DITTER, District Judge.
Plaintiff, D'Anna Fuoco, has filed this employment discrimination action against
D'Anna Fuoco was hired by Lehigh in September 1997, as an office manager in the Department of Transition and Assessment Services. In 2002, she applied for and accepted a secretary position in the Office of Admissions and remained in that role until January 2008, when she began working as a coordinator in Lehigh's Office of Multicultural Affairs. Fuoco's employment with Lehigh was terminated on September 23, 2010.
Fuoco's history of medical issues, including alleged physical and mental impairments, as well as her relevant work-performance record, are described below.
Fuoco concedes that from 1997 to 2002, while working in the Department of Transition and Assessment Services, she never notified any of her supervisors of any disabilities or impairments. Pl.'s Response to Def.'s Statement of Undisputed Facts ("Pl.'s Facts") ¶ 4. The record does not reflect that Fuoco was diagnosed with any impairment during this time, and Fuoco does not contend that any alleged disability impacted her daily life, including her work performance. See Fuoco Dep. at 20 (testifying she was not aware of her disabilities during this time); id. at 17-18 (noting that her performance appraisals were average).
While Fuoco was employed in the Office of Admissions, from 2002 to 2007, she was supervised by Lisa Dubreuil and Bruce Bunnick. Fuoco's work performance was satisfactory until late-2005. Around September 2005, Fuoco was assigned additional responsibilities because another employee in the department was terminated. Overwhelmed by the added duties, Fuoco asked Dubreuil if she could be relieved from answering the phones because it distracted her from her other work. See Fuoco Dep. at 27-28. Dubreuil denied her request.
A month later, on October 29, 2005, Fuoco and Dubreuil met and Fuoco was reprimanded for poor work performance. During this meeting, Dubreuil discussed with Fuoco the various problems observed with her work, focusing on areas related to communication, organization, and follow through, as well as attention to detail. See
Thereafter, prior to Christmas 2005, Fuoco received a poor performance evaluation and was placed on probation. It is unclear exactly how long this probation period lasted or what took place between Fuoco and her supervisors, but presumably she completed the necessary probationary period. There is nothing else in the record related to Fuoco's work performance leading up to her departure from the Office of Admissions at the end of 2007.
In explaining what led to the above-mentioned disciplinary issues and work-related problems, Fuoco testified that in late 2005 she was experiencing significant stress at home as she was caring for her daughter who nearly died from an overdose, as well as the added stress at work caused by her new duties. Fuoco Dep. at 30-31. In early 2006, Fuoco took a four month leave of absence, either under the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") or short-term disability, in order to care for her daughter. Id. at 36. Fuoco testified that despite taking the leave to care for her daughter, she "might have lied" to Lehigh as to the reason and recalled submitting a physician's certificate wherein the doctor "wrote [her] an excuse to take time off" and believed that the doctor said she was depressed. Id. at 36-37. Fuoco took the leave without any difficulty from Lehigh. Id. at 37.
Fuoco also submitted as part of the record a letter addressed to her then-supervisor, Dubreuil, copying Eric Kaplan in Human Resources, dated May 13, 2005, apologizing for "the position I put you and my coworkers in due to my absences over the past six months." Pl.'s Br., Doc. 23-7.
At her deposition, Fuoco stated that during this time she was unaware of any underlying learning disability, such as ADD, or any stress disorder. Fuoco Dep. at 32. Indeed, Fuoco acknowledged that she thought any problems she was experiencing were due to her alcohol and drug addiction. Id. Other than the May 13, 2005 letter addressed to Dubreuil, Fuoco did not testify that she informed her supervisors of any other mental impairment she was experiencing.
