Aude Jessica Raphael v. JM Family Enterprises, Inc. et al, No. 0:2021cv60530 - Document 41 (S.D. Fla. 2022)
Court Description: ORDER denying 37 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 6/27/2022. See attached document for full details. (mmd)
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Aude Jessica Raphael v. JM Family Enterprises, Inc. et al Doc. 41 Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 1 of 10 U N ITED STA TES D ISTRICT C OUR T FOR TH E SOU TH ERN DISTRICT OF FLO RIDA M iam iD ivision Case N um ber:21-60530-CIV -M OR EN O A U D E JESSICA RA PH A EL, Plaintiff, JM FA M ILY EN TERPR ISES,IN CO . W O RLD OM N1FINANCIAL CORP.,and AUDREY DEM OSS, Defendants. ORDER DENYIN G M OTION TO DISM ISS This case stelhsfrom Plaintiff's term ination from em ploym ent,w hich she claim sw as due to her race, national origin, and disability. Defendants are m oving to dism iss the retaliation claim s in Plaintiff s Fourth A m ended Com plaintarguing the Plaintiff fails to show she engaged in protected activity and that there was a causal connection between that activity and her term ination.The Coul'tfndsthe Plaintiff s Fourth Am ended Com plaintcorrects the deficiencies in prioriterationsofhercomplaintand deniesthemotion to dism iss. THIS CAUSE came before the Courtupon Defendants'M otion to Dismiss(D.E.37), filed on Februarv 18p2022. THE COU RT has considered the m otion, the response, the pertinent portions of the record,and being otherw ise f'ully advised in the prem ises,itis A D JUD G ED that the m otion is D EN IED . D efendants are instructed to answ er the Am ended Com plaintby JulY 15.2022. Dockets.Justia.com Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 2 of 10 1. Backzround ' . Plaintiff,A ude Jepsiça: R gph.. qr çl,isclaiminghé .. rçmployçr,discriminatedggainstherdueTo .. . . . . . . . , . herrace,national'origih,and dijability.A ttdeJessicaRaphaelisablack wom an ofHaitian . descent,whp iuffersftom multiplepqlçrosis.ShebçganwqrkingatJM F.amilyEnterprises,Inc. ' . ' onOctober1,2013asaSenioy(' justômçrCarèRe/resentative.TheFourthAmendedCom 'plaint . allegesthatJM FamilyEnterprisesahdW orldOmniFinanciélCorp.werePlaintiff'sjoint em ployers. Plaintiffallegesthathersupervisor,Audrey Demoss,treated herdifferently than other similarly situated employeçs,w ho w ere notblack orofH aitian descent.Specitk ally,she alleges . Demossma(iedisparagingandd:gradingremarkstoherandrepetedly questionedhow she achieved succejsin herposition.Additionally,PlaintiffallegesDem osswottld threàten Plaintiff ' ' . . andmakeherfeelunwelcome.X' notherDirector,Sharon Viller,woùldmitromanageatzdsingle outPlaintiir?ortreatmentthatoiherë d imilloyèusdidnotreceike' .TheFom-thAmendedComplaint . . . . . . . . , ' . . ' . al legesthatbothMillerzandDemöàsewottlddiscrinznatorilydiseiplinePlaintiffby w rèngly . . issuingwfite-upsandjlacinghefJnpröbation; Pléintiffallegeseiltatin2616shebegancdmplainingto.lkeàeccaBellbfthetteatmèntshe received.Bellisa black wom an,.who selwed as à supervisorin th' e custom er care departm ent. plaintiffalsocomplainedtoàmahqgernamedCiristine.Plaintiffallejestherewasnochangein ' how shewastreated byherimmiàiàièsupervisors.Plaintiftkallege:thatsieGscontinuedto . ' .. (; complaintoBellalïdManagerCvijiine : . untilthe da 'y shew aswrongfully telnuinated.'' .k Fourth AmendedComplqiptttt!7j. In M ay 2017,PlaintiffW às'diagnosed w ith rhultiple sclerosis.She im m ediatzly itlform ed ' . . . hersupervisors,Demoss,Jill1an'byf-' , tnsReyes,aé' dbell,ofhèrdiagnosis.'Plalntiffàdvisedthe Dëfendantsthtshewotzldneddtotakeintennittçntleavetoruèeivemebicaltzeatment.Plaintiff Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 3 of 10 ' allezesthatasaresult.hersuoervisoiswould micromanaceherand m akedisparagingremarks aboutlkermedicalcondition.specifically,Demojswouldkitclosely behindPlaintiffandbreathe downherneck,whisperingrudeandcynicélcommenistoPlaintiff.PlaintiffallegesDemoss :, . wouldforcehertowalk löngdiqtapcesacr' osstheofficeanctth en oqally disciplineheraboutthe : . '... . . ' . . . i. ,. . lengthoftimeittookliertowalk.Plaintiifalleges'thatshecomplainedboutthetreatmentto ' . . '( ' f . . ' Belland M anagerClzristine,who failed to do anything topreventfurthetm istreatm entof Plaintiff. Eventually,Plaihtiffwasplacedonsizort-term disability.SheretumedtoworkinOctober ' . . 2018and allegeshersupervisors'trkatm entworsened.Plaintif/would arriyeto work early to get aneasierpqrldhgspoi.Somédays,Demosswouldorderhertomovehercat,park fartheraway, andwalkVck totheoffice.SheallegesDemossdisparzgedhetdebilitatingconditionona constaht,pervasivebasis.Plaintiffclvimsthataftetàherettzrnebfrom fnediùàlleave,her supelwisorsàndmanagers,includingDùmossandManakerCltristi' ne,isjuedunjustwrite-upsand ' ' ' correctionlettersrelatingto,herjo19pertormance.151aintiffallegesthey cbfiductedmeetitlgs ' , dtlring which they insistkd shereview and finalize25 contracts. perday despiteherdoctor's ' ' instructionstö revisethe çontractquota.Shestatesthaythey didnotcomplain aboutthequality . j ofherwork during themeetings.Plaintiffallegesthatshecomplgined toNicholtDevllein the HumankzsoutcesDepattmentandsupçrvisorBetlaboutthebullying,beliqling,andunfair discipline,butnothihg wasdone. Approximately,otleweekbeforehertermination,Plaintiffwasissuedherlastdisctpline . . . . . ' . byM illerandDeLosRèyes,whbsuspendedPlaintiffwitùoutçxplahation.Inresponse,Plaintiff . - . ' . statesshecomplainedandobjectedaboutthewrongfulsuspe' ns' ion.Sheeyplainedshefeltthe suspensitm w as unw arrauted. Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 4 of 10 ' Plailttiffalsoclaimsshewas(ieniedreasonableaccom'modationsduetoherdisability. She requested to w ork frofn hom e,butD efendantsdenied the request.She requested a desk close tothebathroom,andinresponsp,Dpfendaptsmovçdherdesk fàrtherawayfrom thébathroom. .' . Plaintiffrequested from Human Resoùrcesanew parking space closerto thebullding. . '. . ::... ' . . - . Defendantsmoved herto afartherpyrking space,which requiredherto clim b stairs.Plaintiff' . . , allegesshecomplainedaàoutthistfeajment. On Jutze7,2019,befendAnts'HumqnResöurcesdepartmentahd>anagemehtemployees term inatedPlaintiff'semployment.befthdahtstoldhershewasbeingtetmihatedforviolating ' . . . . com pany policy:Plaintiffclaimsshewa4nottöld qbouttheviolati .on pyiortohertermination, and claim sitispretextual. p1 Cottrt'sPriorOtder . . ' OnJanuary 11,2022,theCöul'teflteredàltOfderGrfliinginPértandDenyinginPart Defendants'MotiontoDismisj' kththatorder,theCourtdijrrfissédtheclaiinsagainytthe supetvisor,Audrey emoss.TheCourtdeniedthemotiontodismissthe42U.S.C.vj 1981cléims ' . asto JM Family and W orld Om niasiothe disparatetreatmentclaim . ' . TheCourtalso' LismisledPlaintiffsretaliationclaimslmderj1981andtheFloridaCivil . RightsActwithoutprejudiceadklsingthePlaihtifftoallege. theGsprotectedactivity andacausal connection between iheproteçted