Chahil v. Episcopal Church Home Friendship, Inc. ( 2012 )

SUMMARY MEMORANDUM AND OPINION; NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PARSHOTAM CHAHIL,
Plaintiff,
v. Civil Action No. 10-cv-418 (RLW)
EPISCOPAL CHURCH HOME
FRIENDSHIP, INC. t/a FRIENDSHIP
TERRACE RETIREMENT HOME,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION1
This matter is before the Court on Defendant Episcopal Church Home Friendship, Inc. t/a
Friendship Terrace Retirement Home’s (“FTR”) Motion for Summary Judgment. (Dkt. No. 17).
Plaintiff Parshotam Chahil (“Chahil”), a tenant of FTR, is a blind man of Indian descent and the
Sikh faith. Chahil asserts six counts against FTR:
 Count I: That FTR discriminated against Chahil based on his blindness and failed to
accommodate him under the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) and the District of Columbia
Human Rights Act (“DCHRA”) with regard to his evening meal program;
 Count II: That FTR discriminated against Chahil based on his race, national origin
and religion under the FHA and DCHRA by failing to accommodate his dietary needs
and exempt him from the evening meal program;
1
This unpublished memorandum opinion is intended solely to inform the parties and any
reviewing court of the basis for the instant ruling, or alternatively, to assist in any potential future
analysis of the res judicata, law of the case, or preclusive effect of the ruling. The Court has
designated this opinion as “not intended for publication,” but this Court cannot prevent or
prohibit the publication of this opinion in the various and sundry electronic and legal databases
(as it is a public document), and this Court cannot prevent or prohibit the citation of this opinion
by counsel. Cf. Fed. R. App. P. 32.1. Nonetheless, as stated in the operational handbook
adopted by our Court of Appeals, “counsel are reminded that the Court's decision to issue an
unpublished disposition means that the Court sees no precedential value in that disposition.”
D.C. Circuit Handbook of Practice and Internal Procedures 43 (2011).
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 Count III: That FTR discriminated against Chahil based on his blindness in violation
of the FHA and DCHRA with regard to informational notices;
 Count IV: That FTR breached its lease with Chahil by failing to modify his rental
rates in accordance with HUD regulations;
 Count V: That FTR breached the anti-discrimination clause of its lease with Chahil;
and
 Count VI: That FTR is liable to Chahil for common law defamation/libel.
For the following reasons, FTR’s Motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN
PART. For purposes of this ruling, the Court will assume the reader is familiar with the factual
assertions and arguments that the parties have made, and will not recite those again here.2
ANALYSIS
A. Standard of Review
Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Moore v. Hartman, 571 F.3d 62, 66
(D.C. Cir. 2009) (citing FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c) and Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242,
247 (1986)). The “function of the court on a summary judgment motion is limited to
ascertaining whether any factual issue pertinent to the controversy exists; it does not extend to
resolution of any such issue.” Weiss v. Kay Jewelry Stores, Inc., 470 F.2d 1259, 1261-62 (D.C.
Cir. 1972) (internal citation and quotation marks omitted). A genuine issue of material fact
exists if the evidence “is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving
party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. A party, however, must provide more than “a scintilla of
evidence” in support of its position; the quantum of evidence must be such that a jury could
2
Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 7.1(h), in “determining a motion for summary judgment, the
Court may assume that facts identified by the moving party in its statement of material facts are
admitted, unless such a fact is controverted in the statement of genuine issues filed in opposition
to the motion.” Accordingly, unless otherwise noted, the Court states only uncontroverted facts.
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reasonably find for the moving party. Id. at 252. In considering a motion for summary
judgment, the “evidence of the non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to
be drawn in his favor.” Id. at 255.
B. Count One: Discrimination and Failure to Accommodate Under the FHA And
DCHRA Based On Disability (Blindness) With Regard To Mandatory Meal
Program.
