“[T]he same legal standard that applies to the ADA applies equally to disability discrimination claims under the PHRA.”
How later courts described this case
- “[T]he same legal standard that applies to the ADA applies equally to disability discrimination claims under the PHRA.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
RITA BENCZKOWSKI, : No. 3:21cv1066
Plaintiff :
: (Judge Munley)
V. :
BOHLIN CYWINSKI JACKSON, :
Defendant :
MEMORANDUM
This is an employment discrimination action filed by Plaintiff Rita
Benczkowski against her former employer Defendant Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
(“BCJ”) pursuant to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. §
621(a) (‘ADEA’) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 PA. STAT. § 955
(‘PHRA”). Before the court are: 1) a motion for summary judgment filed by the
defendant, (Doc. 20); and 2) a motion for leave to file an amended complaint filec
by the plaintiff, (Doc. 26). Having been fully briefed, these motions are ripe for a
decision.
Background
BCJ operates an architectural firm with studios in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
San Francisco, Seattle, and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.' (See Doc. 23-1, Exh.
1 All facts from the record are construed in a light most favorable to plaintiff as the nonmoving
party. See Daniels v. Sch. Dist. of Philadelphia, 776 F.3d 181, 187 (3d Cir. 2015)(citation
omitted).
C, K. May Dep. 55:23-56-21). The firm hired Benczkowski in 2003 to work in its
Wilkes-Barre studio. (Doc. 20-1, SOF 9] 8, 10). At the time of separation from
BCJ, Benczkowski worked as a project accountant. (Id. 49). Project accountant:
generally handled the financial components of BCJ’s architectural projects for the
firm. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. D, P. Bassett Dep. 16:6-17). Project accountants also had
the ability to propose additional service contracts if project billings were
exceeding the project amounts. (Id. 17:20-18:16). Such additional services
contracts were positive financially for the firm. (See id. 18:17-19).
Benczkowski was born in 1962. (Doc. 20-1, SOF fff] 7). During her tenure
at the firm, Benczkowski received an increase in her salary nearly every year anc
sometimes twice in one year. (Doc. 23-2, R. Benczkowski Dep. Exh. 4, Empl.
Pos. & Sal. Hist.). By 2019, she worked in a fully remote setting from her home
in Plains Township, Pennsylvania. (Doc. 20, SOF 16). Benczkowski suffered
from severe allergies exacerbated by working in the Wilkes-Barre studio. (Id. J
14: see also Doc. 23-1, R. Benczkowski Dep. 27:18-33:8).
As a project accountant for BCJ, Benczkowski teamed with project
managers (architects) based in BCJ’s San Francisco studio. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. A.,
R. Benczkowski Dep. 24:19-25:13; Exh. C, K. May Dep. 59:7-10; Exh. E. Dep. of
W. Loose, 73:2-6). For atime, she supported BCJ’s work for Apple, Inc.
(‘Apple’), which required “a great deal of accounting backup [and] individual
billings,” and accordingly, “her workload was higher as a result[.]” (id., Exh. &. W.
Loose Dep., 62:13-24). At some point prior to 2017, client work for Apple began
to taper off. (Id.; see also Exh. C., K. May Dep., 20:9-21:6). Per William Loose, é
BCJ shareholder-principal and board member, less work was required to support
the San Francisco studio after Apple projects diminished. (Id., Exh. E. W. Loose
Dep. 9:7-11:2, 110:14-111:1). On the other hand, BCJ’s former chief executive
officer (“CEO”) Patrick Bassett believed the San Francisco studio provided the
greatest amount of revenue during his tenure with the firm. (Id., Exh. D., P.
Bassett Dep. 30:3-6). BCJ’s chief financial officer (“CFO”) Kate May could not
quantify whether Benczkowski’s workload was reduced following the completion
of Apple projects and she testified that any attempts to quantify her workload
would involve some subjective components. (Id., Exh. C. K. May Dep., 84:10-87-
6). Per CFO May, there is no formula even at the present to compare the
workloads of one project accountant to another at the firm. (Id.)
Benczkowski contends that she remained busy with work for the San
Francisco studio after BCJ’s projects for Apple tapered off. (Id. Exh. A. Dep. of R
Benczkowski 93:13-24). According to the plaintiff, other project accountants
serving different BCJ studios had lower workloads than she did. (Id. at 112:4-
114:5). Benczkowski also testified that some of her projects had fifty or more
additional services contracts unlike projects in other studios, which resulted in a
large workload. (Id. 151:20-153:22). Additionally, CEO Bassett testified that BCJ
tasked Benczkowski with contract negotiation and contract review, which were
later sent to outside counsel. (Id., Exh. D., P. Bassett Dep. 30:23-31:22). CEO
Bassett believed such duties were unique to Benczkowski with the San Franciscc
studio. (Id. 31:23-32:1). Benczkowski also testified that she was excluded from
working with the other project accountants, who otherwise supported each
other’s work and backed each other up. (Id. Exh. A. Dep. of R. Benczkowski at
119:2-120:6). Per CEO Bassett, a clique of two or three had formed in
Benczkowski’s department “[t]hat were not very inclusive or collaborative with the
other project accountants[.]” (Id., Exh. D, P. Bassett Dep. 25:17-2).
The other project accountants had less experience at BCJ and earned less
in salary. After seventeen (17) years with BCJ, Benczkowski earned a yearly
salary of $105,560. (Doc. 20-1, SOF 7118). In March 2020, she was also the
oldest project accountant at the firm. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May Dep. 95:3-7).
As for the other project accountants:
e Hannah Beach earned $74,360 per year. (Doc. 28-1, ECF p. 12).
Beach was born in 1988 and began working for BCJ in 2015.” (Doc.
23-2, Df. Ans. to Interrog. #2b, ECF p. 30; Doc. 28-2, K. May Dep.
Exh. 14).
2 BCJ hired Beach as a project accountant. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May Dep. 61:7-62:5). In the
year BCJ hired Beach, Benczkowski earned a salary of $96,200. (Doc. 23-2, R. Benczkowski
Dep. Exh. 4, Empl. Pos. & Sal. Hist.). Beach teamed with BCJ’s Pittsburgh studio. (Doc. 23-1,
Exh. C, P. Bassett Dep. 23:3-10).
e Sarah Boyle earned $55,640 per year. (Doc. 28-1, ECF p. 12). Boyle
began working for BCJ in 2012 and was in her thirties.* (Doc. 23-1,
Exh. B., S. Coach Dep. 55:14-16; Doc. 28-2, K. May Dep. Exh. 14).
e Farah Tasgin earned between $50,000-$55,000 per year. (Doc. 23-
1, K. May Dep. 59:2-59:20). Tasgin was born in 1991 and began
working for BCJ in 2015.* (Doc. 23-2, Df. Ans. to Interrog. #2b, ECF
p. 30; Doc. 28-2, K. May Dep. Exh. 14).
