Burris v. Richards Paving, Inc.

461 F. Supp. 2d 244 (2006)

Stanford L. BURRIS, Plaintiff,
v.
RICHARDS PAVING, INC., Defendant.

No. CIV. 04-1469-SLR.

United States District Court, D. Delaware.

November 9, 2006.

Gary W. Aber, Esquire, Aber, Goldlust, Baker & Over, Wilmington, DE, Counsel for Plaintiff.

Matthew P. Donelson, Esquire, Elzufon Austin Reardon Tarlov & Mondell, P.A., Wilmington, DE, Counsel for Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ROBINSON, Chief Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

On November 24, 2004, Stanford L. Burris ("plaintiff'), proceeding in forma pauperis, filed suit against Richards Paving, Inc. ("defendant"), alleging racial discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq ..^[1] (D.I.2) This court entered a default judgment against defendant on June 9, 2005 (D.I.7); the default was vacated on July 6, 2005, per defendant's request (D.I.15). On August 5, 2005, defendant filed a motion to dismiss "because the complaint and supporting documents [did] not support a violation of Title VII based on plaintiffs race or color." (D.I. 17 at ¶ 5) Subsequently, the parties submitted a stipulation allowing plaintiff to amend his complaint and withdrawing defendant's motion to dismiss. (D.I.19) In his amended complaint, filed on September 20, 2005, plaintiff now alleges discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq .. (D.I.19, ex. 1) Presently before the court are defendant's motion for summary judgment and its three motions in limine.^[2] (D.I.34, 42, 43, 44) The court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343.

II. BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs larynx was surgically removed in 1991, leaving a hole in his neck and affecting his speaking voice. (D.I. 39 at 5; D.I. 40 at B15-B16) While plaintiff owns an electric voice box, he has not used it since 1991 or 1992. (D.I. 40 at B15) Plaintiff contends that, although he does not personally consider himself disabled because of his voice, "a lot of employers" do. (Id. at B17)

In April 2003, plaintiff applied for a job with defendant as a truck driver. (D.I. 35 at 2) Plaintiff, who is currently about 64 years old, has had a Commercial Driver's License ("CDL") since the age of 21. (D.I. 40 at B13) Plaintiffs interview was conducted by an employee of defendant's named David Moluski ("Moluski"), who took plaintiff on a driving test in a Mack dump truck.^[3] (Id. at B18-B19) Plaintiff claims that Moluski stated that plaintiff had passed the driving test and asked to see a copy of plaintiffs driving record, which plaintiff provided the next day. (Id. at B20-B21) Moluski denies telling plaintiff the results of the driving test and stated in his deposition that plaintiff "could not handle the truck." (Id. at B39, B41) According to Moluski, he told plaintiff that he had to check with his supervisors before making a hiring decision (id. at B41); Moluski testified that he usually ends interviews with "bad driver[s]" in that manner in order to "alleviate[] any conflict with them" (id. at B41-B42).

Plaintiff avers that when he returned to defendant's office with a copy of his driving record, Moluski stated that he could not hire plaintiff "because of [plaintiff's] voice," which Moluski "didn't think . . . would be clear enough over the CB [radio]." (Id. at B22, B24, B25) Plaintiff claims that he then offered to "use [his] electric larynx or [his] cell phone to communicate. And [Moluski] said no, that's not acceptable."^[4] (Id. at B25-B26) Defendant denies this, stating that

[i]t was not until plaintiff was informed that he would not be hired, that he began begging for a job and "volunteered" to take a radio test or to use his cell phone. At no time prior to being informed that he was not being hired, did the issue of his voice even come up in conversation.

