Involuntary random drug testing based on history of illegal drug use not disparate treatment for the purposes of Title VII
Mack v The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, USDC, SDNY, Judge Swan
One of the issues considered by Judge Swan in the Mack case was Michael Mack's allegation that he was subjected to disparate treatment in violation of Title VII because he was an African-American. Mack alleged that he was required to submit to an involuntary random test for illegal drugs because of his color. Mack also claimed that after he submitted to a random drug test and tested positive for cocaine, the Authority told him that he would be terminated.
According to the decision, Mack was employed as a truck driver by the Authority and was required to posses a valid commercial driver's license in order to perform the duties of his position. Authority employees such as Mack are required to submit to random drug tests under the federal Omnibus Transportation Testing Act of 1991.
On July 6, 1996, Mack was tested for drugs and tested positive for cocaine. Mack and the Authority settled the matter by entering into an agreement that required Mack to submit to random drug testing for a period of sixty months and to enter a drug rehabilitation program. The agreement also provided that if Mack tested positive again, he would be subject to "administrative action."
When Mack again tested positive for cocaine on November 10, 1997, the Authority told him that his employment would be terminated effective November 17, 1997, because of the positive drug test.
Mack's union negotiated a second "disciplinary waiver agreement" and Mack agreed that he would be subject to random drug testing for sixty months and that he would cooperate with the Port Authority's Office of Medical Services. The agreement also stated that Mack's failure to comply with these obligations could result in his termination and that one positive test result would result in his termination.
On May 6, 1998, Mack was asked to submit a urine sample to the Medical Services nurse. When the sample provided proved "unusable," he was asked to supply a second sample. Mack refused to do so and, as a result of this refusal, he was terminated.
Judge Swan granted the Authority's motion to dismiss the complaint, commenting that Mack failed to allege facts sufficient for the court to find that it was the custom or practice of the Port Authority to treat him or other non-white employees differently from non-black employees when imposing sanctions for failure to pass a urine test for illegal drugs.
According to the ruling, Mack presented only conclusory allegations that "race was the determining factor in [his] termination" and thus failed to establish a prima facie case of "wrongful termination."