Another project accountant, Theresa Sparacio, departed BCJ in December
2019 (later to return).° (Doc. 23-1, K. May Dep. 98:3-14). She earned a salary ir
the mid-$70,000 range. (Id. 50:8-18). Sparacio was also in her thirties. (Doc. 23-
1, Exh. B., S. Coach Dep. 55:14-16).
CEO Bassett started consulting with BCJ in the fall of 2018. (Id., Exh. D, P.
Bassett Dep. 13:6-10). He became CEO in October 2019. (Id. 9:16-23). Bassett
departed the firm in August 2020. (Id. 9:16-10:7). During that tenure, CEO
3 BCJ hired Boyle in 2012 in a different role while Boyle was still in college. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C,
K. May Dep. 61:7-62:5). The summary judgment record does not indicate the year that BCJ
moved Boyle into a project accountant position. CEO Bassett believed Boyle teamed with the
Wilkes-Barre studio. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, P. Bassett Dep. 23:3-10). From March 2012 to March
27, 2020, Benczkowski’s salary increased by $26,000. (Doc. 23-2, R. Benczkowski Dep. Exh.
4, Empl. Pos. & Sal. Hist.).
4 BCJ hired Tasgin in a different role handling firm payables. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May Dep.
61:7-62:5). The summary judgment record does not indicate the year that BCJ moved Tasgin
into a project accountant position. CEO Bassett believed Tasgin teamed with the Seattle
studio. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, P. Bassett Dep. 23:3-10).
5 □□□ initially hired Sparacio as a project accountant. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May Dep. 61:7-
62:5). The summary judgment record does not indicate when Sparacio was initially hired. As a
project accountant, Sparacio teamed with the Philadelphia studio per CEO Bassett. (Doc. 23-1
Exh. C, P. Bassett Dep. 23:3-10). Bassett believed that the clique within the project
accountant group led to Sparacio’s initial departure from BCJ. (Id. 25:17-26:2).
Bassett analyzed financials with CFO May and determined that BCJ was not in a
strong financial position even prior to COVID-19 related shutdowns. (Id. 39:9-
40:10). CEO Bassett recommended a “substantial re-sizing for the firm[.]’ (!d.)
Firm principals agreed to resize through a combination of layoffs, furloughs, and
salary reductions. (Id.)
CEO Bassett described a process where he and CFO May collaborated
with BCJ’s board of directors before that group presented resizing
recommendations.® (Id. 42:20-43:3). CFO May testified that Benczkowski’s six-
figure salary caught the attention of principals at the firm. (Id. Exh. C., K. May
Dep. 46:2-15, 48:12-24).
On March 27, 2020 and against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic,
BCJ informed its employees that they would all have their pay cut by ten percent
(10%) and senior employees would have their pay cut by fifteen percent (15%).
(Doc. 20-1, SOF J] 32). BCJ also cut shareholder and executive pay by twenty
percent (20%) at that time. (Id.)
Although pay cuts were announced across the board, BCJ addressed
Benczkowski’s salary differently. On March 27, 2020, BCJ informed
6 CEO Bassett also testified that, pre-COVID, he participated in a company-wide initiative to
perform a salary review by gender, title, and years of experience using data software. (Id.
49:16-51:22). Benczkowski’s salary stood out. (Id.) Per CEO Bassett, the firm did not want to
discriminate based on gender in a heavily male-based industry. (Id.) All of the project
accountants at the firm, however, were female. (ld.) Bassett did not perform a salary review of
company-wide data based on age per his testimony. (Id.)
Benczkowski that it was cutting her pay from $105,560 to $80,000, roughly a
twenty-five percent (25%) reduction. (Id. J 34). BCJ also made plaintiff's pay
reduction permanent in contrast to other employees. (See 23-1, Exh. D, P.
Bassett Dep. 40:21-41:9).
Benczkowski testified that, on a teleconference, she was told that her
salary was cut permanently because she was being paid more than 100% of the
amount paid to Boyle and that revenues from the San Francisco studio were
“less than the other project accountants.” (Doc. 23-1, Exh. A., R. Benczkowski
Dep. 59:5-22). Per the plaintiff, CEO Bassett told her during the call that her
seniority did not matter. (Id. 60:19-61:1).
CFO May testified that Benczkowski’s salary reduction had nothing to do
with the workload coming into the San Francisco studio. (Id., Exh. C, K. May
Dep. 91:22-92:7). CEO Bassett also inconsistently testified that Benczkowski's
pay cut was and was not related to COVID-19. (Id., Exh. D, P. Bassett Dep.
52:13-54:10). BCJ shareholder-principal Loose testified that the reduction was
“realigning her project responsibilities with her salary.” (Id., Exh. E, W. Loose
Dep. 62:7-12). Loose also related Benczkowski’s salary reduction to the loss of
Apple business in the San Francisco studio. (Id. 62:13-64:14).
On March 30, 2020, BCJ laid off and furloughed employees and reduced
other employees’ hours. (Doc. 20-1, SOF § 21). BCJ laid off Benczkowski’s
supervisor.’ (Doc. 20-1, SOF J 27). BCJ also furloughed a project accountant,
Tasgin. (Id. {| 26). Benczkowski was neither laid off nor furloughed. (Id. □ 25).
BCJ did not reduce Benczkowski’s hours. (Id.)
On the afternoon of the date pay cuts were announced, March 27, 2020,
Benczkowski emailed CEO Bassett and CFO May requesting a meeting the
following week. (Doc. 23-2, R. Benczkowski Dep., Exh. 6). Benczkowski sought
the meeting “to discuss [her] workload to reduce [her] overtime.” (Id.)
Benczkowski testified that her workload had been extremely high for much of her
tenure, and she did ask for help at that time. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. A., R. Benczkowski
Dep. 54:6-24).
In a meeting the following week with CEO Bassett and CFO May, BCJ
sought to reallocate Tasgin’s workload from the Seattle studio, i.e., assign more
work to the remaining project accountants. (Doc. 23-2, R. Benczkowski Dep.,
Exh. 8). On April 1, 2020, CFO May emailed Benczkowski and Beach with a
Prior to the layoff, Benczkowski’s supervisor, Tara Shrader, carried the title “accounting
manager” and did not perform the same tasks as project accountants. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K.
May Dep. 65:12-67:4). Per CFO May, Shrader performed general ledger reporting, handled
taxes, communicated with auditors, and performed other tasks that BCJ later automated. (ld.)
