Kabakova v. Office of the Architect of the Capitol ( 2020 )

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
IRINA KABAKOVA,
Plaintiff,
Civil Action No. 19-1276 (BAH)
v.
Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell
OFFICE OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE
CAPITOL,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
The plaintiff, Irina Kabakova, brings this action against her former employer, the Office
of the Architect of the Capitol (“AOC”), under the Congressional Accountability Act (“CAA”), 2
U.S.C. §§ 1301, et seq., alleging discrimination and retaliation based on sex, national origin,
disability, and whistleblowing, see First Amended Compl. (“FAC”), ECF No. 17. Under the
version of the CAA applicable to the plaintiff’s claims, exhaustion of administrative remedies is
a jurisdictional prerequisite to filing an action in federal court. See Blackmon-Malloy v. U.S.
Capitol Police Bd., 575 F.3d 699, 705 (D.C. Cir. 2009) (“Congress intended counseling and
mediation to be jurisdictional requirements.”). The defendant has moved to dismiss the amended
complaint, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), based on this jurisdictional
requirement and, under Rule 12(b)6), for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted. See Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss Amended Compl. (“Def.’s Mot.”), ECF No. 21. For the
reasons explained below, the defendant’s motion is granted.
I. BACKGROUND
During and after plaintiff’s four years of employment with defendant, she initiated no
fewer than five, sometimes overlapping administrative complaints, and was herself the subject of
a fraud investigation by the AOC Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), all of which presents a
tangle to tease out the various threads of her claims. These administrative matters and their
factual underpinnings, as alleged in the plaintiff’s complaint, are described below, followed by
review of the procedural history of this suit.
A. Factual Allegations
Plaintiff began working at AOC in July 2014. FAC ¶ 9. In the two-year period relevant
to this suit — March 2016 to her termination on April 14, 2018 — she was a Safety and
Occupational Health Manager. Id. Her duties included “visiting . . . sites and buildings at the
Capitol” to “conduct[] safety inspections and investigations.” Id. According to the complaint,
before March 2016, plaintiff “had no issues working under . . . supervisors Chrissy Widener or
Ken Eads, receiving outstanding ratings, outstanding performance awards, special contribution
awards, and quality step increases.” Id. ¶ 10.
John Kelly became plaintiff’s supervisor in March 2016. Id. ¶ 11. Immediately, the
complaint alleges, the plaintiff “began experiencing gender, national origin, and age
discrimination” from Kelly. Id. ¶ 11. The plaintiff, who was born in current-day Ukraine, was
49 years-old at the time. Id. ¶ 7. Kelly allegedly “[o]n more than one occasion, told Kabakova
that she needed ‘to work to deserve it,’” that she needed to “earn it back,” that he would “not
give her an outstanding evaluation even if she perform[ed] outstandingly,” that “she needed to
work harder.” Id. ¶ 12. As support for the gender discrimination claim, the complaint alleges
that Kelly “on one occasion” made comments like this “with his hand on Kabakova’s knee.” Id.
¶ 13. On other unspecified occasions, Kelly allegedly touched the plaintiff’s hair and hugged
her. Id. ¶¶ 13, 15. In addition, Kelly allegedly stated that the plaintiff was “not ‘the same
breed’” as another female employee, who had been characterized by a fourth party as “very
flirtatious.” Id. ¶ 18–19. Finally, the complaint alleges: “Shortly after Kelly began” supervising
2
the plaintiff, “he promoted the only male employee under his supervision and gave him several
awards despite his underperformance.” Id. ¶ 23.
Regarding national origin discrimination, plaintiff alleges that “[o]n multiple occasions,
Kelly mocked Kabakova’s accent, telling her he could not understand her.” Id. ¶ 20.
Additionally, “[i]n late 2016, or January or February 2017, Kelly accused Kabakova of copying
secret security documents because of her national origin.” Id. ¶ 81.
Lastly, regarding age discrimination, plaintiff alleges that “[s]hortly after Kelly began, he
requested that subordinates provide him their resumes. After reviewing Kabakova’s resume,
Kelly told Kabakova that because of her age and experience, she did not need additional
training.” Id. ¶ 21.
Between March and December 2016, Kelly allegedly attempted to lower plaintiff’s rating
on her previous year’s performance review, id. ¶ 25, pushed plaintiff to cancel her telework
agreement, id. ¶¶ 29–37, and denied funds for plaintiff to attend a training, id. ¶ 38, 41. Kelly
also allegedly denied plaintiff approval to attend another training in March 2017. Id. ¶ 109
On December 20, 2016, plaintiff “asked Kelly to allow” her time off “from work to file
an [Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”)] complaint” alleging that he was discriminating
against her based on sex, id. ¶ 61, but the complaint does not indicate his response or whether the
plaintiff was given the time off. “On December 21, 2016, the plaintiff initiated EEO contact, and
met with EEO Counselor Ed Lopez regarding her claims,” id. ¶ 62, of “sexual harassment,
discrimination, and the existence of a hostile workplace,” id. ¶ 56. By February 15, 2017, the
EEO investigation was complete and EEO reported to plaintiff in a meeting “that no
discrimination was found.” Id. ¶ 84. That same day, Lopez allegedly “told Kabakova that Kelly
3
had interfered with the [EEO] investigation.” Id. ¶ 86. Upon hearing this, plaintiff tried to
withdraw her complaint, id. ¶ 91, but EEO “sent a memo of decision,” id. ¶ 92.
After the December 2016 EEO investigation, Kelly allegedly “retaliated against
Kabakova” by “ask[ing] Kabakova to do obscure and menial tasks” and by “isolat[ing]
Kabakova from her team members and coworkers.” Id. ¶¶ 72–73, 76.
“In late March 2017,” according to the complaint, plaintiff and Kelly began clashing over
safety after “Kabakova told Kelly that he was violating several safety policies and . . . standard
operating procedures.” Id. ¶ 101. Then, “[o]n April 5, 2017, Kelly claimed he was unaware that
safety inspection or upkeep [were] part of Kabakova’s responsibilities, telling her [that] he would
consider whether to cooperate with her inspections” in the future. Id. ¶ 99. “As Kabakova
continued to perform her safety inspection duties,” the complaint adds, “Kelly refused to
cooperate, a refusal that willfully violated safety requirements.” Id. ¶ 100.
On April 13, 2017, plaintiff, while performing an inspection, “slipped down a flight of
stairs and hit her head, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and multiple orthopedic injuries.” Id.
¶ 122. The plaintiff has not returned to work since then. Id. ¶ 125.
The week after the fall, AOC filed a claim on the plaintiff’s behalf with the Department
of Labor (“DOL”) Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (“OWCP”). Id. ¶ 129. While
OWCP was processing the claim, in May 2017, Kelly allegedly “forced” plaintiff “to take annual
and sick leave” and “denied her leave without pay requests.” Id. ¶ 132. Then, in early June,
AOC told OWCP “that it was challenging Kabakova’s claim,” a decision the complaint alleges
was made “on Kelly’s recommendation.” Id. ¶ 133. Kelly, the complaint says, believed there
were “significant . . . unusual circumstances surrounding the incident.” Id. ¶ 130. On August 3,
2017, OWCP denied the claim, and plaintiff appealed. Id. ¶¶ 134–35. The appeal was
4
successful, and OWCP ultimately “approved Kabakova’s workers compensation claim” on
December 7, 2017. Id. ¶ 158.
While her appeal was pending, Kelly allegedly removed plaintiff from the team’s email
list, id. ¶ 137, deleted plaintiff’s files about occupational health and safety from the shared
computer drive, id. ¶ 138, and “place[d] Kabakova on AWOL status,” id. ¶ 139. Also while the
appeal was pending, in November 2017, Kelly initiated a complaint with the OIG “alleging that
Kabakova submitted a fraudulent workers compensation claim, that she submitted false forms for
wage loss,” and that she otherwise violated AOC policy by not returning to work after her injury.
Id. ¶ 141. An OIG report concluded “based on preponderance of the evidence, the employee
committed [Federal Employees’ Compensation Act] fraud when they fabricated an injury and
made false statements by submitting a claim for compensation.” Id. ¶ 143 (quoting OIG Report
Number I-2018-01). “The employee also violated AOC policies when they were absent from
work without supervisory approval and did not cooperate with the AOC OIG during the
investigation.” Id. (quoting OIG Report Number I-2018-01).
According to the complaint, OIG continued to investigate the plaintiff into the summer of
2018, issuing another statement on August 8, 2018. Id. ¶ 194. That statement, however, was
about a separate complaint plaintiff made that “an AOC manager” was “abusing their authority.”
2018-0013–INVI-P: Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Employee Responsibilities; Government
Ethics; and Standards of Conduct: Substantiated.1 These allegations “were not substantiated” by
OIG. Id. The complaint alleges that all of OIG’s findings were false. See FAC ¶ 148, 202, 204.
1
This statement by the OIG, available at https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/oig-reports/18-0013-
I%20Oversight_gov%20Final.pdf, may be relied on in assessing the motion to dismiss because it was “incorporated
in the complaint,” Trudeau v. Fed. Trade Comm’n, 456 F.3d 178, 183 (D.C. Cir. 2006), through plaintiffs’ heavy
reliance, see FAC ¶¶ 194–204; see also, e.g., Phillips v. Fulwood, 616 F.3d 577, 582 n.3 (D.C. Cir. 2010)
(considering a document incorporated in the complaint and relied on by the plaintiff). In any event, judicial notice
may always be taken of “facts in the public record,” such as this OIG statement. See Covad Commc’ns Co. v. Bell
Atl Corp., 407 F.3d 1220, 1222 (D.C. Cir. 2005).
5
Finally, the complaint alleges that “[o]n April 14, 2018, plaintiff was terminated because,
according to AOC, she had not fully recovered from her injury in April 2017 and did not return
to work.” Id. ¶ 176.
B. Administrative Matters
As the administrative basis for the instant claims, the complaint references three
administrative matters 18-AC-53, 18-AC-63, and 19-AC-04. See FAC ¶¶ 186, 206, 208. The
defendant’s motion to dismiss identifies two additional, relevant administrative matters initiated
by the plaintiff: 18-AC-34 and 19-AC-26. See Def.’s Mem. Supp. Mot. to Dismiss at 7 (“Def.’s
Mem.”), ECF No. 21. All five of these administrative matters are described to aid in evaluating
whether the instant claims satisfy the jurisdictional exhaustion requirement.2 Importantly, as
discussed in more detail infra Section III.A, under the CAA, “[a] request for counseling shall be
made not later than 180 days after the date of the alleged violation,” and such a request is a
prerequisite step in the administrative process before “commenc[ing] a proceeding.” 2 U.S.C.
