Milner v. Lee County, Alabama et al, No. 3:2004cv00919 - Document 98 (M.D. Ala. 2006)

Court Description: OPINION . Signed by Judge Myron H. Thompson on 5/16/06. (Attachments: # 1 appeals checklist)(vma, )

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Milner v. Lee County, Alabama et al Doc. 98 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 1 of 47 IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, EASTERN DIVISION CYTINA MILNER, ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Plaintiff, v. LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, et al., Defendants. CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:04cv919-MHT (WO) OPINION In this lawsuit, plaintiff Cytina Milner asserts several claims arising out her employment with the Lee County, Alabama Sheriff s Department. The defendants are Sheriff Jay Jones in his official capacity, Lee County and the Lee County Commission. Milner alleges sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981a, 2000e through 2000e-17; sex discrimination in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as enforced by 42 Dockets.Justia.com Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 2 of 47 U.S.C. § 1983 (§ 1983); and disability discrimination and retaliation in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12112-12117, 12203. Milner s Title VII and ADA claims are against Sheriff Jones in his official capacity, and her § 1983 claim is against Lee County and the Lee County Commission.1 Jurisdiction is proper under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 (federal claims) and 1343 (civil rights) and 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-5(f)(3) (Title VII) and 12117 (ADA). This case is currently before the court on the defendants motions for summary judgment. For the reasons detailed below, summary judgment is granted as to the ADA discrimination claim and the § 1983 claim. Summary judgment is denied 1. Milner has included the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, as an alternative basis for her § 1983 claim. Section 1981 was enacted to prevent discrimination based on race, not sex. Little v. United Techs., Carrier Transicold Div., 103 F.3d 956, 960-961 (11th Cir. 1997). Therefore, the court will analyze her § 1983 claim solely in relation to the Fourteenth Amendment. 2 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 3 of 47 as to the Title VII claims and the ADA retaliation claim. I. SUMMARY-JUDGMENT STANDARD Summary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). Under Rule 56, the party seeking summary judgment must first inform the court of the basis for the motion, and the burden then shifts to the non-moving party to demonstrate why summary judgment would not be proper. see also Fitzpatrick v. City 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986); of Atlanta, 2 F.3d Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 1112, 1115-17 (11th (discussing burden-shifting under Rule 56). Cir. 1993) The non- moving party must affirmatively set forth specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial and may not rest upon 3 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 4 of 47 the mere allegations or denials in the pleadings. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). The court s role at the summary-judgment stage is not to weigh the evidence or to determine the truth of the matter, but rather to determine only whether a genuine issue exists for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986). In doing so, the court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of that party. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986). II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND What follows is Milner s version of the facts: A. Sex Discrimination and Retaliation November 2000: Milner began her employment as a corrections officer. She was hired for a 12-hour shift 4 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 5 of 47 that rotated between day and nighttime hours.2 Her duties included booking, photographing, fingerprinting, and transporting inmates; security over inmates; assisting with inmates property; working with female inmates regarding recreation or any other needed assistance; working in other wings of the jail to assist male officers; and filing. Her immediate supervisor was Sergeant Rodney Tabb. Sergeant Tabb sexually harassed Milner by talking to her in a sexual manner, massaging her hands, rubbing her back, running his finger down her back provocatively, and touching the upper part of her buttocks.3 2. Plaintiff s Evidentiary Submission in Support of Plaintiff s Response to Defendants Motions for Summary Judgment (hereinafter Plaintiff s Evidentiary Submission) (Doc. No. 42), Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit 1, p. 51. 3. Id. at pp. 110-111. 5 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM May 2001: Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 6 of 47 At the suggestion of a sergeant other than Tabb, Milner complained to Jail Administrator Etherline Whitt about Tabb s conduct.4 June Because 2002: Milner had not received any results from her complaint, she asked Jail Administrator Whitt about its status.5 June 30, 2003: Milner wrote a letter to Sheriff Jones, Chief Deputy Cary Torbert, and Jail Administrator Whitt stating that the investigation into her complaint was inadequate.6 Torbert denies receipt of the letter, but acknowledged that Whitt had made him aware of it. August: Milner was told that the Sheriff s Department found no evidence of sexual harassment by Sergeant Tabb. 4. Id. at pp. 115-116. 5. Id. at p. 162. 6. Id., Letter to Jones, Torbert, and Whitt, Exhibit 14. 6 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 7 of 47 October: Chief Deputy Torbert placed Milner back on Sergeant Tabb s shift.7 Milner never had to work for Tabb, however, because she was terminated in November before the scheduled change went into effect. October 23: Milner complained to Chief Deputy Torbert about his statement that female officers were to be limited in their work assignments to booking or to central control, both mainly secretarial assignments. Chief Deputy Torbert denied permanently limiting women to these two largely clerical positions but explained that women would be assigned there until they were able to get along. He further stated that until the women started to get along they had to answer to a corporal or sergeant.8 Milner relayed the conversation to the other female officers in the room. During her conversation with Chief Deputy Torbert, Milner either stated or implied to him that she thought 7. Id., Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit 1, p. 230. 