Opinion
No. 03-1258 MMC (Docket Nos. 46, 47)
May 4, 2004
ORDER GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT; DENYING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO AMEND REMANDING STATE LAW CLAIMS; VACATING HEARING
Before the Court is defendant's motion for summary judgment, pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, has filed opposition, to which defendant has replied. Also before the Court is plaintiff's motion for leave to file an amended complaint to add additional claims, and defendant's opposition thereto. Having considered the papers filed in support of and in opposition to the motions, the Court deems the matters appropriate for decision on the papers, VACATES the May 7, 2004 hearing, and rules as follows.
The parties agree that plaintiff's current complaint, her Second Amended Complaint ("SAC") filed March 5, 2003, contains four claims: "one claim of retaliation and one claim of discrimination under both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e) ("Title VII") and the Fair Employment and Housing Act, California Government Code § 12960 et seq. ("FEHA")." (See Pl.'s Opp. at 3:4-6; Def.'s Mot. at 3:12-15.) Specifically, plaintiff alleges that defendant's failure to hire plaintiff in July 2001 constituted discrimination on the basis of race and was in retaliation for a prior complaint of discrimination.
Defendant argues, inter alia, that plaintiff's Title VII claims are barred by the statute of limitations.
"When the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) dismisses a claim, it is required to notify claimant and to inform claimant that she has 90 days to bring a civil action." Scholar v. Pacific Bell, 963 F.2d 264, 266 (9th Cir. 1992). "The requirement for filing a Title VII civil action within 90 days from the date the EEOC dismisses a claim constitutes a statute of limitations." id. at 266-67. "If [a] claimant fails to file within [the] 90-day period, the action is barred." Id. at 267.
The Court finds that the following facts, relevant to defendant's statute of limitations defense, are undisputed:
(1) On August 14, 2001, plaintiff dual-filed a Complaint of Discrimination with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing ("DFEH") and the EEOC, alleging that defendant's failure to hire plaintiff in July 2001 constituted discrimination on the basis of race and was in retaliation for prior complaints of discrimination. (See Def.s' Ex. 11, Pl.'s Ex. T.)
(2) On December 24, 2001, the DFEH issued to plaintiff a Notice of Case Closure, stating therein that her case had been "closed" and that the "case may be referred to the [EEOC] for further investigation." (See Def.'s Ex. 13.) The DFEH further informed plaintiff therein that the Notice of Case Closure was also a "Right-to-Sue Notice," and stated that she "may bring a civil action under the provisions of [FEHA]. . . . within one year of the date of this letter." (See id.)
(3) On January 11, 2002, the EEOC issued to plaintiff a Dismissal and Notice of Rights, stating therein that it was "closing its file on this charge." (See Def.'s Ex. 12; Pl.'s Ex. P.) The EEOC also informed plaintiff therein that the Dismissal and Notice of Rights constituted "the only notice of . . . [her] right to sue" and stated:
You may file a lawsuit against the respondent(s) under federal law based on this charge in federal or state court. Your lawsuit must be filed WITHIN 90 DAYS of your receipt of this Notice; otherwise your right to sue based on this charge will be lost. (The time limit for filing suit based on a state claim may be different.)
(See id. (emphasis in original).)
(4) Plaintiff received the EEOC's Dismissal and Notice of Rights on or about January 11, 2002, and read it when she received it. (See Def.'s Ex. 16 at 23:17-24:16.)
(5) On June 10, 2002, 150 days after January 11, 2002, plaintiff filed her initial complaint in state court. (See Def.'s Ex. 14.)
Based on the above, it is undisputed that plaintiff did not file her Title VII claims within the applicable 90-day statute of limitations. Consequently, in the absence of grounds upon which to invoke the doctrine of equitable tolling, plaintiff's Title VII claims are time-barred.See Scholar, 963 F.2d at 266-67 (holding Title VII's 90-day statute of limitations is subject to doctrine of equitable tolling).
A Title VII plaintiff has the burden of demonstrating entitlement to equitable tolling. See id. at 268 (holding, where plaintiff did not file Title VII claims within requisite 90-day period and "made no showing to justify invocation of the doctrine of equitable tolling," defendant was entitled to summary judgment on Title VII claims). Here, plaintiff argues that because she filed her FEHA claims within the one-year statute of limitations applicable to FEHA claims, her Title VII claims likewise should be considered timely. This argument is not persuasive.
