Moore v. Jackson County Board of Education et al
Filing
41
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING CASE that the defendants' motion for summary judgment is GRANTED, and all of plaintiff's claims are DISMISSED; costs are taxed to plaintiff as more fully set out in order. Signed by Judge C Lynwood Smith, Jr on 10/28/2013. (AHI )
FILED
2013 Oct-28 PM 02:53
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHEASTERN DIVISION
DEBRAH J. MOORE,
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
vs.
)
)
JACKSON COUNTY BOARD
)
OF EDUCATION and KENNETH )
HARDING,
)
)
Defendants.
)
Civil Action No. CV-12-S-2007-NE
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff, Debrah J. Moore, asserts a single claim for disability discrimination
pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq. (the
“Rehabilitation Act” or “the Act”), against her former employer, the Jackson County
Board of Education, as well as against Kenneth Harding, the Superintendent of the
Jackson County Board of Education.1 The case currently is before the court on
defendants’ motion for summary judgment.2 Upon consideration of the motion, briefs,
and evidentiary submissions, the court concludes that the motion should be granted.
1
See doc. no. 15 (Amended Complaint). Defendants interpreted plaintiff’s Amended
Complaint as also possibly asserting a claim for disparate impact discrimination, and they argued
in their brief that summary judgment also should be granted on that claim. See doc. no. 23
(defendants’ brief), at 23-24. Plaintiff acknowledged in her response brief, however, that she had
not asserted a disparate impact claim. See doc no. 26 (plaintiff’s brief), at 18 (“Defendants are not
entitled to summary judgment on a disparate-impact claim because Ms. Moore did not plead such
a claim.”).
2
Doc. no. 23.
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 provides that a court “shall grant summary
judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact
and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). In
other words, summary judgment is proper “after adequate time for discovery and upon
motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the
existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear
the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). “In
making this determination, the court must review all evidence and make all reasonable
inferences in favor of the party opposing summary judgment.” Chapman v. AI
Transport, 229 F.3d 1012, 1023 (11th Cir. 2000) (en banc) (quoting Haves v. City of
Miami, 52 F.3d 918, 921 (11th Cir. 1995)). Inferences in favor of the non-moving
party are not unqualified, however. “[A]n inference is not reasonable if it is only a
guess or a possibility, for such an inference is not based on the evidence, but is pure
conjecture and speculation.” Daniels v. Twin Oaks Nursing Home, 692 F.2d 1321,
1324 (11th Cir. 1983) (alteration supplied). Moreover,
[t]he mere existence of some factual dispute will not defeat summary
judgment unless that factual dispute is material to an issue affecting the
outcome of the case. The relevant rules of substantive law dictate the
materiality of a disputed fact. A genuine issue of material fact does not
exist unless there is sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party for
a reasonable jury to return a verdict in its favor.
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Chapman, 229 F.3d at 1023 (quoting Haves, 52 F.3d at 921) (emphasis and alteration
supplied). See also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 251-52 (1986)
(asking “whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require
submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a
matter of law”).
II. STATEMENT OF RELEVANT FACTS
Plaintiff, Debrah J. Moore, began her employment with the Jackson County
Board of Education (“the Board”) in 1979, as a substitute cafeteria worker.3 She
continued to work for the Board in various cafeteria-related capacities until her
retirement on June 1, 2011.4 Her last position, and the one she occupied at all times
relevant to her claims in this lawsuit, was as the Child Nutrition Program (“CNP”)
cafeteria manager at Bridgeport Elementary School.5 At all relevant times, Bridgeport
Elementary School serviced approximately 200 students, and its cafeteria employed
two workers, in addition to the Cafeteria Manger.6
The job description for the Child Nutrition Program Cafeteria Manager states
that the “essential functions” of the job are:
3
Defendants’ evidentiary submission, Exhibit E (Deposition of Debrah J. Moore), at 8-9.
4
Id. at 38.
5
Id. at 34-35, 38.
6
Id. at 37.
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1.
Supervise receiving and storage of all CNP products.
2.
Insure [sic] that all Federal and State health regulations are
followed.
3.
Insure [sic] that a quality menu is prepared and served on time.
4.
Prepare or insure [sic] preparation of all paperwork required by
CNP.
5.
Monitor the operation and maintenance of all equipment.
6.
Maintain current and accurate records of all Free/Reduced
applications and food production records.
7.
Responsible for the cleanliness and appearance of cafeteria.
8.
Attend all manager meetings and workshops as required.
9.
Insure [sic] that all employees are properly trained.
10.
Work with principal and/or CNP Supervisor to correct any
problems that arise.
11.
Exhibit good hygiene and dress appropriately.
12.
Relate well with co-workers, students, and staff.
13.
Demonstrate a supportive attitude toward the CNP Program.
14.
Maintain confidentiality of all CNP records.
15.
Any and other [sic] essential functions assigned by the
Superintendent or his/her designee.7
7
Defendants’ evidentiary submission, Exhibit A (Deposition of Kenneth Harding), at Exhibit
1 (Child Nutrition Manager job description) (alterations supplied).
