07-004021 Steve Daniels vs. Solid Wall Systems, Inc.
 Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Thursday, January 31, 2008.


View Dockets  
Summary: Petitioners claimed and failed to prove racial discrimination was the basis of their termination from employment.

1STATE OF FLORIDA

4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

8RALPH ALEXANDER , )

11)

12Petitioner , )

14)

15vs. ) Case No. 07 - 4020

22)

23SOLID WALL SYSTEMS, INC. , )

28)

29Respondent . )

32)

33STEVIE DANIELS, )

36)

37Petitioner, )

39)

40vs. ) Case No. 07 - 4021

47)

48SOLID WALL SYSTEMS, INC., )

53)

54Respondent. )

56)

57ERNEST WEST, JR., )

61)

62Petitioner, )

64)

65vs. ) Case No. 07 - 4022

72)

73SOLID WALL SYSTEMS, INC., )

78)

79Respondent. )

81)

82CARLOS COLE, )

85)

86Petitioner, )

88)

89vs. ) Case No. 07 - 4385

96)

97SOLID WALL SYSTEMS, INC., )

102)

103Respondent. )

105)

106RECOMMENDED ORDER

108Pursuant to notice, the D ivision of Administrative

116Hearings, by its duly - designated Administrative Law Judge,

125Jeff B. Clark, held a final administrative hearing in th ese

136case s on November 27 and 28, 2007, in Viera, Florida.

147APPEARANCES

148For Petitioners: Adrienne Eent, Esquire

153Enrique, Smith & Trent, P . L .

161836 Executive Lane, Suite 120

166Rockledge, Florida 32955

169For Respondent: Chelsie J. Roberts, Esquire

175Ford & Harrison, LLP

179300 South Orange Avenue, Suite 1300

185Orlando, Florida 32801

188STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE

192Whether Respondent discriminated against Petitioners based

198on their race in violation of Chapter 760, Florida

207Statutes (2006) ( " Florida Civil Rights Act " ).

215PRELIMINARY STATEME NT

218On February 2, 2007, Petitioners Ralph Alexander, Stevie

226Daniels, and Ernest West, Jr., each filed a claim with the

237Florida Commission on Human Relations ( " Commission " ) alleging

246that Respondent, Solid Wall Systems, Inc., had unlawfully

254discharged each of them based on their race. On March 7, 2007,

266Petitioner Carlos Cole, filed a claim with the Commission

275alleging that Respondent had unlawfully discharged him based on

284his race. Each Petitioner received a Notice o f Determination:

294No Cause , from the Com mission and timely filed a Petition f or

307Relief.

308On September 6, 2007, the Commission forwarded the

316Petitions f or Relief of Petitioners Ralph Alexander, Stevie

325Daniels, and Ernest West, Jr. , to the Division of Administrative

335Hearings; on September 21, 2007 , Petitioner Carlos Cole ' s,

345Petition f or Relief was forwarded to the Division of

355Administrative Hearings. Initial Orders were sent to all

363parties. Each Initial Order was forwarded on the same day the

374Division of Administrative Hearings received the Petit ions f or

384Relief from the Commission.

388On September 14, 2007, the cases of Ralph Alexander, Stevie

398Daniels, and Ernest West, Jr. , were consolidated. On October 4,

4082007, Petitioner Cole ' s case was consolidated with the other

419three cases. On th at same day, O ctober 4, 2007, the case was

433scheduled for final hearing on November 27 and 28 , 2007 .

444The cases were presented as scheduled. Petitioners

451presented 12 witnesses: Ralph Alexander ; Stevie Daniels ; Ernest

459West, Jr. ; Carlos Cole ; Ernest Mitchell, Jr. ; Ronald Christmas ;

468Kenneth Sloane ; Harry Walker ; Robert Kalina ; Roy Brock ; Vince

477Hauser ; and Kyle Cross. Petitioner had 13 exhibits admitted

486into evidence , which were marked Petitioner ' s Exhibits 1

496through 13. Respondent presented one witness, Anthony Daniels,

504a nd had five exhibits admitted into evidence , which were marked

515Respondent ' s Exhibits 1 through 5.

