Robinson v. Bankers Life

Opinion

Robinson v . Bankers Life CV-94-296-M 05/03/95 P UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Dale S . Robinson, Plaintiff, v. Civil N o . 94-296-M Bankers Life and Casualty Company; and Bruce Jordan, Defendants.

O R D E R

Plaintiff's pro se amended complaint is written in a style

difficult to understand. He seems to be raising federal and

state causes of action based on discrimination at the hands of

his alleged employer because of his disability, seasonal

affective disorder. His federal claim(s), at least, suffer from

fatal defects.

To the extent plaintiff attempts to assert a claim under the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 7 9 4 , his complaint

necessarily fails because he does not allege that his employer

qualifies as a "program or activity receiving federal financial

assistance" (and it is clear that neither Defendant Bankers Life

and Casualty Company, nor Defendant Bruce Jordan, is such an activity). To the extent plaintiff references, and asserts a

claim under, the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.

§ 12101, et seq., his complaint is defective in at least two

ways. First, the unrebutted affidavit filed by defendants in

support of their motion to dismiss establishes that:

! Plaintiff signed a contract with Banker's Life in which he agreed to an agent/independent contractor, not an employer-employee, relationship. Plaintiff was an agent of the defendant insurance company, authorized to sell its policies in a designated territory; ! Defendant paid plaintiff strictly on a commission basis, did not deduct any amount for income tax withholding, and accounted for commissions paid using IRS form 1099;

! Defendant did not provide sick leave or paid vacation time and did not purport to set plaintiff's hours or assign specific duties. Plaintiff carried out his insurance sales efforts on a self-directed basis, providing his own transportation at his own expense, providing his own administrative support at his own expense, and setting his own schedule and level of effort;

! Plaintiff was responsible for obtaining and maintaining, at his own expense, whatever licenses or permits might be required within his assigned territory.

Given these uncontroverted circumstances, and applying an

"economic realities" test to determine whether Defendant Banker's

Life was plaintiff's employer, it is apparent that it was not.

As in Knight v . United Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., 950 F.2d

377 (7th Cir. 1991), the general absence of company control over

2 plaintiff's activities, the independent nature of his work

(including methods and scheduling), the financial independence of

his operation, the skills required, and the understanding of the

parties as expressed in their written agreement all combine to

establish plaintiff's status as an independent contractor. As

Defendant Banker's Life was not plaintiff's employer within the

meaning of the ADA (42 U.S.C. § 12111(5)) his complaint fails to

state a claim under that Act.

In addition, suit under the ADA must be filed within 90 days

of receipt of a "Right to Sue" letter from the Commission.

42 U.S.C. § 12117(a); see also 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5. Plaintiff

received his Right to Sue letter on March 8 , 1994, but did not

file suit (or file pleadings which, given his pro se status, was

deemed sufficient to toll the statute of limitations) until June

7 , 1994. The limitations period had already expired on June 6th,

and plaintiff has offered no explanation for his late filing.

Nothing points to defendant's interference or involvement in

causing any filing delay, and no other basis exists in the record

for invoking equitable tolling principles. Accordingly,

plaintiff's ADA claim is also barred by the applicable statute of

3 limitations. See e.g. Wilburn v . Dial Corp., 724 F.Supp. 530

(W.D. Tenn. 1989).

Conclusion

Defendants' motion to dismiss (document n o . 9 ) is hereby granted and plaintiff's complaint is hereby dismissed to the

extent it seeks to raise federal causes of action. The court

declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law

claims plaintiff seeks to raise, if any, (see U.S.C.

§ 1367(c)(3)) and to that extent the complaint is also dismissed

without prejudice to plaintiff's bringing any state claims he

might have in state court.

SO ORDERED.

Steven J. McAuliffe United States District Judge

May 3 , 1995

cc: Russell F. Hilliard, Esq. Dale Robinson