Coulibaly v. Kerry

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

TIEMOKO COULIBALY, :

:

Plaintiff, : Civil Action No.: 14-0189 (RC)

:

v. : Re Document Nos.: 30, 36, 39

:

JOHN KERRY, U.S. Secretary of State, et al., :

:

Defendants. :

MEMORANDUM OPINION

GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS

OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT;

DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE FOURTH AMENDED COMPLAINT;

GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO ADD NEWLY ACQUIRED EVIDENCE

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Dr. Tiemoko Coulibaly, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, brings this

action against the United States, the Secretary of State, and twelve other individuals who are

current or former employees of the U.S. Department of State, the Merit Systems Protection

Board (“MSPB”), or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). In a

twenty-two count complaint, Dr. Coulibaly alleges discrimination, retaliation, First Amendment

violations, common law tort contract violations, and violations of various federal and District of

Columbia statutes. Currently pending before the Court are (1) Defendants’ pre-discovery motion

to dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment; (2) Dr. Coulibaly’s motion for leave to

file a fourth amended complaint; and (3) Dr. Coulibaly’s motion to add newly acquired evidence.

For reasons discussed in this opinion, the Court dismisses or grants summary judgment to

Defendants on all of Dr. Coulibaly’s claims asserted in his third amended complaint, with the

exception of his First Amendment claim based on 2007 events (asserted in Count 5 of his

complaint), as asserted against individual defendants; his Title VII hostile work environment

claim (Count 6); his wrongful discharge claim (Count 13); and his claim of retaliation based on

2009 events (asserted in Count 16). As explained below, the individual defendants must be

served so that they may respond to Count 5, and genuine disputes of material fact exist on the

other three counts, which the parties should explore during discovery. The Court will

accordingly deny Defendants’ motion with respect to these four counts.

Dr. Coulibaly’s proposed fourth amended complaint reasserts many claims from his third

amended complaint (including many that, as discussed below, must be dismissed). And many of

Dr. Coulibaly’s proposed additional claims are factually unrelated and legally distinct from the

ones in his third amended complaint, such that allowing consideration of them here would

unnecessarily delay this case’s progress. The Court will therefore deny Dr. Coulibaly’s motion

for leave to file a fourth amended complaint. Lastly, because Defendants consent to

Dr. Coulibaly’s motion to add newly acquired evidence, the Court will grant that motion.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND1

A. Employment as an FSI Contractor (1999–2011)

Employment Status

Dr. Coulibaly is an African American from the Ivory Coast. Pl.’s Third Am. Compl.

(“Compl.”) ¶ 19, ECF No. 28. In 1999, Dr. Coulibaly joined the Department of State’s Foreign

1

At the motion-to-dismiss stage, the Court presumes that the plaintiff’s factual

allegations in the complaint are true. See, e.g., United States v. Philip Morris, Inc., 116 F. Supp.

2d 131, 135 (D.D.C. 2000). When citing to documents outside of the pleadings, the Court views

the evidence in the light most favorable to Dr. Coulibaly. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,

477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986) (explaining that, in the summary judgment context, “[t]he evidence of

the non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor”).

The Court cites to Defendants’ statement of material facts when Defendants’ version of the facts

agrees with Dr. Coulibaly’s.

2

Service Institute (“FSI”) as a French instructor. Id. FSI originally hired him as a contractor

under a series of Blanket Purchase Agreements (“BPAs”). See id. ¶ 119; Defs.’ Statement of

Material Facts as to Which There Is No Genuine Dispute (“Defs.’ Facts”) ¶¶ 1−3, ECF No. 30.

During this time, to stay employed as an FSI contractor each year, Dr. Coulibaly had to ensure

that FSI would renew his contract. See Compl. ¶¶ 74–75. When he started working at FSI,

Dr. Coulibaly reports that Dr. Jane Kamide was the head of the French section, and that Solomon

Atayi served as her deputy. Id. ¶ 70.

Discussions About Political Statements

Later during Dr. Coulibaly’s time as an FSI contractor, Solomon Atayi served as head of

the French section and as Dr. Coulibaly’s supervisor. Compl. ¶¶ 21, 54, 65. According to

Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint, Mr. Atayi is an African American from Togo. Id. ¶¶ 21, 55.

Dr. Coulibaly asserts that, after Mr. Atayi learned that Dr. Coulibaly had been giving statements

to the media about political events occurring in the Ivory Coast, Mr. Atayi told Dr. Coulibaly

that he had “no right to give interviews to radio, TV, [or] newspapers on his country of origin”

Defendants argue that, in violation of this Court’s local rule, Dr. Coulibaly did not submit

a “separate concise statement of genuine issues setting forth all material facts as to which . . .

there exists a genuine issue necessary to be litigated,” and so Defendants’ own statement of

material facts “should be deemed admitted.” Defs.’ Reply Pl.’s Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss or, in

the Alt., for Summ. J. (“Defs.’ Reply”) at 5−6, ECF No. 42 (quoting D.D.C. Civ. R. 7(h)(1)).

In his opposition brief, however, Dr. Coulibaly does list a series of facts that he titles

“Statement of Undisputed Material Facts Established by the Agency’s Official Extensive EEO

Report of Investigation (ROI) as to Which There Is No Genuine Dispute . . . .” Mot. Leave Pl.’s

Fourth Am. Compl. & Pl.’s Resp. Gov’t Mot. Dismiss or in the Alt. Summ. J. (“Pl.’s Resp.”) at

118, ECF No. 36-1. And, while disorganized and quite repetitive, Dr. Coulibaly’s statement of

facts does attempt to cite facts gleaned from various exhibits that he attached to his opposition

brief. See, e.g., Pl.’s Resp. ¶¶ 237, 244, 256. Because Dr. Coulibaly’s statement thus loosely

complies with Local Civil Rule 7(h)(1), the Court declines to deem Defendants’ statement of

facts admitted. See generally D.D.C. Civ. R. 7(h)(1) (requiring briefs opposing summary

judgment to include merely “a separate concise statement of genuine issues setting forth all

material facts as to which it is contended there exists a genuine issue necessary to be litigated,

which shall include references to the parts of the record relied on to support the statement”).

3

because Dr. Coulibaly was an employee of the Department of State. Id. ¶¶ 65–66. Dr. Coulibaly

also asserts that Mr. Atayi further told Dr. Coulibaly that, even though Dr. Coulibaly was in line

to become a “direct-hire” FSI employee, Mr. Atayi believed that hiring Dr. Coulibaly was “not a

good idea” because of Dr. Coulibaly’s “political articles against the Ivorian government.” Id.

¶ 54. Along those lines, Mr. Atayi allegedly stated that appointing Dr. Coulibaly as an employee

“could create political problems” between the Department of State and the Ivory Coast. Id.

Dr. Coulibaly further asserts that Mr. Atayi’s supervisor, “Micha,” who Dr. Coulibaly

reports is white, also took Mr. Atayi’s views. See id. ¶ 57. In a conversation with Dr. Coulibaly,

Micha allegedly told Dr. Coulibaly that “it [was] not a good idea to hire him as [an] employee”

because Dr. Coulibaly “was a political asylee” in the United States and because “his writing

could also create some political problems.” Id. Dr. Coulibaly states that, in support of her

statement, Micha alluded to a past incident in which “an individual working for [the] State

Department was also [a] political [a]sylee” and in which “his speech against the [g]overnment of

his country created some political tensions” between the United States and that individual’s

country of origin. Id.

Dr. Coulibaly contends that he responded to Mr. Atayi’s directives about Dr. Coulibaly’s

political statements by explaining that, because of his contractor status, Dr. Coulibaly “was free

to give interviews after his work at FSI . . . because there was no rule or policy preventing him

[from] do[ing] that.” Id. ¶ 66. He further explained that he “never mentioned his work at [the]

State Department in any of his interviews or article[s].” Id. ¶ 67. In response to Micha’s

comments, Dr. Coulibaly states that he noted how “he ha[d] been working since 1999 for [the]

State Department as [a] contractor” and how his statements outside of work had “never created

any political tension” between the United States and the Ivory Coast. Id. ¶ 58. Dr. Coulibaly

4

also states that Mr. Atayi later “admitted that [Dr. Coulibaly] was right” about his ability to make

political statements if he did not mention his work at the Department of State. Id. ¶ 67.

Efforts to Become an FSI Employee

Concurrently with Dr. Coulibaly’s discussions with Mr. Atayi and Micha, Dr. Coulibaly

alleges that FSI was preparing to hire him as an employee—but that Mr. Atayi ruined

Dr. Coulibaly’s chances. See Compl. ¶¶ 54–67, 79–80. Dr. Coulibaly alleges that, in 2007,

FSI’s “hiring of teachers was based on seniority.” Id. ¶ 50 (emphasis omitted). For that reason,

Dr. Coulibaly contends that “it was his turn to become [a] direct-hire [employee]” in 2007. Id.

In support, Dr. Coulibaly asserts that FSI’s Associate Dean James North asked Dr. Coulibaly if

he would accept a direct-hire position, and that Dr. Coulibaly responded in the affirmative. Id.

¶¶ 50–51. Dr. Coulibaly therefore “expecte[d] his appointment by Associate Dean James North

sometime[] soon after this conversation.” Id. ¶ 51.

Indeed, the record indicates that, on June 15, 2007, the FSI human resources department

created the position description for a French language teaching position, which at some point in

2007 or thereafter had Dr. Coulibaly’s name on it. See id. ¶¶ 41–43; Duckett Decl. ¶¶ 1–2,

Defs.’ Facts Ex. Z, ECF No. 30-26; Position Description, Defs.’ Facts Ex. F, ECF No. 30-6

(reproducing the position description, which was signed by both Associate Dean North and an

FSI human resources officer on June 15, 2007). But Dr. Coulibaly did not become an FSI

employee until 2011. See Compl. ¶¶ 43, 80; Defs.’ Facts ¶ 4. To justify the gap in time, an FSI

human resources officer explains that the position description “was classified” on June 15,

2007—meaning that it was a “standard” position description to which other individuals besides

Dr. Coulibaly could also have been assigned. See Compl. ¶¶ 41, 44; Duckett Decl. ¶ 2. Thus,

she states, “[u]pon [Dr.] Coulibaly’s appointment in 2011, a copy of the Position Description

5

was made and [Dr.] Coulibaly’s name was written into Box 17,” which FSI originally left blank.

Duckett Decl. ¶¶ 3, 5; see Position Description (showing Dr. Coulibaly’s name in Box 17).

Dr. Coulibaly disputes FSI’s explanation. See Compl. ¶¶ 42–54, 79–80. He points to

what he views to be several flaws in the explanation: (1) both Associate Dean North and the FSI

human resources officer had already signed the position description on June 15, 2007, id. ¶ 43;

(2) other FSI employees did not have the date June 15, 2007 in their hiring documents and had

never heard of the practice of copying a position description, id.; and (3) Dr. Coulibaly never

received the June 15, 2007 position description when Dr. Coulibaly became an FSI employee in

2011, which he views as evidence of “active concealment and intentional non-disclosure,” id.

¶¶ 47, 51.

Rejecting FSI’s explanation, Dr. Coulibaly posits a different explanation for the gap in

time between the 2007 date of the position description and his 2011 appointment as an FSI

employee. See id. ¶¶ 54–67, 79–80. Dr. Coulibaly claims that his supervisor, Mr. Atayi, used

Dr. Coulibaly’s political statements as a pretext to hire another employee in Dr. Coulibaly’s

stead. See id. ¶¶ 55, 62–68, 79–80; see supra Part II.A.2 (discussing Dr. Coulibaly’s

conversations with Mr. Atayi about political statements that Dr. Coulibaly made in his private

capacity). According to Dr. Coulibaly, Mr. Atayi “wanted to hire as soon as possible another

teacher,” Frederic Hegbe, who shared Mr. Atayi’s country of origin (Togo). Compl. ¶ 55.

Because Mr. Hegbe purportedly possessed less seniority, less experience, and less education than

Dr. Coulibaly, Mr. Atayi had to “obstruct[] . . . [Dr. Coulibaly’s] appointment by using

pretext[ual reasons].” Id. Dr. Coulibaly contends that, to that end, Mr. Atayi “avoided

presenting” Dr. Coulibaly with the June 15, 2007 position description because he knew that

Dr. Coulibaly was expecting the appointment and “would have accepted the hiring.” Id. ¶ 64.

6

Dr. Coulibaly buttresses his claims of wrongdoing on Mr. Atayi’s part by detailing ways

in which Mr. Atayi allegedly created a “hostile work environment,” perhaps because he was

envious of Dr. Coulibaly’s education and communications with journalists. See id. ¶¶ 54, 65, 68,

73–75. According to Dr. Coulibaly, Mr. Atayi would “constantly call [Dr. Coulibaly] to order

him to go buy [Mr. Atayi’s] monthly parking permit . . . , just to show he was the boss.” Id. ¶ 74.

Dr. Coulibaly further alleges that Mr. Atayi made him beg for his contract renewal each year. Id.

¶¶ 74–75. And Mr. Atayi had purportedly told him that “if [he] want[ed] to be [a] direct hire,

[he] just need[ed] to have an affair with Dr. Jane Kamide,” the head of FSI’s French section

before Mr. Atayi. Id. ¶ 73.

Alleged Workplace Violence

Dr. Coulibaly alleges that two years later, on March 26, 2009, he was “a victim of

workplace violence.” Notice of Right to File a Discrimination Complaint ¶ 3, Defs.’ Facts

Ex. JJ, ECF No. 30-36 (describing Dr. Coulibaly’s allegation); see also Compl. ¶ 158; Notice of

Dismissed Allegations, Defs.’ Facts Ex. II, at 6, ECF No. 30-35.2 He claims that, after he

informed his then-supervisors about the incident, “[t]hey ignored his claim and did nothing.”

Notice of Right to File a Discrimination Complaint ¶ 3. Dr. Coulibaly allegedly then “went to

Diplomatic Security” to report the incident, but also received no redress from that source:

another FSI manager, Debra Blake, purportedly told him that “this investigation must be closed.”

Id. (internal quotation mark omitted).

Although Ms. Blake allegedly assured Dr. Coulibaly that “there [would] be no

retaliation” against him, Dr. Coulibaly claims that he felt “hostility” against him on the part of

2

Because the pagination of Defendants’ Exhibit II does not run consecutively, the Court

cites to the page numbers automatically generated by ECF.

7

FSI management. Id. Indeed, Dr. Coulibaly claims that Ms. Blake told him that “he was lucky

he didn’t lose his job after contacting Diplomatic Security,” “warned him to not file [any more]

complaint[s] against [FSI] management,” and said that, if he did, “he would lose his job.”

Compl. ¶ 161. Accordingly, Dr. Coulibaly claims that “was not aware of his rights and was in

fear of [losing] his job,” so he did not timely bring the workplace violence incident—which he

later alleged to be discriminatory—to the attention of the Department of State’s Office of Civil

Rights. Id.; see Notice of Dismissed Allegations, at 6–7, ECF No. 30-35 (dismissing

Dr. Coulibaly’s 2009 allegations, which he later asserted before the Office of Civil Rights,

because he did not bring them “within 45 calendar days from the date of the matter alleged to be

discriminatory”).

Further Efforts to Become an FSI Employee

Dr. Coulibaly believes that, because he contacted Diplomatic Security, FSI declined to

hire him as an employee in June 2009, even though he was “clearly the best candidate.” Notice

of Right to File a Discrimination Complaint ¶ 3; see also Compl. ¶ 158. He further contends

that, at the end of the 2009 hiring process, FSI was considering “two candidates for two

position[s].” Compl. ¶ 158. He reports that, even though Dr. Coulibaly was one of the

candidates, FSI hired only the other candidate, who had “less education and less training”; FSI

“decided to close the other position” and declined to hire Dr. Coulibaly. Id. As with the

workplace violence incident, Dr. Coulibaly later claimed that FSI’s failure to hire him was

discriminatory, but he claims that he did not timely bring the failure to hire to the attention of the

Office of Civil Rights because he “was in fear of [losing] his job.” Compl. ¶ 161; see Notice of

Dismissed Allegations, at 6–7, ECF No. 30-35 (dismissing both of Dr. Coulibaly’s allegations

arising from 2009 events).

8

B. Employment as an FSI Employee (2011-2012)

Employment Status

On June 19, 2011, FSI at last hired Dr. Coulibaly as an employee. See Compl. ¶¶ 46,

121; Notification of Personnel Action, Defs.’ Facts Ex. C, ECF No. 30-3 (showing that

Dr. Coulibaly began working as a Department of State employee on June 19, 2011).

Dr. Coulibaly’s appointment as an employee was for a term of two years, which included a

one-year trial period. See Notification of Personnel Action (noting Dr. Coulibaly’s temporary

appointment and one-year trial period); Statement of Understanding, Defs.’ Facts Ex. E, ECF

No. 30-5 (noting Dr. Coulibaly’s two-year appointment). Upon his hire, Dr. Coulibaly signed a

statement of understanding, thereby accepting that he could “be terminated at any time

depending on the needs of the [Department of State].” See Statement of Understanding.

