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noting that supervisory inaction does not constitute an adverse employment action for purposes of a discrimination claim
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18-cv-6443 (ENV) (JO)
2020-08-25
Magwin ROACHE, Plaintiff, v. LONG ISLAND RAILROAD, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local 56, Michael Juchem, in his individual capacity, Charles Tator, in his individual capacity, John Hanania, in his individual capacity, Christopher Natale, in his individual capacity, and James Sokolowski, in his individual capacity, Defendants.
Joseph Christopher Albanese, Michael P. Hilferty, White, Hilferty & Albanese P.C., New York, NY, for Plaintiff. Kevin Patrick McCaffrey, Law Dept, Jamaica, NY, for Defendants Long Island Railroad, John Hanania, Charles Tator, Michael Juchem. Richard S. Edelman, Mooney, Green, Saindon, Murphy & Welch, P.C., Washington, DC, William L. Phillips, Pro Hac Vice, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, Chicago, IL, for Defendant Brotherhood of the Railroad Signalmen Local 56. Marc Wietzke, Flynn & Wietzke, Garden City, NY, Richard S. Edelman, Mooney, Green, Saindon, Murphy & Welch, P.C., Washington, DC, William L. Phillips, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, Chicago, IL, for Defendants Christopher Natale, James Sokolowski.
Joseph Christopher Albanese, Michael P. Hilferty, White, Hilferty & Albanese P.C., New York, NY, for Plaintiff.
Kevin Patrick McCaffrey, Law Dept, Jamaica, NY, for Defendants Long Island Railroad, John Hanania, Charles Tator, Michael Juchem.
Richard S. Edelman, Mooney, Green, Saindon, Murphy & Welch, P.C., Washington, DC, William L. Phillips, Pro Hac Vice, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, Chicago, IL, for Defendant Brotherhood of the Railroad Signalmen Local 56.
Marc Wietzke, Flynn & Wietzke, Garden City, NY, Richard S. Edelman, Mooney, Green, Saindon, Murphy & Welch, P.C., Washington, DC, William L. Phillips, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, Chicago, IL, for Defendants Christopher Natale, James Sokolowski.
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
VITALIANO, D.J.
Plaintiff Magwin Roache brings this action against Long Island Railroad ("LIRR") and Michael Juchem, Charles Tator, and John Hanania, in their individual capacities (collectively, the "LIRR defendants"), as well as the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local 56 ("BRS," or the "union"), and Christopher Natale and James Sokolowski, in their individual capacities (collectively, the "union defendants"), asserting numerous instances of racial discrimination and retaliation arising out of his employment with LIRR and his membership in the union, in violation of federal, state, and municipal law. See generally Am. Compl., Dkt. 6. Defendants now move to dismiss the amended complaint under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and (6). For the reasons that follow, the union defendants’ motion is granted, and the LIRR defendants’ motion is granted in part and denied in part.
Background
Roache, who is African American and of Caribbean descent, began working for LIRR as an assistant signalman in 2006. Am. Compl. at 3, ¶ 12; ¶¶ 1–2. Roache has also been, at all relevant times, a member of BRS. Id. ¶ 3. The thrust of Roache's amended complaint is that, during his employment with LIRR, defendants repeatedly discriminated against him on the basis of his race and national origin, id. ¶ 4; refused to file formal grievances on his behalf to address the discrimination, id. ¶ 102; and retaliated against him after he filed grievances on his own behalf, id. ¶ 4.
Unless otherwise indicated by page number, paragraph numbers refer to those beginning in the "Factual Allegations" section on page four of the amended complaint.
More specifically, Roache contends that, from 2016 through 2018, he was overlooked for overtime opportunities on multiple occasions, and that, on at least two of these occasions, the opportunity was given to a less senior employee. Id. ¶¶ 7, 14, 17, 29, 49, 96, 101. In another instance of denied overtime, defendant Hanania, an LIRR supervisor, cancelled Roache's overtime shift after it had been scheduled by another supervisor. Id. ¶ 39.
The denial of overtime, however, was the tip of the iceberg, he says. In April 2016, Roache was instructed to "upgrade" from assistant foreman to foreman, but then-acting foreman Legg denied him the opportunity to comply with the upgrade. Id. ¶ 21. Nevertheless, Roache was promoted to the position of foreman of LIRR's Gang 25 in December of that year. Id. ¶ 34. Roache contends that Hanania then expressed that he should be removed from his position as foreman and stated that "people like [Roache] shouldn't be Foremen"—which Roache subjectively understood to mean people who are Black or of Caribbean descent—and that Hanania is "the Chief" and Roache is "the Indian." Id. ¶¶ 42–43. Then, in July 2017, defendants, in an effort to strip Roache of his foreman position, altered his schedule to force him to bid for his position, but, as the senior most qualified bidder, he was nevertheless awarded the position. Id. ¶ 50.
Roache also alleges defendants stonewalled his requests for time off. For example, in November of 2015, Roache was initially denied a time-off request for Thanksgiving, despite adhering to the collective bargaining agreement's ("CBA") requirement to find shift coverage. Id. ¶ 13. Only after the intervention of BRS Local Chairman James Ridley was Roache granted his request. Id. Roache further contends that defendants "subjected [him] to unwarranted citations and requirements," id. ¶ 4, and "disciplined [him] for reasons [they] did not discipline his Caucasian colleagues for." Id. ¶ 102. In one instance, Roache was issued a dereliction of duty charge for failing to secure coverage for an open position, when, he contends, he volunteered to cover the shift himself but was prevented from doing so by Hanania, who instructed Roache that he could only work if all other foremen and assistant foremen refused to cover the shift. Id. ¶ 45. Roache maintains that no other foremen were subjected to the same restriction. Id.
Roache was also issued disciplinary charges on four other occasions: once for failing to report work being done by a vendor, id. ¶ 57; once for failing to secure coverage of a shift by a qualifying foreman or assistant foreman, id. ¶ 60; once for failing to prepare tasks for technicians when he was out sick, id. ¶ 61; and once for a reason not clearly specified in the amended complaint, id. ¶ 75. Roache contends that other employees were not disciplined for similar infractions. Id. ¶¶ 45, 47, 57–58, 73.
