Seals v. Lee Brass Foundry LLC
This text of 271 F. Supp. 3d 1302 (Seals v. Lee Brass Foundry LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
VIRGINIA EMERSON HOPKINS, United States District Judge
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This is a civil action filed by the Plaintiff, Jerald. Seals, against the Defendant, Lee Brass Foundry, LLC. (“Lee Brass”), his former employer. The Complaint alleges that the Defendant, “harassed [the] Plaintiff, treated [the] Plaintiff differently!,] and terminated [the] Plaintiff,” in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (the “ADAAA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213, and 47 U.S.C. §§ 225 and 611.1 (Count One). The Complaint also alleges that the Defendant “subjected [him] to different terms and conditions of employment because óf his race, subjected [him] to racial discrimination and terminated [him] because of his race, African American,” in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (“Section 1981). (Count Two).'
The case comes before the Court on the Defendant’s motion for summary judgment. (Doc. 26). For the reasons stated herein, the motion will be GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
I. STANDARD
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, summary judgment is proper if 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); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (“[S]ummary judgment is proper if the pleadings, depositions^ answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The party requesting summary judgment always bears the initial responsibility 'of informing the court of the basis for its motion and identifying those portions of the. pleadings or filings that it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. Once the moving party has met its burden, Rule 56(e) requires the non-moving party to go beyond the pleadings in answering the mov-ant. Id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548. By its own affidavits — or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file— it must designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Id.
The underlying substantive law identifies which facts are material and which are irrelevant. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). All reasonable doubts about the facts and all justifiable inferences are resolved in favor of the non-movant. Chapman v. AI Transport, 229 F.3d 1012, 1023 (11th Cir.2000). Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. A dispute is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmov-ing party.” Id. If the evidence presented by the non-movant to rebut the moving party’s evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may still be granted. Id. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
How the movant may satisfy its initial evidentiary burden depends on whether that party bears the burden of proof on the given legal issues at trial. Fitzpatrick v. City of Atlanta, 2 F.3d 1112, 1115 (11th Cir. 1993). If the movant bears the burden of proof on the given issue or issues at trial, then it can only meet its burden on summary judgment by presenting affirmative evidence showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact — that is, facts that would entitle it to a directed verdict if not controverted at trial, id (citation omitted). Once the moving party makes such an affirmative showing, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to produce “significant, probative evidence demonstrating the existence of a triable issue of fact.” Id. (citation omitted) (emphasis added).
For issues on which the movant does not bear the burden of proof at trial, it can satisfy its initial burden on summary judgment in either of two ways. Id. at 1115-16. First, the movant may simply show that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-movant’s case on the particular issue at hand. Id. at 1116. In such an instance, the non-movant must rebut by either (1) showing -that the record in fact contains supporting evidence sufficient to withstand a directed verdict motion, or (2) proffering evidence sufficient to withstand a directed verdict motion at trial based on the alleged evidentiary deficiency. Id. at 1116-17. When responding, the non-mov-ant may no longer rest on mere allegations; instead, it must set forth evidence of specific facts. Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 358, 116 S.Ct. 2174, 135 L.Ed.2d 606 (1996). The second method a movant in this position may use to discharge its burden is to provide affirmative evidence demonstrating that the non-moving party will be unable to prove its case at trial. FitzPatrick, 2 F.3d at 1116. When this occurs, the non-movant must rebut by offering evidence sufficient to withstand a directed verdict at trial on the material fact sought to be negated.M
II. FACTS2
A. Lee Brass’s Business and Organization
Lee Brass is a manufacturing facility that produces metal castings or parts for its customers based on specifications provided by the customer. There are multiple steps in the manufacturing process: the Foundry; the Cleaning Room; Test and Pack Department; and Shipping Department. A part is first cast in the Foundry. Thereafter, excess metal is cut off of the part by the saw operators. Afterwards, it is sent to the Cleaning Room in order to be smoothed down, and excess metal removed, before it is sent to the machine shop. The number of parts passing through each phase of Lee Brass’s manufacturing process is dictated by the number of customer orders received.
B. Lee Brass’s Human Resources Department and Policies
Lee Brass’s Human Resources Department (“HR”) is run by Jerome Truss. As stated' in its employee handbook, Lee Brass has a policy of prohibiting workplace discrimination and harassment based on race and provides employees with multiple options to report concerns of alleged race discrimination. (Doc. 28-2 at 3, ¶6; doc.
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VIRGINIA EMERSON HOPKINS, United States District Judge
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This is a civil action filed by the Plaintiff, Jerald. Seals, against the Defendant, Lee Brass Foundry, LLC. (“Lee Brass”), his former employer. The Complaint alleges that the Defendant, “harassed [the] Plaintiff, treated [the] Plaintiff differently!,] and terminated [the] Plaintiff,” in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (the “ADAAA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213, and 47 U.S.C. §§ 225 and 611.1 (Count One). The Complaint also alleges that the Defendant “subjected [him] to different terms and conditions of employment because óf his race, subjected [him] to racial discrimination and terminated [him] because of his race, African American,” in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (“Section 1981). (Count Two).'
The case comes before the Court on the Defendant’s motion for summary judgment. (Doc. 26). For the reasons stated herein, the motion will be GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
I. STANDARD
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, summary judgment is proper if 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); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (“[S]ummary judgment is proper if the pleadings, depositions^ answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The party requesting summary judgment always bears the initial responsibility 'of informing the court of the basis for its motion and identifying those portions of the. pleadings or filings that it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. Once the moving party has met its burden, Rule 56(e) requires the non-moving party to go beyond the pleadings in answering the mov-ant. Id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548. By its own affidavits — or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file— it must designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Id.
The underlying substantive law identifies which facts are material and which are irrelevant. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). All reasonable doubts about the facts and all justifiable inferences are resolved in favor of the non-movant. Chapman v. AI Transport, 229 F.3d 1012, 1023 (11th Cir.2000). Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. A dispute is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmov-ing party.” Id. If the evidence presented by the non-movant to rebut the moving party’s evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may still be granted. Id. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
How the movant may satisfy its initial evidentiary burden depends on whether that party bears the burden of proof on the given legal issues at trial. Fitzpatrick v. City of Atlanta, 2 F.3d 1112, 1115 (11th Cir. 1993). If the movant bears the burden of proof on the given issue or issues at trial, then it can only meet its burden on summary judgment by presenting affirmative evidence showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact — that is, facts that would entitle it to a directed verdict if not controverted at trial, id (citation omitted). Once the moving party makes such an affirmative showing, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to produce “significant, probative evidence demonstrating the existence of a triable issue of fact.” Id. (citation omitted) (emphasis added).
For issues on which the movant does not bear the burden of proof at trial, it can satisfy its initial burden on summary judgment in either of two ways. Id. at 1115-16. First, the movant may simply show that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-movant’s case on the particular issue at hand. Id. at 1116. In such an instance, the non-movant must rebut by either (1) showing -that the record in fact contains supporting evidence sufficient to withstand a directed verdict motion, or (2) proffering evidence sufficient to withstand a directed verdict motion at trial based on the alleged evidentiary deficiency. Id. at 1116-17. When responding, the non-mov-ant may no longer rest on mere allegations; instead, it must set forth evidence of specific facts. Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 358, 116 S.Ct. 2174, 135 L.Ed.2d 606 (1996). The second method a movant in this position may use to discharge its burden is to provide affirmative evidence demonstrating that the non-moving party will be unable to prove its case at trial. FitzPatrick, 2 F.3d at 1116. When this occurs, the non-movant must rebut by offering evidence sufficient to withstand a directed verdict at trial on the material fact sought to be negated.M
II. FACTS2
A. Lee Brass’s Business and Organization
Lee Brass is a manufacturing facility that produces metal castings or parts for its customers based on specifications provided by the customer. There are multiple steps in the manufacturing process: the Foundry; the Cleaning Room; Test and Pack Department; and Shipping Department. A part is first cast in the Foundry. Thereafter, excess metal is cut off of the part by the saw operators. Afterwards, it is sent to the Cleaning Room in order to be smoothed down, and excess metal removed, before it is sent to the machine shop. The number of parts passing through each phase of Lee Brass’s manufacturing process is dictated by the number of customer orders received.
