Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-04051/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-04051-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Andrea Birdwell
Plaintiff
Nicholas Gonnella
Defendant
Michael Hamilton
Defendant
Colleen O'Baugh
Defendant
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Defendant
Janelle Walton
Defendant

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United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ANDREA BIRDWELL, 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

WAL-MART STORES, INC., et al., 

 Defendants. 

Case No.: 15-CV-4051 YGR

ORDER GRANTING MOTION OF DEFENDANTS 

TO DISMISS FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION AND 

CLAIMS AGAINST INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANTS 

WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND

Plaintiff Andrea Birdwell (“Birdwell”) brings this action against Defendants Wal-Mart 

Stores, Inc., Michael Hamilton, Janelle Walton, Colleen O'Baugh, and Nicholas Gonnella (named 

in the complaint as Nicholas “Gionella”). Plaintiff alleges claims for wrongful termination in 

violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Cal. Gov’t Code section 12900, on 

account of gender discrimination and medical condition/pregnancy, as well as termination in 

violation of public policy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. 

Defendants have filed a motion seeking: (1) to dismiss the First, Second, and Third Causes 

of Action as against individual defendants who cannot be liable for wrongful termination-based 

claims; (2) to dismiss the Fourth Cause of Action against all defendants for failure to allege facts 

sufficient to state a claim and because it is barred by the exclusivity provisions of the California 

Workers’ Compensation Act, Cal. Labor Code section 3600 et seq.; and (3) to dismiss individual 

defendants as fraudulently joined “sham” defendants. (Dkt. No. 6.) 

In her response to the motion, Birdwell concedes that the claims against the individual 

defendants and the Fourth Cause of Action for intentional infliction of emotional distress should be 

dismissed. 

Case 4:15-cv-04051-YGR Document 17 Filed 10/20/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

Accordingly, and based upon Plaintiff’s non-opposition, the Motion to Dismiss is 

GRANTED. 

The Fourth Cause of Action for intentional infliction of emotional distress is hereby 

DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. 

Defendants Michael Hamilton, Janelle Walton, Colleen O'Baugh, and Nicholas Gonnella 

(named in the complaint as Nicholas “Gionella”) are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. 

Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint reflecting the partial dismissals set forth above no 

later than October 28, 2015. Defendants shall have 20 days thereafter to file their responsive 

pleading. 

This terminates Docket No. 6. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date: October 20, 2015 _______________________________________ 

 YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Case 4:15-cv-04051-YGR Document 17 Filed 10/20/15 Page 2 of 2