Hopman v. Union Pacific Railroad
Filing
72
OPINION AND ORDER denying 54 motion for summary judgment. Signed by Judge Kristine G. Baker on 5/26/2020. (jbh)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
CENTRAL DIVISION
PERRY HOPMAN
v.
PLAINTIFF
Case No. 4:18-cv-00074-KGB
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
DEFENDANT
OPINION AND ORDER
Before the Court is a motion for summary judgment filed by defendant Union Pacific
Railroad (“Union Pacific”) (Dkt. No. 54). Plaintiff Perry Hopman filed a response to this motion
(Dkt. No. 59), Union Pacific filed a reply (Dkt. No. 61), and Mr. Hopman filed a sur-reply (Dkt.
No. 62). For the following reasons, the Court denies Union Pacific’s motion (Dkt. No. 54).
I.
Factual Background
Mr. Hopman brings this action against Union Pacific under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (“Rehabilitation Act”), 29 U.S.C. § 794, et seq., and the
Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq. (Dkt. No. 4, ¶ 3). Mr.
Hopman alleges that he was discriminated against and denied a reasonable accommodation in
violation of both the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA (Id., ¶¶ 18-26).
Mr. Hopman joined the U.S. Army in 1993 (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 1). Mr. Hopman originally
served as an active duty service member and spent approximately one and one-half years on duty
before joining the National Guard in Arkansas (Id.). In 2006, Mr. Hopman deployed to Iraq as a
member of the National Guard (Id., ¶ 2). While deployed, Mr. Hopman discussed employment at
Union Pacific with one of his fellow guardsmen and was told that it was a great place to work (Id.).
Mr. Hopman decided to pursue a railroad career at Union Pacific when he returned from his
deployment (Id.). At some point after Mr. Hopman returned to the United States, he was diagnosed
with post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”) for the first time (Id., ¶ 3).
In May 2008—while still a member of the National Guard but after returning from his
deployment—Mr. Hopman accepted employment as a conductor at Union Pacific’s North Little
Rock service unit (Id., ¶ 4). Conductors are responsible for train operations and movement, which
includes operating locomotive equipment (Id., ¶ 5). A conductor’s duties include, but are not
limited to:
pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying up to 25 pounds frequently, 50 pounds
occasionally, and assisting in the infrequent movement of weights of seven up to 83 pounds; riding
railcars and climbing onto equipment; applying bilateral use of upper extremities when needed
such as maintaining a grip with both hands; maintaining balance and coordination on stairs,
ladders, uneven terrain, moving equipment, rails, and ballast; maintaining three-point contact when
holding on a ladder or train; working and interacting with others; and riding at the rear of a car on
a ladder (Id.). In addition to these duties, the conductor also spends time outside of the train to
walk the train and deal with other problems (Id., ¶ 6). This means the conductor must perform his
or her duties in extreme weather and face any dangers the weather may pose (Id.). As a conductor,
Mr. Hopman was required to work a variable schedule based on business needs, which included
overnight travel (Id., ¶ 7). This involved Mr. Hopman, as a conductor, pairing up with an engineer
to operate Union Pacific’s trains (Id.). Due to scheduling limitations, a conductor and engineer
team is not constant and usually changes for each run (Id.).
In April 2010, Mr. Hopman took a leave of absence from Union Pacific to perform military
service (Id., ¶ 8). This leave of absence ultimately lasted five years (Id.). Mr. Hopman deployed
to Kosovo during this time and also spent time at his local armory in Benton, Arkansas (Id.). Mr.
Hopman asserts that he suffered a traumatic brain injury during his service in Kosovo and spent
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time after his deployment trying to recover from his injuries, during which his PTSD became much
worse (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 8). Mr. Hopman received treatment at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C.
and participated in an Army PTSD program in San Diego, California (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 8). Mr.
Hopman also asserts that he received treatment at the Intrepid Center for his traumatic brain injury
and PTSD and the Oasis Center for his PTSD (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 8). Union Pacific avers that it paid
Mr. Hopman approximately $300.00 to $400.00 per month during this leave, which represented
the difference between his pay at Union Pacific and the pay he received while serving on military
duty, but Mr. Hopman disputes this claim (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 8; 59-2, ¶ 8). Mr. Hopman medically
retired from the Army National Guard in 2015 (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 8).
Mr. Hopman claims that his medical team recommended that he get a service dog to help
mitigate the flashbacks, anxiety, and migraine headaches he suffered (Dkt. No. 59-5, ¶ 5). In 2014,
prior to returning to work at Union Pacific, Mr. Hopman got his dog Atlas, a two-month-old
German Rottweiler (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 9). Mr. Hopman returned from his military leave of absence
on or about May 4, 2015 (Id., ¶ 10). Mr. Hopman resumed working as a conductor at the North
Little Rock Service Unit after his return (Id.). Union Pacific required Mr. Hopman to undergo a
fitness-for-duty exam when he returned to work, as it requires all of its employees who work in a
safety sensitive position to undergo a fitness-for-duty exam after returning from an absence of one
year or longer (Id., ¶ 11). While Mr. Hopman informed Union Pacific of his PTSD diagnosis at
that time, he did not request a reasonable accommodation and returned to work without restrictions
(Id.).
On or about April 1, 2016, after working at Union Pacific for nearly a year after returning
from his military leave of absence and approximately eight years after his PTSD diagnosis, Mr.
Hopman requested that Union Pacific permit him to bring Atlas to work as a reasonable
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accommodation (Id., ¶ 12). This request is the first time that Mr. Hopman ever sought a reasonable
accommodation from Union Pacific (Id.). Mr. Hopman readily admits that from May 4, 2015, to
April 1, 2016, prior to requesting this accommodation, he was able to perform safely all functions
of his job, though he asserts that he suffered flashbacks, anxiety, and migraine headaches during
that time (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 12; 59-2, ¶ 12). Mr. Hopman made this 2016 request to his supervisor
at the time, Josh Davis, and the only disability claimed at the time was his PTSD (Dkt. No. 55, ¶
13). Mr. Hopman requested to bring Atlas to work because he believed Atlas would allow him to
be more comfortable at work, make working easier, and help him both mentally and physically
(Dkt. Nos. 54-6, at 2; 55, ¶ 13). After reviewing Mr. Hopman’s request, Union Pacific denied it
because it determined that the accommodation would result in a direct threat to health and safety
(Dkt. Nos. 54-7, at 2; 55, ¶ 14). Specifically, Union Pacific noted that: (1) it is unclear how a dog
would react to the dangerous conditions of the railyard, such as moving cars and locomotives; (2)
there was no infrastructure to support a dog in a locomotive or on the road; and (3) the dog would
remain unmonitored and could pose a risk to other employees (Id.). Mr. Hopman asserts that
Union Pacific refused to communicate with him about any concerns regarding this
accommodation, that Union Pacific was not in a position to make a decision about whether Atlas
would be or result in a direct threat to health and safety, and that the record shows that Union
Pacific only communicated its concerns after it had already denied the accommodation (Dkt. No.
