15-001292 Tilcia Morgan vs. Skin Cancer Associates Status: Closed Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, April 16, 2015.

STAT E O F FLORID A

COMMISSIO N O N HUMA N RELATION S

TILCI A MORGAN , EEO C Cas e No . 15D20140067 9

Petitioner , FCH R Cas e No . 2014-0106 9

v . DOA H Cas e No . 15-129 2

SKI N CANCE R ASSOCIATES , FCH R Orde r No . 15-03 5

Respondent .

/

FINA L ORDE R DISMISSIN G PETITIO N FO R

RELIE F FRO M A N UNLAWFU L EMPLOYMEN T PRACTIC E

Thi s r r i e befor s th e Commissio matte r fo n f o n th e Recommende d Orde consideratio o f

Dismissal , date d Apri l 16 , 2015 , e issue i d th matte above-style d y b r n Administrativ e La w Judg e

Mar y L i Creasy .

Finding s o f Fac t an d Conclusion s o f La w

Judg e Creasy' s r t Petitione r reflect s orde tha d faile t o compl y wit h orde th a n r o f e

Administrativ e La w Judge . Followin g Respondent' s filin g a o f motio n t o dismis s i n whic h

Responden t argue d tha t th e Petitio n r fo Relie f containe d insufficien t information , Judg e Creasy ,

o n Apri l w o 8 a 2015 , issue d , n Orde r t Sho Caus e y b , Petitioner directin g Apri l 2015 t 15 , , o

provid e suc h informatio n complie d tha t wit h s n Petitio a f o content requirement th r fo s fo e th e r

Relie f se t ou t i n . Fla Admin . Cod e R . n O . 28-106.201 Apri l n tha rathe r 2015 , 15 , respon d th t o e

Orde r t o Sho w Cause , r Petitione file d a motio n n a extensio n r fo o f tim e t th t o respon d o e

already-ruled-upo n s ha t tha t dismis o n d i d motio n resulte e Orde r t o Sho w th Cause . tha Give n t

th e fina l , 4 y Ma fo t n i g th e hearin wa s r r se matte 2015 , e th Administrativ e La w Judg e foun d tha t

Petitioner' s n d "resulte i ha n actio d unnecessar y n f o n preparatio i prejudic Responden o t e t it s

defens e d warrant s th e entr f o y a n orde r recommendin g an dismissal. "

W e not e that , generally , Commissio n panel s e hav conclude d tha t a Petitioner' s failur e t o

respon d t o order s o f a n Administrativ e La w e Judg amount s t o a voluntar y dismissa l o f th e

Petitio n fo r Relief . See , generally , . v Pierc e Brigh t Horizon s Children' s Centers , LLC , FCH R

Orde r No . 14-01 0 (Marc h 26 , 2014) , Inc. , MasTec . v d Herar , FCH R Orde r No . 13-03 4 (Ma y 1 ,

2013) , Cawle y v . Primros e Center , Inc. r Orde FCH , R No . 12-00 9 (Februar y 21 , 2012) ,

Roundtree . e t al . v . Adveni r a t Stonelake , LLC , FCH R r Orde No . 11-06 9 (Augus t 30 , 2011) ,

Bigger s v . Room s T o Go , FCH R Orde r . No , 09-04 5 (Ma y 12 , 2009) Shoo k v . e Nationa Riversid l

Bank , FCH R Orde r No . 9 08-02 (Ma y 6 , 2008) , n Clifto v . Krys , e t al . FCH R Orde r No . 07-06 2

(Novembe r 7 , 2007) , r Heathe e th t a n Gree e Th . v o Bordonar Condominiu m Association , Inc. ,

FCH R Orde r No . 07-01 0 14 , 2007) , (Februar y r Butle v . Th e Peps i Bottlin g Group Orde . FCH R r

FCH R Orde r No . 15-03 5

Pag e 2

No . 06-10 7 (Decembe r 4 , 2006) , t Ne s Expres v s Castellano . Airline s Pilot s Association , FCH R

Orde r No . 05-06 1 (Jun e 15 , 2005) , d Mayfiel v . Karl' s Haberdasher y o f Florida , Inc. FCH , R

Orde r No . 04-02 0 (Marc h 10 , an d 2004) , Kenn y v . Florid a Departmen t o f Corrections . FCH R

Orde r No . 02-02 0 (Jun e 3 , 2002) .

W e furthe r not e tha thi e t s s bee n th ha e cas no t onl y i n ha situation s wher e a Petitione r s

simpl y faile d t o respon d t orde o a th e o r f n Administrativ e n i o situation als t Judge , w La bu s

wher e th e documen t file d n i Petitione r y b a e respons t e th o t e responsiv no t i r orde n a o s issue s

raise d i n th e order . Se e e.g. , , Roundtree e t al. , e d th , supra an Recommende d r o f Orde Dismissa l

entere d therei n i n DOA H Cas e No . 11-1087 , date Jun d e 22 , 2011 . e Se also , Trayle r v . Wal t

Disne y Park s an d Resort s U.S. , Inc. , a a Florid Corporation , FCH R Orde r No . 14-00 3 (Februar y

19 , 2014 ) an d al , e Potter Point e . v , t a Vist , II LTD . e t al r R Orde . FCH No . (Octobe 16 13-06 3 r ,

2013) .

