Gonzalez v. Chao, No. 3:2020cv00530 - Document 5 (S.D. Cal. 2020)
Court Description: ORDER Granting 3 Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis; and Denying 2 Motion to Appoint Counsel. Signed by Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel on 9/2/20. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service)(dlg)
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Gonzalez v. Chao Doc. 5 Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.173 Page 1 of 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 10 11 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ANGELICA G. GONZALES, Case No.: 20-CV-0530-GPC Plaintiff, 12 v. ORDER: 13 ELAINE L. CHAO, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Defendant. (1) GRANTING MOTION TO PROCEED IFP; AND 14 15 16 (2) DENYING MOTION TO APPOINT COUNSEL. 17 ECF Nos. 2, 3. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Before the Court are Plaintiff Angelica G. Gonzales’ (“Plaintiff”) motions to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) and for appointment of counsel. ECF Nos. 2, 3. Proceeding pro se, Plaintiff has filed a Complaint alleging employment discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation against Defendant Elaine L. Chao in her capacity as the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (“Defendant”). ECF No. 1. For the reasons below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s IFP motion. The Court concludes that Plaintiff has adequately demonstrated indigence and that Plaintiff’s allegations of employment discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation are 27 28 1 20-CV-0530-GPC Dockets.Justia.com Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.174 Page 2 of 20 1 sufficient at this stage. The Court also DENIES Plaintiff’s motion requesting the 2 appointment of counsel. 3 I. Background. Allegations of the Complaint and Exhibit. 1 4 A. 5 Plaintiff was employed as a “Border Inspector GS-9” by the Department of 6 Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in Calexico, California 7 (“the Agency”) from November 2008 through May 2014. ECF No. 1 at 2. Plaintiff 8 describes multiple incidents during this period that inform this action. ECF No. 1 at 2. 9 In November 2008, the Plaintiff’s supervisor, John A. Urias (“Urias”), instructed 10 Plaintiff to remove a jacket because it lacked the Agency’s logo. ECF No. 1-2 at 2. 11 Approximately one week later, Plaintiff observed a male Border Inspector wearing an 12 identical jacket without a logo, and he confirmed that he did so regularly. Id. Urias 13 eventually provided Plaintiff a new jacket. Id. 14 In 2009, Plaintiff requested assistance from Urias in completing her first 15 assignment. Urias provided a sample document and asked another employee to assist 16 Plaintiff instead. Id. Later, Urias requested Plaintiff change her phone number because 17 the Agency incurred long distance charges in calling that number and calls to the number 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1 The allegations summarized in this Section are drawn, in part, from the Exhibit filed alongside Plaintiff’s Complaint. (ECF No. 1-2. The Court finds that Plaintiff’s Exhibit, which is attached to the Complaint, has been incorporated by reference. Khoja v. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., 899 F.3d 988, 1002 (9th Cir. 2018), cert. denied sub nom. Hagan v. Khoja, 139 S. Ct. 2615 (2019). As Plaintiff’s claim follows from an administrative decision by the EEOC, and the Exhibit contains records pertaining to that decision, the Court finds that this “document forms the basis of the plaintiff’s claim.” Id. (quoting United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 907 (9th Cir. 2003)). This occurs routinely in matters arising from EEOC decisions. See Lenk v. Monolithic Power Sys. Inc., No. 19-CV-03791-BLF, 2020 WL 619846, at *8 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2020) (observing that a court “may take judicial notice of [] EEOC filings or, alternatively, may consider them under the incorporation by reference doctrine”); see also, e.g., Borreggine v. Prokarma, Inc., No. C-18-0336-RSM, 2018 WL 3217438, at *2 (W.D. Wash. June 29, 2018) (incorporating by reference documents relating to an EEOC proceeding on a motion to dismiss); Abdullah-El v. Bon Appetit Mgmt. Co., No. C15-1946JLR, 2016 WL 1756630, at *2 (W.D. Wash. May 3, 2016) (same) 28 2 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.175 Page 3 of 20 1 frequently dropped. Id. Urias also denied Plaintiff’s request to use her personal vehicle 2 for work-related travel. Id. He expected employees to use government vehicles and 3 wanted them to travel together on group assignments. Id. 4 On April 6, 2010, Plaintiff received an “Achieves Results” in her mid-point 5 progress review, the third level of five. Id. When Plaintiff asked how she could improve, 6 Urias suggested she improve her attendance. Id. Plaintiff also alleges that she “performed 7 [her] Border Inspector duties acceptably” and that there were “no reported problems 8 concerning [her] work performance.” ECF No. 1 at 2. 9 In June of 2010, Urias received a speeding ticket while traveling with Plaintiff and 10 her coworkers. ECF No. 1-2 at 2. Urias revealed that Plaintiff also had received a ticket 11 and asked her how to sign up for traffic school. Id. While driving a few days later, 12 Plaintiff asked Urias to stop the vehicle so that she could use the restroom. Id. Urias did 13 not do so until Plaintiff asked a third time and other employees in the vehicle also said 14 they needed to stop. The Complaint’s incorporated Exhibit indicates that, sometime in 15 June, Urias said that Plaintiff was “getting old” – Plaintiff was born 1971 – and should 16 marry before she became too old to find a partner. ECF No. 1-2 at 95. 