Hodges v. District of Columbia

172 F. Supp. 3d 271, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39844, 2016 WL 1222213

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: March 28, 2016
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2012-1675
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

TANYA S. CHUTEAN, United States District Judge

Plaintiff Ronald Hodges was employed by the District of Columbia’s Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) until his termination in September 2010. In this action, he brings claims against the District for disability discrimination and failure to accommodate under the D.C. Human Rights Act, as amended, D.C. Code § .2-1401 et seq. (the “DCHRA”), and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (the “ADA”). He also alleges violation of the Family Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. (the “FMLA”).-

Before the court are the District’s Motion for Summary Judgment on all of Plaintiffs claims and Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment on his FMLA claim.

Upon consideration of the parties’ pleadings, and for the reasons' set forth’ below, the District’s Motion is hereby GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART, and Plaintiffs Motion is hereby DENIED.

I. BACKGROUND

In 2010, while he was employed by OIG, Plaintiff began experiencing back pain. He was first treated by Dr. Charles Azzam, who referred him for a June- 8, 2010 MRI examination that revealed a disc herniation, disc oseophyte complex and disc bulge. (See Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 2 at 2). After Dr. Azzam’s treatment proved unsuccessful, Plaintiff sought treatment with another physician, Dr. Peter Huynh. (See Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 1¶¶ 3-4).

The last day Plaintiff reported to work at OIG was. July 21, 201Ó. (PL’s Opp’n at 2). On July 22, 2010, Dr. Huynh signed a work restriction form stating that Plaintiff would be “totally disabled” for five days, through July 27, 2010. (PL’s Mot. Ex. 3 at 1). The work restriction form also stated that Plaintiff could return to “normal duty” on July 28, 2010, with work restrictions to include stooping, bending, climbing, kneeling and squatting. (Id.). 1

Plaintiff did not return to work on July 28, 2010, however. Instead, on July 29, 2010, Dr. Huynh completed a medical certification for Plaintiff. (See Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 4). The certification 2 stated that: •

• Plaintiff had a “serious health condition” requiring “continuing treatment.” (Id. at 1, 4).

• Plaintiffs “serious health condition” commenced in June 2010 and was ex-' peeted to last for three to six months. (Id. at 1).

• Plaintiff would be required “to take work only intermittently or to work on a less than full schedule” for approximately three months “because of treatment on an intermittent or part-time basis.” (Id. at 1-2).

• Plaintiff would need to receive treatment three times per week for four to six weeks, and one to two times per week for one month thereafter. (Id. at 2).

• It would be “necessary” for Plaintiff “to be absent from work for treatment ..' due to the distance to [the] clinic” where he would be receiving such treatment. (Id.).

Under a heading relating to the kinds of work that Plaintiff would be “unable to perform,” Dr. Huynh listed “no prolonged sitting” and “no heavy lifting” over five pounds. (Id.) Under a heading relating to “the essential functions of [Plaintiffs] job” that he would be “unable to perform,” Dr. Huynh did not list anything. (Id.).

On July 30, 2010, the day after Dr. Huynh completed the certification, Plaintiff contacted LaDonia Wilkins, OIG’s Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits, and informed her that he was “under [a] doctor’s care,, preventing [him] from returning to work,” and that he “would be unable to report to work for another 4 to 6 weeks.”' (Pl,’s Mot. Ex. 5 at 1). Plaintiff does not appear to have contacted OIG prior to July 30, 2010 to explain why he had not appeared for work since July 21, 2010.

On August 6, 2010, Ronald King, OIG’s Assistant Inspector General for Audits, sent Plaintiff a letter regarding Plaintiffs July 30, 2010 conversation with Wilkins. (See PL’s Mot. Ex. 5). The letter directed Plaintiff to contact King by August 11, 2010 “to apprise, [him] as to what leave category [Plaintiffs] absences should be charged to,” and informed Plaintiff that if he failed to do so, he would be considered absent without leave (“AWOL”). (Id. at 1). The letter also directed Plaintiff to have an enclosed medical certification form completed by his health care provider and returned to King within five business days. (See id.).

Plaintiff did not get Dr. Huynh to complete this new medical certification form and instead provided King with the July 29, 2010 certification on August 13, 2010. (See Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 6 at 1).

■ On August 16, 2010, King sent Plaintiff a letter that stated: .

I have reviewed the Certification and note that your chiropractor, Peter Huynh, indicates that your current medical condition requires: ■

• three (3) treatments per week for 4-6 weeks, 1-2 treatments per week for 1 month;

• no prolonged sitting; and

• no heavy lifting (over 6 lbs.).

