FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P E A LS E LE V EN T HC IRC U IT OCTOB ER 31 , 2005 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ 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. 05- 10245

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 4 - 0 0 0 7 3 - CV - O C- 1 0 - G RJ J U N E C R U Z , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s P U B L I X S U P E R M A R K E T S , I N C ., D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lle e .

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

_________________________ ( O c t ob e r 31, 2005) B efo re B L A C K , W IL S O N an d C O X , C i rcu i tJu d g es. W IL S O N , C i rc ui tJudg e: T hi s app ea l concerns the no t i ce re qu i re m entun der the F am i l y a nd M edi ca l L e a ve A c t( “ F M L A ” ) . J une C ruz appe a l s f r om the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s or de rgr a nt i ng2

Pu b l i x Su p e rM a r k e t s , I n c . ( “ Pu b l i x ” ) s u mm a ry j u d g me n to n Cru z ’ s FM LA i nt e r f e r e nc e a nd r e t a l i a t i on c l a i m s . T he di s tr i c tc our tgr a nt e d s um m a ry j udgm e nt be c a us e C ruz f

a i l e d t o pr ovi de s uf

f i c i e ntnot i c e t o P ubl i x tha ts he w a s r e que s t i ng l e a v e f o ra p o t e n t i a l l y FM LA - q u a l i f y i n g r e a s o n . W e a f

f i r m. I . B AC KG RO UN D C ruz w a s a l ong- t e r m e m pl oy e e w ho w or ke d i n P ubl i x’ s ba ke ry de pa r tm e nt as a c ake decora t or. S he w orked for P ub l i x from O ct ob erof 19 92 un t i l her te r m in a tio n in N o v e m b e ro f 2 0 0 3 . I n M a y o f

2 0 0 3 , C ru z le a rn e d th a t h e ra d u lt da ught e rw a s pr e gna nta nd w a s due t o gi ve bi r th t o C ruz ’ s s e c ond gr a ndc hi l d on N ov em ber 1, 20 03 . A ft erl ea rni ng of her daugh t er ’ s pre gn ancy , C ruz r equest ed tw o w ee ks of un pai d l ea ve fr om O ct ob er31 , 20 03 , t o N ov em ber 16, 20 03 , t o tra vel t o Co l o r a d o f

o rth e b i r th o f

h e rg r a n d c h i l d , b y f

i l l i n g o u tth e ap p r o p r i a t e “ Ti me A w ay fr om W ork” form . D es pi t e the fa ctthatC ruz had al re ady use d al l of her v ac atio n ti m e f

o r th e y ea r, P u b li x S to re M an ag erG ar y S o u th all ap p ro v ed C ru z’s r e que s tf ortw o w e e ks unpa i d l e a ve . S i gni f i c a nt l y , the l e a ve w a s pr e di c a t e d on P u b lix ’s p o lic y r e g a r d in g u n p a id le a v e , n o t th e F M L A . A ft erP ub l i x app roved h erl ea ve, C ruz r em i nd ed A ss i st antB akery M anager L an ce D av i s th atb ecau se sh e w as t ak i n g l eav e d u e t o h er d au g h t er’ s p reg n an cy, s h e m ig h t h a v e to le a v e f o rC o lo r a d o e a r lie rth a n p la n n e d , if h e rd a u g h te rw e n t in to3

l abor ear l i erthan exp ec t ed. D avi s r es po nd ed, “ O kay. ” A tthi s t i m e, C ruz, ho w ever , di d n ott el l D avi s thatshe m i gh thave t o st ay i n C ol orado l on ger than expect ed, no r di d she re qu es taddi t i on al t i m e off . O n o r abo utO ct ob er15 , 20 03 , C ruz l ea rned thather daugh t erbel i eved that s h e m ig h t d e liv e rth e b a b y e a r ly . T h a t d a y , C ru z c h a n g e d h e rf lig h t to C o lo r a d o to l ea ve tw o d ay s l at er , on O ct ob er17 th, w hi ch w as tw o w ee ks before her l ea ve w as s c he dul e d t o be gi n. T he ne xtda y , on O c t obe r16, 2003, C ruz i nf or m e d D a vi s tha ts he thought he rda ught e rw a s i n l a bora nd the r e f or e s he pl a nne d t o l e a ve the f ol l ow i ng da y f

or C ol or a do. C ruz t ol d D a vi s tha ts he pl a nne d t o r e turn t o w or k on N ove m be r17th, a s p r e v io u s ly s c h e d u le d , a n d D a v is r e s p o n d e d , “O k a y .” D a v is im m e d ia te ly r e l a y e d the ne w s of

