Amanda Lynn Posey-Glynn v. Camden Development, Inc.

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedDecember 10, 2020
Docket05-19-01454-CV
StatusPublished

This text of Amanda Lynn Posey-Glynn v. Camden Development, Inc. (Amanda Lynn Posey-Glynn v. Camden Development, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Amanda Lynn Posey-Glynn v. Camden Development, Inc., (Tex. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

AFFIRMED and Opinion Filed December 10, 2020

S In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-19-01454-CV

AMANDA LYNN POSEY-GLYNN, Appellant V. CAMDEN DEVELOPMENT, INC., Appellee

On Appeal from the 471st Judicial District Court Collin County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 471-05542-2018

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Whitehill, Pedersen, III, and Reichek Opinion by Justice Reichek Amanda Lynn Posey-Glynn appeals the trial court’s no-evidence summary

judgment dismissing her claims for workplace discrimination and retaliation.

Bringing four issues, Posey-Glynn generally contends the trial court erred in

granting Camden Development, Inc.’s motion because she presented sufficient

evidence to establish a prima facie case for each of her causes of action. Because

we conclude Posey-Glynn failed to meet her summary judgment burden, we affirm

the trial court’s judgment. Background

Posey-Glynn began working for Camden at the Camden Panther Creek

apartment complex in Frisco, Texas, on November 9, 2016. Posey-Glynn was

employed as a Make Ready Technician and her responsibilities included various

maintenance tasks and preparing vacant apartments for new tenants.

On April 14, 2017, Posey-Glynn was injured as she and a co-worker were

moving a washing machine up a flight of stairs. According to Posey-Glynn, the

washing machine slipped off a dolly and she caught it, hurting her left side. She did

not fall, however, and they completed moving the washer. Posey-Glynn then

continued working her shift, but left work one hour early. Posey-Glynn informed

Camden that she had been injured the next day.

When Posey-Glynn informed her supervisor about the accident, she was

instructed to see a doctor. A physician at CareNow diagnosed her with cervical neck

strain and spasms of the back and neck. An X-ray of Posey-Glynn’s spine was

considered normal for her age. She was given medication and released to return to

work the same day with restrictions on kneeling, squatting, and lifting expected to

last one week.

Camden’s work-related injury policy states the following:

Camden has a Return to Work program that facilitates the earliest possible return of workers injured on the job to the workplace for the purpose of performing meaningful, productive work within realms of their physical capabilities. The Return to Work Policy offers a transitional return to work and is intended to be time-limited and

–2– temporary. The maximum time allowed for transitional duty is six months.

Under the policy, an injured employee may participate in the Return to Work

program if the employee was not “taken off work” by her treating physician and

Camden could accommodate the employee’s work restrictions. Camille Churchill,

Camden’s workers’ compensation manager, confirmed with the community

manager that Posey-Glynn’s medical restrictions could be accommodated when she

returned.

Posey-Glynn visited CareNow several times over the course of the following

week complaining of continued pain and an allergic reaction to the medication she

was given. Although she was released to light duty work, Posey-Glynn was placed

on medical leave by Camden beginning on April 20.

Posey-Glynn returned to work on May 12 with restrictions on bending,

stooping, kneeling, squatting, and overhead reaching. She was further limited to

lifting no more than ten pounds and working no more than four hours a day. These

restrictions were expected to last through May 25.

On May 16, Sue Evans, a nurse assigned to manage Posey-Glynn’s claim by

Camden’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, sent an email to Churchill

stating that MRI reports for Posey-Glynn showed no significant spinal cord

problems and “her diagnosis remains cervical and lumbar strain.” Evans further

stated that Posey-Glynn was being referred to a therapy facility in Frisco and she

would be choosing a new treating provider from a list Evans had sent her. –3– Shortly after receiving this email, Churchill sent an email to others working

at the insurance company stating she had concerns with the manner in which Evans

was handing Posey-Glynn’s claim. Churchill referenced earlier discussions about

Camden’s displeasure with how Evans had handled another claim and she requested

that a new nurse be assigned to Posey-Glynn. Later emails indicate Linda Sanchez

was assigned as Posey-Glynn’s new claim manager.

On June 12, Posey-Glynn was reassessed at CareNow and was again released

to light duty work. Her restriction on lifting was modified to up to twenty pounds.

She was additionally restricted from doing any pushing, pulling or overhead

reaching, and her maximum work hours per day were reduced to two. An MRI was

ordered to be done of Posey-Glynn’s left shoulder.

The next day, Churchill emailed Sanchez stating she had contacted Posey-

Glynn’s manager, Randi Teube, to see if the new restrictions, including working

only two hours per day, could be accommodated. Churchill stated she was

concerned that Posey-Glynn was not improving and there was a possibility she

would need to be taken off work again. Teube responded to Churchill stating, “I

don’t see how this can work for us. We are heading into our busy season and we

just received a 2 week notice from our maintenance tech, so we are already short

staffed.” Churchill replied, “Hopefully we will know more once she has the MRI

performed.” Three days later, Churchill confirmed with Camden’s district manager

–4– that Posey-Glynn was working only two hours per day and her restrictions were

being accommodated.

On June 20, the MRI of Posey-Glynn’s left shoulder was performed. The scan

showed no tears and only mild tendinosis and bursitis. Posey-Glynn’s work

restrictions were again modified to prohibit any reaching, overhead reaching, or

lifting with her left arm. The restrictions were expected to last one week.

On June 22, Sanchez emailed Churchill stating that she had received a call

from Posey-Glynn complaining that her restrictions were not being accommodated.

Posey-Glynn told Sanchez that her supervisor told her to wash windows, which

required her to reach over her head. She stated her shoulder pain worsened overnight

and she was unable to go to work the next day. Sanchez asked Churchill to let her

know if Posey-Glynn’s restrictions could not be accommodated going forward.

On July 5, Posey-Glynn was again evaluated at CareNow. The medical notes

state that Posey-Glynn was upset that her job was “not honoring restrictions.” In

addition to her normal medications, Posey-Glynn was given a shoulder sling for her

left arm.1 The restrictions on reaching, overhead reaching, and lifting with her left

arm were continued and her maximum hours per day of work were limited to four

until July 26.

1 Although wearing the sling was not made a work restriction until July 26, Posey-Glynn’s medical records indicate she was given a sling for her left shoulder at her July 5 examination. –5– On July 6, Teube emailed Churchill saying that she and a co-worker had

spoken with Posey-Glynn and informed her that, since her arm was now in a sling,

they could no longer accommodate her restrictions. Teube further stated in the email

that they understood Posey-Glynn was scheduled to be re-evaluated on 7/26/17 and

“it is our hope that she will be released 100% so she is able to come back to work.”

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