17 On August 26, 2010, Plaintiff asked Urias why he had not responded to her calls or 18 emails. ECF No. 1-2 at 3. Urias responded that he was busy and that he did not want to 19 call her phone because doing so incurred long-distance charges for the Agency. Id. 20 In February 2011, Plaintiff requested leave on a Saturday with about two weeks’ 21 notice. Id. Urias declined the request and told Plaintiff to ask her coworkers if they would 22 be willing to switch days with her. Id. 23 In April 2011, Plaintiff requested a “Compressed Work Schedule.” Id. Urias 24 instructed Plaintiff he would approve the request only if she refrained from being tardy to 25 work for a three-month period. Id. Urias granted Plaintiff’s request in May. Id. 26 27 28 3 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.176 Page 4 of 20 1 In June 2011, Plaintiff requested that Urias issue her a specific government vehicle 2 and specific equipment for work-related travel. Id. Urias declined the request, asserting 3 that the equipment was not necessary. Id. 4 In July 2011, Plaintiff submitted a travel voucher to Urias for work-related 5 training. Id. Urias refused to approve Plaintiff’s travel voucher until she removed a fifty- 6 cent charge for personal calls, stating that personal calls were not an authorized 7 expenditure. Id. That same month, Urias approved a male worker’s travel voucher 8 without asking him to make any changes. Id. That voucher was more expensive and 9 included a hotel tax that Urias deemed an authorized expense. Id. 10 In December 2011, Urias scheduled Plaintiff to work every Saturday. Id. She 11 requested multiple times that she not be assigned any Saturdays. Id. Urias revised the 12 schedule but required Plaintiff to work the first Saturday of the month. Id. Later that 13 month, Plaintiff requested to switch her work hours from 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to a 14 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. schedule for childcare reasons. Id. Urias denied Plaintiff’s request 15 because this schedule was unusual and was only temporarily allowed on rare occasions. 16 ECF No. 1-2 at 3–4. 17 On February 7, 2012, Plaintiff and several coworkers attended a meeting. As 18 Plaintiff sat, her chair moved. ECF No. 1-2 at 4. She fell to the ground, injuring her neck, 19 left shoulder, lower back, and knee. Id. An Auditor Supervisor standing behind her asked 20 her if she was okay. Id. Plaintiff heard other coworkers laugh, which caused her to feel 21 embarrassed, and one yelled “if [the supervisor] wouldn’t have moved the chair away 22 from [Plaintiff], [Plaintiff] would not have fallen.” Id. The supervisor told the employee 23 who yelled not to say that. Id. Urias later investigated the incident and concluded that no 24 one saw the supervisor or anyone else move Plaintiff’s chair. Id. at 4–5. Plaintiff asked 25 for, and obtained, a form to file a grievance against Urias. Id. at 5. 26 27 On February 24, 2012, Plaintiff learned that Urias had not provided necessary medical leave documents to verify Plaintiff’s medical leave status and process her claim. 28 4 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.177 Page 5 of 20 1 Id. at 4. Urias claimed that he did not know it was his responsibility to do so and thought 2 instead that the employee was to provide those documents. Id. A male employee testified 3 that, in 2011, he applied for worker’s compensation benefits and had no trouble with 4 documentation. Id. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 On May 5, 2012, Plaintiff’s physician released Plaintiff to return to full duty with no restrictions. ECF No. 1-2 at 81. On June 3, 2012, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). ECF No. 1-2 at 5. On June 5, 2012, Plaintiff requested an assignment in Yosemite. Id. Urias denied this request and stated he had already selected the team for that assignment. Id. On August 2, 2012, Plaintiff requested that the Agency install an air-conditioned 12 trailer for her use while conducting inspections at a port facility. Id. Plaintiff stated that it 13 was necessary because the extreme weather conditions were a health hazard. Id. Urias 14 instructed Plaintiff to submit a doctor’s note regarding her inability to work in hot 15 weather. Id. 16 On August 7, 2012, Urias instructed Plaintiff to enroll in a training class before 17 leaving for the day. Id. Plaintiff left without enrolling, telling Urias that she needed to 18 review the relevant emails before doing so. Id. Plaintiff was enrolled in the training on or 19 about August 14, 2012. Id. 20 On August 8, 2012, Plaintiff again asked to modify her 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 21 schedule to a 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. schedule that week. Id. Urias granted her request 22 because there were several special operations that required adjustment of the schedules 23 that week. Id. 24 In September 2012, Plaintiff again requested that she be assigned to a special detail 25 in Yosemite. Id. Urias denied the request because Plaintiff requested to communicate via 26 email and because Plaintiff had not complied with his instruction to register for a class on 27 August 7, 2012. Id. 28 5 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.178 Page 6 of 20 1 October 3, 2012, Urias issued a Letter of Reprimand to Plaintiff for failing to 2 follow his instructions with respect to registering for the training class on August 7, 2020. 