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Kenneth Harding, the Superintendent of Education, attested that plaintiff’s
duties as cafeteria manager included all the duties listed in the job description and that,
additionally,
Ms. Moore was required to assist in all other jobs or duties performed in
the cafeteria which included, but are not limited to, cooking, cleaning,
and any other duty performed by the CNP cafeteria workers. On a daily
basis, if Ms. Moore did not assist the CNP workers in the performance
of those duties, she was in essence neglecting her dutes [sic] as CNP
cafeteria manager.8
Harding clarified during his deposition that cafeteria managers were required to
“help[] out in the lunchroom,” because most cafeterias had only two or three
employees, and there were not enough workers to cover the everyday tasks if the
manager did not help.9 Joseph Vaughn, the Child Nutrition Program Supervisor,
attested that plaintiff’s duties “included, but were not limited to, supervision of CNP
cafeteria workers, completion of paperwork for CNP, assist in handling, storing, and
preparing food, and assistance in cleaning the cafeteria.”10 Plaintiff testified that her
duties as cafeteria manager included preparing paperwork, conducting inventory
assessments, creating schedules, managing money, and making deposits.11 She also
assisted the other cafeteria workers with cooking and cleaning duties when she had
8
Defendants’ evidentiary submission, Exhibit B (Affidavit of Kenneth Harding) ¶ 5
(alteration supplied).
9
Harding Deposition, at 20 (alteration supplied).
10
Defendants’ evidentiary submission, Exhibit C (Affidavit of Joseph K. Vaughn) ¶ 2.
11
Moore Deposition, at 28.
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time. Other cafeteria managers under whom plaintiff previously had worked did not
assist with cooking and cleaning duties, however.12 Finally, Brenda McCrary, who
became the cafeteria manager at Bridgeport Elementary School after plaintiff’s
retirement in August of 2012,13 and who also filled in for plaintiff while she was on
sick leave, testified that her duties as cafeteria manager included planning menus,
filing paperwork, operating the cash register, processing applications for free and
reduced lunches, cooking breakfast, helping the other workers when “time allotted,”
preparing and delivering snacks for the after-school program, cleaning, placing orders,
conducting inventory assessments, processing food deliveries, and reporting any
equipment malfunctions.14
On July 5, 2010, plaintiff telephoned Joseph Vaughn, the Child Nutrition
Program Supervisor, to inform him that she had broken her ankle at home and had
undergone surgery, but she had not yet been back to see her doctor after her surgery.15
Immediately after plaintiff’s injury and surgery, her doctors provided her with
crutches, but she soon switched to using a wheelchair, because the chair made it easier
for her to move around. As her recovery progressed, she began using a walker, and
12
Id. at 30-31.
13
Nothing about the end of plaintiff’s employment is at issue in this case.
14
Defendants’ evidentiary submission, Exhibit D (Deposition of Brenda G. McCrary), at 9-
15
Moore Deposition, at 54-55.
14.
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then a cane.16
During plaintiff’s July 5 conversation with Vaughn, she did not make any
statements about her ability to perform her job duties, and she did not state whether
her physician had approved her to return to work.17 Plaintiff also did not request any
job-related accommodation during that conversation.18 Vaughn informed plaintiff that
she would need to speak with Kenneth Harding, the Superintendent of Education,
about her injury,19 and he transferred her call to Harding.20 Plaintiff informed Harding
of her injury and subsequent surgery, and Harding told her to let him know when she
got another report from her doctor regarding the progress of her recovery.21
Plaintiff returned to her doctor on July 29, 2010.
That same day, she
telephoned Harding again to inform him that her doctor had released her to return to
work, provided that she performed only her management duties, like paperwork and
operating the cash register, and not any more active functions, like cooking or
cleaning. Harding informed plaintiff that she could not return to work until she could
16
Id. at 53-54, 99-100.
17
Vaughn Affidavit ¶ 5.
18
Id. ¶ 6. Neither party explicitly stated this anywhere in the record, but the court surmises
that no discussions about plaintiff’s ability to perform work-related activities occurred at this time
because school was out of session for the summer, and plaintiff would not have been working in any
event.
19
Id.
20
Moore Deposition, at 56-57.
21
Id. at 57.
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perform all the functions required by her job, including cooking and cleaning.22
Harding testified that decisions about when Board employees are permitted to return
from sick leave are made on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the
employee’s sickness or injury and the nature of the employee’ request.23 Although
there is no formal, written policy to this effect, an employee generally is not permitted
to return to work until he or she has a “full release”; or, in other words, until the
employee can perform all duties of his or her job.24 Harding also attested that, if
plaintiff had been permitted to return to work under the duty restrictions she requested
(only performing paperwork and operating the cash register), the Board would have
been required to hire another cafeteria worker to perform the other duties (cooking and
cleaning) plaintiff could not perform.25
Plaintiff spoke to Harding again the next day, July 30, 2010, when Harding
informed her that she could take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of
1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. (the “FMLA”) while she continued to recover.26 On
July 31, 2010, plaintiff requested a six-week period of FMLA leave.27 On August 31,
22
Id. at 58-60; Harding Affidavit ¶ 6.
