Alvarado v. Potter

813 F. Supp. 2d 247, 24 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1215, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48287, 2011 WL 1707069

• Court: District Court, D. Puerto Rico
• Decided: May 4, 2011
• Docket: Civil No. 09-1346(FAB)
• Status: Published

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

BESOSA, District Judge.

Pending before the Court is defendant John E. Potter’s motion for summary judgment (Docket Nos. 23 and 25), which plaintiff Alex Alvarado (“Alvarado”) opposed (Docket No. 29). Defendant filed a reply to plaintiffs opposition (Docket No. 41).

I. Statement of Uncontested Facts

Plaintiff Alvarado began working with the United States Postal Service in 1991. (Docket No. 24-2 at 5-12.) In 2000, he began to work full time as a letter carrier, 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day, and on his own route. (Docket No. 24-2 at 13-19.) In 2002, his work week was increased to 48 hours a week, and during the Christmas holiday seasons from 2000 to 2008, plaintiff worked more than 48 hours a week for two months each year. Id. At all times during the years 2000 to 2008, plaintiff was able to handle the job of rural letter carrier. Id.

Plaintiff worked with the Postal Service until February 16, 2008; after exhausting his annual and sick leave, he resigned on April 29, 2008. (Docket No. 24-2 at 5-12.) Plaintiff applied for U.S. Department of Labor Workmen’s Compensation benefits, which were approved in May 2010 retroactively from February 16, 2008 to September 25, 2010, netting him a lump sum of $79,507. Id. Alvarado also applied for and received Social Security benefits effective August 2008. Id. In total, he will be receiving approximately $3,600 per month, tax free. Id.

Plaintiff has had a medical history of recurrent schizo-affective disorder since August 1992. (Docket No. 1.) He received psychiatric treatment and medication, which were effective in controlling the symptoms of his mental illness and allowed him to perform his duties as a rural mail carrier throughout his employment. Id. Alvarado has been taking Zymbax and other medication since he was 15 years old, the dosage of which has increased throughout the years. (Docket No. 24-2 at 23-27.) He claimed that the times he was late in delivering mail was because of his medication. Id. at 27.

From 2007 to 2008, Alvarado was employed as a rural mail carrier at the Bayamon Branch Station in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. (Docket Nos. 24-1; 24-2 at 12.) On January 23, 2007, Alvarado requested an appointment with a dispute resolution specialist with the Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) office because of comments that the president of the union of the mail carriers, Carmelo Moyeno (“Moyeno”), made to him in November and December of 2006. (Docket No. 30-2.) Plaintiffs claim, however, is for retaliation and disability discrimination for events beginning April 19, 2007. (Docket No. 24-2 at 20.) On April 19, 2007, while Alvarado was working at the post office and singing the song “En Mi Viejo San Juan”, Moyeno said to Alvarado in front of his co-workers: “Give him the pill”; “He has not taken his pill”; “He needs his green, yellow, red pill”; “Which pill hasn’t he taken?”. (Docket No. 24-2 at 20-21.) Also in 2007, plaintiff brought in some corn sticks for his coworkers, and his supervisor, Ruben Maldonado (“Maldonado”), mocked plaintiff by saying, “I am going to put you to work with your family.” (Docket No. 24-2 at 32-33.) Plaintiff understood this comment to mean that Maldonado was going to dismiss plaintiff, but such dismissal never occurred. Id.

Plaintiff submitted Family Leave Act papers around July 2007. Maldonado was aware of plaintiffs medical conditions at that time. Plaintiff stated, however, that he could perform his duties of mail delivery despite his mental condition and Maldonado was not aware of any physical or mental restrictions that would impede on plaintiffs ability to perform his duties. (Docket No. 24-5 at 1-2.) At the end of 2007, plaintiffs supervisor, Armando Perez (“Perez”), called plaintiff “crazy, crazy, you’re crazy” when plaintiff showed Mr. Perez a Family Leave document. Id. at 34-35.

