Zelaya v. Unicco Service Company

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
____________________________________
BLANCA ZELAYA )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 07-02311 (RCL)
)
UNICCO SERVICE COMPANY, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
____________________________________)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This matter comes before the Court on defendant UNICCO Service Company’s

(“UNICCO”) and defendant Carlos Alarcon’s “Motion [51] for Partial Summary

Judgment”. Upon full consideration of the motion, the opposition and reply thereto, the

applicable law, and the entire record herein, the Court finds, for the reasons set forth

below, that defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment will be DENIED in part

and GRANTED in part.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Blanca Zelaya worked for defendant UNICCO as a custodian providing

cleaning services at 1200 K Street in Washington, D.C., starting in 2004. (Compl. ¶ 9.)

Plaintiff alleges that from January 2005 until November 2006, UNICCO discriminated

and retaliated against her based on her gender, and defendant Carlos Alarcon sexually

harassed her, creating a hostile work environment. (Compl. ¶¶ 15-60.)

With respect to the actions of individual defendants, plaintiff alleges that her

problems at UNICCO began shortly after January 4, 2005, when UNICCO promoted

Alarcon to the position of Building Operations Manager at 1200 K Street. (Compl. ¶ 13.)

1
As Manager, Alarcon supervised plaintiff. (Compl. ¶ 13.) According to plaintiff, almost

immediately after becoming supervisor, defendant Alarcon began making offensive and

unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances toward her while she was pregnant.

(Compl. ¶ 15.)

Plaintiff alleges that from January 2005 and continuing until April 2006, Alarcon

subjected plaintiff to an extensive campaign of explicit comments, sexual propositions,

unwanted touching, harassment, and other retaliatory job-related conduct after she

refused his advances. (Compl. ¶¶ 15-60.) Plaintiff further alleges that Alarcon facilitated

the revocation of her health insurance benefits and enlisted the support of other

individuals on his behalf. Specifically, Alarcon first involved Oscar Argueta to

“monitor” plaintiff, and to seek a reason to fire her in early 2005. (Compl. ¶¶ 21-23.)

She subsequently took extended leave from her job, beginning of May 18, 2005, and gave

birth to her child. (Compl. ¶¶ 21-23.)

Thereafter, beginning at some point after August 2005 when plaintiff returned to

work following the birth of her son, Alarcon allegedly enlisted Carlos Fernandes to

monitor plaintiff. He allegedly issued inaccurate disciplinary notices, eliminated her

break, and attempted to drive her to a meeting with a human resources officer about her

complaints of harassment. (Compl. ¶¶ 34, 35, 45, 56.)

Plaintiff filed a discrimination complaint with the District of Columbia Office of

Human Rights (“DCOHR”) on April 18, 2006, listing UNICCO as the respondent and

attaching her signed declaration. The first paragraph reads as follows:

I, Blanca Zelaya, this 14th day of April, 2006, am
submitting this declaration in support of my claims against
the UNICCO Services Company (“UNICCO”) for sexual
harassment, creation of a hostile work environment, and

2
 retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42
U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and against UNICCO and Carlos
Alarcon, Operations Manager, for sexual harassment, sex
discrimination, and unlawful retaliation in violation of the
District of Columbia Human Rights Act (“DCHRA”), D.C.
Code §§ 1-2501 et seq. (emphasis added).

(DCOHR Compl. Form; Pl.’s Opp’n to Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss, Ex. A [13-2].) The

DCOHR complaint was cross-filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

(“EEOC”). (Compl. ¶ 74.) The charge of discrimination generated during this process

was sent via certified mail to UNICCO on April 28, 2006, lists UNICCO as the employer

that discriminated against the plaintiff, and under the section allowing for description of

the particulars of the charge, only generically refers to a singular “Respondent’s Building

Operations Manager (Male).” (DCOHR Charge of Discrimination; Defs.’ Reply to Pl.’s

Opp’n to Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss, Ex. 1 [14-2].)

In addition, plaintiff alleges that UNICCO retaliated against her in July 2006 by

denying her time off to attend a mediation of her claims by DCOHR. (Compl. ¶

58.) On November 9, 2006, UNICCO assigned plaintiff to a position at another building.

(Compl. ¶ 63.) Plaintiff alleges that UNICCO’s retaliation culminated in her termination

by transferring her to another building, where she claims UNICCO knew it would soon

lose the maintenance contract. (Compl. ¶¶ 63-64.) On April 23, 2007, UNICCO lost the

contract on the building, and plaintiff was no longer employed by UNICCO as of that

date. (Compl. ¶ 66.)

A new company, Cavalier, took over responsibility for cleaning the building and

offered plaintiff a position, which she turned down. (Compl. ¶¶ 66, 69.) However,

plaintiff alleges Cavalier constructively discharged her by offering her a work schedule

3
preventing her from taking care of her son, even though other positions were available.

