Quentin T. Goddard v. Greenbrier Hotel

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
Quentin T. Goddard, FILED
Plaintiff Below, Petitioner March 12, 2013
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
vs) No. 11-1608 (Greenbrier County 09-C-157) OF WEST VIRGINIA
Greenbrier Hotel Corp.,
Defendant Below, Respondent
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Petitioner Quentin T. Goddard, by counsel, Rick Holroyd, appeals the circuit court’s order
entered October 20, 2011, granting respondent’s motion for summary judgment. Greenbrier Hotel
Corp., by counsel Ashley C. Pack, filed a response in support of the circuit court’s order.
This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.
On July 10, 2007, a female employee of respondent spoke to a security officer to report
that petitioner inappropriately touched her. Petitioner swatted the female employee on the
posterior with a shoehorn. Pending an investigation, respondent suspended petitioner. By October
of 2007 the investigation was completed and respondent found that the allegations were
substantiated. In accordance with its “zero tolerance” policy of sexual harassment, petitioner was
terminated on October 30, 2007. Petitioner brought suit for discrimination claims under the West
Virginia Human Rights Act, West Virginia Code § 5-11-1, et seq., for sex discrimination and
discrimination against a disability or perceived disability. On October 20, 2011, the circuit court
granted respondent’s motion for summary judgment on all counts, holding that, as a matter of
law, petitioner is not similarly situated to the person he alleges was treated differently because of
her sex and that petitioner is not disabled.
Petitioner does not deny that he inappropriately touched his coworker on July 10, 2007,
but argues that his termination was discriminatory, either based on sexual discrimination or
discrimination based on an alleged disability, and not the unwanted touching. Specifically, for the
sex discrimination charge, petitioner argues that he was treated differently from a similarly
situated female employee – the employee he inappropriately touched. Petitioner argues that this
woman sat on the lap of another male co-worker and made the male co-worker uncomfortable.
Respondent argues that petitioner is not similarly situated because, unlike petitioner, the female
employee had no complaints lodged against her and no previous record of unwanted touching.
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Petitioner also argues that his firing was based on discrimination for a disability to his
back. Petitioner received a work-related injury to his back in 2003 and missed work due to the
injury for several months at various times between 2003 and 2007. The West Virginia Workers’
Compensation Office of Judges awarded him an 8% permanent partial disability impairment for
the injury. Petitioner argues that the back problem was a disability covered by the Act: a “physical
impairment which substantially limits one or more of [petitioner’s] major life activities. The term
‘major life activities includes functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks,
walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, [and] learning. . . .” W. Va. Code § 5-11-3(m).
Petitioner argues that his back problem substantially limits his walking because he occasionally
needs to rest for ten to fifteen minutes after walking for a half hour, and that he was terminated a
few weeks after returning from being off work due to back problems. Respondent argues that
petitioner is not disabled under the Act as a matter of law because he was able to do his work after
returning from being away, he could still walk but just needed rest afterward, and that any
impairment is temporary in nature, for six- to eight-month periods. Further, respondent argues
that petitioner’s termination was not based on any perceived disability.
The Court has carefully considered the merits of each of petitioner’s arguments as set
forth in his petition for appeal. This Court reviews a circuit court’s entry of summary judgment
under a de novo standard of review. Syl. Pt. 1, Painter v. Peavy, 192 W.Va. 189, 451 S.E.2d 755(1994). Finding no error in the circuit court order granting summary judgment, the Court
incorporates and adopts the circuit court’s detailed and well-reasoned “Order Granting Greenbrier
Hotel Corporation’s Motion for Summary Judgment,” dated October 20, 2011, insofar as it
addresses the assignments of error appealed herein, and directs the Clerk to attach the same
hereto.
Pursuant to Rules 8 & 24 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure, the petitioner is directed to
reimburse to the respondent the cost for producing the appendix. This Court has determined that
the appendix is relevant to the issues raised on appeal and, therefore, the cost is taxed on appeal.
The Court directs the Clerk to prepare and certify an itemized statement of said costs as taxed to
be included in the mandate.
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.
Affirmed.
ISSUED: March 12, 2013
CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II
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