Ryan v. McDonald

191 F. Supp. 3d 729, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76459, 2016 WL 3230680
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedJune 13, 2016
DocketCASE NO. 1:15-cv-02384-DAP
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 191 F. Supp. 3d 729 (Ryan v. McDonald) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ryan v. McDonald, 191 F. Supp. 3d 729, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76459, 2016 WL 3230680 (N.D. Ohio 2016).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

DAN AARON POLSTER, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Before the Court is Defendant’s Partial Motion to Dismiss (the “Motion”), Doc #; 8. For the reasons discussed herein, the Motion is granted in part.

[733]*733I. Background

A. Factual Allegations

According to the Amended Complaint, Plaintiff Annette Ryan was employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”) as a Licensed Practical Nurse from November 2011 through November 2014, Am. Compl. ¶¶ 1, 3, 12, 13, Doc #: 5.

Ryan alleges that during her employment, from Summer 2012 to March 2013, Ryan’s coworker, MD Garrett, sexually harassed and assaulted her. Id. ¶¶ 16-21. This harassment and assault included statements made by Garrett, such as “I want to Fuck you,” “I want to stick my big dick in your pussy,” “Trust me, I know how to make you smile,” and “I love you and you will say yes one of these days and we will be together so stop fighting it,” among other statements. Id. ¶20. This harassment and assault also included physical acts by Garrett, such as “try[ing] to kiss Ms. Ryan against her will,” “[Repeatedly grabbing Ms. Ryan, mauling'her, touching her breast, touching her butt, rubbing his penis on her, and making licking sounds while physically accosting her,” and “[grabbing Ms. Ryan from behind and physically forcing her into a linen closet on a number of occasions, forcing himself on Ms. Ryan, and forcing his tongue in her mouth, while restraining her from getting to the door,” among other acts. Id. ¶¶ 17, 21. Garrett also told Ryan that he had a concealed carry permit and sometimes kept a weapon in his car. Id. ¶ 23.

Ryan repeatedly asked Garrett to stop and was afraid of Garrett. Id. ¶¶22, 24.

On March 28, 2013, Ryan sought help from her union. Id. ¶ 26. Thereafter, Ryan “was harassed and threatened by co-workers,” but other female employees complained that Garrett had harassed them, as well. Id. ¶¶ 27,2s.1

Ryan requested transfer to another location, and her doctor recommended she be transferred. Id. ¶¶29, 31-33. Ryan’s requests for transfer and for accommodation were denied and she exhausted her leave time while seeking transfer and . accommodation. Ami. Compl. ¶¶ 30, 34-35.

Ryan alleges constructive discharge from the VA in November 2014. Id. ¶ 13.

B. Administrative History

Ryan’s co-worker, Garrett, allegedly began harassing Ryan in the Summer of 2012. Id. ¶16. Ryan first sought help from her union representative and the Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) office on March 28, 2013, when she reported employment discrimination, emotional distress, assault, and battery to the VA’s Office of Resolution Management. Id. ¶¶ 10, 26. On that same day, Ryan filed a police report with the VA’s law enforcement officials including an OIG federal agent and a VA detective. Id. Ryan also told her supervisor that she feared for her safety at the VA facility. First FAD 3. Ryan’s supervisor placed Ryan on authorized absence from March 28, 2013, until April 2, 2013. Id. 2-3.

On March 29, 2013, Ryan requested a transfer to an alternative work site from her supervisor. Id. 2. Ryan was granted, at her request, twelve consecutive weeks of Family and Medical Leave Act-related (“FMLA”) leave for April 9, 2013 through July 1, 2013. Id. 3. Ryan also requested and was granted 240 hours of advanced sick leave. Id.

[734]*734On May 10, 2013, Ryan initiated contact with an EEO counselor. EEO Compl. Acceptance Letter 1, Doc #: 8-2. By July 17, 2013, Ryan exhausted the maximum amount of advanced sick leave and authorized absences allotted in a calendar year, and she was placed on Leave Without Pay (“LWOP”). First FAD 3. As of August 7, 2013, Ryan’s EEO counseling was complete, and she was notified of her right to file an official discrimination complaint. EEO Compl. Acceptance Letter 1. On August 14, 2013, Ryan filed a formal complaint of discrimination (VA Form 4939) to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) which included allegations of sex discrimination, hostile work environment, and reprisal for her initial harassment complaint. Id. 1-2. Ryan’s formal complaint to the EEOC included five claims that were divided into two complaints—a “mixed case complaint” consisting of one claim and a “non-mixed case complaint” consisting of the other four claims. Id. The “mixed case complaint” consisted of Ryan’s allegation that she was constructively suspended. Id. 2. The “non-mixed case complaint” included allegations of reprisal, hostile work environment, and discrimination on the basis of sex. Id. 1-2.

On August 28, 2013, Ryan requested to return to work at the VA facility. First FAD 3. On September 30, 2013, Ryan was approved for 480 additional hours of LWOP, at her supervisor’s request, for September 3, 2013 through December 2, 2013, based on documentation Ryan submitted regarding her emotional distress symptoms. Id. On November 27, 2013, Ryan’s doctor provided, “Unless reassigned ' to work on a different unit, her time off needs to continue indefinitely.” Am. Compl. ¶ 32. On December 20, 2013, Ryan submitted a Written Confirmation of Request for Accommodation. Id. ¶ 33.

On May 29, 2014, Ryan received her first Final Agency Decision (“FAD”) for her “mixed case complaint” (issued May 23, 2014) from the VA’s Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication (“OEDCA”). First FAD 1; Long Decl. A2A, Doc #: 8-4. The OEDCA found that Ryan failed to prove discrimination and informed Ryan of her right to appeal the decision to the MSPB. First FAD 9-10. There is no record indicating Ryan pursued an appeal to the MSPB. Robinson Decl., Doc #: 8-10.

On June 26, 2014, Ryan received a second FAD on the “non-mixed^ case complaint” (issued June 20, 2014) from the OEDCA finding Ryan’s formal complaint failed to prove reprisal, hostile, work environment and discrimination on the basis of sex and informed her of her right to appeal to the EEOC. Second Final Agency Decision 18, Doc #: 8-5 [hereinafter Second FAD]; Am. Compl. ¶ 11. On July 14, 2014, Ryan submitted an appeal on her “non-mixed” claims to the EEOC. Am. Compl. ¶ 11.

C. Case History

On October 14, 2015, Ryan filed the instant case in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, alleging eight claims against Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of the VA. Summons and Compl., Doc #: 1-1. On November 20, 2015, the VA removed the case to federal court. Notice of Removal, Doc #: 1.

On January 13, 2016, the VA moved for dismissal, and on February 3, Ryan filed an Amended Complaint. Doc #: 5. In the Amended Complaint, Ryan alleges nine claims: 1) sexual harassment / hostile work environment, 2) gender discrimination, 3) retaliation, 4a)2 disability discrimination, [735]*7354b) negligent hiring, retention, supervision, 5) assault, 6) battery, 7) intentional infliction of emotional distress, and 8) violations of due process and substantive rights.

The instant Partial Motion to Dismiss, Doc #: 8, was filed on March 18, 2016, and became ripe on May 2. This Opinion and Order follows.

II. Legal Standard

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191 F. Supp. 3d 729, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76459, 2016 WL 3230680, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ryan-v-mcdonald-ohnd-2016.