(Compl. ¶¶ 68-69.) Plaintiff alleges that defendants UNICCO and Alarcon made false

and defamatory statements about the plaintiff, which caused Cavalier to offer her the

untenable work schedule. (Compl. ¶¶ 68-69.) Plaintiff states that Cavalier should have

offered her a different position because she had more seniority than the two other

employees at the work site who held daytime positions like her. 1 (Compl. ¶ 68.)

Plaintiff withdrew the complaint she previously filed with DCOHR on November

14, 2007 and requested a Right to Sue Notice from the EEOC, which the EEOC issued on

December 5, 2007. (Compl. ¶ 74.) On December 21, 2007, plaintiff filed the complaint

in this matter. The complaint consisted of five counts as follows: (1) Title VII

discrimination against defendant UNICCO; (2) DCHRA discrimination against defendant

UNICCO and its individual employees, defendants Alarcon, Argueta, and Fernandes; (3)

Title VII and DCHRA retaliation against defendant UNICCO; (4) DCHRA aiding and

abetting of defendant UNICCO’s retaliation by defendants Alarcon, Argueta, and

Fernandes; and (5) intentional interference with prospective contractual relations against

defendant UNICCO. The Court dismissed count (5) against defendant UNICCO and all

counts against defendants Argueta and Fernandes, and denied defendant Alarcon’s

Motion to Dismiss. Defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment targets counts (3)

and (4).

II. STANDARD OF LEGAL ANALYSIS

1
This allegation appears to be a reference to the rights plaintiff may have enjoyed pursuant to the
Collective Bargaining Agreement applicable to her as between the Service Employees International Union
Local 82 and commercial office building cleaning contractors such as Cavalier and UNICCO. (See Defs’.
Mot. for Partial Summ. J., Ex. C [51-6].)

4
 Defendants request the Court to grant summary judgment on plaintiff’s retaliation

complaint. Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, the discovery and

disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to

any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R.

CIV. P. 56(c). “In assessing whether a genuine issue exists, we ‘view the evidence in the

light most favorable to the nonmoving party.’” Porter v. Shah, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS

11033 at *7 (quoting Miller v. Hersman, 594 F.3d 8, 10 (D.C. Cir. 2010)). A genuine

dispute of material fact concerning the lapse in plaintiff’s health benefits does not exist;

thus, summary judgment on this issue is appropriate. 2

Retaliation claims are governed by a three-step test established in McDonnell

Douglas Corp. v. Green. 411 U.S. 792, 802 (1973). A movant must display that 1) she

was part of a protected class; 2) suffered a materially adverse action, and; 3) the

adverse action is causally connected to the plaintiff’s status within the protected class.

Id. A materially adverse action is one that “could well dissuade a reasonable worker

from making or supporting a charge of discrimination.” Burlington N. & Sante Fe Ry.

v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 57 (2006) (other internal quotation omitted), or one resulting in

“materially adverse consequences affecting the terms, conditions, or privileges of

employment or future employment opportunities such that a reasonable trier of fact

could find objectively tangible harm.” Forkkio v. Powell, 306 F.3d 1127, 1131 (D.C.

Cir. 2002). Examples of adverse employment actions include “a significant change in

employment status, such as hiring, firing, failing to promote, reassignment with

2
Plaintiff’s claim arises from her retaliation claim, not her initial sexual discrimination claim, as defendant
asserts. Summary judgment should be granted regardless of whether defendant’s motion falls under the
auspices of plaintiff’s sexual discrimination or retaliation claim.

5
significantly different responsibilities, or a decision causing significant change in

benefits.” Burlington Indus. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742, 761 (1998).

“If the plaintiff [satisfies the McDonnell Douglas test], then the burden shifts to

the employer to offer a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its action.” Taylor v.

Solis, 571 F.3d 1313, 1320 (D.C. Cir. 2009) (quoting Wiley v. Glassman, 511 F.3d 151,

155 (D.C. Cir. 2007)). “If the employer does so, then the court ‘need not – and should

not – decide whether the plaintiff actually made out a prima facie case under

McDonnell Douglas.” Id. (quoting Brady v. Office of Sergeant at Arms, 520 F.3d 490,

494 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (emphasis in original)). “The court should proceed to the question

of retaliation vel non.” Id. “The court can resolve that question in favor of the

employer based either upon the employee’s failure to rebut its explanation or upon the

employee’s failure to prove an element of her case.” Id.

III. TIMELINESS OF PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM FOR RETALIATORY DENIAL
OF BENEFITS

Plaintiff brings a retaliation claim against defendant for revoking her health

insurance benefits. Defendants submit that plaintiff’s retaliation claim for lapses of

health insurance benefits is time-barred. The Court finds that plaintiff’s retaliation claim

for benefits lapses exceeds the statute of limitations in Title VII entirely, and exceeds the

DCHRA statute of limitations in part.

