Court Opinion

ID: 9898767
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-15 00:08:46.283824+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:47.071494
License: Public Domain

11/14/2023

                                           DA 23-0012
                                                                                        Case Number: DA 23-0012

              IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                          2023 MT 215N

ALMA EDWARDS,

               Plaintiff and Appellant,

         v.

TURLEY DENTAL CARE, P.C.,

               Defendant and Appellee.

APPEAL FROM:           District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial District,
                       In and For the County of Yellowstone, Cause No. DV 20-1292
                       Honorable Jessica T. Fehr, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

                For Appellant:

                       Elizabeth M. Varela, Varela Law Firm PLLC, Billings, Montana

                For Appellee:

                       Afton E. Ball, Bobbi K. Owen, Moulton Bellingham PC, Billings, Montana

                                                   Submitted on Briefs: July 19, 2023

                                                              Decided: November 14, 2023

Filed:

                       __________________________________________
                                         Clerk
Justice Jim Rice delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1     Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating

Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not

serve as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this

Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana

Reports.

¶2     Alma Edwards (Edwards) appeals from the dismissal of several of her alleged

claims by the Thirteenth Judicial District Court, which arose from the termination of her

employment with Defendant Turley Dental Care (Turley Dental) after she tested positive

for marijuana on a random drug test conducted pursuant to Turley Dental’s employee drug

testing policy. She challenges the District Court’s August 12, 2021 Order granting

summary judgment to Turley Dental on her wrongful discharge claim (Count I); the District

Court’s December 13, 2022 Order denying her motion to compel discovery and award

sanctions; and the District Court’s December 13, 2022 Order granting summary judgment

to Turley Dental on her age and disability discrimination claim (Count III).1

1
  The District Court also entered an order on February 22, 2022, granting, inter alia, Turley
Dental’s motion for summary judgment on Edwards’ discrimination claim based upon
§ 39-2-313(2), MCA (Count II), which provides that an employer “may not discriminate against
an individual with respect to compensation, promotion, or the terms, conditions, or privileges of
employment because the individual legally uses a lawful product off the employer’s premises
during nonworking hours.” As noted herein, Edwards had been prescribed medical marijuana by
a physician. The District Court, in addition to noting its earlier ruling that Edwards’
medically-related employment duties properly subjected her to testing under Turley Dental’s drug
testing policy, cited the exception to this anti-discrimination provision for an employer who “takes
action based on the belief that the employer’s actions are permissible under an established
substance abuse or alcohol program or policy, professional contract, or collective bargaining
agreement,” § 39-2-313(4), MCA, and dismissed the claim. Edwards does not raise the dismissal
                                                    2
¶3      Edwards was hired by Turley Dental in 1995. At the time of her discharge in

October 2019, she worked as a patient care coordinator and front office treatment

coordinator. Edwards’ tasks included gathering personally identifiable patient information

in a manner consistent with HIPAA (Social Security Numbers, addresses, dates of birth,

insurance policy information), verifying patient medical information and health history,

treatment planning, processing medical and insurance records and information, including

correspondence with insurers regarding treatment and insurance benefits, establishing and

enforcing sanitation measures and procedures, collecting payments, and assisting patients

with credit applications. At some time prior to this litigation, Edwards was diagnosed with

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and was prescribed medical marijuana to take in

the evening before bed.

¶4      In March 2019, Turley Dental implemented a Drug and Alcohol Policy (Policy) that

it described as “zero tolerance” for the 70 employees working at its multiple locations,

pursuant to the Montana Workforce Drug and Alcohol Testing Act, § 39-2-205, et. seq.,

MCA (the Act).2 All employees were given training about the Policy, were required to

of the Count II discrimination claim as an issue or otherwise address the reasoning of the District
Court’s February 22, 2022 Order in her briefing, and we do not separately consider that ruling.

2
  The Act defines qualifying employee testing programs, including permissible policies and
procedures, and compliance with those provisions is not challenged here. Section 39-2-208, MCA,
provides, in pertinent part:

     Each of the following activities is permissible in the implementation of a qualified testing
     program:

      (2) An employer may use random testing if the employer’s controlled substance and
          alcohol policy includes one or both of the following procedures:
                                               3
read and sign the Policy, and received a three-month advance notice prior to

commencement of testing. The Policy disallowed the use of all substances, including

marijuana, and provided an advisory in capital letters that “A POSITIVE DRUG AND/OR

ALCOHOL TEST WILL RESULT IN TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITH

TURLEY DENTAL.” Edwards acknowledged receipt of the Policy in March 2019, and

did not raise her medical marijuana prescription or any other issue with her supervisor at

that time.