As a Language and Culture Instructor (or, officially, a “Training Instructor”),

Dr. Coulibaly’s major duties included “teaching speaking, reading, listening comprehension and

writing . . . skills to a full range of students” and “provid[ing] major substantive input for the

planning, design, development and evaluation of the course content.” Position Description,

Defs.’ Facts Ex. F, at 3–4, ECF No. 30-6.3 During Dr. Coulibaly’s employment at FSI, as

before, James North served as FSI’s Associate Dean. See North Aff. ¶¶ Q1, Q3, Defs.’ Facts

Ex. G, ECF No. 30-7. When Dr. Coulibaly first began working as an employee, Language

Training Supervisor (LTS) Laura Fyfe, who is white and from the United States, served as

Dr. Coulibaly’s first-line supervisor. See Fyfe Aff. ¶¶ Q1, Q3–Q6, Q46, Defs.’ Facts Ex. H, ECF

No. 30-8. Starting in January 2012, LTS Phillipe Casteuble, who is white and from France,

3

Because the Position Description is not consecutively paginated throughout, the Court

cites to the page numbers automatically generated by ECF.

9

served as Dr. Coulibaly’s new first-line supervisor. See Casteuble Aff. ¶¶ Q1, Q3–Q6, Defs.’

Facts Ex. J, ECF No. 30-10.

Alleged Preferential Treatment Toward Colleague

The same day that Dr. Coulibaly began working as an FSI employee, he alleges that FSI

also hired Aitmouloud Ahmed Hmimiche, who Dr. Coulibaly asserts was FSI Division Director

Debra Blake’s “boyfriend.” Compl. ¶ 121.4 Dr. Coulibaly alleges that he complained about

favoritism that FSI showed toward Mr. Hmimiche, but that his action resulted in Director Blake

becoming “mad” and “very agitated.” Id. Dr. Coulibaly contends that Director Blake’s

emotional response was a motive for later retaliation and adverse actions taken against

Dr. Coulibaly. See id.

Other employees in FSI’s French section shared Dr. Coulibaly’s views about Director

Blake and Mr. Hmimiche. For instance, another French teacher, Paulette De Launay-Fogg,

exactly corroborated Dr. Coulibaly’s views. See EEO Investigation Report at 34–35, ECF

No. 36-3 (summarizing the affidavit that Ms. De Launay-Fogg completed for the EEO

investigation); 5 see also De Launay-Fogg Aff., EEO Investigation Report at 1374–76, Coulibaly

v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-12 (reproducing Ms. De Launay-

Fogg’s affidavit).6 She states that Dr. Coulibaly and Mr. Hmimiche became employees on the

4

The Court uses the written name for Mr. Hmimiche that Dr. Coulibaly uses in his

complaint. See Compl. ¶ 121.

5

Because the initial exhibits appended to Dr. Coulibaly’s opposition brief are not

consecutively paginated, the Court also includes the page number automatically generated by

ECF.

6

In Dr. Coulibaly’s related case before this Court, defendants in that case have filed the

complete EEO Investigation Report generated in response to Dr. Coulibaly’s December 20, 2011

allegations. Compare EEO Investigation Report, ECF Nos. 36-3, 36-4 (reproducing just pages

1–227 and 742–970 of the report), with EEO Investigation Report, Coulibaly v. Kerry,

No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF Nos. 26-1 to -12 (reproducing the entire 1418-page

report). The Court takes judicial notice of publicly filed documents in related litigation. See

10

same day, but that they “were treated very differently.” De Launay-Fogg Aff. ¶ Q6, EEO

Investigation Report at 1375. Mr. Himiche’s preferential treatment, she asserted, arose from the

fact that he and Director Blake were a “couple,” a fact that Ms. De Launay-Fogg contends was

“common knowledge” at FSI. Id. She asserts that she saw Director Blake “caressing”

Mr. Hmimiche’s neck, that Mr. Hmimiche was “always running into [Director Blake’s] office,”

and that “[m]any times, they were seen . . . leaving the school together.” Id.

Likewise, learning consultant Fatima Smith stated that “it was evident that [Director]

Blake had developed an intimate and seemingly romantic relationship with Mr. Hmimiche” and

that Mr. Hmimiche “clear[ly] received preferential treatment from [Director] Blake and [LTS]

Fyfe.” Smith Aff. ¶ Q6, EEO Investigation Report at 1365, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712

(D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-12. Ms. Smith emphasized how Mr. Hmimiche’s

qualifications were inferior to Dr. Coulibaly’s: “Whereas Dr[.] Coulibaly is highly qualified with

a Ph[.D] and . . . is a seasoned French language teacher with many many years of experience,

Mr. Hmimiche does not have the education or the teaching experience comparable to Dr[.]

Coulibaly’s.” Id. Yet, Ms. Smith observed, “Mr. Hmimiche’s teaching approach was never

questioned by either [LTS] Fyfe or [Director] Blake,” and Mr. Hmimiche later received tenure as

an FSI instructor. Id.

Evidence indicates that, at one point, Dr. Coulibaly complained to LTS Fyfe about a

change in his teaching schedule and accused FSI management of changing the schedule to

accommodate Mr. Hmimiche. See Lauterbach Aff. ¶ Q6, EEO Investigation Report at 1360,

Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-12 (discussing an email

Lewis v. Drug Enf’t Admin., 777 F. Supp. 2d 151, 159 (D.D.C. 2011) (citing Covad Commc’ns

Co. v. Bell Atl. Corp., 407 F.3d 1220, 1222 (D.C. Cir. 2005)) (“The court may take judicial

notice of public records from other court proceedings.”).

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LTS Fyfe sent in response to the complaint). And Dr. Coulibaly’s former colleague, language

instructor Marie-Paule Lauterbach, shared an office space with him and asserts that she saw an

email in which LTS Fyfe responded to Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint and criticized him by calling

him by the pejorative term “bean counter.” Id. ¶¶ Q1, Q6, EEO Investigation Report at 1359–60.

The email was supposedly “recalled almost immediately after [Dr. Coulibaly] had received it and

after he had shown it to [Ms. Lauterbach].” Id.

Conflict with Supervisor Laura Fyfe

Meanwhile, Dr. Coulibaly and his initial FSI supervisor, LTS Fyfe, began to experience

conflict over expectations for Dr. Coulibaly’s job responsibilities. LTS Fyfe recounts that, after

establishing Dr. Coulibaly’s “work commitments” on June 20, 2011, she met with Dr. Coulibaly

on July 8, 2011 for a performance discussion. Email from Laura Fyfe (Nov. 7, 2011), EEO

Investigation Report at 721, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF

No. 26-7. LTS Fyfe states that, during the discussion, she recommended that Dr. Coulibaly

“work on his teaching portfolio by developing a specific skill since he [didn’t] have pedagogical

training.” Id. To that end, LTS Fyfe states that she suggested that Dr. Coulibaly develop a

“reading lesson plan.” Id. In a later meeting, the record indicates that LTS Fyfe suggested that

the lesson plan goal was “based on student feedback that he was teaching without a lesson plan.”

Email from Ann Keller-Lally (Nov. 9, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 93, ECF No. 36-3.

Throughout the rest of 2011, LTS Fyfe and Dr. Coulibaly continued to experience

friction, though LTS Fyfe felt that their issues merely arose because “she [was] telling

[Dr. Coulibaly] things that he [didn’t] want to hear.” Id. LTS Fyfe reports that in advance of a

planned observation of Dr. Coulibaly’s class the following month, she requested class readings

from Dr. Coulibaly. Email from Laura Fyfe (Nov. 7, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 721

12

(noting LTS Fyfe’s message to Dr. Coulibaly on August 12, 2011). According to LTS Fyfe,

Dr. Coulibaly responded by stating that he felt that his students were not yet ready to read. See

id. (“He replied that his students were only in week 6, so he was not doing reading with them.”).

LTS Fyfe later opined that the reading delay was “out of the ordinary” in the French section,

where she stated that “teachers begin teaching reading starting in the first week with A level texts

varying from advertisements to menus.” Id.

According to LTS Fyfe, she observed Dr. Coulibaly’s class, as planned, on August 18,

2011. Id. She followed up with Dr. Coulibaly by email later that day and the next day. Id. at

721–22.7 In her August 19, 2011 email, LTS Fyfe told Dr. Coulibaly to “prepare a reading

lesson” for his class based on “the four P’s” method. See Email from Laura Fyfe to Tiemoko

Coulibaly (Aug. 19, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 733, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712

(D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7.

Five days later, on August 24, 2011, Dr. Coulibaly submitted his reading lesson plan to

LTS Fyfe.8 LTS Fyfe later characterized Dr. Coulibaly’s lesson plan as “a template for writing a

lesson plan—not an actual lesson plan.” Email from Laura Fyfe (Nov. 7, 2011), EEO

Investigation Report at 722. LTS Fyfe states that she told Dr. Coulibaly during the following

week that the plan was “a beginning” and then asked Dr. Coulibaly to make improvements—

namely, to include a specific article for reading and to “address some of the specifics of the

7

See Email from Laura Fyfe to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Aug. 18, 2011), EEO Investigation

Report at 734, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7; Email

from Laura Fyfe to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Aug. 19, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 733,

Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7.

8

See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly to Laura Fyfe (Aug. 24, 2011), EEO Investigation

Report at 732–33, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7; see

also Email from Laura Fyfe (Nov. 7, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 722 (reproducing what

LTS Fyfe alleges was the document that Dr. Coulibaly sent her).

13

article and the timing and level of the lesson.” See id. at 721–23 (reproducing an email from

August 30, 2011). According to LTS Fyfe, Dr. Coulibaly responded later that day and requested

clarification about whether his lesson plan was satisfactory. See id. at 723 (“I would be grateful

if you could tell me if this ‘beginning’ is appropriate or not for you, if it is good or not, so I could

try to improve it.”). LTS Fyfe claims that she responded to Dr. Coulibaly’s request by giving

him “specific questions.” See id.

LTS Fyfe states that she again requested a reading lesson plan more than a month later,

on October 3, 2011. Id. Two days later, Dr. Coulibaly responded by forwarding LTS Fyfe the

lesson plan that he had previously sent her in August. See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly to

Laura Fyfe (Oct. 5, 2011, 8:55 AM), EEO Investigation Report at 732–33, Coulibaly v. Kerry,

No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7. LTS Fyfe then clarified that she found the

August lesson plan to be unsatisfactory. See Email from Laura Fyfe to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Oct.

5, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 732, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4,

2016), ECF No. 26-7 (“[W]hen I wrote, ‘this is a beginning,’ I was suggesting that [the August

lesson plan was] not complete and [that] it needed to be revised.” (emphasis in original)). In

response, Dr. Coulibaly expressed that he was “confused and unclear about what to do exactly”

and stated that he “would appreciate” a time to meet with LTS Fyfe for clarification. See Email

from Tiemoko Coulibaly to Laura Fyfe (Oct. 5, 2011, 12:36 PM), EEO Investigation Report at

731–32, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7.

LTS Fyfe states that she attempted to meet with Dr. Coulibaly on October 12, 2011, but

that she “made a mistake about his teaching schedule,” so no meeting occurred. See Email from

Laura Fyfe (Nov. 7, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 724. LTS Fyfe asserts that, instead, she

delegated the matter to another FSI employee, Dora Chanesman. See id.; Email from Laura Fyfe

14

to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Nov. 4, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 731, Coulibaly v. Kerry,

No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7.

The next month, on November 4, 2011, LTS Fyfe contacted Dr. Coulibaly again about

the reading lesson plan and wrote that “[s]ince [she and Dr. Coulibaly had] not been able to set

up a time to go over writing a lesson plan, [she had] asked Dora Chanesman [to] assist [him]

with the process.” Email from Laura Fyfe to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Nov. 4, 2011, 9:57 AM), EEO

Investigation Report at 731. Dr. Coulibaly responded later that day with his interpretation of

LTS Fyfe’s message: “This suggests in my mind that I have refused or I have rejected to ‘set up

a time to go over writing a lesson plan.’” Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly to Laura Fyfe (Nov. 4,

2011, 7:11 PM), EEO Investigation Report at 728, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C.

Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7. Disputing the idea that he was at fault for their inability to meet,

Dr. Coulibaly emphasized that he had “never refused to meet with [LTS Fyfe] and [that he had]

never refused to do what [she] requested.” Id.

Communications with Second-Line Supervisors

A few days later, on November 7, 2011, Dr. Coulibaly wrote to Acting Division Director

Ann Keller-Lally and expressed that he was “feeling hostility” from LTS Fyfe, that he believed

he was “a victim of psychological abuse, retaliation and discrimination,” and that “this is a case

of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress to an employee.” Email from

Tiemoko Coulibaly to Ann Keller-Lally (Nov. 7, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 727,

Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7. In response, Acting

Director Keller-Lally provided Dr. Coulibaly with the procedures to report alleged

discrimination, but she also suggested a face-to-face meeting with Dr. Coulibaly and with

LTS Fyfe to discuss the conflict. Email from Ann Keller-Lally to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Nov. 7,

15

2011, 5:01 PM), EEO Investigation Report at 725–26, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C.

Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-7.

That meeting occurred the next day, on November 8, 2011. See Email from Ann

Keller-Lally (Nov. 9, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 754–56, ECF No. 36-3 (memorializing

the conversation from the meeting in writing). During the meeting, Acting Director

Keller-Lally’s notes indicate that she met with both LTS Fyfe and Dr. Coulibaly, that

Dr. Coulibaly expressed his confusion with respect to LTS Fyfe’s instructions, and that LTS Fyfe

felt that her instructions were clear. See id. at 754–55. In particular, Acting Director

Keller-Lally’s notes indicate that Dr. Coulibaly found LTS Fyfe’s “four P’s” method confusing,

because another colleague had told Dr. Coulibaly that the method “was not particularly

applicable with regard to reading lessons.” Id. at 754. According to Acting Director

Keller-Lally’s notes, LTS Fyfe acknowledged “[l]ater in the meeting” that Dr. Coulibaly was

“rightly confused.” Id. Apart from the “four P’s” method, Dr. Coulibaly also reportedly

expressed that he felt “hostility” from LTS Fyfe, and that “he was sure whatever he proposed

would be rejected.” Id. at 754–55. In response, LTS Fyfe reportedly stated that her goal was to

help Dr. Coulibaly to “do the best he could” and felt that she had simply “said some things that

[Dr. Coulibaly] did not want to hear.” Id. at 756. According to Acting Director Kellar-Lally’s

notes, LTS Fyfe ultimately “offered to drop the reading lesson plan project,” and instead

requested that Dr. Coulibaly attend formal trainings. Id. at 755–56.

The next day, Acting Director Keller-Lally sent her notes documenting the meeting to

LTS Fyfe and Dr. Coulibaly. See generally id. at 754–56. She told LTS Fyfe and Dr. Coulibaly

to “[p]lease feel free to respond with any remarks or corrections based on [their] recollection of

what we discussed.” Id. at 754. The following week, on November 15, 2011, Dr. Coulibaly

16

provided voluminous comments in response to Acting Director Keller-Lally’s notes. See Email

from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Nov. 15, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 743–49, ECF No. 36-3.

Dr. Coulibaly’s response alleged that, during the meeting, LTS Fyfe had accused him of

“‘discrimination’ ‘against’ her because of her ‘background’ and because her ‘former husband’

was ‘Ivorian’ (like [Dr. Coulibaly]).” Id. at 744; see also id. at 748 (alluding to a point during

the meeting in which LTS Fyfe “became very emotional and . . . started crying,” and in which

she mentioned the Ivory Coast “and her former husband, an [Ivorian]”). His response also

accused LTS Fyfe of “knowingly and intentionally act[ing] . . . in bad faith to create false

excuses to . . . punish [Dr. Coulibaly],” of “retaliation,” and of “character assassination.” Id. at

745–46. Reacting to Dr. Coulibaly’s comments, LTS Fyfe asserted that there was “no basis for

his [accusations],” though she admitted that she “was brought to tears” and “did ask

[Dr. Coulibaly] if he had an ax to grind against [her] because of [her] ex.” Email from Laura

Fyfe to Debra Blake (Nov. 15, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 743, ECF No. 36-3.

The record indicates that, meanwhile, on November 9, 2011, Dr. Coulibaly had requested

a change in supervisor. See Blake Aff. ¶ Q15, Defs.’ Facts Ex. D, ECF No. 30-4 (“On 11/9/11

[Dr. Coulibaly] first made a request for a new [s]upervisor.”). FSI management appears to have

decided to delay any change of supervisor because only two months remained in the reporting

period; and, a change would have left any new supervisor without adequate observation time

before year-end performance ratings. See id.; Keller-Lally Aff. ¶ Q15, Defs.’ Facts Ex. KK, ECF

No. 30-37.

On November 16, 2011, the day after Dr. Coulibaly and LTS Fyfe responded to Acting

Director Keller-Lally’s notes, Division Director Debra Blake, having returned to the office, met

with Dr. Coulibaly to address his accusations. See Blake Mem. (Nov. 15, 2011), EEO

17

Investigation Report at 773–74, ECF No. 36-4.9 In her notes documenting this conversation,

Director Blake claimed that her purpose in calling the meeting was to determine “precisely what

actions” Dr. Coulibaly felt were evidence of LTS Fyfe’s “discrimination and hostility.” Id. at

773. According to Director Blake, Dr. Coulibaly was initially “reluctant” to articulate specific

allegations of discrimination and hostility, but he then cited the fact that LTS Fyfe’s “former

husband shared the same country of origin” as Dr. Coulibaly, as well as allegations that

LTS Fyfe treated Dr. Coulibaly unfairly in the way that she supervised him. See id. Director

Blake shared her notes of the meeting with Dr. Coulibaly the next week. See Email from Debra

Blake to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Nov. 22, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 764–65, ECF No. 36-

3.

The day after Dr. Coulibaly received Director Blake’s notes, Dr. Coulibaly responded

with lengthy comments that expressed his views on the conversation. See Email from Tiemoko

Coulibaly (Nov. 23, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 764, ECF No. 36-3; Coulibaly Mem.

