Opinion
CASE NO. C13-1703-JCC
05-18-2015
KAISER SAID ELMI, et al., Plaintiffs, v. SSA MARINE, INC., et al., Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART SSA DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
This matter comes before the Court on the motion for summary judgment filed by Defendants SSA Marine, Inc. and SSA Terminals, LLC ("SSA") and its employees John Bell, Tom Hsue, William Kendall, and Brandon Brent (collectively "SSA Defendants") (Dkt. No. 40). Having thoroughly considered the parties' briefing and the relevant record, the Court hereby GRANTS the motion in part and DENIES the motion in part for the reasons discussed below.
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs Kaiser Said Elmi, Tesfarghabar Berhane, and Mohamed Muhiddin are all short-haul truck drivers of East African dissent who work at the Port of Seattle. Plaintiffs are self-employed and contract with various trucking companies that dispatch them. (Dkt. No. 73 at 6.) Plaintiffs and the trucking companies they contract with have no contractual relationship with SSA. (Dkt. No. 45 at 7.) As short-haul truck drivers, Plaintiffs' jobs are to pick-up and haul shipping containers "between terminals at the Port of Seattle and the rail yards" as well as other nearby locations. (Dkt. No. 65 at 2.)
SSA operates a stevedoring business and leases land from the Port of Seattle for its operation. SSA's business involves the loading and unloading of vessels by longshore workers. (Dkt. No. 40 at 2.) SSA Defendants Bell, Hsue, Kendall, and Brent are or were foremen or superintendents employed by SSA.
The events giving rise to this lawsuit primarily occurred at Terminal 30, which SSA operates. Short-haul truck drivers receive their loads from various trucking companies and wait in line at Terminal 30 for their loads to be removed by longshoremen operating a mobile piece of machinery known as a picker.
On May 30, 2012 Plaintiff Elmi was waiting in line to drop off his load when a picker operated by Defendant Michael Cabbacang struck the chassis of his truck. (Dkt. No. 45 at 9.) It is disputed whether the act was intentional and whether the picker struck the chassis once or multiple times. (Id.; Dkt. No. 40 at 4.) Elmi got out of his truck to see what was happening and Cabbacang approached him while swearing and pushed and bumped Elmi with his chest. Elmi called the Port of Seattle Police Department ("POSPD") and Officer Jack Myers arrived at the scene. Officer Myers was unable to determine whether an assault had occurred and did not cite Cabbacang. (Dkt. No. 66, Ex. 1 at 3.) SSA Superintendent Hsue was called to the scene and banned Elmi from Terminal 30 for "life" for violating SSA's terminal rule against unauthorized foot traffic in Terminal 30 and for refusal to move his truck so that work could continue. (Dkt. No. 45 at 10; Dkt. No. 40 at 4.) SSA took no disciplinary action against Cabbacang.
On June 27, 2012 Plaintiff Berhane attempted to use the restroom at Terminal 30 while activity in the terminal ceased for a break period. (Dkt. No. 40 at 5.) Drivers had routinely used the restroom at Terminal 30 for years during break periods. (Dkt. No. 65 at 7.) Defendant Chad Rivers, a longshoreman employed by SSA, confronted Berhane and demanded that he not use the restroom. (Dkt. No. 40 at 5.) When Berhane entered the restroom to urinate, Rivers grabbed him by the neck and collar, choked Berhane, drug him from the restroom, and threw him to the floor causing an injury to his shoulder and significant blood flow. Berhane called the POSPD to the scene and Officer Walter Wesson responded. Id. Officer Wesson interviewed witnesses at the scene and initiated an investigation which resulted in assault charges against Rivers for which he was ultimately convicted. Id. In response to this incident, SSA Foreman John Bell placed sign stating "Employees Only" on the restroom in an effort to institute a policy restricting restroom use to longshoremen and SSA employees. (Dkt. No. 41 at 3.) It is unclear when the sign was placed upon the door and whether Bell's policy was ever communicated to Plaintiffs. SSA took no disciplinary actions against Rivers.
