FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEV EN T HC IRC U IT May 29, 2008 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 14188 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D. C . Do c k e tNo . 0 6 - 2 0 7 6 6 - C V- P AS L I S A B U R K E T H O M P S O N , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s B A P T I S T H O S P I T A L O F M I A M I , I N C ., B A P T I S T H E A L T H S O U T H F L O R I D A , I N C ., D e f e n d a n ts - A p p e lle e s .

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe S outhe rn D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( M ay 29, 2008) B efo re C A RN E S , B A R K E T T an d H U L L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

P l ai nt i ff L i saB urke T ho m pson appeal s the di stri ctcourt ’ s gra ntof sum m ary j u d g m en ti n fav o r o f h er fo rm er em p l o yer B ap t i stH o sp i t al o f M i am i an d B ap t i st H e a l th S outh F l or i da ( he r e i na f t e rB apt i s tH os pi t a l ) i n he re m pl oy m e nt di sc ri m i nat i on sui tbrou gh tpu rs uantt o 4 2 U . S . C . § 2 00 0e-( 2)(a )( 1) (“ T i t l e V II ”) and the F l ori da C i vi l R i gh t s A ct , F l ori da S t atut e § 76 0. 10 (“ F C R A ”) . A ft er r e v i e w , w e a f

f i r m. I . B AC KG RO UN D T h o m p s o n , w h o is A f

r ic a n A m e r ic a n , w a s e m p lo y e d b y B ap tis t H o s p ita l in th e Ch i l d r e n ’ s Ce n t e r , w h i c h p r o v i d e s c h i l d c a r e f o rh o s p i t a l e mp l o y e e s . By J a n u a ry 2 6 , 2 0 0 5 , T h o m p s o n h a d e x h a u s te d th e tw e lv e w e e k s o f le a v e a v a ilab le to he runde rthe F a m i l y a nd M e di c a l L e a ve A c t( “ F M L A ” ) . O n tha tda t e , T hom ps on be ga n a m e di c a l l e a ve of abs e nc e unde rB apt i s tH os pi t a l ’ s non- F M L A l e a ve p o l i cy. A . N on -F M L A L eave P ol i cy B ap tis t H o s p ita l p r o v id e d c o p ie s o f th e n o n - F M L A le a v e p o lic y to its em pl oyee s, i ncl ud i ng T ho m pson . In addi t i on , j usta w ee k b ef ore s he began h er n o n -F M L A l eav e o f ab sen ce, T h o m p so n att en d ed a trai n i n g sessi o n o n B ap t i st H o s p ita l’s F M L A a n d n o n - F M L A le a v e p o lic ie s . B apt i stH ospi t al ’ s non -F M L A l ea ve po l i cyprov i ded as f ol l ow s: (1) a n3

e m pl oy e e on l e a ve s e e ki ng t o r e turn t o w ork ha d t o c om pl e t e a “ N ot i c e of I nt e nt i on t o R e turn f

r om L e a ve of

A bs e nc e ” be f

or e r e turni ng t o a c t i ve s t a tus ; ( 2) i f the e m pl oy e e w a s on l e a ve f orm or e tha n tw o w e e ks , not i f i c a t i on ha d t o be gi ve n f i ve da y s pr i ort o the e m pl oy e e ’ s pl a nne d r e turn; a nd ( 3) i f the e m pl oy e e w a s abs e nt due t o hi s orhe row n he a l th pr obl e m , the e m pl oy e e ne e de d t o br i ng a r e turn- t ow ork rel ea se st at em entfr om hi s or herheal th car e provi der t o o bt ai n a si gn ed r e l e a s e t o r e turn t o w or k f r om B apt i s tH os pi t a l ’ s E m pl oy e e H e a l th S e rvi c e . T he pol i c y a l s o pr ovi de d a s f ol l ow s : ( 1) i f

the l e a ve w a s f

orthi r ty da y s orl e s s , the e m pl oy e e w i l l be r e turne d t o the e m pl oy e e ’ s f orm e rpos i t i on; a nd ( 2) i f the l e a ve l a s t e d be tw e e n 31 a nd 90 da y s , the hos pi t a l w i l l m a ke a n e f f or tt o r e turn the e m p lo y e e to th e f