A. Plaintiff’s Retaliation Claim Concerning Lapses of Insurance Benefits is Time-
Barred under Title VII

Defendant contends that plaintiff’s retaliation claim concerning lapses of

insurance benefits exceeds the 300 day statute of limitations under Title VII of the 1964

Civil Rights Act. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5 (2006). When considering the timeliness of a

6
retaliation claim under Title VII, the charge must be filed with the EEOC within 300 days

“‘after’ the unlawful practice ‘occurred.’” AMTRAK v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 109-10

(2002) (emphasis added). “A discrete retaliatory or discriminatory act ‘occur[s]’ on the

day that it ‘happen[s].’” Id. at 110.

Plaintiff discovered the first lapse in March 2005 and the second lapse on or about

May 27, 2005, indicating that the acts “happened” no later than May 27, 2005. (Zelaya

Dep. [64-3] 81:13-17.) Plaintiff’s claim, filed on April 18, 2006, must concern alleged

retaliatory acts no more than 300 days prior, establishing June 23, 2005 as the critical

date. 3 (DCOHR Charge of Discrimination; Defs.’ Mot. for Partial Summ. J., Ex. GG

[51-35].) Neither discovery falls within the limitations period.

Plaintiff fails to present evidence demonstrating a concrete injury after May 27,

2005, which would permit this Court to hear her claim. Bazemore v. Friday, 478 U.S.

385, 395 (1986) (holding that “each week’s paycheck that delivered less to a black than

to a similarly situated white is a wrong actionable under Title VII” that would extend the

limitations period). Accordingly, plaintiff’s Title VII claim for retaliatory denial of

benefits is time-barred.

Entertaining plaintiff’s claim would require the Court to consider defendant’s

ongoing withholding of plaintiff’s benefits until restoration in August 2005. (Defs.’

Statement of Material Facts Not in Genuine Dispute ¶ 54.) Defendant compensated

plaintiff for erroneously withholding plaintiff’s benefits in August 2005, within the

3
Plaintiff dated her discrimination charge April 27, 2006, and defendant submits that establishes the date
on which plaintiff filed her claim with the DCOHR. The charge, however, was notarized on April 18,
2006. The Court establishes the critical date based on the date upon which the charge was notarized, i.e.,
April 18, 2006. Plaintiff’s claim, nonetheless, would be time-barred under Title VII and partially time-
barred under the DCHRA regardless of whether the Court found April 27, 2006 or April 18, 2006 to be the
filing date.

7
statutory timeframe, but the law does not classify compensation for withheld benefits as a

retaliatory act. 4 Such incorporation would condone the continuing violation doctrine,

which the Morgan Court specifically eschewed. 5 Acts which are not independently

discriminatory cannot be used to “pull in the time-barred discriminatory act.” Morgan,

536 U.S. at 113 (quoting Delaware State College v. Ricks, 449 U.S. 250, 257 (1980)).

“Each incident of discrimination and each retaliatory adverse employment decision

constitutes a separate, actionable ‘unlawful employment practice.’” Id. at 114. Plaintiff

demonstrates that the last allegedly “retaliatory adverse employment decision” regarding

benefits lapses occurred on or about May 27, 2005. Thus, plaintiff had 300 days from the

discovery of the second lapse to bring her claim. Plaintiff’s retaliation complaint, as it

pertains to the two temporary lapses in benefits, is time-barred under Title VII.

B. Plaintiff’s Complaint with the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights is
Partially Time-Barred

The statute of limitations for claims before the District of Columbia Office of

Human Rights (“DCOHR”) is one year. D.C. Code § 2-1403.16. Plaintiff filed her claim

with the DCOHR on April 18, 2006, establishing April 18, 2005 as the critical date under

the DCHRA. (DCOHR Charge of Discrimination; Defs.’ Mot. for Partial Summ. J., Ex.

GG [51-35].) The initial lapse, which plaintiff discovered in March 2005, is time-barred;

4
See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a) (classifying “…discriminat[ing] against any individual with respect to
his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin…” as unlawful discrete, discriminatory acts).
5
The Court rejected an assertion that “the language [of 42 U.S.C. § 2000e] requires the filing of a charge
within the specified number of days after an ‘unlawful employment practice.’ ‘Practice,’ Morgan
contend[ed], connotes an ongoing violation that can endure or recur over a period of time…In Morgan's
view, the term ‘practice’ therefore provides a statutory basis for the Ninth Circuit’s continuing violation
doctrine. This argument is unavailing, however, given that 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 explains in great detail the
sorts of actions that qualify as ‘unlawful employment practices’ and includes among such practices
numerous discrete acts.” 536 U.S. at 110-11.

