Sims v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: August 11, 2022
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2020-1243
• Status: Published

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

DERRICK SIMS,

Plaintiff,

v. Civil Action No. 1:20-cv-01243 (CJN)

WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY,

Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Plaintiff Derrek Sims sued his former employer, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit

Authority, alleging race discrimination and other claims regarding his termination. Compl., ECF

No. 1. WMATA moves for summary judgment, contending that Sims was terminated for violating

its Electronic Device Policy and that it has sovereign immunity as to his other claims. Def.’s Mot.,

ECF No. 15. Sims does not dispute that he violated WMATA’s Electronic Device Policy, but he

argues that under WMATA’s policies he should have been suspended, not terminated. Pl.’s Opp.,

ECF No. 17. For the following reasons, the Court grants the motion.

Background

Sims is an African American male who was employed by WMATA as a bus mechanic.

On September 3, 2019 between about 5:30 and 6 A.M., Sims was operating a Metrobus on D.C.

Route 295. Investigation Report, ECF No. 15-3; Video of Incident, ECF No. 15-12. While Sims

was driving the bus, WMATA Transit Field Supervisor Samuel Laughery observed Sims smoking

a cigarette and looking at his phone. Laughery Email, ECF No. 15-4. Video of the incident shows

Sims smoking, Sims holding his smartphone in his right hand for a few seconds and glancing at

1 the screen several times, and Laughery’s vehicle in the background. Video of Incident (Angle 6).

A screenshot of the video is captured below:

Id. at 5:40:03. The phone’s activity log did not record any activity during the relevant time period.

Pl.’s Opp. at Ex. C.

On September 6, 2019, WMATA terminated Sims’ employment. Termination Letter, ECF

No. 15-6. WMATA’s justification for the termination is that he violated the Electronic Device

Policy § 3.09 by operating a bus while “using” his cellphone. Id.

Section 3.09(a) of the policy prohibits “using an electronic device means using the

electronic device’s functions, such as, but not limited to, viewing, charging, using the electronic

device to check the time, or to check to see if any messages have been received.” WMATA

Policies, ECF No. 15-2. Section 6.01 provides the discipline for violations of the Electronic

Device Policy: “(a) Using an Electronic Device while Operating a Revenue Vehicle, First Offense:

Discharge; and (b) Any other violation in Revenue Vehicles (i.e., an operator having a phone on

2 their person while operating) (1) First Offense: 10-day suspension (2) Second Offense: Discharge.”

Id. (emphasis added).

Sims filed suit, alleging that WMATA violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1974

by terminating his employment, and also alleging that WMATA committed the torts of wrongful

termination and negligence relating to his termination. See generally Compl., ECF No. 1.

WMATA moves for summary judgment on the grounds that Sims was legitimately terminated for

violating its Electronic Device Policy and that WMATA has sovereign immunity as to the tort

claims.

Legal Standard

A court may grant summary judgment “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute

as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ.

P. 56(a). A dispute about a material fact is not “genuine” unless “the evidence is such that a

reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,

477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). If the moving party has met its burden, the nonmoving party must then

set forth “specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial” to defeat the motion. Celotex

Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986). Though the Court “may not resolve genuine disputes

of fact in favor of the party seeking summary judgment,” Tolan v. Cotton, 572 U.S. 650, 656

(2014), the nonmoving party must show more than “[t]he mere existence of a scintilla of evidence

in support of” its position, Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252. In other words, “there must be evidence on

which the jury could reasonably find for” the non-moving party. Id. (emphasis added).

“Credibility determinations, the weighing of evidence, and the drawing of legitimate inferences

from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge.” Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods.,

Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150–51 (2000) (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255).

3 It is unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act “to discriminate on the basis of . . .

race or national origin.” See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 (a)(1). The two essential elements of a racial

discrimination claim are (1) that the plaintiff suffered an adverse employment action (2) because

of the plaintiff’s race. Brady v. Office of Sergeant of Arms, 520 F.3d 490, 493 (D.C. Cir. 2008);

Baloch v. Kempthorne, 550 F.3d 1191, 1196 (D.C. Cir. 2008). As to the second element, once an

employer asserts a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for its action, the key question is whether

the employee produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find the employer’s asserted

reason was not the actual reason. See Brady, 520 F.3d at 494. In relying on comparator evidence

to establish an inference of discrimination, a plaintiff must demonstrate he was “similarly situated”

to an employee outside of his protected class and that the two were treated disparately. Holbrook

v. Reno, 196 F.3d 255, 260 (D.C. Cir. 1999).