In 2006 and 2007, plaintiffs supervisor, Jose Colon (“Colon”), subjected plaintiff to extra scrutiny and supervision. Id. at SO-SO. In 2007 and 2008, plaintiffs supervisor, Andrew Zeisky (“Zeisky”), searched plaintiffs private car for about 15-20 minutes. Id. at 51-53. Mr. Zeisky had a right to inspect plaintiffs vehicle because plaintiff used his private vehicle to deliver mail. Id.

On January 30, 2008, plaintiff did not arrive back at the post office branch by 5:00 p.m., the official Postal Service closing time, after delivering mail. (Docket No. 24-2 at 27.) At around 6:00 p.m., plaintiffs supervisor, Brenda Rios (“Rios”), called plaintiffs cell phone because he had not returned to the branch. Id. at 28. Plaintiff did not answer his phone because he did not recognize the phone number, so Ms. Rios left him voicemail inquiring as to plaintiffs whereabouts. Id. Plaintiff did not call his supervisor to inform her that he would be late, but called a co-worker, and returned to the postal office at 6:30 p.m. Id. at 28-30. On February 6, 2008, plaintiff was issued a 14 day no-time-off suspension for improper conduct and delay of mail delivery. (Docket No. 33-2.) The suspension related to an incident that occurred on January 26, 2008. Id. Plaintiffs suspension was later reduced to a mere letter of warning, the lowest level of disciplinary action. (Docket Nos. 24-2 at 36-37; 30-8 at 1.) On February 16, 2008, after a day’s work, around 6:00 p.m., plaintiff started to cry and felt humiliated as a result of the January 30, 2008 incident with supervisor Rios. (Docket No. 24-2 at 38-44.) On that date, plaintiff left the Postal Service never to return to work. Id. Plaintiff was never discharged from the Postal Service, nor did the Postal Service take away pay from him. Id. at 47-48.

On April 15, 2008, plaintiff filed a formal complaint of discrimination against Moyeno, Rios, Awilda Rodriguez (“Rodriguez”), Armando Perez (“Perez”), and Maldonado. (Docket No. 30-4.) Plaintiff resigned from the Postal Service effective April 29, 2008, after exhausting annual and sick leave from February 16, 2008 to April 29, 2008. Id. After his resignation, plaintiff never went back to work and he is currently totally disabled to work. (Docket No. 30 at 6-7.) The Social Security Administration found plaintiff totally disabled to work in August 2008. Id. at 9-10.

Rios was not involved in plaintiffs initial EEO activity from January 23, 2007. (Docket No. 24^ at 2-3.) Rios did not issue the 14-day no-time-off suspension notice to the plaintiff. Id. at 4. Plaintiffs supervisor Rodriguez issued the suspension notice, but Rios conducted the investigation that led to the notice. Id. Rodriguez was a customer service supervisor temporarily assigned to the Bayamon branch from July 2007 to March 2008. (Docket No. 24-8 at 1.) Plaintiffs supervisor Zeisky made the decision to issue the suspension based on information he received from Rios and Rodriguez. (Docket No. 24-6 at 5.)

On May 30, 2008, plaintiffs supervisor Colon received from him a Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) packet, which Colon submitted to the FMLA Coordinator, Richard Gonzalez, who approved it for a once-a-month treatment for three months. (Docket No. 24-7 at 2.) Most of the conversations between Colon and Alvarado centered on his delays in delivering mail on his route. Id. at 3. Supervisor Colon was not involved in plaintiffs 14 day no-time-off suspension. Id.

II. Summary Judgment Standard

The court’s discretion to grant summary judgment is governed by Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 56 states, in pertinent part, that the court may grant summary judgment only if “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Santiago-Ramos v. Centennial P.R. Wireless Corp., 217 F.3d 46, 52 (1st Cir.2000).

Summary judgment is appropriate if “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). The party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

Once a properly supported motion has been presented, the opposing party has the burden of demonstrating that a trial-worthy issue exists that would warrant the court’s denial of the motion for summary judgment. For issues where the opposing party bears the ultimate burden of proof, that party cannot merely rely on the absence of competent evidence, but must affirmatively point to specific facts that demonstrate the existence of an authentic dispute. See Suarez v. Pueblo Int'l., Inc., 229 F.3d 49 (1st Cir.2000).