Further, the Certification states that you need to be absent from work' for treatment “due to the distance to clinic” (Springfield, VA). ‘

Based on the Certification, I have denied your request for leave without pay for an indefinite period. However, the OIG will provide'accommodations pursu ant to the parameters listed in the Certification:

• you should stand up, stretch, and walk around to avoid prolonged sitting; and

• you are not required to lift items greater than five (5) pounds.

In addition, in accordance with District regulations, your treatment and related commute can be charged to eligible annual leave, sick leave, or leave without pay.

(Id.). The August 13 letter further stated that King expected Plaintiff “to report to work immediately,” and that he would be considered AWOL if he did not. (Id. at 2).

Plaintiff did not respond to the August 13 letter, and did not return to work. On August 16, 2010, King completed a Notification of Charge to Absence- Without Leave form which stated that Plaintiff- had failed to report to work that day despite the fact that the certification indicated that he was able to, work. (See Def.’s Mot. Ex. G at 3).

- On August 25, 2010, Inspector General Charles Willoughby sent Plaintiff a letter providing him with notice of his termination, effective September 10, 2010. (See Pl,’s Mot. Ex. 8). The August 25 letter stated that Plaintiff was being terminated “for disciplinary reasons because [he had] been absent without [leave] (AWOL) since August 16,2010.” (Id.).

II. LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment may be granted 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); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) (“[T]he 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.”) (emphasis in origir nal); Holcomb v. Powell, 433 F.3d 889, 895 (D.C.Cir.2006). Summary' judgment may be rendered on a “claim or defense ... or [a] part of each claim or' defense.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).

“A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by .., citing to particular parts of materials in the record.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). “A fact is ‘material’ if a dispute over it might affect the outcome of a suit under governing law; factual disputes that are ‘irrelevant or unnecessary’ do not affect the summary judgment determination. An issue is ‘genuine’ if ‘the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.’” Holcomb, 433 F.3d at 895 (quoting Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505) (citation omitted). The party seeking summary judgment “bears the heavy burden of establishing that the merits of his case are so clear that expedited action is justified.” Taxpayers Watchdog, Inc. v. Stanley, 819 F.2d 294, 297 (D.C.Cir.1987).

In considering a motion for summary judgment, “[t]he evidence of the non-mov-ant is to be believed,- and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor.” Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505; see also Mastro v. Potomac Elec. Power Co., 447 F.3d 843, 850 (D.C.Cir.2006) (“We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and draw all inferences in its favor.”). The non-movant’s opposition, however, must consist of more than mere unsupported allegations or denials, and must be supported by affi-, davits, declarations or other competent evidence . setting forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The non-movant is “required to. provide evidence that would permit a reasonable jury to find [in his favor].” Laningham v. U.S. Navy, 813 F.2d 1236, 1242 (D.C.Cir.1987).

III. DISCUSSION

a. Plaintiffs ADA and DCHRA Claims

The ADA prohibits discrimination in the workplace. “against a qualified individual on the basis of disability.” 42 .U.S.C. § 12112(a). Similarly, the DCHRA makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an individual “wholly or partially for a discriminatory reason based upon [an] actual or perceived ... disability.” D.C. Code § 2-1402.11(a)(l). In analyzing Plaintiffs DCHRA claims, the court will apply the standards applicable to claims brought under the ADA. See, e.g., Badwal v. Bd. of Trustees of Univ. of D.C., No. 12-cv-2073 (KBJ), 139 F.Supp.3d 295, 308, 2015 WL 5692842, at *6 (D.D.C. Sept. 28, 2015) (“Employment discrimination claims under the DCHRA are analyzed using the same legal framework as federal employment discrimination claims. Therefore the Court may consider both of plaintiffs disability discrimination claims under the ADA standard.”) (citations omitted),

i. Plaintiffs Failure To Accommodate Claims

To prevail on his failure to accommodate claims, Plaintiff must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that (i) he was a qualified individual with a disability; (ii) OIG had notice of his disability; and (iii) OIG denied his request for a reasonable accommodation. See Ward v. McDonald, 762 F.3d 24, 31 (D.C.Cir.2014) (citing Stewart v. St. Elizabeths Hosp., 589 F.3d 1305, 1307-08 (D.C.Cir.2010); Barth v. Gelb, 2 F.3d 1180, 1186 (D.C.Cir.1993)).

The second element is undisputed here: The certification provided OIG with notice of Plaintiffs serious health condition. While the District asserts that Plaintiff has not satisfied the first element because he “claims that he could not perform the essential functions of his job with or without an accommodation” (Def.’s Mot. at 5), the court need not address this argument because it finds that the third element is clearly, lacking. To wit, no reasonable jury could find that OIG denied Plaintiffs accommodation request given that OIG responded to the request by offering accommodations that closely tracked the certification, and Plaintiff never responded to that offer.