23
Harding Deposition, at 11.
24
Id. at 21-23.
25
Harding Affidavit ¶ 6.
26
Moore Deposition, at 60-62; Harding Affidavit ¶ 6.
27
Moore Deposition, at 60-65; Harding Affidavit ¶ 7.
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2010, she requested that her leave be extended for an additional six weeks, because
she needed additional physical therapy to be able to walk properly.28 Most of
plaintiff’s leave period was unpaid, because she had used up all of her paid sick
leave.29
Plaintiff remained on FMLA leave from the first day of the 2010-2011 school
year until October 14, 2010, when she returned to work.30 In the meantime, when
Vaughn learned that plaintiff had requested FMLA leave, he temporarily assigned
plaintiff’s management duties to Brenda McCrary, who then was a cafeteria worker
at another school, until plaintiff could return to work.31
On October 13, 2010, plaintiff telephoned Vaughn to inform him that she would
be returning to work the following day.32 Plaintiff also produced a note from her
physician, Dr. Masoud Hamidian, dated October 13, 2010, stating that she could
“return to work without restrictions.”33 Dr. Hamidian’s office notes from that same
day state that plaintiff was “doing well,” but she still used crutches “at times.”34
Plaintiff’s clinical examination revealed that her incisions were healed, and she had
28
Moore Deposition, at 65-68; Harding Affidavit ¶ 7.
29
Moore Deposition, at 61-62.
30
Harding Deposition, at 28-29.
31
Vaughn Affidavit ¶ 7; Harding Affidavit ¶ 8.
32
Moore Deposition, at 68-70; Vaughn Affidavit ¶ 8.
33
Moore Deposition, Exhibit 1, at document bearing Bates Stamp No. 000010.
34
Id. at document bearing Bates Stamp No. 000009.
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no deformities and “good range of motion with very minimal residual stiffness in [the]
ankle.”35 An x-ray revealed that plaintiff’s fracture had healed. Dr. Hamidian’s
recommendations were as follows: “I encouraged her to discontinue using crutches
and continue home exercises. Get back to a normal routine. I will see her back as
needed.”36
III. DISCUSSION
Plaintiff contends that defendants violated her rights under the Rehabilitation
Act when they refused to allow her to return to work with accommodations.37 “The
Rehabilitation Act prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from
discriminating against individuals with disabilities.” Garrett v. University of Alabama
at Birmingham Board of Trustees, 507 F.3d 1306, 1310 (11th Cir. 2007) (citing
Bragdon v. Abbott, 524 U.S. 624, 632 (1998)).38 “Discrimination claims under the
Rehabilitation Act are governed by the same standards used in [cases founded upon
the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.].” Cash v.
35
Id. (alteration supplied).
36
Id.
37
Amended Complaint ¶ 17 (“Defendants’ refusal to allow Plaintiff to return to her
employment with accommodations is a direct violation of § 504 in that Defendants: a. discriminated
against Plaintiff with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of her
disability, which was unrelated to her ability to perform the duties of her regular job; and b. failed
to accommodate or otherwise make available provisions to Plaintiff as required by law.”).
38
Defendants do not appear to dispute that they are recipients of federal financial assistance,
or that they, therefore, fall under the Rehabilitation Act.
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Smith, 231 F.3d 1301, 1305 (11th Cir. 2000) (citing 29 U.S.C. § 794(d)) (footnote
omitted, alteration supplied); see also Holbrook v. City of Alpharetta, 112 F.3d 1522,
1526 n.2 (11th Cir. 1997). Thus, “[c]ases decided under the Rehabilitation Act are
precedent for cases under the ADA, and vice versa.” Cash, 231 F.3d at 1305 n.2
(citing Pritchard v. Southern Company Services, 92 F.3d 1130, 1132 n.2 (11th Cir.
1996)) (alteration supplied).
“In the absence of direct evidence of discrimination, a plaintiff may establish
a prima facie case of an ADA [or Rehabilitation Act] violation through circumstantial
evidence using the familiar burden-shifting analysis employed in Title VII
employment discrimination cases.” Wascura v. City of South Miami, 257 F.3d 1238,
1242 (11th Cir. 2001) (alteration supplied); see also, e.g., Hilburn v. Murata
Electronics North America, Inc., 181 F.3d 1220, 1226 (11th Cir. 1999) (“The familiar
burden-shifting analysis of Title VII employment discrimination actions is equally
applicable to ADA [or Rehabilitation Act] claims.”) (citing Moses v. American
Nonwovens, Inc., 97 F.3d 446, 447 (11th Cir. 1996)) (alteration supplied).
To establish a prima facie case of disability discrimination, plaintiff must
demonstrate: (1) that she has a “disability” within the meaning of the Act; (2) that she
is “a qualified individual with a disability,” meaning that she can perform the essential
functions of the employment position she holds or seeks, with or without reasonable
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accommodation being made by the employer; and (3) that she suffered an adverse
employment action because of her disability. See, e.g., Lucas v. W.W. Grainger, Inc.,
257 F.3d 1249, 1255 (11th Cir. 2001); Reed v. Heil Co., 206 F.3d 1055, 1061 (11th
Cir. 2000); Davis v. Florida Power & Light Co., 205 F.3d 1301, 1305 (11th Cir.