Continuing his recounting of arbitrary enforcement, Roache contends that, on December 8, 2015, defendant Juchem, an LIRR principal, required Roache to schedule his vacation at the beginning of the year and to fill out vacation request forms. Id. ¶ 15. No such policy, according to plaintiff, was enforced with respect to other employees. Id. In addition, Hanania imposed certain email-reporting requirements on Roache's technicians, and he restricted where those technicians could eat lunch, but he did not impose similar requirements and restrictions on other technicians. Id. ¶¶ 48, 51–52, 54–55.
At some point prior to November 2017, Roache was demoted. Id. ¶ 80. Roache contends it is BRS's usual practice to represent Caucasian employees in the appeal of their demotion, but that defendant Natale, BRS general chairman, was instructed by the LIRR director of labor relations to deny Roache similar representation. Id. ¶ 84. Roache also accuses defendants of installing 10 cameras in his office, which they removed after he was demoted. Id. ¶¶ 68, 80. And, on October 23, 2017, Roache was instructed to make a "bump" to displace a less senior employee. Id. ¶¶ 77–78. Despite complying with that order, Roache was informed the next day that his bump was invalid, even though defendants permitted other employees to take similar action. Id. ¶ 78.
As for Roache's filed grievances, he claims that in September 2015, he reported "the harassment and hostility that he was subjected to," and he submitted phone recordings in support of his grievance. Id. ¶ 10. However, "instead of addressing the issues, [defendant and BRS Vice General Chairman] Sokolowski instructed [m]anagement to remove [Roache's] access to the phone recordings." Id. Roache filed another grievance on April 17, 2016, after receiving "negative emails" from an assistant foreman, but he never received a response from LIRR. Id. ¶¶ 19–20, 25–26. And, in May 2016, Roache brought a grievance to the LIRR Human Resources Department relating to a manager's "hostility" towards Roache, but Natale "instructed the BRS representative not to respond ... [and subsequently] referred to [Roache] as a ‘rat.’ " Id. ¶¶ 23–24. On another occasion in 2016, Sokolowski refused to file a grievance on Roache's behalf, which Roache had made in connection with a missed overtime opportunity. Id. ¶ 18. Then, in late 2017, Roache was instructed to file a grievance in connection with the invalidation of his "bump," but, instead of addressing the issue, Natale dissuaded Roache from pursuing the grievance. Id. ¶ 78. Finally, Roache filed a grievance in September 2018 for LIRR's failure to upgrade him. Id. ¶ 98.
Roache filed a claim with New York State Division of Human Rights ("NYSDHR") on December 12, 2017, charging LIRR with unlawful discriminatory employment practices, and he received a right-to-sue letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") on August 18, 2018. Id. at 3 ¶¶ 8–9. He initiated this action on November 13, 2018, see Dkt. 1, and he filed an amended complaint on November 19, 2018, contending LIRR violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000, by unlawfully discriminating against him on the basis of his race and national origin, and by retaliating against him for filing grievances in response to the alleged discrimination. Id. ¶¶ 103–12. Roache also claims that all defendants violated New York State Human Rights Law ("NYSHRL"), N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, and New York City Human Rights Law ("NYCHRL"), N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-107, for the same reasons. Id. ¶¶ 113–26.
Roache's amended complaint included Title VII claims against all other defendants, and claims against the union defendants for violation of the duty of fair representation under the Railway Labor Act ("RLA"), 45 U.S.C. § 152, see Am. Compl. ¶¶ 103–12, 127–31, but he has since withdrawn those claims. See Pl.’s LIRR Opp'n, Dkt. 35, at 19–20; Pl.’s Union Opp'n, Dkt. 31-2, at 5.
The union defendants have moved to dismiss Roache's remaining state and municipal law claims against them for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). See generally Union Defs.’ Mem., Dkt. 31-1; Union Defs.’ Reply, Dkt. 31-3. Separately, the LIRR defendants have moved to dismiss the amended complaint, in its entirety, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). See generally LIRR Defs.’ Mem., Dkt. 33.
Legal Standard
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b), a defendant may move to dismiss a complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction or for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1), (6). "A case is properly dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) when the district court lacks the statutory or constitutional power to adjudicate it." Makarova v. United States , 201 F.3d 110, 113 (2d Cir. 2000). "The plaintiff bears the burden of proving subject matter jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence." Aurecchione v. Schoolman Transp. Sys., Inc. , 426 F.3d 635, 638 (2d Cir. 2005). In determining whether it possesses subject matter jurisdiction, a district court may consider matters outside the pleadings. Makarova , 201 F.3d at 113. Because subject matter jurisdiction is a threshold issue, when a party moves to dismiss under both Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6), the motion court addresses the 12(b)(1) motion first. Sherman v. Black , 510 F. Supp. 2d 193, 197 (E.D.N.Y. 2007) (citing Rhulen Agency, Inc. v. Ala. Ins. Guar. Ass'n , 896 F.2d 674, 678 (2d Cir. 1990) ).
As for motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim, a court "must accept the factual allegations set forth in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the [p]laintiff." Anzelone v. ARS Nat'l Servs., Inc. , No. 17-cv-4815, 2018 WL 3429906, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. July 16, 2018). To survive such a motion, a complaint must plead enough facts "to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1974, 167 L. Ed. 2d 929 (2007). Simply put, "[a] claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L. Ed. 2d 868 (2009). Although a plaintiff need not provide "detailed factual allegations," Twombly , 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, the pleading rules demand "more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation." Iqbal , 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Where, as here, matters outside the complaint are submitted in support of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court "may, at its discretion, exclude the extraneous material and construe the motion as one under Rule 12(b)(6)." United States v. Int'l Longshoremen's Ass'n , 518 F. Supp. 2d 422, 450 (E.D.N.Y. 2007).
Discussion
I. State and Municipal Law Claims
Although Roache has withdrawn his duty of fair representation claims against the union defendants under RLA, they have continued to brief whether his remaining NYSHRL and NYCHRL claims are, in essence, nothing more than breach of the duty of fair representation claims in masquerade, and are thus subject to preemption by RLA. Specifically, the union defendants argue that Roache's NYSHRL and NYCHRL claims are "mere refinements" of his breach-of-duty claims, notwithstanding Roache's withdrawal of those claims, requiring their dismissal. Union Defs.’ Reply at 1 (quoting Cooper v. TWA Airlines , 349 F. Supp 2d 495, 507 (E.D.N.Y. 2004) ); see also id. at 2–5. Roache disagrees, arguing that the union defendants discriminated and retaliated against him in capacities unrelated to their representation of him, and that any allegation of inadequate representation serves only to "further support" his NYSHRL and NYCHRL claims. Pl.’s Union Opp'n at 9. At any rate, in light of Roache's withdrawing his duty of fair representation claims, the Court will consider Roache's allegations only to the extent that they do not arise out of the union defendants’ representation of him. See Langford , 765 F. Supp. 2d at 509 (finding that the duty of fair representation is not implicated where alleged discrimination is unrelated to a union's representation of plaintiff).
