Barnes v. Pilgrim Psychiatric Center

860 F. Supp. 2d 194, 2012 WL 1715288, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67873
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedMay 15, 2012
DocketNo. CV 10-3902
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 860 F. Supp. 2d 194 (Barnes v. Pilgrim Psychiatric Center) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Barnes v. Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, 860 F. Supp. 2d 194, 2012 WL 1715288, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67873 (E.D.N.Y. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WEXLER, District Judge.

This is an action commenced by Plaintiff, Clara Barnes (“Plaintiff’ or “Barnes”), who has been employed by the State of New York at the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center (“Pilgrim”), for approximately twenty-seven years. The amended complaint alleges a single cause of action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (“Section 1983”). While the amended complaint is styled as a class action, no class has been certified and the action is proceeding on behalf of the Plaintiff only. Plaintiffs Section 1983 claim alleges that the failure to provide her with notice and the opportunity to be heard prior to being assigned to report to a [197]*197conference room in lieu of performing her usual duties, while receiving her full salary, violated of her rights pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In addition to naming Pilgrim and the New York State Department of Mental Health as Defendants, Plaintiff also names as Defendants individual Pilgrim supervisors and administrators, and a Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health. Presently before the court are the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment.

BACKGROUND

I. Facts

A. Plaintiffs Employment and the July 2010 Incident

Plaintiff has been employed at Pilgrim as a Licensed Practical Nurse since 1984. In July of 2010, an incident involving Plaintiff and registered nurse Mariann Serrano (“Serrano”) took place. Plaintiff states that the incident occurred on July 16, 2011, Defendants state that it occurred on July 24 of that year. Plaintiff testified that she arrived at work on the date in question feeling ill, and sat down to rest. She states that a “verbal altercation” thereafter arose with Serrano. Serrano disputes Plaintiffs account. According to Serrano, she encountered Plaintiff on the day in question asleep on a couch near a patient area, when she should have been working. Serrano states further that when confronted, Plaintiff yelled and threatened Serrano, using foul language in front of staff, patients and visitors.

Defendant Nurse Administrator Donna Bracken (“Bracken”), one of Plaintiffs supervisors, learned of the incident involving Serrano and Plaintiff and informed her supervisor, Defendant Mary Ellen Torres (“Torres”). Torres testified that she was told that Plaintiff was found sleeping on the job. Torres notified the Hospital’s risk management department, and states that she was thereafter advised to remove Plaintiff from patient contact. In furtherance of this directive, Bracken was given the task of escorting Plaintiff to a conference room, located approximately twenty-five feet from Bracken’s office. Plaintiff was advised that instead of performing her usual work duties, she was to report to and remain in the conference room during her working hours.

B. Conditions in the Conference Room

The conditions in the conference room to which Plaintiff was assigned are very much at issue. While Defendants refer to the room only as a conference room, Plaintiff refers to the room as a “Bubble Room.” The term is alleged to derive from the fact that the conference room has a hallway-facing glass wall which affords those passing by a somewhat distorted bubble-like view of the room’s interior. Plaintiff describes the room as an unpleasant and unclean place of confinement. Disciplined employees are allegedly required to remain in the room for continuous periods of time that can last as long as eight hours. Plaintiff alleges that during her period of confinement she was required to sit in a wooden chair while doing absolutely nothing. She states that she was deprived of, inter alia, the ability to leave, properly store food, or communicate with others. She states that the room was locked and that she was required to make a telephone call to obtain permission to leave the room for a bathroom break. Plaintiff states that while sitting in the conference room, she was in full view of her co-workers, and subject to humiliation as they observed her confinement.

Defendant Bracken’s description of the conference room is completely at odds with that of the Plaintiff. Bracken states that the room was well ventilated by the building’s central air conditioning system. [198]*198While the room did not contain a kitchen or refrigerator, Bracken states that Plaintiff had full access to a nearby kitchen. She further states that Plaintiff was able to come and go as she pleased, and did not need permission to use the bathroom. The outside wall of the conference room is stated to be made completely of glass blocks. Such blocks are stated to obscure the view into the room so that Plaintiff could not be seen by those passing by. According to Bracken, Plaintiff spent her days in the conference room reading books, outside of the view of others, coming and going as she pleased.

Plaintiff remained assigned to the conference room until on or about September 1, 2010, when she returned to her duties. Although she was placed out of patient contact while assigned to the conference room, Plaintiff was paid her full salary and benefits. She continued to accrue leave, and did not lose any leave time already accrued.

C. The September 2010 Disciplinary Charges

On September 15, 2010, approximately two months after the July incident and following Plaintiffs return to her normal duties, Plaintiff was given written notice that a disciplinary proceeding arising out of the July 2010 incident was being instituted (the “September 2010 Notice”). That proceeding charged Plaintiff with yelling at Serrano and violating the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Respect and Interpersonal Behavior Policy. The penalty proposed in the September 2010 Notice was a twelve week suspension without pay, or the monetary equivalent thereof. Plaintiff was advised that the penalty would take effect fourteen days from the service of the notice of charges. She was also informed of her right to grieve the penalty proposed.

In an agreement dated March 2, 2010, Plaintiff settled the charge set forth in the September 2010 Notice by agreeing to a fine of $1,097, which was agreed to be deducted from her paycheck. Plaintiff also agreed to a loss of ten days of leave accrual. The term of suspension without pay was agreed to be held in abeyance for twelve months, and was not to be implemented unless Plaintiff repeated the same or similar conduct charged in the September 2010 Notice.

D. Plaintiffs Union Status and, Relevant Portions of the CBA

Plaintiff is a member of the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. (“CSEA”). The terms of her employment are governed by the Agreement between the CSEA and the State of New York-Institutional Services Unit (the “CBA”). As a civil service employee, the terms of Plaintiffs employment would be governed in general by Article 75 of the New York State Civil Service Law (Article 75). Section 76(4) of the Civil Service Law provides that Section 75 “may be supplemented, modified or replaced by agreements negotiated between the state and an employee organization .... ” N.Y. Civ. Serv. L. § 76(4). Thus, Section 75 rights can be modified or replaced by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. See Ciambriello v. County of Nassau,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
860 F. Supp. 2d 194, 2012 WL 1715288, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67873, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/barnes-v-pilgrim-psychiatric-center-nyed-2012.