2000).
A.
“Disability”
The ADA (and, concomitantly, the Rehabilitation Act) provides that an
individual is under a “disability” if she suffers “a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 12102(1)(A).39 The term “major life activities” includes, but is not limited to,
“caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping,
walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading,
concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A)
(emphasis supplied).40 A “major life activity” can also include “the operation of a
major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system,
39
The Act also provides that an individual is disabled if she has “a record of such an
impairment,” or has been “regarded as having such an impairment.” 42 U.S.C. § 12012(1)(B) & (C).
Plaintiff does not allege disability under either of those definitions. Instead, she claims that she
actually was disabled under the Act.
40
See also 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(i)(1)(i) (“Major life activities include, but are not limited to:
(i) Caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing,
sitting, reaching, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking,
communicating, interacting with others, and working.”) (emphasis supplied).
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normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory,
circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(B).41 In
this case, plaintiff asserts that, as a result of her ankle injury, she was substantially
limited in the major life activities of “standing, walking, running, and musculoskeletal
function.”42
There is no dispute that, while plaintiff was recovering from her ankle injury,
she was at times required to use assistive devices like crutches, a wheelchair, a walker,
and a cane in order to be mobile. Thus, plaintiff’s broken ankle at least temporarily
limited her major life activities of walking, running, and even standing, and it
certainly limited her musculoskeletal function. The remaining question is whether
those temporary limitations can be considered substantial under the Act.
If plaintiff’s injury had occurred before January 1, 2009, that question clearly
would have been answered “no.” In a 2007 decision, the Eleventh Circuit described
the method of evaluating “disabilities” that then applied to ADA claims:
Further, in considering whether an individual has a disability, the
regulations advise that the following factors are relevant: “(i) The nature
and severity of the impairment; (ii) The duration or expected duration of
41
See also 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(i)(1)(ii) (“Major life activities include, but are not limited to:
. . . (ii) The operation of a major bodily function, including functions of the immune system, special
sense organs and skin; normal cell growth; and digestive, genitourinary, bowel, bladder,
neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, cardiovascular, endocrine, hemic, lymphatic,
musculoskeletal, and reproductive functions.”) (emphasis supplied).
42
Amended Complaint ¶ 15.
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the impairment; and (iii) The permanent or long term impact, or the
expected permanent or long term impact of or resulting from the
impairment.” 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(2). As further explained by the
EEOC, “temporary, non-chronic impairments of short duration, with
little or no long term or permanent impact, are usually not disabilities.
Such impairments may include, but are not limited to, broken limbs,
sprained joints, concussions, appendicitis, and influenza.” 29 C.F.R.App.
§ 1630.2(j).
Garrett, 507 F.3d at 1311 (emphasis supplied). Under Garrett and the regulatory
provisions in effect in 2007, the temporary impairments plaintiff experienced as a
result of her broken ankle would not have been considered a “disability.”
However, Garrett no longer applies in light of the ADA Amendments Act of
2008 (“ADAAA”), Pub.L. No. 110-325, 122 Stat. 3553 (2008), effective Jan. 1, 2009.
The general effect of those amendments was to broaden the ADA’s coverage. See 42
U.S.C. § 12101 note (2008) (Findings and Purposes);43 see also 29 C.F.R.
43
The note includes the following findings:
Pub.L. 110-325, § 2, Sept. 25, 2008, 122 Stat. 3553, provided that:
“(a) Findings. — Congress finds that–
“(1) in enacting the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) [Pub. L.
101-336, July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 327, which enacted this chapter and 47 U.S.C.A.
§ 225, amended 29 U.S.C.A. § 706, and 47 U.S.C.A. §§ 152, 221, and 611; for
complete classification, see Short Title note set out under this section and Tables],
Congress intended that the Act [this chapter] ‘provide a clear and comprehensive
national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with
disabilities’ and provide broad coverage;
....
“(4) the holdings of the Supreme Court in Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc.,
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§1630.1(c)(4) (“The primary purpose of the ADAAA is to make it easier for people
with disabilities to obtain protection under the ADA.”). In keeping with the broad
scope of the ADAAA, the EEOC modified the ADA regulations addressing the
definition of a “disability,” effective May 24, 2011. See 76 F.R. 16978-01 (entered
March 25, 2011; effective May 24, 2011). The revised regulations read:
(j) Substantially limits –
(1) Rules of construction. The following rules of construction
apply when determining whether an impairment substantially limits an
individual in a major life activity:
(i) The term “substantially limits” shall be construed
527 U.S. 471 (1999) and its companion cases have narrowed the broad scope of
protection intended to be afforded by the ADA, thus eliminating protection for many
individuals whom Congress intended to protect;
“(5) the holding of the Supreme Court in Toyota Motor Manufacturing,
Kentucky, Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184 (2002) further narrowed the broad scope of
protection intended to be afforded by the ADA;
“(6) as a result of these Supreme Court cases, lower courts have incorrectly
found in individual cases that people with a range of substantially limiting
impairments are not people with disabilities;
“(7) in particular, the Supreme Court, in the case of Toyota Motor
Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184 (2002), interpreted the term
‘substantially limits’ to require a greater degree of limitation than was intended by
Congress; and
“(8) Congress finds that the current Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission ADA regulations defining the term ‘substantially limits’ as
‘significantly restricted’ are inconsistent with congressional intent, by expressing too
high a standard.
