Huber v. Westar Foods, Inc.

Filing 66

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER that defendant Westar Foods, Inc.'s Motion for Summary Judgment (Filing No. 38 ) is granted. Plaintiff Tonya C. Huber's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Filing No. 41 ) and Motion to Strike (Filing No. 55 ) are denied. This case is dismissed with prejudice. A separate judgment will issue. Ordered by Chief Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. (JSF)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
TONYA C. HUBER,
Plaintiff,
v.
WESTAR FOODS, INC.,

8:21CV229
MEMORANDUM
AND ORDER

Defendant.
This matter is before the Court on three separate motions: a Motion for Summary
Judgment filed by defendant Westar Foods, Inc. (“Westar”) (Filing No. 38), a Motion for
Partial Summary Judgment filed by plaintiff Tonya C. Huber (“Huber”) (Filing No. 41),
and Huber’s Motion to Strike (Filing No. 55). For the following reasons, Westar’s
Motion for Summary Judgment is granted. Huber’s motions are both denied.
I.

BACKGROUND
A.

Huber’s Employment with Westar

Westar owns and operates seven Hardee’s fast-food restaurants in Nebraska.
Westar hired Huber as a store manager for their Elkhorn, Nebraska, location (the
“Elkhorn store”) in December 2018. Huber’s responsibilities included “hiring, training,
and discipline of crew members, managing the crew, overseeing costs, and maintaining
the store.” Huber was also responsible for ensuring the Elkhorn store was opened at
5:00 a.m. each morning. She was expected to work fifty hours per week.
Huber received Westar’s employee handbook when she was hired, including
Westar’s attendance policy (the “attendance policy”). The attendance policy stated that
an employee who would be late or absent must “call the management person in charge
immediately so that enough time is given to cover [the employee’s] position.” An
employee was expected to call “at least two-hours before [their] work shift [began] when

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possible.” The attendance policy further specified the employee “must call and speak
directly to the management person in charge” and that “[t]exting, emailing or leaving a
message” were unacceptable ways to communicate tardiness or absences.
While working for Westar, Huber reported to three separate district managers at
different times: a person named Stacy; Matt Thayer (“Thayer”); and Cindy Kelchen
(“Kelchen”). On January 10, 2019, Huber received an “employee coaching tool,” which
reminded Huber of the need for her to communicate scheduling changes in accordance
with the attendance policy.
On October 30, 2019, Huber became ill with the stomach flu and missed all or part
of her work shift. She sent a text message to a group of managers about her absence.
The next day, her illness caused her to leave work early. Huber contends she also called
her then-manager Kelchen, who “did not answer,” but Kelchen denies ever receiving a
call from Huber. Regardless, both parties agree Huber was disciplined through a formal
write-up for violating the attendance policy. 1 They also agree that after Huber’s write-up,
Kelchen “sat down with Huber and discussed the importance of following the
company’s” attendance policy.
B.

December 2019 Medical Incident

Huber was diagnosed with diabetes a few months after starting her employment
with Westar. She required a daily insulin shot to manage the disease. She left her insulin
at home on workdays until September 2019, when she began storing it in a safe in the
Elkhorn store without issue. Huber contends she previously asked both Thayer and
Kelchen about insulin storage in the workplace but received no assistance; Kelchen

Huber disputes that she actually violated the attendance policy in October 2019
but admits she was disciplined. The write-up form stated Huber was disciplined for
failing to call Kelchen about the absences as required by the attendance policy. In a
written comment on the write-up form, Huber stated only: “I did send a group text to all
[district managers and Kelchen] asking for help.”
1

2

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denies the conversation occurred and Thayer does not recall. Huber never discussed
insulin storage with Amy Rowe (“Rowe”), Westar’s human resources representative.
Early in the morning of December 20, 2019, Huber was scheduled to open the
Elkhorn store. In the days before, she had not been feeling well and “knew something
was off.” She did not make it to work that day. Instead, she drove herself to a nearby
clinic and learned she was having a diabetic episode with low-blood-sugar levels. She
spent the rest of the day receiving medical treatment at the clinic, including medication
intravenously.
Huber spoke on the phone with her then-boyfriend, Richard Grondin (“Grondin”),
several times throughout that morning and day.