§ 1402(a) (1995). Thus, in describing each administrative matter, identification of the 180-day
period preceding the request for counseling is crucial because any alleged incident occurring
outside such period is not, by definition, subject to administrative review and is thus not properly
exhausted.
2
As explained infra Part II, in deciding a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, “the court
may consider the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts evidenced in the record,” such as the records of the
administrative matters submitted by the parties as exhibits to their briefing on the motion to dismiss. Herbert v.
Nat’l Acad. of Scis., 974 F.2d 192, 197 (D.C. Cir. 1992). Consideration of these formal documents about the
administrative matters for purposes of evaluating whether the plaintiff properly exhausted her claims does not
require conversion of the motion to dismiss to a motion for summary judgment. See Vasser v. McDonald, 228 F.
Supp. 3d 1, 9 (D.D.C. 2016) (analyzing this issue at length); see also Ahuja v. Detica Inc., 742 F. Supp. 2d 96, 103
(D.D.C. 2010) (considering administrative materials at motion to dismiss when neither party disputes the materials’
authenticity); Redmon v. U.S. Capitol Police, 80 F. Supp. 3d 79, 83 (D.D.C. 2015) (same).
6
1. No. 18-AC-34
Plaintiff requested counseling in matter 18-AC-34 on May 16, 2018. Def.’s Mot.,
Declaration of Aisha Murray (“Murray Decl.”), Ex. 6, Notification of Invocation of Mediation in
Case No. 18-AC-34 (“18-AC-34 Mediation Notice”) at 1, ECF No. 21-3, so the 180-day window
preceding the May 16, 2018 request opened November 17, 2017 and encompasses the plaintiff’s
termination, on April 14, 2018. The Notification of Invocation of Mediation stated that matter
18-AC-34 concerned allegations of “harassment, interference with [Family Medical Leave Act
(“FMLA”)], and termination because of disability and reprisal.” Id. (stating also that the plaintiff
requested mediation on July 5, 2018).
After the close of mediation, the plaintiff elected to file an administrative complaint,
rather than to file suit in federal court. See Murray Decl., Ex. 7, Order: Withdrawal of Complaint
with Prejudice (“18-AC-34 Order”) at 1, ECF No. 21-3. While motions for summary judgment
on the administrative complaint were pending, the plaintiff emailed OWCR asking to withdraw
the complaint. Id. at 1–3. The hearing officer granted the request to withdraw with prejudice, on
February 25, 2019. Id. at 2 (“Because the request was made at a relatively late stage in the
proceedings, the complaint is withdrawn with prejudice.” (capitalization altered)).
2. No. 18-AC-53
Plaintiff requested counseling in matter 18-AC-53 on July 13, 2018. See Def.’s Reply
Mem. in Supp. Mot. to Dismiss FAC (“Def.’s Reply”), Supplemental Decl. of Aisha Murray
(“Murray Supp. Decl.”), Ex. 1, Notification of Invocation of Mediation in Case No. 18-AC-53
(“18-AC-53 Mediation Notice”), ECF No. 25-1. In the request for counseling, the plaintiff
handwrote as the “basis for filing,” “gender discrimination” and “retaliation (complaints about
sex harassment, gender discrimination, workplace safety)” and “hostile work environment.”
Pl.’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss (“Pl.’s Opp’n”), Ex. 3, Formal Request for Counseling at
7
1, ECF No. 23-5. The 180-day window preceding the July 13, 2018 request opened January 14,
2018 and thus encompasses the plaintiff’s termination.3
Plaintiff sought mediation in this matter on November 5, 2018. See 18-AC-53 Mediation
Notice at 1. The Notice of Invocation of Mediation identified the allegations in the matter as
“unfair terms and conditions, denial of a step increase, interference with processing of benefits
and Worker’s Compensation claim because of disability, and reprisal.” Id. Notice of the end of
the mediation period was sent via first class mail on February 4, 2019. See Pl.’s Opp’n, Ex. 3,
End of Mediation Notice, ECF No. 23-5.
3. No. 18-AC-63
On August 17, 2018, the plaintiff sought counseling a third time, in 18-AC-63. See
Def.’s Mot., Murray Decl., Ex. 2, Notification of Invocation of Mediation in Case No. 18-AC-63
(“18-AC-63 Mediation Notice”) at 1, ECF No. 21-3; see also Pl.’s Opp’n, Ex. 1, Formal Request
for Counseling, ECF No. 23-3. The 180-day window preceding that counseling request opened
February 18, 2018, about two months prior to the plaintiff’s termination. Plaintiff requested
mediation in this matter on November 6, 2018, and the Notification of Invocation of Mediation
listed the allegations at issue as “unfair terms and conditions, discipline, hostile work
environment, and termination because of disability, and reprisal.” 18-AC-63 Mediation Notice
at 1. Notice of the end of the mediation period was mailed on February 4, 2019. See Pl.’s
Opp’n, Ex. 1, End of Mediation Notice, ECF No. 23-3.
3
Without explanation, the plaintiff asserts that the 180-day window opened on Friday, January 12, 2018, see
Pl.’s Opp’n at 4, not Sunday, January 14, 2018. No conclusion in this decision turns on whether the window opened
on January 12 rather than January 14.
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4. No. 19-AC-04
The plaintiff again sought counseling on October 12, 2018, in 19-AC-04. See Def.’s
Mot., Murray Decl., Ex. 3, Notification of Invocation of Mediation in Case No. 19-AC-04 (“19-
AC-04 Mediation Notice”) at 1, ECF No. 21-3; see also Pl.’s Opp’n, Ex. 2, Formal Request for
Counseling, ECF No. 23-4. The 180-day window preceding this request opened on April 15,
2018, the day after the plaintiff’s termination. Plaintiff requested mediation in this matter on
February 19, 2019, and the allegations at issue were “harassment, disparate treatment, hostile
work environment, and termination because of age, national origin, disability, sex, and reprisal.”
19-AC-04 Mediation Notice at 1. The plaintiff received notice of the end of the mediation
period via e-mail on March 26, 2019. See Pl.’s Opp’n, Ex. 2, End of Mediation Notice, ECF No.
23-3.
5. No. 19-AC-26
Finally, the plaintiff sought counseling on February 12, 2019 in 19-AC-26. See Def.’s
Mot., Murray Decl., Ex. 4, Notification of Invocation of Mediation in Case No. 19-AC-26 at 1
(“19-AC-26 Mediation Notice”), ECF No. 21-3. She requested mediation on March 28, 2019,
and the topics identified for mediation were “inaccurate compensation, damaged reputation, false
accusations, fraudulent statements, unlawful procurement of medical records, production of
inaccurate pay records, denied investigation, and interference with Workers’ Compensation
process because of age, national origin, and reprisal.” Id. Notice of the end of the mediation
period was sent via first class mail on May 1, 2019. See Def.’s Mot., Murray Decl., Ex. 5, End
of Mediation Notice (“19-AC-26 End of Mediation Notice”), ECF No. 21-3.
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C. Procedural History
The plaintiff filed this suit on May 1, 2019, see Complaint (May 1, 2019), ECF No. 1,
and filed an amended complaint on October 30, 2019, see FAC.4 The amended complaint
pleads eight counts: discrimination based on sex (Count I), national origin (Count II), age
(Count V), and disability (Counts VI and VII); and retaliation based on sex (Count III), national
origin (Count IV), and whistleblowing (Count VIII).
With the filing of the defendant’s reply at the end of January 2020, the defendant’s
motion to dismiss the amended complaint is now ripe for resolution.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
“‘Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction,’ possessing ‘only that power
authorized by Constitution and statute.’” Gunn v. Minton, 568 U.S. 251, 256 (2013) (quoting
Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994)). A court that “lacks
subject-matter jurisdiction” over an action has no authority to adjudicate it and “must dismiss the
action.” FED. R. CIV. P. 12(h)(3)). “The objection that a federal court lacks subject-matter
jurisdiction, may be raised by a party, or by a court on its own initiative, at any stage in the
litigation, even after trial and the entry of judgment.” Arbaugh v. Y & H Corp., 546 U.S. 500,
4
At the time of filing her original complaint, plaintiff was represented by an attorney, who later filed a
motion to withdraw, which was granted on July 25, 2019. See Min. Order (July 25, 2019) (granting motion
docketed at ECF No. 5). Plaintiff briefly proceeded pro se, see Response to Notify the Court Whether She Has
Retained Counsel, ECF No. 11, before retaining new counsel, who entered an appearance on September 16, 2019,
see Notice of Appearance for Plaintiff (Sept. 16, 2019), ECF No. 13, and represented plaintiff through the filing of
the FAC and the briefing on the defendant’s pending motion to dismiss. On February 21, 2020, after briefing on the
pending motion to dismiss was completed, plaintiff’s second counsel moved to withdraw, see The Employment Law
Group, P.C.’s Motion to Withdraw its Representation of Plaintiff Irina Kabakova and Notice Pursuant to Local Rule
83.6(c), ECF No. 26, which motion was granted over the plaintiff’s opposition, see Min. Order (Feb. 27, 2020)
(discussing ECF No. 27, the plaintiff’s opposition). While plaintiff was directed to notify the Court by April 8, 2020
whether she has obtained new counsel, see Min. Order (March 13, 2020), no new counsel has entered an appearance
on plaintiff’s behalf, so she is currently pro se. In an April 9, 2020 notice, the plaintiff confirmed that she is
currently proceeding pro se and requested that the case be stayed while she looks for new counsel, see Pl.’s
Response to the Court’s Order Dated March 13, 2020, ECF No. 30, which request is DENIED.
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506–07 (2006) (citation omitted0. One vehicle for raising such an objection is a motion to
dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1). See FED. R. CIV. PROC. 12(b)(1).
In some cases, a court may “dispose of a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter
jurisdiction under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) on the complaint standing alone.” Herbert, 974 F.2d
at 197. In other cases, “[w]here necessary, the court may consider the complaint supplemented
by undisputed facts evidenced in the record, or the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts
plus the court’s resolution of disputed facts.” Id. (first citing Williamson v. Tucker, 645 F.2d
404, 413 (5th Cir.1981); then citing Land v. Dollar, 330 U.S. 731, 735 n. 4 (1947); then citing
Hohri v. United States, 782 F.2d 227, 241 (D.C. Cir. 1986), vacated on other grounds, 482 U.S.
