PASQUALETTI v. Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
Filing
54
ORDER granting 34 Motion for Summary Judgment. Ordered by US DISTRICT JUDGE C ASHLEY ROYAL on 9/29/15 (lap)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATHENS DIVISION
LOUIS PASQUALETTI,
Plaintiff,
v.
UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF
ATHENS‐CLARKE COUNTY,
Defendant.
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CIVIL ACTION
No. 3:13‐CV‐13 (CAR)
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
This is disability discrimination and retaliation action under Title I of the
Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, 42
U.S.C. § 12101, et seq., and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794 et
seq. Plaintiff Louis Pasqualetti, a former Senior Police Officer with Defendant Athens‐
Clarke County’s Police Department, claims Defendant discriminated against him based
on its perception he suffered from a mental disability and then retaliated against him
when he filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission. Defendant has now moved for summary judgment. Having considered the
parties’ arguments, the record, and applicable law, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s
Motion [Doc. 34].
LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment is proper if the movant “shows that there is no genuine issue
as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.”1 Not
all factual disputes render summary judgment inappropriate; only a genuine issue of
material fact will defeat a properly supported motion for summary judgment.2 This
means that summary judgment may be granted if there is insufficient evidence for a
reasonable jury to return a verdict for the nonmoving party or, in other words, if
reasonable minds could not differ as to the verdict.3
On summary judgment, the Court must view the evidence and all justifiable
inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party; the Court may not make
credibility determinations or weigh the evidence.4 The moving party “always bears the
initial responsibility of informing the court of the basis for its motion, and identifying
those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions
on file, together with the affidavits, if any, which it believes demonstrate the absence of a
genuine issue of material fact” and that entitle it to a judgment as a matter of law.5 If the
moving party discharges this burden, the burden then shifts to the nonmoving party to
respond by setting forth specific evidence in the record and articulating the precise
1 Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986).
2 See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247‐48 (1986).
3 See id. at 249‐52.
4 See id. at 254‐55; Welch v. Celotex Corp., 951 F.2d 1235, 1237 (11th Cir. 1992).
5 Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323 (internal quotation marks omitted).
2
manner in which that evidence creates a genuine issue of material fact or that the moving
party is not entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.6 This evidence must consist of
more than mere conclusory allegations or legal conclusions.7
BACKGROUND
For purposes of this Motion, the material facts in the light most favorable to
Plaintiff, the non‐movant, are as follows:
Defendant Athens‐Clarke County’s Police Department hired Plaintiff in 2001, and
Plaintiff worked as a uniformed patrol officer until late 2010, when the events giving rise
to this action began. On October 29, 2010, Plaintiff fatally shot an assailant to protect the
life of another citizen. In the aftermath of the shooting—which was ultimately found to
be justified—Plaintiff was transferred to a different unit in the police force, required to
undergo three fitness‐for‐duty exams, placed on administrative leave, forced to choose
between a non‐sworn government position and resignation, denied the ability to return
early from leave, and removed from his position on the police department’s Strategic
Response Team. Plaintiff contends Defendant unlawfully took these actions based on its
perception Plaintiff suffered from a mental disability. Defendant, on the other hand,
contends these actions were legitimate business decisions based on Plaintiff’s negative
attitude, demonstrated hostility toward and inability to get along with his supervisors,
6 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e); see also Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324‐26.
7 Avirgan v. Hull, 932 F.2d 1572, 1577 (11th Cir. 1991).
3
and poor performance.
At the time of the shooting on October 29, 2010, Plaintiff was assigned to the
Special Operations Unit, which was also known as the Housing Unit. As a member of
this unit, Plaintiff patrolled three Athens area housing units for street level drug
enforcement and other crimes and received 10% of his base salary as supplemental
income from the Housing Authority. The shooting occurred while Plaintiff was
patrolling one of these housing units on the east side of Athens.
Immediately after the shooting, in accordance with departmental practice,
Defendant placed Plaintiff on administrative leave. A week after the shooting, Police
Chief Joseph Lumpkin directed the department to conduct an internal review of the
shooting separate from the GBI’s criminal investigation of Plaintiff’s actions. Chief
Lumpkin instituted the investigation because the victim of the aggravated assault which
led to Plaintiff’s use of deadly force did not agree with Plaintiff’s explanation of events.
The newspaper also reported the victim of the aggravated assault believed Plaintiff’s use
of deadly force was inappropriate. While on leave, Defendant informed Plaintiff the
department’s incident review panel would convene and determine whether he had
functioned within departmental policy.
Plaintiff’s First Fitness for Duty Exam and Reassignment to Property West
Also in accordance with departmental practice, on November 6, 2010, Plaintiff
underwent his first Fitness for Duty Exam (“FFDE”) with R. Alan Williams, Ph.D, a
4
licensed clinical psychologist, to assess Plaintiff’s current psychological and emotional
status and ability to return to duty as a police officer. At this time, Plaintiff informed Dr.
Williams that he had good relationships with and support from his fellow officers and
superiors in the police department. Dr. Williams acknowledged that although Plaintiff
“had been ‘counseled’ in the past for insubordination,” Plaintiff had been a “high
performer with the police department” who “has always preferred postings that involve
active police work and interdiction.”8 Dr. Williams reported Plaintiff “certainly”
presented “no psychotic indices,” did “not appear to be suffering from a severe
psychiatric disorder,” and appeared “to be coping reasonably well with the recent
traumatic event involving use of deadly force with a citizen.”9 Dr. Williams
recommended “a graduated return to full duty (certainly pending a final investigation
and report from the GBI)” and acknowledged Plaintiff was “in the initial phase of
adjustment to trauma and is using adaptive coping defenses of minimization and
repression as he adjusts to this event (i.e., he may experience more vivid or active
symptoms at some time delay.)”10 Dr. Williams suggested the following steps:
(a) At the discretion of his superior officers and administration, return to
temporary alternative assignment or administrative (i.e., non‐patrol) duty
position for several weeks, at least until the completion of the
investigation[.]
(b) Gradual return to duty would be important . . . . [Plaintiff] should be
8 Fitness for Duty Psychological Evaluation dated 11/6/10, [Doc. 36‐6].
9 Id.
10 Id.
5
strongly considered for assignments that are less potentially
conflictual/confrontational in nature and are not interdictive in nature[.]11
Finally, Dr. Williams stated Plaintiff “seems to have acted to be the best of his ability in a
difficult situation, and should be treated with respect and allowed time to emotionally re‐
integrate[.]”12
Plaintiff returned to the police force on November 17, 2010, and was assigned to
the Property East Investigative Unit, a police unit that investigated crimes on the east
side of Athens. Plaintiff’s detective position in this unit was much less conflictive in
terms of interaction with citizens than his former uniform patrol position. Five days later,
on November 22, 2010, Plaintiff took leave because Defendant provided no information
about the investigations into the shooting, and he felt like he was being “kept in the
dark.”13 Moreover, he began to feel as though he was the offender, and the lack of
information made him question whether he would be arrested.14 Plaintiff remained on
leave for about a month and a half, returning to his position in Property East unit on
January 3, 2011.
