Hunt v. Altec Industries, Inc.

Filing 29

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION. Signed by Judge James H Hancock on 9/22/2015. (JLC)

FILED
2015 Sep-22 AM 11:03
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION

JESSE HUNT,

)

PLAINTIFF,

)

VS.

)

ALTEC INDUSTRIES, INC.

)

DEFENDANT.

2:14-cv-1626-JHH

)

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION
The court has before it Defendant Altec Industries, Inc.’s July 27, 2015
Motion (Doc. # 13) for Summary Judgment. Pursuant to the court’s July 28, 2015
order (Doc. # 16), the Motion was deemed submitted, without oral argument, on
September 1, 2015. After careful consideration of the briefs and evidence before
the court, the Motion (Doc. #13) for Summary Judgment is due to be granted for
the following reasons.
I. Procedural History
Plaintiff commenced this action on August 21, 2014 by filing a Complaint
(Doc. #1) in this court alleging violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA), 29 U.S.C. §2601 et seq.

Specifically, Plaintiff contends that “[i]n

terminating Plaintiff, Defendant violated his rights under the FMLA by (a)
1

interfering with his right to take leave covered by the FMLA and/or (b) retaliating
against him for availing himself of rights under the FMLA. (Compl. ¶ 59.)
Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment asserts that Plaintiff has failed to
present evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that Defendants
violated the FMLA.
Both parties have filed briefs and submitted evidence in support of their
respective positions. Defendant submitted a brief (Doc. # 14) and evidence1 (Doc.
# 15) in support of their own motion for summary judgment on July 28, 2015. On
August 25, 2015, Plaintiff filed a brief and evidence2 (Doc. # 17) in opposition to
Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff also filed a motion (Doc. #
17) to strike the affidavit of Amy Kelly and the attached exhibits. On September
15, 2015, the court determined that the affidavit and its exhibits were admissible
and denied Plaintiff’s motion to strike. (Doc. # 28) On September 1, 2015,
Defendant filed a brief (Doc. # 23) in reply to Plaintiff=s opposition. Defendant
also filed an unopposed motion (Doc. #22) to supplement its evidentiary

1

Defendants submitted the following evidence in support of summary judgment:
deposition of Jesse Hunt and deposition exhibits 1, 3,-6, 8-11; deposition of Natalie Jennings and
deposition exhibits 1, 5, 13, 16; deposition of Randy Mason; affidavit of Randy Mason;
deposition of Emily Hunt; deposition of Stacia Gaines; affidavits of Rocky Jordan; affidavit of
Michael Smith with exhibit; and affidavit of Amy Kelly with exhibits.
2

Plaintiff submitted the following evidence in opposition to summary judgment:
declaration of Jesse Hunt; declaration of Emily Hunt; Exhibit 14 to Natalie Jennings’ deposition.

2

submission3 in support of summary judgment. The court granted that motion on
September 3, 2015. (Doc. # 24.)
II. Standards for Evaluating a Summary Judgment Motion
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c), summary judgment is proper
Aif the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,
together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.@
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986); Chapman v. AI Transport, 229
F.3d 1012, 1023 (11th Cir. 2000). The party asking for summary judgment always
bears the initial responsibility of informing the court of the basis for its motion and
identifying those portions of the pleadings or filings which it believes demonstrate
the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. See id. at 323. Once the moving
party has met its burden, Rule 56(e) requires the nonmoving party to go beyond the
pleadings and by its own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there
is a genuine issue for trial. See id. at 324.
The substantive law will identify which facts are material and which are
irrelevant. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). All
reasonable doubts about the facts and all justifiable inferences are resolved in favor

3 Defendant

submitted exhibits 4 and 6 of Natalie Jennings’ deposition.

3

of the non-movant. See Fitzpatrick v. City of Atlanta, 2 F.3d 1112, 1115 (11th Cir.
1993). A dispute is genuine Aif the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could
return a verdict for the nonmoving party.@ Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. If the
evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment
may be granted.