3 Id; ECF No. 1-2 at 7. 4 In February 2013, Border Supervisor Isabel Lopez (“Lopez”) placed Plaintiff on 5 leave restriction. ECF No. 1-2 at 67–70. The letter notifying Plaintiff of the leave 6 restriction stated she had used an excessive amount of leave the previous year. Id. at 67. 7 On May 2, 2014, Plaintiff was involved in an accident with a government vehicle 8 she drove on the job. ECF No. 1 at 2. Plaintiff explained that “the brakes failed to operate 9 and steering wheel locked while traveling in the government work vehicle.” Id. Plaintiff 10 stated that she suffered a traumatic experience and developed Post-Traumatic Stress 11 Disorder (“PTSD”) from the incident. Id. 12 On July 21, 2014, Supervisors Lopez and Urias “wrongly accused” Plaintiff of 13 “threatening to cause them harm by making inappropriate statements” to a coworker. 14 ECF No. 1 at 2. The coworker notified Plaintiff’s supervisors that Plaintiff had 15 “expressed age towards [them] and that [Plaintiff] presented suicidal and homicidal 16 ideation.” Id. More specifically, Plaintiff was accused of saying, “[i]f I had a gun I would 17 shoot them,” and “shooting them would not cause enough suffering; they should 18 experience the same pain and suffering I am.” ECF No. 1-2 at 35. After this incident, 19 Plaintiff was placed on administrative and “directed to stay away from the office until 20 further notice.” ECF No. 1 at 2. 21 On August 25, 2014, Lopez obtained a civil harassment restraining order in 22 Imperial County Superior Court against Plaintiff. Id. Supervisor Lopez “determined that 23 [Plaintiff’s] statements were inappropriate and were perceived as a threat to the safety 24 and welfare of [Plaintiff’s] supervisors and coworkers.” Id. 25 On January 5, 2015, the Agency proposed removing Plaintiff from her position 26 based on her Supervisors’ allegations. Id. Plaintiff was then placed on Administrative 27 leave for approximately one year. ECF No. 1 at 3. 28 6 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.179 Page 7 of 20 1 2 3 On April 18, 2015, Plaintiff received a letter from the Agency informing her that she was dismissed from employment for “[m]isconduct.” Id. On June 10, 2015, Plaintiff filed an appeal with the United States Merit System 4 Protection Board and alleged that she was “wrongfully terminated.” Id. Plaintiff was still 5 under treatment for PTSD and waiting for “approval of a medical compensation or 6 retirement.” Id. 7 Plaintiff further alleged that her supervisors’ conduct was retaliatory. Plaintiff 8 alleged that, prior to filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) 9 complaint, her supervisors “had targeted [Plaintiff] for anything they could sanction 10 [her.]” Id. Then, following her complaint, Plaintiff was placed on leave restriction 11 “immediately” and, as a result, was “denied most medical leave because of lack of detail 12 information from [her] doctors.” Id. She was also placed “in AWOL status and leave 13 without pay for not providing such detailed medical documentation . . .” Id. Plaintiff also 14 alleged that Urias would “constantly harass” Plaintiff by calling her at inconvenient times 15 to question her about medical documentation. Id. Plaintiff maintains that nobody else in 16 her office received such “sanctions or reprimands.” Id. 17 In November 2015, the U.S. Merit Board reviewed Plaintiff’s case. Id. The Board 18 ruled in her favor and ordered the Agency to return her benefits “with a lump sum of paid 19 medical leave.” Id. The Agency agreed to change her status to “medically retired for 20 PTSD.” Id. 21 Plaintiff states that, during the time following her Supervisors’ allegations, she 22 became homeless. Id. She explains that her father became “very ill” and so her family 23 was unable to help support her mortgage and insurance bills. Id. She, moreover, did not 24 have a source of income to provide for monthly expenses. Id. 25 B. 26 As noted, on June 3, 2012, Plaintiff filed an EEOC Complaint alleging that the 27 Procedural Background. Agency was guilty of discrimination when it subjected her to a hostile work environment 28 7 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.180 Page 8 of 20 1 on the basis of her sex, age, and disability. ECF No. 1-2 at 5. On September 23, 2013, the 2 Agency filed a motion for summary judgment and Plaintiff did not file an opposition. Id. 3 at 73. Then, on May 8, 2018, the Administrative Judge (“AJ”) assigned to Plaintiff’s 4 Complaint issued a decision granting summary judgment and denying Plaintiff’s claims. 5 Id. at 5, 72–99. 6 On July 12, 2018, Plaintiff filed an appeal with the EEOC of the AJ’s decision. Id. 7 at 1. On December 20, 2019, the EEOC affirmed the AJ’s final order. Id. at 1–15. The 8 EEOC’s decision informed Plaintiff that she had 90 days to file a civil suit and, on March 9 20, 2020, Plaintiff filed the complaint in this matter pro per. Id. at 13; ECF No. 1. 10 II. Legal Standard. 11 A. 12 All parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in a district court of the Motion for IFP. 13 United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of 14 $400. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). “An action may proceed despite failure to pay the filing 15 fees only if the party is granted IFP status.” See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 16 (9th Cir. 1999). 