59-2, ¶ 14).
After the denial of this request, Mr. Hopman filed a Charge with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) on April 21, 2016 (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 15). In his Charge, Mr.
Hopman alleged that Union Pacific denied him a reasonable accommodation because of his
disability (Id.). In the accompanying Intake Questionnaire, Mr. Hopman indicated the only
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discrimination he faced was Union Pacific’s denial of a “use of service dog at work” (Id.). Mr.
Hopman also indicated that the assistance he sought was “only to allow a service dog to accompany
[him] at work” (Id.). At the time Mr. Hopman filed this Charge, Atlas had not completed his
training (Id.). Because Mr. Hopman proactively requested an accommodation he would want in
the future, the EEOC recommended that Mr. Hopman withdraw his Charge, which he did (Id.).
After Atlas completed his 18-month training program in or about April 2017, Mr. Hopman
requested again that Union Pacific permit him to bring Atlas to work with him via an email to
Pauline Weatherford, one of Union Pacific’s senior vocational case managers (Id., ¶ 16). Union
Pacific asserts that Ms. Weatherford’s role in accommodation requests is to engage in the
interactive process with the employee, clarify what the employee is seeking, and assist the
employee in acquiring the desired accommodation request, if possible (Id.). In his email, Mr.
Hopman wrote that he now had his service dog full-time and would like to ask for an
accommodation enabling him to bring Atlas to work (Id., ¶ 17).
Mr. Hopman completed a reasonable accommodation request intake form which addressed
the concerns Union Pacific expressed in denying his 2016 request (Id.). Mr. Hopman claimed that:
(1) Atlas was trained to perform necessary tasks in varied environments and trained to focus on
his work; (2) Atlas was trained not to relieve himself for 14 straight hours; (3) Atlas was an
extension of Mr. Hopman and should be viewed as such; (4) Mr. Hopman suffered physical and
mental impairments in the form of anxiety and fatigue; (5) Mr. Hopman’s impairments interfered
with his job performance in the form of increased fatigue due to difficulty sleeping and a possible
impact on his focus; and (6) Mr. Hopman was currently able to function but was fearful his
impairments would lead to inability to perform essential functions without the accommodation
(Dkt. Nos. 54-11, at 2-4; 55, ¶ 17). Union Pacific states that Ms. Weatherford assisted Mr. Hopman
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throughout the life of his accommodation request and beyond (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 16). Mr. Hopman
challenges this characterization and asserts that Ms. Weatherford did not:
communicate
management’s concerns about Mr. Hopman’s request until she communicated that his request was
denied; allow him to address any concerns about the requested accommodation before it was
denied; engage in any interactive process with him, meet with him, or speak with him other than
by phone or email; assist him or facilitate his request; play any role in the decisions made about
his requests; or convey Mr. Hopman’s response to Union Pacific’s concerns (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 16).
When questioned about this form in his deposition, Mr. Hopman testified that he had no
job limitations at the time he requested his accommodation (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 18). When asked why
Mr. Hopman requested to bring Atlas to work, despite being able to perform all the essential
functions of his job, Mr. Hopman claimed that he needed Atlas to assist him by: “grounding,” or
sensing Mr. Hopman’s anxiety levels and placing pressure on his body; reminding him to take his
medications; “hovering,” or walking in circles around Mr. Hopman in a crowd to keep the crowd
at bay; notifying Mr. Hopman of when a migraine is coming; blocking anyone from approaching
Mr. Hopman from behind; finding the closest exit in a building; picking up and retrieving items;
waking Mr. Hopman up from nightmares; forcing Mr. Hopman to get out of the house; and helping
Mr. Hopman during flashbacks (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 18; 59-2, ¶ 18). Union Pacific maintains that Atlas
needs ongoing training to remain a viable service dog, but Mr. Hopman claims that Atlas only
needs additional training because Union Pacific denied his request to bring Atlas to work and
Atlas’ skills have dulled since he is not working on a daily basis (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 19; 59-2, ¶ 19).
Additionally, Mr. Hopman recognizes that Atlas was not trained for the railroad environment,
complete with all the smells, noises, and safety hazards a service dog would encounter, though Mr.
Hopman claims that Union Pacific’s actions are the only reason Atlas has not been exposed to the
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railroad environment (Id.). However, Mr. Hopman claims that his lack of training in the railroad
environment is not a barrier to him being a service animal supporting Mr. Hopman (Dkt. No. 591, ¶ 42).
After Mr. Hopman submitted his 2017 request for an accommodation, Ms. Weatherford
and Mr. Hopman discussed Mr. Hopman’s request and his needs (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 20). Ms.
Weatherford also researched cases and other information helpful to Mr. Hopman and his request
(Id.). Mr. Hopman broadly asserts for many of the reasons cited that, through Ms. Weatherford,
Union Pacific did not appropriately engage in the interactive process with him (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶
20). He claims that Ms. Weatherford did not communicate any suggestions or options to him but
instead just issued the rejection (Id.). Mr. Hopman asserts that Ms. Weatherford did not deliberate
with, make suggestions to, or even supply the decision-makers with his input (Id.). Mr. Hopman
reasserts that Ms. Weatherford never shared with him any of management’s concerns until his
request was rejected (Id.). However, Mr. Hopman did testify that Ms. Weatherford was responsive
to him, that she seemed concerned and compassionate, and that he had no complaints about the
way that Ms. Weatherford treated him (Dkt. No. 54-2, at 47). Union Pacific claims that it
memorialized Ms. Weatherford’s process with Mr. Hopman using its internal reasonable
accommodation request forms, though Mr. Hopman states that he only saw these forms after his
request was rejected and denies that they substitute in some way for an interactive process (Dkt.
Nos. 55, ¶ 20; 59-2, ¶ 20).