B. Lee Brass’s Human Resources Department and Policies
Lee Brass’s Human Resources Department (“HR”) is run by Jerome Truss. As stated' in its employee handbook, Lee Brass has a policy of prohibiting workplace discrimination and harassment based on race and provides employees with multiple options to report concerns of alleged race discrimination. (Doc. 28-2 at 3, ¶6; doc. 28-2 at 14, ¶ I and pp. 60-62). The Plaintiff disputes that these policies wei-e effective in this case. (Doc. 34 at 3, ¶ 8). However, he admits that he received the Employee Handbook.
The handbook provides that “[e]mployment is at the will of Lee Brass, and either Lee Brass or the associate may at any tirne terminate the employment relationship with or without cause.” (Doc. 28-2 at 10; see also doc. 28-2 at 13). It states that “violation of any of the following rules will lead to disciplinary action that may include dismissal!:].. .Fighting or acts of physical violence on company property!;] Immoral, , illegal or disorderly conduct!;],.. [and] In-, subordination!.]” (Doe. 28-2 at 59). The handbook also sets out the following “Disciplinary Procedures:”
Disciplinary Procedures
The purpose of this policy is not primarily to punish, but to correctively encourage behavior modification to discourage repetition of misbehavior by the offender or by another following their example. Record of disciplinary action will become part of a associate’s personnel ■ file. ■
Before administering discipline, the manager should be sure they have all the facts. The associate’s past record .should be examined in the Human Resources office to determine if the asso-date has had any previous violations. Associates should be given ample opportunity to present their side before any final decision is made as to the discipline to-be administered. The review and decision to issue disciplinary action is to be done in a timely manner.
—A verbal counseling should represent a direct attempt of the manager . and associate to deal with a breach of rules at an early stage. It should clarify, in specific terms, what, behavior needs attention and define a method and a reasonable time for correction.
—Written warnings represent a more formalized means of correcting behavior and become part of an associate’s work record. Should associates have any additional factors or knowledge of extenuation circumstances relating to the incident they should be discussed at this time. The supervisor or department manager will then consider this information when deciding what discipline to administer. In order to maintain- consistency, ’ Human Resources must be involved in the preparation of any written warnings. Human Resources will insure that documentation of the event leading to any action is made a part of the offending associate’s record.
All disciplinary actions will be cumulative for a rolling period of 6 (six) months. Group violations are cumulative.
The usual disciplinary steps will be:
Informal Step Verbal Counseling
First Step Written Warning
Second Step Final Written Warning
Third Step Subject to Discharge
Depending upon the violation, the procedure may be at any of the above steps and other required condition/actions may have to be met.
(Doc. 28-2 at 59-60).
C. The Plaintiffs Employment with Lee Brass
In January of 2012, Seals began his employment with Lee Brass as a “laborer” on the cleanup crew, in the Foundry, which is part of the Maintenance Department. The position of laborer is physically demanding, and required Seals, among other things, to shovel clay by carrying shovel loads of approximately 50 pounds on a regular basis.
The Plaintiff testified in his deposition that, after about 90 days in the Cleanup Crew, he “got hired on permanent.” (Doc. 28-3 at 10(35)), Seals applied for and was given an open position as a “saw operator” in the Foundry, where his duties were to cut excess metal pieces off of the parts after they are cast from molten metals.
At the time Seals worked at Lee Brass, there were two different types of saws, referred to as the “big saws” and the “small saws.” Parts are delivered to the sawing area by one of several forklift operators, who transport the parts on a pallet from the area of the Foundry where the parts are cast. The big saws are used to cut larger parts, and the blades can be moved — rather than the operator simply moving the part, as on the small saws — to cut the part at angles. The blade on a big saw is sixteen inches in diameter. When larger or heavier parts need to be sawed, the saw operators use a crane (also referred to as a winch) next to their saws to lift the part onto the sawing table. However, Seals testified that the winch did not always work, and when they did not, the big saw operator would “[b]ring [the part] on a forklift or...wait until they get around to fix [the winch].” (Doc. 28-3 at 11(40)).
Not everyone who works on a small saw also works on a big saw. (Doc. 28-3 at 12(43)). Seals testified that that was because people “have to be trained to work on the big saw.” (Doc. 28-3 at 12(43)). Seals - agreed in his deposition that it was hard to work on the big saws and agreed with the characterization of that work as “skilled labor.” (Doc. 28-3 at 12(44)). McCormick testified in her deposition that employees did not have to be trained on a small saw but they did have to be trained on a big saw. (Doc. 28-4 at 7(24)-8(25)). She also agreed that safety training on a big saw was conducted.prior to employees’ using it, (Doc. 28-4 at 8(26)). Derrick Murphy, another employee of the Defendant who has worked there for 29 years, agrees that a big saw required training and that “some guys don’t feel comfortable sawing on them big saws.” (Doc. 33-3 at 26(98)). He was never trained on a big saw and did not know how to operate one. (Doc. 33-3 at 27(103)). Stan Hand, the plant manager, testified that employees who worked a big saw made the same amount of money as those who worked a small saw. (Doc. 27-8 at 8(27)). The Plaintiff testified that people who work a big saw get paid more. (Doc. 28-3 at 17(63)).
After sawing, the saw operator puts each part into a bin next to his or her saw. The parts in the bin are then inspected by a supervisor or a more senior saw operator to ensure that they are cut properly, and then they are sent to the cleaning room. (Doc. 28-3 at 16(58-59)). The saw operator throws the scrap metal that he or she saws off the part into another bucket. The scrap bucket contains only a single alloy at a time. That is because the scrap is melted down again to be reused, and different alloys of scrap cannot be intermingled.3 Accordingly, a saw operator-works on only one type of alloy at a time. Each time a saw operator finishes a job, a forklift operator goes to the saw operator’s machine and switches out his or her scrap bucket and replaces it with an empty scrap bucket for use by the operator to receive scraps from the next job. It takes approximately 30 minutes to transition a saw operator from cutting one type of alloy to another type of alloy.
The job description of saw operator explains that the operator is required to lift between fifty and seventy-five pounds. However, when Seals became a saw operator, he was assigned to a small saw. His supervisor was Kenny Deramús. Seals explained that he sought out that position because- he got a pay increase and because “it was lighter weight,” and “less physically demanding.” (Doc. 28-3 at 11(37)). He explained further that “the parts was so small on the small saw. It was so small, so, I mean, you could stand there and do that all day.” (Doc. 28-3 at 11(38)). Throughout his tenure, he was assigned primarily to do work on a small saw cutting green brass and red brass. However, as will be discussed, when Judy McCormick became his supervisor, she began assigning him to work a big saw.
D. The Plaintiffs Hospitalization
In April of 2013, Seals had to leave work in the middle of his shift because he began vomiting blood and was experiencing dizziness, pounding in his ears, and olfactory disturbances. Leslie Underwood, a forklift operator at Lee Brass, recalled the incident in his deposition and stated:
A. ... I didn’t know what was wrong with him. So I went and got Judy [McCormick], and I told Judy about it. I said, he’s spitting up blood and stuff. I don’t know what’s wrong with. him.
Q. And what did' Judy do?
A. They went to the first aid building.
Q. Okay. So did Judy see him throwing up blood?
A. He had it on the paper towel.
Q. And she saw that?
A., Yeah. ,
Q. And you were there as well?
A. Yeah.
(Doc, 28-10 at 27(10)).4 Derrick Murphy, another employee at Lee Brass, also witnessed the Plaintiff vomiting blood.
Seals began experiencing these symptoms around the start of his shift at 3:00 a.m. Around 7:00 a.m., when Deramus got into work, Seals reported to him that he was feeling ill and asked to be dismissed for the day. Deramus agreed without hesitation.