Under both NYSHRL and NYCHRL, a labor organization may not discriminate against any of its members on account of race, creed, color, or national origin, N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(1)(c) ; N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-107(1)(c), or retaliate against any person because of his or her opposition such discrimination, N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(1)(e) ; N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-107(7).
It bears noting that, in discussing preemption, both Roache and the union defendants rely only on cases predating Figueroa v. Foster , 864 F.3d 222 (2d Cir. 2017), in which the Second Circuit, for the first time, addressed whether an NYSHRL claim of discrimination against a labor organization is preempted by the duty of fair representation under federal law. Prior to Figueroa , the majority of courts in this circuit had adhered to the principle that state law civil rights claims against a labor organization in its representative capacity are subsumed by the duty of fair representation, and are, therefore, preempted. See, e.g., Holcombe v. U.S. Airways Grp., Inc. , 976 F. Supp. 2d 326, 338 (E.D.N.Y. 2013) (claims that a labor union "failed to pursue and properly manage grievances on [plaintiff's] behalf ... for discriminatory and retaliatory reasons" were subsumed by the duty of fair representation and preempted by RLA); Cooper , 349 F. Supp. 2d at 507 ("Because federal labor law defines the scope of the duty of fair representation a union owes to its members, state law claims that are ‘mere refinements’ of the duty of fair representation are preempted" by RLA (citation omitted)); Agosto v. Corr. Officers Benevolent Ass'n , 107 F. Supp. 2d 294, 310–11 (S.D.N.Y. 2000) (dismissing, on summary judgment, NYSHRL claims for discrimination and retaliation against a union, holding that those claims were "premised on the duty of fair representation" under the National Labor Relations Act and were, consequently, preempted); see also Langford v. Int'l Union of Operating Engineers, Local 30 , 765 F. Supp. 2d 486, 507–08 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (collecting cases). In finding that the duty of fair representation does not preempt "NYSHRL in its entirety when applied to unions acting in their capacity as collective bargaining agents," Figueroa , 864 F.3d at 235 (emphasis omitted), the Second Circuit rejected a field preemption framework, whereby "Congress has legislated so comprehensively that federal law occupies an entire field of regulation and leaves no room for state law." Id. at 227–28, 231–32 (citation omitted). Instead, it employed a conflict preemption framework, which examines whether either compliance with both state and federal law is an impossibility, or "the local law is an obstacle to the achievement of federal objectives." Id. at 227–28, 232 (citation omitted). Ultimately, the Second Circuit held that, as a general rule, the shared anti-discriminatory purposes of the duty of fair representation and NYSHRL do not render the two in conflict, opening the door for plaintiffs to bring both claims in federal court against a labor union stemming from inadequate representation. Id. at 235.
Even construing Roache's state and municipal law claims as unrelated to the union's duty of fair representation of him, he is barred from bringing such claims in federal court, not because they are preempted, as the union defendants argue, but because he elected to pursue those claims with NYSDHR. New York Executive Law § 297(9) provides that "[a]ny person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice shall have a cause of action in any court of appropriate jurisdiction for damages ... unless such person had filed a complaint ... with any local commission on human rights." N.Y. Exec. Law § 297(9). The language of New York City Administrative Code § 8-502(a) is " ‘nearly identical to that of [New York Executive Law] § 279(9),’ and discussion of the latter applies equally to the former." York v. Ass'n of the Bar of the City of New York , 286 F.3d 122, 127 (2d Cir. 2002) (quoting York v. Ass'n of the Bar of the City of New York , No. 00-cv-5961, 2001 WL 776944, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. July 9, 2001) ). These "election-of-remedies provisions" mandate that NYSHRL and NYCHRL claims brought before NYSDHR "may not be brought again as a plenary action in another court." Jones v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Educ. , 286 F. Supp. 3d 442, 446 (E.D.N.Y. 2018) (quoting York , 286 F.3d at 127 ). The election-of-remedies bar is jurisdictional, requiring dismissal pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), and "has been construed to cover claims arising out of the ‘same incident on which plaintiff's [NY]SDHR complaint was based [i.e.,] ... if they are based on the same operative events,’ " Horsham v. Fresh Direct , 136 F. Supp. 3d 253, 268 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (quoting Williams v. City of New York , 916 F. Supp. 2d 517, 521 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) ), unless a statutory exception—either dismissal of the earlier claims on the grounds of administrative convenience or untimeliness, or the annulment of the election of remedies—is satisfied. N.Y. Exec. Law § 297(9) ; N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-502(b) ; see also Jeter v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Educ. , 549 F. Supp. 2d 295, 302 (E.D.N.Y. 2008). "The facts need not be perfectly identical, and merely adding some additional facts and/or re-labeling the claim will not prevent the application of the doctrine of election of remedies." Edner v. NYCTA-MTA , 134 F. Supp. 3d 657, 667 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (quoting DeBerry v. Brookdale Univ. Hosp. & Med. Ctr. , 11 F. Supp. 3d 387, 392 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) ). The jurisdictional bar operates against all defendants in a subsequent federal action, even those not named in the NYSDHR complaint. Jones , 286 F. Supp. 3d at 446.