ctivity and Plaintifcstérmipation.''Forthe samçreason,the , CourtdismlssedtheFamily andM edicalLeaveActclaim withoutprejudiceasthereisan 8m onth gap betweèn Plàintiff'sFV LA leyve and herterm ination and no allegationsthatthe decisionm àkerkriew oftheprotected activity. B. FourthAmehded Complaint Defendantsareagain movingto dismisscertain countsirfPlaintiY sFoul'thAm ended Complaipi' :Count11(RaceDisùriminationunder42U.S.C.j 1981-W roflgfulandRdaliatpry'' Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 5 of 10 TerminationagainstJM Family),Count12 (ltaceDiscljminationunder. 42U.S.C.j1981W rongfulandRetaliatoryTermination againstW orldO1imil,Count1j(RaceDiscrilpination underFCR A . W rongfulandRetaliatoryTerminationagainstJM Family),Count14 (Race DiscrtmiùationinviolationQftheFlörièaCivilRightsAci-Wmngfuland Retaliatol'y TerminationagainstW orldOmni),Cotmt15t'NationalOriginDiscliminationinviolationofthe Flprida Civilm ghtsA ctagainstJM Family),Count16(NatiohalOriginDiscriminationinupder , theFloridaCivilltightsActagainstW orldOmni),Count17(DisabilityorHandicap DiscriminationinviolationoftheFloridaCivilRightsActagainst.1M Family),andCöunt18 (DisabilityorHandicapDiscriminationinvi6létionoftheêlor' id:CivilRightsAd agaihstW orld' , . Omni). 11 Leualjtandard . tç'' f' o surviveam otion to diszhiss,plaintiffsm ustdolhbrethan m etely stqtelejal coiaclusions,''insteadplaintiffsmujtçillegesomespecificfacmalbasisforthoseconclùsiônsot . . , . . . . ' . ' . .. .facedismissaloftheirclaims,,Jàckson v,,Bellsouth Telecolhm.,. 372 F.3d 1250,1rjjtjjs . cjy . . , 2004) W henrulingonamotiopiodismiss,acouz'tmus' tview thecomplaintinthelightmost . favorab1etotheplaintiffatldaccepttileplaintiffswell-pleadedfacts.astrue.SeeSt.Joseph' s . . -. . . :.2 . ' . ' ' . ' ' . Hosp.,lnc.v.Hosp.Corp.ofA,m.,795F.2d948,953' (11th Cir.1986).Thistenet,htjwever,does ' ' . . notapplytolegalconclûsions.SeeW-ç/lfp-(# v.Iqbal,129S.Ct.1937,1949(2009).M greover, tsgwjhilelegalconclusionscanprovidetheframeworkofacomplaint,theymustbesupportedby factualallegations.'. '.Id at1950. Those(Elfjactualallegations. m ustbeenoughtoraisearightto reliefabovethespeculative levelofltheassttmption thatal1ofth8complaint'sallegaticmsaze true.''BellAtl.Corp.v,TwomblyùssùU.S.544,545(2007).lnsholt thecomplaintmustnot 5 Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 6 of 10 merely allege amisconduct,butrizùstdeno nstratethatthepleadefisentitled to relief.$qeIqbal, 129 S.Ct.ét 1950. 111. Lecal.Anlvslk . A. RetaliationahdïWrbnisfulTèrmihationClaimi . Pl ' y . . . . aintiffbringsbosh fedèrala14d stàte1aw claimsforretaliation bajed on herterm ination frorriemployment.Tostateaprimafacie 'caseofretaliationunder42U.S.U.j 1981,Plaintiff mustallege(1)sheengagedin statutorilyprotectedactivityl '(2)shesufferedanadverse ' . j employmentaction;and(3)tLerewqsacausalrelationbetweenthetwo events.Penningtonv. City ofHuntsville,261F.3d 1262,1266(11thCirf'2001).TheFlöridaCivilItight:Actrequires - . . . Plaintifftoproveth4sameelements.Buadev.TerraGrp.,LLC,259So.3d219,222(F1a.3d r ) ..:. . . .' . ' . . . : DCA 2018)(quotiilgS(.Louisv.Flà.1ntjlUniv.,60So.yd455,460(Fla.3dDCA 2011)). . 1.Cozfn/11dr12.Retaliationand WronfulTerminationîlzWcr#) US.C.f 1981 . ' .' ' DefendantsàrguethatPlaintiffsallegationsfailtoJstablishthatsheengagedin statntorily proteçted activity and thattherewasacausalconnection bdween thatactivity and her term inatipn. 