0% found this document useful (0 votes)
498 views15 pages

Order: Tisha Lee v. Denver Public Schools Et Al.

This order grants in part and denies in part a motion to dismiss a complaint filed by Tisha Lee against Denver Public Schools and David Suppes. Lee, an African American woman, alleges she was denied a promotion to the position of executive director at her college due to racial discrimination and retaliation. The order finds that Lee has sufficiently stated claims of racial discrimination under Title VII and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to survive dismissal. However, the order grants the motion to dismiss Lee's retaliation claims under 42 U.S.C. Section 1981 for failure to state a claim.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
498 views15 pages

Order: Tisha Lee v. Denver Public Schools Et Al.

This order grants in part and denies in part a motion to dismiss a complaint filed by Tisha Lee against Denver Public Schools and David Suppes. Lee, an African American woman, alleges she was denied a promotion to the position of executive director at her college due to racial discrimination and retaliation. The order finds that Lee has sufficiently stated claims of racial discrimination under Title VII and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to survive dismissal. However, the order grants the motion to dismiss Lee's retaliation claims under 42 U.S.C. Section 1981 for failure to state a claim.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 15

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT


FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Judge William J. Martínez

Civil Action No. 20-cv-1989-WJM-MEH

TISHA LEE,

Plaintiff,

v.

DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS; and


DAVID SUPPES, in his individual and official capacity,

Defendants.

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART


DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS

This matter is before the Court on Defendants Denver Public Schools (“DPS”)

and David Suppes’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff Tisha Lee’s Complaint pursuant to

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) (ECF No. 16) (“Motion”). For the

following reasons, the Motion is granted in part and denied in part.

I. BACKGROUND

The following facts are taken from Lee’s Complaint and are assumed true for the

purpose of resolving the Motion. See Ridge at Red Hawk, L.L.C. v. Schneider, 493

F.3d 1174, 1177 (10th Cir. 2007).

Lee, an African-American woman, is Vice President of Student Affairs at Emily

Griffith Technical College (“EGTC”), an affiliate of DPS. (ECF No. 4 ¶ 1.) She has

served in that position for 14 years and has worked in the field of higher education for

27 years. (Id.)
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 2 of 15

In early 2019, the executive director (“ED”) of EGTC announced his retirement.

(Id. ¶ 18.) He encouraged Lee to apply for the vacant position. (Id.) Lee assisted in

drafting the hiring criteria and job description for the position, which included a

requirement of at least seven years of experience in higher education. (Id. ¶¶ 20–22.)

Lee applied for the ED position and completed two rounds of interviews. (Id.

¶¶ 20–25.) A panel of six interviewers conducted the interviews. (Id. ¶ 21.) David

Suppes, the Chief Operating Officer of DPS, was to make the final selection of the ED

from the panel’s choice of two finalist candidates. (Id. ¶ 37.)

Lee was initially told that she was a finalist candidate and had been scheduled

for a final interview. (Id. ¶ 34.) On April 22, 2019, however, Lee learned that her final

interview had been cancelled, and she would no longer be considered for the ED

position. (Id. ¶¶ 33–34.)

A colleague of Lee’s, Barbara Lindsay, served on the interview panel. (Id. ¶ 35.)

Lindsay informed Lee that she had been ranked as a finalist candidate for the position

following her interviews. (Id.) Lindsay also told Lee that certain panelists made racially

biased comments about Lee, such as doubting whether she had the necessary political

connections to fundraise for the school and stating that she must be held to a higher

standard as a Black woman. (Id. ¶¶ 30–31.)

DPS and Suppes ultimately hired a Caucasian woman named Stephanie Donner

for the ED position. (Id. ¶ 37.) According to Lindsay, five of the six panelists ranked

Donner as their last choice for the ED position due to her lack of experience in higher

education. (Id. ¶¶ 38–39.) Moreover, no panelist had ranked Donner as a finalist for

the ED position. (Id. ¶ 38.)

2
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 3 of 15

Based on the information Lindsay provided, Lee filed a charge of discrimination

with the Colorado Civil Rights Division (“CCRD”). (Id. ¶ 36.) Two weeks after Lee filed

her charge of discrimination with the CCRD, Donner terminated Lindsay’s employment.

