Holly v. Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc.
Holly v. Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Defendant Kindred Healthcare Operating Inc.
UNDISPUTED FACTS
The following facts are taken largely from Defendant’s Motion.
1.Defendant is a residential facility that provides both short- and long-term health care to approximately 119 residents.
2. Holly began working for Defendant as a Certified Nursing Assistant (“CNA”) in September 1991.
3. In April 2009, John Williams [“Williams”] became Defendant’s Executive Director.
4. In April 2010, the Admissions Coordinator for Defendant left and Williams encouraged Holly to apply for the vacant position. Williams believed Holly would fit the job well. And shortly thereafter, Holly was promoted to the position of Admissions Coordinator.
5. At her deposition, Holly claimed that her disability is hyperoxaluria. This condition results in the body producing kidney stones.
6. Holly returned to work [from her FMLA leave] on January 16, 2012 with no restrictions.
7. Holly testified that when she returned to work she was physically able to do her job.
8. Before Holly returned to work, she mentioned to Julie Anderson [“Anderson”], during a telephone conversation, that she kept duplicate admission files in her office (the admissions office), and Anderson re
9. Anderson never instructed Holly to discard or shred original files from the admissions office.
10. On January 18, 2012, two days after Holly returned to work, she took numerous admissions files and put them in shredder bins.
11. That same day, Tracy Reynolds [“Reynolds”], a nurse who had been performing some of Holly’s duties while she was out, needed to obtain information for a recently admitted resident'with whom she had been working. Reynolds looked for the file in the admissions office but could not find it. During her search, Reynolds also noticed that several other active files, which she had helped prepare, were missing.
12. While Reynolds looked for the missing files, another employee, Val[erie Ryan], informed her that Holly said she had been instructed to get rid of all of the files in the admissions office.
13. Reynolds searched the facility and eventually found 42 original active files in three separate shredder bins.
14. After finding the files in the shredder bins, Reynolds informed Williams that she had pulled 42 original" files out of three separate shredder bins, and that Holly was the individual .who had thrown them away.
15. Williams and Reynolds spoke to Holly and asked her why she had thrown the original files in the shredder bins. Holly responded that Anderson told her to throw away the files in the admissions office.
16. Given Holly’s experience in this position, she should have known not to discard original files.
17. Holly should have been able to easily determine from the color of the paper in the files whether it was an original or a duplicate (originals have a pink sheet of paper on top).
19. Holly later admitted that she may have thrown away original files because she “did not go through the file” before discarding them.
20. According to Williams, the fact that Holly threw the files into three separate shred bins throughout the facility “was as clear an act of sabotage as [he’d] ever seen” and he believed she knew what she was attempting to destroy when she put them in the shredder bins.
21. Both Williams and Anderson believed Holly intentionally and purposefully discarded the original files.
22. Anderson immediately called Human Resources because destruction of property is grounds for immediate termination.
23. Following their investigation, Anderson and Williams jointly decided to terminate Holly’s employment for placing original admissions packets into three separate shredder bins.
24.Williams notified Holly of this decision on January 24, 2012.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD
“The court shall grant summary judgment 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.”
A. ADA Discrimination Claim
The ADA prohibits covered employers from discriminating against disabled individuals.
[I]f the employee establishes a prima, facie case of discrimination, then a presumption of discrimination arises, resulting in the burden shifting to the employer to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action. If the [employer] carries its burden of production, the presumption of discrimination drops out of the case, and “[t]he burden then shifts back to the [employee], who must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the employer’s reasons are a pretext for unlawful discrimination.”38
To establish a prima facie case of disability discrimination, a plaintiff must show: (1) she is disabled as defined by the ADA; (2) she is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with, or without reasonable accommodation; and (3) she suffered discrimination on the basis of her disability.
Defendant contends that Holly cannot meet the first and third prongs of the prima facie case of disability discrimination.
In order to rebut the presumption that arises upon the establishment of a prima facie case of discrimination, the second step of the McDonnell Douglas burden shifting analysis requires the employer to produce enough competent evidence, taken as true, to enable a rational factfinder to conclude that there exists a nondiscriminatory reason for the challenged employment action. Defendant has justified its action by stating that Holly’s attempt to destroy original files was intended to sabotage the facility.