CFO May also testified that Shrader “probably picked up Sarah’s work[,]” referring to Boyle’s
project accountant tasks. (Id. 88:8-17). Per CFO May, Shrader and Boyle are sisters. (Id.
88:22-23). Prior to the layoff, Shrader earned a salary of approximately $75,000. (Doc. 20-1
SOF 947). Shrader’s duties were absorbed by CFO May and BCJ’s human resources director
Sandra Coach. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. B., S. Coach Dep. 57:5-19). CFO May believed that
Shrader’s tasks were not worth the money BCJ paid her and that some of her duties were
redundant. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May Dep. 95:21-97:12).
reallocation proposal made to BCJ’s principals, including the transfer of four
project managers’ matters to Benczkowski. (Id.). These projects included BCJ’s
work on storefronts for online retailer Everlane. (Id.; Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May
Dep. 59:18-20). Benczkowski responded that she could not take on additional
workload at that time. (Doc. 23-2, R. Benczkowski Dep. Exh. 8). She testified
that any changes in her responsibilities around that time did not free her up to
take on some of Tasgin’s work since her “workload was already more than [she]
could perform in an eight-hour day.” (Doc. 23-1, Exh. A, R. Benczkowski Dep.
17-20; 67:8-17). Benczkowski believed Beach had time to take on extra work
(Id. 68:5-13). CFO May agreed that Beach’s studio (Pittsburgh) was not “a very
busy office” in 2020. (Id., Exh. C, K. May Dep. 62:6-65:6).
Loose, as a director and shareholder in the Wilkes-Barre studio,
periodically checked in with employees in that office during the COVID-19
pandemic. (Id., Exh. E, W. Loose Dep. 31:9-12, 69:11-23). On April 28, 2020,
Benczkowski spoke by telephone with Loose. (Id.) Prior to the call with
Benczkowski, CFO May tipped Loose off that Benczkowski would focus on the
salary reduction during the call. (Id., 70:4-71:9; Exh. C, K. May Dep. 69:11-
70:17). Loose memorialized the call with Benczkowski in an email to CEO
Bassett and CFO May. (Doc. 23-2, W. Loose Dep. Exh. 15). That email provided:
| just got off of my call with Rita and it was about nothing
other than her salary reduction. She started probing for
what | knew, and | played largely dumb; | told her the truth
in that | only heard of this yesterday so she knows more of
the details than | do (thank you very much for the warning,
Kate!!). | asked her to tell me what she knew, and | didn’t
add anything to it.
She mentioned the salary alignment issue relative to the
other PACs and she was dismissive of that, but then she
also kept saying that her salary was reduced relative to the
SF office's income, and that was totally unfair to do as no
one else's salary was similarly reduced. That sounded
strange to me and | told her that | think she is misreading
that; | kept trying to redirect that back to workload, not an
office's income.
| offered that my impression of the situation is that her
workload has been reduced as a result of not working for
Apple any longer. She kept insisting that her workload has
not diminished. She also insisted that her job description is
more than the normal PAC, and it was designed that way
when she started supporting the (then) fledgling SF office
(that was news to me). She kept mentioning the contract
and proposal review that she does and no one else does; |
kept telling her that Sarah [Boyle] reviews all of ours for a
numbers check as any Pac [sic] does, but not for legal
terminology. She kept insisting she does more than that;
but when she described it, it seemed not much more than
rates, math errors, etc. | know from hearing from you both
she has drifted outside that realm, but | did not mention that
on the call, it seemed unimportant.
She also kept insisting that she feels her position is in
jeopardy, and | said | heard not heard that at all [sic]. She
mentioned that she would either want to swap positions
with Sarah (7?) or that she is entertaining the idea of offering
to be laid off. She asked my opinion of the latter, and | said
she would have to have that conversation with both of
you....
(Id.)
10
CFO May responded to Loose’s email, writing, in part: “Let's plan on
discussing with Patrick [Bassett, CEO]. Her salary reduction had nothing to do
with the workload coming out of the SF office. She was being overpaid for the
position and it was the right time to right size. | am glad that we were able to
connect yesterday.” (Id.)
On May 8, 2020, BCJ generally restored employee compensation to levels
immediately before the March pay reductions. (Doc. 20-1, SOF 4 42). Tasgin
also returned from furlough to resume work as a project accountant for the
Seattle studio that month. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May Dep. 66:13-17). BCJ,
however, did not restore Benczkowski’s previous salary. Per CFO May,
Benczkowski spoke to Loose again to discuss a severance package at the end □□
the month of May. (Id. 79:16-80:19). These discussions did not progress. (Id.)
Shortly thereafter, on June 1, 2020, Benczkowski passed out several times
at home and required emergency room treatment. (Id., Exh. A., R. Benczkowski
Dep. 94:21-96:9). Plaintiff testified that her primary care doctor attributed these
issues to stressors from work. (Id. 96:2-97:16). Plaintiff subsequently used leave
pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) between June and
August 2020 to address her medical issues. (Id. 99:7-100:2). Beach, another
project accountant, also used FMLA leave at this time, but ultimately did not
return to work. (Doc. 23-1, K. May Dep. 98:3-14). Tasgin, the project accountant
11
that was previously furloughed, departed employment at BCJ in June 2020. (Doc.
28-2, K. May Dep. Exh. 14).
With the absence of both Benczkowski and Beach on FMLA leave and with
Tasgin’s departure, project accountant duties were being performed by Boyle
and CFO May. (Doc. 23-1, K. May Dep. 135:9-136:1). As a result, CFO May
then rehired a former project accountant, Sparacio, in a promoted role as a
senior project accountant. (Id. 132:14-22; 135:9-136:1). In that newly created
position, Sparacio became plaintiff's new supervisor. (Id., Exh. B. S. Coach Dep.
65:19-23). Sparacio was in her late thirties. (Id. 55:14-16). Benczkowski
believed BCJ rehired Sparacio at a $85,000 salary. (Id., Exh. A. R. Benczkowski
Dep. 15:2-16:9).
In late August 2020, Benczkowski returned to work from FMLA leave to
hundreds of emails, looming billing deadlines, and meeting requests. (Id.
101:21-109:1). She required antianxiety medication to resume working. (Id.
97:12-21).
On September 2, 2020, Benczkowski attended a virtual meeting at CFO
May’s request. (Id. 109:17-111:5). The meeting concerned Benczkowski's pay
decrease and the permanency of same, Sparacio’s role as plaintiff's supervisor,
and the mandatory nature of meetings that plaintiff was not attending. (Id.)
12
Benczkowski described the meeting as very hostile to the point where she had to
stop working that day. (Id. 130:8-19).
Benczkowski then resigned on September 8, 2020. (Doc. 20-1, SOF ¥ 57).
