Soler v. Tyco Electronics, Inc.

268 F. Supp. 2d 97, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10512, 2003 WL 21458482
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedJune 16, 2003
DocketCIV. 02-1185(PG)
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 268 F. Supp. 2d 97 (Soler v. Tyco Electronics, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Soler v. Tyco Electronics, Inc., 268 F. Supp. 2d 97, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10512, 2003 WL 21458482 (prd 2003).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

PEREZ-GIMENEZ, District Judge.

Before the Court is Defendant Tyco Electronics, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment, (Def.’s Mot. Summ. J., Docket No. 23), and Plaintiffs’ Opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgment, (Pls.’s Opp’n Mot. Summ. J., Docket No. 29). For the reasons set forth below, Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs, Edgardo Soler, Madeline Rod-ríguez, and their Conjugal Partnership, filed this suit against Defendant Tyco Electronics, Inc. on February 7, 2002. (Compl., Docket No. 1). Plaintiffs brought forth causes of actions for discrimination, harassment, and unjustified dismissal under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Puerto Rico Law 44, Puerto Rico Law 100, Puerto Rico Law 80, and Article 1802 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code. (Compl., at 9-10).

Plaintiff Edgardo Soler developed cardiovascular problems that lead to a heart attack and by-pass surgery in June, 1998. The heart surgery was successful and after a month-long absence Mr Soler returned to his position as sales representative in Tyco Electronics. After the surgery, however, Mr. Soler developed physical limitations that, he claims, have substantially limited his ability to perform basic life activities. In the three years after returning to work, Mr. Soler was allegedly the victim of a harassment and discrimination campaign by the Defendant. This campaign included age and disability-based derogatory comments and other actions of harassment, and culminated in Mr. Soler’s dismissal in March, 2001. Plaintiffs claim that the decision to fire Plaintiff Soler was based on his age — he was fifty-one years old — and his disability.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

“One of the principal purposes of the summary judgment rule is to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims or defenses.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Summary judgment is appropriate where “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). A genuine issue is one that is dispositive and must be resolved at trial because a reasonable jury could resolve in favor of the non-moving party. Arvelo v. American International Insurance Co., 875 F.Supp. 95, 99 (D.P.R.1995). A fact is material if under applicable substantive law it may affect the result of the case. See Ortega-Rosario v. Alvarado-Ortiz, 917 F.2d 71, 73 (1st Cir.1990).

The party moving for summary judgment “always bears the initial responsibili *104 ty of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of ‘the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,’ which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. Once a moving party has made a showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to demonstrate that a trial worthy issue remains. See Cadle Co. v. Hayes, 116 F.3d 957, 960 (1st Cir.1997); Borschow Hosp. & Med. Supplies Inc., v. Cesar Castillo, Inc., 96 F.3d 10,14 (1st Cir.1996). The non-moving party must set forth specific facts in proper evidentiary form substantiating that a genuine factual issue exists for trial. Nevertheless, in determining whether summary judgment is warranted, the court views the facts alleged in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and must indulge all inferences in favor of that party. Rossy v. Roche Products, Inc., 880 F.2d 621, 624 (1st Cir.1989).

DISCUSSION

ADA Discrimination Claims

The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213 (2002), was enacted “to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.” 42 U.S.C. § 12101. In addressing discrimination in the employment, the statute provides as follows:

No covered entity shall discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability because of the disability of such individual in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.

42 U.S.C. § 12112(a).

To establish a claim of discrimination under the ADA a plaintiff must establish: “(1) that he or she suffers from a ‘disability’ within the meaning of the Act; (2) that he or she was able to perform the essential functions of the job, either with or without reasonable accommodation; and (3) that the employer discharged him or her in whole or in part because of that disability.” Feliciano v. Rhode Island, 160 F.3d 780, 784 (1st Cir.1998). Plaintiffs may also pursue their ADA discrimination claim indirectly through the burden-shifting framework developed in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973). See Katz v. City Metal Co., 87 F.3d 26, 30 n. 2 (1st Cir.1996). Under this framework, as adapted to ADA claims, a plaintiff must first prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he or she:

“(i) has a disability within the meaning of the Act; (ii) is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations; (iii) was subject to an adverse employment action by a company subject to the Act; (iv) was replaced by a non-disabled person or was treated less favorably than non-disabled employees; and (v) suffered damages as a result.”

Jacques v. Clean-Up Group, Inc., 96 F.3d 506, 511 (1st Cir.1996). The disability requirement can be met in one of three ways: (1) “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of [an] individual”; (2) “a record of such an impairment”; or (3) “being regarded as having such an impairment.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2).

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268 F. Supp. 2d 97, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10512, 2003 WL 21458482, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/soler-v-tyco-electronics-inc-prd-2003.