In making a determination of pretext, Holly must “present some affir
Holly makes several arguments in support of her pretext claim. To begin, Holly contends that the parties have vastly differing accounts of the events surrounding her termination.
Because the employer’s perception of the facts at the time of the decision to terminate controls, Holly’s arguments are unavailing. The undisputed facts are that (1) Reynolds searched the facility and found 42 original active files in three separate shredder bins; (2) Reynolds informed Williams that she had found original files in shredder bins and that Holly was the individual who had thrown them away; (3) Williams believed that Holly knew what she was attempting to destroy when she put the files in the shredder; (4) both Williams and Anderson believed Holly intentionally and purposefully discarded the original files, (5) destruction of property is grounds for immediate termination, and (6) Anderson and Williams jointly decided to terminate Holly’s employment for placing original admissions packets into three separate shredder bins.
Even if Holly was not the one that discarded the original files, the only conclusion permitted based on the undisputed facts, is that Defendant reasonably, although erroneously, believed that Holly intentionally and purposefully discarded the original files and terminated her accordingly. To show pretext, Holly must point to facts supporting a conclusion that Defendant’s determination was “unworthy of credence[.]”
Holly’s evidence that she was threatened with job loss comes from her deposition testimony where she states that Williams made “snipe” comments under his breath a couple of times during the summer of 2011.
None of Holly’s arguments raise a genuine issue of fact to discredit Defendant’s good-faith belief supporting its legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for terminating Holly’s employment for discarding original client files. In sum, Holly has not demonstrated that any genuine issue of material fact exists as to pretext. Because Holly fails to satisfy her pretext burden, summary judgment is appropriate.
B. ADA Retaliation
Holly claims that she was retaliated against after engaging in activity protected by the ADA. Specifically, Holly alleges that she engaged in a protected activity when she requested a reasonable accommodation from Defendant, filed a complaint with the Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division (“UALD”), and when she opposed Williams’ and Anderson’s discriminatory behavior and reported their behavior to the Defendant’s Compliance Hotline.
The ADA provides that “[i]t shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any individual in the exercise or enjoyment of ... any right granted or protected by this chapter.”
“[I]n order to prosecute an ADA retaliation claim, a plaintiff need not show that she suffers from an actual disability. Instead, a reasonable, good faith belief that the statute has been violated suffices.”
In this case, the first two elements are satisfied. Holly engaged in a protected activity when she requested reasonable accommodation and filed a complaint with UALD and Defendant’s Compliance Hotline for discrimination. And Holly’s later termination by Defendant constitutes a materially adverse action. There remains only the third element. To prove the third element, Holly must establish a causal connection between her protected activities and her later termination. “The ‘critical inquiry’ at this prima facie stage is ‘whether the plaintiff has demonstrated that the [employer’s] action occurred under circumstances which give rise to an inference of unlawful discrimination.’ ”
Having established her prima facie case of retaliation, the next step would be to continue with the burden shifting analysis as previously discussed in the analysis of the ADA discrimination claim. Here, it is undisputed that Defendant has come forward with a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for terminating Holly’s employment.
C. FMLA Interference
Holly also asserts a cause of action under 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a) of the FMLA.
“To establish a claim for FMLA interference under § 2615(a)(1), an employee must show ‘(1) that she was entitled to FMLA leave, (2) that some adverse action by the employer interfered with her right to take FMLA leave, and (3) that the employer’s action was .related to the exercise or attempted exercise of her FMLA rights.’ ”
“If the employee can demonstrate that the first two elements of interference are satisfied, the employer then bears the burden of demonstrating that the adverse decision was not ‘related to the exercise or attempted exercise of [the employee’s] FMLA rights.’ ”
In this case, the first element of Holly’s interference claim is not at issue.
1. Denial of Reinstatement With Restrictions as Interference
Holly claims that on December 27, 2012, she returned to work with a doctor’s note,
The FMLA guarantees an eligible employee twelve weeks of unpaid leave for a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the position.
Thus, the rights created under the FMLA are different than those granted under the ADA. Unlike the ADA, the FMLA does not include a reasonable accommodation provision. The FMLA requires examination of the employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of a position.