“Few disabilities are amenable to one-size-fits-all accommodations. To meet its obligations under the [ADA], then, an employer needs information about the nature of the individual’s disability and the desired accommodation — information typically possessed only by the individual or her physician.” Ward, 762 F.3d at 31. “When the need for art accommodation is not obvious, an employer, before providing a reasonable accommodation, may require that the individual with a disability provide documentation of the need for accommodation.” Stewart, 589 F.3d at 1309 (quoting 29 C.F.R. pt. 1630 app. § 1630.9). EEOC regulations therefore provide as follows:

To determine the appropriate reasonable accommodation it may be necessary for the [employer] to initiate an informal, interactive process with the individual with a disability in need of the accommodation. This process should identify the precise limitations resulting from the disability and potential reasonable accommodations that could overcome those limitations.

29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(o)(3); see also Mogenhan v. Napolitano, 613 F.3d 1162, 1167 & n. 4 (D.C.Cir.2010).

“The process contemplated is ‘a flexible give-and-take’ between employer and employee ‘so that together they can determine what accommodation would enable the employee to continue working.’ ” Ward, 762 F.3d at 32 (quoting EEOC v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 417 F.3d 789, 805 (7th Cir.2005)); see also Mogenhan, 613 F.3d at 1167-68 & n. 4; Stewart, 589 F.3d at 1308-09. “[Njeither party should bp able to cause a breakdown in the process for the purpose of either avoiding or inflicting liability.” Ward, 762 F.3d at 32 (quoting Sears, 417 F.3d at 805). The D.C. Circuit has explained that in analyzing a failure to accommodate claim,

courts should look for signs of failure to participate in good' faith' or failure by one of the parties to make reasonable efforts to help the other party determine what specific accommodations are néces-sary. A party that obstructs or delays the interactive process is not acting in good faith. A party that fails to communicate, by way of initiation dr response, may also be acting in bad faith. In essence, courts should attempt to isolate the cause of the breakdown and then assign responsibility.

Id. (quoting Sears, 417 F.3d at 805).

In sum, to establish that his request for an accommodation was “denied,” Plaintiff must show that OIG either refused to engage in the interactive process, participated in the interactive process in bad faith, or ended the interactive process. See id. The operative facts, as asserted by the parties, are as follows:

• The last day Plaintiff reported to work at OIG was July 21, 2010. (Pl.’s Opp’n at 2).

• On July 30, 2010, Plaintiff apprised OIG that he was “under [a] doctor’s care, preventing [him] from returning to work,” and “would be unable to report to work for another 4 to 6 weeks.” (Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 5 at 1).

• On August 6, 2010, OIG requested a medical certification to support Plaintiffs leave request. (See id.).

• On August 13, 2010, Plaintiff provided OIG with the requested certification. (See Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 6 at 1).

• On August 16; 2010, OIG sent Plaintiff a letter denying his specific leave request and proposing a set of accommodations that closely tracked the certification. (See id.).

• Plaintiff never responded.

Given this timeline, and given the fact that the August 16 letter bore the hallmarks of good faith insofar as it offered accommodations that closely tracked the certification, it is clear that the interactive process broke down when Plaintiff failed to respond to the letter.

As an initial matter, Plaintiff is incorrect in asserting that OIG “completely ignored the fact that [his] physician indicated that it was necessary for [him] to be absent from work for the treatments he was receiving.” (PL’s Opp’n at 15). First, the certification does not support Plaintiffs contention that he was unable to report to work at all due to his treatment for his back issues. (See PL’s Mot. Ex. 5 at 1). Rather, the certification states that Plaintiff would be required “to take work only intermittently or to work on a less than full schedule” for approximately three months “because of treatment on an intermittent or part-time-basis,” with such treatment, taking place three times per week for four to six weeks, and then one to two times per week for one month thereafter. (PL’s Mot. Ex. 4 at 1-2) (emphasis in original). Second, based on the certification, OIG proposed an accommodation whereby Plaintiff could take time off to attend treatment sessions and charge'his “treatment and related commute ... to eligible annual leave, sick leave, or leave without pay.” (PL’s Mot. Ex. 6 at 1). While it was not the long-term continuous leave that Plaintiff had sought, OIG’s .proposed accommodation plainly took into consideration the fact Plaintiff needed to be absent from work, on an intermittent basis in order to receive treatment.