Fuoco also testified about having filled out FMLA paperwork at some point and listing alcoholism and depression as the reason for her potential leave. This paperwork was not provided as part of the record, but Fuoco thought she completed it after returning from the leave to care for her daughter in 2006. Id. at 38, 53. It is clear that Fuoco never actually took this particular FMLA leave. Pl.'s Facts ¶ 21 ("[Plaintiff] believed having the paperwork in place would protect her. Yet, Plaintiff never ended up taking FMLA leave."). Fuoco explained that she filled out the paperwork just in case she needed it and thought she submitted it to Human Resources
Fuoco also believed that she started seeing a physician during this time period for the treatment of migraine headaches. Id. at 64-65. She testified that all of her co-workers, as well as several of her supervisors, were aware she experienced migraines. Id. at 77. Finally, around October 2007, Fuoco was involved in a car accident and was injured. While she did not receive surgery for these injuries until 2009, she testified that she thinks she may have taken a couple of days or a week medical leave around the time of the accident. Id. at 46-47.
Fuoco began working in the Office of Multicultural Affairs as a coordinator on January 3, 2008. Her job responsibilities included coordinating events and meetings, maintaining the office calendar, including that of her supervisor, and making arrangements for various student activities. Def.'s Statement of Undisputed Facts ("Def.'s Facts") ¶ 16; Fuoco Dep. at 133. Fuoco was supervised initially by John McKnight and later by Jame'l Hodges. Def.'s Facts ¶ 17-18. Alison Gelati was Hodges's supervisor.
Fuoco's employment during 2008 appears to have been without incident. Fuoco's first full-year appraisal was satisfactory, but her then-supervisor noted concerns due to her absenteeism. Fuoco explained that this absenteeism was due to having doctors' appointments and physical therapy stemming from her earlier car accident, as well as her other physical ailments including a heart murmur and migraine headaches. Fuoco Dep. at 71-74. According to Lehigh, Fuoco's next performance appraisal, for the year ending December 31, 2009, reflected a rating of "needs improvement" and contained comments from her then-supervisor, Hodges, as to excessive absences and "balancing personal and work related issues." Zavalydriga Aff. ¶ 16.
In April 2009, Fuoco underwent surgery to alleviate the pain she was experiencing from a crushed or herniated disc that was a result of the 2007 car accident. Fuoco Dep. at 71-72; Pl.'s Br., Doc. 23-8. Fuoco took leave for this surgery and subsequent recovery, although it is unclear whether that leave was under FMLA, short-term disability, vacation, or a combination thereof. See Pl.'s Br., Doc. 23-8 (Fuoco's short-term disability paperwork); LU 000275; Doc. 23-9 (April 1, 2009 letter from Human Resources notifying Fuoco that her current leave was being designated as FMLA leave).
Moreover, the record reflects that throughout the remainder of 2009 and the first half of 2010, Fuoco was never denied the opportunity to take time off or miss work for any appointments. In fact, the opposite is true as Lehigh permitted Fuoco to often miss work due to her own and her family's medical needs. See, e.g., Pl.'s Br., LU 000256 (August 26, 2009 return to work doctor's note due to "illness"); LU 000259 (September 11, 2009 doctor's note from an ob/gyn providing an excuse from work); LU 000273 (November 24, 2009 email from Fuoco to Hodges regarding her making a "last minute" doctor's appointment over her lunch hour); LU 000263 (January 11, 2010 email from Fuoco to Hodges concerning her eye problems and need to see an ophthalmologist); LU 000268 (March 24, 2010 email to Hodges regarding a dentist appointment); LU 000266-267 (April and May 2010 emails to Hodges that she will be taking time off to care for her son after his oral surgery); LU 000258, LU 000265 (July 2010 internal email informing recipients that Fuoco was not coming to work due to a migraine and her plan to see a doctor, and corresponding emergency room form providing an excuse from work on that day). Indeed, Fuoco's attorney acknowledged during oral argument that there was nothing Fuoco ever requested that was denied by Lehigh.