On September 25, 2012 Plaintiff Muhiddin attempted to use the restroom at Terminal 30 during a lunch break when he was confronted by Rivers. Rivers shoved Muhiddin saying "this is a longshoreman's lunchroom." (Dkt. No. 45 at 12.) Muhiddin called the POSPD and Officer Jose Santiago responded and was assisted by SSA employed Security Officer Terence Kwan. (Dkt. No. 66, Ex. 4 at 1.) After Officer Santiago arrived, Defendant Brandon Brent, a SSA superintendent, banned Muhiddin from Terminal 30 for seven days for violating SSA's rule against walking across the terminal. (Dkt. No. 40 at 7.) After receiving the citation, Muhiddin attempted to drop off his load before leaving Terminal 30 when he was cited for an additional seven days for refusing to leave the terminal. It is disputed whether Brent or Bell issued the citation for the additional seven days. (Dkt. No. 40 at 7; Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 12 at 17-19; Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 15 at 18-19.) Officer Santiago issued a citation to Rivers for an investigation of Assault 4. (Dkt. No. 66, Ex. 4 at 2.) No disciplinary actions were taken against Rivers by SSA.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard for Summary Judgment
"The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). "A fact issue is genuine 'if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.'" Villiarimo v. Aloha Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 1054, 1060 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 447 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). The moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law when the nonmoving party fails to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of a claim in the case on which the nonmoving party has the burden of proof. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1985). The nonmoving party must rely exclusively on admissible evidence to establish such specific facts in opposition to the moving party's motion. Orr v. Bank of America, 285 F.3d 764, 773 (9th Cir. 2002). The Plaintiff "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986).
B. Assault and Battery
Plaintiffs claim that SSA Defendants were directly responsible for the alleged batteries and assaults against them. (Dkt. No. 45 at 22-23.) Plaintiffs argue that SSA Defendants ratified Cabaccang and Rivers' conduct by failing to supervise or discipline either, verbally supporting the batteries, and using the violence to justify retaliation against Plaintiffs. Id. The parties dispute two theories of liability for this claim: respondeat superior and negligent supervision. (Id.; Dkt. No. 40 at 13.)
1. Respondeat Superior
Employers may be held vicariously liable for the tortious acts of their employees when it has been established that "the employee was acting in furtherance of the employer's business and that he or she was acting within the course and scope of employment when the tortious act was committed." Thompson v. Everett Clinic, 71 Wash. App. 548, 551 (1993). However "where an employee commits an assault in order to effect a purpose of his or her own, the employer is not liable." Id. at 551-552. A determination of "whether an employee's conduct is within the scope of the employment is ordinarily for the jury, but certain fact patterns may, as a matter of law, relieve the employer of liability." Id. Conduct may be within the scope of employment if "the employee was, at the time, engaged in the performance of the duties required of him by his contract of employment; or by specific direction of his employer; or, as sometimes stated, whether he was engaged at the time in the furtherance of the employer's interest." Id. at 552 (emphasis in original). If the tortious conduct was done solely to gratify the personal desires of the employee, it cannot be fairly attributed to the employer. Id. at 553.
The central issue for this claim is whether Cabbacang and Rivers' alleged intentional torts were conducted within the scope of employment. This case presents facts giving rise to a genuine dispute over whether the alleged assaults were personally motivated or done in an effort to enforce SSA's safety policies concerning unauthorized pedestrian traffic in Terminal 30 and restrictions on access to the restroom facilities located in the terminal. If the alleged assaults were conducted to enforce SSA's policies, this raises the further question of whether such enforcement was conducted within the scope of employment.
