Larry Boecken, Jr. v. Gallo Glass Company

412 F. App'x 985

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: January 27, 2011
• Docket: 08-17454
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM *

Boecken appeals from the district court’s summary judgment in favor of Gal lo Glass Co. (Gallo). The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and we have jurisdiction over this timely appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a district court’s summary judgment. Universal Health Servs., Inc. v. Thompson, 363 F.3d 1013, 1019 (9th Cir.2004). We affirm in part, and reverse and remand in part.

Because Boecken was walking in the park and not in close and continuing proximity to his grandmother, he was misusing his leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a), and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), Cal. Gov’t Code § 12945.2(a). Tellis v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., 414 F.3d 1045, 1047 (9th Cir.2005). Further, because there is no requirement that companies specify which activities are and are not acceptable uses of FMLA time, Boecken’s argument that Gallo did not provide “legally proper” notice of its FMLA policy in this regard fails. 29 C.F.R. § 825.301(b) (2005).

However, Boecken also contends that Gallo should have provided him advance notice of the consequences of his alleged good faith misuse of FMLA time. The FMLA regulation at 29 C.F.R. § 825.301(b)(1) requires that an employer “provide the employee with written notice detailing the specific expectations and obligations of the employee and explaining any consequences of a failure to meet these obligations ” (emphasis added). Gallo’s employee manual does not state that Gallo could immediately terminate any employee for misusing FMLA time. It does provide a progressive discipline policy. It also allows Gallo to terminate someone for “[tjheft or dishonesty,” but Boecken correctly points out that there is a material issue of fact as to whether Gallo considered Boecken dishonest in his use of his FMLA time. Gallo does not address this argument. The district court also did not address this argument, likely because Boecken did not make the argument in his summary judgment motion papers. However, Gallo failed to object to Boecken making the argument to us, which waives any potential waiver by Boecken. Norwood v. Vance, 591 F.3d 1062, 1068 (9th Cir.2010) (“It is well-established that a party can waive waiver implicitly by failing to assert it” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).

Therefore, a material fact is in dispute— whether Gallo violated Boecken’s FMLA notice rights — that cannot be decided by summary judgment. See 29 C.F.R. § 825.301(f) (2005) (employer who fails to provide required notice cannot take action against employee for failure to comply with employer’s requirements).

Boecken’s Fair Employment and Housing Act claim, Cal. Gov’t Code § 12940, fails because, as the district court correctly decided, Boecken has not identified a material issue of fact as to whether his firing was pretextual. Finally, summary judgment on Boecken’s common law tort claim of wrongful discharge in violation of public policy was correctly denied because, as set forth above, Boecken’s termination was not predicated on a motivation that violated public policy. Holmes v. Gen. Dynamics Corp., 17 Cal.App.4th 1418, 22 Cal.Rptr.2d 172, 177 n. 8 (1993).

Each party will bear its costs on appeal.

AFFIRMED IN PART, AND REVERSED AND REMANDED IN PART.

* This disposition is not appropriate for publica-dón and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.