Enos V. Orthopedic & Spine Physical Therapy of L/A, Inc.

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S'l A'l'C OF \JAINr: A'\DROSCOGGI'\, '-' SCPERlOR COURT UVIL.\Cl!ON Docket '-'o. CV-13-176 HGrK-AND-IH Hf IANf'T ENOS, Plair.td ORDER RECE Vi::C & =I._E:' NOV 1 8 201~ ORTHOPCDJC & SPTh'E PHYSICAL THERAPY OF UA, INC .. a~d SHAN TEIXEIRA, Defendants 3U:'ERiOR CCLIR- Before the court is Defendant Shan 'leixeira'.< Motion w Uismis; Plaintiff Janet Eno;', Complaint again<! him pur,uant to Rule 12(b)(li_i. !Onos's Complaint i.< tm declaratory and injuncti\'e relief a< well a< monetary damag~s pursuam w the Ma1t1e Human RJghts Act, 5 part)-·-' fi I tngs regardmg the \-lotion. L Factual Background The followmg bct1 are garhercd tron1 the Cotnplaitlt. Ddendant Onhopcdic & Spine l'hy<;1cal Therapy of LA, Inc. ("Orlhopcdi~ & Spine"} '' a Maine Corporation located in Le''"'"'"- Tei>-<OLra ;, !he nv,ncr and sole prnfes>tcmal provider at Orlht>p~Jic approxumtely f'ehruar;, 2007\0 April 19, 20P, Eno> ""' "nlpk•)cd b) Or<.hc•p~dic receptioni.<t and ntiice rnanagcr. Tcixcirn 1upcniocd Env; dirccily and annual re\ 1ews and ¢valuati~ns. Enos rccci•cJ cx~dlcnt "Tl!'.ua I rnicw>_ & Spine. }rom & Spine"' a ~ornplet~d all of her In A.ugust of 2009. Enos tuok a ont'lnti;,g cd uc•mm CJUC>(o nn phy>icol th~r~py coding and billing She compl~tcd the cia;, un ,.l,ugu<t p_ 2(109, and un Augmt l~, br~ught 2009 Eno' poosit-le h1 I t;ng erwr1. mcluding p~IGnTial ly ft audulml bd' ir:g,, to T C!XC ""-' attention. Teixetra mfmmed Enos but that he w~uld la~c h~r rcr,arding hts treatment 'vldi~arc t:o~t instiwlin~, ,-.r requi1ing nc" pclicico wa< nm a pa,1 ofhn rule, canoe:n> under cnn<ideratiun. f'no; alsu rttisd concerns to Jeixcira n~'tc,_ the im.lk~"acy billtng>. and po»ible ,-,verbilling. of tlea:m<:nt r1ates to ju,:ify 'vlaineCare and T~ixeira defenJcd lm notes, and when Lnos ohc d1d not "'ant to be a par)' m pulentially fraudulent billin~s. Teixeira "llcg~dly the J1ne< of if bw; was rwt actually pcrD.>rmi"g the billing then <he was not alan~ stat~d responded ~ommltting fraud. \Vhilc Eno' connnu~d w do :he m-houoe billing, 'he '"auld mise concem> with who responded by yelling anJ defending his emer ~nd practic~o, and telling Enol all she needed Teix~ira, to do wac< T~ixe~ra_ bill. Eno., evemually xased I<> question ln:;,"ance companies would .>ometime; "A for addttionol no\cs and suppon for trcatmcm' billd by the Defendants. Teixe~ra .