Berry v. Gorman, No. 7:2012cv00500 - Document 34 (W.D. Va. 2013)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 07/01/2013. (rkc)
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rŠ- s oFFl u.. Dl ooUr e ce 8 sm AT ROANOKE, A V FI LED J 9 12 1 UL 93 I TH E U NIT ED ST A TE S D ISTR IC T C O U R T N FO R TH E W ESTE RN D ISTR IC T O F V IR GIN I A R O AN O K E DI I O N V SI J C. UUA DUDG CLERK BY: ' . Ci lAc i N o.7: v00500 vi ton 12c R E G I A LD R .BER R Y , N Pl ntff ai i , M EM O M N DU M O PI I N N O G EN ER AL ELE C TR I C O M PA NY , C By:Sam ue G .W is l l on U ni e St e D i t i tJudge t d at s s r c D e endant f . Reg na d R . e y brngst sac i i l B n' i hi tonpr s a i tdef nda Gene a El ti Com pa / e ga ns e nt r l ec r c ny (t ',algi t tGE f l t pa hi a1t pe i beneishewasd ,a fie t $ ) le ng ha GE' aied o y m 1he nson ft ue nd ald o pr de hi w ih pe i pl n doc l e s t he r ovi m t ns on- a lm nt hat eque t d,bot i vi a i n oft Em pl se h n ol to he oyee Reie ntl trme ncomeSecliyAc of1 29U. C.j 1 ets q.(ç tSA') Ber ha fl a trt t 974, S. 001 e é I '. ry s ied EI t a oftle c pl i si t sm ater J ta i di w ih t pr vi ier ton ofBe r s ot l lr e om a nt n hi t . us s t d t he e ous t a i r y' c mpan , h smo e f rd s sa pzs n t Fe e a Rul o Ci l o e u e1 ( )6 . o litGE a v d o imis l t ua t o d rl e f viPr c d r 2 b ( ) r Be r sl es compl i c ai c ry' at t ant ont ns ompa ai l m or f c ua s tnc t n t pr vi t r tvey e a t l ubsa e ha he e ous wo, buti r t i t s m e e s nt a de i i i st tGE i ntted e ry i t e pr ce ngs t e a ns he n s e i l t c enc e ha de ii a l n hes o edi . A c or ngl , t c tgr nt GE' moton t di m i sBe r sn e d c pl i . c di y he our a s s i o s s r y' m nde om a ntl 1 . A c or ng t Be r he w o ke asa f l-i e GE em pl yee f om A prlof 1 t Apr l c di o r y, r d u ltm o r i 994 o i of201 butGE di notc edi fveoft eyea st r hi pe i I a efor t r co hi 3, d r ti hos r owa d s nson. n n f t o e ver s Berry v. Gorman Doc. 34 pe i n be t , ry c am shec nso neks Be r l i ompli dt uni n ofk i sa ane o o t al boutt pr e .Ha ngno he obl m vi l kwihhi t on,Ber as df t rc ve s a ssa efom t U. De rme of uc t s mi ry ke or and e ei d) ome sitnc r he S. pa t nt 1 n ec ttdipens swih or a gum e bec s t f t a l lcont insa ea otr s e t al r nt au e he acs nd ega ento r dequaeypr s ntd tl e e e i temaeil beo etec u ta dag n wo l n tadted cso l r c s.S eLo a Rue1 ()(l n h tras fr h o r, n rume t ud o i h e iina p o e s e c l l 1b in t a c r a c wi Fe ea Rul o CiiPr c d r 7 09,h Co rma d tr n amoinwih u a o a c od n e t d r l e f vl o e u e 8 te ut y eemie to to t n rl h h aig.) e rn '. ' Dockets.Justia.com r M w lbor2 Be r a s cli st themades ve alphonecal t t l nson boa d, whi h a . ry lo am ha