# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _
No. 1 2- 12 90

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _
Tan y a Bo sl ey

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

v.
Carg il l M eat So lu ti on s C or po rat io n

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll ee

__ __ __ __ __ __ App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e So ut he rn Dis tri ct of I owa - Des M oi ne s

__ __ __ __ __ __
Su bm it te d: Sep te m

be r 20 , 20 12 Fil ed : Fe br ua ry

5, 2 01 3

__ __ __ __ __ __ Befo re RI LEY, Chi ef J ud ge , SMITH an d C OLLOTO N, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __
SMI TH, Circ ui t J ud ge

.

Tan y a Bo sl ey , an em

pl oyee of Carg il l Mea t So lu ti on s Co rp or at io n ("C arg il l" ),

m is se d wor k be cau se of de pr es si on an d ot he r he al th is su es

. Bo sl ey m is se d th e en ti re

m on th of Feb ru ary 20 08

. Bo sl ey fai le d to us e Carg il l's cal l-i n pr oc ed ur e fo r ab se nc es

. Bo sl ey al so di d no t no ti fy Carg il l th at sh e wou ld qu al ify fo r le av e un de r th e Fam il y

an d Med ic al Leav e Act (FM LA), 29 U.S.C. § 26 01 et se q

. Carg il l te rm in at ed Bo sl ey 's

e mp lo y m en t, an d Bo sl ey su ed Carg il l, as se rti ng FMLA en ti tl em en t an d ret al ia t i o ncl ai m s. The di s t r i c t c o ur t gr an te d Carg il l's m ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t on bo th 1
cl ai m s. Bo sl ey

ap pe al ed , and we affi rm

.

I. Bac kg ro un d
Tan y a Bo sl ey was hi red by Carg il l in Sep te m be r 20 03

. Bo sl ey re g ul arl y
carp oo le d to wor k wit h he r co wor k e r , C h r is ti ne Pi lc he r. Bo sl ey so m et im es m is se d

wor k du e to il ln e s s , a n d sh e oc cas io na ll y to ok le av es of ab se nc e un de r th e FMLA.
W il li am Cro well was Bo sl ey 's su pe rv is or

. So m et im es whe n Bo sl ey was ab se nt fro m

wor k du e to il ln es s, Pi lc he r wou ld no ti fy Cro well of th e ab se nc e on Bo sl ey 's be ha lf.
On Feb ru ary 1, 20 08
, Pi lc he r arri ve d to pi ck up Bo sl ey

. Bo sl ey to ld Pi lc he r th at sh e

co ul d no t ge t up du e to de pr es si on

. Bo sl ey m is se d wor k t h a t d a y, a n d Pi lc he r in fo rm ed Cro well th at Bo sl ey was a bs en t b ecau se sh e was "s ic k."

Carg il l's at te nd an ce po li cy i n c lu de d a cal l-i n pr oc ed ur e fo r em pl oyees to in fo rm C a r g il l of an y ne ces sa ry an d un av oi da bl e ab se nc es th ro ug h an au to m at ed ph on e syste m

. Und er Carg il l's po li cy , fai lu re to co m pl y wit h th e cal l-i n pr oc ed ur e on th ree co ns ecu ti ve wor k da y s wou ld res ul t in a vo lu nt ary te rm in at io n of em pl oym en t. Bo sl ey was fam il ia r wit h th is po li cy

. Sh e ha d th e cal l-i n nu m be r pr og ram m ed in to he r ph on e, a n d sh e su cces sf ul ly ut il iz ed th e pr oc ed ur e on ov er 10 0 oc cas io ns

. Nev ert he le ss , on Feb ru ary 1, Bo sl ey di d no t cal l Carg il l. In fact
, Bo sl ey m is se d wor k th e en ti re m on th of F eb ru ary 20 08 , and sh e n ev er u se d t he cal l-i n p ro ced ur e.

