Rivas v. Sw. Key Programs, Inc.

• Decision Date: 03 November 2015
• Docket Number: No. 08–14–00010–CV,08–14–00010–CV
• Parties: Raul RIVAS, Appellant, v. SOUTHWEST KEY PROGRAMS, INC., Appellee.
• Court: Texas Court of Appeals

507 S.W.3d 777

Raul RIVAS, Appellant,

v.SOUTHWEST KEY PROGRAMS, INC., Appellee.

No. 08–14–00010–CV

Court of Appeals of Texas, El Paso.

November 3, 2015

Daniela Labinoti, Law Firm of Daniela Labinoti, P.C., El Paso, TX, Attorney for Appellant.

Mark D. Dore, Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson & Galatzan, PC, El Paso, TX, Attorney for Appellee.

Before McClure, C.J., Rodriguez, J., and Chew, C.J. (Senior)

OPINION

ANN CRAWFORD McCLURE, Chief Justice

This wrongful discharge case asks a presumably simple question: when was Raul Rivas terminated from his job (or at least when did he know he would be terminated)? Documents from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) suggest he claimed to have been fired on September 19, 2010, which would make his suit untimely. His affidavit submitted in response to a motion for summary judgment claims that he was not terminated until September 24, 2010, which if true, might make his suit timely. The trial court granted summary judgment, presumably crediting the TWC file entries. Based on the state of the record, we reverse and remand the case.

FACTUAL SUMMARY

On September 24, 2012, Rivas filed suit against Southwest Key Programs, Inc. (Southwest Key) under Section 451.001 of the Texas Labor Code. TEX.LAB.CODE ANN. § 451.001 (West 2015). The suit maintained that Rivas was hired in January 2003 and at some time thereafter was injured on the job. Rivas alleges that in connection with this injury, he filed and pursued a work injury claim under the Texas Worker's Compensation Act. He contends that because he did so, he was discharged from his employment "and/or discriminated against ... on or about September 24, 2010." He also alleges that he suffered from a "hostile work environment" because of his on the job injury. His pleading is devoid of any specific factual allegations explaining the basis for these legal theories, but the absence of specific factual allegations was never raised below.

Southwest Key answered, and shortly thereafter, filed a motion for summary judgment contending that the suit was barred by the applicable two-year statute of limitations. Southwest Key proved up three documents that it had received from the TWC appearing to indicate that Rivas filed a claim for unemployment benefits on September 19, 2010.

About eight months later, Southwest Key filed an Amended Motion for Summary Judgment, also asserting limitations, but this time supported by the file from the TWC which was proved up as an official record. That file contains a "Benefits–Initial Claims" report pertaining to Rivas which shows a "claim date" of September 19, 2010. Another page contains references to four "Fact Finding Statements." The first is labeled as occurring at 9:05 a.m. on September 21, 2010 and attributes this statement to Rivas: "I was fired because I was told that I was only to have 10 children under my supervision. I had 12 children that day and I was told I had not met ratio." Another fact finding statement attributed to Rivas on October 6, 2010 notes that that there was no time lapse between the "incident" and the "discharge."

Rivas responded to the amended motion for summary judgment with his own affidavit that claimed he was injured on the job on April 4, 2010, and was off work until August 24, 2010. Upon his return, he claims he was subjected to a "negative attitude and hard time" because of the injury and having filed the claim. He offered no specific details of what this referred to other than an assistant director told others not to talk to him and he was denied treatment. He also swore: "I was suspended on or about September 19, 2010, pending an investigation. I was not fired." He was called the next day and was told his suspension would be until September 24, and "I asked Adriana if I was fired, and I was told no." On September 24, he showed up for work and was told he was fired. "The day of my termination is September 24, 2010 and I am sure about it." Also attached to the response was a payment stub from Liberty Mutual for what appear to be payments for worker's compensation benefits.

Southwest Key filed various objections to Rivas' affidavit. We find nothing in the record to show those objections were ever ruled upon. The trial court granted the amended motion for summary judgment on December 18, 2013. Rivas brings three issues on appeal, all of which contend the trial court erred in granting the summary judgment. In various ways, he contends there that there is a genuine issue of material of fact as to the accrual date, and when he knew or should have known of the termination.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The standard of review for a traditional summary judgment under TEX.R.CIV.P. 166a(c) is well established. Nixon v. Mr. Property Management Company, Inc., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548 (Tex.1985). The moving party carries the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Diversicare General Partner, Inc. v. Rubio, 185 S.W.3d 842, 846 (Tex.2005). Evidence favorable to the non-movant will be taken as true in deciding whether there is a disputed issue of material fact. Fort Worth Osteopathic Hospital, Inc. v. Reese, 148 S.W.3d 94, 99 (Tex.2004) ; Tranter v. Duemling, 129 S.W.3d 257, 260 (Tex. App.–El Paso 2004, no pet.). All reasonable inferences, including any doubts, must be resolved in favor of the non-movant. Reese, 148 S.W.3d at 99. We review the grant or denial of a traditional motion for summary judgment de novo. Valence Operating Company v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex.2005).

