Chandler v. W.E. Welch & Associates, Inc.
533 F. Supp. 2d 94
D.D.C.
2008
Check Treatment
Docket

OPINION

PAUL L. FRIEDMAN, District Judge.

This mаtter is before the Court on defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 1 Upon consideration of the mo *98 tion, the opposition, and the entire record in this case, the Court will enter judgment in favor of defendants with respect to plaintiffs breach of employment contract claims. The Court will dismiss plaintiffs constitutional claims, Section 1983 claims, and employment discrimination claims.

I. INTRODUCTION

Pro se рlaintiff Johnny Ray Chandler, Sr. brings a variety of claims against his former employer, W.E. Welch & Associates, Inc. (“Welch”), and Welch employees Jeff Mahoney and Kim Gipe. Plaintiff contends that defendants unlawfully discriminated against him, deprived him of his constitutional rights, and violated duties imposed upon them by Welch’s employment policies when they terminated his employment. Plaintiff seeks relief under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 (“Title VII”), Maryland’s аntidiscrimination law, and Welch’s official employment policies as set forth in W.E. Welch & Associates, Inc. Mechanical Contractors Employee Handbook (October 2005) (“Employee Handbook”).

II. BACKGROUND

A. Facts

Plaintiff, a sheet metal worker, began working for defendant Welch in or about October 2005. See Defs.’ Mot. at 2; Compl. at 2. He was terminated from his position by defendant Jeff Mahoney, his supervisor, on March 6, 2006. See Defs.’ Mot. at 2; Compl. at 2.

Plaintiff subsequently telephoned defendant Gipe, who works in Welch’s human resources dеpartment, to verify his discharge. See Compl. at 2. Ms. Gipe verified plaintiff s discharge and explained that he had been discharged “because Mr. Maho-ney had written [plaintiff] up.” Compl. at 3. Plaintiff protested that he had never been informed of any of these “write up[s].” Id. On March 7, 2006, plaintiff sent a letter to Welch’s human resources department in which he argued that his discharge amounted to “un-fair [sic] employment termination” in “violation of the W.E. Welch Employee Handbook.” First Mot. to Amend, Ex. A аt 1 (“March 7, 2006 Letter”). Plaintiff maintained that his discharge was unfair because company policy requires supervisors to issue written warnings before firing employees, and plaintiff had received no warnings. The March 7, 2006 Letter asked for reinstatement, reassignment to another job site, and compensation. See Mar. 7, 2006 Letter at 2-3.

On March 17, 2006, plaintiff received his final paycheck from Welch in the mail. See Compl. at 2. Included with that paycheck were photocopies of four employee disciplinary reports related to plaintiff. See id. Each report documented a specific violation of company policy by plaintiff, and each report was signed by defendant Mahoney. See id., Exs. A-D (“Employee Disciplinary Reports”). 2 Although the Employee Disciplinary Reports include a space for the employee to sign, plaintiffs signature did not appear on any of the reports. See id. After receiving the reports, it appears that plaintiff wrote another letter to defendant’s human resources department. See Compl., Ex. E (“March 17, 2006 Letter”). Plaintiffs second letter reiterated his earlier argument that defendant Mahoney’s failure to properly issue written warnings violated company policy. See Mar. 17, 2006 Letter at 2. Plaintiff further argued that his discharge violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Four *99 teenth Amendment because another sheet metal worker had received a written warning for poor performance. See id. He demanded reinstatement and compensation, and he asked Welch to reprimand defendant Mahoney and remove Mr. Ma-honey from his supervisory position. See id. He then filed the instant lawsuit.

B. Procedural History

Plaintiff filed his complaint against Welch and defendant Mahoney in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on March 29, 2006. See Compl. at 1. Plaintiffs complaint alleged that defendants Welch and Mahoney discharged plaintiff in a manner that constituted “Bias Discrimination,” deprived plaintiff of his constitutional rights, and violated Welch’s employment polices. See id. at 1, 4-6. On April 5, 2006, plaintiff filed а motion seeking ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‍to add as a defendant Kim Gipe, another Welch employee. See First Mot. to Amend.