The reco rd sh ows th at be twee n Feb ru ary 1 an d Feb ru ary 21
, Bo sl ey was

co ns ci ou s, ab le to ge t o ut of b ed , abl e to vi si t two he al th care pr ov id ers , a nd ab le to

co m m un ic at e co he ren tl y

. Sh e ad m it te d in de po si ti on te s t i mo n y th at he r de pr es si on im pr ov ed an d "b ecame no t in cap aci ta ti ng aro un d Feb ru ary 15 ." Or, acco rd in g to he r FMLA p ap erwo rk , her co nd it io n was no lo ng er i nc ap aci ta ti ng by Febru ary 25

.

The Hon or ab le Ro be rt W

. Prat t, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e So ut he rn 1 Dis tri ct of I owa

.
-2

-On Feb ru ary 16
, d u rin g Bo sl ey 's ab se nc e, Dav id Cl ark rep la ced Cro well as

Bo sl ey 's su pe rv is or

. Cl ark was un aware of Bo sl ey 's m en ta l he al th co nd it io n, an d he di d no t kn ow why Bo sl ey was ab se nt

. In la te Feb ru ary, Cl ark in qu ire d ab ou t Bo sl ey
to Carg il l's nu rs es ' of

fic e; W hi tn ey Cri ss well
, Carg il l's FMLA co or di na to r; an d Lau ra Ell io tt , Carg il l's hu m an res ou rces m an ge r. No on e ha d an y in fo rm at io n reg ard in g he r ab se nc e. On Febr ua ry 27
, Carg il l term in at ed Bo sl ey 's e m pl oym en t o n th e ba si s th at sh e ha d th ree co ns ecu ti ve cal l-i n vi ol at io ns be twee n Feb ru ary 1 an d 27

. On Mar ch 3,
Bo sl ey wen t to Carg il l to pi ck up fo rm s fo r ap pr ov al of FMLA leav e fo r he r m is se d

wor k du rin g th e m on th of Feb ru ary. Tha t da y , Bo sl ey le arn ed of he r te rm in at io n fro m Ell io tt

.

B os le y fil ed su it in th e di st ric t co ur t, as se rti ng en ti tl em en t an d ret a l i a t i o n cl ai m s un de r th e FMLA. Carg il l m ov ed fo r su m m ary ju d g men t

. The di st ric t co ur t
gr an te d su m

m ary jud gm en t to Carg il l on bo th cl ai m s, fin di n g th at Bo sl ey di d no t

m eet he r ob li ga ti on to pr ov id e no ti ce to Carg il l of he r ne ed fo r pr ot ect ed le av e un de r th e FMLA. B o s l e y ap pe al s, as ki ng th is co ur t to rev ers e th e di st ric t co ur t's gr an t of

su m m ary jud gm en t an d t o re m an d.

II. Dis cu ss io n Bo sl ey arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in fin di ng th at sh e fai le d to sa ti sf y he r no ti ce o bl ig at io n u nd er t he FMLA. W e "re vi ew[] a gran t o f su m m ary jud gm en t de no vo ." Ryn de rs v. W

il li ams , 65 0 F. 3 d 1 1 8 8
, 1 19 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ). "Su m m ary jud gm en t is pr op er if, aft er vi ewin g th e ev id en ce an d dr awin g al l reas on ab le in fere nc es in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e no nm ov an t, no ge nu in e is su es of m at eri al fact ex is t an d th e m ov an t is en ti tl ed to jud gm en t as a m at te r of la w." Id

. (q uo ta ti on

an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. The jury is res po ns ib le fo r weig hi ng th e ev id en ce an d m ak in g cred ib il it y de te rm in at io ns , no t th e co ur t. Id

. "'[T]he co ur t sh ou ld de ny su mm a r y jud gm en t if th ere is su ffi ci en t ev id en ce fo r a ju r y t o r e t u r n a ve rd ic t fo r th e no nm ov in g pa rty.'" Id

. (q uo ti ng Y

ou ng -Lo se e v. Gra

ph ic Pac ka gi ng In t'l

, In c ., 63 1 F.3 d
90 9, 9 11 (8t h C ir. 2 01 1) ).

