Oliver v. Roehm America, LLC

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Louisiana
DecidedOctober 20, 2022
Docket2:21-cv-01831
StatusUnknown

This text of Oliver v. Roehm America, LLC (Oliver v. Roehm America, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Oliver v. Roehm America, LLC, (E.D. La. 2022).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

CHELSEA OLIVER CIVIL ACTION VERSUS NO. 21-1831 ROEHM AMERICA, LLC et al. SECTION: “G”(4)

ORDER AND REASONS This litigation arises from an alleged controversy over Defendant Roehm America, LLC’s (“Roehm”) termination of Plaintiff Chelsea Oliver (“Oliver”).1 Oliver brings claims against Chubb Insurance Company of New Jersey (“Chubb”) and Federal Insurance Company (“Federal”) (collectively, “Insurers”) under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”),2 the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”),3 the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (“FMLA”),4 the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”),5 and Louisiana law. Before the Court is Insurers’ Motion to Dismiss.6 In the motion, Insurers argue that Oliver’s Second Amended Complaint7 fails to state a claim against them and so all of the claims against

1 See Rec. Doc. 48. 2 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. 3 § 12101 et seq. 4 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. 5 § 1001 et seq. 6 Rec. Doc. 66. 7 Rec. Doc. 48. 1 Insurers should be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).8 Chubb also joins Roehm’s motion to dismiss9 as its insured and argues that, “[t]o the extent that motion is granted, the claim pursuant to the Louisiana Direct Action Statute10 against Chubb should also be dismissed.”11 Oliver opposes the motion.12 Insurers reply in further support of the motion.13

Having considered the motion, the memoranda in support and in opposition, the record, and the applicable law, the Court grants the motion in part and denies it in part. Specifically, the Court dismisses all claims against Federal without prejudice. The Court also dismisses with prejudice all claims against Chubb that have been dismissed against Roehm.14 I. Background On October 5, 2021, Oliver filed a Complaint in this Court against Roehm, Yolanda Brown (“Brown”), and Andrew Stillufsen (“Stillufsen”).15 On December 12, 2021, Oliver filed a First Amended Complaint.16 On March 29, 2022, Oliver filed the instant Second Amended Complaint naming Roehm, Brown, Stillufsen, and Insurers as defendants (collectively, “Defendants”).17 In the Second Amended Complaint, Oliver alleges that Chubb is a wholly owned subsidiary of

8 Rec. Doc. 66. 9 Rec. Doc. 50. 10 La. Rev. Stat. § 22:1269. 11 Rec. Doc. 66 at 2. 12 Rec. Doc. 68. 13 Rec. Doc. 71. 14 See Rec. Doc. 77. 15 Rec. Doc. 1. 16 Rec. Doc. 17. 17 Rec. Doc. 48. 2 Federal that provides employment practices liability insurance to Roehm.18 Oliver contends that she was hired by Evonik Cyro, LLC (“Evonik”) in March 2017 to work at a methacrylate production facility located at 10800 River Road, Westwego, Louisiana (the “Facility”) as an administrative assistant and was one of only four female employees at the Facility.19 Oliver avers that Roehm became the owner of the Facility in September 2019.20 Oliver contends that, when she

was hired, she was told “that [Evonik] had a tuition reimbursement policy;” however, upon beginning her employment, she was told that the policy only applied to management and, despite earning merit raises and bonuses, she was not granted tuition reimbursement nor promoted through June 2019.21 In July 2019, Oliver alleges that she submitted another request for reimbursement and was told “that she was in fact eligible for tuition reimbursement.”22 Thus, “she submitted the necessary paperwork, and yet, never received any reimbursement.”23 Oliver alleges that, after Roehm took over the Facility, new managers were hired and new policies were initiated, but the tuition reimbursement policy stayed the same; yet, the interim Plant Manager, Drew Scott (“Scott”), never granted her tuition reimbursement despite telling her she was eligible and that other male employees were receiving reimbursement.24 Oliver avers that,

although Scott ignored her requests for a raise, promotion, and tuition reimbursement through

18 Id. at 3. 19 Id. at 3, 5. 20 Id. at 3. 21 Id. at 5–6. 22 Id. at 6. 23 Id. Oliver alleges that she paid $17,063.56 in tuition during this time that should have been reimbursed. Id. at 7. 24 Id. 3 January 2020, Scott encouraged male employees to take classes, offered them tuition reimbursement, waived educational requirements for promotion for one employee who declined to take classes, and gave a “spot bonus” to another who took classes but declined the reimbursement terms.25

Oliver contends that, in February 2020, Roehm hired Brown as a human resources manager and site manager of the Facility.26 Oliver alleges that, in March 2020, Oliver requested and received approval for FMLA leave from March 3, 2020, until March 15, 2020, “for a knee surgery her physician suggested she undergo” due to chronic pain ( “First FMLA Leave”).27 Oliver avers that, after her First FMLA Leave, she worked from home based on Scott’s instructions due to COVID-19 and her doctor’s recommendation; however, she was removed from remotely-held meetings she had previously attended and was barred from working overtime despite previously working hundreds of overtime hours per year.28 Oliver alleges that, in August 2020, her doctor determined the knee surgery had failed and she required a second surgery. Therefore, she was granted FMLA leave from August 18, 2020, until August 30, 2020,29 which was extended until October 30, 2020 (“Second FMLA Leave”).30

Oliver contends that, “[i]mmediately after she left for [her Second FMLA Leave], [] Brown started

25 Id. at 7–8. Oliver alleges that, meanwhile “in 2020, a female contractor left because she felt she was subjected to a hostile work environment based on her gender.” Id. at 7.

26 Id. at 8. 27 Id. at 9. 28 Id. at 9–10. 29 Id. at 11. 30 Id. Oliver alleges that she utilized Roehm’s group health benefits program and disability benefits during both her First FMLA Leave and Second FMLA Leave. Id. at 9, 11. 4 building up a case to terminate [her]” by “investigating her hours and timesheets.”31 Oliver avers that, on August 30, 2020, she submitted comments as part of her performance review requesting a promotion, never heard back from her supervisor, and was terminated on October 6, 2020, during a call from Brown, Stillufsen, as Roehm’s General Counsel, and Roehm’s Corporate Vice President of Human Resources.32 During the phone call, Oliver alleges that Brown told her she

should be at work based on Facebook photos Oliver had posted playing with her child and accused her of falsifying her FMLA leave, disability pay, and overtime requests.33 Oliver contends that, from January 2020 to March 2020, she alerted Roehm that numerous male employees falsified their hours but these employees “were never disciplined.”34 Furthermore, Oliver asserts that a male employee on extended leave due to a shoulder and back injury “posted numerous photos on Facebook . . . [of him] enjoying time with his family, including traveling and carrying his grandchildren,” but “was not terminated, investigated or disciplined in anyway.”35 Oliver alleges that, after her termination, Stillufsen responded to her letter alleging Roehm had violated her legal rights by threatening to sue her for over $71,000 in approved overtime and

31 Id. at 12. 3232 Id. at 12–13. Oliver alleges that, after she began her Second FMLA Leave, but prior to her termination, unbeknownst to her, her supervisor “posted several job positions for which [she] was qualified” and Brown informed Roehm’s staff not to communicate with her during her leave. Id. at 12.

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Bluebook (online)
Oliver v. Roehm America, LLC, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/oliver-v-roehm-america-llc-laed-2022.