Union Pacific forwarded Mr. Hopman’s accommodation request on to the General
Superintendent of his service unit, Jay Everett, for review (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 21). Mr. Everett
reviewed the request and conferred with Union Pacific’s internal legal counsel and safety
department (Id.). Mr. Everett and members of Union Pacific’s legal team and safety department
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collaborated on whether Union Pacific could safely accommodate Mr. Hopman’s request (Id.).
Union Pacific claims that it took these actions pursuant to its routine process, but Mr. Hopman
asserts that Union Pacific has produced no proof that it has a routine practice for handling
accommodation requests or that it followed one in his case (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 21; 59-2, ¶ 21). Union
Pacific maintains that the decision as to whether Union Pacific could provide Mr. Hopman with
his requested accommodation rested in Mr. Everett alone, though Mr. Everett could rely on those
resources available to him to make the decision (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 22).
Union Pacific states that Ms. Weatherford advocated on Mr. Hopman’s behalf and
explained to Mr. Everett, among others, how well a service animal is trained and a service animal’s
capabilities (Id.). Union Pacific states that Mr. Everett determined that Atlas’ presence would
constitute a direct threat to health and safety and made the decision to deny Mr. Hopman’s request
(Id.). Union Pacific claims that this decision was based, in part, on an assessment performed by
Union Pacific’s Assistant Vice President of Safety, Rod Doerr (Id.). Union Pacific asserts that Mr.
Doerr believed that Mr. Hopman would violate a number of safety rules in bringing Atlas aboard
a train (Id.). Union Pacific maintains that it memorialized its decision by providing Mr. Hopman
with a document describing the resolution of his reasonable accommodation request (Id.). Mr.
Hopman claims broadly that there is clearly a fact issue about who made the decision regarding
his accommodation, on what basis that decision was made, and why that decision was made (Dkt.
No. 59-2, ¶¶ 21-22).
Separately, Mr. Doerr testified to the following facts: Union Pacific had no rule against
employees bringing service animals to work; a Union Pacific engineer named Paul Birchfield had
previously been permitted by supervisors to bring his service dog to work with him, including
aboard Union Pacific trains; in Mr. Birchfield’s case, Mr. Doerr ultimately determined that it was
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not feasible to accommodate animals in the work environment of an engineer; Union Pacific has
its own canine units, and the dogs in those units work on and off of Union Pacific trains; and none
of those dogs have misbehaved in a way that caused Union Pacific to reevaluate any of its policies
(Dkt. No. 59-8, at 8-13, 17-18, 37-38). Relatedly, Brian Seibert, testified that he has seen stray
dogs or yard dogs in multiple Union Pacific locations, that Union Pacific has no rule prohibiting
those dogs’ presence in its yard, and that Union Pacific has no rule prohibiting its own canine dogs
from being aboard its trains (Dkt. No. 59-13, at 7-8). Mr. Birchfield testified that he brought his
service dog, Jack, to work with him on a regular basis, including on Union Pacific’s trains, for a
period of over four years to prevent the worst symptoms of his anxiety and panic attacks; that Jack
never caused a problem, created any danger, or posed a threat to anyone else in his presence; and
that he was given an ultimatum that he either give up asking Jack to be at work with him or he not
go back to work (Dkt. No. 59-10).
Union Pacific maintains that Ms. Weatherford contemplated alternative forms of
accommodation and that Union Pacific offered Mr. Hopman a reasonable accommodation in the
form of a yard job which would prevent him from having to spend nights away from home and
Atlas (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 23). Mr. Hopman had approximately 25 yard jobs to choose from, though
Mr. Hopman claims that these jobs were not all comparable and that he found one job that did not
entail a huge pay cut (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 23; 59-2, ¶ 23). Union Pacific states that its involvement in
the process ensured Mr. Hopman would keep that job and not be bumped from the job by another
union-represented employee with greater seniority (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 23). Mr. Hopman disputes this,
asserts that the yard job was not a reasonable accommodation, and asserts that it was not effective,
making things worse for him because it was a more dangerous and more stressful job that did not
address working with PTSD day in and day out (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 23).
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Mr. Hopman disagreed with Union Pacific’s decision (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 24). Mr. Hopman
stated that the yard job accommodation provided a more dangerous working environment, multiple
new stressors, paid less than his current position, felt more like a punishment than a solution, and
that Atlas was a medical necessity prescribed by a doctor to perform certain tasks that allowed him
to be a productive person (Dkt. Nos. 54-14, at 5; 55, ¶ 24). In a follow-up email to Ms.
Weatherford, Mr. Hopman conveyed his disagreement with Union Pacific’s decision (Dkt. Nos.
54-15; 55, ¶ 25). Mr. Hopman claimed that his request for accommodation was in no way approved
for the original request; that the yard option was not a viable option for him; that Atlas helped him
with much more than sleeping and that overnight stays were not his sole need for Atlas; that he
had PTSD which provided part of his need for Atlas; that the yard job provided myriad stressors;
and that Atlas would not assist him in his essential functions while on duty (Dkt. No. 54-14, at 2).
Union Pacific elevated Mr. Hopman’s request to Ms. Weatherford’s supervisor, Peggy
Grosskopf, director of clinical services, and Union Pacific’s internal Equal Employment
Opportunity (“EEO”) team (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 26). Ms. Grosskopf and the EEO team reviewed Mr.
Hopman’s objections to determine if Union Pacific could alter its decision but reached the same
conclusion as Mr. Everett (Id.). Mr. Hopman claims that he directly asked to appeal each of the
decisions and that he has no idea if the people identified were involved in considering his appeals
or, if they were, on what basis they decided to deny his appeal (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 26).
Mr. Hopman testified that he pursued the yard job offered to him and eventually accepted
a job as a conductor which was classified as a yard job (Dkt. No. 54-2, at 29-30). Mr. Hopman’s
pay did not radically change, and he testified that his fears about a dramatic pay decrease were not
realized (Dkt. Nos. 54-2, at 31; 55, ¶ 27). Union Pacific characterizes Mr. Hopman’s actions as
his agreeing to pursue the alternative accommodation offered to him, but Mr. Hopman disputes
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that account (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 27; 59-2, ¶ 27). Mr. Hopman claims that he did not accept any
alternative accommodation and that Union Pacific never offered him any accommodation (Dkt.
No. 59-2, ¶ 27). Mr. Hopman asserts that Union Pacific offered only Family Medical Leave Act
(“FMLA”) leave, to which he was already entitled, and use of his seniority to move to the yard,
which is a right every worker has regardless of disability (Id.).