Defendants argue that that Cabbacang and Rivers alleged assaults were conducted "outside of the scope of employment as daily workers" and that the longshore workers were not acting in furtherance of SSA's business because they were not tasked with enforcing SSA terminal rules. (Dkt. No. 40 at 13-14; Dkt. No. 41 at 2.) There is some dispute over what SSA's terminal rules were when the alleged assaults occurred. SSA's General Terminal Safety Rules state, in relevant part, that: "Drivers must not get out of their vehicles when cargo handling equipment, or other trucks are moving in the area." (Dkt. No. 41 at 15.) The rules further state that:
No unauthorized pedestrian traffic is allowed on the terminal. Drivers must stay close to their vehicles while in the yard and should be out of their vehicle only for actual operating needs, e.g. connecting/disconnecting chassis, locking/unlocking twistlocks.
Id. The rules as they are posted outside of Terminal 30 also state that: "No unauthorized pedestrian traffic is allowed on the terminal." (Dkt. No. 41 at 14.) SSA Defendant John Bell claimed that "[f]or safety reasons, SSA Terminals adopted and published a rule that prohibits all individuals not directly involved in loading and unloading cargo ships from walking across Terminal 30." (Dkt. No. 41 at 2.) The policy prohibiting unauthorized pedestrian foot traffic conflicts with the permissive rule directing truckers not to get out of their vehicles when cargo equipment is moving. In both Rivers' assault on Berhane and alleged assault on Muhiddin, Plaintiffs attempted to use the bathroom during break periods when all activity in Terminal 30 had ceased. The conflict between these two rules is compounded by the fact that Plaintiffs regularly used the restroom in Terminal 30 until Berhane was assaulted in June 2012. (Dkt. No. 45 at 10-11.) According to Berhane, he and other truckers had been using the restroom facilities at Terminal 30 for years. (Dkt. No. 65 at 7). At the time of Rivers' assault on Berhane, truckers were not restricted from using the restrooms at Terminal 30. (Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 13 at 8; Dkt. No. 40 at 5.) In response to the Berhane assault, Bell stated that he restricted access to the restrooms to SSA employees and longshore workers by placing an "Employee's Only" sign on the restroom door. (Dkt. No. 41 at 3). However, Bell never explained the new policy to the drivers or informed the drivers that they were not employees within the meaning of the sign. (Dkt. No. Dkt. No. 12 at 17, 21.)
In sum, SSA's policies relevant to this case are as follows: SSA had a rule which categorically prohibited all unauthorized walking in the terminal; it also had a rule that applied specifically to drivers, directing them to remain within their trucks only when loading machinery was moving; prior to Berhane's assault SSA also had a longstanding practice of allowing truckers to use the restrooms at Terminal 30; after Berhane's assault an unwritten restriction on access to the restroom was effectuated by an "Employees Only" sign which was never explained to Plaintiffs. Defendants state that "SSA had not restricted the use of that restroom at that time. Berhane was not banned from the terminal." (Dkt. No. 40 at 5.) When asked whether the rule against unauthorized pedestrian traffic was ever used to prevent drivers from using the bathroom Bell stated that "[t]hat has always been a terminal rule that there's no walking in the terminal." (Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 12 at 21.)
Plaintiff has produced facts sufficient to show that Rivers' assault on Berhane and alleged assault against Muhiddin may have been done in an effort to enforce SSA's prohibition on unauthorized foot traffic and Bell's restriction on bathroom access. Before Rivers assaulted Berhane he claimed that the bathroom "was full of the road truck drivers and I asked them nicely not to use the bathroom, and I stated that you Guys are not supposed to be out of the trucks." (Dkt. No. 66, Ex. 3 at 11.) When Rivers allegedly assaulted Muhiddin he said that "[t]his is a Longhsoreman's lunchroom" and allegedly pushed Muhiddin away from the rest room. (Dkt. No. 45 at 12.) While Rivers was not charged with the enforcement of SSA's terminal rules, the Court finds that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the assaults were done in furtherance of SSA's business and within the scope of employment. The Court therefore concludes that denying summary judgment on this claim is appropriate.
