Delgado v. Lehman

665 F. Supp. 460, 43 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 593, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7180, 44 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 37,517
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedMarch 24, 1987
DocketCiv. A. 86-0596-A
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 665 F. Supp. 460 (Delgado v. Lehman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Delgado v. Lehman, 665 F. Supp. 460, 43 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 593, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7180, 44 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 37,517 (E.D. Va. 1987).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

CACHERIS, District Judge.

Plaintiff Virginia Delgado filed a Complaint against the Navy alleging that she had been subjected to a continuing course of sexual harassment that resulted in a denial of her within grade increase in salary and in her discharge from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2 (1981), as amended. Defendant John F. Lehman, Secretary of the Navy, denied any sexual harassment and claimed that plaintiff’s within grade pay raise was denied and her employment terminated because of her inability to perform critical elements of her Basic Performance Appraisal Program. For the rea *462 sons set forth below, judgment is entered in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant.

I

Findings of Fact

After reviewing the pleadings, evidence and authorities, the court makes the following findings of fact:

Plaintiff Virginia Delgado (“Delgado”) is a female citizen of the United States. At all times pertinent to this action she was employed by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (“NAVFAC”) in Alexandria, Virginia. Plaintiff commenced her government service in January, 1948, and in 1972 began performing Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) duties. In 1973, she began working for the Naval Material Support Activity as Hispanic Program Coordinator. Her duties there included EEO work. She has accumulated 236 hours of college credits, which are the equivalent of three years of college.

On January 20, 1983, Delgado was removed from her position as GS-11 EEO Specialist in the EEO Office of NAVFAC. The stated grounds for her removal were nonperformance of the critical elements of her Basic Performance Appraisal Program. (Testimony of Plaintiff, Defendant’s Exhibit 24).

Defendant John F. Lehman is Secretary of the Department of the Navy. As Secretary, he supervises NAVFAC and is responsible for all official actions taken by the agency. Lehman is being sued here only in his official capacity.

At all times relevant to this action the discriminating official was John Joseph (“Joseph”), a black male. Joseph was employed by NAVFAC as the Command Deputy EEO Officer and head of the NAVFAC EEO office.

In 1979, the position of EEO Specialist in the NAVFAC EEO office became available when David McKellar resigned. The job description sought an assistant to Joseph on overall EEO matters with primary responsibility in the area of the Hispanic Employment Program. Joseph had advertised the position at the GS-11 full performance level but received no applications. He then readvertised the position at the GS-9/11 level. (Defendant’s Exhibit 172). The plaintiff was the only applicant for the position, and was selected in December, 1979, as a GS-9 Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist.

In February, 1980, Delgado received a within-grade salary increase from GS-9, Step 02 to GS-9, Step 03. (Stipulations).

In February, 1981, Delgado received a within-grade salary increase from GS-9, Step 03 to GS-9, Step 04. (Stipulations).

In June, 1981, Delgado was promoted from a GS-9 EEO Specialist to a GS-11 EEO Specialist. (Stipulations).

In October, 1981, the Navy instituted its Basic Performance Appraisal Program (“BPAP”) for professional employees. Plaintiff was assigned particular tasks (designated as critical elements) to perform under her BPAP. (Stipulations.)

In June 1982, NAVFAC denied plaintiff’s within-grade salary increase from GS-11, Step 01 to GS-11, Step 02. (Stipulations.)

The EEO office headed by Joseph had a hostile working environment. (Oral Trial Stipulation).

Joseph has an Associate Degree and has attended two additional years of college. Since June, 1983, Joseph acted as the Deputy EEO Officer. During that time, he kept up with employment discrimination law and gave courses on case analysis.

In June, 1980, and in May, 1981, Joseph gave the plaintiff satisfactory performance appraisals. (Plaintiff’s Exhibits 4 and 5).

While Delgado was employed in the NAVFAC EEO office, Joseph had three subordinates, namely Ms. Delgado, EEO Specialist Lena Saíazar, and EEO Office Assistant and Secretary Joan Goldberg. All three of these women were hired by Joseph. There were no male employees in the office during the time relevant to this action.

During her tenure in the EEO office, Delgado received recognition in the EEO community. For example, in March, 1980, *463 she was invited to participate in the preparation of an EEO module for the Navy Automated Civilian Management Information System. (Plaintiffs Exhibit 12). Joseph denied her permission to attend on the grounds that it was inappropriate for an employee of her status to participate.

Also in 1980, the Governor of Puerto Rico personally invited Delgado by name to attend a conference to plan efforts to recruit Hispanics for federal employment. Joseph denied her permission to attend on the grounds that as a subordinate EEO official it was inappropriate for her to participate.

In April, 1980, Delgado was eligible for a promotion to the GS-11 level, however, Joseph refused to promote her at that time. He promoted her fourteen months later and only after the agency’s personnel office advised him that he could not justify further delay of her promotion absent a finding of unsatisfactory performance.

Upon becoming a GS-11, Delgado assumed greater responsibilities in the EEO office. Plaintiff was assigned the following BPAP critical elements:

(1) Obtain and coordinate the administration of an attitude survey questionnaire for headquarters personnel;

(2) Prepare and conduct information update/exchange sessions for headquarters EEO counselors, concerning discrimination complaint processing;

(3) Develop and submit in writing a method for evaluating the Hispanic Employment Program aspect of the EEO program;

(4) Prepare a written analysis of Command discrimination complaints in process during fiscal year 1982;

(5) Develop and implement a system for continuous monitoring of discrimination complaints Commandwide;

(6) Prepare and deliver periodic EEO Program progress reports/presentations to Deputy/Assistant Commanders. (Plaintiff’s Exhibit 7).

Joseph deliberately interfered with Delgado’s performance of her duties under the BPAP critical elements.

Joseph locked his office containing EEO materials that Delgado needed to perform her tasks. She was refused access to these materials without the consent of Mr. Joseph’s secretary.

Joseph held mail addressed to the EEO Office on his desk and would not allow it to be distributed to his staff until he was present.

Joseph lost materials, such as reports turned in by his subordinates.

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665 F. Supp. 460, 43 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 593, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7180, 44 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 37,517, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/delgado-v-lehman-vaed-1987.