C ruz ’ s c ha nge of

pl a ns t o S outha l l a nd t o B a ke ry D e pa r tm e nt M a n a g e rJ u s tin P ie rr o , w h o c a lle d C ru z in to th e f r o n t o f f ic e f o ra m e e tin g . S outha l l a s ke d C ruz t o e xpl a i n he rs i tua t i on, a nd C ruz t ol d the m tha ts he b e lie v e d h e rd a u g h te rw a s in lab o r , th a t h e rd a u g h te r ’s h u s b a n d b r o k e h is col l arbo ne, and t hather daugh t erneeded her hel p. A tno t i m e di d C ruz t el l them th a t h e rd a u g h te rw a s h a v in g c o m p lic a tio n s d u e to h e rp r e g n a n c y . C ru z a ls o to ld S outha l l a nd P i e rr o tha ts he ha d a l r e a dy c ha nge d he rpl a ne t i c ke tt o l e a ve f or C o lo ra d o th e f

o ll o w in g d ay . S o u th all an d P ierr o ag re ed to allo w C ru z’s4

previ ou sl y- approv ed tw o w ee ks of un pai d l ea ve t o b egi n i m m edi at el y, bu tre fuse d t o gr a nthe rm or e tha n tw o w e e ks of l e a ve . I tw a s a tthi s poi nttha tC ruz a s ke d, f or th e f ir s t tim e , w h e th e rs h e w a s e lig ib le f o r“f a m ily le a v e .” B e lie v in g th a t C ru z d id no tqu al i fy for F M L A l ea ve un der the ci rc um st ance s, S ou thal l t ol d h er“ no . ” A tthe com pl et i on of the m ee t i ng , C ruz und er st oo d thatshe w as approv ed f ortw o – notf

our– w e e ks of

unpa i d l e a ve . S he a dm i tt e d tha ts he ha d a good s us pi c i on tha ti f

s he t ook f

ourw e e ks of

l e a ve , s he m i ghtbe f

i r e d. D ur i ng the m ee t i ng , C ruz e ven i nq ui re d as t o h ow t o reapp l y f or a posi t i on w i th P ub l i x w hen s h e r e tu rn e d . L a te rth a t d a y , a f

te rm e e tin g w ith th e m a n a g e r s , C ru z in q u ir e d a t th e P u b lix p e r s o n n e l o f

f ic e to d e te r m in e h o w a n e m p lo y e e ap p lie s f o rle a v e u n d e rth e F M L A . C ru z w a s to ld th a t s h e n e e d e d to p r o v id e a le tte rf r o m h e rd a u g h te r ’s p h y s ic ia n to th e s t o r e c o o r d i n a t o r , wh o wo u l d f i l l o u tth e ap p r o p r i a t e f

o r ms s o th a tth e FM LA l ea ve coul d b e app roved. C ruz a rr anged for her daugh t er ’ s physi ci an t o fax a l ett er t o the s t or e c oor di na t or , w hi c h s t a t e d tha the rs on- i n- l a w ha d a br oke n c ol l a rbone and “ i s now un abl e t o h el p w i th l abor coachi ng . ” I n add i t i on , the l ett erst at ed that C ruz’ s daugh t er“ fe el s s he needs her mo ther t o com e hel p w i th l abor et c, as she has n o o n e e ls e to h e lp . W e h o p e y o u a g r e e w ith u s th a t h e rM o th e r ’s p r e s e n c e w o u ld he l p the i rdi f

f i c ul ts i tua t i on a tthi s t i m e . ” A bs e ntf r om the not e w a s a ny i ndi c a t i onTh ee ntirete xt of thele tter re a ds a s f

oll ow s: 1 October 16, 2003 To Who m It Ma

y Con c e rn : June Cruz, your employee is the mother of our patient June Santiag o. June (the daughter) husba

nd has a broken collar

bone. Hewas to be her labor c oach during labor. Heis now unable to help with the labor coaching. June is due November 3, 2003. She could deliver any time between now and then. She f eels she ne eds h e r mo th e r toc o metoh e lpw it

hla b o r e tc , a s s h eh a s n o o n ee ls etoh e lp . We hopethat you

agre ewi th u s th at her M oth e r’ s p re senc ewo uld he lp t he ir dif fi c ult situation at this t ime. Thank you, Carol Heller , M. D. 5 tha tC ruz ’ s da ught e rw a s ha vi ng c om pl i c a t i ons due t o he rpr e gna nc y . C ruz 1 p ro v i d ed th e l ett er t o th e st o re co o rd i n at o r an d l eftfo r C o l o rad o th e n ex td ay. W hen S ou thal l re ce i ved C ruz’ s F M L A l ea ve appl i ca t i on , i ncl ud i ng the l ett er f r om C ruz ’ s da ught e r ’ s phy s i c i a n, he a ga i n de ni e d he rr e que s tus i ng the ap p r o p r ia te f