64 (1987); then citing Wilderness Soc’y v. Griles, 824 F.2d 4, 16–17 n. 10 (D.C. Cir. 1987); and
then citing 5A C. WRIGHT & A. MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE & PROCEDURE § 1350, at 213
(1990)); see also, e.g., Haase v. Sessions, 835 F.2d 902, 906 (D.C. Cir. 1987) (“In 12(b)(1)
proceedings, it has been long accepted that the judiciary may make ‘appropriate inquiry’ beyond
the pleadings to ‘satisfy itself on authority to entertain the case.’” (quoting Gordon v. Nat’l Youth
Work Alliance, 675 F.2d 356, 362–63 (D.C. Cir. 1982)). In the former type of case, the motion
to dismiss is cast as a facial challenge, while in the latter, the motion poses a factual challenge.
See Haase, 835 F.2d at 908 (explaining that some 12(b)(1) motions call for “an examination of
the face of the complaint,” while others require factual investigation); see also e.g., Gould
Electronics v. United States, 220 F.3d 169, 176 (3d Cir. 2000) (using the terms “facial challenge”
and “factual challenge”); Al-Owhali v. Ashcroft, 279 F. Supp. 2d 13, 20 (D.D.C. 2003) (“In order
to properly dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1), the complaint
must be successfully challenged on its face or on the factual truthfulness of its averments.”
(quoting Titus v. Sullivan, 4 F.3d 590, 593 (8th Cir. 1993)). Here, the defendant’s motion to
11
dismiss is a factual challenge, as it necessarily turns on examination of “the complaint
supplemented by undisputed facts plus the court’s resolution of disputed facts.” Herbert, 974
F.2d at 197; see also Settles v. U.S. Parole Comm’n, 429 F.3d 1098, 1107 (D.C. Cir. 2005)
(noting court may consider “facts developed in the record beyond the complaint”).
Even in evaluating a factual challenge like this one, “the court must still accept all of the
factual allegations in [the] complaint as true.” Jerome Stevens Pharm., Inc. v. FDA, 402 F.3d
1249, 1253 (D.C. Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks omitted) (alteration in original). The
court need not accept inferences drawn by the plaintiff, however, if those inferences are
unsupported by facts alleged in the complaint or amount merely to legal conclusions. See
Browning v. Clinton, 292 F.3d 235, 242 (D.C. Cir. 2002).
To survive a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the “complaint must contain
sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”
Wood v. Moss, 572 U.S. 744, 757–58 (2014) (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678
(2009)). A facially plausible claim pleads facts that are not “‘merely consistent with’ a
defendant’s liability” but that “allow[] the court to draw the reasonable inference that the
defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556 (2007)); see also Rudder v. Williams, 666 F.3d 790, 794 (D.C. Cir.
2012). In deciding a motion under 12(b)(6), the court must consider the whole complaint,
accepting all factual allegations as true, “even if doubtful in fact.” Twombly at 555. Courts do
not, however, “assume the truth of legal conclusions, nor do [they] ‘accept inferences that are
unsupported by the facts set out in the complaint.’” Arpaio v. Obama, 797 F.3d 11, 19 (D.C. Cir.
2015) (alteration in original) (internal citation omitted) (quoting Islamic Am. Relief Agency v.
Gonzales, 477 F.3d 728, 732 (D.C. Cir. 2007)).
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III. DISCUSSION
The discussion proceeds as follows. As a threshold matter, the exhaustion provisions of
the CAA enacted in 1995 and in effect until June 19, 2019, which apply to plaintiff’s claims, are
reviewed. Next, the plaintiff’s claims are considered in four groups. First, the claims of
discrimination based on age and of discrimination and retaliation based on national origin are
dismissed for failure to exhaust. Second, the claims of disability discrimination are dismissed
because they are either precluded by the plaintiff’s decision to pursue an administrative
complaint in 18-AC-34 or were not properly exhausted. Third, the claim of whistleblower
retaliation is dismissed for failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted. Finally, the
claims of sex discrimination are dismissed because aspects of these claims are untimely and
those aspects that are timely fail to state a claim.
A. Applicable CAA Exhaustion Provisions
The CAA “extended the protections of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well
as ten other remedial federal statutes, to employees of the legislative branch,” including
employees of the AOC. Blackmon-Malloy, 575 F.3d at 701; see also 2 U.S.C. § 1301(a)(3)(F)
(applying the CAA to the AOC). The version of the CAA applicable here requires a legislative
branch employee to exhaust a three-step administrative process before filing a complaint in
federal court seeking judicial relief under the CAA. Blackmon-Malloy, 575 F.3d at 701.5 In
Blackmon-Malloy, the D.C. Circuit concluded that “Congress intended the three-step process to
be jurisdictional.” 575 F.3d at 705. Put differently, Blackmon-Malloy held that a federal court
5
Congress amended applicable provisions of the CAA in 2018, in the Congressional Accountability Act of
1995 Reform Act (“2018 Reform Act”). See Pub. L. No. 115-397, 132 Stat. 5297 (2018). For reasons explained
infra note 7, the 2018 amendments are not applicable to this suit. As noted, the citations to the exhaustion
provisions of the CAA are to the applicable versions, enacted in 1995.
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lacks jurisdiction over any claim brought under the CAA that has not been properly exhausted
through the three-step process described below.
First, before “commenc[ing] a proceeding, a covered employee . . . shall request
counseling.” 2 U.S.C. § 1402(a) (1995). Importantly, “[a] request for counseling shall be made
not later than 180 days after the date of the alleged violation.” Id. The office that handles
counseling, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (“OCWR”), “shall notify the
employee in writing when the” 30-day “counseling period has ended.” Id. § 1402(c); see also id.
§ 1402(b).6
Second, “[n]ot later than 15 days after receipt by the employee of notice of the end of the
counseling period . . ., the covered employee who alleged a violation of a law shall file a request
for mediation.” Id. § 1403(a) (1995). Mediation “shall involve meetings with the parties
separately or jointly for the purpose of resolving the dispute between the covered employee and
the employing office.” Id. § 1403(b)(2). The mediation period is also 30 days, and OCWR must
notify the employee when the period has ended. Id. § 1403(c).
Third, “[n]ot later than 90 days after a covered employee receives notice of the end of the
period of mediation, but no sooner than 30 days after receipt of such notification, such covered
employee may either” file an administrative complaint with OCWR “or . . . file a civil action . . .
in the United States district court for the district in which the employee is employed or for the
District of Columbia.” Id. § 1404 (1995).
When an employee elects the civil action path, § 1408(a) provides that “[t]he district
courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over any civil action commenced under
[§ 1404] and this section by a covered employee who has completed counseling under [§ 1402]
6
OCWR was formerly known as the Office of Compliance and is referred to by that name in the applicable
version of the CAA.
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and mediation under [§ 1403].” Id. § 1408(a) (1995). Highlighting the need for administrative
exhaustion, § 1408(a) adds: “A civil action may be commenced by a covered employee only to
seek redress for a violation for which the employee has completed counseling and mediation.”
Id. Likewise, § 1410 states that “[e]xcept as expressly authorized by sections [1407, 1408, and
1409] . . ., the compliance or noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter and any action
taken pursuant to this chapter shall not be subject to judicial review.” 2 U.S.C. § 1410 (1995).
Amendments to the CAA on December 21, 2018, after the plaintiff was terminated but
before she filed this suit, altered the pre-suit administrative processes and revised § 1408, the
provision granting jurisdiction to federal courts. Correctly, neither party disputes that the pre-
amendment version of the CAA applies here. See Def.’s Mem. at 1 n.1 (noting the amendments
but stating that they do not apply); see generally Pl.’s Opp’n (neglecting to address the
amendments).7
B. Claims of Age Discrimination and National Origin Discrimination and
Retaliation
Turning now to the plaintiff’s claims, the Court lacks jurisdiction over Count V, alleging
age discrimination; over Count II, alleging national origin discrimination; and over Count IV,
alleging retaliation based on national origin. Although the plaintiff raised age discrimination and
national origin discrimination and retaliation in matters 19-AC-04 and 19-AC-26, see 19-AC-04
7
When, as here, “a case implicates a federal statute enacted after the events in suit, the court’s first task is to
determine whether Congress has expressly prescribed the statute’s proper reach.” Landgraf v. USI Film Prod., 511
U.S. 244, 280 (1994). Congress commanded that the new CAA amendments should not apply to proceedings like
this one pending on the date the amendments became effective. Specifically, the 2018 Reform Act stated that “this
Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period which begins
on the date of the enactment of this act.” Pub. L. No. 115-397 § 401(a), 132 Stat. 5297, 5327 (2018). That 180-day
period, which started December 21, 2018, expired on June 19, 2019. Congress added, however, that “[n]othing in
this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed to affect any proceeding . . . to a claim under . . . the
Congressional Accountability Act . . . which is pending as of the date after that 180-day period.” Id. § 401(b). By
June 20, 2019, the date after the expiration of the 180-day period, this suit, filed on May 1, 2019, was pending. As a
result, the amendments may not be construed to affect the plaintiff’s proceeding. See Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 280
(holding that where a statute contains an “express command” about the temporal reach of the provisions, that
command governs).
15
Mediation Notice at 1 (identifying the issues of “harassment, disparate treatment, hostile work
environment, and termination because of age, national origin, disability, sex, and reprisal”); 19-
AC-26 Mediation Notice at 1 (identifying as topics for mediation “inaccurate compensation,
damaged reputation, false accusations, fraudulent statements, unlawful procurement of medical
records, production of inaccurate pay records, denied investigation, and interference with
Workers’ Compensation process because of age, national origin, and reprisal”), neither matter
properly exhausted those claims.
This suit was filed too soon after 19-AC-26 to bring any claims raised in that
administrative matter. Section 1404 requires an employee to file any civil action “[n]ot later than
90 days after a covered employee receives notice of the end of the period of mediation, but no
sooner than 30 days after receipt of such notification.” 2 U.S.C. § 1404 (1995). Yet, notice of
the end of the mediation period for 19-AC-26 was sent to the plaintiff via first class mail on May
1, 2019, the very day she filed this suit. See 19-AC-26 End of Mediation Notice. As a result,
19-AC-26 cannot be the administrative basis for Counts II, IV, and V, or indeed for any other
claims in this suit.
