Anderson v. McIntosh Inn

295 F. Supp. 2d 412, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11579, 2003 WL 22928736
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedMarch 28, 2003
DocketCIV.A.02-1262-JJF
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 295 F. Supp. 2d 412 (Anderson v. McIntosh Inn) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Anderson v. McIntosh Inn, 295 F. Supp. 2d 412, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11579, 2003 WL 22928736 (D. Del. 2003).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

FARNAN, District Judge.

Presently before the Court are Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (D.I.14), Defendant McIntosh Inn of Delaware, Inc.’s (“McIntosh Inn”) Motion for Summary Judgment (D.I.21), Defendant’s Motion to Extend Time to File an Answer *416 Brief (D.I.18), and Plaintiffs Motion to Extend Time to File Pleadings, Answer Briefs, etc. (D.I.25). For the reasons set forth below, Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (D.I.21) will be granted, Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgement (D.I.14) will be denied, Defendant’s Motion to Extend Time (D.I.18) will be granted, and Plaintiffs Motion to Extend Time will be granted (D.I.25).

BACKGROUND

I. Factual Background

Defendant, McIntosh Inn is a hotel located in Wilmington, Delaware. Plaintiff is an African-American male of Liberian origin hired on August 2, 1999 as a Night Auditor for the McIntosh Inn until his termination on December 30, 1999 (D.I. 28 at 4, D.I. 22 at 2). The Night Auditor position required an individual to work from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. and perform various administrative duties including monitoring the front desk area. (D.I. 28 at 15-17). Plaintiffs employment was generally without incident until December, 1999 as evidenced by a mid-November performance evaluation, indicating very good to excellent ratings, and signed by both his immediate manager, Kristine Rose, and district manager, Greg Ritchey. (D.I. 28, Attachment A). Soon after the evaluation, on November 21, 1999, Plaintiffs pay rate was increased from $8.50 to $9.00 per hour, making him the highest paid front desk employee. (D.I. 23 at 3).

Shortly before Mr. Anderson’s termination, Kristine Rose, the General Manager of the McIntosh Inn, became aware of a complaint regarding Mr. Anderson. (D.I. 24 ¶ 3). Specifically, when she arrived at work one morning shortly before December 30, 1999, she was told that Mr. Anderson had made a key card and had entered an occupied guest room at about 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. (D.I. 24 ¶ 3). The guests in the room complained about the incident, and as a result, the hotel did not charge the guests for their stay at the hotel. (D.I. 24 ¶ 3). When confronted with this incident, Mr. Anderson explained that he was trying to find a vacant guest room for guests who wished to be moved to a smoking room. (D.I. 24 ¶ 4).

As a result of this complaint, Ms. Rose began to look into other matters regarding Plaintiffs conduct. (D.I. 24 ¶ 4). ' Ms. Rose contends that she then heard complaints that Mr. Anderson had been found sleeping in the front lobby of the hotel at night and that he entered another room, (Room 129), which was being used by the hotel for storage. (D.I. 24 ¶ 5). Also, Defendant alleges that, Ms. Valerie Washington, a hotel cook, complained that when she came to work one morning, two weeks prior to Mr. Anderson’s termination, she knocked on the laundry room door and Mr. Anderson responded “Don’t come in I’m naked...I’m not, dressed”, to which she stated she would wait for him at the front desk. Ms. Washington reported this incident to her supervisor, Angela Barlow, who then reported it to Ms. Rose. (D.I. 23, letter of Valerie Washington). Defendant contends that when confronted by Ms. Rose with these incidents, Plaintiff became argumentative and began yelling at Ms. Rose in front of other staff members and guests. On the other hand, Plaintiff contends that he did not become argumentative. Mr. Anderson was later terminated by Ms. Rose on or about December 30, 1999. (D.I. 24, Exhibit A). The reason for termination cited by Ms. Rose was insubordination. (D.I. 24, Attachment B).

Subsequently, Jessica Porter, a white female Guest Services Representative was assigned to perform Plaintiffs duties on an interim basis. (D.I. 23 at 3). Approximately three weeks later, on January 20, 2000, Defendant hired Charles Prayer, an African-American male to fill the vacant Night Auditor position. (D.I. 23 at 3). *417 Mr. Prayer’s employment was eventually terminated for cause after one month of employment and Ms. Porter once again assumed the Night Auditor’s duties.

II.Procedural Background

Plaintiff filed an EEOC charge alleging violations of Title VII, of the Civil rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. against the McIntosh Inn for discriminatory termination based on his race, sex and national origin. (D.I.3, Attachment). Specifically, Plaintiff alleged:

I have repeatedly tried to find out why I was discharged. To no avail. This came as a complete surprise to me since I had received such a favorable performance evaluation one month prior. At the time, I was the only black Front Desk representative/Night Auditor. I was the only male Front Desk Representative/Night Auditor; and I was the only person of another national origin (Liberian) who worked as Front Desk Representative/Night auditor.
I believe that I was subjected to discriminatory treatment because of race (black), my sex (male) and my national origin (Liberian), in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. I believe that respondent continues to discriminate against me by not providing me an explanation for my termination.

(D.I.3, Attachment).

The EEOC responded on January 9, 2001 with a right to sue letter. (D.I.3, Attachment). Subsequently, Plaintiff initiated this lawsuit, alleging that Defendant violated his rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-1 et seq. (D.I.3). Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that the Defendant discriminated against him on the basis of his race, sex, color and national origin (D.I.3). 1 Additionally, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant discriminated against him because he was denied a pay-raise that was given to similarly situated white female employees. (D.I.3). Subsequently, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. (D.I.14, 21). This Memorandum Opinion addresses the Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment. (D.I.21).

III. MOTIONS TO EXTEND TIME

Both parties have filed motions to extend time. The Court will grant both motions (D.I.18, 25). The parties subsequently filed answers while these motions were pending (D.I.21, D.I.28). The Court has considered these answers in deciding the summary judgment motions at issue.

IV. APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARD

Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that a party is entitled to summary judgment if a court determines from its examination of “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,” that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.CivP. 56(c).

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Bluebook (online)
295 F. Supp. 2d 412, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11579, 2003 WL 22928736, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/anderson-v-mcintosh-inn-ded-2003.