(Nov. 23, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 766–72, ECF No. 36-4. In his comments,

Dr. Coulibaly repeatedly expressed that he believed that Director Blake was “simply trying to

protect” LTS Fyfe: he wrote that Director Blake “had already decided to totally support”

LTS Fyfe and had become “a zealous lawyer” for LTS Fyfe during the meeting. See Coulibaly

Mem. (Nov. 23, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 766–72.

9

Director Blake actually dated her memorandum November 15, 2011, see Blake Mem.

(Nov. 15, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 773–74, but, as Dr. Coulibaly noted in his

response to Director Blake’s memorandum, the meeting in fact took place on November 16,

2011, see Coulibaly Mem. (Nov. 23, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 766, ECF No. 36-4.

See also Email from Debra Blake to Laura Fyfe (Nov. 16, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at

757, ECF No. 36-3 (stating that Director Blake intended to meet with Dr. Coulibaly that day).

18

That same day, Director Blake met with both Dr. Coulibaly and LTS Fyfe to facilitate

their working relationship going forwarded. See Email from Laura Fyfe (Nov. 23, 2011,

3:12 PM), EEO Investigation Report at 761–62, ECF No. 36-3 (memorializing the meeting). At

the meeting, LTS Fyfe reports that she told Dr. Coulibaly that “the administration ha[d] ruled”

that she would continue as Dr. Coulibaly’s supervisor, even though he had requested a change in

supervisor. Id. at 762. LTS Fyfe states that she also expressed “her willingness to move forward

in the supervisory role” and that she and Dr. Coulibaly “both agreed to work productively with

each other.” Id. Dr. Coulibaly later emailed LTS Fyfe to clarify the procedure for changing

supervisors. See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Nov. 23, 2011, 4:35 PM), EEO Investigation

Report at 761, ECF No. 36-4. LTS Fyfe responded by informing Dr. Coulibaly that “[t]he

decision was made to keep [her] as [his] supervisor until at least the end of this year (December

31, 2011)” and that she had “not received approval to change [his] supervisor . . . after that

point.” Email from Laura Fyfe (Nov. 23, 2011, 5:33 PM), EEO Investigation Report at 761,

ECF No. 36-3.

A few weeks later, on December 14, 2011, Director Blake and LTS Fyfe met again with

Dr. Coulibaly to address a new point of contention: his alleged failure to submit required weekly

syllabi for a period of three weeks.10 According to Director Blake, Dr. Coulibaly acknowledged

that he had not submitted the weekly syllabi, but claimed that he had been too busy. Blake Mem.

(Dec. 14, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 787, ECF No. 36-4. Director Blake further reports

that Dr. Coulibaly continued to allege that “he felt discriminated against and felt he was being

treated unfairly,” particularly when compared to “one other instructor who entered on duty on

10

See Email from Debra Blake (Dec. 15, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 786, ECF

No. 36-4 (noting the meeting that took place the day before); Blake Mem. (Dec. 14, 2011), EEO

Investigation Report at 787, ECF No. 36-4.

19

the same date.” Id. Dr. Coulibaly commented the next day that, at their meeting, he had “clearly

insisted on the issue of discrimination” and that he had noted “the different standards between

teacher Hmimiche AitMouloud (‘Mimiche’)” and himself. Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Dec.

15, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 785–86, ECF No. 36-4. Dr. Coulibaly also states that he

had questioned whether Mr. Hmimiche had been held to the syllabus requirement. Id.

EEO Complaint

Around the time that he was communicating with Director Blake, Dr. Coulibaly made

contact with the Department of State’s Office of Civil Rights and filed an informal Equal

Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) complaint.11 Dr. Coulibaly filed a formal EEO complaint on

December 20, 2011. See Compl. ¶ 95; Formal Compl. of Discrimination, EEO Investigation

Report at 62–63, ECF No. 36-3. The complaint alleged that FSI management had discriminated

against Dr. Coulibaly on the basis of race, color, and national origin and had committed

“reprisal” against him. See Formal Compl. of Discrimination, EEO Investigation Report at

62–64, ECF No. 36-3. The complaint brought up issues relating both to Dr. Coulibaly’s recent

conflicts with his supervisors and to Dr. Coulibaly’s allegations relating to events in 2009. See

id. at 64; see also supra Part II.A.4–5 (discussing events Dr. Coulibaly alleges occurred in 2009).

The Office of Civil Rights filed Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint under EEO Case Number

DOS-F-025-12. See Letter from Jacqueline Canton to Tiemoko Coulibaly, EEO Investigation

Report at 58, ECF No. 36-3.

11

See Compl. ¶ 95 (stating that Dr. Coulibaly filed an informal EEO complaint on

November 23, 2011); EEO Counselor’s Report, EEO Investigation Report at 68–73, ECF

No. 36-3 (showing that Dr. Coulibaly made contact with an EEO Counselor at the Department of

State on November 18, 2011); Email from Debra Blake (Nov. 28, 2011), EEO Investigation

Report at 776, ECF No. 36-4 (discussing “the EEO complaint filed by Tiemoko Coulibaly last

week”).

20

Performance Appraisal Report

Later in December 2011, Dr. Coulibaly received a Performance Appraisal Report

(“PAR”) from LTS Fyfe that noted “several issues” with Dr. Coulibaly’s performance.12

LTS Fyfe noted that Dr. Coulibaly was “continu[ing] to attempt to repair” his performance with

respect to those issues. PAR Report by Laura Fyfe, EEO Investigation Report at 790, ECF

No. 36-4.

In response, Dr. Coulibaly sent an email to Director Blake, LTS Fyfe, and others in FSI

management, in which he alleged that the PAR was “evidence of retaliation” and that Director

Blake and LTS Fyfe could not “separate performance evaluation from discrimination and

retaliation against” Dr. Coulibaly. Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Dec. 27, 2011), EEO

Investigation Report at 788–89, ECF No. 36-4. Dr. Coulibaly’s email accused his supervisors of

omitting “the important issues of discrimination and retaliation” in the PAR, given that,

according to Dr. Coulibaly, “these disputes clearly influenced [their] performance report.” Id. at

789.

Director Blake responded by telling Dr. Coulibaly that he should pursue his

discrimination allegations “through the proper channels” and that LTS Fyfe, as his supervisor,

“reported on [his] performance as required.” Email from Debra Blake to Tiemoko Coulibaly

(Dec. 28, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at 795–96, ECF No. 36-4. She also stated that

Dr. Coulibaly had “been repeatedly instructed to refrain from this line of accusations” while

discussing his work performance. Id. She opined that, therefore, his continued accusations were

“tantamount to insubordination.” Id. Continuing his disagreement with Director Blake,

12

See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Dec. 27, 2011), EEO Investigation Report at

788–89, ECF No. 36-4; see also PAR Report by Laura Fyfe, EEO Investigation Report at 790,

ECF No. 36-4 (discussing Dr. Coulibaly’s lesson plans and weekly syllabi).

21

Dr. Coulibaly responded by stating that “[t]here is no insubordination when a teacher denounces

discrimination and retaliation,” and he reiterated that the PAR “was simply discrimination and

retaliation.” Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly to Debra Blake (Dec. 28, 2011, 4:09 PM), EEO

Investigation Report at 795, ECF No. 36-4. In this vein, Dr. Coulibaly alleged that Director

Blake and LTS Fyfe viewed Dr. Coulibaly as “their target” and did not require other teachers—

such as Mr. Hmimiche—to submit syllabi in order to fulfill job responsibilities. Email from

Timoko Coulibaly to Debra Blake (Dec. 28, 2011, 3:55 PM), EEO Investigation Report at

96–97, ECF No. 36-3 (emphasis omitted).

Event for FSI’s French Language and Culture Instructors

The next day, on December 29, 2011, Dr. Coulibaly attended an event for FSI’s French

Language and Culture instructors. See Casteuble Mem. (Jan. 24, 2012), EEO Investigation

Report at 815, ECF No. 36-4; see also Cazeau Aff., EEO Investigation Report at 1339–40,

Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-12. Evidence in the record

shows different views regarding the purpose of the meeting and the nature of Dr. Coulibaly’s

actions during the meeting.

Defendants adopt the position taken in a memorandum written by LTS Phillipe

Casteuble, who stated that the meeting was a “training workshop provided to all French

Language and Culture Instructors” about “specifications for writing the weekly syllabi.”

Casteuble Mem. (Jan. 24, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 815; see also Defs.’ Facts

¶¶ 17–21 (adopting LTS Casteuble’s view). LTS Casteuble’s memorandum also accuses

Dr. Coulibaly of “inappropriate conduct” and comments that “were off topic” during the

meeting: Dr. Coulibaly allegedly “stood up and loudly began to speak about the ‘No Fear Act’

and discrimination and retaliation against [him] on the part of the French Supervisors,” and he

22

allegedly “continued to stand up and loudly protest” despite LTS Casteuble’s request for

Dr. Coulibaly to sit down. Casteuble Mem. (Jan. 24, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 815.

But Dr. Coulibaly’s colleague, Elder Cazeau, took a different view of the meeting.

Mr. Cazeau recalls that the meeting was merely a “section meeting that had been organized to

discuss lesson plans.” Cazeau Aff., EEO Investigation Report at 1339. Mr. Cazeau also

recounts that Dr. Coulibaly “was publicly humiliated and silenced by his supervisor who told

him that he could not use the meeting as a platform to air his personal issues.” Id. at 1339–40.

In particular, Mr. Cazeau states that “Dr. Coulibaly started saying that he felt discriminated

against because of his lesson plan,” that Dr. Coulibaly’s supervisor “cut him off,” and that

“Dr. Coulibaly remained silent” after that. Id. at 1440.

Conflict with New Supervisor Philippe Casteuble

In January 2012, LTS Casteuble replaced LTS Fyfe as Dr. Coulibaly’s supervisor. See

Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Jan. 27, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 813–14, ECF

No. 36-4 (indicating that LTS Casteuble’s first day as Dr. Coulibaly’s new supervisor was on

January 24, 2012); Casteuble Aff. ¶ Q3, Defs.’ Facts Ex. J, ECF No. 30-10 (indicating that

Dr. Coulibaly started reporting to LTS Casteuble in January 2012). On January 24, 2012,

LTS Casteuble met with Dr. Coulibaly with the expressed intention of “talk[ing] about

expectations.” See Email from Philippe Casteuble to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Jan. 23, 2012), EEO

Investigation Report at 814, ECF No. 36-4.13 But, during the meeting, LTS Casteuble presented

Dr. Coulibaly with a memorandum that outlined an “informal counseling session” regarding

Dr. Coulibaly’s conduct at the December 29, 2011 meeting and that reprimanded him for his

13

See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Jan. 27, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at

813–14 (indicating that their meeting occurred on January 24, 2012).

23

conduct at that meeting.14 LTS Casteuble’s memorandum surprised Dr. Coulibaly, who had

believed that the January 24 meeting “was only about expectations on teaching.” Email from

Tiemoko Coulibaly (Jan. 27, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 813–14. Dr. Coulibaly was

further surprised by the fact that a human resources representative was present for the meeting.15

That same day, LTS Casteuble emailed Dr. Coulibaly and thanked him for submitting his

weekly syllabus. See Email from Philippe Casteuble to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Jan. 24, 2012), EEO

Investigation Report at 829–30, ECF No. 36-4. In his email, LTS Casteuble also asked

Dr. Coulibaly a list of questions regarding the syllabus. See id. (asking, among other things,

whether “there is a theme” that Dr. Coulibaly planned to explore, and how an activity would help

Dr. Coulibaly’s students “reach the professional proficiency level”).

Some time later, LTS Casteuble again brought up the issue of Dr. Coulibaly’s weekly

syllabus. On February 2, 2012, LTS Casteuble emailed Dr. Coulibaly and said that, after looking

at Dr. Coulibaly’s weekly syllabus, he needed “to talk about it” with Dr. Coulibaly. Email from

Philippe Casteuble to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Feb. 2, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 820, ECF

No. 36-4. LTS Casteuble suggested a meeting early the next morning. See id. Because

Dr. Coulibaly “was very surprised by what happened in [LTS Casteuble’s] office at the meeting

of January 24, 2012,” Dr. Coulibaly asked to schedule the proposed meeting to later in the day so

that he could arrange for a union representative to be present. Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly

14

See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Jan. 27, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 813

(“I was surprised when Philippe gave me his letter . . . reprimanding me for an incident of

December 29, 2011.”); see also Casteuble Mem. (Jan. 24, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at

815, ECF No. 36-4 (reproducing LTS Casteuble’s memorandum).

15

See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Jan. 27, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 813

(indicating Dr. Coulibaly’s surprise at Phuong Nguyen’s presence); see also Email from Phuong

Nguyen to James North (Feb. 3, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 821, ECF No. 36-4

(indicating that Phuong Nyugen was a “Supervisory HR Specialist” at FSI).

24

(Feb. 2, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 819, ECF No. 36-4. After confirming with his own

superiors that it was appropriate for a union representative to attend the meeting, LTS Casteuble

proposed a meeting on February 6, 2012 and informed Dr. Coulibaly that a union representative

could attend.16 But the February 6, 2012 meeting ultimately did not occur: even though

Dr. Coulibaly emailed LTS Casteuble to confirm the meeting time on February 6, LTS Casteuble

claimed that, based on prior communications, he “could not know if the date and time was

accepted, by [Dr. Coulibaly] and by the union representative.”17

That same day, LTS Casteuble also wrote Dr. Coulibaly a separate email that reminded

Dr. Coulibaly about LTS Casteuble’s January 24, 2012 questions about Dr. Coulibaly’s weekly

syllabus. See Email from Philippe Casteuble to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Feb. 6, 2012, 8:29 AM),

EEO Investigation Report at 829, ECF No. 36-4 (“This is a friendly reminder that as of today I

have not received any response on the 14 questions I asked . . . .”). In response, Dr. Coulibaly

asserted that he had responded to LTS Casteuble’s questions by requesting a meeting with him,

and that LTS Casteuble “never responded” to Dr. Coulibaly’s request. See Email from Tiemoko

Coulibaly (Feb. 6, 2012, 9:19 AM), EEO Investigation Report at 827–28, ECF No. 36-4 (“[A]

meeting would be more appropriate to answer your ‘14 questions.’”). Dr. Coulibaly also sent a

separate email to LTS Casteuble, in which he noted that all of his students had passed their

16

See Email from Philippe Casteuble to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Feb. 3, 2012, 12:13 PM),

EEO Investigation Report at 833, ECF No. 36-4; Email from Phillipe Casteuble to Tiemoko

Coulibaly (Feb. 3, 2012, 1:26 PM), EEO Investigation Report at 832, ECF No. 36-4.

17

See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly to Philippe Casteuble (Feb. 6, 2012, 8:32 AM),

EEO Investigation Report at 832, ECF No. 36-4 (writing to confirm the 9:00 AM meeting on

February 6, 2012); Email from Philippe Casteuble to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Feb. 6, 2012,

8:51 AM), EEO Investigation Report at 831, ECF No. 36-4 (opining that LTS Casteuble did not

know whether the 9:00 AM time was acceptable); Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly to Philippe

Casteuble (Feb. 6, 2012, 9:08 AM), EEO Investigation Report at 831, ECF No. 36-4 (indicating

that the 9:00 AM meeting did not occur).

25

recent tests, forwarded complimentary remarks from one of his students, and opined that

“[n]othing [was] wrong with [his] syllabus.” See Email from Tiemoko Coulibaly (Feb. 6, 2012,

9:34 AM), EEO Investigation Report at 839–41, ECF No. 36-4. In light of his students’ success,

Dr. Coulibaly characterized the criticisms of his syllabi as harassment. See id. (“Instead of

congratulating me, you are constantly harassing me with [the] Syllabus issue as Debra and Laura

Fyfe did [for] the last 6 months.”).

But despite Dr. Coulibaly’s communications with LTS Casteuble, Dr. Coulibaly received

another counseling memorandum on February 10, 2012, which again criticized Dr. Coulibaly’s

syllabi. See Casteuble Mem. (Feb. 10, 2012), Defs.’ Facts Ex. P, ECF No. 30-16 (reproducing

the memorandum). Perhaps because of the counseling memorandum, Dr. Coulibaly provided his

answers to LTS Casteuble’s January 24, 2012 questions that day. See Email from Tiemoko

Coulibaly (Feb. 10, 2012), EEO Investigation Report at 902–04, ECF No. 36-4. Dr. Coulibaly

also requested a sample satisfactory syllabus. See id. at 904 (“I would appreciate if you could

provide an example of a perfect syllabus you like so I can follow it line by line.”). Although

LTS Casteuble expressed privately to Director Blake and LTS Fyfe that he found Dr. Coulibaly’s

answers unsatisfactory, he later provided Dr. Coulibaly with additional feedback and a sample

syllabus to reference.18

Absence from Work

Dr. Coulibaly alleges that the discrimination at work caused him to become ill and that, at

the direction of his doctor, he took leave. See Compl. ¶ 175; Letter from Willie Hamlin to

18

See Email from Philippe Casteuble (Feb. 13, 2012, 8:13 AM), EEO Investigation

Report at 895, ECF No. 36-4 (“I see a laundry list of activities but I still don’t see how they

reinforce each other or how they are linked with his teaching objectives.”); Email from Philippe

Casteuble to Tiemoko Coulibaly (Feb. 13, 2012, 2:57 PM), EEO Investigation Report at 901,

ECF No. 36-4 (providing Dr. Coulibaly with feedback and a sample syllabus).

