Dudley v. Famous Anthony's Inc., No. 7:2014cv00459 - Document 19 (W.D. Va. 2014)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 11/7/2014. (lab)

Download PDF
Dudley v. Famous Anthony's Inc. Doc. 19 CLERK' OFFI U,S. ST. S CE DI COURT ATROANOKE, VA I TH E UN I N TED STA TES D I STRI COU RT CT FI LED F THEW ES OR TERN DITRI OFVI S CT RGm I A j g zj gy gj ROA N OK E D I VISI N O JULA C ' ' ' CLF'i I r' . s' Y CH R I STOPHER J DU D LEY , . BY c : 'p y Ci lAc i n N o. 1 vi t o 7: 4CV 00 459 , ,,c,rp. q . , Pl i i f a ntf , M EM O R AN DU M O PI I N N O By: Hon.Gln E.Conr d e a Chi Unied St t D i t i tJ e ef t a es sr c udg EX P,l C. d b/ N ,/ a FAM O U S AN TH ON Y ' S*, D e e nt f nda . Chr s ophe J. udl pr e ng pr s ,fl d t sac i a i thi f it r D ey, oc edi o e ie hi ton ga ns s onnere pl r m oye , EXP,nc.db/ Fa l , / a mousAnt hony' (s mousAnhony'',al i t thewasdic r di st Fa t s' legng ha ) sha ge n r t iton f flng awor r 'compe a i cai . Theca ei pr e l bef et co t t eala i or ii ke s ns ton l m s s es nty or he ur on he d fn a tsmo int d s s frlc o s b e t te j rs ito a dt ep an ifsmoi nt ee d n ' to o imis o a k f u j c matr u idcin n h litf to o diqua iy t de e ntsc s lf he f nda ' ouns . Fort r as t tf l w,t de e ntsm o i wilbe el he e ons ha olo he f nda ' ton l gr nt d a t pl i if s m oton w ilbe de e a m oot a e nd he a ntf i l ni d s . Backaround Dudl y i ar i n o Roc M o ,Vigi a. Hewor f rFa e s esde t f ky unt r ni ked o mousAnt hony' fo s rm J nua y 21 201 untlDe mbe 8,201 Fa ousAnt a r , 3 i ce r 3. m hony' i aVig ni c por ton wih is s s r i a or a i t t prncpa pl c ofbusne si Roa i i l ae i s n noke, r ni Vigi a. A c r ng t t com pl nta t a co pa ng e bis D udl y bec m e i1i co di o he ai nd he c m nyi xhi t , e a l n Se e pt mberof201 a trbe ng e 3 fe i xpos d t m ol a wor On ora e o d t k. boutSeptm be 1 201 e r 7, 3, Dudl fldawor r 'co ns toncam f ij isrs tngfom mol e ur Dudly ey ie ke s mpe ai li or nure e uli r d xpos e. e alegest he and Fam ous A nt l hat hony' s ted t wor s'com pens i cl m ,butt he w as s etl he ker aton ai hat *Thedef nda i i r ty named i t compl nta lFamousAnt e nt s ncorec l n he ai s û hony',l ' Thepl ntf s s nc.' ai if motonst a i o mendt compl ntt pr l i iy t def he ai o opery dentf he endantwilbegr ed,and t docke wilbe l ant he t l amende t r l t def ntscorec lga name. d o etect he enda ' r t e l Dockets.Justia.com s e nty tnni t d on Dec m be 8,201 i r t la i f flng t c am wih t Vigi a ubs que l e nae e r 3 n e a iton or ii he l i t he r ni W or r 'Compens ton Co m ison. ke s ai m si On ora tJ 1 201 D udl fl a Cha ge ofD icrm i ton w ih t Eq l bou une 0, 4, ey ied r s i na i t he ua Emp o me tOp o tnt Co si n(t l y n p ru iy mmiso $ EEOC' ,nwhihh a s re t a heû srtlae ' i c e se td h t d eaitd ) wa a an tb c u ege fld awoke ' c mp nsto cam i v oaino Til V1 o teCi i g is e a s h l ie r rs o e ain li n i lto f te l f h vl Ri sA c of 1 ght t 964,a a e d. Ex. o Com pl,Docke N o. 1 a 1 