Seals then drove himself to the emergency room at Stringfellow Memorial Hospital. The nurse in the E.R. told Seals he was “dying.” The doctors at Stringfellow informed Seals that he was “short on blood” and gave him a blood transfusion. Thereafter, Seals was hospitalized at Stringfellow for approximately eleven days and tests were performed. The testing did not reveal what had caused Seals to become ill, and the Plaintiff has not had a recurrence of these symptoms.5 When Seals was released from the hospital he was feeling physically well with the exception that he did not have much of an appetite. He was given a doctor’s note stating that he could work only “light duty” for a time. Other than this hospitalization, Seals had no medical issues of any kind while he was employed by Lee Brass.
E. Seals’s First Attempt To Return to Work
Seals attempted to return to work the day after he was released from the hospital. He gave his “light duty” doctor’s note to either Deramus or Ray Wood, both of whom had supervisory authority over him. One or both of them told him that he could not return to work until he was cleared of all restrictions.6 No one explained to him why he was not allowed to work light duty. (Doc. 28-3 at 41(157)).7 Deramus told Seals that, before going home, he should go to HR and speak with Truss, which Seals did. Truss confirmed to Seals that he could not return to work until his doctor cleared him of restrictions. Seals did not encounter McCormick that day.
In his declaration, Truss states that Lee Brass allowed employees to work light or restricted duty only where the medical condition precipitating the need to work light duty was caused by an injury that occurred in the course of the employee’s job duties. (Doc. 28-2 at 3, ¶ 7). He states that Deramus has never allowed light duty otherwise. (Doc. 28-2 at 3, ¶ 8). In his declaration, Wpod denies, ever giving light duty to anyone not hurt on the job. (Doc. 28-9 at 2-3, ¶ 3). In her deposition, McCormick stated that employees only get light duty for “job-related injuries,” and she did not know of an incident where anyone got light duty for a non-job-related incident. (Doc. 28-4 at 47(182)).
In his deposition the Plaintiff pointed to Richard Bearden, an employee at Lee Brass, and said that after Bearden hurt his back moving a hot water heater at his home, “[h]e had to be on light duty. He didn’t do anything.” (Doc. 28-3 at 44(172)— 45(173)). Bearden worked on the cleanup crew with Seals prior to Seals transferring to the position of saw operator. Seals claims Bearden asked Seals if he could “cover” for him because of his back injury. Seals encouraged Bearden to report his injury to their supervisor at the time, Ray Wood, which Bearden reported to Seals that he had done. According to Seals, Wood gave Bearden a back brace to wear. The Defendant disputes that Bearden was given light duty.
After being told he could not return to work without a full release, Seals “begg[ed] the doctor to give me a excuse without no restrictions so I can go back to work and won’t get evicted out my house.” (Doc. 28-3 at 74(289)). Seals testified that the following exchange took place between him and his doctor: “I’m about to be evicted out my house, about to lose my car. He was like, you can’t lift nothing heavy. I said, well, my job that I do have, it’s on a small saw. I’m not lifting nothing heavy. [The doctor said are you] sure? You sure? I said I’m positive.” (Doc. 28-3 at 74(291-292)).
F. The Pill Cap Endoscopy Procedure
Several days after he was released from the hospital, Seals returned to the hospital and had a “pill cap” endoscopy where he swallowed a small camera which was used to examine his digestive tract.8 In order for the endoscopy to be successful, Seals was required to be active and walk around while the camera passed through his system over the course of several days. He had a small bag relatqd to the procedure strapped to his side as he walked around.
G. Seals Returns to Work
Three or four days after the start of the pill cap endoscopy, while that procedure was ongoing, and despite the fact that the doctor had not yet given him the results, Seals had already been cleared to return to work by his doctor and brought a note to that effect to the HR department at Lee Brass. On the day he brought in his new doctor’s note, Seals, ran into McCormick, 'who at that time was not yet his supervisor9, outside the HR office. McCormick noticed the' equipment that Seals was wearing related to the endoscopy procedure and inquired about it. This was the first conversation Seals had ever had with McCormick. Regarding that conversation, the following exchange took place in the Plaintiffs deposition:
Q. Okay. And when you were bringing in your paperwork, you said you had a conversation with her, and she said, that’s serious.
A. Yes. She said, I heard that was very serious. I said, yes, ma’am. First she asked me what that was.
* * *
A. .. .And I told her what [the pouch] was. I said it’s monitoring my body taking pictures where they can see what’s ■ going on.
(Doc. 28-8 at 49(191-192)). Seals also testified that she said “I’m glad to see you back in good health.” (Doc. 28-3 at 36(137)). Seals told McCormick that he had been hospitalized, but did not tell McCormick about the specific symptoms which had put him in the hospital.10 It is undisputed that Seals never gave McCormick any paperwork or doctor’s note indicating that he had been in the hospital.or was having medical issues of any kind.
Woods was Seals’s supervisor when the Plaintiff returned from the hospital.11 Seals told Woods that he was not supposed to lift' anything heavy. Woods told Seals he would not need to since he worked' a small saw. When Seals returned to work after his hospitalization, he continued to be assigned to a small saw, as he had been before his hospitalization.
H. McCormick Takes Over Supervising the Saws
Sometime after Seals was released to full duty, in late spring or summer of 2013, McCormick, the supervisor over the cleaning room, took supervisory authority over the saws in order to improve the efficiency of' the manufacturing process and make sure that the jobs' that were more urgent were prioritized. When Stan Hand became the plant manager12, he kept McCormick with supervisory authority over the saws because' he thought that would streamline the process Of finishing the metal castings.
McCormick was viewed by those she supervised as a tough boss because she is a hard worker and expected the same work ethic from those she supervised. McCormick was strict with every employee she supervised. When McCormick was the supervisor of the cleaning room as well as over saws, she would walk back and forth between the Cleaning Room and the saws, which is a short distance across a small alley. Seals and the other saw operators chatted with each other during the day, which McCormick did not like. In the course of his job duties, Seals also spoke with the forklift operators, who were Derrick Murphy, Leslie Underwood, and Mike Mason.
The Plaintiff contends that McCormick was not as friendly to African American employees as to Caucasian employees. (Doc. 28-3 at 47(182)). However, Seals testified that McCormick was friendly with the African American employees who she supervised in the Cleaning Room.13 According to Seals, McCormick also was friendly with Lewis Butts, an African American forklift operator. Seals claims that McCormick did not like to chat with the saw operators, all of whom were African American, but she was more friendly with the employees in the Maintenance Department. Seals alleges that at the time he worked at Lee Brass, African American employees were somehow precluded from working in the Maintenance Department.
McCormick told all of the saw operators, including' Seals, that they sometimes took bathroom breaks too frequently. All of the employees who worked on the saws were African American. Seals talked to Lamar Willingham, Stacey McClellan, and Lewis Butts about their feeling that McCormick was discriminating against them because they were African American.
Seals claims that, after McCormick became his supervisor, she timed him when he went to the bathroom and would tell him he had been in the bathroom too long or had gone to the bathroom too frequently. McCormick told all the saw operators, all of whom were African American, that they needed to try and limit the number of bathroom breaks they took and try to make them as short as.possible. Seals claims that McCormick watched- all the saw operators closely and would make them re-cut parts if she felt a part was not cut properly; Seals does not know if she supervised the employees in the Cleaning Room .as closely.
Wood and Deramus allowed the saw operators to end their shifts early so they had more time to shower, but McCormick made the saw operators work until the scheduled end of their shifts. Seals-claims that McCormick treated the saw-operators differently than Wood or Deramus had because, if they were late coming off a break, McComick would issue a write-up, where Deramus and Wood would not have. However, McCormick never wrote up Seals. McCormick required -the saw operators to be at their saws five minutes before the horn signaling the start of work went off. Seals testified that McCormick treated all the saw operators the same way and the saw operators discussed her supervisory style amongst themselves.
