Opinion ID: 77129
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Remaining Issues of Disputed Fact

Text: 11 Summary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Eberhardt v. Waters, 901 F.2d 1578, 1580 (11th Cir.1990). A fact is material for the purposes of summary judgment only if it might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). 12 Kerr and Green Smith have clearly demonstrated a dispute as to exactly when (between 31 December 2002 and 9 January 2003) the RTS letters were mailed and as to when they each first received copies thereof. Summary judgment in favor of McDonald's would thus be improper if facts assumed as to these issues were material to the analysis. 13 The record establishes, however, that both Kerr and Green Smith knew for certain no later than 3 January 2003 that the EEOC had completed its investigation of their claims and would either issue determinations (most likely finding no violation) or, should Kerr and Green Smith so request, issue RTS letters. Understanding that issuance of those letters would represent the end of EEOC involvement, both Kerr and Green Smith chose to request letters. They filled out the forms they had received accompanied by letters explaining the process, and returned the forms to the EEOC on 3 January 2003. No genuine dispute of fact has been raised as to this point. 14 Neither has any genuine dispute been raised as to whether the original copies of the RTS letters were mailed. Testimony concerning specific office procedures for preparing and mailing notices in addition to evidence of mail received from the purported sender at the same address (and by other designated recipients in the normal course) is sufficient to raise a presumption of properly mailed documents. Gonzales Packing Co. v. East Coast Brokers & Packers, Inc., 961 F.2d 1543, 1544-46 (11th Cir.1992). 15 In this case, Webb's testimony regarding specific EEOC procedures for preparation and mailing of RTS notices, especially as it relates to procedures for the closure of files, stands uncontested. Both Kerr and Green Smith have produced envelopes indicating that they did receive mail from the EEOC at the addresses listed on their RTS letters. Additionally, there is evidence that McDonald's outside counsel received a copy of the RTS letter issued to Green Smith no later than 14 January 2003, and a copy of the letter issued to Kerr no later than 10 January 2003. All this is sufficient to raise a presumption that the notices were properly mailed. 16 In sum, although Kerr and Green Smith have raised a factual dispute as to exactly when the RTS letters were mailed, the only reasonable conclusion to be made based on the record is that they were mailed no later than 9 January 2003. The date of actual receipt is material to the summary judgment analysis only if there was no adequate notice prior to actual receipt.