On May 1, 2006, defendants filed a notice of removal and removed the case to this Court. See Notice of Removal at 2-3 (invoking Court’s diversity jurisdiction). 3 On January 5, 2007, defendants filed the instant motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Plaintiff filed his opposition on April 4, 2007. On that same day, plaintiff filed a motion to amend the complaint, seeking to add a Fifth Amendment claim for violatiоn of his due process rights. See Second Mot. to Amend at 2. Defendants opposed this motion on April 11,. 2007, arguing that it was futile. See Second Mot. to Amend. Opp. at 1.

On May 1, 2007, this Court issued an Order observing that certain parts of defendants’ motion to dismiss- — specifically, those parts addressing plaintiffs claims under Welch’s Employee Handbook — relied upon evidence beyond the four corners of the complaint. The Court therefore (1) converted defendants’ motion to dismiss to a motion for summary judgment with respect to those portions of the motion and (2) gave the parties an opportunity to supplement the pleadings accordingly. See Chandler v. W.E. Welch & Assoc., Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 06-794, Order at 1-2 (D.D.C. May 1, 2007) (“Conversion Order”) (citing Holy Land Found for Relief and Dev. v. Ashcroft, 333 F.3d 156, 165 (D.C.Cir.2003) (trial court abuses its discretion when it “fail[s] to comply with the procedures set forth in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure” by considering materials outside of the pleadings “without converting the proceeding to a Rule 56 proceeding and permitting [the nonmoving party] to either conduct discovery or come forward with additional evidence”)). Defendants did not submit any further materials in response to that Order. Plaintiff submitted several documents. See Mot. to Produce at 3-5 (submitting evidence of the “mandatory language” used by Welch’s Employee Handbook); Pl.’s Supp. Resp. at 4-5 (arguing that plaintiffs complaint states claims under the Constitution, “Standard Company Policy,” and Section 1983); and Third Mot. to Amend at 2 (seeking leave to amend plaintiffs complaint to include “procedural due process” claims under the Fifth and Fourtеenth Amendments).

III. PRELIMINARY MATTERS

A. Construing Plaintiffs Claims

Two of plaintiffs claims require some clarification. First, plaintiff claims that Welch engaged in “Bias Discrimination” *100 because one of plaintiffs co-workers was provided with written and verbal notice of poor performance, while plaintiff was provided with no notice before he was discharged. Compl. at 1; see also id. at 3-4. Plaintiff has not contradicted defendants’ interpretation of this claim as a claim for employment discrimination based on Title VII and, perhaps, Maryland’s anti-discrimination laws. See Defs.’ Mot. at 6-7. Thus, the Court will address plaintiffs claim of “Bias Discrimination” as a claim of employment discrimination under applicable law.

Second, plaintiff claims that Welch is liable for alleged violations of its own employment policies. See, e:g., Compl. at 4-6. Defendant argues that this claim should be viewed as a breach of employment contract claim. See Defs.’ Mot. at 4-6. Plaintiff insists that he is not asserting a breach of employment contraсt claim, but rather a claim for “negligence.” See Pl.’s Opp. at 2. In other words, plaintiff seems to argue that the defendants are liable in tort for their failure to follow company policy as described above. Notwithstanding plaintiffs protestations to the contrary, plaintiffs papers suggest that he is seeking relief under a contract theory, because he repeatedly argues that defendants are liable for violating the terns of the Employee Handbook. See, e.g., Compl. at 1; Mar. 7, 2006 Letter at 3; PL’s Supp. Resp. at 4. Moreover, as plaintiff cites no authority for the proposition that defendants’ failure to observe the niceties of Welch’s written warning and exit interview policies constitutes tortious conduct — and the Court is unaware of any such authority — the Court concludes that defendants’ contract theory of plaintiffs claim is more plausible than (what appears to be) plaintiffs tort theory. 4 The Court will therefore address plaintiffs claim as a claim for breach of emplоyment contract.

B. Plaintiffs Miscellaneous Motions

Currently pending before the Court are several miscellaneous motions filed by plaintiff. See Second Mot. to Amend (seeking leave to add a Fifth Amendment due process claim); Mot. for Extension (seeking additional time to respond to the Court’s May 1, 2007 Conversion Order); Mot. to Produce (seeking leave to submit evidence of the “mandatory language” of Welch’s Employee Handbook in response to the Conversion Order); and Third Mot. to Amend (seeking leave to add a “procedural due process” claim under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments). Defendant has opposed plaintiffs Second Motion to Amend.

