Bultena v. Wash. State Dep't of Agric.

319 F. Supp. 3d 1215
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Washington
DecidedMarch 30, 2018
DocketNo. 1:15-CV-03076-SMJ
StatusPublished

This text of 319 F. Supp. 3d 1215 (Bultena v. Wash. State Dep't of Agric.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bultena v. Wash. State Dep't of Agric., 319 F. Supp. 3d 1215 (E.D. Wash. 2018).

Opinion

SALVADOR MENDOZA, JR., United States District Judge

Before the Court are Defendant Washington State Department of Agriculture (the Department)'s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 67, and Plaintiff Trena Bultena's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 71 as amended by ECF No 117. A hearing was held on March 23, 2018, in Spokane, Washington, and the *1218Court took the matter under advisement. The Court also heard argument on the Department's motion to strike Bultena's statement of facts, ECF No. 86, and orally denied the motion. This Order memorializes and supplements the Court's oral ruling.

Bultena worked as a fruit inspector for the Department's Fruit and Vegetable Program from 2002 to 2013. In her final two years of employment, Bultena's frequent tardiness became an issue. Although she was scheduled to begin her shift at 8:00 a.m., she frequently arrived to work after 8:00 a.m. Bultena attributed her late arrival to her inability to hear her alarm clock in the morning due to her permanent hearing loss. Bultena requested a later start time as a reasonable accommodation. The Department did not approve this accommodation. Bultena also attempted to use FMLA leave to cover the periods of her shift for which she was late, but the Department denied FMLA leave on the grounds that Bultena did not have a qualifying condition. Bultena was moved to the Yakima Office in February 2012 while an investigation was pending. On May 17, 2013, Bultena was terminated due to her frequent, persistent tardiness.

Bultena now brings claims against the Department for disability and gender discrimination under the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), Wash. Rev. Code (RCW) § 49.60, violation of the Washington Family Leave Act (WFLA), RCW § 49.78, hostile work environment, and wrongful termination.1 The Department moves for summary judgment on all remaining claims and Bultena filed a cross motion for partial summary judgment on the WLAD and WFLA claims. Bultena's claims for disparate treatment based on disability, gender discrimination, and hostile work environment fail because she cannot make out a prima facie case on the undisputed facts in the record and her wrongful discharge claim is statutorily precluded. However, genuine issues of material fact preclude summary judgment on the failure to accommodate and WFLA claims. Accordingly, the Department's motion for summary judgment is granted in part, and Bultena's motion for summary judgment is denied in full.

BACKGROUND

A. Undisputed Facts

Plaintiff Trena Bultena was an agricultural inspector with the Department's Fruit and Vegetable Program from 2002 through 2013. ECF No. 69 at 165. Fruit and Vegetable Program inspectors inspect quality, condition, and phytosanitary criteria of fresh produce. The Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program is an entirely self-supporting, fee-for-service program that does not accept federal funds and is not supported by state funding. Id. at 10-11.

Bultena's performance evaluations from 2002 through 2005 were complimentary of her job performance. Id. at 104-11. Bultena's 2005-2006 annual performance evaluation raised concerns about her tardiness. Id. at 113. Bultena provided a written rebuttal to her evaluation. Id. at 115. She attributed her tardiness to a back injury, which she treated with narcotic pain relievers, her children failing to wake her, and her hearing loss. Id. Bultena indicated that she expected her tardiness issues to resolve *1219when her back healed. Id. Bultena received a supplemental evaluation a few months later indicating she had resolved her issues relating to tardiness. Id.

In September 2010, Bultena received her 2009-2010 performance evaluation. Id. at 121. She received favorable comments on her technical skill, but tardiness was again noted as an issue. Id. Bultena was advised that her tardiness causes delays in scheduling and getting out to the warehouses. Id. Expectations for the following year included her need to communicate more professionally, remain open minded, to show up for work on time, and to discontinue the practice of using annual leave to cover for late arrivals. Id. Bultena signed the evaluation and expectations without providing any additional comments. Id.

In March 2011, Bultena inquired about late arrival as a reasonable accommodation for her on-going tardiness. Id. at 124. Human Resource Consultant Barbara Hoff asked for current information from a medical professional laying out Bultena's limitations and suggesting possible accommodations. Id. Bultena indicated that it would be difficult for her to find time to see a doctor to obtain this information given her work schedule. Id. at 126. Hoff emailed Bultena twice in May and again in July asking for the required documentation. Id. at 126-27.

On September 26, 2011, Bultena received her 2010-2011 evaluation. Id. at 132. Bultena's continuing frequent tardiness was noted. Id. In October 2011, the Department relocated Bultena to Agricultural Inspector 4. Id. at 135. In February 2012, Bultena was assigned to the Yakima office pending an investigation that resulted from complaints by two warehouses. Id. at 137.

In April 2012, the Department arranged for an evaluation at Thompson Audiology and Hearing Center, by Dr. Rodney Thompson and a vocational work evaluation at Whitmer & Associates. Dr. Thompson's report included the finding that Bultena had moderate hearing loss in both ears. Id. at 140. He recommended two options to help her wake up in the morning: a specialized alarm for hearing impaired individuals and/or an inexpensive vibrating alarm watch. Id. The vocational recommendations from Whitmer & Associates noted that "a vibrating wristwatch is likely the best option for getting Ms. Bultena out of bed on time." Id. at 148.

Bultena did not appear to implement the recommendations and persisted in her request that the Department allow her to arrive to work late. In July 2012, Bultena requested to use FMLA to excuse her continued tardiness. ECF No. 69 at 54. The request was denied on the basis that Bultena did not qualify for FMLA leave.

Bultena submitted to the Department two FMLA certifications indicating her eligibility for FMLA leave-one in July 2012 and one in April 2013. The 2012 certification was written by Dr. Reinmuth, who was Bultena's primary care provider from 2010 to 2012. ECF No. 74 at 233. The certification stated:

The need for estimated medical leave began retroactive to at least July 06, 2011. The need for leave is estimated to continue for at least twelve months. Medical leave is the most effective accommodation since the employer will not accommodate a flexible schedule, telecommuting, or schedule adjustments to facilitate timely arrival expectations. VRC Whitmer notes that 'other accommodations are too burdensome or costly.' The only effective option for Trena to meet her medical necessities without schedule changes, flexible schedule, or telecommuting options is to take leave as needed because she cannot meet the *1220

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Bluebook (online)
319 F. Supp. 3d 1215, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bultena-v-wash-state-dept-of-agric-waed-2018.