See id. at 249. The method used by the party moving for

summary judgment to discharge its initial burden depends on whether that party
bears the burden of proof on the issue at trial. See Fitzpatrick, 2 F.3d at 1115-17
(citing United States v. Four Parcels of Real Property, 941 F.2d 1428 (11th Cir.
1991)(en banc)). If the moving party bears the burden of proof at trial, then it can
only meet its initial burden on summary judgment by coming forward with positive
evidence demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact; i.e. facts
that would entitle it to a directed verdict if not controverted at trial.

See

Fitzpatrick, 2 F.3d at 1115. Once the moving party makes such a showing, the
burden shifts to the non-moving party to produce significant, probative evidence
demonstrating a genuine issue for trial.
If the moving party does not bear the burden of proof at trial, it can satisfy
its initial burden on summary judgment in either of two ways. First, the moving
party may produce affirmative evidence negating a material fact, thus
demonstrating that the non-moving party will be unable to prove its case at trial.
Once the moving party satisfies its burden using this method, the non-moving party
4

must respond with positive evidence sufficient to resist a motion for directed
verdict at trial. The second method by which the moving party who does not bear
the burden of proof at trial can satisfy its initial burden on summary judgment is to
affirmatively show the absence of evidence in the record to support a judgment for
the non-moving party on the issue in question. This method requires more than a
simple statement that the non-moving party cannot meet its burden at trial but does
not require evidence negating the non-movant=s claim; it simply requires the
movant to point out to the district court that there is an absence of evidence to
support the non-moving party=s case. See Fitzpatrick, 2 F.3d at 1115-16. If the
movant meets its initial burden by using this second method, the non-moving party
may either point out to the court record evidence, overlooked or ignored by the
movant, sufficient to withstand a directed verdict, or the non-moving party may
come forward with additional evidence sufficient to withstand a directed verdict
motion at trial based on the alleged evidentiary deficiency.

However, when

responding, the non-movant can no longer rest on mere allegations, but must set
forth evidence of specific facts. See Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 358 (1996)
(citing Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 561 (1992)).

5

III. Relevant Undisputed Facts4
Defendant Altec manufactures specialty automotive bodies and other part for
utility, telecommunications, vegetation management and similar markets. (Compl.
¶ 4.) Plaintiff Jesse Hunt was hired by Altec on August 10, 2010 to work at its
Southern Plant in Birmingham, Alabama. (Hunt Dep. at 16.) Hunt’s position at
Altec was that of a body painter. (Compl. ¶7.)
A. Altec’s Policies and Procedures5
1. Attendance and Vacation Policies
Under Altec’s Attendance Policy, if an employee is unable to be at work for
any reasons, the employee is required to call the Human Resources Department.
(Exh. 3 to Hunt Dep.) The employee is instructed to leave a voice mail informing
Human Resources that he will not be at work that day. (Id.; Hunt Dep. at 25.)
Per the Union contract, Altec employees accrue vacation time based on the
years of service.

(Exh. 1 to Hunt Dep.)

Typically, vacation days must be

scheduled and receive prior approval, but under specific circumstances, an
employee can take a vacation day without prior approval by “calling in” a vacation
4

If the facts are in dispute, they are stated in a manner most favorable to the non-movant.
See Fitzpatrick, 2 F.3d at 1115.
5 Despite Hunt’s self-serving assertions to the contrary, the evidence establishes that
Hunt had access to and knowledge of Altec’s various policies. Specifically, he had access to and
knowledge of Altec’s website that housed all personnel policies. (Jennings Dep. at 47-48; Exh. 6
to Jennings Dep.) On October 28, 2013, Hunt logged on to the website and acknowledged his
receipt and review of Altec’s Associate Handbook which includes the Leave of Absence policy.
(Id.)

