Malone v. Economy Borough Municipal Authority
| Decision Date | 09 November 2009 |
| Docket Number | Civil Action No. 07-1654. |
| Citation | 669 F.Supp.2d 582 |
| Parties | Karen MALONE, Plaintiff, v. ECONOMY BOROUGH MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY; James J. Sas; and Matthew Marasco, individually, Defendants. |
| Court | U.S. District Court — Western District of Pennsylvania |
Edward A. Olds, Pittsburgh, PA, for Plaintiff.
Teresa O. Sirianni, Danielle M. Vugrinovich, Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, Pittsburgh, PA, for Defendants.
This is an employment discrimination case brought by Karen Malone ("Plaintiff") against her former employer, the Economy Borough Municipal Authority ("EBMA"); James Sas, ("Sas"), the Chairman of the Board of the EBMA for the relevant time period; and Matthew Marasco, ("Marasco"), the EBMA Authority Manager for the relevant time period (hereinafter, collectively "Defendants"). Plaintiff alleges that, in retaliation for her decision to file a charge of gender discrimination with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission ("PHRC") in early 2005 based on the EBMA's decision to not give her a raise, Defendants intentionally made it difficult or impossible for her to perform her job and then terminated her for her failure to adequately perform, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, ("§ 1983"), and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 Pa. S. § 951, et. seq. ("PHRA"). Defendants have filed a motion for summary judgment, (Docket No. 43), arguing that Plaintiff's claims against them fail as a matter of law. In consideration of the parties' submissions, and for the following reasons, Defendants' motion will be denied, in part and granted, in part.
Plaintiff filed a complaint against Defendants on December 5, 2007, alleging First Amendment Retaliation in violation of § 1983 and retaliation in violation of the PHRA. (Docket No. 1). Defendants filed an Answer to Plaintiff's Complaint on March 13, 2008. (Docket No. 6). Plaintiff made a First Motion to Amend/Correct Complaint on July 23, 2008, (Docket No. 15), which was granted by this Court on July 24, 2008. (Docket No. 16).
Plaintiff thereafter filed a First Amended Complaint on July 24, 2008, again alleging retaliation in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the PHRA, as well as retaliation in violation of the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et. seq., ("Title VII"). (Docket No. 17). Defendants filed an Answer to Plaintiff's Amended Complaint on August 13, 2008. (Docket No. 18). On November 14, 2008, the parties filed a Stipulation of Dismissal of Count III of Plaintiff's Amended Complaint, the Title VII claims. (Docket No. 21). This Court granted dismissal of Plaintiff's Title VII claims on November 17, 2008. (Docket No. 22).
Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, (Docket No. 43) and Concise Statement of Material Facts, (Docket No. 45), on April 27, 2009. They filed their Brief in Support of Summary Judgment and a Motion Nunc Pro Tunc to consider said brief on April 28, 2009. (Docket No. 46). The Court entered an Order on April 28, 2009, granting Defendants' Motion Nunc Pro Tunc, indicating that the Court would consider Defendants' Brief in Support of Summary Judgment as if it were timely filed. (Docket No. 48). After an extension of time to file, (Docket No. 53), Plaintiffs filed a Brief in Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, Counter Statement of Facts and Response to Defendant's Concise Statement of Material Facts on August 3, 2009. (Docket Nos. 54-55, 58). Additionally, Plaintiff separately filed an Affidavit of Karen Malone and Affidavit of Jaimie George. (Docket Nos. 56-57). Defendants filed a Motion to Strike the Affidavit of Jaimie George and Brief in Support on August 27, 2009. (Docket Nos. 63-64). The Court denied Defendants' motion by Order dated September 10, 2009. (Docket No. 71). Defendants also filed a Response to Plaintiff's Counter Statement of Facts, as well as a Reply to Plaintiff's Response to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on August 27, 2009. (Docket Nos. 65-66). Plaintiff filed a Sur-Reply Brief in Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on September 10, 2009. (Docket No. 70). Being fully briefed on the matter, Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment is now ripe for disposition.
Unless indicated otherwise, the following facts are undisputed.
The EBMA is a government agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whose function is to provide sewage services to the residents of the Borough of Economy. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 1; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 1). The EBMA is governed by a five-member Board of Directors. (Docket No. 55 at ¶ 2; Docket No. 65 at ¶ 2). Prior to November 2005, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the EBMA was William Herniman. (Docket No. 55 at ¶ 9; Docket No. 65 at ¶ 9). Sas was Vice Chairman of the Board prior to November 1, 2005, at which time William Herniman resigned and Sas became Chairman. (Docket No. 55 at ¶¶ 2, 9; Docket No. 65 at ¶¶ 2, 9). At the time of Plaintiff's termination in April 2006, (Docket No. 55 at ¶ 86), the five members of the Board of Directors included Sas, (Docket No. 44, Exh. B), Richard Mattern, (Docket No. 44, Exh. F), Jason Jasinski, (Docket No. 44, Exh. E), Rodney Belsky, (Docket No. 44, Exh. I), and John Carl George. (Docket No. 44, Exh. G).