8. Id. at pp. 144-145. 7 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM he was lying.9 Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 8 of 47 Torbert then cursed at Milner and yelled for her to go to central.10 B. Disability Discrimination and Retaliation During the Thanksgiving Holidays, November 2001: Milner was rushed to the hospital with what she thought was a stroke. facial pain headaches. Her medical reports showed that she had (the source of which was unclear) and The report also concluded the Milner may suffer from some type of facial myalgia.11 At a follow-up appointment a few days later, she was diagnosed with right facial neuralgia.12 In lay terms, myalgia means pain in a muscle or in several muscles, and neuralgia means pain which originates in the 9. Id. at p. 147. 10. Id.; see also Id., Daily Report Form, Exhibit 17. 11. Id., Emergency Department Report, dated 11/25/01, Ex. 18. 12. Id., Medical Report, dated 11/27/01, Ex. 19. 8 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 9 of 47 substance of a nerve and is felt in the area or part of the body which is covered or supplied by the nerve. 13 November 2002 to February 2003: Milner took medical leave for donations approximately of sick time four months. from other allowed her to remain on paid leave. She received employees, which During this time, her pain was so severe that it inhibited her ability to speak, see, and move.14 February: February 2003, When Milner returned to work she worked four-to-five-hour in mid- daylight shifts for approximately one month based on her doctor s recommendation. She still experienced pain to the right side of her face; numbness in her tongue and throat; pain around her temporal lobes; and pain in the back of her head, which would radiate down her right side to her 13. J.E. Schmidt, M.D., Attorney s Dictionary of Medicine, Volume 4, Cumulative Supplement December 2005, M-316, N-70 (Matthew Bender & Co., Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group 2005)(1997). 14. Plaintiff s Evidentiary Submission (Doc. No. 42), Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit 1, p. 81. 9 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM right hand.15 Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 10 of 47 During this time, she often had to sit to the side and let her coworkers assist with her work.16 March 17: Milner s doctor allowed her to work eighthour day-shifts; she no longer required much help from coworkers.17 August: Jail Administrator Whitt questioned Milner about her need to work during the day exclusively. Milner provided another doctor s note, dated August 27, stating that she can work only eight-hours daylight-shift days.18 Whitt responded that this note was insufficient because it gave no reason for the daylight restriction. Milner s pain persisted, but it was not as severe as it was in the past. The only limitation caused by her 15. Id. at p. 186 16. Id. at p. 188. 17. Id. at p. 201. 18. Id., Doctor s notes, Exhibit 23. 10 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 11 of 47 continued pain was the eight-hour cap on her workdays;19 her pain did not prevent her from performing any other daily functions.20 October 23: note Milner obtaned an additional doctor s explaining stabilized and that, in functional I order have to keep recommended [Milner] her to continue to work eight hour work days, day shifts only. 21 October 30: The Sheriff s Department received the October 23 doctor s excuse. October and November: Milner s symptoms were the same as in August, that is, her pain limited her to eight-hour daylight shifts.22 19. Evidentiary Submissions in Support of Defendants Motions for Summary Judgment (hereinafter Defendants Evidentiary Submission) (Doc. No. 27), Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit A, p. 216 20. Id. at pp. 217-219. 21. Plaintiff s Evidentiary Submissions (Doc. No. 42), Doctor s Notes, Exhibit 23. 22. Defendants Evidentiary Submission (Doc. No. 27), Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit A, pp. 217-219. 11 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 12 of 47 C. Termination October 31, 2003: Chief Deputy Torbert had a meeting with Milner in which he told her that he could no longer accommodate her work schedule. He handed her a letter explaining that she was being terminated because she was unable to perform the required 12-hour shift. Milner explained that she had an upcoming doctor s appointment in which she would be evaluated on whether she could return to a full 12-hour shift; she also pointed out that other officers were working eight-hour shifts. She alternatively asked to be transferred to a clerical position.23 While Chief Deputy Torbert denied these requests, he suspended her, telling her not to return to work until she could work a full 12-hour shift. As a result, Milner missed the weekend shift she was scheduled to work.24 23. Plaintiff s Evidentiary Submission (Doc. No. 42), Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit 1, p. 236. 24. Id. at p. 237. 12 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 13 of 47 November 3: Milner met with Chief Deputy Torbert and Brook Ballard, the Human Resources Coordinator for Lee County. Torbert explained that Ballard was present to explain the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). He also told Milner she would have to work 12-hour shifts, take FMLA leave, or be terminated. Milner declined the FLMA leave option because she would not be paid while she was out. Human Resources Coordinator Ballard told Milner to think some more about the FLMA leave and to get back to her. November 5: Milner again met with Chief Deputy Torbert and Human Resources Coordinator Ballard. Milner was presented with a termination letter signed by both persons.25 November 7: Milner appealed her termination. November 12: Milner met with Sheriff Jones and Jail Administrator Whitt to discuss her termination, 25. Id., Termination Letter dated November 5, 2003, Ex.26. 