8
however, the second lapse is timely because it was discovered on or about May 27, 2005,

within the limitations period. (Zelaya Dep. [64-3] 81:13-17; Fawehinmi Aff. [64-1] at 2.)

Plaintiff’s DCOHR complaint reads, in relevant part, “I gave birth on May 25,

2005 and took two months unpaid leave and paid for much of my medical expenses out-

of-pocket because [plaintiff] did not restore my health coverage until August of 2005.”

(DCOHR Charge of Discrimination; Defs.’ Mot. for Partial Summ. J., Ex. GG [51-35].)

Plaintiff definitively articulated that her grievance occurred not only in March 2005, but

also on or about May 25, 2005. The aforementioned standards set forth in Bazemore and

Morgan that each retaliatory adverse employment decision constitutes a separate,

actionable ‘unlawful employment practice’” therefore refute defendants’ timeliness

claim. Plaintiff’s claim that defendants retaliated against her by withholding benefits on

or about May 27, 2005, is not time-barred under the DCHRA.

IV. RETALIATORY DENIAL OF BENEFITS

The Court considers only plaintiff’s retaliation claim for a lapse in benefits

pursuant to the DCHRA because plaintiff’s Title VII claim is time-barred. “The Title

VII prima facie case analysis established in McDonnell Douglas v. Green, 411 U.S.

792, 36 L. Ed. 2d 668, 93 S. Ct. 1817 (1973), has been held to apply to such suits under

the District’s Human Rights Act.” Howard Univ. v. Green, 652 A.2d 41, 45 n.4 (D.C.

1994). McDonnell Douglas and its progeny within our Circuit establish a series of

factors to consider when determining whether to grant summary judgment.

Plaintiff claims “it is unlawful for an employer ‘to discriminate against any of

[its] employees . . . because [she] has made a charge . . . or participated in any manner

9
in an investigation’ of discrimination.” Solis, 571 F.3d at 1320 (D.C. Cir. 2009)

(quoting 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a)).

Denial of benefits, as defendant readily admits, adversely impacts protected

parties under the DCHRA. (Defs’. Mot. for Partial Summ. J. at 11 (citing Ellerth, 524

U.S. at 761).) Plaintiff was denied her health benefits on or about May 27, 2005 because

defendant “dropped the ball,” according to defendant’s union benefits administrator and

defendant’s employee, Barbara Guldan, and therefore suffered an adverse employment

action. (Fawehinmi Aff. [64-1] at 2; Email from Barbara Guldan, UNICCO employee, to

James Canavan, UNICCO employee (10/28/2005, 08:47:00 EST), Ex. 8 [64-1].)

The Court, upon finding an adverse employment action, must then resolve

whether defendants assert a “legitimate, nondiscriminatory or nonretaliatory reason for

each [allegedly retaliatory act],’” Shah, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 11033 at n.2 (quoting

Brady, 520 F.2d at 494-95) and “whether a reasonable jury could infer retaliation based

on all of the evidence, including ‘not only the prima facie case but also the evidence the

plaintiff offers to attack the employer’s proffer for its action and other evidence of

retaliation.’” Id. at *6 (citing Gaujacq v. EDF, Inc., 601 F.3d 565, 577 (D.C. Cir. 2010));

See also Tex. Dep’t of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 256 (1981) (holding that

the question of retaliation should be reduced to whether a reasonable jury could find the

defendants’ “proffered explanation . . . unworthy of credence”).

Defendants offer a nondiscriminatory reason for the challenged action, positing

that a “clerical error” caused plaintiff to lose her health benefits on or about May 27,

2005. (Fawehinmi Aff. [64-1] at 2.) Neither party disputes that defendant restored

plaintiff’s benefits on or about August 1, 2005, and compensated plaintiff for the

10
expenses she incurred. (Defs.’ Facts ¶ 54.) Plaintiff’s medical bills demonstrate that her

insurance carrier reimbursed her for the lapse. (Dr. Thompson Billing R., Ex. HH [51-

36]; Sibley Hospital Billing R., Ex. II [51-37].) Plaintiff cites an internal UNICCO email

admitting that it “dropped the ball” regarding plaintiff’s health insurance. However, a

clerical error and “drop[ping] the ball” fail to establish animus and the Court proceeds to

the question of retaliation vel non. Jones v. Bernanke, 557 F.3d 670, 678 (D.C. Cir.

2009).

When the defendant offers a legitimate reason for engaging in the allegedly

retaliatory act, the “‘central inquiry’ for the court is ‘whether the plaintiff produced

sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find that the employer’s asserted non-

discriminatory reason was not the actual reason and that the employer intentionally

discriminated against the plaintiff on a prohibited basis.’” Shah, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS

11033 at *12-13 (quoting Adeyemi v. District of Columbia, 525 F.3d 1222, 1226-27

(D.C. Cir. 2008).