42 U.S.C. § 12101 note (2008) (Findings and Purposes) (alterations in original).
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broadly in favor of expansive coverage, to the maximum extent
permitted by the terms of the ADA. “Substantially limits” is not
meant to be a demanding standard.
(ii) An impairment is a disability within the meaning of this
section if it substantially limits the ability of an individual to
perform a major life activity as compared to most people in the
general population. An impairment need not prevent, or
significantly or severely restrict, the individual from performing
a major life activity in order to be considered substantially
limiting. Nonetheless, not every impairment will constitute a
disability within the meaning of this section.
(iii) The primary object of attention in cases brought under
the ADA should be whether covered entities have complied with
their obligations and whether discrimination has occurred, not
whether an individual’s impairment substantially limits a major
life activity. Accordingly, the threshold issue of whether an
impairment “substantially limits” a major life activity should not
demand extensive analysis.
(iv) The determination of whether an impairment
substantially limits a major life activity requires an individualized
assessment. However, in making this assessment, the term
“substantially limits” shall be interpreted and applied to require a
degree of functional limitation that is lower than the standard for
“substantially limits” applied prior to the ADAAA.
(v) The comparison of an individual’s performance of a
major life activity to the performance of the same major life
activity by most people in the general population usually will not
require scientific, medical, or statistical analysis. Nothing in this
paragraph is intended, however, to prohibit the presentation of
scientific, medical, or statistical evidence to make such a
comparison where appropriate.
(vi) The determination of whether an impairment
substantially limits a major life activity shall be made without
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regard to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures.
However, the ameliorative effects of ordinary eyeglasses or
contact lenses shall be considered in determining whether an
impairment substantially limits a major life activity.
(vii) An impairment that is episodic or in remission is a
disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when
active.
(viii) An impairment that substantially limits one major life
activity need not substantially limit other major life activities in
order to be considered a substantially limiting impairment.
(ix) The six-month “transitory” part of the “transitory and
minor” exception to “regarded as” coverage in § 1630.15(f) does
not apply to the definition of “disability” under paragraphs
(g)(1)(i) (the “actual disability” prong) or (g)(1)(ii) (the “record
of” prong) of this section. The effects of an impairment lasting or
expected to last fewer than six months can be substantially
limiting within the meaning of this section.
29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j) (all emphasis supplied).
Defendants assert that the revised regulations do not apply to plaintiff’s claim,
both because plaintiff’s injury occurred before the revised regulations were adopted,
and because the regulations cover only claims brought under § 501 of the
Rehabilitation Act, not claims, like plaintiff’s, that arise under § 504.44 The court does
44
Section 501 prohibits disability-based discrimination by federal agencies of the executive
branch. 29 U.S.C. § 791. Section 504 prevents disability-based discrimination by recipients of
federal funding. 29 U.S.C. § 794. After revising the ADA regulations to comport with the ADAAA,
the EEOC issued a publication entitled Questions and Answers on the Final Rule Implementing the
A D A
A m e n d m e n t s
A c t
o f
2 0 0 8 ,
a v a i l a b l e
a t
http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/regulations/ada_qa_final_rule.cfm. (last visited October 22, 2013). That
publication stated, in pertinent part: “The EEOC’s final regulations apply to Title I of the ADA and
section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, but they do not apply to Titles II and III of the ADA, or
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not need to decide whether the revised regulations should be applied retroactively, or
whether plaintiff’s § 504 claim is exempt from the regulatory provisions.45 Even if
the revised EEOC regulations are not binding in a technical sense, they still remain
highly persuasive with regard to the intended scope and meaning of the ADAAA.46
The court concludes, in light of the stated purpose of the ADAAA to broaden
the coverage of the ADA (and, thus, the Rehabilitation Act), and especially the
definition of the phrase “substantially limits,” and in consideration of the persuasive
regulatory provisions interpreting the ADAAA, that Congress no longer intends for
temporary impairments to be excluded from the definition of “disability.” Plaintiff’s
ankle injury impairment substantially limited her ability to perform the major life
activities of standing, walking, running, and her general musculoskeletal function.
The fact that the limitation was temporary is irrelevant. Accordingly, plaintiff was
under a disability, as that term is defined by the Rehabilitation Act, from the date of
her injury until she returned to work on October 14, 2010.
sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.” Id. at Question 3.
45
Plaintiff points the court to the regulations promulgated by the United States Department
of Education, presumably in an effort to demonstrate that those regulations apply, even if the
EEOC’s regulations do not. See 34 C.F.R. § 104.1 et seq. The Department of Education regulations
are similar to the EEOC regulations, and they can be considered for their persuasive value just as
the EEOC regulations can.