o r m b e c a u s e h e d id n o t b e lie v e s h e q u a lif ie d f o rF M L A le a v e . P u b lix the n s c he dul e d C ruz t o w or k he rr e gul a rs c he dul e dur i ng the w or k w e e k be gi nni ng N ov em ber 1st , w hi ch w as the w ee k fol l ow i ng her tw o w ee ks of approv ed l ea ve. H ow ever , C ruz di d n otre turn t o w ork aft erher tw o w ee ks of l ea ve w er e ov er . In fa ct , P ub l i x d i d n othearfr om C ruz unt i l four w ee ks l at er , on N ov em ber 13 th, w hen she cal l ed fr om C ol orado t o ask abou ther s chedul e. A tthi s t i m e, P ubl i x i nf

or m e d C ruz tha ts he ha d be e n t e r m i na t e d f orj ob a ba ndonm e ntw he n s he6

fa il ed to re tu rn to w o rk af ter h ertw o w ee k s o f a p p ro v ed leav e w as o v er . C ru z’s t e r m i na t i on w a s e f

f e c t i ve on N ove m be r7, 2003, a f t e rC ruz f

a i l e d t o w or k the e nt i r e w or k w e e k of

N ove m be r1, 2003. C ru z s u b s e q u e n tly f

ile d h e rc o m p la in t, a lle g in g th a t P u b lix im p r o p e r ly de ni e d he rF M L A l e a ve t o c a r e f orhe rpr e gna ntda ught e rw ho ha d a s e r i ous m edi ca l cond i t i on and w as t erm i nat ed i n ret al i at i on for e xerc i si ng her r i gh t s und er the F M L A . T he di stri ctcourtdet erm i ned t hata genui ne i ss ue of m at er i al fa ct re m ai ned as t o w hether C ruz’ s daugh t erw as “ i ncapabl e of s el f- ca re because of a m e nt a l orphy s i c a l di s a bi l i ty , ” w hi c h w oul d qua l i f y C ruz f orl e a ve unde rthe F M L A . See 29 U . S . C . § 2 61 1(12 )( B ). N ever thel es s, the di stri ctcourtgrant ed sum m ary j ud gm enti n favor of P ub l i x o n C ruz’ s F M L A cl ai m s bec ause C ruz f ai l ed t o g i v e P u b l i x s u f

f i c i e n tn o t i c e th a th e rl e a v e wa s d u e t o a p o t e n t i a l l y F ML Aqua l i f y i ng r e a s on. I I . STA N D A R D O F R EVI EW W e r e v ie w th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s g r a n t o f s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t de no vo , appl y i ng the s a m e l e ga l s t a nda r ds tha tbound the di s tr i c tc our t , a nd “ vi e w i ng a l l f a c t s a nd re as on abl e i nfer ence s i n the l i gh tm ostfa vo rabl e t o the no nm ov i ng party. ” Str i c kland v . W

at e rW ork s and Se w e rB d. of

the C i t y of B i r m i ngham , 239 F . 3d 1199, 1203 ( 11th C i r . 2001) . S um m a ry j udgm e nti s appr opr i a t e w he n “ the r e i s no7

ge nui ne i s s ue a s t o a ny m a t e r i a l f a c ta nd . . . the m ovi ng pa r ty i s e nt i t l e d t o a j ud gm entas a m att erof l aw . ” F ed. R . C i v. P . 56 (c ). I I I . DI S CUS S I ON T h e F M L A e n title s a n e lig ib le e m p lo y e e to tw e lv e w o r k w e e k s o f u n p a id l e a ve dur i ng a ny tw e l ve - m onth pe r i od i f s he ne e ds the l e a ve i n or de r“ t o c a r e f or the s pous e , oras on, da ught e r , orpa r e nt , of the e m pl oy e e , i f

s uc h s pous e , s on, d a u g h te r , o rp a r e n t h a s a s e r io u s h e a lth c o n d itio n .” 2 9 U .S .C . § 2 6 1 2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( C ) .

