Young v. Meese

851 F. Supp. 261, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10130, 1994 WL 131614
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Texas
DecidedMarch 31, 1994
DocketNo. 3:88-CV-0305-T
StatusPublished

This text of 851 F. Supp. 261 (Young v. Meese) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Young v. Meese, 851 F. Supp. 261, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10130, 1994 WL 131614 (N.D. Tex. 1994).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

MALONEY, District Judge.

This matter came on before the Court on a bench trial. After considering all testimony, documentary evidence, and arguments of counsel, the Court is of the opinion that, pursuant to the following findings of fact and conclusions of law, judgment should be en­tered in Defendant’s favor.

Background

On July 30, 1987, Plaintiff Rufus Young, Jr., a black male, was terminated from his position as Assistant Health System Admin­istrator with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. On August 11, 1987, Plaintiff filed an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board contending that (1) his removal was based on his race; and (2) he was subjected to harsher discipline than employees of other races. Af­ter an evidentiary hearing, the Board found that discrimination against Plaintiff had not occurred.

On February 11,1988, Plaintiff timely filed this action, asserting a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and appealing the decision of the Merit System Protection Board. Plain­tiff seeks reinstatement, reimbursement for lost wages, and other relief on his discrimina­tion claim.

Defendant denies Plaintiff’s allegations and responds that Plaintiff was removed for a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason. Spe­cifically, Defendant contends that Plaintiff was removed because he (1) used sexually abusive language and (2) conducted himself in an unprofessional and improper manner with respect to a subordinate white female employee, Jana Anderson.

Findings of Fact

1. Plaintiff Rufus Young, Jr., is a Black American Citizen of the United States. At all times relevant to this action, Plaintiff resided in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.

2. At the time this suit was instituted, Defendant Edwin Meese was Attorney Gen­eral and head of the Department of Justice.

3. In May, 1985, Plaintiff became em­ployed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Worth, Texas. On February 16, 1986, Plain­tiff was transferred and reassigned to the Bureau of Prisons South Central Regional Office, Dallas, Texas. Plaintiff held a variety of positions at these institutions. On June 7, 1986, Plaintiff was transferred and reas­signed to the Federal Correctional Institu­tion, Seagoville, Texas, to fill the position of Assistant Hospital Administrator.

4. On December 7, 1986, Plaintiff began supervising Jana Anderson, a newly hired probationary employee.

5. While he was Ms. Anderson’s supervi­sor, Plaintiff admits that he engaged in the following acts concerning Ms. Anderson:

(a) On April 22, 1987, Plaintiff stated to Ms. Anderson that several employees at FCI, Seagoville, including himself, would “like to get in her pants”;
(b) On April 29,1987, Plaintiff approached Ms. Anderson from behind while she was standing in front of a supply cabinet and touched her breast. When Ms. Anderson confronted Plaintiff about the incident, Plaintiff responded, “nobody was watching”;
(c) On April 30, 1987, Plaintiff made a kissing gesture toward Ms. Anderson while at work;
(d) On May 7, 1987, Plaintiff handed a note to Ms. Anderson and told her to shred it after reading it. The note con­tained the following message:
There is an answer to every problem, sometime it is necessary to wait awhile [263]*263to find it, but, there is another answer somewhere. Please don’t ever state again that you are going to quit. You serve a very useful purpose here. Ev­erybody, likes you (loves) and we want you here. Keep coming to work and think positive and every-thing will be alright. This-note comes from a very selfish person;
(e) On several occasions, Plaintiff held Ms. Anderson’s hand while passing her a computer key; and
(f) On several occasions, Plaintiff told Ms. Anderson that she had pretty eyes.

6. Plaintiff frequently made sexual com­ments to other female employees while he was employed as Assistant Hospital Adminis­trator.

7. After an investigation concerning Plaintiffs conduct toward Ms. Anderson, Plaintiff was terminated on July 30, 1987. Defendant’s proffered reason for Plaintiffs discharge was that Plaintiff engaged in (1) sexually abusive language and conduct; and (2) unprofessional and inappropriate conduct with Jana Anderson.

8. Plaintiff appealed the Bureau of Pris­on’s decision to the Merit Systems Protection Board on August 11,1987. On December 10, 1987, Administrative Law Judge Sharon Fonsworth Jackson issued an initial decision affirming the Bureau of Prisons’ decision. The Administrative Law Judge found that Plaintiffs conduct toward Ms. Anderson was sufficiently egregious to warrant termination, and that Plaintiff had not established dis­crimination on account of his race.

9. Plaintiffs conduct with respect to Jana Anderson was inappropriate and constituted good cause for Plaintiffs termination. The Court finds that Defendant’s stated reasons for termination of Plaintiffs employment were not a pretext for unlawful discrimina­tion or reprisal against him.

10. Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate by any credible evidence that Plaintiffs race was a factor in Defendant’s motivation to terminate Plaintiff.

11. The Court finds that more white males were faced with termination than were blacks during the period May 1, 1985, through September, 1988, and therefore Plaintiff did not suffer from disparate treat­ment on account of his race.

12.The Court, having reviewed the mat­ter de novo, further finds that the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board is cor­rect in all respects and is supported by sub­stantial evidence.

Conclusions of Law

1. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 5 U.S.C.A. 7703.

2. When a plaintiff brings a Title VII claim, and also seeks review of a Merit Sys­tem Protection Board decision, the complaint is a “mixed case,” and the plaintiff is entitled to have facts concerning his allegations of discriminatory acts tried de novo by the dis­trict judge. 5 U.S.C. §§ 7702 & 7703(b)(2); Morales v. Merit System Protection Board, 932 F.2d 800, 802 (9th Cir.1991).

3. A three-part analysis is applied in a cause of action alleging racial discrimina­tion in employment, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended 42 U.S.C. § 2000e. Texas Dept. of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981). The plaintiff must first prove a prima facie case of dis­crimination against his employer by a pre­ponderance of the evidence. Id.

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Related

Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine
450 U.S. 248 (Supreme Court, 1981)
Young v. City Of Houston
906 F.2d 177 (Fifth Circuit, 1990)
Morales v. Merit System Protection Board
932 F.2d 800 (Ninth Circuit, 1991)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
851 F. Supp. 261, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10130, 1994 WL 131614, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/young-v-meese-txnd-1994.