One call lasted around forty-five

minutes. Huber says she does not remember the calls because the diabetic episode
impacted her cognition and consciousness. She also spoke with her son, Trey Huber
(“Trey”), to tell him she was at the doctor’s office.

Trey described Huber’s

communication as “all over the place” and said he found it difficult to understand her.
Huber never called Kelchen on December 20th to discuss her illness or absence.
After Kelchen was unable to reach Huber that day, she called Trey, who informed
Kelchen his mother was at the doctor’s office or hospital. That night, Grondin drove
Huber home from the clinic, and Huber “slept for most of the night into the next day.”
The next morning, Huber was again scheduled to open the Elkhorn store at
5:00 a.m. She called Kelchen around 7:45 a.m. and spoke to her for the first time about
her medical incident. According to Huber, “[h]er call to Kelchen was her first interaction
upon awakening from her post-sedation sleep.” Huber gave Kelchen some details about
her health condition and follow-up care.
Following the call, Huber sent Kelchen a copy of a doctor’s note which stated:
“Please excuse patient from work due to illness through 12/26/19.” The note gave no
further details.
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Kelchen contends she then “relayed the events of the past two days to” Frank
Westermajer (“Westermajer”), President of Westar, after her call with Huber.
Westermajer claims he made the decision to terminate Huber at that point, after “learning
of the events from Kelchen and conferring with Rowe.”

Rowe drafted Huber’s

termination letter.
The next day, Huber emailed Kelchen and Rowe to request “family medical leave
paperwork for [her doctor] to fill out.” After receiving no response, Huber sent a second
email requesting the paperwork on December 23rd. On December 24th, Huber emailed
an updated doctor’s note to Kelchen and Rowe excusing Huber from work through
January 2, 2020 for “acute illness, hypoglycemia, fever and debility.” In response, Rowe
attempted to schedule a phone call with Huber, but Huber stated she was “still not well
enough to have a work related conversation.”
Westar then terminated Huber effective December 26, 2019. The termination
letter cited Huber’s “fail[ure] to follow the Company’s notice procedures for [her]
absences on December 20, 2019 and on December 21, 2019.” The letter also stated her
absences would “not be covered under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993” because
Huber “failed to provide notice as soon as possible and practical” and “did not request
any need for an accommodation until after the unscheduled absences.”
On June 17, 2021, Huber filed this lawsuit (Filing No. 1), asserting claims for
disability discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., and the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act
(“NFEPA”), Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-1101 et seq.

Huber alleges Westar fired her

“[f]ollowing reasonable requests for accommodation” and “[a]fter learning of [her]
history of disability.” Huber also brings interference and retaliation claims under the
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (“FMLA”), 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.

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The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment on September 9, 2022.
Westar asks for “entry of summary judgment on all claims.”

Huber seeks partial

summary judgment as to Westar’s “affirmative defenses of failure to mitigate damages
and after-acquired evidence.” Huber also moved to strike two affidavits submitted by
Westar in opposition to Huber’s motion for partial summary judgment, arguing they
“contain expert testimony” that was not timely disclosed. All three motions are now ripe
for review.
II.

DISCUSSION
A.