2. Negligent Supervision
Plaintiffs also claim that SSA Defendants may be liable for the intentional torts of Cabbacang and Rivers on the theory that they neglected their duty to supervise and adequately deter their employees from assaulting Plaintiffs. (Dkt No. 45 at 22-23.) Unlike respondeat superior, under negligent supervision, an employer may be liable for the conduct of an employee that is outside of the scope of employment if "the employer knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known the employee presented a risk of danger to others. Thompson v. Everett Clinic, 71 Wash. App. 548, 555 (1993); see also S.H.C. v. Lu, 113 Wash. App. 511, 517 (2002) ("Negligent supervision creates a limited duty to control an employee for the protection of a third person, even when the employee is acting outside the scope of employment."). If the employer had knowledge of the employee's dangerous tendencies, it may be held liable for the employee's acts. Thompson, 71 Wash. App. at 555. Given that Rivers was the assailant in both instances involving Berhane and Muhiddin, that the assaults may have been done for similar reasons, took place close in time and in the same area, and that they were both against drivers of East African descent, Plaintiff has produced facts sufficient to show a genuine issue of material fact as to whether SSA Defendants either knew, or should have known that Rivers posed a danger to others. The Court therefore concludes that summary judgment must also be denied on these grounds.
Plaintiffs allege that SSA Defendants acted under color of state law to deprive Plaintiffs of their constitutionally protected rights and that they are entitled to relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Dkt. No. 45 at 18-20.) Under the state action doctrine Plaintiffs argue that SSA Defendants conspired with the Port of Seattle, or used their position as operators of the public port to pass arbitrary rules used to discriminate against and penalize Plaintiffs on the basis of their race and national origin. Plaintiffs also argue that SSA used the POSPD to victimize Plaintiffs and to enforce SSA's discriminatory rules. (Dkt. No. 45 at 19-20.)
"To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege the violation of a right secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States, and must show that the alleged deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law." West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (U.S. 1988). SSA Defendants cannot be liable unless they conspired with or acted jointly with state actors to deprive Plaintiffs of their constitutional rights. See Radcliffe v. Rainbow Const. Co., 254 F.3d 772, 783 (9th Cir. 2001). To prove a conspiracy between SSA Defendants, the Port of Seattle, and/or the POSPD, Plaintiffs must show that there was a meeting of the minds between SSA Defendants and the state actors to violate Plaintiffs' constitutional rights and that they shared common objectives of the conspiracy. See Franklin v. Fox, 312 F.3d 423, 441 (9th Cir. 2002); United Steelworkers of Am. v. Phelps Dodge Corp., 865 F.2d 1539, 1540-41 (9th Cir.1989).
The Ninth Circuit recognizes four tests for identifying state action, the satisfaction of any test is sufficient to find state action notwithstanding countervailing factors. Kirtley v. Rainey, 326 F.3d 1088, 1092 (9th Cir. 2003). The tests used to identify state action are: "(1) public function; (2) joint action; (3) governmental compulsion or coercion; and (4) governmental nexus." Sutton v. Providence St. Joseph Med. Ctr., 192 F.3d 826, 835-36 (9th Cir. 1999). Plaintiffs appear to assert their claim using the public function, joint action, and governmental nexus tests. (Dkt. No. 65 at 22-23.) The Court will discuss each test in turn.
1. Public Function
"Under the public function test, when private individuals or groups are endowed by the State with powers or functions governmental in nature, they become agencies or instrumentalities of the State and subject to its constitutional limitations." Lee v. Katz, 276 F.3d 550, 554-55 (9th Cir. 2002) (internal quotations omitted). "To satisfy the public function test, the function at issue must be both traditionally and exclusively governmental." Id. at 555.
