Hicks v. C.P. Squires Elementary School

• Court: District Court, D. Nevada
• Decided: January 20, 2021
• Docket: 2:19-cv-01665
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

6 DISTRICT OF NEVADA

7 * * *

8 Michael Hicks, Case No. 2:19-cv-01665-GMN-BNW

9 Plaintiff, SCREENING ORDER AND 10 v. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

11 C.P. Squires Elementary School, et al.,

12 Defendants.

13 14 Before the court is Plaintiff Michael Hicks’ amended complaint. ECF No. 22. Plaintiff 15 brings four claims based on events that allegedly occurred while he was employed at C.P. Squires 16 Elementary School. Id. The Court has already granted his request to procced in forma pauperis. 17 ECF No. 15. The Court will proceed to screen his amended complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 18 I. Screening standard 19 Upon granting a request to proceed in forma pauperis, a court must screen the complaint 20 under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). In screening the complaint, a court must identify cognizable 21 claims and dismiss claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim on which relief may 22 be granted or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. 23 § 1915(e)(2). Dismissal for failure to state a claim under § 1915(e)(2) incorporates the standard 24 for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Watison v. Carter, 668 25 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012). To survive § 1915 review, a complaint must “contain sufficient 26 factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” See Ashcroft 27 v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). The court liberally construes pro se complaints and may only 1 his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Nordstrom v. Ryan, 762 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 2 2014) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678). 3 In considering whether the complaint is sufficient to state a claim, all allegations of 4 material fact are taken as true and construed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Wyler 5 Summit P’ship v. Turner Broad. Sys. Inc., 135 F.3d 658, 661 (9th Cir. 1998) (citation omitted). 6 Although the standard under Rule 12(b)(6) does not require detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff 7 must provide more than mere labels and conclusions. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 8 544, 555 (2007). A formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action is insufficient. Id. 9 Unless it is clear the complaint’s deficiencies could not be cured through amendment, a pro se 10 plaintiff should be given leave to amend the complaint with notice regarding the complaint’s 11 deficiencies. Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). 12 II. Screening the complaint. 13 a. Factual background. 14 Hicks alleges that he was employed as a custodian at C.P. Squires Elementary School (the 15 “School”). ECF No. 22. He alleges he was qualified for this job (given he had similar job 16 responsibilities when employed by McDonald’s), was interviewed for the custodian position after 17 being asked about job responsibilities, was hired, and never received write ups prior to his EEOC 18 complaint. Id. He describes himself as an African American Black male. Id. Hicks brings his 19 claims against the School, Barry Bosacker (the School’s principal), and Joaquin Landeros 20 (Hicks’s custodial supervisor). Id. He alleges neither Bosacker nor Landeros are Black males. 21 Hicks claims that a weight room was created in the school by placing workout equipment 22 into a classroom. Id. According to Hicks, around April 2019, he was informed that he was 23 permitted to use the newly created weight room. Id. 24 Hicks alleges that on May 9, 2019, he was using the weight room when Dickson 25 approached him and “made a comment . . . in regards to [Hicks’s] physical appearance, body, and 26 health.” Id. The following day, Landeros informed Hicks that he was no longer permitted to use 27 the weight room. Id. Landeros supposedly told Hicks that several teachers saw Hicks using the 1 turn, instructed Landeros to instruct Hicks that he was no longer permitted to use the weight 2 room. Id. Other custodians, such as Kent Dickson and Rafael Ledesma, were allowed to continue 3 using the weight room and did so. Id. Neither Dickson nor Ledesma are Black males. 4 Hicks filed a complaint with the EEOC on the same day he was proscribed from using the 5 weight room. Id. Later, on May 30, 2019, Hicks claims he began to be harassed by Landeros and 6 Bosacker. Id. That is, he started having several complaints about his work (while he had never 7 had any write ups before filing his complaint with the EEOC). He also started receiving more 8 work assignments compared to the other non-Black custodians. In addition, Landeros continued 9 taunting him about the fact that Landeros could still use the weight room. Id. 10 Hicks now seeks both injunctive relief (for corrective measures precluding similar 11 situations from taking place in the future) and compensatory damages. Id. 12 B. Discussion. 13 Hicks brings three claims: (1) race and color discrimination in violation of Title VII; (2) 14 race and color discrimination in violation of NRS 613.330; and (3) retaliation in violation of Title 15 VII. 16 1. Race discrimination 17 Title VII makes it “an unlawful employment practice for an employer . . . to discriminate 18 against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of 19 employment, because of [his] . . . race [or] color.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–2(a)(1). To state a claim 20 for discrimination, a plaintiff must allege he (1) belongs to a protected class; (2) was qualified for 21 the position; (3) was subject to an adverse employment action; and (4) similarly situated 22 individuals outside his protected class were treated more favorably or that a discriminatory reason 23 motivated the employer. Reynaga v. Roseburg Forest Prod., 847 F.3d 678, 690-91 (9th Cir. 2017) 24 (citing McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973)). Claims for unlawful 25 discrimination under NRS 613.330 are analyzed under the same principles applied to Title VII 26 claims. Samuels v. We’ve Only Just Begun Wedding Chapel, Inc., 154 F. Supp. 3d 1087, 1093 27 (D. Nev. 2015) (citing Apeceche v. While Pine Co., 615 P.2d 975, 977–78 (Nev. 1980)). 