o r m e rp o s itio n o rin th e s a m e d e p a r tm e n t a n d c la s s if ic a tio n in w hi c h the e m pl oy e e ha d w or ke d pr i ort o the l e a ve of abs e nc e . I f

s uc h a pos i t i on w a s n o t a v a ilab le , th e e m p lo y e e c o u ld b e g r a n te d a th ir ty - d a y e x te n s io n o f le a v e in o r d e rto lo c a te a n o th e rp o s itio n in th e s y s te m , b u t if th e e m p lo y e e d id n o t o b ta in a nothe rpos i t i on, the e m pl oy e e w oul d be t e rm i na t e d. A ft erher non -F M L A l ea ve began, T ho m pson needed t o return t o w ork w i thi n thi rty day s ( i . e. , by F ebruary25 , 20 05 ) i n o rdert o g uara nt ee her f orm er p o s itio n a t th e C h ild r e n ’s C e n te r . I n s te a d , T h o m p s o n d id n o t r e p o r t to B ap tis ts H o sp i t al ’ s E m p l o yee H eal th S erv i ce w i th h er d o ct o r’ s retu rn -t o -w o rk rel easeThompson does not bringa hiringclaim base d on rac e, only that she wa s terminated 1 beca use of her race. 4 st at em entun t i l M ar ch 7, 20 05 . T ho m pson ’ s doct or cl ea re d h ert o return t o w ork on M ar ch 7, 20 05 , bu tre stri ct ed her t o l i gh tw ork w i th l i ft i ng of no m ore than tw enty pou nd s. T ho m pson ’ s f orm erchi l d car e posi t i on re qu i re d l i ft i ng betw ee n t e n a nd f i f ty pounds be c a us e e m pl oy e e s i n tha tpos i t i on m us tbe abl e t o l i f tthe chi l dren i n thei r c ar e. T ho m pson al so re qu es t ed a part -t i m e m orni ng sc hedu l e. W hen T ho m pson att em pt ed t o return t o h erchi l d car e posi t i on , her s u p e r v is o r , D a is y A c o s ta , in f o r m e d h e rth a t s h e c o u ld n o t b e a c c o m m o d a te d . F ur the r m or e , w he n T hom ps on di d notr e turn t o w or k w i thi n the thi r ty - da y pe r i od r e q u ir e d u n d e rth e n o n - F M L A le a v e p o lic y to g u a r a n te e r e in s ta te m e n t, A c o s ta p o s te d th e p o s itio n to b e f ille d . T h o m p s o n ap p lie d f o rth e p o s te d p o s itio n . H ow ever , L etty L ederm an, a tw o-ye arvo l un t ee r a tthe ho spi t al w ho i s w hi t e, w as hi r e d. B . D i s t r i c t C ou r t P r oc e e d i n gs T ho m pson fi l ed thi s a ct i on i n d i stri ctcourtal l egi ng thatshe w as t erm i nat ed base d o n h erra ce . F ol l ow i ng di sc ov ery, B apt i stH ospi t al m ov ed for s um m ary 1 j ud gm ent . T he di stri ctcourtgrant ed sum m ary j ud gm ent , concl ud i ng that T hom ps on ha d f

a i l e d t o pr e s e nte vi de nc e tha ta s i m i l a r l y s i tua t e d e m pl oy e e out s i deTh omp so n’ s ac tio n alsoinitially c laime d th at sh ewa s su

bje c te d toa

rac ially ho sti le 2 work environment and denied promotions based on her race. The district cour t granted summary judgment on these claims, concludingthat they were time bar

red be causeThompson had not tim e ly fi le d h er cha

rg ewith t heEq ual Empl oy

ment Opp or

tunity Commis sio n. On

a pp e al, Thompson does not contest the district cour t’s conclusion that her

other c laims weretime-barred and wedo not addre ss her time-ba rre d claims further. We reviewa grant of summar y judgment de novo, applying thesame leg al standards as 3 the district court a