13 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM after which Document 98 Sheriff Jones Filed 05/16/2006 upheld the Page 14 of 47 decision to terminate her.26 Either at this meeting or shortly before it, Milner told Sheriff Jones that everyone got frantic when she complained about Sergeant Tabb s sexual harassment, that despite repeated inquiries she was given no information about the status of her complaint until August 2003, and that since her complaint Chief Deputy Torbert and Jail Administrator Whitt treated her differently and were trying to find reasons to terminate her.27 February 2004: Milner s application for state unemployment benefits was denied. She was found to have voluntarily left work without good cause because her injury was not considered work-related and because she refused FMLA leave.28 26. Id., Memo regarding appeal of termination, dated November 12, 2003, Ex. 31; Memo to File regarding same dated November 17, 2003, Ex. 32. 27. Id., Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit 1, pp. 254-5. 28. Id., Decision on Unemployment Compensation Claim, (continued...) 14 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 15 of 47 III. DISCUSSION A. Title VII 1. Discrimination Under Title VII, it is illegal for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise respect to discriminate his against compensation, any individual terms, with conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual s ... sex. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). Milner can prove a case of sex discrimination either through direct evidence of a discriminatory intent or by way of indirect or circumstantial evidence in the manner articulated in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973). Wilson v. B/E Aero., Inc., 376 F.3d 1079, 1085 (11th Cir. 2004). She proceeds under both theories. address each in turn. 28.(...continued) Ex. 41. 15 The court will Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 16 of 47 a. Direct Evidence The Eleventh Circuit definition of direct evidence has not been uniform. For example, in Caban-Wheeler v. Elsea, 904 F.2d 1549, 1555 (1990), the Eleventh Circuit adopted a relatively broad definition of direct evidence, stating that direct evidence relates to actions or statements of an employer reflecting a discriminatory or retaliatory attitude correlating to the discrimination or retaliation of the employee. That same year, in Earley v. Champion Int l Corp., 907 F.2d 1077, 1081 (11th Cir. 1990), direct evidence was defined more narrowly as evidence which, if believed, would prove the existence of a fact in issue without inference or presumption. The Eleventh Circuit continues to apply both definitions. Damon v. Fleming Supermarkets, Inc., 196 F.3d 1354, 1358 (11th Cir. 1999) (using the former); Bass v. Bd. of County Comm rs, 256 F.3d 1095, 1105 (11th Cir. 2001) (employing later). Nevertheless, the evidence in question here does not constitute direct evidence of sex discrimination under 16 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 17 of 47 either standard. Chief Deputy Torbert informed Milner that corrections the female officers were to be in central or booking because they were not getting along and that until they reconciled they needed to answer to a corporal or sergeant.29 These statements are not direct 29. Milner also claims that Officer Wiltsie told her that Chief Deputy Torbert instructed him to relay that: female officers can t do or have any say-so without [] com[ing] to a corporal or the sergeant or Major Torbert ; that they should permanently be in booking or central; that they cannot perform any tasks unless a male officer, sergeant or corporal was there; and that they were not even allowed to enter the female wing without a male officer. Plaintiff s Evidentiary Submission (Doc. No. 42), Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit 1, pp. 95, 96, 139-144. These statements are inadmissable hearsay. Statements made by an employee with authority to speak for its employer on personnel matters generally or the employment decision at issue in particular may be admissible. Zaben v. Air Prods. & Chems., 129 F.3d 1453, 1456 (11th Cir. 1997); see also Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2)(D). Milner has the burden of establishing that Wilstie had the authority to make such statements on behalf on his employer. Wilkinson v. Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc., 920 F.2d 1560, 1566 (11th Cir. 1991); Milner has not satisfied this burden. Rather, both Chief Deputy Torbert and Wiltsie deny that Wiltsie was authorized to make the above statements. Defendants Evidentiary Submissions (Doc. No. 27), Declaration of Cary Torbert, Jr., Exhibit B, ¶¶ 6,7; Deposition of Cary Torbert, Jr., Exhibit C, p. 79; Declaration of William Wiltsie, Exhibit D, ¶¶ 3,4,5. (continued...) 17 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 18 of 47 evidence because they do not necessarily indicate that the complained-of employment decision was motivated by the decision-maker s sexism. Damon 196 F.3d at 1358. They could be interpreted to mean that the restrictions were put in place because of the women s interpersonal relationships instead of because of their sex. differing inferences statement[], and one ... may inference be drawn does not Where from [a] support discrimination, the statement does not constitute direct evidence of discrimination. Schoenfeld v. Babbitt, 168 F.3d 1257, 1267 (11th Cir. 1999). b. Indirect Evidence To prevail on a sex-discrimination claim utilizing the McDonnell-Douglas test, Milner must first establish a prima-facie case of unlawful discrimination by a 29.(...continued) In contrast, Chief Deputy Torbert s own statements to Milner are admissible because his managerial position afforded him the authority to make these kinds of personnel decisions. 