She cited unfair treatment and the toll it had taken on her health in her
resignation email. (Doc. 23-2, S. Coach Dep. Exh. 12). Benczkowski believed
continued employment with BCJ risked serious consequences to her health. (Id.).
Benczkowski then filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal
Opportunity Employment Commission (“EEOC”) on September 22, 2020. (Doc.
20-1, SOF 3). She dual-filed the charge with the Pennsylvania Human
Relations Commission (“PHRC’”). (Id.) On March 19, 2021, the EEOC issued a
notice of right to sue. (Id. 4). Benczkowski initiated this civil action on June 16,
2021. (Doc. 1)
In Count | of Benczkowski’s complaint, she alleges defendant violated the
ADEA when it demoted her and reduced her salary in March 2020 on the basis of
her age. (Id. ] 54). In Count Ill, plaintiff alleges defendant violated the ADEA by
constructively discharging her. (Id. 63). Counts Il and IV advance the same
age discrimination allegations and assert that defendant violated the PHRA. (Id.
at J] 58, 68). BCJ answered the complaint on August 16, 2021. (Doc. 4).
Following discovery, BCJ filed a motion for summary judgment on all claims
in the complaint, (Doc. 20), and plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file an
13
amended complaint, (Doc. 26). Benczkowski seeks leave to bring claims
pursuant to the FMLA based on CFO May’s testimony during her deposition
where May detailed the rehiring of Sparacio as supervising project accountant
while Benczkowski exercised FMLA leave. (See Doc. 27, Br. in Supp. at 7-10).
Benczkowski also seeks to amend allegations related to her exhaustion of
administrative remedies with the PHRC to proceed with her PHRA claims. (Id. at
10-12). Having been fully briefed, both motions are ripe for disposition.
Jurisdiction
Because this case is brought pursuant to the ADEA, the court has
jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331. (“The district courts shall have original
jurisdiction of all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of
the United States.”). The court has supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiffs PHRA
claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a). (“In any civil action of which the district
courts have original jurisdiction, the district courts shall have supplemental
jurisdiction over all other claims that are so related to claims in the action within
such original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or controversy
under Article III of the United States Constitution.”).
14
Standard of Review
BCJ has filed a motion for summary judgment. Granting summary
judgment is proper “ ‘if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories,
and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.’ " See Knabe v. Boury Corp., 114 F.3d 407, 410 n. 4
(3d Cir.1997) (quoting FED. R. Civ. P. 56(c)). “[T]his standard provides that the
mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not
defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the
requirement is that there be no genuine issue of material fact.” Anderson v.
Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48 (1986) (emphasis in original).
In considering a motion for summary judgment, the court must examine the
facts in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Int'l Raw
Materials, Ltd. v. Stauffer Chem. Co., 898 F.2d 946, 949 (3d Cir.1990). The
burden is on the moving party to demonstrate that the evidence is such that a
reasonable jury could not return a verdict for the non-moving party. Anderson,
477 U.S. at 248 (1986). A fact is material when it might affect the outcome of the
suit under the governing law. Id. Where the non-moving party will bear the
burden of proof at trial, the party moving for summary judgment may meet its
burden by showing that the evidentiary materials of record, if reduced to
15
admissible evidence, would be insufficient to carry the non-movant's burden of
proof at trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). Once the
moving party satisfies its burden, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party, who
must go beyond its pleadings, and designate specific facts by the use of
affidavits, depositions, admissions, or answers to interrogatories showing that
there is a genuine issue for trial. Id. at 324.
“In employment discrimination cases, the summary judgment standard ‘is
applied with added rigor’ because ‘intent and credibility are crucial issues.’””
Walden v. St. Gobain Corp., 323 F.Supp. 2d 637, 641 (E.D. Pa. 2004)(quoting
Stewart v. Rutgers Univ., 120 F.3d 426, 431 (3d Cir. 1997)). Moreover:
Employment discrimination cases center around a single
question: why did the employer take an adverse
employment action against plaintiff? Because this is clearly
a factual question, summary judgment is in fact rarely
appropriate in this type of case. Simply by pointing to
evidence which calls into question the defendant's intent,
the plaintiff raises an issue of material fact which, if
genuine, is sufficient to preclude summary judgment.
Marzano v. Computer Sci. Corp. Inc., 91 F.3d 497, 509-10 (3d Cir. 1996)(internal
quotations and explanatory parentheticals omitted).
Analysis
BCJ argues that summary judgment is appropriate on each of
Benczkowski’s age-discrimination claims. Specifically, the defendant contends
that the plaintiff failed to connect the salary reduction to age discrimination and
16
asserts that plaintiffs resignation forecloses an age-related constructive
discharge claim. Additionally, defendant argues that plaintiff failed to exhaust
administrative remedies regarding her PHRA claims. Plaintiff counters by
seeking leave to file an amended complaint on this issue. The motion to amend
also proposes the addition of two new claims for FMLA interference and
retaliation.
The court will consider defendant's summary judgment arguments
regarding plaintiff's ADEA claims before addressing the parties’ various requests
for relief regarding the PHRA claims. Finally, the court will address whether
plaintiff should be granted leave to add FMLA claims in an amended complaint.
1. Motion for Summary Judgment
a. Plaintiff's ADEA Claim — Salary Reduction
Counts | and III of Benczkowski’s complaint advance claims for age
discrimination in violation of the ADEA.’ Count | alleges that BCJ violated the
ADEA when it demoted the plaintiff and permanently cut her salary amid
temporary pandemic-related pay reductions. Although there is evidence that
8 Counts II and IV assert the claims pursuant to the PHRA under the same legal theories. The
court refers to plaintiffs ADA and PHRA claims collectively. See Colwell v. Rite Aid Corp., 602
F.3d 495, 500, n. 2 (3d Cir. 2010)(“[T]he same legal standard that applies to the ADA applies
equally to disability discrimination claims under the PHRA.”). To the extent that plaintiff's
PHRA claims hinge on whether she exhausted her administrative remedies, the court will
address those arguments in Section 2.
17
BCJ removed some of Benczkowski’s job duties at or near the time of her pay
cut, the parties focus their arguments on plaintiff's salary reduction. The court
thus focuses on the record relative to that event in considering Count I.
“The ADEA prohibits employers from ‘discharg[ing] any individual or
otherwise discriminat[ing] against any individual with respect to his
compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such
individual's age.’ ” Willis v. UPMC Children's Hosp. of Pittsburgh, 808 F.3d 638,
643-44 (3d Cir. 2015)(quoting 29 U.S.C. § 623(a)(1)).
Benczkowski concedes there is no direct evidence of age discrimination.