(D.I. 35 at 6) Plaintiffs subsequent request to work for defendant "as a laborer or [in] any capacity that [defendant] had open" was denied. (Id. at B26) Plaintiff, who claims he was "floored" by defendant's alleged refusal to' hire him because of his voice, then filed charges of discrimination with the Delaware Department of Labor, which eventually culminated in the action at bar.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A court shall grant summary judgment only if "the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The moving party bears the burden of proving that no genuine issue of material fact exists. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 n. 10, 106 S. Ct. 1348, 89 L. Ed. 2d 538 (1986). "Facts that could alter the outcome are ``material,' and disputes are ``genuine' if evidence exists from which a rational person could conclude that the position of the person with the burden of proof on the disputed issue is correct." Horowitz v. Fed. Kemper Life Assurance Co., 57 F.3d 300, 302 n. 1 (3d Cir.1995) (internal citations omitted). If the moving party has demonstrated an absence of material fact, the nonmoving party then "must come forward with ``specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587, 106 S. Ct. 1348 (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)). The court will "view the underlying facts and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion." Pa. Coal Ass'n v. Babbitt, 63 F.3d 231, 236 (3d Cir.1995). The mere existence of some evidence in support of the nonmoving party, however, will not be sufficient for denial of a motion for summary judgment; there must be enough evidence to enable a jury reasonably to find for the nonmoving party on that issue. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986). If the nonmoving party fails to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of its case with respect to which it has the burden of proof, the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986). With respect to summary judgment in discrimination cases, the court's role is "to determine whether, upon reviewing all the facts and inferences to be drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, there exists sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the employer intentionally discriminated against the plaintiff." Revis v. Slocomb Indus., 814 F. Supp. 1209, 1215 (D.Del. 1993) (quoting Hankins v. Temple Univ., 829 F.2d 437, 440 (3d Cir.1987)).

IV. DISCUSSION

In order to establish a claim under the ADA, a plaintiff must first establish that he or she "(1) has a ``disability' (2) is a ``qualified individual' and (3) has suffered an adverse employment decision because of that disability." Deane v. Pocono Med. Ctr., 142 F.3d 138, 142 (3d Cir.1998) (en banc) (citing Gaul v. Lucent Techs., Inc., 134 F.3d 576, 580 (3d Cir.1998)). If a plaintiff meets this initial burden, the court must then determine whether the plaintiff has put forth direct or circumstantial evidence of discrimination. If the plaintiff has put forth direct evidence of discrimination, the court uses a "mixed motive" theory, meaning that "a plaintiff need only show that the unlawful motive was a ``substantial motivating factor' in the adverse employment action." Shellenberger v. Summit Bancorp, Inc., 318 F.3d 183, 187 (3d Cir.2003) (citations omitted). If, however, the plaintiff has put forth circumstantial evidence of discrimination, the court uses a pretext theory, which incorporates the burden-shifting analysis of McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S. Ct. 1817, 36 L. Ed. 2d 668 (1973). Lawrence v. Nat'l Westminster Bank N.J., 98 F.3d 61, 68 (3d Cir.1996) (stating that, in ADA cases, courts are to apply the Title VII burden-shifting rules).

Under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting analysis, once the plaintiff has established a prima facie case of discrimination, the burden of production switches to the defendant, who must "articulate some legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason" for the adverse employment decision. McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802, 93 S. Ct. 1817. If the defendant produces sufficient reasons for its actions, the burden switches back to the plaintiff to demonstrate that the defendant's reasons are merely a pretext for discrimination. Fuentes v. Perskie, 32 F.3d 759, 763 (3d Cir.1994). To defeat a motion for summary judgment under this framework, plaintiff must point to some evidence from which the "factfinder could reasonably either (1) disbelieve the employer's articulated legitimate reasons; or (2) believe that an invidious discriminatory reason was more likely than not a motivating or determinative cause of the employer's action." Id. at 764.

The ADA defines "the term ``disability' . . ., with respect to an individual," as:

(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual;

(B) a record of such an impairment; or

(C) being regarded as having such an impairment.

42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). Plaintiff claims that he is disabled under the ADA because he has a physical impairment, id. § 12102(2)(A), or, in the alternative, is regarded by employers as having a physical impairment, id. § 12102(2)(C). (D.I. 39 at 13, 18) The court will consider each of these arguments in turn.

A. Physical Impairment

In pertinent part, the Code of Federal Regulations defines "physical or mental impairment" as:

[a]ny physiological disorder, or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genito-urinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine. . . .

29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(h)(1) (emphasis added). A physical impairment "substantially limits" a "major life activity" .(which includes "functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working," id. § 1630.2(i)), if it renders someone:

(i) [u]nable to perform a major life activity that the average person in the general population can perform; or

[s]ignificantly restricted as to the condition, manner or duration under which an individual can perform a particular major life activity as compared to the condition, manner, or duration under which the average person in the general population can perform that same major life activity.

