OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiffs, five women, have brought this action on behalf of themselves and a putative class of current and former female professional employees of Defendant KPMG LLP, the U.S. member firm of global accounting firm KPMG International, alleging various forms of employment discrimination. Defendant has moved to dismiss, strike, or transfer most of Plaintiffs’ claims, including all of their class claims. For the reasons discussed below, Defendant’s motions are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
BACKGROUND
The Third Amended Complaint (“TAC”) in this case is 120 pages long and contains over 550 paragraphs. For present purposes, it suffices to describe the five named plaintiffs — Donna Kassman, Linda O’Donnell, Sparkle Patterson, Jeanette Potter, and Ashwini Vasudeva — and to briefly summarize their claims.
A. The Named Plaintiffs
Kassman began working at KPMG in 1993 and was steadily promoted until 1999, when she was made Senior Manager. (TAC ¶¶ 70-72). In 2003, while out on maternity leave, her pay was significantly cut without sufficient explanation and in spite of strong performance reviews. (TAC ¶¶ 74-78, 80-81). When Kassman returned from maternity leave in 2004, she
O’Donnell worked at KPMG from January 2003 until her termination in April 2009. (TAC ¶ 152). O’Donnell began her career in KPMG’s Johannesburg, South Africa office, where she was promoted to Manager. (TAC ¶ 153). In September 2006, O’Donnell began a rotation in KPMG’s Atlanta office, and transitioned to a permanent position there in February 2007. (TAC ¶¶ 154-55). As part of the rotation, KPMG demoted her to Senior Associate, ostensibly because all employees who transferred were demoted. (TAC ¶¶ 154, 160). Despite her demotion, O’Donnell continued performing Manager-level tasks. (TAC ¶¶ 164-70). In March 2008,O’Donnell informed her supervisors that she was pregnant, which resulted in a halt to her career progression. (TAC ¶ 173). She began receiving negative performance reviews for the first time and was denied a promotion to Manager, despite having held that title in South Africa, while others with less experience were promoted. (TAC ¶¶ 174-78). Moreover, after learning that O’Donnell was pregnant, her supervisor made several negative comments to her about pregnant women’s abilities and a woman’s role in an office and a family. (TAC ¶¶ 185-86). For example, he told her that he thought pregnant women were incapable of doing their jobs; that he did not see how, as a working mother, one could “tend to a child and work at KPMG at the same time”; and that O’Donnell did not need to work when her husband was the “breadwinner” in the family. (TAC ¶ 185-86). On the day O’Donnell returned from maternity leave, KPMG fired her, allegedly because of the economy. (TAC ¶ 193).
Patterson worked as an Associate at KPMG from June 2007 until November 2010. (TAC ¶¶ 196, 218). Through 2009, Patterson received strong performance reviews and several performance awards. (TAC ¶¶ 199-204). Moreover, Patterson regularly performed tasks done by Senior Associates, but was never compensated or promoted, despite working as an Associate for longer than the standard two-year promotion timeframe. (TAC ¶¶ 207-08, 218-21). While Patterson was out on maternity leave, her supervisors asked her to reduce her role at KPMG. (TAC 11224). When she returned from maternity leave, Patterson was intentionally intimidated and harassed by her supervisors and given negative performance reviews. (TAC ¶ 225). In addition, her largest client was taken away from her and, despite repeated requests, she was not provided with alter
Potter was employed at KPMG for eleven years, from July 1995 to July 2006. (TAC ¶ 268). Potter was hired as a Manager and received strong performance reviews during her entire tenure at KPMG. (TAC ¶¶ 269, 271-72). Despite those reviews, Potter had her pay frozen when similarly situated male colleagues did not. (TAC ¶¶ 280-87). Potter was also induced to decline attractive employment offers from other accounting firms with the promise of a promotion, but was ultimately passed over for that promotion in favor of less qualified male colleagues, allegedly because she did not engage in hostile and degrading social activities. (TAC ¶¶ 292-304). For example, in May 2002 Potter was removed from the track for a promotion she had been promised because she did not “schmooze” enough at Friday happy hours. (TAC ¶ 298). Potter declined to attend these happy hours for religious reasons and because male partners regularly engaged in overtly sexual conduct toward female employees at the events, including doing “body shots” (licking salt or sugar off of another person’s body while consuming alcohol) off of female employees. (TAC ¶¶ 298-99). In July 2006, Potter felt compelled to resign from KPMG based on the lack of possible advancement, hostile and harassing comments from her supervisors, and the company’s failure to address any of the discriminatory and harassing treatment she received. (TAC ¶¶ 306-12).