17 The law requires that a complaint filed by any person seeking to proceed in forma 18 pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) is subject to a mandatory and sua sponte review 19 and dismissal by the court to the extent it “fail[s] to state a claim upon which relief may 20 be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii); Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845, 845 (9th Cir. 21 2001) (“[T]he provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) are not limited to prisoners.”). 22 Section 1915 mandates that a court reviewing a complaint filed pursuant to the in forma 23 pauperis provisions of section 1915 make and rule on its own motion to dismiss before 24 directing that the complaint be served by the U.S. Marshal pursuant to Federal Rule of 25 Civil Procedures, Rule 4(c)(2). Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000). 26 27 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 12(b)(6) tests the sufficiency of the complaint. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(b)(ii); see also Fridman v. City of New York, 195 28 8 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.181 Page 9 of 20 1 F. Supp. 2d 534 (S.D.N.Y. 2002). Dismissal is warranted under Rule 12(b)(6) where the 2 complaint lacks a cognizable legal theory. Robertson v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 749 3 F.2d 530, 534 (9th Cir. 1984); see also Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 326 (1989) 4 (“Rule 12(b)(6) authorizes a court to dismiss a claim on the basis of a dispositive issue of 5 law.”). Alternatively, a complaint may be dismissed where it presents a cognizable legal 6 theory yet fails to plead essential facts under that theory. Robertson, 749 F.2d at 534. 7 While a plaintiff need not give “detailed factual allegations,” she must plead sufficient 8 facts that, if true, “raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic Corp. 9 v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 545 (2007). 10 The Court must accept all factual allegations pleaded in the Complaint as true and 11 draw all reasonable inferences from them in favor of the nonmoving party. Cahill v. 12 Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 337–38 (9th Cir. 1996). In addition, the Court has a 13 duty to liberally construe a pro se plaintiff’s pleadings. See Karim-Panahi v. Los Angeles 14 Police Dept., 839 F.2d 621, 623 (9th Cir. 1988). In giving liberal interpretation to a pro 15 se civil rights complaint, the Court may not “supply essential elements of claims that 16 were not initially pled.” Ivey v. Board of Regents of the University of Alaska, 673 F.2d 17 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). 18 B. 19 The appointment of counsel is up to the district court’s broad discretion and is Motion to Appoint Counsel. 20 granted only in exceptional circumstances. See U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(1); see also Ivey, 673 21 F.2d at 269 (“There is no constitutional right to appointed counsel for employment 22 discrimination claims . . . and the trial court’s discretion under § 2000e–5(f)(1) in 23 determining whether counsel should be appointed is broad, the appellate court’s review 24 being limited to the question of whether the trial court abused its discretion”). In 25 employment discrimination claims, as in all civil litigation, there is no constitutional right 26 to appointed counsel. Moore v. Sun-Beam Corp., 459 F.2d 811, 829 (5th Cir. 1977). 27 28 9 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.182 Page 10 of 20 1 The Court considers three factors when assessing a request for the appointment of 2 counsel: “(1) the plaintiff’s financial resources; (2) the efforts made by the plaintiff to 3 secure counsel on his or her own; and (3) the merit of the plaintiff’s claim.” Johnson v. 4 U.S. Treasury Dep’t, 27 F.3d 415, 416–17 (9th Cir. 1994) (quotation omitted). 5 In addition, a court considers whether the complainant has demonstrated 6 “exceptional circumstances.” Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009). 7 A finding of exceptional circumstances requires consideration of both the “likelihood of 8 success on the merits and the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in 9 light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (quoting Weygandt v. Look, 718 10 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983)). “Neither of these considerations is dispositive and instead 11 must be viewed together.” Id. 12 III. Analysis of Motion to Proceed IFP. 13 A. 14 Here, Plaintiff declares that she has been unemployed since 2014. ECF No. 3. Her Plaintiff’s Finances. 15 husband is unemployed as well, and the two live off social security and retirement 16 benefits, which total $3,129 dollars a month. Id. at 2. Plaintiff lists three dependents – her 17 son, sister, and father – and estimates that her monthly expenses and payments either 18 match or exceed her monthly income. Id. at 3–5. Plaintiff reports that between her and 19 her spouse, they have a total of $40 in the bank, and so have no savings on which to 20 depend in the event of unanticipated expense. Id. at 2. The Plaintiff’s vehicle and home 21 are not valued as to be deemed assets from which she could reasonably draw. 2 Id. 22 23 24 25 26 27 2 However, the Court notes that Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed IFP values her home at an improbable value of $190. Though the court has authority to request additional financial information under California Rule of Court 985(b), it declines to do so now as it seems immaterial to the Court’s decision. 