Id. § 1630.2(j)(1). Because plaintiff has suffered the loss of his larynx, a speech organ, the operative question becomes whether this physical impairment "substantially limits," within the meaning of the ADA, plaintiff's ability to engage in the major life activity of speaking.

The Code of Federal Regulations dictates that several factors "should be considered in determining whether an individual is substantially limited in a major life activity," namely: "(i) [t]he nature and severity of the impairment; (ii)[t]he duration or expected duration of the impairment; and (iii)[t]he permanent or long term impact, or the expected permanent or long term impact of or resulting from the impairment." Id. § 1630.2(j)(2). The removal of plaintiffs larynx is, without question, a permanent impairment that will persist for the duration of plaintiffs lifetime. The severity of plaintiff's impairment, however, appears to be limited to a diminution in the volume of his speaking voice and difficulty pronouncing certain words (though not to such an extent that plaintiff feels the need to use an electronic larynx). Despite his soft voice, plaintiff is able to communicate over a cellular phone (and, by his own admission, does so frequently).^[5] (D.I. 40 at B29) Upon reviewing the evidence of record, the court finds that plaintiffs condition neither renders him unable to speak nor significantly restricts the "condition, manner or duration" of his speech when compared with the speaking abilities of an average person in the general population.^[6] 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(1). The record reveals no evidence that plaintiffs quiet speaking voice "substantially limits" his ability to perform the major life activity of speaking.

Plaintiff cannot establish that he has an actual disability under the ADA;^[7] therefore, he has failed to meet his initial burden of proof as to that count and the court need not engage in any further analysis. Because plaintiff has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of his case with respect to which he has the burden of proof, defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986), and its motion for summary judgment (D.I.34) is granted with respect to plaintiffs claim of actual disability. As a result, in order to prove that he is disabled under the meaning of the ADA, plaintiff must show that defendant improperly regarded him as having such a physical impairment.

B. "Regarded As" Impaired

Plaintiff argues that, in the event the court should find that he does not have an actual disability due to physical impairment, he is disabled because defendant regarded him as such. (D.I. 39 at 18-20) Under the ADA, a person is regarded as impaired when he:

(1) [h]as a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life activities but is treated by a covered entity as constituting such limitation;

(2) [h]as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others toward such impairment; or

(3) [h]as none of the impairments defined in paragraph (h)(1) or (2) of this section but is treated by a covered entity as having a substantially limiting impairment.

29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(l). While plaintiff has an impairment as defined by 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(h), this court has already determined that such impairment does not substantially limit any of plaintiff's major life activities; therefore, in order to make a successful claim that he is "regarded as" disabled, plaintiff must show that his impairment was "treated by [defendant] as constituting such [a] limitation." Id. § 1630.2(l)(1).

In support of his contention that defendant regarded his impairment as substantially limiting, plaintiff relies on "statements that [defendant's employees] made to the Delaware Department of Labor [("DDOL") ], that [plaintiff] could not communicate with them adequately during the course of his employment." (D.I. 39 at 18) Aside from this single conclusory document,^[8] plaintiff has not submitted any of the evidence on which such finding was based, including the purported statements by defendant's employees that plaintiff was not hired because he was unable to communicate with them. Indeed, other than the DDOL's Notice of Reasonable Cause Finding (which is inadmissible^[9]) and his own testimony (that he was required to speak over a CB radio and not hired because of his voice), plaintiff has produced no evidence showing that defendant or its employees regarded him as substantially limited in the major life activity of speaking. Defendant, likewise, has proffered no substantive evidence, aside from Moluski's deposition testimony, that plaintiff's allegations are untrue.

In order to grant defendant's motion for summary judgment, this court would have to weigh the credibility of plaintiff, Moluski, and their conflicting testimony. The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has held that, "[w]hile summary judgment may be based on affidavits, conflicts of credibility should not be resolved on a hearing on the motion for summary judgment unless the opponent's evidence is too incredible to be believed by reasonable minds.'" Losch v. Borough of Parkesburg, Pa., 736 F.2d 903, 909 (3d Cir.1984) (quoting 6 J. Moore, Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 56.15(4), at 56-524, 56-512.3 to 56-530 (2d ed.1976)). The record fails to reveal the volume or quality of speech necessary to be a dump truck driver. Nevertheless, should plaintiff prove that he was indeed asked to speak over a CB radio during his interview, a reasonable jury might be able to infer that defendant failed to hire plaintiff because Moluski regarded him as disabled.