ADEA claims with circumstantial evidence of discrimination are analyzed under
the McDonnell Douglas burden shifting framework.? Fowler v. AT&T, Inc., 19
F.4th 292, 298 (3d Cir. 2021)(citing Barber v. CSX Distrib. Servs., 68 F.3d 694,
698 (3d Cir. 1995)); Smith v. City of Allentown, 589 F.3d 684, 691 (3d Cir. 2009).
Under this three-step framework, the plaintiff must make a prima facie
showing of discrimination to survive summary judgment, i.e., “a claim that on □□□□□
sight has enough merit to proceed.” Fowler, 19 F.4th at 298-99 (citation omitted)
To make a prima facie ADEA discrimination claim, a plaintiff must show that she
was: (1) over the age of 40; (2) subject to an adverse employment action; (3)
qualified for her position; and (4) the adverse employment action occurred under
2 See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802-03 (1973).
18
circumstances that could give rise to an inference of intentional discrimination
because of age. See Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs. Inc., 557 U.S. 167, 180 (2009)
(holding that the ADEA requires a plaintiff to prove that age was the but-for caus
of the adverse employment action); Fowler, 19 F.4th at 299 (citation omitted);
Willis, 808 F.3d at 644 (citations omitted); see also Burton v. Teleflex Inc., 707
F.3d 417, 426 (3d Cir. 2013).
A prima facie showing “is not ‘intended to be rigid, mechanized, or
ritualistic[,]’ ” Willis, 808 F.3d at 644 (quoting Pivirotto v. Innovative Sys., Inc.,
191 F.3d 344, 357 (3d Cir.1999)), but the showing must be sufficient to convince
a reasonable factfinder that all the elements are met, see Duffy v. Paper Magic
Grp., 265 F.3d 163, 167 (3d Cir. 2001). The facts necessary to establish a primé
facie case of employment discrimination vary depending on the particular
circumstances of each case. Sarullo v. U.S. Postal Serv., 352 F.3d 789, 797 nn.
6-7 (3d Cir. 2003)(citing McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. at 802, n. 13).
BCJ argues that Benczkowski cannot establish the fourth element, that is,
she cannot show that her pay reduction or constructive discharge was due to het
age.'° Under the law, Benczkowski may establish the fourth element with
evidence of similarly situated employees (comparators) that were treated more
favorably or, through circumstantial evidence that shows a causal link between
10 Plaintiffs constructive discharge claim will be discussed more thoroughly in Section 1b.
19
her membership in a protected class and the adverse employment action. fd. at
797-98 & n. 7 (3d Cir. 2003); Jones v. SEPTA, 796 F.3d 323, 327 (3d Cir. 2015).
In response to the motion for summary judgment, plaintiff has proffered the
following: BCJ employed several project accountants at the time of plaintiff's
permanent salary reduction, Benczkowski, Beach, Boyle, and Tasgin. Beach,
Boyle, and Tasgin were in their thirties. Benczkowski was in her late fifties. In
contrast to the plaintiff, Beach and Boyle’s March 2020 pay reductions were
eventually restored and Tasgin was restored to her position and salary after a
furlough. Only Benczkowski experienced a permanent salary reduction, as
opposed to the younger project accountants. The record is also replete with
direct comparisons between Benczkowski and the younger, less-experienced
Boyle by BCJ executives. Additionally, the record contains evidence that,
instead of restoring plaintiffs salary, BCJ rehired a former project accountant,
Sparacio, within three months of the salary reduction in a new supervisory role
with a higher salary than Benczkowski. Sparacio was in her thirties. With this,
plaintiff establishes a prima facie case.
“Once the plaintiff has successfully established a prima facie case creating
an inference of discrimination, the burden shifts to the employer who must
‘articulate a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment
action.’ ” Willis, 808 F.3d at 644 (quoting Jones v. Sch. Dist. of Phila., 198 F.3d
20
403, 412 (3d Cir. 1999)(further citation omitted). BCJ has articulated several
nondiscriminatory reasons for Benczkowski’s permanent salary reduction,
including: 1) the state of the company due to a downturn in business; 2) the
COVID-19 pandemic; 3) “resizing” the whole firm; 4) “rightsizing” project
accountant salaries; and 5) the loss of projects for Apple out of the San
Francisco studio, or a combination of these. Such reasons are sufficient to meet
defendant’s burden.
At the third step, “the burden shifts back once more to the plaintiff to show,
by a preponderance of the evidence, that the employer's proffered legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason{s] [were] pretextual.” Willis, 808 F.3d at 644 (citing
Burton v. Teleflex, Inc., 707 F. 3d 417, 426—27 (3d Cir. 2013)). A plaintiff may
demonstrate pretext in two ways: 1) by pointing to evidence that would allow a
factfinder to disbelieve the employer’s reason for the adverse employment action
i.e., weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or
contradictions; or 2) pointing to evidence with such probative force that would
allow a factfinder to conclude that the employer’s action was because of age,
such as evidence the defendant treated similarly situated, substantially younger
individuals more favorably. See id. at 644—45 (citations omitted).
Benczkowski has countered BCJ’s reasons with sufficient evidence
regarding pretext. As noted above, project accountants in their thirties received
21
different treatment than the plaintiff, that is, their pay did not get cut as much or
permanently. The summary judgment record also reflects that BCJ executives
provided slightly different reasons for Benczkowski’s salary reduction. For
example, CEO Bassett described a firm-wide “resizing” and CFO May referred te
Benczkowski’s pay cut as “rightsizing” her salary. But Benczkowski has
evidence that such “rightsizing” used comparisons of the plaintiff to much
younger workers.
Moreover, shareholder-principal Loose connected Benczkowski’s salary
reduction to BCJ’s loss of business with Apple. Benczkowski, however, can poin
to other evidence that work for Apple tapered off at least three years before her
pay was reduced and that architects in the San Francisco studio did not suffer a
permanent pay reduction as she did. And after Loose provided Benczkowski
with the Apple-related explanation and summarized that conversation to CEO
Bassett and CFO May in an email, CFO May made a point to correct Loose (a
member of BCJ’s board of directors) in writing. Such evidence may cause a
reasonable jury to disbelieve all the articulated reasons and believe plaintiff's
claim that she suffered age discrimination. Accordingly, the motion for summary
judgment on Count | will be denied.
22
b. Plaintiff's ADEA Claim — Constructive Discharge
BCJ also argues that plaintiff has not established a genuine issue of
material fact that supports her claim for constructive discharge in Count II! of the
complaint. “The constructive-discharge doctrine contemplates a situation in
which an employer discriminates against an employee to the point such that [her
‘working conditions become so intolerable that a reasonable person in the
employee's position would have felt compelled to resign.’ ” Green v. Brennan,
578 U.S. 547, 555 (2016) (quoting Pennsylvania State Police v. Suders, 542 U.S
129, 141 (2004)). Constructive discharge “is assimilated to formal discharge for
remedial purposes.” Suders, 542 U.S. at 141.
“[T]he law does not permit an employee's subjective perceptions to govern
a Claim of constructive discharge.” Clowes v. Allegheny Valley Hosp., 991 F.2d
1159, 1161 (3d Cir. 1993)(quoting Gray v. York Newspapers, Inc., 957 F.2d
1070, 1079 (3d Cir. 1992)(further citation omitted). Rather, the court employs “ar
objective standard that asks whether a reasonable person under the
circumstances would have felt compelled to resign.” Peifer v. Bd. of Prob. &
Parole, No. 23-1081, --- F.4th ----, 2024 WL 3283569, at *4 (3d Cir. July 3,
2024\(internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
Factors relevant to a constructive discharge analysis are whether the
employer: “(1) threatened the employee with discharge or urged or suggested
23
that she resign or retire, (2) demoted her, (3) reduced her pay or benefits, (4)
involuntarily transferred her to a less desirable position, (5) altered her job
responsibilities, or (6) gave unsatisfactory job evaluations.” Colwell v. Rite Aid
Corp., 602 F.3d 495, 503 (3d Cir. 2010)(citing Clowes, 991 F.2d at 1161)(interna
quotation marks and brackets removed). The absence of these factors is not
necessarily dispositive. Duffy, 265 F.3d at 168. And, although not a required
showing in all cases, reasonable employees “will usually explore such alternative
avenues thoroughly before coming to the conclusion that resignation is the only
option.” Clowes, 991 F.2d at 1161 &n. 6.
Here, Benczkowski’s employer reduced her salary by $25,600 or 25% in
March 2020. Although other project accountants at BCJ were furloughed or had
their pay cut at that time, the other younger members of plaintiff's department dic
not suffer a permanent salary reduction or were restored to their position within
two months. Additionally, the salary reduction was accompanied by an alteration
to Benczkowski’s job responsibilities. Specifically, CFO May instructed her to no’
get involved in contract review or contract negotiation as Benczkowski did in the
past. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May Dep. 75:2-78:22). CEO Bassett testified that
contract review and term review responsibilities were removed from
Benczkowski’s functions and moved to legal counsel. (Id., Exh. D, P. Bassett
Dep. 30:23-31:18). Such a change in Benczkowski’s job duties aligned with the
24
responsibilities handled by the younger project accountants for their assigned
studios for lower pay.
Plaintiff responded to the salary reduction by exploring other options with
the company. Plaintiff asked for assistance from other project accountants with
her workload. She discussed her salary reduction with Loose, a shareholder-
principal of the firm. As part of those discussions, she asked Loose whether
there would be restoration of pay, layoff, or offer of a severance package. She
also floated the idea that her workload be swapped with Boyle, the comparator
mentioned by CEO Bassett when he advised the plaintiff of her pay cut. These
requests were not implemented.
Per Benczkowski, the salary reduction caused her serious distress, so
much so that she required emergency treatment, testing, follow-up visits with her
primary care doctor, and prescription medication. Additionally, she required
medical leave from work.
Benczkowski returned to the company on August 27, 2020. (Doc. 23-2,
Exh. 1, Coach Dep. Interrog Ans. #7). During the plaintiff's leave, CEO Bassett
decided to depart. Within Benczkowski’s department, Tasgin separated from the
company and Beach did not return from FMLA leave. CFO May brought
Sparacio back, but in a new role as senior project accountant with supervisory
responsibilities. Benczkowski testified about the conditions of her return:
25
Q. Okay. And when you came back from that leave, what
was your circumstance in terms of the volume of work that
you had to perform upon return?
A. It was overwhelming. Everything was just dumped on
me. . .when Sarah came back from being furloughed"',
Kate [May, CFO] met with her and brought her up to date
on all of her projects so it would be easy for her to come
back. She was only out like a month. | came back, | just got
e-mails from Kate saying, here, do this, do that, no let's
have a meeting so we can catch up or anything. So it was
massive, the amount. Three months is a lot of work to have
missed.
(Doc. 23-1, Exh. A., Dep of R. Benczkowski 149:5-21).
On September 2, 2020, or within four business days of Benczkowski's
return to work, CFO May convened a meeting with the plaintiff to: 1) reiterate or
“close the loop” on plaintiff's salary reduction; 2) stress Sparacio’s role as the
new senior project accountant; and 3) address concerns that the plaintiff did not
attend an equity, diversity, and inclusion meeting or respond to certain emails
from an architect, Sparacio, and CFO May. (Id. 110:3-112:18, 120:24-125:16).
The tenor of that meeting caused Benczkowski to stop working for the day.
Setting aside Benczkowski’s subjective feelings about her treatment, she
has pointed to objective evidence in this case that, if believed, supports a
11 The record does not indicate that Sarah Boyle was furloughed; rather, the reference to
Sarah here may be to Farah Tasgin, the project accountant that received a furlough. In March
2020, Benczkowski worked in a department with individuals named Tara, Sarah, Farah, and
Hannah. By September 2020, only Sarah Boyle remained from that group.
26
position that BCJ compounded the plaintiff's salary reduction with efforts setting
her up to fail upon her return from medical leave. Arguably, plaintiff can also use
the record to advance that BCJ executives ultimately restructured the project
accounting department through the forced attrition of Benczkowski while valuing
younger, lower-paid project accountants.'? Such evidence is sufficient for
plaintiff's constructive discharge claim in Count III to go to a jury and the motion
for summary judgment will be denied.
2. Motion for Summary Judgment/Motion to Amend —
Administrative Exhaustion
BCJ also seeks summary judgment on Benczkowski’s PHRA claims,
arguing that the plaintiff did not exhaust her administrative remedies relative to
those claims. Specifically, BCJ argues that Benczkowski filed suit while the
PHRC still had jurisdiction of her discrimination charge.
“The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has explicitly held that a discharged
employee cannot file a PHRA claim in the judicial system without first exhausting
administrative remedies.” Tlush v. Mfrs. Res. Ctr., 315 F. Supp. 2d 650, 656
12 BCJ hired CFO May at a yearly salary of $193,000 in 2019, which was reduced by 20% (or
to $154,400) in March 2020 before being fully reinstated to the hiring level in May 2022. (Doc.
23-1, Exh. C K. May Dep.13:17-14:22). Had Benczkowski not been subject to the permanent
pay reduction to $80,000, she, as a project accountant, would have been making about
$50,000 less by May 2020 than the company CFO tasked with lowering personnel costs. In
context, such evidence cuts both ways.
27
(E.D. Pa. 2002)(citing Clay v. Advanced Comput. Applications, inc., 559 A.2d
917, 920 (Pa. 1989)). The PHRA requires that a discrimination complaint must
be first brought to the PHRC, which has exclusive jurisdiction over the claim for
one year. See Burgh v. Borough Council of Borough of Montrose, 251 F.3d 465,
471 (3d Cir. 2001); 43 Pa. STAT. § 962(b), (c)(1). A PHRA complainant may not
file an action in court during this period. Id. A complainant, however, may □□□□□
court action regardless of whether he has received a letter from the PHRC after
that one-year period. Id.
“[C]ourts in the Third Circuit have adopted a more flexible approach to
PHRA exhaustion by permitting plaintiffs to maintain PHRA claims if the period o
exhaustion expires during the pendency of litigation or if plaintiff files an
amended complaint after the period of exhaustion.” Eldridge v. Municipality of
Norristown, 828 F. Supp. 2d 746, 758 (E.D. Pa. 2011), affd, 514 F. App'x 187
(3d Cir. 2013)(collecting cases)
In this matter, plaintiff filed a dual charge of discrimination with the EEOC
and PHRC on September 22, 2021. (Doc. 20-1, SOF J 3). On March 19, 2021,
the EEOC issued Benczkowski a notice of right to sue. (Id. ] 4). Receipt of such
notice provided Benczkowski with ninety (90) days to proceed with her ADEA
claims. See 29 U.S.C. § 626(e). Benczkowski then filed suit on June 16, 2021,
approximately eight months after she filed her dual-charge, asserting both ADEA
28
and PHRA claims. (Doc. 1). Benczkowski specifically alleged in her complaint
that her counsel requested that PHRC issue a notice to sue on March 26, 2021,
but the notice had not been received at the time the plaintiff filed this action. (Id. '
10).
Benczkowski counters the motion for summary judgment with arguments
that she exhausted her administrative remedies on her PHRA claims since the
PHRC eventually issued a notice of the right to sue and more than one year has
passed since the date Benczkowski filed her charge with the PHRC. (Doc. 28,
Pl. Br. in Opp. MSJ at 20). Benczkowski also seeks leave to amend her
complaint to aver that she has exhausted all administrative prerequisites of the
PHRA claims. (Doc. 26).
In support of her motion to amend, plaintiff has provided a declaration
under oath from an administrative officer of the PHRC. (Doc. 32-1). Per that
officer’s declaration and attachments, the PHRC issued its closure letter on
August 26, 2021, notifying the parties that “[b]ased upon the [EEOC]
investigation, the PHRC is unable to conclude that the information obtained
establishes violations of the statutes.” (Id., Attachment C). Additionally, the
PHRC officer indicates that the EEOC did not notify PHRC about its dismissal
until June 26, 2021. (Id., 4, Attachment B). The officer indicates that the delay
between receipt of EEOC notice and the issuance of the PHRC closure letter “is
29
not unusual given the number of dual-filings with the EEOC that are processed
by our small team of administrative staff.” (Id. J 7).
After receiving her notice to sue from the EEOC on March 19, 2021,
plaintiff had ninety (90) days to bring her ADEA claims in this court. If she
delayed suit beyond that period to wait on a response from the PHRC, her ADEA
claims would have been time-barred. Additionally, plaintiff's averments indicate
that she proceeded in good faith with the PHRC but delays relative to staffing at
the agency prevented her from filing suit before exhausting all her administrative
remedies.
Benczkowski thus seeks leave to amend her allegations regarding
administrative exhaustion. BCJ counters that Benczkowski unduly delayed her
request for an amendment. Specifically, BCJ points out that: 1) the PHRC
notified the plaintiff of closure on August 26, 2021; 2) a case management order
set a November 1, 2021 deadline for amended pleadings; and 3) plaintiff did not
request leave to file an amended complaint regarding exhaustion for over one
year. (Doc. 30, Df. MSJ Reply Br. at 4-8).
Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, courts are instructed to freely
give leave to amend when justice so requires. See FED. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). “{A]
court may consider a movant's ‘undue delay’ or ‘dilatory motive’ in deciding
whether to grant leave to amend under Rule 15(a).” Krupski v. Costa Crociere S.
30
p. A., 560 U.S. 538, 553 (2010)(citing Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182
(1962)). Moreover, “[Ileave to amend must generally be granted unless equitable
considerations render it otherwise unjust.” Arthur v. Maersk, Inc., 434 F.3d 196,
204 (3d Cir. 2006)(citing Foman, 371 U.S. at 182; Lorenz v. CSX Corp., 1 F.3d
1406, 1414 (3d Cir. 1993)). Prejudice to the non-moving party is the touchstone
for denying an amendment. Id. (citing Lorenz, 1 F.3d at 1414)(further citation
omitted).
Although delay alone is not sufficient to justify denial of amendment, at
some point, delay becomes undue, placing an unwarranted burden on the court
and an unfair burden on the opposing party. See Arthur, 434 F.3d at 204 (citing
Cureton v. Nat'l Collegiate Athletic Ass'n, 252 F.3d 267, 273 (3d Cir. 2001);
Adams v. Gould Inc., 739 F.2d 858, 868 (3d Cir. 1984)). “[T]he question of
undue delay requires that [the court] focus on the movant's reasons for not
amending sooner.” Cureton, 252 F.3d at 273 (citing Adams, 739 F.2d at 868).
Here, Benczkowski provides no explanation why she did not move to
amend her complaint relative to PHRA exhaustion prior to September 2022 wher
the PHRC issued the closure letter in August 2021. BCJ, however, has also
provided no explanation as to how it is prejudiced by such an amendment.
PHRA age-discrimination claims are analyzed similarly to ADEA claims and BCJ
has defended those claims in its answer, in discovery, and by filing the motion for
31
summary judgment. The court agrees that amendment should have been sough
much sooner regarding administrative exhaustion, but the delay here is not to
BCJ’s actual detriment. Since prejudice to the non-moving party is the
touchstone and BCJ has advanced nothing of the sort, at least on the PHRA
claims, Benczkowski’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint regarding
administrative exhaustion will be granted and BCJ’s motion for summary
judgment on plaintiffs PHRA claims in Count II and Count IV will be denied.
3. Motion to Amend — FMLA Claims
In addition to her request to supplement the administrative exhaustion
allegations, Benczkowski also seeks leave to add two FMLA claims in an
amended complaint. Proposed Count V would add a claim for FMLA interferenc:
and proposed Count VI would add a claim for FMLA retaliation. As discussed
above, CFO May testified that she hired a former BCJ project accountant as a
senior project accountant in June 2020 while Benczkowski exercised her right to
FMLA leave. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C. K. May Dep. 135:9-136:1). CFO May stated
that Benczkowski might have been selected for the senior position, but May did
not reach out to Benczkowski to see if she was interested. (Id. 136:2-137:14).