28 10 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.183 Page 11 of 20 1 Plaintiff’s submissions indicate that she lacks the financial resources to pay the 2 fees associated with this action. As such, the Court hereby GRANTS Plaintiff’s request 3 to proceed IFP. 4 B. 5 A court must sua sponte dismiss any IFP pleading which is frivolous or malicious, 6 fails to state a claim, or seeks damages from defendants who are immune. See 28 U.S.C. 7 § 1915(e)(2)(B). Here, Plaintiff’s Complaint asserts three claims in violation of Title VII 8 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: (1) disparate treatment on the basis of sex, (2) a hostile 9 work environment, and (3) retaliation. 3 For the following reasons, the Court finds that 10 Sufficiency of the Complaint. Plaintiff’s allegations as to each claim are sufficient under § 1915(e)(2)(B). 11 1. 12 Disparate Treatment / Discrimination. Title VII provides that employers may not “discriminate against any individual 13 with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, 14 because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” 42 U.S.C. § 15 2000e–2(a)(1). A plaintiff may prove unlawful discrimination through “direct or 16 circumstantial evidence demonstrating that a discriminatory reason more likely than not 17 motivated” the employer’s conduct. McGinest v. GTE Serv. Corp., 360 F.3d 1103, 1122 18 (9th Cir. 2004). 19 To establish a prima facie case for disparate treatment, a plaintiff must first allege 20 “that: (1) he belongs to a protected class; (2) he was qualified for the position; (3) he was 21 subject to an adverse employment action; and (4) similarly situated individuals outside 22 his protected class were treated more favorably.” Chuang v. Univ. of Cal. Davis, 225 F.3d 23 24 25 26 27 3 Plaintiff’s pro se complaint does not expressly distinguish between her claims. However, Plaintiff offers the following introductory phrase to her allegations, which forms the basis of the Court’s inference as to the claims alleged therein: “During this time I was subject to a hostile work environment. Upon filing an EEO complaint, alleging discrimination on the bases of sex on or about June 3, 2012; I experienced work retaliation from my immediate work supervisors John A. Urias and office supervisor Isabel Lopez.” (ECF No. 1 at 2) (emphasis added). 28 11 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.184 Page 12 of 20 1 1115, 1123 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green. 411 U.S. 792, 802 2 (1973)). Then, under the McDonnell Douglas framework the burden of production shifts 3 to the employer to show non-discriminatory intent. Id. 4 However, “[t]he prima facie case under McDonnell Douglas . . . is an evidentiary 5 standard, not a pleading requirement.” Austin v. Univ. of Oregon, 925 F.3d 1133, 1136 6 (9th Cir. 2019) (quoting Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 510 (2002)). The 7 prima facie case only “relates to the employee’s burden of presenting evidence that raises 8 an inference of discrimination.” Swierkiewicz, 534 U.S. at 510. Consequently, the 9 ordinary rules for assessing the sufficiency of a complaint apply, and a court need only 10 consider whether plaintiff has satisfied his burden in stating a claim for which relief can 11 be granted. Id. at 511; accord Burton v. See’s Candy Inc., No. 20-CV-00564-JCS, 2020 12 WL 4340174, at *3 (N.D. Cal. July 28, 2020); Ly v. Paragon Tech. & Dev. Inc., No. CV- 13 18-02465-PHX, 2019 WL 4394536, at *3 (D. Ariz. Sept. 13, 2019). 14 Here, Plaintiff adequately pleads that she is a member of a protected class on the 15 basis of gender. ECF No. 1 at 1. Also, in alleging that Plaintiff “ha[s] performed [her] 16 Border Inspector duties acceptably and there are no reported problems concerning [her] 17 work performance,” ECF No. 1 at 2, Plaintiff adequately pleads that she is qualified for 18 her position. See Ross v. Brooks Coll., 339 F. App’x 749, 750 (9th Cir. 2009) (finding 19 plaintiff satisfied this prong in reliance on “evidence that management-level employees 20 offered positive assessments of his performance and capabilities, and evidence that the 21 [employer] temporarily assigned him to perform some of the functions of the” position). 22 As to the third and fourth factors – whether Plaintiff alleges an adverse 23 employment action to which similarly situated individuals outside her protected class 24 were not subjected – the Court’s assessment turns on the precise allegations at issue. 25 Under Title VII, an adverse employment action is one that “materially affects the 26 compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.” Davis v. Team Elec. Co., 27 520 F.3d 1080, 1089 (9th Cir. 2008) (brackets and ellipsis omitted). This may include an 28 12 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.185 Page 13 of 20 1 employer’s affirmative actions as well as the denial of a material employment benefit or 2 opportunity that was otherwise available. See Breiner v. Nev. Dep’t of Corr., 610 F.3d 3 1202, 1208 (9th Cir. 2010). Moreover, the Plaintiff must allege that “similarly situated 4 men were treated more favorably, or her position was filled by a man.” Villiarimo v. 5 Aloha Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 1054, 1062 (9th Cir. 2002) (quotation omitted). 