The Court will grant plaintiffs Motion to Produce and ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‍consider the evidence submitted in that motion. 5 The Court will deny both motions to amend because they would be futile. See James Madison, Ltd. v. Ludwig, 82 F.3d 1085, 1099 (D.C.Cir. *101 1996). As discussed below, it is undisputed that the conduct of which plaintiff complains was private conduct, not official conduct subject to the strictures of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Plaintiff thеrefore could not prevail on the constitutional claims he seeks to add.

IV. STANDARDS OF REVIEW

A. Summary Judgment

Defendant’s court-designated motion for summary judgment may be granted only if the “pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits [or declarations], if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that [defendant] is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Holcomb v. Powell, 433 F.3d 889, 895 (D.C.Cir.2006). “A fact is ‘material’ if a dispute over it might affect the outcome of a suit undеr the governing law; factual disputes that are ‘irrelevant or unnecessary’ do not affect the summary judgment determination.” Holcomb v. Powell, 433 F.3d at 895 (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505). An issue is “genuine” if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505; Holcomb v. Powell, 433 F.3d at 895. When a motion for summary judgment is under consideration, “the evidence of the non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in [his] favor.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505; see also Mastro v. Potomac Elec. Power Co., 447 F.3d 843, 849-50 (D.C.Cir.2006); Aka v. Washington Hosp. Center, 156 F.3d 1284, 1288 (D.C.Cir.1998) (en banc); Washington Post Co. v. Dep’t of Health and Human Servs., 865 F.2d 320, 325 (D.C.Cir.1989). On a motion for summary judgment, the Court must “eschew making credibility determinations or weighing the evidencе.” Czekalski v. Peters, 475 F.3d 360, 363 (D.C.Cir.2007).

The non-moving party’s opposition, however, must consist of more than mere unsupported allegations or denials and must be supported by affidavits, declarations or other competent evidence, setting forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). He is required to provide evidence that would permit a reasonable jury to find in his favor. Laningham v. U.S. Navy, 813 F.2d 1236, 1242 (D.C.Cir.1987). If the non-movant’s evidence is “merely color-able” or “not significantly probative,” summary judgment may be granted. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505; see Scott v. Harris, — U.S. -, -, 127 S.Ct. 1769, 1776, 167 L.Ed.2d 686 (2007) (“[Wjhere the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is ‘no genuine issue for trial.’ ”) (quoting Matsushita Elec. Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)). To defeat a motion for summary judgment, a plaintiff must have more than “a scintilla of evidence to support [his] claims.” Freedman v. MCI Telecomm. Corp., 255 F.3d 840, 845 (D.C.Cir.2001).

Factual assertions in the moving party’s affidavits may be accepted as true unless the opposing party submits his own affidavits or declarations or documentary evidence to the contrаry. See Neal v. Kelly, 963 F.2d 453, 456 (D.C.Cir.1992).

*102 B. Dismissal Under Rule 12(b)(6)

In Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, - U.S. -, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007), the Supreme Court clarified the standard of pleading that a plaintiff must meet in order to survive a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6). The Court noted that “Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only ‘a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the defendant fair notice of what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests[.]’ ” Id. at 1965 (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)); see also Erickson v. Pardus, — U.S. -, -, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 2200, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007). Although “detailed factual allegations” are not necessary to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, to provide the “grounds” of “entitlefment] to relief,” a plaintiff must furnish “more than labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S.Ct. at 1964-65; see also Papasan v. Attain, 478 U.S. 265, 286, 106 S.Ct. 2932, 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986).

On a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), the Court “must accept as true all of the factual allegations contained in the complaint.” Erickson v. Pardus, 127 S.Ct. at 2200; see also Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S.Ct. at 1965; Summit Health, Ltd. v. Pinhas, 500 U.S. 322, 325, 111 S.Ct. 1842, 114 L.Ed.2d 366 (1991). The Court should “grant plaintiffs the benefit of all inferences that can be derived from the facts alleged.” Kowal v. MCI Communications Corp., 16 F.3d 1271, 1276 (D.C.Cir.1994); see also Browning v. Clinton, 292 F.3d 235, 242 (D.C.Cir.2002). The Court need not, however, accept infеrences drawn by plaintiffs if those inferences are unsupported by facts alleged in the complaint; nor must the Court accept plaintiffs’ legal conclusions. See Kowal v. MCI Communications Corp., 16 F.3d at 1276; Browning v. Clinton, 292 F.3d at 242.