On January 15, 2011, Defendant transferred Plaintiff to the Property West
Investigative Unit, despite Plaintiff’s expressed desire to remain in Property East. Chief
Lumpkin, however, did not want Plaintiff to be assigned to a conflictive role in uniform
11 Id.
12 Id.
13 Pl. Depo., p. 71 [Doc. 45].
14 Id. at. p. 77.
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on the east side of Athens.15 The assignment to Property West would not put Plaintiff in
contact with many of the decedent’s family members and would not potentially put him
in a conflictive role in uniform in the area where the shooting incident occurred.16
Moreover, Lumpkin believed the supervisors to be better in Property West.17 Chief
Lumpkin intended Plaintiff’s assignment to Property West to be for only two to three
months.18
On February 22, 2011, Chief Lumpkin released the results of the department’s
internal review into the shooting incident which stated that Plaintiff acted to preserve
and protect the life of a citizen.
Plaintiff’s Experience in Property West
Plaintiff remained in Property West for five months, until Defendant placed him
on administrative leave in June, 2011. Plaintiff expressed his disappointment with the
detective assignment, which primarily involved sitting at a desk and working the phones
and computer—quite different from Plaintiff’s assignment in uniform patrol—from the
beginning. In his first interaction with Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s second level supervisor,
Lieutenant Tyndell, told Plaintiff he “knew this was not [Plaintiff’s] choice of
assignments,” but he thought Plaintiff’s experience would be beneficial in executing
15 Lumpkin Depo., p. 155‐57 [Doc. 46].
16 Id. at p. 147.
17 Id. at 157.
18 Id. at 162.
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search warrants.19 Plaintiff’s front level supervisor, Sergeant Garrett, perceived that
Plaintiff did not want to communicate with him.20 Indeed, Plaintiff acknowledged that he
did not want to be around Sergeant Garrett or Lieutenant Tyndell.21
Plaintiff points to several negative experiences he suffered while assigned to
Property West. According to Plaintiff, his initial assignment to Property West was
unnecessary because the unit was fully staffed, and he only had a few cases assigned to
him until several months into his assignment.22 Moreover, Plaintiff states he was treated
differently from the other officers in Property West. He was instructed to take someone
with him when he was conducting investigations outside the office or meeting with a
witness;23 he was the only officer in the unit not assigned a car, which limited his ability
to work his cases;24 he was told to prioritize his time to close out old cases rather than
work on cases where there were “actual leads.”25 Plaintiff also felt he was impeded from
effectively performing investigations. On several occasions when Plaintiff rode with co‐
workers to investigate cases, Sergeant Garrett called the co‐worker and told him that
Plaintiff needed to come back to the office; when Plaintiff returned, however, there was
no apparent reason for his having to return. In fact, on one of these occasions, Garrett
19 Pl. Depo., p. 88.
20 Garrett Depo., pp. 23‐24, 43‐44 [Doc. 51].
21 Pl. Depo., pp. 79‐80; 82‐83.
22 Id. at pp. 97‐98; Pl. Ex. 22, p. 9.
23 Tyndell Depo., p. 16 [Doc. 50].
24 Pl. Depo, p. 111.
25 Id. at p. 108.
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was not even there when Plaintiff and his co‐worker returned.26 To stay aware of
property crimes in his assigned zones, Plaintiff would listen to the police scanner and
respond to in‐progress calls; Lieutenant Tyndell later issued a directive for all of the
detectives not to listen to the police scanner.27 Plaintiff was one of two trained armorers at
the police department, which meant he could repair guns. As a result, maybe two to
three times per month, co‐workers would bring in guns for him to look at or repair.
However, Plaintiff was informed that he could no longer repair the guns or even talk
about guns at work. On approximately five or six occasions, Plaintiff had to leave the
morning briefings to use the bathroom due to periodic bouts of diarrhea. In March,
Sergeant Garrett instructed Plaintiff he was not allowed to leave morning briefings to go
to the bathroom.
Plaintiff’s supervisors, however, perceived things differently. First, not everyone
in the police department had their own assigned vehicle, and it was common for officers
in Property West to work in pairs and share a vehicle. Second, the directive concerning
the police scanner concerns all detectives, not just Plaintiff. Third, Plaintiff’s supervisors
perceived Plaintiff as having a “very negative attitude toward supervision or
management’” from the initial assignment and throughout his tenure with the Unit.
Moreover, they were concerned he had “instigated dissension within the Unit and ha[d]
26 Id. at p. 115.
27 Garrett Depo., pp. 82‐85.
9
generally ‘tainted’ the atmosphere that ha[d] prevailed there.”28 Examples of Plaintiff’s
“’negative attitude’ [] include[d] missing morning briefings by repeatedly stating he had
to use the bathroom and, thereby, staying out of the meetings or ‘walking out’; showing
active disinterest in the cases he was assigned; being resistant to partnering with others
in the Unit; and seeming to celebrate/glorify aggressive encounters or casualties with
citizens in the community.”29 In addition, Plaintiff “had some episodes of noncompliance
with requests by his superiors to include disorganization of files and resistance to
cooperation on cases involving citizen victims.”30 Plaintiff’s superiors “agreed that he
would not be hired, given his attitude and behavior, if he were applying initially for the
position.”31 Plaintiff had two counseling sessions during his assignment to Property West
wherein his supervisors addressed his negative attitude and poor performance.
Meanwhile, in April, 2011, Plaintiff received a very favorable performance
evaluation, with a score of 4.5 out of 5 (between “superior” and “exemplary”), covering
the previous year, from March 2010 through March 2011. This review was completed by
Plaintiff’s former supervisor from the Special Operations Unit. Although Plaintiff’s
current supervisor in Property West signed the evaluation, he disclosed that he did not
complete any part of the evaluation because Plaintiff had been assigned to Property West
28 Second Fitness for Duty Exam, p. 2 [Doc. 36‐14].
29 Id.
30 Id.
31 Id.
10
for less than 90 days.32 Thus, the evaluation did not cover Plaintiff’s performance after the
shooting.
As time wore on, Plaintiff became increasingly frustrated with his assignment to
Property West, feeling forced to remain at the office instead of effectively performing his
job duties. In mid‐June, 2011, Plaintiff’s frustrations came to a head. On June 15, Sergeant
Garrett asked to accompany Plaintiff to interview a victim after the morning briefing.
Plaintiff agreed, but after waiting for two hours, Plaintiff went to the meeting on his own.
When Plaintiff returned, Lieutenant Tyndell called Plaintiff to his office, informing him
that Sergeant Garrett was upset.
Around 11:00am on June 15, Plaintiff met with Lieutenant Tyndell and shared his
dissatisfaction with his current position. Plaintiff told Tyndell that “every time [Sergeant
Garrett] tries to babysit me, every time he wants to hold my hand, it makes me feel like
bashing his brains in.”33 Plaintiff said that the position in Property West was just “eating
at him,” he “was barely above drowning,” and he did not feel like he was doing a good
job.34 He told Tyndell, “I fucking hate getting dressed to come to work every day.”35 At
this point, Plaintiff believed nothing was going to change in the future to make his
problems with the assignment any better.
