Opinion ID: 1489833
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Summary judgment procedure

Text: The decision to enter summary judgment in favor of Maplewood stems, in part, from the trial court's decision not to require compliance with the summary judgment procedures set forth in Rule 74.04. Rule 74.04(c) requires a movant seeking summary judgment to summarily state the legal basis for the motion and attach a statement of uncontroverted material facts ... to the motion. Additionally, the movant shall file a separate legal memorandum explaining why summary judgment should be granted. Id. The movant also must attach a copy of all discovery, exhibits or affidavits on which the motion relies. Similarly, the adverse party must admit or deny each of the movant's factual allegations with specific reference to discovery, exhibits or affidavits. The movant is entitled to judgment only if he or she can establish that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. If a party seeks to expand the grounds for a summary judgment motion or enlarge the record after the motion and response has been filed, allowing such an expansion is prejudicial. Cross v. Drury Inns, Inc., 32 S.W.3d 632, 637 (Mo.App.2000). Allowing the movant to raise new factual issues, grounds or arguments within summary judgment proceedings, without offering the other party the opportunity to respond, violates Rule 74.04 and results in prejudice for the opposing party. Id. If a party fails to comply with Rule 74.04(c) and such failure is prejudicial, then reversal is required. Morley v. Henske, 704 S.W.2d 298 (Mo.App.1986). In this case, the trial court did not require the parties to comply with the clear and specific provisions of Rule 74.04. Maplewood filed a motion to dismiss asserting that the only act of discrimination alleged by Wallingsford was her claim that she improperly was suspended in December 2002 and that this act fell outside the 180-day filing period. Maplewood also asserted that the 180-day filing period began on July 15, 2004, when Maplewood informed Wallingsford that her discharge appeared inevitable due to the results of an internal investigation. In response, Wallingsford asserted that the last alleged act of discrimination was her constructive discharge on August 29, 2004. Maplewood filed a reply memorandum asserting that Wallingsford failed to identify any act of discrimination that occurred within the 180-day filing period. Wallingsford sought leave to file a supplemental affidavit asserting additional discriminatory actions allegedly undertaken by Maplewood within the 180-day filing period. The trial court denied leave to file the supplemental affidavit and entered summary judgment in favor of Maplewood. The trial court did not require Maplewood to submit a statement of uncontroverted material facts with specific references to discovery, exhibits or affidavits and a separate legal memorandum in support of the motion. Additionally, Maplewood's reply memorandum asserted, for the first time, the specific argument that Wallingsford failed to allege sufficient evidence that she continued to experience discrimination through the final day of her employment. By denying Wallingsford the opportunity to file a supplemental affidavit detailing her working conditions during the final two months of her employment, the trial court deprived her of the opportunity to respond to Maplewood's factual assertions. The failure to comply with the Rule 74.04 procedures permitted the entry of summary judgment without narrowing the case to the uncontroverted material facts regarding Wallingsford's claim of constructive discharge. The failure to comply with Rule 74.04 is especially problematic because the crux of Wallingsford's claim is that continued employment was intolerable due to ongoing discrimination. Resolving that claim requires a fact-intensive inquiry that is not readily susceptible to summary judgment, particularly when the requirements of Rule 74.04 are not followed.