>ometimu "'kGd that Enos cn\cr additional notes into bill<; thai insurance companies qucl\lOtled, and the D~kmlants a>ked thHI she make changes to lilc> or nob;, bm Enos reliJ>ed The Ud~~daot< ai<o failed Eno> >ub>cquently reportcJ !he Defendants to Main~Care t~ ~hange their billing practiCe<_ C,J~Jicare ~nd \1ain~C"rc anthorilles. Aller a audit began around late 2011 or early 2012, Telxei,·a 'epca\cdly "-'ked Enos changes to record>, note> tmd t1me entries, which Eno' once ag:"in declined Mcd1care al'o requested and reviewed files_ Th~ were denied by r':JW<) after MaincCace l;;sueC a 2 to to mak do. ln 2011, rcquc>r< from the Defendant< continued (and J~coupmcnt payment lell~r based upon unclear \1airlcC~rc"o rinal recoupment reguo<t l'he 1elaticm'h 1 between !he DdcrrJanls and I: no> v. or>ened p a~d I eixe'ra began 10 look 1->r a candidate m replace [w>S %~ wao eventually fired Dll Ajl['il 11)_ 2012 Teixeira annbuid Eno>"o firing ro the fact that they v.crc not gelling along and_ E:w>'o refu<al ta ~<>,>pcn<lc' wnh ,ome of hio ~bl requem_ Fn,, SIMCd th<ll ok Celt leixeira'> reqne<t' "''"c i!lcgal ~nJ she requested a wmplaLnit>g about Vvhat she pe1ce1ved m he. or Vvh"l eWH<ih v.~rc, illegal acti\ltle< ""the part f'.nos tiled a ~ompbint w1•h the Vlatnc Human ltights Com:ni«ion ("'\JHRC'I daiming dt<~rlm'n~li,m comp:au\tS, lh~ based on retallaiinn. On Nu,~mber 13_ ZIJI3. after invosl!g-"ting the l'lainti:!T< 11,1HRC di<mi>.>ed the adi,>rr and i;;ued a right to sue letter. II. Di<oussion When "on;ideJing a mm1on to dJsmi" und~r Rule 12(11)(6) the Law Cc>urt has held that: ·fwl~ vi~w the matertal alkgation uf the complamt as adrnill~d and eAamine the compi,mt in the light mo't f~,ombl~ IG tl1e plainnffto derennin~ whe-ther it set> fOrth clement> of a cau<e of aci1Vr. or ·•lltges fa~ts thm v.ould ~nl1tl·" lhe plainttff to relief purouant to 'orne legal theory. _\ dismi.,al '" appr,>priatc oniy v.hen 11 appea" b~)onJ doubt that a plaintiff'' mlitkd to no relief under an: >d of facts that he n11ghl prvvc in oup~ort of hi> clairn. The leg,[ ;ufficiency d a cmnplainl io a c:uestion of law.' Thumpwn l- Dep't of Inland r·11·htrics & Wildlcfe. 2002 '\{F (l!iean:c Tanker Corp ,,_ Dep'l o(Trump. 1999 \Jf' 67, ~ 7~, 114. 7% A2d 674 (guolingliel! .'\, 723 A.2d 673)_ be s1mpl~- wnc·i,~, dn.l d1rect that the function l•f ll1c <ut:icJemly perfcmnd .-l..2d 2.1~, "~I ('vle c111 Cu1p. v, te::hmu.l Furr:co ,,,- i':c~dtng o: mo!iucs ace rq<Ji.-cd ., \1_R ~c>mplaint I' ~)' 1~75) to g'>e iai1 notice· ._-([he claim, and th;s rmy b~ "ralhcr genen::l17d state.,-,ent. -- C11, u nank & Tnw ('a v Rush, 348 (quoLing I F 1\!cK & Vi, \1e.Ci\.l'r.2d, pp. The S'-!preme Conrt ha< F•~u;al allc~anons ~c1 ~c:d. ~'-'""'"'·that 1~2. 