Vargas v. Web Service Co.

36 F. Supp. 2d 1173, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21988, 1998 WL 951677
CourtDistrict Court, D. Arizona
DecidedDecember 14, 1998
DocketNo. CIV-97-707-PHX-SMM
StatusPublished

This text of 36 F. Supp. 2d 1173 (Vargas v. Web Service Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vargas v. Web Service Co., 36 F. Supp. 2d 1173, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21988, 1998 WL 951677 (D. Ariz. 1998).

Opinion

ORDER

MCNAMEE, District Judge.

Plaintiff filed a two count Complaint alleging that Defendant demoted him based on his race and age, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”). On September 16, 1998, Defendant filed a Motion for Summary Judgment arguing that Plaintiff is time-barred from raising both of his claims. [Doc. # 25].

I. BACKGROUND

On February 6, 1995, Defendant demoted Plaintiff and replaced him with a younger employee. Plaintiff is of Hispanic national origin and was 52 years old at the time of the demotion. On December 1, 1995, Plaintiff filed a Charge of Discrimination with the EEOC. [Doc. #26, Ex. 1 to Ex. A]. The EEOC issued a Notice of Charge of Discrimination on. December 6, 1995.[Id.]. Although Plaintiff alleged both race and age discrimination in his Charge Questionnaire, [Doc. # 30, Ex. C], Plaintiffs Charge of Discrimination, which Plaintiff signed, and the EEOC’s Notice of Charge of Discrimination denote only Plaintiffs allegation that he was demoted due to his national origin.

On December 18, 1996, by Certified Mail, the EEOC mailed Plaintiff a Dismissal and Notice of Rights. [Doc. # 26, Ex. A at ¶ 5, 6; Ex. 2], On December 20, 1996, Plaintiff personally signed a document from the United States Postal Service (USPS) stating that a certified letter was awaiting his pickup at the post office. [Id. at Ex. B], Plaintiff put the slip in his wallet, and did not pick up the certified letter until January 4, 1997. [Doe. #30 at ¶2]. Plaintiff filed this lawsuit on April 4,1997.

On May 27, 1998, Plaintiff filed a Notice of Discrimination with the EEOC alleging that he was demoted based on age discrimination under the ADEA, and a Notice of Charge of Discrimination was issued. [Doc. # 26, Ex. 3]. Neither the original nor the amended Charges refer to termination, firing or discharge, constructive or otherwise.

II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

A court must grant summary judgment if the pleadings and supporting documents, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, “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) (1995); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Jesinger v. Nevada Federal Credit Union, 24 F.3d 1127, 1130 (9th Cir.1994). A principal purpose of summary judgment is “to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The moving party need not disprove matters on which the opponent has the burden of proof at trial. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548. Summary judgment is appropriate against a party who “fails to make a showing sufficient to estab[1175]*1175lish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Id. at 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548; see also Citadel Holding Corp. v. Roven, 26 F.3d 960, 964 (9th Cir.1994). “Conclusory allegations unsupported by factual data are insufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment.” Lucas Automotive Engineering, Inc. v. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., 140 F.3d 1228, 1237 (9th Cir.1998).

The party opposing summary judgment “may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of [the party’s] pleadings, but ... must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(e); see also Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio, 475 U.S. 574, 585-88, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986); Brinson v. Linda Rose Joint Venture, 53 F.3d 1044, 1049 (9th Cir.1995). Therefore, if supported by affidavits or other evidentiary material, the court must regard as true the opposing party’s evidence. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548. However, the dispute must also be genuine, that is, “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505; see also Jesinger, 24 F.3d at 1130. Substantive law determines which facts are material. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); see also Jesinger, 24 F.3d at 1130. “Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

III. DISCUSSION

As for Count One alleging race discrimination under Title VII, Defendant contends that the claim is time-barred because Plaintiff did not file this suit until after the ninety-day period following his receipt of the EEOC’s dismissal. Additionally, Defendant argues that the claim is time-barred because Plaintiff did not file a complaint with the EEOC until over one hundred eighty-days after the last adverse employment action. Finally, Defendant points out that no charge was ever made to the EEOC regarding discharge from employment; only demotion was alleged.

As for Count Two alleging age discrimination under the ADEA, Defendant asserts that Plaintiff did not properly allege this claim until his amended Notice of Charge of Discrimination was filed on May 28, 1997. Even had the age discrimination claim been identified in the December 1,1995 Charge of Discrimination, Defendants maintain that Plaintiffs April 4, 1997 filing of this Complaint was untimely.

In response, Plaintiff claims that his complaint was timely filed because he did not pick up the certified EEOC letter until January 4, 1997, and thus the ninety-day statute of limitations, according to Plaintiff, started to run on January 4, 1997. [Doc. #29]. Because the envelope is stamped both on December 20, 1996, and January 4, 1997, Plaintiff argues that a genuine issue of material fact exists, and that further discovery, such as the deposition of a USPS employee, is required to determine the source of the stamps on the letter. Plaintiff also relates that upon informing two attorneys that he received the letter January 4, 1997, they advised him that he had until April 4,1997 to file his claim. Further, Plaintiff asserts that Arizona employees have three hundred days to file their complaint with the EEOC under the work share agreement with the ACRD.

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36 F. Supp. 2d 1173, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21988, 1998 WL 951677, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vargas-v-web-service-co-azd-1998.