Mastrolia v. United States

91 Fed. Cl. 369, 2010 U.S. Claims LEXIS 79, 2010 WL 675155
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedFebruary 19, 2010
DocketNo. 09-462C
StatusPublished
Cited by32 cases

This text of 91 Fed. Cl. 369 (Mastrolia v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mastrolia v. United States, 91 Fed. Cl. 369, 2010 U.S. Claims LEXIS 79, 2010 WL 675155 (uscfc 2010).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS

WHEELER, Judge.

Before the Court is Defendant’s October 2, 2009 motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s July 20, [374]*3742009 complaint pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) of the Rules of the Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”) and 28 U.S.C. § 1500. This case concerns a settlement agreement that Plaintiff Daniel Mastrolia entered into with his former employer, the United States Postal Service (“USPS”), on October 8, 2006. (CompU 15.) In the settlement, the parties agreed that the USPS would accommodate Mr. Mastrolia’s back disability by limiting the number of hours he would be required to stand each day. Id. at ¶¶ 12-16. Mr. Mastrolia now contends that the USPS breached the 2006 settlement agreement by requiring him to stand excessively and to work in a manner inconsistent with the terms of the agreement. Id. at ¶¶ 17-19. Mr. Mastrolia also asserts that his supervisors denied several requests for him to transfer to more sedentary positions. Id. at ¶¶ 20-25. Mr. Mastrolia demands judgment in the amount of $150,000. Id. at 6. In addition to actual damages, Mr. Mastrolia seeks damages for emotional distress, liquidated and punitive damages, interest on lost wages, statutory damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs. Id.

On December 4, 2008, prior to filing suit in this Court, Mr. Mastrolia filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Jersey (“district court”) against the USPS, the Postmaster General, and certain employees of the USPS. See District Ct. Compl., Mastrolia v. Potter, No. 08-5967 (D.N.J. filed Dec. 4, 2008). Mr. Mastrolia generally alleged that the USPS discriminated and retaliated against him for filing a disability discrimination complaint. Id. at ¶¶ 27-55. In addition to allegations that the USPS violated the Americans with Disability Act (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, id. at 13-15, Mr. Mastrolia asserted breach of express and implied contract, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Id. at 16-18. After filing a complaint in district court, Defendant’s counsel apparently informed Mr. Mastrolia that the Court of Federal Claims was the only appropriate venue for his breach of contract claims. (Pl.Resp.2.) Subsequently, on July 10, 2009, Mr. Mastrolia filed an amended complaint in the district court deleting the claims based on express or implied contract and the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. See Am. District Ct. Compl., Mastrolia v. Potter, No. 08-5967 (D.N.J. filed July 10, 2009). In the amended district court complaint, Mr. Mastrolia seeks compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, damages for humiliation, mental, and emotional distress, statutory damages, liquidated and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, damages for lost wages and benefits, front and back pay or reinstatement, and pre-judgment interest on lost wages. Id. at 17, 18. This action is still pending in the district court.

On October 2, 2009, Defendant filed in this Court a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs complaint pui’suant to RCFC 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) and 28 U.S.C. § 1500. (Def. Mot. Dismiss 1-2.) Defendant argues that this Court lacks jurisdiction over Mr. Mastrolia’s complaint because he is currently seeking the same relief under the same operative facts in the district court. Id. at 9-11. Defendant further notes that this Court lacks jurisdiction over Mr. Mastrolia’s request for mental and emotional distress damages, punitive damages, pre-judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees and costs. Id. at 14-17. In addition, Defendant argues that Mr. Mastrolia’s claims are barred because the 2006 settlement does not provide for “actual, presently-due money damages” as required to invoke this Court’s jurisdiction. Id. at 11-14. Defendant argues in the alternative that Mr. Mastrolia has failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Id. at 19-26.