C. Pro Se Plaintiffs

Because plaintiff is proceeding pro se, this Court reviews his pleadings under “less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by láwyers,” Haines v. Kemer, 404 U.S. 519, 520, 92 S.Ct. 594, 30 L.Ed.2d 652 (1972), and, when necessary, “examine[s] other pleadings to understand the nature and basis of [plaintiffs] pro se claims.” Gray v. Poole, 275 F.3d 1113, 1115 (D.C.Cir.2002).

V. DISCUSSION

A. Constitutional Claims

Plaintiff argues that defendants Welch and Mahoney violated his rights under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (becаuse they failed to give plaintiff warnings before firing him) and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (because at least one other worker was given a warning). See Compl. at 3-4; Mot. to Produce at 4-6. Plaintiff further claims that defendant Gipe violated his rights under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‍by failing to ensure that he received proper warnings and failing to ensure that he received an exit interview on his last day of employment. See First Mot. to Amend at 4-5. None of these claims has any merit.

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from “makfing] or enforcing] any law which shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection the laws.” U.S. Const, amend. XIV, 1. It does not govern private conduct, “however discriminatory or wrongful.” *103 Moose Lodge No. 107 v. Irvis, 407 U.S. 163, 172, 92 S.Ct. 1965, 32 L.Ed.2d 627 (1972) (quoting Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1, 13, 68 S.Ct. 836, 92 L.Ed. 1161 (1948)). The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is also addressed to official conduct. It bars states from “depriving] any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” U.S. Const, amend. XIV, § 1.

The conduct of which plaintiff complains was private conduct, not state action. Such private conduct does not trigger the protections of the Fourteenth Amendments. See, e.g., Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Co., 500 U.S. 614, 619, 111 S.Ct. 2077, 114 L.Ed.2d 660 (1991) (“With a few exceptions, such as the provisions of the Thirteenth Amendment, constitutional guarantees of individual liberty and equal protection do not apply to the actions of private entities.”); Harris v. Ladner, 127 F.3d 1121, 1125 (D.C.Cir.1997). The Court will dismiss all of plaintiffs constitutional claims.

B. Section 1983 Claims

Plaintiff argues that defendants’ failure to follow the Employee Handbook, as described above, violated plaintiffs constitutional rights and thereby made defendants liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Pl.’s Supp. Resp. at 4. This argument fails.

Section 1983 does not create substantive rights, but provides a federal remedy when an individual is deprived of rights that are protected by federal law. There is a requirement of state action on the part of the alleged wrongdoer in order for liability to attach under Section 1983. See Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 150, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970).

As discussed above, it is undisputed that Welch, Mahoney, and Gipе were not acting “under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The Court therefore will dismiss plaintiffs Section 1983 claims.

C. Employment Discrimination Claims

Plaintiff argues that defendants discriminated against him in violation of Title VII and Maryland’s anti-discrimination law. This claim also lacks merit.

Title VTI provides, in relevant part, that it is unlawful for an employer “to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with resрect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(l). Maryland’s anti-discrimination laws prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of an “individual’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or disabil-ity____” Md.Code. Ann. art. 49B § 16.

Here, plaintiff conclusorily alleges that he suffered “Bias Discrimination,” Compl. at 1, but fails to allege any facts in support of this claim. 6 As noted above, the Court need not accept inferences drawn by plaintiffs if those inferences are unsupported by facts alleged in the complaint, and the Court need not accept plaintiffs’ legal conclusions. See Kowal v. MCI Communications Corp., 16 F.3d at 1276; Browning v. Clinton, 292 F.3d at 242. Here, plaintiff has failed to allege *104 facts supporting an inference that Welch impermissibly discriminated against him, and so the Court will dismiss plaintiffs employment discrimination claims.

