Opinion ID: 609835
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The District Court's Retroactive Application of the 1991 Act

Text: 16 The City and Mayor Shell contend that the district court committed reversible error when it allowed Goldsmith to amend her complaint to invoke the provisions of the 1991 Act. According to the City and Mayor Shell, the 1991 Act does not apply retroactively to cases already pending at the time of its enactment. The district court's decision to give the 1991 Act retroactive effect is a conclusion of law subject to this Court's de novo review. See Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. 232, Inc., 920 F.2d 815, 818 n. 4 (11th Cir.1991); Wright v. Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 913 F.2d 1566, 1572-73 (11th Cir.1990). 17 In Baynes v. AT & T Technologies, Inc., 976 F.2d 1370, 1372 (11th Cir.1992), this Court held that the provisions of the 1991 Act which (1) expand the causes of action under section 1981, (2) grant the right of trial by jury in Title VII cases, and (3) allow plaintiffs to recover compensatory and punitive damages for Title VII claims, do not apply retroactively to cases in which the district court rendered judgment before the 1991 Act became effective. More recently, this Court concluded that the reasoning of Baynes ... compels the conclusion that the same provisions of the Act involved in Baynes are not retroactively applicable to cases ... which were pending but had not resulted in final judgment as of the effective date of the Act. Curtis v. Metro Ambulance Service, Inc., 982 F.2d 472, 473-74 (11th Cir.1993). The provisions of the 1991 Act at issue in this case are identical to those at issue in Baynes. Therefore, we are bound by precedent to hold that the 1991 Act does not apply to Goldsmith's claims, and that the district court committed reversible error when it allowed Goldsmith to amend her complaint to plead the 1991 Act's protection. 18 Because the 1991 Act does not apply retroactively, Goldsmith's claims of retaliatory transfer under section 1981 and Title VII must be measured by the law as it stood prior to the enactment of the 1991 Act. We must determine, then, whether a retaliatory transfer such as the one alleged by Goldsmith is actionable under section 1981 or Title VII under the law in place before the 1991 Act came into effect. 19 The conduct which forms the basis of Goldsmith's retaliation claims occurred in December 1988. In June 1989, the Supreme Court held that section 1981 covers conduct only at the initial formation of the contact and conduct which impairs the right to enforce contract obligations through legal process. Patterson v. McLean Credit Union, 491 U.S. 164, 179, 109 S.Ct. 2363, 2374, 105 L.Ed.2d 132 (1989). Therefore, the Court ruled that post-formation conduct, such as conduct affecting the terms and conditions of continuing employment, was not actionable under section 1981. Id. This Court has subsequently held that Patterson applies retroactively, see Vance v. Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co., 983 F.2d 1573, 1576-77 (11th Cir.1993), 4 and that Patterson bars section 1981 actions based on lateral employment transfers, see Vance, 983 F.2d at 1576; Jones v. Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Inc., 977 F.2d 527, 537 (11th Cir.1992), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 2932, 124 L.Ed.2d 682 (1993). Under this array of precedent, we conclude that Goldsmith's claim of retaliatory transfer is not actionable under section 1981. Therefore, Mayor Shell is entitled to judgment on Goldsmith's section 1981 claim. 5 20 In contrast, retaliatory employment practices have always been actionable under Title VII. See 42 U.S.C.A. § 2000e-3(a) (West 1981); EEOC v. White and Son Enterprises, 881 F.2d 1006, 1012 & n. 5 (11th Cir.1989); Pettway v. American Cast Iron Pipe Co., 411 F.2d 998, 1005-08 (5th Cir.1969). The only benefits Goldsmith claimed under the 1991 Act with respect to her Title VII claim were (1) the right to a jury trial and (2) the right to recover compensatory and punitive damages. See Civil Rights Act of 1991, Pub.L. No. 102-166, § 102, 105 Stat. 1071, 1072 (1991) (codified at 42 U.S.C.A. § 1981a (West Supp.1993)). Although our holding necessarily precludes Goldsmith from receiving either of these benefits, Goldsmith's claim of retaliation under Title VII remains viable under pre-Act law unless the City can establish an alternative ground entitling it to judgment. 