Roger Williams University Faculty Ass'n v. Roger Williams University

14 F. Supp. 3d 27, 2014 WL 1614162, 199 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3389, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56167
CourtDistrict Court, D. Rhode Island
DecidedApril 23, 2014
DocketC.A. No. 13-16L
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 14 F. Supp. 3d 27 (Roger Williams University Faculty Ass'n v. Roger Williams University) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Roger Williams University Faculty Ass'n v. Roger Williams University, 14 F. Supp. 3d 27, 2014 WL 1614162, 199 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3389, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56167 (D.R.I. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND DECISION

RONALD R. LAGUEUX, Senior District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on cross motions for summary judgment brought to resolve the appeal of Plaintiff Roger Williams University Faculty Association (“the Union”) from an arbitration award. The arbitration award (“the Award”) held that the Union’s complaint was not arbitra-ble under the collective bargaining agreement with Defendant Roger Williams University (“the University”). For reasons explained herein, the Court upholds the Award. The Court also rules that the Union’s retaliation claim, which the Union argues had been reserved, was waived by the Union.

Background

The grievance underlying this action was brought by longtime tenured graphics design professor Sharon DeLueca. De-Lucca filed a grievance in 2010, stemming from her conviction that she was performing the role of chair of the graphic design department while not receiving the title, recognition and compensation that should accompany this position. In fact, graphic design is not an independent department at the University; instead it is part of the Communications department, with its own dean and department chair.

Co-workers testified that before and after 2010 DeLucca had tried to exercise the authority consistent with a department chair role, although that conduct had caused friction with her colleagues and the dean in the communications department. In addition, several students had complained about DeLueca’s behavior in class — characterized by mercilessly criticizing some, while exhibiting favoritism towards others. Moreover, she frequently cancelled classes without arranging make[29]*29ups, and failed to appear for her scheduled office hours.

These and many other negative reports accumulated and, on April 6, 2011, Pame-lee Murphy, the University’s assistant general counsel for labor and employment, wrote to DeLucca stating that the University had received a number of complaints and intended to initiate an investigation into her conduct. The letter referenced no specific complainant by name, stating the following allegations in general terms:

It has been alleged that, for some time now you have engaged in a pattern of conduct that is experienced by both faculty and staff as verbally abusive, demeaning, intimidating, bullying, and/or negligent and inappropriate to the work place. Our investigation to date reveals that this contended behavior is disruptive to the work place and interferes with the ability of other employees to perform their duties and, relative to student focus, is negligent if as reported. An atmosphere of fear, intimidation and a high level of frustration exists that the University cannot and will not tolerate. Your role in creating or contributing to such an atmosphere is formally under investigation.
Students have also come forward to complain that they feel victimized by bullying behavior exhibited by you. It is not appropriate to disparage students to each other or to disparage their positive relationships with other faculty members. It is not appropriate to barge in the Dean’s office without an appointment and demand immediate attention in response to something or someone who has made you angry. It is not appropriate for you to yell in anger from your office to a colleague in an adjacent office while that faculty member is meeting with students or is otherwise engaged in work. These allegations require a forthright and honest response.
There are numerous accounts about your making unfounded and gratuitously derogatory remarks about colleagues and students, without any concern for how this might upset them. From virtually any abstract of mounting reports of your behavior, it is indicated that you are struggling with an excessive amount of anger which you are unable to manage and regarding which you fail to have a healthy perspective. The University has been provided information that you have openly, expressly referred to Dean Cole as an “asshole;” and refer to coworkers as “pussy(s);” while exclaiming to others that you have “the University by the balls;” and/or by “the short hairs.” The various persons who allegedly found themselves forced to listen to your choices of language have come forward and have declared that they will no longer suffer in silence. A significant segment of the University, including graduates, has requested that we intervene on them behalf.

The letter went on to reference pertinent sections of the collective bargaining agreement (“the Contract”) and the University’s Code of Faculty Professional Ethics, as well as to set forth the allegations about cancelled classes and office hours. Finally, the letter states the University’s intention to “schedule an investigatory hearing to provide you with an opportunity to be heard.”

Several weeks later, on May 19, 2011, a preliminary meeting was convened in order to provide DeLucca further information about the complaints made against her. Present at the meeting were Murphy, DeLucca, the Union’s lawyer, John DeCubellis, and the Union’s president. DeCubellis explained that he and DeLucca had been insufficiently apprised of the spe-[30]*30cities of the allegations against DeLucca beforehand and that, consequently, he had advised DeLucca not to participate in the meeting. DeLucca departed and the meeting was terminated.

The next week, Murphy, in a letter, provided DeLucca with a partial list of the witnesses that would be testifying against her, as well as copies of correspondence sent by DeLucca that her colleagues had found offensive. In addition to general allegations, Murphy’s letter also summarized five specific incidents, including the dates and people involved, and the details of their claims. The letter reiterated the University’s plan to schedule a formal hearing, and suggested possible discipline that might result if the allegations were corroborated.

The hearing was held on June 9, 2011. DeLucca refused to attend, again claiming that she had received insufficient information beforehand. Eight members of the University community testified, relating a variety of episodes of DeLucca’s abusive, cruel, capricious and unprofessional conduct. Union attorney DeCubellis was provided with an opportunity to cross examine the witnesses, although he was hurried along by Pamelee Murphy, who ran the hearing. Several of the witnesses submitted written statements, and copies of correspondence with DeLucca. These additional exhibits comprised an affidavit from a current student concerning DeLucca’s refusal to allow him to study abroad at a graphics design program in the Netherlands; a statement from a recent graduate and correspondence she had sent to the dean while still matriculating relates to the cancellation of nine of DeLucca’s classes in the year; and correspondence between the dean and a former visiting professor, which concerned, in part, a student who had left the University after DeLucca revealed personal confidential information about her during a class.

Following the hearing, DeLucca and the Union were provided with a transcript of the proceedings, and Murphy provided De-Cubellis with several weeks to provide a response or rebuttal.

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102 F. Supp. 3d 408 (D. Rhode Island, 2015)

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Bluebook (online)
14 F. Supp. 3d 27, 2014 WL 1614162, 199 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3389, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56167, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/roger-williams-university-faculty-assn-v-roger-williams-university-rid-2014.