Devonna Culpepper v. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Devonna Culpepper v. Department of Agriculture

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit ___________________________

No. 18-2203 ___________________________

Devonna Culpepper

lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellant

v.

Department of Agriculture, U.S., Sonny Perdue, Secretary

lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellee ____________

Appeal from United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas - Little Rock ____________

Submitted: February 15, 2019 Filed: March 7, 2019 [Unpublished] ____________

Before LOKEN, COLLOTON, and KOBES, Circuit Judges. ____________

PER CURIAM.

In this action alleging violations of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 508), 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., Devonna Culpepper appeals from the adverse grant of summary judgment entered by the district court1 in favor of her employer, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).2 After de novo review, we conclude that the USDA is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because Culpepper did not show that she was subjected to a materially adverse employment action and therefore she failed to establish a prima facie case under Section 508. See Peebles v. Potter, 354 F.3d 761, 765 (8th Cir. 2004) (summary judgment grant reviewed de novo); Fenney v. Dakota, Minn. & E. R.R. Co., 327 F.3d 707, 711-12 (8th Cir. 2003) (claims for disparate treatment and reasonable accommodation require prima facie showing that employee has disability, is a qualified individual, and suffered an adverse employment action). The judgment is affirmed. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. ______________________________

1 The Honorable James M. Moody, Jr., United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas. 2 The district court’s dismissal of Culpepper’s (1) claims brought pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, and (2) claims previously litigated, is not before the panel. See Chay-Velasquez v. Ashcroft, 367 F.3d 751, 756 (8th Cir. 2004) (claim waived when not meaningfully argued in opening brief).

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Reference

Status
Unpublished