e r ls o he s i pe r ' c ' ac or ng o ny, rous i s s d o al ge yr f s d t s ak wih hi .And, c di t Be atva i tm e he a ke GE t le dl e u e o pe t m s hi çpe i pl n r tr m e doc e s' GE a l ge y di notr po end m l nson a e ie nt um nt . ' le dl d es nd. Th c u t imis dBer sfrtc mpan wi o tp eudc b c us i wa o ep g , e o r d s s e ry' is o li t t u rj ie e a e t s n a e h l st n o es ha ne hundr d wor ,a at t rf ie t sae ac am t r le .Bery a e ds nd logehe a ld o t t l i o e if r mende hi d s c ompli t i l e af w a tona f c s a GE m o f dim is lont gr ant o ncud e ddii l a t , nd ved or s s a he ound t t ha Be r sa e d co pl ntpr s r d t f c ua i ufk i nc ofhi org na c r y' m nde m ai e e ve he a t l ns t e y s i i l ompl i a ant nd, i ra l f ie t al get tBe r ha e use hi a i sr tver m e es The c t mpo tnty, a ld o le ha ry d xha t d s dm nitai e di . our t GE' moton unde ad s m e ta or r d Be r t a nd hi c ook s i r vie n nd de e r y o me s ompli t c r tis ant o orec t de i i i . The c tsm e or ndum opi on e a ne t t t c enc es our ' m a ni xpl i d ha Be y mus alg f cs i iaig t t h f lo d te GE pe so pl n' n' t le e a t ndc tn ha e olwe h n in a s pr e e t e us hi a i sr tve a a s a aleg f c si c tng why oc dur s o xha t s dm nita i ppe l , nd l e a t ndi a i t pl s fna dec son w a i e r . Be r m us a s n e hi c pl i t he an' i l i i s n r or ry t l o m nd s om a nt o i ude f c s i cai wha doc nt he r que t fom GE, whe he ncl a t ndi tng t ume s e sed ' r n r quese t edoc e s a GE' r pons t t er quess e t d hos um nj , nd s es es o hos e t . Op.2,ECFNo. ( 24 emphassi o i na) l af noe t c te i n rgi l. n oot t,he our mphasz dt t ie ha ( ef e hi de a- - neis cai a i t GE c go f wad i fderl bl or s nilofbe ft l m gans an or r n e a c u t. . fh h sno ara ydo es , rymu t //w teGE pe so pln' o r, . i e a t le d n o Be r s/ /? h t n in a s pr e r s t e us hi a i sr tve a oc du e o xha t s dm ni ta i ppea s Se Ga e v.U nie Pa ce l . e vl td r l S r .l c,4 F.d 2 2 2 6 ( t Ci.2 0 )(W n ERI A wefr b nek pa e v. n . 01 3 2 , 2 4h r 0 5 : S lae e t ln pa tcpa m us bot ptr ue a e us pl r m e e be or gani ac s t rii nt t h zs nd xha t an e dis f e i ng ce s o fderlco t.) e a urs' . ' J.(mp ssi o i ia) Ber t e tldatidc mp an t a a d dac mp rtvewe l o # e ha i n rgn l. ry h n le hr o lit h t d e o a ai at f h f t ls acua uppor f hi t c am s Bas on Be r snew c t or s wo l i . ed ry' ompl i , hecour de e GE' ant t t ni d s moint ds s wih u p eu iet r tl .GE s o f lo du wi a oh rmoint to o imis t o t rj dc o eii ng o n o lwe p t n t e to o h dim is r s ng a expa ngon ispr vi usa g e s Be r r ponde GE r ple a s s , eha hi nd ndi t e o r um nt . ry es d, e i d, nd t m ater i rpe f di poston. he t s i or s ii 2A U .S.De rm e