As recognized by the Third Circuit, "[l]t is the jury and not the court who is the ultimate fact finder." Id. at 909. The court concludes that plaintiff's testimony, if true, is not incredible, and leaves the ultimate determination of plaintiff's and Moluski's credibility to the jury; therefore, the portion of defendant's motion for summary judgment challenging plaintiffs "regarded as" claim of disability (D.I.34) is denied.^[10]

V. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, defendant's motion for summary judgment is granted with regard to plaintiff's claim that he is actually disabled and denied as it pertains to the count alleging "regarded as" discrimination. Defendant's motions in limine are granted in part (excluding the DDOL's findings and evidence that plaintiff is actually disabled) and denied in part (with respect to the use of lay testimony). An appropriate order shall issue.

NOTES

[1] Plaintiff, in compliance with the law, filed suit within ninety days of receiving a Notice of Right to Sue from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (D.I. 2 at 4)

[2] Defendant's motions in limine seek to preclude the introduction of the Delaware Department of Labor's Notice of Reasonable Cause Finding (D.I.42); the testimony of lay witnesses regarding plaintiff's lost wages claim (D.I.43); and any claims, arguments, or evidence purporting to show that plaintiff is actually disabled (D.I.44).

[3] While the parties disagree over whether plaintiff was asked to speak over a CB radio at some point during the interview (see, e.g., D.I. 40 at B32-B33, B35, B46), it is undisputed that such an event did not occur during the road test itself (id. at B20).

[4] The record indicates that plaintiff did not have his electric larynx with him at that time (D.I. 40 at 1326), presumably because he had not used it for over a decade (id. at B15).

[5] Plaintiff's testimony about his speaking abilities belies his answering briefs contention that he can only "minimally communicate through the hole in his throat." (D.I. 39 at 15)

[6] The determination of whether an impairment qualifies as a disability under the ADA is a fact-specific, case-by-case inquiry. Toyota Motor Mfg., Ky., Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184, 185, 122 S. Ct. 681, 151 L. Ed. 2d 615 (2002). Although plaintiff cites several cases where speech impairments were found to pass muster under the ADA, one was reviewed under the lenient pleading standards of a motion to dismiss, Gottesman v. J.H. Batten, Inc., 286 F. Supp. 2d 604 (M.D.N.C. 2003), while the plaintiff in the other case had significant ambulatory problems in addition to the difficulty the judge had in discerning what the plaintiff said, Dudley v. Hannaford Bros. Co., 190 F. Supp. 2d 69 (D.Me.2002).

[7] Consequently, defendant's motion in limine to preclude plaintiff from arguing that he is actually disabled (D.I.44) is granted.

[8] In its Reasonable Cause Finding, the DDOL stated, under the heading "Undisputed Facts," that defendant "had an interview with [plaintiff] where the interviewer and [plaintiff] attempted to communicate using both a CB radio and a cell phone in an attempt to find a reasonable accommodation to [plaintiff's] disability." (D.I. 40 at B9)

[9] As a matter of practice, this court regards documents such as the DDOL's Notice of Reasonable Cause Finding as inadmissible hearsay. Consequently, defendant's motion in limine to preclude testimony and evidence relating to the DDOL's findings (D.I.42) is granted.

[10] One of defendant's motions in limine contends that, because plaintiff has not produced an expert report regarding his alleged lost wages and the deadline for acquiring such expert reports has passed, plaintiff should be precluded from seeking lost wages damages at trial. (D.I.43) Plaintiff responds:

Based upon the information elicited from [Moluski], an adequate foundation would be established by which a jury could calculate the amount of lost wages and benefits that the plaintiff would have earned during his one year of unemployment, had the defendant not discriminated against him. Unlike the need to offer expert testimony as to the present value of future losses, the calculation of past lost wages, when there is an adequate factual foundation, requires only simple arithmetic.

(D.I. 48 at ¶ 6) The court is not convinced that an expert witness is always necessary when addressing a claim for past lost wages. While the court will deny defendant's motion in limine on that issue (D.I.43), it will require plaintiff to make a proffer of the evidence and methods he intends to use to calculate such lost wages before it is introduced at trial.