6

day. (Id.) Altec employees are limited to a total of four accrued vacation days per
year as “call in”, but they may only use one “call in” vacation day per month. (Id.)
Altec uses a point system method to manage and implement its Attendance
Policy. The Attendance Policy states that “[p]oints will be given to an associate
for absences, trades, left early, no-reports, and other situations if the associate is
not at work when scheduled. Points will be accumulated on a 12-month rolling
period.” (Id.) Points are not given, however, for absences associated with “Bona
Fide Approved FMLA.” (Id.)

The Attendance Policy establishes a progressive

disciplinary procedure for point accumulation. (Id.) An associate’s accumulation
of eight (8) points results in a final reprimand, and the accumulation of nine (9)
points results in termination. (Id.)
Altec’s Vacation Policy is governed by the union contract.

(Id.)

The

Vacation Policy provides for the accrual of vacation time based on years of
service. (Id.) There are also rules related to the use of accrued vacation time:
Associates will be limited to utilizing four (4) accrued
vacation days as “call in.” That is, associates may
receive a day of vacation, provided the associate has
vacation available, without having been previously
approved and scheduled. Associates are limited to only
one (1) call in vacation day during any calendar month.
Under no circumstances will associates be eligible for
more than four (4) days of “call in” vacation during a
calendar year.
(Id.)
7

2. Leave of Absence and The Hartford
Altec’s Leave of Absence policy details the various types of available leave
and the requirements for each type of leave, including leave under the FMLA.
(Exh. 1 to Jennings Dep.) Altec’s leave policy is administered by a third-party
vendor, The Hartford. (Jennings Dep. at 23.) As a result, Altec employees must
contact The Hartford when they need to request a leave of absence. (Id. at 52.)
Instructions for contacting The Hartford are posted on the lunchroom bulletin
board. (Id. at 49, 61, 65; Exh. 5 to Jennings Dep.) Employees are required to
follow the outlined process to be approved for FMLA leave. (Jennings Dep. at 75.)
The Hartford gathers all appropriate information and documentation from
employees requesting leave, makes the eligibility determinations, and approves or
denied an employee’s request for leave, “based on the eligibility file data.”6 (Kelly
Aff. ¶ 4; Exh. A to Kelley Aff.; Gaines Dep. at 12.) After The Hartford has made a
decision regarding a specific leave request, it sends an email to Altec’s Human
Resources Department regarding the status of the request.7 (Jennings Dep. at 55.)
If the request is approved, The Hartford provides Altec with the time frame for
which the leave is approved. (Id.)

The Hartford receives eligibility data from Altec each Friday as part of an automated,
secure transfer from Altec’s server to The Hartford’s server. (Kelly Aff. ¶ 5.)
7 Altec does not determine whether an employee is eligible for FMLA leave or whether a
leave request will be approved. (Gaines Dep. at 12.)
6

8

B. Hunt’s Attendance
In February 2014, Hunt informed Natalie Jennings, Human Resource
Generalist, that his wife was expecting a child and he would need to take some
time off work. (Id. at 40.) Hunt testified that Jennings told him that once his wife
went into labor, he should use the company’s call-in line and report that he was
taking off for the birth of his child. (Hunt Dep. at 33, 42, 49.) 8

At some point

after this conversation,9 Hunt believed that his regular, accrued vacation days (not
call-in vacation days) would be used for leave related to the birth of his son. (Id. at
48-49.)
On February 5, 2014, Hunt’s wife was taken to the emergency room for
pregnancy-related issues and she stayed overnight. (Id. at 45-46.) The next day,
February 6, 2014, Hunt called in and requested to take a vacation day. (Hunt Dep.
at 45-46.) He did not state a reason for his absence.10 (Id. at 46.) This vacation