Vasudeva began her career at KPMG as an Intern, but was ultimately promoted to Senior Associate based on her strong performance, which was reflected in the positive reviews and numerous performance awards she received. (TAC ¶¶ 313-17). Vasudeva’s career at KPMG stalled, however, when she informed her supervisors that she was pregnant and planned to take maternity leave. (TAC ¶ 328). Thereafter, she was passed over for promotions in favor of less qualified male employees, removed from her biggest client, reassigned to a client located far from her office, not invited to “client-building” events when male employees were, denied adequate support staff to meet her supervisors’ expectations, began receiving negative performance reviews for irrelevant skills, and steered toward a flexible time schedule despite the fact that she was working full-time hours. (TAC ¶¶ 327-54). She was also subjected to sexual harassment and other degrading treatment by senior managers. (TAC ¶ 361). For example, in July 2009, one of Vasudeva’s former supervisors suggested that, for women, the flavor of certain Indian food was similar to semen “in their mouth[s].” (TAC ¶361). In June 2009, Vasudeva complained about her treatment to senior management, human resources personnel, and ethics and compliance personnel. (TAC ¶¶ 355, 367). Nevertheless, KPMG failed to respond. (TAC ¶ 367). In September 2009, Vasudeva felt compelled to resign. (TAC ¶ 368).
B. Summary of Claims
The TAC includes nineteen counts of employment discrimination under various statutes and on behalf of different combinations of named and putative class plaintiffs. Specifically, it includes counts alleging: (1) individual and class claims for pay discrimination, promotion discrimination, and pregnancy and caregiving discrimina
The class claims (Counts I-XI) are brought on behalf of a putative class composed of “female exempt Client Service and Support Professionals, including but not limited to female Associates, Senior Associates, Managers, Senior Managers and Managing Directors.” (TAC at 1). Plaintiffs allege that this class suffers from “a pattern and practice of gender discrimination, and employment policies and practices.” (TAC ¶ 371). Such policies and practices include
(a) assigning female Professionals to lower titles and classifications than their male counterparts; (b) paying female Professionals less than their male counterparts; (c) denying female Professionals promotion and advancement opportunities in favor of male employees; (d) treating pregnant employees and mothers differently from non-pregnant employees, male employees, and noncaregivers; and (e) failing to prevent, respond to, adequately investigate, and/or appropriately resolve instances of gender discrimination and pregnancy/caregiver discrimination in the workplace.
(TAC ¶ 371). Plaintiffs allege that problems resulting from these practices were “systemic and Company-wide, because ... all stem from flawed policies, practices and procedures which emanate from the Company’s New York headquarters.” (TAC ¶ 374). They identify as problematic Defendant’s “assignment, development, promotion, advancement, compensation and performance evaluation policies, practices and procedures.” (TAC ¶ 372). Plaintiffs allege that these policies “all suffer from a lack of transparency, adequate quality standards and controls; sufficient implementation metrics; upper management/HR review; and opportunities for redress or challenge.” (TAC ¶ 372). “As a result,” they contend, “employees are assigned, evaluated, compensated, developed, and promoted within a system that is insufficiently designed, articulated, explained or implemented to consistently, reliably or fairly manage or reward employees.” (TAC ¶ 372).
With respect to their claims under the EPA, Plaintiffs allege a putative Collective Action class composed of all future, current, and former female Professionals during the liability period, including female Professionals who “(a) were not compensated equally to males who had substantially similar job classifications, functions, families, titles and/or duties, (b) were not
LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Rule 12(b)(6)
Defendant moves to dismiss many of Plaintiffs’ claims pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. To survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a plaintiff must generally plead sufficient facts “to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly,
Twombly and Iqbal notwithstanding, the Supreme Court has held that, to survive a motion to dismiss, “a complaint in an employment discrimination lawsuit [need] not contain specific facts establishing a prima facie case of discrimination under the framework set forth in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
B. Rule 23(d)(1)(D)
Defendant also moves to strike some of Plaintiffs’ class claims pursuant to
DISCUSSION
Defendant challenges Plaintiffs’ class claims pursuant to both Rule 12(b)(6) and Rule 23(d)(1)(D). (Def.’s Mem. 12-36). In addition, it moves to dismiss various individual claims brought by Plaintiffs pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). (Id. at 36-49). The Court will begin with the class claims and then turn to Plaintiffs’ individual claims.