W e f o e not tha t e r Recommende d Orde th Dismissa l reference s Petitioner' s failur e t o

timel y respon d t o Respondent' s n motio e inferenc e negativ o n w . e W dismiss o t dra fro m thi s

sinc e e s make th applicabl e th e rul e filin g a o f respons e t o a motio n no permissive , bu t t

obligatory , an t o f statemen o y s contain d an n e advers effec t resultin g fro m no t filing a respons e t o

amotion . Se e Fla . Admin . Cod e R . d an 28-106.204(1 ) Florid a Relation Commissio n o n Huma n s

o/b/ o Bahiyyi h Watso n v . Viering , Orde r FCH R No . w 10-07 0 (Septembe r 7 , 2010) . However , e

conclud e s impac o n t o thi s tha ha outcom th f o e th e instan t n e t case , e give n th Administrativ e

La w Judge' s findings a s t o Petitioner' s lac k o f e respons w t Sho r Orde o th t o e Caus e d an finding s

a s t o th e resultan t "prejudice " t o th e Respondent .

Base d o n th e foregoing , n Petitio e th t e conclud e w tha fo r Relie f shoul d dismissed b e .

Exception s

Petitione r file d exception s t o th e e Administrativ La w Judge' s Recommende d Orde r o f

Dismissal , i n a documen t entitled , "Petitione r a Tilci Morgan' s Exception s t o th e Recommende d

Orde r Entere d b y ALJ, " , Commissio receive d th b y Ma n o 1 n y e 2015 .

O n Ma y 7 , 2015 , t Responden file d a respons e documen t o Petitioner' s exceptions , i n a t

entitled , "Respondent' s Respons e s Petitioner' o t Entere s Exception o Recommende e t d Orde r th d

b y th e ALJ. "

Petitioner' s exception s documen t contain s fou r numbere d exceptions .

Exceptio n No . 1 argue s e th n i s representation t apparen o th Recommende t y contrar , that e d

Orde r o f Dismissal , Petitioner' s failur e t o file a respons e t o Respondent' s motio n t o dismis s i s

procedurall y irrelevant .

T o n Exceptio i d containe s n e th t exten argument e th . No 1 ar e consisten t wit h ou r

discussio n o f thi s issu e s se a ou th e n i t t d f o s Conclusion an Finding Fac f o s t La w sectio n o f thi s

Order , above , Exceptio n No . 1 i s accepted .

Exceptio n No . 2 argue s Sho o t r w e th t tha Orde e Caus e th g decidin r orde t a no s i n motio n

t o f o r n dismiss , s a i d th Recommende d e Orde represente Dismissal , therefore that an d , ,

Petitioner' s Motio n fo r Extensio n o f Tim e t o e fil a respons e e th t o motio n t o dismiss , filed o n

FCH R Orde r No . 15-03 5

Pag e 3

Apri l 15 , 2015 , o y n e th da whic h a respons e th s require d t o o r e t Sho w Orde wa Cause , wa s

timely .

Exceptio n No . 3 argue s n eve tha t i f i t t e th tha s determine i d Motio n fo r Extensio n o f Tim e

i s no t timely , dismissa l i s no t "mandatory. "

Exceptio n No . 4 argue s f o r d Orde e th t tha Recommende Dismissa l i s highl y prejudicia l t o

Petitione r an d seek s t o unjustl y penaliz e Petitioner .

W e . 4 d e somewha t sympatheti c t o ar Fo th argument s raise . Nos n Exceptio n i d 2 3 , an e r

example , i t woul d appea r o t give u that , s e n conten f o t th Respondent' s n motio t o th dismis s an d e

conten t w Sho t r o e th f o Orde Cause , n f o n extensio a s fo n motio Petitioner' r tim e t o file a

respons e t o th e motio n , dismiss t o whil e fac e s it n o untimel y filed, coul d b e viewe d a s a timely -

filed bu t mislabele d motio n f o n r fo extensio tim e Orde w Sho o t r e t o t d respon o th Cause .

Wit h regar d t o Commissio n revie w o f s response t w Sho o s Order o t Caus e an d subsequen t

order s issue d b y Administrativ e w La Judges , o t y authorit e th th ha n Commissio e correc s t

conclusion s o f la w containe d i n thos e order s f i s o f conclusion th e w la correcte d ar e withi n th e

substantiv e jurisdictio n n Sectio , . See e th f o Commission 120.57(f)(1) , Florid a Statute s (2014) ,

whic h states , "Th e agenc y i n it s final r y orde r t rejec o ma modif y o conclusion s f la w r ove whic h i t

ha s substantiv e jurisdiction. "