Jennings testimony regarding this conversation is vastly different from Hunt’s. She
testified that she reminded Hunt of Altec’s leave policies and that he needed to call The Hartford
to report that he wanted time off for the birth of his son. (Jennings Dep. at 61.) Jennings
testified that she informed Hunt that his absences may be FMLA eligible and that he would have
to provide the appropriate documentation to The Hartford to be approved for FMLA leave.
(Jennings Dep. at 62.) She further testified that she directed Hunt to the bulletin board where the
leave policy was posted and told him that he would be required to use any available vacation
time while on leave. (Id.; see also E. Hunt Dep. at 12.) Hunt denies that this conversation
occurred. (Hunt Dep. at 40, 33-34, 51-52, 55; Hunt Decl. ¶¶ 3, 5.)
9 Hunt testified that Jennings did not tell him he would have to use vacation days for the
days missed related to the birth of his child at this initial meeting in February, and it is unclear
when he gained this understanding. However, at some point before the birth of his child, Hunt
testified that he was told that the days missed for the birth of his child would be regular vacation
days (as opposed to call-in vacation days). (Hunt Dep. at 41, 48-49.)
10 Hunt testified that his wife was taken to the emergency room on February 5, 2014 and
8

9

day was Hunt’s second call-in vacation day for the year 2014. (Id. at 44-46; Exh. 6
to Hunt Dep.)
One month later, on March 5, 2014, Hunt’s wife was admitted to the hospital
for monitoring and possible induction. (Hunt Decl. ¶ 4.) Hunt called in to request
a vacation day. (Hunt Dep. at 46-47.) He did not report this absence as being
related to the birth of his son. (Id.) This vacation day was Hunt’s third call-in
vacation day for the year 2014. (Exh. 6 to Hunt Dep.) It was his first call-in
vacation day for the month of March. (Id.)
The next day, on March 6, 2014, Hunt’s son was born, and he was again
absent for work. (Hunt Dep. at 47.) Hunt testified that he called in and left a
voicemail stating that he “was calling in for the birth of [his] son.” (Id.) It was his
second call-in vacation day for the month of March. Hunt was given an attendance
point under Altec’s policy for this call-in day. (Exh. 6 and 11 to Hunt Dep.) It was
Hunt’s fifth attendance point for the past 12 month period. (Exh. 6 to Hunt Dep.)
Hunt was also absent from work on March 7, 10 and 11, 2014. On March 7,
2014, Hunt’s wife was still in the hospital, and he called in and reported the
absence as due to the birth of his child. (Hunt Dep. at 48.) It was his third call-in
vacation day for the month, and Hunt was given his sixth attendance point for this
stayed over-night for pregnancy related issues. (Hunt Dep. at 45-46.) He did not tell anyone at
Altec that this was the reason for his call-in vacation day. Hunt testified that Jennings told him
to report absences as due to the birth of his child only after he wife had gone into labor. (Hunt
Dep. at 47.)

10

call-in. (Exhs. 6 & 11 to Hunt Dep.) Hunt did not go to work on March 10 and 11
because his wife was on bed rest, and he had to stay home to take care of her and
the baby. (Hunt Dep. at 50-51.) Hunt called in and reported the absences as due to
the birth of his child. (Id.) Per Altec’s policy, Hunt received his seventh and
eighth attendance points for these call-in absences. (Exhs. 6 & 11 to Hunt Dep.)
Hunt returned to work on March 12, 2014. (Hunt Dep. at 51.) Because
Hunt had accumulated eight attendance points, Jennings and Hunt’s supervisor,
Randy Mason, met with Hunt on March 17, 2014 to issue a final reprimand in
accordance with the attendance policy. (Id. at 54; Exh. 8 to Hunt Dep.) During
that meeting Jennings explained to Hunt that he should call The Hartford and apply
for FMLA leave if he wanted the absences that were related to the birth of his child
to be covered under the FMLA policy. (Hunt Dep. at 55; Jennings Dep. at 65;
Mason Aff. ¶ 4.) Jennings gave Hunt a brochure that explained how to apply for
leave with The Hartford and explained that if he was approved for FMLA leave,
the final reprimand would be removed from his file. (Hunt Dep. at 56; Jennings
Dep. at 66; Mason Dep. at 12.) Jennings also explained that once Hunt was
approved for FMLA leave, he would be required to use his accrued vacation time
to cover the absences, and that once his vacation time was exhausted, any
additional leave would be unpaid. (Hunt Dep. at 57.) At the end of the meeting,
Hunt did not have any questions about the FMLA and he understood what Jennings
11