Plaintiff also asserts that OIG “cherry-picked a remedy and sought to impose a unilateral demand that [he] return to work,” and that this demand “was completely at odds with ... Dr. Huynh’s conclusion that [he] needed to avoid prolonged sitting, a requisite for [his] sedentary office position.” (PL’s Opp’n at 15) (quotation and citations omitted). OIG’s proposed accommodations were not “at odds” with the certification, however. As noted above, the certification "did not state that Plaintiff needed to take weeks of continuous leave for treatment — it stated that he-needed “to take work only intermittently or to work on a less, than full schedule” for approximately three months “because of treatment on an intermittent or part-time basis.” (Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 4 at 1-2) (emphasis in original). OIG’s offer to allow Plaintiff to charge his “treatment and related commute .... to eligible annual leave, sick leave, or leave without pay” was thus in keeping with the certification, not “at odds” with it. (PL’s Mot. Ex. 6 at 1). Furthermore, the certification did not list any “essential [job] functions” that Plaintiff would be “unable to perform” while undergoing treatment. (PL’s Mot. Ex. 4 at 2) (emphasis in original). While the certification forbade “prolonged sitting” and lifting objects weighing more than five pounds (id.), OIG offered two accommodations that directly addressed these restrictions: (i) that Plaintiff “should stand up, stretch, and walk around to avoid prolonged sitting”; and (ii) that Plaintiff should not be “required to lift items greater than five (5) pounds.” .(PL’s Mot. Ex. 6 at 1).

Moreover, Plaintiffs contention that OIG “impose[d] a unilateral demand” reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the interactive process outlined above. (PL’s Opp’n at 15). OIG’s counteroffer of specific accommodations closely tracking the certification.did not end the interactive process; it merely put the ball in Plaintiffs court. If Plaintiff believed that the accommodations proposed by OIG were insufficient — perhaps because he needed additional time off to recuperate in between his thrice-weekly treatment sessions, or perhaps because standing up, stretching and walking around would not sufficiently alleviate the pain caused by sitting at his desk to work — then he could have stated as much in a response to the August 16 letter. Instead, Plaintiff essentially walked away from the interactive process, despite having been warned that he would be listed as AWOL if he did not return to work. Under these circumstances, Plaintiffs failure to engage with OIG beyond his initial accommodation demand and the provision of the certification dooms his failure to acconimodate claims. See Ward, 762 F.3d at 32 (holding that, in order to establish that a request for accommodation was denied, a plaintiff .must show that his or her employer “in fact ended the interactive process or that it participated in the process in bad faith,” and directing courts to “attempt to isolate the cause of the breakdown and then assign responsibility”).

The cases cited by Plaintiff in support of his failure to accommodate claims are all inapposite to the facts here. For example, in Norden v. Samper, 503 F.Supp.2d 130, 155-56 (D.D.C.2007), the employer offered an “ersatz version of the accommodations suggested by [the plaintiffs] physicians,” including “a sham proposal (a ‘flexible’ schedule that was actually inflexible),” and “simply ignored” two other requests. Similarly, in Graffius v. Shinseki, 672 F.Supp.2d 119, 129 (D.D.C.2009), the plaintiff asked to be “provided an office on the same floor with a handicapped-accessible restroom,” and her employer essentially ignored her request, simply stating that “the building [met] all applicable handicapped-accessible requirements,” a fact that was entirely beside the point. Unlike those cases, OIG’s proposed accommodations directly addressed Plaintiffs needs as they were set forth in the certification.

Also inapposite is Humphrey v. Mem’l Hosps. Ass’n, 239 F.3d 1128, 1139 (9th Cir.2001), in which the employer rejected the plaintiffs work-at-home, request and failed to explore the possibility of other accommodations after .it became aware that an. initial accommodation' arrangement was not effective. The Ninth Circuit held that “the duty to accommodate is a continuing duty that is not exhausted by one effort,” and that an employer’s “obligation to engage in the interactive process extends beyond the first attempt at accommodation and continues ... where the employer is aware that the initial accommodation is failing and further accommodation is needed.” Humphrey, 239 F.3d at 1138 (quotation omitted). Here, however, OIG offered accommodations that appeared responsive -to the restrictions set forth in the certification, and received' no response from Plaintiff." Plaintiff- proffers no evidence indicating that OIG should have" been aware that its proposed accommodations would fail or that further accommodations would be needed. Moreover, Plaintiff cites rio cáse law indicating that OIG was required to either propose different, additional accommodations or capitulate to Plaintiffs specific request in response to Plaintiffs silence after receiving the August 16 letter. 3

. In actuality, this case is similar to Beck v. Univ. of Wis. Bd. of Regents, 75 F.3d 1130 (7th Cir.1996), which was discussed approvingly by the D.C. Circuit in both Ward and Stewart. In Beck, the plaintiff was a secretary who suffered from arthritis, depression and anxiety. Id. at 1132. Upon returning from medical' leave, She provided her employer with a doctor’s letter stating that ah adjustable keyboard “would be helpful in preventing further difficulties with her hands,” and that a reduced workload “would do much to assist in her transition back- to work, and future productivity.” Id. at 1133. The employer then sought more information from plaintiff, but received none: See id. The employer also, took steps to accommodate the plaintiff.based on the information in the doctor’s letter, but was unable to do so to her satisfaction. See id. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s grant of summary judgment to the employer because it did not attempt “to sweep the problem under the rug” and instead took “numerous steps to accommodate [plaintiff] based on information available to it.” Id. at 1136. Similarly, in this case, OIG responded to Plaintiffs request by proposing accommodations that closely tracked the certification, and there is no evidence that OIG attempted “to sweep the problem under the rug.” OIG was not required to do more than what it did in the face of Plaintiffs silence.