Set against this landscape, Roache's NYSHRL and NYCHRL claims survive only upon satisfaction of a statutory exception, or if they do not arise out of "substantially the same facts" as the claim filed with NYSDHR. Edner , 134 F. Supp. 3d at 666 (citation omitted). Yet his contention that he complied with the administrative exhaustion requirements of Title VII forecloses any such possibility. A plaintiff must, prior to filing a Title VII lawsuit in federal court, file a timely complaint with EEOC. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e) – (f) ; see also Watson v. Richmond Univ. Med. Ctr. , 412 F. Supp. 3d 147, 159 (E.D.N.Y. 2017). Only after receiving a right-to-sue letter may he bring his claim, or one "reasonably related" to that which was filed with EEOC, to federal court. Legnani v. Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane, S.P.A. , 274 F.3d 683, 686 (2d Cir. 2001) (quoting Shah v. N.Y.S. Dep't of Civil Serv. , 168 F.3d 610, 614 (2d Cir. 1999) ). Conceivably, there may exist a lacuna in which a Title VII claim may be "reasonably related" to an administrative claim over which the court may exercise supplemental jurisdiction, yet not arise out of "substantially the same facts," allowing plaintiff to skirt the election-of-remedies bar. But, such a sticky wicket is avoided here, as Roache's Title VII claim and his NYSHRL and NYCHRL claims are founded upon the same factual allegations, and he makes no effort to distinguish them. See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 103–126. Furthermore, Roache offers no indication that an exception to the election-of-remedies bar has been satisfied, nor does he contend that his NYSDHR complaint otherwise evidenced his intent not to elect an administrative remedy. See Drew v. Plaza Const. Corp. , 688 F. Supp. 2d 270, 278 (S.D.N.Y. 2010). As a result, Roache's NYSHRL and NYCHRL claims are dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, but without prejudice and with leave to amend, provided Roache can, in good faith, plausibly plead his way into the lacuna or otherwise provide facts sufficient to establish this Court's subject matter jurisdiction over those claims.
Pursuant to a work-sharing agreement between NYSDHR and EEOC, "[e]ach agency designates the other as its agent for the purpose of receiving and drafting charges." Tewksbury v. Ottaway Newspapers , 192 F.3d 322, 327 (2d Cir. 1999) (original alterations omitted) (quoting McGuirk v. E. Gen. Ins. Agency , 997 F. Supp. 395, 397 (W.D.N.Y. 1998) ). As a result, claims filed with NYSDHR are "deemed received" by EEOC. 29 C.F.R. § 1626.10 ; see also Ford v. Bernard Fineson Dev. Ctr. , 81 F.3d 304, 307 n.5 (2d Cir. 1996).
The "odd dichotomy" of requiring the administrative exhaustion of federal claims, but barring suit as to state and municipal law claims brought before NYSDHR, has not escaped courts’ attention. See Jones , 286 F. Supp. 3d at 446 n.1. Perhaps it also calls into question the need for three nearly identical forms of remedy designed to right the same wrong with essentially identical relief.
II. RLA
The LIRR defendants argue that Roache's remaining Title VII claims should be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction as "preempted" by RLA because they arise out of the CBA between BRS and LIRR, and are, therefore, subject to RLA's mandatory arbitration procedures. See LIRR Defs.’ Mem. at 10–13. Yet, its substance aside, the argument's mislabeling sets it on the wrong foot. The doctrine of preemption, which derives from the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, operates to render only state or local laws "without effect" if in conflict with federal law. Altria Grp., Inc. v. Good , 555 U.S. 70, 76, 129 S. Ct. 538, 543, 172 L. Ed. 2d 398 (2008) (quoting Maryland v. Louisiana , 451 U.S. 725, 746, 101 S. Ct. 2114, 2129, 68 L. Ed. 2d 576 (1981) ). The LIRR defendants’ argument, which suggests a conflict between two federal laws, is more appropriately framed as one of preclusion, not preemption. See Willis v. Verizon New York, Inc. , No. 11-cv-5078, 2012 WL 2370125, at *5 (E.D.N.Y. June 22, 2012) ; Crayton v. Long Island R.R. , No. 05-cv-1721 (SLT) (SMG), 2006 WL 3833114, at *4 n.5, *5 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 29, 2006).
Bearing in mind the "well-established law that strongly disfavors preclusion of one federal statute by another absent express manifestations of preclusive intent," United States v. Sforza , 326 F.3d 107, 111 (2d Cir. 2003), evaluation of the LIRR defendants’ argument depends on whether Title VII is incompatible with RLA, or, instead, whether the two statutes may be harmonized. See United States v. Estate of Romani , 523 U.S. 517, 530, 118 S. Ct. 1478, 1486, 140 L. Ed. 2d 710 (1998) ; Brown v. Ill. Cent. R.R. , 254 F.3d 654, 662 (7th Cir. 2001) (the proper task of a court is to "analyze the [Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA")] and the RLA to determine if they are incompatible or if they can be harmonized" (internal quotation marks omitted)). Notwithstanding the distinction between preemption and preclusion, however, the Court looks to the principles of preemption, developed through a robust body of case law analyzing RLA's preemptive effect, to guide its analysis. See Brown , 254 F.3d at 662–63 ("[T]he RLA preemption standard remains relevant to the preclusion inquiry, ... [such that] the preemption standard should govern in a preclusion case unless the analysis of the two federal statutes clearly suggests otherwise.").
Analytically, RLA requires arbitration of so-called "minor disputes," or "disputes between an employee or group of employees and a carrier or carriers growing out of grievances or out of the interpretation or application of agreements concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions." 45 U.S.C. § 153(i) ; Hawaiian Airlines , 512 U.S. at 252–53, 114 S.Ct. 2239. Such requirement aligns with its stated purpose "to provide for the prompt and orderly settlement of all disputes growing out of grievances or out of the interpretation or application of agreements covering rates of pay, rules, or working conditions." 45 U.S.C. § 151a ; see also Hawaiian Airlines , 512 U.S. at 252, 114 S.Ct. 2239 ("Congress’ purpose in passing the RLA was to promote stability in labor-management relations by providing a comprehensive framework for resolving labor disputes."). Thus, claims requiring the interpretation of a bargained-for agreement, such as the CBA here, or claims growing out of "disagreements over how to give effect to" such agreements, are "minor disputes" over which federal courts lack jurisdiction. Id. at 254, 114 S.Ct. 2239 ; Sullivan v. Am. Airlines , 424 F.3d 267, 273 (2d Cir. 2005). Stated differently, " ‘minor disputes’ subject to RLA arbitration are those that involve duties and rights created or defined by the CBA." Hawaiian Airlines , 512 U.S. at 258, 114 S.Ct. 2239.
