Citations
- 220 F. Supp. 2d 832
Full opinion text
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
EDMUNDS, District Judge.
This matter came before the Court on Defendant’s motion for summary judgment. Being fully advised in the premises, having read the pleadings, and for the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s motion for summary judgment.
I. Facts
In 1996, Plaintiff Antoinette Wright applied for a position as an hourly worker with Defendant DaimlerChrysler. Resp. at 1. The application, which Ms. Wright signed, stated in relevant part:
8. In consideration of Chrysler’s review of my application, I agree that any claim or lawsuit arising out my employment with, or my application for employment with, Chrysler Corporation or any of its subsidiaries must be filed no more than six (6) months after the date of the employment action that is the subject of the claim or lawsuit. While I understand that the statute of limitations for claims arising out of an employment action may be longer than six (6) months, I agree to be bound by the six (6) month period of limitations set forth herein, and I WAIVE ANY STATUE OF LIMITATIONS TO THE CONTRARY. Should a court determine in some future lawsuit that this provision allows an unreasonably short period of time to commence a lawsuit, the court shall enforce this provision as far as possible and shall declare the lawsuit barred unless it was brought within the minimum reasonable time within which the suit should have been commenced.
Application for Employment, attached as Defendant’s Exhibit A.
In 1996, DaimlerChrysler hired Ms. Wright to work in its Mound Road facility, under Juan’s supervision. Compl. ¶¶ 16-17. . In either December of 1998 (Compl. ¶ 16) or August of 1997 (Letter from James C. Brown, attached as Plaintiffs Response to Affidavit of Judith E. Caliman, Esq.), Juan “repeatedly asked her to meet him after work.” Compl. ¶ 19. Ms. Wright rejected his advances. Compl. ¶ 20. In retaliation, Juan re-assigned her to the “Pit,” an area of the plant soaked in oil and regarded as the worst in the plant to work. Resp. at 1. While working in the Pit, Ms. Wright slipped on the oil and injured herself. Id. She was still lying on the floor after the fall when Juan ordered her to continue working. Unable to do so, and injured, Ms. Wright reported to the plant infirmary. Id. When Ms. Wright was unable to return to work the following day, Juan fired her. Id.
DaimlerChrysler reinstated Ms. Wright to her position following Ms. Wright’s filing of a grievance pursuant to the relevant Collective bargaining agreement. Id. Upon her return, Juan assigned her to a difficult job and continually visited her work area. Id. On his numerous visits he criticized her work and threatened to fire her. Id. Plaintiff complained about Juan’s requests for a sexual relationship, his retaliatory behavior, and the overall hostile environment to management. Id. at 2. In response to Ms. Wright’s complaint, Daim-lerChrysler transferred her to the Trenton Engine facility in November of 1999. Id.
Chris Buzenbark supervised Ms. Wright at the Trenton facility. Compl. ¶ 43. In December of 1999, Mr. Buzenbark propositioned her. Compl. ¶ 44. She consistency rejected his sexual advances. Compl. ¶ 45. In response to Ms. Wright’s rejections, Mr. Buzenbark threatened to fire her or give her poor work evaluations. Compl. ¶ 47 and Resp. at 2. Ms. Wright complained to management about his threats. DaimlerChrysler, in turn, removed Mr. Buzenbark as her supervisor during the week. Resp. at 2. On the weekends, however, Mr. Buzenbark remained Ms. Wright’s supervisor and continued his retaliatory behavior. Id. Ms. Wright complained to management again, and in response DaimlerChrysler transferred her to another area of the plant. Id. At that point, Plaintiff was aware of Daimler-Chrysler’s practice of re-assigning women who complain of sexual harassment. Id.
On February 17, 2000, Ms. Wright left her job at DaimlerChrysler under a disability described by her psychiatrist as “chronic and debilitating episodes of anxiety and depression,”