ofLa e pl e co r s pa t nt bor m oye r e ponde wih GE i an efor t ge a w e st d t n f t o t ns r o Be r sq sins Se ea.Exs 3,ECFN o.1 . ry' ue to . e. . , . -1 II. Thede e n sa gue t tBe r haspe sse l f l t pl d t thee use hi f nda t r ha ry r it nty aied o ea ha xha td s a i sr tve r m e esi a co da e w ih G E' pe i pl a haslke i e f l d t pl d dm ni t a i e di n c r nc t s ns on an, nd i w s aie o ea s tcintf c ss ti f t apl i e ca m t r i ff rf iu et pr vi pl n doc nt . ufi e a t e tng orh ausbl li o ele o a lr o o de a ume s Be us Be r ha ha n eopporuniy t c r c t de i e e i hi compl nt buthas ca e r y s d mpl t t o ore t he fcincis n s ai s f iedt do s t co tgr nt GE' m o i t dim is al o o, he ur a s s ton o s s . A. W ih f w e ptons a E I w e f r be i pl n pa tc pa m us bo h plr ue a t e xce i , n < SA la e neft a r i i nt t t zs nd ER. ' y e 401 3d t e xhaus pln r medisbe or g ni a ce st f de alc t.3 G a l , F. a 226. Cou t t a e e f e ai ng c s o e r ours' rs r qui e e us i ofa i sr tve r m e est o he p r duc t m l be off i o l w s t e r xha ton dm ni t a i e di t l e e he m r rvol us a uis t unde ERI ; o pr ot t c it ntt e t e ofc a m sf be tt ;t pr de a r SA t om e he ons s e r a m nt l i or ne i s o ovi nona r a ilm ehod ofcai ss tlm e ;a t m i m i t c t ofcai ss tlm e tf dve s ra t l m e te nt nd o ni ze he oss l m e te n or a1c n e e ' Har w v. u e ta l . o Am.2 9F.d2 4, 4 ( dCi. 0 2 . 1 o c m d. ro Pr d n il ns Co. f , 7 3 4 2 9 3 r 2 0 ) ' Be hasof e e t c t hr e dif r ntve sonsofhi c ny f r d he our t e fe e ri s ompli ove t c zs of a nt r he otr e e gh m ont , ha ye t hi t thepr pe l e us ed hi a i s r tve r m e e . W he i i t hs but s t o nt ha o ry xha t s dm nit a i e di s nt l tor r d Ber y t a e hi co pl nt t c ti t c e Be r t the G us alege f c s as de e r o m nd s m ai , he our ns nz t d r y ha d t l m at id c tn ta h f lo dteGEpe so a 'pr c d r st e ha s h sa miitaie n iaig h t e olwe h n inpln s o e u e o x u t i d n sr tv a l.'Op.2,ECFNo.24(mpha i i orgi l.Ber r s nde bycami t thet ke ppeas' e ss n i na) ry epo d li ng ha al d t hi t on a o s mi boutt m a tr t thec l dt ç nson boa d, a t the g t De rm e t he te , ha ale he l i pe r ' nd ha ' ot he pa t n 3Ac di t GE, l ni Pl ntf c cor ng o t tl ai if omple wiht a nitatvepr ed e,hi cou ti wihout u is t he dmi sr i oc ur t s r s t j rs it nt h a s b tnieagu nt o Plitf' cam t b n ft. Mo.oDimis6 ECFNo. (in uidci o e r u sa tv r me s n anifs li o e ei ' tt s s , o s' 28 ct g i Grle v Un m LieI . o Am.1 5F. u p. 71 , 6( Md 2 0 )( kignome to o ac u ts t r . u f ns Co. f , 9 S p 2d 1 71 D. . 0 2 ma n b nin f o r' St idcin'oh a ag me t nacam t b n fs) Whl teFo rhCic ih sno drcl a d esdt jz s ito 't e r ru n o li o e ei l. ie h ut rut a t ie t d rse he r t y i s ,t c e a doesno s s ue he as l w t uppor GE' a s r i See e. ,Dupe r v.Lie I .Co. N . . 