Marquez v. State NM Gen SVCS, 10th Cir. (2007)
Uploaded by
Scribd Government DocsMarquez v. State NM Gen SVCS, 10th Cir. (2007)
Uploaded by
Scribd Government DocsF I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES CO URT O F APPEALS
TENTH CIRCUIT
January 31, 2007
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
CHARLES A. M ARQUEZ,
PlaintiffAppellant,
v.
No. 06-2136
(D.C. No. 05-CIV-414 JH/RLP)
STA TE OF N EW M EX IC O,
GEN ERA L SERVICES
DEPARTM ENT,
(D .N.M .)
DefendantAppellee.
OR D ER AND JUDGM ENT *
Before KELLY, M cKA Y, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G ).
The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Plaintiff filed an action against the State of New M exico, its General
Services Department, and numerous individuals, alleging that he was
constructively discharged and that he was retaliated against for filing a
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,
however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 (eff. Dec.
1, 2006) and 10th Cir. R. 32.1 (eff. Jan. 1, 2007).
discrimination claim when the defendants refused to rehire him for various
positions. He asserted claims of age discrimination in violation of the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, national origin discrimination in violation of
Title VII of the Civil Rights A ct of 1964 (Title VII), sex discrimination in
violation of Title VII; disability discrimination in violation of the Americans w ith
Disabilities Act, and retaliation in violation of Title VII.
The case was originally filed in state court but was removed to federal
court. The United States District Court for the District of New M exico concluded
that the retaliation claim was not yet exhausted, as a decision from the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) remained pending. By
agreement of the parties, the court entered an order dismissing the entire case
without prejudice in order to give Plaintiff an opportunity to exhaust the
retaliation claim. The dismissal order included a tolling agreement allowing
Plaintiff to refile his complaint within ninety days of receiving a right-to-sue
letter from the EEOC on the pending retaliation claim.
The EEOC issued and mailed the right-to-sue letter on December 28, 2004.
A dispute arose over when Plaintiff actually received the letter, and thus over
when the ninety-day filing deadline was triggered. Plaintiff asserted without
presenting any evidence that he did not receive the triggering document until
January 10, 2005, some thirteen days after it was mailed. His subsequent
complaint was filed on April 12, 2005. On Defendants M otion for Summary
-2-
Judgment, the trial court dismissed the case as time-barred. It analyzed the time
alternatively under the Supreme Courts presumption under Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(e)
that in absence of contrary evidence a document is received three days after
mailing as well as under the common-law presumption of receipt within five days
of mailing. The trial court held that Plaintiff had failed to present sufficient
evidence to overcome either of these presumptions. Finally, the trial court
concluded that, even accepting Plaintiffs claimed receipt date, the refiled
complaint was still untimely.
As a precaution, the trial court considered Defendants M otion for
Summary Judgment on the merits, applying the standard M cDonnell Douglas
burden-shifting rationale. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792
(1973). The trial court concluded that Plaintiff had not met his burden of proving
that Defendants proffered business reason for its action was pretextual. It also
concluded that the State was immune from certain of the claims under the
Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution.
W e need not reach the merits decision alternatively supporting the trial
courts order dismissing the case with prejudice. Plaintiff had ninety days after
receipt of his right-to-sue letter to refile his case. Under any version of the time
of receipt of that letter, Plaintiffs complaint was untimely filed and therefore
barred by the agreed-upon statute of limitations.
-3-
The judgment of the trial court is AFFIRM ED.
Entered for the Court
M onroe G. M cKay
Circuit Judge
-4-
