Johnson v. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 21, 2024
Docket7:22-cv-09691
StatusUnknown

This text of Johnson v. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC (Johnson v. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC, (S.D.N.Y. 2024).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

DIANA JOHNSON,

Plaintiff, No. 22-CV-9691 (KMK) v. OPINION & ORDER THE STOP & SHOP SUPERMARKET COMPANY, LLC d/b/a STOP & SHOP, JEFF RICHARDS, and JENNIFER TAMBURRI,

Defendants.

Appearances:

Julie Pechersky, Esq. Marc S. Oxman, Esq. Oxman Law Group, PLLC White Plains, NY Counsel for Plaintiff

Marcy A. Gilroy, Esq. Littler Mendelson, P.C. Newark, NJ Counsel for Defendants

KENNETH M. KARAS, United States District Judge: Plaintiff Diana Johnson (“Plaintiff”) brings this Action against The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC (“Stop & Shop”), Jeff Richards (“Richards”), and Jennifer Tamburri (“Tamburri”; together with Richards, the “Individual Defendants”; and collectively, “Defendants”), alleging discrimination on the basis of her gender in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e (“Title VII”), gender-based hostile work environment claims pursuant to Title VII and the New York State Human Rights Law (“NYSHRL”), and retaliation claims pursuant to Title VII and the NYSHRL. (See generally Second Am. Compl. (Dkt. No. 22).)1 Plaintiff also brings an NYSHRL aiding and abetting claim against Tamburri. (Id. ¶¶ 80–82.) Finally, Plaintiff asserts civil assault and battery claims against Richards under New York and Connecticut state law. (Id. ¶¶ 83–85.) Before the Court are Stop & Shop’s Partial Motion To Dismiss the Second Amended

Complaint (“SAC”) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) (“Rule 12(b)(6)”) and the Individual Defendants’ Partial Motion to Dismiss the SAC pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) (“Rule 12(b)(2)”) and Rule 12(b)(6) (together, the “Motions”). (See Stop & Shop Not. of Mot. (Dkt. No. 25); Ind. Defs. Not. of Mot. (Dkt. No. 41).) For the reasons that follow, the Court grants in part and denies in part both Stop & Shop’s Motion and the Individual Defendants’ Motion. I. Background A. Factual Background The following facts are drawn from the SAC. (See generally SAC.) The facts alleged are assumed true for the purpose of resolving the instant Motions. See Div. 1181 Amalgamated Transit Union-N.Y. Emps. Pension Fund v. N.Y.C. Dep’t of Educ., 9 F.4th 91, 94 (2d Cir. 2021)

(per curiam). 1. Events at the Stop & Shop in Danbury, CT On or around March 4, 2021, Plaintiff—a resident of Carmel, New York—began working as a deli clerk at a Stop & Shop supermarket in Danbury, Connecticut (the “Danbury Store”). (SAC ¶¶ 7, 15–16.) As alleged, Stop & Shop is “a limited liability company duly

1 Certain of Defendants’ submissions clarify that Tamburri’s first name is, in fact, “Jennafer.” (See, e.g., Mem. of Law in Supp. of Ind. Defs. Mot. (“Ind. Defs. Mem.”) 1, 8 (Dkt. No. 42).) Unless otherwise noted, the Court cites to the ECF-stamped page number in the upper- right corner of each page. authorized to conduct business in and pursuant to the laws of the State of New York and the State of Connecticut.” (Id. ¶ 10.) Plaintiff and Richards were often scheduled to work together at the deli counter and, as early as Plaintiff’s first week of work at the Danbury Store, he subjected her to “hostile,

inappropriate, taunting, menacing and unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature.” (Id. ¶ 19–20.) For example, Richards would routinely cross his arms, stare at Plaintiff in a menacing manner, and say things like “I just want to make you mad enough to spank or whip me,” and “I can spank or whip you.” (Id. ¶ 21.) Plaintiff immediately reported this behavior to the manager of the Danbury Store, John Radasky (“Radasky”), but he did nothing to remedy the situation. (Id. ¶¶ 22–23.)2 As the days went by, Richards’ conduct toward Plaintiff escalated. (Id. ¶ 24.) For instance, when Plaintiff would bend over while performing her job duties, Richards would say things like, “bullseye” and “you’re all ass, aren’t you[.]” (Id.) Plaintiff relayed her concerns and complaints regarding this behavior to Radasky, but he did nothing. (Id. ¶ 25.)