In addition to her excessive absences, in the summer of 2010, Fuoco's work performance deteriorated, and eventually she was terminated on September 23, 2010. More specifically, in August 2010, Lehigh contends, and Fuoco agrees, the Office of Multicultural Affairs had scheduled a trip for students to Dorney Park, a local amusement park, as part of its "Preclusion Program," which was an orientation program for new students. See Fuoco Dep. at 122. Fuoco was tasked with reserving the admission tickets ahead of time, something she admits she failed to do, resulting in the school's having to pay more for the tickets at the gate. See id. at 122-125. Additionally, on September 10, 2010, Fuoco and Hodges did not arrive for a mandatory breakfast meeting because Fuoco failed to add it to either of their calendars. Id. at 133 (admitting she was responsible for keeping Hodge's calendar). Although Fuoco was later directed to attend the meeting, she failed to do so. Zavalydriga Aff. ¶ 20.
As a result of these incidents, Fuoco was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan ("PIP") on September 13, 2010. However, the same week she was placed on the PIP, Fuoco made additional mistakes, including listing the wrong month for an event on the department's Facebook page and not purchasing CDs as directed for an orientation program. See Zavalydriga Aff. ¶ 22-23. Then, on September 22, Fuoco failed to order food or decorations for the office's Hispanic Heritage Days event — another error she acknowledges that she committed. Fuoco Dep. at 145 (admitting she did not order the food); Zavalydriga Aff. ¶ 25. Fuoco was out of the office on vacation that day and failed to make the necessary arrangements beforehand.
As a result, during a meeting on September 22, 2010, several people, including Fuoco's supervisors, the Dean of Students, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs, and an assistant general counsel, met and made the decision to terminate Fuoco the following day, when she was scheduled to work. Zavalydriga Aff. ¶ 26. The reason cited by Lehigh was that "the University had lost confidence in her ability to effectively perform the duties of her position." Id. ¶ 12.
On the morning of September 23, Fuoco called and left a voicemail for Hodges notifying him that she was concerned for her well-being and would not be coming into work. Fuoco testified that she also said in her message that she was "going to call my doctor and make an appointment to be seen immediately, possibly even go to the hospital." Fuoco Dep. at 158-59. Then later that day, Lehigh notified Fuoco, through her boyfriend,
Fuoco started to realize around the month before her termination (i.e. August/September 2010) that something was wrong, but she did not know if it was her "disability or menopause." Fuoco Dep. at 49. She explained that after she forgot to put the staff meeting on Hodge's calendar, Fuoco spoke with both Hodges and Gelati and expressed her concern that something was wrong with her. Fuoco stated that to Gelati she said she "might have a medical condition going on" and that she was not sure "what is going on ... whether it's [her] age or a disability [she's] having." Id. at 93-95. Asked what possible reasons she would have given, she said "menopause, my age, and ADHD and I don't think I said anything about my alcoholism." Id. at 96. Fuoco also alleges that she told Gelati that while she was not sure exactly what was wrong with her, she was "going to try and find out what it is so that I can be accountable in this position." Id. at 93-95.
Fuoco testified that she spoke with Hodges after the Dorney Park mishap and "told him about the possibilities of what is going on" and that she was going to get tested. Id. at 125.
When asked who initially diagnosed her with ADD, Fuoco was unsure whether it was Dr. Abel Gonzalez or her neurologist, Dr. Gould. Id. at 64. Asked when she
After her termination, in early October 2010, Fuoco emailed human resources to inform them that she was taking medical leave, and sent a doctor's note as an excuse for not coming to work from September 23 through October 5.
Eighteen months later, in April 2012,
The standard for summary judgment is well established. I must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. If there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, summary judgment is appropriate. An issue is genuine only if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.
However, the non-moving party cannot rely on unsupported assertions, conclusory allegations, or mere suspicions to defeat a summary judgment motion. Here, Fuoco must "do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Corp. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). She "must present affirmative evidence in order to defeat a properly supported motion" and cannot "simply reassert factually unsupported allegations." Williams v. Borough of West Chester, 891 F.2d 458, 460 (3d Cir.1989). She cannot "merely rely upon conclusory allegations in her pleadings or in memoranda and briefs." Harter v. GAF Corp., 967 F.2d 846, 852 (3d Cir.1992).
