Hernandez v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America

977 F. Supp. 1160, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15560, 1997 WL 619224
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedSeptember 23, 1997
Docket96-1316-CIV-T-17C
StatusPublished

This text of 977 F. Supp. 1160 (Hernandez v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hernandez v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America, 977 F. Supp. 1160, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15560, 1997 WL 619224 (M.D. Fla. 1997).

Opinion

ORDER

KOVACHEVICH, Chief Judge.

This cause is before the Court on the following motion, memorandum, depositions, affidavits and responses:

1. Defendant, PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA’S, (PRUDENTIAL) motion for summary judgment (Docket No. 19 ); memorandum of law in support of said motion with exhibits; reply to plaintiffs response to defendant’s motion for summary judgement; and notice of inap *1162 plicability of plaintiffs supplemental authority;
2. Plaintiff, STEVE HERNANDEZ’S, memorandum in opposition to defendant’s motion for summary judgment with exhibits (Docket No. 3 5); response to defendant’s motion for summary judgment; and notice of supplemental authority;
3. Depositions of STEVEN HERNANDEZ, LORETTA LOPEZ, JOHN MEYER, SUSAN OLDS, DALE ADRIANI, BERNADETTE FABER-GARZONE, EDMUND G. GRANT, M.D., DORRY NORRIS, M.D., TAMMY IRWIN, GEORGE ROHRMANN, and KIERAN J. QUINN;
4. Affidavits of BERNADETTE GAR-ZONE, NANCY KUHLMAN, BERNADETTE GARZONE with exhibits, STEVE HERNANDEZ, and DEBORAH COUCH; and
5. Plaintiffs Charge of Discrimination and Affidavit provided to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Summary judgment is appropriate where the record shows that no genuine issue as to any material fact exists and the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the Court must review the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and allow such party the benefit of all reasonable inferences to be drawn from the evidence. Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 156-58, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 1608, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970). Nevertheless, “the plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

FACTS

For purposes of ruling on the pending motion for summary judgment only, the Court finds the following facts to be relevant to the resolution of said motion:

On November 1, 1993, plaintiff, STEVE HERNANDEZ, was hired by defendant, PRUDENTIAL, as a Member Services Representative. Plaintiff received numerous performance based awards and had a high productivity rate, often exceeding that of his co-workers. On January 14, 1995, plaintiff was recommended for a promotion and merit increase. Prior to the promotion becoming effective, Plaintiff was terminated; however, this termination was revoked after defendant, PRUDENTIAL, conducted an investigation and determined that the termination was improper. Plaintiff began working again on February 26,1995.

After the investigation surrounding plaintiffs termination, plaintiff informed Ms. GARZONE, manager of provider relations, that he was infected with the Human Immuno-defieiency Virus (HIV). Subsequently, plaintiffs condition required him to take approved medical leave of absences. In August 1995, plaintiff began to request transfers to other assignments and positions which plaintiff deemed less stressful and more suitable to accommodate his frequent doctor appointments and health needs. In January 1996, after plaintiff filed a complaint with defendant’s corporate office, plaintiff was permitted to begin work a half hour earlier each day. Plaintiff also sought a lateral transfer which was denied in January 1996.

Plaintiff asserts that his supervisors began to look unfavorably at his work, despite the fact that his productivity rate was higher than most of the other customer representatives. Plaintiff contends that his supervisors’ actions forced him to file an internal complaint with the ethics department. Plaintiff states that it became increasingly difficult to obtain leave for medical reasons and that his overall treatment was different than other employees in similar positions.

In February 1996, plaintiff received an adverse performance evaluation. Plaintiff asserts that in light of the futility of his com *1163 plaints, the rapid decrease in his health, and the continuous harassment from his supervisors, plaintiff resigned from his position.

I. Disability

In order to establish a prima facie case under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), plaintiff must prove that he is: (1) disabled, (2) can perform the essential functions of his job with or without reasonable accommodations, and (3) was terminated because of his disability. Desai v. Tire Kingdom, Inc., 944 F.Supp. 876, 879 (M.D.Fla.1996). A disability is (1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (2) a record of such impairment, or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). Similarly, under the Florida Civil Human Rights Act (FCHRA) the term handicap means “[a] person has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, or he has a record of having, or is regarded as having, such physical or mental impairment.” Fla. Stat. § 760.22

Defendant PRUDENTIAL contends that plaintiff has not demonstrated that he is disabled under either the ADA or FCHRA. Moreover, defendant argues that asymptomatic HIV does not constitute a per se disability under the Act, therefore, plaintiff must prove that his impairment substantially limits a major life activity. Plaintiff undoubtedly has a physical impairment, 1 however, the plain language of the statutes requires that the impairment substantially limit a major life activity. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A); Fla. Stat. § 760.22.

It is unsettled whether HIV and AIDS are per se disabilities. Some courts have determined that both of these conditions undeniably impact a major life activity and that the impact is substantial, therefore, no specific determination is necessary. See D.B. v. Bloom, D.D.S., Madison Dental Centre, 896 F.Supp. 166, 170 (D.N.J.1995) (stating that an individual by virtue of his HIV status is disabled under the ADA); Hoepfl v. Barlow, 906 F.Supp. 317, 319 n.

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977 F. Supp. 1160, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15560, 1997 WL 619224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hernandez-v-prudential-insurance-co-of-america-flmd-1997.