Opinion · Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Carol D. Smith v. St. Bernards Regional Medical Center Fran Bower Dianne Moss Mary Lou Wilson Pat Overman

19 F.3d 1254

Type
Opinion
Court
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1994-03-25
Topic
general

How later courts describe this case

  • holding that a Title VII plaintiff could not hold co-workers liable in their individual capacities under Title VII
  • concluding “that the claims against the individual defendants were properly dismissed because liability under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(b) can attach only to employers”
  • concluding “that the claims against the individual defendants were properly dismissed because liability under [Title VII] can attach only to employers”
  • affirming dismissal of Title VII claims against individual defendants because liability “can attach only to employers”
  • holding Title VII liability does not reach co-workers
  • plaintiff’s allegations that hospital discharged her because of race, in violation of Title VII, sufficed to state claim against hospital
  • hospital employee’s allegation she was terminated because of her color sufficient to state Title VII claim
  • “[T]he claims against the individual defendants were properly dismissed because liability under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(b) can attach only to employers.”

Citator

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Cited by
167 opinions
SMITH v. BERNARDS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER,19 F.3d 1254(8th Cir. 1994)
CAROL D. SMITH, APPELLANT, v. ST. BERNARDS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER; FRAN
BOWER; DIANNE MOSS; MARY LOU WILSON; PAT OVERMAN, APPELLEES.
No. 93-1718.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted February 17, 1994.
Decided March 25, 1994.
Page 1255
Barry A. Bryant, Texarkana, TX, argued, for appellant.

Paul D. Waddell, Jonesboro, AR, argued, for appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
Before BOWMAN, HANSEN, and MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.
MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judge.
[1] Carol D. Smith appeals from the district court's order, dismissing without prejudice Smith's complaint of race discrimination for failure to state a claim. We affirm in part, and reverse and remand in part.

[2] Smith, who is black, was employed as a nurse technician at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center (St. Bernards), and, on February 7, 1992, she was terminated for insubordination. Smith filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), charging that she was terminated because of her color. After exhausting her administrative remedies, Smith filed this prose complaint against St. Bernards and four former co-workers, alleging that one co-worker "was paranoid of blacks" and another co-worker "was overheard as saying she was prejudice[d]. All other blacks on 11-7 that were hired there while I worked was discharged because they were usually set-up" by one of the co-workers. She sought only reinstatement.

[3] The magistrate judge, to whom the case was referred by consent of the parties under28 U.S.C. § 636(c), granted defendants' motion to dismiss and entered judgment against Smith, dismissing the action without prejudice. On appeal, Smith argues that her complaint was sufficient to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure12(b)(6).

[4] This court reviews dismissals under Rule 12(b)(6) de novo.Ring v. First Interstate Mortgage, Inc.,984 F.2d 924,926(8th Cir. 1993). The complaint may not be dismissed "unless it appears beyond doubt that [Smith] can prove no set of facts in support of [her] claim which would entitle [her] to relief."See Conley v.Gibson,355 U.S. 41,45-46,78 S.Ct. 99,102,2 L.Ed.2d 80(1957). We also must liberally construe Smith's pro se complaint.See Haines v. Kerner,404 U.S. 519,92 S.Ct. 594,30 L.Ed.2d 652(1972) (per curiam).

[5] We conclude that the claims against the individual defendants were properly dismissed because liability under42 U.S.C. § 2000e(b) can attach only to employers. We conclude, however, that Smith's allegations were sufficient to state a claim against St. Bernards.See Moore v. Clarke,821 F.2d 518,519(8th Cir. 1987). Smith alleged that St. Bernards discharged her because of her color, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure8(a)(2) requires only "a short and plain statement of the claim" that gives fair notice of the plaintiff's claim and grounds for relief. It is abundantly clear, moreover, that there are many sets of facts that could be proved under this complaint that would entitle plaintiff to relief; and that, as we have already indicated, is all thatConleyrequires.

[6] Accordingly, we affirm in part, and reverse and remand in part for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.