632 F. 860,875 t s s e ton. . m. rv f ns of Am , 3d (t Ci. 011 (e o nzn ta c u t c ne c s tee h usinr q rme t; mi v S no,l 4F.d3 6 3 5 4h r2 )r c g iig h t o rs a x u e h x a to e uie n) S t . yd r 8 3 5 , 6 h n1 (t Ci. 9 9 (a ) Ote crut h v e pe syc n ld dta ERIA e h u to i no jrs ito a. .0 4h r 1 9 ) sme . h r ic is a e x rsl o cu e h t S x a sin s tu idcin l S e ea, eev. rfr Lie& Ac ie tns Co.44 F.d4 5 4 5 4 ( dCi. 0 6 C( ehodt t fi r e . ..Pas Hat d f o cd n l . , 9 3 3 , 4 - 6 2 r 2 0 ) çW1 l ha a al e u t e h u t S a miitaierme isi n tmidito lb ti a afr tv d fn e'. o x a s ERI A d nsrtv e de s o j s cina, u s n fimaie ee s .) ' ofLa i ve N o oft e ef o t s t s y t pl n' basc r quie e t ta agg i ve bor nvol d. ne hos f r s a i f he a s i e r m nt ha n r e d pe i nsonerç ts ç mus ubmi t diput cai f be t t t s c ea y oft GE Pe i Boa d t he s ed l m or neks o he e r tr he nson r a 31 Eason Tum pi Faifel CT 068 ' a mus a ala a r ede ii wihi t 35 t ke, ri d, 28' nd t ppe ny dve s c son t n s xt days 4 P1 n 3,ECF N o. 9- Be aus Be r hasha a pl o iy . a 3. c e r y d m e pporuniy t pl d t the t t o ea ha pr r y e us e hi ad i sr tve r m edi ,a be a e he ha nott ke t topport iy, ope l xha t d s m ni t a i e es nd c us s a n ha t t m t c tg an sGE' m otont dimi sBe r sbe i sc am . he our r t s i o s s ry' nett l i B. W he r i o aRul 12( ()motont dimis t c tac pt t f t l n ulng n e b)6 i o s s,he our ce s he acua a lga i astuea viw st i t lghtmos f vor bl t t c am a . Se Chiol v. le tons r nd e hem n he i t a a e o he l i nt e s m Trnsout Fi Cor ,95F. 331 33 ( hCi.996 .Eve t nastu howe r pl nif a h n. p. 3d , 4 4t r1 ) n ake r e, ve, aitfs mus pla e ug fcst C t e d no h a t o ç nudgeg t i cli a r st lnefom c i bl t plusbl ' ) her ams cos he i r onceva e o a i e, ' a a cour s d di m i sa c a m i i i notû aus bl on isf ce ' Be lA t.Co p. nd t houl s s l i f t s d pl i e t a . ' l l r v. Two l 5 0U. 5 4, 7 ( 0 ) l ac mp an d e f o pemi tec u t oifrmo e mby, 5 S. 4 5 0 20 7 . f o lit o s t t r t h o r t n e r n t t m e epos i lt ofm ic han he r sbiiy s onduc 'he çhec t't n i ompl i ha a lge bu i ha not t ant s le d- t t s çhowg ' Gha t pla ri e il t rle .' As r tv.Iba,55 U. 662,679( s nl t t he e de s ntted o eif'' hcof q l 6 S. 2009) ( l rto i o ii l.Al ug t ec u t srq ie t lb r l c nsn err s tln s at ain n rgna) t h h o r i e ur d o ieal o t z / e iig , e ho y Erc onv.Par ,551U. 89,94( iks dus S. 2007) t c tsnotrquiedt i ea obvi fiur ,he our i e r o gnor n ous al e t alegef c ss ti f t aplusbl c am t r le , il v.Gr envil Cnt ,586F.Supp.2d o l a t e tng orh a i e l i o ei f M ls e le y. 480,48 ( S. 2008 (ii W ele v. p' ofSoc. r .901F. 387( hCi.1 7 D. C. ) ctng lr De t Sevs, 2d 4t r 990:. 