On J y 1 201 t s m nde ' ' t . t 2- t 7. ul 0, 4, he EEO C i s a D i m i s la N o i e ofRi ht cont i ng t f l w i de enni t o C e s ued s s a nd t c g s a ni he olo ng t na i n: k d Bas upon isi tgai t EEOC i una et c l t tt i or ton o ane e tbls s t nvesi ton, he s bl o oncude ha he nf ma i bt i d sa ihe vi a i oft s a ut s ' Ex. o Com pl,Doc tN o.2- a 18. ol tons he t t e .' t . ke 1 t Dudl y fl d t i t nta ton a i tFa o A nt e ie he ns a c i ga ns m us hony' on A ugus 28,201 On s t 4. Oco e 2 2 1 F mo sAn h n smo e t ds s t ec mpan frlc o s b e tmatr t b r , 0 4, a u t o y' v d o imis h o lit o a k f u j c te j rs ito , ru n t Rue1 b ( )o t eFe ea Rue o Ci i P o e l e Dude flda u id ci n pu s a t o l 2()1 f h d r l ls f vl r c dz . r ly ie brefi opposton t t m o i a we lasam o i t diquaiy t de e ntsc i n ii o he ton s l ton o s lf he f nda ' ouns l The e. m o i ha be n f l br e e and a e r pe f r vi w . tons ve e uly i f d r i or e e Di si scus on M oton t Dim isf Lac ofSubictM ate Jurs c i i o s s or k e t r iditon Th c u t t is a d e sted fn a tsmoint d s s f rlc o s be t te e o r mus frt d r s h ee d n ' to o imis o a k f u j c matr j rs ito Se Owe slln i. n . M e d ,1 6F.d43 , 4 n. ( t Ci.1 9 ) u idcin. e n -lio s l c v. a e 8 3 5 4 2 4 4h r 9 9 ( g ueto o s b e t te j rs ito mus b d cd dfrtb c u et e c nc r tec u ts dol sins f u j c matr u idcin t e e i e is, e a s h y o en h o r' t veypowe t he rt c e.)(ntnz cttona quottonmaksomit . r r o a he as ' i e al iai nd ai ' r ted) Fedea c t a eC t oflmie j idito 'whihç s s o yt powe rl ours r t s i td urs cin, c s e s nl hat cour ' pos r aut i e by Consiuton a s a ut .' Kokkonen v.G ua di n Lie l .Co.ofA m . 511 U . hor z d tt i nd t t e ' r a f ns , S. 375,377( 994) Thebur ofetbls ngs j tmatrj iditoni ont pli ift 1 . den sa ihi ubec te urs ci s he antf,he pat ase tngJ iditon. RobbEva & Asocs.LLC v. i uch,609F. 359,362( h ry s ri ' s ci ur ns s . Holba 3d 4t Ci. 0) Thec t ypr pel dimisac antunderRul 1 b)1 oft Fedea Ruls r 201 . our ma o ry s s ompli e 2( ( ) he rl e o Cii P o e u e i t ec mplitfist alg fcsu o whc s be t te j rs ito c n f v l r c d r ,f h o an al o l e a t p n ih u j c matr u id cin a e bebas d. SeeKensv.UniedStts 585F. 1 1 ( hCi.2009) e r t ae, 3d 87, 92 4t r . I t se e, m ousAnt ny' a guest tDudl y' c pl ntmus bedim is d f rl c n hi as Fa ho s r ha e s om ai t s se o ak of u j c matr u idcin b c u et p risaen tdv rea dDude ha no rie a y s be t te j rs ito , e a s he a t r o ie s n e ly s t as d n f r lque to overwhih t c tma pr sde Fort f l ng r as ,hec ta r es ede a si n c he our y e i . he olowi e ons t our g e w ih Fa ousA n hony' . t m t s F d rldsrc c u t h v o i ia j rs ito o e a1cvia to wh r tematri e ea itit o rs a e rgn lu idcin v r 1 i l cins e e h te n c r s e ee t s orvaue of$75, a i be we n c tz nsofdif r ntsaes 28 ontovery xc ds he um l 000 nd s t e ii e fe e t t . U. C.j 1 2. tse ton 1 r quiescomplt di riya S. 33 d ci 332 e r ee vest mongt pa te ,mea ngt he ris ni he c tze hi ofea h pl ntf m us be dif r ntf om t c tz ns p ofea h def nda . H os ha v. ii ns p c ai if t f e e r he ii e hi c e nt' ' c r Appaa hinPowe Co.739F. 1 1 ( hCi. 4) l t i tntc e i i undiputd lc a r , 3d 63, 70 4t r 201 . n he nsa as ,t s s e t tbot pa te a e c tze ofVi gi a. B e a e c pl t di r iy i l cki t c t a not ha h r i s r ii ns r ni c us om e e ve s t s a ng, he our m y e ecs j rs ito u d rj1 3 x r ie u idcin n e 3 2. Fe e a dsrc c u t as h v o iia j rs ito o e $ lcv l cinsaii gu e d rl itit o rs lo a e rgn lu id ci n v r 1 l ii a to rsn nd r a t Consiuton,lws orteaisoft Unie Stts' 28U. C.j1331. t he tt i a , r te he td ae .' S. t rt unde he l t ndi wel- e d c ongsa ng lpl ade ompl n r e ...as ta ie unde f r l1w onl whe t ait ul , ui rs s r ede a a y n he plitf ssae ntofhi ownca eofa tons anif ttme s us ci howst tii ba e upon ge r ll . Va ha t s s d fde a aw)' den ' v.Dic rBa 556U. 49, ( )(ntnzlcttona quottonmaksomitd) Thus s ove nk, S. 60 2009 i e a iai nd ai r te . , t det m i w het an acton ar s undert l soft Unied St es,t coul m us exam i o er ne her i i es he aw he t at he ' t t ne t pl ntf scom pl ntt tdi cer whet f alors at 1 cr est caus ofacton' and,i he ai if ai o û s n her eder t e aw eat he e i ' f t cl m i notc e t d by f de all w , he he S he pl ntf sr g t r le ne s a iy de nds he ai s rae e r a w t rk t ai i f i ht o e i f ce s r l pe 3 onr s uton ofas t ntalque to off de allw . Pi v v. e ol i ubsa i si n e r a ' nne Noki sI ,402 F. 43 442 ' a nc. 3d 0, (t Ci. 4h r 2005)(nenalcttona quoai maksomitd) Tos r t e r ieoff rl itr iai nd tton r te . uppo the xe cs edea jzid ci n tefd r l u si nmu t es b tn ilno fio o o p ee t a. Lo r v l s ito ,h e ea q e to s b u sa ta, t rv lus r rtx u l ven . r Ed r s 1 0F.d6 8 65 - ( t Ci.1 9 ) wad , 9 3 4 , 4 55 4 h r 9 9 . Ha ngca ef l r viwed Dudl y' c vi r uly e e e s ompl i and t e bist r t t c t ant he xhi t he eo, he our concudest theha f ie t r ieanyque ton off de a lw whih woul s l ha s a ld o a s si e rla c d uppor t e r ie t he xe c s of urs ci underj 1 . Dudlyrpeaedl cams i bot hi compli a hi j iditon 331 e e t y li ,n h s ant nd s me oa m r ndum i o n ppos ton t t de e ii o he f ndan ' m oton, ha he w a r t la ed a i tf flng a ts i t t s e a i t ga ns or i i wor s c ker' ompe ai cam. Se Co .Doc tNo. a 3($wass pe d/tr naeddue ns ton li e mpl, ke 2t : 1 us nde emi t t t fc t tIfldawor rsco ns toncai ' ,P1' M e i Opp' Doc tNo.1 a 2 o he a t ha ie ke' mpe ai l m.) .s mo.n '' n, ke 4t (f antf ...c s i if omme edt saci a i tdee nt...,i whi Plitf cli hewa pl nc hi ton gans fnda n ch anif ams s unl ulydic ge i r t itonf rtlngaW or r Compe aton Cli ') 1 a 5 awf l shar d n ealai o ii kes ns i am. ' d. t ', (f ai ifwass pe d/emi tdd t t fc t thefldaW or r Compe ai s ntf pl us nde tr nae ue o he a t ha ie ke s nston cli .) Thec ta e wih FamousAnt am ' . ' our gres t hony' t ts hcli a ie onl unde saelw, s ha uc am rs s y r tt a s cii lyVigi aCodej65. 