(Id. ¶ 45.)

Lee filed her Complaint on June 17, 2020 in Colorado state court. (ECF No. 4.)

She asserts a total of seven claims: (1) race discrimination in violation of the Equal

Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983,

against DPS and Suppes, (2) race discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil

Rights Act of 1964, §§ 2000e, et seq. (“Title VII”), against DPS, (3) retaliation in violation

of Title VII against DPS, (4) race discrimination in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 against

DPS and Suppes, (5) retaliation in violation of § 1981 against DPS, (6) race

discrimination in violation of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, §§ 24-34-301, et seq.

(“CADA”), against DPS, and (7) retaliation in violation of the CADA against DPS. (Id.

¶¶ 49–122.)

Defendants removed the action on July 8, 2020, based on Lee’s federal claims

brought pursuant to Title VII, § 1981, and § 1983. (ECF No. 1.) Defendants filed their

Motion on July 29, 2020, seeking dismissal of Lee’s Complaint in its entirety pursuant to

Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). (ECF No. 16 at 1.) Lee filed a response to the Motion, and

Defendants filed a reply. (ECF Nos. 27 & 32.)

II. LEGAL STANDARD

A. Rule 12(b)(1)

Rule 12(b)(1) empowers a court to dismiss a complaint for “lack of jurisdiction

over the subject matter.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1). Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(1) is not

3
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 4 of 15

a judgment on the merits of a plaintiff’s case. Rather, it calls for a determination that the

court lacks authority to adjudicate the matter, attacking the existence of jurisdiction

rather than the allegations of the complaint. See Castaneda v. INS, 23 F.3d 1576, 1580

(10th Cir. 1994) (recognizing that federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and

may only exercise jurisdiction when specifically authorized to do so). The burden of

establishing subject-matter jurisdiction is on the party asserting jurisdiction. Basso v.

Utah Power & Light Co., 495 F.2d 906, 909 (10th Cir. 1974). A court lacking jurisdiction

“must dismiss the cause at any stage of the proceeding in which it becomes apparent

that jurisdiction is lacking.” Id.

B. Rule 12(b)(6)

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a party may move to dismiss a

claim in a complaint for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” The

Rule 12(b)(6) standard requires the Court to “assume the truth of the plaintiff’s well-

pleaded factual allegations and view them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.”

Ridge at Red Hawk, LLC v. Schneider, 493 F.3d 1174, 1177 (10th Cir. 2007). In ruling

on such a motion, the dispositive inquiry is “whether the complaint contains ‘enough

facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v.

Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). Granting a motion to dismiss “is a harsh remedy

which must be cautiously studied, not only to effectuate the spirit of the liberal rules of

pleading but also to protect the interests of justice.” Dias v. City & Cnty. of Denver, 567

F.3d 1169, 1178 (10th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Thus, ‘a well-

pleaded complaint may proceed even if it strikes a savvy judge that actual proof of

those facts is improbable, and that a recovery is very remote and unlikely.’” Id. (quoting

4
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 5 of 15

Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556).

III. ANALYSIS

As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that Defendants seek dismissal of Lee’s

Title VII claims and CADA retaliation claim for failure to exhaust administrative

remedies. (ECF No. 16 at 5.) In the time since this briefing, however, Lee has obtained

right-to-sue notices from the EEOC on her Title VII claims (Claims 2 and 3), and

Defendants have conceded that she has exhausted her administrative remedies as to

those claims. (ECF No. 39 at 2.) Accordingly, Defendants’ arguments as to Claims 2

and 3 for failure to exhaust are moot.

A. Title VII and CADA Discrimination Claims

Defendants argue that Lee cannot state a claim for race discrimination under

Title VII, and by extension, the CADA. (ECF No. 16 at 5–6; see also Stinnett v.

Safeway, Inc., 337 F.3d 1213, 1219 (10th Cir. 2003) (“Colorado has adopted the same

standards applicable to Title VII cases when considering claims brought under the

[CADA].”).) They seek dismissal of Lee’s Title VII and CADA claims (Claims 2 and 6).

