Jimenez v. Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.

391 F. Supp. 3d 380
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 4, 2019
DocketCIVIL ACTION No. 18-1003
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 391 F. Supp. 3d 380 (Jimenez v. Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jimenez v. Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., 391 F. Supp. 3d 380 (E.D. Pa. 2019).

Opinion

Pratter, J.

No one disputes that Ramon Jimenez was never paid at any time he provided services to Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. The question presented by the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment, therefore, is whether to classify Mr. Jimenez as an employee-entitled to back pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act-or an independent contractor-unprotected under the FLSA. Looking to the economic realities, the Court concludes that Mr. Jimenez was effectively an employee and is entitled to $8,170.75 in back pay. Separately, the Court concludes that summary judgment is improper on Mr. Jimenez's Pennsylvania Wage Payment Collection Law claim.

UNDISPUTED FACTS

Best Behavioral Healthcare is a mental health provider for individuals with special needs, and Amarilis LaFontaine is a doctor and the president and CEO of BBH. Ramon Jimenez worked as a psychotherapist at BBH from October 27, 2016 until April 10, 2017.

I. Scope of Mr. Jimenez's Role at BBH

When retained by BBH, Mr. Jimenez (1) was told that he was "going to be an independent contractor," Defs. Mot. for Summary Judgment, Ex. A at 26:10-12 (Jimenez Depo. Tr.), and (2) understood that he was a Form 1099 employee, or contractor, for BBH's tax purposes. Id. at 90:20-22. Specifically, BBH retained Mr. Jimenez as a psychotherapist. Mr. Jimenez's "responsibilities" were as follows:

Initial assessment, comprehensive treatment plan, update and reviews. Progress notes based on regular follow-up of patients, individual, couple, family and group therapy as clinically indicated, psychosocial assessment. Referral for services, and Discharge planning. The psychiatrist heading the treatment team controls the activities concerning patient treatment. The psychotherapists report to the Medical Director concerning clinical duties.

Defs. Motion for Summary Judgment, Ex. 5 to Ex. A (Job Description, Psychotherapist).

Mr. Jimenez also executed a Service Agreement, which described Mr. Jimenez's compensation and some of his responsibilities at BBH. According to the Service Agreement, Mr. Jimenez would earn $28 "per patient hour billed." Pltff. Mot. for Summary Judgment, Ex. A at 1 (Service Agreement). The Service Agreement also provided that Mr. Jimenez:

• Agreed to "comply faithfully with the rules and regulations of BBH and its various subdivisions";
*385• Agreed to "adhere strictly to the instructions and directions of BBH's president, directors, department coordinators and assistants, their designees and/or [Mr. Jimenez's] chief of service";
• Agreed not to "engage in any medical or mental health services activities, nor directly or indirectly, to own, manage, or invest in or be associated in any way with the practice of psychotherapy or counseling other than through BBH, except with the written permission of BBH";
• Agreed not to, upon his resignation (and for one year after), "engage in the business of [being a] psychotherapist, counselor, or related field within a radius of five miles of BBH's clinic"; and
• Agreed not to, upon his resignation or termination, "contact [his] former clients."

Id. at 1-2.

Mr. Jimenez signed several other documents, each of which also addressed the terms of BBH's relationship with its psychotherapists. The documents included a Receipt and Acknowledgement of the terms of BBH's Employee Manual,1 a Disciplinary Agreement, a Dress Code/Professional Appearance Policy, and a Professional Code of Ethics. Finally, BBH required that psychotherapists comply with more than 30 "Policies and Procedures." Among other things, those materials:

• prohibited BBH psychotherapists from "[l]eaving work before the end of a workday or not being ready to work at the start of a workday without approval";
• prohibited BBH psychotherapists from "[l]eaving [their] work station during [their] work hours without the permission of [their] supervisor, except to use the restroom";
• prohibited BBH psychotherapists from "seek[ing] any professional or political gain at the expense of the agency or client's interest"; and
• established procedures for writing and submitting session notes.

See Pltff. Mot. for Summary Judgment, Ex. J (BBH Employee Manual); see also Pltff. Mot. for Summary Judgment, Exs. N-S.2

In addition to placing restrictions and conditions on psychotherapists, BBH was responsible for paying for or reimbursing employees for various expenses, including *386cleaning supplies, credit card processing, office supplies, and office space.

II. Mr. Jimenez's Tenure at BBH

During Mr. Jimenez's approximately six months working at BBH, he estimated that he worked eight hours a day, five days a week, with another four to six hours on weekends. Although the BBH Employee Manual placed limitations on when employees could-or could not-leave work, BBH in practice did not keep track of Mr. Jimenez's comings and goings and did not require nor permit Mr. Jimenez to clock in or out. Mr. Jimenez paid his own insurance premiums during the time he worked at BBH.

Dr. LaFontaine was Mr. Jimenez's supervisor at BBH. Dr. LaFontaine hired Mr. Jimenez and signed or authorized most of Mr. Jimenez's onboarding paperwork. During her time as Mr. Jimenez's supervisor, Dr. LaFontaine disciplined Mr. Jimenez on several occasions for taking incomplete notes during appointments. Mr. Jimenez also routinely turned in his appointment notes late. According to Dr. LaFontaine and other BBH employees, BBH did not pay Mr. Jimenez because of the issues with his session notes. Dr. LaFontaine eventually terminated Mr. Jimenez because of those same issues.3 Mr. Jimenez never received any payment from BBH.

LEGAL STANDARD

A court will grant a motion for summary judgment "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). An issue is "genuine" if there is a sufficient evidentiary basis on which a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party. Kaucher v. Cnty. of Bucks, 455 F.3d 418, 423 (3d Cir. 2006) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) ). A factual dispute is "material" if it might affect the outcome of the case under governing law.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
391 F. Supp. 3d 380, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jimenez-v-best-behavioral-healthcare-inc-paed-2019.