522The three - volume T ranscript was filed with the Clerk of the

535Division of Administrative Hearings on January 16, 2008. Both

544parties timely filed Proposed Rec ommended Orders.

551All references are to 2006 Florida Statutes, unless

559otherwise indicated.

561FINDINGS OF FACT

564Based on the oral and documentary evidence presented at the

574final hearing, the following Findings of Fact are made:

5831. All Petitioners are African - American males; all were

593employed by Respondent. Petitioners Alexander, Daniels and West

601were discharged on September 20, 2006. Petitioner Cole was laid

611off on August 25, 2006.

6162. Respondent, Solid Wall Systems, Inc., is an employer as

626defined by the Fl orida Civil Rights Act; it constructs cast - in -

640place solid concrete wall structures for the production home

649industry. This construction methodology is typically employed

656in large residential developments , and the construction

" 663critical path " requires timel y completion of each construction

672progression. For example, if walls are not timely completed,

681roof truss installation will be delayed, erection equipment will

690be idle, follow - up subcontractors are delayed, and money is

701lost.

7023. Petitioner, Ralph Alexand er, was employed by Respondent

711in July 2004, as a laborer , being paid $9.00 per hour. He

723received pay raises and a promotion to leadman during the next

734several years. At his discharge, he was a leadman being paid

745$14.00 per hour.

7484. Petitioner, Stevie Daniels, was employed by Respondent

756in March 2004, as a laborer , being paid $9.00 per hour. He

768received pay raises and a promotion to leadman during the next

779several years. At his discharge, he was a leadman being paid

790$13.00 per hour.

7935. Petitioner, Er nest West, Jr., was employed by

802Respondent in October 2004, as a laborer and paid $9.00 per

813hour. He received pay raises during the next several years. At

824his discharge, he was being paid $11.00 per hour.

8336 . Petitioner, Carlos Cole, was hired in Septemb er 2003,

844as a yard helper with Space Coast Truss, a subsidiary of

855Respondent ' s corporate owner , being paid $6.50 per hour. In

866October 2003, he was transferred to Respondent and received

875$9.00 per hour. He received pay raises and a promotion to

886leadman du ring the next several years. At his discharge, on

897August 25, 2006, he had been promoted to leadman and was being

909paid $15.00 per hour, but was working as a laborer.

9197 . On September 11, 15 and 19, 2006, Petitioners

929Alexander, Daniels and West were " writte n - up. " That is, they

941were disciplined for failing to follow the specific instructions

950of supervisors.

9528 . On September 11, 2006, Petitioners Alexander, Daniels

961and West were on a " stripping " crew working at Wedgefield in

972East Orange County. Alexander was advised that the job had to

983be completed that day , because trusses were scheduled to be

993installed the following day. Notwithstanding direction to the

1001contrary, the crew left the job without completing the

1010stripping.

10119. The time cards of Petitioners Alex ander, Daniels and

1021West indicate that these Petitioners " clocked - out " at between

10315:24 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. It is between 30 and 45 minutes from

1044the job site and Respondent 's yard. Petitioners would have

1054spent several additional minutes cleaning up before " clocking -

1063out. " Not only did Petitioners fail to complete the job, they

1074left the job site early.

10791 0. Petitioner Ernest West, Jr. , had a part - time job

1091working for Space Coast Cleaning, a janitorial service, from

11006 :00 p.m. to 9 :00 p.m. , Monday, Wednesday a nd Friday. The job

1114was located in Viera approximately 15 to 20 minutes from

1124Respondent ' s yard. September 11, 2006, was a Monday and a work

1137day for West ' s part - time job. Petitioner West told Respondent ' s

1152o perations m anager that they left the job site so that he could

1166get to his part - time job on time.