¶5     After the Policy was implemented, Turley Dental contracted with a third-party

testing company to conduct random testing. A cohort of approximately twelve randomly

selected employees were tested on a quarterly basis. Edwards was not selected for the

initial testing cohorts, but was selected for testing in October 2019, at which time she tested

positive for marijuana. About a week later, Edwards was discharged from her employment

due to the positive test result. When asked by her supervisor if Edwards understood she

                                          .   .       .

       (b) An employer may manage or contract with a third party to establish and administer
           a random testing process that must include:
               (i) an established calendar period for testing;
               (ii) an established testing rate within the calendar period;
               (iii) a random selection process that will determine who will be tested on any
               given date during the calendar period for testing;
               (iv) all supervisory and managerial positions in the random selection and
               testing process; and
               (v) a procedure that requires the employer to obtain a signed statement from
               each employee that confirms that the employee has received a written
               description of the random selection process.

                                                  4
had violated the drug policy, Edwards answered that she did. Edwards then indicated she

treated with medical marijuana, but was advised by the supervisor that the positive test

result was nonetheless a violation of the Policy, and required termination.

¶6     Edwards filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission alleging

discrimination based upon her age, disability, and lawful medical marijuana use. After an

agency investigation concluded there was no reasonable basis to conclude discrimination

had occurred and issued a right-to-sue letter, Edwards filed suit in the District Court,

alleging wrongful discharge under § 39-2-204, MCA (Count I); discrimination for use of a

lawful product during nonworking hours in violation of § 39-2-313, MCA (Count II); age

and disability discrimination (Count III); and invasion of privacy (Count IV).

¶7     Edwards moved for partial summary judgment, asking the District Court to hold

that she was not an “employee” subject to drug testing as defined by the Act, and thus

Turley Dental had improperly tested her.         Turley Dental cross-moved for summary

judgment on the same issue, arguing Edwards’ position subjected her to the testing

requirement and requesting the District Court to grant summary judgment on the wrongful

discharge claim (Count I). The District Court granted Turley Dental’s motion, reasoning

Edwards’ position was one both “affecting public health” and “involving a fiduciary

responsibility for an employer” under the Act, that she was subject to testing, and,

consequently, Turley Dental had established good cause for her discharge, thus defeating

her wrongful discharge claim as a matter of law.

                                             5
¶8        Following discovery, Turley Dental moved for summary judgment on the remaining

counts, and on February 22, 2022, the District Court granted summary judgment on

Count II (discrimination under § 39-3-212(2), MCA) and Count IV (invasion of privacy).3

The District Court denied summary judgment as to Count III (age and disability

discrimination), reasoning these claims remained viable based upon Edward’s contention

that Turley Dental had used drug testing as a pretext to discharge her because of her age

and disability. In October 2022, Edwards moved the District Court to compel discovery

and award sanctions, asserting Turley Dental had committed discovery abuses, including

withholding pertinent information. Turley Dental responded to the discovery motion and,

while that issue was pending, filed a renewed motion for summary judgment as to the last

remaining count, Count III. On December 13, 2022, the District Court denied Edwards’

motion to compel and granted Turley’s motion for summary judgment on Count III.

Edwards appeals the orders granting summary judgment on Count I (wrongful discharge)

and Count III (age and disability discrimination), and the order denying her discovery

motion.

¶9        This Court reviews a district court’s rulings on summary judgment de novo for

conformance to the applicable standards specified in M. R. Civ. P. 56. Krajacich v. Great

Falls Clinic, LLP, 2012 MT 82, ¶ 8, 364 Mont. 455, 276 P.3d 992. A district court’s

decision pertaining to summary judgment is a conclusion of law for which this Court

3
    As explained above, this order is not challenged on appeal.

                                                  6
reviews for correctness. Krajacich, ¶ 8. Summary judgment is proper only when there is

no genuine issue of material fact such that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law. M. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3). This Court reviews a district court’s denial of a

motion to compel for an abuse of discretion. Associated Mgmt. Servs., v. Ruff, 2018 MT

182, ¶¶ 70-78, 392 Mont. 139, 424 P.3d 571.

¶10    Edwards argues the District Court erred by holding she satisfied the definition of

“employee” subject to a drug testing policy under the Act. We first note that Edwards

moved for summary judgment on this issue prior to discovery and that both parties’ briefing

argued there were no genuine issues of material fact that would prohibit summary

judgment. Rather, the parties argued they were respectively entitled to judgment as a

matter of law. M. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3). The District Court decided the issue on the existing

record, including affidavits. The Act defines an “Employee” who is subject to testing as

“an individual engaged in the performance, supervision, or management of work in a:

       (i) hazardous work environment;
       (ii) security position; or
       (iii) position:
               (A) affecting public safety or public health;
               (B) in which driving a motor vehicle is necessary for any part of the
               individual’s work duties; or
               (C) involving a fiduciary relationship for an employer.