1~1)) a complaint mml provide -'mvre than <nust be enough to''"'"" righl \:J ,clLd ahwe6e ;peculmive k'd ... -· Iieil Twomhi~·. 550 L_S 544, 5:5 r2007) ki\allOTI\ nmltted) While Fnn.;'s Complaint f"ib lu >laic the s~CTtun '" <ec,ions of Lhe !\laine Human kigh1s .-\c\ (''MHRA'') Ihat forr.-1 the basis for her \.'ornpl"in!. on (t\ lace Enos's claim appears to 'vf R.S .A. ~45 72( i )(A) nt the M! lR A 'J'he 'vll-!10\ pw\ ide, \ha: based upon act"ity la~ei< protec:~d a~ empl~yer b~ fvr ca:mnt d "c"'"' nate umkr thu WT'A, "nd >lMcs rhm: Tt "unlawful empl~yment dJscnmtr,"tion, in viul<llion ot rh< Act, e~cept when ha<ed on a hona ride occupat1<1t!al qual1fica1Lon: A. ,_.,,, m:) em~1ioyer w r:Cul or retu'c to h1rc ,,, 01L~r" .oc discT;minate agaimt ~"' appilcan; t;)[' em~]c)yrncnT be~"'"" of n«·~ Cl co'or sex. se"Xual MICntaTIOo, p:l)-''ca; <·r mc;1tal d"~~;llly. rc:1,;iun. age :wcest::y ~' :Jatwnal ,mg1n, 0r bee~~" c)[ prC\'IOLJ> [1Ciic•m 1ek~n by the apr:lto~nt thm are p•otcCICd undor [lk \\.h!Sclcblo~>cro' Prc•Wcl,l'Ll :\ctj: or. because of ;ho'e reasons, t'J dtochmge "" ernplo}~C vr ~J>cr.minate with resp"ct 'o :llt'e, torn""• prc•mot:,m, transfe1, compe!l.'"tiOr .. kr:1>, cv~d it ions or pm ile.gcs ~~ <OJll 0h1yrncn1 c•r an' vlh~r metter dtrectly '" trrJJr~~tly related to empl0yment The WI' I\ p1ovidc< '" pcrlinml pJrt '-'o emrl·)_y~r may Cischmge. :hrcatcn ~r ,:lbcrv.il~ clis,Ti~linate again'! an cmplc•y<X regarding the ~mployee's comp""'atic'"• lcmt\. ~c•nJitivns. location m ?rivikg~, of emplc'omcnl because: A. The employee. acting m go,>(~ f"ilh. or a person actin~ on Dchalf of the empluyee. rcpvrls oral!; "' 1n \Hit1ng :,, th~ ,ompluyer '"a public ho:ly wh:tl the employee has rcao,mable cau.;e to bel>c>c i; a vic,ktiun of a ia" ,,, :·ule atlOpld under the la~>s dth~< Siak, a poiJtical <uhdiVISIOn oflhi> S:ate or tne Umted States, D. Th~ employee acting m g,•vJ faith has reJi.,;ed to carr} out " directi\·e w engage in ac!ivily that would be a vic•btion uf a law 01 rule adopted under the law.; ,,tth'' Sitlic," political suhdln>i Otl ol 1h11 Stale vr the L mted State> or !hill would e>.po'e the emplO)' cc or an) indi\ idual 10 a condi:icn that \>QUid re>ult Hl >eriOH' injury or death. o.fter h~vmg suughl and been Urlabk l·J obtain a wrrectinn 0t the illcg"l acll\'ity or dangcrou> c,mdition fmm the ernpk1)CT. 26 \1.R.