(ECF No. 16 at 5.)

To state a claim for disparate treatment for failure to hire, transfer or promote

under Title VII or the CADA, a plaintiff must allege that “1) [she] is a member of a racial

minority; 2) [she] applied and was qualified for an available position; 3) [she] was

rejected despite those qualifications; and 4) the position remained open and the

employer continued to seek applicants from persons of plaintiff's qualifications.” Drake

v. City of Fort Collins, 927 F.2d 1156, 1159 (10th Cir. 1991).

Defendants posit that the Drake test applies only to failure-to-promote cases, and

5
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 6 of 15

that in a failure-to-hire case, a plaintiff must also show that she “was rejected under

circumstances which gave rise to an inference of unlawful discrimination in that [her]

failure to be hired . . . is more likely than not based on considerations of impermissible

factors.” (ECF No. 16 at 5; see also Coe v. Yellow Freight Sys., Inc., 646 F.2d 444,

448–49 (10th Cir. 1981).) Under this test, they contend, Lee cannot state a claim

because her allegations do not give rise to an inference of discriminatory animus. (ECF

No. 16 at 5.) Defendants do not dispute that Lee is a member of a protected class, and

applied and was qualified for the position. (Id.)

Defendants’ articulation of the relevant standard is misguided. The Tenth Circuit

applies the four-factor Drake test to failure-to-hire claims in addition to failure-to-

promote claims. 1 See, e.g., Drake, 927 F.2d at 1159–60 (10th Cir. 1991). The

satisfaction of the final two elements—that the plaintiff was rejected despite her

qualifications and that the position was filled by an applicant who was not a member of

the protected class—“creates a presumption that the employer unlawfully discriminated

against the employee.” Tex. Dep’t of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 254

(1981). By alleging that she was rejected despite her qualifications and that the position

was filled by a White applicant, Lee has met her burden of plausibly alleging a claim for

race discrimination. See id.

Even under Defendants’ proposed analysis, Lee alleges that the circumstances

of her rejection support an inference of discrimination. Lee alleges that panelists in her

interviews made racist remarks. (ECF No. 4 ¶¶ 30–31.) She further alleges that she

nonetheless was selected as one of the final two candidates from whom Suppes would

1
Although Lee maintains that her claims are based on failure-to-promote, rather than failure-to-
hire, the distinction is immaterial here because the analysis is identical.

6
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 7 of 15

select as the new ED. (Id. ¶ 27.) Given Donner’s comparative lack of relevant

qualifications, combined with the panelists’ racially motivated skepticism of Lee as a

candidate, the facts as alleged by Lee in her Complaint support an inference that race

played a factor in the hiring decision, even under Defendants’ proposed standard. See

Drake, 927 F.2d at 1160; see also Burdine, 450 U.S. at 253 (“The burden of

establishing a prima facie case of disparate treatment is not onerous.”). Lee has met

her burden of plausibly alleging that Defendants’ failure to hire her was racially

discriminatory. Defendants’ Motion is therefore denied as to Claims 2 and 6.

B. Title VII and CADA Retaliation Claims

Defendants argue that Lee has failed to exhaust administrative remedies with

respect to her retaliation claim under the CADA (Claim 7). (ECF No. 16 at 7.)

Additionally, Defendants argue that Lee fails to state a plausible claim for retaliation

under either Title VII or the CADA. (Id. at 8–9.)

i. Failure to Exhaust

Defendants argue that Lee failed to exhaust administrative remedies as to her

CADA retaliation claim because she did not timely file her charge of discrimination with

the CCRD. (Id. at 7.)

Prior to bringing a claim under the CADA, a plaintiff must file a charge of

discrimination with the CCRD within six months of the adverse employment action.

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-403. Whether a plaintiff has exhausted his or her

administrative remedies is a question of “jurisdictional fact.” McBride v. CITGO

Petroleum Corp., 281 F.3d 1099, 1105 (10th Cir. 2002). Accordingly, failure to exhaust

administrative remedies by timely filing a charge of discrimination deprives a court of

7
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 8 of 15

subject-matter jurisdiction over the claim. See id.