26

Catherine Russell at 2, Pl.’s Resp. Ex., at 146, ECF No. 36-2 (“It is recommended that

[Dr.] Coulibaly not return to work prior to March 26, 2012.”).19 FSI human resources documents

reflect that, beginning on Monday February 15, 2012 and until Friday March 23, 2012,

Dr. Coulibaly took a combination of sick leave, annual leave, and leave without pay for six

weeks. See Defs.’ Facts. Ex. Q, at 1315, 1317, ECF No. 30-17.

Termination

On April 2, 2012, FSI terminated Dr. Coulibaly’s employment, effective April 6, 2012,

because of his “inappropriate interactions with [his] supervisors, and [his] failure to follow

established procedures for requesting leave.” Letter from Catherine Russell to Tiemoko

Coulibaly (Apr. 2, 2012), Pl.’s Resp. Ex. 6, at 25, ECF No. 36-2.

C. Subsequent Procedural History

After Dr. Coulibaly’s termination, the Department of State’s Office of Civil Rights

continued to process Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination allegations filed under EEO Case Number

DOS-F-025-12. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. II, ECF No. 30-35 (reproducing letters from the Office to

Dr. Coulibaly about his claims). The Office of Civil Rights allowed Dr. Coulibaly to amend his

claims to include allegations of wrongdoing relating to his leave requests and to his termination.

See id. at 8–13. But the Office of Civil Rights dismissed Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination

allegations relating to 2009 events as untimely filed. See id. at 6–7.

Dr. Coulibaly also brought other claims before the Department of State and other

agencies—mostly claims that sought to bring to light additional wrongdoing that Dr. Coulibaly

felt occurred in the handling of his discrimination allegations. Thus, for instance, on August 20,

19

Because the initial exhibits appended to Dr. Coulibaly’s opposition brief are not

consecutively paginated, the Court also includes the page number automatically generated by

ECF.

27

2013—after Dr. Coulibaly’s case had apparently escalated to the Merit Systems Protection Board

(“MSPB”)—the Department of State’s Office of Civil Rights dismissed Dr. Coulibaly’s separate

discrimination claim filed under EEO Case Number DOS-F-119-13. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. V,

ECF No. 30-22 (reproducing the Office’s dismissal letter). That claim had alleged

discrimination based on the fact that the Department had provided the MSPB with the position

description for Dr. Coulibaly that was dated June 15, 2007. See id. at 1; see also supra Part

II.A.3 (discussing that 2007 position description, and the competing views about its origin and

purpose). The Department held that Dr. Coulibaly should have filed this claim with the MSPB

itself, and accordingly dismissed it. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. V at 1.

In 2014, Dr. Coulibaly brought additional discrimination allegations against the

Department of State, which the Department’s Office of Civil Rights filed under EEO Case

Number DOS-0207-14. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. W ¶¶ 24, 39, ECF No. 30-23 (discussing

Dr. Coulibaly’s allegations in the EEO Counselor’s Report); Defs.’ Facts Ex. X, ECF No. 30-24

(discussing the allegations in a letter filed under EEO Case Number DOS-0207-14). This time,

Dr. Coulibaly claimed that the Department conspired with the MSPB to dismiss whistleblower

claims that he had brought before the MSPB. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. W, ¶ 39. The Office of Civil

Rights dismissed this claim on June 24, 2014, and held that Dr. Coulibaly should have also

lodged this claim with the MSPB itself, instead of the Department. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. X

(reproducing the dismissal letter).

Lastly, on October 13, 2015, the Department of State dismissed yet another set of

Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination claims, filed under EEO Case Number DOS-0232-15. See Pl.’s

28

Resp. Ex., at 56–60, ECF No. 36-2 (reproducing the dismissal letter). 20 In those claims,

Dr. Coulibaly had alleged that the Department had failed to provide him with a reasonable

accommodation for his supervisor and had improperly handled the processing of his medical

documentation. See id. at 56, ECF No. 36-2. The Department dismissed the claim because it

held that he had not timely brought his claim to an EEO counselor and because his claim failed

to “allege present harm to a term, condition, or privilege of employment inflicted on the basis of

[a protected class].” Id. at 56–58, ECF No. 36-2.

Apart from discrimination allegations raised before the Department of State,

Dr. Coulibaly also began filing claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) in 2014. In

that year, Dr. Coulibaly filed five FTCA claims against the Department of State, seeking

damages in the amounts of $10,000,000; $50,000,000; $50,000,000; $55,000,000; and

$60,000,000. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. C, at 5–8, ECF No. 30-25;21 id. Ex. CC, ECF No. 30-29. He

filed three FTCA claims against members of the MSPB, seeking damages in the amounts of

$5,000,000; $55,000,000; and $60,000,000. See id. Ex. C, at 2–3; id. Ex. EE, ECF No. 30-31.

And Dr. Coulibaly filed two FTCA claims against the EEOC, seeking damages in the amounts of

$25,000,000 and $50,000,000. Id. Ex. C, at 4; id. Ex. DD, ECF No. 30-30.

As further background for the case before the Court now, Dr. Coulibaly notes that in

March 2013, the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of State (OIG) conducted an

investigation of the French section within FSI. Compl. ¶ 82. The OIG determined that FSI had

“a significant number of Equal Employment Opportunity . . . and harassment-related

20

Because the initial exhibits appended to Dr. Coulibaly’s opposition brief are not

consecutively paginated, the Court also includes the page number automatically generated by

ECF.

21

Because the various FTCA claims compiled in Defendants’ Exhibit C are not

consecutively paginated, the Court cites to the ECF numbers automatically generated by ECF.

29

complaints.” Defs.’ Reply Pl.’s Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss or Summ. J. (“Defs.’ Reply”) Att. F,

at 7, ECF No. 42-6 (reproducing the relevant excerpt of the report). See generally Office of

Inspector Gen., U.S. Dep’t of State & Broad. Bd. of Governors, Inspection of the Foreign

Service Institute (Mar. 2013), https://oig.state.gov/system/files/209366.pdf (reproducing the

entire report, but with some portions redacted).22

Dr. Coulibaly claims that he first filed the present litigation on November 15, 2013.

Compl. ¶ 162; see also ECF No. 1 (showing that Dr. Coulibaly’s initial complaint was stamped

“Received” in November 2013, but that the stamp was later crossed out). But that the complaint

was not docketed until February 10, 2014. See ECF No. 1 (showing that the initial complaint

was stamped “Filed” on February 10, 2014). In a pre-answer motion, Defendants move to

dismiss the complaint or, in the alternative, for summary judgment. See Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss or,

in the Alt., for Summ. J., ECF No. 30. Combined with his opposition brief, Dr. Coulibaly has

filed a motion for leave to file a fourth amended complaint. See Pl.’s Resp., ECF No. 36.

Dr. Coulibaly also later filed a motion to add newly acquired evidence to the record. See Pl.’s

Mot. Add Newly Acquired Evid., ECF No. 39.

III. ANALYSIS

Before the Court addresses the merits of the parties’ respective motions, the Court

addresses Defendants’ suggestion that the Court strike Dr. Coulibaly’s opposition brief.

22

Dr. Coulibaly requests that this Court require the Department of State to submit the full

report on the record. Compl. ¶ 90. Given that almost all of the report is available in the public

record and given Dr. Coulibaly’s inability to draw any causal link between the report and his

purported claims, the Court sees no reason to force such a disclosure at this time. This issue can

be revisited during discovery on Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination and retaliation claims.

30

A. Length of Dr. Coulibaly’s Opposition Brief

In their reply brief, Defendants suggest that the Court strike Dr. Coulibaly’s opposition

brief and claim that the extreme length of his submission violates Local Civil Rule 7(e). See

Defs.’ Reply at 1, ECF No. 42. Defendants cite OAO Alfa Bank v. Center for Public Integrity,

387 F. Supp. 2d 20, 39 (D.D.C. 2005), as support for striking the excessive pages. But

Defendants do not mention that the OAO court granted the noncompliant party leave to amend

and, later, reconsidered the amended motion. Id. Further, the parties in OAO were represented

by counsel and, therefore, did not receive the expanded deference afforded to a pro se plaintiff

such as Dr. Coulibaly. See id. at 22–23, 39. Thus, OAO at most stands for the proposition that

the Court should offer Dr. Coulibaly an opportunity to revise and resubmit his opposition brief.

Defendants also cite Corson & Gruman Co. v. NLRB, 899 F.2d 47, 50–51 n.4 (D.C. Cir.

1990), as analogous support. However, that case is also distinguishable because it did not

involve a pro se plaintiff. See id. at 48. Consequently, because Dr. Coulibaly is pro se, the

Court will decline to strike Dr. Coulibaly’s opposition brief but will warn Dr. Coulibaly to

comply with this Court’s rule on briefing length limits in the future. If he does not, the Court

will exercise its authority to strike any future briefs that go over the applicable limits.

B. Tort and Contract Claims

The Court now turns to the merits of Defendants’ motion to dismiss or, in the alternative,

for summary judgment. The Court addresses Defendants’ arguments in a few groups, roughly

divided based on the laws under which Dr. Coulibaly’s claims might reasonably fall. The Court

first addresses Dr. Coulibaly’s tort and contract claims, before turning to his claims under Title

VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act, the First Amendment of the

Constitution, and District of Columbia local statutes.

31

The following counts of the complaint appear to allege tort or contract claims:

(1) Count 7, which alleges intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress,

see Compl. ¶¶ 108–09;

(2) Count 8, which alleges active concealment of Dr. Coulibaly’s 2007 hiring and

contends that the concealment is evidence of misrepresentation and fraud, see id.

¶¶ 110–11;

(3) Count 9, for promissory fraud, id. ¶¶ 112–13;

(4) Count 10, which appears to allege a breach of an implied covenant of good faith

and fair dealing, see id. ¶¶ 114–15;

(5) Count 11, which alleges promissory estoppel, id. ¶¶ 116–17;

(6) Count 16, which broadly alleges that Dr. Coulibaly timely exhausted his FTCA

claims for infliction of emotional distress, see id. ¶¶ 143–64;

(7) The first of the two counts labeled “Count 19” in Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint,

which alleges defamation and character assassination, id. ¶¶ 184–92; and

(8) Count 21, which alleges conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, infliction of

emotional distress, and personal injury under the FTCA, see id. ¶¶ 207–08.

Before turning to the merits of these claims, however, the Court reviews the legal standard for

Defendants’ motion to dismiss them.

Legal Standards

Defendants’ arguments about the tort and contract counts rest on jurisdictional grounds,

on Dr. Coulibaly’s failure to state a claim, and on insufficient service of process. The Court

accordingly applies the legal standards for motions to dismiss for lack of subject-matter

jurisdiction under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), for insufficient service of process

32

under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5), and for failure to state a claim under Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).23

a. Rule 12(b)(1)

Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, and the law presumes that “a cause lies

outside this limited jurisdiction.” Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466, 489 (2004) (quoting Kokkonen v.

Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994)). It is the plaintiff's burden to establish

that the court has subject matter jurisdiction. Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 561

(1992). To determine whether jurisdiction exists, a court may “consider the complaint

supplemented by undisputed facts evidenced in the record, or the complaint supplemented by

undisputed facts plus the court's resolution of disputed facts.” Coal. for Underground Expansion

v. Mineta, 333 F.3d 193, 198 (D.C. Cir. 2003).

The United States “is immune from suit save as it consents to be sued, and the terms of

consent to be sued in any court define that court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.” Fornaro v.

James, 416 F.3d 63, 66 (D.C. Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting United

States v. Sherwood, 312 U.S. 584, 586 (1941)). “If sovereign immunity has not been waived, a

claim is subject to dismissal under Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.” Clayton

v. Dist. of Columbia, 931 F. Supp. 2d 192, 200 (D.D.C. 2013) (citing FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S.

471, 475 (1994) (“Sovereign immunity is jurisdictional in nature.”)). Courts “may not find a

waiver unless Congress’ intent is ‘unequivocally expressed’ in the relevant statute.” Hubbard v.

23

Defendants’ motion also appears to seek dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 8(a). See Mem. Supp. Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss or, in the Alt., for Summ. J. (“Defs.’

Mem.”) 1–2, ECF No. 30. A complaint is subject to dismissal under Rule 8(a) when there is

insufficient notice to allow the defense of the plaintiff’s claims. See Swierkiewicz v. Sorema

N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514 (2002). Because Defendants do not develop this line of reasoning in

their motion brief, see Defs.’ Mem., the Court will not consider it.

33

Adm’r, EPA, 982 F.2d 531, 532 (D.C. Cir. 1992) (quoting United States v. Mitchell, 445 U.S.

535, 538 (1980)).

Because sovereign immunity is a jurisdictional issue, FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475

(1994), Defendants’ arguments invoking sovereign immunity require the Rule 12(b)(1) standard

of review, not the Rule 12(b)(6) standard of review, to govern the Court’s analysis. Therefore,

Dr. Coulibaly has the burden to prove that Congress has waived sovereign immunity for the

claims Plaintiff brings against the United States, the Department of State and any federal

employees, if sued in their official capacity. See Tri-State Hosp. Supply Corp. v. United States,

341 F.3d 571, 575 (D.C. Cir. 2003).

b. Rule 12(b)(5)

“Before a federal court may exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant, the

procedural requirement of service of summons must be satisfied.” Omni Capital Int’l, Ltd. v.

Rudolf Wolff & Co., Ltd., 484 U.S. 97, 104 (1987); accord Gorman v. Ameritrade Holding

Corp., 293 F.3d 506, 514 (D.C. Cir. 2002). When the propriety of service is challenged, “[b]y

the plain text of Rule 4, the plaintiff has the burden to ‘demonstrate that the procedure employed

to deliver the papers satisfies the requirement of the relevant portions of Rule 4.’” Mann v.

Castiel, 681 F.3d 368, 372 (D.C. Cir. 2012) (quoting 4A Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R.

Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1083 (3d ed. 2002 & Supp. 2012)).

In cases in which the plaintiff proceeds in forma pauperis, the Court must “order that

service be made by a United States marshal or deputy marshal or by a person specially appointed

by the court.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3). Further, parties proceeding pro se “are allowed more

latitude than litigants represented by counsel to correct defects in service of process and

pleadings.” Moore v. Agency for Int’l Dev., 994 F.2d 874, 876 (D.C. Cir. 1993). This latitude,

34

however, “does not constitute a license for a plaintiff filing pro se to ignore the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Jarrell v. Tisch, 656 F. Supp.

237, 239 (D.D.C. 1987)).

c. Rule 12(b)(6)

In considering a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the Court presumes that the

complaint’s factual allegations are true and construes them liberally in the plaintiff’s favor. See,

e.g., United States v. Philip Morris, Inc., 116 F. Supp. 2d 131, 135 (D.D.C. 2000). A Rule

12(b)(6) motion does not test a plaintiff’s ultimate likelihood of success on the merits; rather, it

tests whether a plaintiff has properly stated a claim. See Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236

(1974), abrogated on other grounds by Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800 (1982); Brewer v.

Dist. of Columbia, 891 F. Supp. 2d 126, 130 (D.D.C. 2012).

Nevertheless, “[t]o 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) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570

(2007)). This means that a plaintiff’s factual allegations “must be enough to raise a right to relief

above the speculative level on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true

(even if doubtful in fact).” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555–56 (citations and footnote omitted).

“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory

statements,” are therefore insufficient to withstand a motion to dismiss. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.

A court need not accept a plaintiff’s legal conclusions as true, see id., nor must a court presume

the veracity of the legal conclusions that are couched as factual allegations, see Twombly, 550

U.S. at 555.

35

Official Capacity Claims

Defendants in this action are the United States, Secretary Kerry in his official capacity,

and all other defendants in their official and personal capacities. See Compl. ¶¶ 19–23. The

Court first addresses Dr. Coulibaly’s tort and contract claims against the United States and

against the individual defendants in their official capacities, before turning to Dr. Coulibaly’s

claims against individual defendants in their personal capacities.

With respect to the tort and contract claims against the United States and against the

individual defendants in their official capacities, Dr. Coulibaly must establish that a waiver of

sovereign immunity applies. The federal government, its agencies, and federal officials when

sued in their official capacities are shielded from actions for damages unless sovereign immunity

has been waived. See Friends of the Earth v. EPA, 934 F. Supp. 2d 40, 45–46 (D.D.C. 2013)

(citing FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475 (1994); Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166–67

(1985)).

For tort claims, the relevant waiver of sovereign immunity is the FTCA. See generally

ch. 753, Title IV, 60 Stat. 842 (1946) (codified as amended at 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671–2680). Under

the FTCA, the United States is liable “for money damages . . . for injury or loss of property, or

personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission” of any federal

employee acting with the scope of his employment. 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1); see id. § 2674

(declaring that “[t]he United States shall be liable” for tort claims as described in § 1346).

But the FTCA does not typically apply to claims arising out of “interference with contract

rights.” Id. § 2680(h). For contract claims, the relevant waiver of sovereign immunity is the

Tucker Act. See ch. 359, 24 Stat. 505 (1887) (codified as amended at 28 U.S.C. § 1491). Under

the Tucker Act, Congress waived sovereign immunity with respect to “any claim against the

36

United States . . . upon any express or implied contract with the United States.” 28 U.S.C.

§ 1491(a)(1).

In analyzing Dr. Coulibaly’s tort claims against the United States and its employees in

their official capacities, the Court uses the FTCA as the relevant framework. In doing so, the

Court addresses Counts 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, and 21 of Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint, as well as the

first of the two counts labeled “Count 19.” The Court then discusses Dr. Coulibaly’s contract

claims against the United States and its employees in their official capacities, using the Tucker

Act as the relevant framework. In doing so, the Court addresses Counts 8, 9, 10, 11, and 21 of

Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint.

a. Tort Claims Under the FTCA

The Court begins its consideration of Dr. Coulibaly’s official-capacity tort claims under

the FTCA by summarizing the governing framework. The FTCA serves as a waiver of sovereign

immunity and makes the federal government liable to the same extent as a private individual for

certain torts of federal employees acting within the scope of their employment. 28 U.S.C.

