Russell v. Moore

714 F. Supp. 883, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6781, 50 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 409, 1989 WL 63740
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Tennessee
DecidedJanuary 6, 1989
DocketNo. 3-85-1407
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 714 F. Supp. 883 (Russell v. Moore) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Russell v. Moore, 714 F. Supp. 883, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6781, 50 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 409, 1989 WL 63740 (M.D. Tenn. 1989).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

JOHN T. NIXON, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

This is an action brought by a former employee of the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (1976 & Supp.1980), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq. (1976 & Supp.1981) [hereinafter Title VII] and the common law of Tennessee seeking damages for unlawful sexual harassment in connection with the plaintiff’s employment. The defen[884]*884dants Ernie Moore and Joe Torrence have moved for summary judgment upon plaintiff's claims of monetary damage based on deposition testimony of the plaintiff allegedly revealing she voluntarily resigned her position of employment on December 18, 1984. Alternatively, the defendants request the Court to dismiss or enter partial summary judgment against certain portions of the plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint on the basis of failure to state a claim and/or lack of subject matter jurisdiction and/or statute of limitations.

The defendants’ motion applies to the Second Amended Complaint filed with the Court on or about July 3, 1986, but which related back to the date this civil action was commenced on December 19, 1985. The Complaint names as defendants Ernie Moore and Joe Torrence, both individually and in their official capacities, as well as the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, Davidson County. The instant motion does not apply to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, and the motion for relief is made only on behalf of defendants Ernie Moore and Joe Torrence.

The plaintiff variously alleges in the Complaint that defendant Moore subjected her to sexual advances and acts of sexual harassment, and that defendant Torrence failed to take any action to halt Moore’s alleged conduct. All of the factual allegations in the plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint relate specifically to acts which encompass claims of sexual harassment. Paragraph 4.17 of the Second Amended Complaint generally summarizes those facts as follows:

As a result of the above-described acts of sexual harassment and the adverse actions taken against Ms. Russell as a result of her refusal to comply with Mr. Moore’s sexual demands, Ms. Russell has sustained severe economic, physical and emotional damages, including, but not limited to, the loss of her regular employment and the monetary compensation and other benefits provided by that employment, and the occurrence of anxiety and emotional distress resulting in physical illness and extreme pain and suffering.

Plaintiff’s Complaint at 114.17

Based upon the factual allegations, the plaintiff asserts four separate causes of action in Counts I through IV. First, in Count I, a violation of federal civil rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Second, in Count II, a state cause of action: the intentional infliction of mental distress. Third, in Count III, another state cause of action: assault and battery. Fourth, in Count IV, a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., or Title VII.

II. STANDARDS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

In Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986), the United States Supreme Court explained the District Court’s function in ruling upon a motion for summary judgment:

Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that summary judgment ‘shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.’ By its very terms, this standard provides that the mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there be no genuine issue of material fact.
As to materiality, the substantive law will identify which facts are material. Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment. Factual disputes that are irrelevant or unnecessary will not be counted....
More important for present purposes, summary judgment will not lie if the dispute about a material fact is “genuine,” that is, if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for [885]*885the nonmoving party. Id., 106 S.Ct. at 2510. (citations omitted).

It is likewise true that “[i]n ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must construe the evidence in its most favorable light in favor of the party opposing the motion and against the mov-ant. Further, the papers supporting the movant are closely scrutinized, whereas the opponent’s are indulgently treated, [citations omitted]. It has been stated that: 'The purpose of the hearing on the motion for such a judgment is not to resolve factual issues. It is to determine whether there is any genuine issue of material fact in dispute.’ ” Bohn Aluminum & Brass Corp. v. Storm King Corp., 303 F.2d 425, 427 (6th Cir.1962). As the Court of Appeals stated recently:

Summary judgment may only be granted when the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions and affidavits demonstrate that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Rule 56(c), Fed.R.Civ.P. All facts and inferences to be drawn therefrom must be read in a light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Smith v. Hudson, 600 F.2d 60, 63 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 986, 100 S.Ct. 515, 62 L.Ed.2d 416 (1979).

Duchon v. Cajon Co., 791 F.2d 43, 46 (6th Cir.1986). Under these holdings, three questions are to be considered upon a motion for summary judgment: (1) does the plaintiff present sufficient facts to establish all the elements of his claim; (2) are those facts sufficient to support a jury verdict or judgment; and (3) are there any material factual issues with respect to those facts.

III. DEFENDANTS’ SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION TO DISMISS

CLAIMS FOR MONETARY DAMAGES

The defendants have brought a summary judgment motion to dismiss claims for monetary damages.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Haley v. Clarksville-Montgomery Cnty. Sch. Sys.
353 F. Supp. 3d 724 (M.D. Tennessee, 2018)
Stefanovic v. University of Tennessee
935 F. Supp. 950 (E.D. Tennessee, 1996)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
714 F. Supp. 883, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6781, 50 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 409, 1989 WL 63740, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/russell-v-moore-tnmd-1989.