The basis of Lee’s retaliation claim is Lindsay’s discharge, which occurred “at the

end of July 2019.” (ECF No. 4 ¶ 45.) Lee was therefore required to file her charge by

no later than late January 2020. See Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-403. Defendants attach

a letter from the CCRD to their Motion, which states that Lee filed her charge in May

2020, months after the deadline. 2 (ECF No. 16-3.)

In her response, Lee does not dispute that she failed to exhaust administrative

remedies under the CADA for her retaliation claim. (See generally ECF No. 27.)

Rather, her argument focuses exclusively on the proposal of a stay pending the EEOC’s

issuance of a right-to-sue notice on her Title VII claim. (Id. at 8–9.)

Lee may not evade the timely charge requirements by remaining silent in her

Complaint and subsequent filings. As Lee does not allege that she timely filed her

CCRD charge, nor dispute Defendants’ assertions to the contrary, her CADA retaliation

claim is barred for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. See McBride, 281 F.3d at

1106. Accordingly, Defendants’ Motion is granted as to Claim 7, which is dismissed

without prejudice.

ii. Failure to State a Claim

Defendants argue that Lee fails to state a claim for retaliation under Title VII.

(ECF No. 16 at 8–9.) To sustain a retaliation claim, Lee must plead that she (1)

engaged in a protected activity, (2) suffered an adverse employment action, and (3)

there was a causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse

2
When considering factual questions of subject-matter jurisdiction, the Court may consider
materials outside of the pleadings. See Davis ex rel. Davis v. United States, 343 F.3d 1282,
1296 (10th Cir. 2003). Hence, the Court may consider the extrinsic materials submitted with the
Motion, including the CCRD charge document.

8
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 9 of 15

employment action. Timmerman v. U.S. Bank, N.A., 483 F.3d 1106, 1122–23 (10th Cir.

2007). Defendants assert that Lee fails to state a claim for retaliation because she

cannot satisfy the adverse employment action or the causal connection elements of a

retaliation claim. (ECF No. 16 at 8–9.)

Lee’s retaliation claims are based on Lindsay’s termination. (ECF No. 4 ¶¶ 43–

48.) Specifically, Lee alleges that Lindsay’s discharge was DPS and Suppes’s attempt

to undermine Lindsay’s credibility as a witness in Lee’s case. (Id. ¶ 45.)

First, Defendants argue that Lindsay’s discharge was not an adverse

employment action against Lee. (Id. at 8.) They posit that a plaintiff may not rely on an

adverse employment action against another person unless a close familial relationship

between them exists. (ECF No. 16 at 8.) They cite several out-of-circuit district court

decisions holding that a co-worker relationship was insufficient to support an

associational retaliation claim. (Id.) Second, Defendants argue that, even assuming

that Lindsay’s discharge constituted an adverse employment action, Lee has not pled a

causal connection between the events. (Id. at 9.)

The Supreme Court has expressly declined to mandate “a fixed class of

relationships for which third-party reprisals are unlawful.” Thompson v. N. Am.

Stainless, LP, 562 U.S. 170, 175 (2011). In Thompson, the Supreme Court stated that

the termination of a close family member would almost always meet the relevant

standard and that “inflicting a milder reprisal on a mere acquaintance will almost never

do so,” but declined to apply a bright line rule. Id. The Supreme Court also emphasized

that Title VII’s antiretaliation provision “is not limited to discriminatory actions that affect

the terms and conditions of employment.” Id. at 174 (quoting Burlington N. & S.F.R. Co.

9
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 10 of 15

v. White, 548 U.S. 53 (2006)). Rather, the relevant inquiry in determining whether an

act was retaliatory is whether the employer’s action may have “dissuaded a reasonable

worker from making or supporting a charge of discrimination.” Id. at 174 (quoting

Burlington, 548 U.S. at 68).