In order for a factual controversy to prevent summary judgment, the contested facts must be “material” and the dispute must be “genuine”. “Material” means that a contested fact has the potential to change the outcome of the suit under governing law. The issue is “genuine” when a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party based on the evidence. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). It is well settled that “[t]he mere existence of a scintilla of evidence is insufficient to defeat a properly supported motion for summary judgment.” Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505. It is therefore necessary that “a party opposing summary judgment must present definite, competent evidence to rebut the motion.” Maldonado-Denis v. Castillo-Rodriguez, 23 F.3d 576, 581 (1st Cir.1994).

In making this assessment, the court “must view the entire record in the light most hospitable to the party opposing summary judgment, indulging in all reasonable inferences in that party’s favor.” Griggs-Ryan v. Smith, 904 F.2d 112, 115 (1st Cir.1990). The court may safely ignore, however, “conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation.” Medina-Munoz v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 896 F.2d 5, 8 (1st Cir.1990).

III. Discussion

A. Discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act

Alvarado alleges that he suffered discrimination by his supervisors on the basis of his disability in violation of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq. The Rehabilitation Act, like its more famous sister statute, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), prohibits discrimination against an otherwise qualified individual on the basis of his or her disability. As a general proposition, the case law construing the ADA applies equally to claims raised under the Rehabilitation Act.¹ Calero-Cerezo v. United States Department of Justice, 355 F.3d 6, 19 (1st Cir.2004).

Plaintiff Alvarado bears the initial burden of proving each element of his claim for disability discrimination. Mendez v. West, 117 F.Supp.2d 121, 125 (D.P.R.2001). To establish a prima facie case of disability discrimination, or more specifically, for failure to accommodate under the Rehabilitation Act, plaintiff Alvarado must establish the following three elements: (1) that he suffered from a “disability” within the meaning of the Act; (2) that he was a qualified individual in that he was able to perform the essential functions of his job, either with or without a reasonable accommodation; and (3) that despite his employer’s knowledge of his disability, the employer did not offer a reasonable accommodation for the disability. Calero-Cerezo, 355 F.3d at 20; Lebron-Torres v. Whitehall Laboratories, 251 F.3d 236, 239 (1st Cir.2001).

For the purposes of the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, a disability is either (1) a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of an individual’s major life activities; (2) a record of such an impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). Alvarado argues that he actually suffered from a mental impairment that substantially limited more than one of his major life functions.

The determination of whether a plaintiff is disabled under the Act must be made on a case-by-case basis. Toyota Motor Mfg., Ky., Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184, 198, 122 S.Ct. 681, 151 L.Ed.2d 615 (2002). The analysis of whether plaintiff Alvarado has a disability within the meaning of the statute depends upon three factors: (1) whether he suffered a physical or mental impairment; (2) whether a life activity limited by the impairment qualifies as major; and (3) whether the impairment substantially limited a major life activity. Calero-Cerezo, 355 F.3d at 20. The burden is on plaintiff Alvarado to establish these three elements. Id. Alvarado has successfully satisfied the first two elements, but he fails to satisfy the third.

A mental or psychological disorder, including emotional or mental illness, qualifies as a physical or mental impairment. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(h)(2). It is undisputed that Alvarado suffers from a schizo-affective disorder, which qualifies as a mental impairment. Calero-Cerezo, 355 F.3d at 20 (recognizing that depression is a mental impairment and may constitute a disability under federal law in some circumstances); see Toledo v. Sanchez, 454 F.3d 24, 32 (1st Cir.2006) (finding that plaintiff with schizo-affective disorder properly alleged that he had a mental impairment). Accordingly, Alvarado has easily shown that he has a mental impairment.