Two UNICCO agents submitted two separate leave forms on plaintiff’s behalf to

the UNICCO human resources office. Oscar Argueta, an agent of UNICCO, submitted a

second maternity leave form on plaintiff’s behalf with a leave code differing from the

original leave form submitted by UNICCO agent Maria Delgado. (Separation/Leave

Form, Exs. 5 & 6 [64-1].) Argueta unquestionably coded plaintiff’s leave form

improperly. (Lyons Dep. [64-3] 94:14-20.) Argueta’s submitted form, however, is dated

June 10, 2005, two weeks after plaintiff delivered her child and claims she was denied

benefits. (Separation/Leave Form, Ex. 6 [64-1].) Plaintiff’s basis for claiming that a

second retaliatory revocation of benefits occurred rests on Argueta’s miscoded form,

11
asserting that it is a “reasonable inference . . . that Mr. Argueta deliberately miscoded the

leave form, which led to the second lapse in [plaintiff’s] health benefits.” (Mem. of P. &

A. in Opp’n to Defs.’ Mot. for Partial Summ. J. at 9.) Plaintiff thus fails to present a

genuine issue as to the legitimacy of the lapse: Argueta’s miscoding on June 10, 2005

could not have caused a lapse in benefits to occur on or about May 27, 2005. No

reasonable jury could find that Argueta’s submission on June 10, 2005 resulted in a lapse

two weeks prior.

Furthermore, plaintiff fails to “produce[] sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury

to find that the employer’s asserted non-discriminatory reason was not the actual reason

and that the employer intentionally discriminated against the plaintiff . . .” beyond her

assumption that Argueta’s miscoded form caused the lapse. Shah, 2010 U.S. App.

LEXIS 11033 at *12-13 (quoting Adeyemi v. District of Columbia, 525 F.3d 1222, 1226-

27 (D.C. Cir. 2008). “‘[S]peculations . . . are insufficient to create a genuine issue of fact

regarding [an employer’s] articulated reasons for [its decisions] and avoid summary

judgment.’” Id. at *18 (quoting Brown v. Brody, 199 F.3d 446, 458-59 (D.C. Cir. 1999).

Lastly, while defendant UNICCO admits it “dropped the ball” regarding

plaintiff’s benefits lapse, no evidence of a discriminatory or retaliatory purpose exists,

and hospital records reveal that plaintiff was reimbursed for her expenses. (Email from

Barbara Guldan, UNICCO employee, to James Canavan, UNICCO employee

(10/28/2005, 08:47:00 EST), Ex. 8 [64-1]; Dr. Thompson Billing R., Ex. HH [51-36];

Sibley Hospital Billing R., Ex. II [51-37].) The Court therefore grants defendants’

motion for partial summary judgment concerning plaintiff’s claim for retaliatory lapses of

health insurance benefits.

12
V. PLAINTIFF’S RETALIATION CLAIM

Defendants seek summary judgment on several points of plaintiff’s retaliation

claim. Defendants claim that a change in plaintiff’s schedule, an attempt to give plaintiff

a ride to a meeting, denial of a day off to attend a DCOHR meeting, assigning a colleague

to monitor plaintiff, transferring plaintiff to another locale, and plaintiff’s ultimate job

loss do not constitute retaliation. For the reasons stated below, the Court partially grants

and partially denies defendants’ motion.

A. Plaintiff’s Schedule Change, Defendants’ Agent’s Request to Drive Plaintiff to
a Meeting, Amaya’s Presence, and Defendant’s Initial Refusal to Permit
Plaintiff’s Leave Request are not Materially Adverse

Plaintiff’s claims that defendants retaliated against her by removing her fifteen

minute break, threatening her employment through a request to attend a meeting, and

assigning an employee to monitor her do not satisfy the requisite material adversity to

survive summary judgment. Such “minor ‘inconveniences and alteration[s] of job

responsibilities [do] not rise to the level of adverse action’ necessary to support a claim.”

Solis, 571 F.3d at 1321 (quoting Stewart v. Evans, 275 F.3d 1126, 1135 (D.C. Cir.

2002)). “Petty slights and minor annoyances,” such as these, are not actionable.

Burlington N., 548 U.S. at 68.

1. Plaintiff’s schedule change is not materially adverse

Plaintiff contends that revocation of her fifteen minute break demonstrates

retaliation. Assuming that plaintiff’s allegations bear truth, as the Court must do at this

stage of the proceedings, defendants retaliated against plaintiff by removing a fifteen

minute break. However, revocation of a fifteen minute break is not materially adverse to

plaintiff. A materially adverse action is one that “could well dissuade a reasonable

13
worker from making or supporting a charge of discrimination,” Burlington N., 548 U.S.

at 57, or one resulting in “materially adverse consequences affecting the terms,

conditions, or privileges of employment or future employment opportunities such that a

reasonable trier of fact could find objectively tangible harm.” Forkkio, 306 F.3d at 1131.

