Austgen v. Allied Barton Security Services LLC
Filing
35
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting 28 Motion for Summary Judgment.(Signed by Judge Nancy F Atlas) Parties notified.(TDR, 4)
United States District Court
Southern District of Texas
ENTERED
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
CHAD AUSTGEN,
Plaintiff,
v.
ALLIED BARTON SECURITY
SERVICES, LLC, n/k/a Allied
Universal,
Defendant.
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July 30, 2019
David J. Bradley, Clerk
CIVIL ACTION NO. H-18-0949
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”) case is before the Court on the
Motion for Summary Judgment (“Motion”) [Doc. # 28] filed by Defendant Allied
Barton Security Services, LLC n/k/a Allied Universal (“Allied”), to which Plaintiff
Chad Austgen filed a Response [Doc. # 33], and Defendant filed a Reply [Doc. # 34].
Having reviewed the full record and the applicable legal authorities, the Court grants
the Motion.
I.
BACKGROUND
In 2012, Plaintiff was discharged from the United States Marine Corps due to
a back injury he sustained while in Iraq. The back injury was not caused by a specific
event, but was caused when “accumulated stress from carrying combat loads
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compressed several of the discs” in Plaintiff’s lower back. See Deposition of Chad
Austin, p. 15.
In January 2016, Plaintiff began working for Allied as a Licensed Security
Officer (“Security Officer”) at the Port of Houston. The Security Officers working
for Allied at the Port of Houston provide security at various entrance gates or “posts”
where they are responsible for checking individuals and vehicles seeking to enter the
Port of Houston. The Security Officers must be able “to perform repetitive motion
bending, squatting, reaching and twisting, etc. for up to and over 8 hours.” See
Security Officer Responsibilities, Tab 12 to Motion. Each Security Officer at the Port
of Houston was required to be available to work at any post if the need arose. See
Austgen Depo., p. 40; Affidavit of Katherine Alyea, Tab 11 to Motion, ¶ 7.
In early September 2016, Plaintiff reported an aggravation of his prior back
injury, which he attributed to the “extensive daily climbing in and out of and under
commercial vehicles” in connection with his work for Allied. See Declaration of Chad
Austgen, Exh. to Response, ¶ 6. Plaintiff notified his account manager of his
“disability and requested accommodation.” See Plaintiff’s Court Ordered Disclosures,
Tab 7 to Motion, p. 2. Plaintiff “made the recommendation that [he] be switched to
a different post as a reasonable accommodation.” See Austgen Decl., ¶ 7.
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After Plaintiff notified Allied of his disability, which he claimed was seriously
aggravated by his work at the Port of Houston, Allied sent Plaintiff home until he was
cleared by his doctor to return to work. Allied gave Plaintiff a “Fitness for Duty
Form” (“Form”) on which his doctor was asked to identify Plaintiff’s specific physical
restrictions. Plaintiff returned the Form on September 23, 2016. At that time, the
Form did not identify any physical restrictions and, instead, identified particular
locations at the Port of Houston where Plaintiff’s doctor believed Plaintiff could work.
See Fitness for Duty Form, Exh. to Response [Doc. # 33-2], ECF p. 3. Allied’s
representative, Terri Hinojosa, advised Plaintiff that the Form did not satisfy Allied’s
requirements because it did not identify Plaintiff’s physical limitations. Plaintiff
thereafter obtained a partial release to work from his physician, which stated that
Plaintiff “has restrictions of no prolonged climbing, bending, or twisting.” See
Release to Return to Work, Tab 16 to Motion. Plaintiff delivered the second Fitness
for Duty Form to Allied on September 26, 2016.
The next day, September 27, 2016, an Allied Human Resources representative,
Katherine Alyea, communicated with Plaintiff regarding potential worksites other than
the Port of Houston that would accommodate the physical limitations identified by
Plaintiff’s doctor. The next day, Plaintiff advised Ms. Alyea that he would like to
accept the opportunity to interview for a new position. See Austgen Deposition,
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pp. 95-96. On September 29, 2016, Plaintiff interviewed for an Allied position at
Phillips 66, and he began working at that facility shortly thereafter.