46
One of the stated purposes of the ADAAA was “to express Congress’ expectation that the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will revise that portion of its current regulations that
defines the term ‘substantially limits’ as ‘significantly restricted’ to be consistent with this Act . .
. .” 42 U.S.C. § 12101 note (2008) (Findings and Purposes, § (b)(6)).
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B.
Qualified Individual With A Disability
The term “qualified individual with a disability” is statutorily defined as
an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can
perform the essential functions of the employment position that such
individual holds or desires. For the purposes of this subchapter,
consideration shall be given to the employer’s judgment as to what
functions of a job are essential, and if an employer has prepared a written
description before advertising or interviewing applicants for the job, this
description shall be considered evidence of the essential functions of the
job.
42 U.S.C. § 12111(8).
1.
Essential functions
The first question that must be answered is whether plaintiff could perform the
essential functions of the cafeteria manager position. In general, “[t]he term essential
functions means the fundamental job duties of the employment position the individual
with a disability holds or desires,” but it does not include “the marginal functions of
the position.” 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(1) (alteration supplied). Additionally:
(2) A job function may be considered essential for any of several
reasons, including but not limited to the following:
(i) The function may be essential because the reason the
position exists is to perform that function;
(ii) The function may be essential because of the limited
number of employees available among whom the performance of
that job function can be distributed; and/or
(iii) The function may be highly specialized so that the
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incumbent in the position is hired for his or her expertise or ability
to perform the particular function.
(3) Evidence of whether a particular function is essential includes,
but is not limited to:
(i) The employer’s judgment as to which functions are
essential;
(ii) Written job descriptions prepared before advertising or
interviewing applicants for the job;
(iii) The amount of time spent on the job performing the
function;
(iv) The consequences of not requiring the incumbent to
perform the function;
(v) The terms of a collective bargaining agreement;
(vi) The work experience of past incumbents in the job;
and/or
(vii) The current work experience of incumbents in similar
jobs.
29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(2)-(3).
Defendants assert that the essential functions of plaintiff’s position as a
cafeteria manager included not just paperwork, operating the cash register, and other
managerial duties, but also cooking and cleaning. Most of the above statutory and
regulatory factors weigh in favor of defendants’ argument.47 Plaintiff’s cooking and
47
Some of the factors do not come into play at all under the facts of this case. For example,
there is no evidence that plaintiff’s position was so highly specialized that she was hired for her
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cleaning duties could be considered “essential” because her position existed, at least
in part, to perform those duties. See 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(2)(i). Even more
importantly, there was a limited number of employees among whom those job duties
could be distributed. See 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(2)(ii). Plaintiff’s cafeteria employed
only two other workers, yet it was required to supply food for approximately 200
students on a daily basis.
The factors set forth in 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(3) also weigh in defendants’
favor. First, in defendants’ judgment, cooking and cleaning duties were essential to
plaintiff’s position. See 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(3)(i)-(ii). Even though the job
description for cafeteria manager does not explicitly state that the manager is required
to perform cooking and cleaning duties, it does state that the manager is required to
perform any additional duties as assigned by the Superintendent or his designee. See
Davis, 205 F.3d at 1306 (holding that a job function can be considered “essential”
even if it is not listed in the formal job description, as long as there is other evidence
of essentialness). The Superintendent and the Child Nutrition Program Supervisor
both testified that a cafeteria manager’s job duties included performing some tasks
also performed by the cafeteria workers, including cooking and cleaning. See Holly
expertise in cooking and cleaning, under 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(2)(iii). There also is no evidence
of a collective bargaining agreement governing the terms of plaintiff’s employment. See 29 C.F.R.
§ 1630.2(n)(3)(v).
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v. Clairson Industries, L.L.C., 492 F.3d 1247, 1257 (11th Cir. 2007) (“[W]hen
considering the employer’s judgment regarding what is an essential function, we have
previously considered not only the company’s ‘official position,’ but also testimony
from the plaintiff’s supervisor.”) (citing D’Angelo v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., 422 F.3d
1220, 1230 (11th Cir. 2005)) (alteration supplied). Plaintiff acknowledged that she
assisted the other cafeteria workers with cooking and cleaning when she had time, and
Brenda McCrary, who filled in for plaintiff as cafeteria manager while plaintiff was
on sick leave and ultimately replaced plaintiff upon her retirement, testified that she
also performed cooking and cleaning tasks as needed.
See 29 C.F.R. §
1630.2(n)(3)(vi)-(vii).
It is not clear from the record how much time plaintiff typically spent cooking
and cleaning on any given day, probably because she performed those tasks on an asneeded basis. It does seem apparent, however, that plaintiff did some amount of
cooking and cleaning on a regular basis. The regularity of her cooking and cleaning
duties weighs in favor of considering those duties to be “essential.” See 29 C.F.R. §
1630.2(n)(3)(iii). See also Holbrook, 112 F.3d at 1527 (holding that a police officer’s
duties were essential, even though the officer spent “a relatively small amount of time
performing” those duties).