nd viewingall evidenc e and drawingall rea sonable inferenc es in favor of the non-movingparty . Vessels v. Atlanta Indep. Sch. Sys., 408 F.3d 763, 767 (11th Cir. 2005). McDonne ll Dougla s Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S. C t. 1817 (1973). 4 5 her prot ec t ed cl as s w as tre at ed m ore f avorabl y, an el em entof her pri m a f ac i e c as e. 2 A l t e rna t i ve l y , the di s tr i c tc our tc onc l ude d tha tT hom ps on f a i l e d t o pr e s e nt e vi de nc e tha tB apt i s tH os pi t a l ’ s l e gi t i m a t e , nondi s c r i m i na t ory r e a s on f or t e r m i na t i ng he rw a s pr e t e xtf ordi s c r i m i na t i on. T h o m p s o n f

ile d th is ap p e a l. 3

I I . DI S CUS S I ON W he r e , a s he r e , a pl a i nt i f f r e l i e s on c i r c um s t a nt i a l e vi de nc e of di s c r i m i na t i on, w e e va l ua t e w he the rs um m a ry j udgm e nti s appr opr i a t e us i ng the now f a m i l i a rM c D onne l l D ougl a s f r a m e w or k. C om bs v. P l a nt a t i on P a tt e rns , 106

4 F . 3 d 1 5 1 9 , 1 5 2 7 (1 1 th C i r. 1 9 9 7 ). U n d er M cD o n n el l D o u g l as, th e p l ai n t i ff m u st f i r s te s t abl i s h a pr i m a f

a c i e c a s e . E . E . O . C . v. J oe ’ s S t one C r abs , 296 F . 3d 1265, 12 72 (11th C i r. 20 02 ). If the pl ai nt i ff

m akes ou ta pri m a f

ac i e c as e, the bu rden s h if ts to th e e m p lo y e rto a r tic u la te a le g itim a te , n o n d is c r im in a to ry r e a s o n f o rits a c tio n s a n d th e n to th e p la in tif f to p r e s e n t e v id e n c e th a t th e e m p lo y e r ’s r e a s o n is6

pr e t e xtf ordi s c r i m i na t i on. I d. a t1272- 73. A . P ri m a F a ci e C a se T o est abl i sh a pri m a f

ac i e c as e of di sc ri m i nat ory di sc harge, the pl ai nt i ff m us ts how tha t : ( 1) s he i s a m e m be rof a pr ot e c t e d c l a s s ; ( 2) s he w a s di s c ha r ge d; (3) s he w as qu al i fi ed for the po si t i on fr om w hi ch she w as di sc harged; and (4) her em pl oyertre at ed a s i m i l ar l y s i tuat ed em pl oyee ou t si de her prot ec t ed cl as s m ore f a v o r ab ly o rf

ille d h e rf

o r m e rp o s itio n w ith s o m e o n e o u ts id e h e rp r o te c te d c la s s . M a y n a r d v . B d . o f

R e g e n ts , 3 4 2 F .3 d 1 2 8 1 , 1 2 8 9 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 3 ) . H e r e , th e o n ly c o n te s te d e le m e n t o f

th e p r im a f

a c ie c a s e is th e f

o u r th e le m e n t. T h o m p so n p o in ts to C h ristin a N o b o a, an H isp an ic w o rk erin th e C h il d re n ’s C ent er , as a s i m i l ar l y s i tuat ed em pl oyee . N ob oa had i nj ured her footand w as i ns truc t e d by he rdoc t ort o s t a y of f of i t . N oboa s oughta n a c c om m oda t i on f r om B apt i s tH os pi t a l , w hi c h t e m por a r i l y a s s i gne d he rt o w ork a tthe f r ontde s k a s s i s t i ng th e m ai n secret ary i n h er d u t i es. W e a g r e e w ith th e d is tr ic t c o u r t th a t N o b o a is n o t “s im ila r ly s itu a te d ” to T hom ps on. T hom ps on w a s on F M L A l e a ve f ortw e l ve w e e ks a nd the n on nonF M L A l e a ve f

