DiFillippo v. Special Metals Corp.

299 F.R.D. 348, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42736, 2014 WL 1269260
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedMarch 26, 2014
DocketNo. 6:13-cv-215 (MAD/ATB)
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 299 F.R.D. 348 (DiFillippo v. Special Metals Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
DiFillippo v. Special Metals Corp., 299 F.R.D. 348, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42736, 2014 WL 1269260 (N.D.N.Y. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER

MAE A. D’AGOSTINO, District Judge:

I. INTRODUCTION

Linda M. DiFillippo (“Plaintiff”) commenced this action against Defendants Special Metals Corporation (“Special Metals”), William Farley, Donald Bierstine, Ronald Thompson, Nicholas Maschino, Keith Dabbs, Terry White, and various, unidentified John and Jane Doe Defendants, asserting a variety of claims arising out of incidents leading up to and including her eventual termination on June 17, 2011. Dkt. No. 5 at 11. Plaintiffs complaint alleges discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), as amended, Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), as amended, the Rehabilitation Act (“RA”), the New York State Human Rights Law (“NYHRL”), and the New York State Constitution, Art. I, § 11. Dkt. No. 5 at 1-2. Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the injury and harm caused by Defendants, totaling no less than $1,000,000, as well as costs, injunctive and declaratory relief. See id. at 1,14.

[350]*350Currently pending before the Court is Defendants’ motion to dismiss pursuant to Rules 12(b)(2), 12(b)(4), 12(b)(5), 12(b) (6), and 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Dkt. No. 17 at 1. Plaintiff opposes Defendants’ motion, and cross moves to amend her complaint. Dkt. No. 21 at 2; Dkt. No. 21-4 at 1.

II. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff is a female who was employed by Defendant Special Metals from about 2005 until her termination on June 17, 2011. Dkt. No. 21-3 at 4, 7.1 Throughout her employment with Defendant Special Metals, Plaintiffs work performance was at least no worse than the performance of other employees and free from any misconduct. Id. On or about February 28, 2006, Plaintiff suffered a hand injury. Id. In May of 2006, Plaintiff began working under a restriction and was placed on hand grinding to accommodate her hand injury. Id. Said hand injury rendered Plaintiff disabled within the meaning of the ADA, RA, and NYHRL. Id.

On or about July 2, 2008, Plaintiff filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), charge number 525-2008-00881. Id. at 5. Plaintiff was laid off on or about January 31, 2009. Id. On or about May 28, 2009, Plaintiff filed a lawsuit alleging gender and disability discrimination based on the 2008 charge of discrimination. Id. The lawsuit resulted in Defendants harboring ill will toward Plaintiff and remained pending until on or about September 30, 2011. Id. On or about February 4, 2010, Plaintiff applied for the position of Inspector with the Defendant Special Metals. Id. Plaintiff was qualified to hold such position. Id. Plaintiff was denied the position. Id. On or about March 11, 2010 and April 14, 2010, Plaintiff filed additional charges with the EEOC, charge numbers 525-2010-00372 and 525-2010-00372.

By EEOC direction, Defendant Special Metals rehired Plaintiff and made her an Inspector on or about June 14, 2010. Id. Unlike similarly situated male inspectors employed by Defendant Special Metals, Plaintiff was constantly shifted among different areas within her department and constantly reassigned to different tasks. Id. Additionally, unlike Plaintiff, male employees were excused from the most technically complex tasks in that they were not required to work in the Mark-to-Cut area. Id. Further, supervisors and co-workers were told not to answer any questions by Plaintiff and she was to seek out Defendant Maschino instead, a restriction not placed on similarly situated male inspectors. Id. at 5-6.

On February 25, 2011, Defendants Farley, Bierstine, Thompson, and Maschino informed Plaintiff that she had been demoted and removed from her position in the inspection department to the utility department. Id. at 6. Defendants produced a list of errors allegedly committed by Plaintiff. Id. The list of errors was materially different from the list of errors Defendants produced at Plaintiffs arbitration hearing as support for her demotion. Id. At this meeting, Plaintiff then advised these Defendants that she was going to file an EEOC complaint. Id. Upon information and belief, the decision to demote Plaintiff was made by Defendants Farley, Bierstine, Thompson, Maschino and Dabbs. Id. On or about March 7, 2011, Plaintiff filed another charge with the EEOC, charge number 525-2011-00320. Id. Upon demotion, Plaintiff returned to her utility position and, as a result, was put back on lay-off. Id. In May of 2011, Plaintiff returned from lay-off for a week and a dozen or more employees informed her that Defendants were looking to get rid of her and approached her stating that “they’re gunning for you” and that “she better watch her back.” Id. at 6-7.

On or about June 13, 2011, Plaintiff was suspended for allegedly violating Plant Rule 19 by taking company documents home. Id. at 7. Plaintiff stated in the course of a previous meeting with Defendants Farley, Bierstine and Thompson that she studied her notes regarding the tasks of her new job at home. Id. Plaintiff was given express permission to take her notes and relevant material home by Defendant White, who later [351]*351denied the “extent” of the permission he gave. Id. On June 17, 2011, Plaintiff met with Defendants Farley, Bierstine, and Thompson whereupon her employment was terminated. Id. Plaintiff contacted Defendant Dabbs protesting her termination and complained that she was not offered a last chance agreement as others were. Id. Defendant Dabbs stated that there were a “number” of reasons why she was not given a “last chance” but did not elaborate. Id. Plaintiff scheduled a meeting to speak with Defendant Dabbs, but it was cancelled and Plaintiff was told by Defendant Farley that the decision to terminate her employment would not be revisited. Id. Upon information and belief, the decision to terminate Plaintiff was made by Defendants Farley, Bierstine, Thompson, and Dabbs. Id.

Plant Rule 19 was not posted as is required by the Plant Rule Book, and it was not available for employee review during Plaintiffs period of employment. Id. Plaintiff alleges that, upon information and belief, similarly situated male employees, employees who do not have a disability, and/or employees who have not engaged in protected activity, have neither been suspended nor terminated for violating Plant Rule 19. Id. Additionally, Plaintiff alleges that “similarly situated male employees and/or employees who do not have a disability and/or employees who have not engaged in protected activity who committed serious acts of misconduct have not been terminated nor referred to as a ‘cunt’ as Plaintiff was.” Id. at 7-8. Plaintiff was also subjected to silent treatment, taunting, and humiliation on a daily basis. Id. at 8.

Defendants terminated Plaintiff for alleged misconduct. Id. Defendants, upon learning that Debra Bader, an employee of 32 years with the company, was a witness for Plaintiff in her 2009 lawsuit, engaged in actions that forced Ms. Bader to retire prematurely. Id.

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Bluebook (online)
299 F.R.D. 348, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42736, 2014 WL 1269260, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/difillippo-v-special-metals-corp-nynd-2014.