A. The Class Claims
Defendant raises several arguments with respect to Plaintiffs’ class claims. First and foremost, relying primarily on the Supreme Court’s decision in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, ■— U.S. -,
1. The Motion to Dismiss or Strike in Light of Dukes
As an initial matter, Defendant moves to dismiss or strike Plaintiffs’ class claims in light of Dukes. In that case, the Supreme Court reversed a decision of the Ninth Circuit to certify a nationwide class of female Wal-Mart employees who alleged that “the discretion exercised by their local supervisors over pay and promotion matters” was discriminatory.
First, if the employer “used a biased testing procedure to evaluate both applicants for employment and incumbent employees, a class action on behalf of every applicant or employee who might have been prejudiced by the test clearly would satisfy the commonality and typicality requirements of Rule 23(a).” Second, “[significant proof that an employer operated under a general policy of discrimination conceivably could justify a class of both applicants and employees if the discrimination manifested itself in hiring and promotion practices in the same general fashion, such as through entirely subjective decisionmaking processes.”
Id. at 2553 (quoting Falcon,
Significantly, however, the Court did not close the door altogether on the possibility of certifying a class based on a policy of giving discretion to lower-level supervisors. See Calibuso,
Relying on Dukes, KPMG makes a forceful argument that Plaintiffs will be unable to satisfy Rule 23(a)(2)’s commonality requirement in this ease, but its argument is premature. Unlike Dukes, which involved an appeal from the certification of a class, the present case is at the motion to dismiss or strike stage. Thus, the relevant question is not, as it was in Dukes, whether Plaintiffs have “prove[d ] that there are in fact sufficiently numerous parties, common questions of law or fact, etc.,” for purposes of Rule 23.
Putting aside whether Plaintiffs have standing to bring a Rule 23(b)(2) class action — an issue that is addressed in more detail below — Defendants’ other arguments in support of its motion to strike are even more easily rejected. That is because, at least in this Circuit, a motion to strike class claims is considered premature if the issues raised are “the same ones that would be decided in connection with determining the appropriateness of class certification under Rules 23(a) and 23(b).” Rahman,
2. Plaintiffs’ Standing to Seek Class Certification Under Rule 23(b)(2)
The one component of Defendant’s motion to strike that calls for more detailed analysis is its argument that Plaintiffs, as former employees of KPMG, lack standing to seek injunctive or declaratory relief and, therefore, cannot, as a matter of law, obtain class certification under Rule 23(b)(2).
To satisfy the “ ‘irreducible constitutional minimum’ of standing,” a plaintiff must demonstrate (1) a personal injury-in-fact (2) that the challenged conduct of the defendant caused and (3) that a favorable decision will likely redress. Alliance for Open Soc’y Int’l, Inc. v. U.S. Agency for Int’l Dev.,
These principles demonstrate that a plaintiff generally lacks standing to seek
The reason ... is that a specific request for “reinstatement absent a corresponding injunction would expose plaintiffs to the immediate threat of further discrimination.” In other words, should plaintiffs prevail, and should a court grant them reinstatement, they have a very real interest in a court issued injunction preventing their employer from engaging in the same or substantially identical discriminatory behavior.