'I'Q plead statutorilyprotected activity,éplaintiffrilujtpled thqtshehasopposed an unlawfulepploymèntpractiqeéhdthatshe' ithp. d a'goodfaith,realonablebeliefthattheem ployer ' . . . ' ' ' ' wasengagedin unlawfulemploynïehtpractices.''CetIsv.City ofèampa,803F.App'x235,245 (11thcit.j020)(citations'bmitted).' rhistreytesb0thajubjzctiveandobjeqtivecompohentto . . . thestandatd.1d tç-litis,aplaiptiffrhustallegeboththatgslie)honestly believedgherjemployer wasengaged inunlawfulemploymentpracticesàandt1(atgherq 'beliefwasobjectively resonable. Objectivebeliefismeaàuredagainstthecontrollingsubstantivelaw.''ld (citingButlerv.Ala. Dep 'tofTransp.,536F.3d'12( )9,1214 (11thCir.2008)))Xhemployeewhocomplainsaboutthe Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 7 of 10 supervisor'àtreatmentdoesnotautomaticallyengageinprotect. ed actikity.SeeM urphyv.Cf@ of Aventurq,616F.Supp.2d 1267,1280(S,D.Fla.2009)(findingon amotiohforsllmmary judjmentthatcomplaiping aboutapolicy orco-worker'sbehaviorisnotsufficientto communicateabeliefthatdiscrimintionisoccurring).Simply complainingisnotenough;arl employeem ustlinkthe complaint. to aprotected charactetisticto statea claim .1d. In thisCourt'spriororder,th:Coul'tfotmd thatPlaintifffailed toplead thedetailsofher protected acjivity,which prevented herfrom establishing thattheprotected activityw àsthebutforcauseoftheadverge'action.Plaintiff'sFoul' th Am ended Conïplaintcorr:ctsthe defciency. Plaintiffallegesthatin 2016,she com plained ofDefepbant s'discrimiqatorycpnducttowardher. . 1 . She explicitly conp lained ofhow Demossand M illertreatedher.Unlike herThird Amended ' r . . . . Com plaintwhere Plqintifffailed' tp ihdicatethetim itm ofherprotected activity,theFourth AmendedComplaintalleges'thatin2016. ,Plalntiffb' :ganconlplainingtoRebeccaBbïland . M anager Chzistine,who wete00thV't mûjersinthecustomerjervicedepartment.Plaintiffclaims . . ( . thatshecömplained'to NicholeDevàlle in theIlufllén ltesourcesDepartpl/ntand Supervisor Ijellaboutthe bullying,beliuling qnd unfairdiscipline,butnothing wasdone.plaintiffaddsthat shecomplainvdabouttàediscriniinationtmtilthecta 'teshewasterminatedonJune7,2019. TheCoul'tfindsthatPlaintiffsufsciently allegesthatshecomplained ofdiscriminatoz' y ' tleatméut.specifically,iflparagraph 73àlaintiffallegesthat'dshecontipuedtocompl aintoBell t , . . . . . ' . . ' . t , .' j . .' andManagerchristiue.Pla' intif?c'omplaipedabouttheracialdisdiiminationSrom 2016)tmtilthe ' : . datethatshewaswrongiullyterm'inated.''ThisàllegationlufscientlyCtates 'thatPlaiptiff : . . . . ' . , . .:'' . . ' engagedin pkoiectedaqtivitytlnderTitleVI1,byopposingailunlawfulemplöymentprictice.See . ' . . . ' 42t' ;.s.c.' j20( )Oe-3;seecrdur /èrlv.. uet.Gov.' if. kas 'hville',555u.s.271,z16(2009)(E'when anèm p'toyeecomm ulliùate:tô iefe'rhployel'abeliefthatthe'éinplofet. has'engagedin.t.aform . . Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 8 of 10 . . - ' ' . . . ' . ofemploymentdiscrimination,thatcommllnication''kiftuallyalwaysTfùonstitutestheemployee', s oppositionfotheactivity.''). . ; ;J. . '. . .. '' . befendantsarguetiatevertifPlaintiffen'gajedlnprotectedactivity,shefail' sto sufucientlyallegecausétion.tt-rheturLen ofdausàtioncq11berilètbyshowingclosete>poral . proximitybeiweenttw staitorilyprotectedactivityanàtheadverseemployment . . ' ' ' ' . ' ' action.''seeThomasv.CooperLigbting,Inc.,506fk3d 1. 