Legal Standards

On cross-motions for summary judgment, the Court considers each motion
separately, “viewing the evidence and drawing all reasonable inferences in the light most
favorable to the nonmovant.” Corkrean v. Drake Univ., 55 F.4th 623, 630 (8th Cir. 2022)
(quoting Libel v. Adventure Lands of Am., Inc., 482 F.3d 1028, 1033 (8th Cir. 2007)).
Summary judgment is required “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as
to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 56(a).
“The ‘mere existence of a factual dispute is insufficient alone to bar summary
judgment; rather, the dispute must be outcome determinative under prevailing law.’”
Corkrean, 55 F.4th at 630 (quoting Holloway v. Pigman, 884 F.2d 365, 366 (8th Cir.
1989)). A genuine dispute exists only “if there is enough evidence ‘that a reasonable jury
could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.’” Farver v. McCarthy, 931 F.3d 808, 811
(8th Cir. 2019) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)).
At the summary-judgment stage, the Court “does not weigh the evidence, make
credibility determinations, or attempt to discern the truth of any factual issue.” Walz v.
Randall, 2 F.4th 1091, 1099 (8th Cir. 2021) (quoting Morris v. City of Chillicothe, 512
F.3d 1013, 1018 (8th Cir. 2008)). “To defeat summary judgment, ‘the nonmoving party
must come forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’”
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Carter v. Atrium Hosp., 997 F.3d 803, 808 (8th Cir. 2021) (quoting Matsushita Elec.
Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986)).
B.

Westar’s Motion for Summary Judgment
1.

Discrimination Claim

Huber claims there are material factual disputes regarding whether “Westar
discriminated against [Huber] based on her disability” in violation of the ADA and
NFEPA. 2 See 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a) (“No covered entity shall discriminate against a
qualified individual on the basis of disability”); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-1107.01 (stating it is
unlawful for a covered employer to “[d]iscriminate against a qualified individual with a
disability because of the disability”). An employee can establish disability discrimination
in one of two ways: through “direct evidence of disability discrimination” or through
indirect evidence by “apply[ing] the burden-shifting framework” from McDonnell
Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802-03 (1973). Lipp v. Cargill Meat Sols. Corp.,
911 F.3d 537, 544 (8th Cir. 2018).
“Direct evidence includes ‘evidence of conduct or statements by persons involved
in the decisionmaking process that may be viewed as directly reflecting the alleged
discriminatory attitude,’ where it is sufficient to support an inference that discriminatory
attitude more likely than not was a motivating factor.” Id. at 543 (quoting Schierhoff v.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, L.P., 444 F.3d 961, 966 (8th Cir. 2006)). Huber
argues she “has presented direct evidence of disability discrimination.” 3

Because NFEPA’s disability-discrimination provision is “patterned after the
ADA” and “the statutory definitions of ‘disability’ and ‘qualified individual with a
disability’ contained in the NFEPA are virtually identical to the definitions of the ADA,”
the Court’s analysis of Huber’s ADA claim also applies to her NFEPA claim. Ryan v.
Cap. Contractors, Inc., 679 F.3d 772, 777 n.3 (8th Cir. 2012) (quoting Orr v. Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc., 297 F.3d 720, 723 (8th Cir. 2002)).
3
Huber’s complaint and summary-judgment briefing both mention Huber’s
“requests for accommodation” and Westar’s denial of her requests. Her brief also states
that Kelchen did not “engag[e] in an interactive process” with Huber. However, Huber’s
2

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Huber points to incidents she characterizes as showing Westar’s “history of acting
with contempt towards her requests for accommodation” and “Westar’s anger towards
[her] regarding her disability and need for accommodation.” She states that her two
previous managers, Thayer and Kelchen, rejected her requests for help with insulin
storage at the Elkhorn store. Huber testified that Thayer told her the insulin storage was a
“[Huber] problem, not a [Thayer] problem.” She further testified Kelchen suggested
freezer storage, and when Huber told her that would not work, Kelchen replied, “I don’t
know what to tell you.” Huber also said Kelchen suggested Huber “do time management
better” when Huber asked for assistance to ensure she could eat during her shifts.
Kelchen and Thayer dispute or do not recall those interactions. Finally, Huber points to
testimony showing Kelchen was “irate” in her December 21st phone call with Huber after
learning of Huber’s “diabetic episode and need for time off” immediately before Westar’s
decision to terminate Huber.
In response, Westar argues “Huber’s characterization of alleged contempt or anger
do not show direct evidence of discrimination.”