Despite agreeing to accept it, Mr. Hopman did not like the yard conductor job (Dkt. No.
55, ¶ 28). Mr. Hopman felt that this new position placed more stress on him because the yard job
conductor is a dangerous job in a dangerous environment (Id.). Mr. Hopman states that he did not
voluntarily accept this “reasonable accommodation” and that it did not address the burden of his
PTSD day in and day out (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 28). Mr. Hopman tried the yard job for a time because
he could be with Atlas at night (Id.). However, Mr. Hopman realized that the additional stress of
the job made his life worse, and he decided to return to his previous job and resumed working as
a conductor on the road (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 28; 59-2, ¶ 28).
Mr. Hopman filed a second Charge against Union Pacific for its failure to accommodate
his second request to permit him to bring his dog to work (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 29). In this Charge, Mr.
Hopman claimed that he “requested to be allowed to use a service dog to accompany [him] when
walking train; ride within locomotive in down stay command or could be tethered or crated while
switching and be allowed to travel to rest location” (Id.). In the associated Intake Questionnaire
form, Mr. Hopman claimed that his disability was migraines, PTSD, anxiety, and depression (Dkt.
No. 54-16, at 5). After receiving Notice of his Right to Sue, Mr. Hopman filed this lawsuit on
January 26, 2018 (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 30). Mr. Hopman’s only claimed disability in this case is PTSD
(Id.). Mr. Hopman has maintained, in testimony and otherwise, that he is able to perform the
functions of his job safely and that he has never reached a point where he is unable to perform the
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essential functions of his job (Id., ¶ 31). Mr. Hopman asserts, however, that he sought an
accommodation to allow him to enjoy equal access to the benefits and privileges of employment
by preventing the worst symptoms of his PTSD (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 31).
Since Mr. Hopman filed his Charge and this lawsuit, Union Pacific has promoted him to
engineer (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 32). He underwent training to become an engineer, which he was set to
complete in or about April 2019 (Id.). Mr. Hopman requested that Union Pacific permit him to
bring Atlas to the classroom portion of the engineer training, and Union Pacific states that it
granted him this request (Id.). However, Atlas injured himself prior to the training and was unable
to accompany Mr. Hopman (Id.). Further, Mr. Hopman disputes Union Pacific’s account and
claims that the request was granted by the community college where the training occurred, not by
Union Pacific (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 32). Mr. Hopman claims that Union Pacific demurred when he
asked whether he was allowed to bring Atlas to his engineer training (Id.).
In mid-2018, Mr. Doerr and his safety team agreed to travel to Arkansas to meet with Mr.
Hopman to discuss Atlas (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 33). Union Pacific states that the intent of this meeting
was to allow Mr. Hopman to demonstrate how he would mitigate the safety concerns associated
with Atlas’ presence onboard a locomotive, but Mr. Hopman cancelled the meeting the day before
it was set to occur (Id.). Mr. Hopman states that the meeting was part of settlement discussions
and purposed to allow a give and take discussion of Union Pacific’s concerns and Mr. Hopman’s
responses (Dkt. No. 59-2, ¶ 33). Union Pacific states that Ms. Weatherford continued to work with
Mr. Hopman on his request for an accommodation and exchanged emails with him as recently as
September 2018 about the potential for Atlas to accompany him at work (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 34). In
these emails, Mr. Hopman and Ms. Weatherford discussed how he planned to overcome issues
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presented by Atlas’s presence (Dkt. No. 54-18). The parties have not agreed upon a workplace
demonstration with Atlas to date (Dkt. No. 55, ¶ 34).
II.
Legal Standard
Summary judgment is appropriate if there is no genuine issue of material fact for trial.
UnitedHealth Grp. Inc. v. Executive Risk Specialty Ins. Co., 870 F.3d 856, 861 (8th Cir. 2017)
(citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56). Summary judgment is proper if the evidence, when viewed in the light
most favorable to the nonmoving party, shows that there is no genuine issue of material fact and
that the defendant is entitled to entry of judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477
U.S. 317, 322 (1986). “In ruling on a motion for summary judgment ‘[t]he district court must base
the determination regarding the presence or absence of a material issue of factual dispute on
evidence that will be admissible at trial.’” Tuttle v. Lorillard Tobacco Co., 377 F.3d 917, 923-24
(8th Cir. 2004) (internal citations omitted). “Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a
rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is no genuine issue for trial.” Johnson
Reg’l Med. Ctr. v. Halterman, 867 F.3d 1013, 1016 (8th Cir. 2017) (quoting Matsushita Elec.
Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986)). A factual dispute is genuine if the
evidence could cause a reasonable jury to return a verdict for either party. Miner v. Local 373,
513 F.3d 854, 860 (8th Cir. 2008). “The mere existence of a factual dispute is insufficient alone
to bar summary judgment; rather, the dispute must be outcome determinative under the prevailing
law.” Holloway v. Pigman, 884 F.2d 365, 366 (8th Cir. 1989) (citation omitted).
However, parties opposing a summary judgment motion may not rest merely upon the
allegations in their pleadings. Buford v. Tremayne, 747 F.2d 445, 447 (8th Cir. 1984). The initial
burden is on the moving party to demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.
Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323. The burden then shifts to the nonmoving party to establish that
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there is a genuine issue to be determined at trial. Prudential Ins. Co. v. Hinkel, 121 F.3d 364, 366
(8th Cir. 2008), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1048 (1998). “The evidence of the non-movant is to be
believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby,
Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986) (citation omitted).
Importantly, “[t]here is no ‘discrimination case exception’ to the application of summary
judgment, which is a useful pretrial tool to determine whether any case, including one alleging
discrimination, merits a trial.” Torgerson v. City of Rochester, 643 F.3d 1031, 1043 (8th Cir. 2011)
(en banc) (citing Fercello v. County of Ramsey, 612 F.3d 1069, 1077 (8th Cir. 2010)). “Although
employment discrimination cases are ‘often fact intensive and dependent on nuance in the
workplace, they are not immune from summary judgment.’” Trierweiler v. Wells Fargo Bank,
639 F.3d 456, 459 (8th Cir. 2011) (quoting Fercello, 612 F.3d at 1077). “An employer is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law if the record conclusively reveal[s] some other, nondiscriminatory
reason for the employer’s decision.” Ross v. Kan. City Power & Light Co., 293 F.3d 1041, 1047
(8th Cir. 2002) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
III.
