Ellzey v. Catholic Charities Archdiocese

833 F. Supp. 2d 595, 2011 WL 2532460
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Louisiana
DecidedJune 24, 2011
DocketCivil Action No. 10-899
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 833 F. Supp. 2d 595 (Ellzey v. Catholic Charities Archdiocese) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ellzey v. Catholic Charities Archdiocese, 833 F. Supp. 2d 595, 2011 WL 2532460 (E.D. La. 2011).

Opinion

ORDER AND REASONS

KURT D. ENGELHARDT, District Judge.

Before the Court is the Motion for Summary Judgment (Rec. Doc. 24), filed by Defendant Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (“CCANO”). This motion is opposed. (See Rec. Doc. 25 1). Subsequent replies were filed by each of the parties. (See Rec. Docs. 33 and 35). After considering the memoranda of the parties, the exhibits attached thereto, and the applicable law, the Court grants this motion in its entirety.

[597]*597I. BACKGROUND

On June 23, 2008 Plaintiff Sharon Ellzey (“Plaintiff’ or “Ellzey”) was hired by CCA-NO as a business manager for Crescent House. (Rec. Doc. 1, ¶ 2). Prior to that, Ellzey had submitted a signed employment application to CCANO wherein she represented that she had obtained a Master’s of Business Administration in informational technology from the University of Phoenix. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, pp. 95-96 and Depo. Exh. 3 attached thereto). However, at that time, Ellzey did not have such a degree. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, pp. 96-98). Ellzey also submitted a resume to CCANO wherein she indicated that she had a Master’s of Business Administration in technology management. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, pp. 98-100 and Depo. Exh. 4 attached thereto). However, Ellzey had not received that degree. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, p. 100). Further, when Ellzey began her employment with CCANO, she signed a Payroll Application in which she again falsely represented that she had obtained a Master’s of Business Administration in informational technology. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, pp. 107-108 and Depo. Exh. 11 attached thereto). Still further, in January of 2009, Ellzey signed a routine performance appraisal by her immediate supervisor, Mary Claire Landry (“Landry”), acknowledging that the appraisal was reviewed with her. On the performance appraisal, it is written that “[although Sharon does have a MBA, it is clear that she is limited in her accounting knowledge and business principles.... ” (See Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, p. 171 and Depo. Exh. 16 attached thereto). Ellzey did not actually complete the master’s degree program until almost two years later, in April of 2010, after she had been terminated from CCANO. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, p. 8).

During a routine audit of personnel records of various personnel, including but not limited to Ellzey, it was discovered by the CCANO Human Resources Department that Ellzey’s and other employees’ educational and credential records were lacking documentation. (Exh. II to rec. Doc. 24, ¶ 6). When no such documentation was received from Ellzey, Kristin Callahan (“Callahan”), CCANO’s Director of Human Resources, contacted the University of Phoenix and was informed that Ellzey had not obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix. (Exh. II to Rec. Doc. 24, ¶ 9).

On March 17, 2009, following her conversation with the University of Phoenix and prior to any knowledge of any alleged grievance of any nature by Ellzey involving Landry, Callahan made the decision to terminate Ellzey in accordance with the employment policies of CCANO for falsification of her employment records. (Ex. II to Rec. Doc. 24,¶ 10).

The CCANO HR Policy regarding termination required that one of several specified individuals be consulted prior to the involuntary termination of an employee. (Exh. II to Rec. Doc. 24, ¶ 7c). In accordance with that policy, Callahan consulted with Beth Tinto, the Archdiocese of New Orleans Human Resource Director. (Exh. II to Rec. Doc. 24, ¶ 11). Following her consultation with Tinto, Callahan contacted Ellzey’s supervisor, Landry, and instructed Landry to inform Ellzey of her termination for falsification of employment records. (Exh. II to Rec. Doc. 24, ¶ 12).

After becoming aware that Landry had not informed Ellzey that she was terminated for falsification of her employment records, Callahan formally notified Ellzey of her termination on March 23, 2009. She was told that the reason for her termination was because she falsified her academic credentials with respect to having a [598]*598master’s degree. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, pp. 117-118; Exh. II to Rec. Doc. 24, ¶ 13).

CCANO had a sexual harassment policy in place, which required employees with complaints of sexual harassment to bring their concerns to management, including the employee’s own supervisor, program director, administrator, or division director. (Exh. II to Rec. Doc. 24,¶ 7d). Although Ellzey alleges that she made four complaints to HR about alleged “sexual harassment [by Landry] and other matters”, the HR department directed her to put them in writing. (Rec. Doc. 1, ¶ 10). CCANO denies that any such verbal complaints of sexual harassment were ever made. Ellzey alleges that she filed a written formal grievance the same day her employment was terminated: March 23, 2009. (Rec. Doc. 1, ¶ 10). Notably, although the cover letter to her written grievance is dated March 19, 2009, it mentions matters through March 23, 2009, and was not actually provided to CCANO until after Ellzey’s meeting with Callahan on March 23, 2009, wherein she was terminated. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24 and Depo. Exh. 13-15 attached thereto). Indeed, Ellzey testified that she discussed her grievance with Landry’s supervisor only after she was terminated. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, pp. 208-210). In her Complaint, Ellzey alleges that she thought that complaining to Landry’s supervisor would do no good. (Rec. Doc. 1, ¶ 10).

It is undisputed that Ellzey’s only Charge of Discrimination against CCANO was signed by Ellzey on June 4, 2009 and received by the New Orleans field office on June 12, 2009. (Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24, pp. 87-88, 92 and Depo. Exh. 1 attached thereto). In her EEOC Charge, Ellzey alleges only sex discrimination and retaliation. In the “Particulars” section of the charge, Ellzey explained:

On June 23, 2008, I was hired for the position of Business Manager at a salary of $38,000 per year. I was discharged on March 23, 2009. The Respondent employs more than 100 persons. According to Mary Claire Landry, Supervisor, I was discharged for allegedly falsifying my employment application with respect to the status of my master’s degree.
I believe that I have been discriminated against because of my sex, Female, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

(Exh. I to Rec. Doc. 24 Depo. Exh. 1 attached thereto).

Ellzey’s Complaint alleges sexual harassment by her immediate supervisor, Landry, consisting of alleged “ ‘hugs’ with sensual back rubs” and “observations about her clothes, buttocks, weight (she was losing weight), and hairstyles in relation [sic] her looking sexy”. (Rec. Doc. 1, ¶¶ 6). The Complaint also alleges retaliation based on sexual harassment. (Rec. Doc. 1, ¶¶ 9-11).

II. DISCUSSION

A. Legal Standard

Pursuant to Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment “shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c).

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

Related

Billups v. Vilsack
E.D. Louisiana, 2024
Harvison v. G.A. West & Co., Inc.
S.D. Mississippi, 2023
Sims v. Louisiana State
E.D. Louisiana, 2023
Bowie v. Hodge
E.D. Louisiana, 2022
Whitfield v. Woodgroup PSN
E.D. Louisiana, 2019
Parker v. Benteler Steel
W.D. Louisiana, 2019
Stone v. Louisiana Department of Revenue
996 F. Supp. 2d 490 (E.D. Louisiana, 2014)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
833 F. Supp. 2d 595, 2011 WL 2532460, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ellzey-v-catholic-charities-archdiocese-laed-2011.