The ADA prohibits an employer from "discriminat[ing] against a qualified
Discrimination under the ADA encompasses not only employers' adverse actions against employees that are "motivated by prejudice and fear of disabilities, but also includes failing to make reasonable accommodations for [an employee's] disabilities." Id. In other words, an employer can unlawfully "discriminate" within the meaning of the ADA in two different ways that are relevant to the present case: (1) if the employer takes adverse action against a qualified individual with a disability and that decision was motivated by the individual's actual disability or the employer's belief that the individual had a disability (i.e. disparate treatment); or (2) if the employer fails to make reasonable accommodations for that individual. The ADA specifically states that an employer discriminates when it does "not mak[e] 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).
Before considering whether Lehigh discriminated against Fuoco, I will first examine whether Fuoco has established that she was disabled within the meaning of the ADA — in other words, that she is a member of the protected class that the ADA intended to cover.
The ADA defines "disability" in three ways: (1) a physical or mental impairment
To establish that she suffered from an actual disability, Fuoco must point to evidence that she suffered from a physical or mental impairment and that the impairment substantially limited one of her "major life activities." "Major life activities" include such things as, caring for oneself, walking, breathing, and more relevant in this case, learning, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. See 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A). While the terms of the ADA are interpreted broadly, the determination of whether a plaintiff's impairment "substantially limits" a major life activity will require an individualized assessment that compares the person's ability to perform the activity as compared to most people in the general population. See id. § 12102(4)(A); 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j). This analysis will consider several factors, including the nature of the impairment, the condition and manner in which the individual performs the major life activity, and the duration of time it takes the person to perform the major life activity. See 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(3, 4). Finally, the "substantially limits" assessment will not consider the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures (i.e. medications or reasonable accommodations). 42 U.S.C. § 12102(4)(E).
Although characterized by uncertain and contradictory assertions, Fuoco's evidence read fairly shows that she was suffering from a variety of physical and mental impairments for many years. During her employment with Lehigh, she believed and told others that her problems were the result of alcohol and drug addictions and menopause.
While Fuoco provides evidence and testimony concerning an array of ailments — she long suffered from migraine headaches (Fuoco Dep. at 64-65, 76-77), has endured a lengthy battle with drug and alcohol addiction (id. at 13, 46, 64, 68, 79), was involved in a car accident resulting in back injury that eventually required surgery (id. at 71-72), and had a host of other problems, including a heart murmur (id. at 74), severe anemia (id. at 106-107), memory loss (id. at 106), stress-related anxiety (id. at 51, 58), and menopause (id. at 172) — in her response to Lehigh's motion for summary judgment, the only impairments that Fuoco mentions qualify as disabilities under the statute are depression and ADD, also at times referred to by Fuoco and Dr. Medlar, as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ("ADHD"). Pl.'s Br. at 3.
It is undisputed that depression and ADD are mental impairments covered under the ADA. See 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(h) (definition of mental impairment). Fuoco further contends that these impairments substantially limited her ability to perform the major life activities of learning how to cope with new job functions, working, and cognitive function. Pl.'s Br. at 3, 11. Learning, working, and thinking are specifically listed in the statute as major life activities. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A).
Nevertheless, the issue is whether Fuoco has shown that she actually suffered from depression and ADD and whether those impairments substantially limited
Despite the arguments in plaintiff's response to the motion for summary judgment, Fuoco's counsel conceded at oral argument that depression had nothing to do with the problems she experienced preceding her termination in 2010. This concession is justified based on the evidence of this case. Fuoco offers no documentation of a depression diagnosis. Moreover, nothing in the record indicates Fuoco experienced symptoms of depression, sought treatment for it, mentioned it to anyone at Lehigh, or herself believed she suffered from depression after 2006. Furthermore, Fuoco points to no evidence in the record, and in fact makes no argument, as to how depression had any impact on a major life activity.
