Filed: Jun. 21, 2007
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS June 21, 2007 FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 06-50840 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Plaintiff - Appellant v. MOTHER’S WORK INC Defendant - Appellee Consolidated with No. 06-51149 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Plaintiff - Appellee v. MOTHER’S WORK INC Defendant - Appellant Appeals from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Anto
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS June 21, 2007 FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 06-50840 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Plaintiff - Appellant v. MOTHER’S WORK INC Defendant - Appellee Consolidated with No. 06-51149 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Plaintiff - Appellee v. MOTHER’S WORK INC Defendant - Appellant Appeals from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Anton..
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United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
June 21, 2007
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 06-50840
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Plaintiff - Appellant
v.
MOTHER’S WORK INC
Defendant - Appellee
Consolidated with
No. 06-51149
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
MOTHER’S WORK INC
Defendant - Appellant
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio
(04-CV-873)
Before JOLLY, STEWART, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
These appeals arise from a disability discrimination suit
brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”)
against Mothers Work, Inc. (“Mothers Work”), in which the EEOC
alleges that Mothers Work terminated Monica Sarfaty (“Sarfaty”)
from her position as a regional manager because of her bipolar
disorder, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. The district court granted
summary judgment for Mothers Work, concluding that the EEOC
failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact that Sarfaty’s
bipolar disorder substantially limited a major life activity. In
addition, the district court found that any impairment suffered
by Sarfaty was corrected by the medication protocol established
for her by her doctors. Alternatively, the district court held
that the EEOC failed to present any evidence that at the time of
Sarfaty’s discharge, Mothers Work was aware that Sarfaty suffered
from bipolar disorder. In a subsequent order, the district court
denied Mothers Work’s motion for attorneys’ fees and most of the
requested costs.
The EEOC now appeals the district court’s adverse summary
judgment ruling, arguing that a reasonable jury could find (1)
that Sarfaty is disabled within the meaning of the ADA, (2) that
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R.
47.5.4.
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Sarfaty’s disability was a motivating factor in Mothers Work’s
decision to terminate her, and (3) that Mothers Work’s stated
reason for terminating Sarfaty was a pretext for discrimination.
Mothers Work cross-appeals the district court’s order on
attorneys’ fees and costs. These actions have been consolidated
on appeal, and this court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1291.
We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment de
novo, applying the same standard as the district court. See
Cutrera v. Bd. of Supervisors of La. State Univ.,
429 F.3d 108,
110 (5th Cir. 2005). We review the district court’s decision on
attorneys’ fees and costs for an abuse of discretion. See Mota
v. Univ. of Tex. Houston Health Sci. Ctr.,
261 F.3d 512, 527, 529
(5th Cir. 2001).
Having reviewed the briefs, the district court’s orders, and
the pertinent portions of the record, we find no error of law or
fact warranting reversal. Essentially for the reasons stated by
the district court, we agree that the EEOC has failed to create a
genuine issue of material fact that Sarfaty is a qualified
individual with a disability within the meaning of the ADA
because there is no evidence that she is substantially limited in
one or more major life activities. Because the EEOC has failed
to establish a prima facie case of discrimination under the ADA,
we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor
of Mothers Work. See Mason v. United Air Lines, Inc., 274 F.3d
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314, 316 (5th Cir. 2001).
In addition, we affirm the district court’s order denying
attorneys’ fees and certain costs to Mothers Work. For the
reasons given by the district court, we cannot conclude that the
EEOC’s action was “frivolous, unreasonable, or groundless,”
entitling the prevailing defendant to attorneys’ fees. See No
Barriers, Inc. v. Brinker Chili’s Tex., Inc.,
262 F.3d 496, 498
(5th Cir. 2001). We also find no abuse of discretion in the
district court’s refusal to award costs associated with video
depositions, the second deposition of Phillip Williams, and other
miscellaneous items, as these costs are either not authorized
under 28 U.S.C. § 1920 or, in the case of the Williams
deposition, precluded by a previous agreement between the
district court and Mothers Work. See 28 U.S.C. § 1920; see also
Mota, 261 F.3d at 529-30.
Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, we AFFIRM the
judgment of the district court.
AFFIRMED.
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