§§ 1346, 2674; United States v. Orleans, 425 U.S. 807, 813 (1976). Because governing law

“accords federal employees absolute immunity from common-law tort claims arising out of acts

they undertake in the course of their official duties,” Osborn v. Haley, 549 U.S. 225, 229 (2007),

a plaintiff may not bring tort claims against federal officials in their official capacities or against

federal agencies; the proper defendant is the United States itself, see 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2);

Goddard v. D.C. Redevelopment Land Agency, 287 F.2d 343, 345–46 (D.C. Cir. 1961); Welsh v.

Hagler, 83 F. Supp. 3d 212, 223 (D.D.C. 2015).

The FTCA provides the exclusive remedy “[w]here a plaintiff seeks monetary damages

against a federal agency for torts committed by federal employees.” Lempert v. Rice, 956 F.

37

Supp. 2d 17, 28 (D.D.C. 2013) (alteration in original) (quoting Jones v. United States, 949 F.

Supp. 2d 50, 53 (D.D.C. 2013)); see also 28 U.S.C. § 2679(b)(1) (declaring the FTCA remedy

“exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding for money damages”). Failure to name the

United States as the defendant in an FTCA action requires dismissal for lack of subject-matter

jurisdiction. See, e.g., Johnson v. Veterans Affairs Med. Ctr., 133 F. Supp. 3d 10, 17 (D.D.C.

2015); Cox v. Sec’y of Labor, 739 F. Supp. 28, 29 (D.D.C. 1990).

For that reason, here, the Court must dismiss Dr. Coulibaly’s claims against federal

employees in their official capacities. Any tort claims based on the employees’ official actions

must be considered as claims against the United States; the official-capacity claims against the

employees cannot proceed. Given that Dr. Coulibaly has, however, also sued the United States,

see Compl., the Court now turns to whether Dr. Coulibaly’s tort claims against the United States

may proceed under the FTCA. The Court determines that they cannot, for two principal reasons.

First, federal antidiscrimination statutes preclude consideration of Dr. Coulibaly’s

discrimination, retaliation, and emotional distress claims (Counts 7, 16, and 21 of the complaint)

under the FTCA. For claims of race and national origin discrimination, Title VII “provides the

exclusive judicial remedy . . . in covered federal employment.” Kizas v. Webster, 707 F.2d 524,

542 (D.C. Cir. 1983) (brackets and internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Brown v. GSA,

425 U.S. 820, 835 (1976)); see also 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-16 (banning discrimination in federal

employment and authorizing judicial relief for violations of that ban). Thus, allegations of race

and national original discrimination are only actionable under Title VII. Myvett v. Williams, 638

F. Supp. 2d 59, 69–70 (D.D.C. 2009) (citing Brown, 425 U.S. at 829; Ethnic Employees of

Library of Congress v. Boorstin, 751 F.2d 1405, 1415 (D.C. Cir. 1985)). Likewise, Title VII

preempts most tort claims alleging discrimination-related infliction of emotional distress. See

38

Boyd v. O’Neill, 273 F. Supp. 2d 92, 96 (D.D.C. 2003) (explaining that “[a]ny emotional injuries

arising from [an] alleged [discrimination claim] are subsumed within Title VII,” but that this

principle does not extend to emotional distress based on “alleged assaultive conduct” or other

conduct that Title VII does not redress); accord Jackson v. Am. Chem. Soc’y, 812 F. Supp. 239,

243 (D.D.C. 1993); Stewart v. Thomas, 538 F. Supp. 891, 895–96 (D.D.C. 1982).24

Along similar lines, for disability discrimination claims, the Rehabilitation Act “is the

sole judicial remedy for federal employees alleging disability discrimination” and accordingly

preempts any emotional distress claim arising from disability discrimination. Perry v. United

States, No. 14-2862, 2015 WL 3558081, at *3 (D. Md. June 2, 2015) (citing Brown v.

Henderson, 6 F. App’x 155, 156 (4th Cir. 2011); and Spence v. Straw, 54 F.3d 196, 202 (3d Cir.

1995)), appeal docketed, No. 16-1129 (4th Cir. Feb. 9, 2016). Here, because Dr. Coulibaly

alleges emotional distress arising from discrimination that Title VII and the Rehabilitation Act

can remedy, see Compl. ¶¶ 144, 147, Title VII and the Rehabilitation Act preempt

Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination, retaliation, and emotional distress claims, to the extent they seek

24

Although Count 21 alleges “personal injury,” Compl. ¶ 208, the Court construes the

Count as alleging only emotional injury, given that Dr. Coulibaly has not alleged any physical

harm flowing from the conspiracy asserted in that Count, see id.

39

tort law remedies.25 The Court will accordingly dismiss Counts 7, 16, and 21 of Dr. Coulibaly’s

complaint, to the extent that they allege tort claims against the United States.26

Second, to the extent that Dr. Coulibaly may seek to apply the FTCA to his claims of

misrepresentation, fraud, defamation, character assassination, promissory fraud, violation of the

implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and promissory estoppel (asserted in Counts

8–11 and in the first of the two counts labeled “Count 19” in the complaint), those claims cannot

proceed because they fall under express statutory exemptions.27 The FTCA explicitly specifies

that it does not apply to claims “arising out of . . . libel, slander, misrepresentation, deceit or

interference of contract rights.” See 28 U.S.C. § 2680(h). Dr. Coulibaly’s claims of defamation

and “character assassination” fall squarely within the exemptions for libel and slander. See

Lewis v. Dist. of Columbia, No. 10-5275, 2011 WL 321711, at *1 (D.C. Cir. Feb. 2, 2011) (per

curiam) (noting that “defamation claims are not cognizable under the FTCA”); Novecon, Ltd. v.

Bulgarian-Am. Enter. Fund, 977 F. Supp. 52, 54 (D.D.C. 1997), aff’d, 190 F.3d 556 (D.C. Cir.

1999) (applying defamation law to a claim of “character assassination”); see also Thomas v.

Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, No. 05-5348, 2006 WL 1636738, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 3, 2006) (in the

25

The federal antidiscrimination statutes would also preempt any tort claims that

Dr. Coulibaly seeks to bring under the Constitution. See Compl. ¶ 147 (alleging a due process

violation as one cause of his emotional distress claim, asserted in Count 16 of the complaint).

See generally Kizas v. Webster, 707 F.2d 524, 542 (D.C. Cir. 1983) (“The Title VII remedy

declared exclusive for federal employees in Brown v. GSA precludes actions against federal

officials for alleged constitutional violations as well as actions under other federal legislation.”).

And, in any event, constitutional tort claims cannot proceed under the FTCA, because the

FTCA’s grant of sovereign immunity does not extend to constitutional tort claims. See FDIC v.

Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 478 (1994) (“[T]he United States . . . has not rendered itself liable under

[the FTCA] for constitutional tort claims.”).

26

The Court discusses the merits of Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII and Rehabilitation Act

claims elsewhere in this opinion. See infra Parts III.C–D.

27

For thoroughness, the Court addresses Dr. Coulibaly’s contract-related claims in both

the tort and contract contexts.

40

context of the FTCA, liberally construing pro se plaintiff’s claim of “character assassination” to

mean defamation). His claims of misrepresentation, fraud, and promissory fraud are precluded

by the exemptions for misrepresentation and deceit. See United States v. Neustadt, 366 U.S. 696,

702 (1961) (holding that the word “deceit” includes fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation);

Chedick v. Nash, 151 F.3d 1077, 1081–82 (D.C. Cir. 1998) (analyzing “promissory fraud” within

the context of fraudulent misrepresentation). As for Dr. Coulibaly’s claims for breach of an

implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and promissory estoppel, to the extent that they

are construed as tort claims, they fall under the statutory exemption for interference of contract

rights. See Selland v. United States, 966 F.2d 346, 347 (8th Cir. 1992) (liberally construing

facial breach of contract claims as tortious interference with contractual relations, and finding

them exempt under the FTCA); Foster v. Fed. Emergency Mgmt. Agency, 128 F. Supp. 3d 717,

723 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (analyzing breach of contract and promissory estoppel claims together in

the context of the FTCA). The United States retains immunity from these claims, for FTCA

purposes, and courts must dismiss any suits asserting those claims under the FTCA. See, e.g.,

Wuterich v. Murtha, 562 F.3d 375, 381 (D.C. Cir. 2009); Peter B. v. United States, 579 F. Supp.

2d 78, 82–83 (D.D.C. 2008); Edmonds v. United States, 436 F. Supp. 2d 28, 35 (D.D.C. 2006).

The Court will accordingly dismiss Dr. Coulibaly’s contract-related, defamation, character

assassination, and misrepresentation claims (asserted in Counts 8–11 and in the first of the two

counts titled “Count 19” in the complaint), to the extent that they seek relief under the FTCA,

because they are barred by statute.

b. Contract Claims Under the Tucker Act

Having decided that the Court must dismiss Dr. Coulibaly’s tort claims against federal

employees in their official capacities and against the United States, the Court next analyzes

41

Dr. Coulibaly’s contract claims against the United States and against federal employees in their

official capacity. To that end, the Court once again discusses Counts 8–11 of the complaint,

which assert misrepresentation, fraud, promissory fraud, violation of the implied covenant of

good faith and fair dealing, and promissory estoppel. These claims, which Dr. Coulibaly cannot

bring under the FTCA, are more properly read as contract claims to which the Tucker Act would

apply. But, even to the extent that they seek relief under the Tucker Act, the Court must still

dismiss them for want of jurisdiction.

Under the Tucker Act, Congress waived sovereign immunity with regard to “any claim

against the United States . . . upon any express or implied contract with the United States.” 28

U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1). Moreover, the Tucker Act provides the only waiver of sovereign immunity

for claims arising out of contracts with the United States. Schmidt v. Shah, 696 F. Supp. 2d 44,

61 (D.D.C. 2010). But the Tucker Act states that “[t]he United States Court of Federal Claims

shall have jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim against the United States founded . . .

upon any express or implied contract with the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1) (emphasis

added). If a claimant does not limit the damages sought to an amount at or below $10,000, then

the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims is exclusive. See Greenhill v. Spellings, 482 F.3d

569, 573 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (“If [the plaintiff] explicitly or in essence seeks money damages in

excess of $10,000, jurisdiction rests exclusively with the Court of Federal Claims.”); cf. 28

U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2) (stating that the United States district courts exercise concurrent jurisdiction

over “[a]ny . . . claim against the United States, not exceeding $10,000 in amount, founded . . .

upon any express or implied contract with the United States” (emphasis added)).

Here, Dr. Coulibaly has requested an amount greater than the $10,000 jurisdictional cap:

in the FTCA claim against the Department of State in which he alleges “Breach of Contract,” he

42

requests $10,000,000 in damages. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. CC at 1, ECF No. 30-29.28 Because

Dr. Coulibaly’s claimed contract-related damages exceed $10,000, the Court must also dismiss

for lack of jurisdiction any contract claims that Dr. Coulibaly seeks to bring against the United

States under the Tucker Act.

* * *

In sum, to the extent that Counts 7–11, Count 16, Count 21, and the first of the two

counts labeled “Count 19” in the complaint allege tort or contract claims against the United

States or against individual defendants in their official capacities, the Court must dismiss them.

Personal Capacity Claims

The Court now considers whether any of these claims may proceed against the individual

defendants in their personal capacities, given that Dr. Coulibaly states that he is suing all of the

individual defendants, except for Secretary Kerry, in their official and personal capacities. Pl.’s

Resp. ¶ 155. In a suit against a federal employee in his personal capacity, unlike one against a

federal employee in his official capacity, the plaintiff need not establish a waiver of sovereign

immunity. See, e.g., Majano v. United States, 469 F.3d 138, 139 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (indicating

that sovereign immunity is not a bar to relief if allegedly tortious conduct occurred outside the

scope of the tortfeasor’s employment). But (1) for lack of proper service and (2) because they

fail to state claims upon which relief may be granted, the Court must also dismiss

Dr. Coulibaly’s tort and contract claims against the individual defendants in their personal

capacities. The Court addresses the service issue before addressing the claims on their merits.

28

In his response to the Defendants’ motion, Dr. Coulibaly concedes that the United

States is the proper defendant for his FTCA claims. Pl.’s Resp. ¶ 160. Consequently, the Court

views this FTCA claim as one filed against the United States, even if Dr. Coulibaly initially

sought relief from the Department of State.

43

a. Lack of Proper Service

In addition to effectuating service on the United States under Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 4(i)(1), a plaintiff who sues government officials in their individual capacities must

also personally serve the individual officials themselves. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(3) (“[A] party

must . . . serve the officer or employee under Rule 4(e), (f), or (g).”); Simpkins v. D.C. Gov’t, 108

F.3d 366, 368–69 (D.C. Cir. 1997) (explaining that in Bivens suits, which are “actions against

federal officers in their individual capacity, not their official capacity,” the defendants “must be

served as individuals”). To serve the personal-capacity defendants in this case, therefore, the

complaint and the summons must be

(1) delivered to each individual personally, Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2)(A); or

(2) left at each individual’s “dwelling or usual place of abode with someone of

suitable age and discretion,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2)(B); or

(3) delivered to “an agent authorized by appointment or law to receive service of

process,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2)(C); or

(4) mailed by “registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,” or “by first-class

mail, postage prepaid, to the person to be served, together with two copies of a

Notice and Acknowledgement . . . and a return envelope, postage prepaid,

addressed to the sender,” D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3), (4); see Fed. R. Civ.

P. 4(e)(1) (allowing service in accordance with the state law applicable in the state

were the district court is located).

Because Dr. Coulibaly is proceeding in forma pauperis, however, service shall be made by a

United States marshal, by a deputy marshal, or by “a person specially appointed by the court.”

44

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3); see Feb. 10, 2014 Fiat Order (granting Dr. Coulibaly’s motion for leave

to proceed in forma pauperis).

On the record as it stands, proper service has not been effected on the individual

defendants sued in their personal capacities. As the Defendants correctly note, the United States

Marshals Service delivered the summons and complaint for five of the individual defendants

(Soloman Atayi, Deborah Duckett, James North, Kristina Medick, and Jennifer Toole) to Krystal

Board, a Department of State administrative assistant. See Process Receipts and Returns, ECF

No. 4; Mem. Supp. Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss or, in the Alt., for Summ. J. (“Defs.’ Mem.”) at 5–6,

ECF No. 30. According to Defendants, Ms. Board is “a contract Administrative Assistant in the

State Department’s Office of the Legal Advisor.” Defs.’ Mem. at 6. On this record, none of the

four ways of properly serving the individual defendants in their personal capacities has occurred

with respect to Defendants Atayi, Duckett, North, Medick, and Toole:

(1) the complaint and summons were not delivered to those defendants personally, cf.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2)(A);

(2) they were not left at each defendant’s “dwelling or usual place of abode with

someone of suitable age and discretion,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2)(B);

(3) because “the Department is not an authorized agent for service of process with

respect to civil litigation against Department employees purely in their personal,

non-official capacity,” 22 C.F.R. § 172.2(c), the complaint and summons were not

delivered to “an agent authorized by appointment or law to receive service of

process,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2)(C); and

(4) the complaint and summons were not mailed to any of the individual defendants,

cf. D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3), (4).

45

Further, the record reflects that no service has been attempted on the other individual

defendants sued in their personal capacities: Defendants Glenn Budd, Sarah Clement, Jeannette

Hilleary, Cynthia G. McKnight, Martin Regan, and Daniel Madden Turbitt. Cf. Process Receipts

and Returns, ECF No. 4 (showing delivery of the summons and complaint with respect to

Defendants Atayi, Duckett, North, Medick, and Toole only); Process Receipts and Returns, ECF

No. 6 (showing delivery of the summons and complaint with respect to the United States only).

On this record, none of the individual defendants sued in their personal capacities have been

properly served, and Dr. Coulibaly’s tort and contract claims cannot proceed against them for

lack of proper service. See generally Mann v. Castiel, 681 F.3d 368, 372 (D.C. Cir. 2012)

(explaining that the plaintiff has the burden to establish proper service).

Granted, Dr. Coulibaly is in forma pauperis and thus not himself responsible for effecting

service (even if he does bear the ultimate burden to establish proper service). See Fed. R. Civ. P.

4(c)(3). But even if Dr. Coulibaly, through the Marshals Service, were given another

opportunity to serve the individual defendants sued in their personal capacities, such tort or

contract claims against them would fail for other reasons, which the Court discusses below.29 As

such, re-attempting service would be futile.