Although not at issue here, RLA also requires the "prompt and orderly settlement of all disputes concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions," 45 U.S.C. § 151a, or "major disputes." See Hawaiian Airlines v. Norris , 512 U.S. 246, 252, 114 S. Ct. 2239, 2244, 129 L. Ed. 2d 203 (1994). As a rule of thumb, "major disputes seek to create contractual rights, minor disputes to enforce them." Consol. Rail Corp. v. Ry. Labor Executives’ Ass'n , 491 U.S. 299, 302, 109 S. Ct. 2477, 2480, 105 L. Ed. 2d 250 (1989).
"[N]ot every dispute concerning employment, or tangentially involving a provision of a collective-bargaining agreement," however, "is pre-empted" or precluded. Id. at 260, 114 S.Ct. 2239 (quoting Allis-Chalmers Corp. v. Lueck , 471 U.S. 202, 211, 105 S. Ct. 1904, 1911, 85 L. Ed. 2d 206 (1985) ). Claims or rights "independent" of the CBA—that is, where a court is presented with "purely factual questions" that do not depend on the meaning of a CBA's provisions—may be resolved in federal court. Id. at 261–63, 114 S.Ct. 2239 (citing Lingle v. Norge Div. of Magic Chef, Inc. , 486 U.S. 399, 407–410, 108 S. Ct. 1877, 1882–83, 100 L. Ed. 2d 410 (1988) ).
Roache argues that because Title VII, not the CBA, protects him from discrimination and retaliation on account of race or nationality, his claims are "independent" of the CBA. Pl.’s LIRR Opp'n at 12–14. By extension, Roache appears to argue that federal civil rights claims are categorically excepted from RLA's dispute-resolution procedures, a position undermined by the weight of authority. See Crayton , 2006 WL 3833114, at *5 (collecting cases). On the other side of the equation, the LIRR defendants argue that Roache's initial burden requires his showing he was qualified for the positions or benefits he sought, which, in turn, demands construction of the CBA. LIRR Defs.’ Mem. at 10–13. Their argument is equally untenable, however, as its acceptance risks "interpret[ing] the RLA as excluding a class of employees from statutory protections against employment discrimination and retaliation." Carlson v. CSX Transp., Inc. , 758 F.3d 819, 832 (7th Cir. 2014).
This contentious stalemate is hardly surprising, as courts have long been divided on their approach to the issue of RLA preclusion of discrimination claims, caused in no small way, as one circuit observed, by "somewhat imprecise and often conflicting language in the cases that discuss" the issue. Adams v. Am. Airlines , 202 F.3d 281, 2000 WL 14399, at *7 (10th Cir. 2000) (unpublished table decision) (discussing Hawaiian Airlines , 512 U.S. at 256, 114 S.Ct. 2239 ); see also Trans World Airlines v. Sinicropi , 887 F. Supp. 595, 605 (S.D.N.Y. 1995), aff'd , 84 F.3d 116 (2d Cir. 1996) (noting that "[w]hile the standard ‘independent of the collective bargaining agreement’ appears simple on its face, application of the standard to particular fact patterns has not proven easy"). One formulation adopted by courts in this circuit, for example, calls for determining whether "the subject of the dispute or the dispute is substantially dependent upon an analysis of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement," which may "dispositively resolve[ ]" the dispute. Crayton , 2006 WL 3833114, at *4 (quoting Brown , 254 F.3d at 668 ) (finding subject matter jurisdiction lacking over a Title VII discrimination claim that required proving plaintiff was not disqualified from his position, proof that depended on the interpretation of the CBA); see also Parker v. Metro. Transp. Auth. , 97 F. Supp. 2d 437, 447–48 (S.D.N.Y. 2000) (discrimination claims under ADA precluded by RLA where an assessment of plaintiff's qualifications required interpretation of the CBA); but see Cramer v. Consol. Freightways, Inc., 255 F.3d 683, 691 (9th Cir. 2001) (en banc) (" ‘Substantial dependence’ on a CBA is an inexact concept, turning on the specific facts of each case, and the distinction between ‘looking to’ a CBA and ‘interpreting’ it is not always clear or amenable to a bright-line test."). Another approach looks to the adequacy of an arbitral forum for resolving disputes of federal law. See Adams v. N.J. Transit Rail Operations , No. 97-cv-430 (LAP), 2000 WL 224107, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2000) (holding that "[RLA] arbitration should not be the sole avenue of protection [of federal discrimination and retaliation claims] unless Congress has so specified") (citing Bates v. Long Island R.R. , 997 F.2d 1028, 1034 (2d Cir. 1993) ).
A third approach, which the Court finds most persuasive, requires examination of the "the ultimate or specific relief sought by the aggrieved party." Sinicropi , 887 F. Supp. at 606 ; see also Prokopiou v. Long Island R.R. , No. 06-cv-2558 (KNF), 2007 WL 1098696, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 9, 2007) (retaining subject matter jurisdiction where plaintiff did not seek a court order for defendant to comply with the provisions of the governing agreement); D'Amato v. Long Island R.R. Co. , No. 99-cv-1797 (NRB), 2001 WL 563569, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. May 24, 2001) (ADA claim not precluded by RLA where plaintiff did not seek to vindicate rights under the CBA, and, therefore, no interpretation of its provisions was required). The court's formulation in Sinicropi is instructive, and neatly aligns with the directive of the Supreme Court in Hawaiian Airlines to look to the source of the right plaintiff asserts:
If this specific right is generated from a source outside of the collective bargaining agreement, a party may employ an alternative available mechanism to vindicate it. If, however, the specific right owes its existence solely to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the RLA arbitration mechanism must be the exclusive vehicle for vindication of that right.
Sinicropi , 887 F. Supp. at 606 ; see Hawaiian Airlines , 512 U.S. at 257–58, 114 S.Ct. 2239.
Circling back, the LIRR defendants characterize Roache's claims as deriving exclusively from the CBA. See LIRR Defs.’ Mem. at 11–12. They are correct in the sense that eligibility for overtime, and the procedures for filing grievances, appear to be governed by the CBA. See Marilyn Kustoff Decl., Dkt. 34, ¶ 4 & Ex. A. Yet their argument overlooks the central contention of Roache's argument that, because of his race or nationality, the LIRR defendants denied him benefits and opportunities, or arbitrarily imposed obligations upon him, relative to less qualified colleagues. He does not, therefore, seek to vindicate his rights under the CBA, nor does he seek a judicial mandate that the LIRR defendants must comply with the CBA. Instead, he "seeks the same opportunities ... [given] to other employees who are not foreign-born." Prokopiou , 2007 WL 1098696, at *5. In other words, effectively, Roache is not contesting whether the LIRR defendants have properly administered rights granted by the CBA, but rather that the LIRR defendants interpreted those rights differently and adversely when dealing with him. Such claims are not "minor disputes" under RLA, and, accordingly, the Court retains jurisdiction over them.