Plaintiffs allege that SSA Defendants are "operating a traditional public facility, performing the traditional function of international trade" in a discriminatory manner. (Dkt. No. 65 at 22.) SSA Defendants characterize their operation as a "private stevedoring business, serving private vessels, in a limited number of marine terminals." (Dkt. No. 73 at 2.) Plaintiffs produce no facts showing that the operation of a stevedoring business has been both traditionally and exclusively a governmental function. Plaintiffs' conclusion that SSA Defendants engage in international trade, and are therefore state actors, is unsupported by the record. While stevedoring could arguably be characterized as a component of international trade, this Court agrees with Defendants' contention that mere participation in international trade cannot, by itself, constitute acting under color of state law. Otherwise the boundaries of § 1983 would be vastly expanded.
2. Joint Action
Under the joint action test, when a private party engages in a prohibited activity in concert with state actors, the private party is acting under the color of state law. See Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., 457 U.S. 922, 941 (1982); Florer v. Congregation Pidyon Shevuyim, N.A., 639 F.3d 916, 926 (9th Cir. 2011). Courts consider whether "the state has so far insinuated itself into a position of interdependence with the private entity that it must be recognized as a joint participant in the challenged activity. This occurs when the state knowingly accepts the benefits derived from unconstitutional behavior." Kirtley, 326 F.3d at 1093 (quoting Parks Sch. of Bus., Inc. v. Symington, 51 F.3d 1480, 1486 (9th Cir.1995)). The Ninth Circuit requires a "substantial degree of cooperation before imposing civil liability for actions by private individuals that impinge on civil rights." Franklin, 312 F.3d at 445.
Plaintiffs present no evidence that the Port of Seattle was involved in the promulgation of SSA's terminal rules, or in the enforcement of those rules. Further, Plaintiffs have not shown that temporarily banning Elmi and Muhiddin from Terminal 30 was an unconstitutional activity that the Port of Seattle somehow benefitted from. Plaintiffs' argument that SSA worked in concert with the POSPD is unpersuasive: as SSA Defendants correctly noted, in each instance it was Plaintiffs and not Defendants who called the police. Further, police filed charges on behalf of Muhiddin and Berhane against Rivers for which he was ultimately convicted. The Court concludes that Plaintiffs' claim that SSA Defendants conspired with the Port of Seattle and the POSPD to deprive Plaintiffs of their constitutional rights is speculative and unsupported by the record.
3. Governmental Nexus
Under the governmental nexus test for a private party to act under color of state law there must be "such a close nexus between the State and the challenged action that the seemingly private behavior may be fairly treated as that of the State itself." Kirtley, 326 F.3d at 1095 (internal quotations omitted) (quoting Brentwood Academy v. Tennessee Secondary Sch. Athletic Ass'n., 531 U.S. 288, 295 (2001)). As discussed above, Plaintiffs have not shown that either the Port of Seattle or the POSPD were sufficiently entwined with SSA Defendants' activity to form a governmental nexus. The extent of the Port of Seattle's involvement presented in the record includes their having leased the land that SSA operates its business upon. Similarly, Plaintiffs allege that SSA Defendants used the POSPD to enforce their discriminatory policies but the record reflects that Plaintiffs called the POSPD who then conducted interviews with the parties involved in each incident, filed reports, and ultimately charged Rivers of assault. Plaintiffs have not produced evidence indicating that there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether the Port of Seattle or POSPD were so involved in SSA Defendants' activities to have formed a governmental nexus.
Given that Plaintiffs' § 1983 claim cannot survive under any of the tests considered by the Court, summary judgment dismissal is appropriate for this claim.
D. Racial/National Origin Discrimination Under Title VII
Plaintiffs allege that SSA Defendants have implemented a racially discriminatory policy with respect to usage of the restrooms at Terminal 30. (Dkt. No. 45 at 21.) As Defendants correctly point out, Plaintiffs have not properly exhausted their administrative remedies under Title VII and have produced no evidence to show that they first filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") before bringing this lawsuit. (Dkt. No. 40 at 13); see also Blank v. Donovan, 780 F.2d 808, 809 (9th Cir. 1986) (holding that the plaintiff must first exhaust administrative remedies with the EEOC under Title VII). Title VII requires that a plaintiff shall file a charge "within one hundred and eighty days after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1). Accordingly, this Court concludes that granting summary judgment on this claim is appropriate.
E. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED)
Plaintiffs also bring an IIED claim, alleging that SSA Defendants intended to cause severe emotional distress through violence, intimidations, economic deprivation, and by carrying out their discriminatory policies. (Dkt. No. 45 at 24.) To prevail on a claim of IIED, a plaintiff must prove three elements: "(1) extreme and outrageous conduct, (2) intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress, and (3) actual result to plaintiff of severe emotional distress." Kloepfel v. Bokor, 149 Wash. 2d. 192, 195 (2003). Further, the conduct must be "so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community." Id. at 196. IIED does not include "mere insults, indignities, threats, annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialities. In this area plaintiffs must necessarily be hardened to a certain degree of rough language, unkindness and lack of consideration." Id. (quoting Grimsby v. Samson, 85 Wash. 2d 52, 59 (1975)) (citation and internal quotations omitted).
SSA Defendants' conduct consisted of banning Elmi and Muhiddin from accessing Terminal 30 for varying lengths of time following each incident. After Cabbacang allegedly assaulted Elmi on May 30, 2012, SSA Foreman William Kendall banned Elmi from Terminal 30 for "life." (Dkt. No. 45 at 10.) Elmi was allowed to return to Terminal 30 in December 2014. (Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 14 at 22.) SSA Superintendent, Defendant Brandon Brent, banned Muhiddin from Terminal 30 for seven days for walking across the terminal in violation of SSA's rules, and either Bell or Brent sanctioned Muhiddin for an additional seven days for attempting to drop off his container immediately after the first citation was issued. (Dkt. No. 40 at 7; Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 15 at 18-19.) Muhiddin returned to work shortly after the two week ban period.
Banning Elmi and Muhiddin from accessing Terminal 30 falls short of satisfying IIED's first requirement that the conduct be extreme and outrageous as to be utterly intolerable in a civilized community. SSA Defendants' bans in themselves were not extreme and outrageous, and the severe emotional distress that Plaintiffs claim stems from Cabbacang and Rivers' alleged assaults. As previously discussed, however, there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Cabbacang and Rivers were acting within the scope of employment, and in turn whether SSA Defendants may be held vicariously liable for their intentional torts. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, and employer may be liable for the intentional torts of its employees and IIED is within the ambit of this rule.
Plaintiffs have produced facts sufficient to show that Cabbacang and Rivers' Conduct may have intentionally or recklessly inflicted emotional distress and that Plaintiffs suffered actual severe distress. It is disputed whether Cabbacang struck Elmi's chassis with the picker intentionally and how many times. Elmi stated that the picker struck the chassis so hard that the truck nearly tipped over. (Dkt. No. 65 at 6.) Plaintiffs allege that after striking the chassis with the picker, Cabbacang bumped his chest into Elmi's and screamed "You Mother Fucker, you don't belong here." (Dkt. No. 45 at 9-10.) As a result, Hsu banned Elmi from the terminal for "life" and Cabbacang was not cited. (Dkt. No. 40 at 4; Dkt. No. 45 at 10.) Afterwards Elmi claimed that he could not sleep, suffered from nightmares and flashbacks, and was very stressed for more than a year. (Dkt. No. 16, Ex. 14 at 12, 26, 28-29.)
Berhane was physically and verbally assaulted by Rivers while attempting to urinate in the restroom in Terminal 30. Rivers grabbed Berhane by the neck and collar, choking him, and proceeded to drag him from the restroom and throw Berhane to the floor. (Dkt. No. 45 at 10-11.) Berhane sought medical attention for a bloody injury to his arm and was diagnosed with a contusion on his right shoulder. (Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 13 at 16.) As a result of the assault Berhane received psychological treatment from a counselor. (Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 13 at 13-14.) Berhane claims that he had nightmares, headaches, lost face before his family, and has never fully recovered. (Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 13 at 21.) Berhane also stated that he was so afraid because of what had happened that once he returned to Terminal 30 he resorted to urinating into a bottle in his truck. (Dkt. No. 67, Ex. 13 at 22-23.)