Southwest Key moved for summary judgment on its affirmative defense of limitations and therefore carried the burden of conclusively establishing that defense. KPMG Peat Marwick v. Harrison County Housing Finance Corp., 988 S.W.2d 746, 748 (Tex.1999) ; Munoz v. Gulf Oil Co., 693 S.W.2d 372, 373 (Tex.1984). It was required to conclusively prove when Rivas' cause of action accrued. Id. An issue is conclusively proven if reasonable minds would necessarily agree regarding the conclusion to be reached from the evidence. Triton Oil & Gas Corp. v. Marine Contractors and Supply, Inc., 644 S.W.2d 443, 446 (Tex.1982).

ACCRUAL DATE FOR SECTION 451.001 CLAIMS

Rivas asserted he was terminated and subjected to a hostile work environment because he exercised his rights to pursue a work related injury claim, all in violation of Section 451.001. A wrongful termination claim under Section 451.001 must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues. Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc. v. Sanchez, 924 S.W.2d 925, 927 (Tex.1996) (interpreting predecessor statute). Such a claim accrues when the worker receives unequivocal notice of the termination or when a reasonable person should have known of the termination. Id. at 928.

A short visit to the facts in Sanchez is instructive. Ms. Sanchez was injured in April 1987 and by November 1987, she was placed on indefinite medical leave with recall rights. Id. She contended that over the years, she called and was told several times that no jobs were available. Id. Finally in April 1991, she filed a suit asserting a claim for common law fraud and discrimination under the predecessor statute to Section 451.001. Id.¹ The employer obtained a summary judgment on the predecessor Section 451.001 claim based on limitations, contending that the indefinite medical leave in 1987 was the same as a final termination. Id. at 928. The Texas Supreme Court, however, found that the meaning of an indefinite medical leave under the company's policies and collective bargaining agreement was ambiguous. Id. This ambiguity created a fact issue as to when the employee received unequivocal notice of termination, or a reasonable person would have believed themselves to have been terminated. Id. at 930.

Sanchez preserved an important facet of existing law by reiterating the holding in Specialty Retailers, Inc. v. DeMoranville, 933 S.W.2d 490 (Tex.1996). DeMoranville holds that an employment discrimination claim accrues when the discrimination occurs, and not when the effects of that discrimination are felt. Id. at 493. In DeMoranville, the plaintiff took a medical leave of absence because of stress allegedly caused by a hostile work environment. Id. at 492. She was told that she would be fired if the leave lasted longer than a year and approximately one year later, the plaintiff was formally terminated. Id. Because the discriminatory employment decision occurred with the leave of absence itself, her claim accrued then, and not a year later when the formal termination ensued. Id. at 493. DeMoranville looked to Delaware State College v. Ricks, 449 U.S. 250, 101 S.Ct. 498, 66 L.Ed.2d 431 (1980) which holds that "the proper focus is upon the time of the discriminatory acts, not upon the time at which the consequences of the acts become most painful." 449 U.S. at 258, 101 S.Ct. at 504.

But these cases are very fact specific. In Sanchez, the plaintiff avoided summary judgment because she was not alleging that the earlier indefinite medical layoff in 1987 was the basis of her claim. The discriminatory event was her termination, the actual date of which was in dispute. Conversely, the plaintiff in DeMoranville was suing over the decision made a year before the termination, and which made the actual termination a mere formality. And in Thurman v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 952 F.2d 128 (5th Cir.1992) the claim was found time barred based on the date that a leave of absence began when other facts, such as the plaintiff filing for unemployment compensation, and the testimony of two employer witnesses, indicated that the plaintiff was terminated as of a particular date. Id. at 136.

Rivas also asserts a claim for a hostile work environment, a theory endorsed by this court in Garcia v. Levi Strauss & Co., 85 S.W.3d 362, 369 (Tex.App.–El Paso 2002, no pet.) (recognizing hostile workplace theory under Section 451.001 ). Under Title VII, a hostile-work-environment claim is generally...