The Supreme Court has made it quite clear that no rigid standard precludes a

retaliation claim from being based on reprisal against a colleague. See Thompson, 562

U.S. at 175. Termination of employment is a severe action, and Lee alleges that

Lindsay was not only a longtime colleague, but she was someone who also provided

key information supporting Lee’s discrimination suit. (ECF No. 4. ¶¶ 34–36.) The Court

finds that the termination of a colleague may well dissuade an employee from filing a

charge of discrimination, particularly where, as here, the colleague’s termination may

undermine the employee’s charge of discrimination. (Id.)

Moreover, Lee alleges a causal connection between Lindsay’s termination and

the filing of Lee’s charges, specifically, that DPS learned that Lindsay had disclosed the

panel discussions to Lee. (Id. ¶¶ 43–46.) She also alleges that Donner terminated

Lindsay a mere two weeks after Lee filed her charge, further supporting the inference of

a causal connection. (Id. ¶ 45.) Lee has alleged facts which plausibly sustain a

retaliation claim under Title VII. Accordingly, Defendants’ Motion is denied as to Claim

3.

C. §§ 1981 and 1983 Claims

Defendants seek dismissal of Lee’s Equal Protection and § 1981 discrimination

and retaliation claims (Claims 1, 4 and 5) against DPS. (ECF No. 16 at 9.) They argue

that Lee has failed to plead facts giving rise to municipal liability, and therefore cannot

10
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 11 of 15

state a claim against DPS. (Id. at 9–10.) Defendants further argue that Lee’s Equal

Protection and § 1981 claims against Suppes (Claims 1 and 4) fail because Lee has not

adequately alleged a violation of her rights. (ECF No. 16 at 11.) As a result, they posit,

Suppes is entitled to qualified immunity. (Id. at 11–13.)

i. DPS Municipal Liability

Because DPS is a school district, Lee must satisfy the municipal liability

principles set forth in Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978) to hold DPS

liable for Suppes and Donner’s discriminatory and retaliatory actions. Specifically, Lee

must allege that the unlawful actions were taken pursuant to an official policy or custom

of DPS, or that Suppes and Donner were final policymakers for DPS. Randle v. City of

Aurora, 69 F.3d 441, 446 (10th Cir. 1995) (citing Monell, 436 U.S. at 690–91).

Defendants argue that Lee has not alleged that DPS maintains a custom, policy, or

practice of discrimination or retaliation, nor that Suppes or Donner were final

policymakers. (ECF No. 16 at 9–11.)

The Tenth Circuit has established three elements for determining whether an

individual is a final policymaker: “(1) whether the official is meaningfully constrained ‘by

policies not of that official’s own making;’ (2) whether the official’s decisions are final—

i.e., are they subject to any meaningful review; and (3) whether the policy decision

purportedly made by the official is within the realm of the official’s grant of authority.”

Randle, 69 F.3d at 448.

Defendants argue that only the District Superintendent or the District’s Board of

Education may be final policymakers given the structure of DPS. (ECF No. 16 at 10–

11; see also ECF No. 16-4 at 1–2.) They attach documents to the Motion detailing the

11
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 12 of 15

process of delegating authority to the District Superintendent. (ECF No. 16-4 at 1–2.)

Defendants also cite their official policies against discrimination and retaliation, which

they attach to the Motion. (ECF No. 16-3 at 1–3.) They contend that these policies

“meaningfully constrained” Suppes and Donner. (ECF No. 16 at 10.)

Lee alleges that Suppes made the decision to hire Donner for the ED position,

and that Donner discharged Lindsay. (ECF No. 4 ¶¶ 37, 45.) She argues that because

Suppes and Donner took these actions despite DPS’s anti-discrimination and anti-

retaliation policies, they were not “meaningfully constrained” by such policies. (ECF No.

27 at 13.) Further, Lee alleges that Suppes and Donner’s decisions were final and that

no other employee or board reviewed their decisions. (ECF No. 4 ¶¶ 37, 45.) No

allegations in the Complaint indicate that Suppes or Donner’s decisions were not in the

realm of their authority.

