JOHN E. OTT, Chief Magistrate Judge.
This is an employment discrimination case. Plaintiff Orlando Cooper ("Cooper" or "the plaintiff") claims that CLP Corporation, doing business as McDonalds ("CLP" or "the defendant"), is liable under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. for disability discrimination and a hostile work environment. (Doc.
Pursuant to Rule 56 of the FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, party is authorized to move for summary judgment on all or part of a claim or defense asserted either by or against the movant. Under that rule, 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." FED. R. CIV. PROC. 56(a), Fed. R. Civ. The party moving for summary judgment "always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion," relying on submissions "which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986); see also Clark v. Coats & Clark, Inc., 929 F.2d 604, 608 (11th Cir. 1991); Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144 (1970). Once the moving party has met its burden, the nonmoving party must "go beyond the pleadings" and show that there is a genuine issue for trial. Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324.
Both the party "asserting that a fact cannot be," and a party asserting that a fact is genuinely disputed, must support their assertions by "citing to particular parts of materials in the record," or by "showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact." FED. R. CIV. PROC. 56(c)(1)(A) & (B). Acceptable materials under Rule 56(c)(1)(A) include "depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials." In its review of the evidence, a court must credit the evidence of the non-movant and draw all justifiable inferences in the non-movant's favor. Stewart v. Booker T. Washington Ins., 232 F.3d 844, 848 (11th Cir. 2000). At summary judgment, "the judge's function is not himself to weigh the evidence and determine the truth of the matter but to determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986).
The McDonald's restaurant on Acton Road in Birmingham, Alabama is a franchise of CLP. (Catherine Houston Dec. ("Houston Dec.") at ¶ 9).
After Cooper returned to work in 2013, Holmes engaged in name-calling related to his strabisums, which is more commonly referred to as "lazy eye." (Pl. Dep. at 106). Specifically, Cooper claims that Holmes made derogatory remarks towards him referencing his eye condition, including calling "cockeyed-ass" and "lazy-eyed." (Id. at 106-07). Cooper requested that Holmes stop calling him these derogatory names, but this only resulted in her sending him home early one day. (Id. at 116).
Cooper did complain about Holmes's name-calling to CLP District Manager Monica Love ("Love"). (Id. at 117). He does not know if Love ever spoke to Holmes regarding his complaint, but, according to Cooper, Holmes's name-calling did not cease after he spoke with Love. (Id. at 118). Cooper did not call the CLP human resources department to lodge a formal complaint. (Id.)
In early April 2013, Cooper wrote Holmes a letter, requesting that he be allowed to take off work April 11-13, so that he could be present at the hospital with his mother for the birth of his brother. (Id. at 85-86). He states that Holmes granted him permission by signing his letter, and further recording these dates in her scheduling book.
According to Holmes, she received a text message from Cooper on April 14, 2013, that included a picture of McDonald's food products in a freezer. The message sated, "The picture is food from your store in my freezer, and [other McDonald's employees] helped me get it." (Houston Dec. at ¶ 22; Pl. Dep. at 130-31; Holmes Dep. at 22, 51, 55, 76-77, 84). An investigation was conducted, the police were notified, and other McDonald's employees were terminated. (Houston Dec. at ¶¶ 22-25; Holmes Dep. at 77-80). Cooper vehemently denies that he took the picture, and he asserts that the freezer depicted in the picture is not his. (Pl. Dep. at 131-34).
The plaintiff alleges that CLP discriminated against him and subjected him to a hostile work environment on the basis of his strabisums or "lazy eye." (Comp. at 3-4). The defendant asserts that his claims are due to be dismissed because (1) he cannot establish a prima facie case of disparate treatment disability discrimination; (2) even assuming he could state a prima facie case of discrimination, the undisputed evidence shows CLP took all actions for legitimate, non-discriminatory, non-pretextual reasons; (3) he cannot state a prima facie case of a hostile work environment; (4) even assuming he could state a prima facie case, he cannot establish liability against CLP; and (5) the doctrine of after-acquired evidence forecloses back pay. (Def. Br. at 4).
Section 102(a) of the ADA prohibits "discriminat[ion] against a qualified individual on the basis of a disability in regard to job application procedures; the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees; employee compensation; job training; and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment." 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a). In order to establish a prima facie case of discrimination under the ADA, a plaintiff has the burden at trial to show: (1) that he is disabled; (2) that he is a qualified individual; and (3) that he was subjected to unlawful discrimination because of his disability. Mazzeo v. Color Resolutions Int'l, LLC, 746 F.3d 1264, 1268 (11th Cir. 2014) (citing Holly v. Clairson Industries, LLC, 492 F.3d 1247, 1255-56 (11th Cir. 2007)).