III. Timeliness of Roache's Title VII Claims
As discussed above, prior to filing a Title VII claim in federal court, a person claiming to be the victim of employment discrimination or retaliation must exhaust his administrative remedies by first filing a charge with EEOC and receiving a right-to-sue letter. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5 ; Tewksbury , 192 F.3d at 325. Where a state, such as New York, authorizes an agency to address charges of employment discrimination, such charges must be filed within 300 days "after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1) ; Ragone v. Atl. Video at Manhattan Ctr. , 595 F.3d 115, 126 (2d Cir. 2010). "The filing requirement is analogous to a statute of limitations, barring all claims arising outside the 300-day period" prior to the filing of the charge. Russell v. Cty. of Nassau , 696 F. Supp. 2d 213, 226 (E.D.N.Y. 2010). Although claims arising outside the 300-day limitations period are time-barred, a plaintiff may nevertheless cite prior specific conduct as "background evidence" to support his timely claims. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan , 536 U.S. 101, 113, 122 S. Ct. 2061, 2072, 153 L. Ed. 2d 106 (2002).
A timeliness determination thus begins with an examination of the alleged discriminatory "practice," defined "to apply to a discrete act or single ‘occurrence,’ even when it has a connection to other acts." Id. at 111, 122 S.Ct. 2061. Certain adverse employment actions, such as termination, failure to promote, or denial of a transfer, are easily identifiable, and " ‘occur[ ]’ on the day that [they] ‘happened.’ " Id. at 110, 122 S.Ct. 2061. Where multiple discrete unlawful acts are alleged to have occurred, "[e]ach discrete discriminatory act starts a new clock for filing charges alleging that act." Id. at 113, 122 S.Ct. 2061. Here, only those discriminatory acts occurring on or after February 15, 2017—300 days prior to when Roache filed a charge with NYSDHR on December 12, 2017—may support a timely claim under Title VII. See id. at 114–15, 122 S.Ct. 2061.
According to the amended complaint, LIRR's discrimination and retaliation persisted after Roache filed his claim with NYSDHR. A claim founded upon subsequent conduct is considered exhausted only if it is reasonably related to the conduct alleged in the administrative claim, meaning: (1) "the claim would fall within the reasonably expected scope of an EEOC investigation of the charges of discrimination;" (2) "it alleges retaliation for filing the EEOC charge"; or (3) "the plaintiff ‘alleges further incidents of discrimination carried out in precisely the same manner alleged in the EEOC charge.’ " Alfano v. Costello , 294 F.3d 365, 381 (2d Cir. 2002) (quoting Butts v. City of N.Y. Dep't of Hous. Preservation and Dev. , 990 F.2d 1397, 1402–03 (2d Cir. 1993) ). Title VII's administrative exhaustion requirement, however, is not jurisdictional, but merely a precondition to federal suit, and one that can be waived. Francis v. City of New York , 235 F.3d 763, 768 (2d Cir. 2000). Therefore, even if Roache's claims arising out of conduct that occurred after December 12, 2017 are not reasonably related to the conduct alleged in his administrative filing, LIRR has waived the precondition to suit as to those claims by challenging their sufficiency. See id. ; see also Bowen-Hooks v. City of New York , 13 F. Supp. 3d 179, 203–04 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (holding that defendants’ addressing the merits of unexhausted claims constitutes a waiver of their objection).
Roache, citing Vega v. Hempstead Union Free School District , 801 F.3d 72, 78–79 (2d Cir. 2015), nevertheless attempts to reach back further, arguing that he has been subject to "an ongoing adverse employment action ... which began outside the statutory period," such that the earlier claims are timely. Pl.’s LIRR Opp'n at 15. The Court disagrees with Roache's reading of Vega , which instead holds that, just as claims that would otherwise be time-barred cannot be revived by discrete acts occurring within the limitations period, the former does not render the latter time-barred simply because of an ongoing practice of discrimination. Vega , 801 F.3d at 79–80. Focusing only on the date a discrete act is alleged to have occurred, rather than when an ongoing practice of discrimination began, the Court concludes that only the claims arising from discrete acts that occurred on or after February 15, 2017, are not time-barred.
Certain forms of discrimination, such as the creation of a hostile work environment, take shape only after the accumulation of indignities, each of which alone may be insufficient to support a Title VII claim. See Gonzalez v. Hasty , 802 F.3d 212, 220 (2d Cir. 2015). The "continuing violation" doctrine of Title VII accounts for such discrimination by treating "a series of separate acts" as "constitut[ing] one ‘unlawful employment practice,’ " Morgan , 536 U.S. at 117, 122 S.Ct. 2061 (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–5(e)(1) ), allowing "the commencement of the statute of limitations period [to] be delayed until the last discriminatory act in furtherance of it." Washington v. Cty. of Rockland , 373 F.3d 310, 317 (2d Cir. 2004) (quoting Fitzgerald v. Henderson , 251 F.3d 345, 359 (2d Cir. 2001) ). Because Roache has conceded he does not allege a hostile work environment, Pl.’s LIRR Opp'n at 24–25, and he instead alleges "identifiable discrete actions" of discrimination, id. at 14, he may not rely on the continuing violation doctrine to revive time-barred claims.
IV. Sufficiency of Title VII Claims
A. Discrimination Under Title VII
Title VII prohibits, as an "unlawful employment practice," the "discriminat[ion] against any individual ... because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). Under the familiar burden-shifting framework of McDonnell Douglas Corp v. Green , 411 U.S. 792, 802, 93 S. Ct. 1817, 36 L. Ed. 2d 668 (1973), a prima facie claim for discrimination is established by showing: (1) that the plaintiff is a member of a protected class; (2) that he was qualified for his position; (3) that he suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) that discriminatory intent may be inferred from the circumstances. See Weinstock v. Columbia Univ. , 224 F.3d 33, 42 (2d Cir. 2000). At the pleading stage, however, a plaintiff need not establish a prima facie case of discrimination in his complaint; instead, he must plausibly allege only that "(1) the employer took adverse action against him, and (2) his race, color, religion, sex, or national origin was a motivating factor in the employment decision." Vega , 801 F.3d at 87.