Judge Sand recognized the force of these arguments in Chen-Oster, see id. at 121-22, but nevertheless concluded that he was bound by the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dukes to hold that a plaintiff may never seek injunctive relief against his or her former employer. His conclusion was based on the third part of Dukes, in which the Supreme Court opined that the plaintiffs’ claims for backpay were also improperly certified under Rule 23(b)(2) because that provision “applies only when a single injunction or declaratory judgment would provide relief to each member of the class.... [I]t does not authorize class certification when each class member would be entitled to an individualized award of monetary damages.”
require the District Court to reevaluate the roster of class members continually. The Ninth Circuit recognized the necessity for this when it concluded that those plaintiffs no longer employed by Wal-Mart lack standing to seek injunctive or declaratory relief against its employment practices. The Court of Appeals’ response to that difficulty, however, was not to eliminate all former employees from the certified class, but to eliminate only those who had left the company’s employ by the date the complaint was filed. That solution has no logical connection to the problem, since those who have left their Wal-Mart jobs since the complaint was filed have no more need for prospective relief than those who left beforehand. As a consequence, even though the validity of a (b)(2) class depends on whether “final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief is appropriate respecting the class as a whole,” about half the members of the class approved by the Ninth Circuit have no claim for injunctive or declaratory relief at all.... What follows from this ... is not that some arbitrary limitation on class membership should be imposed but that the backpay claims should not be certified under Rule 23(b)(2) at all.
Id. at 2559-60 (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2)) (original emphasis omitted and emphases added) (citation omitted).
Despite “misgivings” and “reservations,” Judge Sand relied on this language to conclude that Dukes had adopted a “blanket rule that always denies standing to ex-employees.” Chen-Oster,
First, like the Plaintiffs here, the plaintiffs in Dukes sought reinstatement. In this respect, then, the facts of this case cannot be meaningfully differentiated from the facts in Dukes. Second, the issue of ex-employee standing was fully briefed and, we presume, fully considered by the Supreme Court. Third, the Supreme Court’s analysis of this issue, and its blanket denial of standing to ex-employees, is not dictum: it was necessary to the resolution of this case insofar as it undergirded the invalidation of the Ninth Circuit’s “predominance test” and foreclosed certification under 23(b)(2).
Id. at 121-22 (citations omitted). For these reasons, Judge Sand concluded that he was “obligated to follow the rule, notwithstanding misgivings about its wisdom.” Id. at 121
This Court respectfully disagrees with Judge Sand. In fact, there are several reasons that the language from Dukes quoted above should not be read to hold categorically that a former employee seeking reinstatement can never seek injunctive or declaratory relief against his or her former employer — a holding that would apply not only in the class action context, but also to individual Title VII claims. First, it is not clear from the passage whether the Supreme Court itself reached the conclusion that former employees lacked standing or merely accepted as its premise the Ninth Circuit’s judgment on that issue. Cf. United States v. Verdugo-Urquidez,
Third, and more substantively, the Dukes Court’s larger analysis does not depend on such a broad reading of the language concerning the standing of former employees. It is true that the operative complaint in Dukes sought “[a]n order restoring class members to their rightful positions at Wal-Mart,” Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint 25, Dukes v. WalMart Stores, Inc.,
In short, the Supreme Court’s arguably broad language notwithstanding, it is a mistake to read Dukes as having adopted a “blanket rule that always denies standing to ex-employees,” Cherir-Oster,
3. The Motion to Strike Class Claims Under New York City and State Law
In addition to the federal law class claims, the TAC includes nationwide class claims pursuant to the NYSHRL (Counts V-VII), the NYCHRL (Counts XIII-X), and the NYSEPA (Count XI). Defendant moves to strike the nationwide putative classes under each of these statutes because the TAC fails to allege that the putative class members lived or worked in New York City or State. (Def.’s Mem. 31). Plaintiffs concede that they, may bring class claims pursuant to the NYSHRL and NYCHRL only on behalf of people who live or work in New York State and New York City, respectively, and therefore represent that they will seek to certify classes for those claims consistent with those geographic limitations. (Pis.’ Mem. 29-30). Plaintiffs dispute Defendant’s arguments with respect to their NYSEPA claims, however, and maintain that a nationwide class may be appropriate because “KPMG’s pay decisions are made, implemented and enforced in New York by actors in the state of New York.” (Id. at 30).