32 Defendant’s Performance Planning & Review Form [Doc. 36‐9].
33 Pl. Depo., p. 142.
34 Id. at pp. 142‐43, 148.
35 Id. at p. 143.
11
Lieutenant Tyndell then met with his supervisor, Major Sizemore, and reported
Plaintiff’s frustrations and voiced his own concerns about Plaintiff’s negative attitude
and current hostility. As instructed, Tyndell prepared a memorandum related to
Plaintiff’s performance since he joined Property West in January 2011. The memorandum
specifically mentioned the following: Plaintiff “voiced his disapproval with his new
assignment from the beginning”; he was “very reserved in daily communications and
continued to voice his displeasure with the assignment”; he “showed little improvement
in his attitude and it was evident that he did not like any of investigating cases in his
current assignment”; there were “several instances when [Plaintiff] was asked to perform
specific tasks by Sgt. Garrett and he was delinquent in doing so”; Plaintiff “continued to
show a lack of motivation and made numerous negative comments about the entire
operation”; Plaintiff “often made comments during briefings and in general to violent
incidents that were being discussed, saying things such as ‘a stabbing in Athens, Ga?’ or
‘awesome’ to other events involving reports of shootings or stabbings”; Sergeant Garrett
and Lieutenant Tyndell also “notice[d] that a couple of investigator’s attitudes were
beginning to mirror [Plaintiff’s]. But, the last couple of months have noticed that some
investigators are now disassociating themselves from [Plaintiff] and they have made
vague remarks about his attitude.”36 Tyndell wrote Plaintiff “agreed that his attitude was
poor and that he was not good for the Unit, the Investigators or the Department in his
36 Memorandum from Lt. Mike Tyndell [Doc. 36‐12].
12
current state.”37 Moreover, Plaintiff “knew his attitude was ‘like a cancer in the unit’ and
was ‘dragging other investigators down.’”38
Lieutenant Tyndell and Major Sizemore then met with Chief Lumpkin and
Assistant Chief Smith, and a decision was made to place Plaintiff on paid administrative
leave, effective immediately, pending a FFDE. Based on Lieutenant Tyndell’s memo and
his conversations with Plaintiff’s supervisors, Chief Lumpkin did not believe the
department should allow Plaintiff to remain on active duty without an appropriate
FFDE. Around 3:30pm, Lieutenant Tyndell and Major Sizemore met with Plaintiff and
informed him of their decision. According to the memorandum, Plaintiff “again stated
that he hated his current assignment saying several times ‘I have zero desire to be an
investigator, it’s not what I signed up to do.’”39 Plaintiff would have “long moments of
complete silence, taking deep breaths and exhaling loudly. [Plaintiff] volunteered ‘I
could give a shit about the dead guy, it’s all about the assignment.’ He said that twice
during the conversation.”40
Plaintiff’s Second Fitness for Duty Evaluation and Defendant’s Proposed Transfer
On June 20, 2011, Dr. Williams performed a second FFDE and prepared a report of
the evaluation. The report reflects that Plaintiff expressed the following sentiments to Dr.
37 Id.
38 Id.
39 Id.
40 Id.
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Williams: “repeated dissatisfaction with his placement and his belief that he is being
under‐utilized by the Department, ‘I’m a hunter, I need to be out where the bad guys
are’”; “dismiss[al] of the duties and functions of the Unit stating, ‘we are out there talking
to a bunch of people who don’t want our help’”; that Sergeant Garrett was “disgusting,”
a “coward,” and “a message boy”; “resentment of the ‘partnering’ nature of detective
work and [desire] to be more independent”; the desire “to work alone”; and his
statements that he “fucking hates to get dressed every day to come to work,” I fucking
hate what I do,” and “some days I feel like smashing somebody’s head against a wall.”41
Plaintiff only complained about his current assignment to Property West, and he
expressed his “intense desire to rejoin the police uniformed division.”42
Dr. Williams concluded Plaintiff was not mentally ill or suffering from a severe
mood disturbance or delayed symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. However, Dr.
Williams ultimately found Plaintiff was not fit for duty. After interviewing Plaintiff and
Major Sizemore, and speaking with Lieutenant Tyndell on the telephone, Dr. Williams
concluded Plaintiff was “resistant and defiant”; “resentful in both passive and active
ways”; overt in his “contempt for the Unit [and] the individuals working there”;
“determined to return to community police patrol and to be uncooperative unless and
until he does”; “rigid, defensive, and single‐minded”; little “capacity or willingness to
41 Second Fitness for Duty Exam, p. 3 [Doc. 36‐14].
42 Id. at p. 4.
14
compromise, cooperate, or ability to take the perspective of other people”; “no intention
to make personal changes or modifications”; “rigid and inflexible and certain of his
position which likely carries over into other interactions”; and showing “negative
leadership with his peers and coworkers” which “has engendered a negative work
atmosphere in his unit.”43 Finally, Dr. Williams opined that “[b]ased on repeated
encounters with [Plaintiff] and reviewing information from various sources, I do not
believe he is fit for duty at this time.”44
After Chief Lumpkin received the second FFDE, he consulted with Human
Resources Director Harry Owens and Government Manager Alan Reddish. Based on Dr.
Williams’ conclusions, Chief Lumpkin believed he could not allow Plaintiff to continue in
his sworn law enforcement capacity. However, he wanted to protect Plaintiff’s benefits
and salary and ensure his chance to accrue the time needed to vest in Defendant’s
pension program. Thus, Owens looked for a position in the government that would be in
Plaintiff’s same classification so his pay could remain the same. Owens recommended a
position in code enforcement, a non‐sworn officer position.
On July 7, Plaintiff met with Chief Lumpkin, Assistant Chief Smith, and Owens,
among others, and was informed Dr. Williams found him unfit for duty. They told
Plaintiff he could report to work as a Code Enforcement Officer and failure to do so
43 Id. at pp. 4‐5 (emphasis in original).
44 Id. at p. 5.
15
would be considered his resignation. Plaintiff believed that accepting a position in code
enforcement was not only inappropriate but would also jeopardize his P.O.S.T.
certification and potentially subject him to personal danger. Thus, Plaintiff rejected the
offer and indicated he would resign. Chief Lumpkin and Assistant Chief Smith, however,
urged him to go home, discuss the matter with his wife, and sleep on it before deciding
whether to accept the position or resign.
The following morning, Plaintiff called Harry Owens and requested a one year
leave of absence. Plaintiff’s request was granted.
Plaintiff’s Leave of Absence, Independent Fitness for Duty Exam, and Denial of Request
for Early Return to Work
Chief Lumpkin prepared a memorandum recommending approval of Plaintiff’s
requested one‐year leave of absence. The memorandum included a “Conditional Return
to Work Stipulation: Should employee desire to return to work within 12 months, he
must agree to undergo and successfully complete a return to duty psychological
examination.”45 Harry Owens approved the recommendation.