11751 1. On September 15, 2006, Petitioners Alexander, Daniels

1184and West were assigned to strip a multi - unit job site in

1197Titusville. The crew was told to complete the stripping before

1207they left the job site. Time cards indicate that Petitioners

" 1217clocked - out " between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Petitioners left

1228the job unfinished , because they thought they would be unable to

1239complete the job that day.

12441 2. O n September 19, 2006, Petitioners Alexander, Daniels

1254and West were assigned to strip a building at Viera High School.

1266After a building is stripped, crews have standing orders not to

1277leave any " cap " forms on the job site. This is a particular

1289type of form that crews are specifically instructed to return to

1300the main yard immediately after use and re - stock in bins for use

1314on subsequent projects. On this day, Petitioner Alexander

1322called Roy Brock, a field manager, and inquired regarding the

" 1332cap " forms. He was instructed to bring all forms to the yard.

13441 3. Brock visit ed the Viera High School job site after the

1357stripping crew had returned to the yard and found several caps

1368that had been left at the site. He loaded them on his truck and

1382returned them to the yard.

13871 4. As a result of these three incidents, which were

1398deem ed acts of insubordination, Petitioners Alexander, Daniels

1406and West were terminated on September 20, 2006.

14141 5. I n May, June , and July 2006, the housing construction

1426market suffered a significant decline. This was reflected by

1435Respondent having a profit of $10,000 in May, a profit of $2 ,000

1449to $ 3,000 in June, and a $60,000 loss in July. In August, there

1465was literally " no work. " Respondent ' s employees were being sent

1476home every day because there was no work.

14841 6. As a result of the decline in construction, Vince

1495Heuser, Respondent ' s o perations m anager, was directed to lay off

1508employees. Petitioner Cole was among five employees laid off on

1518August 25, 2006. Of the five , three were African - American, one

1530was Caucasian, and one was Hispanic.

15361 7. Seven Hispanic laborers were hired on July 5 and 6,

15482006. Respondent had taken over the cast - in - place wall

1560c onstruction portion of two large projects from a subcontractor

1570named " JR. " The general contractor/developer, Welch

1576Construction, requested that these seven Hisp anic individuals,

1584who had been " JR " employees, and had done all the stripping on

1596these two Welch Construction jobs, be hired to complete the

1606jobs. Hiring these seven individuals to continue to work on the

1617jobs was part of the take - over agreement.

16261 8. In S eptember 2006, three Hispanic laborers were hired.

1637Two were hired to work on " amenity walls " which require a

1648totally different forming process than does the standard solid -

1658wall construction. The third was hired to work on the Welch

1669jobs as he had worked with the " JR " crew previously.

1679CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

168219. The Division Of Administrative Hearings has

1689jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of this

1698proceeding pursuant to Section s 120.569 and 760.11 and

1707Subsection 120.57(1), Florida Statutes (2007) .

17132 0. T he Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, as amended

1725(Chapter 760, Florida Statutes) , was patterned after Title VII

1734of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Federal case law

1745interpreting Title VII is applicable to cases arising under the

1755Florida Act. Green v . Burger King Corp ., 728 So. 2d 369 (Fla.

17693d DCA 1999); Laborers ' Int ' l Union of N. Am., Local 478 v.

1784Burroughs , 522 So. 2d 852 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987); School Board of

1796Leon County v. Hargis , 400 So. 2d 103 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981).

18082 1. Petitioners have the burden o f proving by the

1819preponderance of the evidence that Respondent committed an

1827unlawful employment practice(s) as alleged in their Petitions

1835f or Relief. Florida Department of Transportation v. J.W.C.

1844Company, Inc. , 396 So. 2d 778 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981).

18542 2. It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer

1865to discharge or otherwise discriminate against any individual

1873with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges

1881of employment, because of such individual ' s race or color.

1892§ 760.10(1)(a), Fla . Stat.