Section 39-2-206(4), MCA (emphasis added). These terms, specifically, “affecting public

safety” and “involving a fiduciary relationship,” are not further defined by the Act.

¶11    Edwards’ argument regarding whether she held a position “affecting public health”

relies primarily on the definition of “health care facility” in § 50-5-101, et. seq., MCA, the

                                              7
facility licensing statutes. Noting this statute excludes “private physicians, dentists, or

other physical or mental health workers” regulated elsewhere in the Code from the

definition of “health care facility,” Edwards argues that because Turley Dental does not

come within that statutory definition, her employment was not one affecting public health.

However, we agree with the District Court’s observation that these separate statutes are

unrelated. Although Edwards takes issue with the District Court’s reasoning about the use

of statutory definitions within other parts of the Code, any such error is not determinative.

Exclusion of dental offices from the definition of “facility” for licensing purposes under

§ 50-5-101, MCA, neither requires exclusion of an employee from drug testing under

§ 39-2-206(4), MCA, nor offers any interpretive assistance by analogy. The District Court

reasoned that Edwards’ duties, including managing sensitive personal, medical, and

financial information, developing treatment plans, handling medical billing and insurance

claims, and establishing and enforcing sanitation procedures, was material to the provision

of healthcare and therefore satisfied the Act’s definition. Edwards’ testing was therefore

appropriate, and her test failure was a “reasonable job-related ground” for dismissal,

constituting good cause under the Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act as a

“legitimate business reason.” Section 39-2-903(5), MCA; see also Putnam v. Cent. Mont.

Med. Ctr., 2020 MT 65, ¶ 15, 399 Mont. 241, 460 P.3d 419 (“A legitimate business reason

is one ‘that is not false, whimsical, arbitrary, or capricious, and one that must have some

logical relationship to the needs of the business.’”) (internal citation omitted).       We

conclude the District Court did not err in entering these conclusions of law. Having so

                                             8
concluded, we need not take up the District Court’s alternative reasoning that Edwards was

also subject to testing because she occupied a position involving a fiduciary relationship

for the employer.4

¶12    Edwards next challenges the District Court’s denial of her motion to compel and

award sanctions, which were related to Edwards’ Count III, age and disability

discrimination. In response to Edwards discovery requests, Turley Dental produced,

pertinent here, Edwards’ entire personnel file, her treatment records, all information

regarding other failed, random drug tests of other employees for two years after Edwards’

termination, and the ages of its employees. Edwards also sought, as explained by the

District Court:

       1) evidence of Alma Edwards’ back and mental health disabilities in Turley’s
       possession, custody and control;
       2) evidence in Turley’s possession, custody, and control showing disparate
       treatment (how [employee KL]’s failed drug test and other failed drug tests
       were treated in comparison to [Edwards]);
       3) Turley’s correspondence with its drug testing contractor and drug testing
       evidence of disparate treatment and disparate impact;
       4) withheld documents in Turley’s possession, custody, and control showing
       age and disability discrimination; and
       5) Turley’s email correspondence and executive meeting minutes regarding
       drug testing policies and evidencing discriminatory conduct with regard to
       Alma in comparison to younger, non-disabled employees/potential
       employees.

4
  Also on this Count, Edwards offers a constitutional argument not made before the District Court
and raised for the first time on appeal, arguing that the random drug testing of “low risk workers”
violates public policy and Montana’s constitutional right to privacy. As noted by Turley Dental,
this Court does not generally consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal, and as such,
we decline to consider Edwards’ constitutional argument. Mountain W. Bank, N.A. v. Glacier
Kitchens, Inc., 2012 MT 132, ¶ 13, 365 Mont. 276, 281 P.3d 600.

                                                9
¶13    Montana Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1) provides that “parties may obtain

discovery regarding any non-privileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or

defense” that is “reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.”

We have held that while parties do possess a broad discovery right, their requests “must be

narrowly tailored to lead to discoverable information, and the district courts may well need

to prohibit discovery requests which are too broad, given the particular claims and defenses

of each case.” Peterson v. Doctors’ Co., 2007 MT 264, ¶ 44, 339 Mont. 354, 170 P.3d

459. Further, “such discovery requests . . . cannot be fishing expeditions.” Peterson, ¶ 44.

¶14    Regarding the first request, the District Court reasoned that Edwards had failed to

offer “any argument [as] to why Edwards truly needs the requested information” in light

of the disclosures Turley Dental had already made, and thus failed to satisfy her burden

under Rule 26(b)(1). While Edwards is entitled to discovery, the request here appeared to

be satisfied by Turley Dental’s disclosure of Edwards’ medical treatment records and

personnel file, and an interrogatory asking whether there was any additional information

of this kind that may have resolved the issue. The request for production was not further

supported or defined, such that it appeared to be an overbroad request.