I. The Plaintiffs Medical Condition and Belief That He Was Disabled
Seals never told anyone at Lee Brass he was “disabled.” When asked in his deposition whether he had “a physical condition which makes you disabled,” the Plaintiff testified “Not at this point now.” (Doc. 28-3 at 88(325-326)). However, he testified that while he worked for the Defendant, “[t]he symptoms that [he] experienced going in the hospital, that made me disabled.” (Doc. 28-3 at 83(326)). He also testified to “spitting up some black mucus,” after he left the hospital. (Doc. 28-3 at 83(326)). Seals’s disability claim is based on his contention that he was regarded by • Lee Brass as being disabled.
J. McCormick Starts To Have the Plaintiff Operate a Big Saw
McCormick wanted Seals to move from working on a small saw to working on a big saw.14 Some months after he was released from -the hospital in April 2013, McCormick began to regularly move Seals ■from working on the .small saws to working on the big saws. None of Seals’s previous supervisors had ever had him work on a big saw. McCormick moved Seals from a small saw to a big saw because, of the saw operators who normally worked-on a small saw, Seals had been employed with Lee Brass the longest and was the most experienced. On multiple occasions McCormick required Seals to use a big saw to cut larger parts that needed to be sawed, which he was able to do. He successfully operated a big saw and cut large parts using it over twenty times in a period of approximately three months. However, in his deposition, Seals testified that he “didn’t know how to use [a big saw].” (Doc. 28-3 at 17(63)).
Once, on an unspecified date, when McCormick asked Seals to use a big saw, he told her that he could not lift the heavier parts onto the sawing table and protested that he had not been trained on a big saw. McCormick responded that his inability to lift was not a problem because he could use the crane next to the saw to lift heavy parts, to which Seals responded that the crane in question did not work. Seals testified that McCormick then told him that he needed to go operate a big saw “if he wants the job” so Seals complied and operated a big saw successfully that day. (Doc. 28-3 at 36(139)). Since the crane was not working, Seals got the larger parts onto the saw table by having a forklift operator lift them for him.
K. The Events Leading to the Plaintiffs Discharge
On August 21, 2013, Seals was operating a small saw cutting red brass. He had already told McCormick, that day, that he was not feeling well, (Doc. 28-3 at 57(224)). McCormick asked Seals if he needed to go home and Seals said he was alright and was just feeling woozy but he could manage. McCormick told Seals to let her know if he needed to leave.
At some point thereafter, on that same day, McCormick told Seals that he needed to use a big saw to cut a job. McCormick wanted Seals to work on a big saw to cut a “hot job” of parts that were alsp made of red brass and which needed-to ship out as soon as possible. A “hot job” is an order of parts that must ship from Lee Brass very soon to meet customer requirements. When hot jobs arise, everyone in the manufacturing process must strive to get the order ready on time.
In his deposition Seals stated:
I could not do it. I mean, I told her that. And she was like, well, I don’t see nothing on the doctor. I said, because I told the doctor, Ms. Judy, that — the doctor asked me did I have a light duty job. I said, well, yes, what I do out there, the little parts, they are light... .So when she sent me to go over there, I told her, I said, Ms. Judy, I don’t supposed to be lifting this heavy stuff. I say, you know, I was in the hospital back in April.
(Doc. 28-3 at 49(192)-50(193)). Although McCormick had assigned Seals to use a big saw more than twenty times, Seals testified that this was the first occasion where he told McCormick he could not operate a big saw due to his hospitalization in April.
The following exchange then took place in the Plaintiffs deposition:
A. ... [McCormick] left. She came back. Well, I don’t see nothing in your file talking about you can’t lift nothing heavy or nothing like this. I said, well, it’s nothing that’s going to be in my file, Ms. Judy, because I always worked on the small saw since I signed up to be a saw operator. You’re going to work on the big one today. I said, no, no, I’m not. So — yes, you are. She grabbed me by my arm.15 I said, hey, don’t do that. Don’t touch me. So she left and went and got Stan Hand. He came back. I explained to him. We standing up there. I’m explaining to him, Stan, I can’t lift this. Well, why don’t you just quit. Just go on and quit. I said, I ain’t no quitter, Mr. Stan Hand. I don’t give up on nothing. Because he hadn’t been there long being the plant manager. I don’t know where he came from.
* * *
A. ... He’s like, why don’t you just quit, just give up and just quit. I said, no, I ain’t going to quit. I got bills to pay, and I don’t quit at nothing that I do, but I can’t go over there and lift that — I’m not going to go over there and lift that heavy stuff. I’m not fixing to do that. Okay, just stay where you’re at. They left, him and Judy left. Ms. Judy came back, told me to come to the office.
(Doc. 28-3 at 50(194-195). Despite his protestations regarding lifting, it is undisputed that, at this time, Seals was in good physical shape and was physically capable of weightlifting, which had been a hobby of his. However, Seals testified that he had not done any weightlifting since April of 2013. (Doc. 28-3 at 92(364)). Seals believes he could bench press between 425 and 475 pounds at that time. (Doc. 28-3 at 58(228)-59(229)).
The Plaintiff also testified that he told Hand that he had not been trained on a big saw, and that Hand told him to stay on a small saw. (Doc. 28-3 at 57(221)). Hand had been the Plant Manager for only a few weeks, was not working there when the Plaintiff was hospitalized, and Seals had not spoken to him previously.16 Seals did not cut any parts on a big saw that day.
Afterwards, and at some point that same day, Seals began to cut green brass on a small saw. Seals then had an interaction with Underwood, who was operating a forklift. The Plaintiff testified:
Ms. Judy went over there and told him something, and then he came over there on this forklift and brought me some things to cut. And I asked him, I said, put it on the floor. I said, I’ll get to it. I ain’t feeling too bright, man.
(Doc. 28-3 at 61(238)). The Plaintiff testified that the' parts Underwood brought were red brass. (Doc. 28-3 at 62(243)). Underwood then said: “You going to cut them, motherfucker. You’re going to cut them now. She want them cut. You going to cut them.” (Doc; 28-3 at 61(239)). Seals responded: “[Y]ou can put them on the floor. I’ll cut them when I’m finished, when I’m finished with this right here.” (Doc.. 28-3 at 61(239)). .The Plaintiff also testified: ■ “I said, I don’t care what she said. I’m going finish this first, and then I’ll get to that when I got time, if I have .time.” (Doc.'28-3 at 61(239)). Seals also admits that he swore back at Underwood. After that, McCormick left. (Doc. 28-3 . at 64(249)).
McCormick testified that when Underwood attempted to change the pallet that Seals was working on, Seals became angry, and she spoke to the Plaintiff and told him that Underwood was only doing what she had told him to do. (Doc. 28-4 at 35(134)).17 She states that at that time Seals threw a part that he had in his hand. (Doc, 28-4. at 35(135-136)). The Defendant alleges that this part was thrown at Underwood, but the Plaintiff disputes that he threw'anything. (Doc. 28-3 at 65(253-254)).18, When Underwood was asked in his deposition if he knew why the Plaintiff had been terminated, he stated he “didn’t see him do nothing.” (Doc. 28-10 at 29(109-110)).19 Murphy was present as well and did not see the Plaintiff throw anything, but also admits that 'he did not watch the entire altercation. (Doc. 33-3 at 18(66)).
According to Hand, both McCormick and Underwood then reported this incident to him. In Hand’s-' deposition, the following exchange took place:
A. [McCormick] told me that [Seals] had threw a part, and it bounced off the wooden pallet and almost hit Leslie [Underwood].
Q. Okay. Where was — what was - he •■throwing the part at? I mean, what, was ■he .throwing it at the bins or was -he throwing it at something else? ■
A. According to her, he was throwing it at Leslie.
' Q, Oh, okay.
¾? ⅜ ⅜
Q. Did she say she saw that?
A. Yes. -
Q, And what did Leslie Underwood tell you?
A'. Actually, Leslie was the first one that burst in my office and tell me that he had — Jerald was cussing him and threw a part at him.