Failure To Accommodate
A.
Legal Standard
Mr. Hopman brings identical claims of disability discrimination and failure to
accommodate under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act (Dkt. No. 4, ¶¶ 18-26). The Court notes
that “[t]he ADA and the RA are ‘similar in substance’ and, with the exception of the RA’s federal
funding requirement, ‘cases interpreting either are applicable and interchangeable.’” Randolph v.
Rodgers, 170 F.3d 850, 858 (8th Cir. 1999) (quoting Gorman v. Bartch, 152 F.3d 907, 912 (8th
Cir. 1998)); see also Durand v. Fairview Health Servs., 902 F.3d 836, 841 (8th Cir. 2018) (same);
Allison v. Dep’t of Corr., 94 F.3d 494, 497 (8th Cir. 1996) (noting that “the same basic standards
14
and definitions are used under both Acts”). The only relevant difference between the claims is the
burden of proof imposed on the plaintiff. “Rehabilitation Act claims are analyzed in a manner
similar to ADA claims except that the Rehabilitation Act imposes a requirement that a person’s
disability serve as the sole impetus for a defendant's adverse action against the plaintiff.” Amir v.
St. Louis Univ., 183 F.3d 1017, 1029 n.5 (8th Cir. 1999). Accordingly, the Court generally
addresses Mr. Hopman’s ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims together, recognizing these
differences.
“In a reasonable accommodation case, the ‘discrimination’ is framed in terms of the failure
to fulfill an affirmative duty—the failure to reasonably accommodate the disabled individual's
limitations.” Peebles v. Potter, 354 F.3d 761, 767 (8th Cir. 2004). As the Eighth Circuit has held,
an employer commits unlawful discrimination if the employer does not 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 the employer can demonstrate that the
accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the business of the employer.
See Ballard v. Rubin, 284 F.3d 957, 960 (8th Cir. 2002); Fjellestad v. Pizza Hut of Am., Inc., 188
F.3d 944, 951 (8th Cir. 1999) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(5)(a)).
“A reasonable
accommodation should provide the disabled individual an equal employment opportunity,
including an opportunity to attain the same level of performance, benefits, and privileges that is
available to similarly situated employees who are not disabled.” Kiel v. Select Artificials, Inc., 169
F.3d 1131, 1136 (8th Cir. 1999) (en banc) (citation omitted).
“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.”
29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(o)(3). With a reasonable accommodation claim, “the employer’s intent is not
15
determinative.” Withers v. Johnson, 763 F.3d 998, 1004 (8th Cir. 2014). “Rather, discrimination
occurs when the employer fails to abide by a legally imposed duty.” Peebles, 354 F.3d at 767.
To prevail on a failure to accommodate claim, a plaintiff “must establish both a prima facie
case of discrimination based on disability and a failure to accommodate it.” Schaffhauser v. United
Parcel Serv., Inc., 794 F.3d 899, 905 (8th Cir. 2015); see also Moses v. Dassault Falcon JetWilmington Corp, 894 F.3d 911, 923-24 (8th Cir. 2018) (affirming summary judgment on
plaintiff’s failure to accommodate claim because plaintiff failed to show that he was a qualified
individual); Kelleher v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 817 F.3d 624, 631 (8th Cir. 2016) (affirming
summary judgment on plaintiff’s failure to accommodate claim because plaintiff failed to show
that she suffered an adverse employment action). A prima facie case requires a plaintiff to
demonstrate that he or she: (1) has a disability; (2) is a qualified individual; and (3) has suffered
an adverse employment action because of that disability. Jeseritz v. Potter, 282 F.3d 542, 546 (8th
Cir. 2002). Upon establishing a prime facie case of discrimination, the plaintiff must show, “that
the requested accommodation is ‘reasonable on its face, i.e., ordinarily or in the run of cases.’”
Peebles, 354 F.3d at 768 (quoting U.S. Airways, Inc. v. Barnett, 535 U.S. 391, 401 (2002)). “Upon
such a showing, the employer is left to ‘show special (typically case-specific) circumstances that
demonstrate undue hardship in the particular circumstances.’” Id. (quoting Barnett, 535 U.S. at
402). In practice, the Eighth Circuit has articulated a four-part test for evaluating these claims,
under which the plaintiff must demonstrate: “(1) the employer knew about the employee’s
disability; (2) the employee requested accommodations or assistance for his or her disability; (3)
the employer did not make a good faith effort to assist the employee in seeking accommodations;
and (4) the employee could have been reasonably accommodated but for the employer’s lack of
good faith.” Ballard, 284 F.3d at 960 (internal quotations and citations omitted).
16
B.
Analysis
Union Pacific makes several arguments in support of its motion for summary judgment.
Union Pacific asserts that: (1) Mr. Hopman cannot demonstrate that he needed the requested
accommodation; (2) Mr. Hopman cannot present a prima facie case of discrimination because he
suffered no adverse employment action; and (3) Mr. Hopman’s requested accommodation was not
reasonable as a matter of law (Dkt. No. 54-1, at 17-24). Mr. Hopman responds that: (1) Union
Pacific failed to engage in the interactive process with him; (2) Union Pacific’s failure to grant
him the requested accommodation represents an adverse employment action; (3) the issue of
whether Mr. Hopman needed a reasonable accommodation is broader than whether he had the
ability to perform the essential functions of his job; (4) the yard job did not represent a reasonable
accommodation; and (5) Mr. Hopman’s requested accommodation was not unreasonable (Dkt. No.
59, at 14-25).
Union Pacific maintains that Eighth Circuit precedent bars Mr. Hopman from arguing that
he is entitled to an accommodation if he is capable of performing the essential functions of his job
and that Mr. Hopman has not identified any “benefit” or “privilege” of employment that he cannot
access without an accommodation (Dkt. No. 61, at 1-9). Mr. Hopman responds that Union Pacific
misrepresents Eighth Circuit precedent and that Mr. Hopman’s accommodation request is a request
to work without the pain or symptoms of PTSD which represents a “benefit” or “privilege” of
employment (Dkt. No. 62).
For purposes of summary judgment only, Union Pacific assumes that Mr. Hopman can
show that he is disabled within the meaning of the ADA and is a qualified individual under the
ADA (Dkt. No. 54-1, at 20). Union Pacific also acknowledges that, at this stage, it does not move
for summary judgment on the issue of the interactive process (Id., at 9 n.2). Instead, Union Pacific
17
asserts that as a matter of law Mr. Hopman cannot demonstrate that he is entitled to a reasonable
accommodation or suffered an adverse employment decision (Id., at 20).
