NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION
To be cited only in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1
United States Court of Appeals
For the Seventh Circuit
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Submitted April 3, 2019*
Decided April 3, 2019
Before
JOEL M. FLAUM, Circuit Judge
DAVID F. HAMILTON, Circuit Judge
AMY J. ST. EVE, Circuit Judge
No. 18‐3557
DAISY HERNANDEZ, Appeal from the United States District
Plaintiff‐Appellant, Court for the Northern District
of Illinois, Eastern Division.
v. No. 18 CV 06842
JANINA NIEVES, et al., John J. Tharp, Jr.,
Defendants‐Appellees. Judge.
O R D E R
Daisy Hernandez alleges that, in January 2013, Jessifer Home Health Agency,
Inc., constructively discharged her based on her age, sex, and national origin.
Afterward, she asserts, her former supervisor stalked, surveilled, and threatened her—
though details are scarce. We also understand Hernandez to blame her supervisor for
the fact that she has not held any job for longer than a year since she left the Agency.
Hernandez also appears to allege an overarching conspiracy to harm her, and, in her
* The defendants were not served with process in the district court and are not
participating in this appeal. We have agreed to decide the case without oral argument
because the appeal is frivolous. FED. R. APP. P. 34(a)(2)(A).
No. 18‐3557 Page 2
complaint, she cites Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e to
2000e‐17, the Age Discrimination Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621–34, and 42 U.S.C.
§ 1981. The district court dismissed the case because her claims were time‐barred, and
we affirm.
In September 2018, more than five years after Hernandez resigned from her job,
she filed an EEOC charge against the Agency, alleging that she was discriminated
against because of her age, sex, and national origin. She received her right‐to‐sue notice
two days later, and in October 2018, Hernandez filed this pro se suit and petitioned to
proceed in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915. The district court granted her in forma
pauperis request but dismissed the complaint because, “[e]ven construing [it] liberally,”
the court could not discern allegations that might be grounds for an employment‐
discrimination claim. See § 1915(e); Coleman v. Labor & Indus. Review Comm. of Wis., 860
F.3d 461, 465 (7th Cir. 2017). The court granted leave to amend, instructing Hernandez
to clarify the timing of “the employment that is the subject of her claim.” It noted,
however, that her claims were likely time‐barred “[t]o the extent that [they were] …
premised on her 2013 resignation/termination” from the Agency. She had filed her
EEOC charge related to her Title VII claims well outside the 300‐day window,
see 42 U.S.C. § 2000e‐5(e)(1); 29 U.S.C. § 626(d)(1)(B), and the four‐year statute of
limitations for her § 1981 claim had expired, see 28 U.S.C. § 1658; Jones v. R.R. Donnelley
& Sons Co., 541 U.S. 369, 382–84 (2004). The ADEA, moreover, did not apply because
Hernandez was under 40 years of age. See 29 U.S.C. § 631(a). Hernandez refiled, but her
amended complaint provided little more detail. She did clarify, however, that her
claims were related to her 2013 employment with the Agency. The district court again
dismissed her complaint for failure to state a claim, this time with prejudice because
amendment would be futile.
We review § 1915(e) dismissals de novo and apply the same standard that
applies to motions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), assessing whether
Hernandez’s allegations, taken as true, state a plausible claim for relief under any legal
theory. Luevano v. Wal‐Mart Stores, Inc., 722 F.3d 1014, 1027 (7th Cir. 2013). Although the
statute of limitations is ordinarily an affirmative defense, the district court may consider
it at screening if the complaint’s own allegations establish that it is untimely. Khan
v. United States, 808 F.3d 1169, 1172 (7th Cir. 2015).
On appeal, Hernandez argues that her claims were subject to equitable tolling
based on her supervisor’s alleged harassment of Hernandez after she left the Agency.
See Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 112–14 (2002) (continuing
No. 18‐3557 Page 3
violations can support equitable tolling); Malin v. Hospira, Inc., 762 F.3d 552, 561 n.2
(7th Cir. 2014) (same). We agree with the district court that even if Hernandez had
stated a discrimination claim against the Agency, she has pointed to no plausible basis
for equitable tolling. She has asserted a continuing violation in only conclusory terms,
providing no details about her former supervisor’s conduct or how it might relate to the
workplace problems underlying the discrimination claim. See Lucas v. Chi. Transit
Authority, 367 F.3d 714, 724–26 (7th Cir. 2004).
Hernandez’s remaining argument—that the district court ignored her claim
under the Illinois Whistleblower Act—is also meritless. The statute protects employers
from retaliation for “refusing to participate in an activity that would result in a violation
of a State or federal law, rule, or regulation” or for reporting unlawful conduct to the
authorities See 740 ILCS 174/15, 174/20. Though Hernandez cryptically mentions in her
complaint a failure to hire licensed care providers, a missing paycheck, and her
supervisor’s discussions with the “Justice Department,” she does not allege that she
refused to participate in any illegal conduct or disclosed it to law enforcement.
AFFIRMED
Daisy Hernandez v. Janina Nieves
Combined Opinion