Adduci v. Yankee Gas Services Co.

207 F. Supp. 3d 170, 32 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1884, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124647, 2016 WL 4926412
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedSeptember 14, 2016
DocketNo. 3:13cv1930 (DJS)
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 207 F. Supp. 3d 170 (Adduci v. Yankee Gas Services Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Adduci v. Yankee Gas Services Co., 207 F. Supp. 3d 170, 32 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1884, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124647, 2016 WL 4926412 (D. Conn. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER

Dominic J. Squatrito, United States District Judge

This is an action for monetary damages, attorney’s fees and equitable relief arising out of a claim of wrongful termination and failure to accommodate in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), Title 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101, et seq. and the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (“CFEPA”), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-60(a)(1). The defendant, Yankee Gas Services Company (“Yankee Gas”), has filed a motion seeking summary judgment against the plaintiff, Donald A. Adduci (“Adduci”) pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“Fed. R. Civ. P.”). For the reasons stated below, Yankee Gas’s motion for summary judgment (doc. # 36) is denied.

I. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

A motion for summary judgment shall be granted “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. P. 56(a). Parties asserting that a fact is undisputed must support that assertion by “citing to particular parts of materials in the record....” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). “[T]he mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there be no genuine issue of material fact.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A “material fact” is one whose resolution might affect the ultimate determination of the case. Id. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. A dispute concerning a material fact is genuine “if the evidence is [174]*174such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id.

When determining whether summary judgment is appropriate, the court resolves all ambiguities and draws all inferences against the moving party. Skubel v. Fuoroli, 113 F.3d 330, 334 (2d Cir.1997). Properly supported allegations of the non-moving party will be taken as true. See Dawson v. County of Westchester, 373 F.3d 265, 272 (2d Cir.2004). The moving party has the burden “to demonstrate the absence of any material factual issue genuinely in dispute.” Heyman v. Commerce & Industry Insurance Co., 524 F.2d 1317, 1320 (2d Cir.1975). “[Sjummary judgement is a drastic device because of its prophylactic function, when exercised, cuts off a party’s right to present his case to the jury. Yet, if the case is totally devoid of an issue of fact there is no reason why the curtain should rise on the trial.” Donnelly v. Guion, 467 F.2d 290, 291 (2d Cir.1972).

II. FACTS

On October 30, 1990, Adduci submitted an application for employment with Yankee Gas. This application included the following statement in the “Applicant’s Signature” block: “This application has been completed truthfully and without evasion or omission on my part.... I understand that any false statements or omissions are sufficient cause for rejection of this application or dismissal after employment.” (Doc. #36-3, at 7). Adduci’s application incorrectly stated that he had been employed by Kentucky Fried Chicken from “1-85” to “12-85.” (Id.). Adduci failed to disclose in his application that he had been in the United States Navy from February 1985 until October 1985, at which time he had received an “other than honorable” discharge for the stated reason of “misconduct-commission of a serious offense.” (Id. at 9).

Yankee Gas hired Adduci as a Gas Distribution Mechanic. In January 2005, Yankee Gas promoted Adduci to the position of Field Supervisor—Operations. The job description for the position of “Field Supervisor—Operations” specifies that the position is “a safety sensitive position and subject to random drug testing.” (Doc. # 52-1, at 9). Adduci acknowledged at his deposition that this supervisory position was “a safety sensitive job.” (Doc. # 36-8, at 16, p. 55:3).

On November 30, 2011, Adduci had a verbal altercation with Richard Witte, a Yankee Gas coworker. In an incident that occurred the next day, December 1, 2011, Aducci swore at his supervisor, Michael Fortier, then stated in a raised voice that “[njobody around here knows what they’re doing,” and refused to go into Fortier’s office to meet with him. (Doc. # 36-4, at 3, ¶¶ 7-8). Following the December 1, 20111 incident, Adduci was out of work on a medical leave for over six months due to his mental health issues and two work-related surgeries.1

On December 12, 2011, Adduci was involuntarily committed to Middlesex Hospital. Middlesex transferred Adduci to the psychiatric unit at St. Vincent’s Medical Center the following day. On December 28, 2011, Adduci attended an intake evaluation at Rushford Center in Meriden, CT (“Rushford”) and subsequently began “intensive outpatient treatment” at that facility. (Doc. #36-3, at 11). On January 16, 2012, Rushford sent a letter addressed “To Whom it may concern” stating that “Donald Adduci is currently unable to perform adequately in the workplace due to the significance of his current psychiat[175]*175ric symptoms.” (Id. at 12). In a similar letter dated March 22, 2012, Rushford clinician Carol Carlino (“Carlino”) “recommended that Mr. Adduei remain completely out of work until on or about 4/20/13 [sic].” (Id. at 13). On April 23, 2012, Carli-no “recommended that Mr. Adduei continue to participate in ongoing mental health treatment for stabilization of mood and medication management ... [and] that he remain completely out of work until on or about 05/21/12.” (Id. at 14). On June 1, 2012, Carlino recommended “that Mr. Ad-duci be allowed to return to work on 06/04/12 on a part-time basis, no more than four (4) hours daily, initially for two (2) weeks. After two weeks, he will be reassessed to determine if the part-time status should continue.” (Id. at 17).

Dr. Leo Millette, the defendant’s occupational physician, examined Adduei on June 4, 2012, and, at that time, thought Adduei was stable and ready to return to work. Prior to dealing Adduei to return to work, however, Dr. Millette wrote a letter to Monique Allgood, APRN2 (“Allgood”), who had been identified by Adduei as the Rushford medical provider prescribing his medications. Dr. Millette’s letter, dated June 18, 2012, included the following:

Mr. Adduei works for Yankee Gas and so he does what is considered safety sensitive work.

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207 F. Supp. 3d 170, 32 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1884, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124647, 2016 WL 4926412, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/adduci-v-yankee-gas-services-co-ctd-2016.