Although he had not worked as a supervisor at the Port of Houston, Plaintiff
was classified as a “Site Supervisor” at Phillips 66. This resulted in Plaintiff receiving
the same wage and benefits that he had been receiving as a “Security Officer” at the
Port of Houston. Plaintiff did not complain about the transfer to the Phillips 66
facility and, indeed, he later applied for and accepted a full-time position working for
Phillips 66 directly. See Austgen Depo., p. 34.
Plaintiff filed this lawsuit on March 26, 2018, and filed an Amended Complaint
[Doc. # 14] on October 5, 2018. Plaintiff alleges that Allied failed to provide him
with a reasonable accommodation. See Amended Complaint, ¶ 4.11. Plaintiff alleges
also that Allied retaliated against him for engaging in protected activity under the
ADA. See id., ¶ 4.13. After the close of discovery, Allied moved for summary
judgment. The Motion has been fully briefed and is now ripe for decision.
II.
APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARDS
A.
Summary Judgment Standard
Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for the entry of
summary judgment against a plaintiff who fails to make a sufficient showing of the
existence of an element essential to his case and on which he will bear the burden at
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trial. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986); Curtis v. Anthony, 710
F.3d 587, 594 (5th Cir. 2013); Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir.
1994) (en banc). Summary judgment “should be rendered if the pleadings, the
discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a); Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23; Curtis, 710 F.3d
at 594.
For summary judgment, the initial burden falls on the movant to identify areas
essential to the non-movant’s claim in which there is an “absence of a genuine issue
of material fact.” ACE Am. Ins. Co. v. Freeport Welding & Fabricating, Inc., 699
F.3d 832, 839 (5th Cir. 2012). The moving party, however, “need not negate the
elements of the nonmovant’s case.” Coastal Agric. Supply, Inc. v. JP Morgan Chase
Bank, N.A., 759 F.3d 498, 505 (5th Cir. 2014) (quoting Boudreaux v. Swift Transp.
Co., 402 F.3d 536, 540 (5th Cir. 2005)). The moving party may meet its burden by
pointing out “the absence of evidence supporting the nonmoving party’s case.”
Malacara v. Garber, 353 F.3d 393, 404 (5th Cir. 2003) (citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at
323; Stults v. Conoco, Inc., 76 F.3d 651, 656 (5th Cir. 1996)).
If the moving party meets its initial burden, the non-movant must go beyond the
pleadings and designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue of material
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fact for trial. See Gen. Universal Sys., Inc. v. Lee, 379 F.3d 131, 141 (5th Cir. 2004);
Littlefield v. Forney Indep. Sch. Dist., 268 F.3d 275, 282 (5th Cir. 2001) (internal
citation omitted). “An issue is material if its resolution could affect the outcome of
the action.” Spring Street Partners-IV, L.P. v. Lam, 730 F.3d 427, 435 (5th Cir.
2013). “A dispute as to a material fact is genuine if the evidence is such that a
reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” DIRECT TV Inc. v.
Robson, 420 F.3d 532, 536 (5th Cir. 2006) (internal citations omitted).
In deciding whether a genuine and material fact issue has been created, the
court reviews the facts and inferences to be drawn from them in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party. Reaves Brokerage Co. v. Sunbelt Fruit &
Vegetable Co., 336 F.3d 410, 412 (5th Cir. 2003). A genuine issue of material fact
exists when the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the
non-movant. Tamez v. Manthey, 589 F.3d 764, 769 (5th Cir. 2009) (citing Anderson
v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). “‘Conclusional allegations and
denials, speculation, improbable inferences, unsubstantiated assertions, and legalistic
argumentation do not adequately substitute for specific facts showing a genuine issue
for trial.’” Pioneer Exploration, L.L.C. v. Steadfast Ins. Co., 767 F.3d 503, 511 (5th
Cir. 2014) (quoting Oliver v. Scott, 276 F.3d 736, 744 (5th Cir. 2002); accord Delta
& Pine Land Co. v. Nationwide Agribusiness Ins. Co., 530 F.3d 395, 399 (5th Cir.
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2008). Instead, the nonmoving party must present specific facts which show “the
existence of a genuine issue concerning every essential component of its case.”
Firman v. Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., 684 F.3d 533, 538 (5th Cir. 2012) (citation and
internal quotation marks omitted). In the absence of any proof, the court will not
assume that the non-movant could or would prove the necessary facts. Little, 37 F.3d
at 1075 (citing Lujan v. Nat’l Wildlife Fed’n, 497 U.S. 871, 888 (1990)).
