U.S. Equal Emp't Opportunity Comm'n v. Gulf Logistics Operating, Inc.

299 F. Supp. 3d 832
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Louisiana
DecidedMarch 8, 2018
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 17–9362
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 299 F. Supp. 3d 832 (U.S. Equal Emp't Opportunity Comm'n v. Gulf Logistics Operating, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
U.S. Equal Emp't Opportunity Comm'n v. Gulf Logistics Operating, Inc., 299 F. Supp. 3d 832 (E.D. La. 2018).

Opinion

IVAN L.R. LEMELLE, SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Before the Court is Defendant Gulf Logistics Operating, Inc.'s 12(b)(6) "Motion to Dismiss." Rec. Doc. 7. Also before the Court is the EEOC's "Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss" (Rec. Doc. 14) and Defendant's "Reply Memorandum in Support of Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss" (Rec. Doc. 19). For the reasons discussed below,

IT IS ORDERED that Defendant's "Motion to Dismiss" (Rec. Doc. 7) is DENIED .

FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Defendant Gulf Logistics Operating, Inc. operates a fleet of boats in the Gulf of Mexico supporting companies engaged in oil and gas exploration. Rec. Doc. 2 ¶ 4. In October 2012, Defendant hired Jason Gunderson to work as a deckhand on one of Defendant's boats. Id. ¶ 16. While employed by Defendant, Gunderson was never disciplined regarding his performance of the essential functions of his job. Id. ¶ 17. In January 2013, Gunderson began having marital problems and, as a result, began experiencing emotional distress. Id. ¶ 18. He separated from his wife a few months later. Id. ¶ 19. In April 2013, Gunderson asked his manager, Randy Whittaker, for a referral to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to obtain help coping with the stress of his separation. Id.

Whittaker, a Health, Safety and Environmental Manager for Defendant, provided Gunderson with a list of numbers to call *834for EAP assistance. Id. ¶ 20. He told Gunderson, who expected to miss five days of work, that he would not be allowed to return to work without first obtaining a release from the company doctor. Id. ¶¶ 22, 23. Specifically, Whittaker told Gunderson that he "would not be able to send him back to his assigned vessel due to safety reasons and concerns regarding [Gunderson's] need to seek EAP assistance for his emotional distress." Id.

Gunderson returned to work approximately three weeks later, on or about May 20, 2013, at which time he presented a medical release from the company's doctor stating that he could return to work without any restrictions. Id. ¶ 24. The doctor's note "determined that Gunderson had 'situational' depression." Id. ¶ 25. Upon his return, Gunderson worked without restrictions, and he was given no indication of concern about his performance. Id. ¶ 28. However, two weeks later, on June 5, 2013, Defendant discharged Gunderson. Id. ¶ 27.

Gunderson filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging disability discrimination by Defendant. Id. ¶ 8. The EEOC found reasonable cause to believe that there had been a violation and issued a Letter of Determination that Defendant had discriminated against Gunderson. Id. ¶ 9. Subsequently, the EEOC attempted to remedy the discriminatory practice and to secure a conciliation agreement with Defendant; however, such attempts were unsuccessful and the EEOC issued a Notice of Failure of Conciliation on September 11, 2017. Id. ¶ 10-13. The EEOC then filed a complaint in this court against Defendant on September 21, 2017, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (ADAAA). See Rec. Doc. 2.

The complaint alleges that Defendant discriminated against Gunderson by discharging him "because the Defendant perceived him to be a threat to the safety of others due to perceived 'distraction' caused by his situational depression or adjustment disorder in violation of the ADA[AA]. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(3)(A)." Id. ¶ 27. The complaint also alleges that Defendant unlawfully discriminated against Gunderson by "forcing [him] to obtain a medical release before he could return to work after requesting a referral to the Employee Assistance Program" in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 12112(d)(4)(A), a provision that prohibits employer-ordered medical exams to determine the nature of an employee's disability except under special circumstances. Id. ¶ 32.

The EEOC seeks an injunction to enjoin Defendant from forcing individuals to seek a medical release to return to work after requesting an EAP referral, back-pay with prejudgment interest for Gunderson, and either reinstatement or front-pay to make Gunderson whole. Id. at 8-9. Additionally, the EEOC seeks compensation for past and future pecuniary and nonpecuniary losses, and punitive damages for Defendant's "malicious and reckless conduct." Id. at 9-10.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

"To survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, ... [a plaintiff's complaint] need only include a 'short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.' " Hershey v. Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., 610 F.3d 239, 245 (5th Cir. 2010) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a) ). "A complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, 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) (quoting Bell Atl.Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955

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Bluebook (online)
299 F. Supp. 3d 832, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/us-equal-empt-opportunity-commn-v-gulf-logistics-operating-inc-laed-2018.