 1035 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehouse-men and Helpers of America (the “Union”). The CBA specifies that the right “to control, determine and change ... working assignments” rests exclusively with Coca-Cola.

On October 25, 1994, Marquis handed out written work assignments for employees on plaintiffs shift. According to plaintiff, Marquis refused to allow plaintiff, who is black, to select his preferred working assignment, but allowed a white employee to choose his assignment. When plaintiff protested, Marquis ordered him to perform his assignment or leave the premises. Plaintiff contends that when he requested access to a union steward, Marquis ordered him to leave the premises. Plaintiff did not leave, but began his work assignment. Marquis and defendant Marley, a Distribution Supervisor, informed plaintiff that they had called the police and warned him to leave the plant. The police eventually arrived and arrested plaintiff on a charge of criminal trespass.

Defendants subsequently terminated plaintiffs employment. Plaintiff protested his termination in arbitration where he presented evidence of defendants’ racially discriminatory conduct, including, inter alia (1) preferential treatment of white employees in the distribution of work assignments, and (2) statements by Marquis and Marley indicating their intention to terminate black employees “one by one.” On March 25, 1995, an arbitrator .found that defendants had engaged in racial harassment and discrimination and reinstated plaintiff with full back pay and benefits.

On August 18, 1995, after plaintiff resumed his employment, he was involved in a physical altercation with another employee, Thomas Fiaseonaro. Defendants conducted an investigation, taking statements from witnesses, plaintiff and Fiaseonaro. On August 21, 1995, plaintiff and Fiaseonaro, were suspended indefinitely for fighting, pending further investigation. On September 11, 1995, after defendants concluded their investigation, they terminated Fiaseonaro and plaintiff for fighting, dishonesty, and falsification of Company records. 1

Plaintiff subsequently filed this suit, alleging racial discrimination in violation of 42 U.S.C.' § 1981 and common law claims for intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, false arrest and false imprisonment. Defendants move for summary judgment as to all counts on the grounds that (1) plaintiff may not recover under § 1981 for his October 1994 termination because he was ultimately reinstated with full back' pay and benefits and therefore suffered no adverse employment action; (2) plaintiffs remaining claims under § 1981 are precluded by a mandatory arbitration clause in the CBA; (3) plaintiffs state law claims are preempted by § 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act (“LMRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 185; (4) plaintiff cannot establish the elements necessary to a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment or false arrest; and (5) plaintiff has failed to state a claim under Connecticut general Statute § 31-51q.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that summary judgment should be granted only if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and ad *572 missions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is “no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). “[A] scintilla of evidence in support of the [non-movant’s] position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-movant].” Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 252, 106 S.Ct. at 2512. The evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and all inferences must be drawn in favor of that party. See Sports Auth. Inc. v. Prime Hospitality Corp., 89 F.3d 955, 960 (2d Cir.1996).

B. Plaintiffs October 1994 Termination

Defendants argue that plaintiffs section 1981 claim based on his termination in 1994 must be dismissed, as plaintiff was reinstated and awarded full back pay and seniority. Plaintiff contends that his 1994 termination was part of a continuing course of discriminatory conduct for which he is entitled to recover under section 1981.

To prove a prima facie case of discriminatory treatment under § 1981, plaintiff must show that (1) he is a member of a protected class; (2) he was qualified to hold the position from which he was terminated and his job performance was satisfactory; (3) he suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) the adverse action occurred in circumstances giving rise to an inference of discrimination on the basis of his membership in the protected class. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 1824, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973); see e.g., Chertkova v. Connecticut General Life Ins., 92 F.3d 81, 87, 91 (2d Cir.1996). Defendants’ argument focuses on the third element.

Plaintiff was, in fact, terminated on October 25, 1994. However, defendants argue that he has not suffered any “adverse employment action” for purposes of § 1981 because he was reinstated and awarded full back pay and benefits after he prevailed in arbitration. Defendants argue that a plaintiff may not challenge an adverse employment decision that is subsequently remedied by the employer through a grievance process.

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Bluebook (online)
959 F. Supp. 569, 155 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2518, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3189, 73 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1296, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/almonte-v-coca-cola-bottling-co-of-new-york-inc-ctd-1997.