The Court may make no credibility determinations or weigh any evidence. See
Chaney v. Dreyfus Serv. Corp., 595 F.3d 219, 229 (5th Cir. 2010) (citing Reaves
Brokerage Co., 336 F.3d at 412-13). The Court is not required to accept the
nonmovant’s conclusory allegations, speculation, and unsubstantiated assertions
which are either entirely unsupported, or supported by a mere scintilla of evidence.
Id. (citing Reaves Brokerage, 336 F.3d at 413); accord, Little, 37 F.3d at 1075.
Affidavits cannot preclude summary judgment unless they contain competent and
otherwise admissible evidence. See FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c)(4); Love v. Nat’l Med.
Enters., 230 F.3d 765, 776 (5th Cir. 2000).
B.
Standards for ADA Claims
Title I of the ADA prohibits an employer from “discriminat[ing] against a
qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to job application procedures,
the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job
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training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 12112(a). Under the ADA, discrimination includes “not making reasonable
accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified
individual with a disability who is an applicant or employee, unless such covered
entity can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on
the operation of the business of such covered entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(5)(A).
As with Title VII cases, an ADA plaintiff who claims employment
discrimination or retaliation may proceed, in response to a summary judgment motion,
under the McDonnell-Douglas burden-shifting framework. See E.E.O.C. v. LHC
Group, Inc., 773 F.3d 688, 694 (5th Cir. 2014). Under this framework, if the plaintiff
shows a prima facie case of discrimination, the burden shifts to the defendant to
articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its actions; if the defendant does
so, the plaintiff then bears the burden to show that the defendant’s proffered reason
is pretextual. Id.
To establish a prima facie disability accommodation claim under the ADA, a
plaintiff must demonstrate (1) that he is a “qualified individual with a disability”;
(2) that the disability and its limitations were known to the employer; and (3) that the
employer failed to make reasonable accommodations for those known restrictions.
See Feist v. La. Dep’t of Justice, 730 F.3d 450, 452 (5th Cir. 2013); Molton v. East
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Baton Rouge Parish Sch. Bd., 715 F. App’x 310, 314-15 (5th Cir. Oct. 6, 2017). The
ADA defines “disability” as: “(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially
limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (B) a record of such an
impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an impairment. . ..” 42 U.S.C.
§ 12102(1). Major life activities for purposes of the ADA include working. 42 U.S.C.
§ 12102(2)(A). The major life activity of working refers to the “inability to work in
a broad class of jobs.” Conner v. La. Dep’t of Health & Hosps., 534 F. App’x 245,
248 (5th Cir. July 1, 2013); Mora v. Univ. of Texas SW Med. Ctr., 469 F. App’x 295,
297 (5th Cir. Mar. 8, 2012); Presta v. Omni Hotels Mgmt. Corp., 2018 WL 1737278,
*8 (S.D. Tex. Apr. 4, 2018) (citing 29 C.F.R. § 1630 (2014)). The ADA requires that
the definition of disability “be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals .
. . to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of [the statute].” 42 U.S.C. §
12102(4)(A).
“The ADA provides a right to reasonable accommodation, not to the
employee’s preferred accommodation.” Griffin v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 661 F.3d
216, 224 (5th Cir. 2011).
“A disabled employee has no right to a promotion, to
choose what job to which he will be assigned, or to receive the same compensation as
he received previously.” Id. Additionally, “where the disability, resulting limitations,
and necessary reasonable accommodations, are not open, obvious, and apparent to the
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employer, the initial burden rests primarily upon the employee . . . to specifically
identify the disability and resulting limitations, and to suggest the reasonable
accommodations.” Patton v. Jacobs Eng’g Grp., Inc., 874 F.3d 437, 444 (5th Cir.
2017).
To establish a prima facie case of retaliation under the ADA, a plaintiff must
show that (1) he participated in an activity protected under the ADA; (2) his employer
took an adverse employment action against him; and (3) that there is a causal
connection between the protected activity and the adverse action. See Nall v. BNSF
Ry. Co., 917 F.3d 335, 349 (5th Cir. 2019); Feist, 730 F.3d at 454. In the retaliation
context, an adverse action must be so harmful that it “could well dissuade a reasonable
worker from making or supporting a charge of discrimination.” Stringer v. N. Bolivar
Consol. Sch. Dist., 727 F. App’x 793, 804 (5th Cir. Mar. 7, 2018).