Simply put, the evidence in this' case indicates that Plaintiff and OIG parted ways not because OIG failed to accommodate his disability, but because he acted precipitately in failing to respond to OIG’s proposed accommodations and essentially walking away from the interactive process, and his job. The court therefore finds that the District- is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs failure to accommodate claims under the ADA and DCHRA, and hereby GRANTS the District’s Motion with regard to Counts I and III of the Complaint.

ii. Plaintiffs Disability Discrimination Claims

“Putting aside the issue of reasonable accommodation, the two basic ele- merits of a disability discrimination claim are that (i) the plaintiff suffered an adverse employment action (ii) because of the plaintiffs disability.” Adeyemi v. D.C., 525 F.3d 1222, 1226 (D.C.Cir.2008). Here, it is undisputed that Plaintiffs termination constituted an adverse employment action. The question that remains to be decided is whether he was terminated because of his disability.

Where there is no direct evidence of disability discrimination, as is the case here, courts in this Circuit apply the familiar burden-shifting framework established in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973). Under this framework, the plaintiff bears the initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of discrimination by a preponderance of the evidence. See Kersey v. Wash. Metro. Area Transit Auth., 586 F.3d 13, 17 (D.C.Cir.2009). The defendant then has the burden to rebut that prima facie case with evidence of a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for its actions. See id. (quotation omitted). Finally, if the defendant has produced such evidence, the plaintiff must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the legitimate reasons offered by the defendant were not its true reasons, and were instead a pretext for discrimination. See id. (quotation omitted).

“This three-step process differs slightly at the summary-judgment stage,” however. Joyce v. Office of Architect of Capitol, 106 F.Supp.3d 163, 169 (D.D.C.2015). “At this point in the proceedings, if the defendant can offer a legitimate reason for the challenged action, then district courts may skip over the first step of the analysis, since in such circumstances ‘the prima facie ease is a largely unnecessary sideshow.’ ” Id. (quoting Brady v. Office of Sergeant at Arms, 520 F.3d 490, 494 (D.C.Cir.2008)).

In the instant action, the court finds that the District has proffered a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for terminating Plaintiff: His absenteeism, including his absence without leave from August 16, 2010 onward. See Gurara v. D.C., 881 F.Supp.2d 143, 148 (D.D.C. 2012) (“Absenteeism is, without doubt, a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for taking action against an employee.”) (citing McGill v. Munoz, 203 F.3d 843, 846 (D.C.Cir.2000); Short v. Chertoff, 555 F.Supp.2d 166, 176-77 (D.D.C.2008)).

• The undisputed evidence establishes that Plaintiff was informed on August 13, 2010 — over three weeks after he had last reported to work — that (i) OIG did not read the certification as requiring weeks of .continuous leave; (ii) OIG had proposed alternative accommodations, including intermittent leave to attend treatment; (iii) he was expected to report to work immediately; and (iv) he would be listed as AWOL if- he did not do so. {See PL’s Mot. Ex. 6 at 1-2). Despite these warnings, Plaintiff did not respond to the August 16 letter or otherwise follow up with OIG in any way (including, for example, by providing an updated medical certification), and did not show up to work. Under these circumstances, with Plaintiff simply going AWOL without providing any additional support for his request for weeks of continuous leave, OIG was within its rights to terminate him. See, e.g., Stoops v. One Call Commc’ns, Inc., 141 F.3d 309, 313 (7th Cir.1998) (noting that the employee is “the person most able to determine that [an] initial certification was ‘wrong’ and [i]s the person with the incentive, and certainly the burden, to have it corrected”). 4

Because Plaintiffs absenteeism provided OIG with a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for terminating him, the court must determine whether Plaintiff has “produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find that [OIG’s] asserted non-discriminatory reason was not the actual reason and that [OIG] intentionally discriminated against [him] on a prohibited basis.” Adeyemi, 525 F.3d at 1226 (citing Brady, 520 F.3d at 493-95). The court finds that he has not.

