Rumanek v. Independent School Management, Inc.

50 F. Supp. 3d 571, 29 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 726, 2014 WL 104966, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3091, 121 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1147
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedJanuary 10, 2014
DocketCivil Action No. 12-759-SRF
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 50 F. Supp. 3d 571 (Rumanek v. Independent School Management, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Rumanek v. Independent School Management, Inc., 50 F. Supp. 3d 571, 29 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 726, 2014 WL 104966, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3091, 121 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1147 (D. Del. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Sherry R. Fallon, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

I. INTRODUCTION

Presently before the court in this retaliation action brought under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq., the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq., the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), 29 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq., the Delaware Discrimination in Employment Act (“DDEA”), 19 Del. C. § 711, et seq., and the Delaware Persons with Disabilities Employment Protections Act (“DPDEP”), 19 Del. C. § 720, et seq., is the motion for summary judgment of defendant Independent School Management, Inc. (“ISM” or “Defendant”). (D.I. 96) For the following reasons, the court shall grant-in-part and deny-in-part ISM’s-motion for summary judgment.1

II. BACKGROUND

A. Rumanek’s Employment with ISM

ISM is a Delaware corporation that provides advice and assistance to private schools on various management issues. (D.I. 66 at ¶ 9; D.I. 71 at ¶ 9) ISM’s employee handbook sets forth a progressive discipline policy. (D.I. 110, Ex. 1 at 23:14 24:1) The progressive discipline policy provides that an employee will typically be given a verbal warning first, followed by a written reprimand, unpaid time off from work, and ultimately, termination. (Id. at 24:2-6) The policy further provides that “ISM reserves the right to bypass disciplinary steps and base its disciplinary action on the severity, frequency or combination of infractions when circumstances warrant immediate action.” (Id. at 24:9-13) Under the policy, ISM reserves the right to discharge employees at any time. (Id. at 24:15-16)

ISM hired plaintiff Sandra Rumanek as a contract worker in 2002.2 (D.I. 71 at [575]*575¶ 10; D.I. 110 at 2) In 2005, ISM hired Rumanek into a different position as a full time employee. (Id.) In 2007, ISM transferred Rumanek to perform the position of “Director of Management Institutes and Survey Specialist,” giving Rumanek significant responsibility over ISM’s Summer Institute. (Id.) Rumanek reported directly to ISM President Roxanne Higgins and received periodic salary increases and bonuses. (D.I. 71 at ¶ 12; D.I. 110 at 2)

In February 2009, Higgins and Ruma-nek had a discussion regarding a change in Rumanek’s position to an ISM Field Adviser position in late September or early October of 2009. (D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA407, 420, 424) The parties dispute whether this discussion was exploratory, or whether Higgins affirmatively offered Rumanek the position, but they agree that no compensation for the position was established during the discussion and no contract was executed. (Id; D.I. 109, Ex. 92 at 628:9-15; D.I. 106, Ex. 85 at 206:10-207:21)

In preparation for ISM’s 2009 and 2010 Summer Institute, Rumanek negotiated a contract with the Hyatt hotel in Philadelphia which was intended to protect ISM’s net revenue by tying its minimum expenditures at the hotel to the actual program registration numbers. (D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA328) However, Rumanek failed to adjust the minimum numbers with the Hyatt prior to the April 15, 2009 deadline. (Id. at FOIA385) As a result, ISM suffered a $200,000 loss. (D.I. 110, Ex. 1 at 51:9-21) Higgins characterized the missed deadline as a mistake and Rumanek’s responsibility for the incident was excused. (D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA385; D.I. 110, Ex. 1 at 53:5-9)

Another incident occurred in April 2009, when an ISM employee, Brian Fulmer, was given a verbal warning for insubordination after he publicly scolded another ISM employee. Fulmer had previously engaged in similar conduct directed to the same co-employee and had been instructed that it should not occur in the future. (D.I. 110, Ex. 1 at 49:18 — 50:12) As of April 2009, Rumanek and Fulmer were employed at the same level of the organizational hierarchy. (Id. at 49:7-17)

In a meeting on May 11, 2009, Rumanek and Higgins further discussed Rumanek’s transition to the Field Adviser position, and Higgins informed Rumanek that the change would need to be postponed until December 2009 or January 2010. (D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA407, 420, 424; D.I. 109, Ex. 92 at 628:9-15; D.I. 106, Ex. 85 at 206:10 — 207:21) On May 28, 2009, Ruma-nek sent a memorandum to Higgins addressing her concerns that Higgins was delaying her new position, among other matters. (D.I. 110, Ex. 4; D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA423) In response to Rumanek’s memorandum, Higgins proposed a meeting with Rumanek, which took place on June 1, 2009. (D.I. 110, Ex. 2; D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA407-10) After the meeting, Ruma-nek and Higgins agreed that Rumanek could start the new position in September if she could keep her expenses within $700 per month for the first four months. (D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA420-21, 425) This agreement was documented in-a June 2, 2009 memorandum from Higgins to Ruma-nek, which stated that Rumanek would assume the role of ISM Field Adviser in the fall, on a date of Rumanek’s choosing. (D.I. 103, Ex. 54 at FOIA209) The memorandum indicated that the terms of compensation would be reassessed in January 2010. (Id.) Although Rumanek and Higgins both initialed the memorandum, Ru-manek later indicated that she was “uncomfortable with the lack of clarity of the language” and sought a formal contract. (Id.; D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA412)

[576]*576In early September 2009, Higgins presented Rumanek with a compensation proposal, and Rumanek drafted a memorandum in response with her own proposal. (D.I. 116, Ex. 28 at FOIA428-29; D.I. 103, Ex. 54 at FOIA211) Higgins approved the proposal made by Rumanek, which permitted Rumanek to maintain her base salary of $87,138, in addition to earning commissions, for a period of twelve months beginning in October 2009. (D.I. 103, Ex. 54 at FOIA211; D.I. 101, Ex. 28 at FOIA436)

On April 6, 2010, Rumanek reported to Higgins that she had a compensation shortfall of about $6,000. (D.I. 110, Ex. 1 at 87:2-15) Higgins explained that she reduced Rumanek’s base salary by $3,000 per month when Rumanek began earning commissions. (D.I. 103, Ex. 54 at FOIA218-19) When Higgins realized that the agreement included a provision stating that Rumanek’s base salary would remain the same for twelve months, she reinstated Rumanek’s base salary. (Id. at FOIA227-28) Rumanek identified other errors in her pay, which ISM corrected. (Id. at FOIA243; D.I. 101, Ex. 28 at FOIA545, 592)

B. August Stoner’s EEOC Complaint

On March 31, 2006, ISM hired August Stoner, an African American woman. (D.I. 71 at ¶ 13; D.I. 110 at 3) In the spring of 2007, Stoner told Rumanek that Stoner’s manager was harassing her due to her race. (D.I. 105, Ex. 70 at FOIA64; D.I. 110, Ex. 3 at 12) Rumanek verbally relayed Stoner’s concerns to Higgins, who told Rumanek that Stoner’s complaint was not Rumanek’s concern and advised Ruma-nek to “drop it.” (Id.; D.I. 110, Ex.

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50 F. Supp. 3d 571, 29 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 726, 2014 WL 104966, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3091, 121 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1147, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rumanek-v-independent-school-management-inc-ded-2014.