29

The Court also notes here that, if the individual defendants sued in their personal

capacities were ever served, the United States would have the opportunity to certify under the

Westfall Act “that the defendant employee[s] [were] acting within the scope of [their] . . .

employment.” 28 U.S.C. § 2679(d)(1). If it did, then the United States would be substituted as

the party defendant, id., and any defects with the corresponding FTCA tort claims would be

applicable, see, e.g., Majano v. United States, 469 F.3d 138, 139 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (explaining

that, when the FTCA waiver of sovereign immunity does not cover the particular tort alleged, the

plaintiff’s “sole hope of success requires that she show [that the alleged tort] was not within the

scope of the [federal employee’s] employment”); Ramey v. Bowsher, 915 F.2d 731, 733–34

(D.C. Cir. 1990) (per curiam) (finding that supervisors were acting within the scope of their

employment and were exercising decisionmaking discretion, and therefore concluding that they

enjoyed absolute immunity from state-law tort actions). As discussed above, Dr. Coulibaly’s tort

and contract claims against the individual defendants in their official capacities cannot proceed

46

b. Expired Limitations Period

The Court first discusses Dr. Coulibaly’s “defamation and character assassination” claim

(the first “Count 19” in his complaint). This claim, if asserted against the individual defendants

in their personal capacities, is barred by the applicable statute of limitations. See Defs.’ Mem. at

28 (making this argument). It appears that this claim relates to statements made near the end of

Dr. Coulibaly’s employment at the Department of State, which concluded in April 2012. See

Compl. ¶¶ 185–92. For defamation claims, a one-year limitations period applies in the District

of Columbia. See D.C. Code § 12-301(4) (setting a one-year limitations period for libel and

slander claims); Mullin v. Wash. Free Weekly, Inc., 785 A.2d 296, 298 (D.C. 2001) (citing D.C.

Code § 12-301(4)) (noting that the limitations period “for a defamation claim in the District of

Columbia is one year”).30 That limitations period had accordingly expired by the time that

Dr. Coulibaly filed his complaint on February 10, 2014. See Compl. And the limitations period

would also have expired even if, as Dr. Coulibaly claims, he filed his complaint on November

15, 2013. See id. ¶ 162.

c. Preemption Under Title VII

Dr. Coulibaly’s infliction of emotional distress claims (asserted in Counts 7, 16, and 21

of his complaint) and Dr. Coulibaly’s contract claims (asserted in Counts 8–11), on the other

under the FTCA, because federal antidiscrimination statutes preempt many of those claims, and

because the FTCA’s waiver of sovereign immunity does not cover many of the claims alleged.

See supra Part III.B.2.a.

30

Dr. Coulibaly has not alleged that Maryland law should apply to his defamation claim.

See Compl. ¶¶ 184–92; Pl.’s Resp. ¶¶ 504–12; cf. Compl. ¶ 19 (alleging that Dr. Coulibaly is a

Maryland resident). But even if Maryland law did apply, a one-year limitations period would

apply under Maryland law as well. See Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105 (“An action

for . . . libel, or slander shall be filed within one year from the date it accrues.”); McClure v.

Lovelace, 78 A.3d 934, 949 (Md. 2013) (“In Maryland, the statute of limitations for defamation

is one year from the date of accrual.”).

47

hand, cannot proceed against the individual defendants in their personal capacities for a reason

already mentioned: Title VII preempts those claims. See supra Part III.B.2.a (explaining, in the

context of tort claims against the United States, that Title VII preempts most discrimination-

related emotional distress claims). In a case in which “the same set of facts supports a Title VII

claim and a non-Title VII claim against a federal employer, the Title VII claim preempts the

non-Title VII claim.” Bergbauer v. Mabus, 810 F. Supp. 2d 251, 260 (D.D.C. 2011) (internal

quotation marks omitted) (quoting Mathis v. Henderson, 243 F.3d 446, 450–51 (8th Cir. 2001)).

This preemptive effect applies both to non-Title VII federal law claims and to common law tort

and contract claims. See King v. Holder, 941 F. Supp. 2d 83, 92 (D.D.C. 2013) (explaining that

Title VII preempts “both [federal] constitutional claims and common law tort claims arising out

of the same conduct that forms the basis for a plaintiff’s Title VII claim”); Berio v. EEOC, 446

F. Supp. 171, 173–74 (D.D.C. 1978) (finding that Title VII precluded a plaintiff’s claims under

42 U.S.C. § 1981 and the Fifth Amendment); Smith v. Lujan, 780 F. Supp. 1275, 1279 (D. Ariz.

1991) (finding that Title VII precluded the plaintiff’s due process and breach of contract claims);

Carver v. Casey, 669 F. Supp. 412, 417 (S.D. Fla. 1987) (“[T]he gist of plaintiff's “breach of

contract” claims is employment discrimination, for which Title VII stands as a federal

employee’s exclusive remedy.”). And Title VII’s preemptive effect “is the same as to claims

against individual supervisors as it is for claims against federal agencies themselves.”

Bergbauer, 810 F. Supp. 2d at 260; see also Mathis, 243 F.3d at 450 (holding that the plaintiff

could not “bring state-law claims against [her supervisor] arising out of the same facts [as her

48

employment discrimination claim] simply by labeling them as something other than employment

discrimination claims”).31

Here, Dr. Coulibaly’s emotional distress and contract claims derive from the same facts

as his Title VII claims. For his infliction of emotional distress claim (Count 7 of his complaint),

Dr. Coulibaly draws on the same facts to support that claim as the ones used to support his

hostile work environment claim. See Compl. ¶¶ 106–09. His contract claims in Counts 8–11 of

his complaint likewise derive from facts used to support claims of discrimination. Compare id.

¶¶ 37–103 (using facts relating to Dr. Coulibaly’s time as a contractor to support claims of

discrimination), with id. ¶¶ 110–17 (using the same facts to support his contract claims). And

Dr. Coulibaly expressly alleges Title VII violations as the basis for his emotional distress claim

in Count 16 of his complaint. See id. ¶ 147. 32 Lastly, Dr. Coulibaly’s emotional distress claim

31

The Court acknowledges that older opinions in this district indicate that Title VII does

not preempt tort claims against federal supervisors in their personal capacities, even if those

claims derive from the same facts as related employment discrimination claims. See Epps v.

Ripley, No. 81-0588, 1982 WL 514, at *1 (D.D.C. Mar. 11, 1982); Neely v. Blumenthal, 458 F.

Supp. 945, 954–55 (D.D.C. 1978). But given the more recent opinions holding otherwise, the

Court finds that the older opinions have not “withstood the test of time nor the thrust of new

caselaw.” Kittner v. Gates, 708 F. Supp. 2d 47, 53 (D.D.C. 2010) (discussing Neely).

32

Title VII also preempts consideration of any constitutional due process claim against

individual defendants in their personal capacities. See Kizas v. Webster, 707 F.2d 524, 542 (D.C.

Cir. 1983) (“The Title VII remedy declared exclusive for federal employees in Brown v. GSA

precludes actions against federal officials for alleged constitutional violations . . . .”); Kittner,

708 F. Supp. 2d at 53–54 (dismissing constitutional claims that challenged the same acts as those

challenged by the plaintiff’s Title VII claims); Berio v. EEOC, 446 F. Supp.171, 173–74 (D.D.C.

1978) (holding that Title VII’s remedies precluded a plaintiff from pursuing claims against an

official in his individual capacity under the Fifth Amendment); cf. Compl. ¶ 147 (alleging due

process violations in Count 16 of the complaint).

Nor may Dr. Coulibaly sue federal officials in their personal capacities under Title VII,

the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), or the Rehabilitation Act. See Ndzerre v.

WMATA, No. 15-1229, 2016 WL 1225599, at *5 (D.D.C. Mar. 23, 2016) (citing Gary v. Long,

59 F.3d 1391, 1399 (D.C. Cir. 1995)) (“Supervisory employees may only be sued in their official

capacity, because employers alone are liable for Title VII violations.”); Di Lella v. Univ. of D.C.

David A. Clarke Sch. of Law, 570 F. Supp. 2d 1, 7 n.8 (D.D.C. 2008) (“[T]here is no individual

liability under the ADA or the Rehabilitation Act.”); accord Richardson v. Yellen, No. 14-1673,

49

in Count 21 relies on the same conspiracy allegations he asserted in the context of a

discrimination claim. Compare id. ¶¶ 207–08 (alleging that “conspiracy, collusion and

machination between . . . agencies” is evidence of infliction of emotional distress), with id.

¶¶ 197–206 (alleging discriminatory conspiracy), and Defs.’ Facts Ex. W, at 2, ECF No. 30-23

(showing that Dr. Coulibaly alleged, in the context of an administrative discrimination

complaint, that the Department of State conspired with the MSPB).

Because Dr. Coulibaly’s tort and contract claims derive from the same facts as his Title

VII claims, Title VII would preempt consideration of those claims against individual defendants

in their personal capacities. See Mathis, 243 F.3d at 450 (explaining that the Supreme Court’s

holding in Brown v. GSA, 425 U.S. 820 (1976), prevents courts from allowing a plaintiff to sue a

supervisor “individually, for the consequences of the same acts that [he] alleges to be

[discrimination] under federal law”); cf. id. (“The situation would be different if [the plaintiff]

were relying on altogether different incidents to support [his] state-law claims, with no intention

of using evidence of the same incidents to prove . . . the Title VII [claims] . . . .”). Thus, even if

all the individual defendants were properly served, Dr. Coulibaly’s tort and contract claims

against them could not proceed.

2016 WL 890570, at *9 (D.D.C. Mar. 8, 2016) (discussing the Rehabilitation Act); Hillware v.

Snyder, 151 F. Supp. 3d 154, 157–58 (D.D.C. 2015) (discussing Title VII); cf. Compl. ¶ 147

(alleging Title VII, ADA, and Rehabilitation Act violations in Count 16 of the complaint). And

to the extent that Dr. Coulibaly seeks to bring claims under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b) or 5 C.F.R.

§ 1201.56, those authorities do not contain a private right of action. See 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(1)

(prohibiting discrimination in federal employment, but without establishing a right to sue); 5

C.F.R. § 1201.56 (discussing the burden of proof in MSPB administrative cases); cf. Compl.

¶ 147 (alleging violations under these authorities in Count 16 of the complaint).

50

* * *

None of Dr. Coulibaly’s tort or contract claims are legally cognizable against individual

defendants in their personal capacities, even if Dr. Coulibaly had properly served them. And, as

discussed earlier, those claims also cannot proceed against the United States or against individual

defendants in their official capacities. See supra Part III.B.2. The Court will accordingly

dismiss in their entirety Counts 7–11, Count 16, Count 21, and the first “Count 19” in

Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint, to the extent that those claims allege tort or contract claims.

C. Title VII

The Court now turns to those of Dr. Coulibaly’s claims that could be construed to allege

claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The following counts of the complaint

appear to request relief under Title VII:

(1) Count 1, which alleges discrimination based on FSI’s failure to hire

Dr. Coulibaly on June 15, 2007, see Compl. ¶¶ 97–98;

(2) Count 2, which alleges discrimination based on FSI’s failure to promote

Dr. Coulibaly on June 15, 2007, see id. ¶ 99;

(3) Count 3, which alleges “discrimination based on race and color” generally, see

id. ¶¶ 100–01;

(4) Count 4, which alleges disparate-treatment discrimination in connection to

FSI’s choice “to hire another teacher with less seniority, less experience, [and]

less education,” id. ¶¶ 102–03;

(5) Count 5, which alleges reprisal and retaliation in “violation of Title VII . . . as

well [as] the First Amendment” based on Dr. Coulibaly’s “political activities

related to his country of origin,” id. ¶¶ 104–05;

51

(6) Count 6, which alleges a “hostile and abusive working environment . . . in

violation of Title VII,” id. ¶¶ 106–07;

(7) Count 13, which alleges wrongful discharge, see id. ¶¶ 127–29;

(8) Count 14, which concerns Dr. Coulibaly’s “third EEOC complaint of retaliation

and discrimination,” id. ¶¶ 130–139;

(9) Count 15, which alleges that MSPB judges committed conspiracy in violation of

42 U.S.C. § 1985, see id. ¶¶ 140–42;33

(10) Count 16, which asks the Court to review his retaliation claims relating to

events that occurred in 2009, see id. ¶¶ 143–64; and

(11) Count 20, which broadly alleges conspiracy, due process violations, abuse of

process, procedural error, retaliation, discrimination, and infliction of emotional

distress under 42 U.S.C. § 1985, see id. ¶¶ 197–206.

The Court reviews the applicable legal standard before turning to the merits of these claims.

Legal Standard

When, on a motion to dismiss, “matters outside the pleadings are presented to and not

excluded by the court, the motion must be treated as one for summary judgment under Rule 56”

and the parties “must be given a reasonable opportunity to present all the material that is

pertinent to the motion.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(d). Here, both parties have submitted evidence

outside the pleadings in support of their positions, and they rely on them when discussing

33

Although Count 15 seeks to bring a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1985, the claim asserted

appears to derive from the same facts as Count 14, which explicitly alleges retaliation and

discrimination. See Compl. ¶¶ 130–42. The Court therefore addresses both counts within Title

VII’s conceptual framework. See generally Kizas v. Webster, 707 F.2d 524, 542 (D.C. Cir.

1983) (“The Title VII remedy declared exclusive for federal employees in Brown v. GSA

precludes actions against federal officials . . . under other federal legislation.”).

52

Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII claims. See, e.g., Defs.’ Mem. 11–23; Pl.’s Resp. ¶¶ 9–16. And

though it is improper to convert a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss for lack of subject-matter

jurisdiction into a motion for summary judgment, see Ord v. Dist. of Columbia, 587 F.3d 1136,

1140 (D.C. Cir. 2009), Defendants’ arguments about Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII claims do not

assert that this Court lacks jurisdiction over those claims, see Def.’s Mem. 8 (acknowledging

Title VII claims against Secretary Kerry in his official capacity); see also id. at 32–40

(addressing the substance of the claims). Therefore, the Court considers Defendants’ substantive

Title VII arguments under the Rule 56 legal standard applicable to motions for summary

judgment.

Given that Defendants’ motion comes before discovery has commenced in this case, the

Court pays special heed to the principle that, typically, “summary judgment may not be granted

until all parties have had a full opportunity to conduct discovery.” United States ex rel. Folliard

v. Gov’t Acquisitions, Inc., 764 F.3d 19, 25 (D.C. Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted)

(quoting Convertino v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 684 F.3d 93, 99 (D.C. Cir. 2012)). This principle is

particularly relevant in a Title VII case, where “discovery may even uncover direct evidence of

discrimination, thus entirely eliminating the need to prove a prima facie case.” Chappell-

Johnson v. Powell, 440 F.3d 484, 488–89 (D.C. Cir. 2006). Nonetheless, to analyze whether

pre-discovery summary judgment might be proper here, the Court will analyze Defendants’

arguments on their merits, using the legal standard applicable to Rule 56 motions for summary

judgment. Cf. Info. Handling Servs., Inc. v. Def. Automated Printing Servs., 338 F.3d 1024,

1032 (D.C. Cir. 2003) (explaining that summary judgment “ordinarily” is proper only after

discovery (quoting Americable Int’l, Inc. v. Dep’t of Navy, 129 F.3d 1271, 1274 (D.C. Cir.

1997))).

53

Under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a court must grant summary

judgment if “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the

movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A “material” fact is

one capable of affecting the substantive outcome of the litigation. See Anderson v. Liberty

Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A dispute is “genuine” if there is enough evidence for a

reasonable jury to return a verdict for the non-movant. See Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380

(2007). The inquiry under Rule 56 is essentially “whether the evidence presents a sufficient

disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party must

prevail as a matter of law.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 251–52.

The principal purpose of summary judgment is to determine whether there is a genuine

need for trial by disposing of factually unsupported claims or defenses. See Celotex Corp. v.

Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323–24 (1986). The movant bears the initial burden of identifying

portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of any genuine issue of material fact. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1); Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. In response, the non-movant must point to

specific facts in the record that reveal a genuine issue that is suitable for trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P.

56(c)(1); Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324. The non-movant may not rest upon mere allegations or

denials but must instead present affirmative evidence. Laningham v. U.S. Navy, 813 F.2d 1236,

1241 (D.C. Cir. 1987) (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256–57).

In considering a motion for summary judgment, a court must “eschew making credibility

determinations or weighing the evidence.” Czekalski v. Peters, 475 F.3d 360, 363 (D.C. Cir.

2007). All underlying facts and inferences must be analyzed in the light most favorable to the

non-movant. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. Nevertheless, conclusory assertions offered

54

without any evidentiary support do not establish a genuine issue for trial. See Greene v. Dalton,

164 F.3d 671, 675 (D.C. Cir. 1999).

Proper Defendant

Before proceeding, the Court discusses whether Dr. Coulibaly may pursue any Title VII

claims brought against defendants other than Secretary Kerry, given that Dr. Coulibaly states that

he sues all the defendants—save Secretary Kerry—in their personal and professional capacities.

Pl.’s Resp. ¶ 155. The head of the agency is the only proper defendant in a Title VII action. 42

U.S.C. § 2000e-16(c); Davis v. Califano, 613 F.2d 957, 958 n.1 (D.C. Cir. 1980); Davis v.

Geithner, 919 F. Supp. 2d 8, 16 (D.D.C. 2013). “[W]hile a supervisory employee may be joined

as a party defendant in a Title VII action, that employee must be viewed as being sued in his [or

her] capacity as the agent of the employer, who is alone liable for a violation of Title VII.” Gary

v. Long, 59 F.3d 1391, 1399 (D.C. Cir. 1995). Moreover, Title VII does not impose liability on

individuals in their personal capacities; a claim against a supervisor “essentially merges” with

any claim against the employer itself. Id. For this reason, the Court will permit only

Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII claims against Secretary Kerry in his official capacity to proceed, and

the Court will dismiss Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII claims against the other defendants.

Exhaustion

For the Title VII claims against Secretary Kerry, the Court must undertake an additional

preliminary analysis. Because Defendants contend that the Court should dismiss many of

Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII claims because he failed to exhaust administrative remedies, see Defs.’

Mem. at 10–11, 14 n.7, the Court addresses exhaustion before addressing the merits of the Title

VII claims.

