Samson v. Federal Express Corp.

874 F. Supp. 2d 1360, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90314, 2012 WL 2511438
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedJune 29, 2012
DocketCase No. 2:11-cv-6-UA-DNF
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 874 F. Supp. 2d 1360 (Samson v. Federal Express Corp.) 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
Samson v. Federal Express Corp., 874 F. Supp. 2d 1360, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90314, 2012 WL 2511438 (M.D. Fla. 2012).

Opinion

ORDER

WILLIAM TERRELL HODGES, District Judge.

Plaintiff Richard Samson has filed claims under the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq. (“ADA”) and the Florida Civil Rights Act, Fla. Stat. § 760.01, et seq. (“FCRA”) against Defendant Federal Express Corporation (“Fed Ex”), alleging that Fed Ex revoked an offer of employment upon discovery that Mr. Samson has Type-I, insulin-dependent diabetes. Fed Ex has filed a motion for summary judgment on all claims (Doc. 55), and Mr. Samson has filed a response in opposition (Doc. 61).

Upon due consideration, and for the reasons that follow, the Court finds that the motion for summary judgment is due to be Granted.

Undisputed Material Facts

A. The Parties

FedEx is a certified air carrier providing package delivery service through its movement of aircraft and commercial motor vehicles on public roadways. Fed Ex’s Air Operation Division operates aircraft carrying packages from locations throughout the United States into and out of several Florida airport locations. FedEx has its own designated facilities, called “Ramps” located at the Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Myers, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami airports. When the aircraft arrive at the Ramps, the packages are unloaded off the aircraft, sorted for destination to various locations, and moved onto both tractor-trailers and straight trucks. These vehicles utilize public roadways to transport the packages to various other FedEx stations within Florida, and eventually to customers. There is no dispute that FedEx engages in interstate commerce, that FedEx is registered with the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) as an interstate carrier, and that the tractor-trailers and straight trucks constitute “commercial motor vehicles” regulated by the DOT.1

Richard Samson has spent his entire adult life working as a vehicle mechanic. In 1995, Mr. Samson was diagnosed with Type-I diabetes which he treats with insulin. There is no evidence that any physician has ever placed any limitations or restrictions on Mr. Samson related to his diabetes, if he takes his insulin as directed. Mr. Samson contends that he is substantially limited in the major life activities of eating and caring for himself, as well as in the operation of his endocrine system.

B. The Senior Global Vehicle Technicians/DOT/CDL Position

Fed Ex employs Senior Global Vehicle Technicians/DOT/CDL (“Technicians”) at their designated Ramps in Florida and nationwide. FedEx’s job description for [1363]*1363these positions lists the Technician’s essential job duties/responsibilities to include: (1) repairing, modifying, and performing preventative maintenance inspections, and troubleshooting field vehicle fleet and ground support equipment; (2) diagnosing sources of trouble, disassembling equipment and performing repairs; (3) making necessary adjustments in machinery for safe and efficient operations; (4) completing required paperwork; (5) maintaining a clean and safe work area; (6) providing assistance, guidance, and direction to other Technicians and Technician trainees; (7) completing project work; (8) ensuring maintenance related materials are maintained at approved inventory levels; and (9) interfacing with customers, FedEx employees, and vendors regarding vehicle repairs. See Deposition of Mahase Madoo, Plaintiffs Ex. 13 (Doc. 56-7).

The job description also states that a Technician “must possess all certifications/licenses as required according to federal, state, and local law,” and requires the employee to complete a “medical exam in accordance with FHWA or FAA regulations.” Id.2

In order to troubleshoot or diagnose the cause of a reported mechanical problem, and to verify afterward that repairs are complete, Technicians operate both tractor-trailers and straight trucks on public roadways. See Declaration of Theodore Steckel, ¶¶ 6-11 (Doc. 56-10); Declaration of John Takacs, ¶¶ 4-6 (Doc. 56-11); Declaration of Delroy Howell, ¶¶ 6-8 (Doc. 56-12). Technicians receive extensive training on tractor, trailer and straight truck operations, and defensive driving techniques. See Declaration of Joseph S. Andrews, ¶¶ 4-8 (Doc. 56-13). Technicians are also given check-rides annually, whereby a Technician is evaluated on his or her ability to operate vehicles on public roadways. See Deposition of John Rotundo, pp. 92-95 and Ex. 1 (Doc. 64).

From January 1, 2007 through November 16, 2011,- Technicians located at various facilities in Florida operated commercial motor vehicles on Florida’s public roadways for a sum total of 766 hours and 6 minutes. See Declaration of Scott E. Payne, ¶ 8 (Doc. 56-14). The commercial motor vehicles the Technicians repair and maintain frequently travel back and forth between multiple locations in Florida and Georgia. See Declaration of Donald Miller, ¶¶ 9-10,12-13 (Doc. 56-1).

C. Applicable DOT Regulations

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. § 31301, et seq., authorizes the Department of Transportation to promulgate “minimum safety standards” to ensure “the physical condition of operators of commercial motor vehicles is adequate to enable them to operate the vehicles safely....” 49 U.S.C. § 31136(a)(3). The Act further authorizes the DOT to “prescribe regulations on minimum uniform standards for the issuance of commercial drivers’ licenses and learner’s permits ...” 49 U.S.C. § 31308.

The DOT, through its Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has promulgated regulations covering operators of commercial motor vehicles. Operators of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or higher, which are “used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport persons or property,” must be “DOT qualified.” This means that the operator must pass a DOT medical exam (among other things), and is then issued a DOT Medical Certification allowing the operator to drive the vehicle. See 49 C.F.R. § 390.5.3 See also [1364]*136449 C.F.R. § 390.3(a) (the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations “are applicable to all employers, employees, and commercial motor vehicles, which transport property or passengers in interstate commerce.”).

For operators of commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or greater, which are used in commerce to transport passengers or property, the DOT has imposed the additional requirement of obtaining a commercial driver’s license. 49 C.F.R.

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874 F. Supp. 2d 1360, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90314, 2012 WL 2511438, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/samson-v-federal-express-corp-flmd-2012.