“ T he t erm ‘ son o r daugh t er ’ m ea ns a bi ol og i ca l , adop t ed, or fost erchi l d, a s t ep chi l d, l egal w ar d, or a c hi l d o f apers on st andi ng i n l oco p ar ent i s, w ho i s . . . un der 1 8 years o f ag e; o r . . . 1 8 years o f ag e o r o l d er an d i n cap ab l e o f sel f-care b ecau se o f a m e n ta l o rp h y s ic a l d is a b ility .” 2 9 U .S .C . § 2 6 1 1 ( 1 2 ) . T he F M L A r e qui r e s e m pl oy e e s t o pr ovi de 30 da y s a dva nc e not i c e of the l e a ve , w he n the ne e d t o t a ke l e a ve i s f or e s e e a bl e . 29 U . S . C . § 2612( e ) ( 2) ( B ) ; 29 C . F . R . § 825. 302( a ) . I f , though the l e a ve i s f

or e s e e a bl e , “ 30 da y s not i c e i s not pr a c t i c a bl e , s uc h a s be c aus e of a l a c k of know l e dge of

appr oxi m a t e l y w he n the l ea ve w i l l be re qu i re d t o b egi n, a c hang e i n ci rc um st ance s, or a m edi ca l e m e r g e n c y , n o tic e m u s t b e g iv e n a s s o o n a s p r a c tic a b le .” 2 9 C .F .R . § 8 2 5 .3 0 2 ( a ) . S i m i l ar l y, i f the need for l ea ve i s notfore se eabl e, no t i ce m ustbe gi ven “ as soon as prac t i cabl e und erthe fa ct s a nd ci rc um st ance s of the part i cul arca se . ” I d. §8

82 5. 30 3(a) . In i nt erpret i ng the no t i ce re qu i re m ent s of the F M L A , w e hel d that

“ w here an em pl oyee ’ s nee d for F M L A l ea ve i s unfores ee abl e, the em pl oyee need on l y provi de her emp l oyerw i th n ot i ce suff i ci entt o m ake the em pl oyeraw ar e that her absence i s due t o a pot e nt i al l y F M L A - qual i f y i ng r e as on . ” G ay v . G i lm an P ape rC o. , 12 5 F . 3d 14 32 , 14 36 (11t h C i r. 19 97 ) ( em ph as i s a dd ed). A n em pl oyee i s notre qu i re d t o ass ertexpres sl y herri gh tt o t ake l ea ve un der the F M L A . 29 C . F . R . §§ 825. 302( c ) , 825. 303( b) . H ow e ve r , the not i c e m us tbe

“ s uf f i c i e ntt o m a ke the e m pl oy e ra w a r e tha tthe e m pl oy e e ne e ds F M L A - qua l i f y i ng l ea ve, and t he ant i ci pat ed t i m i ng and d urat i on of the l ea ve. ” I d. § 8 2 5 .3 0 2 ( c ) . On c e a n e m p l o y e e g i v e s s u f f i c i e n tn o t i c e t o h e re m p l o y e rth a tp o t e n t i a l l y F ML Aqua l i f y i ng l e a ve i s ne e de d, the e m pl oy e rm us tthe n a s c e r t a i n w he the rthe e m p lo y e e ’s a b s e n c e a c tu a lly q u a lif ie s f o rF M L A p r o te c tio n . Str i c kland , 239 F . 3d at12 09 (c i t i ng 29 C . F . R . § 8 25 . 30 3(b)). F urtherm ore, w e not e thatbei ng pregnant , as op po se d t o b ei ng i ncapaci t at ed be c a us e of

pr e gna nc y , i s nota “ s e r i ous he a l th c ondi t i on” w i thi n the m e a ni ng of the F M L A . See 29 C . F . R . § 8 25 . 11 4(a) (2)( i i ) ( defi ni ng “ se ri ou s hea l th con di t i on ” a s an i l l ness , i nj ury, i m pai rm ent , or ph ys i ca l or m ent al cond i t i on thati nv ol ves in c ap a c ity d u e to p r e g n a n c y ) ; Au b u c h o n v . Kn a u f Fi b e r g la s s , GM

BH, 359 F . 3d 95 0, 95 2 (7t h C i r. 20 04 ) ( di st i ng ui shi ng bei ng pregnantfr om bei ng i ncapaci t at ed9

be c a us e of

pr e gna nc y , the f

or m e rnotbe i ng a “ s e r i ous he a l th c ondi t i on” w i thi n the m ea ni ng of the F M L A ). T hu s, the prot ec t i on s of the F M L A do no text end t o an e m p lo y e e ta k in g le a v e to c a r e f o rh is o rh e ra d u lt c h ild s im p ly b e c a u s e th a t c h ild is pr e gna nt , unl e s s , f