~.A. § 833 cannot be held mdn·iduall; liabk for disonn:>natlnn •mJcr the l'etxe~Ca mP.J 58 A 3d 1083 b~ liahle under th~ 1\~HR.-'\ or \\1'.-\. Enos :n her \1HR\ fm aldmg and ~b~uing vr interteretlCC. 2012 l\!C 135. inc~rpor:tle supcrv'>m l<ahrl't:·. :~nd (21 tc expreo<~:- eluninato '"P"·"'-"'-'; li:~bil,t; fr,'"' the Ml!RA. It has empkyrr;ent .lnalyled th~ rmcr~>t o[ jeclin~J t~ dn (.·>t."-'r. l.oav1ng u< tc• ;,.terprd th: or,_>)n'" :,mguagc o:'rhe S'a·.ure · di,~rin1ination ~ty ~n~ "commine-:1 de [in ilion; c,f the '·~""· '-~IT\P hyer"'_ "ho ;s a:1 'employer." ld ,, 24. l'nc c,,u,-., Mling 1\11t •t bclude; _,_ :~;~;· person mo:tng -'" tlw any ernplvyer, direct!;· or ind•rcctly'" N ~ ~4 (qelnling 5 \tR.S. !i 4553(41 (2011}1 Next_ tile c:our: )o,)hd w the dd'initi<'n of tfoe "mJ "persv;:' under Lhe 'vfl II< A, and noted ~~~ ddinit1on of the 'Word "per,,m" me "'"d- supervrsur'' LS never cc-;ed. Jd that "[tjhe MHR-\'' c~prC<S rcmed•e, do nor signal any 111Cc•rpvratinn rtf 1nt~nt [<) VIG~nou< ~ liabi''"' ami its 24. l d~tem,[nd conn hek' empluyel-<p~cLflC )wid ir,.ji\ldu"l supcn•i;or.< irabie f01 Jr;crominati·Jn-- Jd.133 lhe La\\ C01n1 ulbnatdy h~ th~t ~ ~mplo_vrnent Lhat c,,mrar-. tn :he interpreta.uon d- \he \IT IH.C, -'[ p jursua"l to cichcr L 'v!T \1{ A or t\le \\ 1' !\ 1 sllitulury de fi11 irion or 'empk•yer,' t~e i~terthcnce. Jon~" nc'" ~mplcy> tho,e cbnn' aba:n,; fcrx~ira in v,hat a;tpcar-, to be an a~tcmpt circ::tm ve:>t (!le F uhnmmn dccioion. 'I he \11 !I\ A Oeoln~< un iawb i di;crint:n:n:on '" inciude A. L:nla" f"Ji emphymenr d'ocrimm:non a; deG;-,ed and lrm,;ed B. Cj;lia'W:"ul nou,ing j' <criminatic•n ao C.l)•,[aw!'ul p·.-hi•o ~ccomr:wdtctiom jefin~d ~n:l o: o'->bci1aptor ill· lirr. it~d by <et"ochJNer TV: d;scrimimtiun a; de:lned hy IU'odlap;c' V; tu D .. \1dmg. 8\>cHinG, ncLIIrlp, :c:'"'l''lmg ''' c~~ccmg ""'"hor r., ,~,,an~·~~ un Ia" ful d i>erH'l 'n'"'"' 5 MRS_-'._§ 4553(l0i '!he !VlP.R;\ e<l<n '"elude< a claim fc•r imcrkr.:ns. '"ch !Jre_; of Sc~li:>P) ~,_)1.(2) ]lrOVIOes· '1 is un:,wful fJr a pcr>e>~ \0 coerLc, in:1rr11d~'e. th1eaten GJ LLlterfere with any mc:vidual in the- nerci>e or cn.ic•;mcnt u[ ,;," e~gf-ls g:.lrlted or prot~cted by thi.; Ac! or became :hat individuol ha> exerci,ed or c~jojcd, or hao 81dd or etlcouragcd ~nnther mdi\Ldnalm t:1e e>.erci;e or enjoyment o C tho><· righ:o. CQLlri b¢ars in :mnd tha\ ailer F~hrmar,n inlcrprcii:>~ tha: '·we w1ll no\ undermine (he The Plarn\rff hao 921 (2004), where the ~itd te> N~w :ht <tatute, ~urpo<o nt th~ L~w th~.;e Co:]['( came to <tatmes hy re~dmg conclusion m them tc prov1de a New 1cr<ey 'ex naT hara«ment case, [arJ· v Ciasuiii. 