Finally, the consequence of allowing plaintiff to return to work, but not
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requiring plaintiff to perform her cooking and cleaning duties, also weighs in favor
of finding those duties to be essential. See 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(3)(iv). Harding
testified that if plaintiff had been allowed to return to work without performing her
cooking and cleaning duties, the Board would have been required to hire another
person to perform those duties. Plaintiff has not offered any evidence to refute
Harding’s testimony.
In summary, based on the totality of all of the above factors, plaintiff’s cooking
and cleaning duties were an essential function of her position as a cafeteria manager.
It appears undisputed that plaintiff could not perform those functions without some
sort of accommodation until October of 2010.
2.
Reasonable accommodation
The next question is whether plaintiff could have performed the essential
functions of her position as a cafeteria manager — including cooking and cleaning —
if defendants had provided her with a reasonable accommodation. A “reasonable
accommodation” includes:
(A) making existing facilities used by employees readily
accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and
(B) job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules,
reassignment to a vacant position, acquisition or modification of
equipment or devices, appropriate adjustment or modifications of
examinations, training materials or policies, the provision of qualified
readers or interpreters, and other similar accommodations for individuals
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with disabilities.
42 U.S.C. § 12111(9).
An employer discriminates against an otherwise qualified individual with a
disability if the employer fails to make “reasonable accommodations to the known
physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability
who is an applicant or employee, unless such covered entity can demonstrate that the
accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the business of
such covered entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(5)(A). An “undue hardship” is “an action
requiring significant difficulty or expense, when considered in light of” the following
factors:
(i) the nature and cost of the accommodation needed under this
chapter;
(ii) the overall financial resources of the facility or facilities
involved in the provision of the reasonable accommodation; the number
of persons employed at such facility; the effect on expenses and
resources, or the impact otherwise of such accommodation upon the
operation of the facility;
(iii) the overall financial resources of the covered entity; the
overall size of the business of a covered entity with respect to the
number of its employees; the number, type, and location of its facilities;
and
(iv) the type of operation or operations of the covered entity,
including the composition, structure, and functions of the workforce of
such entity; the geographic separateness, administrative, or fiscal
relationship of the facility or facilities in question to the covered entity.
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42 U.S.C. § 12111(10).
The Eleventh Circuit has held that “[a]n accommodation is reasonable, and thus
required under the ADA, only if it allows the employee to perform the essential
functions of the job.” Earl v. Mervyns, Inc., 207 F.3d 1361, 1365 (11th Cir. 2000)
(citing LaChance v. Duffy’s Draft House, Inc., 146 F.3d 832, 835 (11th Cir.1998) (in
turn citing 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2( o)(2)(ii) (1995))) (alteration supplied).
The burden of identifying an accommodation that would allow a
qualified employee to perform the essential functions of her job rests
with that employee, as does the ultimate burden of persuasion with
respect to showing that such accommodation is reasonable. See Stewart
v. Happy Herman’s Cheshire Bridge, Inc., 117 F.3d 1278, 1286 (11th
Cir.1997). Furthermore, “where a plaintiff cannot demonstrate
‘reasonable accommodation,’ the employer’s lack of investigation into
reasonable accommodation is unimportant.” Willis v. Conopco, Inc., 108
F.3d 282, 285 (11th Cir. 1997). Finally, before an employer has a duty
to show undue hardship, the plaintiff first must show that a reasonable
accommodation exists. See id. at 286.
Earl, 207 F.3d at 1367.
The only accommodation plaintiff ever requested — and the only one she
mentions in her brief — was to not be required to perform any cooking and cleaning
duties. See Gaston v. Bellingrath Gardens & Home, Inc., 167 F.3d 1361, 1363 (11th
Cir. 1999) (citing Wood v. President and Trustees of Spring Hill College in the City
of Mobile, 978 F.2d 1214, 1222 (11th Cir. 1992)) (“[A] plaintiff cannot establish a
claim under the Rehabilitation Act alleging that the defendant discriminated against
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him by failing to provide a reasonable accommodation unless he demanded such an
accommodation.”) (alteration supplied). However, plaintiff’s request would not allow
her to perform the essential functions of her job; instead, it would exempt her from
performing those functions. Moreover, the only way to accommodate plaintiff’s
request would be to reassign her cooking and cleaning duties to other workers, which,
according to the Superintendent’s uncontradicted testimony, would result in the Board
being required to hire an additional cafeteria worker in order to satisfy the necessity
to produce sufficient food for more than 200 students. The Eleventh Circuit has held
“that ‘[a]n employer is not required by the ADA to reallocate job duties in order to
change the essential functions of a job.’” Earl, 207 F.3d at 1367 (quoting Holbrook,
112 F.3d at 1528) (alteration in Earl).
Plaintiff has failed to satisfy her burden of identifying a reasonable
accommodation that would have allowed her to perform all the essential functions of
her job as a cafeteria manager. Accordingly: (1) she is not a “qualified individual
with a disability,” as is required for her Rehabilitation Act claim; (2) defendants are
not required to demonstrate that any proposed accommodation would present an
undue hardship; and (3) defendants were not required to engage in the “interactive
process” discussed in the EEOC regulations in order to determine an appropriate
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accommodation.48
3.
