Opinion
Index No.: 110152/11 Motion Seq. No.: 001
01-18-2013
ROBERT SOLOMON, Plaintiff, v. PEPSI-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC., Defendant.
DECISION/ORDER
HON. DORIS LING-COHAN, J.S.C.:
In this employment discrimination action, defendant Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Inc. (Pepsi) moves to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a) (5) (motion sequence number 001). For the following reasons, this motion is granted.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff Robert Solomon (Solomon) was employed as a forklift operator by Pepsi from approximately 1988 through 2008. See Notice of Motion, Exhibit F. Solomon alleges that he suffers from diverticulitis and drug addiction, and that he informed Pepsi about his conditions at some point in 2006. Id. Solomon further alleges that he missed a certain number of workdays during the period of 2006 through 2008, but that he always presented his supervisor with a doctor's note explaining that he was undergoing either medical or substance abuse treatment. Id. Solomon claims that Pepsi nonetheless informed him that his conditions were not recognized by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), and, in 2007, Pepsi commenced an arbitration against him, with respect to his absenteeism. Id. Thereafter, Solomon and Pepsi entered into a "last chance agreement", which Solomon subsequently violated, and Pepsi sent him a letter recommending his termination on June 25, 2008. Id. Pepsi's decision to terminate Solomon was upheld at a subsequent arbitration hearing on August 14, 2008. Id.
Solomon initially commenced an employment discrimination suit against Pepsi before the United States Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on September 25, 2008, however the EEOC subsequently dismissed that proceeding in an order issued on January 25, 2010. See Notice of Motion, Exhibit A. Solomon next commenced an action for disability discrimination and violation of the ADA against Pepsi in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on March 10, 2010 under Case No. 10-CV-1886 (BSJ) (HBP) (the federal action). Id.; Exhibit A. Finally, on September 2, 2011, Solomon commenced the instant action in this court by filing a summons and complaint that sets forth two causes of action each for violation of NY Exec Law § 290 and NYC Admin Code § 8-101. Id.; Exhibit F. In lieu of filing an answer, Pepsi has filed the instant motion to dismiss.
DISCUSSION
CPLR 3211 (a) (5) provides that "A party may move for judgment dismissing one or more causes of action asserted against him on the ground that ... the cause of action may not be maintained because of ... statute of limitations." Here, Pepsi argues that Solomon's complaint should be dismissed because Solomon commenced the instant action after the expiration of the three-year statute of limitations governing both of his claims. See Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion, at 5-9. As an initial matter, the court notes that Solomon does not contest that his claims are governed by a three year statute of limitations. See CPLR 214 (2); NYC Admin Code § 8-502 (d).
Solomon bases its argument on the rule that disability discrimination claims like Solomon's, accrue "on the date that an adverse employment determination is made and communicated to [a] plaintiff." See Pinder v City of New York, 49 AD3d 280, 281 (1st Dept 2008); Vig v New York Hairspray Co., L.P., 93 AD3d 565 (1st Dept 2012). Pepsi argues that Solomon's claims accrued on June 25, 2008 when he received Pepsi's letter recommending termination, and that the three (3) year statute of limitations expired, prior to the commencement of this case on September 2, 2011. See Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion, at 5. Solomon responds that Pepsi's original letter merely recommended termination, but that the decision to terminate was not actually confirmed by the arbitrator until September 2, 2008, and argues that this action - commenced on September 2, 2011 - is, therefore, timely. See Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion, at 2-3. Solomon fails, however, to cite to any case law to support his argument.
Pepsi responds that Solomon's argument misconceives the law, which fixes the accrual date for job discrimination claims "on the date that an adverse employment determination is made," rather than on the date when "termination" is actually given effect. See Plaintiff's Reply Brief, at 2-5. Pepsi is correct. Indeed, the Appellate Division, First Department, has noted that "the possibility that [a] determination may [be] reversed ... is insufficient to toll the limitations period, [where] there is no evidence that the firm actively misled plaintiff about her status, or that it restricted her in some extraordinary way from exercising her rights to allege discrimination ." Cordone v Wilens & Baker, P.C., 286 AD2d 597, 598 (1st Dept 2001); see also Peterec-Tolino v Harap, 93 AD3d 577 (1st Dept 2012). Here, too, Solomon has presented no such evidence. Therefore, Solomon's disability discrimination claim against Pepsi accrued on June 25, 2008, when Pepsi sent him the letter containing "an adverse employment determination ," - i.e., a recommendation that his employment be terminated. As a result, the discrimination claims set forth in the within action are untimely, as they were asserted after the governing three-year statute of limitations had expired.
The balance of Solomon's opposition raises issues regarding the admissibility of documentary evidence. See Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion, at 3-5. However, these questions are now moot, as they pertain to this action which has been dismissed. Solomon is free to raise such arguments, if appropriate, in conjunction with his Federal Court action. Accordingly, Pepsi's motion is granted.
DECISION
ACCORDINGLY, for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that the motion, pursuant to CPLR §3211 (a) (5), by defendant Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Inc. is granted and the complaint is dismissed, without costs and disbursements; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly; and it is further ORDERED that, within 30 days of entry of this order, defendant shall serve a copy upon plaintiff, with notice of entry. Dated: New York, New York
January 15, 2013
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Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan, J.S.C.
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