Plaintiff argues that the District used his absenteeism as a pretext for terminating him because (i) he “had a positive annual leave balance at the time of his termination”; (ii) his “leave usage from January 1, 2010 until his termination was not excessive”; and (iii) he “had only been AWOL for approximately a week when he was terminated.” (Pl.’s Opp’n at 18) (citations omitted). But while Plaintiff had a positive leave balance and had not previously been'excessive in taking leave, he was terminated .for being absent mthout leave, having opted against taking OIG up on its offer to allow him to charge any intermittent treatment-related absences to eligible annual leave, sick leave, or leave without pay while otherwise continuing to report to work, which would have allowed him to take advantage of his positive leave balance. As for the fact that Plaintiff “had only been AWOL” from August 16, 20Í0 through August 25, 2010, Plaintiff cites no case law or evidence indicating that there is anything pretextual about terminating an employee who has been AWOL for over a week. (PL’s Opp’n at 18).

In sum, -the District has proffered a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason- for terminating Plaintiff, and Plaintiff has not produced evidence that would permit a reasonable jury to find that the District’s asserted reason was a mere pretext for prohibited discrimination. The court therefore finds that the District is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs disability discrimination claims under the ADA and DCHBA, and hereby GRANTS' the District’s Motion with regard to Counts II and IV,

b. Plaintiffs FMLA Claim

' Plaintiff also alleges that the District interfered with the exercise of his rights under the FMLA. The FMLA provides eligible employees with twelve weeks of unpaid leave during any twelve-month period if a “seribus health condition” prevents such an employee from performing the functions of his or her job. 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1)(D). The statute also prohibits an employer from “interfering] with, restraining], or denying] the exercise of or the attempt to exercise, any right provided” thereunder. See id. § 2615(a)(1).

The District points out, correctly, that FMLA leave may be denied absent an appropriate certification. It is similarly axiomatic that FMLA. leave may. be denied .if a medical certification does not support an employee’s entitlement to such leave. In the .instant case, however, while the certification does not support Plaintiff s request for several weeks of continuous leave for all the reasons discussed above, it does demonstrate his entitlement to periodic or intermittent FMLA leave, as it shows that he would have been unable to perform the functions of his job during intermittent treatment-related absences. See 29 U.S.C. § -2612(a)(1)(D), (b)(1) (leave for “a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the position of such employee ... may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule when medically necessary”).

Throughout its briefing, the District conflates its assertion that the certification does not support Plaintiffs request for continuous leave (which is correct) with the assertion that the certification does not support FMLA leave (which is incorrect). For example, the District cites a number of so-called “negative certification” cases. (See, e.g., Def.’s Mot. at 10; Def.’s Opp’n & Reply at 4-5). “[T]he ‘negative, certification’ principle has been applied when [a] medical certification affirmatively states that despite the employee’s recognized medical condition, the employee is not required to miss any work due to the condition.” Fritz v. Phillips Serv. Indus., Inc., 555 F.Supp.2d 820, 824 (E.D.Mich.2008) (citing Nawrocki v. United Methodist Ret. Communities, Inc., 174 Fed.Appx. 334, 338 (6th Cir.2006); Stoops, 141 F.3d at 311). In Nawrocki, for example, the plaintiffs health care provider submitted a medical certification indicating that the plaintiffs serious health condition did not require a reduced work schedule or intermittent leave. 174 Fed.Appx. at 338, The Sixth Circuit held that this “negative certification” failed to place the employer on notice that the employee qualified for FMLA leave and justified the employer in denying FMLA leave and subsequently terminating the employee for excessive absences. Id. at 337-38.

The cases cited by the District are all similar to Nawrocki. In Allen v. Progress Energy Inc., No. 07-cv-1588-Orl-19 (GJK), 2009 WL 425966, at *8 (M.D.Fla. Feb. 20, 2009), “the undisputed evidence established] that [the plaintiff] was not entitled to FMLA leave.” In Stoops, the plaintiffs' medical documentation stated that his medical condition “did not require him to miss work,” leading the Seventh Circuit to find that the plaintiff did not give his employer notice of a “qualifying reason” for FMLA leave. 141 F.3d at 313-14 (“Where an employer properly requests a physician’s certification under the FMLA and that certification indicates the employee is not entitled to FMLA leave, the employer ddes not violate the FMLA by relying upon that certification in the absence of some overriding medical evidence.”). In Tayag v. Lahey Clinic Hosp., Inc., 632 F.3d 788, 793 (1st Cir.2011), the First Circuit held that the employer “was justified in denying FMLA leave” in part because the employee’s “cardiologist had disavowed the need for any leave.” In Brady v. Potter, 476 F.Supp.2d 745, 757-58 (N.D.Ohio 2007), the court held that the employer was permitted to rely on a “negative certification” in denying FMLA leave because the certification “did not indicate a serious health condition that rendered her unable to perform her job functions.”