Westar contends that even if the

“conversations did occur” as Huber stated, they do not provide a strong causal link
between the “discriminatory bias” and Huber’s termination.

Westar points out that

Kelchen and Thayer were “not decision makers” whose statements can be direct evidence
of discrimination.
“Direct evidence of employment discrimination must be distinguished from stray
remarks in the workplace, statements by nondecisionmakers, or statements by

brief focuses on proving the elements of a disparate-treatment claim rather than a
reasonable-accommodation claim. See Nahal v. Allina Health Sys., 842 F. App’x 9, 10
(8th Cir. 2021) (per curiam) (discussing the “modified burden-shifting analysis” required
for a reasonable-accommodation claim); Garrison v. Dolgencorp, LLC, 939 F.3d 937,
941 (8th Cir. 2019) (same). Because Huber does not discuss or analyze the elements of a
reasonable-accommodation claim, the Court concludes her only disability-discrimination
theory is a disparate-treatment claim.
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decisionmakers unrelated to the decisional process.” Quick v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 441
F.3d 606, 609 (8th Cir. 2006) (citing Clearwater v. Indep. Sch. Dist. No. 166, 231 F.3d
1122, 1126 (8th Cir. 2000)). Huber points to the conversations with Kelchen and Thayer
as direct evidence. Yet neither Kelchen nor Thayer were “decisionmakers,” and neither
made the ultimate decision to terminate Huber—Westermajer did.

Further, the

statements from Kelchen and Thayer about her insulin and lunch breaks occurred months
before she was terminated. There is insufficient direct evidence to “show a specific link
between a discriminatory bias and the adverse employment action, sufficient to support a
finding by a reasonable fact-finder that the bias motivated the action.” Button v. Dakota,
Minnesota & E. R.R. Corp., 963 F.3d 824, 832 (8th Cir. 2020) (quoting Torgerson v. City
of Rochester, 643 F.3d 1031, 1045-46 (8th Cir. 2011) (en banc)).
Because the record does not show direct evidence of disability discrimination, the
Court turns to the McDonnell-Douglas burden-shifting framework. Huber can establish a
prima facie case by showing she “(1) is disabled within the meaning of the ADA, (2) is a
qualified individual under the ADA, and (3) has suffered an adverse employment action
because of [her] disability.” E.E.O.C. v. Prod. Fabricators, Inc., 763 F.3d 963, 969 (8th
Cir. 2014) (quoting Hill v. Walker, 737 F.3d 1209, 1216 (8th Cir. 2013)).
If Huber establishes a prima facie case, the “burden of production then shifts to
[Westar] to show a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse action.”
Oehmke v. Medtronic, Inc., 844 F.3d 748, 755 (8th Cir. 2016). If Westar produces such
evidence, “the burden of production shifts back to [Huber] to show the proffered reason
was mere pretext for intentional discrimination.” Farver, 931 F.3d at 812. Huber “at all
times bears the ‘ultimate burden of persuasion.’” Heisler v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co.,
931 F.3d 786, 794 (8th Cir. 2019) (quoting St. Mary’s Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502,
511 (1993)).
The Court assumes without deciding that Huber has established a prima facie case
of disability discrimination. See Donathan v. Oakley Grain, Inc., 861 F.3d 735, 740 (8th
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Cir. 2017) (“The burden to show a prima facie case is not difficult.” (quoting Musolf v.
J.C. Penney Co., 773 F.3d 916, 918 (8th Cir. 2014))). Still, Westar gives legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for terminating Huber, 4 so Huber must meet her “ultimate burden”
of producing evidence showing Westar’s “justifications are mere pretext.” Torgerson,
643 F.3d at 1046. “[P]roving pretext . . . ‘requires more substantial evidence than it takes
to make a prima facie case’ and ‘evidence of pretext and discrimination is viewed in light
of [Westar’s] justification.” King v. Guardian ad Litem Bd., 39 F.4th 979, 987 (8th Cir.
2022) (quoting Phillips v. Mathews, 547 F.3d 905, 912-13 (8th Cir. 2008)).
There are at least two ways in which Huber can “demonstrate a ‘material question
of fact regarding pretext.’” Gardner v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2 F.4th 745, 748 (8th Cir.
2021) (quoting Torgerson, 643 F.3d at 1047). She can show that Westar’s “explanation
is unworthy of credence . . . because it has no basis in fact,” or “persuad[e] the court that
a prohibited reason more likely motivated” Westar. Id. (quoting Torgerson, 643 F.3d at
1047). Ultimately, to survive summary judgment she “must point to enough admissible
evidence to raise genuine doubt as to the legitimacy of [Westar’s] motive.” Thompson v.
Univ. of Ark. Bd. of Trs., 52 F.4th 1039, 1042 (8th Cir. 2022) (quoting Fiero v. CSG Sys.,
Inc., 759 F.3d 874, 878 (8th Cir. 2014)).
Huber argues the evidence shows she “followed Westar’s policy.” Huber insists
she never actually violated Westar’s attendance policies—either in October 2019, when
she received a write-up, or during her December 20th and 21st medical incident. She
asserts that this, combined with Westar’s “history of acting with contempt” toward her
diabetes, are enough that a reasonable juror could find Westar’s explanation is a pretext.