CLP argues that the plaintiff is not disabled. (Def. Br. at 17-23). Cooper responds that he is disabled and that CLP has incorrectly cited cases that precede the American with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 ("ADAAA"), which is applicable and requires a more expansive view of what constitutes a disability. (Pl. Br. at 14-18).
Disability is defined three ways under the ADA: (1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (2) a record of such impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1). Courts are guided by the regulations promulgated by the EEOC when applying the provisions of the ADA. Standard v. A.B.E.L. Servs., Inc., 161 F.3d 1318, 1327 n. 1 (11th Cir. 1998). Under the ADAAA, a disability is defined as, among other things, a "physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual." 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(g)(1)(i). An impairment qualifies as a disability if:
29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(1)(ii). "The new regulations [under the ADAAA] go on to explain that the term `substantially limits' is to be broadly construed `in favor of expansive coverage, to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA.'" Barlow v. Walgreen Co., 8:11-CV-71-T-30EAJ, 2012 WL 868807, *4 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 14, 2012) (citing 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(1)(i).
As noted above, the plaintiff alleges he suffers from strabismus or "lazy eye." It is undisputed that strabismus is a medical condition, so the relevant question is whether Cooper is disabled (prong one) or regarded-as disabled (prong three) under the applicable regulations.
Under the first prong for defining a disability, the court finds the plaintiff has not demonstrated that he has a disability under the ADAAA. The plaintiff testified that the strabismus does not limit him in any substantial way. He is able to work, play sports, and participate in other life activities. (Cooper Dep. at 103-04). His only limitation is when he covers his "good eye." When that eye is covered, his vision is impaired. By way of example, at his deposition, he was unable to see clearly across the table when he covered his left eye. (Id. at 102-03). However, when he uses both eyes, he is not limited at all.
Under the third prong for defining a disability — the "regarded-as" consideration, the question is not as simple.
Powell v. Gentiva Health Services, Inc., 2014 WL 554155, *7 n.14 (S.D. Ala. Feb. 12, 2014). Accord Snyder v. Livingston, 2012 WL 1493863 (S.D. Ind. April 27, 2012).
The defendant asserts that the plaintiff "has presented no evidence that CLP perceived him as having a disability. Even assuming, arguendo, Holmes referred to [the p]laintiff as `cockeyed' or `lazy-eyed,' such comments are insufficient to show that [the p]laintiff was regarded or perceived as having an impairment." (Def. Br. at 21). The plaintiff disagrees, arguing that the expansive coverage of the ADAAA compels that the motion be denied.
This issue distills to whether the regular use of pejorative terms by Holmes when addressing the plaintiff is sufficient to overcome the defendant's motion for summary judgment under the more liberal standards of the ADAAA. As noted above, the ADA landscape has changed with the passage of the ADAAA. Congress eased in part the evidentiary burden on ADA plaintiffs when it "announced that `the question of whether an individual's impairment is a disability under the ADA should not demand extensive analysis.'" Vaughan, 2014 WL 4978439, * 8 (citations omitted).
42 U.S.C. § 12102(3)(A) (italics added); see Vaughan, 2014 WL 4978439, *10 (citing Barlow, 2012 WL 868807, at *4 (holding that evidence a supervisor told the plaintiff that she could no longer work for the employer because she was disabled was sufficient to satisfy the "regarded as" prong of the disability definition under the ADAAA)); Harty v. City of Sanford, No. 6:11-cv-1041-Orl-31KRS, 2012 WL 3243282, *4 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 8, 2012) (holding that evidence the employer knew of the plaintiff's restrictions and the plaintiff's direct supervisor "asked [him] to resign because of [his] restrictions" is sufficient, under the ADAAA, to prove the employer regarded the plaintiff as disabled)). In an unpublished opinion, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has stated, "Because of that amendment, a plaintiff need demonstrate only that the employer regarded him as being impaired, not that the employer believed the impairment prevented the plaintiff from performing a major life activity." Wolfe v. Postmaster General, 488 F. App'x 465, 468 (11th Cir. Aug. 31, 2012).
The emphasis has shifted from whether the person is disabled to whether the defendant has met the requirements of the legislation. Harty, 2012 WL 3243282, *4. That is not to say that the first element for proving a claim is no longer viable. To the contrary, it remains, but in a less prominent position. Courts are instructed that "disability `shall be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals . . . to the maximum extent permitted by [the ADA].'" Abbott, 44 F. Supp. 3d at 1165 (citing 42 U.S.C. § 12102(4)(A) & 29 C.F.R. § 1630.1(c)(4)).
