Shearon v. Comfort Tech Mechanical Co.

936 F. Supp. 2d 143, 2013 WL 1312008, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44972
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedMarch 28, 2013
DocketNo. 12-CV-96
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 936 F. Supp. 2d 143 (Shearon v. Comfort Tech Mechanical Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shearon v. Comfort Tech Mechanical Co., 936 F. Supp. 2d 143, 2013 WL 1312008, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44972 (E.D.N.Y. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WILLIAM F. KUNTZ, II, District Judge.

David Shearon (“Plaintiff’) commenced this action against his former employer, Comfort Tech Mechanical Co. (“CTM” or “Defendant”), on January 9, 2012, alleging three causes of action for disability discrimination in violation of (1) the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101; (2) the New York State Human Rights Law (“NYHRL”), N.Y. Exec. Law § 290; and (3) the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”), N.Y. City Admin. Code § 8-107. Plaintiff also asserts three state common law claims arising out of his employment with Defendant: (1) unjust enrichment, (2) quantum meruit, and (3) negligent infliction of emotional distress (“NIED”). Defendant moves to dismiss the five non-ADA claims pursuant to- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and (6). Plaintiff cross-moves to amend the original complaint in order to add four -additional causes of action and one additional defendant, Stuart Ellert, a CTM principal. For the reasons stated below, this Court dismisses Plaintiffs state statutory and common law claims, grants Plaintiffs cross-motion to amend in part, and denies the cross-motion to amend in part.

I. Factual Background

The following facts are taken from the original complaint, including documents, such as the relevant local union collective bargaining agreement, which-are incorporated into the complaint by reference. For purposes of deciding Defendant’s motion to dismiss- for failure to state a claim, the Court assumes these facts to be true and construes them in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, the non-moving party.

Plaintiff was employed by Defendant as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) worker from May 2008 through January 2011. Compl., at ¶ 10. During that time, HVAC workers employed by Defendant were covered by a local union collective bargaining agreement (the “CBA”), which set forth the terms and conditions of their employment. Id. at ¶ 11; Affirm, in Supp. of Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss (“Pearl Affirm.”), Ex. D. The union bargaining representative was known as International Union of Operating Engineers Local 295 (“Local 295”). Pearl Affirm., Ex. D. Plaintiff made numerous inquiries during his employment with Defendant, but Defendant consistently denied- that Defendant was a “union shop.” Proposed First Am. Compl. (“Prop. Am. Compl.”), at ¶¶ 16, 65.' Further, although Plaintiff claims his employment was covered by the CBA, at no ..time during Plaintiffs employment did [150]*150Defendant offer him union membership, an omission that Plaintiff claims violated the CBA. Compl.,- at ¶ 12. Because Plaintiff was not a union member,. Defendant paid him hourly wages significantly lower than those received’ by union employees. Id. at ¶ 14. Plaintiff was also denied union fringe' benefits such as health and dental insurance, and pension contributions. Id. at ¶¶ 13-14.

On or about January 25, 2011, Plaintiff requested a leave of absence for personal reasons, including alcohol counseling and rehabilitatioh.-' Id. at ¶ 15. In response, Stuart Ellert, a CTM principal, said, “Oh no, we can’t' have this!” or words to that effect. Id. at ¶ 16. - Defendant ultimately granted Plaintiff a leave of absence; soon thereafter, Plaintiff enrolled in an alcohol rehabilitation program. Id. at ¶¶ 1819. However, on or about February 28, 2011, with full knowledge that Plaintiff was in treatment, Defendant terminated Plaintiffs employment. Id. at ¶ 20.

Before initiating the instant action, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the New York State Division' of Human Rights (“NYSDHR”), due to Defendant’s termination of his employment. Pearl Affirm., Ex. B. Plaintiff alleged in the complaint that his alcohol problem was a disability, that Defendant terminated Plaintiff because of that disability, and that the termination constituted unlawful discrimination under the NYHRL. Id. On August 24, 2011, after a full investigation, the NYSDHR dismissed the complaint, finding “no probable cause” to believe that Defendant had engaged in unlawful discrimination. Pearl Affirm., Ex. C. The NYSDHR’s determination was based on its finding that during Plaintiffs leave-of absence, he had driven a company vehicle without authorization, despite explicit warnings to refrain from doing so and knowledge of a company policy stating that unauthorized use of a company vehicle would result in immediate dismissal. Id. The NYSDHR found that Plaintiffs termination was due to his unauthorized use of a company vehicle and not the result of discrimination based on disability. Id.

Plaintiff later received a right to sue letter from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) dated October 5, 2011; the letter adopted the findings of the NYSDHR, as described above, and informed Plaintiff of his right to sue in federal court. Compl., Ex. A. Plaintiff filed the instant action on January 9, 2012.

II. Applicable Law

A. Legal Standards

1. Motion to Dismiss Under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1)

The Court must dismiss a claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) when it lacks the statutory or constitutional power to adjudicate it. Makarova v. United States, 201 F.3d 110, 113 (2d Cir.2000). “[J]urisdiction must be shown affirmatively, and that showing is not made by drawing from the pleadings inferences favorable to the party asserting it.” Shipping Fin. Servs. Corp. v. Drakos, 140 F.3d 129, 131 (2d Cir.1998). The party asserting subject matter jurisdiction has the burden of proving its existence by a preponderance of the evidence. Makarova, 201 F.3d at 113. In determining whether subject matter jurisdiction exists, “courts are permitted to look to materials outside the pleadings, including affidavits.” J.S. v., Attica Cent. Sch., 386 F.3d 107, 110 (2d Cir.2004).

2. Motion to Dismiss Under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6)

In considering a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the Court construes [151]*151the claims liberally, “accepting all factual allegations in the complaint as true, and drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor.” Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 152 (2d Cir.2002). To survive a motion to dismiss, each claim must set forth sufficient factual allegations, accepted as true, “to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). The Court need not credit “legal conclusions” in a claim or “threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements.” Harris v. Mills,

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Bluebook (online)
936 F. Supp. 2d 143, 2013 WL 1312008, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44972, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shearon-v-comfort-tech-mechanical-co-nyed-2013.