Q. And what did he tell you?
A, He told me that he was trying to set up this hot part that Judy needed to get out. And I think Derrick Murphy was helping Leslie at the time. And he stated to Derrick that he didn’t want to do that part, and Derrick went and got Leslie. And when Leslie got over there on his forklift, he told him he was going to:cut it. I don’t know what exchange happened, and that’s when he threw,the part at him.
Q. Did Leslie say that Mr. Seals threw a part at him?
A. That’s what he told me.
(Doc. 28-8 at 17(62-64)).
After this incident, and about 10 or 16 minutes after Hand had told the Plaintiff to stay on a small saw, McCormick told Seals, again, to work on a big saw cutting the same hot job as before. (Doc. 28-3 at 67(223)). Again, it is undisputed that Seals did not cut anything on a big saw that day.
The Plaintiff states that after he finished the job on the small saw (which he continued to do the entire time), McCormick told him to go to-the office. (Doc. 28-3 at 64(251)). The Plaintiff testified that Hand was present when they arrived in the office, and
they told me Jerome [Truss] said send me home for the day. I said, for what? She said, because you refused to work. I said, I didn’t refuse to work, and you know I didn’t refuse to work. And I said, Stan, you just got here. You. don’t'even know me like that.
(Doc.. 28-3 at 64(250)). Elsewhere in his deposition, the Plaintiff testified:
This time I roll up. in the office with Stan Hand, walked in and sat down. Stan • said, man, what’s- the problem, man? You don’t want to do the-job, man? I said, I was doing the job-where you left me oh the small saw. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I did leave you on the small saw, but, you know, I’m going to roll with my supervisor right here. Jerome said send' you on home for the rest- of the day.
(Doc. 28-3 at 60(234)).20 Hand does not remember asking Seals in their meeting whether he threw the part, and there is no documentation regarding his questioning of the Plaintiff about this incident. It is undisputed that Hand did not personally witness any of the events of the incident between Seals and Underwood. The Plaintiff testified that Hand decided “to send me home for the rest of the week, not the day, the rest of the week. Because it was a week before I seen him again.” (Doc. 28-3 at 60(234)).
. Hand testified in his deposition that when he sent the Plaintiff home it was a suspension given to Seals “[bjeeause. he threw a part at another employee.” (Doc. 28-8 at 18(67)). Until he was suspended, the Plaintiff was never warned,, disciplined, or given “progressive discipline” for anything. There is no record of any discipline in his file before he was suspended and ultimately terminated.21
On August 28, 2013, the Plaintiffs suspension became a termination. Hand testified that the Plaintiff was fired for throwing the part at Underwood. (Doc. 28-8 at 18(67)). Not until Seals applied for unemployment compensation was he informed that he had been terminated for throwing a part at Underwood.22 The Plaintiff testified that he went to Lee Brass and spoke to Truss, who offered him a third shift position, and then fired him. (Doc. 28-3 at 67(263-264)). Hand did not look to see if Seals had any prior discipline before terminating him.
McCormick testified that, despite the fact that she was his supervisor, she did not participate in the decision to fire Seals. (Doc. 28-4 at 43(166)). However, the following exchange took place in Hand’s deposition:
Q. Who made the decision to fire Jerald Seals?
A. I made the decision to suspend Jerald with investigation.
Q. So you made the decision to suspend him?
A. Yes, ma’am.
Q. Did anybody have any input in that?
A. Judy McCormick and myself.
Q. Anybody else that made the decision to suspend him other than you and Judy McCormick?
A. No, ma’am.
Q. Who made the decision to terminate Mr. Seals or fire him?
A. Jerome Truss and myself.
Q. Did Judy have input in that?
A. No.
Q. Well, she was his supervisor, right?
A. Yes.
Q. And normally the supervisor would have input in that.
[[Image here]]
A. She had input up to the suspension, but ultimately it was my decision.
Q. Did she have any input?
[[Image here]]
Q. I know you say that ultimately it was your decision. But she had input as his supervisor, though, right?
⅜ ⅜ ⅜
A. Yes, ma’am.
Q. Of course, she did.
⅜ ⅜ ⅜
Q. Because it was the supervisor’s job to discipline an employee if they saw a problem, right?
A. Yes, ma’am.
Q. That’s what you expected.
A. Yes, ma’am.
Q. Because you can’t watch all the employees. That’s why you have the supervisors.
A. Yes, ma’am.
Q. They’re there to manage that department and discipline the employees if there’s an issue, right?
A. Yes.
Q. So if Mr. Seals had done anything, you know, if Judy McCormick had had any issues with him prior to him being suspended and his termination, she should have disciplined him, right?
[[Image here]]
A. Yes.
(Doc. 28-8 at 16(57-59)).
Truss testified that Seals was terminated for refusing to perform a job. (Doc. 28-12 at 20(75)). Between the time Seals was suspended by Hand and the time his employment was terminated, Truss states that he performed an investigation of Sealsfs] conduct toward Underwood. Truss testified that he spoke with McCormick, Hand, Underwood, and Derrick Murphy. (Doc. 28-12 at 16(58)). In his deposition, Underwood testified that no one from Lee Brass ever got a statement from him regarding this incident. (Doc. 28-10 at 29(110)).23 Although Hand “assumes” that this incident was investigated between the time Seals was suspended and his termination, he states that he was not involved. (Doc. 28-8 at 18(68)). Furthermore, Truss did not mention Seals as a person he interviewed. He admits, however, that Seals denied doing anything wrong. (Doc. 28-12 at 28(108)).
Truss does not recall anything that he did to investigate. Truss knows of no documentation regarding his investigation. (Doc. 28-12 at 17(64)). Although there is documentation concerning the events which led to Seals’s termination, they were all created after Seals was terminated. (Doc. 28-12 at 18(65)).
Despite the fact that Truss contends that Seals was fired for refusing to perform a job, Truss testified that past threatening and behavior issues factored into the Plaintiffs termination. Indeed, the termination letter which Hand prepared (and the Plaintiff refused to sign) states:
Your behavior on this day of telling people what you were not going to do, slinging pieces of metal, and becoming irritated due to being asked to perform your job cannot and will not be tolerated in the work place. [ ] [Sjimilar types of these behaviors have been demonstrated by you in the [past]. We informed you the last time this occurred that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
(Doc. 38-4 at l).24 Truss admitted that, consistent with the company’s progressive discipline policy, supervisors are supposed to document discipline given to an employee. (Doc. 28-12 at 24(89)). There was no documentation in the file that the Plaintiff ever refused work, or was counseled regarding “threatening” behavior, prior to this incident.25 Truss explained that Lee Brass did not follow the progressive discipline policy when they terminated Seals because-'this incident was serious enough that they .could move directly to termination. (Doc. 28-12 at 27(104)).
It is undisputed that neither Hand nor McCormick ever used racial terms or racially ■ derogatory terms towards Seals. However, the- Plaintiff testified as follows regarding Hand:
[H]e always — when you try to speak to him, well, he didn’t conversate with blacks. If you spoke to him, he looked at you crazy and kept going. But white, he’ll stand in the corner and talk to you all day long. But a black man, no, Stan ain’t fixing to sit there and talk to you. If it ain’t about that job, no, he ain’t fixing to talk to you. , ■. ■
(Doc. 28-3 at 50(196)).
L. Hand’s Knowledge About any Alleged Disability
Hand was not aware that Seals, had been in the hospital.. Hand was not working at Lee Brass at the time Seals was hospitalized. Hand never heard anything about Seals spitting up blood nor did he hear anything about Seals wearing a heart monitor because, among other reasons, Hand did not work at Lee Brass until months later in July 2013. -
M. Seals’s Alleged Disability
When asked in his deposition if he considered himself disabled, the Plaintiff testified “No, not to work. As far as to work heavy jobs like Lee Brass, yes. But like the job I’m doing now, no.” (Doc. 28-3 at 82(323)). When asked again to explain the sense in which he was disabled, he stated:
To work-jobs like Lee Brass, yes, lifting heavy materials, parts, being in that heat like that, three thousand degree heat, being in steel-toed boots all. day, having to stand up on the concrete floor all day. As far as, you know, the work itself, you know, lifting; bending, heavy parts, machine breakdown, going up under a tunnel’and digging the dirt from around the belt because toó much dirt around it under’ the ground won’t make it move because it’s just too packed down there to move.