Defendant correctly notes that Holly has attempted to read the ADA’s reasonable accommodation provision into her FMLA interference claim. Reasonable accommodation is not an entitlement guaranteed by the FMLA. Under the FMLA, Holly must show that she was able to perform the essential functions of her previous position to be entitled to reinstatement. Holly has failed to allege or argue that on December 27, when she requested reinstatement, she was able to perform the essential functions of her job. Holly cannot satisfy the second element of her interference claim by the denial of reinstatement with restrictions. Holly’s reinstatement claim also fails because Defendant did reinstate Holly to her previous position on January 16, 2012, the date when Holly’s work restrictions were lifted.
2. Termination as Interference
Holly contends that on or about January 18, 2012, her physician submitted FMLA paperwork to Defendant which stated that “Holly should be eligible for intermittent leave moving forward from January 18, 2012.”
Since Holly has provided proof on the first two elements of her interference claim, the burden shifts to Defendant to produce facts showing that Holly would have been dismissed regardless of the employee’s request for FMLA leave.
In this case, it is undisputed that destruction of property is grounds for immediate termination, and that Holly’s termination occurred after Williams and Anderson were informed that she discarded original client files. Holly has not come forward with any evidence nor raised any arguments to indicate that Defendant would have made a different adverse decision for the same type of conduct — discarding original files — outside of the FMLA context. Based on all of the evidence in the record, even when' taken in the light most favorable to Holly, Defendant has met its burden of producing evidence that Holly would have been dismissed regardless of her request for an FMLA leave. Holly’s termination as interference claim fails as a matter of law.
D. UADA Discrimination
Holly, in her opposition to Defendant’s motion for summary judgment, makes no argument in support of her UADA discrimination claim. Thus, she has abandoned this claim.
Even if Holly had responded to this claim, Defendant would have succeed
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant’s motion
.Defendant states that it was incorrectly sued under Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc., and should instead have been sued under Kindred Nursing Center West, LLC d/b/a Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation-Crosslands. See Answer to Complaint, docket no. 3, filed January 18, 2013. This distinction is immaterial for purposes of the present motion.
. Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum in Support ["Motion”], docket no. 16, filed February 27, 2014.
. Complaint, docket no. 1, filed December 21, 2012. '
. Id. at 11-13.
. See D.U.Civ.R. 7-l(f).
. Motion at 3-13.
. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)(2) ("If a party ... fails to properly address another party’s assertion of fact as required by Rule 56(c), the court may ... consider the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion[.]”).
. Motion ¶ 1, at 3; Plaintiff’s Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment at 2, docket no. 17, filed March 31, 2014 ["Opposition”] (undisputed).
. Motion ¶ 3, at 3; Opposition at 2 (undisputed).
. Motion ¶ 5, at 3; Opposition at 2 (undisputed).
. Motion ¶ 6, at 3; Opposition at 2 (undisputed). .
. Motion ¶ 7, at 4; Opposition at 2 (undisputed).
. Motion ¶ 12, at 5; Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Motion ¶ 13, at 5; Opposition at 2 (undisputed).
. Motion ¶¶ 16-17, at 5-6; Holly does not dispute ¶ 17, and as for ¶ 16, Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes ¶ 16 as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Motion ¶ 18, at 6; Opposition at 5. Although Holly claims to dispute this fact, she admits in her response that Anderson never instructed her to discard original files.
. Motion ¶ 19, at 6; Opposition at 5. Holly attempts to dispute this fact by stating that she was instructed by Anderson to shred duplicate files; her response does not create a dispute.
. Motion ¶ 20, at 6; Opposition at 2 (undisputed).
. Motion ¶ 21, at 6; Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Motion ¶ 22, at 7; Opposition at 5. This fact has been edited to remove Holly's dispute that it was her who actually discarded the original files.
. Motion ¶ 23, at 7; Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Motion ¶ 24, at 7; Opposition at 5. Holly purports to dispute this fact by arguing that Defendant has not established it was her who actually placed the original files at issue in the shred bins. Holly's response and the evidence she cites does not controvert this fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Motion ¶ 25, at 7; Opposition at 2 (undisputed).