38i,1364(11th Cir.2007).Butmere terhporalproximity,withoutmorejfnustbeSsveryclose.''Id (citingClarkCoz/n/ . ySch.Dist.v. Breeden,532U.S.268,273(2001)).PlaintiffallégesthatshecontinuouslyçomplainedtoBell and M angerChristineaboutdiscrifninatory treatlentfrom 2016untilhertermination.Plaintiff a1soallegesthat' shecomplainedtoNicholeDevalleintheHumankesourcesDepartment,and tdumanRegourceswasinvolvedinthedecisipntntermillateher.Atstuumél' yjudgment,the record willneed to show the cloletem poralproximity betweqn thestatutorily protected activity ' ' ' y ' . and the adveèsç em ploym entaction.Itw illneed to show ' thatthere is a cum lection betw een the - . . . ' protected activity and thedecisibil(U terminétehzl:.The Cogttwillalso evaluatewhether NicholeDevàlle,whokrïew ofthecömplaints,actedinretaliationofthcisecomplaints.TV Court willrevisittheviability ofPlaintiff'sj 1981retaliatiopclaimsop'acompleterecörd.See . M zlrr/j y,616F.Supp.2d at1280(decidedon amptioflforsunifnalyjtldgrfznt). ' . ' . .. ' .. , . J.tounts13through 16. .ReialiationunderiheF/yrfio civilRights'Act' . TheFloridaCivllRightsigt,likeTitle'VII,requi'resaplaintiffto plead thatshe engaged , . in statutorily protected activity,there w as an adverse em ploym entaction,and there w as a causal . ' . . colmectionbetweenthepalicipatit)p'intheprutecte'ctexpressibnapdtheadverseactiöh.Buade, ' 259so.3dat222.TlkecourtagainfindsthatPlaintiffsuffi:ielttlyplèadstùatghecomplained ' . w . . ' . L aboutthediscriminatibn to BellandiM anagerChristinefrom 2016 untilthetlme ofher Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 9 of 10 termination.'plaintiffalso com plained to Htlm an Resourcçs,whp participated inthe decision to terminate.her.employment.The Cpurtfindsthe allegatipnssuffièientto stateaclaim ,but cautionsplaintiffthaiatsummv judgmept,thecouuFillçonsiderthetip ing and substmace of , . i these com plaiptsto detefm ine çausatlon. J.Counts17dr18:Retqliatibn#zI:toDisabilityDiscljminatiopN?7t#rtheFloridaCivil RightsAct Defendan 'tst' noveto dism issc'ouhts 17 mld 18 indicating thatPlaintifffailsto allegethe . ' , tim ing ofheicom plaintsofdisability discrim ination.The Fourth A m ended Com plaintalleges thatPlaintiffcom plained atunspecified tim esin 2018 to D efendants aboutbeing bullied, belittled,em bo assed,hum iliated,anl d micromanaged becapseofherdisability.In herresponse tothemotion todism iss, 'Plaintiffarguesthathercom plaitltsofdisability discrimination,likeher complaiùtsofracialand nationalUrigin discrimination,werecontinuous.WhiletheCourtisflot ' cot w incèdthatPlaintiff'sallegaiiöhsshow apattdrn ofcontinuouscomjlaintsshowingprotected . . . . . ' . activity mgarding herdicability,thèêourth Am ended Com pluintallegesthataweek beforeher term inationPlaintiffcomplaiheéabotttam pngfulsuspension.Thatallegationisincludedinthe sectionrelàtingtothèdisability di' scrimiriàtiônthatshepurportzélysuffered.lnv' iewingthe . . g . . r ' . Fourth Am uhded Complaintin thelightm ostf>vorableto thePlaintiff,the Cpurtdeniesxthe . . . . ' . , . . motiontodismigs,'but' reiteratesthaftojurvivesurzmaryjudgment,therecörduvidbncewill . . ' .J ' . havetö àhow thathercomplaintaboùtthesvspensionwassufficiently'related to herdisability. The Courtdehiesthem btion to dismiss. DUNEANDORDEREDipChàmbersatMiami,Ploti la,' this M of7une2022. , ' FEDERIC ' r . ORENO UNITED STATESDISYRICT JUDGE 9 Case 0:21-cv-60530-FAM Document 41 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/27/2022 Page 10 of 10 Copiesfuntished to: CounselofRecord
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