(Doc. 28-3 at 82(324)). Later he stated: “The disability part of the job to me is that it’s unsafe. It’s unsafe, and it wears'and tears your body.” (Doc. 28-3 at 83(325)). He also stated:'
The job, as far as doing the job, it wasn’t ’ the problem. It was the way they carried me after they seen me come out of the hospital, how they started treating me, discrimination against me, and wanting me to get on something that you got to have training for that I have no idea to work on.
(Doc. 28-3 at 86(337-338)).
N.Seals’s EEOC Charge
After Seals was fired, he filed an EEOC charge. Truss testified that he investigated Seals’ EEOC charge. The only witness statements that were taken by Truss were taken after Seals filed, his EEOC charge.
One of those statements is from McCormick, and it reads: “He started slinging the parts so hard that they were bouncing out of the pan and into the floor.” (Doc. 33-5 at 2). In her deposition, McCormick testified her statement' was not true and, during her deposition, she wrote on her statement “not true, I saw throwing 1 part and bouncing off pallet.” (Doc. 28-4 at 53(205) — 55(214); doc. 28-5 at 9).
On September 9, 2013, Pat McElroy, in Human Resources, sent the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations information relating to Seals’s termination, stating Seals was terminated for “insubordination.” (Doc. 33-10 at 2). Seals was awarded unemployment compensation benefits. (Doc. 33-11 at 2).
On October 15, 2013, Truss responded on behalf of Lee Brass to Seals’s EEOC charge. (Doc. 33-7 at 2). On page two of Defendant’s EEOC response it states, “On numerous occasions Mr. Seals would wander from his work station and his supervisor would have to find him and instruct him to stay on his job...” (Doc. 33-7 at 3). In his deposition, Truss testified McCormick told him Seals would wander off, but he' had no idea when this occurred, no documentation of this allegation, and admitted Seals did not receive any discipline or counseling for this allegation. Truss testified this alleged “wandering” did not factor into the decision to terminate Seals, yet he included it in the company’s response to the EEOC.
■ Truss’s response also states: “Mr. Seals, not Mr, Underwood, cursed and. acted irrationally.” (Doc. 33-7 at 3). In his deposition, Truss could not recall whether he ever asked Underwood if he cursed at Seals. (Doc. 28-12 at 45(175)). He could not recall where he got that information. (Doc, 28-12 at 45(176)^6(177)).
Lee Brass’ response to the EEOC contains the allegation that Derrick Murphy and Underwood “advised that Mr. Seals began to act irrationally, cursing them, and refused to perform the work that was requested.” (Doc. 33-7 at 3). The following exchange took place in Murphy’s deposition:
Q. Has anybody at Lee Brass ever asked you about any issue between Jerald Seals and Leslie Underwood?
A. No, ain’t nobody ever asked me nothing about it.
(Doe. 33-3 at 11(40)).26 Furthermore, in his deposition, Murphy stated that he did not know what was said during the alteration with Underwood (doc. 33-3 at 18(65-66)), and he did not witness Seals throw any parts (doc. 33-3 at 18(66-68)). In his deposition, Truss could not recall whether Murphy told him before Seals was suspendéd that he did not'hear him use profanity and did not see him sling any parts. (Doe. 28-12 at 50(194)). Regarding what Murphy told him after the suspension, Truss testified that “[h]e told me they had a confrontation.” (Doc. 28-12 at 509194)).
Lee Brass’ EEOC response also alleges Seals, “began throwing scrap pieces-throughout the shop area.” (Doc. 33-7 at 3). There is no evidence in this Court’s record to substantiate this statement. ’
O. The Failure To Train Employees
McCormick has been a supervisor for fifteen years and has never been given training on discrimination or retaliation policies or compliance. McCormick has never been trained on any ADA policy or compliance and could not state one thing about Lee Brass’s disability policy.
Pat McElroy who works in the Human Resources department has never received training on the ADA. Stan Hand, the plant manager at Lee Brass, has received no training on discrimination from the company. Truss testified that Lee Brass did training related to discrimination prior to 2014-2015, but that the training was not mandatory.
III. ANALYSIS
A. The ADA Claim in Count One
Under the ADA, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate on the basis of disability in regards to the “terms, conditions, and privileges of employment,” including “discharge of employees.” 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a). “Employees may claim unlawful discrimination under the ADA by showing either that the employer’s facially neutral conduct had a disparate impact on members of a protected class (disparate impact) or that the employer treated certain employees worse than others because they possessed a protected trait (disparate treatment).” Norris v. GKN Westland Aerospace, Inc., 921 F.Supp.2d 1308, 1313 (M.D. Ala. 2013) (Thomson, J.) (citing Raytheon Co. v. Hernandez, 540 U.S. 44, 52-53, 124 S.Ct. 513, 157 L.Ed.2d 357 (2003)).
As noted at the beginning of this opinion, the Complaint alleges that the Defendant “harassed [the] Plaintiff, treated [the] Plaintiff differently[,] and terminated [the] Plaintiff,” in violation of the ADA. (Doc. 1 at 6). Howdver, in the Plaintiffs brief he alleges disparate treatment only in that he was terminated based on being regarded as disabled (doc. 34 at 33, 35), and no argument regarding light work, or any other type of disparate treatment, is made by the Plaintiff. For this reason, the Court will omit any discussion of the Defendant’s (one paragraph) argument that “Seals was not treated different [sic] after he went to the hospital because he was perceived as disabled.” (Doc. 27 at 31). However, in light of the fact that the issue was raised by the Defendant, the Court will deem all ADA claims based on anything other than the Plaintiffs termination to be abandoned, and summary granted will be granted to the Defendant thereon. See, e.g., Wilkerson v. Grinnell Corp., 270 F.3d 1314, 1322 (11th Cir. 2001) (finding claim abandoned when argument not presented in initial response to motion for summary judgment); Bute v. Schuller International, Inc., 998 F.Supp. 1473, 1477 (N.D. Ga. 1998) (finding unaddressed claim abandoned); see also Coalition for the Abolition of Marijuana Prohibition v. City of Atlanta, 219 F.3d 1301, 1326 (11th Cir. 2000) (failure to brief and argue issue at the district court is sufficient to find the issue has been abandoned); Resolution Trust Corp. v. Dunmar Corp., 43 F.3d 587, 599 (11th Cir. 1995); Hudson v. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co., 209 F.Supp.2d 1301, 1324 (N.D. Ga. 2001); cf. McMaster v. United States, 177 F.3d 936, 940-41 (11th Cir. 1999) (claim may be considered abandoned when district court is presented with no argument concerning a claim included in the plaintiffs complaint); Road Sprinkler Fitters Local Union No. 669 v. Independent Sprinkler Corp., 10 F.3d 1563, 1568 (11th Cir. 1994) (concluding that a district court “could properly treat as abandoned a claim alleged in the complaint but not even raised as a ground for summary judgment”).27
The Eleventh Circuit has noted:
We analyze ADA discrimination claims under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting analysis applied to Title VII employment discrimination Claims. Earl v. Mervyns, Inc., 207 F.3d 1361, 1365 (11th Cir.2000). Under that framework, a plaintiff-employee first establishes a prima facie case of discrimination. See Wilson v. B/E Aerospace, Inc., 376 F.3d 1079, 1087 (11th Cir.2004). To establish a prima facie case of ADA discrimination, a plaintiff must show (1) a disability, (2) that she was otherwise qualified to perform the job, and (3) that she was discriminated against based upon the disability. Cleveland v. Home Shopping Network, Inc., 369 F.3d 1189, 1193 (11th Cir.2004). The burden then shifts to the defendant to articulate a legitimate reason for its employment action. Wilson, 376 F.3d at 1087. If it can, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to offer evidence that the reason is pretex-tual. Id. If the plaintiff fails to show pretext, we affirm the grant of summary judgment on that ground. EEOC v. Total Sys. Servs., 221 F.3d 1171, 1177 (11th Cir.2000). Where the defendant has met its burden of articulating a legitimate, non-diseriminatory reason for its action, we may assume without deciding that the plaintiff has established a prima fa-cie case and decide the case on the question of pretext. See, e.g., Holifield v. Reno, 115 F.3d 1555, 1564 (1997); Wascura v. City of S. Miami, 257 F.3d 1238, 1243 (11th Cir.2001).