-3

-One of t he pu rp os es of t he FMLA is "t o e nt it le em pl oyees to ta ke reas on ab le le av e fo r m ed ic al reas on s." 29 U.S.C. § 26 01 (b )(2 ). The FMLA en ti tl es an em pl oyee
t o 12 wor kwe ek s of le av e du rin g an y 12 -m on th pe rio d if he or sh e ha s a " s e r i o u s he al th c o n d i ti on th at m ak es th e em pl oyee un ab le to pe rfo rm th e fu nc ti on s of th e
po si ti on of su ch em

pl oyee." 29 U.S.C. § 26 12 (a)( 1) (D). A "s eri ou s he al th co nd it io n" is an y "i ll ne ss , in

jury, im pa irment, or ph y si cal or m en ta l co nd it io n th at in vo lv es —(A) in pa ti en t ca r e i n a ho sp it al
, ho sp ic e, or res id en ti al m ed ic al care faci li ty; or (B)

co nt in ui ng tre at m en t b y

a he al th care pro vi de r." 2 9 U.S.C. § 26 11 (1 1)

.

Bo sl ey st y le s he r cl ai m s ag ai ns t Carg i l l a s "i nt erfe ren ce" an d "re ta li at io n" cl ai m s. In Pul cz in sk i v. Tr in it y St ru ct ur al To wer

s, In c. , 69 1 F.3 d 99 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ),

we reco gn iz ed th at , al th ou gh ou r cas es so m et im es de sc rib e cl ai m s br ou gh t un de r 29 U.S.C. § 26 15 (a)( 1) as "i nt erfe ren ce" cl ai m s, "th at te rm in ol og y m ay no t i ll um in at e, be cau se a l l p ro hi bi te d act s un de r § 26 15 (a) ap pe ar un de r th e he ad in g ' In te rf er en ce wit h rig ht s.'" Id

. at 10 05 (rec og ni zi ng FMLA en ti tl em e n t , ret al ia ti on an d di sc riminat io n as th ree se pa rat e cl ai m s un de r th e FMLA). Fo r th e sa k e o f c l ari ty, wha t we fo rm erl y de sc rib ed as "i nt erfe ren ce" cl ai m s he nc efo rth sh al l be cal le d
"en ti tl em en t" cl ai m s. Id

. Thu s , B o s l ey as se rts FMLA en ti tl em en t an d ret al ia ti on cl ai m s. In "an en ti tl em en t cl ai m [,] an em pl oyee cl ai m s th e de ni al of a be ne fit to whi ch he is en ti tl ed un de r th e s t a t u t e

. " Id

. In a ret al ia ti on cl ai m , on th e ot he r ha nd
, an

em pl oyee cl ai m s th at "t he em pl oyer

. . . t[o ok ] ad ve rs e act io n ag ai ns t th e em pl oyee" fo r "o pp os [in g] an y

pra ct ic e m ad e u nl awfu l u nd er t he FMLA." Id

. at 1 00 6.

A. Bos le y's FMLA Enti tl emen t Cl ai m "To st at e [a n en ti tl em en t cl ai m ] un de r th e FMLA, [Bo sl ey ] m us t ha ve gi ve n

n o t i c e t o [Car gi ll ] of he r ne ed fo r FMLA le av e." Cl in ks ca le v. St

. Th er es e of N e w Hop e , 70 1 F .3d 82 5, 8 27 (8t h C ir. 2 01 2)

.

The Dep art m en t of Lab or ha s is su ed reg u l a t i o n s, pu rs ua nt to th e au th or it y
gr an te d by § 26 54 of th e FMLA, g o v ern in g th e res pe ct iv e no ti ce ob li ga ti on s of

-4

-em

pl oyers and em

pl oyees. 29 C.F.R. § 82 5.3 03 (2 00 8)

. At the rel ev an t tim es , th os e
reg ul at io ns pro vi de d, in pe rti ne nt pa rt: 2

(a) W he n th e ap pr ox im at e t i ming of th e ne ed fo r le av e is no t fo res eeab le
, an em

pl oyee sh ou ld gi ve no ti ce to th e em pl oyer of th e ne ed fo r FMLA le av e as so on as pr act ic ab le un de r th e fact s an d ci rcu m st an ces of th e pa rti cu la r cas e. It is ex pe ct ed th at an em pl oyee wil l gi ve no ti ce to th e em

pl oyer wit h i n no m or e th an on e or two wor ki ng da y s of le arn in g of th e ne ed fo r le a v e , ex cep t in ex tra or di na ry ci rcu m st an ces whe re su ch no ti ce is no t feas ib le