Resolution of the extent of Suppes and Donner’s authority, as Defendants urge,

would require the Court to take judicial notice of extrinsic official documents and make

factual determinations based on such materials. Such an inquiry would be

inappropriate at the pleading stage of this action in the context of a Rule 12(b)(6)

motion. See Kearney v. Dimanna, 195 F. App’x 717, 721 n.2 (10th Cir. 2006) (stating

that it is “well-established” that a district court is “limited to assessing the legal

sufficiency of the allegations contained within the four corners of the complaint” in

deciding a motion to dismiss). Lee plausibly asserts facts supporting liability of DPS

based on Suppes and Donner’s discriminatory actions as alleged final policymakers.

Defendants’ Motion is therefore denied with respect to Claims 1, 4 and 5 against DPS.

12
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 13 of 15

ii. Qualified Immunity

Defendants assert that Suppes is entitled to qualified immunity as to Lee’s Equal

Protection and § 1981 claims for race discrimination (Claims 1 and 4). (ECF No. 16 at

11–13.) To overcome a defendant’s assertion of qualified immunity, a plaintiff must

show that (1) the defendant violated the plaintiff’s federal constitutional or statutory

rights, and (2) the right was clearly established at the time of the violation. Reynolds v.

Powell, 370 F.3d 1028, 1030 (10th Cir. 2004). Defendants effectively concede that

Lee’s rights at issue here were clearly established, and focus their argument on Lee’s

failure to allege constitutional or statutory violations. (ECF No. 16 at 12–13.)

A court analyzes discrimination claims brought pursuant to §§ 1981 and 1983

using the same framework as applied to Title VII claims. Orr v. City of Albuquerque,

417 F.3d 1144, 1149 (10th Cir. 2005). Therefore, “in racial discrimination suits, the

elements of a plaintiff’s case are the same . . . whether that case is brought under §§

1981 or 1983 or Title VII.” Drake, 927 F.2d at 1162. Lee therefore must allege that

“she applied for and was qualified for an available position, that she was rejected, and

that after she was rejected [the employer] either continued to seek applicants for the

position, or . . . filled the position with a white employee.” Patterson v. McLean Credit

Union, 491 U.S. 164, 186–87 (1989).

As discussed above, Lee has sufficiently alleged a claim for disparate treatment

in violation of Title VII based on DPS and Suppes’s failure to hire her. Therefore, she

has satisfied the second prong of plausibly alleging violations of § 1981 and the

Fourteenth Amendment.

13
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 14 of 15

Defendants do not specifically address whether the alleged conduct violates

clearly established law. (See generally ECF No. 16.) Notwithstanding the extensive

Supreme Court case law and statutory provisions prohibiting race discrimination,

however, the Tenth Circuit has held that the right to be free of such discrimination in

employment is clearly established. See, e.g., Dasgupta v. Harris, 407 F. App’x 325, 331

(10th Cir. 2011) (finding that law was clearly established that racial discrimination in the

workplace was unlawful).

Lee alleges that Suppes deliberately discriminated against her based on her race

by hiring a substantially less qualified White applicant. (ECF No. 4 ¶¶ 49–57, 80–91.) If

Suppes refused to hire Lee due to her race, as Lee alleges, such conduct would

undisputedly violate clearly established rights. See Dasgupta, 407 F. App’x at 331.

Accordingly, Lee has alleged sufficient facts to overcome Suppes’s assertion of

qualified immunity. Defendants’ Motion is denied as to Claims 1 and 4 against Suppes.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, the Court ORDERS as follows:

1. Defendants’ Motion (ECF No. 16) is GRANTED IN PART;

2. Lee’s CADA retaliation claim (Claim 7) is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE;

3. Defendants’ Motion is otherwise DENIED; and

4. The parties shall proceed with pretrial discovery and related matters in conformity

with the provisions of the September 10, 2020 Scheduling Order entered by

Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty, as modified by the January 21, 2021

Amended Discovery Deadlines (ECF Nos. 31 & 42).

14
Case 1:20-cv-01989-WJM-MEH Document 48 Filed 03/29/21 USDC Colorado Page 15 of 15

Dated this 29th day of March, 2021.

BY THE COURT:

______________________
William J. Martínez
United States District Judge

15

You might also like