Plaintiff was hired by the EBMA as an office clerk in 1985. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 2; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 2). In her affidavit, Plaintiff indicated that her job duties as office clerk beginning in 1985 included answering the phones, receiving and posting payments, maintaining files and recording minutes from meetings of the Board of Directors. (Docket No. 55 at ¶ 1). She also noted that she was required to assemble packets for the monthly meetings of the EBMA Board of Directors, which included an agenda, budget, accounts payable, checks sent out and a general report on bank statements. (Docket No. 55 at ¶ 2). These packets included any additional material the authority manager included such as a manager's report, office report, engineer's report, solicitor's report, list of delinquencies for the month, etc. (Id.) In the 1990s, her title was changed to "office manager." (Docket No. 56 at ¶ 4). According to Plaintiff, when the title of her job changed, her primary duties remained the same, as did her pay. (Docket No. 56 at ¶ 4).
Prior to the 1990's, Plaintiff was responsible for balancing two bank accounts. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 8; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 8). In the 1990s, however, the EBMA began a multi-million dollar, two-phase expansion project. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 13; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 13). As a result of the expansion, the EBMA opened four additional bank accounts in the 1990's. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 8; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 8). Additionally, in 1987 the EBMA, anticipating the impending growth, hired a billing clerk for the office and installed a computer system to post payments. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 9; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 9). The billing clerk for the time period relevant to the instant matter was Joan Miller. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 10; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 10). Joan Miller's responsibilities included billing, taking payments from customers, posting payments on the computer and preparing municipal lien letters. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 11; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 11). The EBMA also hired a temporary employee, Mary Cay Gross, in early 2004 to assist with any needed tasks around the office. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 15; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 15).
The EBMA hired Marasco as an Authority Manager February 1, 2004. . Marasco's position had both operating and administrative responsibilities at the EBMA. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 19; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 19). The job description for Marasco's position provides, in relevant part:
The Authority Manager will have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) oversee and manage the entire operations of the Authority, including operational and administrative aspects;
(2) provide planning, organization and staff coordination for all Authority operations encompassing both operations and administrative aspects; ...
(4) participate in financial preparation of both budgetary plan and financial results;
...
(6) supervise all employees of the Authority;
(7) timely reporting and accountability to the Board;
...
(9) prepare written reports as requested by the Board;
(10) provide oral reports to the Chairman of the Board upon request;
(11) attend the regular and special meetings of the Board; and
(12) perform other duties and functions, as from time to time, may be assigned by the Board.
. Marasco's position required that he spend approximately 80% of his time at the EBMA offices, where Plaintiff was employed, and about 20 % of his time at the operating plant. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 22; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 22). At the plant, Marasco was required to oversee the work of the plant operators. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 23; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 23). At the office, Marasco was required to handle customer complaints, information coming in from the engineer's office and the solicitor's office and would handle problems with hooking up new lines and new plant construction. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 24; Docket No 58 at ¶ 24). He also testified that he was required to prepare a budget. (Docket No. 60, Appdx. II, Deposition of Marasco, 16 at 19-25). At meetings of the EBMA Board, Marasco would provide information on flow rates, information about plant operations and the number of taps coming in. (Docket No. 45 at ¶ 26; Docket No. 58 at ¶ 26).
Plaintiff testified that, after Marasco was hired as Authority Manager, she had greater responsibilities in her own position. (Docket No. 44, Exh. A, Deposition of Malone, p. 27 at 16-22). Specifically, Plaintiff testified:
Q. When Matt...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Brooker v. Altoona Hous. Auth.
...be dismissed, there is no reason for Johns and Walter to remain as named defendants in this action. Malone v. Economy Borough Municipal Authority, 669 F.Supp.2d 582, 604-605 (W.D.Pa. 2009). They will be dismissed as parties to this case, and the caption will be amended accordingly. D. Punit......
-
Ansell v. Ross Twp.
...Ansell's official-capacity claim against DeMarco is duplicative of his claim against Ross Township. Malone v. Economy Borough Municipal Authority, 669 F.Supp.2d 582, 604-605 (W.D.Pa. 2009). Consequently, the Court considers the official-capacity claim against DeMarco and the claim against R......
-
Douglas v. Brookville Area Sch. Dist.
...Craft will be dismissed on the ground that they are duplicative of her claims against the District. Malone v. Economy Borough Municipal Authority, 669 F.Supp.2d 582, 604–605 (W.D.Pa.2009). Douglas attempts to hold Craft personally liable for violating K.E.'s constitutional rights. In suppor......
-
Moore v. DARLINGTON TWP., Civil Action No. 08-1012.
...recently dealt with the question of whether to grant summary judgment on another § 1983 claim for punitive damages in Malone v. Economy Borough Municipal Authority. In that case, this Court found that the plaintiff had "offered evidence that the individual defendants engaged in deliberate c......