Applying the changes in the ADA to this case, the court is convinced that summary judgment still is due to be granted the defendant. Holmes's comments, while cruel and reprehensible, only demonstrate an awareness of Cooper's physical condition. They do not demonstrate that she regarded him as having a physical impairment. As noted by the court in Powell, "plenty of people with an `undesirable' physical characteristic are not impaired in any sense of the word." Id. at 2014 WL 554155, *7. That is the instance in this case. While Holmes's statements are clearly commentary on the plaintiff's physical appearance, they do not demonstrate that she regarded him as having an impairment. Accordingly, Cooper has failed to demonstrate a prima facie case of discrimination. Summary judgment is due to be granted on this claim.
Even assuming that the plaintiff could establish that the defendant regarded him as disabled, the defendant also argues that the plaintiff cannot demonstrate the third element of his prima facie case — that CLP unlawfully discriminated against him because of any disability. (Def. Br. at 23). Cooper argues that there is direct evidence of discrimination and there is a fact dispute as to whether he had permission to be off work. (Pl. Br. at 23-24).
Cooper may offer direct evidence in support of his claim of discrimination or he may use circumstantial evidence under the traditional framework established in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973). "To establish unlawful disparate treatment using circumstantial evidence, a plaintiff generally must demonstrate that his employer treated similarly situated employees outside of his protected class more favorably than he was treated." Wolfe, 488 F. App'x at 468 (italics added). Cooper can state a prima facie case if he can present evidence that an employee outside his protected class, who was similarly situated to him in all relevant respects, was treated more favorably with regard to nearly identical conduct. See Wilson v. B/E Aerospace, Inc., 376 F.3d 1079, 1091 (11th Cir. 2004).
As noted above, Holmes made numerous pejorative comments concerning Cooper's physical appearance, however, they do not constitute direct evidence of discrimination. Direct evidence of discrimination is "evidence, which if believed, proves [the] existence of fact in issue without inference or presumption." Merritt v. Dillard Paper Company, 120 F.3d 1182, 1189 (11th Cir. 1997). At most, this evidence only suggests discrimination. Additionally, Cooper has not demonstrated that CLP treated other "no call/no show" persons differently.
CLP next asserts that even assuming a prima facie case, it is entitled to summary judgment because Cooper cannot show that its legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for his termination is a pretext for disability discrimination. (Def. Br. at 25). CLP asserts that it terminated Cooper because he violated its attendance policy regarding "no call/no show" when he failed to report to work.
The facts surrounding the time of termination are confusing at best.
Later that day, Martin called Cooper to pick him up at work. Because he was still at the hospital, Cooper sent someone else to get Martin. (Id. at 125-26). Cooper testified at his deposition that he did not pick up Martin at work that day.
The defendant states the plaintiff's "claim that [he] had requested off from work on the day(s) in question is irrelevant because [the p]laintiff offers no evidence that . . . Holmes did not reasonably and honestly believe he was scheduled to be at work and was a no-call/no-show for his shift." (Def. Br. at 27 (footnote omitted)). The plaintiff retorts that this is a disputed fact question for the jury. (Pl. Br. at 24).
The law is clear that a court is not to second-guess business decisions or to act as a super-personnel department. See E.E.O.C. v. Total System Services, Inc., 221 F.3d 1171, 1176 (11th Cir. 2000). The relevant question is whether the plaintiff has adequately demonstrated that the proffered reason for the termination is pretextual. Id. The plaintiff must demonstrate that the decision was motivated by unlawful discriminatory animus. Id. (citing Damon v. Fleming Supermarkets of Fla., Inc., 196 F.3d 1354, 1361 (11th Cir. 1999)).
In this case, it is clear that there is a dispute surrounding why Cooper did not come to work. However, even though the court finds that Cooper did seek and receive the approval to be off, the question is whether Cooper has demonstrated that the defendant's reason for the termination was a pretext for discrimination. As to this issue, the record shows that Holmes demanded that Cooper come to work and he did not. There is nothing before the court to suggest that her decision to terminate Cooper is anything but her misguided belief that he should have come to work as she requested, even if she might have previously indicated that he could be off, particularly after she believed she saw him in the restaurant parking lot later that day. Accordingly, summary judgment is due to be granted as to this claim on this ground as well.