55

A federal employee seeking to bring a claim under Title VII must first exhaust his

administrative remedies. See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-16(c) (stating that plaintiffs may bring suit only

(1) “[w]ithin 90 days of receipt of notice of final action taken by a department, agency, or

unit . . . , or by the [EEOC] upon an appeal from a decision or order of such department, agency

or unit” or (2) “after one hundred and eighty days from the filing of the initial charge with the

department, agency, or unit or with the [EEOC]”); Scott v. Johanns, 409 F.3d 466, 468 (D.C. Cir.

2005) (“[B]efore filing suit, an individual alleging that a federal agency engaged in employment

discrimination must seek administrative adjudication of the claim.”). Additionally, the employee

must contact an EEO counselor within forty-five days of the alleged discriminatory action. See

29 C.F.R. § 1614.105(a)(1); accord Greer v. Paulson, 505 F.3d 1306, 1316–17 (D.C. Cir. 2007).

That initial contact with a counselor triggers a set of events leading to a final agency

action, after which the employee (if displeased with that action) may file suit in federal district

court. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105(d)–(f) (stating that the EEO counselor must give the employee

notice of his right to file an administrative discrimination complaint with the employing agency);

id. § 1614.110 (describing final actions that agencies may take with respect to their employees’

administrative discrimination complaints); id. § 1614.407(a) (stating that employees may file suit

in federal district court ninety days after a final agency action). If the agency does not take

action within 180 days after an employee files a discrimination complaint with the agency, then

the employee may file suit in federal district court regardless. See id. § 1614.407(b). In any civil

action, a plaintiff must restrict his claims to those that are “like or reasonably related to”

allegations made before an administrative body. Park v. Howard Univ., 71 F.3d 904, 907 (D.C.

Cir. 1995) (internal quotation mark omitted) (quoting Cheek v. W. & S. Life Ins. Co., 31 F.3d

497, 500 (7th Cir. 1994)).

56

A plaintiff may escape the forty-five-day time limit for contacting an EEO counselor in

two ways. First, the agency must extend the forty-five-day time limit in certain circumstances:

(1) when the employee “shows that he . . . was not notified of the time limits and was not

otherwise aware of them,” (2) when the employee “did not know and reasonably should not

have . . . known” that the alleged discriminatory action had occurred, or (3) when “despite due

diligence he . . . was prevented by circumstances beyond his . . . control from contacting the

counselor within the time limits.” See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105(a)(2). Second, the time limits

applicable to plaintiffs’ exhaustion responsibilities are separately subject to equitable doctrines,

such as tolling and estoppel. See Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 113

(2002); accord 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604(c). Generally, courts allow tolling “only in extraordinary

and carefully circumscribed instances.” Dyson v. Dist. of Columbia, 710 F.3d 415, 421 (D.C.

Cir. 2013) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Smith–Haynie v. Dist. of Columbia, 155

F.3d 575, 579–80 (D.C. Cir. 1998)). The plaintiff must show “(1) that he has been pursuing his

rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary circumstance stood in his way and prevented

timely filing.” Id. (alterations omitted) (quoting Holland v. Florida, 560 U.S. 631, 649 (2010)).

The Court applies these principles to Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII claims, grouped by time

period. The Court begins with claims relating to the Department’s decision not to hire

Dr. Coulibaly in 2007, asserted in Counts 1–5 of the Complaint. See Compl. ¶¶ 97–105.34 The

34

Although the complaint describes “Count 3” and its claim of “discrimination based on

race and color” broadly, without confining Count 3 to any particular adverse employment action,

Count 3 appears alongside claims made with respect to FSI’s failure to hire Dr. Coulibaly in

2007. See Compl. ¶¶ 97–103. The Court will therefore analyze Count 3 in the context of claims

made about the FSI’s actions in 2007, as Defendants do in their motion. See Defs.’ Mem. 10.

To the extent that Count 3 alleges wrongdoing with respect to Dr. Coulibaly’s later employment

or his ultimate termination, the Court analyzes those claims in the context of Dr. Coulibaly’s

hostile work environment claim (Count 6 of the complaint), see Compl. ¶¶ 106–07, or in the

57

Court then analyzes whether Dr. Coulibaly exhausted his administrative remedies for claims

relating to the Department’s decision not to hire him in 2009, asserted in Count 16. See id.

¶ 161.35 And the Court also briefly discusses whether Dr. Coulibaly exhausted administrative

remedies for (1) his hostile work environment claim, asserted in Count 6, see id. ¶¶ 106–07;

(2) his wrongful discharge claim relating to his termination in 2012, asserted in Count 13, see id.

¶¶ 127–29; and (3) his claims relating to events after his termination, asserted in Counts 14–15

and 20, see id. ¶¶ 130–42, 197–206.

a. Failure to Hire or Promote in 2007

Dr. Coulibaly’s claims in Counts 1–5 of his complaint allege that he was subjected to

discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin because FSI did not hire or promote

him in 2007. Id. ¶¶ 97–105. But the record indicates that only one of Dr. Coulibaly’s

administrative complaints against the Department of State related to events that occurred in

2007, and that complaint merely alleges discrimination based on the Department of State’s

context of Dr. Coulibaly’s wrongful discharge claim (Count 13 of the complaint), see id.

¶¶ 127–29.

Likewise, because Count 4 appears to allege disparate-treatment discrimination based on

the same failure to hire discussed in Counts 1 and 2 of the complaint, see id. ¶¶ 97–99

(discussing failure to hire or promote in 2007), the Court discusses it in the context of the claims

related to FSI’s actions in 2007.

Count 5 similarly appears to allege a Title VII violation based on the same 2007 events.

Those events included discussions about Dr. Coulibaly’s political speech. See supra Part II.A.2.

Given that Count 5 primarily focuses on that political speech, Count 5’s allusion to a Title VII

violation appears to, like Counts 1–4, derive from events that occurred in 2007. Because

Dr. Coulibaly alleges both Title VII and First Amendment retaliation in Count 5, see Compl.

¶ 105, the Court addresses Count 5 under both bodies of law.

35

Although Count 16 generally alleges tort claims, claims under the FTCA, and

violations of various federal statutes, see Compl. ¶¶ 144–47, Dr. Coulibaly asks the Court to

review Title VII claims related to 2009 events in a paragraph within Count 16. See Compl.

¶ 161. The Court therefore addresses Count 16 in the Title VII context, as well as in the tort and

contract context.

58

submission of a 2007 hiring document to the MSPB. See supra Part II.C (discussing

Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination claim with the Department of State filed under EEO Case

Number DOS-F-119-13); see also Defs.’ Facts Ex. V, ECF No. 30-22 (discussing the claim in

the Department’s dismissal letter). The submission of a 2007 hiring document during a later

MSPB investigation is not connected to claims of discriminatory failure to promote or hire in

2007. Because Dr. Coulibaly did not submit an administrative claim encompassing his actual

non-selection for a position in 2007, Dr. Coulibaly failed to exhaust available administrative

remedies on Counts 1–5 of the complaint, and the Court must enter judgment for Defendants on

those counts, to the extent that they raise Title VII claims. See Park, 71 F.3d at 907–08; Massey

v. Gray, 85 F. Supp. 3d 104, 108 (D.D.C. 2015).

b. Failure to Hire or Promote in 2009

Within Count 16 of his complaint, Dr. Coulibaly asks the Court to review his retaliation

claims relating to events occurring in 2009. See Compl. ¶ 161. In doing so, Dr. Coulibaly

concedes that he did not timely bring those claims to the Department’s attention. See id.; see

also Formal Compl. of Discrimination, EEO Investigation Report at 62–64, ECF No. 36-3

(bringing the claims before the Department in 2011). But Dr. Coulibaly contends that “he had

valid excuses” for this delay, because he “was not aware of his rights and was in fear of [losing]

his job.” Compl. ¶ 161. Disagreeing, Defendants argue that Dr. Coulibaly’s excuses do not

entitle him to revive his untimely claims. See Defs.’ Mem. at 14–17.

In this circuit, courts toll time limits in Title VII cases “when complainants neither knew

nor had reason to know about the limit.” Dyson v. Dist. of Columbia, 710 F.3d 415, 421 (D.C.

Cir. 2013) (quoting Bowden v. United States, 106 F.3d 433, 438 (D.C. Cir. 1997)). This

principle aligns with the regulation that governs agencies’ initial administrative processing of

59

discrimination and retaliation complaints. That regulation directs agencies to “extend the 45-day

time limit” for complainants to initiate contact with the agency when the complainant “shows

that he or she was not notified of the time limits and was not otherwise aware of them.” 29 C.F.R.

§ 1614.105(a)(2); see also Harris v. Gonzales, 488 F.3d 442, 444–46 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (tolling the

forty-five-day limit based on the language of the regulation). Here, Dr. Coulibaly alleges that he

“was not aware of his rights” because, as a contractor in 2009, he received no training about

equal employment opportunity laws. Compl. ¶ 161. Given that the non-movant’s evidence must

be believed on summary judgment, Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986),

Dr. Coulibaly has made a preliminary showing that he “neither knew nor had reason to know”

about the applicable time limit, Dyson, 710 F.3d at 421 (quoting Bowden, 106 F.3d at 438).

Defendants do not rebut this showing by arguing that “subjective ignorance alone does

not automatically entitle [Dr. Coulibaly] to the exception.” Defs.’ Mem. at 16 (internal quotation

mark omitted) (quoting Johnson v. Runyon, 47 F.3d 911, 918 (7th Cir. 1995)). Although they

appear to argue that the Court should impute constructive notice to Dr. Coulibaly because “he

worked for the agency for approximately 13 years,” id., Defendants do not assert the necessary

facts to allow the Court to find constructive notice. To do so, Defendants, as summary judgment

movants, must show (1) that “notification of the time requirements was provided” and (2) that

the notification was “reasonably geared to inform the complainant of the time limits.” Harris,

488 F.3d at 445 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Johnson, 47 F.3d at 918). They

have done neither. See Defs.’ Mem. at 14–17. Nor do they offer any response to the notion that

Dr. Coulibaly received no training about equal employment opportunity laws during his time as a

contractor. See id.

60

On this record, the Court determines that there is at least a genuine issue of material fact

with respect to whether the forty-five-day time limit for bringing discrimination and retaliation

allegations should apply to Dr. Coulibaly. Dr. Coulibaly, a contractor for the Department in

2009, may not have received the “employee handbooks, orientation sessions, etc.” that the

Department might have customarily provided its actual employees at the time, to notify them

about their obligations under the equal employment opportunity laws. Cf. Harris, 488 F.3d at

445 (citing handbooks, orientation sessions, and the like as evidence that could be used to impute

constructive notice of the forty-five-day time limit). Because Defendants have not provided any

evidence to show that he did, the Court cannot impute constructive notice of the time limit to

Dr. Coulibaly. And because Defendants do not dispute Dr. Coulibaly’s contention that he

subjectively “was not aware of his rights,” Compl. ¶ 161; see Defs.’ Mem. 14–17, the Court

finds at least a genuine issue of fact with respect to whether Dr. Coulibaly “neither knew nor had

reason to know” about the applicable time limit. Dyson, 710 F.3d at 421 (quoting Bowden, 106

F.3d at 438).

If Dr. Coulibaly did not know about the time limit and if he never received even

constructive notice of the time limit from the Department, then the Court must toll the time

limit—at least until the point at which he received notice. Because an issue of fact precludes the

Court’s decision on this issue at this time, the Court cannot summarily determine that

Dr. Coulibaly failed to exhaust administrative remedies with respect to his 2009 claims. The

Court will therefore proceed to consider the merits of those claims. Before doing so, the Court

pauses to briefly finish its exhaustion analysis.

61

c. Hostile Work Environment, Termination in 2012, and Post-Termination Allegations

The record indicates that Dr. Coulibaly has exhausted administrative remedies for his

other discrimination claims. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. II, at 2, ECF No. 30-35 (showing that the

Department’s Office of Civil Rights agreed to process Dr. Coulibaly’s hostile work environment

claim); id. at 10 (showing that the Office agreed to process his discrimination and retaliation

claims relating to his 2012 termination); Defs.’ Facts Ex. W, ECF No. 30-23 (showing that

Dr. Coulibaly satisfied the EEO counseling requirement for his allegations related to events after

his termination). Contra Defs.’ Mem. at 30. The Court will accordingly consider those claims

on their merits as well.

Title VII Principles

Before considering the merits of Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII claims relating to events in

2009 and later, however, the Court summarizes some governing principles. Title VII declares

that “[a]ll personnel actions affecting employees . . . in executive agencies . . . shall be made free

from any discrimination based on race . . . [or] sex . . . .” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-16. These

provisions extend to federal employees “the full rights available in the courts as are granted to

individuals in the private sector.” Loeffler v. Frank, 486 U.S. 549, 558–59 (1988) (internal

quotation marks omitted) (quoting Chandler v. Roudebush, 425 U.S. 840, 841 (1976)). These

rights include those under Title VII’s antiretaliation provision, which “forbids employer actions

that ‘discriminate against’ an employee . . . because he has ‘opposed’ a practice that Title VII

forbids or has ‘made a charge . . . or participated in’ a Title VII ‘investigation, proceeding, or

hearing.’” Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 59 (2006) (quoting 42

U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a)).

62

In this circuit, two key cases outline the litigation framework for Title VII discrimination

and retaliation cases: McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973); and Brady v.

Office of the Sergeant at Arms, 520 F.3d 490 (D.C. Cir. 2008). The three-part McDonnell

Douglas burden-shifting framework applies when a Title VII plaintiff offers only indirect

evidence of discrimination or retaliation at summary judgment. See Taylor v. Small, 350 F.3d

1286, 1292 (D.C. Cir. 2003) (applying the framework to a discrimination claim); Morgan v. Fed.

Home Mortg. Corp., 328 F.3d 647, 650–51 (D.C. Cir. 2003) (applying the framework to a

retaliation claim, in addition to a discrimination claim). Under McDonnell Douglas, the plaintiff

has the initial burden of production to establish a prima facie case of discrimination; if he does,

then the employer must articulate a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for its action; and if it

does, then the plaintiff must receive an opportunity to show that the employer’s reason was a

pretextual cover for discrimination. 411 U.S. at 802–05. Although McDonnell Douglas shifts

the burden of production between the parties, the plaintiff retains the burden of persuasion. St.

Mary’s Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 507–08 (1993).

In the D.C. Circuit, Brady streamlines the McDonnell Douglas framework when, in

considering a motion for summary judgment, the Court immediately observes that a plaintiff

suffered an “adverse employment action” and that his employer asserted a “legitimate,

non-discriminatory reason” for the alleged discrimination or retaliation. See 520 F.3d at 494; see

also Jones v. Bernanke, 557 F.3d 670, 678–79 (D.C. Cir. 2009) (explaining that Brady’s

“principles apply equally to retaliation claims”). That is the case for most of the Title VII claims

at issue here: Dr. Coulibaly suffered adverse employment actions when FSI failed to hire him on

multiple occasions and when FSI terminated his employment. See Douglas v. Donovan, 559

F.3d 549, 552 (D.C. Cir. 2009) (listing possible adverse employment actions, and including

63

“firing” as one of them (quoting Taylor, 350 F.3d at 1293)). And Defendants have asserted

various legitimate non-discriminatory reasons for those actions. See Def.’s Mem. 13–17, 32–40.

In this case, therefore, Brady directs the Court to forgo McDonnell Douglas and instead

to resolve one central question when considering Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination and retaliation

claims: “Has the employee produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find that the

employer’s asserted non-discriminatory or [non-retaliatory] reason was not the actual reason and

that the employer intentionally discriminated against the employee on the basis of race . . . or

national origin [or retaliated against him because of his protected Title VII activity]?” Brady,

520 F.3d at 494; see also McGrath v. Clinton, 666 F.3d 1377, 1383 (D.C. Cir. 2012) (adopting

Brady’s formulation in a retaliation case). Phrased in terms of the facts of this case, the Court

must consider whether Dr. Coulibaly has produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to

find (1) that Defendants’ proffered reasons were “not the actual reason[s]” for the adverse

employment actions taken against him and (2) that FSI intentionally discriminated against

Dr. Coulibaly on the basis of his protected class, or retaliated against him because he opposed a

practice made unlawful under Title VII. To answer these questions, the Court must examine the

totality of the evidence and ask “whether the jury could infer discrimination [or retaliation] from

the combination of (1) the plaintiff’s prima facie case; (2) any evidence the plaintiff presents to

attack the employer’s proffered explanation for its actions; and (3) any further evidence of

discrimination [or retaliation] that may be available to the plaintiff . . . or any contrary evidence

that may be available to the employer.” Hamilton v. Geithner, 666 F.3d 1344, 1351 (D.C. Cir.

2012) (quoting Aka v. Wash. Hosp. Ctr., 156 F.3d 1284, 1289 (D.C. Cir. 1998) (en banc)); see

64

also Carter v. George Washington Univ., 387 F.3d 872, 878 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (adopting this

formulation for both discrimination and retaliation claims).36

Discrimination

The Court now analyzes the merits of Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination claims, as alleged in

Counts 13, 14, 15, and 20 of his complaint.37 The Court begins with Count 13, which relates to

Dr. Coulibaly’s 2012 termination, before turning to Counts 14, 15, and 20, which all relate to

events after his termination.

a. Termination in 2012

In Count 13, Dr. Coulibaly claims that he was wrongfully discharged “in total violation

of [the Department of State’s] policy regarding termination.” Compl. ¶¶ 127–29. The Court

construes his claim to include a claim of discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national

origin. See id. ¶ 101 (alleging “discrimination based on national origin and also on race and

color”); id. ¶ 127 (incorporating previous paragraphs in Count 13); see also Pl.’s Resp. ¶ 190

(alleging “discriminatory wrongful discharge”). To assess whether to grant Defendants’ motion

for summary judgment on Dr. Coulibaly’s discriminatory discharge claim, the Court must

examine the totality of the evidence and ask “whether the jury could infer discrimination from

the combination of (1) [Dr. Coulibaly’s] prima facie case; (2) any evidence [Dr. Coulibaly]

presents to attack the [Defendants’] proffered explanation for [their] actions; and (3) any further

36

Legal principles governing Title VII hostile work environment claims are slightly

different, and the Court summarizes those later. See infra Part III.C.7.