Fo r example , i n a cas e i n whic h n a Administrativ e La w Judg e conclude d tha t a Petitioner' s

respons e w Sho o r t n a o t Orde Caus e o a s e y wh th t cas e shoul dismisse o k lac r fo d t e b no d f

jurisdictio n n i e resid t no d di Petitione e r ) wa th inadequat e i s that ; (1 n Florida , Responden (2 ) th e t

wa s no t headquartere d i n , Florida f o d f an d (3 ) non e o th e action s complaine appeare d t o hav e

occurre d i n Florida , r fo r matte th e remande n Commissio e th d furthe r Petitio proceeding s o n th e n

fo r Relief . e criteri a Th e Commissio n note d tha non t th e dispositiv e th o f thre e e wer f o e e issu o f

jurisdictio n unde r th e Florid a Civi l f o t s Right Ac 199 2 - a determinatio n withi n "substantiv th e e

jurisdiction " o f th e Commission . d . Lockhee p Thar v Martin . FCH R Orde r No . 14-00 5 (Marc h

26 , 2014) .

I t woul d see m t t u f tha o th e conclusion o s s w la t excepte d an 3 , 2 . 4 Nos Exceptio n i o d n ,

involv e e e th e f o n th operatio procedura l managemen f o th t e cas e b y th Administrativ e La w

Judge , an d ar e no t withi n th e substantiv e n jurisdictio o f th e Commission . I n addition , w e not e

th e specific , albei t excepted-to , finding th e o f Administrativ e La w Judg e action tha t Petitioner' s s

hav e resulte d i n "unnecessar y o t e prejudic n i t Responden f o n preparatio it s defens e warrant an d s

th e r f o y a n orde entr recommendin I " dismissal. g ou r n view , l lega o n s th n Commissio e ha basi s

fo r overturnin g thi s determinatio n b y th e e Administrativ La w Judg e o f prejudic e t o Respondent .

Exceptio n Nos . 2 , 3 an d 4 ar e rejected .

Reques t fo r Attorney' s Fee s an d Cost s

Respondent' s respons e t o Petitioner' s exception s s request tha t Responden t b e awarde d "it s

attorney's fee s an d costs. "

Give n n i , , exceptions s above f o n Petitioner' discussio r ou h whic w e sugges t th tha t e

Administrativ e La w Judg e coul d hav e s Petitioner' viewe d untimel y motio n o fo r a n extensio n f

FCH R Orde r No . 15-03 5

Pag e 4

tim e t o fil e a e respons t o th e motio n s a a o dismis t s timely-file d bu t mislabele d motio n a fo r n

extensio n o f tim e w o t respon th t d Orde o t r e Sho o , Cause Respondent' s reques t attorney' fo r s

fee s an d cost s i s DENIED .

Dismissa l

Th e Petitio n fo r Relie f f o t d an Complain Discriminatio n ar e DISMISSE D wit h prejudice .

Th e partie s hav e th e righ t o t see k l judicia revie w o f thi s . Order Th e Commissio n an d th e

appropriat e Distric t Cour t o f Appea l l mus t notic f e o e appea receiv withi n 3 0 s day o f th e e dat thi s

Orde r i s filed wit h e f e o k Cler e th th th f o n . Commission Explanatio t righ s t o appea l i foun d i n

Sectio n 120.68 , Florid a Statutes , f o s e an n i d a Florid Rule th Appellat e Procedur e 9.110 .

DON E AN D ORDERE D thi s JO_ da y o f KAlM^ 2015 .

FO R TH E FLORID A COMMISSIO N O N #UMA N RELATIONS :

Commissione r Gilber t M . Singer , Pane l Chairperson ;

Commissione r Ton y Jenkins ; an d

Commissione r Rebecc a Steel e

File d thi s J_0&&y o f \\kujuu) 2015 ,

i n Tallahassee , Florida . ^

Cler k

Commissio n o n Huma n Relation s

407 5 Esplanad e Way , Roo m 11 0

Tallahassee , F L 3239 9

(850 ) 488-708 2

Copie s furnishe d to :

Tilci a Morga n

c/ o R . Marti n Saenz , Esq .

c/ o Fion a Anderson , Esq .

Saen z an d Anderson , PLL C

2090 0 Northeas t 30 t h Ave. , Ste . 80 0

Aventura , F L 3318 0

FCH R Orde r No . 15-03 5

Pag e 5

Tilci a Morga n

c/ o Juliss e Jimenez , Esq .

2080 1 Biscayn e Blvd. , Ste . 40 3

Aventura,F L 3318 0

Ski n Cance r Associate s

c/ o Alejandr o F . Garcia , Esq .

Boyd , Richards , Parke r an d Colonnelli , P.L .

10 0 Southeas t Secon d Street , Suit e 260 0

Miami , F L 3313 1

Mar y L i Creasy , Administrativ e La w Judge , DOA H

Jame s Mallue , Lega l Adviso r fo r Commissio n Pane l

I HEREB Y CERTIF Y thaLa-cop y s g foregoin ha th f o e bee n maile d t o th e abov e liste d

By : ( J §ls>-u >^y /\\<>

Cler k o f th e Co&ujnssio n

Florid a Commissio n o n Huma n Relation s