Williams v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Health & Mental Hygiene

299 F. Supp. 3d 418
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois
DecidedMarch 12, 2018
Docket16–CV–3691 (JMF)
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 299 F. Supp. 3d 418 (Williams v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Health & Mental Hygiene) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Williams v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Health & Mental Hygiene, 299 F. Supp. 3d 418 (S.D. Ill. 2018).

Opinion

JESSE M. FURMAN, United States District Judge:

Plaintiff Carrie Williams brings employment discrimination claims against her former employer, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the "DHMH"), pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the "ADA"), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. ; the New York State Human Rights Law (the "NYSHRL"), N.Y. Exec. Law § 290 et seq. ; and the New York City Human Rights Law (the "NYCHRL"), N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-101 et seq. Specifically, Williams claims that the DHMH discriminated against her on the basis of her disability and then retaliated against her after she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the "EEOC"). (See Docket No. 1 ("Complaint") ). Williams and the DHMH now cross-move, pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for summary judgment. (Docket Nos. 30, 38). For the reasons discussed below, the DHMH's motion is GRANTED, Williams's motion is DENIED, and the Complaint is DISMISSED.

BACKGROUND

The relevant facts, taken from the Complaint and admissible materials submitted in connection with the pending motions, are either undisputed or described in the light most favorable to Williams. See Costello v. City of Burlington , 632 F.3d 41, 45 (2d Cir. 2011).

*422Williams worked for the City of New York from October 25, 1987, until her retirement on March 7, 2016. (Docket No. 31 ("Williams Decl."), at ¶ 4). In September 2002, Williams was hired by the DHMH as a Public Health Nurse Level II in the Bureau of Tuberculosis Control. (Id. ¶ 5). The Bureau of Tuberculosis Control maintains four health centers: the Fort Greene Chest Center, the Washington Heights Chest Center, the Corona Chest Center, and the Morrisania Chest Center. (Id. ¶ 8). In 2003, Williams assumed the responsibilities of Patient Care Manager, and in 2004, she was assigned the title of Public Health Nurse Level III. (Id. ¶¶ 6-7). Williams was assigned to work primarily at the Fort Greene Chest Center, but she occasionally worked at the Washington Heights Chest Center as well. (Id. ¶ 10).

In or about May 2013, Williams was diagnosed with herniated lumbar discs, arthritis of the spine and knees, and sciatica; she also suffered from gout and diabetic neuropathy, chronic conditions that she had previously developed. (Id. ¶¶ 16-17; see also Williams Decl., Ex. 2 ("2015 Tambor Letter") ). As a result of these challenges, Williams's doctor, Jeffry Tambor, opined that she was "unable to stand longer than 2-3 minutes and ... to walk greater than 80 feet without stopping." (2015 Tambor Letter). In the fall of 2013, Williams informed her supervisor, Errol Robinson, that she had a medical condition. (See Docket No. 32 ("Sackowitz Decl."), Ex. 1 ("Robinson Depo."), at 27). According to Williams, her initial treatment plan was ineffective, and her pain management doctor recommended that she undergo surgery. (Williams Decl. ¶¶ 22-23; see also Docket No. 39 ("Murrell Decl."), Ex. E, at 3-32). Prior to the surgery, Williams was granted leave from the date of her surgery (January 15, 2015), until her expected return date (June 2, 2015). (See Murrell Decl., Ex. G).

On May 19, 2014, before Williams began her medical leave, one of the laboratory associates she supervised at the Fort Greene Chest Center-Sofiya Mazuryan-filed a charge of discrimination against the DHMH with the EEOC. (See Williams Decl. ¶¶ 32-33; Sackowitz Decl., Ex. 5 ("Mazuryan Charge") ). Significantly, Mazuryan specifically-and exclusively-complained about Williams, claiming that she had treated Mazuryan "less favorably than the other non-white employees she supervise[d]." (Mazuryan Charge). On December 8, 2014, the EEOC issued its final determination, concluding that Mazuryan was, in fact, "treated less favorabl[y] than non-white employees and subjected to retaliation after she complained of discrimination." (Murrell Decl., Ex. N ("EEOC Proceedings"), at 59-60). To resolve the charge, the EEOC recommended, among other remedies, that the DHMH "transfer Ms. Carrie Williams from the Fort Greene location" so that Mazuryan would "no longer be under the direct or indirect supervision of Ms. Williams." (Id. at 61).

On January 5, 2015, apparently unaware "that the [DHMH] had decided to transfer [her]," (Williams Decl. ¶ 47), Williams submitted a "Request for Reasonable Accommodation" to her supervisor (Williams Decl., Ex. 1 ("First RFRA") ). According to Williams, she "feared that while [she] was out on medical leave the [DHMH] might transfer [her] to the Corona and Morrisania locations." (Williams Decl. ¶ 47). Citing her herniated discs, arthritis, sciatica, gout, and diabetic neuropathy, Williams requested that she remain primarily at the Fort Greene Chest Center and that she be assigned a parking space. (First RFRA). Two days later, one of Williams's supervisors informed her that she was to be reassigned from the Fort Greene Chest Center to the Corona and Morrisania centers. (Williams Decl., Ex. 6).

*423In March 2015, while Williams was still out on leave, she filed a second Request for Reasonable Accommodation, advising the DHMH that she was ready to return to work on April 13, 2015, and seeking again to remain at the Fort Greene Chest Center. (Williams Decl., Ex. 7 ("Second RFRA") ). She noted that "[d]riving a car longer than one hour causes back and leg pain" and that transfer to the Morrisania or Corona offices would be infeasible because the commute between her home on Staten Island and either site would exceed two hours. (Id. ). Shortly thereafter, Williams informed the DHMH that her medical leave would be extended to June 1, 2015. (Sackowitz Decl., Ex. 9, at 1). In light of that extension, the DHMH advised Williams that her Request for Reasonable Accommodation was "moot" and that if she needed an accommodation "on or about June 2, 2015," she should submit a new request at a later date. (Williams Decl., Ex. 9 ("April 14 E-mail") ).

On May 1, 2015, Williams submitted her third Request for Reasonable Accommodation, seeking the same relief that she had sought in her prior two requests. (Williams Decl., Ex. 11 ("Third RFRA") ). In her third request, Williams reported that she could neither drive a car longer than an hour nor take public transportation. (Id. ). Williams also advised that she was able to return to work sooner than expected-on May 11, 2015-so long as she was not required to report to the Corona or Morrisania clinics. (Id. ).

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299 F. Supp. 3d 418, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-nyc-dept-of-health-mental-hygiene-ilsd-2018.