Chahil alleges that FTR unlawfully discriminated against him and failed to accommodate
his blindness with regard to the mandatory evening meal program. (Compl. at ¶¶ 22-25). Chahil
contends that FTR: 1) refused to read him the menu; 2) refused to provide appropriate utensils;
3) failed to inform him how to file a complaint about the food; 4) failed to accommodate his
request to be exempted from the food program; and 5) failed to accommodate his dietary needs.
(Id.). Because there is a genuine dispute of material fact, summary judgment is denied as to
Count I.
1. FHA and DCHRA
Under the FHA, it is unlawful “[t]o discriminate against any person in the terms,
conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities
in connection with such dwelling, because of [the person’s] handicap.” 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(2);
Geter v. Horning Bros. Mgmt, 537 F. Supp. 2d 206, 209 (D.D.C. 2008). “Discrimination
includes ‘a refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services,
when such accommodations may be necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and
enjoy a dwelling.’” Id. (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B)). To succeed on a failure to
accommodate claim under the FHA, a plaintiff must show:
1) He suffers from a handicap as defined by the [FHA]; 2)
defendants knew or reasonably should have known of the
plaintiff’s handicap; 3) accommodation of the handicap ‘may be
necessary’ to afford plaintiff an equal opportunity to use and enjoy
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the dwelling; and 4) defendants refused to make such
accommodation.
Id. (citing Giebeler v. M & B Assocs., 343 F.3d 1143, 1147 (9th Cir. 2003)). According to the
District of Columbia Court of Appeals, a landlord may only be held liable for a failure to
accommodate if the landlord knew or should have known the tenant suffered from a handicap, as
recognized by the FHA. Douglas v. Kriegsfeld Corp., 849 A.2d 951, 992 (D.C. 2004) (opinion
superseded on other grounds by Douglas v. Kriegsfeld Corp., 884 A.2d 1109 (D.C. 2005)). Once
a landlord is made aware of a needed accommodation, both parties must participate in an
interactive process of good faith communications to identify the limitation resulting from the
disability and a reasonable accommodation. Bartee v. Michelin North America, Inc., 374 F.3d
906, 916 (10th Cir. 2004) (citing Smith v. Midland Brake Inc., 180 F.3d 1154, 1171 (10th Cir.
1999)). It is not, however, sufficient for the tenant to show that the landlord failed to engage in
an interactive process or that it caused the interactive process to break down. See Pantazes v.
Jackson, 366 F. Supp. 2d 57, 70 (D.D.C. 2005) (internal citations omitted). The tenant must
show that the result of the inadequate process was the failure of the landlord to fulfill its role in
determining a reasonable accommodation. Id. Once the process has begun, both the employer
and employee have a duty to act in good faith, “and the absence of good faith, including
unreasonable delays caused by an employer, can serve as evidence” of a violation. Id. (emphasis
added); see also Douglas, 884 A.2d at 1122-23 & n.23 (stating that any undue delay in
responding to a tenant’s request for a reasonable accommodation may itself constitute a failure to
accommodate).
For purposes of this analysis, the relevant provisions of the FHA and the DCHRA will be
construed under the same standards as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with regard to
comparable sections of these statutes. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has held:
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When courts apply the reasonable accommodation provision of the
Fair Housing Act, it is their established practice to rely on the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101, 12102,
and the Rehabilitation Act (RA), 29 U.S.C. § 794, both of which
mandate an interactive process through which employers and
employees explore what accommodations are reasonable. See 29
C.F.R. § 1630.2(o)(3) (1995); 29 C.F.R. pt. 1630 Appendix (1996); 29
U.S.C. § 794(d); Giebeler [v. M& B Assocs.], 343 F.3d [1143] at
1156-57 [9th Cir. 2003] (stating that court ordinarily applies RA case
law in applying reasonable accommodation provisions of Fair Housing
Act and also generally applies RA and ADA case law
“interchangeably”; Good Shepherd Manor Found., Inc. v. City of
Momence, 323 F.3d 557, 561 (7th Cir. 2003).