told him about the FMLA, including that he could apply for FMLA leave and
avoid termination. (Hunt Dep. at 69-70, 84.)
After this meeting, Hunt’s wife called The Hartford, but she was told that
The Hartford did not have Hunt in their records. (E. Hunt Dep. at 17, 19-20, 2223.) Hunt later told Jennings that The Hartford did not have him in their system,
and Jennings assured him that she would look into it. (Hunt Dep. at 60; Jennings
Dep. at 100.)

Hunt testified that Jennings said she would get back with him on

this issue, but she never did. (Hunt Decl. ¶ 5.)
At some point, Hunt also called The Hartford and was told he “was not on
file.” (Hunt Dep. at 61.) Hunt did not tell anyone at Altec that he contacted The
Hartford, and no one at Altec told Hunt he was not in the system at The Hartford.
(Id.)
On March 20, 2014, Jennings emailed The Hartford Claims Customer
Support to ask if there were any leaves open for Hunt. (Exh. 16 to Jennings Dep.)
The Hartford representative responded that “No claim/leave has been initiated by
Mr. Hunt” and attached a screen shot from her computer with a “Claim Status”
inquiry for employee Jesse Hunt (with his social security number) that stated
“[t]here are no claims or leave events for this employee.” (Exh. 16 to Jennings
Dep.) Jennings again contacted The Hartford on March 26, 2014, and was again
informed that no claim/leave had been initiated by Hunt. (Id.)
12

On April 5, 2014, Hunt’s grandparents came into town to see his newborn
child for the first time. (Hunt Dep. at 63.) Hunt called in to request a call-in
vacation day and did not provide Altec with a reason for his absence. (Id. at 64.)
As a result, Hunt received his ninth attendance point in accordance with Altec’s
attendance policy. (Exhs. 6 &11 to Hunt Dep.)
On April 28, 2014, Jennings and Mason met with Hunt and his union
representative, Rocky Jordan. (Hunt Dep. at 64.) During that meeting, Hunt was
told that he was being terminated for reaching nine attendance points. (Id.) Hunt
was given a document showing the dates he missed work and the accumulation of
the nine points, but he refused to sign it because he “did not agree with the points
that were accumulated due to the birth of [his] son.” (Id. at 65-69.)

Hunt

admitted, however, that he still had not been approved for FMLA leave at the time
her was terminated. (Id. at 69.) Hunt testified that he had not been approved
“[b]ecause they [The Hartford] did not have [him] on file for Altec.” (Id.)
IV. Applicable Substantive Law and Analysis
The FMLA holds an employer liable “who interferes with or denies any
rights provided to an employee” under the FMLA, Wascura v. Carver, 169 F.3d
683, 685 (11th Cir.1999) (citing 29 U.S.C. § 2617(a)), or who “intentionally
discriminates against him in the form of an adverse employment action for having
exercised an FMLA right.” Strickland v. Water Works & Sewer Bd. Of the City of
13

Birmingham, 239 F.3d 1199, 1207 (11th Cir. 2001).