18 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 19 of 47 preponderance of the evidence; this prima-facie case requires evidence adequate to create an inference that an employment decision was based discriminatory criterion. on a[n] [illegal] Herawi v. State of Alabama Dep't of Forensic Scis., 311 F.Supp.2d 1335, 1344 (M.D. Ala. 2004) (Thompson, J.) (quoting Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters v. United States, 431 U.S. 324, 358 (1977)). If established, the prima-facie case raises a rebuttable presumption of illegal discrimination, and the burden then shifts to the employer to articulate a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for his employment Texas Dep t of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 action. U.S. 248, 254 (1981); Chapman v. AI Transport, 229 F.3d 1012, 1024 (11th Cir. 2000) (en banc). intermediate burden is exceedingly light. This Holifield v. Reno, 115 F. 3d 1555, 1564 (11th Cir. 1997). Once the employer satisfies this burden of production, the employee must come forward with evidence that would be sufficient to convince a reasonable fact-finder that the reason given by the employer is 19 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM pretextual. Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 20 of 47 Combs v. Plantation Patterns, Meadowcraft, Inc., 106 F.3d 1519, 1528 (11th Cir. 1997). i. Prima-Facie Case To establish a prima facie case of disparate treatment Milner must show: (1) she is a member of a protected class; (2) she was subjected to adverse employment action; (3) her employer treated similarly situated male employees more favorably; and (4) she was qualified to do the job. E.E.O.C. v. Joe s Stone Crab, Inc., 220 F.3d 1263, 1286 (11th Cir. 2000). Only the first element is undisputed. As to the second element, there is no bright-line test for adverse-employment actions. Davis v. Town of Lake Park, 245 F.3d 1232, 1238 (11th Cir. 2001). Adverse- employment actions include ultimate employment decisions, such as the decision to hire or fire an employee, as well as conduct falling short of an ultimate employment decision that reaches some threshold level of substantiality. Wideman v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 141 20 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM F.3d 1453, 1456 Document 98 (11th Cir. Filed 05/16/2006 1998). Page 21 of 47 The defining characteristic of an adverse-employment action is that it brings about a serious and material change in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment as viewed by a Davis, 245 F.3d reasonable person in the circumstances. at 1239. Milner asserts the following adverse-employment actions: Work Assignments: Milner s assignment to central booking after her confrontation with Chief Deputy Torbert is not an adverse-employment action. [W]ork assignment claims strike at the very heart of an employer's business judgment and expertise because they challenge an employer s ability to allocate its assets in response to shifting and competing market priorities. Id. at 1244. In the vast majority of instances ... an employee alleging a loss of prestige on account of a change in work assignments, without any tangible harm, will be outside the protection afforded by Congress in Title VII s anti-discrimination clause. Id. at 1245. 21 This is Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 22 of 47 particularly true in circumstances like this one where the work assignment at issue is only by definition temporary and does not affect the employee's permanent job title or classification. Id.30 Suspension: Her two-day adverse employment decision. unpaid suspension is an [A]ctions that affect compensation are considered adverse employment actions. Gillis v. Georgia Dep t of Corrs., 400 F.3d 883, 887 (11th Cir. 2005)(noting that the plain language of the statute, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1), makes it unlawful to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, among other things). Termination: It is undisputed that if Milner was terminated it would be an adverse-employment action. However, Sheriff Jones argues that she is collaterally 30. If Milner had evidence establishing that all, or a substantial number of, female corrections officers were actually limited to secretarial assignments, the court would find that these restrictions on the female officers duties were adverse-employment actions. However, there is no evidence that these threatened limitations were ever put into effect. 22 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 23 of 47 estopped from arguing that she was terminated because, in a state unemployment compensation proceeding, she was found to have voluntarily left her employment. argument is misguided because, for two This reasons, administrative hearings have no preclusive effect on Title VII actions. University of Tennessee v. Elliott, 478 U.S. 788, 795 (1986). § 2000e-5(b), provides First, Title VII, specifically that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission grant substantial weight to final findings and orders made by State or local authorities; it would make little sense for Congress to write such a provision if state preclusive effect. agency findings were entitled to Id. (internal quotation omitted). Second, Title VII claimants are entitled to de novo review in federal courts; it would contravene Congress s intent to supply preclusive effect. administrative hearings with a Id. at 796. Denial of Accommodation: Milner asserts that Sheriff Jones s refusal to continue accommodating the eight-hour daylight shift recommended by her doctor is an adverse23 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM employment action. Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 The court agrees. Page 24 of 47 A reasonable factfinder could conclude that discontinuing such an accommodation would seriously and materially change the terms, conditions, or privileges of an employee s job. As to the third element of a prima-facie case, Milner charges that Sheriff Jones treated certain full-time male corrections staff more favorably by not requiring them to work 12-hour shifts at the time she was told that this shift was mandatory. Sheriff Jones responds that all full-time corrections officers were treated the same in that each of them had to work 12-hour shifts beginning November 1, 2003. For the reasons detailed below, the court finds that there is evidence that, viewed in the light most favorable to Milner as the non-moving party, shows that not all full-time male corrections officers were required to work 12-hour shifts when she was denied her eight-hour accommodation, suspended, and terminated. This evidence is sufficient to support a finding that she was treated less favorably corrections officers. 