ore xa m pl e , tha tc hi l d i s i nc apa c i t a t e d due t o the pr e gna nc y . T he pa r t i e s do notc ont e s tthi s f a c t . I ns t e a d, be c a us e C ruz ’ s da ught e rw a s ove rthe a ge of 18 , C ruz w as re qu i re d t o p rove thather daugh t erw as “ i ncapabl e of s el f- ca re b e c a u s e o f

a me n t a l o rp h y s i c a l d i s a b i l i ty , ” i n o r d e rt o p r e v a i l o n h e rFM LA c la im s . See 29 U . S . C . § 2 61 1(12 )( B ). In ot her w ords, C ruz m ustprov e thather daug ht erw as experi enci ng som ethi ng beyond a norm al pregnancy. T he di stri ct courtdet erm i ned t hata genui ne i ss ue of m at er i al fa ctre m ai ned as t o thi s i ss ue. C ruz a r gue s tha tP ubl i x ha d s uf f i c i e ntnot i c e tha the rl e a ve w a s due t o a pot e nt i a l l y F M L A - qua l i f y i ng r e a s on be c a us e s he t ol d m a na ge m e nttha ts he b e lie v e d h e rd a u g h te rw a s in lab o r , th a t h e rd a u g h te r ’s h u s b a n d b r o k e h is col l arbo ne, and t hather daugh t erneeded her hel p. S he prov i ded a l ett erfr om her d a u g h te r ’s p h y s ic ia n c o n f ir m in g th a t h e rd a u g h te rf e lt s h e n e e d e d h e rto h e lp w ith lab o r . C ru z a r g u e s th a t th is in f o r m a tio n w a s s u f

f ic ie n t to s h if

t th e b u r d e n to P u b lix t o de t e r m i ne w he the rs he qua l i f i e d f orF M L A l e a ve . S he f

ur the ra r gue s tha tthe bu rden w as on P ub l i x t o requestany a dd i t i on al i nform at i on i tneeded t o con si der her r equest . S he as se rt s thatP ub l i x d i d n otful fi l l i t s burden, bu ti nst ea d, m ade a n10

i m pul s i ve de c i s i on t o de ny he rr e que s tf orF M L A l e a ve be f

or e r e que s t i ng the addi t i on al i nform at i on fr om her a nd her daugh t er ’ s physi ci an thatw ou l d h ave been s u f f ic ie n t to s u b s ta n tia te h e rq u a lif ic a tio n f o rF M L A le a v e . In supp ortof thi s posi t i on , C ruz c i t es se vera l ca se s i n w hi ch court s rul ed that th e em p l o yees p ro v i d ed su ffi ci en tn o t i ce t o th ei r em p l o yers fo r F M L A p u rp o ses, de s pi t e the f

a c ttha tthe e m pl oy e e s e i the rdi d notr e f e r e nc e the F M L A ordi d not re fe re nce thei r f

am i l y m em ber’ s hea l th con di t i on or spec i al m edi ca l needs w hen r e que s t i ng F M L A l e a ve . W e f i nd tha tthe s e c a s e s , how e ve r , do nots uppor tthe pos i t i on tha tC ruz i s a dva nc i ng i n thi s c a s e . I n P e r r y v . J aguarof T r oy , 353 F . 3d 51 0, 51 2-13 (6th C i r. 20 03 ), the em pl oyee prov i ded suffi ci entno t i ce thathe w as r e que s t i ng F M L A l e a ve t o c a r e f orhi s l e a rni ng di s a bl e d s on, e ve n though the s t a t e d r e a s on on hi s w r i tt e n r e que s tf ort i m e of

f w a s f or“ c hi l d c a r e ” a nd the w r i tt e n r e que s tdi d notr e f e r e nc e the F M L A orthe c hi l d’ s he a l th c ondi t i on or s pe c i a l ne e ds . T he c our tc onc l ude d tha tthe e m pl oy e rw a s gi ve n e nough i nform at i on re as on abl y t o con cl ud e thatthe em pl oyee w as as ki ng for l ea ve that m ig h t q u a lif

y u n d e rth e F M L A b e c a u s e th e e m p lo y e rw a s p r e v io u s ly a w a r e o f h is s o n ’s h e a lth c o n d itio n . I d. a t 5 1 3 . T h e e m p lo y e e d is c u s s e d it o f te n a t w o r k , h is s on ha d vi s i t e d the w or kpl a c e i n the pa s t , a nd the e m pl oy e e l a t e rm e nt i one d the F M L A w h e n h e d is c u s s e d th e in te n d e d le a v e w ith h is s u p e r v is o r . I d.11