On August 1, 2011, only six weeks after Plaintiff underwent his second FFDE with
Dr. Williams, Plaintiff underwent an independent FFDE with Dr. Bhushan S. Agharkar,
M.D., who, after spending 2.75 hours with Plaintiff and reviewing Plaintiff’s personnel
45 Letter from Chief Lumpkin to Plaintiff regarding Request for Leave of Absence [Doc. 37‐11].
16
file and two prior FFDEs, concluded Plaintiff was fit for duty as a police officer.46 On
August 12, 2001, Plaintiff’s attorney submitted the independent FFDE and requested
Plaintiff be immediately reinstated to his position as a Senior Police Officer.
On August 18, Harry Owens sent Plaintiff’s attorney a letter denying the request
for reinstatement. The letter states, “[i]t is the intent of the Unified Government of
Athens‐Clarke County to comply with the terms of the approved Leave of Absence. If
[Plaintiff] should desire to return to work at the end of his approved Leave of Absence,
his return would be conditional such that he would be required to successfully complete
a return to duty psychological examination, and be able to perform the essential
functions of the position of Senior Police Officer – if available, with or without reasonable
accommodation.”47 Owens rejected Dr. Agharkar’s psychological evaluation because
Defendant did not choose or approve him.48
Chief Lumpkin expressed to Owens that he was willing for Plaintiff to return early
from his leave of absence if Plaintiff was cleared by a professional of Defendant’s
choosing. However, Defendant never informed Plaintiff. On December 1, 2011, Plaintiff
filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC claiming Defendant denied his request for
an early return to work despite being cleared by Dr. Agharkar because Defendant
perceived he had a disability.
46 Evaluation by Comprehensive Psychiatric Services of Atlanta [Doc. 37‐12].
47 Owens letter to Plaintiff’s attorney [ Doc. 37‐13].
48 Owens Depo., pp. 106‐07; 112‐13 [Doc. 48].
17
Plaintiff’s Fourth Fitness for Duty Exam and Return to Property West
On June 14, 2012, near the end of Plaintiff’s requested one‐year leave period,
Plaintiff underwent a third FFDE with Dr. Williams (his fourth overall), after his counsel
made a request. Dr. Williams found Plaintiff suffered from no frank psychopathology
and concluded he was fit for duty as a police officer.49 Dr. Williams, however,
“continue[d] to have concerns about [Plaintiff’s] ability to work successfully within an
organization and to compromise his personal demands in order to accomplish group
goals and departmental objectives.”50 He noted Plaintiff’s “tendency to be rigid and
unwilling to accept personal responsibility or, in fact, supervision from those he deems
unworthy of his respect.”51 Moreover, Dr. Williams noted Plaintiff “continue[d] to
express significant personal animosity toward his prior supervisors without apparent
awareness or willingness to engage them in frank constructive discussion, reconciliation,
or compromise.”52 Dr. Williams’ final words in the report were “[w]hile [Plaintiff] does
not present an anticipated risk to others (i.e., citizens), I suspect he may continue to have
difficulty working with superiors and furthering the goals of the department.”53
Three days after being found fit for duty, Defendant placed Plaintiff in a paid
administrative leave capacity to contemplate Plaintiff’s return to active duty. Plaintiff
49 Plaintiff’s Third FFDE with Dr. Williams [Doc. 37‐1].
50 Id. at p. 4.
51 Id.
52 Id.
53 Id. at p. 5.
18
met with Assistant Chief Brown and Assistant Chief Stephens to discuss their
expectations of Plaintiff and teamwork. During the meeting, the assistant chiefs
questioned Plaintiff about whether he could function as a member of the department.
Plaintiff admitted his prior actions and statements were detrimental to the Property West
unit. In response to the stated possibility that he could return to Property West, Plaintiff
assured them of his willingness to and ability to handle the position.54 The assistant chiefs
recommended to Chief Lumpkin that Plaintiff be assigned to the Property West Unit. On
August 27, 2012, Plaintiff returned to active duty in the Property West Investigative Unit.
Strategic Response Team
Two years after Plaintiff originally joined the police force, in July 2003, he
successfully made Defendant’s Strategic Response Team (SRT), known as “SWAT” teams
in other departments. Plaintiff served on the SRT until Defendant placed him on
administrative leave in June 2011. Even after the shooting incident in August 2010,
Plaintiff continued to train and serve with the SRT throughout his assignment to
Property West. Indeed, from March 22‐24, 2011, Plaintiff participated on an SRT
operation that contributed to the capture of a suspect who killed one officer and
wounded another. In June 2011, just prior to being placed on administrative leave,
Plaintiff participated as team leader of the SRT unit at the Southeastern SWAT team
competition where they won for the third consecutive year. Afterward, Chief Lumpkin
54 Stephens Declaration, p. 6 [Doc. 34].
19
commended Plaintiff for his leadership and thanked him and the team.
When Plaintiff returned to work in late August 2012, after his requested one‐year
leave of absence, the assistant chiefs concluded Plaintiff should not return to the SRT. The
assistant chiefs considered Plaintiff’s conduct before the leave of absence, including the
comments he made to Lieutenant Tyndell on June 15, 2011, and Dr. Williams’ comments
on the third FFDE. The assistant chiefs believed Plaintiff needed to focus on his primary
job duties and perform well in those capacities before being reconsidered for future
assignment to the SRT. On September 28, 2012, Assistant Chief Brown memorialized the
decision in a memorandum to Plaintiff. Brown wrote:
On August 28th, we also discussed your request to return to your former SRT
duties. I explained that you would not now be assigned to the SRT because of
your conduct prior to your leave of absence. . . .
As noted, prior to your leave, your performance was deficient in varied ways and
you admittedly had a negative attitude that adversely affected the unit. You also
stated that sometimes you wanted to ‘beat your [supervisor’s] brains out.’ These
behaviors are inconsistent with those required to be a member of the SRT.
As Assistant Police Chief, I have a responsibility to ensure the safety of SRT team
members and the citizens of Athens‐Clarke County. As you acknowledged during
our discussion, SRT members must be among the best officers in the department. I
know from 37 years of police experience that SRT members also must be
composed, thoughtful, hard‐working and team players. Prior to your leave of
absence, you demonstrated behavior that conflicted with these traits.
I explained, however, that the decision about assignment to SRT could be revisited
when you display consistently the traits necessary to be a part of that team. In the
past, you have demonstrated the ability and willingness to be one of ACCPD’s
hardest workers. Additionally, we have invested in you as an SRT member many
hours of training and practice to hone your SRT skills. I will choose to continue
20
this investment when your performance and attitude have improved to acceptable
levels.55
Plaintiff was not re‐assigned to the SRT and remained in the Property West
position for the duration of his tenure. On March 1, 2014, Plaintiff resigned from the
police department.
DISCUSSION
I.