Defendants’ revocation of plaintiff’s break does not rise to the level of

“objectively tangible harm,” nor did it significantly impact plaintiff’s potential for a

promotion or compensation. Defendants maintained a one hour lunch break for plaintiff

and simply required plaintiff to engage in the job for which she was hired. Revocation of

a break exemplifies a minor inconvenience or petty slight, and defendants were required

to provide only a thirty minute break for employees working over six hour shifts under

the collective bargaining agreement with the Service Employees International Union.

(Defs’. Mot. for Partial Summ. J., Ex. C [51-6] at Art. 3, § 4.) The Court thus considers

whether revoking a fifteen minute break could dissuade a reasonable worker from making

or supporting a charge of discrimination.

Assuming, as plaintiff asserts, that plaintiff and her colleague Ramon Gaitan were

the only day porters to lose their break privilege among UNICCO service employees in

Washington, D.C., revocation of a break nonetheless would not dissuade a reasonable

employee from making a claim. Plaintiff provides no legal justification demonstrating

that revocation of a privilege constitutes materially adverse retaliation. Furthermore,

plaintiff incurred neither financial detriment nor loss of potential advancement. Lastly,

defendants allotted fifteen minutes more than required by the collective bargaining

agreement for plaintiff’s break. Id. Plaintiff’s claim does not satisfy the requisite

material adversity.

14
 2. Defendants’ agent’s request for plaintiff to accompany him to a
meeting is not materially adverse

Plaintiff claims that defendants’ agent retaliated against her by threatening her

employment with UNICCO and rudely demanding that she accompany him to a meeting

with defendants. This Circuit, however, “[has] been unwilling to find adverse actions

where the [threatened action] is not actually served.” Baloch v. Kempthorne, 550 F.3d

1191, 1199 (2008). In Baloch, the Court of Appeals held that proposed suspensions that

defendants never imposed on an employee were not materially adverse. Id. Similarly,

defendants’ agent’s threat did not result in UNICCO’s termination of plaintiff. A

“reasonable worker in [plaintiff’s] position would not have taken [defendant’s] brief,

fleeting, and unadorned verbal statement as an act or threat of retaliation.” Gaujacq, 601

F.3d at 578. Plaintiff ultimately lost her employment subsequent to defendants’ ability to

terminate her. Plaintiff’s assertion that defendants retaliated against her by sending an

agent to escort her to a meeting fails to reach material adversity.

3. Defendants’ monitoring of plaintiff is not materially adverse

Plaintiff contends that defendants retaliated against her by transferring Ramon

Gaitan, one of her colleagues, and assigning UNICCO employee Ruben Amaya to

monitor her. She claims that Amaya reported her to their superiors for delivering ice

cream to an acquaintance in the building and consequently faced an investigation. For a

performance evaluation or investigation to be materially adverse, it must dissuade a

reasonable employee from bringing or supporting a claim of discrimination or affect the

employee’s “position, grade level, salary, or promotion opportunities.” Baloch, 550 F.3d

at 1199. “Petty slights and minor annoyances,” such as a temporary monitor, would not

15
“deter reasonable employee[s] from making a charge of discrimination.” Solis, 571 F.3d

at 1321.

Plaintiff does not produce sufficient evidence that she suffered tangible job

consequences resulting from the monitoring that would prevent a reasonable employee

from bringing or supporting a discrimination claim. Furthermore, this case does not

concern alleged retaliation against Mr. Gaitan and any harm inflicted upon him is non-

adjudicable presently. Plaintiff herself demonstrates that no repercussions resulted from

the investigation, admitting that her supervisors expressly stated that “if she wants to give

[her acquaintance] ice cream, I don’t really care” and that such action would not have

violated company policy. (Machak Dep. [64-3] 36:6-38:11; Fernandes Dep. [64-3]

183:2-22.) Plaintiff’s claim that defendants retaliated against her by assigning a

colleague to monitor is not a materially adverse action.

4. Defendants’ initial denial of plaintiff’s leave request is not
materially adverse

Defendants’ initial denial of plaintiff’s leave request and subsequent approval to

attend her DCOHR mediation hearing is not an adverse action because defendants failed

to refuse plaintiff’s request and did not jeopardize plaintiff’s “position, grade level,

salary, or promotion opportunities” by threatening to refuse her request. Baloch, 550

F.3d at 1199. Such an action ostensibly should not deter a reasonable employee from

filing a discrimination claim because, ultimately, defendants permitted plaintiff the

requested leave without endangering compensatory or advancement potential. To

reiterate, a petty slight or annoyance does not rise to the level of an adverse action. Solis,

571, F.3d at 1321.