Douglas, 884 A.2d at 1122, n.22.
Moreover, discrimination claims under the FHA and DCHRA are assessed pursuant to
the familiar three-step framework set forth in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green. See 411 U.S.
792 (1973); Gaujacq v. EDF, Inc., 601 F.3d 565, 576 (D.C. Cir. 2010); Neithamer v. Brenneman
Property Services, Inc., 81 F. Supp. 2d 1, 3 (D.D.C. 1999). As this Circuit has held,
In Brady v. Office of Sergeant at Arms, 520 F.3d 490 (D.C. Cir.
2008), we made it clear that when ‘an employer has asserted a
legitimate, non-discriminatory reason’ for an alleged adverse
action, the District Court need only ‘resolve one central question’
when considering a motion for summary judgment: ‘Has the
employee produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to
find that the employer’s asserted nondiscriminatory reason was not
the actual reason and that the employer intentionally discriminated
against the employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or
national origin?’
Gaujacq, 601 F.3d at 576 (quoting Brady, 520 F.3d at 494).
2. Summary Judgment is Not Proper on Count I
Chahil lodges numerous complaints in support of his claim that FTR failed to
accommodate his blindness as to the mandatory meal program. The Court will not address and
resolve each and every allegation here. It is enough, however, that there are genuine disputes of
material fact as to whether an exemption from the meal program was necessary to afford Chahil
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equal opportunity to use and enjoy his residence and whether FTR engaged in an interactive
process to determine a reasonable accommodation. Moreover, as set forth in the discussion
regarding Count II, there is a genuine dispute regarding whether FTR discriminated against
Chahil by its failure to follow its own process for resolving requests for exemptions from the
mandatory meal program. Accordingly, FTR’s Motion is denied as to Count I.
Chahil claims that, after a series of stressful events in the FTR dining room, he decided to
stop participating in the mandatory meal program in March of 2007. (Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶ 38-41).
On April 8, 2007, Chahil wrote to FTR’s Administrator Dawn Quattlebaum explaining his
reasons: “[d]innertime was often a nightmare made worse by my blindness. For independent
living, self-service eliminates the need for menu, table service, room service, etc. Removing a
constant and unnecessary source of stress, thank you.” (Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶ 44). On July 6, 2007,
Chahil submitted a letter from his physician Dr. Dennis Murphy. (Id. at ¶ 45). Dr. Murphy
requested that FTR exempt Chahil from the meal program, “and that he be allowed to choose to
eat either communally or on his own. His blindness makes it much more difficult for him to
keep the dining schedules, etc.” (Id. at ¶ 45).
It appears that the only steps FTR took regarding Chahil’s request was to have Joseph
Brady, the General Manager of FTR’s food service provider Sodexho, reach out to Chahil to
offer in-room tray service to reduce the anxiety Chahil had experienced in the cafeteria. (Id. at
¶¶ 50-54). Chahil refused the tray service (id. at ¶ 55), stating later that it would neither resolve
his concern that the Food Service could not meet his dietary needs nor save him the stress of
dealing with the staff from the food service. (Id. at ¶ 55).
k.FTR argues that it is entitled to summary judgment on Count I because Chahil cannot
show that he was required an exemption from the program based specifically on his blindness.
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Against its own procedure, however, FTR failed to contact Dr. Murphy to discuss whether in-
room tray service would be an acceptable alternative to an exemption. Moreover, Chahil
testified that in-room service would not be a reasonable accommodation for his blindness
because the stress of dealing with FTR staff, including the invasion of privacy, would not be
alleviated by in-room service. (Dkt. No. 18-7 at 190:11-16; 93:12-94:4; 98:8-20; Dkt. No. 18-8
at 190:11-16). Specifically, Chahil required a staff member to read the dinner menu to him, and
Chahil testified that he had had issues with FTR staff in the past. (Dkt. No. 18-7 at 92:21-93:1;
Dkt. No. 18-8 at 160:22-161:4; 164:1-166:16). Relying on Dr. Murphy’s testimony, FTR argues
that the exemption was not a necessary accommodation for Chahil’s blindness:
Q. Are you aware of any reason Dr. Chahil’s blindness would
prohibit him from participating in the evening meal program if he
chose to, if he wanted to?