Analysis

I. No Reasonable Jury Could Find for the Plaintiff on Count I.

WMATA contends that Sims’s Title VII claim for racial discrimination should be

dismissed because WMATA terminated Sims for a legitimate non-discriminatory reason: his

violation of WMATA’s Electronic Device Policy. Def.’s Memo., ECF No. 15, at 2–7. WMATA

argues that taking action because of an employee’s violation a company’s policy constitutes a

legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason. Hogan v. Hayden, 406 F. Supp. 3d 32, 44 (D.D.C. 2019)

(citing Lewis v. Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc., 150 F. Supp. 2d 81, 95 (D.D.C. 2001)). And,

WMATA argues, Sims’s purported comparator, Mr. Miller, was not similarly situated.

Sims contends that WMATA’s purported reason for firing him is incoherent. Pl.’s Opp. at

3–6. He contends that WMATA’s policy is vague regarding whether he actually used a phone and

that “offering a vague reason [for termination]—is the equivalent of offering no reason at all.”

4 Figuera v. Pompeo, 923 F.3d 1078, 1092 (D.C. Cir. 2019). Sims further argues that a reasonable

jury could conclude he had “a phone on [his] person” but did not “use” his phone, so the

appropriate punishment under the policy was a 10-day suspension. Pl.’s Opp. at 5–12; WMATA

Policies at § 6.01.

The Court believes the video is dispositive. See, e.g., Video of Incident (Angle 6) at

5:39:50–5:40:13. Despite Sims’ assertions, it is readily apparent from the video that Sims, while

driving, holds his phone in his hand screen up and looks down several times at his phone. Sims

contends that the phone was falling out of his pocket and that he merely held it. But even if he

initially grabbed the phone because it was falling out of his pocket, no reasonable juror could

conclude he was merely finding a secure place for it. Sims notes that the phone’s activity log

shows there was no activity during the relevant time period, and that the screen turned on only

because it was being lifted. See Pl.’s Opp. at Ex. C. Even if true, it is still beyond any genuine

dispute that Sims was viewing (i.e., looking at) his phone (not to mention either or both checking

the time or seeing any notifications or messages). Recall that WMATA’s policy provides that one

is “using” an electronic device when “viewing” it or “using the electronic device to check the time,

or to check to see if any messages have been received.” WMATA Policies at § 3.00. Plaintiff is

correct that there is a colloquial form of the phrase “using a phone” that requires more than mere

viewing. Pl.’s Opp. at 7–12. But the policy expressly defines “using” to include “viewing,”

WMATA Policies at § 3.00, which is exactly what the video shows Sims was doing.

In any event, the “appropriate question” is not whether the policy expressly covers Sims’s

conduct, but whether WMATA “honestly believed” Sims violated the policy such that it could not

be said to have acted with discriminatory intent. See Hogan, 406 F. Supp. 3d at 46; George v.

Leavitt, 407 F.3d 405, 415 (D.C. Cir. 2005) (An “employer’s action may be justified by a

5 reasonable belief in the validity of the reasons given even though that reason may turn out to be

false.”). Sims has not raised a genuine question as to WMATA’s belief that it was applying its

policy appropriately.

Sims also argues that WMATA’s proffered reason for terminating him is pretextual

because a similarly situated white employee was suspended rather than terminated. Pl.’s Opp. at

12–14. In particular, Sims points to Brett Miller, a white male WMATA bus mechanic, who

operated a metrobus and hit a bollard in a hotel parking lot, causing damage to the bus. See Miller

Investigation Report, ECF No. 15-8. Sims notes that Miller did not immediately report the

accident, left the scene, and made false statements in the incident report. Id. And, Sims contends,

Miller was given just two 10-day suspensions despite violating at least two clear and severe

policies:

1.2.1 Employees must make timely, complete, and truth statements at all times. 1.2.2 Any employee providing false or misleading information or documentation will be subject to immediate dismissal. ... 1.33.1 . . . Failure to immediately report an accident or incident or any attempt to conceal or misrepresent facts is an extremely serious violation of rules and will result in dismissal.

