Williams v. Dist. of Columbia

317 F. Supp. 3d 195
CourtCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
DecidedJune 30, 2018
DocketCivil Action No. 17–1653 (EGS)
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 317 F. Supp. 3d 195 (Williams v. Dist. of Columbia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Williams v. Dist. of Columbia, 317 F. Supp. 3d 195 (D.C. Cir. 2018).

Opinion

Emmet G. Sullivan, United States District Judge

Plaintiff Oscar Williams brings this action alleging defendant Metropolitan Police Department ("MPD") discriminated against him because of his sexual orientation, retaliated against him, and created a hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et. seq. , and the District of Columbia Human Rights Act ("DCHRA"), D.C. Code Ann. § 2-1402.21. Specifically, Mr. Williams alleges that MPD took a series of actions resulting in his eventual termination after learning about Mr. Williams' same-sex marriage. Pending before the Court is MPD's motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Upon consideration of the amended complaint, MPD's motion, the response and reply thereto, and the applicable law, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part MPD's motion to dismiss. Specifically, the Court finds that Mr. Williams' claims based on discrimination and retaliation may proceed, but that he has failed to adequately allege a claim based on hostile work environment.

I. BACKGROUND

Mr. Williams is a married gay man. Am. Compl., ECF No. 11 ¶ 6. In 2016, Mr. Williams applied for a Management Supervisory Service position of Supervisor at MPD. Id. ¶ 7. On or about May 5, 2016, Mr. Williams was notified that he was hired for the position, and that the "background investigation unit" would contact him to begin the hiring process. Id. ¶¶ 8-9. Approximately two and a half months later, Mr. Williams received a call from MPD's Human Resource Specialist Marie Dawkins who notified Mr. Williams that he had successfully passed the background investigation. Id. ¶ 16. Ms. Dawkins extended an offer of employment to Mr. Williams, which he accepted. Id. ¶ 18.

In the course of that call, Mr. Williams asked Ms. Dawkins whether the salary associated with the position could be negotiated, noting that his "partner" had advised him that negotiation may be possible. Id. ¶¶ 19, 20. Ms. Dawkins asked what he meant by "partner," and Mr. Williams informed her that he was gay. Id. ¶¶ 21-22. According to Mr. Williams, the conversation "soured quickly" at that point, and Ms. Dawkins told him that salary negotiations would "definitely not happen in this situation." Id. ¶ 23. Mr. Williams subsequently contacted MPD's Human Resource Department and complained to Operations Manager Lennie Moore about the exchange with Ms. Dawkins and her "offensive response." Id. ¶ 24.

On or about August 5, 2016, Mr. Moore contacted Mr. Williams to advise him that there was a "mishandling of paperwork," that the supervisory position he was offered was going to be reposted, and that he would need to re-apply and re-interview. Id. ¶¶ 27-28. Mr. Moore also *198informed Mr. Williams that, in the meantime, MPD would offer him a "non-competitive career service appointment" position. Id. ¶ 29. Mr. Williams "reluctantly" accepted the appointment until he could re-apply for the supervisory position. Id. ¶ 30. Mr. Williams alleges that, around the same time, another employee, Lamont Mahone, was hired for a position identical to the supervisory position for which Mr. Williams was initially hired. Id. ¶ 26. Mr. Williams believes that Mr. Mahone is a heterosexual man. Id.

On August 8, 2016, Mr. Williams met with Ms. Dawkins and Human Resource Director Kathleen Crenshaw for orientation for the non-competitive appointment position he accepted. Id. ¶ 31. Mr. Williams alleges that, when he inquired about benefits for his partner during an orientation session, he immediately noticed "disdain and disgust in Ms. Dawkins' body language, tone, and voice in responding."

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Bluebook (online)
317 F. Supp. 3d 195, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-dist-of-columbia-cadc-2018.