A. I don’t know what – I don’t know what exactly what it entails
in terms of as long as he was able to know what the menu entailed
every day and had a pretty good understanding of everything and
the options and help if he needed it then I think he would be on
board with that and would be able to participate.
(Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶ 46). Dr. Murphy’s testimony, however, is not nearly as conclusive as FTR
characterizes it. Dr. Murphy did not testify that the accommodation that FTR offered—in-room
tray service—would be reasonable for Chahil. Moreover, Dr. Murphy stated that (at least with
regard to Chahil’s blindness), the meal program might be appropriate only if the staff informed
Chahil “what the menu entailed every day and [Chahil] had a pretty good understanding of
everything” and Chahil got “help if he needed it.” (Id.). As stated above, there is a dispute as to
whether FTR’s staff could provide Chahil the help he needed, especially with regard to reading
the menu.
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It is true that a tenant is not entitled to each and every accommodation that he prefers, and
the evidence for Chahil on Count I is somewhat weak. Although it is a close call whether Chahil
required an exemption from the in-room tray service as a reasonable accommodation for his
blindness, however, this is not a question the Court can resolve on summary judgment.
Accordingly, FTR’s Motion is denied as to Count I.
C. Count II: Race, National Origin and Religious Discrimination Under FHA and
DCHRA With Regard To Mandatory Meal Program.
Chahil next claims that FTR discriminated against and failed to accommodate him with
regard to the meal program based on his race, national origin and religion. (Compl. at ¶¶ 30-38).
Chahil claims that, because he is an Indian man of the Sikh faith, he was denied an exemption
from the Mandatory Meal Program and that FTR failed to accommodate Chahil’s dietary needs.
(Id. at ¶¶ 31-34). FTR contends that it undertook an interactive process to determine whether it
could accommodate Chahil’s dietary needs and that denied his exemption request because it
could accommodate his needs. FTR has failed to show that it is entitled to summary judgment
on this count.
Since Chahil moved into FTR in 2006, he has been one of only three blind residents and
the only resident of Indian descent or of the Sikh faith. (Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶¶ 19, 20). Because he
is Sikh, Chahil maintains a beard and wears a turban. (Dkt. No. 18-8 at 276:7-10). HUD
regulations require that FTR residents participate in an evening meal plan, but that a resident
may be exempted “if the resident’s dietary needs cannot be accommodated by Food Services . . .
.” (Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶¶ 3, 13). Quattlebaum testified that FTR required any resident requesting
an exemption from the meal plan for medical or dietary needs to provide a physician’s letter.
(Id. at ¶ 14). After receiving such a letter, Quattlebaum would normally have the staff nurse and
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Sodexho review the physician’s letter to determine whether or not the diet could be
accommodated. (Dkt. No. 18-5 at 28:9-14). Joseph Brady also testified regarding this process:
Dawn would make the decision, she would get my opinion on if I
could supply the foods that the person needed, and she would also
consult the nurse practitioner on the medical end of the situation.
Then she would make the decision on whether they got excused
from the meal plan or not.
(Dkt. No. 18-16 at 30:16-21).
It is undisputed that Chahil participated in the meal plan for the first ten months that he
lived at FTR. (Dkt. Nos. 17-2 and 21 at ¶ 24). As part of his request for an exemption from the
meal plan, Chahil submitted the letter from Dr. Murphy on or around July 6, 2007. (Dkt. No. 17-
2 at ¶ 45). That letter stated, among other things, that Chahil required a “fairly rigid low-fat diet,
consisting largely of fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, in his eating arrangement at [FTR] it
has been almost impossible for him to adhere to this diet, which is a concern for me.” (Id.)
(emphasis added).