The Court considers the legal requirements of the type of ADA claim Mr. Hopman brings
and whether, based on the record evidence, a reasonable juror could conclude that Mr. Hopman
was “in need of assistance” and “denied a reasonable accommodation.” Dick v. Dickinson State
Univ., 826 F.3d 1054, 1060 (8th Cir. 2016).
1.
Necessity Of Requested Accommodation
Union Pacific argues that Mr. Hopman cannot meet the requirement of showing he needs
an accommodation, that nothing suggests that he cannot perform the essential functions of his job
as a conductor without an accommodation, and that he cannot demonstrate that there are any equal
benefits of employment that he is unable to enjoy without an accommodation (Dkt. No. 54-1, at
19). Moreover, citing Lowery v. Hazelwood School District, 244 F.3d 654, 660 (8th Cir. 2001),
and the Eighth Circuit Pattern Jury Charge, Union Pacific claims that Eighth Circuit precedent
limits reasonable accommodations to instances where a plaintiff is incapable of performing the
essential functions of his position (Dkt. No. 61, at 2-5). Mr. Hopman asserts that he needs the
requested accommodation to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment, including the
right to work without the burden and pain of PTSD (Dkt. No. 59, at 16-21). Mr. Hopman further
argues that Union Pacific misstates Eighth Circuit precedent and disability law more generally and
that working without the pain of PTSD qualifies as enjoying the same benefits and privileges as
an employee without a disability (Dkt. No. 62, at 1-2).
The Court rejects Union Pacific’s efforts to narrow as a matter of law the types of claims
that may be brought under the ADA. The ADA’s implementing regulations provide the following
three definitions of the term reasonable accommodation:
18
(i) Modifications or adjustments to a job application process that enable a qualified
applicant with a disability to be considered for the position such qualified applicant
desires; or
(ii) Modifications or adjustments to the work environment, or to the manner or
circumstances under which the position held or desired is customarily performed,
that enable an individual with a disability who is qualified to perform the essential
functions of that position; or
(iii) Modifications or adjustments that enable a covered entity’s employee with a
disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by
its other similarly situated employees without disabilities.
29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(o)(1)(i)-(iii). Mr. Hopman has consistently testified that he remains able to
perform the essential functions of his job and maintains that this action involves the third definition
of reasonable accommodation (Dkt. Nos. 55, ¶ 31; 59, at 15). Thus, Mr. Hopman argues that he
needs the requested accommodation to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are
enjoyed by Union Pacific’s other similarly situated employees without disabilities.
The Court finds unconvincing Union Pacific’s argument that Mr. Hopman may only bring
a reasonable accommodation claim if he is unable to perform the essential functions of his job for
several reasons (Dkt. No. 61, at 1). First, the facts of Lowery upon which Union Pacific purports
to rely differ from Mr. Hopman’s case. The Eighth Circuit found that the Lowery plaintiff
requested the accommodation in “response to [a] suspension” and “[did] not argue that he indicated
that he needed an accommodation for his disability.” Lowery, 244 F.3d at 660. Thus, the Lowery
plaintiff did not “request[] that his disability be accommodated.” Id. The record evidence supports
that Mr. Hopman requested an accommodation due to his disability, and Mr. Hopman has
maintained throughout that this request stands independent of his ability to perform the essential
functions of his job.
Second, Union Pacific misconstrues the thrust of the Eighth Circuit’s Manual of Model
Civil Jury Instructions as they relate to reasonable accommodations. Union Pacific notes that these
19
instructions provide, in part, that to bring a reasonable accommodation claim, a plaintiff must
demonstrate that he “could have performed the essential functions of the (specify job held or
position sought) at the time the defendant (specify action(s) taken with respect to the plaintiff) if
the plaintiff had been provided with (specify accommodation(s) identified by the plaintiff).”
Model Civ. Jury Instr. 8th Cir. 9.42 (2019). However, Union Pacific fails to acknowledge that the
instructions explicitly note that “[t]his [essential functions] element is designed to submit the issue
of whether the plaintiff is a ‘qualified individual’ under the ADA.” Id. at 9.42 n.5. Here, in its
moving papers, Union Pacific states that it has expressly assumed the issue of whether Mr.
Hopman is a “qualified individual” under the ADA for purposes of summary judgment, so the
Court is not inclined to examine this issue at this stage of the litigation (Dkt. No. 54-1, at 20).
Further, based on the language quoted above and persuasive cases examining these types of claims,
it is not all together clear that this requirement applies to the type of ADA claim Mr. Hopman
brings.
Regardless, the Committee Comments to the instructions explicitly define the term
“accommodation” as “making modifications to the work place that allows a person with a
disability to perform the essential functions of the job or allows a person with a disability to enjoy
the same benefits and privileges as an employee without a disability.” Model Civ. Jury Instr. 8th
Cir. 9.42 (2019) (emphasis added). This definition makes plain that an accommodation need not
be related to the essential functions of an employee’s job and aligns with Mr. Hopman’s request
for an accommodation that allows him to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment,
which he contends here includes the right to work without the burden and pain of PTSD (Dkt. No.
59, at 16-21).
20
Third, normal statutory construction indicates that reasonable accommodation requests are
not solely tied to the essential functions of an employee’s job. The ADA’s implementing
regulations provide three possible definitions of the term “reasonable accommodation.” 29 C.F.R.
§ 1630.2(o)(1)(i)-(iii). The second definition states that a reasonable accommodation means
“[m]odifications or adjustments to the work environment, or to the manner or circumstances under
which the position held or desired is customarily performed, that enable an individual with a
disability who is qualified to perform the essential functions of that position.” 29 C.F.R. §
1630.2(o)(1)(ii). The other two definitions do not reference essential functions. See id. §
1630.2(o)(1)(i), (iii). The Court finds that the ADA permits Mr. Hopman to seek from Union
Pacific a reasonable accommodation “to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are
enjoyed by its other similarly situated employees without disabilities.” Id. § 1630.2(o)(1)(iii).
Interpreting “reasonable accommodation” to relate necessarily to the essential functions of an
employee’s job would render the other definitions meaningless, and the Court will not adopt an
interpretation “to render general words meaningless.” United States v. Alpers, 338 U.S. 680, 682
(1950); see also Nachman Corp. v. Pension Ben. Guar. Corp., 446 U.S. 359, 384-85 (1980).