Unlike the cases cited above, this .case does not involve a “negative certification.” While the certification indicates that Plaintiff was-not entitled to the weeks of continuous FMLA leave that he requested, it clearly indicates that he was entitled to intermittent FMLA leave because he would have been unable to perform the essential functions of his position during periodic absences for required treatment. 5

The District argues that Plaintiff cannot establish that he was “unable to perform the functions” of his position because nothing in the certification indicated that he needed to be completely absent from work to complete treatment. 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1)(D). The certification clearly states, however, that Plaintiff would need “to take work only intermittently or to work on a less than full schedule” for approximately three months, during which time he would need “to be absent from work ... [for] treatment on an intermittent or part-time basis.” (Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 4 at 1-2) (emphasis in original).

Because “[a]n employee who must be absent from work to receive .medical treatment for a serious health condition is considered to be unable to perform the essential functions of the position during the absence for treatment,” 29 C.F.R. § 825.123(a), the certification makes clear that Plaintiff would have been unable to perform the essential functions of his position during the intermittent absences for which it calls. The certification therefore demonstrates that Plaintiffs medical condition was a “qualifying reason” for FMLA leave. Cf. Suchanek v. Univ. of Kentucky, No. 10-cv-0019(DCR), 2011 WL 3045986, at *6 (E.D.Ky. July 25, 2011) (“Suchanek completed her treatments over her lunch hour and, therefore, did not miss work to complete them. Her actions prove that the treatments did n’ot render her ‘unable to perform the functions of the position.’ In other words, Suchanek’s ability to complete the treatments without missing work indicates that they were not FMLA-quali-fying in' the first place.”) (quoting 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1)(D)).

The fact that the certification provided OIG with notice of a qualifying reason for FMLA leave has important repercussions, as it triggered several FMLA notice regulations. Specifically, when an employer “acquires knowledge that an employee’s leave may be for an FMLA-quali-fying reason, the employer must notify the employee of the employee’s eligibility to take FMLA' leave.” 29 C.F.R. § 825.300(b)(1). The employer - must- also “provide written notice-detailing the specific expectations and -obligations of the employee and explaining any consequences of a failure to meet these obligations.” Id. § 825.300(c)(1). Additionally, when an employer “has enough information to determine whether the leave is being taken for an FMLA-qualifying reason (e.g., after receiving a certification), the employer must notify the employee whether the leave will be designated and will be counted as FMLA leave.” Id, § 825.300(d)(1). Failure to abide, by these notice.- requirements “may constitute an interference with, restraint, or denial of the exercise of an employee’s FMLA rights,” and an employer “may be liable for compensation and benefits lost by reason of the violation, for other actual monetary losses sustained as a direct result of the violation,. and for appropriate equitable or other relief, including employment, reinstatement, promotion, or any other relief tailored to the harm suffered.” Id. § 825.300(e).

Here, despite the fact that Plaintiffs certification provided OIG with a qualifying reason for intermittent FMLA leave, OIG did not (i) notify Plaintiff of his eligibility to take FMLA leave as required by section 825.300(b)(1); (ii) provide- Plaintiff with written notice detailing his specific expectations and obligations and explaining any consequences of a failure to-meet these obligations as required by section 825.300(c)(1); or (iii) notify :Plaintiff whether the .leave would be designated and counted as FMLA leave as required by section 825.300(d)(1). Instead, OIG simply denied Plaintiffs request for leave and stated that he could charge the intermittent absences caEed for by the certification “to . eligible annual leave, sick leave, or leave without pay.” (PL’s Mot. Ex. 6 at 1). While OIG was entitled to deny Plaintiffs request for continuous leave because it did not correspond to the requirements set out in the certification, it was required to notify Plaintiff of- his eligibility for intermittent FMLA leave and to follow the other applicable notice requirements set forth in section 825.300. ’

The FMLA affords relief only for actual damages, however. Prejudice to the employee is a necessary element because “the statutory cause of action for FMLA violations, provides only for compensatory — and not punitive — damages.” Roseboro v. Billington, 606 F.Supp.2d 104, 108 (D.D.C.2009) (citation and footnote omitted). Thus, “[a]n FMLA violation prejudices an employee only when the ‘employee loses compensation or benefits by reason of the violation, sustains other monetary losses as a direct result of the violation, or suffers some loss in employment status remediable through appropriate equitable relief.’ ” Id. (quoting Reed v. Buckeye Fire Equip., 241 Fed.Appx. 917, 924 (4th Cir.2007)) (citations omitted).

The District asserts that Plaintiff fails to meet the prejudice element because the record does not show that OIG’s failure to provide notice caused his termination. Plaintiff contends, however, that the mere fact of his termination is sufficient to show the requisite harm because the failure to provide notice caused him to be placed on AWOL status rather than be granted FMLA leave, which, in turn, led to his termination.

