Horsham v. Fresh Direct

136 F. Supp. 3d 253, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130438, 2015 WL 5692908
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 28, 2015
DocketNo. 14-CV-651 (MKB)
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 136 F. Supp. 3d 253 (Horsham v. Fresh Direct) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Horsham v. Fresh Direct, 136 F. Supp. 3d 253, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130438, 2015 WL 5692908 (E.D.N.Y. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

MARGO K BRODIE, District Judge.

Plaintiff Cyril Horsham, proceeding pro se, commenced the above captioned action on January 28, 2014, against Defendant Fresh Direct, alleging age and disability discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), and the New York -State Human Rights Law (“NYSHRL”). On February 6, 2014, Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom granted Plaintiffs application to proceed informa pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Docket Entry No. 4.) On June 19, 2014, [257]*257the Court held a pre-motion conference to discuss Defendant’s anticipated motion to dismiss and granted Plaintiff thirty days to amend the Complaint to add facts supporting his claims. (June 19, 2014 Minute Entry.) On September 22, 2014, Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint.1 (Am. Compl., Docket Entry No. 15.) Defendant now moves to dismiss the Amended Complaint. (Def. Mot. to Dismiss, Docket Entry No. 18; Def. Mem. in Support of Mot. to Dismiss (“Def. Mem. ”), Docket Entry No. 18-1.) For the reasons discussed below, the Court grants Defendant’s motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint, but gives Plaintiff thirty (30) days to file a seconded amended complaint.

I. Background

The allegations in the Amended Complaint are assumed to be true for the purposes of deciding this motion.2 For six years, Plaintiff worked for Defendant in an unknown position.3 (Am. Compl. 2.) After developing a work-related hernia, Plaintiff underwent surgery to correct the problem. (Id. at 2-3.) According to Plaintiff, prior to his hernia operation, he was regarded as a successful employee and received awards, but after his hernia operation, Defendant began discriminating against him. (Id. at 3.) In particular, without notifying Plaintiff, Defendant placed him on an unpaid “[disciplinary [l]eave of [a]bsence.” (Id. at 2-3.)' Plaintiff believes 'this was improper because his hernia was a work-related injury that entitled him to workers’ compensation payments or disability benefits, and did not warrant disciplinary leave. (Id. at 3, 7-9.) Plaintiff also claims that, unlike other injured, workers, Defendant placed him on unpaid disciplinary. leave. (Id. at 3.) Plaintiff contends that Defendant normally requires employees to. formally request a leave of ¡absence, and Plaintiff knows of no other employees who were treated like he was. . (Id.) Plaintiff alleges this was discrimination.

a. Plaintiffs recovery from hernia surgery

After undergoing hernia surgery,4 Plaintiffs doctor told him not to work for fourteen days and thereafter to perform only “[l]ight [djuty” for his first six weeks back at work. (Id.) During his fourteen-day recovery period, Plaintiff routinely spoke with one of Defendant’s dispatchers named “Al.” (Id.) Near the end of !his fourteen-day home recovery, Plaintiff went to work and informed'Defendant about the doctor’s recommendation. (Id.) While there, Plaintiff provided information about his injury, surgery and recovery to “Zoila” in Defendant’s human resources department (“HR”) and to an employee who dealt with safety issues. (Id. at 3-4.) Zoila, told Plaintiff that HR would contact him- about [258]*258light duty work he could perform. (Id. at 4.) Although Plaintiff offered to come in two days later, Al, the company dispatcher, told him to stay at home until HR called him. (Id.) ■ ,

Plaintiff stayed’home as Al directed, but ho one' contacted him. (Id.) At the time, Plaintiff believed Defendant was allowing him time to heal, but he also noticed that he stopped receiving paychecks. (Id.) Toward the end of his six-week light duty time, Plaintiff visited his doctor to confirm he could resume working. (Id. at 4-5.) Plaintiffs doctor informed him that his recoveiy was behind schedule, but the doctor did not extend his- light duty time, instead he directed Plaintiff to “wear a [b]elt and secure [himjself when [he] returned to the job.” (Id.)

b. Plaintiff follows up with Defendant

Plaintiff .went to work at the epd of the six-week light duty time. (Id. at 5.) When Plaintiff arrived, Al informed Plaintiff that he was permitted to miss three months of work and retain his job. (Id.) Because Plaintiff had not previously filed an injury report, Plaintiff spoke with his Manager, “Madjie,” to create one. (Id.) Madjie asked'that Plaintiffs doctor prepare a letter stating he was fit to return to work. (Id.)

■Thereafter, based on concérns about Plaintiffs ' recovery,' Plaintiffs doctor scheduled a “CAT scan” for December 6, 2012. (Id. at 5-6.) Plaintiff also had additional follow-up appointments with his doctor. (Id. at 6.) Throughout this time period, Plaintiff informed the dispatcher, Al, about his status, and Al told Plaintiff he would relay the information to someone named “Michael.” (Id. at 5r-6.) At some point, Plaintiff visited his doctor to get the letter he needed before-returning to work, and he told his doctor that he was hesitant to begin working -because working with Defendant’s, truck contributed to his hernia. (Id. at 6.) The doctor suggested Plaintiff start with less physically demanding work, and then gradually resume his prior work. (Id.)

c. Plaintiff attempts to return to work

On April 26, 2013, Plaintiff delivered the doctor’s letter to Defendant. (Id.) That day, Plaintiff told his union that he had not been paid since the surgery. (Id.) In response, a union member gave Plaintiff a telephone number to call and “straighten” out his “entitlements.” (Id.) Plaintiff did not reach anyone at that number, but a union member called him back and informed Plaintiff that Defendant believed he walked away from his job. (Id. at 7.) The union member told Plaintiff to speak with HR. (Id.)

After failing to reach HR, Plaintiff complained to the “Labor Board.”5 (Id.) Plaintiff alleged that after his surgery, Defendant placed him on unpaid disciplinary leave instead of “[l]imited [disability,” to avoid paying him workers’ compensation and disability benefits.6 (Id.) This deprived Plaintiff of the “emergency services” he was entitled to after having paid for them through six years of work and paycheck deductions. (Id. at, 7-8.).

On May 14, 2013, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the New York State Division of [259]*259Human Rights (“NYSDHR”), alleging age and disability discrimination. (NYSDHR Compl., annexed to Decl. of Jeannine Idrissa (“Idrissa Decl.”) as, Ex. 1, Docket Entry No. 18-2.) During the ensuing investigation, Plaintiff learned that Defendant had terminated him sometime in June of 2013, but he had never received notice of, or any correspondence regarding, his termination. (Am. Compl. 8.) Plaintiff then applied for unemployment benefits, but Defendant opposed his application, stating that it had “lots of work [he] could do.” (Id.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
136 F. Supp. 3d 253, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130438, 2015 WL 5692908, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/horsham-v-fresh-direct-nyed-2015.