Dysart v. Palms of Pasadena Hospital, LP

89 F. Supp. 3d 1311, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24802, 126 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 531, 2015 WL 864881
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedMarch 2, 2015
DocketCase No. 8:13-cv-2499-T-35EAJ
StatusPublished

This text of 89 F. Supp. 3d 1311 (Dysart v. Palms of Pasadena Hospital, LP) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dysart v. Palms of Pasadena Hospital, LP, 89 F. Supp. 3d 1311, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24802, 126 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 531, 2015 WL 864881 (M.D. Fla. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER

MARY S. SCRIVEN, District Judge.

THIS CAUSE comes before the Court for consideration of the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Dkt. 34) filed by Plaintiff, Syrenthia Dysart (“Dysart”), the Response in opposition thereto filed by Defendant, Palms of Pasadena Hospital, LP (“the Hospital”) (Dkt. 48), as well as Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 45), Plaintiffs response in opposition thereto (Dkt. 50), and Defendant’s Reply is support (Dkt. 51). The Court held a hearing on the motions and other pre-trial matters on February 9, 2015. Upon consideration of all relevant filings, case law, and being otherwise fully advised, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs Motion for partial summary judgment and DENIES Defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

Also before the Court are Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Bifurcate Trial (Dkt. 56), Defendant’s Motion in Limine regarding Medicare/Medicaid Compliance (Dkt. 57), Plaintiffs Motion in Limine regarding Patient X’s Defining Characteristics (Dkt. 58), and Plaintiffs Motion in Limine regarding Medical Justification for Discrimination (Dkt. 59). As explained at the hearing and further below, the Motion to Bifurcate Trial (Dkt. 56) is DENIED, the Motion in Limine regarding Medicare/Medieaid Compliance (Dkt. 57) is DENIED (but the evidence is admitted for a limited purpose), the Motion in Limine regarding Patient X’s Defining Characteristics (Dkt. 58) is GRANTED, and the Motion in Limine regarding Medical Justification for Discrimination (Dkt. 59) is DENIED.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Dysart, an African-American woman, is employed by the Hospital as a Licensed Practical Nurse (“LPN”), a position she continues to hold. (Dkt. 49 at 1) At all times relevant to this lawsuit, Plaintiff worked as an LPN in the Two Bayview Unit. (Id.) However, Plaintiff (as well as other Hospital LPNs) was required to “float” to other departments from time-to-time. (Id. at 2) By all accounts Plaintiff Dysart is a competent, well-respected nurse whose care competence has not been called into question.

On or about August 22, 2013, Patient X,1 an elderly Hispanic female, who had been mugged by an African America male, was admitted to the Hospital’s Emergency Room (“ER”). (Id. at 1) On August 24, 2013, Patient X was transferred to the Acute Rehab Unit. (Dkt. 46-3)

For reasons explained further below, the Hospital directed that, while in the Acute Rehab Unit, Patient X should not be treated by African Americans or other dark-skinned people. (Dkt. 42 at 10-12; Dkt. 37 at 9-10, 12-14; Dkt. 36 at 12-13, 20-22, 24; Dkt. 38 at 25-26; Dkt. 41 at 28) A sign [1314]*1314was placed on Patient X’s door that stated in sum and substance that hospital staff must: “please report to nurse’s station before entering room.” (Dkt. 36 at 15) In accordance with this instruction, all African Americans and some dark skinned individuals of a different ethnicity who reported to the nurse’s station, would be directed not to deliver food into the room or provide any typical hospital services to Patient X. Instead, a white individual would be tasked to provide services to the patient. (Dkt. 36 at 16-17, 20-21; Dkt. 38 at 24) This directive applied to all hospital personnel, including, for example, Dietary Aids, nurses, and physical therapy staff. (Dkt. 36 at 20-22; Dkt. 38 at 25-26; Dkt. 37 at 15-17; Dkt. 40 at 11-12)