Quattlebaum did not acknowledge receipt of Chahil’s physician’s letter until
approximately a month later on August 6, 2007. (Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶ 48). In that letter,
Quattlebaum told Chahil that the process for resolving his request could take “more than one
week.” (Id. at ¶ 49). Quattlebaum also wrote:
I wanted to inform you of our process for these types of requests.
Our Nurse Practitioner, Gail Bashore, will receive a copy of this
request this Thursday, August 9, 2007. She will contact you to
discuss this matter, contact your physician, and discuss this request
with our Food Service Director, Joe Brady. Ms. Bashore will then
make a determination as to whether or not your medical conditions
can be accommodated by our foodservice program and submit that
information to me.
(Dkt. No. 18-12).
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Quattlebaum did not notify Brady about Chahil’s request until the end of September.
(Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶ 50). Brady informed Quattlebaum that he had spoken to Chahil, that Chahil
required a vegetarian diet, and that Food Services could accommodate Chahil’s dietary needs.
(Id. at ¶¶ 56-57). Based solely on Brady’s opinion, Quattlebaum denied Chahil’s request for an
exemption. (Id. at ¶ 58; Dkt. No. 17-3 at 42:2-5; Dkt. No. 18-5 at 36:14-37:11).
Despite testifying that her procedure was to have the nurse and Food Services review any
physician’s letter, Quattlebaum testified that she never discussed Chahil’s request with
Sodexho’s nutritionist and could not recall whether she ever discussed the request with FTR’s
Nurse Practitioner, Gail Bashore. (Dkt. No. 18-5 at 35:18-37:11). Moreover, Quattlebaum did
not know what steps, if any, Bashore took with respect to Chahil’s request. (Id.). Brady himself
testified that he neither consulted with the FTR nurse nor with the nutritionist regarding Chahil’s
request. (Id. at 18-16 at 30:7-10; 75:6-10). Despite Dr. Murphy’s letter that Chahil required a
“fairly rigid low-fat diet,” Brady also failed to look into the calorie or fat content of the meals
that were being served before giving Quattlebaum his recommendation. (Dkt. No. 18-16 at
45:13-46:6).
It was not until approximately a year later on August 28, 2008, that Quattlebaum notified
Chahil that “she had denied his exemption request after Brady told her Chahil’s diet of fruits and
vegetables could be accommodated by Food Services.” (Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶¶ 60-61). Although
Quattlebaum was FTR’s Administrator and was responsible for deciding whether or not to grant
resident requests for exemptions, she did not contact Chahil prior to August 2008 because she
believed that Brady had already communicated to Chahil that Chahil would not be receiving an
exemption. (Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶¶ 11-12; 59).
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In July 2009, FTR changed management, at which time Jennifer Easter (“Easter”)
acquired many of Quattlebaum’s responsibilities. (Dkt. No. 17-1 at 12). In November 2009,
Easter was made aware of Chahil’s request for an exemption by way of his Charge of
Discrimination from the D.C. Office of Human Rights. (Id.). Easter approved Chahil’s
exemption request on January 27, 2010 pursuant to a HUD regulation that permits a
discretionary exemption from the Mandatory Meal Program for good cause. (Id.).
Given this record, the Court cannot grant summary judgment in FTR’s favor on Count II.
It appears undisputed that Quattlebaum failed to follow FTR’s own process for determining
whether Chahil should be exempt for medical reasons. Neither she nor Brady (or anyone else at
FTR it seems) consulted with Dr. Murphy or another medical professional to determine what
specific diet Chahil required. Although Brady supposedly spoke to Chahil and determined that
Food Services could accommodate his diet merely because Food Services served fruits and
vegetables, Dr. Murphy had already rejected FTR’s menu as inappropriate for Chahil’s diet. See
Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶ 45 (“Unfortunately, in [Chahil’s] eating arrangement at [FTR] it has been
almost impossible for him to adhere to this diet, which is a concern for me.”). There is a genuine
dispute of material fact as to whether FTR could accommodate Chahil’s diet at the time that
Quattlebaum denied Chahil an exemption.