Benczkowski indicates that she did not know of her denial of a promotional
opportunity due to FMLA leave until CFO May testified at her deposition on
August 25, 2022. (Doc. 29, Br. in Supp. at 6). BCJ counters that the FMLA
32
amendments would be futile and that BCJ would suffer prejudice. The court will
address BCu’s futility arguments before turning to prejudice considerations.
a. Futility
In addition to undue delay and dilatory motive, a court may deny leave to
amend a complaint where the amendment would be futile or the amendment
would prejudice the other party. See Foman, 371 U.S. at 178. “In assessing
futility [of amendment], the district court applies the same standard of legal
sufficiency as applies under Rule 12(b)(6).” In re Burlington Coat Factory Sec.
Litig., 114 F.3d 1410, 1434 (3d Cir. 1997)(citation and internal quotation marks
omitted). “By adhering to a Rule 12(b)(6) standard, the court is assured that any
new claims, without true merit, will fail.” Provenzano v. Integrated Genetics, 22
F.Supp. 2d 406, 411 (D.N.J. 1998) (citations omitted).
The court tests the sufficiency of the complaint’s allegations when
considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint
must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief
that is plausible on its face. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing
Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim has facial
plausibility when factual content is pled that allows the court to draw the
reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Id.
(citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a
33
cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id.
(citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555).
BCJ argues that Benczkowski’s proposed FMLA claims would violate the
statute of limitations of such claims. An FMLA action may be filed “not later than
2 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which
the action is brought[,]” 29 U.S.C. § 2617(c)(1), and “[i]n the case of such action
brought for a willful violation. . .such action may be brought within 3 years[,]’ 29
U.S.C. § 2617(c)(2). Based upon CFO May’s testimony about her actions and
thought processes in hiring Sparacio as the new senior project accountant,
Benczkowski moved to amend her complaint on September 30, 2022 with
allegations that BCJ willfully violated the FMLA. (See Doc. 21, as amended by,
Doc. 26). Plaintiff's proposed claims for willful violations would be timely on their
face.
BCJ further argues that such willfulness allegations are not supported by
the record. The court disagrees. The testimony of CFO May speaks for itself:
Q. If Ms. Benczkowski had been working in June as
opposed to being on FMLA, would she have been
selected for this position?
A. She might have been. | was kind of left holding the
bag.
(Id. 136:2-7).
34
There are two generally recognized claims for FMLA violations. See
Lichtenstein v. Univ. of Pittsburgh Med. Ctr., 691 F.3d 294, 301 (3d Cir. 2012).
“When employees invoke rights granted under the FMLA, employers may not
‘interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or attempt to exercise’ these
rights.” (Id. (citing 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(1)). “Nor may employers ‘discharge or in
any other manner discriminate against any individual for opposing any practice
made unlawful.’ ” Id. (citing 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(2)). “The former provision is
generally, if imperfectly, referred to as ‘interference’ whereas the latter is often
referred to as ‘retaliation.’ ” Id. Based on CFO May’s testimony, Benczkowski
has set forth plausible claims for FMLA interference and retaliation and the
proposed amendments to add these claims would not be futile.
b. Prejudice
BCJ argues that it would be prejudiced by permitting plaintiff to add FMLA
claims at this time. To deny an amendment, however, prejudice must be
“substantial or undue[.]” Cureton, 252 F.3d at 273 (citing Lorenz, 1 F.3d at 1414).
Courts “focus on the hardship to the defendant|[] if the amendment were
permitted.” Id. (citing Adams v. Gould Inc., 739 F.2d 858, 868 (3d Cir. 1984)).
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has endorsed an approach that considers
“whether the assertion of the new claim would: (i) require the opponent to expenc
significant additional resources to conduct discovery and prepare for trial: (ii)
35
significantly delay the resolution of the dispute; or (iii) prevent the plaintiff from
bringing a timely action in another jurisdiction.” Long v. Wilson, 393 F.3d 390,
400 (3d Cir. 2004).
First, the court eliminates timeliness from the calculus. Benczkowski
deposed CFO May on August 25, 2022, when May implied that Benczkowski's
FMLA leave left her holding the proverbial bag. (Doc. 23-1, Exh. C, K. May Dep.
at 1). The operative case management order required discovery to be completec
by September 1, 2022 and dispositive motions were due on October 1, 2022.
(Doc. 19). Benczkowski filed her motion seeking leave to amend on September
30, 2022, thirty-six (36) days after CFO May’s deposition and prior to the
dispositive motion deadline. (Doc. 21). The court finds no prejudice to BCJ in
that passage of time.
Second, BCJ argues that there has been no discovery into a proposed
allegation that plaintiff was better qualified for the promoted position of senior
project accountant than the selectee, Sparacio. (Doc. 31, Br. in Opp. at 15). BCJ
has identified no other specific allegations in the proposed FMLA causes of
action which would require more discovery.
The court has carefully reviewed the depositions and documents provided
by the parties with the motion for summary judgment and must disagree with
BCU’s assessment that additional discovery would be burdensome or costly.
36
Benczkowski’s qualifications have been thoroughly explored in discovery based
on the pleadings to date. (Compare Doc. 1, Compl. ¥[ 26 (alleging plaintiff's
“productivity and performance continued at a high level and did not decline.”) {J
33 (alleging plaintiffs “workload and performance were superior to the. . .other
project accountants”) with Doc. 4, Ans. Jf] 26, 33 (denying these allegations)).
And both CFO May and CEO Bassett have already testified as to why Sparacio
was selected as the senior project accountant. (See Doc. 23-1, Exh. C., K. May
Dep. 135:9-136:1; Exh. D, 24:11-25:16). At most, Benczkowski’s proposed
allegations cited by the defendant would envision Sparacio’s deposition and
limited paper discovery. An additional short discovery period would not
significantly delay the resolution of the dispute outside of any future motions to
dismiss or motions for summary judgment filed by the defendant on the FMLA
claims. Consequently, whatever prejudice to BCJ created by Benczkowski’s
proposed FMLA claims does not rise to the level of “substantial” or “undue” and
thus the plaintiff's motion for leave to add FMLA claims in an amended complaint
will be granted.
Conclusion
For the reasons set forth above, BCJ’s motion for summary judgment (Doc.
20) will be denied and Benczkowski’s motion for leave to file an amended
complaint (Doc. 26) will be granted. Benczkowski shall file her amended
37
complaint exactly as proposed with her motion within seven (7) days. (Doc. 26,
ECF pp. 9-27). An appropriate order follows.
Date: 5 | | I / : /\lec! 5
JUD ULIA K. MUNLEY,
United States District C 7
38