16
 B. Plaintiff Raises a Genuine Issue of Material Fact Concerning Her Transfer
from 1200 K Street to 2550 M Street

Plaintiff alleges that defendants retaliated against her by transferring her to

another building under contract with UNICCO. As previously established, plaintiff must

establish a prima facie case of retaliation by demonstrating that 1) she was part of a

protected class; 2) suffered a materially adverse action, and; 3) the adverse action is

causally connected to the plaintiff’s status within the protected class. See, e.g.,

McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802. A materially adverse action is one that “could well

dissuade a reasonable worker from making or supporting a charge of discrimination.”

Burlington N., 548 U.S. at 57. Transferring defendant from 1200 K Street to 2550 M

Street required plaintiff to sacrifice her seniority, adversely affecting her employment

with UNICCO.

1. Plaintiff’s transfer was materially adverse

Defendants transferred plaintiff from 1200 K Street to 2550 M Street in

November 2006. Such a reassignment, through which plaintiff sacrificed neither

compensation nor benefits, constitutes a lateral transfer. See Stewart v. Ashcroft, 352

F.3d 422, 426 (D.C. Cir. 2003). Defendants err in assuming that lateral transfers cannot

reach material adversity simply because plaintiff was required to move less than two

miles to another building without loss of pay or benefits. Id. When employers laterally

transfer employees, our Circuit has held that “withdrawing an employee’s supervisory

duties constitutes an adverse employment action,” id., as does “reassignment with

significantly different responsibilities.” Forkkio, 306 F.3d at 1131. Plaintiff’s transfer

reaches this echelon of material adversity because it could persuade a reasonable

employee from bringing or supporting a claim of discrimination.

17
 Plaintiff contends that the transfer was an adverse action because she lost the

relationships she fostered with the tenants at 1200 K Street as well as her seniority as a

UNICCO employee. The Court first assesses whether losing plaintiff’s relationship with

the tenants at 1200 K adversely impacted her. The record clearly indicates an array of

views concerning plaintiff’s work ethic and preferences for her presence as a building

employee among the tenants, demonstrating that loss of each of these relationships

simply could not adversely impact plaintiff. (See, e.g., Alarcon Dep. 141: 6-14 [64-3];

Cheek Dep. 11:7-12:16 [64-3].) The Court agrees with defendants’ interpretation of

Brown v. Brody that subjective dissatisfaction with working conditions, without more,

does not create “materially adverse consequences affecting the terms, conditions, or

privileges” of employment that would dissuade a reasonable employee from bringing a

claim. Brown, 199 F.3d at 457. Additionally, the collective bargaining agreement

governs which employees lose assignments when downsizes occur, not the subjective

preferences of tenants. (Defs’. Mot. for Partial Summ. J., Ex. C [51-6] at Art. 7, § 1.)

Zelaya’s lost relationships with the tenants at 1200 K Street, while subjectively

detrimental, do not adversely impact her employment.

The Court agrees, however, that loss of seniority resulting from a transfer is a

materially adverse action. The collective bargaining agreement reads, in relevant part,

“Seniority, by classification, shall be the sole factor in determining the employees’ layoff

and recall order.” (Id.) The SEIU and various service employers determine seniority

based upon length of service with the employer or service in a building, whichever is

longer. Loss of the benefits attached to accrued seniority could dissuade a reasonable

employee from bringing a discrimination claim because the employee risks employment

18
itself whenever faced with a transfer and subsequent downsize. Losing seniority is

tantamount to a significant forfeiture of an employment benefit, which the Supreme

Court classified as an adverse action. Ellerth, 524 U.S. at 761. Plaintiff’s transfer is

materially adverse.

2. Plaintiff’s transfer and complaint are causally connected

Defendants contend that plaintiff’s discrimination complaint and her transfer to

2550 M Street were not causally connected. The third facet of the McDonnell Douglas

test requires a movant to demonstrate a causal relationship between the retaliatory act and

a protected activity. 411 U.S. at 802. Defendants claim that the transfer’s temporal

proximity to plaintiff’s complaint of six months demonstrates a lack of causality, citing

various cases within our Circuit holding that a two or three month gap between an alleged

retaliatory action and a complaint disproves causation. (Defs.’ Mot. for Partial Summ. J.

[51-1] at 21-22.) Plaintiff’s transfer, however, directly resulted from the alleged

retaliatory actions of defendant Alarcon, and “. . . an adverse action following closely on

the heels of a protected activity may in appropriate cases support an inference of

retaliation even when occurring years after the initial filing of charges.” Jones v.

Bernanke, 557 F.3d 670, 681 (2009).