24 than male full-time Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 25 of 47 With respect to the fourth element, Sheriff Jones s sole objection to her qualification for her job was her inability to work 12-hour shifts. Again because, as will be discussed shortly, there is evidence that this 12-hour policy was not uniformly applied to all corrections officers, the court declines to find, as a matter of law, that 12-hour shifts were a necessary qualification for the job. ii. Employer s Nondiscriminatory Reason Because Milner has established a prima facie case, the burden legitimate, shifts to Sheriff Jones nondiscriminatory to articulate reason for accommodating, suspending, and terminating her. a not Sheriff Jones has a burden of production, not persuasion, and does not have to persuade the court that it was actually motivated by the reason advanced. Texas Dep t of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 258 (1981). He meets this burden by pointing to a labor shortage beginning in October 2003 brought about by both an increase in inmates 25 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM and a decrease in Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 corrections staff. Page 26 of 47 The jail experienced an influx of inmates at a time when one officer had been activated for military duty, two others were going to be deployed in the near future, another had resigned, one was scheduled to take maternity leave in early 2004, and the officers who had been amenable to primarily night-shift assignments wanted to return to rotating to the day shift.31 Faced with this staffing crisis, Chief Deputy Torbert instructed that all full-time corrections officers who had been allowed to work limited shifts would have to resume working rotating 12-hour shifts on November 1, 2003. iii. Pretext Because the above reason eliminates the presumption of discrimination accompanying the prima-facie case, 31. Defendants Supplemental Evidentiary Submission, Doc. No. 48, Declaration of Cary Torbert, Jr., Exhibit V, ¶¶ 3,4. 26 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 27 of 47 Milner must produce evidence, including the previously produced evidence establishing the prima facie case, sufficient to permit a reasonable fact finder to conclude that the reason[] given by [the sheriff was] not the real reason[] for the adverse employment decision. Chapman v. AI Transport, 229 F.3d 1012, 1024 (11th Cir. 2000) (en banc). She can establish that Sheriff Jones s proffered reason is not believable by showing such weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or contradictions in [his] proffered legitimate reason[] for ... action that a reasonable factfinder could find [it] unworthy of credence. Combs v. Plantation Patterns, 106 F.3d 1519, 1538 (11th Cir. 1997) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Milner argues that the labor-shortage rationale is pretextual because certain male employees were not required to work 12-hour shifts at the time she was not accommodated, suspended, and terminated for refusing to do so. In particular, Lieutenant Roberson and Officers Calloway, Sanders, Welch, and Wiltsie were not moved to 27 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 28 of 47 12-hour shifts until after her termination, which was several days after the date the 12-hour shifts were supposed to take effect.32 To be sure, Milner s comparisons to Officer Calloway and Lieutenant Roberson do not rebut Sheriff Jones s position that all full-time corrections officers resumed 12-hour shifts on November 1; Calloway was a part-time employee officer.33 and Roberson was an administrator not an However, there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Officers Sanders, Welch, and Wiltsie, full-time male corrections officers, returned to 12-hour shifts on November 1. were actually The court is without the benefit of time records for these employees and Milner s testimony differs from Wilstie s and Chief Deputy Torbert s on this point. Based on the evidence 32. Plaintiff s Evidentiary Submission, Doc. No. 42, Deposition of Cytina Milner, Exhibit 1, pp. 86-87, 90-91. 33. Similarly, Milner also notes that Officer Cobb and Lieutenant Whitt did not work 12-hour shifts. This evidence does not bolster her claim because both of these employees were females and neither were full-time corrections officers. 28 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 29 of 47 that some of the full-time male corrections officers did not work 12-hours and were not similarly treated when she was not accommodated, suspended and fired, a reasonable factfinder could conclude that the labor shortage was not the real reason for these actions. Because Milner has introduce[d] evidence sufficient to permit the factfinder to disbelieve [Sheriff Jones s] proffered explanations, summary judgment is not appropriate, because issues of fact and sufficiency of evidence are properly reserved for the jury. Combs, 106 F.3d at 1530 Gainesville Sun Publishing Co., 9 F.3d 913, 921 (11th Cir. 1993)). Put another by way, (quoting Milner Hairston survives v. summary judgement presenting evidence sufficient to demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact as to the truth or falsity of the [Sheriff Jones s] legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons. Evans v. McClain of Georgia, Inc., 131 F.3d 957, 964-65 (11th Cir. 1997). 29 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 30 of 47 2. Retaliation When, as here, circumstantial evidence is used to prove a case of Title VII retaliation, the claim is governed by the McDonnell-Douglas framework. Berman v. Orkin Exterminating Co., 160 F.3d 697, 701-702 (11th Cir. 1998). Milner asserts that she experienced retaliation both for complaining about the restrictions on female officers, which the court will refer to as her retaliation-sex claim, and for complaining about being sexually harassed, which the court will call her retaliation-harassment claim.34 The sheriff has asserted the mixed-motive defense to these charges pleadings. in his responsive summary-judgment Milner contends that he waived this defense by failing to affirmatively plead it in his answer. Generally if a party fails to raise an affirmative defense in the pleadings, that party waives its right to 34. Milner charges that she was retaliated against for complaining of sexual harassment. She does not bring a separate sexual harassment claim. 