I find that Fuoco has not pointed to sufficient evidence creating a triable issue of fact as to whether she suffered from depression during the relevant time period or whether her depression substantially limited any major life activity. Thus, Fuoco was not disabled within the meaning of the statute due to her depression. Moreover, because Fuoco conceded that depression was not a factor near the time of her termination, I will limit the remainder of my discussion to ADD.
Fuoco asserts that in the summer of 2010 something was wrong with her and she underwent several tests, but did not learn the results, including a diagnosis for ADD, severe anemia, and memory loss, until after she was fired. See Fuoco Dep. at 65-66. Since Fuoco did not provide any documentation of these diagnoses, there is no way to know if they were accompanied by treatment-recommendations for ADD — and if they were, whether or not she acted upon them and whether or not they were effective, nor did she testify about these matters.
Dr. Medlar's April 2012 report, created some 18 months after her termination, concluded she then met the OVR criteria for ADHD based on the "reported history, diagnostic interview, and assessment results." See Def.'s Br., Exh. F. That "reported history" was that Fuoco told him she had been "previously diagnosed with AD/HD in 2010." Id. Dr. Medlar did not say he reviewed any documentation of that diagnosis or that any was made available to him. Moreover, meeting these criteria is not the same as a diagnosis from a treating or examining physician. As indicated in the report, Dr. Medlar was not one of her healthcare providers. Thus, Dr. Medlar's report is not evidence that she was diagnosed with ADD in 2012 or 2010, nor is it evidence that she met the OVR criteria in 2010.
However, accepting that Fuoco was diagnosed as having ADD in 2010,
Fuoco's own testimony is contradictory as to when she started to experience conditions that she now believes came from ADD. On the one hand, Fuoco testified that, although she did not know she had ADD, she always struggled with forgetting and making mistakes and paying attention to detail. Fuoco Dep. at 31-32. She testified that she "knew [she] was ADD all [her] life based on [her] life and [her] ability to organize and attend and remember and concentrate." Id. at 50. Fuoco also testified that she had problems with "communication," so that sometime while working in the Office of Admissions, which was from 2002 to 2007, she began asking for everything to be put in writing rather than people giving her "oral directives." Id. at 81-84.
If Fuoco contends that she has always had ADD, then her claim of having an impairment that substantially limited the major life activities of working, thinking, and learning, is defeated as she clearly managed to cope with the undiagnosed ADD all her life without considerable difficulty — that is, she managed to work for Lehigh for nearly 13 years (including almost five years after her 2005 discipline) and to hold down prior jobs. In addition, she took classes at DeSales University towards obtaining a college degree. See id. at 8-16; Def.'s Br., Exh. F. In short, despite her problems, Fuoco was able to perform the duties of her employment.
On the other hand, Fuoco testified that she was not diagnosed with ADD until September 2010, and that she only became "really concerned" that "something was going on" in the summer of 2010, when she started to make mistakes at work. See Fuoco Dep. at 49, 52, 93. Fuoco stated that she was unsure if she was affected by her "disability or menopause" and by disability she meant, "untreated alcoholism and my ADD." Id. at 49-50. However, she does not establish how those mistakes were linked to her ADD and merely making mistakes at work is not sufficient to establish a causal connection to a potential disability.
Even if she did not have a diagnosis, or a name for the problem she was experiencing at the time, Fuoco must point to evidence as to why her ability to think, learn, and do her job were impaired or made more difficult, or specifically in the months prior to her termination, how things had gotten significantly worse or what occurred to exacerbate her condition.