While Plaintiff has proffered evidence that he suffered prejudice as a result of his termination, there remains a genuine issue of material fact as to whether OIG’s failure to provide Plaintiff with the forms of notice required by section 825.300 actually caused his termination. As noted above, Plaintiff requested continuous leave despite the fact that the certification indicated that he needed only intermittent leave. There is a factual dispute with regard to prejudice because the evidence before the court does not demonstrate that Plaintiff would have actually accepted the intermittent FMLA leave to which he was entitled had he received the requisite FMLA notice.

For example, Plaintiff did not show up to work, or otherwise reach out to OIG in any way, after being informed that his intermittent absences for treatment could be “charged to eligible annual leave, sick leave, or leave without pay” — all of which are functionally similar to the kind of intermittent leave to which Plaintiff was entitled under the FMLA. (Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 6 at 1). A reasonable jury could conceivably find that, even if he had been informed of his eligibility for intermittent FMLA leave, Plaintiff would have taken the same “all or nothing” approach.and ignored any offer by OIG to charge his intermittent absences to FMLA leave.

Likewise, a reasonable jury could conceivably find that, had he been provided with the requisite FMLA notice, Plaintiff would have either accepted intermittent FMLA leave or provided a new medical certification demonstrating his purported need for continuous leave. For example; while Plaintiff did not provide OIG with any additional medical information beyond the certification, a reasonable jury could find that he would have provided supplemental information had he been informed of his FMLA eligibility and/or granted intermittent FMLA leave, particularly given that applicable regulations provide a process for the resolution of disputes over FMLA leave designations (see 29 C.F.R. § 825.301(c)), permit employers to “retroactively designate leave as FMLA leave” (id. § 825.301(d)), and provide for the clarification of FMLA medical certifications-, where necessary (see id. § 825.307).

The court therefore concludes that, while OIG may have been justified in rejecting Plaintiff’s request for continuous FMLA leave, it was nevertheless required to provide Plaintiff with the forms of notice required by 29 C.F.R. § 825.300 because the certification established that he was entitled to intermittent FMLA leave. Because there exists a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Plaintiff suffered any harm as a result of OIG’s failure to provide the requisite notice, the court finds that neither party is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs FMLA claim, and DENIES both the District’s Motion and Plaintiffs Motion with regard to Count V of the Complaint.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, the District of Columbia’s Motion for Summary Judgment is hereby GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART, and Plaintiff Ronald Hodges’ Motion for Summary Judgment is hereby DENIED.

An appropriate Order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion. , •

1 . ■ Despite the fact that Plaintiff did not report to work during the five-day period covered by the work restriction form, he did not provide ' the form to OIG until more than a week after that five-day period had ended. (See Def.’s Statement of Facts Not in Dispute ¶ 11) (“Sometime after August 6, 2010, Plaintiff provided a doctor’s note requesting that Plaintiff be excused from work until July 28, 2010 and indicating that Plaintiff could return to full duty thereafter.”).

2 . All emphasized language in original.

3 . McNair v. D.C., 11 F.Supp.3d 10 (D.D.C.2014), is also inapposite. In that casé, the court found that “a jury could conclude that [the employer] was responsible for the breakdown in communication.” 11. F. Supp. 3d at "17. Here, for the reasons set forth above, it is clear that Plaintiff was responsible for the breakdown in communication, not OIG.

4 , Plaintiff asserts that he "had sought further clarification from his physician and was preparing to provide another certification from Dr. Huynh, but was terminated four (4) days before he had a chance to provide this supplemental information." (PL's Opp’n at 16). He also submits a copy of this supplemental certification. (See PL’s Mot. Ex. 10). But Plaintiff never informed OIG that he was in the process of gathering more information regarding his condition, and never provided any supplemental certification to OIG. OIG was therefore entitled to rely on the original certification.

Moreover, it is not' clear to the court whether the supplemental certification is dated August 19, 2010 or, as Plaintiff claims, August 29, 2010. (See Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 10 at 3). Even assuming that the supplemental certification is dated August 29, 2010 (meaning that it was, in fact, completed four days after Plaintiff received the termination letter), Plaintiff's termination was not effective until September 10, 2010. (See Pl.’s Mot. Ex. 8). Plaintiff therefore had, at a minimum, twelve days to provide the supplemental certification to OIG prior to the effective date of his termination, yet he failed to do so.

5 . The District’s citation to cases involving “absence[s] for unnecessary treatment or no treatment at all” and “calling in ‘sick’ without providing more information” are inapposite for this reason, as well, (Def.’s Mot, at 9-10) (quotation and citations omitted).