An actionable hostile work environment claim requires that the plaintiff demonstrate the following: (1) he belongs to a protected group (i.e., he is disabled under the ADA); (2) he was subjected to unwelcome harassment; (3) the harassment to which he was subjected was based on a disability; (4) the harassment affected a term, condition, or privilege of his employment; and (5) the defendant knew or should have known of the harassment, but failed to take prompt, remedial action. Schwertfager v. City of Boynton Beach, 42 F.Supp.2d 1347, 1366 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 25, 1999). Additionally, to be actionable, the harassment must be so severe or pervasive as to "ha[ve] the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with [the plaintiff's] work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment." Id. (quoting Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 65 (1986)). In assessing whether the conduct is severe or persuasive, the Eleventh Circuit has provided a non-exhaustive list to consider, including: "(1) the frequency of the discriminatory conduct; (2) its severity; (3) whether the conduct was physically threatening or humiliating, or a mere offensive utterance; and (4) whether it unreasonably interfered with the employee's job performance." Marable v. Marion Military Institute, 595 F. App'x 921, 927 (11th Cir. 2014) (McCann v. Tillman, 526 F.3d 1370, 1378 (11th Cir. 2008)). The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has also stated, "The courts should examine the conduct in context, not as isolated acts, and determine under the totality of the circumstances whether the harassing conduct is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the terms or conditions of the plaintiff's employment and create a hostile or abusive working environment." Donald v. UAB Hospital Management, LLC, 2015 WL 5915323, *5 (N.D. Ala. Oct. 9, 2015) (quoting Mendoza v. Borden, 195 F.3d 1238, 1246 (11th Cir. 1999) (en banc)).
Cooper premises this claim on Holmes's comments on his eye. (Pl. Dep. at 97-98). However, if the plaintiff is neither disabled nor regarded as disabled, none of the harassing conduct may be deemed to have been discrimination "because of" a disability as defined by the ADA. Thus summary judgment is due to be granted on that ground. But even assuming a disability or that the plaintiff is regarded as disabled such that the harassing conduct would be deemed to be motivated by a prohibited animus, the plaintiff still must show the harassment was severe or persuasive enough to create an actionable hostile work environment. Cooper summarized the harassment during his deposition by saying:
(Id. at 105; see also 105-06). Cooper worked for CLP from January 28, 2013 until his termination on April 13, 2013. (Id. at 67; Houston Dec. at ¶ 10). As to the frequency of the comments, Cooper stated that it was an "every day thing." (Pl. Dep. at 115). On one occasion, when Cooper asked Holmes to stop calling him by that name ("cockeyed ass"), she made him clock out and sent him home because he was challenging her authority. (Id. at 115-16). Most times, however, he just ignored her and kept on working. (Id. at 116). Holmes's conduct bothered him enough that Cooper complained one time in late February or early March to Monica Love, the District Manager. (Id. at 28, 116-18). Cooper did not notice a change in Holmes's treatment of him after he talked with Love, but he did not complain any further to anyone. (Id. at 118).
The court finds that the plaintiff's evidence is insufficient to overcome the defendant's motion for summary judgment on this claim. While the frequency of Holmes's comments were daily, the plaintiff worked at the store for only about ten weeks. The comments were derogatory and offensive, but not physically threatening. They did not interfere with Cooper's job performance except on the one occasion Holmes sent him home. Typically, Cooper just kept on working when Holmes made such remarks. (Id. at 116). Additionally, he only complained once to the district manager. When there was no change in Holmes's conduct, Cooper did not complain any further and he never complained to the Human Resources Director as provided for in CLP's Anti-Harassment Policy. (Doc. 17-5 at 16-17 of 50). Under the circumstances, the court finds that the complained-of conduct, while cruel and offensive, was not sufficiently severe or pervasive that it affected Cooper's employment. Accordingly, summary judgment is due to be granted CLP.
To the extent CLP argues that it is entitled to summary judgment because of Cooper's failure to utilize its Anti-Harassment Policy, the court also agrees. (Def. Br. at 32). As stated by United States District Judge Abdul Kallon:
Baker v. Supreme Beverage Co., No. 2:13-cv-00222-AKK, 2014 WL 7146790, at *9 (N.D. Ala. Dec. 15, 2014). In this case, CLP promulgated an anti-harassment policy that was available to Cooper and, as noted above, he failed to complain in accordance with that policy to the Human Resources Director, whose number was attached to the CLP Handbook that Cooper received. (Doc. 17-4 at 36-38 of 50 and 17-5 at 16-17 of 50). While Cooper did complain to Love on one occasion, that is not sufficient under the circumstances to impose liability on CLP in this instance.
Based on the foregoing, CLP's motion for summary judgment (doc. 15) is due to be
29 C.F.R. § 1630.1(c)(4).
Howze v. Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity, 2012 WL 3775871, *10 (N.D. Ala. Aug. 28, 2012). The undersigned agrees.
Id., 2012 WL 1493863, * 7.
(Doc. 17-5 at 2-3 of 50 (Handbook) (underlining in original)). Additionally, it provides:
(Id. at 10 of 50).
Baker, 2014 WL 7146790, * 9, n.13.