Lee v. Department of Children & Families

939 F. Supp. 2d 160, 2013 WL 1633048, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55988
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedApril 15, 2013
DocketCase No. 3:11cv1910(AWT)
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 939 F. Supp. 2d 160 (Lee v. Department of Children & Families) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lee v. Department of Children & Families, 939 F. Supp. 2d 160, 2013 WL 1633048, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55988 (D. Conn. 2013).

Opinion

RULING ON MOTION TO DISMISS

ALVIN W. THOMPSON, District Judge.

Plaintiff Linda Lee (“Lee”) asserts claims against the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) and Joette Katz (“Katz”) in her official capacity as Commissioner of DCF, for violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (“ADA”); the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq.; the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act, Conn. Gen.Stat. § 46a-60 (“CFEPA”); and the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Retaliation Act, Conn. Gen.Stat. § 31-290a (“CWCRA”). The defendants have moved to dismiss most of the claims set forth in the Amended Complaint (Doc. No. 40) (the “Complaint”) pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). Their motion is being granted in part and denied in part.

I. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

“The complaint, which [the court] must accept as true for purposes of testing its sufficiency, alleges the following circumstances.” Monsky v. Moraghan, 127 F.3d 243, 244 (2d Cir.1997).

[163]*163Around December 1992, Lee began working for DCF, where she was originally responsible for working with victims of child abuse. Approximately six years later, she was promoted to the position of Pupil Services Specialist. Around 2001, Lee — along most of her department — was transferred to the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (“CJTS”) in Middletown, Connecticut.

Shortly after the transfer to CJTS, Lee “began to develop medical problems including, but not limited to, respiratory problems, reoccurring bronchitis, short-term memory loss, cognitive and neurological impairments, and skin rashes, for which she sought medical treatment.” (Compl. ¶ 13.) She was diagnosed as having a number of medical issues, including allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and asthma, which affects several major life activities including breathing. Lee “was told by her doctor that her disabilities were attributed to mold which was present at her workplace.” (Compl. ¶ 14.) Around January 20, 2004, Lee took a medical leave of absence from work due to the worsening of her medical condition. Around April 14, 2004, Lee filed a Worker’s Compensation claim based on her medical condition.

“Prior to 2004, [Lee] had positive performance reviews and yearly raises. She did not receive reviews or raises once she went on medical leave.” (Compl. ¶ 32.)

When Lee returned to DCF in or around October 2004 for a 90-day temporary assignment, she was assigned “solely paperwork rather than the face-to-face social work she had done previously.” (Compl. ¶ 19.) Riverview Hospital, where Lee was placed for this temporary assignment, had a history of mold and the defendants knowingly placed her in an environment that exacerbated her medical condition. After a few days working at Riverview Hospital, Lee had an allergic reaction that required a visit to the emergency room. Due to the allergic reaction, Lee missed approximately 15 days of the 90-day assignment.

The plaintiff was then -out of work until after April 2008. In or around April 2008, the defendants offered Lee employment at DCF’s office at 55 W. Main Street in Meriden, Connecticut (“55 W. Main”). Lee informed the defendants “that 55 W. Main did riot accommodate her disability because an investigation conducted in or about 2006 revealed that it contained levels of mold which her doctor opined would not make it a medically safe working environment for someone of her sensitivity. [Lee] then requested [the defendants] to accommodate her by offering her a position at a location which was medically safe. [The defendants] refused this request for accommodation.” (Compl. ¶ 24.) On or about May 5, 2008, Lee began work at 55 W. Main. Within two days, she suffered an allergic reaction that required medical attention. “Pursuant to her doctor’s recommendation, [Lee] went back on medical, leave on or about May 7, 2008.” (Compl. ¶ 25.) Around November 12, 2008, Lee attempted to return to work at 55 W. Main, but again experienced an allergic reaction that prompted her to seek medical treatment and again follow her doctor’s recommendation to take medical leave.

Lee kept the defendants “aware of her medical condition and provided up-to-date medical documentation, including doctor’s notes.” (Compl. ¶ 27.)

Around February 19, 2009, the defendants gave Lee “notice that her employment would be terminated due to alleged neglect of duty and attendance effective on or about March 5, 2009.” (Compl. ¶,28.) Although the defendants had a policy that all employees would be placed on a 90-day probationary period prior to termination, they did not follow that policy with Lee. In 21 years as an employee of the State of [164]*164Connecticut, Lee had never been disciplined for neglect of duty or attendance.

On or about June 12, 2009, Lee filed charges of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and she timely filed suit upon receipt of a right to sue letter.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

“[T]he standards for reviewing dismissals granted under 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) are identical.” Moore v. PaineWebber Inc., 189 F.3d 165, 169 n. 3 (2d Cir.1999). When deciding a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the court must accept as true all factual allegations in the complaint and must draw inferences in a light most favorable to the plaintiff. Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236, 94 S.Ct. 1683, 40 L.Ed.2d 90 (1974). Although a complaint “does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiffs obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitlement] to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007), citing Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286, 106 S.Ct. 2932, 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986) (on a motion to dismiss, courts “are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation”). “Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders ‘naked assertion[s]’ devoid of ‘further factual enhancement.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955). “Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level, on the assumption that all allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in fact).” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (citations omitted). However, the plaintiff must plead “only enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Id. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955.

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939 F. Supp. 2d 160, 2013 WL 1633048, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55988, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lee-v-department-of-children-families-ctd-2013.