Huber does not appear to dispute that Westar met its burden to present proof of a
non-discriminatory, legitimate justification for Huber’s termination. This burden is “not
onerous,” Torgerson, 643 F.3d at 1047, and the Eighth Circuit “has ‘consistently held
that violating a company policy is a legitimate, non-discriminatory rationale for
terminating an employee.’” Ebersole v. Novo Nordisk, Inc., 758 F.3d 917, 925 (8th Cir.
2014) (quoting Twymon v. Wells Fargo & Co., 462 F.3d 925, 935 (8th Cir. 2006)).
4

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Huber has not put forth sufficient evidence that she did not violate the attendance
policy on either occasion. But even if she had, it would still be insufficient to overcome
summary judgment. She “must present sufficient evidence that [Westar] acted with an
intent to discriminate, not merely that the reason stated by [Westar] was incorrect.”
Pulczinski v. Trinity Structural Towers, Inc., 691 F.3d 996, 1003 (8th Cir. 2012). She
would need to show that Westar “did not truly believe [she] violated company rules.” Id.
Huber has not adduced sufficient evidence disputing Westar’s good-faith belief that she
violated the attendance policy on both occasions.
Huber does not dispute she was previously disciplined for violating Westar’s
attendance policy. She also does not deny that she did not call Kelchen at all on
December 20th when she missed work because of her medical incident. She does not
contest that the day of the medical incident, she drove herself to the clinic, spoke to
Grondin on the phone several times, and spoke to Trey. Finally, she does not dispute that
when Westar made the decision to terminate her, Kelchen knew that (a) Huber drove
herself to the clinic on December 20th, and (b) called Trey on December 20th.
Ultimately, Huber “must do more than simply create a factual dispute as to the
issue of pretext; [she] must offer sufficient evidence for a reasonable trier of fact to infer
discrimination.” Vinh v. Express Scripts Servs. Co., 7 F.4th 720, 727 (8th Cir. 2021)
(quoting Wilking v. County of Ramsey, 153 F.3d 869, 874 (8th Cir. 1998)). She has not
done so. There is no genuine dispute that Westar had a good-faith belief Huber violated
the attendance policy. Huber does not point to any evidence indicating Westermajer—
who made the decision to terminate her—had discriminatory animus. Any discussion of
Westar’s “contempt” toward Huber’s disability is largely “speculation and [Huber’s] own
suppositions.” Brandt v. City of Cedar Falls, 37 F.4th 470, 481 (8th Cir. 2022).
2.