D. Breach of Employment Contract Claims

Finally, plaintiff argues that defendants’ failure to follow the procedures set forth in Welch’s Employee Handbook gives rise to contractual liability. Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on this claim.

1. Choice of Law

In a diversity action, a federal district court applies the choice of law principles of the state or jurisdiction in which it sits. See Rafferty v. NYNEX Corp., 60 F.3d 844, 849-50 (D.C.Cir.1995) (citing Bledsoe v. Crowley, 849 F.2d 639, 641 (D.C.Cir.1988)); Long v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 877 F.Supp. 8 (D.D.C.1995). The District of Columbia employs a “modified ‘governmental interest analysis,’ ” under which the court evaluates the governmental policies underlying the applicable laws and determines which jurisdiction’s policy would be most аdvanced by having its laws applied to the facts in the case. Thompson v. Islam, Civil Action No. 01-585, 2005 WL 3262926, at *4 (D.D.C.2005). For breach of employment contract claims, District of Columbia courts apply the law of the state in which the alleged contract was breached because that state has the greatest interest in protecting the rights of its employees. See Rafferty v. NYNEX Corp., 60 F.3d at 850; Hyman v. First Union Corp., 982 F.Supp. 8, 11 (D.D.C. 1997); Thompson v. Islam, Civil Action No. 01-585, 2005 WL 3262926 at *4. As the employment contract at issue here was both made and allegedly breached in Maryland, the Court will apply Maryland law.

2. Maryland Law

In Maryland, at-will emрloyment contracts may be terminated “at the pleasure of either party at any time.” Adler v. American Standard Corp., 291 Md. 31, 432 A.2d 464, 467 (1981). There are exceptions to this rule. If, for example, provisions in an employee handbook or other publication “limit the employer’s discretion to terminate an indefinite employment or ... set forth a required procedure for termination of such employment,” and those provisions are “properly expressed and communicated to the employеe,” then they may “become contractual undertakings by the employer that are enforceable by the employee.” Castiglione v. Johns Hopkins Hosp., 69 Md.App. 325, 517 A.2d 786, 792-93 (1986) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Not every statement made in a personnel handbook or other publication will rise to the level ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‍of an enforceable covenant,” however, and “[general statements of policy are no more than that”; they do not create contractual obligations. Staggs v. Blue Cross of Maryland, Inc., 61 Md.App. 381, 486 A.2d 798, 804 (1985) (internal quotation marks omitted). In particular, “justifiable reliance [on employee handbook provisions by an employee] is precluded ... where contractual intent has been expressly disclaimed.” Castiglione v. Johns Hopkins Hosp., 517 A.2d at 794. Clear and prominently displayed disclaimers in employee handbooks that expressly reserve for the employer the right to discharge employees at any time are sufficient to preserve the “at will” nature of an employment relationship. See id. at 793; Haselrig v. Public Storage, Inc., 86 Md.App. 116, 585 A.2d 294, 300-01 (1991).

Here, plaintiff relied upon languagе in the Welch Employee Handbook which set forth procedures regarding (1) warnings for poor performance and (2) exit interviews. See Compl. at 4-6; First Mot. to Amend at 4-6. All agree that plaintiff never received any verbal or written warn *105 ings despite the fact that, prior to plaintiffs discharge, defendant Mahoney filed four reports about plaintiffs performance with the human resources department. All parties also appear to agree that plaintiff never recеived an exit interview. See Compl. at 3-4; see also Defs.’ Mot. at 2-3. Thus, it is undisputed that the provisions of the Employee Handbook relating to warnings and exit interviews were not followed.

But this is not enough to make defendants liable in contract because Welch’s Employee Handbook cannot be viewed as a contract. The Employee Handbook contains a clear and express disclaimer— prominently displayed in the foreword— which states that

neither this handbook nor any other [Welch] documеnt, confers any contractual right, either express or implied, to remain in [Welch’s] employment. Nor does this handbook guarantee any fixed terms and conditions of your employment. Your employment is for no specific designated period of time and may be terminated at will, with or without cause and without prior notice, by [Welch], or you may terminate your employment for any reason at any given time.