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION CLAIM
Plaintiff claims Defendant’s actions violated Title I of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (“Rehab Act”). Specifically,
Plaintiff alleges Defendant discriminated against him based on Defendant’s perception
he suffered from a mental disability when Defendant (1) continued Plaintiff’s assignment
to Property West for months after the shooting; (2) placed Plaintiff on administrative
leave in June 2011; (3) required him to submit to a second FFDE with Dr. Williams; (4)
forced Plaintiff to choose between the non‐sworn Code Enforcement position and
resignation; (5) denied his request to return early from his requested one‐year leave of
absence; (6) delayed Plaintiff’s return to work for six weeks after he passed the third
FFDE; (7) returned Plaintiff to the Property West position after his return from his one‐
year leave of absence; and (8) removed Plaintiff from the SRT. Plaintiff’s ADA and Rehab
Act claims are governed by the same legal standard, and therefore the Court discusses
55 Memorandum to Plaintiff from Assistant Chief Brown [Doc. 45‐2].
21
these claims together.56
The ADA prohibits employers from discharging qualified employees based on
their disabilities.57 Plaintiff here seeks to prove these claims through circumstantial
evidence,58 and thus the burden‐shifting framework established in McDonnell Douglas
Corp. v. Green59 guides the Court’s analysis.60 Under this framework, a plaintiff must first
establish a prima facie case by establishing “facts adequate to permit an inference of
discrimination.”61 If the plaintiff establishes his prima facie case, the burden shifts to the
employer to articulate some legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its adverse
employment action.62 If the employer meets this “exceedingly light” burden, then the
inference of discrimination is erased, and the burden shifts back to the plaintiff, who
must show that the employer’s proffered reasons were merely pretext for
discrimination.63 Importantly, the ultimate burden of persuasion remains on the plaintiff
56
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act specifically incorporates the ADA’s standards in employment
discrimination cases: 29 U.S.C. § 794(d) (“The standards used to determine whether this section has been
violated in a complaint alleging employment discrimination under this section shall be standards applied
under title I of the [ADA] and the provisions of sections 501 through 504, and 510 of the [ADA] . . ., as such
sections relate to employment.”); see also Cash v. Smith, 231 F.3d 1301, 1305 (11th Cir. 2000).
57 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a).
58 In a footnote to his brief responding to the Motion for Summary Judgment, Plaintiff boldly states that “the
facts of this case indicate direct discrimination” without any further discussion or reasoning. Doc. 36, p. 23,
n. 18. The Court finds this case is correctly analyzed using the burden‐shifting McDonnell Douglas
framework.
59 411 U.S. 792 (1973).
60 See Cleveland v. Home Shopping Network, Inc., 369 F.3d 1189, 1193 (11th Cir. 2004).
61 Holifield v. Reno, 115 F.3d 1555, 1562 (11th Cir. 1997).
62 Cleveland, 369 F.3d at 1193.
63 Turnes v. AmSouth Bank, N.A., 36 F.3d 1057, 1061 (11th Cir. 1994).
22
all times.64
The Court notes that the McDonnell Douglas method “was never intended to be
rigid, mechanized, or ritualistic. Rather, it is merely a sensible, orderly way to evaluate
the evidence in light of common experience as it bears on the critical question of
discrimination.”65 Ultimately, a plaintiff will overcome summary judgment if she creates
a genuine issue of material fact that permits a “reasonable inference” the employer acted
with discriminatory intent.66
1. Prima Facie Case
To establish a prima facie case for disability discrimination, a plaintiff must
specifically demonstrate that (1) he has a disability; (2) he was a “qualified individual”
for the position; and (3) he suffered an adverse employment action because of his
disability.67 Defendant contends Plaintiff can prove no element of his prima facie case; the
Court disagrees.
a. “Regarded as” Disabled
A plaintiff can prove he has a disability in three ways: he can show he has “(A) a
physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life
activities of such individual; (B) a record of such impairment; or (C) being regarded as
64 Combs v. Plantation Patterns, 106 F.3d 1519, 1529 (11th Cir. 1997).
65 U.S. Postal Serv. Bd. of Governors v. Aikens, 460 U.S. 711, 715 (1983) (internal quotation omitted).
66 Smith v. Lockheed‐Martin Corp., 644 F.3d 1321, 1328 (11th Cir. 2011).
67 Doe v. Dekalb Cnty. Sch. Dist., 145 F.3d 1441, 1445 (11th Cir. 1998); 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a); D’Angelo v. ConAgra
Foods, Inc., 422 F.3d 1220, 1225‐26 (11th Cir. 2005).
23
having such an impairment.”68 Plaintiff rests his claim on the third definition, that
Defendant regarded him as having a mental disability.
“The definition of disability [including under the ‘regarded as’ definition] shall be
construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals under this chapter, to the maximum
extent permitted by the terms of the chapter.”69 A plaintiff “meets the requirement of
‘being regarded as having an impairment’ if [he] establishes that he [] has been subject to
an action prohibited under this chapter because of an actual or perceived physical or
mental impairment whether or not the impairment limits or is perceived to limit a major
life activity.70 “’In short, to qualify for coverage under the ‘regarded as’ prong, an
individual is not subject to any functional test’ and is not required to establish his
employer’s ‘beliefs concerning the severity of the impairment.’”71 “To defeat summary
judgment on this element, Plaintiff is ‘only required to raise a genuine issue of material
fact about whether [his employer] regarded him as having a mental or physical
impairment.’”72
The evidence here, viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, creates fact
issues as to whether Defendant perceived Plaintiff to suffer from a mental impairment as
68 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1).
69 42 U.S.C. § 12102(4)(a).
70 42 U.S.C. § 12102(3)(a).
71 Jordan v. City of Union City, Ga., ___ F. Supp. 3d ___, Case No. 1:13‐CV‐2960‐AT, 2015 WL 1472185, *7 (N.D.
Ga., March 30, 2015) (quoting Interpretive Guidance on Title I of the Americans with Disability Act, 29 C.F.R. App.
§ 1630.2(l)).
72 Id. (quoting Hilton v. Wright, 673 F.3d 120, 129 (2nd Cir. 2012)).
24
a result of his use of deadly force. Prior to the shooting in August 2010, Plaintiff was a
highly regarded officer, who performed his job duties well, and received favorable
performance evaluations. After the shooting, Defendant placed on him leave and
required him to undergo a FFDE out of concern for his mental well‐being. Moreover, in
the first FFDE Dr. Williams recommended a gradual return to active duty,
acknowledging that Plaintiff had undergone “trauma” and “may experience more vivid
or active symptoms at some time delay.”73 Thus, Defendant reasonably could have
perceived Plaintiff to be undergoing a mental impairment as a result of the shooting.
b. Qualified Individual
Defendant also argues because Plaintiff was found not fit for duty, he is not a
qualified individual under the statute. A qualified individual is an employee “who, with
or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of” his job.74
The ADA’s implementing regulations define “essential functions” of a job as “’the
fundamental job duties of the employment position the individual with a disability holds
or desires,’ and ‘does not include the marginal functions of the position.’”75
Here, the facts show Plaintiff certainly possessed the skills necessary to perform
the fundamental job duties of a police officer. Indeed, he performed those duties at a high
level for almost ten years, receiving accolades and positive performance reviews.
73 First Fitness for Duty Psychological Evaluation [Doc. 36‐6].
74 42 U.S.C. § 12111(8).