. In th e cas e of a m ed ic al

em erg en cy req ui rin g le av e be cau se of an em pl oyee's own se rio us he al th

co nd it io n or to care fo r a fam il y m em be r wit h a se rio us he al th co nd it io n, writ te n a d va nc e no ti ce pu rs ua nt to an em pl oyer's in te rn al ru le s an d pr oc ed ur es m ay

no t b e req ui red when FMLA le av e is in vo lv ed

. (b ) The em

pl oyee sh ou ld pr ov id e no ti ce to th e em pl oyer ei th er in pe rs on
or by te le ph on e, te le gr ap h, facs im il e ("f ax ") m ach in e or ot he r el ect ro ni c

m ean s. No t i c e m ay be gi ve n by th e em pl oyee's sp ok es pe rs on (e.g
., sp ou se , ad ul t fam il y m em be r or ot he r res po ns ib le pa rty) if th e em pl oyee is un ab le to do so pe rs on al ly. The emp l oyee ne ed no t ex pr es sl y as se rt rig ht s un de r th e FMLA or ev en m en ti on th e FMLA, bu t m ay on ly st at e th at le av e is ne ed ed

. The em pl oyer wil l b e e xp ect ed to ob ta in an y ad di ti on al req ui red in fo rm at io n th ro ug h in fo rm al m ean s. The em pl oyee
or sp ok es pe rs on wil l b e ex pe ct ed to pro vi de m or e in fo rm at io n wh en it

can read il y be acco m

pl is he d as a pr act ic a l m at te r, ta ki ng in to

co ns id erat io n t he ex ig en ci es of t he si tu at io n.

Id

.

In Sc ob ey v. Nu co r St eel -Ar k a n s a s , 5 80 F.3 d 78 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ), we rei te rat ed ou r rig or ou s no ti ce st an da rd fo r e mplo y ees se ek in g to us e FMLA le av e fo r ab se n c e s

. Em pl oyees ha ve an affi rm at iv e du ty to

The la n g u ag e of 29 C.F.R. § 82 5.3 03 was su bs eq ue nt ly am en de d, effe ct iv e 2 Ja nu ary 16 , 20 09

.
-5

-in di cat e bo th th e ne ed an d th e reas on fo r th e le av e , a n d must le t

em pl oyers k no w when th ey

an ti ci pa te ret ur ni ng to th ei r po si ti on

.

Bro wn v. Ka ns as Ci ty Frei gh tl i n e r Sa le s, In c. , 61 7 F.3 d 99 5, 99 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (q uo ta ti on s, al te rat io n, an d ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. "Be fo re an em pl oyee can cl ai m FMLA
p r o t e c t i o n,

. . . th e em

pl oyee m us t pu t th e st at ut e in pl ay —s he m us t no ti fy h e r

em pl oyer th at sh e m ay n e e d F MLA le av e." Mur ph y v. Fed Ex Na t'l LTL, In c. , 61 8 F.3 d 89 3, 90 0 ( 8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (ci ti ng Sc ob ey , 58 0 F.3 d at 78 7)

. "A cl ai m un de r th e FMLA can no t su ccee d u n l e s s th e pl ai nt iff can sh ow th at he ga ve hi s em pl oyer ad eq ua te an d ti m el y no ti ce o f h i s ne ed fo r le av e

. . . ." W oo ds v. Dai mler Ch ry sl er Co rp

. , 40 9 F .3d 98 4, 9 91 (8t h C ir. 2 00 5)

.

1. Pil ch er as Sp ok es pe rs on The reg ul at or y la ng ua ge in pl ace in Feb ru ary 20 08 pr ov id ed th at "[n ]oti ce m ay be gi ve n by th e em

pl oyee's sp ok es pe rs on (e.g
., sp ou se , ad ul t fam il y m em be r or ot he r

res po ns ib le pa rty) if th e em pl oyee is un ab le to do so pe rs on al ly." 29 C.F.R. § 82 5.3 03 (2 00 8)

. Bo sl ey arg ue s th at Pi lc he r ga ve no ti ce to Carg il l of Bo sl ey 's ab se nc e fro m

wor k du e to de pr es si on an d, he nc e, of he r ne ed fo r FMLA le av e. Bo sl ey po in t s to Pi lc he r's de po si ti on te st im on y reg ard in g th e co nv ers at io n th at Pi lc he r ha d wit h
Cro well on Feb ru ary 1. Pi lc he r te st ifi ed as f ol lo ws:

Q. Did [Bo sl ey ] te ll y ou th at sh e was de pr es se d a ga in ?

A. Yeah

. Q. So di d s he tel l you t o t el l Will ie [Cro well ]?