L i ke w i s e , i n Zaw adow i czv . C V S. C or p. , 9 9 F . S u p p . 2 d 5 1 8 , 5 2 9 (D . N . J. 2000) , the c our tc onc l ude d tha t , e ve n though the e m pl oy e e di d notpr ovi de a r e a s on f o rh is in te r m itte n t ab s e n c e s , a g e n u in e is s u e o f m a te r ia l f

a c t r e m a in e d a s to w h e th e rth e e m p lo y e e p r o v id e d s u f f ic ie n t n o tic e th a t h is a b s e n c e s w e r e r e la te d to hi s w i f e ’ s s e r i ous he a l th c ondi t i on. T he e m pl oy e e ’ s w i f e , w ho w a s a l s o the de f e nda nt ’ s e m pl oy e e , s us t a i ne d a n on- the - j ob i nj ury tha tr e s ul t e d i n he rs e r i ous h e a lth c o n d itio n . I

d. a t5 2 2 . M o r e o v e r , th e e mp l o y e e p r e v i o u s l y h a d t a k e n FM LA le a v e to c a r e f

o rh is w if

e f o rth is s a m e c o n d itio n . I d. at5 2 2 -2 3 . U n d er th ese c i r c um s t a nc e s , a r e a s ona bl e j ury c oul d c onc l ude tha tthe e m pl oy e rkne w tha tthe e m p lo y e e ’s a b s e n c e s w e r e d u e to h is w if e ’s s e r io u s h e a lth c o n d itio n . I d. a t529. F i na l l y , i n Mora v. C hem -T roni cs Inc. , 16 F . S upp. 2d 1192, 1211- 1216 ( S . D. C a l . 1 9 9 8 ) , th e c o u r th e l d th a tth e e m p l o y e e g a v e s u f f i c i e n tn o t i c e o n two o c c a s io n s o f

h is n e e d f

o rin te r m itte n t F M L A le a v e to c a r e f o rh is s o n . O n b o th oc c a s i ons , the e m pl oy e e e xpl a i ne d tha thi s a bs e nc e f r om w or k w a s be c a us e hi s s on w a s H I V p o s itiv e a n d w a s s ic k . I d. a t1211- 12, 1216. T he c our tc onc l ude d tha the prov i ded suffi ci entno t i ce t o the em pl oyerbecause, as a m att erof com m on se nse, a n e m p lo y e rw h o is n o tif ie d th a t a n e m p lo y e e ’s c h ild h a s H I V a n d is s ic k w o u ld c o n c lu d e th a t a s e r io u s m e d ic a l c o n d itio n is in v o lv e d . I d. a t1212. In ea ch of these ca se s, the em pl oyee adequat el y c on veye d t o the em pl oyer12

s uf f i c i e nti nf or m a t i on t o putthe e m pl oy e ron not i c e , e i the ra tthe t i m e of the r e que s torbe f

or e , tha thi s a bs e nc e w a s pot e nt i a l l y F M L A - qua l i f y i ng. T he e m pl oy e rw a s w e l l appr i s e d of the e m pl oy e e ’ s f

a m i l y m e m be r ’ s m e di c a l c ondi t i on an d h ad re as o n to b eliev e th at th is co n d it io n w as th e r ea so n fo r th e e m p lo ye e’s a b s e n c e . C o n v e r s e ly , in th is c a s e , C ru z a d m itte d ly p r o v id e d n o in f o r m a tio n to P u b lix m a n a g e r s to m a k e th e m a w a r e o f h e rd a u g h te r ’s a lle g e d s e r io u s h e a lth c o n d itio n . C ru z to ld S o u th a ll a n d P ie rr o th a t s h e b e lie v e d h e rd a u g h te rw a s in l abor and t hather daugh t erneeded her hel p d ue t o h erson-i n-l aw ’ s broken col l arbo ne. T he ph ys i ci an’ s l ett erconv ey ed thatC ruz’ s daugh t erfe l tshe nee ded C ru z t o h el p h er w i th d el i v ery. P u b l i x h ad n o i n d i cat i o n fro m th ese c om m uni c a t i ons tha tC ruz ’ s da ught e rw a s e xpe r i e nc i ng a ny thi ng othe rtha n a no rm al pregnancy. T here fore , C ruz di d n otno t i fy P ub l i x o f a ny cond i t i on that c oul d pot e nt i a l l y qua l i f

y C ruz f orF M L A l e a ve a tthe t i m e of C ruz ’ s r e que s tor b e f o r e h e rr e q u e s t. In cont ra stt o the ca se s c i t ed by C ruz, w e f i nd the fa ctual l y- si m i l arca se of Au b u c h o n v . Kn a u

