Granger v. NYC Transit Authority

17-1076
Granger v. NYC Transit Authority
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
SUMMARY ORDER
RULINGS BY SUMMARY ORDER DO NOT HAVE PRECEDENTIAL EFFECT. CITATION TO A
SUMMARY ORDER FILED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007, IS PERMITTED AND IS GOVERNED BY
FEDERAL RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 32.1 AND THIS COURT=S LOCAL RULE 32.1.1. WHEN
CITING A SUMMARY ORDER IN A DOCUMENT FILED WITH THIS COURT, A PARTY MUST CITE
EITHER THE FEDERAL APPENDIX OR AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE (WITH THE NOTATION
ASUMMARY ORDER@). A PARTY CITING TO A SUMMARY ORDER MUST SERVE A COPY OF IT ON
ANY PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.
At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second
Circuit, held at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square,
in the City of New York, on the 28th day of February, two thousand eighteen.
PRESENT:
BARRINGTON D. PARKER,
PETER W. HALL,
RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR.,
Circuit Judges,
ROBERT GRANGER,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 17-1076-cv
NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY, MANHATTAN
AND BRONX SURFACE TRANSIT OPERATING
AUTHORITY (MABSTOA),
Defendants-Appellees.
Appearing for Plaintiff-Appellant: PAUL DASHEFSKY, Smithtown, N.Y.
Appearing for Defendants-Appellees: ROBERT K. DRINAN, Executive Agency Counsel, for
James B. Henly, General Counsel, New York City
Transit Authority, Brooklyn, N.Y.
1
Appeal from a judgment of the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of New York (Cogan, J.).
UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED,
ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the judgment entered on March 22, 2017, is
AFFIRMED.
Plaintiff Robert Granger appeals from a grant of summary judgment in favor
of his employer, the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority,
which is itself a subsidiary of the New York City Transit Authority (the Authority).
Granger entered into a stipulation to resolve a grievance over the Authority’s attempt
to terminate him over two failed drug tests. Granger asserts that under the terms of
the stipulation, he nevertheless retained the right to be considered for a door-opening
promotion upgrade, while the Authority asserts that he surrendered any right to a
promotion by entering the stipulation of demotion in lieu of a grievance hearing that
would have led to his termination. Granger argues in response that the Authority’s
construction of the stipulation is a pretext for discrimination against him because of
a perceived disability in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12101–12117. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the
underlying facts, the procedural history of the case, and the issues on appeal.
We review de novo the grant of summary judgment, and we apply the same
standards as the district court. United Transp. Union v. Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp.,
588 F.3d 805, 809 (2d Cir. 2009). We will affirm only if the record, viewed in the light
most favorable to the non-movant, shows no genuine dispute of material fact and the
2
movant’s entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. See Jackson v. Fed. Express,
766 F.3d 189, 193–94 (2d Cir. 2014). The moving party bears the burden of showing
that he or she is entitled to summary judgment. See Huminski v. Corsones, 396 F.3d
53, 69 (2d Cir. 2005). Granger asserts that a genuine dispute of material fact exists
as to whether the Authority regarded him as disabled, whether he was qualified for
the upgrade and promotion, and whether the denial was due to unlawful
discriminatory animus.
The ADA prohibits discrimination against a “qualified individual on the basis
of disability” in the “terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 12112(a). “Claims alleging disability discrimination in violation of the ADA are
subject to the burden-shifting analysis originally established by the Supreme Court
in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973).” McBride v. BIC Consumer
Prods. Mfg. Co., 583 F.3d 92, 96 (2d Cir. 2009). To establish a prima facie case under
the ADA, a plaintiff must prove that: “(1) the [employment] is covered by the ADA;
(2) plaintiff suffers from or is regarded as suffering from a disability within the
meaning of the ADA; (3) plaintiff was qualified to perform the essential functions of
the job, with or without reasonable accommodation; and (4) plaintiff suffered an
adverse employment action because of his disability or perceived disability.” Kinneary
v. City of New York, 601 F.3d 151, 155–56 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Capobianco v. City
of New York, 422 F.3d 47, 56 (2d Cir. 2005)). If a plaintiff makes out his prima facie
case, “the burden of production shifts to the employer to articulate a non-
discriminatory reason for the adverse employment action,” and if the employer
3
satisfies that burden, “the plaintiff must then produce evidence capable of carrying
the burden of persuasion that the employer’s action was at least in part motivated by
discrimination.” Davis v. N.Y.C. Dep’t of Educ., 804 F.3d 231, 235 (2d Cir. 2015).
Assuming without deciding that the Authority perceived Granger to be
disabled, to avoid summary judgment he would still need to show that an illegitimate
discriminatory reason played a motivating role in the employment decision. See
Bickerstaff v. Vassar Coll., 196 F.3d 435, 456 (2d Cir. 1999). Granger has not
presented evidence that an illegal discriminatory motive played a motivating role in
the Authority’s decision to deny him promotion. Instead, the evidence
overwhelmingly supports the Authority’s explanation that it denied Granger a
promotion for the legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason that he was in a job position
in which he was not eligible for promotion outside of an agreement or an arbitrator’s
decision. See id. at 456.
Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT:
CATHERINE O=HAGAN WOLFE, Clerk of Court
4