Merriweather v. International Business MacHines

712 F. Supp. 556, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5257, 1989 WL 49460
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedMay 10, 1989
Docket2:88-cv-72299
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 712 F. Supp. 556 (Merriweather v. International Business MacHines) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Merriweather v. International Business MacHines, 712 F. Supp. 556, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5257, 1989 WL 49460 (E.D. Mich. 1989).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

ZATKOFF, District Judge.

This suit involves an employment dispute. Plaintiff, a black female, is a resident of the state of Michigan and is a former employee of defendant. Defendant, International Business Machines (IBM), is a New York corporation which maintains its principal place of business in New York. IBM maintains sales offices within the State of Michigan.

This matter is currently before the Court on defendant’s motion for summary judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. Plaintiff instituted this suit on May 10, 1988, in the Wayne County Circuit Court for the State of Michigan. Plaintiff’s Complaint asserts three counts — a count for race discrimination in contravention of the Michi *558 gan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, M.C.L. § 37.2101 et seq.; a count for intentional infliction of emotional distress; and a count for breach of contract arising out of failure to pay commissions due. The lawsuit was timely removed to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441, based upon diversity of citizenship, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c). Discovery is now complete, plaintiff has responded to the instant motion, and the matter is ripe for disposition.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Summary judgment is appropriate where no genuine issue of material fact remains to be decided and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Blakeman v. Mead Containers, 779 F.2d 1146 (6th Cir.1985); Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). “Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552-2553, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In applying this standard, the Court must view all materials offered in support of a motion for summary judgment, as well as all pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions properly on file in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); United States v. Diebold, 369 U.S. 654, 82 S.Ct. 993, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962); Cook v. Providence Hosp., 820 F.2d 176, 179 (6th Cir.1987); Smith v. Hudson, 600 F.2d 60 (6th Cir.1979), cert. dismissed, 444 U.S. 986, 100 S.Ct. 495, 62 L.Ed.2d 415 (1979). In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the Court must consider “whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law.” Anderson, All U.S. at 251-252, 106 S.Ct. at 2512. Although summary judgment is disfavored, this motion may be granted when the trial would merely result in delay and unneeded expense. Poller v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., 368 U.S. 464, 473, 82 S.Ct. 486, 491, 7 L.Ed.2d 458 (1962); A.I. Root Co. v. Computer/Dynamics, Inc., 806 F.2d 673, 675 (6th Cir.1986). Where the non-moving party has failed to present evidence on an essential element of their case, they have failed to meet their burden and all other factual disputes are irrelevant and thus summary judgment is appropriate. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. at 2553; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (“When the moving party has carried its burden under Rule 56(c), its opponent must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” (footnote omitted)).

FACTS

Plaintiff commenced her employment with IBM in November, 1976, as an account marketing representative trainee. After completion of a training period, plaintiff was assigned a sales territory and quota. Plaintiffs performance was satisfactory from 1976 to 1980.

In 1981, plaintiffs only child died and her marriage ended in divorce. As a result, plaintiff was no longer able to perform her job duties with the same proficiency she had in the past. 1 From sometime in 1981, through 1984, plaintiffs job performance declined.

In 1982 plaintiff did not meet her sales quota and in 1982 and 1983, plaintiff received performance reviews which were at the low end of satisfactory.

*559 In 1984, plaintiff was assigned a new marketing manager, Margo Eurick, and a new sales territory. Eurick provided plaintiff with a document entitled “1984 Last Half Action Plan,” a plan which specifically outlined conduct to be performed by plaintiff in order for her to meet her goals for 1984. Merriweather dep., p. 166. Eurick also provided plaintiff with an “Employee Development Plan” which provided suggestions for improvement of plaintiffs performance. Id. at p. 182. Notwithstanding the action taken by Eurick, plaintiff testified that Eurick was trying to fire her. Id. at p. 164. Plaintiff submits that her sales territory was too small to satisfy the sales quota imposed upon her. Id. at pp. 162, 186. However, plaintiff does not recall ever requesting additional sales territory. Id. at p. 186.

Plaintiff was on sick leave from October through December, 1984. During that period, plaintiff filed an “open door” 2 complaint with IBM management. Plaintiff alleged that she was treated unfairly by Eu-rick. However, plaintiff did not claim the unfair treatment was the result of race discrimination. 3 Ultimately, IBM agreed to temporarily take plaintiff out of the sales force, off quota and into a six-month re-education program which she commenced after returning from sick leave.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
712 F. Supp. 556, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5257, 1989 WL 49460, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/merriweather-v-international-business-machines-mied-1989.