Source: https://pospislaw.com/2019/02/24/race-discrimination-case-dismissed-loss-of-license-rendered-plaintiff-unqualified-for-position/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 05:38:07+00:00

Document:
In Page v. Half Hollow Hills Central School District, 16-cv-4710, 2019 WL 764748, (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 20, 2019), the court, inter alia, granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s race discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 1981, and the New York State Human Rights Law.
Claims alleging race discrimination brought under Title VII, NYSHRL, and § 1981 are all analyzed under the burden-shifting framework of McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S. Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed. 2d 668 (1973). See Ruiz v. Cnty. of Rockland, 609 F.3d 486, 491 (2d Cir. 2010) (Title VII, §§ 1981 and 1983 analyzed under burden-shifting framework); Bowen-Hooks v. City of N.Y., 13 F. Supp. 3d 179, 210 n.19 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (noting that the “burden of proof and production for employment discrimination claims under Title VII, § 1981, § 1983 and the NYSHRL are identical”).
The Suffolk County Civil Service criteria for the school bus driver position requires a Minimum Qualification, of “[p]ossession of an appropriate license issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.” McQuade Decl., Ex. 21. An additional “special requirement” states that the license “must be maintained throughout employment in this position.” Id.
Page points to the fact that Jones was, during the period of his suspension, given a non-driving job and then permitted to return to his bus driving duties. Page does not claim or provide evidence, however, the he was himself “qualified” to perform some other non-driving job in the District, that he requested such a position, and/or that the District denied any such request. Indeed, the undisputed evidence is that the District offered him another position and he turned it down.
Page was no longer qualified to perform the duties required as a bus driver and therefore the District terminated him based on a valid, non-discriminatory reason.

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