¶15    The remaining requests broadly sought information that would show “disparate

treatment” by Turley Dental or “disparate impact” of its drug testing protocols that, in the

District Court’s observation, “backed Turley into a corner. . . . essentially asking Turley to

admit to disparate treatment through her discovery requests.” One request requested

evidence as to current employee K.L.’s failed drug test, and raised privacy concerns. We

                                             10
have stated that when a “defendant’s asserted ‘substantial need’ for discovery . . . conflicts

with the right of privacy of an involved government agent or third party, courts must assess

the nature and extent of the asserted right to privacy under the totality of the circumstances,

and then carefully balance it with the defendant’s asserted need in furtherance of the fair

trial rights . . . .” City of Bozeman v. McCarthy, 2019 MT 209, ¶ 18, 397 Mont. 134, 447

P.3d 1048. In balancing these interests, the District Court noted from the record that

Edwards’ contention she was treated differently than K.L. offered little support for the

request because K.L. was a job applicant, not an employee, at the time she was tested, and

was not at that time subject to the random testing policy. The District Court explained that

information about Turley Dental’s treatment of other employees who had tested positive

could well be discoverable. However, given K.L.’s different circumstances, the District

Court concluded that K.L.’s right of privacy weighed against disclosure of her personnel

file.

¶16     Edwards’ final three discovery requests were also broadly stated and sought

information pertaining to “discriminatory conduct” or “showing discrimination.” The

District Court reasoned that these requests had either been answered by Turley Dental’s

responses, such as its provision of the age information of its employees, or lacked focus or

a demonstration that further information or documentation existed. The District Court’s

resolution of these issues was an exercise of its discretion and we conclude the District

Court did not abuse its discretion under the standard of review by denying the motion to

compel.

                                              11
¶17    Related thereto, Edwards challenges the District Court’s dismissal of Count III. In

Reeves v. Dairy Queen, Inc., 1998 MT 13, ¶ 12, 287 Mont. 196, 953 P.2d 703, we held a

“person alleging discrimination must first demonstrate a prima facie case of

discrimination.”   A prima facie case may be proven through evidence of a “causal

connection between the adverse action by the [employer] and the [employee’s]

membership in a protected class.”        Admin. R. M. 24.9.610(2)(b)(v).       In an age

discrimination case, the employee may either provide “direct evidence” that the

employee’s age prompted their termination, or “circumstantial evidence” that the employee

was performing their job satisfactorily and yet was terminated.            In a disability

discrimination case, the question is whether the employee would have been “otherwise

qualified for continued employment, and [their] employment did not subject [them] or

others to physical harm” and the employer “denied [the] continued employment because

of [the] disability.” Reeves, ¶ 21.

¶18    Edwards failed to provide direct or circumstantial evidence establishing a prima

facie case that her discharge occurred because of her age. Both Turley Dental and Edwards

provided evidence of the drug testing policy violation that led to her termination. Edwards

failed to provide evidence setting forth a prima facie case that something other than her

violation of the Policy was the actual reason for her discharge. She offered offensive

comments made by coworkers about her age, but nothing that would raise an inference that

her employer acted out of a motivation beyond the failed test. In Mysse v. Martens, 279

Mont. 253, 265, 926 P.2d 765, 772 (1992), we reasoned that isolated remarks during casual

                                            12
conversations alone do not “give rise to an inference” that the individual was fired for her

age. Further, as the District Court reasoned, an examination of the ages of the staff

members at Turley Dental offices does not provide direct or circumstantial evidence of her

contention that Edwards was discharged so Turley Dental could replace her with a younger

employee. While Edwards argues she was treated differently than younger or non-disabled

employees, the argument is supported only by the difference she sees in how K.L. was

treated. However, as we noted above, K.L. was not an employee subject to the same

random testing Policy at the time she failed the drug test. In sum, Edwards fails to meet

her initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of discrimination for age or ability.

¶19    We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c) of our

Internal Operating Rules, which provides for memorandum opinions. This appeal presents

no constitutional issues, no issues of first impression, and does not establish new precedent

or modify existing precedent. In the opinion of the Court, the case presents a question

controlled by settled law or by the clear application of applicable standards of review, and

the District Court did not err in its rulings.

¶20    Affirmed.

                                                      /S/ JIM RICE

We concur:

/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA
/S/ DIRK M. SANDEFUR

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