Fuoco offers nothing other than her speculative and subjective belief that her problems were the result of her ADD. This is not enough to establish that her ability to work, think, or learn were impaired by ADD, as opposed to any other reason. Moreover, a mere preference for written rather than oral directions, general forgetfulness, and a proclivity for getting overwhelmed with too much information or when schedules become busy are insufficient to establish that she suffered from ADD to the extent that the disorder substantially limited her ability to think, learn, or work. Indeed, I would think most people prefer directions in writing and get overwhelmed with an abundance of information. See Warshaw v. Concentra Health Servs., 719 F.Supp.2d 484, 494-95 (E.D.Pa.2010) (noting that "occasional forgetfulness is not an unusually restrictive limitation on cognitive function ... nor is remembering particular facts later than one wishes").
Thus, even bearing in mind that the amended version of the ADA "requires a less searching analysis of whether a plaintiff is substantially limited," I find that Fuoco has not provided sufficient evidence to raise a genuine issue of fact as to whether she was disabled due to her ADD. See Mills v. Temple Univ., 869 F.Supp.2d 609, 620 (E.D.Pa.2012).
Alternatively, Fuoco contends that she was "regarded as being disabled." Pl.'s Br. at 15. However, Fuoco offers nothing other than bare, unsupported assertions in her brief that she was "viewed as being disabled."
Because I find that no reasonable fact-finder could conclude that Fuoco was actually disabled or regarded as disabled within the meaning of the ADA, summary judgment in favor of Lehigh was required on this finding alone. Nevertheless, I will analyze the remainder of Fuoco's discrimination claims.
Even if Fuoco had sufficiently established that she had a disability under the
Fuoco does not argue that there is direct evidence of discrimination; therefore she may present circumstantial evidence of unlawful employment practices, and that evidence will be considered under the familiar three-stage McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting analysis. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973); see also Matczak v. Frankford Candy and Chocolate Co., 136 F.3d 933, 938 (3d Cir.1997) (McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework applies to ADA disparate treatment claim).
To survive a motion for summary judgment, Fuoco must first come forward with evidence to establish a prima facie case of discrimination. As stated above, she would need to show that she was a disabled person within the meaning of the ADA, she was qualified, and she suffered an adverse employment decision as a result of discrimination. Shaner v. Synthes, 204 F.3d 494, 500 (3d Cir.2000). If Fuoco establishes a prima facie case, the burden of production then shifts to her former employer, Lehigh, to articulate some legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for her rejection. If Lehigh does so, the burden of production shifts back to Fuoco for the third stage of the McDonnell Douglas analysis, where she must point to sufficient evidence from which a fact-finder could reasonably conclude that the legitimate reasons offered by Lehigh were not its true reasons, but were a pretext for discrimination. See Olson v. General Elec. Astrospace, 101 F.3d 947, 951 (3d Cir. 1996); Fuentes v. Perskie, 32 F.3d 759, 764 (3d Cir.1994). At all times, the burden of persuasion rests with Fuoco.
Turning to Fuoco's prima facie case, and accepting for purposes of this discussion that she was disabled and otherwise qualified, I find that Fuoco fails to raise even an inference that her disability was factored into the adverse employment decision at issue, her termination.
Fuoco acknowledges that the ADD diagnosis did not come to her until after she was terminated and therefore no one could have known about this alleged disability, yet alone considered it as part of the decision to fire her. Nevertheless, Fuoco claims that she informed Lehigh of her "illness" and was then terminated almost immediately thereafter. Pl.'s Br. at 13. However, to find causation based on temporal
Even if Fuoco could establish a prima facie case, she has failed to refute any of Lehigh's proffered legitimate reasons for her termination or otherwise shown that those reasons were a pretext for discrimination. Lehigh has explained that it lost confidence in Fuoco's ability to do her job correctly, and cites to specific mistakes it alleges she made in August and September 2010, including the mistake with respect to Heritage Days on September 22, 2010, that Lehigh considered significant and one that directly contributed to its decision to terminate her.
