*1 Monette, Roger and Doris MONETTE
Plaintiffs-Appellants, DATA SYSTEMS
ELECTRONIC
CORPORATION, Defendant-
Appellee.
No. 95-1114. Appeals,
United States Court of
Sixth Circuit.
Argued March 1996. July
Decided *3 briefed), (argued
Chаrles W. Palmer and MI, Robb, Palmer, Messing Taylor, & Plaintiffs-Appellants. Smith, Systems
Brian B. Electronic Data MI, Corp., Troy, Wymer (argued T. Martin Detroit, briefed), Duvin, Hutton, & and Cahn MI, Defendant-Appellee. LIVELY, MARTIN, and
Before: MOORE, Judges. Circuit MARTIN, J., opinion of the delivered the court, MOORE, J., joined. in which LIVELY, 1189), separate (p. delivered J. concurring opinion. Jr., MARTIN, Judge. F. Circuit
BOYCE appeals the district court’s Roger Monette summary judgment in favor of the award of Systems Data on his defendant Electronic defendant discriminated claim of his against him on the basis refusal to allow to file the court’s retaliatory alleging dis- complaint amended below, Unfortunately, charge. set forth the Detroit area. Monette For reasons part. did not receive an offer of after AFFIRM in and REVERSE in Each either of the interviews. interviewer Roger as a customer ser- Monette worked requisite stated that Monette lacked the representative for Electronic vice defendant computer technical skills and Monette duties, Systems. part of his Mon- Data As than enthusiastic at his interviews. was less equipment audio and visual ette delivered attempts Having failed its to relocate February of the offiee. On various areas position, to another Electronic Data Monette injured when a television Monette was Systems employ- permanently terminatеd his video cassette recorder fell off the cart 19,1993. ment November pushing, hitting him he was on the back and subsequently filed suit Monette requested shoulder. Monette indefinite *4 court, Systems in Electronic Data state al- leave, pay and received full and ben- medical leging that his former discrimi- Systems efits from Electronic Data for the against nated him violation of the Ameri- During that time Mon- next seven months. Act, 12101, § cans with Disabilities 42 U.S.C. reports ette submitted several medical Michigan Handicappers’ Rights and the Civil physicians detailing inability his various Act, Comp. Mich. Laws 37.1102.1The de- 1993, August return to work. In Monette subsequently fendant removed the case to benefits, long-term disability filed for claim- federal court in the Eastern District Mich- ing incapacitated completely that he was months, igan. Over the next several necessary unable to functions to parties engaged discovery pro- in extensive job. Sys- return to Data his old Electronic which, ceedings under the district court’s application long- tems denied Monette’s order, 11,1994. scheduling ceased on October term benefits and Monette’s full dispositive by All motions were to be filed pay September and benefits ceased on 15. Data October On October Electronic incapaci- Monette recоvered from his total motion, Systems summary judgment filed a thereafter, showing up tation soon to work responsive to which Monette filed a brief in unannounced and with a note from his doctor opposition. November On Monette filed Unfortunately, po- on October 11. Monette’s a motion for leave to file a second amended Systems sition at Electronic Data had been complaint, seeking to a claim assert for retal- during eight filled month absence. No iatory discharge, alleging that Electronic representative posi- other customer service Systems Data fired him in retaliation for his tions were available. application compensation for worker’s bene- thirty-seven days, during Over the next fits. placed unpaid which time on Monette was On December the district court award- leave, personal supervisor Monette’s Laura summary judgment ed in favor of Electronic attempt Frizzell in an conducted search Systems Data on Monette’s state and federal to find Monette another with the In discrimination claims. an ac- efforts, company. To her facilitate Frizzell order, companying the district court also de- provide claims that she asked Monette to her nied Monette’s motion to filе a second updated resume and that Monette complaint. timely appeal- amended Monette comply request. did not with this Monette ed to this Court. disputes During thirty-seven fact. this her search, day possible posi- appeal, Frizzell located a In this Monette takes issue Midland, However, Michigan. summary tion in Mon- with the district court’s award of judgment ette did not want to move out of the Detroit and the district court’s refusal to position. area and him did interview for allow to file second amended com arranged plaint. Frizzell for interviews for two com- review the award We district court’s puter operator summary Summary positions judgment that were available de novo. Monette, wife, Roger spouse Michigan Accordingly, 1. Doris Monette's also as- law. Systems serted a claim Electronic Data appeal gov- our resolution of the issues on also seeking damages for loss of consortium. Loss of erns Ms. Monette’s claim. contingent upon recovery claims are consortium Systems legitimate reason for .re- no offered “there is appropriate'where judgment is Monette, ... any material fact and fail placing as to and did not to make genuine issue judgment entitled to moving party is reasonable aсcommodation for Monette’s 56(c). law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. a matter of handicap, the district court awarded sum- summary judgment determining whether mary judgment in favor Electronic Data facts and reasonable we view the proper, Systems. light facts in a from those drawn inferences argues appeal, In this Monette that Elec- non-moving party. Ad favorable to the most reasonably Co., 144, 157, Systems Data failed to ac- tronic 398 U.S. v. Kress & ickes S.H. (1970). 