. Motion ¶ 26, at 7; Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Motion ¶ 27, at 7; Opposition at 5-6. The fact has been edited to remove Holly's dispute with the word ''initially” which suggests that Holly was deceitful.
. Motion ¶ 28, at 7; Opposition at 6. Holly does not dispute this fact, she simply argues that because of her reasonable belief she was disposing duplicate files, additional scrutiny of the discarded files was neither warranted nor instructed.
. Motion ¶ 29, at 7-8; Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Motion ¶ 30, at 8; Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Motion ¶31, at 8; Opposition at 6. This fact has been edited to remove Holly's dispute with the word “misconduct.”
. Motion ¶ 33, at 8; Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of sum-may judgment.
. Motion ¶ 34, at 8; Holly does not address this numbered fact. Therefore, the Court takes this fact as undisputed for purposes of summary judgment.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a).
. Mathews v. Denver Newspaper Agency LLP, 649 F.3d 1199, 1204 (10th Cir. 2011) (citation and internal quotations omitted).
. Ford v. Pryor, 552 F.3d 1174, 1178 (10th Cir. 2008) (citations omitted).
. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); see also Kerber v. Qwest Group Life Ins. Pían, 647 F.3d 950, 959 (10th Cir. 2011).
. See 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a) (2009).
. 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973).
. Thomas v. Avis Rent a Car, 408 Fed.Appx. 145, 152 (10th Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
. See Kellogg v. Energy Safety Servs. Inc., 544 F.3d 1121, 1124 (10th Cir. 2008).
. Motion at 13-15.
. Opposition at 12-20.
. Motion at 15.
. Opposition at 17.
. Morgan v. Hilti, Inc., 108 F.3d 1319, 1323 (10th Cir. 1997).
. Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
. Selenke v. Med. Imaging of Colorado, 248 F.3d 1249, 1261 (10th Cir. 2001) (quoting Kendrick v. Periske Transp. Servs., Inc., 220 F.3d 1220, 1231 (10th Cir. 2000)).
. Stover v. Martinez, 382 F.3d 1064, 1076 (10th Cir. 2004) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
. Id.
. Opposition at 17.
. See Holly's Ex. P-2, Anderson's Dep. 69:2-22 ("I would never instruct an employee to dispose of any files. I instructed her she was not to keep duplicate files in the office. I did not instruct her to dispose of anything.”).
. Holly’s Ex. G-l, Holly Dep. 185:1-5.
. Opposition at 18.
. Holly’s Ex. G-6, Holly Dep. 198:25-199:1.
. Opposition at 18.
. Id. at 19 (citing Holly's Ex. V, Decision of Workforce Appeals Board).
. Id. at 20.
. Id.
. Morgan, 108 F.3d at 1323.
. Jaramillo v. Colorado Judicial Dep’t, 427 F.3d 1303, 1308 (10th Cir. 2005), as modified on denial of reh'g (Dec. 20, 2005).
. Opposition at 20 (citing Ex. G-15 & 16).
. Defendant's Ex. A, Holly’s Dep.. 141:23-143:16.
. Opposition at 20-21.
. See Complaint at 12; Opposition at 21.
. Id.
. 42 U.S.C. § 12203(b).
. Selenke, 248 F.3d at 1264 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
. Stover, 382 F.3d at 1070 ("[W]e analyze a retaliation claim under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework.”).
. Selenke, 248 F.3d at 1264.
. Id. (citing Krouse v. American Sterilizer Co., 126 F.3d 494, 502 (3d Cir. 1997) (“Unlike a plaintiff in an ADA discrimination case, a plaintiff in an ADA retaliation case need not establish that he is a ‘qualified individual with a disability.' By its own terms, the ADA retaliation provision protects 'any individual’ who has opposed any act or practice made unlawful by the ADA.”)).
. Metzler v. Fed. Home Loan Bank of Topeka, 464 F.3d 1164, 1171 (10th Cir. 2006)-(quoting Garrett v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 305 F.3d 1210, 1221 (10th Cir. 2002)).
. Id.
. Opposition at 17.
. Metzler, 464 F.3d at 1172.