Plaintiffs’ contention — for which they cite no legal authority — does not survive scrutiny. Under New York law, it is a “settled rule of statutory interpretation, that unless expressly stated otherwise, ‘no legislation • is presumed to be intended to operate outside the territorial jurisdiction of the state ... enacting it.’ ” Goshen v. Mut. Life Ins. Co. of N.Y.,
4. The Motion to Dismiss the Disparate Impact Claims
Next, Defendant moves to dismiss the Title VII disparate impact claims brought on behalf of the putative class in Counts I through III for failure “to identify any specific facially neutral policy or practice that caused any disparate impact.” (Def.’s Mem. 33). Defendant cites a number of cases for the general proposition that plaintiffs must identify a specific facially neutral employment policy in order to survive a motion to dismiss. (Id. at 33-34 (quoting and citing Smith v. City of Jackson,
B. The Individual Claims
The Court turns, then, to Defendants’ various challenges to the individual claims. In particular, KPMG moves to dismiss (1) several of Plaintiffs’ individual claims under the EPA and the NYSEPA; (2) all of Plaintiffs’ retaliation claims under the EPA and NYSEPA; (3) all of Patterson’s individual Title VII claims; (4) Kassman’s claims for discriminatory performance evaluations; and (5) Kassman’s constructive discharge claim. In addition, Defendant moves to sever and dismiss the claims of all Plaintiffs other than Kassman on the ground of misjoinder. The Court will address each of these arguments in turn.
1. Plaintiffs’ Claims Under the EPA and NYSEPA
First, Defendant moves to dismiss some Plaintiffs’ individual claims under the EPA and NYSEPA for failure to state a claim, arguing that two plaintiffs failed to name male comparators as required and that two plaintiffs are stating disguised failure-to-promote claims. To prove discrimination under the EPA and NYSEPA, a plaintiff must show that “(i) the employer pays different wages to employees of the opposite sex; (ii) the employees perform equal work on jobs requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility; and (iii) the jobs are performed under similar working conditions.” Lavin-McEleney v. Marist Coll,
Applying these standards, Defendant argues first that Kassman’s and Potter’s equal pay claims are fatally flawed because neither Plaintiff alleges the existence of a specific male comparator who was paid more than her. (Def.’s Mem. 37-39). Whether or not a female plaintiff must identify a specific male comparator— an issue on which the Second Circuit has reserved judgment, see Lavin-McEleney,
Defendant also seeks dismissal of Patterson’s and O’Donnell’s equal pay claims on the ground that they are merely disguised failure-to-promote claims. (Def.’s Mem. 39). Although the EPA does not afford a remedy for denial of promotions, or “titles,” the fact that comparators of the opposite sex had different job titles does not bar an EPA claim. See, e.g., Moccio v. Cornell Univ.,
2. Plaintiffs’ Pay-Retaliation Claims
Next, Defendant moves to dismiss all of the Plaintiffs’ EPA and NYSEPA pay-related retaliation claims. The anti-retaliation provision of the FLSA, of which the EPA is a part, states in relevant part that it shall be unlawful “to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any employee because such employee has filed any complaint or instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under or related to this chapter.” 29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3); see also N.Y. Labor Law § 215 (anti-retaliation statute). To establish a prima facie claim of retaliation under the FLSA and the New York State analogue, a plaintiff must show: “(1) participation in protected activity known to the defendant, like the filing of a FLSA lawsuit; (2) an employment action disadvantaging the plaintiff; and (3) a causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse employment action.” Mullins v. City of N. Y.,
As the Supreme Court recently made clear, to satisfy the first prong of the test for a prima facie claim of retaliation, “a complaint must be sufficiently clear and detailed for a reasonable employer to understand it, in light of both content and context, as an assertion of rights protected by the statute and a call for their protection.” Kasten v. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp., — U.S. -,
Applying these standards here, Plaintiffs’ claims fail as a matter of law. To be sure, Kassman alleges that she made a number of complaints, about her salary cut (TAC ¶ 26), discrimination generally (TAC ¶¶ 52, 137-38), and harassment and disparate treatment generally (TAC ¶¶ 133-35); Vasudeva alleges that she contacted supervisors to question why she had been denied a bonus (TAC ¶ 325) and that she made general complaints about discrimination and the denial of a sabbatical (TAC ¶¶ 354-55); and Patterson alleges that she complained to supervisors about a KPMG Partner’s refusal to address her sabbatical request and negative comments about her pregnancy (TAC ¶¶ 251-54), that she sent “an electronic message outlining and detailing her discrimination claims” to a Human Resources Director (TAC ¶ 253), and that she complained about negative comments in her performance review (TAC ¶ 256). Even taking these allegations as true, however, none of these complaints rises to the level of specificity required to state a retaliation claim under the FLSA or the New York Labor Law, as there is no indication that any Plaintiffs were actually complaining of EPA or NYSEPA violations such that these complaints constituted “an assertion of rights protected by the statute” and a “call for their protection.” Kasten,
Defendant moves to dismiss Patterson’s individual Title VII claims (Counts I through III and XII) on two grounds: (1) that the Court lacks jurisdiction because Patterson failed to file suit within ninety days of receiving a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC; and (2) that venue in this District is improper. (Def.’s Mem. 42-43). The first argument — that this Court lacks jurisdiction
KPMG’s second argument — that venue is improper — also fails. To the extent relevant here, Title VII provides that suit “may be brought in any judicial district in the State in which the unlawful employment practice is alleged to have been committed.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(3).
