Ryan v. Berwick Industries, Inc.

40 F. Supp. 2d 250, 161 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2678, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3660, 75 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 45,988, 1999 WL 171512
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedMarch 25, 1999
DocketNo. 4:CV-97-1258
StatusPublished

This text of 40 F. Supp. 2d 250 (Ryan v. Berwick Industries, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ryan v. Berwick Industries, Inc., 40 F. Supp. 2d 250, 161 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2678, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3660, 75 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 45,988, 1999 WL 171512 (M.D. Pa. 1999).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

McCLURE, District Judge.

BACKGROUND:

On August 15, 1997, plaintiff Francis X. Ryan commenced this employment discrimination action against Berwick Industries, Inc. (“Berwick”) and Henry T. Do-herty (“Doherty”) with the filing of a complaint pursuant to the Veterans Reemployment Rights Act (“VRRA”), 38 U.S.C. §§ 4301-4307.1 Plaintiff alleges that on August 15, 1991, defendant Do-herty, former Berwick CEO, terminated plaintiffs employment with Berwick because of his participation in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Plaintiff contends that such action constitutes employment discrimination under the VRRA.

Presently before the court are the following motions which are ripe for disposition: 2

1.Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment, filed on January 20,1999;3

2. defendant Doherty’s motion for summary judgment, filed on January 20, 1999;4

3. defendant Berwick’s motion for summary judgment, filed on January 20, 1999;

4. defendant Berwick’s motion to strike plaintiffs demand for attorneys fees, filed on January 20,1999; and

5. defendant Berwick’s motion to strike the affidavit of Dirk Graham, filed on February 16,1999.

For the reasons which follow, we will grant' defendants’ motions for summary judgment and deny plaintiffs motion.

DISCUSSION:

I. MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate 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 judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c) (emphasis added).

... [T]he plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. In such a situation, there [252]*252can be ‘no genuine issue as to any material fact,’ since a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. The moving party is ‘entitled to judgment as a matter of law’ because the nonmoving party has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of her case with respect to which she has the burden of proof.

Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

The moving party bears the initial responsibility of stating the basis for its motions and identifying those portions of the record which demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. He or she can discharge that burden by “showing ... that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” Celotex at 323, 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

Issues of fact are genuine “only if a reasonable jury, considering the evidence presented, could find for the non-moving party.” Childers v. Joseph, 842 F.2d 689, 694 (3d Cir.1988) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986)). Material facts are those which will affect the outcome of the trial under governing law. Anderson at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. In determining whether an issue of material fact exists, the court must consider all evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. White v. Westinghouse Electric Co., 862 F.2d 56, 59 (3d Cir.1988).

II. MATERIAL AND UNDISPUTED FACTS

In contravention to LR 56.1, plaintiff has failed to file a statement of material and undisputed facts in support of his motion for summary judgment. However, defendants have filed a counterstatement of material and undisputed facts in which they reference facts recited in plaintiffs memorandum of law in support of his motion for summary judgment. Therefore, we deem defendants as having had an opportunity to respond to plaintiffs facts as to whether they are supported by the record.

The following recitation of facts, deemed material and undisputed, is taken from these materials:5 defendant’s counter-statement of material facts; defendant’s statement of undisputed material facts; and plaintiffs response to defendant’s statement of undisputed material facts. The court’s recitation reflects any disagreement or expansion in the facts as set forth by the parties.6

sjs ❖ ❖ # ‡

At the time of the events giving rise to the complaint, Berwick Industries, Inc., was a manufacturer of decorative ribbons and bows. Henry T. Doherty was Ber-wick’s president, CEO, and majority shareholder. He hired plaintiff to begin employment with Berwick on August 20, 1990. Plaintiff was not hired under the specific terms of a written employment contract; rather, an offer letter was signed by Doherty outlining his job duties and expectations. The offer letter, dated June 25, 1990, indicated plaintiffs job titles as, among others, Assistant to the President, Director of Berwick, and CFO/COO of Different Looks (a division of Berwick). Moreover, the letter indicated certain benefits plaintiff may be entitled to, such as a 401K Plan, Berwick stock purchase, 1% bonus based on pre-taxed profits, and use of a company car. Doherty also indicated his preference for plaintiff to relocate to the Berwick area so as to benefit his position with the company. It is undisputed that plaintiff never moved to the Berwick [253]*253area, and that Doherty expressed his displeasure with plaintiffs decision in not doing so.

When plaintiff began employment at Berwick, he was a reservist with the United States Marine Corps. His military obligations entailed attending Active Military Duty one weekend per month and two weeks per year. In January, 1991, plaintiff informed Doherty that he 'was pending active duty mobilization for service in the Persian Gulf War. However, plaintiff was never “called up” for active duty. In March, 1991, after the War had ended, plaintiffs duties in the Marine Corps increased during the post-mobilization draw-down. It is undisputed that the time plaintiff took off from work to fulfill his military obligations became a point of contention between plaintiff and Doherty. Doherty characterized plaintiff as having “split loyalties” between Berwick and the Marine Corps.

During plaintiffs employment at Ber-wick, draft employment agreements were drawn up by Berwick’s attorney, Robert Shields (“Shields”). However, a final agreement was never signed.

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40 F. Supp. 2d 250, 161 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2678, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3660, 75 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 45,988, 1999 WL 171512, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ryan-v-berwick-industries-inc-pamd-1999.