37

Count 6 alleges hostile work environment, which the Court discusses later. See infra

Part III.C.7. Counts 13, 14, 15, and 20 appear to allege both discrimination and retaliation, so

the Court discusses them under both theories of liability. See infra Part III.C.6 (discussing

retaliation). Count 16, where it seeks review of Dr. Coulibaly’s claims relating to 2009 events,

alleges that those claims are retaliation claims. See Compl. ¶ 161. The Court accordingly

discusses the merits of those claims in the retaliation context only.

65

evidence of discrimination that may be available to [Dr. Coulibaly] . . . or any contrary evidence

that may be available to the employer.” Hamilton, 666 F.3d at 1351 (quoting Aka, 156 F.3d at

1289). Dr. Coulibaly can meet his burden of production in several ways. See Brady, 520 F.3d at

495. He can “suggest[] that the employer treated other employees of a different race, color . . . ,

or national origin more favorably.” Id. He can also point to “changes and inconsistencies in the

stated reasons for the adverse action; the employer’s failure to follow established procedures or

criteria; the employer’s general treatment of minority employees; or discriminatory statements

by the decisionmaker.” Id. at 495 n.3.

In his complaint and in his brief, Dr. Coulibaly presents evidence “to attack [the

Department of State’s] proffered explanation for its actions” and to highlight “further evidence

of discrimination.” See Hamilton, 666 F.3d at 1351 (quoting Aka, 156 F.3d at 1289).

Dr. Coulibaly correctly observes that the Defendants failed to address, in their motion and in

their reply, certain evidence within the EEO Report of Investigation that was created in response

to his 2011 discrimination complaints and that includes several of his former colleagues’

affidavits. See Defs.’ Mem. 32–35 (omitting any discussion of the affidavits on record from

Dr. Coulibaly’s former colleagues); Pl.’s Resp. ¶ 117 (accusing Defendants of “ignor[ing] the

context of facts”).38 He further observes that, because the Defendants also cited to the same EEO

Report of Investigation, they are well aware of those affidavits. See id. ¶ 185.

Upon reviewing the affidavits, the Court finds that they do at least call into question one

of FSI’s legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for terminating Dr. Coulibaly: his alleged

38

Dr. Coulibaly often refers to an EEO Report of Investigation (“ROI”) without

identifying which EEO case to which the ROI corresponds. Given that the only EEO Report of

Investigation cited in the record is the one generated in response to EEO Case Number

DOS-F-025-12, the Court will assume that “ROI” refers to that report. See supra note 5

(describing the report).

66

“inappropriate interactions with [his] supervisors.” Defs.’ Facts Ex. I, ECF No. 30-9

(reproducing Dr. Coulibaly’s termination letter). Disagreeing with that view of Dr. Coulibaly’s

demeanor, one former colleague stated that Dr. Coulibaly “kept treating his supervisor

professionally” and “kept posting lesson plans for every week even though his lesson plans had

never satisfied his supervisor.” Cazeau Aff. ¶ Q5, EEO Investigation Report at 1339, Coulibaly

v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-12. And one of his former

supervisors even noted that Dr. Coulibaly’s demeanor had consistently been commendable. See

Richards Aff. ¶ Q3, EEO Investigation Report at 1367, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C.

Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-12 (“Dr. Coulibaly was, throughout the time I worked with him, a

consummate professional, . . . and extremely responsive to my guidance and suggestions”); see

also id. ¶ Q4, EEO Investigation Report at 1367, (“Dr. Coulibaly was not one given to

complaint, but rather to serving the needs of his students.”).

Furthermore, the affidavits, as well as other evidence in the record, support

Dr. Coulibaly’s claim that he was subjected to treatment that a reasonable juror could reasonably

infer to be discriminatory. For instance, Lucie Duran, one of Dr. Coulibaly’s former colleagues,

was sympathetic to Dr. Coulibaly’s view that LTS Fyfe, Dr. Coulibaly’s former supervisor,

“accused [Dr. Coulibaly of] hat[ing] her because her husband was from Cote d’Ivoire.” Duran

Aff. ¶ Q4.b, EEO Investigation Report at 1344, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4,

2016), ECF No. 26-12. Ms. Duran also opined that FSI management “gave unfounded reasons”

for Dr. Coulibaly’s termination. Id. ¶ Q4.c, EEO Investigation Report at 1344. And another

former colleague states that he witnessed Dr. Coulibaly being “publicly humiliated and silenced

by his supervisor.” Cazeau Aff. ¶ Q6, EEO Investigation Report at 1339–40. In further support,

Dr. Coulibaly’s former supervisor noted that, within FSI’s French section, FSI had recently

67

terminated five language teachers for “highly subjective and dubious reasons.” Richards Aff.

¶ Q3, EEO Investigation Report at 1367. These affidavits could potentially raise the inference

that LTS Fyfe may have been biased against Dr. Coulibaly based on his national origin. At a

minimum, Dr. Coulibaly should be given an opportunity to explore these issues during

discovery.

As “further evidence of discrimination,” Hamilton, 666 F.3d at 1351 (quoting Aka, 156

F.3d at 1289, 1291), Dr. Coulibaly also has evidence supporting his allegation that the

Department of State “treated other employees of a different . . . national origin more favorably,”

Brady, 520 F.3d at 495. See supra Part II.B.2 (discussing Dr. Coulibaly’s allegations about

Mr. Hmimiche’s preferential treatment). Former colleagues claim that Mr. Hmimiche, an FSI

employee with a national origin that is different from Dr. Coulibaly’s, received better treatment.

See Smith Aff. ¶ Q6, EEO Investigation Report at 1365, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712

(D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-12 (“Mr. Hmimiche . . . clear[ly] received preferential

treatment from [Director] Blake and [LTS] Fyfe as he was clearly and evidently not qualified as

a French [l]anguage instructor.”); De Launay-Fogg Aff. ¶ Q6, EEO Investigation Report at 1375,

Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016), ECF No. 26-12 (explaining that

Dr. Coulibaly and Mr. Hmimiche “were treated very differently”). And one former colleague

corroborates Dr. Coulibaly’s allegation that he was “singled out” for scrutiny. See Lauterbach

Aff., EEO Investigation Report at 1360, Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712 (D.D.C. Mar. 4, 2016),

ECF No. 26-12. She confirms that, even if Dr. Coulibaly did not timely submit his syllabi at one

point, “approximately fifteen . . . instructors had not posted their current syllabi” either. Id. at

1361.

68

Based on this evidence, the Court determines that, before giving Dr. Coulibaly an

opportunity to explore his allegations during discovery, it would be inappropriate to grant

summary judgment on Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination claims relating to his 2012 termination.

The Court accordingly will deny Defendants’ motion with respect to Count 13, to the extent that

it alleges a discriminatory discharge in violation of Title VII. The Court now turns to

Dr. Coulibaly’s other Title VII discrimination claims.

b. Post-Termination Allegations

Counts 14, 15, and 20 of Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint all allege that Defendants engaged in

unlawful activity in the course of EEOC and MSPB proceedings. Count 14 appears to seek relief

under Title VII. See Compl. ¶ 139 (seeking “all damages available under EEO laws”). Counts

15 and 20 allege violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1985, which provides a right of action to individuals

victimized by conspiracies to interfere with their civil rights. See 42 U.S.C. § 1985; Compl.

¶¶140–42 (labeling Count 15 a “Complaint Against MSPB Judges . . . for Conspiracy and

Collusion with [the] Department of State to Defraud Plaintiff and Violate His Rights in Violation

of . . . 42 U.S.C. [§] 1985(3)”); id. ¶ 197 (labeling Count 20 “Conspiracy under color of law, . . .

42 [U.S.C. §] 1985(3)”).

The Court need only address these claims briefly, because there is no cause of action

against the EEOC or against the MSPB for their processing of discrimination allegations. See

Woodruff v. McPhie, 383 Fed. App’x 5, 6–7 (D.C. Cir. 2010); Smith v. Casellas, 119 F.3d 33, 34

(D.C. Cir. 1997); accord Grant v. Dep’t of the Treasury, No. 15-1008, 2016 WL 3365388, at *4

(D.D.C. June 16, 2016); Harrigan v. Yang, No. 15-0511, 2016 WL 593447, at *8 (D.D.C. Feb.

12, 2016). Likewise, 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) “may not be invoked to redress violations of Title

69

VII.” Great Am. Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Novotny, 442 U.S. 366, 378 (1979); accord Rogler v.

Biglow, 610 F. Supp. 2d 103, 105 (D.D.C. 2009).

Instead of a right to sue the processing agencies under Title VII or under 42 U.S.C.

§ 1985, Title VII and other governing statutes provide an adequate remedy for Dr. Coulibaly’s

allegations of wrongdoing: de novo review in federal court. See Wright v. Dominguez,

No. 04-5055, 2004 WL 1636961, at *1 (D.C. Cir. July 21, 2014) (explaining that “de novo

review provides an adequate remedy . . . for complaints about the EEOC’s administrative

process”); see also 5 U.S.C. § 7703(c) (explaining that, “in the case of discrimination” brought

on appeal from the MSPB, “the employee . . . shall have the right to have the facts subject to trial

de novo by the reviewing court); Novotny, 442 U.S. at 376–78 (discussing Title VII’s “exclusive

remedy for employment discrimination claims” as reason to hold that “deprivation of a right

created by Title VII cannot be the basis for a cause of action under §1985(3)”). Because of the

opportunity for de novo review, “parties suffer no harm if [an administrative agency] conducts an

imperfect investigation or inquiry, and consequently have no need to sue the agency for

negligence or malfeasance in the processing of claims.” Harrigan, 2016 WL 593447, at *8

(internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Bagenstose v. Dist. of Columbia, 503 F. Supp. 2d

247, 255 (D.D.C. 2007)).

Here, Dr. Coulibaly’s Counts 14, 15, and 20 request that the Court review federal

agencies’ handling of his discrimination allegations. See Compl. ¶¶ 130–42, 197–206. As stated

in the authorities discussed above, the Court cannot do so—it may only review de novo

Dr. Coulibaly’s Title VII claims which were the subject of the investigations with which he

alleges the agencies conspired to interfere. Because the law does not allow Dr. Coulibaly to seek

relief under an independent cause of action for the EEOC, the Department of State, and the

70

MSPB’s processing of his discrimination allegations, the Court will dismiss Counts 14, 15, and

20 of Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint.

* * *

Out of Dr. Coulibaly’s claims alleging discrete acts of discrimination for which he

exhausted administrative remedies, only Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination claim relating to his

2012 termination can proceed. See Compl. ¶¶ 127–29 (alleging discriminatory discharge in

Count 13 of Dr. Coulibaly’s complaint). The Court now turns to Dr. Coulibaly’s retaliation

claims for which he exhausted administrative remedies. See id. ¶¶ 127–42, 161, 197−206

(asserting retaliation claims in Counts 13, 14, 15, 16, and 20 of the complaint).

Retaliation

As with Dr. Coulibaly’s discrimination claims, the Court addresses Dr. Coulibaly’s

retaliation claims grouped by time period. The Court begins by addressing Dr. Coulibaly’s

retaliation allegations relating to 2009 events, as asserted in Count 16 of his complaint. See id.

¶ 161. The Court then addresses whether Dr. Coulibaly may proceed to litigate the claim,

asserted in Count 13 of his complaint, that his 2012 termination was retaliatory (in addition to

the claim that his 2012 termination was discriminatory). See id. ¶ 128.

The Court will not, however, engage in further discussion of Dr. Coulibaly’s allegations

of agency wrongdoing during the time after his termination, as asserted in Counts 14, 15, and 20

of his complaint. See Compl. ¶¶ 130−42, 197−206. As discussed above, those allegations of

wrongdoing aimed at the manner the various agencies processed his Title VII claims, including

the retaliation claims that the Court discusses below, are not viable. See supra Part III.C.5.b.

71

The Court accordingly does not discuss Counts 14, 15, and 20 under a retaliation theory of relief;

that theory would not change the Court’s decision to dismiss those claims.39

a. Failure to Hire or Promote in 2009

The Court need only briefly address Dr. Coulibaly’s retaliation claims relating to 2009

events, asserted in Count 16 of his complaint. See Compl. ¶ 161. In arguing for dismissal of

these claims (or for summary judgment in their favor on these claims), Defendants rest solely on

the idea that the claims are untimely. See Defs.’ Mem. at 14–17; Defs.’ Reply at 11–14. But, as

discussed earlier, the Court cannot conclude on the record presented that the claims were

untimely, and so the Court cannot conclude that Dr. Coulibaly therefore did not exhaust his

administrative remedies. See supra Part III.C.3.b. Because Defendants make no further

argument for dismissal of retaliation claims relating to 2009 events, the Court will deny

Defendants’ motion with respect to those claims and will allow the parties to explore those

claims in discovery.

b. Termination in 2012

The Court turns next to Count 13, which alleges retaliatory (as well as discriminatory)

wrongful discharge. “To prove unlawful retaliation, a plaintiff must show: (1) that he opposed a

practice made unlawful by Title VII; (2) that the employer took a materially adverse action

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Both in his complaint and in his brief opposing summary judgment, Dr. Coulibaly

refers to due process violations in the context of retaliation. See, e.g., Compl. ¶ 128; Pl.’s Resp.

¶ 419. But, as noted above, Title VII preempts constitutional claims flowing from alleged

employment discrimination. See supra note 23. And any non-Title VII claims would be

preempted by the Civil Service Reform Act (“CSRA”), which prevents federal employees from

pursuing claims outside of the CSRA’s remedial scheme. See Elgin v. Dep’t of the Treasury,

132 S. Ct. 2126, 2133 (2012); United States v. Fausto, 484 U.S. 439, 455 (1988); see also

Fornaro v. James, 416 F.3d 63, 66–67 (D.C. Cir. 2005) (“[S]o far as review of determinations

under the CSRA is concerned, what you get under the CSRA is what you get.”). Therefore, the

Court does not address any Fifth Amendment due process violations.

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against him; and (3) that the employer took the action ‘because’ the employee opposed the

practice.” McGrath v. Clinton, 666 F.3d 1377, 1380 (D.C. Cir. 2012); see also id. at 1380 n.3

(explaining that, “[a]lthough these [elements] are often described as the elements that a plaintiff

must show to establish a ‘prima facie’ case of retaliation, . . . they are also the elements that a

plaintiff must ultimately prove in order to win his case” (citation omitted)).

For his retaliatory discharge claim, Dr. Coulibaly easily establishes the first two elements

of a Title VII retaliation claim. With respect to the first element, he opposed a practice made

unlawful by Title VII when he made contact with the Department of State’s Office of Civil

Rights and filed an informal discrimination complaint in November 2011. See Compl. ¶ 95

(stating that Dr. Coulibaly filed an informal EEO complaint on November 23, 2011). See

generally 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a) (stating that employers may not retaliate against an employee

because “he has made a charge” of discrimination); Borgo v. Goldin, 204 F.3d 251, 255 & n.4

(D.C. Cir. 2000) (indicating that “official EEO complaints” are protected activities under Title

VII). With respect to the second element, FSI took a materially adverse action by terminating

Dr. Coulibaly’s employment in April 2012. See Defs.’ Facts Ex. I, ECF No. 30-9 (reproducing

Dr. Coulibaly’s termination letter). See generally Baird v. Gotbaum, 662 F.3d 1246, 1248–49

(D.C. Cir. 2011) (explaining that “the ‘adverse action’ concept has a broader meaning” in the

retaliation context, so that it encompasses at least the “hiring, firing, failing to promote,

reassignment with significantly different responsibilities, or . . . significant change in benefits”

that are adverse employment actions in the discrimination context (quoting Douglas v. Donovan,

559 F.3d 549, 552 (D.C. Cir. 2009))).

And evidence raises at least a genuine issue of fact with respect to the third and final

element of the retaliation analysis, the necessary causal link between the two preceding elements.

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Title VII retaliation claims, unlike Title VII discrimination claims, “require proof that the desire

to retaliate was the but-for cause of the challenged employment action,” rather than merely a

“motivating factor.” Univ. of Texas Sw. Med. Ctr. v. Nassar, 133 S. Ct. 2517, 2528 (2013). To

prevail on his Title VII retaliation claim for wrongful discharge, therefore, Dr. Coulibaly must

establish that FSI’s unlawful retaliatory animus was not merely a cause of his termination, but

the cause. See Rattigan v. Holder, 982 F. Supp. 2d 69, 81 (D.D.C.2013), aff’d, 780 F.3d 413

(D.C. Cir. 2015). He must prove “that the unlawful retaliation would not have occurred in the

absence of the alleged wrongful action or actions of the employer”—or, in other words, that the

retaliation would not have occurred for any reason other than the employee’s opposition to the

employer’s discriminatory conduct. Id. To meet this burden, he can offer both direct and

circumstantial evidence “from which a reasonable jury could infer the employer’s retaliatory

intent.” McGrath, 666 F.3d at 1383.

To that end, Dr. Coulibaly cites to considerable additional evidence that raises genuine

issues of material fact with respect to Defendants’ proffered

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