Nor can 19-AC-04 be the administrative basis for any claims of discrimination in this
suit. The 180-day window preceding 19-AC-04 opened on April 15, 2018, the day after the
plaintiff was terminated. As a result, 19-AC-04 could not have timely raised any claims based
on the plaintiff’s termination or any claims based on conduct that occurred during the plaintiff’s
employment. See 2 U.S.C. § 1402(a) (1995) (“A request for counseling shall be made not later
than 180 days after the date of the alleged violation.”); see also, e.g., Bradshaw v. Office of
Architect of Capitol, 856 F. Supp. 2d 126, 136 (D.D.C. 2012) (dismissing claims based on
16
conduct “that took place more than 180 days before the plaintiff sought counseling as required in
order to bring a claim under the CAA”).8
19-AC-04 could have timely raised claims based on post-employment conduct, but post-
employment conduct cannot undergird an employment discrimination claim. The gravamen of
any such claim, whether based on a discrete-act or a hostile environment theory, is that the
employer’s biased conduct impacted the terms and conditions of the plaintiff’s employment. See
Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 64 (2006) (explaining that the
discrimination provision of Title VII “is . . . limited to discriminatory actions that affect the
terms and conditions of employment”); Harris v. Forklift Sys., Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993)
(defining a discriminatorily hostile work environment as one “permeated with discriminatory
intimidation, ridicule, and insult, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of
the victim’s employment and create an abusive working environment” (internal citation omitted)
(internal quotation marks omitted)).9 No terms and conditions of the plaintiff’s employment
existed to be impacted on April 15, 2018, the day after she was terminated and the day 19-AC-
04’s 180-day window opened. 19-AC-04, then, could not have timely raised and properly
exhausted any actionable claims of discrimination. See Slate v. Pub. Def. Serv. for D.C., 31 F.
Supp. 3d 277, 303 (D.D.C. 2014) (deeming claim untimely because the plaintiff was suspended
and barred from coming to work during the applicable filing window, so “if the plaintiff could
8
The plaintiff does not allege that she learned of her termination later than April 14, 2018, see FAC ¶ 176
(alleging that the plaintiff was terminated on April 14, 2018), nor does she argue that the 180-day period begins to
run on the date the plaintiff discovered the violation rather than on the date that the violation occurred. In any event,
“the discovery rule does not save [a] plaintiff’s claims under the CAA, where the statute of limitations is a
jurisdictional bar.” Bradshaw, 856 F. Supp. 2d at 138 (Howell, J.).
9
Courts rely on case law interpreting the statutes incorporated into the CAA when interpreting the CAA.
See, e.g., Brady v. Office of Sergeant at Arms, 520 F.3d 490, 492 (D.C.Cir.2008) (observing that Title VII “applies
to offices in the Legislative Branch as a result of the Congressional Accountability Act” and analyzing CAA
discrimination and hostile work environment claims as Title VII claims); Fields v. Office of Eddie Bernice Johnson,
459 F.3d 1, 15 (D.C.Cir.2006) (presuming that Title VII principles apply to CAA claim).
17
not access the workplace after his suspension, an act of discrimination could not have occurred
within the filing period”).10 Counts II and V, which raise discrimination claims allegedly
exhausted in 19-AC-04, are thus dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.11
Although post-employment conduct may be the basis for a claim of retaliation, 19-AC-04
did not raise or exhaust any such retaliation claim. See Baloch v. Kempthorne, 550 F.3d 1191,
1198 n.4 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (explaining that retaliation claims “may extend to harms that are not
workplace-related or employment-related so long as ‘a reasonable employee would have found
the challenged action materially adverse’” (quoting Burlington N., 548 U.S. at 64)). Although
Count IV, which raises the retaliation based on national origin claim, does not specifically refer
to any post-employment conduct, Count IV incorporates all earlier allegations, and, elsewhere,
the complaint alleges the following post-employment conduct: (1) in June 2018, AOC refused to
provide a final timesheet and pay records, FAC ¶ 181; (2) due to the OIG’s finding that the
plaintiff had submitted fraudulent information in support of her worker’s compensation claim,
the plaintiff “did not receive wage loss pay” for the year she was absent, id. ¶ 181; and (3) in
August 2018, the OIG reported false information about the plaintiff, id. ¶ 204. This post-
employment conduct was plainly raised, counseled, and mediated in 19-AC-26, not in 19-AC-04,
10
“[D]iscrete discriminatory acts are not actionable if time barred, even when they are related to acts alleged
in timely filed charges.” Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 113 (2002). Timeliness is evaluated
differently in a hostile work environment claim. In that context, “[p]rovided that” even one “act contributing to” the
claim “occurs within the filing period, the entire time period of the hostile environment may be considered by a
court for the purposes of determining liability.” Id. at 117; see also Ham v. Ayers, No. CV 15-1390 (RMC), 2019
WL 1202453, at *4 (D.D.C. Mar. 14, 2019) (applying this rule to a claim under the CAA). Given that the plaintiff
had already been terminated by the time the 180-day window for counseling in 19-AC-04 began, not a single act
contributing to a hostile work environment could have occurred within that window. See Slate, 31 F. Supp. 3d at
303 (deeming hostile work environment claim untimely because plaintiff, suspended from work, could not have
been in the workplace to experience discrimination during the filing window).
11
The defendant makes the alternative argument that 19-AC-04 cannot be the administrative basis for any
claims because the complaint does not allege that the plaintiff actually “engaged in mediation with Defendant in”
19-AC-04, Def.’s Mem. at 23, but, as explained infra Section III.F.1, the CAA does not require that the plaintiff
prove her claims were in fact mediated, just that she sought counseling and that the mediation period was completed.
The defendant’s identical argument about 18-AC-63, see Def.’s Mem. at 23, fails for the same reason.
18
however. The mediation notice for 19-AC-26 stated the issues as “inaccurate compensation,
damaged reputation, false accusations, fraudulent statements, unlawful procurement of medical
records, production of inaccurate pay records, denied investigation, and interference with
Workers’ Compensation process because of age, national origin, and reprisal.” 19-AC-26
Mediation Notice at 1; compare 19-AC-04 Mediation Notice at 1 (identifying as the topics that
were counseled “harassment, disparate treatment, hostile work environment, and termination
because of age, national origin, disability, sex, and reprisal”). Having raised a retaliation claim
based on post-employment conduct in 19-AC-26 does not help the plaintiff, for the reasons
already explained. Thus, Count IV is also dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
The plaintiff argues that she “is entitled to equitable tolling of her claims” because she
“diligently pursued exhausting the procedural requirements of the CAA before filing,” Pl.’s
Opp’n at 13, but equitable tolling is not available because the exhaustion requirements of the
CAA are jurisdictional, see Blackmon-Malloy, 575 F.3d at 706 (“Because we hold that the
CAA’s counseling and mediation requirements are jurisdictional, the district court correctly ruled
that it was not empowered to apply the equitable doctrine of vicarious exhaustion to excuse
compliance with those requirements.”). In a last-gasp effort to save this claim, the plaintiff
contends that she could “amend her Complaint to completely demonstrate exhaustion.” Pl.’s
Opp’n at 14. Curing a failure to raise claims in counseling and mediation in a timely manner
would require time travel, not more artful pleading, however. See Firestone v. Firestone, 76
F.3d 1205, 1209 (D.C. Cir. 1996) (acknowledging that amendment would be “futile” where a
claim is “time-barred”).
C. Claims of Disability Discrimination
The complaint raises two claims of disability discrimination, one under the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12112, et seq., see FAC ¶¶ 284–95 (Count VI), which
19
is incorporated into the CAA, see 2 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(3), and another under the Rehabilitation
Act, 29 U.S.C. § 792, see FAC ¶¶ 296–304 (Count VII), also incorporated into the CAA, 2
U.S.C. § 1311(a)(3).12 Both Counts VI and VII allege the same two theories: (1) that AOC
discriminated against plaintiff based on disability “when it terminated her without just cause in
April 2018,” id. ¶ 293 (ADA); id. ¶ 302 (Rehabilitation Act), and (2) that AOC discriminated
against plaintiff based on disability by “initiat[ing] an OIG investigation into her based on false
allegations of workers’ compensation fraud and of fabricating a workplace injury,” id. ¶ 291
(ADA); see also id. ¶ 301 (Rehabilitation Act).13 As discussed in more detail below, plaintiff is
precluded from raising the first theory because she elected to pursue such a claim through the
administrative channel in matter 18-AC-34. The second theory was not properly exhausted.
Counts VI and VII will thus be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
1. Plaintiff is Precluded from Raising Claim of Disability Discrimination
Based on her Termination
Plaintiff raised allegations of disability discrimination in three administrative matters:
18-AC-34, 18-AC-63, and 19-AC-04. See 18-AC-34 Mediation Notice at 1 (involving
“harassment, interference with [Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”)], and termination because
of disability and reprisal”); 18-AC-63 Mediation Notice at 1 (alleging “unfair terms and
conditions, discipline, hostile work environment, and termination because of disability, and
reprisal”); 19-AC-04 Mediation Notice at 1 (alleging “harassment, disparate treatment, hostile
work environment, and termination because of age, national origin, disability, sex, and reprisal”).
12
Defendant incorrectly asserts that only the Rehabilitation Act is “applicable to the federal government.”
Def.’s Mem. at 2 n.2. The CAA extends the protections of both “section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 791) and sections 102 through 104 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12112 to
12114)” to congressional employees. 2 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(3); see also, e.g. Niles v. U.S. Capitol Police, No. 16-CV-
1209 (TSC), 2019 WL 1858503, at *3 (D.D.C. Apr. 25, 2019) (“The Congressional Accountability Act extends the
protections of Title I of the ADA to certain legislative branch employees.”).
13
Plaintiff describes Counts VI and VII as raising “claims of disability discrimination and retaliation,” Pl.’s
Opp’n at 10, but the amended complaint nowhere mentions retaliation based on disability.
20
Defendant argues, and plaintiff concedes, that plaintiff’s decision to pursue one of these matters,
18-AC-34, through the administrative channel precludes her from bringing in federal court any
claims raised in 18-AC-34, including the claim of disability discrimination based on her
termination. See Def.’s Mem. at 17; see also Pl.’s Opp’n at 12 (stating that “the decision to
pursue those particular claims discussed in 18-AC-34 in an administrative hearing precluded
Kabakova from also pursuing 18-AC-34 in federal court”). The parties are correct.
Under the CAA version applicable here, courts undoubtedly lack jurisdiction over suits
filed while a parallel administrative complaint is pending. See Delfani v. U.S. Capitol Guide Bd.,
No. 03-cv-0949 (RWR), 2005 WL 736644, at *4–5 (D.D.C. Mar. 31, 2005), aff’d, 198 F. App’x
9 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (“The district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because the plaintiff had
an administrative complaint pending when she filed this civil action.”); Rucker v. Architect of the
Capitol, No. CIV. 10-CV-1483 (RLW), 2012 WL 4498053, at *1 (D.D.C. Sept. 30, 2012)
(same). Here, though, the plaintiff’s administrative complaint was withdrawn with prejudice on
February 25, 2019, see 18-AC-34 Order at 1–3, before she filed this suit, on May 1, 2019, see
Compl. The D.C. Circuit has left open the question “whether a claimant’s election of the
administrative option is irrevocable such that any later-filed civil action in the district court must
be dismissed,” Delfani, 198 App’x at 9, but the text of the CAA and the facts here show that the
administrative complaint in 18-AC-34 precludes the plaintiff from bringing in this suit any
claims raised in 18-AC-34.