Alvarado has also shown that his impairment affects a “major” life activity. The First Circuit Court of Appeals has defined a major life activity as “an activity of central importance to people’s daily lives.” Calero-Cerezo, 355 F.3d at 21 (citing Toyota Motor, 534 U.S. at 197, 122 S.Ct. 681). The Calero-Cerezo court specifically noted that sleeping and working, the two activities cited by plaintiff as being affected by his impairment, are recognized as major life activities for the purposes of the ADA. Id.

Alvarado has been unable, however, to establish that any of the alleged major life activities affected by his mental impairment are “substantially” limited. The word substantially means “considerable” or “specified to a large degree” but it should “not be equated with utter inabilities.” Calero-Cerezo, 355 F.3d at 21 (internal citations omitted). In addition, “if a person is taking measures to correct for, or mitigate a physical or mental impairment, the effects of those measures-both positive and negative-must be taken into account when judging whether that person is ‘substantially limited’ in a major life activity and thus ‘disabled’ under the Act.” Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471, 482, 119 S.Ct. 2139, 144 L.Ed.2d 450 (1999) (“A person whose physical or mental impairment is corrected by medication or other measures does not have an impairment that presently [sic] ‘substantially limits’ a major life activity.”).²

The Court briefly pauses from its analysis to determine whether the documents submitted by plaintiff in support of his claim that his major life activities were “substantially” limited by his mental impairment are admissible evidence. Plaintiff has submitted a psychiatric report prepared by Dr. Fernando Cabrera, plaintiffs psychiatric expert, and a psychiatric evaluation report prepared by Dr. Jaime Toro, who was chosen by the Postal Service to perform a disability analysis on plaintiff while he was on medical leave from work. (Docket Nos. 30 at 24-25, 30-12, & 33-3). In defendant’s response to plaintiffs statement of additional facts, defendant alleged that the reports submitted by plaintiff are inadmissible evidence because they are hearsay and fail to comply with the requirements of Rule 56(e), because they have not been properly authenticated. See Docket No. 38 at 1. The First Circuit Court of Appeals has held that “[t]o be admissible at the summary judgment stage, documents must be authenticated by and attached to an affidavit that meets the requirements of Rule 56(e).” Carmona v. Toledo, 215 F.3d 124, 131 (1st Cir.2000) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). Neither of plaintiffs psychiatric reports was submitted with an authenticating affidavit, and thus, the reports are inadmissible for purposes of summary judgment. Castro-Medina v. Procter & Gamble Commercial Co., 565 F.Supp.2d 343, 360 n. 3 (D.P.R.2008) (striking plaintiffs expert report prepared by a psychiatrist where it was submitted without an authenticating affidavit).

A thorough review of the rest of the record reveals that with the help of his medication and psychological treatment, Alvarado can function without “substantial” limitations on his major life activities. Alvarado claims that “[Notwithstanding the ameliorative effects of medications, his acute symptoms of depression and insomnia had persisted” and that “his mental impairment is permanent [and] long-term.” (Docket No. 29 at 9.) The record has established, however, that although Alvarado has had a medical history of a recurrent schizo-affective disorder since August 1992, his psychiatric treatment and medication were so effective at controlling the symptoms of his illness “that he was able to perform his duties as a Rural Carrier throughout his employment.” (Docket Nos. 24 at 1; 30 at 1.) While plaintiff may have been consistently late in delivering mail because of his medication, he admits that he “was able to perform the essential duties of his position of letter carrier because his symptoms were under control by psychiatric treatment and pharmacotherapy.” (Docket No. 29 at 9.) Finally, plaintiffs allegations that stressful situations at work caused him restlessness during the night and fatigue during working hours are not supported by the record and do not rise to the level of “substantially” limiting his major life activities of working³ or sleeping⁴. Accordingly, the Court must hold that, pursuant to statute, Alvarado is not “substantially limited” in any of the alleged major life activities affected by his mental impairment. Based on the Court’s finding that Alvarado is not “disabled” under the Rehabilitation Act, the Court need not engage in a discussion of whether Alvarado was a qualified individual or a victim of a hostile work environment. Therefore, defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs discrimination claim is GRANTED.