Thomas v. Dolgencorp, LLC, 645 Fed.Appx. 948, 950-51 (11th Cir. 2016).28 The Defendant argues that the Plaintiff cannot make out a prima facie case of discrimination, and that, even if he could, he cannot show that Lee Brass’s legitimate non-discriminatory reason for his termination was a mere pretext for discrimination.
1. Prima Facie Case
The Defendant argues that the Plaintiff was not suffering from a “disability” as that term is defined by the ADA. The ADA provides:
The term “disability” means, with respect to an individual—
(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual;
(B) a record of such an impairment; or
(C) being regarded as having such an impairment[.]
42 U.S.C.A. § 12102(1). The Plaintiff argues only that the Defendant regarded him as having an impairment. (Doc. 34 at 32-34) One is “regarded as having such an impairment”
if the individual establishes that he or she has been subjected to an action prohibited under this chapter because of an actual or perceived physical or mental impairment whether or not the impairment limits or is perceived to limit a major life activity.
42 U.S.C. § 12102(3)(A). However, the impairment cannot be “transitory [or] minor. A transitory impairment is an impairment with an actual or expected duration of 6 months or less.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1)(B).
The Defendant begins its argument by setting out the incorrect law on this issue when it states:
To make out a prima facie case under the ADA’s “regarded as” prong, the plaintiff must prove that the individuals who made the challenged decisions regarded him “as having a permanent or long-term impairment” that “substantially limited a major life activity.” See e.g., Cash v. Smith, 231 F.3d 1301, 1306 (11th Cir. 2000) (emphasis added); Sutton v. Lader, 185 F.3d 1203, 1209 (11th Cir. 1999); See also 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2).
(Doe. 27 at 30) (emphasis in original). As this Court noted earlier this year:
The - ■ Cas/topinion ... predates the ADAAA, which- significantly transformed the regarded-as definition and made it much easier for a plaintiff to prima facially fit into this third disability ..category because proof that an employer perceives the plaintiff to be limited in a major life activity is no longer required[.]
Ward v. City of Gadsden, No. 4:15-CV-0865-VEH, 2017 WL 668556, at *7 (N.D. Ala. Feb. 13, 2017) (Hopkins, J.). Similarly, Sutton v. Lader, 185 F.3d 1203, 1208 (11th Cir. 1999), which held that “in order for a plaintiff to. prevail, on a perception theory of disability discrimination, he must be able to show that, as with a real impairment, the perceived impairment is ‘substantially limiting’ and.significant,” is also unavailing to the.Defendant.29.The Defendant provides no analysis as to whether Seals has met the regarded-as prong as redefined by the ADAAA. See Ward, 2017 WL 568556, at *8 (denying summary judgment because ‘‘[t]he City provides no analysis of whether Mr. Ward has met the regarded-as prong as redefined by the ADAAA and nakedly and' incorrectly asserts that Mr. Ward’s prima; facie case fails because he has not shown ‘that he has been ‘regarded’ as having...an impairment’ limiting a major life activity.”). For this reason alone, summary judgment on this issue will be denied.
Still, the Court deems it important to address the only argument made by the Defendant on the “regarded-as” claim— that “no supervisory level employee, nor anyone, at Lee Brass believed at any time that Seals was disabled.” (Doc. 27 at 30), Lee Brass contends that McCormick, the Plaintiffs supervisor, “never saw' Seals throw up blood at any time nor heard from any other source that he had done so. Nor was McCormick ever aware that Seals had been in the hospital or was wearing a [ ]30 monitor.” (Doc. 27 at 30) (citations omitted).'This is incorrect when the facts are viewed, as they must be, in the light most favorable to Seals. As' noted previously, when viewed in that light, a reasonable jury could find, that McCormick knew about the Plaintiff vomiting blood first because she was told by Murphy, and second, because she- was also either physically present when it occurred or-at least-saw blood on towels the Plaintiff was using at the time. Similarly, a jury could find, based on the Plaintiffs testimony, that Seals told McCormick that he had been hospitalized, and showed and explained to her about the monitor he was wearing, which she noted “was serious.” Based on these facts, a reasonable jury could determine that at least one “supervisory level employee,” McCormick, knew of the Plaintiffs hospitalization and condition.31
The Court also observes' that the “regarded as” prong does not apply where the impairment is “transitory [or] minor,” and states that “[a] transitory impairment is an impairment with an actual or expected duration of 6 months or less.” 42 U.S.C, § 12102(1)(B). The evidence seems to indicate that the events which led to the Plaintiffs hospitalization never occurred again. Indeed, the Plaintiff was feeling well at the time he was fired, and agreed that he was physically able to lift large amounts of weight. It seems that his condition may qualify as “transitory.” However, because the Defendant did not move for summary judgment on that basis32, the Court does not deem the issue to have been properly raised so that the Plaintiff could have a fair opportunity to respond. Accordingly, the Court makes no judgment at this time as to whether the Plaintiffs condition is “transitory.”
Finally, the Court must speak to the “comparator” issue. The Eleventh' Circuit has stated:
To establish unlawful disparate treatment, a plaintiff generally must demonstrate that his employer treated similarly situated employees outside of his protected class more favorably than he was treated. See Burke-Fowler v. Orange Cnty., Fla., 447 F.3d 1319, 1323 (11th Cir.2006). When the plaintiff alleges,., that other employees engaged in similar [ jconduct [as he] but were not similarly disciplined, the plaintiff must produce evidence that “the quantity and quality of the comparator’s □conduct [was] nearly identical.” McCann v. Tillman, 526 F.3d. 1370, 1373 (11th Cir.2008) (quotation marks omitted).
Wolfe v. Postmaster Gen., 488 Fed.Appx. 465, 468 (11th Cir. 2012) (ADA). Again, only in its reply brief, does the Defendant argue that the Plaintiff cannot point to any relevant comparators. (Doc. 35 at 17). This argument comes too late. Regardless, the Eleventh Circuit has also noted that
a plaintiff will survive summary judgment even without comparator evidence as long as he presents some other circumstantial evidence that raises a question of fact as to the employer’s discriminatory intent. See Smith v. Lockheed-Martin Corp., 644 F.3d 1321, 1328 (11th Cir. 2011) (“[E]stablishing the elements of the McDonnell Douglas framework is not, and never was intended to be, the sine qua non for a plaintiff to survive a summary judgment motion in an employment discrimination case.”).
Banks v. iGov Techs., Inc., 661 Fed.Appx. 638, 644 (11th Cir. 2016). In this case, and as shown in the next section of this opinion, there' is circumstantial evidence of discriminatory intent.33
2. The Defendant’s Legitimate. Non-Discriminatorg Reason for Termination and the Plaintiff’s Showing of Pretext
Because in the instant case these two discussions overlap, the Court will address them,.together.. Since the Plaintiff has survived summary judgment on whether or not he can make out a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the Defendant
to produce evidence that its action was taken for a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason. The defendant need not persuade the court that it was actually motivated by the proffered reason, but need only present evidence raising a genuine issue of fact as to whether it discriminated against the plaintiff. However, the defendant’s response must frame the factual issué with sufficient clarity so that the plaintiff will have a full and fair opportunity to demonstrate pretext. The defendant may not satisfy its burden by presenting a hypothetical reason for the employment decision .in question. .
