REAVES v. MAXIMUS INC.

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Indiana
DecidedJanuary 26, 2021
Docket1:19-cv-04171
StatusUnknown

This text of REAVES v. MAXIMUS INC. (REAVES v. MAXIMUS INC.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
REAVES v. MAXIMUS INC., (S.D. Ind. 2021).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION

TERRI LYNN REAVES, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) No. 1:19-cv-04171-JMS-TAB ) MAXIMUS INCORPORATION, ) ) Defendant. )

ORDER

Pro se Plaintiff Terri Lynn Reaves, who is African American and has suffered from various illnesses, was an Enrollment Broker at Defendant Maximus, Inc. ("Maximus").1 After Ms. Reaves resigned, she initiated this litigation and asserts claims against Maximus for retaliation under the Family Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq. ("FMLA"), discrimination and retaliation under the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12181, et seq. ("ADA"), and discrimination and hostile work environment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"). Maximus has filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, [Filing No. 31], and Ms. Reaves has filed an Objection to Declaration of Courtney Glover, [Filing No. 37], both of which are ripe for the Court's consideration.

1 Ms. Reaves names "Maximus Incorporation" as the Defendant in this matter, however various filings indicate that the proper entity is "Maximus, Inc." The Clerk is DIRECTED to change the name of the Defendant from "Maximus Incorporation" to "Maximus, Inc." on the docket. 1 I. MS. REAVES'S OBJECTION TO DECLARATION OF COURTNEY GLOVER

At the outset, the Court addresses Ms. Reaves's Objection to Declaration of Courtney Glover because it will determine the evidence that the Court will consider when analyzing Maximus's Motion for Summary Judgment. A. Background Courtney Glover has been a Senior Specialist in Human Resources at Maximus since June 2018. [Filing No. 31-2 at 2.] In her Declaration, Ms. Glover provides certain information regarding Maximus's consideration of Ms. Reaves for a supervisor position, and the decision to ultimately promote another Maximus employee to that position. [Filing No. 31-2 at 3.] Ms. Glover also discusses the application and hiring process for a training manager position at Maximus, and data entry errors with Maximus's Human Resources system, Workday. [Filing No. 31-2 at 4.] B. Discussion In her Objection, Ms. Reaves argues that Ms. Glover has not shown that she is competent to testify, that she has not attached records to support her conclusions, and that her statement that she was unaware that Ms. Reaves had any medical conditions or that Ms. Reaves had been approved for and was taking FMLA leave is untrue. [Filing No. 37 at 1.] In response, Maximus argues that Ms. Glover specifically avers in her Declaration that she is competent to testify and that all of her statements are within her personal knowledge. [Filing

No. 40 at 2.] It asserts that Ms. Glover was not required to attach documentary evidence to her Declaration, and that Ms. Glover's testimony is consistent with the evidence. [Filing No. 40 at 2- 3.] Ms. Reaves did not file a reply.

2 Federal Rule of Evidence 602 provides that "[a] witness may testify to a matter only if evidence is introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter. Evidence to prove personal knowledge may consist of the witness's own testimony." Fed. R. Evid. 602. Ms. Glover states in her Declaration that she is of sound mind and competent

to testify as to all matters contained in her Declaration, and that all of those matters are within her personal knowledge. [Filing No. 31-2 at 1.] This is sufficient to show that she has personal knowledge of the matters discussed in her Declaration, and there is no requirement that she also submit documents to support her testimony. As to whether the statements in her Declaration are truthful, such an argument would not invalidate Ms. Glover's Declaration, but rather is an argument that Ms. Reaves can make in response to Maximus's Motion for Summary Judgment, bolstered by her own evidence. And, in any event, as discussed below, Ms. Glover's statements are ultimately consistent with the other record evidence in this case. Ms. Reaves's Objection is without merit, and is OVERRULED. The Court will consider Ms. Glover's Declaration in analyzing Maximus's Motion for Summary Judgment.

II. MAXIMUS'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

A. Standard of Review A motion for summary judgment asks the Court to find that a trial is unnecessary because there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). As the current version of Rule 56 makes clear, whether a party asserts that a fact is undisputed or genuinely disputed, the party must support the asserted fact by citing to particular parts of the record, including depositions, documents, or affidavits. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). A party can also support a fact by showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute or that the adverse party cannot produce 3 admissible evidence to support the fact. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(B). Failure to properly support a fact in opposition to a movant's factual assertion can result in the movant's fact being considered undisputed, and potentially in the granting of summary judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the Court need only consider disputed facts

that are material to the decision. A disputed fact is material if it might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law. Hampton v. Ford Motor Co., 561 F.3d 709, 713 (7th Cir. 2009). In other words, while there may be facts that are in dispute, summary judgment is appropriate if those facts are not outcome determinative. Harper v. Vigilant Ins. Co., 433 F.3d 521, 525 (7th Cir. 2005). Fact disputes that are irrelevant to the legal question will not be considered. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). On summary judgment, a party must show the Court what evidence it has that would convince a trier of fact to accept its version of the events. Johnson v. Cambridge Indus., 325 F.3d 892, 901 (7th Cir. 2003). The moving party is entitled to summary judgment if no reasonable fact- finder could return a verdict for the non-moving party. Nelson v. Miller, 570 F.3d 868, 875 (7th

Cir. 2009). The Court views the record in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draws all reasonable inferences in that party's favor. Darst v. Interstate Brands Corp., 512 F.3d 903, 907 (7th Cir. 2008).

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