Pl.’s Opp. at Ex. A (WMATA Notice to Operators).

But as Sims admits, in order to establish that Miller is a similarly-situated comparator, he

must “demonstrate that all of the relevant aspects of [his] employment situation were nearly

identical to” the comparator. Holbrook, 196 F.3d at 261 (quotation marks omitted). Sims has not

done so. Miller violated different provisions with different remedial provisions. Here, WMATA

considered the Electronic Device Policy a zero-tolerance policy that offers no grace, whereas the

other rules afforded supervisors a degree of discretion. Greenfield Depo. 22–23, 56–66. Even if

the rules Miller violated could be read to be zero-tolerance, WMATA did not apply them that way

and Sims has not provided any evidence to contest WMATA’s honest belief in its proffered

6 explanations. The policies and violations are too different for discrimination to reasonably be

inferred from the different treatment.1

II. WMATA Has Sovereign Immunity Over the Tort Claims.

WMATA argues that Counts II, III, and IV fail as a matter of law because WMATA has

sovereign immunity for torts committed in the performance of its discretionary duties, including

personnel decisions. Burkhart v. WMATA, 112 F.3d 1207, 1216 (D.C. Cir. 1997). Section 80 of

the WMATA Compact 2 states:

The Authority shall be liable for its contracts and for its torts and those of its Directors, officers, employees and agent committed in the conduct of any proprietary function . . . but shall not be liable for any torts occurring in the performance of a governmental function.

D.C. Code § 9-1107.01 (80) (2015). WMATA contends that tort claims, like Sims’ wrongful

termination and negligent termination claims, are discretionary and so shielded by WMATA’s

immunity. Beebe v. WMATA, 129 F.3d 1283, 1287 (D.C. Cir. 1997).

Sims responds that sovereign immunity does not apply to his claims because his

termination was not a “governmental” act within the meaning of the WMATA Compact. Pl.’s

Opp. at 14–15. He contends that WMATA’s actions are governmental only if they are either a

“quintessential government function” or if they are a discretionary, as opposed to ministerial, act.

See Smith v. WMATA, 290 F.3d 201, 207 (4th Cir. 2002). Sims contends that compliance with the

1 Sims also presents a petition signed by 35 members of his bus garage that states “there’s been a clear racial bias at our division that can no longer be tolerated also we would like [M]r. Derrick Sims to be reinstated[.]” Pl.’s Opp. at Ex. F. But the letter does not raise a genuine dispute as to any material fact at issue in Sims’ termination. 2 The WMATA Compact is an interstate compact approved by Congress. It is generally treated as equivalent to Federal law.

7 Electronic Device Policy is not discretionary because it specifically prescribes a course of action

for the agency to follow.

The Court agrees with WMATA. This has long been settled by the Court of Appeals.

WMATA has sovereign immunity for its personnel and termination decisions. Burkhart v.

WMATA, 112 F.3d 1207, 1217 (D.C. Cir. 1997) (“[D]ecisions concerning the hiring, training, and

supervising of WMATA employees are discretionary in nature, and thus immune from judicial

review.”); Beebe v. WMATA, 129 F.3d 1283, 1287 (D.C. Cir. 1997). Plaintiff made no attempt to

distinguish Burkhart. See generally Pl.’s Opp. Even if the Court were not bound by Burkhart, the

Court would still conclude that WMATA has discretion here, including in its interpretation of the

facts underlying employment decisions, the application of those facts to existing policies, and the

decision to continue to apply its policies. See Burkhart, 112 F.3d at 1216–17.

Conclusion

Accordingly, the Court grants the Defendant’s motion. An order will issue

contemporaneously with this opinion.

DATE: August 11, 2022 CARL J. NICHOLS United States District Judge