Crawford v. Verizon Pennsylvania, Inc.

103 F. Supp. 3d 597, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47937, 2015 WL 1636866
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedApril 13, 2015
DocketCivil Action No. 14-3091
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 103 F. Supp. 3d 597 (Crawford v. Verizon Pennsylvania, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crawford v. Verizon Pennsylvania, Inc., 103 F. Supp. 3d 597, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47937, 2015 WL 1636866 (E.D. Pa. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

DALZELL, District Judge.

Zindora Crawford, an African-American woman, filed suit over the circumstances of her 2012 suspension from Verizon Pennsylvania, Inc. (‘Verizon”) and her ultimate resignation in 2014. She claimed disparate treatment, disparate impact, constructive discharge and retaliation, as well as violations of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance. She brings her case pursuant to .Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1981. We have federal question jurisdiction over Crawford’s discrimination claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and supplemental jurisdiction over her state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.

[600]*600Verizon moved for summary judgment. For the reasons set forth below, we will deny Verizon’s motion in part and grant it in part.

I. Legal Standard

Summary judgment is warranted if there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(a). A party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of proving no genuine issue of material fact exists. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 n. 10, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). To that end, the movant must inform the district court of the basis for its argument by “identifying those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact,” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (internal quotation marks omitted). Where the movant is the defendant or the party that does not have the burden of proof on the underlying claim, it “has no obligation to produce evidence negating its opponent’s case,” National State Bank v. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 979 F.2d 1579, 1582 (3d Cir.1992). The movant need only point to the lack of evidence supporting the non-movant’s claim. Id.

The reviewing court should view the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draw all reasonable inferences in that party’s favor. Scheidemantle v. Slippery Rock Univ. State Sys. of Higher Educ., 470 F.3d 535, 538 (3d Cir.2006). A factual dispute is “genuine” if it' turns on “evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the plaintiff.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A fact is “material” if it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Id. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. That is, “only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude” summary judgment. Boyle v. County of Allegheny Pennsylvania, 139 F.3d 386, 393 (3d Cir.1998) (quoting Anderson, All U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505). The court’s function is not to make credibility determinations, weigh evidence, or draw inferences from the facts. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

[T]he plain language of Rule 56[ ] mandates the entry of summary judgment ... against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.

Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

If the nonmoving party fails to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of its case on which it has the burden of proof, the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. The nonmov-ing party must identify specific facts and affirmative evidence that contradict those offered by the moving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256-57, 106 S.Ct. 2505. It is well-established that Rule 56 obliges the nonmoving party “to go beyond the pleadings and by her own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c).

Specifically, Rule 56(e) provides in relevant part that “[i]f a party fails to properly ... address another party’s assertion of fact as required by Rule 56(c), the court may ... consider the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion [or] grant sum[601]*601mary judgment if the motion and supporting materials — including the facts considered undisputed — show that the movant is entitled to it.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e).

II. Factual and Procedural Background

Verizon hired Crawford on January 26, 2004 and she worked as a Consultant until August 8, 2012. Def. Statement of Undisputed Facts (“SUF”) at ¶ 1. Her second-level supervisor was Office Manager John Nicholson, who oversaw the Team Leaders who supervised Consultants. Id. at ¶ 3. On August 7, 2012, Crawford was arrested on 112 counts of Pennsylvania statutory violations including twelve counts of intentional theft of services, twelve counts of unauthorized use of a password, identifying code or personal identification number, and twelve counts of unlawfully using a computer to alter or erase data. SUF at ¶ 5; see also MSJ, Ex. A (Crawford Dep.) at 54:20-51:25. The same day, the Montgomery County District Attorney issued a press release naming Crawford and three other Verizon employees (Technicians Richard Spraggins, Frank Provenzano and Joseph Dolan) in connection with a scheme to defraud Comcast Cable Corporation through the application of issuing unauthorized discounts to customers’ bills and he issued an affidavit of probable cause on April 12, 2012. SUF at ¶¶ 4, 6; see also MSJ, Ex. A, pt. 5 at 1, 2. The three other Verizon employees were arrested and charged with criminal counts similar to those filed against Crawford. SUF at ¶ 7.

The day Crawford was arrested her Team Leader, Drena Black, spoke with Nicholson about Crawford’s arrest in connection with her alleged involvement in the Comcast scheme. Id. at ¶ 8.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
103 F. Supp. 3d 597, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47937, 2015 WL 1636866, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crawford-v-verizon-pennsylvania-inc-paed-2015.