Defendants’ alleged “100% healed” policy
Plaintiff also makes a somewhat distinct argument that the Board’s policy that
employees cannot return to work until they are able to perform all of their job duties
violates the ADAAA’s prohibition against so-called “100% healed” policies, or
policies that require employees to be completely recovered from their injury or illness
before they can return to work. It is true that the ADAAA makes it unlawful to use
qualification standards, employment tests or other selection criteria that
screen out or tend to screen out an individual with a disability or a class
of individuals with disabilities unless the standard, test or other selection
criteria, as used by the covered entity, is shown to be job-related for the
position in question and is consistent with business necessity.
42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(6). It also is unlawful to “ limit[], segregat[e], or classify[] a job
applicant or employee in a way that adversely affects the opportunities or status of
such applicant or employee because of the disability of such applicant or employee.”
42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(1) (alterations supplied). Instead, as the Supreme Court has
advised, the determination of whether a disabled employee is otherwise qualified for
a position is an “individualized inquiry.” School Board of Nassau County, Florida v.
48
See 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(o)(3) (“To determine the appropriate reasonable accommodation
it may be necessary for the covered entity to initiate an informal, interactive process with the
individual with a disability in need of the accommodation. This process should identify the precise
limitations resulting from the disability and potential reasonable accommodations that could
overcome those limitations.”). Plaintiff argued in her brief that Superintendent Harding “shut down
the interactive process before it started” when he told plaintiff that she could not return to work until
she could perform all of her previous duties. See doc. no. 26 (plaintiff’s brief), at 15-16.
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Arline, 480 U.S. 273, 287 (1987). The purpose of that individualized inquiry is to
protect “handicapped individuals from deprivations based on prejudice, stereotypes,
or unfounded fear, while giving appropriate weight to such legitimate concerns of
grantees as avoiding exposing others to significant health and safety risks.” Id.
In keeping with these principles, several Circuit Courts of Appeal have found
that employer policies requiring an injured or sick employee to be completely healed
or recovered in order to return to work are unlawful. See, e.g., Hohider v. United
Parcel Service, 574 F.3d 169, 194-96 (3rd Cir. 2009) (holding that a 100% healed
policy violates the ADA if it has the effect of discriminating against an otherwise
qualified individual with a disability); Henderson v. Ardco, Inc., 247 F.3d 645, 653
(6th Cir. 2001) (“[A] 100% rule is impermissible as to a disabled person — but one
must first be disabled.”) (alteration and emphasis supplied); McGregor v. National
R.R. Passenger Corp., 187 F.3d 1113, 1116 (9th Cir. 1999) (“A “100% healed” or
“fully healed” policy discriminates against qualified individuals with disabilities
because such a policy permits employers to substitute a determination of whether a
qualified individual is ‘100% healed’ from their injury for the required individual
assessment whether the qualified individual is able to perform the essential functions
of his or her job either with or without accommodation.”) (emphasis supplied);
Hendricks-Robinson v. Excel Corp., 154 F.3d 685, 698-99 (7th Cir. 1998)
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(invalidating an employer’s policy that made “physical fitness” a necessary job
requirement).
This court has no reason to doubt that the Eleventh Circuit would adopt a
similar holding if it were confronted with the issue. Even so, defendants’ argument
fails. First, there is no evidence that the Board actually has a “100% healed” policy.
The Board did not inform plaintiff that she could not return to work until she was
100% healed from her ankle injury; it informed her that she could not return to work
until she could perform all of her job duties. That distinction is important, as the latter
is permissible under the Rehabilitation Act. Moreover, even if the Board did have
such a policy, it would only violate the Rehabilitation Act if it was applied to an
otherwise qualified individual with a disability. Because plaintiff is not a qualified
individual with a disability, she would not be entitled to the protection of the
Rehabilitation Act, even if the Board did have a facially unlawful “100% healed”
policy.
4.
Summary
Plaintiff has not met her burden of establishing that she is a qualified individual
with a disability, as required under the second prong of the prima facie case for
disability discrimination. Accordingly, she cannot succeed on her Rehabilitation Act
claim, and summary judgment is due to be granted in defendants’ favor on that claim.
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Moreover, because plaintiff failed to satisfy the second prong of the prima facie
case, the court does not need to consider whether she has satisfied the third prong by
proving that she suffered an adverse employment action because of her disability.
Finally, because summary judgment is due to be granted on the merits of
plaintiff’s Rehabilitation Act claim, the court also does not need to consider
defendants’ argument that plaintiff’s claims against Superintendent Harding should
be dismissed as redundant of her claims against the Board.
IV. CONCLUSION AND ORDERS
In accordance with the foregoing, the court finds that there are no genuine
issues of material fact, and defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Accordingly, defendants’ motion for summary judgment is GRANTED, and all of
plaintiff’s claims are DISMISSED. Costs are taxed to plaintiff. The Clerk is directed
to close this file.
DONE this 28th day of October, 2013.
______________________________
United States District Judge
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