On November 2, 2009, Mr. Mastrolia filed his Response to Defendant’s motion to dismiss. (Dkt.# 8.) Mr. Mastrolia asserts that his claims before this Court are not based upon the same operative facts and do not seek the same relief as his amended district court complaint. (Pl.Resp.5-7.) Mr. Mastro-lia specifically argues that there are different facts necessary to establish a prima facie case for his discrimination, retaliation, and breach of contract claims. Id. at 7-12. Mi’. Mastrolia further argues that his contractual causes of action are properly pled and that he has provided sufficient factual allegations to “raise a right of relief above the speculative level.” Id. at 17. Defendant filed its [375]*375Reply on December 8, 2009 again maintaining that this Court lacks jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1500 to hear Mr. Mastro-lia’s complaint and that Mr. Mastrolia has failed to assert a claim upon which relief may be granted. (Def. Reply 2-14,17-20.)

For the reasons explained below, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendant’s motion to dismiss. The Court finds that Mr. Mastrolia had a claim pending in the district court prior to his filing breach of contract claims in this Court. However, the Court finds that Mr. Mastrolia’s district court claim and his claim before this Court are not the same for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1500, because the claims do not arise from the same operative facts. Further, while the Court lacks jurisdiction to hear Mr. Mastro-lia’s claims for punitive damages, pre-judgment interest, and damages for emotional and mental distress, the Court is not precluded from hearing Mr. Mastrolia’s remaining requests for damages. Additionally, the Court finds that Mr. Mastrolia has properly stated a breach of express contract claim upon which relief may be granted. However, Mr. Mastrolia’s claims for breach of an implied-in-fact contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing fail to provide enough factual information to suggest a right to relief. The Court will grant Defendant’s 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss these causes of action. In light of the Court’s Order, the Court finds no reason to grant Plaintiff’s motion to amend his complaint. Accordingly, the Court will schedule a status conference with counsel of record within 20 days to establish further proceedings in this case.

Factual Background1

Mr. Mastrolia was employed as an Electronics Technician with the USPS in Kearny, New Jersey from 1991 until April 2007. (Compl.lffl 7-8.) In 2004 and 2005, Mr. Mas-trolia severely injured his back while at work and then requested accommodations such as “modified light duty, the ability to work a sedentary position ... and a safer and more ergonomic chair” due to his disability. Id. at ¶¶ 9-10. In March 2005, after these requests were denied, Mr. Mastrolia filed an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) complaint alleging discrimination. Id. at ¶ 11.

On October 8, 2006, the parties reached an agreement settling Mr. Mastrolia’s EEO claims.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Sanchez v. United States
Federal Claims, 2026
Flint v. United States
Federal Claims, 2022
D-STAR Engineering Corporation
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, 2021
James v. United States
Federal Claims, 2021
Kemper
Federal Claims, 2018
Wade v. United States
Federal Claims, 2018
Melson v. United States
Federal Claims, 2017
Rebish v. United States
134 Fed. Cl. 308 (Federal Claims, 2017)
Bobka v. United States
133 Fed. Cl. 405 (Federal Claims, 2017)
Ingham Regional Medical Center v. United States
126 Fed. Cl. 1 (Federal Claims, 2016)
Farrell v. United States
Federal Claims, 2015
Sgs-92-X003 v. United States
118 Fed. Cl. 492 (Federal Claims, 2014)
Dobyns v. United States
118 Fed. Cl. 289 (Federal Claims, 2014)
New Hampshire Flight Procurement, LLC v. United States
118 Fed. Cl. 203 (Federal Claims, 2014)
Threshold Technologies, Inc. v. United States
117 Fed. Cl. 681 (Federal Claims, 2014)
Seven Resorts, Inc. v. United States
112 Fed. Cl. 745 (Federal Claims, 2013)
Vladimir Kogan, Md v. the United States of America 1
112 Fed. Cl. 253 (Federal Claims, 2013)
Vasko v. United States
112 Fed. Cl. 204 (Federal Claims, 2013)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
91 Fed. Cl. 369, 2010 U.S. Claims LEXIS 79, 2010 WL 675155, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mastrolia-v-united-states-uscfc-2010.