Although there is no direct evidence of discrimination and the circumstantial evidence is
somewhat weak, given FTR’s near 14-month delay alone in acting upon Chahil’s request and
Quattlebaum’s apparent disregard for her own process when it came to Chahil’s request, the
Court cannot say that FTR is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on Chahil’s claim of
discrimination. Finally, FTR’s claim that Quattlebaum also denied exemption requests made by
other similarly-situated tenants outside Chahil’s protected class is not enough to warrant
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summary judgment in FTR’s favor. Quattlebaum’s testimony as to other tenants for whom she
either granted or denied exemptions is neutral at best, given that Quattlebaum could not recall
details of most or all of the circumstances surrounding such requests. (Dkt. No. 17-3 at 50:2-
61:17). Accordingly, FTR’s motion as to Count II is denied.
D. Count III: Disability Discrimination under FHA and DCHRA Act with Regard
to Informational Notices.
Chahil alleges that FTR discriminated against him with regard to informational notices
posted throughout the apartment building. (Dkt. No. 18-2 at 18-19). Chahil claims that, because
he is blind, he was unable to see the notices and FTR failed to provide “effective notifications of
meetings, notices and the like.” (Compl. at ¶ 41). Based on the facts set forth in Paragraphs 71-
79 of FTR’s Statement of Undisputed Facts in Support of Summary Judgment, Chahil has failed
to make a prima facie case of discrimination with respect to the informational notices. (Dkt. No.
17-2 at ¶¶ 71-79; Dkt. No. 21 at ¶¶ 71-79). FTR has shown that Chahil never requested a
different accommodation than the procedure FTR had in place. Therefore, FTR did not refuse to
make a requested accommodation. Even assuming FTR had refused Chahil’s requested
accommodation, FTR has shown that it provided a reasonable alternative to accommodate
Chahil’s needs. Accordingly, summary judgment is granted on Count III.
E. Count IV: Breach of Contract With Regard to Rental Rates.
Although the basis for and legal theory as to Count IV is unclear, it appears that Chahil is
alleging that FTR breached its lease with him by failing to reduce his rental rates in “accordance
with HUD regulations.” (Dkt. No. 18-2 at 20). In his Complaint, Chahil alleges that FTR
“modified plaintiff’s rental in March 2009 in accordance with HUD regulations. However, the
defendant breached the express provisions of the lease and is in breach of contract because (on
information and belief) the rent should have been modified earlier in the least [sic] term.”
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(Compl. at ¶ 47). In his Opposition to FTR’s Motion for Summary Judgment, Chahil argues
that, although FTR offered him a lease with a reduced rental rate, Chahil “refused to execute the
new rental contract with the reduced rental rate because FTR continued to wrongfully charge him
the $260 fee for the evening meal program.” (Dkt. No. 18-2 at 19).
Chahil offers no support for his claim that he can recover on a breach of contract action
for the reduced rental rates when he refused to sign a lease with those rates. See Tsintolas Realty
Co. v. Mendez, 984 A.2d 181, 187 (D.C. 2009) (stating that, to prevail on a breach of contract
claim under District of Columbia law, a plaintiff must prove the defendant breached a duty
arising out of a valid contract between the parties). Nor does Chahil cite to any legal authority or
specific HUD regulation for the proposition that he was entitled to such a lease modification.
Accordingly, given that there is no genuine dispute and FTR is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law, FTR’s motion is granted as to Count IV.
F. Count V: Breach of Lease With Regard To Anti-Discrimination Clause.
Chahil asserts that FTR breached its original lease between the parties, specifically clause
seventeen: “The Landlord agrees not to discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed,
national origin, sex, age, handicap, membership in a class, or recipients of public assistance,”
when FTR failed to provide Chahil with a suitable apartment with all the amenities afforded to
other residents. (Compl. at ¶52; Dkt. 18-6 at ¶ 17).