Defs.’ Mot., Ex. A at 6; see also Pl.’s Opp. (failing to dispute the existence or placement of this language). This clear, prominent, and explicit disclaimer is sufficient as a matter of law to preclude plaintiffs reliance upon any part of the Employee Handbook as a contractual undertaking of his former employer. See Fournier v. U.S. Fidelity & Guar. Co., 82 Md.App. 31, 569 A.2d 1299, 1304-05 (1990). Thus, the Court will grant summary judgment in favor of defendants on plaintiffs breach of employment contract claims.

VI. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, the Court will grant defendants’ court-designated motion for summary judgment with respect to plaintiffs breaсh of employment contract claims. The Court will dismiss plaintiffs constitutional claims, Section 1983 claims, and employment discrimination claims for failure to state a claim. An Order consistent with this Opinion will issue this same day.

Notes

1

. The papers submitted in connection with this matter are: Plaintiff's Complaint; Plaintiff’s Motion to Amend Complaint and Supplement the Pleadings (“First Motion to Amend”); Defendants' Notice of Removal of Case to United States District Court for the District of Columbia ("Notice of Removal”); Defеndants’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Complaint for Failure to State a Claim upon which Relief May be Granted Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) (“Defendants’ Motion”); Plaintiff’s Rebuttal Motion to the Defendants' Pending Motion to Dismiss the Complaint ("Plaintiff’s Opposition”); Plaintiff's Motion to Amend Complaint and Supplement the Pleadings ("Second Motion to Amend”); Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion to Amend the Complaint ("Second Motion to Amend Opposition”); Plaintiff's Request for an Extension of Timе to File His Response Motion ("Motion for Extension”); Plaintiff’s Motion to Produce Evidence ("Motion to Produce”); Plaintiff’s Rebuttal to the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the Complaint for Failure to State a Claim ("Plaintiff's Supplemental Response”); and Plaintiff's Request for Leave to Amend the Complaint and Supplement the Pleadings ("Third Motion to Amend”).

The filing referred to herein as the "First Motion to Amend” seeks leave to add Kim Gipe as a defendant. Because this motion preceded any response by defendants, and because it is apparent that plaintiff intended for this motion to supplement his initial complaint, the Court, like the defendants, will assume that this motion effectively amended plaintiff’s initial complaint. See Defs.' Mot. at 1 n. 1. The Court therefore proceeds as if Ms. Gipe is a defendant to this action.

2

. According to the Employee Disciplinary Reports, plaintiff committed infractions on February 7, 2006, February 9, 2006, February 10, 2006, and March 1, 2006.

3

. According to defendant, "W.E. Welch is incorporated in the State of Maryland with its principal place of business in the State of Maryland. Defendant Jeff Mahoney is a citizen of Maryland, and Kim Gipe is a citizen of the State of Pennsylvania. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff is a citizen of the District of Columbia.” Notice of Removal at 3.

4

. It should be noted that plaintiffs papers cannot be read as asserting a claim for the tort of wrongful discharge. Even if the Court were to invoke that claim on plaintiff's behalf, dеfendants would be entitled to summary judgment under Maryland or District of Columbia law because plaintiff has not — and cannot — allege that defendants' failure to follow the Employee Handbook violated an important and clearly expressed public policy, see Porterfield v. Mascari II, Inc., 374 Md. 402, 823 A.2d 590, 602 (2003) (generally, discharge must violate a public policy discernible "from constitutional or statutory expressions” for employer to be liable in tort), or that the sole reason for plaintiff's discharge was his refusal to follow the law. See Kassem v. Washington Hosp. Ctr., 513 F.3d 251, 253, 2008 WL 169784, at *2 (D.C.Cir.2008) (discussing District of Columbia law). If plaintiff intended to bring a tort claim, it is difficult to perceive the basis of that claim.

5

. The Court will deny Plaintiff's Motion for Extension as moot because plaintiff has now responded to the Court’s Conversion Order. See Mot. to Produce; Pl.'s Supp. Resp.

6

. Again, plaintiff seems to think that defendants violated Title VII and Maryland’s employment discrimination law because defendants failed to give plaintiff warnings but did warn another employee. See Compl. at 4. Even if true, this allegation does not support an inference that defendants ‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‍discriminated against plaintiff based on any of the protected characteristics.