Gaddy v. Radio Systems Corp.

59 F. Supp. 3d 857, 30 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1330, 23 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 878, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140002
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Tennessee
DecidedOctober 2, 2014
DocketCase No. 3:13-CV-17-PLR-CCS
StatusPublished

This text of 59 F. Supp. 3d 857 (Gaddy v. Radio Systems Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gaddy v. Radio Systems Corp., 59 F. Supp. 3d 857, 30 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1330, 23 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 878, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140002 (E.D. Tenn. 2014).

Opinion

Memorandum Opinion and Order

PAMELA L. REEVES, District Judge.

To care for her ailing husband, Cathy Gaddy had to take extensive amounts of leave from her job at Radio Systems Corporation under the Family Medical Leave Act (the “FMLA”). Mrs. Gaddy also took FMLA leave for herself after having a heart attack in February 2011. From the time she returned to work through August 2011, Mrs. Gaddy was only able to work six hours a day, one day a week. She continued to take Intermittent FMLA leave thereafter. In December 2011, Radio Systems terminated Mrs. Gaddy.

Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Gaddy filed a Charge of Discrimination with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”) alleging she was discriminated against and fired for associating with her disabled husband. She also alleged she was fired in retaliation for taking FMLA leave. The EEOC issued a right to sue letter, and Mrs. Gad-dy filed the present suit alleging substantially the same claims as contained in the Charge of Discrimination. Subsequently, however, Mrs. Gaddy amended her complaint to add additional claims for discrimination on account of her own disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”).

Presently before the Court is Radio Systems’ motion for partial summary judgment. [R. 31]. Radio Systems seeks summary judgment on Mrs. Gaddy’s claims for back pay and front pay; it also seeks dismissal of Mrs. Gaddy’s claims of discrimination on account of her own disabilities that were added in her Second Amended and Restated Complaint. For the reasons that follow, Radio Systems’ motion will be granted in part and denied in part.

1. Standard of Review

Summary judgment under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is proper “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). The moving party bears the burden of establishing that no genuine issues of material fact exist. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 330 n. 2, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Moore v. Philip Morris Co., Inc., 8 F.3d 335, 339 (6th Cir.1993). All facts and inferences to be drawn therefrom must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986); Burchett v. Kiefer, 310 F.3d 937, 942 (6th Cir.2002). Courts may not resolve genuine disputes of fact in favor of the movant. Tolan v. Cotton, — U.S. -, 134 S.Ct. 1861, 1863, 188 L.Ed.2d 895 (2014) (vacating lower court’s grant of summary judgment for “fail[ing to] adhere to the axiom that in ruling on a [860]*860motion for summary judgment, the evidence of the nonmovant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor”) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

Once the moving party presents evidence sufficient to support a motion under Rule 56, the nonmoving party is not entitled to a trial merely on the basis of allegations. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548. To establish a genuine issue as to the existence of a particular element, the nonmoving party must point to evidence in the record upon which a reasonable finder of fact could find in its favor. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The genuine issue must also be material; that is, it must involve facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law. Id.

The Court’s function at the point of summary judgment is limited to determining whether sufficient evidence has been presented to make the issue of fact a proper question for the fact finder. Id. at 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The Court does not weigh the evidence or determine the truth of the matter. Id. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505. Nor does the Court search the record “to establish that it is bereft of a genuine issue of fact.” Street v. J.C. Bradford & Co., 886 F.2d 1472, 1479 (6th Cir.1989). Thus, “the inquiry performed is the threshold inquiry of determining whether there is a need for a trial' — whether, in other words, there are any genuine factual issues that properly can be. resolved only by a finder of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

2. Background

Cathy Gaddy began working for Radio Systems Corporation in November 2007 as a customer care specialist. Beginning in November 2008, Mrs. Gaddy went on Intermittent FMLA leave to care for her husband who had numerous medical problems, including blindness, diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease, and an amputated leg. Mrs. Gaddy’s Intermittent FMLA leave was renewed regularly, and “would be necessary, basically, for the rest of her husband’s life.” [R. 35, p. 2]. Mrs. Gaddy also had health problems of her own. She had a heart attack in February 2011, which led to her taking continuous FMLA leave from February 22, 2011 through March 21, 2011. Upon returning to work, Mrs. Gad-dy worked on a reduced schedule — as little as six hours per day, one day per week until August 2011. [R. 17, p. 3]. After August 2011, it appears Mrs. Gaddy resumed a normal working schedule, only taking Intermittent FMLA leave.

In October 2011, while still employed by Radio Systems^ Mrs. Gaddy applied for Social Security disability benefits. In her application, Mrs. Gaddy indicated she became unable to work on February 22, 2011 (the date of her heart attack) because of a disabling condition, and she continued to be disabled through the present time. [R. 32-1, p. 11]. The Social Security Administration denied Mrs. Gaddy’s application.

Radio Systems terminated Mrs. Gaddy in December 2011. According to Mrs. Gaddy and her doctor, the termination exacerbated Mrs. Gaddy’s preexisting anxiety and depression to the point that Mrs. Gaddy was unable to work. [R. 35, p. 3]. Mrs. Gaddy’s termination was not, however, the only factor contributing to her anxiety and depression. According to Mrs. Gaddy’s doctor, numerous factors contributed to her depression and anxiety, including the declining health and death of her husband, the stress and guilt associated with being her husband’s caregiver, numerous health problems of her own, and financial concerns.

[861]*861In February 2012, Mrs. Gaddy filed new paperwork with the Social Security Administration, representing that her hands “hurt so bad from arthritis [she] can’t type or hold a grip in [her] pens.” She also stated “I stay very tired that I have gone to sleep while on the phone. I’m very depressed I cry for no reasons. My mind wanders.” [R. 32-2, p. 1]. The Social Security Administration granted Mrs.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
59 F. Supp. 3d 857, 30 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1330, 23 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 878, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140002, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gaddy-v-radio-systems-corp-tned-2014.