Bermudez v. City of New York

783 F. Supp. 2d 560, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33807, 2011 WL 1218406
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 25, 2011
Docket10 Civ. 1162 (CM)
StatusPublished
Cited by168 cases

This text of 783 F. Supp. 2d 560 (Bermudez v. City of New York) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bermudez v. City of New York, 783 F. Supp. 2d 560, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33807, 2011 WL 1218406 (S.D.N.Y. 2011).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER DENYING IN PART AND GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS AND DENYING IN PART AND GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

McMAHON, District Judge.

Plaintiff Monica Bermudez, an officer with the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), commenced this action against the City of New York (the “City”) and seven officers of the NYPD. Bermudez asserts 21 claims against each Defen *568 dant under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, New York State Executive Law § 296, and New York City Administrative Code § 8-107.

For the reasons that follow, the motions to dismiss by Neusch, Diaz, Croke, and Bax are granted for all claims asserted by Bermudez. As against Smith and Sanabria, Counts One, Two, Four, Five, Seven, Eight, Ten, Eleven, Thirteen, Fourteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Nineteen, and Twenty are dismissed. Counts Three, Six, Nine, Twelve, Fifteen, Eighteen, and Twenty-One are not dismissed and Smith’s and Sanabria’s motions for summary judgment on the grounds of qualified immunity as to these counts are denied. As against Stroman, Counts One, Four, Five, Seven, Ten, Eleven, Thirteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, and Nineteen are dismissed. Counts Two, Eight, Fourteen, and Twenty are dismissed without prejudice as against Stroman. Stroman’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds of qualified immunity for Counts Three, Six, Nine, Twelve, Fifteen, Eighteen, and Twenty-One is denied.

I. Defendants’ Motion To Dismiss

On a motion to dismiss, the Court accepts all of Bermudez’s factual allegations in the complaint as true and draws all reasonable inferences in her favor. Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 152 (2d Cir.2002). Because the individual defendants moved for summary judgment on the ground of qualified immunity, Bermudez has already been deposed. To the extent that she testified about facts that go beyond the allegations in her complaint, I am considering her testimony on the motions for summary judgment based on the grounds of qualified immunity.

BACKGROUND

Bermudez’s claims of employment discrimination stem from incidents involving certain individuals at the NYPD between 2004 and 2007.

Monica Bermudez is a Hispanic female of Puerto-Rican descent. (Compl. ¶ 9.) Bermudez became a police officer with the NYPD on January 14, 2004. (Id. ¶ 10.) Shortly after becoming an NYPD officer, Bermudez was assigned to the “Patrol Borough Bronx” and, specifically, to the Bronx Evidence Collection Team (the “BECT”). (Id. ¶ 14.)

For ease of analysis, I will discuss her allegations against each Defendant individually. Taken together, Bermudez claims that they make a pattern and practice of discrimination on the basis of her gender, her religious affiliation, and her race, as well as creating a hostile work environment.

1. Lieutenant Donald Stroman

Lieutenant Donald Stroman was at all relevant times Bermudez’s direct supervisor. (Id. ¶ 15.) Soon after starting with the BECT, Bermudez alleges that Lieutenant Stroman began to sexually harass her. (Id. ¶ 16.) Specifically, Stroman “would press his body against [Bermudez’s] and other female officer’s breasts” for his own sexual gratification, and would make inappropriate sexual comments, such as “Hi, I want to give you a hug but, without your vest on.” (Id. ¶¶ 17,19-20.)

In January 2004, Bermudez asked Stroman for Sundays off because she wanted to attend religious services. (Id. ¶22.) According to Bermudez, Stroman responded to her request by stating “If I set foot in a church I will be struck by lightning. But, hey, I am going to Hell anyway.” (Id. ¶ 23.) Bermudez also alleges that shortly after she was confirmed in 2004, Stroman and Defendant Denise Diaz “walked around the office hollering Praise *569 the Lord and Alleluia!,’ whenever [Bermudez] entered a room.” (Id. ¶ 24.)

In May 2004, Stroman told Bermudez, “I like the way you take care of yourself,” “You have a nice body,” and “I like the way you dress.” (Id. ¶¶ 26, 28-29.) Each time, Bermudez refused Stroman’s advances. (Id. ¶ 27, 31.)

On December 14, 2004, Stroman, believing that Bermudez had slept with Police Officer Sanabria, “yelled and cursed” at Bermudez and Sanabria in a “jealous rage.” (Id. ¶¶ 53-55.) That same day, Stroman threatened to report Bermudez to the “Early Intervention Unit.” (Id. ¶ 56.) Bermudez does not explain the purpose or function of the Early Intervention Unit, or whether Stroman followed through with his threat. On December 16, 2004, Bermudez was asked to submit to a “Random Dole Test.” (Id. ¶ 57.) Bermudez does not explain the purpose for the Random Dole Test or who must submit to the test.

On July 20, 2005, Stroman called Bermudez’s cellular telephone number while intoxicated to express his feelings towards her. (Id. ¶ 64.)

On July 22, 2005, Bermudez complained about Stroman’s conduct to Joseph Anthony, a delegate of the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association (“PBA”). (Id. ¶ 65.) Anthony informed Bermudez that going forward with a sexual harassment complaint against Stroman would “stigmatize[ ]” her. (Id. ¶ 66.) On August 4, 2005, Bermudez again complained to Anthony about Stroman’s conduct. (Id. ¶ 67.) Bermudez alleges that Anthony never followed through on Bermudez’s complaint by reporting it to the NYPD’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity or the Internal Affairs Bureau. (Id. ¶ 68.)

On July 19, 2005, Bermudez fell down a flight of stairs while on duty and injured her back. As a result of her back injury, on August 17, 2005, Bermudez was placed on “Limited Duty Capacity.” (Id. ¶70.) Bermudez claims that after August 2005, Stroman and Sergeant Charles Neusch began to scrutinize her use of the NYPD’s sick policy. (Id. ¶ 72.)

On October 25, 2006, Bermudez interrupted a conversation between Stroman and another officer in the BECT. (Id. ¶ 86.) When she entered the room, Bermudez claims that Stroman began making “smart comments” about “religious fanatics.” (Id. ¶ 87.) According to Bermudez, before she entered the room, the conversation between Stroman and the other officer was not about religion. (Id. ¶ 88.)

On October 27, 2006, Sergeant Myra Rann filed a complaint on Bermudez’s behalf against Stroman with the NYPD’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (“OEEO”). (Id. ¶ 91.) Bermudez was interviewed regarding the complaint on November 1, 2006. (Id. ¶ 93.) Bermudez claims that the interviewers were hostile and did not appear to believe her allegations. (Id.)

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783 F. Supp. 2d 560, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33807, 2011 WL 1218406, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bermudez-v-city-of-new-york-nysd-2011.