Section 1404 of the CAA permits “covered employee[s]” to “either . . . file a complaint
with [OWCR] . . . or . . . file a civil action.” 2 U.S.C. § 1404 (1995) (emphasis added); see also
Delfani, 2005 WL 736644, at *4 (“[S]ection 1404 . . . limits a covered employee to filing either
an administrative action or a civil action.”). Further, § 1408, the CAA provision granting
21
jurisdiction to federal courts, “limits the court’s jurisdiction to matters ‘commenced under
section 1404 of [the CAA],’” thus “mak[ing] clear that jurisdiction lies over actions that conform
with the election procedures of section 1404.” Delfani, 2005 WL 736644, at *4 (alteration in
original) (quoting 2 U.S.C. § 1404 (1995)). A civil action that seeks redress for violations
already pursued in an administrative complaint does not “conform with the election procedures
of section 1404.” Id. A federal district court thus lacks jurisdiction over such a civil action.
That the plaintiff withdrew her administrative complaint does not change this conclusion,
especially given that the withdrawal was deemed by the hearing officer to be with prejudice.
Under the scheme in place at the time, if the plaintiff disagreed with the hearing officer’s
decision to permit withdrawal with prejudice, her recourse was to appeal the hearing officer’s
order to the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance, see 2 U.S.C. § 1406 (1995), and
then to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, see id. § 1407 (1995). Allowing plaintiffs to
pursue in federal district court claims discharged with prejudice in the administrative channel
would circumvent the system designed by Congress, which requires plaintiffs to choose — either
administrative complaint or civil action — and provides for appellate procedures, terminating in
different federal circuit courts, within each channel. Cf. Halcomb v. Office of Sergeant-At-Arms
of U.S. Senate, No. 01-cv-01428 (RBW), 2007 WL 2071684, at *4 (D.D.C. July 13, 2007), aff’d
sub nom. Halcomb v. Office of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, 368 F. App’x 150 (D.C. Cir. 2010)
(dismissing for lack of jurisdiction claims that the plaintiff had pursued through an
administrative hearing and appeal to the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance because
the “CAA confers exclusive jurisdiction over a decision of the Board of Directors of the Office
of Compliance on the Federal Circuit”).
22
Although plaintiff concedes that she may not “pursu[e] 18-AC-34 in federal court,” she
argues that she may raise claims pursued in that administrative matter that were later raised again
in other administrative matters. Pl.’s Opp’n at 12. Not so. Plaintiff’s pursuit of a claim of
disability discrimination based on her termination in 18-AC-34, and the withdrawal of that claim
with prejudice, mean that she was precluded from raising the same claim of disability
discrimination based on her termination again in any later administrative matters. Thus, the
plaintiff could not have properly exhausted the termination claim in a later matter.
In short, under § 1404 and § 1408, this Court lacks jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s claim
of disability discrimination based on her termination.
2. Jurisdiction Is Lacking Over a Disability Discrimination Claim Based on
Any Other Theory
Plaintiff also raised claims of disability discrimination in administrative matters
18-AC-63 and 19-AC-04, but neither can be the basis for the disability discrimination claims in
Counts VI and VII. As already discussed, supra Section III.B, matter 19-AC-04 cannot be the
administrative basis for any claims of discrimination because neither plaintiff’s termination nor
any pre-termination conduct could have been timely counseled in 19-AC-04. 18-AC-63 also
cannot be the administrative basis for any actionable claim of disability discrimination because
no adverse employment action occurred within the 180-day period preceding her request for
counseling in that matter, which period ran from February 18, 2018 to August 17, 2018.
Every claim of discrimination has “two essential elements:” “that (i) the plaintiff suffered
an adverse employment action (ii) because of the plaintiff’s race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, or disability.” Baloch, 550 F.3d at 1196 (applying this framework to claims
including a disability claim under the Rehabilitation Act); Redmon, 80 F. Supp. 3d at 85
(applying this framework to claims of Rehabilitation Act and ADA discrimination brought under
23
the CAA). An adverse employment action is “a significant change in employment status, such
as hiring, firing, failing to promote, reassignment with significantly different responsibilities, or a
decision causing significant change in benefits.” Taylor v. Small, 350 F.3d 1286, 1293 (D.C.
Cir. 2003). Many workplace slights, “such as dissatisfaction with a reassignment, public
humiliation, or loss of reputation” do not rise to the level of actionable adverse actions. Holcomb
v. Powell, 433 F.3d 889, 902 (D.C. Cir. 2006). “[T]he threshold” for an adverse action “is met”
only “when an employee ‘experiences materially adverse consequences affecting the terms,
conditions, or privileges of employment or future employment opportunities such that a
reasonable trier of fact could find objectively tangible harm.’” Id. (quoting Forkkio v. Powell,
306 F.3d 1127, 1131 (D.C. Cir. 2002)).
The OIG investigation alleged as a basis for disability discrimination in Counts VI and
VII, see FAC ¶ 291 (ADA); see also id. ¶ 301 (Rehabilitation Act), is not an adverse
employment action.14 “Although the discipline imposed as a result of an investigation may have
a sufficiently adverse effect on plaintiff’s employment to be [an] actionable” adverse action, “the
mere initiation” or completion “of [an] investigation does not.” Ware v. Billington, 344 F. Supp.
2d 63, 76 (D.D.C. 2004); see also Mack v. Strauss, 134 F. Supp. 2d 103, 114 (D.D.C. 2001)
(“[M]ere investigations by plaintiff’s employer cannot constitute an adverse action because they
have no adverse effect on plaintiff’s employment.”), aff’d, 2001 WL 1286263 (D.C. Cir. Sept. 28,
2001) (affirming that plaintiff “has failed to show that he suffered an adverse employment
action”); Haddon v. Exec. Residence at White House, 313 F.3d 1352, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 2002)
(“Internal investigations such as the one at issue here generally do not qualify as adverse
14
The Court assumes that this theory was properly exhausted because the theory fails even if properly
exhausted. Indeed, that assumption has some basis, as the 180-day period preceding the request for counseling for
18-AC-63 opened on February 18, 2018, before the April 1 completion of the investigation.
24
employment actions.”); compare King v. Holder, 77 F. Supp. 3d 146, 151 (D.D.C. 2015)
(holding that the plaintiff’s held-up promotion, which was stalled because of an OIG
investigation, was an adverse employment action). According to the complaint, the OIG
investigation into the plaintiff’s injury benefits claims was initiated in November 2017, see FAC
¶ 141, and completed by April 1, 2018, the day the findings were reported to Congress, see FAC
¶ 144. The complaint does not assert that the completion of the investigation triggered any
material changes to her employment in the two weeks between April 1 and her termination on
April 14.
Two other events allegedly transpired in the portion of the 180-day window for
counseling 18-AC-63 before the plaintiff’s termination, but neither qualifies as an adverse
employment action. The complaint alleges that, on February 25, 2018, plaintiff sent an email to
“Director Stephen Ayers requesting help resolving her timesheet issues, her removal from the
email list, and concerns about Agency safety,” FAC ¶ 163, and that, on March 14, 2018, plaintiff
“spoke with Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer for Operations John McPhaul” about the same
issues, id. ¶ 167. In the course of these conversations, the plaintiff asked Ayers and McPhaul to
report some of her concerns about Kelly to the AOC OIG. Id. ¶¶ 165, 170. Ayers and McPhaul,
the complaint asserts, “did not forward Kabakova’s concerns to the OIG.” Id. ¶ 166 (Ayers); see
also id. ¶ 171 (McPhaul). Failing to forward complaints to the OIG is not an adverse
employment action, as such an omission causes no change at all in employment conditions.
***
The plaintiff’s decision to pursue her disability-discrimination termination claim in the
administrative channel precludes her from raising such a claim in federal court. In addition, no
adverse employment action occurred in the 180-day window preceding 18-AC-63 that could
25
support a claim of disability discrimination in federal court. As a result, Counts VI and VII are
dismissed.
D. Claim of Retaliation for Whistleblowing
Count VIII of the complaint alleges that “AOC violated the Whistleblower Protection Act
(WPA) of 1983, 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8)–(9) and Section 11(c) of the Occupational Health and
Safety Act (OSHA) of 1970, as incorporated with respect to AOC by the CAA,” by retaliating
against plaintiff for “reporting OSHA and safety violations by her supervisor.” FAC ¶ 308.
This Count is dismissed without prejudice for failure to state a claim on which relief can be
granted.
To start, the WPA does not apply to legislative branch employees and, thus, plaintiff
cannot obtain relief under that Act. See 5 U.S.C. § 2302(a)(2)(B) (defining “covered positions”
to include only executive branch positions); id. § 2302(a)(2)(C) (defining “agency” to include
executive agencies); see also S. 2723, 114th Cong. (2016) (proposing to amend the CAA to
extend the protections of the WPA to congressional employees); 2 U.S.C. 1311(a) (listing the
statutes incorporated into the CAA but not listing the WPA). The CAA does require covered
legislative agencies to comply with “the provisions of section 5 of [OSHA],” 2 U.S.C.
§ 1341(a)(1) (1995), and prohibits “reprisal against . . . any covered employee because the
covered employee has opposed any practice” “made unlawful by [the CAA],” id. § 1317(a),
including failure to observe OSHA requirements, see Duncan v. Office of Compliance, 541 F.3d
1377, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (“[T]he CAA unambiguously extends its anti-reprisal protections to
OSHA-related claims.”); Clendenny v. Architect of the Capitol, 236 F. Supp. 3d 11, 17 (D.D.C.
2017) (same).
The complaint does not come close to pleading plausibly that the plaintiff “opposed any
practice made unlawful by” the CAA and OSHA. The complaint makes two brief allegations
26
related to safety violations: (1) that “[i]n late March 2017, Kabakova told Kelly that he was
violating several safety policies and . . . standard operating procedures,” FAC ¶ 101, and (2) that
in April 2017, “Kelly refused to cooperate” with safety inspections, “a refusal that willfully
violated safety requirements,” id. ¶ 100. These “threadbare” allegations, devoid of specific facts,
amount to “mere conclusory statements” and cannot support a “reasonable inference” that the
plaintiff engaged in protected opposition to violations of the CAA and OSHA. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at
678.
