Boyer v. KRS Computer & Business School

171 F. Supp. 2d 950, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23280, 2001 WL 1400306
CourtDistrict Court, D. Minnesota
DecidedSeptember 10, 2001
Docket00CV1039
StatusPublished

This text of 171 F. Supp. 2d 950 (Boyer v. KRS Computer & Business School) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Boyer v. KRS Computer & Business School, 171 F. Supp. 2d 950, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23280, 2001 WL 1400306 (mnd 2001).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

KYLE, District Judge.

Introduction

Defendant KRS Computer and Business School (“KRS”) employed Plaintiff Dennis *952 Boyer as a janitor from September 1998 through August 31, 1999. In February 1999, Boyer sustained a cut while working. He received first aid from Sara Matzek, his supervisor, who, in helping him, came in contact with Boyer’s blood. Boyer told Matzek that he had a blood disorder, whereupon KRS directed Boyer to undergo blood tests for hepatitis and HIV. Six months later, on August 16, 1999, Boyer gave KRS a letter of resignation, notifying KRS that his last day of work would be September 16, 1999. KRS accepted Boyer’s resignation. On August 31,1999, however, Boyer’s supervisors informed him that KRS was terminating Boyer’s employment effective immediately due to an incident at the school’s computer lab in which Boyer had complained to KRS staff members regarding his treatment by his supervisors and told others they should bring a class action lawsuit against the school.

Boyer’s Amended Complaint alleges that KRS violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and comparable provisions of the Minnesota Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) when it discriminated against him and ultimately terminated him because of an actual or perceived disability. (Amended Compl. ¶ 16.) Boyer alternatively contends that he was constructively discharged from his job at KRS “because of his status as either disabled or as a former drug addict.” 1 (Id. ¶ 29.) Boyer also claims that KRS wrongfully terminated him after violating his right to privacy in that KRS allegedly “eavesdropped” on a private conversation “off campus” discussing Boyer’s private legal matters. (Id.) In addition, Boyer asserts state common law claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of contract, and invasion of privacy. 2

Background

I. The Parties

KRS operates a vocational school in the Knollwood Mall in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, that provides students with training in the field of computer science. Allen Denouden, KRS’s Director of Business Operations, hired Boyer to work full-time as a janitor at that location on September 16,1998. 3 (Boyer Dep. at 141,143; *953 Denouden Aff. ¶¶ 1, 2.) As a janitor, Boyer’s responsibilities included keeping the bathrooms clean, keeping the classrooms clean, and taking out the garbage. (Boyer Dep. at 141.) In January 1999, Boyer’s hours changed from a split shift of days and nights to working entirely during the days. (Id. at 158-59.)

II. Boyer’s On-the-job Accident and the “Blood Incident”

On February 10, 1999, Boyer cut his finger with a utility knife while working. (Boyer Dep. at 196-98.) Sarah Matzek, Boyer’s supervisor, helped stop the bleeding and administered first aid and, in doing so, came in contact with Boyer’s blood. After Boyer had stopped the bleeding, he told Matzek that he had hepatitis. (Id. at 73, 80-81, 205-06, 230.) Boyer disclosed his medical condition because he was concerned that Matzek had been exposed to his blood. (Id. at 74, 207.)

Later that day, Boyer met with Matzek and Tom Miller, another supervisor, and told them that he had contracted hepatitis from needle drug use back in the 1970s. (Id. at 210-11, 233.) Matzek asked Boyer to undergo a blood test for hepatitis. (Id. at 208-09.) Either in that same conversation or very shortly thereafter, Matzek also asked that Boyer be tested for HIV. (Id. at 211.) Boyer objected to having to undergo the blood tests and complained to Ken Schnitker, a top-level manager at KRS above both Matzek and Miller. 4 (Id. at 102, 215-16.) Accordingly to Boyer, Schnitker told him to just have the blood tests done and “make the issue go away.” (Id. at 102-03, 402.) Boyer believed he was being told to take the test or lose his job. (Id. at 217.) Boyer had blood drawn on two occasions, one for hepatitis and the other for HIV. (Id. at 218-19, 223-24.) The test for hepatitis returned positive for hepatitis B; the test for HIV returned negative. (Pl.’s Exs. 104 & 108.)

Boyer states that, after disclosing that he had hepatitis, his relationship with Mat-zek changed, and she treated him differently. (Boyer Dep. at 75.) Specifically, Boyer felt that Matzek no longer wanted or accepted his input and ideas. 5 (Id. at 76.) Boyer testified that his relationship with Matzek “went rough for a while,” until late May or early June, when their working relationship began to improve. (Id. at 80,164.)

III. Boyer’s Job Review and Salary Increase

On or about March 15, 2001, Boyer received his paycheck and noticed that it did not reflect a raise. (Boyer Dep. at 153-54.) Boyer complained to Matzek about this, stating that he had been promised a *954 raise after six months by Denouden. (Id.) Boyer told Matzek he had a contract with the school and was supposed to get a raise after simply completing six months of employment. Matzek responded that, since Denouden was no longer at KRS, Boyer should address the issue with Schnitker. 6 Boyer tried to explain the situation to Schnitker, who responded that he was “out of the loop” as to the details of Boyer’s employment arrangement with KRS. (Id. at 194.)

On March 25, 1999, Matzek presented Boyer with a letter setting out the benefits of his position; Matzek prepared the letter because Boyer had “stated he was unaware of a letter outlining the benefits of his position.” (Kennedy Aff. Ex. 10.) The letter stated that Boyer was an at-will employee and subject to a six-month probationary period. Boyer’s salary was stated as $25,000 per year, with a review after six months; Boyer’s performance would be monitored, with a potential that the salary may be adjusted sooner. (Id.) Boyer told Matzek he disagreed that the letter reflected the agreement he had reached with Rash and Denouden when he was hired. (Id. at 156.)

On April 7,1999, Boyer received his first performance review from Matzek. (Boyer Dep. at 168, 170.) Matzek evaluated Boyer’s performance under five criteria and also asked Boyer to assess his own perfor-manee. (Id. at 168.) Matzek ranked Boyer as “meeting and often exceeding job requirements” with respect to attendance and punctuality. (Kennedy Aff. Ex. 6.) Matzek indicated that Boyer “consistently meets job requirements” with respect to the quality of his work and his interaction and communication with others. (Id.)

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171 F. Supp. 2d 950, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23280, 2001 WL 1400306, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/boyer-v-krs-computer-business-school-mnd-2001.