1598, 1608, granting L.Ed.2d 142 commodate his 90 S.Ct. of a colorable the mere existence only thirty-seven days unpaid leave while properly not defeat dispute will factual position for him. they attempted to find a summary judgment. A supported motion Instead, only Monette claims that the ‘rea- parties dispute between genuine would have been to sonable’ accommodation fact must exist to render of material issue unpaid leave allow Monette remain judgment inappropriate. summary up indefinitely position opened until another Inc., Lobby, Liberty Anderson - lines, company. Along similar within the 2509-11, 242, 247-49, argues that the defendants should Monette *5 omitted). (1986) (citations After L.Ed.2d 202 jobs him than cus- considered other have record, we believe review of careful representative computer or tomer servicе summary awarded properly court district technician as a reasonable accommodation.2 Systems and Data to Electronic judgment tack, a somewhat different Monette On claims. Monette’s discrimination dismissed points to two situations which the defen- that it was concluded The district court position open employee’s an while dants held Monette unnecessary whether to determine they and claims that were on medical leave dis- case of had established genuine issue of mate- this evidence creates Act, holding that under crimination the defendants dis- rial fact as to whether Systems had established Data Electronic against him. criminated nondiseriminatory for ter- reason legitimate, that the The court noted minating Monette. argu- Systems two Electronic Data asserts position while Monette’s filled defendant First, the defendants ments in rebuttal. was in- on medical leave and Monette was jobs available point out that there were no was unable to forming that he the defendant Second, to work. when Monette returned job any circumstances. perform his that, they if had a argue even the defendants returned to Accordingly, when Monette (under they must duty requirement unannounced, rep- no customer serviсe work Mon- accommodation to make a reasonable The court slot was available. resentative disability) attempt find work for to ette’s Sys- Electronic Data requiring found Monette, they reasonably accommodated his open indefi- to hold Monette’s tems unpaid medical disability by placing knowing way of nitely, when it had no days they at- thirty-seven while leave for Monette would return or when whether position. tempted place him in a new hardship on work, work undue would Further, Systems. Data Electronic analysis claims under the of the Americans with recognized court roughly par Act with Disabilities Americans defen- require Act Disabilities did brought under the Rehabilitation allels those position for Mon- to ‘create’ another dants (1995). 1973, § Maddox Act of 29 U.S.C. 794 vacancy. of an available in the ette absence 843, Tennessee, F.3d 846 University 62 Data v. that Electronic light of its belief disputing that are not pages vant. The defendants spends of his brief estab- 2. several Monette performed of his the duties performed Monette could have lishing physically have he could available, and job position had been if a accommoda- former duties with reasonable his former purposes of true for the this fact to be Systems. it assume Datа tion Electronic appeal. argument this appears is irrele- to this Court that 1178 Cir.1995).3 (6th prohibits introducing 2 The Act em unlawful discrimination direct
n.
discrimination,
discriminating “against
quali
including
evidence of
evidence
ployers from
disability
upon
relied
with a
because of the
fied individual
disability
decision,
making
employment
regard
ap
its
of such individual
White,
Rizzo,
761;
6,
at
White v. York Int’l
360-
disparate
L.Ed.2d 207
for claims of
*6
(10th Cir.1995);
Frank,
61
Taub v.
957 F.2d
VII,
treatment discrimination under Title
(1st Cir.1992) (Rehabilitation
claim).
8, 10
Act
even where direct evidence of discrimination
plaintiff alleges
In cases which the
that he
Jasany
exists. See
v. United States Postal
Serv.,
(6th
discriminatory
Cir.1985);
victim of
or she is the
treat
using qualification standards,
undue
Nonetheless,
hardship.
tests or other selection criteria that
disabled individ
screen
always
out
ual
bears
proving
or tend to screen out an
the burden of
individual with
or a
he or
qualified”
class of individuals with
she is “otherwise
for the
standard,
disabilities
position
unless the
test or
in question,
oth-
challenged
absent
criteria,
er
selection
as used
the cov-
proposed
function or with the
accommo
entity,
job-related
ered
is shown to be
dation. A
burden-shift
question
and is consistent
will,
ing type analysis
however,
appropri
be
necessity.
with business
ate
some
discrimination cases.
cases in which the
no
has
direct
language
This
employer
indicates that an
employer
evidence of discrimination and the
proving
particular
bears the burden of
that a
disclaims
hiring policy
“job-related”
reliance on the
and “consistent
plaintiff may attempt
necessity.” Although
business
to establish
this sec-
his or
tion of
expressly
only
indirectly through
the statute
her claim
concerns
the burden shift
standards,
qualification
testing procedures,
ing method
Doug
borrowed from McDonnell
and selection criteria that
tend to screen out
establishing
las
case of
reasonable,
employer
Hall,
hardship.