Not only does Fuoco have no response as to these reasons for her termination, or even attempt to discredit them, she admits she made the mistakes cited by Lehigh. Instead, Fuoco tries to prove pretext by arguing that she had satisfactory performance "prior to her notifying the Defendant of her health issues" and that "there is very little evidence of progressive steps of discipline in this case." Pl.'s Br. at 14. However, the record demonstrates that Fuoco's contention is simply not true, as she had previously been reprimanded by her supervisor for poor work performance, placed on probation for a period of time in late 2005/early 2006, received a performance evaluation reflecting "improvement needed," and finally, in September 2010, placed on a PIP after the Dorney Park incident and other mistakes Lehigh contends she made. Then, according to Lehigh, it finally made the decision to fire Fuoco after she failed to order necessary items for Heritage Days — a mistake she made while still on the PIP and one considered significant because it was a key-job responsibility.
Thus, Fuoco has pointed to no evidence demonstrating "such weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or contradictions" in Lehigh's proffered reasons such that a fact-finder could find them "unworthy of credence." Fuentes, 32 F.3d at 765. Fuoco simply has not come forward with any evidence from which a fact-finder could reasonably either disbelieve Lehigh's articulated reasons, or believe that discrimination on account of disability was more likely than not a motivating or determinative cause of Lehigh's employment decision. As Fuoco fails to meet her burden of demonstrating pretext, I granted summary judgment in favor of Lehigh on plaintiff's disparate treatment claim.
As stated above, an employer can be liable for discrimination under the ADA if the employer does not make "reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability" unless the employer "can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship
Once a qualified individual with a disability requests reasonable accommodation, that notice would trigger the employer's duty to engage in an "interactive process" with the individual to determine what accommodations would overcome his or her limitations. See Taylor, 184 F.3d at 311-313, 315.
The first issue then is whether Lehigh had notice of Fuoco's disability. Lehigh argues that it was never put on "actual or constructive notice" of Fuoco's ADD and it was only notified of Fuoco's possible cognitive disorder after her termination. Def.'s Br. at 15. Lehigh claims that it first received "medical notice of the possibility that she might have a cognitive disorder on October 7, 2010" when Fuoco submitted a letter to Human Resources from Dr. Marie Buschi indicating Fuoco was undergoing cognitive testing and should be excused from work. See id. at 13; Zavalydriga Aff. ¶ 33.
Fuoco, on the other hand, argues that Lehigh had knowledge of Fuoco's "various health problems." Pl.'s Br. at 21. Fuoco points to several documents in the record to support her claim that Lehigh knew of her medical issues. However, the issue is not whether Lehigh was aware that Fuoco, or her family members for that matter, had a multitude of health problems varying in type and severity, and spanning the course of many years.
Fuoco refers to the April 2012 report by Dr. Medlar and argues that the report's reference to her diagnosis with ADD in 2010 somehow suggests that Lehigh knew or should have known about Fuoco's ADD at that time. However, as Fuoco has acknowledged, that diagnosis, even if she learned of it in 2010, was after her employment with Lehigh ended. With respect to the same report, Fuoco also argues that Dr. Medlar's reference to her struggle with mental health issues for "most of her life" means that Lehigh must have known of these same issues because Fuoco filled out a short-term disability benefits form in April 2009 that authorized Lehigh to have access to all of plaintiff's medical records. Fuoco reasons that, "the same evidence that led Dr. Medlar to refer to Plaintiff's lifelong struggle with mental health problems was made readily available to Lehigh University by virtue of that April 10, 2009 short-term disability form." Pl.'s Br. at 23. A closer look at the April 10, 2009 disability form, however, indicates that Fuoco authorized the release of records to Lehigh as needed to review her application for disability to recover from her back surgery. See id., Doc. 23-8. Fuoco's argument fails for obvious reasons as it is based entirely on speculation as to whether any records pertaining to her mental health existed and, if they did exist, whether they were made available for Lehigh's review. A finder of fact in this case would not be able to determine if Fuoco's medical records support her claims as she has not produced them.