A. Yes

. Q. Oka y . So d id y ou tel l Will ie th at da y ?

A. Yes

.

-6

-* * *

[Q.] Did n't y ou tel l Will ie th at sh e h ad so m e m ed ic at io n i ss ue s?

A. I to ld W il li e sh e was si ck

. Q. Bu t you d id n't say anythi ng th at sh e was trying to ge t h er

m ed ic at io n re gu la te d?

A. I m ay

ha ve

. Q. Did y ou tel l Will ie th at sh e was de pr es se d a ga in ?

A. I do n't kn ow wha t da y s I to ld W il li e sh e was de pr es se d or was n't de pr es se d.

Q. Oka y

. Dur in g th at co ur se th at Tan y a was of f, di d y ou ev er tel l W il li e th at sh e
was de pr es se d a ga in ?

A. I to ld hi m

sh e was si ck . I do n't kn ow t ha t I sp eci fic al ly s ai d th at sh e was de pr es se d.

Q. Is it po ss ib le th at y ou sai d t ha t an d you jus t d on 't re m em be r?

A. The re is a ch an ce I di d sa y th at , bu t I do n't k n o w if I di d or if I di dn 't.

Q. W he n y ou ta lk ed to Lin d a [Ell io tt ], do y ou rem em be r te ll in g Lin da th at y ou sa id —t ha t y ou ha d to ld W il li e th at Ta n ya w a s de pr es se d?

A. I p ro ba bl y di d, be cau se th at was a co nv ers at io n sh e an d I h a d
, y es . So I p ro ba bl y

di d s ay sh e was de pr es se d.

Q. O ka y

. And do y ou rem em be r te ll in g Lin da th at y ou to ld Wi l l i e th at ?

-7

-A. Yeah

.

Q. Oka y . W as th at no t t ru e whe n you to ld Lin da th at , or d id y ou tel l W il li e th at Tanya was d ep res se d?

A. I do n't kn ow wha t da y s I to ld W il li e, if sh e was de pr es se d o r
was n't de pr es se d. It was pr ob ab ly—Depe nd in g on wha t sh e to ld m e th at da y is wha t I res po nd ed to W il li e.
Q. O k a y. So if Tan y a sa id
, "Hey, wil l y ou te ll W il li e I'm st i l l de pr es se d," is th at th e co nv ers at io n th at y ou wou ld ha ve ta ke n to W il li e?

A. I wou ld ha ve —Yea h, I wo ul d h av e jus t t ol d Wil li e th at

. Q. And so y ou wou ld ha ve sa id
, "Will ie
, he y, Ta n ya i s d ep res se d ag ai n. Sh e's no t co m in g i n" ?

A. Yeah

. Bu t t he re ar e d ay s I d id n't tel l h im th at , I kn ow.
Q. And I'm no t ta lk in g ab ou t th e da y s th at y ou d i d n 't te ll hi m

. I'm jus t t ry in g to ki nd of f

ig ur e o ut what y ou act ua ll y to ld W il li e o n th e d ay s t ha t you d id

. And I un de rs ta nd y ou di dn 't t el l h im ev ery si ng le da y

.

A. Ri gh t. I d id n't tel l h im ev ery si ng le da y

. Q. Bu t you d id tel l h im a few t im es at l eas t?

A. Yeah

. Q. And y ou to ld hi m

th at Tanya was d ep res se d?

-8

-A. I wou ld say I di d, b ut m ay be I di dn 't. I do n't kn ow. I real ly d on 't rem em be r if I di d or di d no t sp eci fic al ly.