The Court concludes that there is a genuine dispute of material facts as to whether there was outrageous conduct and whether SSA Defendants ratified the conduct of Cabbacang and Rivers.
F. Racial/National Origin Discrimination Under RCW 49.60.030
Plaintiffs bring their disparate treatment claim of race and national origin discrimination under the Washington law Against Discrimination ("WLAD") which provides for the rights to "obtain and hold employment without discrimination" and to the "enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges of any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement." RCW 49.60.030(1)(a)-(b). Plaintiffs contend that the WLAD protects the rights of independent contracts in addition to employees and that they are therefore entitled to relief. (Dkt. No. 65 at 32-33.) To establish a prima facie case of employment discrimination alleging disparate treatment under the WLAD the plaintiff must show that: "(1) the employee is a member of a protected class, (2) the employee is qualified for the employment position or performing substantially equal work, (3) the employee suffered an adverse employment action, and (4) similarly situated employees not in plaintiff's protected class received more favorable treatment. Matson v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 872 F. Supp. 2d 1131, 1137 (W.D. Wash. 2012). The Washington Supreme Court held that RCW 49.60.030 provides broad protection and that an "independent contractor may bring an action for discrimination in the making or performance of a contract for personal services where the alleged discrimination is based on sex, race, creed, color, national origin or disability." Marquis v. City of Spokane, 130 Wash. 2d 97, 100-01 (1996).
Both parties agree that the WLAD safeguards the rights of independent contractors to be free from discrimination, however, SSA Defendants contend that Plaintiffs are not independent contractors with them:
[P]laintiffs are not independent contractors for SSA. They do not have contracts with SSA; and they are not paid by SSA. Rather, the self-employed plaintiffs contract with a trucking company who dispatches them . . . . Thus, SSA has no contractual relationship whatsoever with either the plaintiff truck drivers or the trucking companies with whom the plaintiffs contract.
(Dkt. No. 73 at 6.) Plaintiffs concede that they are not independent contractors with SSA. (Dkt. No. 65 at 3.) Given the absence of any employment or contractual relationship between the parties, Plaintiffs do not fall within the protected classes under the WLAD.
The elements for discrimination in public accommodations under the WLAD are similar to the ones used for employment discrimination. A plaintiff must show that: "(1) he is a member of a protected class; (2) the defendant's establishment is a place of public accommodation; (3) the defendant discriminated against plaintiff by not treating him in a manner comparable to the treatment it provides to persons outside that class; and (4) the protected status was a substantial factor causing the discrimination." Ross v. Snohomish Cnty., No. C13-1467-JLR, 2014 WL 1320125, at *7 (W.D. Wash. Mar. 28, 2014) (citing Demelash v. Ross Stores, Inc., 105 Wash. App. 508 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001)). SSA operates Terminal 30 as a private business, does not offer any services to the public, and has the right to limit who enters the premises. (Dkt. No. 41 at 2.) Plaintiffs have not produced facts indicating that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Terminal 30 is a public accommodation. For this reason, the Court grants summary judgment to SSA Defendants.
G. Negligence
Plaintiffs allege that they were business invitees of SSA to whom SSA Defendants owed a duty of care that was breached by failing to protect Plaintiffs from foreseeable threats of harm, including criminal violence. (Dkt. No. 65 at 33-34.)