E. Claims of Discrimination and Retaliation Based on Sex
Finally, the complaint alleges that plaintiff suffered discrimination based on sex in the
form of discrete acts and a hostile work environment and retaliation based on sex in the form of
discrete acts and a hostile work environment. See FAC ¶¶ 212–225 (Count I – discrimination);
id. ¶¶ 24–54 (Count III – retaliation). Defendant argues that plaintiff failed to exhaust these
claims and that, even if exhausted, these claims should be dismissed for failure to state a claim.
These arguments are addressed in turn.
1. Exhaustion of the Discrimination and Retaliation Based on Sex Claims
Plaintiff argues that she exhausted her claims of discrimination and retaliation based on
sex in administrative matter 18-AC-53, where, on the request for counseling, she handwrote as
the “basis for filing,” “gender discrimination” and “retaliation (complaints about sex harassment,
gender discrimination, workplace safety)” and “hostile work environment.” Formal Request for
Counseling at 1. In the request for counseling’s space to describe “What Happened,” the
plaintiff added, “Mr. Kelly subjected me to quid pro quo sexual harassment and hostile work
environment” and “retaliation (complaints about sex harassment, gender discrimination, hostile
work environment . . . ).” Id. at 2. Defendant counters that, despite their appearance on the
request for counseling, these claims were not in fact counseled or mediated, see Def.’s Reply at
27
4, 8, pointing to the Notice of Invocation of Mediation, which identified the allegations at issue
as “unfair terms and conditions, denial of a step increase, interference with processing of benefits
and Worker’s Compensation claim because of disability, and reprisal,” 18-AC-53 Mediation
Notice at 1.
Here, the request for counseling establishes that the plaintiff sought counseling on claims
of sex discrimination and retaliation based on sex in 18-AC-53. The plaintiff then sought
mediation in that administrative matter and filed this suit within 90 days of the end of the
mediation period. Under the D.C. Circuit’s interpretation of the counseling and mediation
requirements, this timeline shows that she “completed counseling . . . and mediation,” under 2
U.S.C. § 1408(a) (1995), on the sex discrimination and retaliation claims, see Blackmon-Malloy,
575 F.3d at 713 (“[T]he reference in section 1408(a) to ‘[c]ompleted counseling . . . and
mediation’ means no more than that the employee timely requested counseling and mediation,
that the employee did not thwart mediation by failing to give notice of his or her claim to the
employing office upon request, that the mandated time periods have expired, and that the
employee received end of counseling and mediation notices from the Office.” (quoting 2 U.S.C.
§ 1408(a) (1995)).
The discrepancy identified by defendant does not defeat this showing. “[U]nlike agency
exhaustion in other contexts, the purposes of counseling and mediation” under the CAA “are not
to compile a record for judicial review but instead simply to afford the employee and the
employing office an opportunity to explore and possibly resolve the employee’s claims
informally.” Id. at 711. In light of these purposes, the D.C. Circuit has rejected an “‘actual
mediation’ standard” for CAA claims, cautioning that “[n]othing in the CAA suggests Congress
intended courts to engage in a mini-trial on the content of the counseling and mediation sessions,
28
an inquiry that would be fraught with problems.” Id. Contrary to defendant’s suggestion, then,
the Court need not draw factual inferences about the extent to which plaintiff’s claims of
sex-based discrimination and retaliation were in fact counseled or mediated. The record
establishes that plaintiff raised those claims in 18-AC-53 and then saw that matter through to the
end of mediation. See Blackmon-Malloy, 575 F.3d at 714 (“[T]he receipt of end of mediation
notices documented completion of counseling and mediation under section 1408(a).”).
2. Evaluation of the Claims of Discrimination and Retaliation Based on Sex
As stated, Count I of the complaint alleges discrimination based on sex in the form of
discrete discriminatory actions and a hostile work environment. See FAC ¶¶ 212–225. Count II
asserts retaliation based on sex in the form of materially adverse actions and a hostile work
environment. Id. ¶¶ 24–54. These theories are addressed in turn.
a. Count I: Discrete Act Discrimination
Count I alleges the following discrete acts: (1) the termination of “Kabakova’s telework
agreement,” FAC ¶ 219; (2) “den[ying] her permission to attend trainings and conferences,” id.
¶ 220; (3) “refus[ing] to approve or participate in her inspections and investigations,” id. ¶ 221;
and (4) “initiat[ing] an OIG investigation into her,” id. ¶ 222, and (5) “report[ing] false
allegations” of “worker’s compensation fraud” to DOL, id. ¶ 223. These alleged actions cannot
be the basis for a timely claim of discrimination.
For one, denial of telework, denial of permission to attend trainings, and initiating
investigations are not the types of actions that qualify as adverse employment actions. See, e.g.,
Redmon, 80 F. Supp. 3d at 87 (“Courts in this and other jurisdictions have repeatedly held that
denial of a telework arrangement on its own does not constitute an adverse employment
action.”); Artis v. D.C., 51 F. Supp. 3d 135, 140 (D.D.C. 2014) (“The Court of Appeals has not
specifically addressed this issue, but the overwhelming consensus on the District Court seems to
29
be that the denial of training opportunities may constitute an adverse action only if the plaintiff
can link that denial to a tangible, negative employment consequence.”); Ware 344 F. Supp. 2d at
76 (holding that “the mere initiation of [an] investigation does not” constitute an adverse
employment action). Even if one of the alleged discrete acts did rise to that level, however, the
derivative claim of discrimination would be time barred, see Morgan, 536 U.S. at 113
(“[D]iscrete discriminatory acts are not actionable if time barred, even when they are related to
acts alleged in timely filed charges.”); see also, e.g., Ross v. U.S. Capitol Police, 195 F. Supp. 3d
180, 196 (D.D.C. 2016) (applying this rule to a claim brought under the CAA), because none of
the identified acts — termination of the telework agreement, denial of permission to attend
trainings, refusing to participate in inspections, initiating investigations — occurred within the
180-day window preceding the request for counseling in 18-AC-53, which period began on
January 14, 2018, see FAC ¶ 29 (termination of telework agreement “[s]hortly after Kelly began”
in March 2016); id. ¶ 104 (denial of permission to attend training in March 2017); id. ¶ 98
(refusal to participate in inspections around April 2017); id. ¶ 141 (“In November 2017, Kelly
initiated an OIG complaint . . . .”).
Although the plaintiff’s termination does fall within the window for counseling in 18-
AC-53, and termination is an adverse employment action, see Holcomb, 433 F.3d at 902,
termination is not mentioned in Count I of the complaint. The allegations incorporated by
reference into Count I do not plausibly plead a required element of a discrimination claim based
on termination: that the plaintiff was terminated “because of . . . sex.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–2(a);
Baloch, 550 F.3d at 90 (stating the required elements of a discrimination claim); see also Brady
v. Office of Sergeant at Arms, 520 F.3d 490, 493 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (applying Title VII as
incorporated into the CAA). Instead, the complaint alleges as to the termination: “On April 14,
30
2018, Kabakova was terminated because, according to AOC, she had not fully recovered from
her injury in April 2017 and did not come to work.” FAC ¶ 176.15
Given the presence of this “legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the challenged”
termination, Brady, 520 F.3d at 493, the question is whether plaintiff has plausibly pled that her
absence between April 2017 and April 2018 “was not the actual reason” for her termination and
that instead “the employer intentionally discriminated against [her] on the basis of . . . sex,” id. at
494; see also Nurriddin v. Bolden, 674 F. Supp. 2d 64, 90 (D.D.C. 2009) (adapting this standard,
which is typically applied at summary judgment, to the motion to dismiss stage); Moore v.
Castro, 192 F. Supp. 3d 18, 40 (D.D.C. 2016) (making the same adaptation). “[T]he threshold
for pleading facts in support of” such an inference “is a low one” that can be cleared by alleging
facts to support an inference “that the employer’s proffered reasons for the adverse employment
actions is false” or by alleging “specific instances where similarly situated persons outside of
[her] protected class received more favorable treatment.” See Nurriddin, 674 F. Supp. 2d at 90–
91; see also Brady, 520 F.3d at 495 (“A plaintiff . . . may try in multiple ways to show that the
employer’s stated reason for the employment action was not the actual reason (in other words,
was a pretext),” including “comparative evidence” and undermining the stated reason); George v.
Leavitt, 407 F.3d 405, 412 (D.C. Cir. 2005) (holding that plaintiff need not present evidence of
differential treatment because “[e]limination of [employer’s legitimate] reasons . . . is sufficient,
absent other explanation, to create an inference that the decision was a discriminatory one”);
Slate, 31 F. Supp. 3d at 297–98 (examining the same two possibilities in granting a motion to
dismiss a Title VII gender discrimination claim); Castro, 192 F. Supp. 3d at 40 (“[B]y claiming
15
That paragraph of the complaint also states that “[t]his contradicts OIG fraud determination and Kelly’s
fraud allegations,” FAC ¶ 176, but the relevance of this statement is elusive because the plaintiff does not assert that
she returned to work after April 2017, or that OIG found she had done so.
31
that [the employer]’s proffered reasons for his termination are false and that younger, female,
non-African-American . . . employees were retained, [the plaintiff] has also alleged facts that
could establish that his termination was because of age, gender, or race.”). Plaintiff does not
dispute that she was absent from work for a year, nor does the complaint provide any other
support for an inference that the proffered reason for her termination was false or pretextual.
See, e.g., Slate, 31 F. Supp. at 297–98 (dismissing gender discrimination claim for failure to state
a claim where “there is nothing to support a causal inference that gender was [the employer’s]
motivating factor, other than the plaintiff’s conclusory allegations”); George, 407 F.3d at 412
(explaining that discriminatory motive can be established by undermining the employer’s
legitimate, non-discriminatory reason but that such undermining requires some “showing that the
discharge was not attributable to the . . . legitimate reasons for discharge”); Brady, 520 F.3d at
495 (observing, at summary judgment, that “the employee may attempt to demonstrate that the
employer is making up or lying about the underlying facts that formed the predicate for the
employment decision.”). Nor does the complaint allege any facts to support an inference that
men were retained under similar circumstances. See Slate, 31 F. Supp. at 298 (granting a motion
to dismiss a gender discrimination claim where complaint “does not plead facts to show
differential treatment based on gender”). The complaint thus fails to plead plausibly that the
plaintiff was terminated because of her sex.
In sum, the discrete acts alleged in Count I cannot support a timely claim of
discrimination, and the complaint fails to state a claim of sex-based discrimination based on the
plaintiff’s termination.
b. Count I: Hostile Work Environment
Count I also asserts that defendant discriminated against plaintiff based on her sex “when
it knowingly and intentionally . . . created a hostile work environment.” FAC ¶ 217. Defendant
32
first argues that this hostile work environment claim is untimely because no conduct within the
180-day window preceding the request for counseling in 18-AC-53 “could be plausibly
characterized as forming the basis for a . . . gender-based . . . hostile work environment claim.”
Def.’s Reply at 9; see also Def.’s Mem. at 16–18. As defendant acknowledges, however, see
Def.’s Reply at 9, “[p]rovided that an act contributing to” the hostile work environment claim
“occur[ed] within the filing period, the entire time period of the hostile work environment may
be considered,” Morgan, 536 U.S. at 117. Here, though, defendant insists, “the limited conduct
that is alleged in the Amended Complaint as occurring within the applicable window” — January
14, 2018 to April 14, 2018 — “is unrelated to the alleged conduct occurring outside that
window” and therefore “cannot be combined with that earlier conduct to form a timely-raised
hostile work environment claim.” Def.’s Reply at 9–10.16 The hostile work environment claim
is timely but founders under Rule 12(b)(6).
Starting with the timeliness question, as alleged in the complaint, the hostile work
environment consists of the events discussed in the prior section — ending the telework
agreement, denial of permission to attend trainings, not participating in the plaintiff’s
inspections, and the OIG investigation, all events that occurred between Kelly’s arrival in March
2016 and the OIG investigation’s close in April 2018, FAC ¶¶ 219–222 — along with Kelly’s
comments and “inappropriate touching,” which appear to have occurred between March and
December 2016, id. ¶ 218. In the 18-AC-53 counseling window, between January 14, 2018 and
April 14, 2018, the complaint alleges: (1) that plaintiff sent the already-discussed email to Ayers
about “her timesheet issues, her removal from the email list, and concerns about Agency safety,”
16
The full counseling window for 18-AC-53 is January 18, 2018 to July 13, 2018, but, as already explained
supra note 9 and accompanying text, conduct after the plaintiff’s termination on April 14, 2018 cannot anchor a
hostile work environment claim.
33
FAC ¶ 163 (February 25, 2018); (2) that plaintiff “spoke with Deputy Chief Human Capital
Officer for Operations John McPhaul” about the same issues, id. ¶ 167 (March 14, 2018); (3) that
the OIG investigation wrapped up with a report to Congress on April 1, 2018, id. ¶ 144; and
(4) that the plaintiff was terminated, id. ¶ 176.
Defendant argues that the events in the 18-AC-53 counseling window are different in
kind because they occurred after the plaintiff stopped coming to work. See Def.’s Reply at 9–10.
As support, defendant cites, see id. at 10, Turner v. U.S. Capitol Police, 653 Fed. App’x 1, 3
(D.C. Cir. 2016), and Greer v. Paulson, 505 F.3d 1306, 1315–16 (D.C. Cir. 2007), both of which
involved “intervening actions” that “severed” an earlier period from a later one, rendering the
later period outside the hostile work environment claim. Turner, 653 Fed. App’x at 3. The
intervening acts in Turner and Greer, however, were actions by the employer in response to the
employee’s accusations of harassment: removal of supervisors, id., and reassignment to new
departments, id.; see also Greer, 505 F.3d at 1315. True, the employee in Greer, like plaintiff
here, was absent from work in the later, severed period, see Greer, 505 F.3d at 1316 (explaining
that the prior environment did not continue during the plaintiff’s absence), but Greer’s
conclusion was framed as turning not on the plaintiff’s decision to stay home but on the
employer’s decision to reassign the plaintiff to a new department and supervisoronce the
employer became aware of the alleged harassment, see id. at 1316; see also Vickers v. Powell,
493 F.3d 186, 199 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (deeming a “routine personnel action[]” not “intended to
address” the hostile work environment insufficient to “sever the earlier incidents from the more
recent incidents”). Greer was also careful to “reject[] a per se rule against considering” as part
of a hostile work environment “incidents alleged to have occurred while an employee was
physically absent from the workplace.” Greer, 505 F.3d at 1314. Consistent with this reading of
34
Greer, in Morgan, the Supreme Court explained that an employee cannot recover for a prior act
that bears “no relation to” timely acts, “or [that] for some other reason, such as certain
intervening action by the employer, was no longer part of the same hostile environment claim.”
Morgan, 536 U.S. at 118.
The completion of the OIG investigation and the report to Congress are “an act
contributing to” the alleged hostile work environment that “occur[ed] within the filing period” so
that “the entire time period of the hostile work environment may be considered.” Morgan, 536
U.S. at 117. The investigation, termination, as well as the incidents alleged to have occurred in
2016 and 2017, can be considered as part of the same hostile work environment claim because
they “‘involve[] the same type of employment actions . . . and [are] perpetrated by the same
managers.” Baird v. Gotbaum, 662 F.3d 1246, 1251 (D.C. Cir. 2011) (alterations in original)
(quoting Morgan, 536 U.S. at 120–21). The crux of the plaintiff’s hostile work environment
claim is that, for the approximately two years he was her manager, Kelly singled her out by
inappropriately touching her, by stonewalling her attempts to telework, to attend trainings, and to
perform inspections, and by leveling assertedly false accusations against her. The OIG
investigation that Kelly allegedly initiated is part of this asserted pattern.
Nevertheless, even if the pre-2018 events are considered, plaintiff’s hostile work
environment claim fails. A hostile work environment is one “permeated with discriminatory
intimidation, ridicule, and insult, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of
the victim’s employment.” Harris, 510 U.S. at 21. “To determine whether a hostile work
environment exists, the court looks to the totality of the circumstances, including the frequency
of the discriminatory conduct, its severity, its offensiveness, and whether it interferes with an
employee’s work performance.” Baloch, 550 F.3d at 1201 (citing Faragher v. City of Boca
35
Raton, 524 U.S. 775, 787–88 (1998)). As the Supreme Court has put it, “[t]hese standards for
judging hostility are sufficiently demanding to ensure that Title VII does not become a ‘general
civility code.’ Properly applied, they will filter out complaints attacking ‘the ordinary
tribulations of the workplace . . . .’” Faragher, 524 U.S. at 787 (quoting B. LINDEMANN & D.
KADUE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN EMPLOYMENT LAW 175 (1992)).
As just described, plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim is centered on allegations
that Kelly attempted to diminish her responsibilities, by stymieing her attempts to perform
inspections in March 2017, see FAC ¶¶ 99–100, by assigning her menial tasks after she filed an
EEO complaint, id. ¶ 73, and by attempting to diminish her privileges by pushing her to
terminate her telework agreement in 2016, id. ¶ 29–35, and denying her permission to attend
trainings on two occasions in 2016 and 2017, id. ¶¶ 41, 109. Kelly also allegedly subjected
plaintiff to close scrutiny after her injury, by initiating the OIG investigation, see id. ¶ 141, and
pushing AOC to oppose plaintiff’s request for worker’s compensation, id. ¶ 133.
Courts have frequently dismissed hostile work environment claims centered on similar
allegations of conflict with a manager, occasional denial of privileges, minor changes to work
duties, and close scrutiny. Such occurrences are not sufficiently offensive, intimidating, or out of
the ordinary in a typical workplace to change the conditions of the plaintiff’s employment. For
example, Moore v. U.S. Department of State, 451 F. Supp. 76 (D.D.C. 2019), dismissed a hostile
work environment claim based on allegations of a falsely initiated OIG investigation, denial of
promotions, disputes about work product, and a higher-up’s suggestion that the plaintiff seek
work elsewhere. Id. at 91. The court there concluded that these “various performance- and
promotion-related allegations were not intimidating or offensive enough to be considered
harassment.” Id. at 92. Similarly, in Nurriddin v. Bolden, 674 F. Supp. 2d 64 (D.D.C. 2009), the
36
plaintiff alleged that his managers “passed him over for performance awards, lowered his
performance evaluations, unfairly reprimanded and criticized him, made disparaging remarks
. . ., closely scrutinized his work, refused him a window cubicle, removed some of his duties, and
denied his requests to travel,” as well as “that, after he developed health problems, management
denied many of his leave requests and engaged in a series of discussions to end his eligibility for
workers’ compensation and to terminate his employment . . . , before finally firing him.” Id. at
93. Granting a motion to dismiss the hostile work environment claim, Nurriddin concluded that
the “plaintiff has fallen far short of alleging conduct that . . . amounts to ‘intimidation, ridicule
and insult, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of . . . employment and
create an abusive working environment.’” Id. at 94 (quoting Harris, 510 U.S. at 21); see also
Outlaw v. Johnson, 49 F. Supp. 3d 88, 92 (D.D.C. 2014) (dismissing for failure to state a claim a
hostile work environment count “referring only to promotion denials, a subjective performance
review, and being hired at a lower grade than Caucasian employees”); Laughlin v. Holder, 923 F.
Supp. 2d 204, 219–20, 221 (D.D.C. 2013) (deeming insufficient allegations of denied
promotions and bonuses, interference with efforts to carry out certain job duties, pressure to
retire); cf. Baloch, 550 F.3d at 1201 (concluding from the record at summary judgment that the
plaintiff “clashe[d] with his supervisor in the workplace” but finding no hostile work
environment where the plaintiff’s supervisor criticized the plaintiff’s work, restricted his leave,
verbally fought with the plaintiff, and threatened his arrest). As in Moore, Nurriddin, and other
cases, the alleged interference with some of plaintiff’s job duties over two years, pressure to end
her telework agreement, refusal to allow plaintiff to attend trainings, and scrutiny of plaintiff’s
workplace injury are not so severe or pervasive as to be objectively hostile or abusive. See
Harris, 510 U.S. at 21 (“Conduct that is not severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively
37
hostile or abusive work environment — an environment that a reasonable person would find
hostile or abusive — is beyond Title VII’s purview.”).
The complaint also fails to allege the sort of “deeply offensive” discriminatory comments
or conduct that might, combined with the allegations of interference and denied privileges, state
a hostile work environment claim. See Ayissi-Etoh v. Fannie Mae, 712 F.3d 572, 577 (D.C. Cir.
2013) (per curiam) (concluding that a hostile work environment claim based on use of a “deeply
offensive racial epithet,” another racially offensive comment, denial of a raise, and documented
medical leave due to workplace stress survived summary judgment). For example, in Wise v.
Ferriero, 842 F. Supp. 2d 120 (D.D.C. 2012), a hostile work environment claim survived a
motion to dismiss “if not by much,” by alleging threats of discipline based on false accusations
of misconduct, exclusion from trainings, denial of promotions, and, critically, a manager’s use of
a racist epithet so “uniquely offensive” and severe “that the D.C. Circuit has suggested” its use
“can create a hostile work environment by itself,” Moore, 351 F. Supp. 3d at 93 (discussing Wise
and Ayissi-Etoh). By contrast, Kelly’s alleged touching of the plaintiff’s knee and hair and his
hugging her “on multiple occasions,” see FAC ¶¶ 13, 15, while clearly “unwelcome and
uncomfortable,” are neither “severe enough” nor pervasive enough “to be actionable,” Hostetler
v. Quality Dining, Inc., 218 F.3d 798, 808 (7th Cir. 2000).
To be sure, a single incident of unwanted, inappropriate touching can support a hostile
work environment claim if the physical contact is sufficiently severe, see, e.g., Redd v. New York
Div. of Parole, 678 F.3d 166, 179-80 (2d Cir. 2012) (harassment severe where supervisor
touched plaintiff’s breasts on three occasions); Gerald v. Univ. of Puerto Rico, 707 F.3d 7, 18
(1st Cir. 2013) (harassment severe where supervisor once “grabbed [plaintiff’s] breasts” and also
“sexually propositioned her, and crassly asked in front of others why she would not have sex
38
with him”), but the contact alleged here is not. As one court of appeals has put it, “[t]here are
some forms of physical contact,” including “a hand on the shoulder, a brief hug, or a peck on the
cheek,” which, “although unwelcome and uncomfortable for the person touched, are relatively
minor” such that, they “typically will not be severe enough to be actionable.” Hostetler, 218
F.3d at 808. One measure of severity is whether the “physical contact surpasses what ‘(if it were
consensual) might be expected between friendly coworkers.’” Patton v. Keystone RV Co., 455
F.3d 812, 816 (7th Cir. 2006) (quoting Hostetler, 218 F.3d at 808). Touching a person’s knee
while delivering tough feedback and occasional hugging clearly do not cross that line. See Hilt–
Dyson v. City of Chicago, 282 F.3d 456, 459, 463–64 (7th Cir. 2002) (harassment not severe
where supervisor rubbed back and shoulders, which stopped after plaintiff complained); see also
Carter v. Greenspan, 304 F. Supp. 2d 13, 25 (D.D.C. 2004) (harassment not severe where
coworker “caressed” plaintiff’s knee, “placed her breast on [his] arm,” and “placed her fingers on
[his] buttocks”). The hair touching, as currently alleged, is also not sufficiently severe to alter
the terms and conditions of plaintiff’s employment. See e.g., Burgess v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.,
642 F. App’x 152, 153 (3d Cir. 2016) (harassment not severe where supervisor stroked plaintiff’s
hair and made verbal sexual advance).
The threadbare nature of the allegations about the physical touching supports the
conclusion that the complaint does not plead a hostile work environment. The sparse allegation
about the hugging and hair touching — that, “[o]n multiple occasions, Kelly inappropriately
touched Kabakova, including touching her hair and hugging her,” see FAC ¶ 15 — lacks facts
about the context from which a court could draw a reasonable inference of severity. See, e.g.,
Patton, 455 F.3d at 816 (“It is very important to focus intently on the specific circumstances of
physical harassment.”); see also Slate, 31 F. Supp. 3d at 306 (dismissing a hostile work
39
environment claim in case where supervisor had allegedly touched the plaintiff’s crotch because
the context of the incident revealed it to be a common schoolyard prank, id. at 297).
Compounding the problem for the plaintiff is a lack of specificity about the timeline and the
frequency of the contact. Although the location of the allegations in the complaint indicates that
the alleged touching occurred sometime between March and December 2016, the allegations
have no dates attached, see FAC ¶¶ 13, 15, and the complaint also makes no attempt to quantify
the number of occasions on which inappropriate touching occurred. These failures doom any
attempt by the complaint to plead pervasive harassment.
In short, although the plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim is timely, the
complaint’s allegations of, over two years, several instances of interference and denied
privileges, of scrutiny of her injury claim, of an isolated gendered comment, occasional hugging
and unwelcome touching of her hair and knee are not sufficiently severe or pervasive to state a
hostile work environment claim.
c. Count III: Retaliation
Count III of the complaint alleges that plaintiff “engaged in protected activity when she
reported Kelly’s sexual harassment and discrimination to the Agency EEO office in December
2016.” FAC ¶ 245. Defendant violated Title VII, as incorporated into the CAA, Count III
continues, by (1) “subject[ing] Kabakova to a hostile work environment,” id. ¶ 246;
(2) “den[ying] her permission to attend trainings and conferences, despite allowing other male
employees to attend such events,” id. ¶ 247; (3) “sabatog[ing] her work, assign[ing] her menial
tasks, and refus[ing] to approve or participate in her inspections and investigations,” id. ¶ 248;
(4) “initiat[ing] an OIG investigation into her based on false allegations,” id. ¶ 249;
(5) “report[ing] false allegations that Kabakova engaged in workers’ compensation fraud to the
Department of Labor,” id. ¶ 250; and (6) “terminat[ing] her without just cause,” id. ¶ 252.
40
As already explained, the complaint fails to allege harassment severe or pervasive enough
to state a claim for hostile work environment discrimination. For the same reasons, Count III
falls short of stating a claim for hostile work environment retaliation.
Also as already explained, the only discrete acts alleged in the complaint that occurred
within the 180-day window preceding the request for counseling in the relevant matter,
18-AC-53, are the close of the OIG investigation and the plaintiff’s termination in April 2018.
See supra Section III.E.2.a. The denials to attend trainings, complained-of assignments, refusal
to participate in inspections, initiation of the OIG investigation, and opposition of the DOL
workers’ compensation claim all occurred in 2016 and 2017, before the counseling window for
18-AC-53 opened on January 14, 2018. See, e.g., FAC ¶ 104 (denial of permission to attend
training in March 2017); id. ¶ 98 (refusal to participate in inspections around April 2017); id.
¶ 141 (“In November 2017, Kelly initiated an OIG complaint . . . .”); id. ¶ 156 (stating that DOL
made a final determination on the workers’ compensation claim in December 2017). Retaliation
claims based on discrete acts other than the close of the OIG investigation or the plaintiff’s
termination are thus time-barred.
The complaint fails to “plausibly establish” a causal link between the alleged protected
activity, the EEO complaint, and the close of the OIG investigation or the plaintiff’s termination.
Howard R.L. Cook & Tommy Shaw Found. ex rel. Black Emps. of Library of Cong., Inc. v.
Billington, 737 F.3d 767, 772 (D.C. Cir. 2013) (stating that to survive a motion to dismiss on a
retaliation claim, plaintiffs must allege “sufficient factual matter” to “show (1) that an employee
engaged in statutorily protected activity; (2) that the employee suffered a materially adverse
action by the employee’s employer; and (3) that a causal link connects the two” (internal
quotation marks omitted)).
41
Starting with the completion of the OIG investigation, although the complaint alleges that
Kelly knew of the EEO complaint, see FAC ¶ 61, and that Kelly “initiated [the] OIG complaint,”
id. ¶ 141, the complaint does not assert, let alone allege facts in support of a reasonable
inference, that the AOC OIG knew of or was motivated to retaliate against the plaintiff for her
2016 EEO complaint. See Clark Cty. Sch. Dist. v. Breeden, 532 U.S. 268, 273 (2001) (spotting
no causal link between a discrimination complaint and an employment action 20 months later
when there was no evidence the relevant supervisor knew of the complaint). In short, even
assuming that the completion of the OIG investigation is a materially adverse action, that theory
fails because the complaint is devoid of any link between the protected activity and the OIG’s
final report.17
Nor does the complaint plausibly plead a causal link between the EEO complaint and the
plaintiff’s termination. To be sure, Kelly and others at AOC who may have been involved in the
termination decision knew of the EEO complaint, but pleading knowledge does not establish
causality, especially when the temporal gap between the protected activity and the alleged
adverse action is 16 months, see Clark Cty. Sch. Dist., 532 U.S. at 274 (“Action taken (as here)
20 months later suggests, by itself, no causality at all.”); Woodruff v. Peters, 482 F.3d 521, 529
(D.C. Cir. 2007) (“Temporal proximity can indeed support an inference of causation but only
where the two events are ‘very close’ in time.” (internal citation omitted)), and the complaint
17
Under Title VII, as incorporated into the CAA, retaliation claims, unlike discrimination claims, “are ‘not
limited to discriminatory actions that affect the terms and conditions of employment’ and may extend to harms that
are not workplace-related or employment-related so long as ‘a reasonable employee would have found the
challenged action materially adverse.’” Baloch, 550 F.3d at 1198 n.4 (quoting Burlington N., 548 U.S. at 68). A
“materially adverse” action is one that would have “dissuaded a reasonable worker from making or supporting a
charge of discrimination.” Burlington N., 548 U.S. at 68 (quoting Rochon, 438 F.3d at 1219). The termination is a
materially adverse action, but the completion of the OIG investigation, which is not alleged to have led to any
“material adversity,” id., or “objectively tangible harm,” Holcomb, 433 F.3d at 92, may not be, see Moore, 351 F.
Supp. 3d at 95 (concluding that a request for an investigation is not a materially adverse action and dismissing
retaliation claim); Harrington v. Crawford, No. CV 19-0476 (ABJ), 2020 WL 1493918, at *5 (D.D.C. Mar. 27,
2020) (concluding that filing of a police report is not a materially adverse action and dismissing retaliation claim).
42
provides no other basis to infer that the EEO complaint caused the plaintiff’s termination, see,
e.g., Pueschel v. Chao, No. 18-5330, slip op. at 7 (D.C. Cir. April 14, 2020) (holding that “the
lack of temporal proximity prevents the court from drawing a reasonable inference of causality
when no additional factual allegations support causation”); Harris v. D.C. Water & Sewer Auth.,
791 F.3d 65, 70 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (holding that “alleging a five-month gap between [the
employer’s] knowledge of his discrimination complaint and his termination, supplemented by
facts that rebut the two most common legitimate reasons for termination and also give rise to a
reasonable inference of pretext,” the plaintiff “render[ed] his claim of retaliation plausible”). As
already discussed, the complaint provides no support for an inference that the proffered reason
for plaintiff’s termination — that she had not come to work for a year — was false or pretextual.
The complaint does not state a claim for retaliation based on plaintiff’s termination.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, defendant’s motion to dismiss is granted. An Order consistent
with this Memorandum Opinion will be entered contemporaneously.
Date: April 14, 2020
__________________________
BERYL A. HOWELL
Chief Judge
43