FMLA Claims

The FMLA entitles an eligible employee to twelve weeks of leave during a
twelve-month period if she has “a serious health condition that makes [her] unable to
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perform the functions of the position of such employee.” 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1)(D).
“An employee can bring three types of FMLA claims against her employer: interference,
retaliation, and discrimination.” Corkrean, 55 F.4th at 630. Huber brings claims for
interference and retaliation.
a.

FMLA Interference

In an “interference” claim, an “employee alleges that the employer denied or
interfered with her substantive rights under the FMLA.” Brandt, 37 F.4th at 478 (quoting
Wierman v. Casey’s Gen. Stores, 638 F.3d 984, 999 (8th Cir. 2011)); see also Corkrean,
55 F.4th at 630 (explaining it is “unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain, or
deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise rights provided under the FMLA.” (citing
29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(1))).
To succeed on her interference claim, Huber must show “she was eligible for
FMLA leave, the employer knew she needed FMLA leave, and the employer denied her
an FMLA benefit to which she was entitled.” Smith v. AS Am., Inc., 829 F.3d 616, 621
(8th Cir. 2016) (citing Hasenwinkel v. Mosaic, 809 F.3d 427, 432 (8th Cir. 2015)).
FMLA interference can include “refusing to authorize FMLA leave,’” id. (quoting
Stallings v. Hussmann Corp., 447 F.3d 1041, 1050 (8th Cir. 2006)), or “terminating an
employee while on FMLA leave,” Lovland v. Emps. Mut. Cas. Co., 674 F.3d 806, 811
(8th Cir. 2012).
The parties primarily disagree on the second element: whether Westar had the
proper notice that Huber needed FMLA leave. An employee “need not . . . mention the
FMLA” to seek leave for the first time, as long as the employer has “sufficient
information . . . to reasonably determine whether the FMLA may apply to the leave
request.” 29 C.F.R. § 825.303(b).
In Huber’s view, the evidence shows Kelchen had notice of Huber’s need for
FMLA after their December 21st phone call. Huber points to Kelchen’s personal notes
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about the call, where Kelchen writes that Huber said her “diabetic [sic] was off” and she
“was having a serious medical happening,” where she was “not making sense” and
“[couldn’t] concentrate.”

The notes also show Huber informed Kelchen she had a

“follow up on Monday.”
To Westar, the timing of the call, rather than the content, warrants summary
judgment. In the event of a medical emergency, FMLA notice must be provided “as soon
as practicable,” 29 C.F.R. § 825.302(a), typically “the same day or the next business
day,” id. § 825.302(b). An employee generally must comply with the “employer’s usual
and customary notice and procedural requirements for requesting leave.” Id.
§ 825.302(c). However, when an employee requires emergency medical treatment, she is
not “required to follow the call-in procedure until [her] condition is stabilized, and [she]
has access to, and is able to use, a phone.” Id.
Westar points to several undisputed facts to argue Huber did not call Kelchen or
otherwise provide notice to Westar “as soon as practicable.” It is undisputed that Huber
did not call Kelchen until 7:45 a.m. on December 21st, after experiencing a medical
incident on December 20th that resulted in an unexplained work absence. Westar notes
that on the morning of December 20th, “Huber admittedly was able to call her thenboyfriend [Grondin]. . . and talked to him for 45-minutes, prior to driving herself to the
doctor’s office.” She spoke to Grondin “multiple times” that day, yet “failed to attempt
to contact Kelchen.” Further, it is undisputed that Huber called Trey while she received
medical treatment.