308, c pr desasf l : pe fcal r ni 2- whih ovi olows A . o e pl r o pe s s l di c r a e pl e s el bec us t N m oye r r on ha l s ha ge n m oye ol y a e he e pl e i e t fl orha fl a cl i unde t stte o hast s ii d ori m oye nt nds o ie s ied a m r hi il r e tfe s aboutt t tf i a pr e ng unde t stte. The di c r e ofa pe s w ho o es iy n ny oc edi r hi il s ha g r on ha fl a f a s ied r udul ntc ai i no a vi a i oft ss c i e l m s t ol ton hi e ton. B. ee ly ema b iga a to i acrutc u t a igj rs ito o e te Th mpo e y rn n cin n ic i o r h vn u idcin v r h e pl rorpe s w ho alege y di c r d t e pl e i vi a i oft s m oye r on l dl s ha ge he m oye n ol ton hi s cin. Th c ul s al a ej rs ito f rc u es wn,orsri vo ai n e to e o ' h l h v u idcin,o a s ho t etan ilto s t a or ra opra e r i ,i l ng a t lda age a a t ney' f st nd de ppr i t elef nc udi c ua m s nd tor s ee o s c s ulcl i a sand t r rng orr ns a e e oft e pl ,wih bac uc es f a m nt he ehii ei t t m nt he m oyee t k pa pl i ees a t j me rt a pr de i j6. 302. y us ntr t t he udg nt ae s ovi d n 2Va.Codej65. 3 2- 08. l hi m e or ndum i opposton t t pe ng m oton,Dudl y a g st thi c a m n s m a n ii o he ndi i e r ue ha s l i k ha he w asr t i t aga ns a t r i t f rt tlng ofa W or r 'Com pens ton cl i ... é t t e ala ed i t nd e m na ed o he i i ke s ai am a i e e l i l underFED ERA L LA W , s ii a l Til VI oft Ci lRi s A c of 1 r s s xc us ve y ' pec fc ly te l he vi ght t 964 ' (ç il Vl' a t Amei nswihDia ltesAc (û k- te 1' nd he r ) rca t s biii t $ADA' . Doc tNo.1 a 3- (mphass ' ) ke 4t 4e i i o ii l. Th sa g me t h we e ,swih u me i. n rgna) i r u n , o v r i t o t rt Til V I ,i a ton t pr hi tng di c i i ton on t ba i ofa em pl yee' r ce te 1 n ddii o o bii s rm na i he s s n o sa , c o , e i on,s x,orna i ol r r lgi e tonalor g n,m a i unl wf f a e pl ii kes t a ul or n m oyert r t la e a ns a o e a i t gai t n e oyeef t mpl or t opposlngja prciemadea unlwf e oymen pr tc by ( teVI1 o i ny a tc n a ul mpl t acie Til I, r bec us heha m a a c r t tfed, s sed, pa tc pa ed i a m a ri a i s i ton, a e s de ha ge, es ii as i t or r i i t n ny nne n n nve tga i pr e ng,orhe rngunde ( teVl1' 42U. C.j2000e- (mphassa d) I t sca e oce di ai r Til 1. ' S. 3e i dde . n hi s , D udl y doe notalege t tFa o A nt e s l ha m us hony' r t la e a i thi f oppos ng a alege s e a i t d ga ns m or i n l d vi a i ofTil V l ,orf pur ui a c r ofdi c i i ton unde Til V l . I t a he ol ton te 1 or s ng ha ge s rm na i r te l ns e d, c a m st tS w a r t i t a i ta t r i t d f t flng ofa w or r 'com pe a i l i ha l he s e ala ed ga ns nd e m na e or he ii ke s ns ton c a m .' Doc tN o.1 a 4. W hie D udl y' a l ga i ofr t la i m a s li ' ke 4 t l e s le tons e a i ton y uppor a ca e of t us a ton unde Vi gi a l , he do noti plc t Til V l . ci r r ni aw t y m i a e te I Dudly' r la on t ADA f r sno be tr I a to t pr hi tng dic i i ton e s e ince he ae te . n ddii n o o bii s rm na i t t bassofdia lt '42U. C.j1 1 