A plaintiff satisfies the first element if he "endures a ‘materially adverse change’ in the terms and conditions of employment" that is "more disruptive than a mere inconvenience or an alteration of job responsibilities." Raspardo v. Carlone , 770 F.3d 97, 125–26 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Galabya v. N.Y.C. Bd. of Educ. , 202 F.3d 636, 640 (2d Cir. 2000) ). Examples include "termination of employment, a demotion evidenced by a decrease in wage or salary, a less distinguished title, a material loss of benefits, significantly diminished material responsibilities, or other indices ... unique to a particular situation." Feingold v. New York , 366 F.3d 138, 152 (2d Cir. 2004) (quoting Galabya , 202 F.3d at 640 ).
To the best the Court can discern, Roache contends LIRR committed the following types of discrete acts of discrimination on or after February 15, 2017: (1) the issuance of disciplinary charges against him, Am. Comp. ¶¶ 45, 57, 60–62, 75; (2) the failure to respond to grievances regarding discrimination or requests for personnel files, id. ¶¶ 86–93, 98; (3) negative comments made to him or about him, id. ¶¶ 41–43, 55; (4) the cancellation of properly authorized overtime or refusal of requests to work overtime, id. ¶¶ 39, 49, 96, 101; (5) the denial, id. ¶¶ 76, 78, or attempted denial, id. ¶¶ 50, 84, of resources, labor representation and opportunities for increased responsibility; and (6) the imposition of burdensome, harassing or arbitrary policies and responsibilities, id. ¶¶ 44, 46–48, 51–52, 54, 59, 68, 72. He also contends that he was demoted in November 2017. Id. ¶¶ 68, 80, 84.
LIRR argues, correctly, that negative comments, disciplinary citations, and the failure to investigate complaints do not constitute adverse employment actions. LIRR Defs.’ Mem. at 16–17; see Fincher v. Depository Tr. & Clearing Corp. , 604 F.3d 712, 721 (2d Cir. 2010) (no adverse employment action where an employer failed to investigate a complaint of discrimination in alleged retaliation for filing that complaint); Krishnapillai v. Donahoe , No. 09-cv-1022 (NGG) (SMG), 2013 WL 5423724, at *11 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2013) (disciplinary action against a plaintiff may inform a finding of other alleged adverse employment actions, but such action alone cannot form an independent basis for a discrimination claim); Scott v. City of N.Y. Dep't of Corr. , 641 F. Supp. 2d 211, 231 (S.D.N.Y. 2009), aff'd , 445 F. App'x 389 (2d Cir. 2011) (collecting cases, and holding that "verbal abuse is typically insufficient to constitute an ‘adverse employment action’ "). Furthermore, changes in, or denial of, responsibility are not actionable under Title VII unless they are "so significant as to constitute a setback to the plaintiff's career." Edwards v. Huntington Union Free Sch. Dist. , 957 F. Supp. 2d 203, 211 (E.D.N.Y. 2013) (quoting Galabya , 202 F.3d at 641 ). Similarly, allegations of inconsistent application of "ministerial" workplace policies not affecting pay or privileges of employment, or not resulting in demotion, fail to support a viable claim for discrimination. Sosa v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Educ. , 368 F. Supp. 3d 489, 513 (E.D.N.Y. 2019). Roache fails to allege such setbacks or effects stemming from orders and policies aimed at him and technicians under his supervision, Am. Compl. ¶¶ 46–48, 54, 59, 72, 76, 78, the "attempt" to hold Roache responsible for the compliance of his supervisees, id. ¶ 51, or the ensuing "hostility" and "tension" due to the policies, id. ¶ 52, 54. Nor do his allegations that LIRR misled him to believe he would mentor assistant foremen, id. ¶ 44, or that it installed cameras in the office space he shared with others, id. ¶¶ 68, 82, fit the mold of "materially adverse changes" to his employment conditions. See Raspardo , 770 F.3d at 125–26.
The gates to discovery and allied pretrial proceedings, however, have not yet closed, as Roache's demotion undeniably qualifies as a materially adverse employment action. See Mathirampuzha v. Potter , 548 F.3d 70, 78 (2d Cir. 2008). Furthermore, the denial of opportunity to work overtime or earn greater responsibility may be considered sufficiently adverse to support a discrimination claim. See DeLuca v. Sirius XM Radio, Inc. , No. 12-cv-8239 (CM), 2017 WL 3671038, at *14 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2017) (change in workplace responsibilities or denial of opportunities that results in revocation or denial of overtime eligibility may have an adverse impact on employment); Johnson v. Long Island Univ. , 58 F. Supp. 3d 211, 223–24 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (the denial of an opportunity to earn additional compensation constitutes an adverse employment action); Agostinello v. Great Neck Union Free Sch. Dist. , No. 05-cv-5838 (WDW), 2009 WL 238865, at *20 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 2, 2009), aff'd , 353 F. App'x 589 (2d Cir. 2009) (a denial of opportunities to work overtime "might amount to an adverse employment action"). Here, Roache recounts numerous incidents in which he was denied overtime outright, or provided only a short timeframe to request overtime, the lapse of which resulted in his loss of opportunity to place his request. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 39, 49, 96, 101. In short, Roache's allegations relating to his demotion and denial of overtime plausibly recount adverse employment actions.
As to the second element, a plaintiff carries a "minimal burden" to supply facts that "give plausible support to a minimal inference of discriminatory motivation." Vega , 801 F.3d at 84–85 (quoting Littlejohn v. City of New York , 795 F.3d 297, 311 (2d Cir. 2015) ). An inference of discriminatory motivation may be supported directly, such as by statements that an adverse employment action was related to plaintiff's protected class, see Haskell v. Kaman Corp. , 743 F.2d 113, 119 (2d Cir. 1984), or indirectly by an allegation that plaintiff was treated different from and less favorably than similarly situated peers, see Marquez v. Starrett City Assocs. , 406 F. Supp. 3d 197, 208–09 (E.D.N.Y. 2017). Clearing this low pleading threshold "entitles the plaintiff to the temporary presumption of McDonnell Douglas until the defendant furnishes its asserted reasons for its action against the plaintiff," Doe v. Columbia Univ. , 831 F.3d 46, 55 (2d Cir. 2016), the evaluation of which is more appropriately considered at summary judgment or at trial, Levy v. Legal Aid Soc'y , 408 F. Supp. 3d 209, 216 (E.D.N.Y. 2019).