f Fi b e r g la s s , GM

BH, 35 9 F . 3d 95 0, 95 2 (7t h C i r. 20 04 ), i ns truc t i ve . I n A ubuc hon , the em pl oyee oral l y not i fi ed hi s e m pl oyerthathe w i shed t o t ake F M L A l ea ve short l y a ft erhi s w i fe experi ence d fal se l abor, a m on th b ef ore h e re x p e c te d d e liv e ry d a te . I d. at9 5 2 . T h e em p l o yee d i d n o tg i v e co m p l i cat i o n s,13

f a l s e l a bor , oras e r i ous he a l th c ondi t i on a s ar e a s on f orthe l e a ve ; r a the r , he r e que s t e d the l e a ve be c a us e “ he w a nt e d t o s t a y hom e w i th hi s w i f e unt i l s he ga ve bi rth. ” I d. T he c our tnot e d tha t“ [ b] e i ng pr e gna nt , a s di s t i nc tf r om be i ng i ncapaci t at ed because of pregnancy or experi enci ng com pl i ca t i on s of pre gn ancy th atco u l d i n cl u d e p rem atu re co n tract i o n s w h i ch u n l ess treat ed b y d ru g s o r b ed rest m i ghtr e s ul ti n the pr e m a tur e bi r th of the ba by , i s nota s e r i ous he a l th c ondi t i on w i thi n the m ea ni ng of the [F M L A ] or the appl i cabl e r egul at i on s. ” I d . T here fore , “[ w ]a n tin g to s ta y h o m e w ith o n e ’s w if e u n til s h e h a s th e b a b y , w h ile u n d erst an d ab l e, i s n o tth e sam e th i n g as w an t i n g t o st ay h o m e t o care fo r a sp o u se w ho has ase ri ou s hea l th con di t i on . ” I d. T he A ubuc hon courtgrant ed sum m ary j ud gm enti n favor of the em pl oyer , c o n c lu d in g th a t th e e m p lo y e e f a ile d to g iv e h is e m p lo y e rs u f f ic ie n t n o tic e to in v o k e p r o te c tio n u n d e rth e F M L A . I d. T he not e tha tw a s l a t e rpr ovi de d by the em pl oyee ’ s w i fe ’ s physi ci an, w hi ch st at ed thatthe em pl oyee ’ s w i fe w as e xpe r i e nc i ng “ c om pl i c a t i ons , ” w oul d ha ve be e n s uf f i c i e ntnot i c e , de s pi t e the a b s e n c e o f

a n y f u r th e rd e ta ils , b u t th e e m p lo y e e d id n o t s u b m it th e n o te u n til af t er h is r e q u e s t f

o rle a v e h a d b e e n d e n ie d . I d . a t953. T he c our te xpl a i ne d: E m pl oy e e s s houl d notbe e nc our a ge d t o m ous e tr ap the i re m pl oy e r s by re qu es t i ng F M L A l ea ve on pat ent l y i nsuffi ci entgrou nd s a nd then af t erl ea ve i s deni ed ob t ai ni ng a doct or’ s not e thati nd i ca t es that s u f f ic ie n t g r o u n d s e x is te d , th o u g h th e y w e r e n e v e rc o m m u n ic a te d to14

the em pl oyer . I d. T he em pl oyee ca nn otm er el y dem and l ea ve; he m ustgi ve the em pl oyera r e a s o n to b e lie v e th a t h e is e n title d to it. I d . a t952. F ore xa m pl e , “ [ i ] f y ou ha ve br a i n c a nc e rbutj us tt e l l y oure m pl oy e rtha ty ou ha ve a he a da c he , y ou ha ve not gi ven t he no t i ce thatthe [F M L A ] re qu i re s. ” I d . T hu s, the no t i ce re qu i re m entw as n o t s a tis f ie d b e c a u s e th e e m p lo y e e d id n o t g iv e c o m p lic a tio n s o ra s e r io u s h e a lth cond i t i on as the re as on for t aki ng l ea ve, bu tm er el y e xp re ss ed hi s des i re t o st ay w ith h is w if