Fourth, many courts have recognized, in accordance with the ADA and its implementing
regulations, that an employee ably performing the essential functions of his job might still need a
reasonable accommodation to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment. See, e.g., Hill
v. Assocs. for Renewal in Educa., Inc., 897 F.3d 232, 239 (D.C. Cir. 2018), cert denied, 139 S. Ct.
1201 (2019) (“A reasonable jury could conclude that forcing [plaintiff] to work with pain when
that pain could be alleviated by his requested accommodation violates the ADA.”); Gleed v. AT&T
Mobility Servs., LLC, 613 Fed. App’x 535, 538-39 (6th Cir. 2015) (rejecting an employer’s
argument that providing a chair to an employee who experienced pain from prolonged standing
21
was not a reasonable accommodation because “the ADA’s implementing regulations require
employers to provide reasonable accommodations not only to enable an employee to perform his
job, but also to allow the employee to ‘enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are
enjoyed by . . . similarly situated employees without disabilities.’” (quoting 29 C.F.R. §
1630.2(o)(1)(iii))); Sanchez v. Vilsack, 695 F.3d 1174, 1182 (10th Cir. 2012) (“[W]e conclude that
a transfer accommodation for medical care or treatment is not per se unreasonable, even if an
employee is able to perform the essential functions of her job without it.”); Buckingham v. United
States, 998 F.2d 735, 740 (9th Cir. 1993) (“[E]mployers are not relieved of their duty to
accommodate when employees are already able to perform the essential functions of the job.”);
Martin v. Neb. Methodist Health Sys., Inc., No. 8:17-CV-121, 2019 WL 802743, at *6 (D. Neb.
Feb. 21, 2019) (“The need for a reasonable accommodation is not to be viewed narrowly by
considering only an employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of employment.
A reasonable accommodation may also be necessary to allow a disabled employee ‘to enjoy
equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by [the employer’s] other similarly
situated employees without disabilities.’” (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(o)(1)(iii))); AlonzoMiranda v. Sclumberger Tech. Corp., No. 5:13-CV-1057, 2015 WL 13768973, at *2 (W.D. Tex.
June 11, 2015) (“[A]n accommodation may enable the employee to ‘enjoy equal benefits and
privileges of employment’ even if it has no effect on the employee’s ability to do the job.”). These
courts’ opinions accord with the third definition of “reasonable accommodation” in the ADA’s
implementing regulations and Mr. Hopman’s stated reason for seeking an accommodation. See
29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(o)(1)(iii). Accordingly, the Court concludes that it cannot find in favor of
Union Pacific as a matter of law on this issue. Despite being able to perform the essential functions
of his job, Mr. Hopman may request an accommodation from Union Pacific to enjoy equal benefits
22
and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by its other similarly situated employees without
disabilities.
Separately, Union Pacific argues that Mr. Hopman has not demonstrated that there are any
equal benefits or privileges of employment that he is unable to enjoy without an accommodation
and that his alleged disability does not prevent him from enjoying anything Union Pacific has to
offer (Dkt. Nos. 54-1, at 19; 61, at 5-9). The EEOC has provided some guidance as to what “equal
benefits and privileges of employment” means:
The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations so that
employees with disabilities can enjoy the “benefits and privileges of employment”
equal to those enjoyed by similarly-situated employees without disabilities.
Benefits and privileges of employment include, but are not limited to, employersponsored: (1) training, (2) services (e.g., employee assistance programs (EAP’s),
credit unions, cafeterias, lounges, gymnasiums, auditoriums, transportation), and
(3) parties or other social functions (e.g., parties to celebrate retirements and
birthdays, and company outings). If an employee with a disability needs a
reasonable accommodation in order to gain access to, and have an equal opportunity
to participate in, these benefits and privileges, then the employer must provide the
accommodation unless it can show undue hardship.
Enforcement Guidance: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship under the Americans
with Disabilities Act (2002), https://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html.
The
definition of “equal benefits and privileges of employment” in these guidelines aligns with the
examples of “equal access to the benefits and privileges of employment” found in Union Pacific’s
Reasonable Accommodation Policy, which include “training, attending company sponsored
events, [and] access to lunch and coffee rooms” (Dkt. No. 59-6, at 12). Here, Union Pacific
specifically argues that a “benefit” or “privilege” must be “a tangible service offered by an
employer – such as training – that the employee cannot access without an accommodation.” (Dkt.
No. 61, at 2).
23
The Court is not inclined to grant judgment as a matter of law in favor of Union Pacific on
this point at this stage of the litigation. Though the EEOC has identified some examples of equal
benefits and privileges of employment, that list is not all-inclusive. Union Pacific does not cite
controlling authority for this proposition and does not meaningfully distinguish the holdings from
other courts that have permitted claims like Mr. Hopman’s to proceed. Mr. Hopman contends that
he seeks the equal benefit and privilege of employment of working without suffering the worst
symptoms of his disability. The record evidence offers numerous examples of the ways in which
Mr. Hopman contends that Atlas helps to alleviate Mr. Hopman’s pain and suffering from his
PTSD. Mr. Hopman contends that, due to his disabilities, he needed Atlas with him to work—as
other employees do—without suffering from the flashbacks, migraines, anxiety, and depression
that have accompanied his PTSD. Even though Mr. Hopman is able to perform the essential
functions of his job without accommodation, from the record evidence before it, the Court finds
that “[a] reasonable jury could conclude that forcing [Mr. Hopman] to work with pain when that
pain could be alleviated by his requested accommodation violates the ADA.” Hill, 897 F.3d at
239 (determining that “ARE’s assertion that Hill did not need the accommodation of a classroom
aide because he could perform the essential functions of his job without accommodation ‘but not
without pain,’ [wa]s unavailing. A reasonable jury could conclude that forcing Hill to work with
pain when that pain could be alleviated by his requested accommodation violates the ADA.”
(citations omitted)); see also Gleed, 613 Fed. App’x at 539 (rejecting the employer’s argument
that, as a matter of law, if plaintiff “was physically capable of doing his job – no matter the pain
or risk to his health – then it had no obligation to provide him with any accommodation, reasonable
or not”); Alonzo-Miranda, 2015 WL 13768973, at *2 (rejecting the employer’s argument post-trial
that the ADA requires accommodations only when they are necessary to perform essential
24
functions of the job; concluding that “an accommodation may enable the employee to ‘enjoy equal
benefits and privileges of employment’ even if it has no effect on the employee’s ability to do the
job”).