On or about September 1, 2013, Plaintiff was assigned as a floater to the Acute Rehab Unit and was initially assigned to Patient X by Mary Terlecki, the Charge Nurse. (Dkt. 49 at 2) Overlooking the note, Plaintiff entered Patient X’s room and began performing an assessment on Patient X. (Id.) Nothing in the record suggests that Patient X objected at that time to Plaintiff Dysart’s presence. (Dkt. 46-1 at 13) Even so, Ms. Terlecki entered the room, accompanied by Richard McGuire, a male Caucasian Registered Nurse in the Acute Rehab Unit, and told Plaintiff that she needed to speak with her. (Dkt. 49 at 2) Plaintiff followed Ms. Terlecki and Mr. McGuire into the doorway of the room, and Ms. Terlecki informed her that Mr. McGuire would be replacing Plaintiff as the nurse for Patient X for that shift. (Id.) Ms. Terlecki explained that Patient X was admitted to the Hospital because she had been mugged by an African American male and sustained severe injuries as a result, and thus dark-skinned Hospital staff were being excluded from her care. (Dkt. 46-1 at 13-14; Dkt. 36 at 26-27) The Hospital contends variously that Patient X made a “no blacks” demand, that her daughter made the request, and/or that the Hospital determined on its own that it would be in Patient X’s best interest to impose such a restriction. In any event, the decision was made, the offending sign was posted, and the Charge Nurse informed all African Americans, including Plaintiff Dysart, and one dark complexioned Indian care provider that they would not be permitted to provide care to Patient X because of the color of their skin. (Dkt. 36 at 20-21)

Plaintiff became upset over being removed from Patient X’s care and immediately left the Acute Rehab Unit. (Dkt.' 49 at 2) Plaintiff called the supervisor on-duty at the time and informed her of the situation. The supervisor told Plaintiff that she could return to a different area of the hospital, Two Bayview, and that she would send another nurse to the Acute Rehab Unit to provide care to Patient X. (Id.) Plaintiff then returned to the Two Bayview Unit. (Id.)

On or about September 3, 2013, Plaintiff called the Hospital’s Human Resources office to report her concerns regarding being removed from Patient X’s care on the basis of her race. She left a message requesting that Karen Casteel, Human Resources Director, return her call. (Id.) Ms. Casteel forwarded Plaintiffs message to the Chief Nursing Officer, Andrea Clyne; (Id.) That same day, Ms. Clyne called Plaintiff and asked to meet with her. (Id. at 3)

During their meeting, Plaintiff expressed her concern over being removed from Patient X’s care and Ms. Clyne explained that she would investigate the matter, consult with Brian Flynn, CEO at the time, and get back to Plaintiff. (Id.) Prior to the meeting with Plaintiff, Ms. Clyne spoke with Kerry Daum, Nurse Manager for the Acute Rehab Unit, and after the [1315]*1315meeting, she consulted with Ms. Casteel and Mr. Flynn. (Id.) That same day, on or about September 3, 2013, Ms. Clyne met once again with Plaintiff. (Id.) Despite available information concerning anti-discrimination policies of which the Hospital claimed knowledge and adherence, and the availability of access to legal counsel, with whom the Hospital claimed it did not consult, Ms. Clyne communicated to Plaintiff Dysart that the Hospital upheld the decision to prevent Plaintiff and other African American and dark complexioned staff from providing care to Patient X. (Dkt. 46-1 at 16) As Karen Casteel, the Hospital’s Director of Human Resources, acknowledged in her deposition:

Q. But you would agree that who was providing services to this patient, those decisions were made based upon the race of the staff member, correct?
A. Repeat that.
Q. Sure. The people who were providing services to this patient, who those people were, those decisions were made based upon their race, correct?
A. In this incident, yes.
Q.

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Bluebook (online)
89 F. Supp. 3d 1311, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24802, 126 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 531, 2015 WL 864881, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dysart-v-palms-of-pasadena-hospital-lp-flmd-2015.