Jarallah v. Thompson

123 F. Supp. 3d 719, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107860, 2015 WL 4925212
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedAugust 17, 2015
DocketCivil Action No. DKC 14-1772
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 123 F. Supp. 3d 719 (Jarallah v. Thompson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jarallah v. Thompson, 123 F. Supp. 3d 719, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107860, 2015 WL 4925212 (D. Md. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

DEBORAH K. CHASANOW, District Judge.

Presently pending and ready for resolution in this employment discrimination cáse are the following motions: (1) a motion to dismiss or, alternatively, for summary judgment filed by Defendants Warren Thompson, Maurice Jenoure, and Dina Zaikouk (ECF No. 12); (2) a motion to dismiss or, alternatively, for summary judgment filed by Defendant Dan Kelly (ECF No. 26); (3) a motion to amend the complaint filed by Plaintiff Tajudin Jaral-lah (ECF No. 32); (4) motions to dismiss filed by Defendants Bowie State University (“Bowie State”) (ECF No. 4), Morgan State Univei-sity (“Morgan State”) (ECF No. 6), and Prince George’s Community College (“PGCC”) (ECF No. 16) (collectively the “school Defendants”); (5) a motion to dismiss voluntarily without prejudice filed by Plaintiff (ECF No. 24); and (6) a motion to disqualify counsel filed by Plaintiff (ECF No. 25). The issues have been briefed, and the court now rules, no hearing being deemed necessary. Local Rule 105.6. For the following reasons, the motions of Defendants Thompson, Jen-oure, Zaikouk, and Kelly to dismiss or alternatively, for summary judgment will be granted. Plaintiffs motion for leave to amend will be denied. School Defendants’ motions to dismiss will be granted. Plaintiffs motion to dismiss voluntarily without prejudice will be denied. Plaintiffs motion to disqualify counsel will be denied.

I. Background

A. Factual Background

Plaintiff worked in various capacities for Thompson Hospitality Corporation (“Thompson Hospitality”). Thompson Hospitality is a food services provider that contracts with colleges and universities to provide cafeteria and other food services. Plaintiff began, working for Thompson Hospitality in early 2011. Plaintiff initially worked as an Executive Chef for Thompson Hospitality at Bowie State. While at Bowie State, Plaintiff raised multiple concerns to Thompson Hospitality management regarding alleged discrimination by his supervisors. (ECF 'No. 1-4, at 1-33). Thompson Hospitality management investigated Plaintiffs allegations and found [723]*723them to be without merit. (ECF No. 1-4, at 32).

In August 2011, Plaintiff emailed Thompson Hospitality a request for a transfer to a location in the South because he found the rent in Maryland too high and maintained a home in Atlanta, Georgia. (ECF'No. 1-4, at 46-47). In December 2012, Plaintiff was transferred within Thompson Hospitality, and began working as a Food Service Director at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. (ECF No. 13-1, at 1). In January 2013, Thompson Hospitality lost its contract with Paine College. Plaintiff was offered to transfer again within Thompson Hospitality, but chose to stay' at Paine College. (Id.). The record indicates that, as of at least May 9, 2014, Plaintiff has remained employed by ABL Educational Enterprise, Thompson Hospitality’s replacement, at Paine College as a Food Service Director. (ECF No. 1-5, at 1).

B. Procedural Background

Shortly after his departure from Thompson Hospitality, Plaintiff filed three complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). In his EEO complaints, Plaintiff alleged that he was discriminated against based on race, color, sex,- religion, national origin, age, and disability, and was also retaliated against based on an earlier EEO complaint. (ECF No. 13-1, at 5-15). Plaintiff and Thompson Hospitality communicated extensively throughout the spring., and summer of 2013 regarding settling the EEO complaints. (ECF Nos. 31-4 .and 31-6). Plaintiff and Thompson Hospitality exchanged multiple draft settlement proposals.

On August 12, 2013, Plaintiff attended an EEOC mediation session with repre? sentatives from -Thompson Hospitality. (ECF No. 13-2, at 1-2). According to Plaintiff, during the EEOC mediation session,, he “stood up .to walk out of the negotiation and promised to continue to sue the Defendants-for the .next ‘hundred years.”’-(ECF No.. 31, at 7). The parties continued to negotiate, however, and ultimately signed' a Separation Agreement and Release (“Release”). (ECF No. 13-3, at 2-8). In the Release, Plaintiff agreed to “waive, release, and forever resolve all claims, demands, or causes of action arising out of, relating to, or touching or concerning Thompson [Hospitality].” (Id. at 3). In exchange for this release, Thompson Hospitality paid, what Plaintiff contends amounts to, roughly the equivalent of one year of his salary.1

The record indicates that the EEOC closed at least one of Plaintiff’s EEO complaints ' against Bowie' State on May 16, 2014 because “[t]hefe [was] no' employee/employer relationship.” (ECF No. 1-3). The record does not indicate the disposition or current status of the other EEO complaints against Bowie State or the other school Defendants.

Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, commenced this suit on June'3, 2014.' (ECF No’. 1). Plaintiff alleges discrimination based on race, color, nationality, religion, and sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) while employed by Thompson Hospitality at Bowie State. Plaintiff also alleges -numerous other claims, but provides nothing more than conclusory allegations and buzzwords without adequate facts to support his allegations.2

[724]*724On September 24, 2014, Bowie State and Morgan State filed separate motions to dismiss. (ECF Nos. 4 and 5). On October 21, 2014, PGCC also moved to dismiss. (ECF No. 16). Plaintiff filed oppositions to each motion. (ECF Nos. 18, 19, and 24). Plaintiff also moved to dismiss his complaint voluntarily in order to bring his complaint in state court. (ECF No. 24).

On October 20, 2014, Defendants Thompson, Jenoure, and Zaikouk filed a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment. (ECF No. 12). Defendant Kelly moved to dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment on November 14, 2014.3 (ECF No. 26). Plaintiff filed an opposition, (ECF No. 31), and Defendants Thompson, Jenoure, Zaikouk, and Kelly (collectively “individual Defendants”) replied (ECF No. 36).

On November 13, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion to disqualify individual Defendants’ attorney. (ECF No. 25). The individual Defendants filed an opposition. (ECF No. 33). Plaintiff filed a supplemental motion. (ECF No. 34).

Finally, on November 24, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to amend his complaint to add additional defendants. (ECF No. 32). Individual Defendants filed opposition, (ECF No. 37), and Plaintiff replied (ECF Nos. 40 and 41).

II. Individual Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss or, Alternatively, for Summary Judgment

A. Standard of Review

The individual Defendants have moved to dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment. Ordinarily, a court cannot consider matters outside the pleadings or resolve factual disputes when ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. See Bosiger v. U.S. Airways, 510 F.3d 442, 450 (4th Cir.2007). If the court does consider matters outside the pleadings, “the motion must be treated as one for summary judgment under Rule 56,” and “[a]ll parties must be given a reasonable opportunity to present all the material that is pertinent to the motion.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(d); see also Finley Lines Joint Protective Bd.

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123 F. Supp. 3d 719, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107860, 2015 WL 4925212, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jarallah-v-thompson-mdd-2015.