Q. Is th at jus t be cau se it was a whi le ag o an d y ou r m em or y ha s fad ed

or

—

A. I do n't rem em

be r.
Q. Oka y

. If y ou to ld Lin da th at y ou to ld W il li e th at Tanya was d ep res se d,

wou ld y ou ha ve li ed to Lin da du rin g t ha t i nt erv ie w?

A. No. If I fel t I to ld hi m —t ha t I sa id th at , th en I fel t I to ld hi m I sa id th at . It's no t s om et hi ng I wou ld ha ve sai d i f I d id n't tel l h im

. I kn ow I s ai d i t, b ut I do n't kn ow wh en I sa id it

.

St ran ge ly, ev en Pi lc he r's affi rm at io n th at at so m e po in t sh e to ld Cro well th at Bo sl ey

was "d ep res se d" is di rect ly co nt rad ic te d by a st at em en t in he r own affi da vi t. Para gr ap h 7 of Pi lc he r's affi da vi t st at es : "I ne ve r in fo rm ed Mr. Cro well or an y on e el se
at Carg il l [th at ] Ms

. Bo sl ey was un ab le to co m e to wor k du e to de pr es si on , an xi et y ,
or an y pa rti cu la r m ed ic al co nd it io n. I on ly info rm ed Mr. Cro well [th at ] Ms . Bos le y

was no t co m in g t o wo rk be cau se sh e was si ck ."

Pi lc he r's eq ui vo cal an d se lf- co nt rad ic to ry reco ll ect i o n s of wha t sh e to ld
Cro well fai l to sh o w t h a t Bo sl ey ga ve no ti ce th ro ug h Pi lc he r. The on ly reas on ab le in fere nc e th at co ul d b e dr awn in Bo sl ey 's fav or is th at Pi lc he r si m pl y di d no t reca ll whe th er sh e to ld Cro well th at Bo sl ey was de pr es se d. "An as se rti on th at a pa rty do es

no t reca ll an ev en t do es no t it se lf crea te a qu es ti on of m at eri al fact ab ou t whe th er th e

ev en t di d, in fact
, oc cu r." To v. U.S. Ban co rp , 65 1 F.3 d 88 8, 89 2 n.2 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ). Afte r rev ie win g th e reco rd
, vi ewin g th e ev id en ce i n th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Bo sl ey , an d dr awin g al l reas on ab le in fere nc es in Bo sl ey 's fav or , we ho ld th at Bo sl ey

-9

-ha s pr ov id ed in su ffi ci en t ev id en ce fo r a reas on ab le jury to fin d th at sh e ga ve Carg il l

ad eq ua te no ti ce u nd er t he FMLA.

2. " Extr ao rd in ar

y Ci rc ums ta nc es "

Excu se Bo sl ey arg ue s th at Dep art m en t of Lab or reg ul at io ns ex cu se th e no ti ce
req ui rem en t whe re "ex tra or di na ry ci rcu m st an ces " m ak e th e gi v i n g of su ch no ti ce

un real is ti c. The reg ul at io n p ro vi de s, i n p ert in en t p art :

W he n th e ap pr ox im at e ti m in g of th e ne ed fo r le av e is no t fo res eeab le
, an em pl oyee sh ou ld gi ve no ti ce to th e em pl oyer of th e ne ed fo r FMLA le av e as so on as pr act ic ab le un de r th e fact s an d ci rcu m st an ces of th e pa rti c ul ar cas e. It is ex pe ct ed th at an em pl oyee wil l gi ve no ti ce to th e
em pl oyer wit hi n no m or e th an on e or two wo r k i n g da y s of le arn in g of th e ne ed fo r le av e, ex cep t in ex tra or di na ry ci rcu m st an ces w h e r e s u ch

no ti ce i s n ot feas ib le

.

29 C.F.R. § 82 5.3 03 (a) (2 00 8)

. Carg il l res po nd s th at th e reg ul at io n do es no t excu se th e no ti ce req ui rem en t al to ge t h e r in ex tra or di na ry ci rcu m st an ces ; rat he r, it m erel y

m od ifi es th e ge ne ral ru le th at "as so on as pr act ic ab l e " mea n s " on e or two wor ki ng da y s." Id

. Carg il l's in te rp ret at io n is co rrec t. The la ng ua ge of th e reg ul at io n do es no t

co mp l e te ly ex cu se th e no ti ce req ui rem en t bu t on ly ex te nd s th e al lo wab le no ti ce
pe rio d b ey on d t wo wo rk in g d ay s.