75 D’Angelo, 422 F.3d at 1230 (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(1)).
25
Defendant fails to cite any authority (nor could the Court on its own find any) supporting
its argument that finding a plaintiff unfit for duty forecloses his ability to prove he is a
“qualified individual” under the ADA or the Rehab Act. Thus, the Court finds Plaintiff
has satisfied his burden to at least raise a fact issue as to whether he is a qualified
individual under the statutes.
c. Adverse Employment Action
Defendant also contends Plaintiff did not suffer an adverse employment action
because of his perceived disability. “An adverse employment action is an ultimate
employment decision, such as discharge or failure to hire, or other conduct that alters the
employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employments, deprives him
or her of employment opportunities, or adversely affects his or her status as an
employee.”76 For purposes of summary judgment, the Court assumes each of Plaintiff’s
claims is based on a sufficiently adverse employment action to establish a prima facie
case of disability discrimination.
2. Pretext
As explained more fully below, Defendant has articulated legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reasons for all of the employment actions it took against Plaintiff in
the aftermath of the shooting. Thus, in order to survive summary judgment, Plaintiff
76 Gupta v. Fla. Bd. of Regents, 212 F.3d 571, 587 (11th Cir. 2000) (quotation marks omitted), abrogated on other
grounds by Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53 (2006).
26
must present sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material that these reasons
are merely pretext for unlawful disability discrimination. “If the employer proffers more
than one legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason, the plaintiff must rebut each of the
reasons to survive a motion for summary judgment.”77 “Conclusory allegations of
discrimination, without more, are not sufficient to raise an inference of pretext or
intentional discrimination where [an employer] has offered . . . extensive evidence of
legitimate, non‐discriminatory reasons for its actions.”78
To establish pretext, a “plaintiff must demonstrate that the proffered reason was not
the true reason for the employment decision. . . . [The plaintiff] may succeed in this either
directly by persuading the court that a discriminatory reason more likely motivated the
employer or indirectly by showing that the employer’s proffered explanation is unworthy
of credence.”79 The inquiry into pretext is concerned with the employer’s beliefs, not the
employee’s perceptions of his performance.80 Furthermore, this Court does not “sit a
super‐personnel department that reexamines an entity’s business decisions.”81
Here, Plaintiff fails to create any genuine issue of material fact that Defendant’s
decisions regarding Plaintiff’s employment were merely pretext for disability
discrimination. No reasonable juror could find Defendant’s reasons for its actions are
77 Crawford v. City of Fairburn, Ga., 482 F.3d 1305, 1308 (11th Cir. 2007).
78 Mayfield v. Patterson Pump Co., 101 F.3d 1371, 1376 (11th Cir. 1996) (quotations and citation omitted).
79Jackson
v. State of Ala. State Tenure Comm’n, 405 F.3d 1276, 1289 (11th Cir. 2005) (emphasis added)
(quotations and citation omitted).
80 Holifield, 115 F.3d at 1565.
81 Alphin v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 940 F.2d 1497, 1501 (11th Cir. 1991) (quotation omitted).
27
unworthy of credence or motivated by any discriminatory animus. Ultimately, the
evidence here is simply insufficient to support any inference of intentional discrimination
based on Plaintiff’s perceived mental disability.
a. Comparators
Plaintiff attempts to establish pretext as to all of his claims by pointing to
Defendant’s treatment of all other officers involved in fatal shootings. Plaintiff contends
these officers are similarly situated comparators Defendant treated more favorably than
Plaintiff, and because Defendant offers no rational explanation for the different
treatment, a rational jury could conclude the difference was due to Plaintiff’s perceived
disability. The Court is unpersuaded by Plaintiff’s argument.
The other officers involved in deadly force incidents are not sufficiently similar to
Plaintiff to qualify as proper comparators. The adequacy of the comparators is crucial,
and the court must consider whether the employees were, in fact, similarly situated to
Plaintiff “in all relevant respects” and treated more favorably. 82 First and foremost, the
psychologists who evaluated the four other officers involved in fatal shootings did not
reach conclusions similar to those reached by Dr. Williams about Plaintiff. Dr. Anthony
Stone, Ph.D. evaluated the two officers involved in fatal shootings in 2001, concluded he
anticipated no significant job‐related problems, and recommended the officers ride with
82 Holifield, 115 F.3d at 1562.
28
a supervisor or senior patrol for at least their first two shifts back at work. 83 Thereafter,
the two officers were unconditionally “cleared for unrestricted duty.”84 Likewise, Dr. E.
Schmuckler, Ph.D. evaluated the other two officers involved in fatal shootings in 2007,
and found both “fit to return to unrestricted law enforcement duty and all of [their] other
activities with the Athens‐Clarke County Police Department.”85
Here, although Dr. Williams initially found Plaintiff fit for duty, he recommended
a temporary alternative assignment or administrative duty and a consideration for
assignments potentially less conflictual and not interdictive in nature. Dr. Williams also
acknowledged that Plaintiff was “in the initial phase of adjustment to trauma and is
using adaptive coping defenses of minimization and repression” and warned he “may
experience more vivid or active symptoms at some time delay.”86 Moreover, as Chief
Lumpkin testified, the circumstances surrounding these shootings were very different
from the circumstances surrounding Plaintiff’s shooting. Thus, Plaintiff cannot rely on
Defendant’s alleged disparate treatment of other officers involved in fatal shootings to
establish pretext.
b. Continued “Temporary” Assignment to Property West87
Plaintiff also argues Defendant discriminated against him by keeping him in
83 Pl. Ex. 4 and 6 [filed under seal at Doc. 53].
84 Id.
85 Pl. Exs. 10 and 11 [filed under seal at Doc. 53].
86 First FFDE.
87 The Court notes that Plaintiff failed to properly exhaust his administrative remedies for this claim under
the ADA, and this claim is actionable only under the Rehab Act.
29
Property West beyond the two to three months Chief Lumpkin originally intended.
Plaintiff contends the favorable performance evaluation he received for the prior year—
March 16, 2010 through March 15, 2011—together with the restrictions placed on his
abilities to perform his job duties in Property West—including restrictions on listening to
the police scanner, repairing guns, going to the bathroom during morning briefings,
having to use his own vehicle, and prioritizing his time to close out old cases—cast doubt
on the legitimacy of Defendant’s decision. The Court disagrees.
First, the evaluation did not reflect Plaintiff’s performance after the shooting.
Plaintiff’s former supervisor in the Special Operations unit completed the performance
evaluation for the period of time Plaintiff worked prior to his use of deadly force.
Although Plaintiff’s Property West supervisor signed off on the evaluation, he made
clear he did not evaluate Plaintiff’s performance because Plaintiff had been assigned to
the unit for less than 90 days. Second, no reasonable juror could find Defendant
implemented the so‐called restrictions on Plaintiff’s ability to perform his job duties
because of any perceived mental disability. The restrictions concerning the police scanner
applied to the entire unit, and it was common for officers in Property West to work in
pairs and share a vehicle. Moreover, Plaintiff’s supervisors perceived Plaintiff as having a
negative attitude toward them from the beginning of his placement in Property West.