6 Looking to the myriad factual allegations in the Complaint and Exhibit, the Court 7 first observes that Plaintiff refers to two instances where it might be argued that a male 8 employee was treated preferentially, but where the result does not amount to an adverse 9 employment action. First, Urias required Plaintiff to change jackets but let a male 10 employee wear an identical one. ECF No. 1-2 at 2. While the male employee may have 11 been “similarly situated,” this situation had no adverse effect on her employment. Davis, 12 520 F.3d at 1090 (holding that a plaintiff being given inferior vest and gloves did not 13 “materially affect the terms and conditions” of her employment because her ability to 14 work was not affected). Additionally, Urias refused to approve Plaintiff’s travel voucher 15 because it included a fifty-cent charge for personal calls, yet he approved a male 16 coworker’s more expensive hotel tax. ECF No. 1-2 at 3. Assuming arguendo that this 17 male employee would be considered similarly situated, but see Peterson v. Hewlett- 18 Packard Co., 358 F.3d 599, 605 (9th Cir. 2004) (claim failed where plaintiff did not 19 present any evidence that another group of employees engaged in acts sufficiently similar 20 to his own communications), a fifty-cent travel charge would also not be considered an 21 adverse employment action, as it does not “materially affect the compensation, terms, 22 conditions, or privileges of employment.” Davis, 520 F.3d at 1089. 23 Likewise, Plaintiff’s Complaint and Exhibit refer to five other instances where the 24 opposite is true: the conduct alleged arguably rises to the level of an adverse employment 25 action, but Plaintiff fails to identify other, similarly situated employees for comparison. 26 First, the record suggests that Plaintiff’s supervisor changed her schedule without notice. 27 ECF No. 1-2 at 2–5; cf. Wideman v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 141 F.3d 1453, 1456 (11th 28 13 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.186 Page 14 of 20 1 Cir. 1998) (relying, in part, on plaintiff’s allegation that she “reported to work and found 2 she had not been scheduled to work”). Second, the record also suggests that Plaintiff’s 3 supervisor ignored her attempts to reach him by phone and email. ECF No. 1-2 at 3; cf. 4 Davis, 520 F.3d at 1090 (concluding that a plaintiff’s allegation “that she was sometimes 5 ignored by supervisors when she would attempt to communicate with them via radio” 6 was, under the circumstances, more than mere “ostracism” and indicated disparate 7 treatment). Third, Plaintiff’s supervisor gave her a poor performance review for tardiness 8 and letter of reprimand for failing to complete a training course. ECF No. 1-2 at 5, 112. 9 That could amount to an adverse employment decision if “undeserved” as Plaintiff 10 alleges. See Yartzoff v. Thomas, 809 F.2d 1371, 1376 (9th Cir. 1987); Thomas v. Spencer, 11 294 F. Supp. 3d 990, 999 (D. Haw. 2018) (“a letter of reprimand may constitute an 12 adverse employment action; however, … the court must consider whether there was any 13 employment consequence as a result of the reprimand letter”). Fourth, Plaintiff was 14 placed on administrative leave. ECF No. 1-2 at 55. And, the Ninth Circuit has found that 15 an administrative leave is an adverse employment action because “the general stigma 16 resulting from placement on administrative leave [could be] reasonably likely to deter 17 employees from engaging in protected activity.” See Dahlia v. Rodriguez, 735 F.3d 1060, 18 1079 (9th Cir. 2013) (quotation omitted). Lastly, Plaintiff points to her dismissal, ECF 19 No. 1, and, “of course, termination of employment is an adverse employment action.” 20 Little v. Windermere Relocation, Inc., 301 F.3d 958, 970 (9th Cir. 2002). 21 To establish that the above five allegations present claims under McDonnell 22 Douglas, however, Plaintiff must identify an employee who did not suffer the same 23 adverse action and who is similar to Plaintiff in all material respects. In assessing the 24 similarity of another employee, the “Ninth Circuit looks to factors such as whether the 25 [individual] and the plaintiff were subject to the same policies, worked at the same jobs, 26 committed similar violations, and had similar disciplinary records.” McDaniels v. Grp. 27 Health Co-op., 57 F. Supp. 3d 1300, 1311 (W.D. Wash. 2014) (citations omitted); see 28 14 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.187 Page 15 of 20 1 also Collins v. Potter, 431 Fed. Appx. 599, 600 (9th Cir. 2011) (insufficiently similar 2 because not subject to same agreement and different disciplinary histories)). Here, 3 Plaintiff has not alleged that any other similarly situated employee was treated differently 4 on the basis of gender with respect to these five allegations. 5 The above allegations notwithstanding, Plaintiff points to one instance whose 6 corresponding factual allegations, if true, appear to satisfy both the third and fourth 7 prongs of McDonnell Douglas. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Urias failed to provide 8 the proper medical leave documents for her workers’ compensation benefits. ECF No. 1- 9 2 at 4. At least one court has found that such conduct may rise to the level of an adverse 10 employment action. Corneveaux v. CUNA Mutual Ins. Group, 76 F.3d 1498, 1507 (10th 11 Cir. 1996) (a plaintiff demonstrated adverse employment action by showing that her 12 employer “required her to go through several hoops in order to obtain her severance 13 benefits”). And, Plaintiff alleges that a male employee had no trouble getting his 14 paperwork from the same supervisor in an analogous situation. ECF No. 1-2 at 4. The 15 Court, moreover, is mindful of Plaintiff’s other allegations that her supervisor may have 16 acted with discriminatory intent before. See ECF No. 1-2 at 2–3 (allegations of 17 differential treatment as to the Agency’s jackets and travel vouchers). 