18972 3. A prima facie case of discrimination based upon race

1908may be established in one of three ways: F irst, through direct

1920evidence of discriminatory intent by the employer; second,

1928through statistical proof that a neutral policy has an adverse

1938impact on a protected group; or third, by meeting the familiar

1949disparate treatment test set forth in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v.

1959Green , 411 U.S. 792 (1973); Holifield v. Reno , 115 F.3d 1555,

19701561 - 62 (11th Cir. 1997); Carter v. City of Miami , 870 F.2d 578,

1984581 (11t h Cir. 1989).

19892 4. Under the McDonnell Douglas model of proof, the

1999p etitioner bears the initial burden of establishing a prima

2009facie case of discrimination. Proof of a prima facie case under

2020McDonnell Douglas raises a presumption that the employer ' s

2030decisi on was motivated by discrimination. S t . Mary ' s Honor

2043Center v. Hicks , 509 U.S. 502, 506 (1993).

20512 5. Under McDonnell Douglas , a prima facie case of race

2062discrimination may be established by showing the following:

2070(1) Petitioner belongs to a racial minor ity or is a person of

2083color; (2) Petitioner was subjected to adverse job action;

2092(3) Petitioner ' s employer treated similarly - situated employees

2102outside Petitioner ' s classification more favorably; and

2110(4) Petitioner was qualified to do the job. Demonstrati ng a

2121prima facie case is not onerous; it requires only that the

2132plaintiff establish facts adequate to permit an inference of

2141discrimination. McDonnell , supra , at 802; Holifield , supra .

21492 6. Once this presumption is raised, the r espondent is

2160able to rebut it by introducing admissible evidence of a reason,

2171which if believed by the trier of fact, supports a finding that

2183discrimination or retaliation was not the cause of the

2192challenged employment action. Grigsby v. Reynolds Metals Co. ,

2200821 F.2d 590, 594 (11th Cir. 1987); and Equal Employment

2210Opportunity Commission v. Navy Federal Credit Union , 424 F.3d

2219397, 405 (4th Cir. 2005). The employer is required only to

" 2230produce admissible evidence which would allow the trier of fact

2240rationally to conclude that the emp loyment decision had not been

2251motivated by discriminatory animus . " Texas Department of

2259Community Affairs v. Burdine , 450 U.S. 248, 257 (1981). The

2269employer " need not persuade the court that it was actually

2279motivated by the proffered reasons . . . [i]t is sufficient if

2291the [employer ' s] evidence raises a genuine issue of fact as to

2304whether it discriminated against the plaintiff. " Id. at 254.

2313This burden is characterized as " exceedingly light. " Perryman

2321v. Johnson Products Co., Inc. , 698 F.2d 1138, 1142 ( 11th Cir.

23331983).

23342 7. Where the defendant meets this burden, the plaintiff

2344has the opportunity to demonstrate that the defendant ' s

2354articulated reason for the adverse employment action is a mere

2364pretext for discrimination. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green ,

2372supra , at 804; Roberts v. Gadsden Memorial Hospital , 835 F.2d

2382793, 796 (11th Cir. 1988). This demonstration merges with the

2392plaintiff ' s ultimate burden of showing that the defendant

2402intentionally discriminated against the plaintiff. St. Mary ' s

2411Honor Cent er v. Hicks , 509 U.S. 502, 511 (1993); Pignato v.

2423American Trans Air, Inc. , 14 F.3d 342, 347 (7th Cir. 1994). Put

2435another way, once the employer succeeds in carrying its

2444intermediate burden of production, the ultimate issue in the

2453case becomes whether the plaintiff has proven that the employer

2463intentionally discriminated against him because of his race.

2471Turnes v. AmSouth Bank, N.A. , 36 F.3d 1057, 1061 (11th Cir.