t ADA ma siunlwf t S srmi t s he i on s biiy, ' S. 21 2,he ke t a ul o t ci nae di agans a i vi lbe a es i vi lhaso i t ny ndi dua c us uch ndi dua ppos a a torpr c i em a unl ulby ed ny c a tc de awf gheADAIorbec us s h i viua ma ac r tsiid,asit orpa tcpaedi a t a e uc ndi d l de hage,e tfe ssed, rii t n ny ma i a i siai pr e ng,orhe i unde gheADAI' 42U. C.j1 nner n n nvetg ton, oc edi arng rt . ' S. 2203() a. Once agai Dudl doesnotaleget Fam ousA nt n, ey l hat hony' r alat agai thi f opposng an s et i ed ns m or i a tm a unl w f by t A D A ,o f rpur ui a c r ofdi a lt di c i i ton unde t c de a ul he ro s ng ha ge s biiy s r m na i r he A DA . l t a he a l gest tt de enda r t la e ag ns hi f flng a c a m w ih t ns e d, le ha he f nt e a i t d ai t m or ii li t he 5 Vigi aW or s Com pe a i Comm ison. Thec ti c nce t tDudl y' ca eof r ni ker ' ns ton si our s onvi d ha e s us a ton a iess ey unde sa elw, ndt tnet rt ADA nora o he f de a saut pr des c i rs ol l r t t a a ha ihe he ny t r e r l t t e ovi ab ssfrt ee rieo fd r l u sinj rs ito a i o h xecs f e e a q e to u id cin. l s ,heco tc udest tt a lga i i Dudly' c pl nt e n a e e as n um t ur oncl ha he le tons n e s om ai , ve cc pt d tue a e i ufii ntt s r , r ns fc e o how t tt sc e i one d rsng unde t Consiuton,lws orte tes ha hi as s t ii a r he tt i a , r a i oft UniedStts. 28U. C. 1 . Be a et c eedi riyr uie by28U. C. he t ae ' ' S. j 331 c us he omplt ve st eq rd S. j 1 3 i as lc i ,h c u t tg a th d fn a tsmo int ds s f rlc o s b e t 3 2 s lo a kng t e o r mus r n te ee d n ' to o imis o a k f u j c matr u idcin. te j rs ito I. I M ot on t D i qualf Couns l i o s iv e The pl i i fha fl a m o i t di q lf t de e nt scouns on t ba i ofa a ntf s ied ton o s ua i y he f nda ' el he s s n alg dc n lc o i tr s. Be a et ec mpan i s be t ods sa frlc o s b e t le e o fit f ne et c us h o lit s u j c t imis l o a k f u j c matr u idcinu d rRue 1 b () tep an ifsmoint ds u l ywil ed nida mo t te j rs ito n e l 2() 1,h litf to o iq ai lb e e s o . f S e ec, edv GM AC LLC, 6 F. u p. d6 9 6 2( D. . 0 )( ligta t ec u ts e . ..Fil . 6 0 S p 2 7 , 9 E. Va 20 8 hodn h t h o r' d cso t ds s t panifsc mpan t e d re )mo t h ohe mo in 'tldb t e iin o imis he li tf o litd n e gd o t e t r to s'ie y he r pate ,i l ngt pl ntf smoint diquaiy c e) ris ncudi he ai if to o s lf ouns l. Concl on usi Fort r as nss a e t pl i if sm o i nst am e wilbe gr nt t de e nt s he e o t t d, he a ntf to o nd l a ed, he f nda ' m oton t di m i sw ilbe g a e a t pl i if s m oton t di q lf t def nt sco el i o s s l r nt d, nd he a ntf i o s ua iy he enda ' uns wilbede e a m oo . TheClr i dieced t s nd c tfe c e oft sm e o a l ni d s t e k s r t o e erii d opis hi m r ndum opi o a t a com pa ng or rt t pl i ifa al cot s lofr or ni n nd he c nyi de o he a ntf nd l m e ec d. ENTER :Thi ) X day ofN ovem ber 2014. s , Chi fU nie St t D it i tJ e t d a es s r c udge

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.