defendant
then bears
undue
bears the burden of evidence that his claim also fails under the state stat- proposed impose accommodation would ute. *12 case, shifting the burden to the cie the burden shifts to the defendant discrimination legitimate, employer legitimate, to offer a nondiscrimi- to articulate some nondiscrimi- natory natory action. employee’s rejec- reason for its reason for the matter, however, practical tion.” .... As a say must a word about what We trial, sequence and in the real-life aof the ” by “prima normally phrase the meant facie defendant feels the “burden” not when the case, at least as it is used the context of plaintiffs prima proved, facie case is but as Douglas burden-shifting for the McDonnell it soon as evidence of is introduced. The context, facie," mula. “Prima as used in this defendant then knows its failure to facts, represents each of a certain set of nondiscriminatory introduce of a evidence objective by evidence which are established judgment go against reason will cause it proof, traditional burdens of plaintiffs prima unless the facie ease is presume will the exis which the fact finder inadequate held to be as a matter of law or fact, proof of another absent to the tence fails to convince the fact finder. It is this cases, contrary. presumed Title VII practical coercion which causes the course, fact the defendant’s “intent” to is of Douglas presumption McDonnell to func- “Thus, against plaintiff. discriminate the “arranging presen- tion as a means of Douglas presumption places McDonnell tation of evidence.” producing upon the defendant the burden of explanation prima to rebut facie Id. at 510 n. 113 at n. S.Ct. 2748 3. As this i.e., ‘producing the burden of evidence’ quotation explains, analytically the “burden- case — employment the adverse actions were by prima shift” created case does facie legitimate, nondiscriminatory taken ‘for a plaintiff not occur unless the establishes the Hicks, 506-07, 509 at 113 reason’.” prima by pre- elements case a facie Burdine, (quoting at 2747 450 U.S. at S.Ct. ponderance plaintiff If the evidence. 1094). 254, 101 at S.Ct. predicate necessary fails to establish a fact intent, presumption create the of unlawful Supreme recently Court ex technically the “burden” never shifts to the plained prima of a facie case—and the effeсt defendant. employer’s production burden of in re buttal —in Hicks: mind, With these comments in prima
If
of fact
...
finds that
the we believe a
establish a
the finder
supported by prepon-
by
prima facie case is
case of
discrimination
facie
1)
disabled,
showing
derance of the
it must find the
that:
he or she
see
evidence^]
2)
1249-50,
Jasany,
presumed
existence of the
fact of unlawful
755 F.2d at
is otherwise
must, therefore,
job,
qualified for the
with or without “reason
discrimination and
render
White,
accommodation,
a verdict for the
the defendant
able”
see
[if
3)
Thus,
production]....
employment
n.
an adverse
fails its burden of
suffered
decision,
Hicks,
506-08,
failing
produce
the effect of
evidence to
see
lishing
quali-
5)
that he or she is “otherwise
disability;
position
tiffs
remained
position despite
fied”
for
his or her
open
employer
while
sought
appli-
other
a)
disability:
from
without accommodation
cants or the disabled individual was re-
b)
employer;
alleged
with an
“essen-
placed.13 The defendant must then offer a
c)
job
eliminated;
requirement
tial”
legitimate explanation for its action.
If the
proposed
with a
reasonable accommoda-
production,
defendant satisfies this burden of
tion.
showing
must introduce evidence
employer
proffered
The
explanation
pretextual.
'will bear the burden of
that the
proving
challenged job
scheme,
criterion is
Under
retains the
person
protected
outside the
class as an ele
dation.
If the
establishes that a reason-
prima
possible,
ment of his or her
employer
case. The Ameri
able accommodation is
facie
prohibits
proving
cans with Disabilities Act
discrimina
bears the burden of
that such reasonable
against
tion
impose
disabled individuals "because of the
accommodation would
an undue hard-
Airlines,
disability
Inc.,
ship.
of such individual.”
42 U.S.C.
See Benson v. Northwest
62
12112(a).
race,
Cir.1995).
§
gender
Eighth
Unlike traits such as
F.3d
1112
Cir-
among
pro
approach
which are
slightly
uniform
members of the
cuit’s
in Benson differs
from
class,
Benson,
tected
disabilities are diverse. Given the
the test set forth here. In
the court held
that,
unique
employee
somewhat
abilities,
showing
characteristics of various dis
if an
makes a facial
possible,
and the differences between individuals
a reasonable accommodation is
the em-
particular disability, replacement
ployer
afflicted
showing
bears the burden of
employee
perform
of one disabled individual with another disabled
cannot
the essential functions
necessarily
proposed
individual does not
weaken the infer
of the
even with the
reasonable
against
ence of discrimination
agree
the former indi
We
accommodation.
Id.
do not
through
employer
vidual that arises
employer
establishment of the
bears this burden. The
will
O'Connor,
predicate
five
establishing
proposed
facts set forth above.
bear
burden of
that a
Cf.
at -,
1310;
imposes
116 S.Ct. at
see also
reasonable accommodation
an undue
-
Prewitt,
(noting
hardship,
In the absence faith, delay, bad
reason —such undue movant,
dilatory motive on of the
repeated failure to cure deficiencies allowed, undue previously
amendments by virtue opposing party to the
prejudice amendment, futility of allowance
amendment, should, as the etc.—the leave require, “freely given.” be
rules