Voudy v. Sheriff of Broward Cty. Florida, No. 16-12059, 2017 WL 2983892, at *4 (11th Cir. July 13, 2017) (unpublished) (internal-quotations and citations omitted). If the Defendant successfully articulates such a reason, or reasons,
“[t]o avoid summary judgment [the plaintiff] must introduce significantly probative evidence showing that the asserted reason is merely a pretext for discrimination.” Clark v. Coats & Clark, Inc., 990 F.2d 1217, 1228 (11th Cir. 1993) (citation omitted). A reason is not pretext for discrimination “unless it is shown both that the reason was false, and that discrimination was the real reason.” St. Mary’s Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 515, 113 S.Ct. 2742, 125 L.Ed.2d 407 (1993).
Brooks v. Cty. Comm’n of Jefferson Cty., Ala., 446 F.3d 1160, 1163 (11th Cir. 2006). To show pretext, the Plaintiff must demonstrate “such weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or contradictions in the employer’s proffered legitimate reasons for its action that a reasonable factfinder could find them unworthy of credence.” Alvarez v. Royal Atl. Developers, Inc., 610 F.3d 1253, 1265 (11th Cir. 2010) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
In the instant case, summary judgment is due to be denied either because the Defendant cannot get its legitimate non-discriminatory reason straight, or because the reason dr reasons it gives are unworthy of credence.34. In its brief, the Defendant states that “Lee Brass terminated Plaintiff’s employment because Stan Hand and Judy McCormick believed he threw a metal part at Leslie Underwood.” (Doc. 27 at 31-32; see also, doc. 27 at 29 (“Seals is unable to rebut Lee Brasses] nondiscriminatory reason for his termination — namely, that employees are not allowed to throw metal parts at other employees.”); doc. 27' at 33 (“[I]t is clear that Lee Brass terminated Seals’[s] employment because it believed he had thrown a part at another employee.”)). There are a number of problems with this explanation.
First, it is inconsistent with the Defendant’s own arguments in its brief. The Defendant argues in its brief that McCormick had no involvement in the decision to fire Seals, and has no authority to fire employees. (Doc. 27 at 23, ¶ 126; doc. 27 at 25, ¶136). Furthermore, Hand testified that he and Truss, not McCormick, made the decision to fire Seals. (Doc. 28-8 at 16(57-59)).
Second, the Defendant has offered several different and inconsistent reasons why Seals was fired. Hand and Truss cannot agree on why the Plaintiff was fired. Hand says it was because Seals threw a part at Underwood (Doc. 28-8 at 18(67)), and Truss says it was for refusing to perform a job (doc. 28-12 at 20(75)).35 For some reason, Truss told the EEOC that the Plaintiff would wander off from his assigned work station. (Doc. 33-7 at 2). McCormick admitted in her deposition that the statement she wrote for. the EEOC was “not trae,” at least in part. McElroy told the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations that Seals was terminated for “insubordination.” (Doc. 33-10 at 2). Finally, the Defendant contradicts its own position when, in its reply brief, it states:
Seals was terminated for two interrelated reasons. One, Lee Brass terminated Plaintiffs employment because Stan Hand, based on a report made by Underwood directly to him, believed Seals threw a metal part at or dangerously -near Underwood. Two, Seals was terminated because, as Seals admitted in his deposition, he blatantly refused to follow his supervisor’s instructions.
(Doc. 35 at 18-19) (emphasis added) (citations omitted). These inconsistent, changing explanations are enough to establish pretext. See, Faircloth v. Herkel Investments Inc., 514 Fed.Appx. 848, 851 (11th Cir. 2013) (“[T]he identification of inconsistencies in an employer’s testimony can be evidence of pretext.”); Cleveland v. Home Shopping Network, Inc., 369 F.3d 1189, 1194 (11th Cir. 2004) (on review of grant of renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law after jury verdict, shifting reasons for termination allowed the fact finder to find the proffered reason unworthy of credence).
Furthermore, it is undisputed that the Defendant failed to follow the progressive discipline policy when it terminated the Plaintiff, and “[a]n employer’s deviation from its established policies may be evidence of pretext.” King v. Sec’y, US Dep’t of the Army, 652 Fed.Appx. 845, 847 (11th Cir. 2016) (citing Hurlbert v. St. Mary’s Health Care Sys., Inc., 439 F.3d 1286, 1299 (11th Cir. 2006)). Even assuming, as Truss stated in his deposition, that this incident (whether it be refusal to work, throwing a part, or some other combinations of reasons) was serious enough to warrant termination without going through the intermediate steps of the policy 36, the handbook is clear that
[b]efore administering discipline, the manager should be sure they have all the facts. The associate’s past .record should be examined in the Human Resources office to determine if the associate has had any previous violations. Associates should be ■ given .ample opportunity to present their side before any final decision is made as to the discipline to be administered.
(Doc. 28-2 at 60). No one examined the Plaintiffs past record, which was spotless, before suspending and terminating him. Furthermore, assuming the termination was for throwing the part, no one spoke to the Plaintiff and asked him if he did so, which is also required by the policy. Finally, although Truss claims that he conducted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Plaintiffs termination, a reasonable jury could cónchate that he conducted no investigation, in light 'of the fact that he had no documentation evidencing any investigation and could remember none of it, and at least two of the individuals he claimed to have spoken to (Hand and Underwood) state that they were not part of any investigation.
In light of these facts, the Court concludes that either the Defendant has failed to offer, a clear legitimate non-discriminatory reason, or that the reasons which it gave are inconsistent and otherwise implausible, thereby establishing that, for summary judgment purposes at least, they are a mere pretext for discrimination. Summary judgment will be denied on the issue of whether the Plaintiff was terminated in violation of the ADA.
B. The Race. Discrimination Claim in Count Two
The Plaintiff claims that he was fired based of his race, African American, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The Der fendant does mot move for summary judgment on this issue, arguing instead that “Seals [argues] that he was not allowed to return to. work on medical restrictions where Caucasian employees allegedly were allowed to do so.” (Doc. 27 at 32) (citing doc. 1 at 8-9, ¶¶ 47-57). While that is part of his claim, the Plaintiff also alleges that he was “terminated because of his race, African American.” (Doc. 1 at 9, ¶ 57). As the Eleventh Circuit has noted:
A party seeking summary judgment must “identify[ ] 'each claim.. .on which summary judgment is sought.” Fed. R;Civ.P. 56(a); Gentry v. Harborage Cottages-Stuart, LLLP, 654 F.3d 1247, 1261 (11th Cir.2011) (same); cf. Fed. R.Civ.P. 7(b)(1)(B) (stating that a motion requesting relief must “state with particularity the grounds for seeking the order”). A district court commits reversible error when it enters judgment oh claims not identified in the motion for summary judgment and without advance notice. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1261.
Mosley v. Alabama Unified Judicial Sys., Admin. Office of Courts, 562 Fed.Appx. 862, 864 (11th Cir. 2014). Since the Defendant does not move for summary judgment as to the termination claim, that claim will survive.37
The Defendant does move for summary judgment on the Plaintiffs claim that white employees were allowed to have “light duty” assignments, but he was not. The Plaintiff makes no argument in response.38 Accordingly, the Court deems this claim to be abandoned.
IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED as follows:
1. The Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED as to the ADA discrimination claim in Count One, to the extent that claim is based on the Plaintiffs termination. Otherwise, the motion for summary judgment is GRANTED as to Count One, and Count One is DISMISSED with prejudice.
2. The ■ Defendant’s motion for siim- ■ mary judgment is GRANTED to the extent that it is based on any claim that the Plaintiff was discriminated against, based on his race, by being denied “light duty” assignments. Count Two, to the extent that it is based on that claim, is hereby DISMISSED with prejudice. In all other respects, the motion for summary judgment is DENIED as to the race discrimination claim in Count Two.
3. This case will be set for a trial in a future order.
DONE and ORDERED this 27th day of September, 2017.
Related
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
271 F. Supp. 3d 1302, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/seals-v-lee-brass-foundry-llc-alnd-2017.