. Opposition at 22.
. See 29 U.S.C. § 2615.
. Metzler, 464 F.3d at 1170.
. See Complaint at 13; Opposition Memorandum at 22-25. Aside from referencing § 2615(a)(2) in the Complaint, nothing else in the Complaint or Opposition Memorandum suggests Holly intended to bring a retaliation claim arising from § 2615(a)(2) instead of or in addition to her interference claim.
. Dalpiaz v. Carbon Cnty., Utah, 760 F.3d ■ 1126, 1132 (10th Cir. 2014) (quoting Campbell v. Gambro Healthcare, Inc., 478 F.3d 1282, 1287 (10th Cir. 2007)).
. Campbell, 478 F.3d at 1287-88.
. Dalpiaz, 760 F.3d at 1132.
. Smith v. Diffee Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, Inc. 298 F.3d 955, 960 (10th Cir. 2002).
. Dalpiaz, 760 F.3d at 1132 (quoting Campbell, 478 F.3d at 1287).
. Id.
. Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
. Defendant, while addressing Holly's first FMLA interference claim — reinstatement with restrictions — does dispute whether Holly's condition amounted to a "serious health condition” entitling her to FMLA leave. See Reply at 23. Holly's first FMLA interference claim is, however, resolved on other grounds.
.Opposition at 23.
. Id. at 24.
. Certification of Health Care provide for Employee's Serious Health Condition, Holly’s Ex. K.
. Complaint at 7.
. Complaint at 7-8; Opposition at 23.
. Opposition at 23.
. Reply Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment at 24, docket no. 20, filed April 17, 2014.
. See 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1)(D).
. 29 U.S.C. § 2614(a)(1); 29 C.F.R. § 825.214.
. 29 C.F.R. § 825.216(c).
. Id.
. Id.
. Gilliard v. Ga. Dep't of Corr., 500 Fed. Appx. 860, 865 (11th Cir. 2012) (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 825.702(a)).
. Battle v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 438 F.3d 856, 865 (8th Cir. 2006) (citing former 29 C.F.R. § 825.214(b)).
. Macfarlan v. Ivy Hill SNF, LLC, 675 F.3d 266, 271 (3d Cir. 2012) (quoting Rinehimer v. Cemcolift, Inc., 292 F.3d 375 (3d Cir. 2002)).
. Tardie v. Rehab. Hosp. of Rhode Island, 168 F.3d 538, 544 (1st Cir. 1999).
. See Holly’s Ex. Q.
. Opposition at 24.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Dalpiaz v. Carbon Cnty., Utah, 760 F.3d 1126, 1132 (10th Cir. 2014) (quoting Campbell v. Gambro Healthcare, Inc., 478 F.3d 1282, 1287 (10th Cir. 2007)).
. Dalpiaz, 760 F.3d at 1131-33.
. Opposition at 25.
. DeFreitas v. Horizon Inv. Mgmt. Corp., 577 F.3d 1151, 1160 (10th Cir. 2009).
. See e.g., Brown v. ScriptPro, LLC, 700 F.3d 1222, 1228-29 (10th Cir. 2012) (Noting that although Plaintiff was dismissed two days after requesting FMLA leave, the uncontro-verted evidence established that Defendant's termination of Plaintiff's employment was unrelated to Plaintiff's request for FMLA leave).
. Bones v. Honeywell Int’l, Inc., 366 F.3d 869, 877 (10th Cir. 2004).
. See Buckley Constr., Inc. v. Shawnee Civic & Cultural Dev. Authority, 933 F.2d 853, 855 n. 2 (10th Cir. 1991) (affirming trial court’s dismissal of claims never addressed in the opposition memorandum).
. McNeil v. Kennecott Utah Copper Corp., No. 2:08CV41DAK, 2009 WL 2554726 (D.Utah Aug. 18, 2009) aff'd sub nom. McNeil v. Kennecott Holdings, 381 Fed.Appx. 791 (10th Cir. 2010); see also U.C.A. § 34a-5-107(15) & (16).
. Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum in Support, docket no. 16, filed February 27, 2014.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Michele HOLLY v. KINDRED HEALTHCARE OPERATING, INC.
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published