6 21 B. The City's Right to Judgment as a Matter of Law on the Title VII Claim 22 The City argues that the district court erred in denying it judgment as a matter of law on Goldsmith's Title VII claim. The City claims a right to judgment on the Title VII claim because (1) Goldsmith failed to file her action within 90 days of receiving notice from the EEOC of her right to sue, (2) Goldsmith failed to establish any retaliatory action for which the City is liable, and (3) Goldsmith's evidence was legally insufficient to establish a Title VII violation. We address each of these contentions in turn. 23
24 The City argues that Goldsmith is barred from bringing her Title VII claim because she failed to comply with Title VII's requirement that plaintiffs seeking to bring civil actions under Title VII must do so within 90 days of receiving notice of their right to sue from the EEOC. See 42 U.S.C.A. § 2000e-5(f)(1). The parties agree that Goldsmith received her right-to-sue notice from the EEOC on June 25, 1990. The City insists, however, that Goldsmith's filings with the district court on August 20, 1990, did not satisfy the pleading requirements necessary to commence a civil action, and that Goldsmith did not file a valid complaint until September 28, 1990, four days after the statutory period had expired. 25 We agree that Goldsmith's filing on August 20, 1990, did not satisfy the pleading requirements necessary to commence a civil action. Under Rule 8(a), a complaint must contain a short and plain statement of (1) the court's jurisdiction, (2) the grounds for relief, and (3) the nature of the relief sought. See FED.R.CIV.P. 8(a). Goldsmith's filing on August 20, 1990, consisted of her right-to-sue letter and a signed memorandum in which she describes the factual basis for her claims. Taken together, these documents constitute a short and plain statement of the court's jurisdiction and the grounds for relief. See Robinson v. City of Fairfield, 750 F.2d 1507, 1511-12 & n. 5 (11th Cir.1985); Judkins v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 745 F.2d 1330, 1332 (11th Cir.1984). However, Goldsmith's initial filing failed to satisfy Rule 8(a)(3)'s requirement that the complaint contain a demand for judgment for the relief the pleader seeks. This requirement is not arduous--any concise statement identifying the remedies and the parties against whom relief is sought will be sufficient. 5 CHARLES A. WRIGHT & ARTHUR R. MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 1255 at 366 (2d ed. 1990). Nevertheless, after having carefully reviewed the documents initially filed by Goldsmith, and allowing her the wide latitude generally afforded pro se litigants in their pleadings, see Securities and Exchange Comm'n v. Elliot, 953 F.2d 1560, 1582 (11th Cir.1992), we have been unable to find a single reference to any requested relief which would satisfy the minimal requirements of Rule 8(a)(3). 26 Despite this deficiency in Goldsmith's first attempt at filing, we hold that Goldsmith's action was timely filed under the principles of equitable tolling. See Suarez v. Little Havana Activities, 721 F.2d 338, 340 (11th Cir.1983) (90 day rule is subject to equitable tolling); Jackson v. Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Co., 678 F.2d 992, 1007 (11th Cir.1982) (90 day rule is not jurisdictional). Equitable tolling may be justified where the plaintiff actively pursued judicial remedies by filing a defective pleading within the statutory period, see Irwin v. Veterans Admin., 498 U.S. 89, 96, 111 S.Ct. 453, 457-58, 112 L.Ed.2d 435 (1990); Scholar v. Pacific Bell, 963 F.2d 264, 267-68 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 196, 121 L.Ed.2d 139 (1992), or where the plaintiff has been misled by the court into believing that a filing was effective, see Baldwin County Welcome Center v. Brown, 466 U.S. 147, 151, 104 S.Ct. 1723, 1726, 80 L.Ed.2d 196 (1984); Hill v. John Chezik Imports, 869 F.2d 1122, 1124 n. 2 (8th Cir.1989). Goldsmith's case falls within both these categories. 