24821994). Once the employer produces evidence of a legitimate,

2491nondiscriminatory reason for the c hallenged action, any

2499presumption of discrimination or retaliation arising out of the

2508prima facie case " drops from the case. " See Navy Federal Credit

2519Union , 424 F.3d at 405; Krieg v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co. , 718

2532F.2d 998, 1001 (11th Cir. 1983), cert . de nied 466 U.S. 929

2545(1984) . The ultimate burden remains upon the complainant to

2555prove that the employer intentionally discriminated. Burdine ,

2562supra , 450 U.S. at 256. Stated another way, " ' the ultimate

2573question in a desperate treatment case is not whether the

2583plaintiff establish a prima facie case or demonstrate a pretext,

2593but ' whether the defendant intentionally discriminated against

2601the plaintiff. '" Pashoian v. GTE Directories , 208 F. Supp. 2d

26121293 , 1308 (M.D. Fla. 2002).

26172 8. Petitioners have established that they are members of

2627a protected class by virtue of their race and were well -

2639qualified for their positions. Further, Petitioners were the

2647subject of adverse employment action, termination. They have

2655failed to demonstrate that Respondent ' s reasons fo r termination

2666are pretextual or that they were subjected to racial

2675discrimination that resulted in their terminations.

268129 . " Insubordination, " the reason presented for the

2689termination of Petitioners Alexander, Daniels and West, may be a

2699stretch of the de finition, but Petitioners did on three

2709occasions within the span of several work days, disregard

2718specific directions from supervisors. On two occasions, because

2726of the construction technique employed by Respondent,

2733Petitioners ' failure to complete work as directed, critically

2742affected construction progression. Petitioner Carlos Cole was

2749terminated as part of a lay - off.

27573 0 . Respondent did hire several Hispanic employees during

2767the relevant time period ( seven in July and three in September) ;

2779however, there were appropriate business - related reasons for

2788these new hires. The July hires were in conjunction with taking

2799over an existing subcontract where the developer/contractor

2806requested these specific individuals. The September hires were

2814to perform unique con crete wall - forming.

2822RECOMMENDATION

2823Based on t he foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of

2834Law, it is

2837RECOMMENDED that the Florida Commission on Human Relations

2845enter final orders dismissing the Petition s f or Relief for

2856Petitioners Ralph Alexander, St evie Daniels, Ernest West, Jr.,

2865and Carlos Cole .

2869DONE AND ENT ERED this 31st day of January , 2008 , in

2880Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

2884S

2885JEFF B. CLARK

2888Administrative Law Judge

2891Division of Administrative Hearings

2895The DeS oto Building

28991230 Apalachee Parkway

2902Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 3060

2907(850) 488 - 9675 SUNCOM 278 - 9675

2915Fax Filing (850) 921 - 6847

2921www.doah.state.fl.us

2922Filed with the Clerk of the

2928Division of Administrative Hearings

2932this 31st day of January , 2008 .

2939COPIES F URNISHED :

2943Cecil Howard , General Counsel

2947Florida Commission on Human Relations

29522009 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 100

2957Tallahassee, Florida 32301

2960Denise Crawford, Agency Clerk

2964Florida Commission on Human Relations

29692009 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 100

2974Tallahassee, Florida 32301

2977Adrienne Eent, Esquire

2980Enrique, Smith and Trent, P.L.

2985836 Executive Lane, Suite 120

2990Rockledge, Florida 32955

2993Chelsie J. Roberts, Esquire

2997Ford & Harrison, LLP

3001300 South Orange Avenue, Suite 1300

3007Orlando, Florida 32801

3010NOTICE OF RIG HT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

3017All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within

302715 days from the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions

3038to this Recommended Order should be filed with the agency that

3049will issue the Final Order in this case.

Select the PDF icon to view the document.
PDF
Date
Proceedings
PDF:
Date: 04/15/2008
Proceedings: Final Order Dismissing Petitions for Relief from an Unlawful Employment Practice filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/15/2008
Proceedings: Petitioner`s Exceptions to Recommended Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/31/2008
Proceedings: Recommended Order
PDF:
Date: 01/31/2008
Proceedings: Recommended Order (hearing held November 27, 2007). CASE CLOSED.
PDF:
Date: 01/31/2008
Proceedings: Recommended Order cover letter identifying the hearing record referred to the Agency.
PDF:
Date: 01/22/2008
Proceedings: Respondent Solid Wall Systems, Inc.`s Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/22/2008
Proceedings: Petitioner`s Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Date: 01/16/2008
Proceedings: Transcript (volume I through III) filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/15/2008
Proceedings: Order Granting Extension of Time (Order Granting Extension of Time to be filed by January 22, 2008).
PDF:
Date: 01/14/2008
Proceedings: Respondent Solid Wall Systems, Inc.`s Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law filed.
Date: 11/27/2007
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
PDF:
Date: 11/26/2007
Proceedings: Petitioners` Amended Exhibit and Witness Lists filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/14/2007
Proceedings: Order Denying Continuance of Final Hearing.
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2007
Proceedings: Joint Prehearing Stipulation filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2007
Proceedings: Respondent`s Response in Opposition to Petitioners` Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing and Extension of Time to File Pre-Hearing Stipulation filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/09/2007
Proceedings: Petitioners` Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing and Extension of Time to File Pre-hearing Stipulation filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/31/2007
Proceedings: Respondent Solid Wall Systems, Inc.`s Notice of Service of Responses to Petitioner`s (Cole) First Written Interrogatories filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/22/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Taking Deposition of Carlos Cole filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/18/2007
Proceedings: Respondent Solid Wall Systems, Inc.`s Notice of Service of Responses to Petitioners` (Alexander, Daniels & West) First Written Interrogatories filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/04/2007
Proceedings: Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
PDF:
Date: 10/04/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Hearing (hearing set for November 27 and 28, 2007; 9:00 a.m.; Viera, FL).
PDF:
Date: 10/04/2007
Proceedings: Order of Consolidation (DOAH Case Nos. 07-4020, 07-4021, 07-4022 and 07-4385).
PDF:
Date: 09/28/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Taking Deposition of Setevie Daniels filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/27/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Taking Deposition of Ernest West filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/27/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Taking Deposition (filed in Case No. 07-004021).
PDF:
Date: 09/27/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Taking Deposition of Ralph Alexander filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/26/2007
Proceedings: Respondent`s Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner Ernest West, Jr. filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/26/2007
Proceedings: Respondent`s Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner Stevie Daniels filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/26/2007
Proceedings: Respondent`s Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner Ralph Alexander filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/20/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Appearance (filed in DOAH Case No. 07-4020).
PDF:
Date: 09/20/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Appearance (filed in DOAH Case No. 07-4022).
PDF:
Date: 09/20/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Appearance (filed in DOAH Case No. 07-4021).
PDF:
Date: 09/14/2007
Proceedings: Order of Consolidation (DOAH Case Nos. 07-4020, 07-4021 and 07-4022).
PDF:
Date: 09/13/2007
Proceedings: Response to Initial Order and Agreed Upon Motion to Consolidate filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/06/2007
Proceedings: Initial Order.
PDF:
Date: 09/06/2007
Proceedings: Charge of Discrimination filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/06/2007
Proceedings: Notice of Determination: No Cause filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/06/2007
Proceedings: Determination: No Cause filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/06/2007
Proceedings: Petition for Relief filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/06/2007
Proceedings: Transmittal of Petition filed by the Agency.

Case Information

Judge:
JEFF B. CLARK
Date Filed:
09/06/2007
Date Assignment:
09/06/2007
Last Docket Entry:
04/15/2008
Location:
Viera, Florida
District:
Northern
Agency:
Florida Commission on Human Relations
 

Counsels

Related Florida Statute(s) (4):