Indeed, they perceived his constant bathroom breaks as further manifestations of his
negative attitude and attempts to thwart authority by missing the morning meetings. The
30
pretext inquiry centers on the employerʹs beliefs, not the employeeʹs beliefs, and not on
the reality that exists outside of the decision makerʹs head.88
c. Placing Plaintiff on Administrative Leave and Requiring him to Undergo
Second FFDE
The Court is also unpersuaded by Plaintiff’s argument that Defendant’s
“inherently inconsistent” rationale for placing Plaintiff on paid administrative leave and
requiring him to undergo a second FFDE in June 2011 establishes pretext for disability
discrimination. The evidence shows Defendant placed Plaintiff on administrative leave
and required he undergo a second FFDE based on legitimate business concerns
surrounding Plaintiff’s ability to perform his duties after Plaintiff’s behavior in Property
West and comments during his meeting with Lieutenant Tyndell on June 15, 2011. As set
forth in Lieutenant Tyndell’s memorandum, Plaintiff “showed little improvement in his
attitude and it was evident that he did not like investigating cases in his current
assignment”; he showed “a lack of motivation and made numerous negative comments
about the entire operation”; and he “knew his attitude was ‘like a cancer in the unit’ and
was ‘dragging other investigators down.’”89 Moreover, Plaintiff commented that he
“could give a shit about the dead guy”90; that violent incidents being discussed such as
shootings or stabbings were “awesome”; that “every time [his supervisor Sergeant
88Alvarez v. Royal Atlantic Developers, Inc., 610 F.3d 1253, 1266 (11th Cir. 2010) (citing Holifield, 115 F.3d at
1565).
89 Memorandum from Lt. Mike Tyndell [Doc. 36‐12].
90 Id.
31
Garrett] tries to babysit me, every time he wants to hold my hand, it makes me feel like
bashing his brains in”; that the position in Property West was just “eating at him”; and
that he “fucking hate[d] getting dressed to come to work every day.”91
Plaintiff argues Defendant presents a “conundrum” by contending it neither
perceived Plaintiff as having a mental impairment nor placed Plaintiff on administrative
leave for disciplinary reasons. These contentions, however, present no “conundrum” or
establish any inconsistencies in Defendant’s reasoning for its decision to place Plaintiff on
administrative leave pending a FFDE. Defendant’s argument it did not perceive Plaintiff
as mentally impaired is aimed at whether Plaintiff has a disability under the ADA.
Defendant never claims it was not concerned, based on his actions and comments,
Plaintiff may be suffering from delayed trauma as a result of his use of deadly force.
Indeed, Dr. Williams, in the first FFDE, warned Plaintiff may have delayed trauma.
Moreover, Defendant states it wanted Plaintiff to be professionally evaluated because it
was “trying to get to the bottom of Plaintiff’s issues.”92 In addition, Defendant’s decisions
to place Plaintiff on administrative leave and have him undergo a FFDE are even more
reasonable when considering Plaintiff’s performance prior to the shooting was
exemplary, but after the shooting, by his own admission, his performance was “barely
91 Pl. Depo, pp. 142‐43, 148.
92 Defendant’s Reply Brief, p. 21 [Doc. 52].
32
above drowning.”93 Ultimately, Plaintiff’s arguments are merely his disputes with
Defendant’s choices; he points to no evidence undermining the legitimacy of Defendant’s
reasoning to place Plaintiff on administrative leave pending a FFDE in an attempt “to get
to the bottom of Plaintiff’s issues.”94 While Defendant could have considered “less
drastic” measures, as Plaintiff puts it, such a decision is a business one that this Court
cannot second guess. Plaintiff may not simply quarrel with the wisdom of the reason
proffered “but must meet it head on and rebut it.”95 Plaintiff has failed to do so.
d. Choice between Code Enforcement Position and Resignation
The Court is likewise unpersuaded by Plaintiff’s argument that Defendant’s
reasons for forcing Plaintiff to choose between a non‐sworn code enforcement position
and resignation were pretext for discrimination. As evidence of pretext, Plaintiff points to
(1) Dr. Williams’s finding in the second FFDE that Plaintiff exhibited no indicia of mental
illness; (2) Defendant’s failure to question the veracity of the FFDE; (3) Defendant’s
failure to consider any alternative actions; and (4) Defendant’s consideration of forced
resignation itself, which it had never previously considered for an employee found to be
unfit for duty. This evidence, however, neither establishes that Defendant’s reasons for
the offer are unworthy of credence nor that Defendant possessed any discriminatory
animus.
93 Pl. Depo., p. 142.
94 Defendant’s Reply Brief, p. 21.
95 Chapman v. AI Transport, 229 F.3d 1012, 1030 (11th Cir. 2000).
33
Defendant’s decision was legitimately based on Dr. Williams’s conclusion that
Plaintiff was unfit for duty as a police officer. Defendant offered him a position in
government employment with the same classification of pay and benefits Plaintiff was
receiving, and when Plaintiff stated he would resign, Defendant urged him to talk it over
with his wife and not to make a hasty decision. Again, Plaintiff simply quarrels with the
wisdom of Defendant’s decision. No evidence exists Defendant’s offer was anything
other than legitimate.
e. Denied Request for Early Return from Leave
Likewise, the record reflects no evidence creating a genuine issue of fact as to the
legitimacy of Defendant’s reasons for denying Plaintiff’s request to return early from his
requested leave of absence after Dr. Agharkar found him fit for duty. Plaintiff argues
pretext can be established because (1) Defendant violated its own conditional stipulation
(as set forth in the memo to Plaintiff) that should Plaintiff wish “to return to work within
12 months, he must agree to undergo and successfully complete a return to duty
psychological examination”; and (2) Defendant had no policy stating an exam had to be
performed by a professional of Defendant’s choosing. However, Defendant’s
requirement that Plaintiff undergo an examination by a professional of its choosing in no
way violates the memo and is a reasonable business decision. Moreover, Defendant is not
required to have any policy stating a psychological exam must be performed by a
professional of Defendant’s choice. Defendant denied Plaintiff’s request because Dr.
34
Agharkar’s FFDE was done only six weeks after Dr. Williams had found Plaintiff unfit
for duty, by an unknown psychiatrist who spent 2.75 hours with Plaintiff and reviewed
Plaintiff’s personnel file and two prior FFDEs. No evidence exists showing Defendant
had any discriminatory motive in denying Plaintiff’s request.
f. Delayed Return to Work and Assignment to Property West after Return from
Leave
Even assuming Plaintiff’s delayed return to work and assignment to Property
West after his return from the requested one‐year leave of absence qualify as adverse
employment actions, no reasonable juror could find Defendant’s reasons for these actions
were illegitimate or motivated by discriminatory intent. Three days after Plaintiff
underwent his third FFDE with Dr. Williams and was found fit for duty, Defendant
placed Plaintiff on paid administrative leave while it contemplated his return to work.