III.
ANALYSIS
A.
Disabled or Perceived as Disabled
In the Amended Complaint, Plaintiff states that he suffers from chronic back
pain and requested accommodation for his disability. See Amended Complaint, ¶ 4.3.
In the Amended Complaint, he does not identify any major life activities that are
substantially limited by his back pain.
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In his Response to Defendant’s Motion, Plaintiff does not argue that he is
disabled, only that Allied regarded him as disabled. See Response, pp. 8-10. In ADA
cases based on an employer regarding the employee as disabled, “a plaintiff now need
only show that his employer perceived him as having an impairment; he is not
required to show that he is substantially limited in a major life activity . . ..” Mendoza
v. City of Palacios, 962 F. Supp. 2d 868, 871 (S.D. Tex. 2013) (citing 42 U.S.C.
§ 12102(3)(A)). The “regarded as” aspect of the definition of “disability” does not
apply “to impairments that are transitory and minor. A transitory impairment is an
impairment with an actual or expected duration of 6 months or less.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 12102(c)(B).
Plaintiff has failed to present evidence that Allied regarded him as disabled.
Plaintiff self-reported a disability. Specifically, Plaintiff reported that performing his
job duties was seriously aggravating his prior back injury. Allied stopped Plaintiff
from performing the aggravating job duties and required him to obtain a release from
his physician before he could return to performing those job duties. Allied also
required Plaintiff to obtain an explanation of his restrictions or limitations from his
physician from which Allied could evaluate whether Plaintiff was suffering from a
disability and whether there were reasonable accommodations available. Plaintiff’s
evidence demonstrates that he reported a disability and Allied required additional
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information. There is no evidence in the record that Allied regarded or perceived
Plaintiff as having a “disability.”1 On this basis, Defendant is entitled to summary
judgment.
B.
Reasonable Accommodation
Plaintiff complains that he was not given a reasonable accommodation,
specifically that he was not permitted to work at certain posts at the Port of Houston
and not at other posts. Based on Plaintiff’s position in his Response at pages 8-10 that
he is relying on being “regarded as” disabled rather than suffering from an actual
disability, the accommodation claim fails. The ADA requires employers to provide
reasonable accommodations only for employees who are actually disabled, not for
those who are regarded as disabled. See 42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(5)(A); 29 C.F.R.
§ 1630.9(e);2 Weed v. Sidewinder Drilling, Inc., 245 F. Supp. 3d 826, 838 (S.D. Tex.
2017).
Even if Allied had been required to provide a reasonable accommodation to
Plaintiff, the undisputed evidence establishes that it did so. Allied transferred Plaintiff
1
Plaintiff concedes that his back injury has not had an impact on other jobs he has
worked, including work as a private contractor working for the Army overseas. See
Austgen Decl., ¶ 23; Austgen Depo., p. 14.
2
An employer is “not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an individual
who meets the definition of disability solely under the ‘regarded as’ prong . . ..” 29
C.F.R. § 1630.9(e).
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to another facility – Phillips 66 – where he would not be required to perform the job
duties that were aggravating his back injury and that his physician identified as
restrictions. Allied paid Plaintiff the same wages and provided the same benefits at
the Phillips 66 facility as it had at the Port of Houston. Notably, Plaintiff did not
complain about the transfer and, indeed, eventually went to work for Phillips 66
directly.
Allied was not required to provide Plaintiff with his preferred
accommodation, and a “disabled employee has no right to a promotion, to choose
what job to which he will be assigned, or to receive the same compensation as he
received previously.” See Griffin v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 661 F.3d 216, 224 (5th
Cir. 2011).
Plaintiff also complains that Allied failed to comply with its obligation to
engage in the interactive process. The interactive process is intended to allow the
parties “to craft a reasonable accommodation.” Molden v. E. Baton Rouge Parish Sch.
Bd., 715 F. App’x 310, 315-16 (5th Cir. Oct. 6, 2017). An employer may violate the
ADA when its “unwillingness to engage in a good faith interactive process leads to
a failure to reasonably accommodate an employee.” Id. at 316. In this case, however,
there is no genuine fact dispute that Allied provided Plaintiff with a reasonable
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accommodation. Therefore, “any putative failure to engage in an interactive process
cannot be said to have led to a failure to reasonably accommodate.”3 Id.