4. Kassman’s Discriminatory Performance Evaluation Claim
Next, Defendant moves to dismiss Kassman’s claims for discriminatory performance evaluations under Title VII, the NYSHRL, and the NYCHRL as time-barred. (Def.’s Mem. 44). Under Title VII, a plaintiff must file a charge with the EEOC within 300 days of the alleged discriminatory act. See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1). Under the NYSHRL and NYCHRL, claims must be brought within three years. See N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(2); N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-502(d). In this case, as Kassman filed her EEOC charge on August 19, 2010, and the complaint in this case on June 2, 2011, the parties agree that she cannot bring Title VII claims for events that occurred prior to October 29, 2009, or claims under the NYSHRL and NYCHRL for events that occurred prior to June 2, 2008. (Def.’s Mem. 44; Pis.’ Mem. 42). Thus, to the extent that Kassman alleges that she received discriminatory performance evaluations prior to those dates, they are — as Kassman implicitly concedes by not arguing to the contrary— time barred under the relevant statutes. However, to the extent that she alleges such discrimination after those dates (see, e.g., TAC ¶¶ 92-94, 118-23), her claims are timely and may proceed.
5. Kassman’s Constructive Discharge Claim
Defendant’s final substantive challenge to the complaint is to Kassman’s claim of constructive discharge. As the Second Circuit has explained, constructive discharge “occurs when an employer, rather than directly discharging an individual, intentionally creates an intolerable work atmosphere that forces an employee to quit involuntarily. Working conditions are intolerable if they are so difficult or unpleasant that a reasonable person in the employee’s shoes would have felt compelled to resign.” Serricchio v. Wachovia Sec. LLC,
Whether Kassman’s allegations are sufficient to state a claim in light of these standards is a close question, but the Court concludes that they are. Among other things, Kassman alleges that she experienced a more acute form of harassment and hostility beginning in or about October 2009, several months after she began complaining about harassment and discrimination. (TAC ¶¶ 119, 134). Beginning that month, another Senior Manager and an Associate in Kassman’s group began complaining to senior leadership that Kassman was “unapproachable,” and “too direct.” (TAC ¶ 119). Although Kassman’s superiors acknowledged that the complaining Associate “might have an issue working with women,” and he had
In late 2009, Kassman transferred to the Stamford office to escape the harassment. (TAC K 126). A few months later, however, the Stamford office adopted a policy that required workers to be physically in the office for three days per week to qualify for office space. (TAC K 127). Due to her flex-time arrangement, Kassman worked only three days per week “in office,” one of which was usually spent out of the physical office with clients, so she was forced to vacate her office' — despite the fact that there were empty offices available. (TAC KK126-29). That, in turn, made Kassman’s job performance much more difficult, required her to transport and rearrange her workspace each day she was in the office, and signified a significant loss of status to coworkers. (TAC K 128). When Kassman complained to the Office of Ethics and Compliance about her treatment, was told that it was “three men ganging up on a woman. We’ve had it before.” (TAC KK 134-35). Instead of addressing the harassment, however, the Office of Ethics and Compliance suggested that Kassman relocate to another position within KPMG or leave the company with a “package.” (TAC K136). The person in charge also suggested that Kassman take a leave of absence for emotional distress, noting that “many” female employees had done so in the past under similar circumstances. (TAC K 136).