Equitable tolling of the Title VII's 90-day statute of limitations is appropriate where, "for example, . . . the statute of limitations was not complied with because of defective pleadings, when a claimant was tricked by an adversary into letting a deadline expire, and when the EEOC's notice of the statutory period was clearly inadequate." See id. at 267-68. Equitable tolling is not available, however, "when a late filing is due to [the] claimant's failure `to exercise due diligence in preserving his legal rights." See id. at 268 (quotingIrwin v. Veterans Admin., 498 U.S. 89, 111 S.Ct. 453, 458 (1990)). Plaintiffs argument does not implicate any recognized basis for equitable tolling, and the EEOC's notice clearly set forth the applicable 90-day deadline and specifically cautioned plaintiff that deadlines for any state claim may be different. Plaintiff offers no explanation for her failure to file her initial complaint within the 90-day period and thus preserve her Title VII claims. In short, plaintiff offers no evidence to support a finding that she is entitled to invoke the doctrine of equitable tolling.
Because defendant has established that plaintiff's Title VII claims were filed after the applicable period of limitations had expired and plaintiff has failed to raise a triable issue as to equitable tolling, defendant is entitled to summary judgment on plaintiffs Title VII claims.
In making this finding, the Court has considered plaintiff's motion to amend, by which motion plaintiff seeks leave to allege additional Title VII claims based on failures to hire that allegedly occurred after the incidents set forth in her SAC. Nothing in plaintiff's motion to amend explains how the additional Title VII claims, based on later incidents, would be timely, and, for the reasons set forth above, they would not be timely. Accordingly, to the extent plaintiff seeks leave to amend to add additional Title VII claims, plaintiff's motion to amend will be denied on the ground any such amendment would be fufile.See Sackett v. Beaman, 399 F.2d 884, 892 (1968) (holding denial of leave to amend proper where proposed amendment would be fufile on account of statute of limitations).
Plaintiff also seeks leave to allege additional FEHA claims.
Plaintiff does not indicate that she received a separate right-to-sue letter with respect to such later incidents and, assuming,arguendo, such incidents relate back to her initial dual-filed complaint, plaintiff was required to file her civil action no later than 90 days from the date she received her right-to-sue letter from the EEOC.
Lastly, the Court turns to the FEHA claims alleged in plaintiff's SAC. The Court's jurisdiction over the instant action is based on the existence of a federal question. (See Not. of Removal, filed March 25, 2003, ¶ 7.) Consequently, the Court's jurisdiction over plaintiff's FEHA claims is supplemental in nature. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a). Where, as here, a district court has granted the defendant summary judgment on the plaintiffs federal claims, the district court, pursuant to § 1367(c)(3), may properly decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. See Scholar, 963 F.2d at 268. Accordingly, pursuant to § 1367(c)(3), the Court will exercise its discretion to decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiff's FEHA claims and, to the extent plaintiff seeks leave to file an amended complaint to allege new FEHA claims, plaintiff's motion to amend will be denied, without prejudice to plaintiff's refiling the motion in state court.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above:
1. Defendant's motion for summary judgment is hereby GRANTED in part, and summary judgment is GRANTED in favor of defendant on plaintiffs Title VII claims.
2. Plaintiff's motion to amend is hereby DENIED.
3. Plaintiff's FEHA claims are hereby REMANDED to the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the County of San Francisco.
The Clerk shall close the file and terminate all pending motions.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
JUDGMENT IN A CIVIL CASE
[ ] Jury Verdict. This action came before the Court for a trial by jury. The issues have been tried and the jury has rendered its verdict.[X] Decision by Court. This action came to trial or hearing before the Court. The issues have been tried or heard and a decision has been rendered.
IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED
1. Defendant's motion for summary judgment is hereby GRANTED in part, and summary judgment is GRANTED in favor of defendant on plaintiff's Title VII claims.
2. Plaintiff's motion to amend is hereby DENIED.
3. Plaintiff's FEHA claims are hereby REMANDED to the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the County of San Francisco.