e u n til s h e g a v e b ir th . I d. a t952- 53. In re ac hi ng thi s dec i si on , the A ubuc hon c our tr e l i e d on ourpr e c e de nti n G ay v . G i lm an P ape rC o. , 1 2 5 F .3 d 1 4 3 2 , 1 4 3 6 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 7 ) . I d. at95 3. W hen r e que s t i ng F M L A l e a ve , the e m pl oy e e i n G ay de l i be r a t e l y w i thhe l d i nf or m a t i on c onc e rni ng the true na tur e of hi s w i f e ’ s m e di c a l c ondi t i on tha tl e d t o hi s r e que s tf or le a v e . G ay , 1 2 5 F . 3 d at1 4 3 6 . W e d et erm i n ed th at“ [u ] n d er th ese ci rcu m st an ces, th e b u rd en t o req u estfu rth er i n fo rm at i o n n ev er sh i ft ed t o [th e em p l o yer] b ecau se [th e em p l o yer] co u l d n o treaso n ab l y b e ex p ect ed t o co n cl u d e th at[th e em p l o yee’ s] abse nce m i gh thave qu al i fi ed for tre atm entun der the F M L A . ” I d. T h e r e f

o r e , we h e ld th a t “[ w ]h e n n o tic e o f a p o s s ib le s e r io u s m e d ic a l c o n d itio n is d e lib e r a te ly w i thh el d and fa l se i nform at i on i s gi ven, i tca nn otbe sa i d thatan em pl oyee has been t erm i nat ed i n v i ol at i on of the F M L A . ” I d.15

A l though C ruz di d notde l i be r a t e l y m i s l e a d P ubl i x a s t o the f a c t s a nd c i r c um s t a nc e s s urr oundi ng he rr e que s tf orl e a ve , oura na l y s i s i n G ay is ap p lic a b le . L i ke the e m pl oy e e i n G ay , C ruz a dm i tt e dl y w i thhe l d c r i t i c a l i nf or m a t i on r e ga r di ng the r e a s on f

orhe rr e que s t . C ruz di d notvol unt e e rthe a ddi t i ona l i nf or m a t i on a bout her daugh t er ’ s a l l eged pregnancy com pl i ca t i on s, bu tm er el y off er ed her ow n b el i ef thather daugh t erw as go i ng i nt o l abor, thather s on -i n-l aw had a brok en col l arbo ne, and t hather daugh t erneeded her hel p as r ea sons for the l ea ve. T hese fa ct s a re i n su ffi ci en tt o sh i ftth e b u rd en t o P u b l i x t o req u estfu rth er i n fo rm at i o n b ecau se P ubl i x c oul d notr e a s ona bl y be e xpe c t e d t o c onc l ude tha the ra bs e nc e qua l i f i e d f or F M L A l ea ve. W e c anno texpectP ub l i x t o u nd er go an i nv es t i gat i on t o u ncov er s om e pos s i bl e c i r c um s t a nc e unde rw hi c h C ruz w oul d be e nt i t l e d t o F M L A l e a ve w he n C ruz ne ve rr a i s e d a ny s uc h c i r c um s t a nc e . U nl e s s the e m pl oy e ra l r e a dy kn ow s thatthe em pl oyee has a n F M L A -app roved reas on for l ea ve, the em pl oyee m us tc om m uni c a t e the r e a s on f orthe l e a ve t o the e m pl oy e r ; the e m pl oy e e c a nnot ju s t d e m a n d le a v e . Se e A ubuc hon , 359 F . 3d a t953. O ur prece dentre qu i re s thatan em pl oyee “ prov i de her emp l oyerw i th n ot i ce s u f f ic ie n t to m a k e th e e m p lo y e ra w a r e th a t h e ra b s e n c e is d u e to a p o te n tia lly F M L A -qual i fy i ng re as on . ” G ay , 12 5 F . 3d at14 36 . In ot her w ords, C ruz w as o b lig a te d to in f

o r m P u b lix th a t h e rd a u g h te rw a s e x p e r ie n c in g c o m p lic a tio n s d u e to16

her pregnancy, w as un abl e t o car e f or hers el f, or prov i de som e other i nd i ca t i on that her a du l tdaug ht erw as “ i ncapabl e of s el f- ca re because of am ent al or ph ys i ca l di sabi l i ty. ” See 29 U . S . C . § 2 61 1(12 )( B ). O nl y then w ou l d the bu rden t o i nq ui re f ur the rs hi f

tt o P ubl i x. U nde rthe c i r c um s t a nc e s pr e s e nt e d he r e , C ruz di d not p ro v i d e P u b l i x w i th th atk i n d o f n o t i ce, b u tm erel y ex p ressed h er d esi re t o assi st h e ra d u l td a u g h t e rd u r i n g th e b i r th o f h e rg r a n d c h i l d , a c o n d i t i o n wh i c h th e FM LA do es no tcover. I V . CONCL US I ON W e a f f i r m the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s gr a ntof s um m a ry j udgm e nti n f a vorof P ubl i x. AF F I RME D.