18 Thus, because Plaintiff pleads that she is a qualified member of a protected class, 19 was subject to an adverse employment action, and that other similarly situated employees 20 were treated more favorably, the Court concludes that Plaintiff’s allegations of disparate 21 treatment are sufficient to survive the Court’s sua sponte review. In reaching this 22 conclusion, the Court construes Plaintiff’s pro se Complaint liberally. Karim-Panahi v. 23 Los Angeles Police Dept., 839 F.2d 621, 623 (9th Cir. 1988). 24 25 2. Hostile Work Environment. To establish a prima facie case for hostile work environment, Plaintiff must show 26 that “(1) Defendant subjected [her] to verbal or physical conduct because of [her] 27 protected characteristic; (2) the conduct was unwelcome; and (3) the conduct was 28 15 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.188 Page 16 of 20 1 sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of [her] employment and create an 2 abusive working environment.” Gipaya v. Dept. of the Air Force, 345 F. Supp. 3d 1286, 3 1297 (D. Haw. 2018) (citing Surrell v. Cal. Water Servs. Co., 518 F.3d 1097, 1108 (9th 4 Cir. 2008)); accord Simmons v. Modly, No. 19-CV-1448-JLS, 2020 WL 4784739, at *4 5 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2020). 6 Plaintiff alleges she was “subjected to a hostile work environment.” ECF No. 1 at 7 2. As part of her allegations, Plaintiff describes allegedly disparaging comments made by 8 other employees of the Agency. ECF No. 1-2 at 2–5. These comments include that 9 Plaintiff was “getting old” and should marry before she became too old to find a partner. 10 ECF No. 1-2 at 95. Plaintiff also references other employees’ laughter following an 11 incident where a visiting supervisor allegedly pulled out a chair from under her. ECF No. 12 1-2 at 4. And, Plaintiff observes that her supervisor would “constantly harass [her] via 13 phone calls,” even after she was placed on medical leave. ECF No. 1 at 3. Though 14 sporadic commentary alone does not create a hostile work environment, see EEOC v. 15 Prospect Airport Servs., Inc., 621 F.3d 991, 998 (9th Cir. 2010) (“[a] violation is not 16 established merely by evidence showing sporadic use of abusive language, gender-related 17 jokes, and occasional teasing”), Plaintiff’s allegations here evince ongoing and 18 “unwelcome” exchanges with company personnel, including her supervisor, and at least 19 one of the above-referenced comments (i.e., the statement that Plaintiff might be too old 20 for marriage) could be understood as a remark about her gender. 21 The chair incident, moreover, went beyond mere teasing. Plaintiff fell to the 22 ground and was physically injured. ECF No. 1-2 at 4. If taken as true, a reasonable person 23 might perceive this as abusive, as it was both physically threatening and humiliating, and 24 it altered her ability to do her job because her injury required her to take medical leave. 25 Afterall, “[a] single ‘incident’ of harassment [] can support a claim of hostile work 26 environment because ‘the frequency of the discriminatory conduct’ is only one factor in 27 the analysis. [] Conduct is actionable if it is either ‘sufficiently severe or pervasive.’” 28 16 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.189 Page 17 of 20 1 Little v. Windermere Relocation, Inc., 301 F.3d 958, 967 (9th Cir. 2002) (internal 2 citations omitted); see also Harris v. Forklift Sys., Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 23 (1993). 3 In the context of the other comments alleged in the Complaint and Exhibit, 4 including her supervisor’s allegedly preferential treatment of a male employee with 5 respect to office equipment, travel vouchers, and workers’ compensation, ECF No. 1-2 at 6 2–5, Plaintiff’s claim of a hostile work environment is sufficient to survive the Court’s 7 sua sponte review. 8 9 3. Retaliation. The prima facie case for a claim of retaliation may established by showing each of 10 the following: (1) that the employee engaged in protected activity, (2) that the employer 11 subsequently took a materially adverse employment action, and (3) that the adverse 12 action was causally connected to the protected action. Brooks v. City of San Mateo, 229 13 F.3d 917, 928 (9th Cir. 2000). Courts generally analyze retaliation claims under the 14 McDonnell Douglas test. See McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 792. For the purposes of 15 proving retaliation, “an action is cognizable as an adverse employment action if it is 16 reasonably likely to deter employees from engaging in protected activity.” Ray v. 17 Henderson, 217 F.3d 1234, 1243 (9th Cir. 2000). 18 Plaintiff asserts that, after she filed her EEO complaint in February of 2012, she 19 “experienced workplace retaliation from [her] immediate work supervisors” in the form 20 of leave restriction. ECF No. 1 at 3. The restriction letter had the effect of preventing 21 Plaintiff from taking annual and sick leave without first obtaining a medical certificate or 22 by scheduling it (and obtaining approval for it) in advance. ECF No. 1-2 at 67–70. 23 Plaintiff alleges that, as a result of the letter, she was “denied most medical leave.” ECF 24 No. 1 at 3. Plaintiff also alleges that the letter contributed to her being put on “AWOL 25 status” (i.e., “leave without pay”). Id. The Court finds that these allegations are sufficient, 26 for the purposes of its sua sponte review, to demonstrate an adverse employment action. 