4Thec tm a c i rdocument ii eg a t a e iil r idon i t c pli 'wihou our y onsde s tnt r l o nd xplcty ele n he om ant' t t c v rigtemoint ds s i oamoinfrs mmayj g n.P lpsv. ltr .I . l 0F.d6 9 on et h to o imisnt n t o u r ud me t hii LCI nen.nc, 9 3 0 , o l 61 (t Ci.1 9 ) seas Clr v BAS Cop.l 2F d. p' 65 , 1(t Ci. 0 )( odigta iwa 8 4h r 9 9 ; e lo ak . F r , 4 e Ap x 9 66 4h r20 5 h l n h tt s pr pe f t dititc tt consde t pln docl ent on am oto t dim iswhe t pl ntf a cl m s o r or he src our o i r he a lm s in o s s n he ai ifm de ai b sdo t plna dddn tatc it t c mplit. a e n he a n i o ta h to he o an) 4 I t e a t m pt ,Be r ha nots a ed a pl usbl cl i ag ns G E f f ii t p ovi n hr e te s r y s tt a i e a m ai t or a lng o r de pl n doc e t . D e pie t c ur ' i t u tons Be r slt s c pli - whih i t mos a um n s5 s t he o ts ns r c i , ry' a e t om a nt c s he t s t nta oft l - r m ansva a c us y r ga di t docl ent her quese a ubsa il he ot e i gue nd oncl or e r ng he l s e t d nd m t cr z tnce s noundi hi r ques a GE' f l et r pond.Bec us Be r ha no he iclmsa s u ng s e t nd s aiur o es a e ry s t nudge hi doc d s umen a i cli a r st lnefom c ei bl t pl usbl ,t c t t ton am c os he i r onc va e o a i e he our dim is i.6 s s es t 11 1. Thec ti s iiousof o s ltga s a Be r sca ei no dif r nt Bef r hem a our s olct pr e ii nt, nd r y' s s fee . o e y pr ee i f r lc tho ve , mus exha thi ad i sr tver m e esaspr de oc d n ede a our, we r he t us s m nitai e di ovi d unde t pl a he m us cl a l e e a e t pl n doc ent he r ue t d, he r he an, nd t e ry num r t he a um s eq s e t cr um sa esunde whih her quese t m ,a t c r tm sanc unde whi GE f ie t ic tnc r c e t d he nd he icl t es r ch al d o rs e pondt hi r ue t Ac or ngl a f t r as nssa e t c rtg a st de e nts o s eq s . c di y, nd or he e o tt d,he ou r nt he f nda ' m o i t dimis ton o s s . EN TER :J y 1,2013. ul eee , ' .., < ..' .' . . .. .- 7 . * .+ . ' '. ' :? .' .'. . .' . d# . A' Š.Z . UNI TED STATES DI STRI JUDGE CT 5s cin 1 2 ( ()o Til 2 i ossad t o pa a mi srtr t,Epo wrte rq et fa y e to 0 4b)4 f te 9 mp e uy n ln d nitao s o ç n itn e u s o n u pa tci ntorbe t i y,f r s ac oft lt s updaed s ri pa nek ar u nih opy he a et t ummay, andes rpton,a t l es a l r pl c i i nd he at t nnua r t a t mi lrpor,t bar ni a e me ,t s a ee nt co r ctorot ri t me sun whih epol ny er na e t he gai ng gr e nt ru t gr me , nta , he nsnz nt der c t pl i e tbls d o opeat ' he an s sa ihe r r ed.' 6Th c u t oe ta Be ' a p rnl ma es meo hi d c me trq ssatrf igt slws i. e o r n ts h t ny p ae t d o f s o u n e uet fe in hi a ut y l 5
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