30 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 raise the issue at trial. Filed 05/16/2006 Page 31 of 47 American National Bank v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., 710 F.2d 1528, 1537 (11th Cir. 1983). However, it is not clear that the mixed-motive defense is an affirmative one. Pulliam v. Tallapoosa County Jail, 185 F.3d 1182, 1185 n.4 (11th Cir. 1999) (stating that this circuit has not addressed whether this defense falls within the range of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(c) s affirmative pleading requirements). Even assuming that the mixed-motive defense is an affirmative one, the court can still conclude that the defense is properly before it because the Eleventh Circuit avoid[s] hypertechnicality in pleading requirements and focus[es], instead, on enforcing the actual purpose of the rule. Hassan v. United States Postal Service, 842 F.2d 260, 263 (11th Cir. 1988). The purpose of Rule 8(c) is simply to guarantee that the opposing party has notice of any additional issue that may be raised at trial so that he or she is prepared to properly litigate it. Id. Because Milner has notice that an affirmative defense will be raised at trial, [Sheriff Jones s] failure to comply with 31 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 32 of 47 Rule 8(c) does not cause [Milner] any prejudice. And, when the failure to raise an affirmative defense does not prejudice the plaintiff, it is not error for the trial court to hear evidence on the issue. Id. See also Pulliam, 185 F.3d at 1185 (finding that the defendant did not waive the mixed-motive defense by failing to include it in their answer because it was listed in the pretrial order). When, as here, the mixed-motive defense is before the court, it must undertake a two-part test in analyzing a retaliation claim. First, the court must determine whether Milner has proved by a preponderance of the evidence that an impermissible factor motivated Sheriff Jones s decision. If Milner makes this showing, then liability is established and the court must proceed to the second step. At step two, the court must decide whether Sheriff Jones has proved by a preponderance of the evidence that he would have taken the same adverse employment action impermissible factor. even in the absence of the Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 32 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM U.S. 228, 252-53 Document 98 (1989); Filed 05/16/2006 Pennington v. Page 33 of 47 City of Huntsville, 261 F.3d 1262, 1269 (11th Cir. 2001). If Sheriff Jones can establish that he would have made the same decision, he is absolved of liability and summary judgment should be granted. a. Id. Retaliation-Sex To demonstrate a prima-facie case of retaliation Milner must show that: (1) she was engaged in statutorily protected activity under Title VII; (2) she suffered an adverse-employment action; and (3) there is a causal connection between the protected conduct and the adverseemployment action. Parris v. Miami Herald Publ'g Co., 216 F.3d 1298, 1301 (11th Cir. 2000). First, it is undisputed that Milner s telephone conversation with Chief Deputy Torbert, on October 23, 2003, in which she complained about female duty restrictions was a statutorily protected activity under Title VII. 33 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 34 of 47 Second, Milner proffers the same adverse-employment actions that she claimed in her Title VII discrimination charge. For the reasons already provided, she has successfully established that her lack of accommodation, suspension, and termination constitute adverse-employment actions. Third, to satisfy the causal connection requirement, Milner need only demonstrate that the protected activity and the adverse action are not wholly unrelated. Simmons v. Camden County Bd. of Educ., 757 F.2d 1187, 1189 (11th Cir. 1985). To show a relationship between the adverse action and the protected conduct, Milner must at least demonstrate that the decisionmaker was aware of the protected conduct when making the employment decision in question. Brungart v. BellSouth Telecomm. Inc., 231 F.3d 791, 799 (11th Cir. 2000). established, temporal proximity Once knowledge is between the adverse- employment action and the protected conduct is generally sufficient to raise an inference of causation. Bechtel Constr. Co. v. Sec y of Labor, 50 F.3d 926, 934 (11th 34 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 35 of 47 Cir. 1995); see also Johnson v. Auburn University, ___ F.Supp.2d ___, ___, 2005 WL 3088331 (M.D. Ala. 2005) (Thompson, J.) ( The shorter the period between the two events, the stronger action was improperly period of time the inference motivated; between the that the conversely, protected adverse a conduct long and adverse-employment action will negate an inference that the adverse action was caused by the protected expression. ). Milner was not accommodated and suspended eight days after her complaint and presented with a termination letter 13 days after this protected expression by the very supervisor to whom she complained. was upheld thereafter. by Sheriff Jones on Her termination appeal seven days The extremely short time span between her complaints and her lack of accommodation, suspension, and termination presents an acceptable inference that these actions were improperly motivated. The evidence for the second and third prongs of the burden-shifting framework is the same articulated in the 35 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Title VII discrimination case. Filed 05/16/2006 Page 36 of 47 For the reasons detailed above, Sheriff Jones has met his burden of production, but Milner has presented sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that the proffered labor-crisis justification is pretextual. Although Milner has established that her lack of accommodation, suspension, and termination were motivated by a prohibited factor, Sheriff Jones still can avoid liability by virtue of the mixed-motive defense if he has conclusive evidence that [his] legitimate reason, standing alone, would have induced [him] to make the same decision. Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228, 252-53 (1989); Pennington v. City of Huntsville, 261 F.3d 1262, 1269 (11th Cir. 2001). Sheriff Jones advances that the staffing shortage would have independently caused him to stop accommodating, suspend, and terminate Milner for refusing to work 12-hour shifts. Because this court has already found that there is reason to doubt whether the 12-hour shift policy was uniformly implemented, the court also finds that Sheriff Jones has not shown that this 36 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 37 of 47 reason, standing alone, would have caused him to make the same employment decisions. Consequently, summary judgment is not due on this claim. B. Retaliation-Harassment Milner engaged in protected activity when she complained of sexual harassment in May 2001; verbally inquired about her complaint in June 2002; wrote a letter on June 30, 2003, stating that the investigation into her complaint was inadequate; and explained to Sheriff Jones, about a week after the November 5 termination letter, that since her complaint Chief Deputy Torbert and Jail Administrator Whitt treated her differently and were trying to find reasons to terminate her.35 When drawing statutorily an protected inference conduct of and causation between adverse-employment 35. The defendant objects to this as inadmissible hearsay. The court disagrees because the statement is not being offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Rather it is offered to show that the sheriff had knowledge of Milner s complaint during the same week he upheld her termination. 37 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 38 of 47 action, the former must precede the latter. Griffin v. GTE Fla., Inc., 182 F.3d 1279, 1282 (11th Cir. 1999). Milner was not accommodated and suspended in late October 2003 and terminated by Chief Deputy Torbert on November 5, 2003. Her last complaint before these employment actions was on June 30, 2003. adverse- Sheriff Jones argues that the four-month gap between her complaints and these actions is too significant to infer decisions had an impermissible motivation. Jackson, 393 F.3d 1211, 1220-1221 (11th that his Higdon v. Cir. 2004) (finding that a three-month period is too substantial of a delay to show causation in the absence of other evidence tending to show the same).36 While Sheriff Jones is correct that Milner cannot establish causation based on temporal proximity, Milner has presented other evidence sufficient to show that 36. Milner also draws the court s attention to Chief Deputy Torbert s decision to reassign her to Sergeant Tabb s shift in October 2003. This is not an adverseemployment action because the shift change never in fact occurred. 38 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Sheriff Jones had Document 98 a Filed 05/16/2006 prohibited Page 39 of 47 motivation. In particular, she has shown that she was not accommodated, and was instead suspended and terminated, for not working 12-hour shifts after complaining of sexual harassment; whereas other employees who did make such complaints were not disciplined for working shorter shifts during the relevant time period.37 As with her other retaliation claim, Sheriff Jones has not shown that his nonretaliatory reason--again the staffing crisis--standing alone, would have caused him to make the same employment decision. Summary judgment is denied. 37. Milner points to other officers statements that they overheard Jail Administrator Whitt and Chief Deputy Torbert discussing her sexual harassment claim and saying that they just didn t want to hear anything about that and that they were going to try to find a way to get her out the Sheriff s Department for stirring up a mess about Sergeant Tabb. She also notes that Jail Administrator Whitt informed another officer that Milner was a messmaker . These statements are inadmissible hearsay. Rojas v. Florida, 285 F.3d 1339, 1343 n.3 (11th Cir. 2002) (low-level supervisors or co-workers comments merely repeating management s discriminatory statements are inadmissible). 39 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 40 of 47 B. ADA 1. Discrimination In order to prove an ADA employment-discrimination claim, Milner must show that: (1) she has a disability; (2) she is a qualified individual, meaning that, with or without reasonable accommodations, she can perform the essential functions of the position in question; and (3) she was discriminated against because of her disability. Lucas v. W.W. Grainger, 257 F.3d 1249, 1255 (11th Cir. 2001). A disability under the ADA is defined as: (A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (B) a record of such an impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an impairment. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). Major-life activities may include functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(i). Milner argues that her medical condition limits her major-life activities of seeing, speaking, and moving. 40 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 41 of 47 While the court agrees that an inability to see, talk, or move would qualify as a disability, Milner has not established that these symptoms, which occurred during the initial onset of her condition, were still present during the time period when the alleged discrimination took place. Instead she stated that at the time she was denied accommodations, and was instead suspended and fired, there was no daily function that she could not perform and that her only limitation was, as set forth in her doctor s notes, a restriction to eight-hour daylight shifts. Based on her own statements, the only major-life activity limited by her medical condition during the relevant time period was her ability to work. However, to show that a physical impairment substantially limits the major-life activity of working, Milner must show that her condition prevented her from performing a large range of jobs, not just the particular job held. Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471, 491 (1999); see also 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(3)(i) (explaining that an individual is substantially limited 41 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 42 of 47 in the area of working if the person is significantly restricted in the ability to perform either a class of jobs or a broad range of jobs in various classes as compared to the average person training, skills and abilities. a single, particular job having comparable The inability to perform does not constitute a substantial limitation in the major life activity of working. ). There is no evidence in the record about the effect of Milner s eight-hour daylight working cap on other jobs. Consequently, her physical impairment is not a cognizable disability under the ADA. Milner also argues that she was regarded as having a disability because she could not work at night or a 12hour shift. To be regarded as having such an impairment means that an individual: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life activities but is treated by a covered entity as constituting such limitation; (2) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others 42 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM toward such Document 98 impairment; or Filed 05/16/2006 (3) has Page 43 of 47 none of the impairments [previously defined in this regulation] but is treated by a covered entity as having a substantially limiting impairment. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(l). To prevail, Milner must show that Sheriff Jones mistakenly believed that her perceived impairment substantially limited a major-life activity. D Angelo v. Conagra Foods, Inc., 422 F.3d 1220, 1228 (11th Cir 2005); Hilburn v. Murata Elecs. N. Am., 181 F.3d 1220, 1230 (11th Cir. 1999). She has provided no evidence that Sheriff Jones perceived her as limited in any way beyond her inability to work more than eight-hours days. the reasons already set forth, this is For simply insufficient to demonstrate that Sheriff Jones regarded her as substantially limited in the major-life activity of working. Accordingly, summary judgment is granted to Sheriff Jones on Milner s ADA discrimination claim. 43 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 44 of 47 2. Retaliation The elements of a retaliation claim are the same under the ADA and Title VII. Farley v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., 197 F.3d 1322, 1336 (11th Cir. 1999). As in the Title VII retaliation claim, the mixed-motive defense is operative here. Beginning requests for with the prima accommodations facie case, undisputably Milner s meet the protected statutory activity element. With respect to the the adverse-employment-action prong, court must reexamine Sheriff Jones s collateral-estoppel defense. Although University of Tennessee v. Elliott, 478 U.S. 788 (1986), is clear that unreviewed state administrative proceedings have no preclusive effect on Title claims, this holding does not mention ADA claims. VII That being said, several circuits have applied Elliot to ADA claims because the ADA, specifically 42 U.S.C. § 12117, has incorporated the Title VII provision on which the Supreme Court relied in deciding Elliot. See Pernice v. City of Chicago, 237 F.3d 783, 787 n.5 (7th Cir. 2001); 44 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM Document 98 Filed 05/16/2006 Page 45 of 47 Staats v. County of Sawyer, 220 F.3d 511, 514 (7th Cir. 2000); Thomas v. Contoocook Valley Sch. Dist., 150 F.3d 31, 39 & n.5 (1st Cir. 1998); Kosakow v. New Rochelle Radiology, 274 F.3d 706, 735 (2d Cir 2001). See also Medeiros v. City of San Jose, No. 98-16530, 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 18810, 1999)(unpublished). at The *4 (9th court Cir. Aug. is persuaded by 12, this reasoning and finds that the unemployment-compensation agency s unreviewed findings are not afforded preclusive effect on Milner s ADA retaliation claim. As to the third element, her last accommodation request was received by Chief Deputy Torbert on October 30, 2003, the day before her suspension and only a few days before her termination. Further, Torbert s notes from the meeting in which she was terminated state that the meeting was called as a result of receiving her doctor s note. Accordingly, she has established a prima- facie case of retaliation. For the reasons already provided by the court, Milner has presented sufficient evidence to establish that the 45 Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM labor-shortage reason Document 98 profferd Filed 05/16/2006 by Sheriff Page 46 of 47 Jones is pretexual and that Sheriff Jones is incapable of proving, as a matter of law, that he would have made the same decision absent his retaliatory motive. Therefore, summary judgment is not due on Milner s ADA retaliation claim. C. § 1983 Milner sues both Lee Commission under § 1983. County and the Lee County A county may be sued under § 1983 only when the execution of a government s policy or custom, whether made by its lawmakers or by those who edicts or acts may fairly be said to represent official policy, inflicts the injury. Monell v. Dept. of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978). County Human Resources Milner argues that Lee Coordinator Ballard is an individual whose edits or acts represent official county policy because Ballard sat in on the termination meeting and signed her termination slip. 46 The court disagrees. Case 3:04-cv-00919-MHT-TFM An individual s Document 98 ability Filed 05/16/2006 to serve policymaker is governed by state law. as Page 47 of 47 a final McMillian v. Johnson, 88 F.3d 1573, 1578 (11th Cir. 1996). 1975 Ala. Code § 14-6-105 provides the sheriff with the power to appoint, direct, and control corrections officers. The Eleventh Circuit has already held that Alabama state law does not afford county officials any authority to fire county corrections officers. Terry v. Cook, 866 F.2d 373, 379 (11th Cir. 1989) (finding that Alabama county commissioners have no authority to hire or fire deputies or jailers); see also Turquitt v. Jefferson Cty, Alabama, 137 F.3d 1285, 1289 (11th Cir. 1998). Despite Milner s perception that Ballard had the authority to fire her, Ballard is not a final policymaker under Alabama state law, and therefore her actions cannot render the county liable under § 1983. An appropriate judgment will be entered. DONE, this the 16th day of May, 2006. /s/ Myron H. Thompson UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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