The FMLA entitles eligible

employees to 12 weeks of leave during any 12–month period for a serious health
condition. 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1)(D). Following a period of FMLA leave, an
employee has the right to be restored to his original position or “to an equivalent
position with equivalent employment benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions
of employment.” Id. § 2614(a)(1). When an employee cannot perform an essential
function of his original “position because of a physical or mental condition,
including the continuation of a serious health condition,” he “has no right to
restoration to another position.” Id. § 825.216(c). “An employee is ‘unable to
perform the functions of the position’ where the health care provider finds that the
employee is unable to work at all or is unable to perform any one of the essential
functions of the employee's position.” Id. § 825.123(a).
To protect an employee’s rights, the FMLA created two types of claims –
“interference claims, in which an employee asserts that his employer denied or
otherwise interfered with his substantive rights under the Act, and retaliation
claims, in which the employee asserts that his employer discriminated against him
because he engaged in activity protected by the Act.” Strickland, 239 F.3d at
1206.

Plaintiff brings both types of claims.

separately below.

14

The court discusses each one

A. Interference Claim
To establish an interference claim under the FMLA, “an employee must
demonstrate that he was denied a benefit to which he was entitled under the
FMLA.” Martin v. Brevard Cnty. Pub.Sch., 543 F.3d 1261, 1266-67 (11th Cir.
2008); see also Wascura, 169 F.3d at 685. Plaintiff contends that Defendant
interfered with his rights under the FMLA when it terminated him based on
absences that should have been covered by the FMLA.11 Defendant counters that
Hunt “failed to avail himself of a protected right under the FMLA when he chose
not to comply with Altec’s usual and customary notice and procedure requirements
for applying for FMLA leave, and his interference claim fails as he cannot
demonstrate that he was denied any benefit to which he was entitled.” (Doc. #14 at
16-7.) The court agrees with Altec for the following reasons.
Regulations to the FMLA permit employers to condition leave under the
FMLA upon an employee’s compliance with the employer’s usual notice and
Hunt’s arguments regarding the notice requirements under the FMLA are not
supported by the record. (See Doc. # 19 at 19-21.) Instead, the undisputed evidence shows that
Hunt had access to and acknowledged receipt of Altec’s policies and procedures in October
2013. (Jennings Dep. at 47; Exh. 6 to Jennings Dep.) Additionally, more than 40 days before
his termination, Hunt admitted that Jennings explained to him, in detail, the process for applying
for FMLA leave through the Hartford and that he understood that process and what he was
required to do. (Hunt Dep. at 55, 6-70; Jennings Dep. at 65.) Hunt testified that he further
understood that if he followed those procedures and was approved for FMLA leave, the absences
for his son’s birth would be covered and he could avoid termination. (Hunt Dep. at 57, 84.) See
Travers v. Cello P’Ship, 579 F. Appx. 409 (6th Cir. 2014); Morel v. Chevron Mining, Inc., 2015WL 3767144, at *2 (N.D. Ala. June 17, 2015) (Haikala, J.). As such, the record does not support
Plaintiff’s argument that Altec interfered with Plaintiff’s FMLA rights by failing to provide
adequate notice regarding his FMLA rights and duties as required by 29 U.S.C. § 2619.
11

15

procedural requirements, absent unusual circumstances:
An employer may require an employee to comply with
the employer's usual and customary notice and
procedural requirements for requesting leave, absent
unusual circumstances.... An employee ... may be
required by an employer's policy to contact a specific
individual. Unusual circumstances would include
situations such as when an employee is unable to comply
with the employer's policy that requests for leave should
be made by contacting a specific number because on the
day the employee needs to provide notice of his or her
need for FMLA leave there is no one to answer the callin number and the voice mail box is full. Where an
employee does not comply with the employer's usual
notice and procedural requirements, and no unusual
circumstances justify the failure to comply, FMLAprotected leave may be delayed or denied . . . .
29 C.F.R. 825.302(d).

Simply put, if an employee does not comply with an

employer’s usual and customary notice and procedural requirements, and there are
no “unusual circumstances,” then the FMLA does not give the employee the right
to take leave. See Cundiff v. Lenawee Stamping Corp., 597 F. Appx. 299, 300
(6th Cir. 2015); Srouder v. Dana Light Axle Mfg., LLC, 725 F.3d 608, 614 (6th
Cir. 2013).12
The undisputed evidence shows that Hunt did not comply with Altec’s usual
and customary requirements for receiving FMLA leave. As described in detail
above (see infra Section III.A.2), Altec required its employees to contact The

12 The

court notes that the Eleventh Circuit has not addressed or relied on this regulation
since it was materially altered in 2009; therefore the court looks to other circuits for guidance.

