Source: http://il.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20040610_0001115.NIL.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-06-20 23:26:00
Document Index: 622778133

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2000', '§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 1981']

BOOKER MOORE, Plaintiff,
On August 9, 1999, Booker Moore filed this lawsuit against the City of Chicago ("the City"), alleging discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e. Moore later amended his Complaint to include a claim for discrimination under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. From 1964 until his retirement in October 1999, Moore was employed as a Chicago police officer. In his Complaint, Moore alleges that the City discriminated against him by transferring him from Area One, Property Crimes to the Third District, Patrol Division and retaliated against him by giving him lower performance reviews, putting him on "bogus" assignments, and subjecting him to unwarranted discipline.
The City now moves for summary judgment. Summary judgment is proper when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-323 (1986). In determining whether any genuine issue of material fact exists, I must construe all facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draw all reasonable and justifiable inferences in its favor. Anderson v. Liberty 4 Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). A genuine issue of fact exists only when, based on the record as a whole, a reasonable jury could find for the non-movant. Pipitone v. United States, 180 F.3d 859, 861 (7th Cir. 1999).
I. Moore's § 1981 Claim
The City argues that Moore's § 1981 claim is time-barred. The applicable statute of limitations for a § 1981 claim corresponds to the state period for personal injury-style tort claims, Goodman v. Lukens Steel Co., 482 U.S. 656 (1987), which in Illinois is two years from the date of the alleged discriminatory conduct. Vakharia v. Swedish Covenant Hosp., 190 F.3d 799, 807 (7th Cir. 1999). In this case, Moore's alleged discriminatory transfer occurred on October 15, 1992 but Moore did not file his § 1981 claim until May 26, 2000, nearly eight years later. Since Moore's filing was made well outside the statutory period, I find that it is time-barred.
II. Moore's Title VII Claim of Discrimination
Moore bases his Title VII discrimination claim on his October 15, 1992 transfer. Since Moore has not presented any direct evidence of discrimination, he must rely on the indirect method of proof. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973). Under the indirect method, Moore must establish a prima facie case for discrimination. Id. To establish a prima facie case for discrimination, the plaintiff must show that he is a member of a protected class, he was performing his job satisfactorily, he suffered an adverse employment action, and similarly situated employees who were not members of the protected class were treated more favorably. Hughes v. Brown, 20 F.3d 745, 746 (7th Cir. 1994).
The City argues that Moore cannot establish his prima facie case because the complained of transfer was not an adverse employment action. Not everything that makes an employee unhappy is an actionable adverse action. Smart v. Ball State Univ., 89 F.3d 437, 441 (7th Cir. 1996). Only tangible employment actions that cause a significant change in employment status constitute actionable adverse actions. Burlington Indus. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742, 753 (1998). Examples of actionable adverse actions include hiring, firing, failing to promote, reassigning with significantly different responsibilities, or a decision causing a significant change in benefits. Id. "A purely lateral transfer, without more," is not an adverse employment action. Williams v. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Co., 85 F.3d 270, 274 (7th Cir. 1996). A reassignment can, however, constitute an adverse employment action if the new position has fewer opportunities for job promotions, Grayson v. City of Chi., 317 F.3d 745, 750 (7th Cir. 2003), or if the reassignment has a less distinguished title. Hildebrandt v. Ill. Dep't of Natural Res., 347 F.3d 1014, 1034 n. 13 (7th Cir. 2003).
Moore claims that his transfer constituted a materially adverse employment action because it was "a stigmatizing event." (Moore Resp. P. 4). In Moore's opinion, sergeants in the detective division were more highly thought of than those in the patrol division and were more likely to receive promotions.*fn1 While Moore states his opinions about the lower level of prestige and fewer opportunities for promotion, he does not present any facts, either in his affidavit or in the record as a whole, that substantiate those opinions. Such "conclusory allegations, unsupported by specific facts" are insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact. Payne v. Pauley, 337 F.3d 767, 773 (7th Cir. 2003) (citing Lujan v. Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n, 497 U.S. 871, 888, (1990)). Since Moore has not established that he suffered an adverse employment action, I find that summary judgment on his discrimination claim is appropriate.*fn2
III. Moore's Title VII Claims of Retaliation
Moore claims that, after he filed his Title VII claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), the City retaliated against him by giving him lower performance ratings, subjecting him to unwarranted discipline, and giving him "bogus" assignments. Here again, Moore has no direct of evidence of retaliation and must rely on the indirect method of proof. To put forth a prima facie case of retaliation, Moore must show, among other things, that he was treated differently than a similarly situated employee who had not complained to the EEOC. Little v. Ill. Dep't of Revenue, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 10439 at *10 (7th Cir. 2004). The City argues that Moore cannot identify any such officer. Indeed, Moore has not alleged any facts or provided any evidence tending to show that another Third District officer performed equivalently yet received higher performance ratings, fewer reprimands, less disciplinary action, or was given better ...