orove rthi r ty da y s . T hom ps on w a s t e rm i na t e d a f t e rs he di d not r e tu rn to w o r k w ith in th a t th ir ty d a y s . T h e n o n - F M L A le a v e p o lic y e x p r e s s ly pr ovi de s tha ta n e m pl oy e e i s notgua r a nt e e d a r e turn t o the i rf orm e rpos i t i on i f

the7

no n-F M L A l ea ve i s over thi rty day s. M ore i m po rt ant l y, there i s no evi dence that No b o a wa s p l a c e di n th e t e mp o r a ry s e c r e t a r i a l p o s i t i o n a f t e rb e i n g o n n o n - FM LA l ea ve for m ore than thi rty day s. Indeed, there i s no evi dence thatN ob oa w as even on non- F M L A l e a ve pr i ort o be i ng pl a c e d i n the s e c r e t a r i a l pos i t i on. U nde rthe c ir c u m s ta n c e s , N o b o a is n o t as im ila r ly s itu a te d e m p lo y e e . N on ethel es s, T ho m pson di d est abl i sh the fourth el em entby show i ng thather p o si t i o n w as u l t i m at el y fi l l ed b y an ap p l i can tw h o i s n o tA fri can A m eri can . T h u s, T h o m p s o n m e t h e rp r im a f a c ie c a s e . S e e M a y n a r d , 3 4 2 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 9 ( s ta tin g th a t a d is c r im in a to ry d is c h a r g e p la in tif f m a y s a tis f

y th e f o u r th p r o n g o f

th e p r im a f

a c ie ca se by show i ng ei ther thatshe w as tre at ed l es s f avorabl y than a si m i l ar l y s i tuat ed pe r s on out s i de he rpr ot e c t e d c l a s s ortha the rf or m e rpos i t i on w a s f

i l l e d by som eone ou t si de her prot ec t ed cl as s) . B . L e gi t i m at e N on - d i s c r i m i n at or y R e as on an d P r e t e xt I f th e p la in tif

f p r e s e n ts e v id e n c e o f

a p r im a f

a c ie c a s e , a r e b u ttab le pr e s um pt i on a r i s e s tha tthe e m pl oy e runl a w f ul l y di s c r i m i na t e d a ga i ns the ra nd the b u r d e n s h if

ts to th e e m p lo y e rto a r tic u la te a le g itim a te , n o n d is c r im in a to ry r e a s o n . J oe ’ s S t one C r abs , I nc . , 296 F . 3d a t1272. I f the e m pl oy e rm e e t s thi s bur de n of p ro d u ct i o n , th ereb y reb u tt i n g th e p resu m p t i o n o f d i scri m i n at i o n , th e p l ai n t i ff m u st s how tha tthe pr of

f e r e d r e a s on i s i n f

a c tpr e t e xtf

ordi s c r i m i na t i on. I d. a t1272- 73.8

T h o m p s o n d o e s n o t d is p u te th a t B ap tis t H o s p ita l a r tic u la te d le g itim a te no nd i sc ri m i nat ory r ea sons for di sc hargi ng her. S peci fi ca l l y, B apt i stH ospi t al pres ent ed evi dence thati tdi sc harged T ho m pson because T ho m pson di d n otre turn t o w ork w i thi n the thi rty day s r equi re d b y i t s non -F M L A l ea ve po l i cyt o g uara nt ee her f orm erj ob and that , w hen she di d return t o w ork, i tcoul d n otac com m od at e her w or k r e s tr i c t i ons of

l i ghtduty w or k w i th l i f t i ng of no m or e tha n tw e nty pounds or her r equestfor apart -t i m e m orni ng sc hedu l e. T o est abl i sh pret ext , the pl ai nt i ff m ustpres entevi dence that“ the proffer ed r e a s on w a s notthe true r e a s on f orthe e m pl oy m e ntde c i s i on . . . e i the r. . . by pe r s ua di ng the c our ttha ta di s c r i m i na t ory r e a s on m or e l i ke l y m ot i va t e d the em p l o yer o r i n d i rect l y b y sh o w i n g th atth e em p l o yer’ s p ro ffered ex p l an at i o n [w as] unw or thy of