B. Retaliation

Alvarado alleges that the Postal Service took retaliatory actions against him because he engaged in the protected activity of attempting to enforce his rights under Title VII. In order to establish a prima facie case of retaliation under the ADA, plaintiff Alvarado must show: (1) that he engaged in protected conduct; (2) that he suffered an adverse employment action; and (3) that there was a causal connection between the protected conduct and the adverse employment action. Carreras, 596 F.3d at 35 (internal citations omitted.)

Alvarado’s specific allegations regarding his retaliation claim are convoluted; he appears to have misstated relevant dates in his statement of facts and opposition to defendant’s motion for summary judgment. Upon an independent review of the record, the Court finds the relevant information to be as follows. On January 23, 2007, Alvarado requested a counseling appointment with a dispute resolution specialist with the EEO office because of comments that Moyeno had made to him in November and December of 2006. (Docket No. 30-2.) Alvarado alleges, and defendant disputes, that he informed Maldonado and Moyeno of his discrimination complaint on April 19, 2007. (Docket No. 30-1 at 2.) On April 15, 2008, plaintiff filed a formal complaint of discrimination for disability and retaliation against Moyeno, Rios, Rodriguez, Perez, and Maldonado for alleged acts which occurred between April 19, 2007 and January 2008. (Docket No. 30-4.)

The Supreme Court has held that for a plaintiff to prove that he or she suffered an adverse employment action, he or she “must show that a reasonable employee would have found the challenged action materially adverse”, which is to say that “it might well have dissuaded a reasonable worker from making or supporting a charge of discrimination.” Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 68, 126 S.Ct. 2405, 165 L.Ed.2d 345 (2006) (internal quotation marks omitted). The adverse employment action plaintiff claims to have suffered is his constructive discharge caused by an alleged intensification of his hostile working environment after he filed his initial complaint in January 2007. (Docket No. 29 at 18-24.) Importantly, the Supreme Court has noted that a court need only consider “the challenged retaliatory act, not the underlying conduct that forms the basis of the Title VII complaint.” Id. at 69, 126 S.Ct. 2405.

The Court considers the allegations made by plaintiff after he made his initial complaint in January 2007 until the time he resigned in April 2008. Plaintiff alleges that during that period of time he was subjected to jokes and ridicule by his supervisors and colleagues. He further alleges that he was subjected to extra scrutiny and supervision. Plaintiff claims that on at least one occasion, his supervisor searched his private ear for 15-20 minutes, but admits that the supervisor had a right to do so, because plaintiff used his private car to deliver mail. On January 30, 2008, plaintiff alleges that he received an angry voicemail from his supervisor because he was an hour and a half late returning to the post office after closing time. Plaintiff admits he did not answer his phone when his supervisor called because he did not recognize the number, and that he did not notify a supervisor that he would be late. On February 6, 2008, plaintiff was issued a 14 day no-time-off suspension for improper conduct and delay of mail delivery, which was later reduced to a mere letter of warning, the lowest level of a disciplinary action. On February 16, 2008, at around 6:00 p.m., plaintiff suffered a nervous breakdown allegedly as a result of the January 30 incident and left work, never to return again. He formally resigned on April 29, 2008, after exhausting his annual and sick leave.