The Complaint is unclear what specific facts Chahil relies on to assert a breach of the
anti-discrimination clause of the lease. FTR argues that, because Chahil could not show
discrimination as to Counts I, II, and III, Chahil cannot show that FTR breached its duty arising
out of paragraph 17 of the lease. Because there is a genuine dispute as to whether FTR
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discriminated against Chahil with respect to Counts I and II, however, FTR is not entitled to
summary judgment on Count V and its Motion is denied as to this count.
G. Count VI: Common law Defamation/Libel.
FTR’s Motion will, however, be granted respect to Chahil’s common law
defamation/libel claim in Count VI. To prevail on a defamation claim under District of
Columbia law, a plaintiff must show:
1) that the defendant made a false and defamatory statement
concerning the plaintiff; 2) that the defendant published the
statement without privilege to a third party; 3) that the
defendant’s fault in publishing the statement amounted to at
least negligence; and 4) either that the statement was actionable
as a matter of law irrespective of special harm or that its
publication caused the plaintiff special harm.
Mastro v. Potomac Elec. Power Co., 447 F.3d 843, 858 (D.C. Cir. 2006). In a defamation claim,
“the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the challenged statements are both false and
defamatory.” Kendrick v. Fox Television, 659 A.2d 814, 819 (D.C. 1995). Further, “[a]
defamatory statement is one that ‘tends to injure the plaintiff in his trade, profession or
community standing, or lower him in the estimation of the community.’” Id. (quoting Moss v.
Stockard, 580 A.2d 1011, 1023 (D.C. 1993)). The tort of defamation requires publication to a
third party; no actionable claim would arise from a statement published only to the plaintiff, the
object of the allegedly defamatory statement. Oparaugo v. Watts, 884 A.2d 63, 73 (D.C. 2005).
In a defamation case, “the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the challenged statements are
both false and defamatory.” Kendrick, 659 A.2d at 819.
Chahil claims that Quattlebaum made a false and defamatory statement in her August 28,
2008 letter when she wrote that the process of resolving Chahil’s complaints “was delayed a bit
because Mr. Brady had difficulty getting in contact with [Chahil].” (Compl. at ¶ 56). Chahil
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claims that this particular statement was “clearly false” and that he was “compromised”
“personally, professionally and as a resident.” (Id. at ¶ 60).
Chahil does not dispute, however, that Brady tried to call him “three or four times” on
three different days to talk to him about his dietary needs. (Dkt. Nos. 17-2 and 21 at ¶ 52). Nor
does Chahil dispute that it “took Brady somewhere from a week to a ‘month or two’ to reach
Chahil by phone.” (Dkt. Nos. 17-2 and 21 at ¶ 53). It is further undisputed that the letter from
Quattlebaum to Chahil was: 1) placed in Chahil’s tenant file in a locked cabinet; 2) that Chahil
does not know who received the letter; and 3) that Quattlebaum is not aware that anyone besides
Chahil and herself has seen the letter. (Dkt. Nos. 17-2 and 21 at ¶¶ 62-64). Finally, there is no
genuine dispute that Chahil lacks evidence of any damage flowing from the alleged defamatory
statement. (Compare Dkt. No. 17-2 at ¶ 65 with Dkt. No. 21 at ¶ 65). Because there is no
genuine dispute as to the veracity of the alleged defamatory statement, no evidence that the
statement was published to a third party, and no evidence that Chahil suffered actionable
damages, summary judgment is granted to FTR on Count VI.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, FTR’s Motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN
PART. An Order accompanies this Memorandum.
Digitally signed by Judge Robert L. Wilkins
DN: cn=Judge Robert L. Wilkins, o=U.S.
District Court, ou=Chambers of Honorable
Robert L. Wilkins, email=RW@dc.uscourt.gov,
c=US
Date: 2012.09.07 08:20:50 -04'00'
Date: September 7, 2012
ROBERT L. WILKINS
United States District Judge
15