27 First, Goldsmith brought her case to the attention of the district court within the statutory period by filing her initial defective pleading with the district court on August 20, 1990. Second, Goldsmith was led by the district court to believe that her defective filing was effective for purposes of the 90 day rule. Goldsmith's EEOC notice informed her only that her complaint must contain a short statement of the facts of your case which shows you are entitled to relief. Goldsmith, proceeding pro se, complied with this requirement by filing her memorandum and a copy of her EEOC right-to-sue letter. The district court did not inform Goldsmith that her original filings were inadequate for Title VII purposes, but rather issued an order allowing Goldsmith to file a complaint fully setting out her claim in compliance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by September 28, 1990. When Goldsmith complied with this order, the district court treated the original filing as effective for purposes of the 90 day rule throughout the remainder of the proceedings. Under these circumstances, 7 we hold that the expiration of the 90 day limitations period was equitably tolled through September 28, 1990, by virtue of the district court's order, and that Goldsmith's filing on that date was timely. 28
29 The City also argues that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law on Goldsmith's Title VII claim because it cannot be held liable for the acts of Mayor Shell. We find this argument to be without merit. Under Title VII, an employer may be found liable for a Title VII violation upon a judicial finding that the respondent has intentionally engaged in or is intentionally engaging in an unlawful employment practice charged in the complaint. See 42 U.S.C.A. § 2000e-5(g). Title VII defines a potentially liable employer as any person engaged in an industry affecting commerce ... and any agent of such a person. 42 U.S.C.A. § 2000e(b) (emphasis added). 8 Goldsmith predicates her Title VII claim against the City on the City's liability for the unlawful employment practices of Mayor Shell as its agent. 9 30 Because Title VII does not define the term agent, we turn to the common law principles of agency to determine whether Mayor Shell was acting as an agent of the City when he transferred Goldsmith such that the City may be held liable for his actions. See Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 72, 106 S.Ct. 2399, 2408, 91 L.Ed.2d 49 (1986); Sparks v. Pilot Freight Carriers, Inc., 830 F.2d 1554, 1558 (11th Cir.1987). Under these principles, an agent is one who agrees to act on behalf of another, subject to the other's control. See RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF AGENCY § 1 (1958). An employee is generally considered an agent of his or her employer. See id. at § 2. The City concedes that Mayor Shell acted as a City employee, and therefore as an agent of the City, in conducting his duties as mayor. 10 31 Once an agency relationship has been established, general agency principles also govern the circumstances in which the principal will be held liable for the acts of its agents under Title VII. See Vinson, 477 U.S. at 72, 106 S.Ct. at 2408. At trial, Goldsmith proceeded on the theory that the City was directly liable for Mayor Shell's transfer decision either because (1) Mayor Shell was acting within the scope of his employment in making the transfer decision, or (2) Mayor Shell used his agency relationship with the City to assist him in his unlawful retaliation. We agree that the City would be directly liable for the retaliation under Title VII in either situation. See Sparks, 830 F.2d at 1558-59; RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF AGENCY § 219 (1958). 32 At trial, Goldsmith elicited evidence that the City had delegated final authority to Mayor Shell to make employment decisions within the City Clerk's Office. The City offered no evidence of any limitations on Mayor Shell's authority in this regard. On this evidence, a reasonable factfinder could have found the City liable for Mayor Shell's transfer decision under either of Goldsmith's theories of direct liability. See Vance v. Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co., 863 F.2d 1503, 1512-15 (11th Cir.1989); Sparks, 830 F.2d at 1557-60. Therefore, the district court did not err in submitting the City's liability to the factfinder in this case.