As a threshold matter the Court must determine whether Plaintiffs were business invitees. "A business [invitee] is [one] who is invited to enter or remain on land for [the] purpose directly or indirectly connected with business dealings with the possessor of the land." Fuentes v. Port of Seattle, 119 Wash. App. 864, 869 (2003) (internal quotations omitted). While Plaintiffs are not independent contractors with SSA Defendants, the service they provide is integral to SSA's operation and it is undisputed that SSA benefits from their dealings with the truck drivers. SSA Defendants argue that when Plaintiffs walked across Terminal 30 or attempted to use the restroom, that they were in violation of SSA terminal rules and exceeded the scope of their invitation. (Dkt. No. 73 at 7.) The Court finds, however, that given SSA's longstanding policy of allowing drivers to use the restrooms, and the ambiguity of the "Employees Only" sign posted after Rivers' assault on Berhane, that there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Plaintiffs exceeded the scope of their invitation. Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have produced sufficient facts to show a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Plaintiffs were SSA's business invitees.
Now the Court must determine whether there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether SSA Defendants breached their duty to Plaintiffs as business invitees and whether the harm Plaintiffs suffered was reasonably foreseeable. "It is the special relationship between a business and its business invitee that under Washington law may lead to the duty to protect the invitee from the criminal acts of third persons. " McKown v. Simon Prop. Grp., Inc., 344 P.3d 661, 666 (Wash. 2015). "In order to establish a genuine issue of material fact concerning a landowner's obligation to protect business invitees from third party criminal conduct under the prior similar incidents test, a plaintiff must generally show a history of prior similar incidents on the business premises within the prior experience of the possessor of the land." McKown v. Simon Prop. Grp., Inc., 344 P.3d 661, 669 (Wash. 2015). "The prior acts of violence on the business premises must have been sufficiently similar in nature and location to the criminal act that injured the plaintiff, sufficiently close in time to the act in question, and sufficiently numerous to have put the business on notice that such an act was likely to occur." Id. at 662.
As the Court noted above in its discussion of negligent supervision, Plaintiffs have made a strong case that Rivers' alleged assault on Muhiddin was reasonably foreseeable to SSA Defendants. The similarities between Rivers' assault on Berhane and his subsequent alleged assault on Muhiddin, create a genuine issue of material fact under the similar incidents test as to whether Rivers' assault on Muhiddin was reasonably foreseeable. As previously stated, both the first assault and the alleged second assault were perpetrated by Rivers, both were against truck drivers of East African dissent, both happened in or near the restroom at Terminal 30, both may have been done as part of an effort to enforce SSA terminal rules, and both took place between June and September of 2012. Accordingly, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have raised a genuine issue of material fact as to whether SSA Defendants met their duty of care to Plaintiffs.
G. Motion to Strike
Pursuant to Local Rule 7(g), SSA Defendants filed a motion to strike included within their reply in support of the motion for summary judgment. (Dkt. No. 73.) Defendants move this Court to strike several of Plaintiffs' exhibits and claims made within their reply to the motion for summary judgment. This Court denies the motion to strike as moot, given that the Court did not rely upon the evidence at issue with the exception of the challenged exhibits at Dkt. No. 73:8 21- 23. With respect to the statements of police officers based on their personal observations contained within police reports that the Court considered, those documents are relevant, fall within an exception to hearsay, and are admissible as public records under Federal Rule of Evidence 803(8)(ii)-(iii). The Court also considered Rivers' written and signed statement (Dkt. No. 66, Ex. 3 at 11) and concludes that it is admissible as an opposing party statement under Rule 801(2). SSA Defendants' motion to strike is therefore DENIED.
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, SSA Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 40) is GRANTED with respect to Plaintiffs § 1983 claims against SSA Defendants and Plaintiffs' racial and national origin discrimination claims in violation of Title VII and RCW 49.60.030. The Court hereby ORDERS that those claims are DISMISSED. SSA Defendants' motion is DENIED in part with respect to Plaintiffs' assault and battery, IIED, and negligence claims. SSA Defendants' motion to strike (Dkt. No. 73) is DENIED.
DATED this 18th day of May 2015.
/s/_________
John C. Coughenour
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE