Barthelemy v. CHS-SLE Land, L.L.C.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

KALAN L. BARTHELEMY CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS NO. 19-10086

CHS-SLE LAND, L.L.C. ET AL SECTION: “G”(1)

ORDER AND REASONS

Pending before the Court is Defendant CHS Inc.’s (“Defendant”) “Motion to Dismiss

Pursuant to Rules 4(m) and 12(b)(6).”1 In this litigation, Plaintiff Kalan L. Barthelemy (“Plaintiff”)

filed a Complaint alleging that her former employer, Defendant, subjected her to discrimination

on the basis of her gender.2 In the instant motion, Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s claims should

be dismissed because: (1) service was untimely and (2) in the alternative, Plaintiff fails to state a

claim upon which relief can be granted.3 Considering Defendant’s motion, the memoranda in

support and opposition, and the applicable law, the Court grants the motion in part, denies the

motion in part, and grants Plaintiff leave to amend the Complaint to address certain pleading

deficiencies noted herein, if possible.

I. Background

On May 3, 2019, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in this Court naming CHS-SLE LAND, LLC

and CHS, Inc. as defendants.4 Plaintiff brings claims against CHS-SLE LAND, LLC and CHS,

Inc. for declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as

1 Rec. Doc. 13.

2 Rec. Doc. 1.

3 Rec. Doc. 13-1.

4 Rec. Doc. 1.

amended and 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, and under Louisiana law.5 On September 26, 2019, the

Court granted a joint motion to dismiss all claims against CHS-SLE LAND, LLC, leaving CHS,

Inc. as the sole remaining defendant.6

According to the Complaint, Plaintiff was hired as a grader by Defendant in September of

2000.7 Plaintiff alleges that she received positive performance reviews through her nearly twenty

years of employment but suffered from a pattern of denial of promotions.8 Plaintiff alleges that she

had the necessary experience and work performance to ascend to a higher position within the

company, but had to receive certain training before she could be promoted to those positions.9

Plaintiff alleges that she was repeatedly denied the opportunity to participate in cross-training,

despite being told by her supervisor that she would be allowed to participate in the training.10

Plaintiff alleges that as a result, she suffered from deep embarrassment and humiliation and

ultimately resigned.11

As a result, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant has failed to comply with Title VII.12 Plaintiff

claims that Defendant created a hostile work environment, and caused Plaintiff lost wages and

benefits as well as other pecuniary losses.13 Furthermore, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant has

5 Id. at 1.

6 Rec. Doc. 12.

7 Rec. Doc. 1 at 3.

8 Id.

9 Id.

10 Id.

11 Id. at 4.

12 Id.

13 Id. at 5.

intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Plaintiff.14 Lastly, Plaintiff alleges that she is

entitled to punitive damages against Defendant as a result of Defendant’s intentional acts and its

extreme and outrageous conduct.15

Defendant filed the instant motion on October 15, 2019.16 On November 4, 2019, the Court

granted Plaintiff’s “Motion to Continue Hearing” thereby resetting the submission date of the

instant motion to December 4, 2019.17 Plaintiff filed an opposition on November 26, 2019.18

Defendant, with leave of Court, filed a reply in further support of the motion on December 5,

2019.19

II. Parties’ Arguments

A. Defendant’s Arguments in Support of the Motion

In the instant motion, Defendant argues that the Court should dismiss Plaintiff’s claims

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) or Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). 20

First, Defendant argues that Plaintiff failed to serve the Complaint within the time limit established

by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m).21 In the alternative, Defendant contends that Plaintiff’s

claims should be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.22

14 Id.

15 Id. at 6.

16 Rec. Doc. 13.

17 Rec. Doc. 19.

18 Rec. Doc. 21.

19 Rec. Doc. 25.

20 Rec. Doc. 13-1 at 1.

21 Id.

22 Id.

Specifically, Defendant asserts that Plaintiff’s claims should be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(6) for

the following reasons: (1) Plaintiff’s claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 must be dismissed because

Plaintiff does not allege discrimination on the basis of race; (2) Plaintiff’s claim under 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983 must be dismissed because Plaintiff does not allege state action; (3) Plaintiff fails to state

a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress because she does not allege sufficiently

outrageous conduct to make her claim plausible; and (4) Plaintiff fails to provide sufficient factual

information to support claims for “hostile work environment,” “constructive discharge” and

discrimination based on sex under Title VII.23

First, Defendant argues that service was untimely.24 Defendant contends that pursuant to

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m), a defendant must be served within 90 days after the

complaint is filed.25 Here, Defendant argues that it was not served until 123 days after Plaintiff

filed the Complaint.26

Second, Defendant contends that Plaintiff’s claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 must be

dismissed because Plaintiff does not allege discrimination on the basis of race.27 Defendant argues

that to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, a plaintiff must allege that (1) she is a member of a

racial minority; (2) the defendant intended to discriminate on the basis of race; and (3) the

discrimination concerned one or more of the activities enumerated in the statute.28 Here, Defendant

contends that Plaintiff does not allege that she is a member of a racial minority or that Defendant

23 Id.

24 Id. at 2.

25 Id.

26 Id. at 3.

27 Id. at 4.

28 Id. (citing Bellows v. Amoco Oil Co., 118 F.3d 268, 274 (5th Cir. 1997)).

intended to discriminate against her on the basis of her race; accordingly, Defendant argues that

Plaintiff’s Section 1981 claims must be dismissed.29

Third, Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 must be dismissed

because Plaintiff does not allege state action.30 Defendant contends that to state a claim under

Section 1983, a plaintiff must allege and prove state action.31 Here, Defendant argues that this is a

private employment dispute, and Plaintiff does not allege any state action; accordingly, Plaintiff’s

Section 1983 claims should be dismissed.32

Fourth, Defendant contends that Plaintiff fails to state a claim of intentional infliction of

emotional distress because she does not allege sufficiently outrageous conduct to make her claim

plausible.33 Defendant argues that to state a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, a

plaintiff must establish the following: (1) the conduct of the defendant was extreme and

outrageous; (2) the emotional distress suffered by the plaintiff was severe; and (3) the defendant

desired to inflict severe emotional distress or knew that severe emotional distress would be certain

or substantially certain to result from his conduct.34 Defendant contends that the Louisiana courts

have limited this cause of action in the workplace setting to truly extreme and outrageous cases,

involving repeated and deliberate harassment over time.35 Defendant argues that IIED claims are

29 Id. at 5.

30 Id.

31 Id.

32 Id. at 6.

33 Id.

34 Id. (citing White v. Monsanto Co., 585 So. 2d 1205, 1209 (La. 1991)).

35 Id. (citing Smith v. Ouachita Parish Sch. Bd., 29,873 (La. App. 2 Cir. 9/24/97), 702 So.2d 727, writ

denied, 97–2721 (La.1/16/98), 706 So.2d 978; Stewart v. Parish of Jefferson, 95–407 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1/30/96), 668

So.2d 1292, writ denied, 96–0526 (La.4/8/96), 671 So.2d 340)).

reserved for conduct that goes beyond the bounds of decency and that personnel decisions, even if

wrong, normally do not give rise to such a claim.36 Here, Defendant contends that the denial of a

promotion does not rise to the level of extreme and outrageous conduct.37

Fifth, Defendant argues that Plaintiff fails to provide sufficient factual information to

support claims for “hostile work environment,” “constructive discharge” and discrimination based

on sex under Title VII.38

Defendant contends that to state a hostile work environment claim under Title VII, a

plaintiff must show that: (1) she belongs to a protected group; (2) she was subjected to unwelcome

harassment; (3) the harassment was based on a protected characteristic; (4) the harassment affected

a term, condition, or privilege of employment; and (5) her employer knew or should have known

of the harassment and failed to take prompt remedial action.39 Here, Defendant argues that Plaintiff

has set forth no facts to show that she was subjected to harassment that was objectively offensive.40

Defendant contends that being denied the opportunity to participate in training does not rise to the

level of hostile or abusive.41 Defendant argues that a resignation is actionable under Title VII only

if the resignation qualifies as a constructive discharge.42 However, Defendant contends that

discrimination alone and/or a failure to promote is insufficient for a claim of constructive

36 Id. at 8 (citing Kell v. Iberville Bank, 352 F. Supp. 3d 650, 662–63 (E.D. La. Nov. 7, 2018)).

37 Id. at 8-9.

38 Id. at 9.

39 Id. at 9-10 (citing E.E.O.C. v. WC&M Enterprises, Inc., 496 F.3d 393, 399 (5th Cir. 2007)).

40 Id. at 10.

41 Id.

42 Id. (citing Brown v. Kinney Shoe Corp., 237 F.3d 556, 566 (5th Cir. 2001)).

discharge.43 Instead, Defendant argues that to prove a constructive discharge claim, a “‘plaintiff

must establish that working conditions were so intolerable that a reasonable employee would feel

compelled to resign.’”44 Here, Defendant contends that Plaintiff has not alleged sufficient facts to

show that her working conditions were so intolerable that a reasonable employee would have felt

compelled to resign.45 In fact, Defendant argues that Plaintiff alleges she was promoted and has

not alleged that Defendant reduced her salary or job responsibilities.46 Finally, Defendant contends

that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for disparate treatment because she fails to allege sufficient

facts to show that Defendant did not select her for training because of her sex.47 Defendant

contends that to support a disparate treatment claim under Title VII, a plaintiff must plead an

adverse employment action taken against a plaintiff because of her protected status.48 Here,

Defendant argues that the Complaint fails to allege facts that suggest Plaintiff was denied a

promotion because of her sex.49 Accordingly, Defendant contends that this claim should be

dismissed.50

B. Plaintiff’s Arguments in Opposition to the Motion

In opposition to the motion, Plaintiff argues that she has stated a claim for discrimination

on the basis of gender under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and dismissal under Rule

43 Id. at 10-11.

44 Id. at 11 (citing Kinney, 237 F.3d at 556).

45 Id. at 12.

46 Id.

47 Id.

48 Id.

49 Id. at 14.

50 Id.

4(m) should not be granted as special considerations preventing dismissal exist.51

First, Plaintiff states that she does not oppose dismissal of the Section 1981, Section 1983,

or intentional infliction of emotional distress claims.52

Second, Plaintiff contends that her claims should not be dismissed even though service was

untimely.53 While Plaintiff acknowledges that service was untimely, she argues that Defendant is

not prejudiced by the 25-day delay in effecting service.54 Additionally, Plaintiff contends that the

Complaint was filed one day before the 90-day time period outlined in her Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission right to sue letter.55 Plaintiff argues that under Fifth Circuit precedent,

because the Complaint was filed prior to the running of the statute of limitations, a dismissal under

Rule 4(m) is reviewed under a heightened standard.56 Here, Plaintiff contends that the delay was

minimal, Defendant suffered no ill consequences, and there was no significant period of

inactivity.57 Furthermore, Plaintiff argues that even if the Court determines that a plaintiff lacks

good cause for effecting service within 90 days, the Court has discretion to extend the time for

service.58 Therefore, Plaintiff contends that the Court should deny Defendant’s Rule 4(m) Motion

to Dismiss.59

51 Rec. Doc. 21 at 1.

52 Id. at 2-3.

53 Id. at 3.

54 Id.

55 Id. at 4.

56 Id. (citing Thrasher vs. City of Amarillo, 709 F.3d 509, 512 (5th Cir. 2013)).

57 Id.

58 Id. (citing Millan vs. USAA Gen. Indem. Co., 546 F.3d 321, 325 (5th Cir. 2008)).

59 Id. at 5.

Next, Plaintiff argues that she has clearly articulated her claim of gender discrimination in

the Complaint.60 Plaintiff contends that the Complaint alleges that Plaintiff was one of the few

women hired by Defendant, that Plaintiff was repeatedly denied the opportunity to cross-train,

which would have made her eligible for promotions, and that a man was instead selected for the

training.61 Plaintiff argues that she has established a prima facie case of discrimination because

she (1) is a member of a protected class as a woman; (2) was qualified to receive the cross-training;

(3) suffered an adverse employment action, because she was denied the opportunity to train and

was constructively discharged; and (4) employees outside of the protected class were treated more

favorably, in that men with less qualifications and experience were chosen to receive the training.62

Furthermore, Plaintiff contends that she was constructively discharged because, as she alleged in

the Complaint, the repeated denial of cross-training as well as the selection of less qualified men,

led Plaintiff to suffer deep embarrassment, which left her with no choice but to resign.63 Plaintiff

argues that discovery is necessary to fully ascertain Defendant’s discriminatory practices.64

C. Defendant’s Arguments in Further Support of the Motion

In reply, Defendant first argues that Plaintiff misstates the applicable federal pleading

standards, relying on the abrogated “no-set-of-facts” standard.65 Second, Defendant contends that

Plaintiff impermissibly states facts in her opposition that are not contained the Complaint and

60 Id.

61 Id. at 6.

62 Id. at 6-7.

63 Id. at 7.

64 Id.

65 Rec. Doc. 25 at 2.

therefore cannot be considered by the Court for the purposes of the present motion to dismiss.66

Regarding Plaintiff’s constructive discharge claim, Defendant argues that Plaintiff has failed to

plead any “aggravating factors” such as demotion, reduction in duties or salary, reassignment,

harassment calculated to encourage resignation, or offers of early retirement, in the Complaint.67

Defendant contends that Plaintiff is not entitled to discovery if she has failed to satisfy the pleading

requirements, and given the nature of the aggravating factors, Plaintiff is unlikely to ascertain the

information needed through discovery.68 For example, Defendant argues that Plaintiff is unlikely

to “discover” that she was demoted or reassigned or harassed.69

Regarding Plaintiff’s claims that she was discriminated on the basis of her sex, Defendant

contends that Plaintiff fails to plead sufficient facts to show that Defendant had a discriminatory

motive.70 Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s claim that a male co-worker was selected over Plaintiff

for training does not establish that Defendants were motivated by discriminatory animus.71

Furthermore, Defendant contends that Plaintiff fails to provide sufficient facts to show that she

was qualified for the position she sought.72 Relatedly, Defendant argues that Plaintiff has not

provided sufficient facts to show that she was better or equally qualified for the cross-training than

the male employee who was selected for the cross-training.73 For example, Defendant contends

66 Id. at 2-3.

67 Id. at 3-4.

68 Id. at 4.

69 Id.

70 Id. at 5 (citing Chhim v. U. of Texas at Austin, 836 F.3d 467, 470 (5th Cir. 2016)).

71 Id. (citing English v. Purdue, 18-50530, 2019 WL 2537414 (5th Cir. 2019)).

72 Id. at 6.

73 Id.

that while Plaintiff alleges she had positive performance reviews, she does not allege that her

reviews were similar or better than the male co-worker, or that she had more relevant experience,

or that she was more qualified to receive the cross-training.74 Therefore, Defendant argues that

Plaintiff has not provided sufficient factual support to survive a motion to dismiss.75

III. Legal Standard

A. Legal Standard for a Motion to Dismiss under Rule 4(m)

When service of process is challenged, the party responsible for effecting service must bear

the burden of establishing its validity.76 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 governs service of

process generally, and Rule 4(m) provides:

If a defendant is not served within 90 days after the complaint is filed, the court . .

. must dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that

service be made within a specified time. But if the plaintiff shows good cause for

the failure, the court must extend the time for service for an appropriate period.

The burden is clearly on the plaintiff to show good cause as to why service was not effected

timely,77 and the plaintiff must demonstrate “at least as much as would be required to show

excusable neglect, as to which simple inadvertence or mistake of counsel or ignorance of the rules

usually does not suffice.”78 Nonetheless, the Court has discretion under Rule 4(m) to extend the

time for service even in the absence of good cause.79

74 Id. at 7.

75 Id.

76 Aetna Bus. Credit., Inc. v. Universal Decor & Interior Design, 635 F.2d 434, 435 (5th Cir. 1981).

77 McGinnis v. Shalala, 2 F.3d 548, 550 (5th Cir. 1993).

78 Gartin v. Par Pharm. Cos. Inc., 289 F. App’x 688, 692 (5th Cir. 2008) (quoting Lambert v. United

States, 44 F.3d 296, 299 (5th Cir. 1995)).

79 Thrasher v. City of Amarillo, 709 F.3d 509, 511 (5th Cir. 2013); see also Newby v. Enron Corp., 284 F.

App’x 146, 149 (5th Cir. 2008).

B. Legal Standard for a Motion to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6)

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) provides that an action may be dismissed “for

failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”80 A motion to dismiss for failure to state

a claim is “viewed with disfavor and is rarely granted.”81 “To survive a motion to dismiss, a

complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim for relief that is

plausible on its face.”82 “Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the

speculative level.”83 A claim is facially plausible when the plaintiff has pleaded facts that allow

the court to draw a “reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”84

On a motion to dismiss, asserted claims are liberally construed in favor of the claimant,

and all facts pleaded are taken as true.85 Although required to accept all “well-pleaded facts” as

true, a court is not required to accept legal conclusions as true.86 “[L]egal conclusions can provide

the framework of a complaint, [but] they must be supported by factual allegations.”87 Similarly,

“[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory

statements” will not suffice.88 The complaint need not contain detailed factual allegations, but it

must offer more than mere labels, legal conclusions, or formulaic recitations of the elements of a

80 Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).

81 Kaiser Aluminum & Chem. Sales, Inc. v. Avondale Shipyards, Inc., 677 F.2d 1045, 1050 (5th Cir. 1982).

82 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570

(2007)) (internal quotation marks omitted).

83 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.

84 Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.

85 Leatherman v. Tarrant Cnty. Narcotics Intelligence & Coordination Unit, 507 U.S. 163, 164 (1993); see

also Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd., 551 U.S. 308, 322–23 (2007).

86 Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 677–78.

87 Id. at 679.

88 Id. at 678.

cause of action.89 That is, the complaint must offer more than an “unadorned, the defendant-

unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.”90 From the face of the complaint, there must be enough factual

matter to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence as to each element of

the asserted claims.91 If factual allegations are insufficient to raise a right to relief above the

speculative level, or if it is apparent from the face of the complaint that there is an “insuperable”

bar to relief, the claim must be dismissed.92

C. Legal Standard for a Title VII claim

Title VII makes it “an unlawful employment practice for an employer . . . to discriminate

against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of

employment because of such individual’s sex . . . .”93 A plaintiff may establish a violation of Title

VII by proving that discrimination has created a hostile or abusive working environment,94 or by

proving disparate treatment on the basis of race or sex.95 “Disparate-treatment discrimination

addresses employment actions that treat an employee worse than others based on the employee’s

race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. In such disparate-treatment cases, proof and finding

of discriminatory motive is required.”96 A plaintiff may prove discriminatory motive through either

89 Id.

90 Id.

91 Lormand v. U.S. Unwired, Inc., 565 F.3d 228, 257 (5th Cir. 2009).

92 Carbe v. Lappin, 492 F.3d 325, 328 n.9 (5th Cir. 2007); Moore v. Metro. Human Serv. Dep’t, No. 09-

6470, 2010 WL 1462224, at * 2 (E.D. La. Apr. 8, 2010) (Vance, J.) (citing Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 215

(2007)).

93 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–2(a)(1).

94 Meritor Sav. Bank, FSB v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 66 (1986).

95 Okoye v. Univ. of Tex. Houston Health Sci. Ctr., 245 F.3d 507, 512 (5th Cir. 2001).

96 Pacheco v. Mineta, 448 F.3d 783, 787 (5th Cir. 2006).

direct or circumstantial evidence.97 When a plaintiff relies on circumstantial evidence, courts

analyze the claim under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework.98 “Under this

framework, the plaintiff must first create a presumption of discrimination by making out a prima

facie case of discrimination.”99

However, the Supreme Court has recognized an important distinction between the

McDonnell Douglas evidentiary standard from the Twombly/Iqbal pleading standard.100 Therefore,

“a plaintiff need not make out a prima facie case of discrimination [under McDonnell Douglas] in

order to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.”101 Although

plaintiffs do not “have to submit evidence to establish a prima facie case of discrimination at this

stage, [they must] plead sufficient facts on all of the ultimate elements of a disparate treatment

claim to make [their] case plausible.”102 The Fifth Circuit has explained “there are two ultimate

elements a plaintiff must plead to support a disparate treatment claim under Title VII: (1) an

‘adverse employment action,’ (2) taken against a plaintiff ‘because of her protected status.’”103

97 Portis v. First Nat’l Bank of New Albany, Miss., 34 F.3d 325, 328 (5th Cir. 1994).

98 Laxton v. Gap Inc., 333 F.3d 572, 578 (5th Cir. 2003).

99 Id.

100 See Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 510–12 (2002) (explaining “the precise requirements of

a prima facie case can vary depending on the context and were ‘never intended to be rigid mechanized, or

ritualistic’”) (quoting Furnco Constr. Corp. v. Waters, 438 U.S. 567, 577 (1978))).

101 Raj v. La. State Univ., 714 F.3d 322, 331 (5th Cir. 2013) (holding that a district court may not require “a

showing of each prong of the prima facie test for disparate treatment at the pleading stage”); see also Cicalese v. U.

of Texas Med. Branch, 924 F.3d 762, 767 (5th Cir. 2019) (“A court thus inappropriately heightens the pleading

standard by subjecting a plaintiff's allegations to a rigorous factual or evidentiary analysis under the McDonnell

Douglas framework in response to a motion to dismiss.”).

102 Chhim v. Univ. of Tex. at Austin, 836 F.3d 467, 470 (5th Cir. 2016) (emphasis added).

103 Cicalese, 924 F.3d at 767 (citing Raj, 714 F.3d at 331); Kanida v. Gulf Coast Med. Pers. LP, 363 F.3d

568, 576 (5th Cir. 2004)); see also Raj, 714 F.3d at 331 (explaining a plaintiff must allege “facts, [either] direct or

circumstantial, that would suggest [the employer’s] actions were based on [the plaintiff’s] race or national origin or

that [the employer] treated similarly situated employees of other races or national origin more favorably”); Pacheco,

448 F.3d at 787 (a “discriminatory motive is required” for disparate treatment claims).

IV. Analysis

In the instant motion, Defendant argues that the Court should dismiss Plaintiff’s claims

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) or Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).104

The Court addresses each of these issues in turn.

A. Whether Plaintiff’s Claims Should be Dismissed Pursuant to Rule 4(m)

Defendant argues that service was untimely because, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 4(m), a defendant must be served within 90 days after the complaint is filed.105 Here,

Defendant argues that it was not served until 123 days after Plaintiff filed the Complaint.106

Plaintiff contends that while service was untimely, her claims should not be dismissed because

Defendant is not prejudiced by the 25-day delay in effecting service.107 Additionally, Plaintiff

contends that the delay was minimal, Defendant suffered no ill consequences, and there was no

significant period of inactivity.108

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) provides:

If a defendant is not served within 90 days after the complaint is filed, the court

. . . must dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that

service be made within a specified time. But if the plaintiff shows good cause for

the failure, the court must extend the time for service for an appropriate period.

Here, Plaintiff filed the Complaint on May 3, 2019.109 However, Plaintiff waited until August 26,

2019 to serve the Complaint on Defendant by certified mail.110 Defendant states that it was not

104 Rec. Doc. 13-1 at 1.

105 Id. at 2.

106 Id. at 3.

107 Id.

108 Rec. Doc. 21 at 4.

109 Rec. Doc. 1.

110 Rec. Doc. 13-2.

served until 123 days after Plaintiff filed the Complaint.111 Plaintiff does not dispute that service

was untimely.112

Plaintiff carries the burden to demonstrate good cause for failure to comply with Rule 4.113

Plaintiff states that the delay was caused by a change in representation, after the attorney initially

hired by Plaintiff declined to represent Plaintiff.114 Therefore, Plaintiff had to hire a new attorney,

which caused the delay in service.115 Even assuming this explanation would not justify an

approximately 30-day delay in service, the Court has discretion under Rule 4(m) to extend the time

for service even in the absence of good cause.116 Considering the above, the Court will deny the

motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims on the basis of untimely service.

B. Whether Plaintiff’s Claims Should be Dismissed Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6)

1. Whether Plaintiff’s Section 1981, Section 1983 and Intentional Infliction of

Emotional Distress Claims Should be Dismissed

Defendant contends that Plaintiff’s claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 must be dismissed

because Plaintiff does not allege discrimination on the basis of race.117 Defendant argues that

Plaintiff’s claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 must be dismissed because Plaintiff does not allege state

action.118 Defendant contends that Plaintiff fails to state a claim of intentional infliction of

111 Rec. Doc. 13-1 at 3.

112 Rec. Doc. 21 at 3.

113 McGinnis, 2 F.3d at 550.

114 Rec. Doc. 21 at 4 n.2 (“Plaintiff retained undersigned counsel just prior to the expiration of the 90 day

time period outlined in her EEOC claim. The attorney plaintiff initially hired later declined to represent her or file

suit on her behalf, leaving plaintiff desperate and close to the expiration of the 90 day time period.”).

115 Id.

116 Thrasher, 709 F.3d at 511 (5th Cir. 2013); see also Newby., 284 F. App’x at 149.

117 Rec. Doc. 13-1 at 4.

118 Id. at 5.

emotional distress because she does not allege sufficiently outrageous conduct to make her claim

plausible.119 Plaintiff does not oppose the dismissal of the Section 1981, Section 1983, and

intentional infliction of emotional distress claims.120 Therefore, the Court dismisses those claims

with prejudice.

2. Whether Plaintiff’s Hostile Work Environment Claim Should be Dismissed

Defendant argues that Plaintiff failed to state a hostile work environment claim under Title

VII because she has set forth no facts to show that she was subjected to harassment that was

objectively offensive.121 Plaintiff does not respond to Defendant’s argument regarding hostile

work environment.

“To state a hostile work environment claim under Title VII, the plaintiff must show that:

(1) the victim belongs to a protected group; (2) the victim was subjected to unwelcome harassment;

(3) the harassment was based on a protected characteristic; (4) the harassment affected a term,

condition, or privilege of employment; and (5) the victim’s employer knew or should have known

of the harassment and failed to take prompt remedial action.”122 The Supreme Court has instructed

that discrimination under Title VII “is not limited to ‘economic’ or ‘tangible’ discrimination.”123

Rather, Title VII is violated “[w]hen the workplace is permeated with ‘discriminatory intimidation,

ridicule, and insult’ that is ‘sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim’s

employment and create an abusive working environment.’”124

119 Id. at 6.

120 Rec. Doc. 21 at 2-3.

121 Rec. Doc. 13-1 at 10.

122 E.E.O.C. v. WC&M Enterprises, Inc., 496 F.3d 393, 399 (5th Cir. 2007).

123 Meritor Savings Bank FSB v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 64 (1986).

124 Harris v. Forklift Sys., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993) (quoting Meritor Savings Bank, 477 U.S. at 65, 67).

The Supreme Court has described the contours between actionable conduct and conduct

that is merely offensive, but not actionable.125 These differing standards are in place to ensure that

Title VII does not become a ‘general civility code’”126 whereby “the ordinary tribulations of the

workplace” are actionable.127 To be actionable under Title VII, the conduct at issue must be both

objectively and subjectively offensive.128 Therefore, to qualify, the “victim [must] perceive the

environment [as] abusive” and the conduct complained of must “create an objectively hostile or

abusive work environment [such] that a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive.”129 The

Fifth Circuit has instructed that to determine whether a work environment is hostile or abusive,

“courts consider the totality of the circumstances, including (1) the frequency of the discriminatory

conduct; (2) its severity; (3) whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, or merely an

offensive utterance; and (4) whether it interferes with an employee’s work performance.”130 No

single factor is determinative.131

Here, Plaintiff claims that Defendant created a hostile work environment based on the

repeated denials of opportunities to cross-train, which led to denials of promotions.132 Plaintiff

alleges that despite having the necessary experience and work performance to ascend to a higher

125 Id.

126 Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775, 788 (1998) (quoting Harris, 510 U.S. at 18).

127 Id. (quoting B. LINDEMANN & D. KADUE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN EMPLOYMENT LAW

175 (1992)).

128 Id. at 21-22 (“Conduct that is not severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively hostile or abusive

work environment—an environment that a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive—is beyond Title VII’s

purview. Likewise, if the victim does not subjectively perceive the environment to be abusive, the conduct has not

actually altered the conditions of the victim’s employment, and there is no Title VII violation.”).

129 Id.

130 WC&M Enterprises, 496 F.3d at 400.

131 Id.

132 Rec. Doc. 1 at 3-4.

position within the company, she was denied the opportunity to cross-train, while at least one male

employee was selected.133

This denial of opportunities to cross train does not amount to the type of “extreme” conduct

required by the Supreme Court to make out a claim for a hostile work environment.134 The Fifth

Circuit recently found that “[d]enials of promotions . . . are not offensive or harassing in the way

necessary to support a hostile work environment claim.”135 The behavior Plaintiff alleges in the

Complaint does not rise to the level necessary to support a hostile work environment claim.

Plaintiff does not allege any behavior that demonstrates that the workplace was permeated with

discriminatory intimidation, ridicule and insult. Plaintiff does not specify the nature of the denials

to cross-train. Plaintiff does not present a single sex-based comment by any coworker or

supervisor. Simply put, Plaintiff fails to allege facts that would support a claim of hostile work

environment. A denial to cross-train is nowhere near as “extreme” as the conduct necessary to

establish a claim for hostile work environment.136 Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiff has

failed to allege conduct severe and pervasive enough to form the basis of a hostile work

133 Id. at 3.

134 See Faragher, 524 U.S. at 788.

135 Montgomery-Smith v. George, No. 18-30987, 2020 WL 1907546, at *5 (5th Cir. Apr. 17, 2020).

136 Id. (affirming summary judgment on a hostile work environment claim where the plaintiff’s claim was

based on repeated denials of promotions and the following events: (1) the plaintiff was laughed at each time the

plaintiff was denied a promotion; (2) the plaintiff’s office was moved from the sixth floor to the fourth; (3) the plaintiff

was not invited to the 2017 Thanksgiving luncheon; (4) the plaintiff was not asked to participate in the office’s “Pink

Day;” (5) the plaintiff was isolated from her coworkers; and (6) other employees were instructed not to talk to the

plaintiff.”); WC&M Enterprises, 496 F.3d at 400 (determining genuine issues of material fact precluded entry of

summary judgment on a hostile work environment claim where a Muslim man was regularly subjected to verbal

harassment for one year by being called names such as “Taliban” and told to “go back where [he] came from”); Stewart

v. Miss. Transp. Comm’n, 586 F.3d 321, 330 (5th Cir. 2009) (affirming summary judgment on a hostile work

environment claim where a supervisor stated that he and the plaintiff should be “sweet” to each other and that he loved

her approximately six times was “at most . . . unwanted and offensive” and not “severe, physically threatening, or

humiliating”); Gibson v. Verizon Servs. Org., Inc., 498 F. App’x 391, 394 (5th Cir. 2012) (determining that the plaintiff

failed to state hostile work environment claim where plaintiff alleged that that her coworker left harassing notes on

her desk, refused to help her, lunged for a remote while she was watching television, had a history of bullying women,

and acted erratically in response to a question from the plaintiff).

environment claim.

Although Plaintiff has not plead facts to form the basis of a hostile work environment claim,

this does not mean that she could not do so. Short of granting a motion to dismiss, the Court may

grant Plaintiff leave to amend the Complaint.137 Accordingly, at this time, the Court will deny the

Defendant’s motion to the extent it seeks dismissal of Plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim,

and grant Plaintiff leave to amend the Complaint to address these deficiencies, if possible.

3. Whether Plaintiff’s Constructive Discharge Claim Should be Dismissed

Defendant argues that a resignation is actionable under Title VII only if the resignation

qualifies as a constructive discharge and that here, Plaintiff has not alleged sufficient facts to show

that her working conditions were so intolerable that a reasonable employee would have felt

compelled to resign.138 Plaintiff contends that she was constructively discharged because, as she

alleged in the Complaint, the repeated denial of cross-training as well as the selection of less

qualified men, led Plaintiff to suffer deep embarrassment, which left her with no choice but to

resign.139 In response, Defendant argues that Plaintiff has failed to plead any “aggravating factors”

such as demotion, reduction in duties or salary, reassignment, harassment calculated to encourage

resignation, or offers of early retirement, in the Complaint.140

“A resignation is actionable under Title VII, allowing the plaintiff to seek compensatory

damages for events after the resignation, only if the resignation qualifies as a constructive

discharge. “To prove a constructive discharge, a ‘plaintiff must establish that working conditions

137 Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2) (“The Court should freely give leave when justice so requires.”); see also

Carroll v. Fort James Corp., 470 F.3d 1171, 1175 (5th Cir. 2006) (quoting Dussouy v. Gulf Coast Inv. Corp., 660

F.2d 594, 597–98 (5th Cir. 1981)).

138 Rec. Doc. 13-1 at 12.

139 Rec. Doc. 21 at 7.

140 Rec. Doc. 25 at 3-4.

were so intolerable that a reasonable employee would feel compelled to resign.’”141 To determine

whether a reasonable employee would feel compelled to resign, the Fifth Circuit has considered

the relevancy of the following events:

(1) demotion; (2) reduction in salary; (3) reduction in job responsibilities; (4)

reassignment to menial or degrading work; (5) reassignment to work under a

younger supervisor; (6) badgering, harassment, or humiliation by the employer

calculated to encourage the employee’s resignation; or (7) offers of early retirement

[or continued employment on terms less favorable than the employee’s former

status]....142

“Constructive discharge requires a greater degree of harassment than that required by a hostile

environment claim. Discrimination alone, without aggravating factors, is insufficient for a claim

of constructive discharge, as is a discriminatory failure to promote.”143

Here, Plaintiff was not discharged; she resigned.144 Plaintiff contends that she was

constructively discharged because, as she alleged in the Complaint, the repeated denial of cross-

training as well as the selection of less qualified men, led Plaintiff to suffer deep embarrassment,

which left her with no choice but to resign.145 As stated above, the Fifth Circuit has determined

that a plaintiff must show the existence of certain aggravating factors in order to assert a claim of

constructive discharge.146

Analyzing the aggravating factors, Plaintiff has not alleged any facts to show: (1) that she

was demoted from her position; (2) that she faced a reduction in salary; (3) that Defendant reduced

141 Brown v. Kinney Shoe Corp., 237 F.3d 556, 566 (5th Cir. 2001) (quoting Faruki v. Parsons, 123 F.3d

315, 319 (5th Cir. 1997)).

142 Id. (citing Brown v. Bunge Corp., 207 F.3d 776, 782 (5th Cir. 2000)).

143 Id. (citing Benningfield v. City of Houston, 157 F.3d 369, 378 (5th Cir. 1998)).

144 Rec. Doc. 1 at 4.

145 Rec. Doc. 21 at 7.

146 Brown, 237 F.3d at 566.

her job responsibilities;147 (4) that she was reassigned to menial or degrading work; (5) that she

had to work under a younger supervisor; or (7) that Defendant made any offers of early retirement

or continued employment on terms less favorable than the employee’s former status.

Thus, the only factor that Plaintiff appears to rely on to establish that working conditions

were so intolerable that a reasonable employee would feel compelled to resign is “badgering,

harassment, or humiliation by the employer calculated to encourage the employee’s

resignation.”148 In Stover v. Hattiesburg Public School District, the Fifth Circuit determined that

a plaintiff’s allegations did not amount to badgering, harassment, or humiliation.149 In that case,

the plaintiff, an African-American female, alleged that she was not provided the same career

development opportunities as a white male in a similar position.150 For example, the plaintiff

alleged that she was not allowed comp time while others in similar positions were allowed comp

time; her supervisor exhibited anger, violence, and shouting; her complaints of discrimination were

not investigated; and she was excluded from prestigious retreats.151

Here, Plaintiff alleges that she was repeatedly denied opportunities to cross-train; Plaintiff

alleges that this led her to suffer “deep embarrassment and humiliation as a result of the degrading

denials for promotion.”152 As in Stover, Plaintiff claims that she was denied potential career

147 Rec. Doc. 1 at 3. Plaintiff alleges that she was “hired as a grader” and that her “last position was that of

a Rail & Barge Supervisor.” Plaintiff does not explicitly state whether this was a promotion, demotion or lateral

move. Defendants contend that this was in fact a promotion. See Rec. Doc. 13-1 at 12 (“On the contrary, Plaintiff

alleges that she was promoted during her employment from grader to Rail & Barge Supervisor.”).

148 Brown, 237 F.3d at 566.

149 549 F.3d 985, 991–992 (5th Cir. 2008).

150 Id.

151 Id.

152 Rec. Doc. 1 at 4.

opportunities and that Defendant was aware of the problem, but did not remedy the situation.153

Unlike Stover, Plaintiff does not allege that she witnessed anger, violence, or shouting by her

supervisor or any of Defendant’s management members.154 Moreover, even if Defendant’s actions

did constitute badgering, harassment, or humiliation, Plaintiff does not allege that any actions by

Defendant were “calculated to encourage [Plaintiff’s] resignation.”155 Therefore, Plaintiff’s

allegations do not support a constructive discharge claim. These facts, without more, are

insufficient for a finding that a reasonable employee in Plaintiff’s position would have felt

compelled to resign.

Although Plaintiff has not plead facts to form the basis of a constructive discharge claim,

this does not mean that she could not do so. Short of granting a motion to dismiss, the Court may

grant Plaintiff leave to amend the Complaint.156 Accordingly, at this time, the Court will deny the

Defendant’s motion to the extent it seeks dismissal of Plaintiff’s constructive discharge claim, and

grant Plaintiff leave to amend the Complaint to address these deficiencies, if possible.

4. Whether Plaintiff’s Claim of Discrimination Based on Sex Under Title VII

Claims Should be Dismissed

Defendant contends that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for disparate treatment because

she fails to allege sufficient facts to show that Defendant did not select her for training because of

her sex.157 Defendant argues that the Complaint fails to allege facts that suggest that Plaintiff was

153 549 F.3d at 991–992.

154 Id.

155 Brown, 237 F.3d at 566.

156 Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2) (“The Court should freely give leave when justice so requires.”); see also Carroll,

470 F.3d at 1175 (quoting Dussouy, 660 F.2d at 597–98).

157 Rec. Doc. 13-1 at 12.

denied a promotion because of her sex.158 Plaintiff argues that she has clearly articulated her claim

of gender discrimination in the Complaint by alleging that Plaintiff was one of the few women

hired by Defendant, that Plaintiff was repeatedly denied the opportunity to cross-train, which

would have made her eligible for promotions, and that a man was instead selected for the

training.159

“Disparate-treatment discrimination addresses employment actions that treat an employee

worse than others based on the employee’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. In such

disparate-treatment cases, proof and finding of discriminatory motive is required.”160 As explained

above “a plaintiff need not make out a prima facie case of discrimination [under McDonnell

Douglas] in order to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.”161

Although Plaintiff “did not have to submit evidence to establish a prima facie case of

discrimination at this stage, [she] had to plead sufficient facts on all of the ultimate elements of a

disparate treatment claim to make [her] case plausible.”162 The Fifth Circuit has explained “there

are two ultimate elements a plaintiff must plead to support a disparate treatment claim under Title

VII: (1) an ‘adverse employment action,’ (2) taken against a plaintiff ‘because of her protected

status.’”163 A plaintiff must allege “facts, [either] direct or circumstantial, that would suggest [the

158 Id. at 14.

159 Rec. Doc. 21 at 6.

160 Pacheco, 448 F.3d at 787.

161 Raj, 714 F.3d at 331 (holding that a district court may not require “a showing of each prong of the prima

facie test for disparate treatment at the pleading stage”); see also Cicalese, 924 F.3d at 767 (“A court thus

inappropriately heightens the pleading standard by subjecting a plaintiff's allegations to a rigorous factual or

evidentiary analysis under the McDonnell Douglas framework in response to a motion to dismiss.”).

162 Chhim, 836 F.3d at 470 (emphasis added).

163 Cicalese, 924 F.3d at 767 (citing Raj, 714 F.3d at 331; Kanida, 363 F.3d at 576); see also Pacheco, 448

F.3d at 787 (a “discriminatory motive is required” for disparate treatment claims).

employer’s] actions were based on [the plaintiff’s protected status] or that [the employer] treated

similarly situated employees [outside the protected class] more favorably.”164

In Cicalese v. U. of Texas Med. Branch, the Fifth Circuit held that the plaintiffs, a married

physician couple born in Italy and working as professors at a university medical branch, alleged

sufficient facts to state a plausible Title VII disparate treatment claim.165 The couple alleged that

medical center leadership made derogatory statements about Italians, including (1) asking the

couple “[w]hat are you doing here? You should go back to Italy” (2) expressing a lack of care

about “these Italians” and (3) referring to “stupidity” and failure to “understand[ ] a situation” as

an “Italian thing.”166 The couple alleged that their subsequent demotions and salary reductions

were motivated by the anti-Italian bias, evidenced by the above statements.167 The district court

determined that the plaintiffs did not allege facts plausibly showing any adverse actions were taken

because of their national origin. The Fifth Circuit, acknowledging that the case presented a “close

call,” held that the plaintiffs had alleged sufficient facts to state plausible Title VII disparate

treatment claim.168

In Raj v. La. State Univ., the Fifth Circuit determined that the plaintiff failed to state a claim

for disparate treatment under Title VII.169 In Raj, the plaintiff, a professor at Louisiana State

University (“LSU”) alleged discrimination based on his race, religion, national origin, age, and

164 Raj, 714 F.3d at 331.

165 924 F.3d 762, 769 (5th Cir. 2019).

166 Id. at 764–65.

167 Id.

168 Id. at 768.

169 Raj, 714 F.3d at 331.

gender.170 The district court dismissed the plaintiff’s claims under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to

allege facts on which relief could be granted.171 In affirming the district court, the Fifth Circuit

reasoned that the plaintiff’s “complaint and speculation did not allege any facts, direct or

circumstantial, that would suggest LSU’s actions were based on Raj’s race or national origin or

that LSU treated similarly situated employees of other races or national origin more favorably.”172

Because the plaintiff did not raise his right to relief above the speculative level, the Fifth Circuit

affirmed the district court’s dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim.173

The Fifth Circuit has held that “the ‘ultimate question’ in a Title VII disparate treatment

claim remains ‘whether a defendant took the adverse employment action against a plaintiff because

of her protected status.’”174 Here, Plaintiff alleges that she was denied promotions because she was

repeatedly denied the opportunity to cross-train to be eligible for the promotion.175 Plaintiff alleges

that despite having the necessary experience and work performance to ascend to a higher position

within the company, she was denied the opportunity to cross-train.176 Furthermore, Plaintiff alleges

that in at least one instance, a male employee supervised by Plaintiff was selected for the

training.177 Lastly, Plaintiff alleges that she was one of the few women hired and employed in her

170 Id. at 326.

171 Id. at 327.

172 Raj, 714 F.3d at 331.

173 Id.

174 Raj, 714 F.3d at 331 (quoting Kanida, 363 F.3d at 576).

175 Rec. Doc. 1 at 3.

176 Id. at 3.

177 Id.

department.178

To state a claim under Title VII, a plaintiff must allege facts that would suggest that a

defendant’s actions were based on sex; in other words, the plaintiff must allege that the defendant

treated similarly situated employees of the other sex more favorably.179 Here, Plaintiff has alleged

“facts, [either] direct or circumstantial, that would suggest [the employer’s] actions were based on

[the plaintiff’s protected status] or that [the employer] treated similarly situated employees [outside

the protected class] more favorably.”180 Plaintiff has alleged facts that would suggest that

Defendant’s decision not to cross-train Plaintiff was based on Plaintiff’s sex. Additionally,

Plaintiff alleges that Defendant treated similarly situated employees of the other sex more

favorably. Plaintiff alleges that after she was repeatedly denied the opportunity to cross-train, a

male employee, supervised by Plaintiff, was selected for the training.181 Therefore, Plaintiff has

identified a similarly situated comparator who received better treatment.

Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiff has alleged sufficient facts in support of her Title

VII claim to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. The Court finds that Plaintiff’s allegations

raise the plausible inference that Defendant treated Plaintiff differently because she is a woman.182

Therefore, the motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s Title VII claim of disparate treatment is denied.

V. Conclusion

For the reasons discussed above, the Court grants the motion in part, denies the motion in

part, and grants Plaintiff leave to amend the Complaint to address certain pleading deficiencies

178 Id.

179 Raj, 714 F.3d at 331.

180 Id.

181 Rec. Doc. 1 at 3.

182 Cicalese, 924 F.3d at 767.

noted herein, if possible. The Court, in its discretion, denies the motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims

on the basis of untimely service. The Court dismisses the Section 1981, Section 1983, and

intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. The Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to plead

facts to form the basis of a hostile work environment claim and a constructive discharge claim.

Nevertheless, short of granting the motion to dismiss, the Court will deny the Defendant’s motion

to the extent it seeks dismissal of Plaintiff’s hostile work environment and constructive discharge

claims, and grant Plaintiff leave to amend the Complaint to address these deficiencies, if possible.

Lastly, the Court finds that Plaintiff has alleged sufficient facts in support of her Title VII claim

of disparate treatment.

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant’s “Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Rules 4(m)

and 12(b)(6)”183 is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED to the extent that Defendant

seeks dismissal of Plaintiff’s Section 1981, Section 1983, and intentional infliction of emotional

distress claims. Plaintiff’s Section 1981, Section 1983, and intentional infliction of emotional

distress claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. The motion is DENIED in all other

respects.

183 Rec. Doc. 13.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is granted leave to amend the Complaint

within twenty-one days of entry of this Order to address the deficiencies noted herein, if possible.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, this 2d day of July, 2020.

NANNETTE JOLIVETTE BROWN

CHIEF JUDGE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

29