Although Dr. Williams found Plaintiff fit for duty, he continued to express concerns,
including Plaintiff’s continued hostility to supervision. Defendant made a reasonable
business decision to talk to Plaintiff before simply reinstating him. Indeed, before his
return, the assistant chiefs met with Plaintiff and discussed his past behaviors and
whether he would be a functional part of the police force, specifically including the
possibility of returning to Property West. Plaintiff assured the assistant chiefs he could
function, even with Property West. Although it may seem a better business decision to
assign Plaintiff to another department given his past experiences in Property West, such
35
decision was Defendant’s to make, and this Court cannot second guess it. “No matter
how medieval a firm’s practices, no matter how high handed its decisional process, no
matter how mistaken the firm’s managers,” the courts do not interfere and reexamine an
entity’s business decisions.96
g. Removal from SRT
Finally, Plaintiff also fails to establish Plaintiff’s “removal” from SRT was anything
other than a legitimate business decision. During the meeting prior to Plaintiff’s return to
work after his leave of absence, the assistant chiefs discussed Plaintiff’s prior conduct and
statements and decided not to allow his return to SRT so Plaintiff could focus on his
primary job duties. As Assistant Chief Brown explained to Plaintiff, his behavior prior to
his leave of absence, including his negative attitude that adversely affected the unit, and
his comments that he sometimes wanted to “beat [his supervisor’s] brains out,” were
“inconsistent with those required to be a member of the SRT.”97 The assistant chiefs were
concerned about the safety of the SRT team members and the citizens of Athens‐Clarke
County. Moreover, Defendant required SRT members to “be among the best officers in
the department”—“composed, thoughtful, hard‐working and team players.”98 Defendant
believed Plaintiff’s behavior prior to his leave of absence “conflicted with these traits.”99
96 Elrod v. Sears, Roebuck & co., 939 F.2d 1466 (11th Cir. 1991) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
97 Assistant Chief Brown’s Memo to Plaintiff [Doc. 45‐2].
98 Id.
99 Id.
36
As evidence of pretext, Plaintiff points to his continued success in SRT up to his
leave of absence, even receiving a thank you letter from Chief Lumpkin for his leadership
in the SRT in June 2011, just prior to Defendant placing him on administrative leave.
However, Plaintiff’s prior success in SRT does not counter Defendant’s legitimate
business decision not to reassign him based on its belief Plaintiff’s actions while in
Property West were not those exhibited by an SRT member. Based on the record
evidence here, the Court cannot second guess Defendant’s legitimate business decision.
II.
RETALIATION CLAIMS
The ADA’s general anti‐retaliation provision provides that “[n]o person shall
discriminate against any individual because such individual has opposed any act or
practice made unlawful by this chapter[.]”100 The Court assesses Plaintiff’s ADA
retaliation claim under the same framework used for Title VII retaliation claims.101 To
establish a prima facie case of disability retaliation, a plaintiff must show that: (1) she
engaged in statutorily protected expression; (2) she suffered an adverse employment
action; and (3) there was a causal link between the adverse action and her protected
expression.102 Moreover, the plaintiff must show the “protected activity was a but‐for
100 42 U.S.C. § 12203(a); Albra v. Advan, Inc., 490 F.3d 830 (11th Cir. 2007).
101 Stewart v. Happy Herman’s Cheshire Bridge, Inc., 117 F.3d, 1278, 1287 (11th Cir. 1997).
102 Id.
37
cause of the alleged adverse action by the employer.”103 Once a prima facie case of
retaliation is established, the burden then shifts to the employer to present legitimate,
non‐discriminatory reasons for its actions. 104 If the employer offers legitimate reasons for
its action, the plaintiff must then demonstrate that the proffered explanation is a pretext
for retaliation.105 Ultimately, Plaintiff must show that Defendant’s reasons for the adverse
actions were pretext for retaliation and retaliation was the but‐for cause of the adverse
action.106
Plaintiff asserts Defendant delayed his return to work after his one‐year leave of
absence, reassigned him to Property West, and removed him from SRT in retaliation for
filing the December 1, 2011 EEOC complaint. Defendant contends Plaintiff cannot satisfy
a sufficient causal connection between Plaintiff’s EEOC complaint and the alleged
adverse employment actions. Plaintiff contends temporal proximity sufficiently
establishes a causal connection.
To satisfy the requisite causal connection through temporal proximity, the
proximity between protected expression and adverse action must be “very close.”107
Here, Plaintiff recognizes that on its face, the six‐month gap between Plaintiff’s complaint
103 Univ. of Tex. Sw. Med. Ctr. v. Nassar, 570 U.S. ___, ___, 133 S.Ct. 2517, 2534 (2013); see E.E.O.C. v. Ford Motor
Co., 782 F.3d 753, 767 (6th Cir. 2015) (applying but‐for causation standard for Title VII retaliation claim under
Nassar to ADA retaliation claim); Feist v. La. Dep’t of Justice, 730 F.3d 450, 454 (5th Cir. 2013) (same).
104 Stewart, 117 F.3d at 1287.
105 Id.
106 Nassar, 133 S.Ct. 2517.
107 Thomas v. Cooper Lighting, Inc., 506 F.3d 1361, 1363 (11th Cir. 2007).
38
(filed on December 1, 2011) and Defendant’s first adverse action (delayed return to work
after Dr. Williams found Plaintiff fit for duty on June 14, 2012) does not meet the “very
close” threshold.108 However, Plaintiff argues because Defendant’s first opportunity to
retaliate was in June 2012, the causation threshold is satisfied. The Eleventh Circuit, albeit
in unpublished opinions, has held causation may be established through evidence
demonstrating the adverse employment action was Defendant’s “first opportunity to
retaliate.”109 For purposes of this Motion, the Court will assume Plaintiff establishes a
causal connection through this “first opportunity to retaliate” theory.
Even assuming Plaintiff satisfies causation here, no reasonable jury could find
Defendant’s reasons for its actions were pretext for retaliation. Plaintiff cannot point to a
genuine issue of material fact that “legitimate reasons were not what actually motivated
[Defendant’s] conduct.”110 As thoroughly discussed above, Defendant’s actions were
based on legitimate business reasons after thoughtful consideration. Moreover, Plaintiff
only offers temporal proximity to establish pretext. The Eleventh Circuit has found
summary judgment proper where the defendant offers legitimate reasons, and the
108 The Eleventh Circuit has held that a three‐month gap is simply too long, without more, to establish
causation: Id. at 1364; see also Higdon v. Jackson, 393 F.3d 1211, 1220 (11th Cir. 2004) (“By itself, the three‐
month period . . . does not allow a reasonable inference of a causal relation between the protected expression
and the adverse action.”).
109 See Jones v. Suburban, Inc., 577 Fed. Appx. 951, 953 (11th Cir. 2014).
110 Combs, 106 F.3d at 1538.
39
employee only offers temporal proximity. 111
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 34] is
GRANTED.
SO ORDERED, this 29th day of September, 2015.
S/ C. Ashley Royal
C. ASHLEY ROYAL
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
111
Wascura v. City of S. Miami, 257 F.3d 1238, 1247 (11th Cir. 2001) (affirming summary judgment for
employer where plaintiff only offered temporal proximity as evidence of pretext for defendant’s legitimate
reasons for termination).
40
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