Burns v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority

10 Am. Tribal Law 157
CourtMohegan Gaming Disputes Trial Court
DecidedDecember 17, 2009
DocketNo. GDTC-D-08-122-FOE
StatusPublished

This text of 10 Am. Tribal Law 157 (Burns v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mohegan Gaming Disputes Trial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burns v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, 10 Am. Tribal Law 157 (Mo. 2009).

Opinion

[158]*158 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

EAGAN, J.

INTRODUCTION

The plaintiff, Joseph W. Burns, alleges in his Revised Complaint that the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA) discriminated against him in the promotion process and then terminated his employment in retaliation for the exercise of protected rights contrary to the requirements of the Mohegan Discriminatory Practices [159]*159Ordinance (DEPO) and the Mohegan Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO); that he was harassed through an improper investigation report that resulted in his termination in violation of the DEPO and the TERO; and that he was subjected to a hostile work environment, also in violation of the DEPO and the TERO. The plaintiff proceeded to trial on his revised complaint, •pro se.

The plaintiff has failed to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, any of his claims for relief. Additionally, under the DEPO, the MTGA had legitimate, nondiscriminatory grounds for terminating the plaintiff. The plaintiffs claim of discriminatory failure to promote is time barred.

With regard to plaintiffs claim for relief under the TERO, there is no private right of action under the TERO.

FINDING OF FACTS

1. Plaintiff has been recognized by the Mohegan Tribe as a Native American.

2. In January, 2008 plaintiff was a full-time limousine driver. Previously, he had been a part-time trainer of drivers, but eventually gave up this position due to time problems and limitation in pay.

3. In the absence of direction from the Transportation Management of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA), plaintiff initiated his own driver’s training test on the use of alcohol by a limousine driver while on duty.

4. The test consisted of stopping at a local restaurant when on a training run with new drivers, but with no casino patrons in the vehicle, and ordering a beer. Plaintiff would then invite the trainees to order a beer, which was in violation of the strict tribal regulations of no drinking while on duty. According to the plaintiff, the purpose of the test was to see whether the trainees, if offered alcoholic beverages by limousine patrons or in other circumstances, would acquiesce.

5. The plaintiff consumed the beer he ordered when testing the driver trainees.

6. In February 2008, after the plaintiff and another limousine driver/trainer engaged in a verbal altercation in the drivers’ lounge, the other limousine driver complained to management about the plaintiffs conduct.

7. This complaint instigated an investigation which disclosed that the plaintiff had made unauthorized use of the casino limousine for his daughter’s transportation from Boston to his home and then back to Boston and for family visits; and that plaintiff had consumed alcohol while on duty.

8. Plaintiff acknowledged that on occasion he did drink alcohol while on duty. As a result of this investigation, primarily for his consumption of alcohol while on duty, the plaintiff was terminated.

9. Previously, the plaintiff had complained to management about the promotion of Mandy Phillips to the position of Operations Manager over himself and others. At this time, he did claim his Native American preference.

10. The MTGA management rescinded Mandy Phillips’ promotion and left the position unfilled.

11. Plaintiff was not promoted to the position he sought due to his lack of supervisory qualifications as required for the job.

12. More than 90 days had elapsed before the plaintiff complained about the lack of promotion.

13. There is no dispute that the plaintiff appeared to be an excellent limousine driver and trainer, until his use of Mohegan Sun limousines for personal matters [160]*160and his drinking on the job were discovered.

DISCUSSION

A. Plaintiffs Claims Under the TERO

Plaintiff has asserted his claims, in part, under the TERO, codified at Article V of the Mohegan Code. Section 4-105 of the TERO provides:

(a) Preference in Hiring. This Article requires Native American preference in all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, promotion, lateral transfers, retention, and training. A Covered Employer shall not recruit, hire, or otherwise employ any non-Native American for any position covered by this Article, if a Native American who meets the Minimum Qualifications has applied for sueh position, unless an exception exists within this Article. The Covered Employer shall select the Native American who meets the Minimum Qualifications for such position and who qualifies for employment in accordance with the hiring policies of the Covered Employer by using the following order of priority:
(1) A Mohegan.
(2) A Native American.

It is plaintiffs position that, as a Native American, he was denied the preference required by the TERO and discriminated against when Ms. Phillips was promoted to the position of Operations Manager over himself and others, in violation of the TERO.

First, as the Findings of Fact show, however, the plaintiff did not meet the minimum supervisory qualifications required for the position. Second, Section 4-104 of the TERO sets out an enforcement scheme for the TERO provisions and provides that the TERO administration shall “(5) Investigate complaints of potential violations of this Article and make determinations regarding the same”. § 4-104—(5). While plaintiff testified that he approached the TERO Commission Director with concerns about his treatment as a Native American, he admitted that he never filed the requisite complaint with the TERO Commission.

Third, and most importantly, to allow plaintiff to proceed with his claims under the TERO would be in direct contradiction of Section 4-116, “Sovereign immunity”, which provides:

(a) Nothing in this Article is intended or shall be construed or applied to create a private right of action in any person.
(b) Nothing in this Article waives the sovereign immunity of the Mohegan Tribe or the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority except to the limited extent and for the limited purposes expressly set forth in Section 4-110 of this Article.
(c) The sovereign immunity of The Mohegan Tribe shall attach to the actions or inactions of The Mohegan Tribe, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, and all of each of their entities and instru-mentalities. It shall also attach to the actions or inactions of any individual acting on behalf of The Mohegan Tribe, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, or any of each of their entities or instru-mentalities.

(Res. No. 2007-10, 2-7-2007) (emphasis added).

Thus, by its express language, the TERO does not permit a private right of action such as the plaintiff seeks to maintain in this suit.

B. Discrimination Claim

To pursue a claim against the MTGA, the plaintiff must show that the Tribe waived its sovereign immunity with regard [161]*161to the claim. Claims of employment discrimination are governed by the DEPO, which waives tribal immunity to the following, limited extent: Sec.

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Bluebook (online)
10 Am. Tribal Law 157, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burns-v-mohegan-tribal-gaming-authority-mohegangct-2009.