Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_15-cv-00570/USCOURTS-ared-4_15-cv-00570-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 751
Nature of Suit: Labor - Family and Medical Leave Act
Cause of Action: 29:825 The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

WESTERN DIVISION 

WILLIAM R. DOWNING, JR. 

v. No. 4:15-cv-570-DPM 

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND 

ADMINISTRATION, an Agency of the 

PLAINTIFF 

State of Arkansas; BOB HAUGEN, Individual 

and Official Capacity; and DAVID JUSTICE, 

Individual and Official Capacity DEFENDANTS 

ORDER 

1. William Downing worked for the Arkansas Department of Finance 

and Administration as a surplus agent. His job involved storing, moving, 

lifting, and selling heavy items. Downing had hip problems. For a while the 

Department accommodated them. It eventually gave Downing FMLA leave 

for a hip replacement. But Downing says two supervisors, Bob Haugen and 

David Justice, wouldn't let him return to his old job unless he was 100% 

better-meaning no accommodations. Downing says he couldn't do it. The 

Department fired him. He claims all this violated several federal statutes and 

the Arkansas Civil Rights Act. Has Downing pleaded plausible claims? 

Case 4:15-cv-00570-DPM Document 24 Filed 04/27/16 Page 1 of 4
2. Claims. Downing helpfully outlined his claims in response to 

defendants' motion to dismiss. NQ 21 at 7-8. Here they are, by statute: 

Statute Defendant Capacity Relief 

Rehab Act Department Official Lost Wages; Compensatory 

Relief; Injunctive Relief; Fees and 

Costs 

ADA Haugen; Official Injunctive Relief; Fees and Costs 

Justice 

FMLA Haugen; Official & Back Pay; Benefits; Liquidated 

Justice Individual Damages; Injunctive Relief; Fees 

and Costs (relief tailored to 

capacities) 

ACRA Haugen; Individual Lost Wages; Compensatory 

Justice Damages; Punitive Damages; 

Fees and Costs 

3. Immunities. Downing' s clarification tracks the law on sovereign 

immunity. He seeks only prospective injunctive relief on his official capacity 

claims under the ADA and FMLA. And Downing alleges enough about 

Haugen's and Justice's leave-related actions and FMLA training to forestall 

qualified immunity on the pleadings. NQ 12 at iii! 10-11, 14, 31; Darby v. Bratch, 

287 F.3d 673, 681 (8th Cir. 2002). Haugen and Justice are statutorily immune, 

though, from Downing' s ACRA claim. There's no allegation of malice or 

liability insurance -just a bare allegation of willfulness. Langford v. Norris, 614 

-2-

Case 4:15-cv-00570-DPM Document 24 Filed 04/27/16 Page 2 of 4
F.3d 445, 465 (8th Cir. 2010); compare Barton v. Taber, No. 14-3280, slip op. at 11 

(8th Cir. 27 April 2016) (complaint sufficient against qualified immunity and 

statutory immunity defenses). Downing's ACRA claim therefore fails. The 

related request for punitive damages drops out too. 

4. Adequacy of Pleadings. Downing pleaded enough facts to make his 

other claims plausible: He had hip problems but could work with a 

reasonable accommodation; he took leave to get treatment; he wasn't allowed 

to return to his former job. Ng 12 at 2-4; Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 

(2009). He explained how various parts of this story violated the law. Ng 12 at 

4-8. Downing didn't have to plead how he may navigate through McDonnell 

Douglas down the road. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 511 (2002). 

He just had to show, in short and plain terms, entitlement to relief. FED. R. 

Crv. P. 8(a). He's done that. 

5. Amendment. Downing seeks leave to amend as a hedge against 

dismissal. NQ 20 at 2. But amending to allege malice would be futile. Downing 

has already amended once. And the facts in his fuller amended complaint 

don't indicate maliciousness. So a new allegation of malice would be 

conclusory, like the existing allegation of willfulness. His request to amend 

-3-

Case 4:15-cv-00570-DPM Document 24 Filed 04/27/16 Page 3 of 4
is therefore denied. Wisdom v. First Midwest Bank, 167 F.3d 402, 409 (8th 

Cir. 1999). 

* * * 

Motion, NQ 18, granted in part and denied in part. Downing's ACRA 

claim is dismissed without prejudice. The case goes forward on the other 

claims listed in the chart on page two. 

So Ordered. 

D.P. Marshall Jr.'/ 

United States District Judge 

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