W e m us t de ci de whe th er Bo sl ey ga ve no ti ce "as so on as pr act ic ab le un de r th e fact s an d ci rcu m st an ces of [h er] pa rti cu la r cas e." Id

. Bo sl ey di d no t m ak e co nt act wit h Carg il l un ti l Mar ch 3, 20 08 —3 2 da y s aft er sh e la st u t i l i z e d t he cal l-i n pr oc ed ur e. Bo sl ey ad m it te d in he r de po si ti o n t ha t he r de pr es si on "b ecame no t in cap aci ta ti ng

aro un d F eb ru ary 15 ." Or, acc or di ng to he r FMLA p ap erwo rk , her co nd it io n was n o lo ng er in cap aci ta ti ng by Feb ru ary 25

. Bec au se 20 0 8 was a le ap y ear, Mar ch 3 was

on e fu ll week be y on d Feb ru ary 2 5. Th us , Bos le y di d n ot co nt act Carg il l fo r at lea st fiv e fu ll wor ki ng da y s aft er he r de pr es si on "b ecame no t in cap aci ta ti ng ." Bo sl ey st at es

-1 0-no fact s co ns ti tu ti ng ex tra or di na ry ci rcu m st an ces to jus ti fy he r d e l a y i n no ti fy in g

Carg il l. As a m at te r of la w, Bo sl ey 's no ti ce req ui rem en t was no t ex cu se d on th e ba si s of "ex tra or di na ry

cir cu m st an ces ."

3. " Co ns tr uc ti ve No ti ce"

Excu se Bo sl ey arg ue s th at he r be ha vi or co ul d ha ve pl ace d C a r g il l on co ns tru ct iv e

no ti ce of he r ne ed fo r FML A l e a v e

. Bo sl ey rel ie s pr in ci pa ll y on Byrn e v. Avo n Pro du ct s, In c. , 32 8 F.3 d 37 9 (7 th Ci r. 20 03 ), in arg ui ng th at th e Dep art m en t of Lab or
reg ul at io ns in effe ct at th e ti m e reco gn iz ed co ns tru ct iv e no ti ce of th e ne ed fo r le av e. Bu t as Carg il l po in ts ou t, we ex pr es sl y reject ed Byrn e in Sc o b e y

. Th e r e, we vo ic ed

ou r "s eri ou s do ub ts ab ou t th e co nt in ui ng va li di ty of co ns tru ct iv e no ti ce in th e FMLA

co nt ex t." 58 0 F .3d at 7 88 . As we ex pl ai ne d:

The Sev en th C i r cu it in Byrn e v. Avo n Pro ds

. rel ie d on a pr ev io us
ve rs io n of 29 C.F

. R

. § 82 5.3 03 (a), whi ch st at ed th at , whe n le av e is

un fo res eeab le
, "[i ]t is ex pe ct ed th at an em pl oyee wil l gi ve no ti ce to th e
em pl oyer wit hi n no m or e t h a n on e or two wor ki ng da y s of le arn in g of th e ne ed fo r le av e, exce

pt in ext ra or di na ry ci rc ums ta nc es wh er e su ch

no ti ce is no t

fe as ib le

. " 32 8 F.3 d at 38 2 (ad di ng em ph as is ). Bas ed on th is "ex tra or di na ry ci rcu m st an ces " ex cep ti on , th e co ur t in Byrn e co nc lu de d th at an em pl oyee's ab erra nt or un us ua l be ha vi or co ul d, in so m e cas es , be

" it se lf no ti ce th at so m et hi ng ha d go ne m ed ic a l ly wro ng , or pe rh ap s [ex cu se ] no ti ce