By the end of March 2021, Richards’ conduct turned physical. (Id. ¶ 26.) Specifically, on multiple occasions around that time Richards would approach Plaintiff from behind and press his genitals against Plaintiff’s buttocks. (Id.) Although Plaintiff reported this conduct to Radasky, he did not address Richards’ behavior. (Id. ¶¶ 27–28.)3 Richards’ conduct continued into April 2021. (See id. ¶¶ 30–31.) At that time, Richards and another male Stop & Shop employee named “Pierre” would team up and call Plaintiff

2 Radasky is not a Defendant in this Action. (See generally SAC.)

3 Plaintiff avers that “at no time was a formal investigation into Plaintiff’s complaints initiated, nor was the matter referred to [Stop & Shop’s] human resources department for a corrective response.” (SAC ¶ 29.) demeaning “sexual and derogatory names” and make inappropriate gestures toward her. (Id. ¶ 31.) On one occasion, “Pierre intentionally slammed a steel garbage cart into Plaintiff’s hip and stomach, and then began to throw garbage upon her, including pieces of discarded fish.” (Id.) Meanwhile, Richards looked on and laughed, yelling that Plaintiff was just like “the other

two [] girls that quit[;] she does the same thing that they [did.]” (Id. ¶ 32.) At around that same time, in approximately April 2021, Richards physically struck Plaintiff. (Id. ¶ 30.) As a result of the way she was treated while working at the Danbury Store, Plaintiff became physically ill and suffered from severe emotional distress. (Id. ¶ 34.) After Richards struck her—and because Radasky had done nothing to address the situation up to that point— Plaintiff made a report to Tamburri, whom Plaintiff identifies as a “senior manager” at the Danbury Store. (Id. ¶ 35.) During a meeting, Tamburri responded to Plaintiff’s report by saying, “the one thing I do know[ is that] you’re out of Deli; you can no longer work in my store.” (Id. ¶ 36.)4 2. Plaintiff’s Transfers and Ultimate Separation from Stop & Shop Although she asked only to be transferred to a different department within the Danbury

Store, Plaintiff was placed on involuntary paid leave and then—over her objections—transferred to different Stop & Shop supermarkets, first in Connecticut and then in New York. (Id. ¶¶ 37– 38.) Plaintiff was transferred involuntarily to a Stop & Shop supermarket in Ridgefield, Connecticut on or around April 28, 2021. (Id. ¶ 40.) Then, on or around May 10, 2021, Plaintiff was transferred involuntarily to a Stop & Shop supermarket in Mount Kisco, New York, where her hours were greatly reduced. (Id. ¶ 41.) Finally, on or around June 1, 2021, Plaintiff was

4 Plaintiff alleges that “at no time did Stop & Shop[,] []or its managers, employees, and/or human resources department take corrective action or reprimand” Richards or Pierre. (SAC ¶ 39.) transferred involuntarily to a Stop & Shop supermarket in Somers, New York, where, yet again, her hours were greatly reduced. (Id. ¶ 42.) Tamburri transferred to the Stop & Shop supermarket in Somers, New York as well. (Id. ¶ 43.) In addition to working greatly reduced hours at this Stop & Shop location, Plaintiff

was also forced to work at a deli sink that had “sewage problems.” (See id.) Plaintiff alleges that her involuntary transfers, overall reduction in hours, and intolerable working conditions in Somers, New York were all in retaliation for her complaints regarding the sexual harassment and other mistreatment she suffered while working at the Danbury Store. (Id.

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