c r e de nc e . ” J a c ks on v. A l a . S t a t e T e nur e C om m ’ n, 405 F . 3d 1276, 1 2 8 9 ( 1 1 th Ci r . 2 0 0 5 ) ( q u o t i n g Te x . D e p ’ to f Cmty . A f

f a i r s v . Bu r d i n e , 4 5 0 U . S. 2 4 8 , 2 5 6 , 1 0 1 S . C t . 1 0 8 9 , 1 0 9 5 (1 9 8 1 )). T h e p l ai n t i ff’ s p ret ex tev i d en ce “ m u st r e ve a l ‘ s uc h w e a kne s s e s , i m pl a us i bi l i t i e s , i nc ons i s t e nc i e s , i nc ohe r e nc i e s or c o n tr a d ic tio n s in th e e m p lo y e r ’s p r o f f e r e d le g itim a te r e a s o n s f o rits a c tio n s th a t a r e a s o n ab le f

a c tf in d e rc o u ld f

in d th e m u n w o r th y o f

c r e d e n c e .’” V e s s e ls v . A tla n ta Indep. S ch. S ys . , 40 8 F . 3d 76 3, 77 1 (11 th C i r. 20 05 ). H e r e , T hom ps on pr e s e nt e d no e vi de nc e tha ts he i n f a c tc om pl i e d w i th the9

n o n - F M L A le a v e p o lic y . A lth o u g h T h o m p s o n c la im s s h e w a s ab le a n d w illin g to r e turn t o w or k w i thi n the thi r ty - da y pe r i od, s he di d notbr i ng he rdoc t or ’ s r e turn- t ow o rk st at em en tt o E m p l o yee H eal th S erv i ces o r g i v e h er su p erv i so r fi v e-d ays n o ti ce o f a n in ten t t o re tu rn w ith in th e th irty-d ay p er io d . In fa ct, T h o m p so n ’s do ct or di d n otcl ea r hert o return t o w ork u nt i l M ar ch 7, 20 05 , af t erthe thi rty- day pe r i od ( a nd he rr i ghtt o gua r a nt e e d r e i ns t a t e m e nt ) ha d e xpi r e d. I n a d d itio n , T h o m p s o n p r e s e n te d n o e v id e n c e th a t B ap tis t H o s p ita l c o u ld h a v e r e in s ta te d h e rto h e rc h ild c a r e p o s itio n d e s p ite h e rlif tin g r e s tr ic tio n . I n f

a c t, T hom ps on doe s notdi s put e tha te m pl oy e e s a tthe C hi l dr e n’ s C e nt e rne e de d t o be abl e t o l i ftm ore than tw enty pou nd s i n o rdert o car e f or the chi l dren. F urtherm ore, B apt i stH ospi t al pres ent ed evi dence thati thad d i sc harged a non -A fr i ca n A m er i ca n em pl oyee atthe C hi l dren’ s C ent er , Ja netC re spo, w ho re m ai ned o n ext ended m e di c a l l e a ve a nd the n s oughtt o r e turn t o w or k w i th a l i f t i ng r e s tr i c t i on. L i ke T ho m pson , C re spo w as t ol d thatB apt i stH ospi t al coul d n otac com m od at e her l i ft i ng re stri ct i on and h erchi l d car e posi t i on w as po st ed. Iti s a l so un di sput ed that a p a r t- tim e m o rn in g p o s itio n w a s n o t a v a ilab le w h e n T h o m p s o n s o u g h t to r e tu rn to w or k. T hom ps on poi nt s t o the f a c ttha the rs upe rvi s or , A c os t a , i nqui r e d w i th the h u m an reso u rces d ep artm en tab o u tp o st i n g T h o m p so n ’ s p o si t i o n o n ce th e th i rty-10