. . . ." I

d

. a t 38 1. Howev er, th e DOL ha s su bs eq ue nt ly de le te d th e se nt en ce rel ie d on by th e co ur t in Byrn e an d rep la ced it wit h la ng ua ge th at cu rren tl y read s: "[i ]t ge ne ral ly sh ou ld be pr act ic ab le fo r th e em pl oyee to pr ov id e no ti ce of le av e th at is un fo res eeab le wit hi n th e ti m e pr es cri be d by th e em pl oyer's u s ua l an d cu st om ary no ti ce req ui rem en ts ap pl ic ab le to su ch le av e." 29 C.F.R. § 82 5. 3 03 (a). Now th at th e DOL ha s nu ll ifi ed th e reg ul at or y b a si s fo r th e do ct rin e, we de cl in e to crea te a c o ns tru ct iv e-n ot ic e ex cep ti on to an em pl oyee's "af fir m at iv e du ty," se e W

oo ds

, 40 9 F.3d at 99 0– 91
, to no ti fy hi s or her

em pl oyer of t he ne ed for lea ve th at m ig ht be FMLA-q ua li fy in g.

Id

. at 78 8 (a lt erat io ns in ori gi na l) ( fo ot no te s o m it te d)

.
-1 1-Viewi ng th e ev id en ce in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Bo sl e y, a n d dr awin g al l

reas on ab le in fere nc es in he r fav or , th ere are no gen ui ne is su es of m at eri al fact as to he r fai lu re to sa ti sf

y he r no ti ce ob li ga ti on un de r th e FMLA. The di st ric t co ur t di d no t err i n d is m is si ng Bo sl ey 's e nt it le m en t cl ai m

.

B. Bos le y's FMLA Reta li at io n C la im Bo sl ey la ck s an y "d ire ct ev id en ce of ret al ia ti on ." Phi ll ip s v. Mat he ws , 54 7 F.3 d
90 5, 91 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). As a res ul t, "we an al y ze he r FMLA ret al ia ti on cl ai m un de r th e McDo nn el l Do ug la s bu rd en -s hi fti ng fram ewo rk ." Id

. 3

[Bo sl ey ] m

us t fir st es ta bl is h a pr im a fac i e cas e of ret al ia ti on , whi ch req ui res he r to sh ow th at sh e ex erci se d rig ht s affo rd ed by th e [FM LA]
, th at sh e su ffer ed an ad ve rs e em pl oym en t act io n, an d th at th ere was a
cau sa l co nn ect io n be twee n he r ex erci se of rig ht s an d th e ad ve r se
em pl oym en t ac ti on

.

Id . (qu ot at io n a nd cit at io n o m it te d)

.

An em pl oyee's m eet in g hi s or he r no ti ce ob li ga ti on to an em pl oyer of a ne e d fo r FMLA le av e is es se nt ia l to a FMLA ret al ia ti on cl ai m

. Se e, e.g

. , W ie rma n v. Ca se y's Gen

. St or es , 63 8 F.3 d 98 4, 10 00 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) ("I n or de r to be ne fit fro m th e
pr ot ect i o n s of th e st at ut e, an em pl oyee m us t pr ov id e he r em

pl oyer wit h en ou gh in fo rm at io n to sh ow th at sh e m ay ne ed FMLA le av e." ( q uo ta ti on , al te rat io ns , an d ci ta ti on om it te d) ). Here, Bo sl ey no ti fie d Carg il l th at sh e wou ld se ek FMLA le a ve

on ly aft er Carg il l ha d te rm in at ed he r em pl oym en t. Bec au se Bo sl ey di d no t m eet he r FMLA not ic e ob li ga ti on to Carg il l wh il e em pl oyed, h er t erm in at io n c ou ld no t hav e be en ret al ia ti on

. The re is no ge nu in e is su e of m at eri al fact reg ard in g Bo sl ey 's fai lu re
to m eet he r no ti ce o bl ig at io n, s o B os le y fai ls to m ak e a pr im a faci e cas e fo r FMLA

ret al ia ti on . The d is tri ct co ur t d id no t er r in di sm is si ng he r cl ai m

.

McDo nn el l Do ug la s C

or p. v. Gr een , 41 1 U.S. 7 92 , 80 2– 06 (19 73 ). 3

-1 2-III. Co nc lu si on

Bec au se we co nc lu de th at th e di st ric t co ur t d id no t err in di sm is si ng Bo sl ey 's cl ai m s, we af

fir m

.

__

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-1 3-