16

Hartford and provide all relevant information when they needed to request a leave
of absence under the FMLA. (Jennings Dep. at 52.) Hunt was aware of Altec’s
FMLA policy as early as October 2013 when he acknowledged receipt of Altec’s
policies and procedures, but certainly by March 17, 2014, when Jennings
explained, in detail, the procedure for applying for FMLA leave which mandated
contacting and being approved by The Hartford. (Hunt Dep. at 55; Jennings Dep.
at 47, 65; Exh. 6 to Jennings Dep.) Hunt testified that he understood that he was
required to call The Hartford and provide all relevant information to be approved
for FMLA leave. (Hunt Dep. at 69-70.) He also understood that if he was
approved for FMLA leave, the final reprimand relating to his absences for the birth
of his son, would be removed from his file and he would avoid termination. (Id. at
84.)
It is undisputed that The Hartford never received any information from Hunt
regarding potential FMLA-qualifying leave. As a result Hunt’s absences were not
excused under the FMLA, and he was ultimately terminated when he reached nine
attendance points under Altec’s Attendance Policy. Hunt understood the policy
and he failed to follow it. Hunt’s failure to fulfill his obligations under Altec’s
procedural requirements to apply for FMLA leave forecloses his ability to bring an
FMLA interference claim. See Brown v. Auto. Components Holding, LLC, 622
F.3d 685, 690 (7th Cir. 2010) (employer was “well within its rights (at least for
17

FMLA purposes) to terminate [plaintiff’s] employment according to it standard
leave procedures” when plaintiff failed to comply with the notice procedures
specified in the CBA for requesting an extension of FMLA leave); Ridings v.
Riverside Med. Ctr, 537 F.3d 755, 770-71 (7th Cir. 2008) (affirming summary
judgment where the employer’s “policies permitted it to terminate [plaintiff] for
absenteeism because she did not demonstrate FMLA entitlement; therefore, her
termination was not unlawful.”); Cundiff, 597 F. Appx at 300 (“If an employee
does not comply with [the employer’s usual and customary notice and procedural]
requirements, then the FMLA does not give him the right to take leave.”); see also,
Baldwin-Love v. Electronic Data Systems. Corp., 307 F.Supp.2d 1222, 1234-35
(M.D. Ala. 2004) (plaintiff’s failure to follow employer’s procedures regarding
certification of potential FMLA-qualifying leave resulted in those absences not
being “unprotected by the FMLA” and employer “did not contravene the FMLA
by terminating [plaintiff’s] employment on this basis.”); Young v. Russell Corp.,
2008 WL 5412782, at *2 (M.D. Ala. Dec. 29, 2008) (granting summary judgment
on FMLA interference claim where plaintiff “did not submit the medical
certification by the extended deadline, therefore [plaintiff’s] absences . . . were
unexcused, placing [plaintiff] on step 4 of the Attendance Policy, and resulting in
[plaintiff’s] termination . . . .”).
Hunt argues, however, that he and his wife called The Hartford and were
18

told that Hunt was not in their system. (E. Hunt Dep. at 17, 19-20, 22-23; Hunt
Dep. at 61.) Hunt further argues that he told Jennings about this issue and she told
him that she would look into it and get back to him, but she never did. (Hunt Dep.
at 60; Hunt Decl. ¶ 5.) Hunt contends that these facts somehow relieve him of his
responsibilities under Altec’s policy and amount to “unusual circumstances” under
the regulations. (See Doc. # 19 at 18-19.) The court disagrees.
Regardless of whether The Hartford had record of Hunt or not,13 the simple,
undisputed fact remains that Hunt did not follow the procedures required to obtain
FMLA leave.