853 .'1..2d k'ocy Surrornc c,,urt d1d nm lind atdtng and abetting liabJlity, but Maine would also follov, !'he Ne" Jec;e' Sup1-em0 Cc•un found under its anti-di;crimin"tic'n law an- indil'ic'ual ,Jorng o[ any of \he ac\3 th~ forbidde~ sup~rvioor lundeJ :he L\DJ.- "~d mu~h lih th~ Ln' Corm, ;, not dcllncd a, an 'cmpk';cr' ;;_rch .;undue\ m"y r~sult th~: und~r in peroom.l mu>t ,how lhat 'tl) rile pJ'~~· wlwrn tile der-;,mlant aid< mtht perfor,n" \lcongful act the.'_ cau><·s wrtiouo activity at rhc 'imc that ~'e P"'"d"' rh~ a,;t<tanco: lanJl (3) the ddcndanr must Atlan:ic City Fuilce Dq;'t. :74 r 3J ~5_ lr' (3d Or !9V9J lyu,1:atic>n umineJ)(altem\iun in the other>, and 1_5) rhe slti\O •Jf minj of the supcr,·i,vr." 1an, ~53 ,\ 2d 921. ~29 r_citingc R<·,r.mmel'l '-:-he co~r: note< Ihot wordillg r<('ardm; dljmg a·_d cbeLL•ng ml'te '•lHRA d:h(·T" 'com \he ,voJdlc.,; in ;;,c '-lew <erse) bw Ag:lin" Dtscri•ntnotiun Tile '-lew Jn,o; l''VVi_;ioc. 'roctole,, that Jt io cithe1 c.r un lawfu 1 ~mploymcnt ocaCLice or an un.a" l'ul jjs~nlr.'netHH ''lf]o· an) "~"""· whcL'tel' ,n """P loycT m "n crn,w)'co ~r noL, <o aid, ~he:.'~"""- c~rr.pd or c,,e:·ce :cc dot~~ nfcuv A the aot; rorbdden ~11dec ·r." act or to anemct w cia "'- --- K J." "- I 0 ' 12~. v-.- ~1ere.h lhe '-,.J,.ine pro>· ,; on ~nl) ·>rovtdeo l'\at :m::m fu! c'.l'CTL:nmo'.ir•:' inch:-jes "I'· '1c'ing_. ,bwin~, '"' .tlll~. W='l:!elling 01 cc>cr c.ng J~o;her :0 do aJl)' of ;•JLh typ~' ofunk"fu: Gtscri:nimti(n i W._R ~A.\ ~-'03(;0; :n 0rdc• (,: pcn·ail orr"'· ai~ir.g and abetlln?_ olatnt ,,,,kr § "'~Sj." pl:tinriffmus: sl"'" (I) thm (h~ d~fc'ndhnt comtr_itted ·a wholl) mdt,idual ,,d d;otinct """'g <eparate ~nd d:"'"('l fC0m the cta'm tn -"~"''', r_21 "lho: !he ,;je• l'r a~~rter sh~red an tTllCnl lo di<Crllloinale not unlike that of tk allc[cd p·incipl.! oCfmJer--: and (1) that ·'the aider or abctkr knnv of ht.; or her supporltn[: r,•l~ in m enlerpr'oe ae>igned m dcpri,·~ [lhe plam:iff] ,,r a rrght guaranteed htm or h~r umkr (j L c. 15113_-- 157, 138(19~7)) lOve" it \bin~ w~r~ lu recognize a" aidtng and abco:lrr.g (']aim agaimt an :ndtVI~lllli of file dt5cr'l rn' nal ic>n. Cno' ha.