Gardner v. Federal Express Corp.

114 F. Supp. 3d 889, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90065, 2015 WL 4192588
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedJuly 10, 2015
DocketCase No. 14-cv-01082-TEH
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 114 F. Supp. 3d 889 (Gardner v. Federal Express Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gardner v. Federal Express Corp., 114 F. Supp. 3d 889, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90065, 2015 WL 4192588 (N.D. Cal. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

THELTON E. HENDERSON, District Judge

This matter is before the Court on the Parties’, motions for summary judgment. After carefully considering the Parties’ written- and oral arguments, the Court hereby GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART the motions for summary judgment, as set forth below.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Robert Gardner was a full-time Ramp Transport Driver (RTD) at the Oakland yard facility of Defendant Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx”) when he suffered an on-the-job injury to his neck and shoulder on January 30, 2013. [894]*894Gardner Decl. ¶2 (Docket No. 36). On February 6, Gardner was placed on a paid medical leave of absence, during which he reported to FedEx’s Human Capital Management Program (“HCMP”), the department that oversees employees on medical leave. Ex. A to Matheis Decl. at 51:2-7 (Gardner Dep.) (Docket No. 37-1). Gardner’s case was handled by HCMP Advisor Kathy Cline, and on occasion HCMP Ad-visor Ramona McMaster. Gardner Decl. ¶ 3.

FedEx Policy 1-8 provides employees with up to 90 days of job-protected medical leave. Ex. 107 to Matheis Decl. (Docket No. 37-4). After the exhaustion of the 90 days of medical leave, a FedEx employee may be “displaced,” allowing FedEx to replace the position of the employee on leave or allow the position to remain unfilled. Id. Under this" policy, Gardner’s 90 days of job-protected medical leave was set to expire on May 7, 2013. Ex. D to Ma-theis Decl. at 45:18-21 (McMaster Dep.) (Docket No. 37-1). However, Gardner spoke with HCMP advisor McMaster, explaining that he had a doctor’s appointment on May 21; his job-protected leave was extended until that date. McMaster Dep. at 45:24-46:20, 77:3-13. The May 21, 20Í3 Work Status Report from Gardner’s doctor released him for modified work duty with restrictions on lifting and commercial driving. Ex. 108 to Matheis Decl. (Docket No. 37-4); However, the Report left blank the date that Gardner was expected to return to work on full medical discharge. Id.

The day after his appointment, Gardner was notified that he had been “displaced” from his position pursuant to Policy 1-8. Gardner Decl. ¶ 4; Ex. 1 to Gardner Decl. (Docket No. 36). Gardner remained a-FedEx employee and continued with paid medical leave, but he- was no longer an Oakland operation employee.

In May 2013, FedEx underwent a major reorganization of Air, Ground, and Freight Services operations in response to a downturn in business. Stations were closed, employees and responsibilities reassigned. Ex. F to-Matheis Decl. at 11:8-12:20,13:3— 17:5, 19:12-19, 21:23-22:7, 61:17-62:6 (Van Galder Dep.) (Docket No. 37-2). Eight full-time RTDs were transferred into Gardner’s former department from another operation. Id. at 17:10-19:2, 20-24, 20:5-21:22, 39:14r21.

In early June 2013, after Gardner had been displaced but while he was still on leave, Senior Manager Ron Fraser decided not to replace the positions of employees who were currently on medical leave. Ex. C to Shukla Decl. at 44:21-45:13 (Fraser Dep.) (Docket No. 36). On June 10, 2013, Managing Director Robin Van Galder sent an e-mail recapping Fraser’s decision; it read in part: “We have four employees that' have been out for an excess of 90 Days. We are not going to replace these employees.” Ex. D to Shukla Decl. (Docket No. 36).

In August 2013, Gardner had improved and anticipated a full release-to work at his next doctor’s appointment on August ■30,2013. Gardner Decl. ¶ 6. However, on August 26, 2013, Gardner learned from a friend that his former route had been posted on FedEx’s internal system. The next day, Gardner contacted his manager, Ken Barker, and told him that he had an appointment on August 30, where he expected to be released to return to work. Id. ¶ 7. Gardner was released to work by his doctor on August 30, 2013. Gardner Dep. at 120:20-121:1, 19-123:22; Ex. 36 to Ma-theis Decl. (Docket No. 37-3). However, HCMP Advisor McMaster called him and told him not . to return to work until he was contacted. Gardner Decl. ¶ 8.

On September 3, 2013, HCMP Advisor Cline notified Gardner that his position [895]*895was no longer available. Id. ¶ 9, She also sent him a letter informing him that he would be on an unpaid leave of absence for 90 days, during which time he could look for another position at FedEx.. Ex. 3 to Gardner Deck (Docket No. 36). However, “At the end of this 90-day period,” the letter explained, “if no position is found, your employment will be terminated.” Id.

During the 90 day unpaid leave period, FedEx sent Gardner weekly job postings, per its policy. In late 2003, Gardner filed an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint against FedEx. Van Galder Dep. at 56-59 (Docket No. 48-1). Thereafter, Gardner claims that he received no full-time, .local position for which he was qualified. Gardner Deck ¶ 11, Specifically, he claims he did not receive an October 25, 2013 Bulletin regarding a full-time dispatcher job in Oakland, and a January 17, 2014 Bulletin regarding a full-time RTD job in Oakland. Ex. B to Matheis Deck at 213:8-21 (Gardner Dep. II) (Docket No. 37-1); Gardner Dep. at 135:5-10, However, Gardner was offered four part-time RTD jobs, which he declined. Gardner Dep. II at 200:17-20.

On February 17, 2014, FedEx terminated Gardner’s employment because he.had been unable, to find another position with the company. Gardner Deck ¶ 12. Gardner filed suit on March 7, 2014. (Docket No. 1). The instant motions for summary judgment were filed on May 11, 2015. (Docket Nos. 33, 35). The Parties thereafter submitted timely responses and replies. (Docket Nos. 48-49, 53-54). The Court heard oral argument on June 29, 2015.

LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A party seeking summary judg-' ment bears the initial burden of informing the court of the basis for its motion, and of identifying those portions of the pleadings, depositions, discovery responses, and affidavits that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Material facts are those that might affect the outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The “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.” Id. at 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

Where the moving party will have the burden of proof at trial, it must affirmatively demonstrate that no reasonable trier of fact could find other than for the moving party. Soremekun v. Thrifty Payless, Inc., 509 F.3d 978, 984 (9th Cir.2007).

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