In Westar’s view, this evidence shows “Huber would have

indisputably been capable of calling into [sic] Westar on the morning of December 20 to
provide it with notice.”
Even if there are fact issues regarding Huber’s entitlement to FMLA leave, Huber
cannot prove FMLA interference if Westar’s “reason for dismissal is insufficiently
related to FMLA leave.” Stallings, 447 F.3d at 1051. “Termination is actionable under
FMLA only if the employee was discharged because of her FMLA leave.” Hasenwinkel,
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809 F.3d at 433 (emphasis added). In other words, “an employer who interferes with an
employee’s FMLA rights will not be liable if the employer can prove it would have made
the same decision had the employee not exercised the employee’s FMLA rights.”
Throneberry v. McGehee Desha Cnty. Hosp., 403 F.3d 972, 977 (8th Cir. 2005); see also
Bacon v. Hennepin Cnty. Med. Ctr., 550 F.3d 711, 715 (8th Cir. 2008) (affirming
summary judgment on FMLA interference claim where employee failed to follow
employer’s “call-in policy” while on FMLA leave).
Westar argues and submits evidence showing Huber was “lawfully terminated for
reasons wholly unrelated” to any FMLA request.

In response, Huber contends her

December 20th and 21st absences “were protected by FMLA, and thus could not be
lawfully used as a basis for . . . termination.” This circular reasoning is unconvincing.
Westar has submitted evidence showing it terminated Huber because of its good-faith
belief she violated Westar’s attendance policy, not because of the absences themselves.
To survive summary judgment, Huber must adduce sufficient evidence to permit a
reasonable juror to find in her favor “on more than mere speculation, conjecture, or
fantasy.” Bharadwaj v. Mid Dakota Clinic, 954 F.3d 1130, 1137 (8th Cir. 2020) (quoting
Barber v. C1 Truck Driver Training, LLC, 656 F.3d 782, 801 (8th Cir. 2011)). Even
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to her, Huber has not met this burden.
b.

FMLA Retaliation

A FMLA retaliation claim is one “where the employee alleges that the employer
discriminated against her for exercising her FMLA rights.” Brandt, 37 F.4th at 478
(quoting Wierman, 638 F.3d at 999). As with Huber’s disability-discrimination claim,
FMLA retaliation is evaluated under the McDonnell-Douglas burden-shifting framework,
see Wierman, 638 F.3d at 999, and Huber retains the ultimate burden of “demonstrat[ing]
that [Westar’s] proffered reason is pretextual.” Corkrean, 55 F.4th at 631 (quoting
Mitchell v. Iowa Prot. & Advoc. Servs., Inc., 325 F.3d 1011, 1013 (8th Cir. 2003)).

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The parties’ pretext arguments are basically the same as those made for the
discrimination claim. Huber contends she was fired because “Kelchen was angry [she]
required FMLA leave to get treatment for a serious health condition,” and that Westar
citing the attendance policy is “nothing more than an excuse to conceal its real
motivation.” Westar, in turn, argues that “[b]eyond the fact that Hubar requested FMLA
prior to her being notified of her termination,” there is no evidence to suggest Westar’s
stated reason for her termination is untrue.
The Court reaches the same conclusion it did with Huber’s discrimination claim.
“[D]rawing all reasonable inferences in [Huber’s] favor, [she] has failed to provide any
record evidence to show that defendants’ proffered reason for her termination ‘was not
the true reason, but rather a pretext for discrimination.’” Brandt, 37 F.4th at 481. See
also Corkrean, 55 F.4th at 632 (explaining that in the FMLA retaliation context,
“evidence that the employer had been concerned about a problem before the employee
engaged in the protected activity undercuts the significance of the temporal proximity.”
(quoting Smith v. Allen Health Sys., Inc., 302 F.3d 827, 834 (8th Cir. 2002)).
IT IS ORDERED:
1.

Defendant Westar Foods, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Filing
No. 38) is granted.

2.

Plaintiff Tonya C. Huber’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Filing
No. 41) and Motion to Strike (Filing No. 55) are denied.

3.

This case is dismissed with prejudice.

4.

A separate judgment will issue.

Dated this 17th day of January 2023.
BY THE COURT:

Robert F. Rossiter, Jr.
Chief United States District Judge
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