Viewing the record evidence in the light most favorable to Mr. Hopman, the Court finds
that a reasonable juror could conclude that Mr. Hopman has a disability and requested from Union
Pacific a reasonable accommodation to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are
enjoyed by its other similarly situated employees without disabilities. Accordingly, at this stage
of the litigation, the Court denies Union Pacific’s motion for summary judgment, rejecting Union
Pacific’s arguments that Mr. Hopman was not entitled to request and did not need as a matter of
law the requested accommodation.
2.
Reasonableness Of Requested Accommodation
Union Pacific also argues that Mr. Hopman’s requested accommodation was not
reasonable as a matter of law (Dkt. No. 54-1, at 23-24). Specifically, Union Pacific maintains that
a reasonable accommodation must assist the plaintiff in performing the duties of his job, rendering
Mr. Hopman’s requested accommodation unreasonable as it is unrelated to his limitations or his
ability to perform his job duties because he has no limitations (Id., at 23). Mr. Hopman counters
whether an accommodation is reasonable is ordinarily a fact issue for the jury and that the record
evidence demonstrates the reasonableness of his request (Dkt. No. 59, at 23-25).
Employers are “only obligated to provide a reasonable accommodation, not the particular
one that [an employee] request[s].” Garrison v. Dolgencorp, LLC, 939 F.3d 937, 942 (8th Cir.
2019) (emphasis in original) (citations omitted). However, upon an employer’s motion for
summary judgment an employee “need only show that an ‘accommodation’ seems reasonable on
its face, i.e., ordinarily or in the run of cases.” Barnett, 535 U.S. at 401 (citations omitted). “[I]n
25
order for the accommodation to be reasonable, the request must relate to the individual’s
disability.” Hustvet v. Allina Health Sys., 910 F.3d 399, 410 (8th Cir. 2018) (citations omitted).
“A reasonable accommodation [also] imposes no undue burden on the employer.” Peebles, 354
F.3d at 767; see also Gardea v. JBS USA, LLC, 915 F.3d 537, 541 (8th Cir. 2019)
(“Accommodations are not reasonable if an employer ‘can demonstrate that the accommodation
would impose undue hardship on the operation of the business.’” (quoting 42 U.S.C. §
12112(5)(A)).
To the extent Union Pacific argues that a reasonable accommodation to permit an employee
to enjoy the benefits and privileges of his job must as a matter of law relate to the essential
functions of the job, the Court rejects that argument for the reasons explained. Likewise, to the
extent Union Pacific asserts that as a matter of law the accommodation Mr. Hopman seeks does
not qualify as one to permit him to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment, the Court
rejects that argument for the reasons explained.
Here, the Court must view the record evidence in the light most favorable to Mr. Hopman
and, in doing so, determines that there is record evidence from which a reasonable juror could
conclude the following: Mr. Hopman’s requested accommodation costs no money and violates no
rule; Union Pacific granted Mr. Birchfield the same accommodation Mr. Hopman seeks for several
years, and it created no problems; Mr. Birchfield used his dog successfully to mitigate his anxiety
disorder; Union Pacific uses its own dogs to assist personnel on and around trains; Union Pacific
performs a thorough individualized assessment of its dogs and handlers before approving them
and could conduct such an assessment with Mr. Hopman and Atlas; Union Pacific’s dogs have
caused no problems; yard dogs or stray dogs are common at Union Pacific worksites and not
26
prohibited; and Union Pacific has not demonstrated any undue hardship it would suffer in
accommodating Mr. Hopman’s request.
Given this record evidence, the Court finds that a reasonable juror could conclude that Mr.
Hopman’s requested accommodation “seems reasonable on its face.” Barnett, 535 U.S. at 401.
Accordingly, the Court denies Union Pacific’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds that
Mr. Hopman’s requested accommodation was not reasonable as a matter of law.
3.
Requisite Adverse Employment Action
Union Pacific also suggests that, as a matter of law, Mr. Hopman cannot demonstrate the
requisite adverse employment action to maintain his claims. The Eighth Circuit has held that in
failure to accommodate cases “there is no requirement to demonstrate any adverse action other
than the failure to accommodate itself.” Mershon v. St Louis Univ., 442 F.3d 1069, 1077 n.5 (8th
Cir. 2006) (citing Peebles, 354 F.3d at 766). “An employer is also liable for committing an adverse
employment action if the employee in need of assistance actually requested but was denied a
reasonable accommodation.” Dick, 826 F.3d at 1060 (citing Hatchett v. Philander Smith Coll.,
251 F.3d 670, 675 (8th Cir. 2001)). Union Pacific denied Mr. Hopman’s request to bring Atlas to
work with him on the grounds that his request was neither necessary nor reasonable, and record
evidence construed in the light most favorable to Mr. Hopman creates disputed genuine issues of
material fact regarding Union Pacific’s assertions.
To the extent Union Pacific also asserts that it offered to Mr. Hopman an alternative
reasonable accommodation in the form of a yard job which would prevent him from having to
spend nights away from home and Atlas and that Mr. Hopman took that job, the Court cannot grant
Union Pacific judgment as a matter of law based on the record before it. Based on the record
evidence before the Court construed in favor of Mr. Hopman, at a minimum, there are genuine
27
issues of material fact in dispute regarding whether this was a reasonable alternative offer on the
part of Union Pacific based on Mr. Hopman’s request, what Mr. Hopman made known to Union
Pacific, and what the record evidence demonstrates about Union Pacific’s decision making
process. Further, there are genuine issues of material fact in dispute regarding whether Union
Pacific granted to Mr. Hopman with the yard-job offer anything over-and-above that to which Mr.
Hopman already was entitled by virtue of his position. For these reasons, the Court denies
summary judgment as a matter of law in favor of Union Pacific on this point.
IV.
Conclusion
The Court finds, based on the record evidence, that a reasonable juror could
conclude that Mr. Hopman has demonstrated a prima facie case of discrimination by
requesting a reasonable accommodation to enable him with his disability to enjoy equal
benefits and privileges of employment at Union Pacific as are enjoyed by its other similarly
situated employees without disabilities. Accordingly, the Court denies Union Pacific’s
motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 54).
So ordered this 26th day of May, 2020.
________________________________
Kristine G. Baker
United States District Court Judge
28
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