1 Here, Hicks sufficiently pleads a claim for race discrimination under Title VII and NRS 2 613.330. To begin, Hicks’s allegations meet the first element because, according to the complaint, 3 he is Black and African American. These characteristics make him part of a protected class. 4 Hicks’s allegations meet the second element as he explains he had similar responsibilities 5 at his prior place of employment (McDonald’s), was hired for this position after being 6 interviewed about job responsibilities, and had never been written up for failure to perform his 7 job duties prior to his EEOC complaint. 8 Hicks seems to maintain that the adverse employment action he suffered was not being 9 able to use the weight room. For discrimination claims, an adverse employment action “is one 10 that ‘materially affect[s] the compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges” of employment. 11 Davis v. Team Elec. Co., 520 F.3d 1080, 1089 (9th Cir.2008). For screening purposes, the Court 12 finds that this allegation sufficiently meets the third element. 13 Hicks meets the fourth element, as he alleges Landeros and Bosacker proscribed him from 14 the using the weight room because of his race, while allowing other non-Black custodians to 15 continue using it. 16 Accordingly, the Court will allow Hicks’ claims for racial discrimination under Title VII 17 and NRS 613.330 to proceed. 18 2. Color discrimination 19 While Plaintiff alleged facts to support a claim for racial discrimination, he did not allege 20 facts that would support discrimination on the basis of color. “Color discrimination arises when 21 the particular hue of the plaintiff’s skin is the cause of the discrimination, such as in the case 22 where a dark-colored African–American individual is discriminated against in favor of a light- 23 colored African–American individual.” Williams v. Alhambra Sch. Dist. No. 68, 234 F. Supp. 3d 24 971, 981 (D. Ariz. 2017) (quoting Bryant v. Bell Atl. Md., Inc., 288 F.3d 124, 132 n.5 (4th Cir. 25 2002)). The EEOC defines color discrimination as “when a person is discriminated against based 26 on the lightness, darkness, or other color characteristic of the person.” EEOC Compliance Manual 27 § 15–III, What is “Color” Discrimination, 2006 WL 4673426, at *1 (June 1, 2006). Based on 1 darkness of the color of his skin. Therefore, Hicks’s color discrimination claim is dismissed 2 without prejudice. 3 3. Retaliation 4 To make out a prima facie case of retaliation, plaintiffs must show that (1) he “undertook 5 a protected activity under Title VII,” (2) defendants subjected him to an adverse employment 6 action, and (3) there exists “a causal link between the two.” Vasquez v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 349 7 F.3d 634, 646 (9th Cir. 2003). Protected activities under Title VII include opposing allegedly 8 discriminatory acts by one’s employer. Id.; see also 42 U.S.C. 2000e–3(a). 9 Here, Hicks’s retaliation claim fails because he does not sufficiently allege the third 10 element. 11 Regarding the first element, it is a protected activity under Title VII to file a complaint 12 with the EEOC. Hicks first alleges that he complained of the above conduct by filing a claim with 13 the EEOC. As a result, the first element is met. 14 Hicks’s allegations meet the second element, too. He alleges that after he complained with 15 the EEOC, he started getting additional work—while other non-Black custodians were not 16 subjected to an increased workload. In addition, he started receiving complaints about his job 17 performance, which had never been the case in the past. 18 Turning to the third element, as explained in the previous order by this Court, the plaintiff 19 must allege sufficient facts to show a “but-for” causal link between the protected activity and the 20 adverse employment action. See Univ. of Texas Sw. Med. Ctr. v. Nassar, 570 U.S. 338, 360 21 (2013). Thus, plaintiff must show that the individuals who allegedly effected the retaliation were 22 “aware that the plaintiff [] engaged in protected activity.” Raad v. Fairbanks North Star 23 Borough School Dist., 323 F.3d 1185, 1197 (9th Cir. 2003) (emphasis added). 24 Here, this means that Hicks must allege that the persons who retaliated (e.g., Landeros or 25 Bosacker) did so because of Hicks’s decision to file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC. 26 Under Raad, this mean that Hicks must truthfully allege that his retaliators were aware of his 27 decision to file a complaint with the EEOC. Hicks has still not done this. Without this knowledge, 1 || practice made [] unlawful” under Title VII. See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a). Therefore, Hicks’s 2 || retaliation claim is dismissed without prejudice. 3 || IIL.Conclusion 4 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff’s racial discrimination claims under Title 5 || VII and NRS 613.330 may proceed. 6 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs claim for color discrimination is dismissed 7 || without prejudice. 8 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s claim for retaliation is dismissed without 9 || prejudice. 10 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiff wishes to amend his color discrimination 11 and/or retaliation claims, he must do so by February 26, 2021. Plaintiff is further advised that if 12 || he chooses to amend his complaint, the Court will screen it again before it may be served. After it 13 || is screened, Plaintiff may serve it himself or file a motion for service. 14 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is advised that if chooses not to amend his 15 |) complaint, he may serve it himself on defendants or file a motion for service. 16 DATED: January 20, 2021. Sx Ls re Q 17 . BRENDA WEKSLER 18 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28