In short, Kassman faced a combination of circumstances, including the denial of a promotion; the promotions of two harassers despite her complaints about them; the encouragement to attend coaching; her forced participation in interrogations; eviction from her office even though extra offices were available; the failure to address her repeated complaints notwithstanding an acknowledgment that the company had repeated gender harassment issues; and the suggestion that she leave the company, either permanently with a “package” or on a leave of absence for emotional distress as other harassed women had done. Taken together, these allegations render plausible Kassman’s claim that she was “forced to end her career at KPMG ... because the Company had deliberately made her working conditions so intolerable that she was compelled to resign involuntarily.” (TAC K 143). Put another way, she plausibly alleges that Defendant intentionally created an intolerable working environment sufficiently severe to make her feel that she was “not wanted as an employee,” Terry,
6. Joinder of the Named Plaintiffs’ Claims
Finally, Defendant moves to sever and dismiss the claims of O’Donnell, Patterson, Potter, and Yasudeva on the ground of misjoinder. (Def.’s Mem. 46^49). Under Rule 20(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, plaintiffs may join claims in a single lawsuit if
(A) they assert any right to relief jointly, severally, or in the alternative with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences; and
(B) any question of law or fact common to all plaintiffs will arise in the action.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 20(a). By its terms, Rule 20(a) requires that both criteria “be met for joinder to be proper.” Deskovic v. City of Peekskill,
Applying these standards here, the Court concludes that the allegations in the TAC — which must be accepted as true for these purposes, see id. at 159 — are sufficient to justify joinder at this stage in the proceedings. As discussed above, Plaintiffs allege that several specific, company-wide employment policies have resulted in employment discrimination. In light of these allegations, the requirements of Rule 20(a) have been met and “considerations of judicial economy and fairness dictate” — at least for now — that the case move forward as one lawsuit. Barnhart,
CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed above, Defendant’s motions to strike or dismiss are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. In particular, Defendant’s motions to strike or dismiss the class claims in their entirety in light of Dukes are DENIED. Defendant’s motion to strike the class claims under New York State and New York City law is GRANTED with respect to putative class members not living or working in the relevant jurisdictions, but DENIED with respect to putative class members living or working within those jurisdictions. Defendant’s motion to dismiss the disparate impact class claims is DENIED. Defendant’s motion to dismiss the individual Plaintiffs’ equal pay claims under the EPA and NYSEPA is DENIED, although Defendant’s motion to dismiss the individual Plaintiffs’ retaliation claims under those statutes is GRANTED. Defendant’s motion to dismiss Patterson’s Title VII claims on grounds of timeliness or improper venue is DENIED. Defendant’s motion to dismiss Kassman’s discriminatory performance evaluation claims is GRANTED as to claims prior to the statute of limitations and DENIED as to claims accruing after the statute of limitations. Defendant’s motion to dismiss Kassman’s constructive discharge claim is DENIED. Finally, Defendant’s motion to sever and dismiss the individual claims other than Kassman’s is DENIED.
SO ORDERED.
Notes
. On a motion to dismiss, a court may consider facts stated in the complaint, any documents attached to the complaint, and any documents incorporated by reference into the complaint. See, e.g., Nechis v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc.,
. Whether Swierkiewicz remains good law in light of Twombly and Iqbal is "somewhat of an open question” in this Circuit. Hedges v. Town of Madison,
. Rule 23(b)(2) provides that "[a] class action may be maintained if Rule 23(a) is satisfied and if ... the party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the class, so that final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief is appropriate respecting the class as a whole.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2).
. Notably, the Ninth Circuit itself appears to accept that a former employee can have standing to pursue injunctive or declaratory relief if he or she seeks reinstatement. Indeed, the very case cited by the Ninth Circuit in Dukes for the blanket proposition that former Wal-Mart employees "do not have standing to pursue injunctive or declaratory relief,” Dulces v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
. It is perhaps worth noting that in a factually analogous case in this District, counsel for
. Plaintiffs' retaliation claims under the FLSA also fail because they do not allege that they complained to a governmental entity. In Lambert v. Genesee Hosp.,
. It should be noted that, although Defendant argues that this Court lacks jurisdiction in light of Patterson's delay in bringing suit, the law is clear that the ninety-day rule is not jurisdictional. See, e.g., Francis v. City of N.Y.,
. Title VII includes other bases for venue, see 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(3), but they are not relevant in this case.