d a y p e r io d h a d ru n . T h o m p s o n c o n te n d s th a t th is c o n d u c t w a s in c o n s is te n t w ith the no n-F M L A l ea ve po l i cy ’ s c om m i tm entt o m ake e ff ort s t o rei nst at e a n e m pl oy e e t o hi s orhe rpos i t i on i f he ors he r e turns t o w ork be tw e e n 31 a nd 90 days . H ow ever , A cost a e xp l ai ned thatshe m ade the i nq ui ryt o h um an re source s abou tpo st i ng the po si t i on af t erthe thi rty day s e xp i re d b ec ause she had been e xpe r i e nc i ng di f

f i c ul t i e s pul l i ng e m pl oy e e s f r om one c l a s s r oom t o a nothe ra nd n e e d e d to f

ill th e p o s itio n to m a in ta in th e C h ild r e n ’s C e n te rc h ild - to - s ta f f r a tio s . T h o m p s o n h a s p r e s e n te d n o e v id e n c e th a t th is e x p la n a tio n is f a ls e , a n d , in f

a c t, there i s a m pl e e vi dence thatem pl oyee s a tthe C hi l dren’ s C ent erw er e bei ng pu l l ed f r o m o n e c la s s r o o m to a n o th e rto m a in ta in c h ild - to - s ta f f r a tio s a n d th a t th is p ract i ce cau sed p ro b l em s. W e r ec og ni ze thatT ho m pson al so cl ai m s thather s up ervi sor, A cost a, s o m e tim e s s h o w e d f

a v o r itis m to e m p lo y e e s th a t w e r e in h e rc ir c le o f f r ie n d s . H ow e ve r , the r e w a s no e vi de nc e A c os t a s how e d f a vor i t i s m i n appl y i ng the nonF M L A le a v e p o lic y o rth a t A c o s ta ’s f a v o r itis m w o rk e d to th e d e tr im e n t o f o n ly T hom ps on’ s pr ot e c t e d c l a s s . S e e H ow a r d v. B P O i l C o. , I nc . , 32 F . 3d 520, 526- 27 (1 1 th C ir. 1 9 9 4 ) ( ex p lain in g th at n ep o ti sm th at is n o t l im it ed to th e p lain ti ff’s p r o te c te d c la s s is n o t a c tio n ab le a s d is p a r a te tr e a tm e n t d is c r im in a tio n u n d e rT itle V II ); P l atner v. C as h & T ho m as C on tra ct ors, Inc. , 90 8 F . 2d 90 2, 90 5 (11 th C i r.The F CRA, which is patterned after T itle VII , areanaly zed using the same fra

mework a s 5 Title VIIclaims and Title VIIprec edent. Ha rper v. Bloc kbuster Entm’t Corp., 139 F.3d 1385, 13 87 (1 1th

Cir . 1 99 8) . Thu s, Th omp so n’ s F CRAc laim f ailsfo r t hesamere a so ns a s h er T itl e VIIc laim. 11 19 90 ) ( sa m e) . T ho m pson al so re l i es on the evi dence thatC hri st i na N ob oa w as gi ven se cr et ar i al w ork aft ershe i nj ured her foot . F or the sa m e r ea sons thi s e vi dence does nots uppor tT hom ps on’ s pr i m a f a c i e c a s e , i ta l s o doe s nots uppor ta n i nf e r e nc e of pret ext . S ee S i l verav. O ra ng e C ou nty S ch. B d. , 24 4 F . 3d 12 53 , 12 59 (11th C i r. 2001) ( c onc l udi ng tha tpl a i nt i f f’ s c om pa r a t ore vi de nc e di d nots uppor ta s how i ng of pret extbecause the com para t or w as no t“ si m i l ar l y s i tuat ed”) . T hom ps on f

a i l e d t o pr e s e nte vi de nc e tha tB apt i s tH os pi t a l ’ s r e a s ons f or di s c ha r gi ng he rw e r e f

a l s e ortha tB apt i s tH os pi t a l ’ s a c t i ons w e r e m ot i va t e d by T ho m pson ’ s r ac e. A cc ordi ng l y, the di stri ctcourtprop er l y gra nt ed sum m ary j u d g m en tt o B ap t i stH o sp i t al o n T h o m p so n ’ s d i scri m i n at o ry t erm i n at i o n cl ai m s. 5 AF F I RME D.