Ultimately, there is only Fuoco's claim that she told her supervisor, Jame'l Hodges, about her ADD. Pl.'s Br. at 22; Pl.'s Facts ¶ 20. Yet, as I have repeatedly noted, Fuoco was not made aware of her diagnosis with ADD until after she was terminated, thus precluding her claim that she informed Hodges of that diagnosis. Thus, the question is whether Lehigh should have known before her termination that Fuoco was suffering from ADD, a disability that was not identified as ADD until after her termination.
Fuoco testified that in the summer of 2010, when she contends her condition deteriorated and she made errors at work, she informed Alison Gelati that something was wrong, or that she "might have a medical condition" and was not sure whether it was her "age or a disability" but she was going to try and find out what it was. Fuoco Dep. at 95. Fuoco testified that she told Hodges, her immediate supervisor, that she was going to "make some doctor appointments because I think I got some disability or menopause going on that is affecting my capabilities." Id. at 132. She then told Hodges she was getting tests done. Id. at 132-33. Even if her claims are fully credited, this is simply not sufficient to have put Lehigh on notice of a possible disability or what it was. What she told her supervisors in combination with the other information Lehigh knew at the time — namely that Fuoco had many absences due to various types of appointments and medical issues, in addition to Fuoco having made some mistakes at work — is not enough for a reasonable fact-finder to conclude that Lehigh knew or should have known Fuoco had ADD.
Even if Fuoco did put Lehigh on notice of her disability, she would also have the burden of demonstrating that she requested
"What information the employee's initial notice must include depends on what the employer knows." Id. at 313. By way of illustration, the Taylor Court discussed a case where the employee mentioned to his employer that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but did not offer further information about his disorder and "could not confirm that he ever explicitly asked for an accommodation or help of any sort." Id. The Court opined, "[u]nder these circumstances, the employee has not given sufficient notice to trigger the employer's duty to engage in the interactive process." Id. The Court then contrasted that case with the facts before it where the employee became psychotic at work, the employer knew she was hospitalized immediately after, the employer had been contacted by the hospital and knew how to get more information from the employee or her physician if needed. The Court stated that it was not essential that the employer knew the specific name of the employee's condition, as it was clear that the employer knew the individual "exhibited serious psychiatric problems and those problems were severe enough" to require hospitalization and continuing treatment. Id. at 314.
Fuoco has not pointed to evidence from which a reasonable fact-finder could conclude that Lehigh knew that she was disabled and that she requested accommodation from Lehigh, and therefore, the interactive process was triggered. Fuoco's counsel conceded at oral argument that during her 13 years at Lehigh there was never a request Fuoco made that was refused by Lehigh.
Instead, Fuoco's position is that Lehigh should have known she needed a reasonable accommodation and should have engaged
No reasonable fact-finder could conclude that Fuoco's vague statements about what was wrong with her and her plan to make doctors' appointments and undergo some testing, even in combination with her history of missed work and medical issues,
In sum, under these circumstances Lehigh cannot be held liable for failure to have perceived there was a disability and from that perception, perceived that a reasonable accommodation was required. As Fuoco did not provide adequate notice to Lehigh as to her disability or her desire for accommodation, the interactive process was not triggered and Lehigh was entitled to summary judgment on Fuoco's failure to accommodate claim.
For the above stated reasons, summary judgment in favor of Lehigh was granted as to all of Fuoco's claims.
AND NOW, this 8th day of November, 2013, in accordance with the opinion delivered this day,
IT IS ORDERED that Judgment be and the same is hereby entered in favor of the defendant, Lehigh University, and against the plaintiff, D'Anna Fuoco.
Fuoco also alleged in her complaint violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and related state law, but she later voluntarily withdrew her age discrimination claims.