Plaintiff alleges that defendant Alarcon issued two false disciplinary notices in

retaliation for her discrimination complaint. For such a notice to be materially adverse, it

must affect the employee’s “position, grade level, salary, or promotion opportunities.”

Baloch, 550 F.3d at 1199. Based upon plaintiff’s proffer, a jury could reasonably infer

that Alarcon’s notices affected plaintiff’s position and benefits. Robert Fuller, the

property manager at 1200 K Street, approved plaintiff’s transfer to 2550 M Street because

19
of unsatisfactory performance reviews he received from UNICCO supervisors. (Fuller

Dep. [64-3] 155:9-156:19.) Defendants provide evidence of one isolated incident in

which a building tenant complained of plaintiff’s performance, which the tenant

subsequently retracted. (Cheek Dep. [64-3] 11:7-12:16.) Furthermore, Fuller states that

a UNICCO employee suggested the transfer and that he would not have consented to a

transfer solely because of the tenant’s initial complaint. (Fuller Dep. [64-3] 155:9-

156:19.) This raises a reasonable inference that the transfer, motivated by Fuller’s

professional opinion of plaintiff as formed by UNICCO supervisors, was causally

connected to plaintiff’s complaint. A dispute of material fact thus exists, and summary

judgment concerning defendants’ alleged retaliatory notices and transfer is denied.

3. Defendants have not offered a legitimate, nonretaliatory reason for
transferring plaintiff

Defendants argue that Fuller’s issuance of the transfer request legitimizes the

transfer as nonretaliatory. If the defendant asserts a “legitimate, nondiscriminatory or

nonretaliatory reason for each [allegedly retaliatory act], whether plaintiff ‘actually made

out a prima facie case is . . . irrelevant.’” Shah, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 11033 at n.2

(quoting Brady, 520 F.2d at 494-95). A question of fact exists, however, as to whether

UNICCO or Alarcon falsified disciplinary notices and facilitated the reassignment.

Fuller claims that a UNICCO employee suggested the transfer and that he ultimately

authorized removing plaintiff from 1200 K Street because of professional insufficiencies.

(Fuller Dep. [64-3] 111:11-112:21.) A jury may reasonably infer that discipline notices

contributed to Fuller’s decision, and whether the evaluations were purposely falsified

remains a question of fact. Defendants have not offered a legitimate reason for the

20
transfer; therefore, consideration of whether a reasonable jury could find defendants’

actions retaliatory vel non falls to the trier of fact.

C. Plaintiff’s Termination may be Causally Connected to Her Complaint

Plaintiff establishes a prima facie case against defendants for her job loss because

her termination is materially adverse and causally connected to her complaint. Plaintiff’s

termination at 2550 M Street resulted from the tenant’s choice to downsize staff after

UNICCO no longer held contract rights with the building. (Cavalier Dep. [51-27] 40:12-

20.) Plaintiff posits that she was treated differently than her colleagues because UNICCO

offered them the choice of remaining at 2550 M Street as Cavalier employees or moving

to another building to remain with UNICCO. (Saravia Dep. [64-3] 25:15-26:11; Zelaya

Dep. [64-3] 125:14-126:11, 130:9-22.) Plaintiff claims defendants strayed from industry

norm by not providing her the option to remain with Cavalier or transfer to a UNICCO

building, and that she would have preferred to remain with UNICCO. (Zelaya Dep. [64-

3] 125:17-22; 126:17-21.) A reasonable trier of fact could find that plaintiff’s transfer

and consequent termination are the result of plaintiff’s complaint; therefore, summary

judgment concerning plaintiff’s retaliation claim for employment loss is denied.

Defendants provide ample evidence that they exerted a good faith effort to

procure the contract rights to 2550 M Street. (See UNNICO Bid Proposal [51-24]; Defs.’

Facts No. 41.) They fulfill their obligation to assert legitimate, nonretaliatory reasons for

losing the contract. Baloch, 550 F.3d at 1200. Plaintiff’s job loss nonetheless follows

from defendants’ alleged retaliatory transfer, despite defendants’ lack of involvement in

Cavalier’s initial employment offer and ultimate determination not to employ plaintiff.

The Court therefore considers plaintiff’s retaliation claim vel non and finds that a genuine

21
dispute of material fact exists; thus, the question of whether defendants retaliated against

plaintiff by transferring her to another building and her ultimate job loss is left to the jury.

VI. CONCLUSION

Upon full consideration of the parties’ filing, applicable law, and the record

herein, this Court concludes that defendant UNICCO’s and defendant Alarcon’s Motion

for Partial Summary Judgment on Counts 3 and 4 of the Complaint [4] is GRANTED in

part and DENIED in part. A separate order shall issue this date.

Signed by Royce C. Lamberth, Chief Judge, on August 20, 2010.

22