> no: alleged ~r:y ''d": md "ron;;'- conmitt~d bJ Tc>Xei r;<, nor has Enos a:Jeged an] ""lions by Tei'.etra that 1rn·cdvcd aiding: or abetting anmhcr :o "ommit di>criminanon See ul Similarly. l::.n·Js'' C\1rnrla'r~t dc>c, nol all,·ge how Te1:.etr~ mt~rrcr<:J l'ith the l'laOntJff carr} ing out protected aoti\'IIICS. \1,1>1 tmpc>rlanLly_ C~o.; f2ttled tn rncntion "id'ng> "betting. or :mcrfcr"n''" in her C)mrbtm, and c;aim[l] ,. Rush, 348 A 2d 2'\~. ~JI 1hcrdvr~ (\k 1975) comrc.r) to the I.e" Coun·s intent 111 Fuhrmwm. ·-In puro1me nt rk law 0fwhioh ;he D•iled to give even "12tLT notice l'fthe ~~c:tJn >.1 ~on;lruing statute,,"~ i<>ue f"'"" a r~rt ~tH.:' lc>Jl.. to the 0verall >trt,.-lo intemretthc langu"ge ?urrose ,., h,,·hmwm, 2(',12 \1i' 13:', 2()0•1 ~II-. 35_ 1119. S"-' i>.lj 1 A,'\~.-'. 3d 1l7S''·' 'l"" ''cw . ' r_quot.n~Lcoe,·v lc>iU L''"'~ · ;,a, r'Lied ~u: .·haJul!n.;r ('rpp_ indi,t.hd ,u_;enis:>r 111\'11'"' "~· • , ~- ·_. llo~• 11n1tr~ .- e>n, · ,..,,u f' b~ · · u o • •··- "nnl··,m·nr I '" .. Ll '' lli''~lCl~- k' ~I low Fn::; ·, c>.lL" ,.g~~:·.sc Accordmgl,\. the wutt UlUl£RS de• f'·f·c,l·,c·., •'orxc1r~'<; "' " v •· • I he ckk 's dir~c!~J 10 l:lC01f<1r1le :i'f• •- Oc•l~·. '"~ 'vlotiv~ o-~ "'e 1 '·'-" •" lO~ f C'l ·QC i ;, GRANTFD_ · r~rcrc~ce nu:·s~ant Ma"/;a,· Kennedv :imtite, Superior Courl ~/ w ' ' "' " ,, ' . '" " [l 0 > 0 '; ~ > " "' ~ ~ ' '" ,., " ;; ~ ' " 5 "' 'l " u " -~ '" " "c "' '" " " -~ "" '-! ~.) ~ '"' ' ;;- " " >-' ' ~ ~ 0 "' " "' "' :;: ,, ~ co " '' ,, ~~ ',,"' ' "' ::< .., c; " ' - ~ ~ ~ ' ~: " " " ' ' ~ " !i -" " z ' ,, " ' -~ '~ " ,., ' "' ~ .. '" ,., "' " '"' '" "' <' :;; " ,. ' ' ' [l " ); ' " H ~ [1 ' ' ,, .., ' " 3' ~ i:j '' ' ' ,, '" ~ ~ ,. "' " ,_; ' " '' ' - -~ '" ~ ~ !;i "' > [:! " "' 0 "' "" L '0 ' i >' '" ~ K ,, " 'r' .-- !i ,, " " "' ,. '' "' "'' ~ ·' ' " '' " C.• - > ' -- '' '· 1 i:i " " " I G U ' '''" ·' ,, " ' '" " " " ~ ~ ' " " " '' ' '~ . . ' " '• " ' " ~ - ~ "- .o " " ' ' ~ l! 1 ''' :;; "' ~ ~ ~ ' ,. " " ,, :;: H ~ -~ •' "' " [,l .' " " 0 ·~ ~ "' ;,. ' " ' ' > ~ 'r ' " ~ " 0 " ,) " ,, ' "' e ?; ~ oz " "' " '" ~~--(]~ ~ ., .-- :•• G _, c;: ,, . " ;;: " " C" C, ' ~: ': ' " " " ? ' ' - "~ " " ~ " '' '~ -' ' " ~ ~ '" :·' > '' 2 ) ~ '' ' i'! ,, " ' 'o" ~ l•J :i " C">'• ---'~"~ ~ "'/"Z " ' - '- ' - '' " ' -" - '" ' "' " - ;-; ., ,, ' " "' ' ~ ;; " ' " ' " '" :? " 0 0 " " > z ''" ,, - " >-' ~ '" T ,,, ' ., :; ~ " " 'j " " ' ' " ' " " ' " " s " '-' " ' c :-· '" " ~ "'' :;-o~~'' " "' •C " il,''' ,, " 7 " ""'~ '" ,., " ,, " "' c ~ """70 ~"-"-" " "' '" ' " " " c ' " -~ - '"" '" " "' " ,," "'' " ] " " " " " "' 1 '' '"' ~ c "' " ,. " "'' ''' ~ '"' ~; j " 'c ' ~ " " g " ~ ~ s 1;: ~ ~ u .., " ., ''' " " u " ., " "' " C• " 8 ~ ~: >· " '" "' '" n ., " ,_, " '' '' G~t<'OC' ~ " " " ' ,., '" " "' "" " " ' c; " ~

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