Sharif v. United Continental Holdings, Inc. et al

Filing 93

MEMORANDUM OPINION re: Defendant's 67 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by District Judge Liam O'Grady on 7/1/15. (dper)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA

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Alexandria Division

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CaL

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MASOUD SHARIF,

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Plaintiff,

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v.

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UNITED AIRLINES, INC.,

Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-1294

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Defendant.

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Memorandum Opinion

This matter comes before the Court on Defendant United Airlines, Inc.'s Motion for

Summary Judgment. Dkt. No. 67. The motion has been fully briefed by the parties. On June
19, 2015, the Court heard oral argument and took the matter under advisement. For the reasons
set forth below, the motion will be granted.

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Background1
This case arises out of an employment relationship between Plaintiff Masoud Sharifand

Defendant United Airlines, Inc. ("United"). In 1990, Sharif began working for United as a

Reservation Representative and remained employed there for the next twenty-four years. In
2004, Sharif was promoted to the position of Service Director. Besides an incident in 2009,
United had "consistently issued Sharif positive performance evaluations." Am. Compl. ^ 34.
Due to being imprisoned and tortured by Iranian police during the Islamic Revolution in
1979, Sharif suffers from anxiety. Around 2009, Sharif requested intermittent Family Medical

Leave Act ("FMLA") leave as necessary to manage his anxiety. United approved his request,

' Because this matter is before the Court on Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, the facts are presented in
the light most favorable to the plaintiff.
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