Plaintiff-Appellant Laura Roberts appeals the decision of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Telesca, J.) granting Defendant-Appellee The Health Association’s (“HA”) motion for summary judgment on all of her claims. On appeal, Roberts argues that the District Court erred in granting summary judgment for HA on her claims that HA, her former employer, (1) denied her substantive rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), 29 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq., (2) retaliated against her for asserting her FMLA rights, and (3) discriminated against her in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the facts of the case, its procedural history, and the scope of the issues on appeal.
We review the District Court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. See Howley v. Town of Stratford,
I. FMLA Entitlement Claim
The FMLA provides that an eligible employee suffering from a serious health condition is entitled to twelve workweeks of leave during any twelve-month period. 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1), (c). An employee who takes FMLA leave “shall be entitled, on return from such leave ... (A) to be restored by the employer to the position of employment held by the employee when the leave commenced; or (B) to be restored to an equivalent position....” Id. § 2614(a)(1). If, however, an employee after twelve weeks of leave is unable to return to work, the employee no longer has the protections of the FMLA and must look to other sources for any relief or protections. Sarno v. Douglas Elliman-Gibbons & Ives, Inc.,
When Roberts was terminated on June 8, 2004 (effective May 25, 2004), she had been out of work for only approximately ten weeks. HA, therefore, likely violated the FMLA. At the time Roberts was discharged, however, her doctor had concluded that she was medically unable to
II. FMLA Retaliation Claim
We analyze retaliation claims brought pursuant to the FMLA under the burden-shifting test set forth in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
III. ADA Claim
Lastly, Roberts contends that HA discriminated against her in violation of the ADA because HA “regarded” her as being disabled. The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against employees “because of the disability of such individual.” 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a). A disability, under the statute, includes a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities” of an individual. Id. § 12102(2)(A). The statute defines a qualified individual with a disability as including a person who, as Roberts alleges, is “regarded as having such an impairment.” Id. § 12102(2)(C). Our Court has explained “whether an individual is ‘regarded as’ having a disability turns on the employer’s perception of the employee and is therefore a question of intent, not whether the employee has a disability.” Colwell v. Suffolk County Police Dep’t,
To meet this standard, however, it is not enough “that the employer regarded that individual as somehow disabled; rather, the plaintiff must show that the employer regarded the individual as disabled within the meaning of the ADA.” Id. (emphasis omitted). Consequently, in order to prevail, Roberts must adduce evidence that HA regarded her as having an impairment that “substantially limited” a major life activity. See id. Where, as here, the major life activity under consideration is
We have considered all of Roberts’s arguments and find to be them without merit. Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is AFFIRMED.