For each of the reasons discussed above, Defendant is entitled to summary
judgment on the “reasonable accommodation” discrimination claim.
C.
Retaliation Claim – Adverse Employment Action
As stated above, a prima facie case of retaliation under the ADA requires
evidence that (1) the plaintiff participated in an activity protected under the ADA;
(2) his employer took an adverse employment action against him; and (3) there is a
causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse action. See Nall v.
BNSF Ry. Co., 917 F.3d 335, 349 (5th Cir. 2019). Plaintiff engaged in protected
activity under the ADA when he requested accommodation for his disability. See
Hammond v. Jacobs Field Servs., 499 F. App’x 377, 383 (5th Cir. Dec. 5, 2012).
3
Additionally, the undisputed evidence in the record establishes that Allied engaged
in the interactive process with Plaintiff. When Plaintiff notified Allied in early
September 2016 that his job duties at the Port of Houston were aggravating his back
injury, Allied told him to stop performing those duties until his physician determined
it was safe for him to return to work. Plaintiff did not return the “Fitness for Duty
Form” to Allied until September 23, 2016. Allied immediately reviewed the Form
and determined that it failed to identify any physical limitations, so Allied required
additional information from Plaintiff and his physician. That information was
provided on September 26, 2016. The next day, Allied contacted Plaintiff about
alternate facilities where he could work given his physical limitations. Plaintiff
expressed his interest in a new location, interviewed for an Allied position at the
Phillips 66 facility on September 29, 2016, and began working there by the beginning
of October. This satisfied any obligation Allied had to engage in an interactive
process with Plaintiff.
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Plaintiff has failed to present evidence that raises a genuine issue of material
fact regarding an adverse employment action. Plaintiff argues that it was an adverse
employment action when he was placed on unpaid leave until he was released to
return to work by his physician. Plaintiff advised Allied that performing his job duties
was aggravating his back injury and that he was unable to perform the work required
for some of the posts at the Port of Houston. At that point, Plaintiff had informed his
employer that he could not perform his job responsibilities, and that performing those
responsibilities was aggravating his back injury. Therefore, Allied reasonably
required Plaintiff to stop working until a physician determined that it was safe for him
to return to work. Plaintiff has cited nothing in the ADA or any case law that requires
paid leave during a period of time when the employee claims to be unable to perform
his essential job requirements.
When Plaintiff was transferred to the Phillips 66 facility, his title was changed
from Licensed Security Officer – the title he held at the Port of Houston – to “Site
Supervisor” so that he would be paid the same wages he earned at the Port of Houston.
Plaintiff claims that he suffered an adverse employment action because his “equivalent
position at the port” would have earned $8.00 more. This is not evidence of an
adverse employment action. Plaintiff never worked as a supervisor at the Port of
Houston. It is undisputed that the “Site Supervisor” position at the Phillips 66 facility
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allowed Plaintiff to be paid the same wages as his “Security Officer” position at the
Port of Houston. There is no evidence that Plaintiff suffered a reduction in overtime
opportunity or other benefits when he was transferred. Indeed, the uncontroverted
evidence demonstrates that he suffered no reduction in pay or benefits when he
transferred to the Phillips 66 facility from the Port of Houston.
Plaintiff has failed to present evidence that Allied took any action against him
that was so harmful that it could dissuade a reasonable worker from participating in
protected activity under the ADA. As a result, Allied is entitled to summary judgment
on Plaintiff’s retaliation claim.
IV.
CONCLUSION AND ORDER
Plaintiff has failed to present evidence that raises a genuine issue of material
fact regarding whether Allied perceived him as disabled for purposes of the ADA.
Allied was not required to provide a reasonable accommodation for an individual
claiming to be perceived or regarded as disabled. Even if Allied had been required to
provide a reasonable accommodation, Plaintiff has failed to present evidence that
raises a genuine issue of material fact regarding its alleged failure to do so.
Additionally, Plaintiff has failed to present evidence that raises a fact issue regarding
an adverse employment action. As a result, it is hereby
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ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 28] is
GRANTED. The Court will issue a separate Final Judgment.
SIGNED at Houston, Texas, this 30th day of July, 2019.
NAN Y F. ATLAS
SENIOR UNI
STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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