Here, Roache plausibly contends that he was demoted and was denied opportunities to work overtime afforded not merely to similarly situated, but to less qualified, colleagues. Such allegations, albeit suffering from a lack of specificity, thus placing them on the razor's edge of plausibility, are sufficient to create an inference of discrimination, see Johnson , 58 F. Supp. 3d at 224, and LIRR's attempt to refute his eligibility for such benefits is inappropriate at this stage. Levy , 408 F. Supp. 3d at 216 ; see Kustoff Decl.; LIRR Defs.’ Mem. at 1–2, 20. In any event, Roache's allegation that Hanania, who had denied Roache overtime work, had stated just weeks prior to one such denial that "people like [Roache] shouldn't be Foremen," and that Roache was the "Indian" to his "Chief," Am. Compl. ¶ 43, provides further support of discriminatory motive to allow for discovery. That Hanania's comments did not explicitly refer to Roache's race or national origin may create ambiguity as to his intended meaning, but the Court must, in making its plausibility determination, "draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Vega , 801 F.3d at 86 (2d Cir. 2015) (quoting Iqbal , 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 ). At the very least, the remarks create a "minimal inference" of discriminatory motive. Id. at 84 (quoting Littlejohn , 795 F.3d at 311 ). Accordingly, Roache may proceed with his discrimination claims, but only as to those that plausibly arise out of materially adverse employment actions, as catalogued above.
B. Retaliation Under Title VII
Claims for retaliation under Title VII are also subject to the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework, requiring a plaintiff to first establish "1) participation in a protected activity; 2) the defendant's knowledge of the protected activity; 3) an adverse employment action; and 4) a causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse employment action." Zann Kwan v. Andalex Grp. LLC , 737 F.3d 834, 844 (2d Cir. 2013) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Jute v. Hamilton Sundstrand Corp. , 420 F.3d 166, 173 (2d Cir. 2005) ). Participation in a protected activity depends not on whether "the conditions against which [plaintiff] protested actually amounted to a violation of Title VII," but rather, that "he had a ‘good faith, reasonable belief that the underlying challenged actions of the employer violated the law.’ " Wimmer v. Suffolk Cty. Police Dep't , 176 F.3d 125, 134 (2d Cir. 1999) (quoting Manoharan v. Columbia Univ. Coll. of Physicians & Surgeons , 842 F.2d 590, 593 (2d Cir. 1988) ). In addition, and relevant here, proof of a "causal connection" requires more than a showing that the "retaliation was a ‘substantial’ or ‘motivating’ factor in the employer's decision." Vega , 801 F.3d at 90–91 (quoting Univ. of Texas Sw. Med. Ctr. v. Nassar , 570 U.S. 338, 348, 133 S. Ct. 2517, 2526, 186 L. Ed. 2d 503 (2013) ). Instead, it must be shown that "the unlawful retaliation would not have occurred in the absence of the alleged wrongful action or actions of the employer." Nassar , 570 U.S. at 360, 133 S.Ct. 2517. At the pleading stage, a plaintiff must "plausibly plead a connection between the act and his engagement in protected activity" to suggest the plaintiff's actions were a " ‘but-for’ cause of the employer's adverse action." Vega , 801 F.3d at 90. An allegation that "protected activity followed closely in time by adverse employment action" may indirectly support such a connection. Id.
LIRR takes aim at Roache's complaints filed with LIRR, arguing that the absence of any contention that they were related to his race or national origin removes them from activity protected by Title VII. See LIRR Defs.’ Mem. at 25–26. The Court agrees that the majority of Roache's complaints, as recounted in the amended complaint, do not qualify as protected activity. For example, Roache contends that he was asked by his managers the cause of a failure of "phone communications," for which he blamed Assistant Foreman Matthew Legg. Am. Compl. ¶ 19. When Legg responded to Roache's accusation with "negative emails," Roache "filed a discrimination complaint." Id. ¶ 20. Roache provides no facts supporting a good-faith belief that Legg's emails at all concerned Roache's race or national origin, or that they otherwise constituted a violation of Title VII. Similarly, Roache fails to assert a good-faith belief that LIRR violated Title VII when Manager Sean Nunes expressed "hostility" towards him, after which "the issue was reported." Id. ¶ 23. The pattern continues. When Roache voiced his concern about vacancies in his unit, then-Foreman Mark Ruff stated: "Take this shit and get the fuck out of my office and tell that piece of shit Magwin that if I see him, then there are going to be problems." Id. ¶¶ 36–37. Roache contends he informed both his manager and his direct supervisor about Ruff's statement, but he does not complain, nor do the words in and of themselves suggest, that Ruff's comment ran afoul of Title VII. Consequently, these grievances cannot form the basis of a Title VII retaliation claim.
The amended complaint recounts three other grievances within the limitations period: (1) Roache's reporting of "harassment" and "disparaging" treatment on August 29, 2017, id. ¶¶ 65–66; (2) Roache's filing a claim with NYSDHR, id. at 3 ¶ 8; and (3) Roache's filing a grievance in September 2018, for LIRR's failure to upgrade him, id. ¶ 98. Even assuming that these three grievances were protected activity, Roache fails to contend, beyond conclusory allegations, that any of them were "but-for" causes of LIRR's adverse employment actions. See id. ¶ 102 (merely contending that "Defendants retaliated against Mr. Roache by taking away his rights and holding him to a different standard than other employees"). The absence of any allegation of but-for causation requires dismissal in their entirety of Roache's claims for retaliation.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Roache's NYSHRL and NYCHRL claims are dismissed in their entirety for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, but without prejudice, and with leave to amend, provided Roache can, in good faith, plead facts sufficient to establish any timely claims are not barred by the election-of-remedies doctrine.
Furthermore, Roache's Title VII claims are dismissed in their entirety as to all defendants except LIRR. Roache's Title VII claims for retaliation against LIRR are similarly dismissed, and his Title VII claims for discrimination against LIRR are dismissed, except to the extent that they arise out of materially adverse employment actions in the manner discussed in this Memorandum and Order.
The parties are referred to Magistrate Judge James Orenstein for continued pretrial management.
So Ordered.