The Court finds that the alleged harassment suffered by plaintiff does not give rise to an actionable “hostile work environment” claim. While proof of intensified harassment after filing a complaint may support a claim of retaliation, it is well-settled that “[a]n employee’s decision to report discriminatory behavior cannot immunize that employee from those petty slights or minor annoyances that often take place at work and that all employees experience.” Burlington Northern, 548 U.S. at 68, 126 S.Ct. 2405. The jokes and ridicule experienced by plaintiff may have been insensitive and hurtful, but they do not objectively rise to the level of a “hostile work environment.” Cf. Quiles-Quiles v. Henderson, 439 F.3d 1, 8-9 (1st Cir.2006) (upholding jury’s finding that a “hostile environment was motivated by a desire to retaliate” where the harassment included “threats ... screaming tirades ... and efforts ... to interrupt [plaintiffs] pursuit of a union grievance.”); Noviello v. City of Boston, 398 F.3d 76, 93-94 (1st Cir.2005) (finding retaliatory harassment where plaintiff was falsely accused of misconduct, subjected to “work sabotage” and harassing insults, and endured “continued tormenting” and physical threats.) An employee’s perceptions and subjective beliefs of discrimination “cannot govern a claim of constructive discharge, if, and to the extent that, the perceptions are unreasonable.” Vega v. Kodak Caribbean, Ltd., 3 F.3d 476, 481 (1st Cir.1993). Moreover, the actions taken by plaintiffs supervisors, both in terms of the extra scrutiny plaintiff experienced and the reaction of his supervisor to his extreme tardiness and improper conduct, were entirely appropriate given the circumstances and had a legitimate, non-discriminatory purpose. For the reasons stated, plaintiffs allegations do not rise to the level of intolerableness that would have compelled a “reasonable worker” to resign. See Burlington Northern, 548 U.S. at 68, 126 S.Ct. 2405. Therefore, defendant’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs retaliation claim and hostile environment claim is GRANTED.

C. Conclusion

For the reasons stated above, defendant’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. This case is DISMISSED with prejudice. Judgment shall be entered accordingly.

The Jury Trial scheduled to commence on May 9, 2011 is vacated and set aside.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

1 . Neither party mentions the fact that in September of 2008 Congress enacted the ADA Amendments Act, which by its own terms went into effect on January 1, 2009. Pub.L. No. 110-325 (2008) ("ADA AA”). The overarching purpose of the act is to reinstate the "broad scope of protection” available under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act. Id. at §§ 2(b), 7; see also Mastrolia v. Potter, No. 08-5967, 2010 WL 1752531, at *3 (D.N.J. Apr. 27, 2010) (finding that "the ADA standards apply to the Rehabilitation Act ...".) Among other things, the ADA AA rejects the United States Supreme Court’s interpretation of the term disability in Toyota Motor Mfg., Ky., Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184, 198, 122 , 151 L.Ed.2d 615 (2002) and Sutton v. United Air Lines, 527 U.S. 471, 492, 119 S.Ct. 2139, 144 L.Ed.2d 450 (1999). Id. The Court need not concern itself with the ADA AA, however, because the amendments do not apply retroactively. See Carreras v. Sajo, Garcia & Partners, 596 F.3d 25, 33 (1st Cir.2010); Fournier v. Payco Foods Corp., 611 F.Supp.2d 120, 129 n. 9 (D.P.R.2009).

2 . The Court again notes that while the ADA AA, among other things, rejects the United States Supreme Court's interpretation of the term disability as articulated in Sutton, the law is not retroactive. Because the disputed activity here occurred before the law went into effect, the law does not apply here, supra note 1. Thus, in determining whether plaintiff is "substantially limited” in a major life activity and may be considered "disabled” under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, the Court takes into account the measures taken to correct for or mitigate plaintiff's mental impairment. See Sutton, 527 U.S. at 482, 119 S.Ct. 2139.

3 . See Bartlett v. New York State Bd. of Law Examiners, 226 F.3d 69, 84-85 (2nd Cir.2000) (holding that plaintiff alleging disability must prove that it is the impairment, "and not some other factor or factors, that causes the substantial limitation”); Nyrop v. Independent School Dist. No. 11, 616 F.3d 728, 735 (8th Cir.2010) (finding no disability despite appellant's complaint of fatigue where conditions did not impair appellant's ability to care for herself); Weiler v. Household Finance Corp., 101 F.3d 519, 524 (7th Cir.1996) ("The major life activity of working is not ‘substantially limited’ if a plaintiff merely cannot work under a certain supervisor because of anxiety and stress related” to her job).

4 . See Colwell v. Suffolk County Police Dept., 158 F.3d 635, 644 (2nd Cir.1998) (plaintiff's allegation that "he takes a medication as a sleep aid and ... usually get[s] a tough night's sleep” was not sufficient “to establish that the degree of limitation he suffers is substantial.”) (internal quotation marks omitted).