33 Finally, the City argues that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law because Goldsmith failed to establish legally sufficient evidence of a Title VII violation. The burden of proof in Title VII retaliation cases is governed by the framework established in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973). In order to prevail, the plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case by showing (1) statutorily protected expression, (2) adverse employment action, and (3) a causal link between the protected expression and the adverse action. Weaver v. Casa Gallardo, Inc., 922 F.2d 1515, 1524 (11th Cir.1991); Jones v. Lumberjack Meats, Inc., 680 F.2d 98, 101 (11th Cir.1982). Once a prima facie case has been established, the defendant may come forward with legitimate reasons for the employment action to negate the inference of retaliation. Weaver, 922 F.2d at 1525-26; Doyal v. Marsh, 777 F.2d 1526, 1534 (11th Cir.1985). If the defendant offers legitimate reasons for the employment action, the plaintiff then bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the reasons offered by the defendant are pretextual. See Donnellon v. Fruehauf Corp., 794 F.2d 598, 600 & n. 2 (11th Cir.1986); Jones, 680 F.2d at 101; Whatley v. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Auth., 632 F.2d 1325, 1328 (5th Cir.1980). 34 The City first challenges Goldsmith's prima facie case as insufficient to establish the causal link between her protected statement to Councilman Harris and her transfer to the City Library. The City argues that Goldsmith failed to establish causation because she did not prove that Mayor Shell even knew of her conversation with Councilman Harris at the time of her transfer. 11 35 In order to establish the requisite causal link required as part of a prima facie case, a plaintiff need only establish that the protected activity and the adverse action were not wholly unrelated. See EEOC v. Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., 988 F.2d 1564, 1571-72 (11th Cir.1993); Bigge v. Albertsons, Inc., 894 F.2d 1497, 1501 (11th Cir.1990); Simmons v. Camden County Bd. of Educ., 757 F.2d 1187, 1189 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 981, 106 S.Ct. 385, 88 L.Ed.2d 338 (1985). At a minimum, a plaintiff must generally establish that the employer was actually aware of the protected expression at the time it took adverse employment action. See, e.g., Weaver, 922 F.2d at 1525; Simmons, 757 F.2d at 1189. The defendant's awareness of the protected statement, however, may be established by circumstantial evidence. Cf. Tyler v. Bethlehem Steel Corp., 958 F.2d 1176, 1183 (2d Cir.1992) (quoting Visser v. Packer Engineering Assoc., Inc., 924 F.2d 655, 659 (7th Cir.1991) (en banc)) (noting that all knowledge is inferential), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 82, 121 L.Ed.2d 46 (1992). 36 We conclude that Goldsmith offered sufficient circumstantial evidence that Mayor Shell was aware of her conversation with Councilman Harris to satisfy the causal link requirement of her prima facie case. Goldsmith testified that at the time she informed Councilman Harris of her intention to look into the possibility of filing an EEOC complaint, Councilman Harris urged her not to do so and told Goldsmith he would go talk to Mayor Shell about the Mayor's handling of announcements concerning the City Clerk position. The next morning, Councilman Harris did in fact visit Mayor Shell in his office at City Hall. Goldsmith testified that immediately after Councilman Harris departed, Mayor Shell called her into his office to inform her that the City Clerk position had been filled and there was nothing she could do about it. Goldsmith replied that she would see if there was anything she could do about it when she talked to her lawyer. Three weeks later, Mayor Shell abruptly transferred Goldsmith to the City Library. This evidence was sufficient to satisfy Goldsmith's initial burden to show a causal link between her statements and her transfer. 12 See Yartzoff v. Thomas, 809 F.2d 1371, 1376 (9th Cir.1987) (evidence that employer knew of employee's protected activities, combined with a proximity in time between protected action and the allegedly retaliatory action, is sufficient to establish prima facie case of retaliation); Donnellon, 794 F.2d at 600-01 (fact that plaintiff was discharged only one month after filing complaint with the EEOC belies any assertion by the defendant that the plaintiff failed to prove causation). 37 The City also argues that Goldsmith failed to establish that the legitimate reasons it offered for transferring Goldsmith were pretextual. The legitimate reasons offered by the City at trial for Goldsmith's transfer included various deficiencies in Goldsmith's performance at City Hall, and Mayor Shell's suspicion that Goldsmith had been regularly rummaging through his desk. Goldsmith sought to establish these purported justifications as pretextual through evidence that (1) Goldsmith had never been informed of any deficiencies in her job performance in all her time at City Hall, (2) Goldsmith's superiors at the City Library were completely satisfied with her job performance there, (3) Goldsmith had only been through Mayor Shell's desk once under justifiable circumstances, and Mayor Shell did not mention this as a basis for the transfer until after the EEOC investigation began, and (4) Mayor Shell had originally cited economic reasons for the transfer but retreated from this position in the face of evidence that the transfer actually increased City expenditures. This evidence was sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact as to pretext. See Sparks, 830 F.2d at 1564 (the implausibility of asserted justifications creates a genuine issue of material fact sufficient to preclude judgment as a matter of law). Thus, the district court did not err in denying the City's motion for judgment as a matter of law.