Atkinson v. New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority

822 F. Supp. 2d 182, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112796, 2011 WL 4593170
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 30, 2011
DocketNo. 1:10-cv-994 (GLS/RFT)
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 822 F. Supp. 2d 182 (Atkinson v. New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Atkinson v. New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, 822 F. Supp. 2d 182, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112796, 2011 WL 4593170 (N.D.N.Y. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER

GARY L. SHARPE, District Judge.

I. Introduction

Plaintiff Melissa Atkinson commenced this action against defendants New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), Gail Setlock, David Bulmer, and Michael Pratt, asserting claims of hostile work environment, gender-based discrimination, and retaliation pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,1 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL).2 (Compl. ¶¶ 55-72, Dkt. No. 1.) Pending are defendants’ motions to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). (Dkt. Nos. 8, 16.) For the reasons that follow, the motions are granted in part and denied in part.

II. Background

A. Factual History

Plaintiff Melissa Atkinson was hired in November 2003 by defendant ORDA for the position of “Administrative Staff’ at Gore Mountain.3 (Compl. ¶¶ 19-20, Dkt. No. 1.) In November 2005, Atkinson was [187]*187promoted to the position of “Kid Klub Supervisor,” which she held each year until the end of the 2007-2008 ski season. (Id. ¶¶ 21-22.) While employed in that position, Atkinson “was never disciplined or provided with any written performance evaluations describing her work performance in anything other than positive terms.” (Id ¶ 25.)

Atkinson alleges that during the 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008 ski seasons, defendant David Bulmer, her immediate supervisor, “sexually harassed] [her] by directing unwelcome and offensive gender-based behavior towards her at the workplace.” (Id. ¶¶ 26-27.) Specifically, Atkinson alleges that Bulmer repeatedly and continuously grabbed her, touched her breasts, and slapped her on the buttocks. (Id. ¶ 27.) Atkinson further contends that Bulmer made sexually inappropriate comments to her on a regular and continuous basis, including offensive and unwelcome comments about his genitalia. (Id. ¶¶ 28-29.) According to Atkinson, “Bulmer did not direct similar inappropriate, offensive, and unwelcome behavior towards male employees.” (Id. ¶ 31.)

In October 2007, Atkinson made an internal complaint of harassment and discrimination to Kurt Wissell, ORDA’s Assistant Manager at Gore Mountain. (Id. ¶ 33.) In connection with her complaint, Atkinson was interviewed by David McKillop and Trudy Stanton from ORDA’s Human Resources Department. (Id. ¶ 34.) Thereafter, Atkinson claims she was told by Mr. McKillop that ORDA was giving Bulmer the option to resign “or face disciplinary charges for lying during an investigation and for his sexual harassment of [her].” (Id ¶ 35.)

In November 2007, Bulmer resigned from his employment with ORDA. (See id. ¶ 36.) Atkinson contends that defendant Gail Setlock, Assistant Mountain Services Manager of Gore Mountain, blamed her for Bulmer’s resignation and “was angry at [Atkinson] for complaining of sexual harassment.” (Id ¶ 37.)4

In connection with his resignation, Bulmer was allegedly provided free season passes to ski at Gore Mountain. (Id. ¶ 39.) Atkinson further alleges that during the 2007-2008 ski season, following Bulmer’s resignation, he frequently sought her out and “continued to sexually harass her at her workplace.” (Id. ¶ 40.) During that season, Atkinson complained to defendant Michael Pratt, General Manager of Gore Mountain, regarding Bulmer’s continued sexual harassment of her. (Id. ¶ 41.) According to Atkinson, however, Pratt refused to take any action in response to her complaints. (Id ¶ 42.) Instead, Atkinson alleges that Pratt told her “in words, or in substance: ‘David Bulmer no longer works at the Mountain, but he has a right to be there to ski. You will have to get used to it. Bulmer isn’t going to move away.’ ” (Id.)

At the end of the 2007-2008 ski season, Atkinson was advised that her employment would continue for the 2008-2009 season. (Id ¶ 44.) Atkinson contends, however, that on June 29, 2008, “[she] was notified that the qualifications for the position of Kids Klub Supervisor had been changed to include qualifications that [her] supervisors knew she did not possess.” (Id. ¶ 45.) The next day, Atkinson contacted the ORDA Human Resources Department and was advised that Setlock and Pratt had instituted the change in job qualifications. (Id. at ¶ 46.) Atkinson alleges further that [188]*188during a subsequent telephone call, Set-lock told her that she should not apply for her former Supervisor position because she would not be hired. (Id. ¶ 48.) Set-lock also allegedly sent a June 30, 2008 email to all snow sports staff from the 2007-2008 season, “informing them that the position of Kids Klub Supervisor was available and that anyone interested should apply.” (Id. ¶ 49.) Ultimately, Atkinson was not rehired for the position of Kids Klub Supervisor, and she alleges that the individual that replaced her did not possess all of the newly-added job qualifications. (Id. ¶ 50.)

B. Procedural History

On July 28, 2008, Atkinson filed an administrative charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), complaining of acts of unlawful discrimination and retaliation. (Id. ¶ 6.) The EEOC found reasonable cause to believe that in terminating her employment shortly after she lodged sexual harassment complaints, ORDA retaliated against Atkinson in violation of Title VII. (See id. ¶ 7.) On May 21, 2010, Atkinson received a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC and on August 17, 2010, she commenced the present action against defendants. (Id. ¶ 8.)

III. Standard of Review

The standard of review under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) is well established and will not be repeated here. For a full discussion of the standard, the court refers the parties to its previous opinion in Ellis v. Cohen & Slamowitz, LLP, 701 F.Supp.2d 215, 218 (N.D.N.Y.2010).

IV. Discussion

A. Title VII

Under Title VII, it is “an unlawful employment practice for an employer ... to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to [her] compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(l). Atkinson asserts two grounds upon which she alleges that ORDA violated Title VII: (1) hostile work environment, and (2) retaliation. (Compl. ¶¶ 55-60, Dkt. No. 1.)

1. Hostile Work Environment

Atkinson contends that ORDA is liable under Title VII for subjecting her to a hostile work environment created by the discriminatory acts of Bulmer both during his employment at Gore Mountain and following his resignation. (Compl.

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822 F. Supp. 2d 182, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112796, 2011 WL 4593170, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/atkinson-v-new-york-state-olympic-regional-development-authority-nynd-2011.