27 Afterall, the Ninth Circuit has already held that the elimination of flexible policies after a 28 17 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.190 Page 18 of 20 1 plaintiff has filed a complaint is an adverse employment action for purposes of proving 2 retaliation. See Ray, 217 F.3d at 1243. 3 In addition, the allegations are sufficient to infer causation. Plaintiff’s allegations 4 are based on an “erroneous leave restriction” that was issued less than a year after she 5 filed her Complaint. 4 ECF No. 1 at 2. And, Plaintiff alleges that the retaliation was 6 preceded by her supervisors’ prior efforts to “target[] her for anything they could 7 sanction.” ECF No. 1 at 3. Consequently, based on the timing of the alleged retaliation, 8 and her supervisors’ alleged conduct, the Court can reasonably infer causation at this 9 stage. See Ray, 217 F.3d at 1244 (causation may be inferred from “proximity in time”). 10 Accordingly, the Court concludes that the Complaint and Exhibit allege sufficient 11 facts to support a reasonable inference that the Plaintiff was subjected to retaliation for 12 the purpose of the Court’s sua sponte review. 13 IV. Analysis of Motion to Appoint Counsel. 14 As noted above, the Court considers three factors in determining whether to 15 appoint counsel to a pro se litigant: “(1) the plaintiff’s financial resources; (2) the efforts 16 made by the plaintiff to secure counsel on his or her own; and (3) the merit of the 17 plaintiff’s claim.” Johnson v. U.S. Treasury Dep’t, 27 F.3d 415, 416–17 (9th Cir. 1994) 18 (quotation omitted). Plaintiff must also show why her case presents “exceptional 19 circumstances” meriting the appointment of counsel. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 20 970 (9th Cir. 2009). For the reasons that follow, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has not 21 demonstrated “exceptional circumstances.” 22 First, a lesser showing of indigency is required to satisfy the test for appointment 23 of counsel than to obtain leave to proceed IFP. See Bradshaw v. Zoological Soc. of San 24 25 26 27 4 Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges that the leave restriction was date December 6, 2013. ECF No. 1 at 2. The restriction notice in the record is dated February 28, 2013. ECF No. 1-2 at 67. The Court finds Plaintiff’s allegation to be an immaterial scrivener’s error. 28 18 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.191 Page 19 of 20 1 Diego, 662 F.2d 1301, 1319 (9th Cir. 1981). Consequently, because Plaintiff made a 2 sufficient showing of indigency to be granted leave to proceed IFP, Plaintiff’s showing 3 will also suffice as to the motion for counsel. 4 Second, Plaintiff has not made “a reasonably diligent effort under the 5 circumstances to obtain counsel.” Caston, 556 F.2d at 1309. Plaintiff was initially 6 represented by an attorney who has since retired. ECF No. 2 at 4. In her efforts to obtain 7 counsel, Plaintiff has contacted at least three different attorneys in the area who are 8 unavailable or too costly. Id. at 3. She has also made “calls” to other attorneys but does 9 not specify to whom or why they declined to take her case. Id. at 4. Because Plaintiff has 10 relatively few resources, it seems unlikely she would have successfully retained counsel 11 had she kept searching. Nonetheless, “greater efforts could be made.” Williams v. 24 12 Hour Fitness USA, Inc., No. CIV. 14-00560-BMK, 2014 WL 7404604, at *3 (D. Haw. 13 Dec. 30, 2014). 14 Third, the Court must consider the merit of the Plaintiff’s claim. In deciding 15 whether Plaintiff’s claim has some merit, “the EEOC determination regarding 16 ‘reasonable cause’ should be given appropriate weight [.]” Bradshaw v. Zoological Soc. 17 of San Diego, 662 F.2d 1301, 1319–20 (9th Cir. 1981). Here, the EEOC determined that 18 the information obtained through their investigation did not establish a violation of law. 19 Thus, although Plaintiff pleads sufficient evidence to survive sua sponte review, 20 likelihood of success on the merits is unclear. 21 Lastly, Plaintiff does not show that “exceptional circumstances” exist to justify 22 appointment of counsel. See Palmer, 560 F.3d at 970 (9th Cir. 2009) (citation omitted); 23 cf. Agyeman v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 390 F.3d 1101, 1104 (9th Cir. 2004) (treating as 24 “exceptional” a complex Bivens matter where an individual was incarcerated on 25 noncriminal charges and confined for seven years). And, as Plaintiff’s complaint is 26 sufficient to survive sua sponte review, it appears that Plaintiff has an adequate grasp of 27 the facts supporting her case as well as the legal issues involved to proceed without 28 19 20-CV-0530-GPC Case 3:20-cv-00530-GPC-JLB Document 5 Filed 09/02/20 PageID.192 Page 20 of 20 1 appointed counsel for the time being. See Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th 2 Cir. 1991). 3 Therefore, the Court thus DENIES Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of 4 counsel without prejudice. 5 V. 6 Conclusion For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to proceed IFP. 7 Plaintiff has adequately demonstrated indigence and Plaintiff’s allegations of 8 employment discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation are sufficient to 9 survive dismissal at this stage. Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel is DENIED. 10 IT IS SO ORDERED. 11 Dated: September 2, 2020 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 20-CV-0530-GPC
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