Hunt testified that by the March 17, 2014 meeting, he fully

understood what was required to ensure that his absences for the birth of his child
were covered under the FMLA under Altec’s policy. Although he may have begun
the process by calling The Hartford and even checking with Jennings regarding his
status, it was Hunt’s ultimate responsibility to follow Altec’s procedures to have
his absences qualify as taken under the FMLA.

It was not Jennings’s

responsibility to “get back with him” or start the process for Hunt. And the
evidence shows that Jennings did check with The Hartford after Hunt told Jennings
he was told that he was not in the system, and Jennings was informed, via a screen
shot, that Hunt was in The Hartford’s system and that he had not initiated any

13 Altec submitted documentation that The Hartford did have Hunt in their system at the
relevant time period, but regardless of this evidence, the court finds that Hunt did not avail
himself of the protections afforded to him under the FMLA for the reasons explained.

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leave requests.
Simply put, Hunt did not avail himself of the protections afforded to him
under the FMLA. He understood Altec’s procedures for applying for FMLA leave,
and for whatever reason, he did not complete the requirements.14 As such, Hunt’s
interference claim fails as a matter of law.
B. Retaliation Claim
To succeed on an FMLA retaliation claim, an employee must demonstrate
that the employer intentionally discriminated against him in the form of an adverse
employment action for having exercised an FMLA right. Strickland, 239 F.3d at
1207. In the absence of direct evidence, the court applies the McDonnell Douglas
burden-shifting framework. Id. To establish a prima facie case of retaliation under
the FMLA, a plaintiff must show that (1) he engaged in statutorily protected
conduct, (2) he suffered an adverse employment action, and (3) there is a causal
connection between the protected conduct and the adverse employment action. Id.
After the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, the employer must provide a
legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse action. Schaaf v. Smithkline
Beecham Corp., 602 F.3d 1236, 1243 (11th Cir. 2010). If the employer does so,
then the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the reason was merely pretext for
14 This

circumstance is not unlike the established line of cases where the employee fails
to provide adequate certification that an absence qualifies under the FMLA. See, e.g., Cash v.
Smith, 231 F.3d 1301, 1307 (11th. Cir. 2000); Ridings, 537 F.3d at 770; Baldwin-Love., 307
F.Supp.2d at 1234-35.

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retaliation. Id. at 1244. To survive summary judgment, specific facts showing
pretext are needed; “[m]ere conclusory allegations and assertions will not suffice.”
Earley v. Champion Int'l Corp., 907 F.2d 1077, 1081 (11th Cir.1990).
As explained in detail above, Hunt did not avail himself of the protections of
the FMLA because he did not follow Altec’s procedures for applying for FMLA
leave. As such, Hunt cannot establish that he engaged in FMLA protected activity.
This conclusion is fatal to his retaliation claim, and Altec is entitled to summary
judgment as to Hunt’s claim of unlawful retaliation in violation of the FMLA.15
V. Conclusion
For the reasons discussed above, the court finds that no material issues of
fact remain and that Defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law as to all
claims asserted by Plaintiff in the Complaint. A separate order will be entered.
DONE this the

22nd

day of September, 2015.

______________________________

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

15 In the alternative, the court finds that, even if Hunt could establish a prima facie case
(which he cannot), Hunt failed to produce any evidence that the reason for his termination was a
pretext for retaliation under the FMLA. Tellingly, Hunt testified that he did “not remember” if
Altec retaliated against him. (Hunt Dep. at 92.) Instead, the undisputed evidence shows that
Jennings made repeated efforts to remind Hunt of his responsibilities under Altec’s policy for
applying for and receiving leave under the FMLA. Hunt simply failed to fulfil those
responsibilities and was terminated as a result of his violation of the legitimate, nonretaliatory
attendance policy.

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