## United States Court of App eals

F O R T H E E I G H T H

C I R C U I T

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No. 1 1- 27 44

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Geo rg e Bal la to

, *

*
Pl ai nt iff -Ap pe ll an t, *

* App eal fro m

th e Uni te d S ta te s

v. * Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r th e

* Dis tri ct of M in ne so ta

. Co m cas t Co rp ., *

*
Defen da nt -Ap pe ll ee. *

__ __ __ __ __ _

Su bm it te d: Marc h 1 5, 2 01 2
Fi le d: Apri l 2 7, 2 01 2

__ __ __ __ __ _

Befo re MUR PHY, BRIGHT, an d GRUENDER, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ _
BRIGHT, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

Geo rg e Bal la to lo st hi s em pl oym en t wit h Co m cas t Co rp or at io n whe n he fai le d

to sh ow up f

o r wor k on th ree co ns ecu ti ve sh ift s an d fai le d to no ti fy hi s de pa rtment

of hi s ab se nc es or to req ue st 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 –5 4. Bal la to fil ed a la wsu it ag ai ns t Co m cas t cl ai m in g th e co m pa ny

in te rfer ed wit h hi s ab il it y to req ue st an ex cu se d ab se nc e un de r th e FMLA, an d th at

hi s te rm in at io n fro m em

pl oym en t was ba se d on th e in te rfer en ce, as well as ret al ia ti on

fo r hi s p rio r FMLA ab se nc es

.Th e di st ric t co ur t reject ed Bal la to ’s cl ai m s an d di sm is se d hi s act io n o n 1

su m m ary jud gm en t. Bal la to ap pe al s an d we a ffi rm

.

I. Ba ck gr ou nd

Co m cas t is a m ed ia an d co m m un ic at io ns com

pa ny tha t pr ovi de s cab le

, in te rn et

,

an d ph on e se rv ic es

. Co m cas t hi red Bal la to as a cu st om er acco un t ex ecu ti ve in 20 07

. In th e m on th s be fo re hi s te rm in at io n, Bal la to ha nd le d cu st om e r s e rv ic e cal ls to

Co m cas t fr om Sp an ish -s pe akin g cu st om ers

. In Apr il 20 09

, Bal la to ap pl ie d fo r FMLA

le av e. His FMLA Cer ti fic at io n o f Heal th Care Pro vi de r in di cat ed he su ffer ed fro m
ch ro ni c fat ig ue , de pr es si on , an d weak ne ss , an d wou ld req ui re in te rm it te nt ab se nc es

es ti m at ed at fiv e da y s pe r m on th

. Bal la to rece iv ed fin al ap pr ov al of h is req ue st for

in te rm it te nt lea ve on May 18, 2 00 9.

Und er Co m cas t’s pe rs on ne l po li cy , an em pl oyee on in te rm it te nt FMLA le av e

m us t con ta ct Co m cas t’s Reso ur ce Man ag em en t Cent er (Reso ur ce Ce nt er) when th e

em pl oyee ne ed s to us e th e FMLA le av e. Bal la to cal le d th e Res ou rce Cen te r an d to ok

hi s firs t day of FMLA leav e on May 8, 20 09

, an d he co nt in ue d to ta ke FMLA leav e

f o r th e ne xt el ev en da y s. Dur in g th is ti m e Bal la to ’s m ot he r pa ss ed awa y, a n d h e

rece iv ed a week of pa id be reav em en t le av e st art in g on May 20

. The la st sh ift Bal la to

wor ke d fo r Co m cas t was on May 19, 2 00 9.

At hi s an nu al rev ie w, in Feb ru ary 20 09

, Bal la to ha d be en in fo rm ed he was no t

m eet in g Com cas t’s perfo rm an ce go al s and hi s sco res were to o lo w. Bal la to di d no t

ag ree wit h th e as se ss m en t an d be li ev ed it was un fai r. On Ju ne 1, 20 09

, Bal la to se nt

se ve ral em ai ls to Tot rin h Ph an , hi s hu m an res ou rce s r e p r es en ta ti ve , an d And rew

Pi on te k, hi s su pe rv is or , ex pr es si ng di ss at is fact io n wit h hi s job an d th e pr es su re he fel t

The Hon or ab le Jo hn R. Tun he im

, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e Dis tri ct 1

of Mi nn es ot a.

-2

-he was un de r. The fo ll owi ng da y , Bal la to m et wit h Ph an an d di sc us se d hi s

pe rfo rm an ce, di ss at is fact io n, an d whe th er he wou ld be ab le to co ll ect un em pl oym en t

b e n e fit s if he qu it

. Ph an to ld hi m th at if he qu it he m ig ht no t be ab le to r e c e i v e

un em pl oym en t b en efi ts

.

On Ju ne 3, Bal la to be ga n se nd in g a se rie s of em ai ls t o o t h e r em pl oyees–

in cl ud in g an em ai l to a vi ce p res id en t re qu es ti ng th at he “ st op se nd in g m e Co m cas t

pr op ag an da

, ” a n d an em ai l to th e pe rs on res po ns ib le fo r hi s pe rfo rm an ce rev ie w

accu si ng he r of di sm an tl in g th e Sp an is h de pa rtment. Bal la to al so at te m pt ed to se nd

a m as s em ai l to al l of th e cal l-c en te r em pl oyees, bu t Co m cas t’s em ai l syste m res tri ct s

acce ss to m as s em ai l li s t s a n d p r ev en te d hi s m es sa ge fro m be in g se nt

. The syste m

se nt Bal la to an em ai l no ti fy in g h i m o f t h e fai le d at te m pt

. Bal la to fo rward ed th e
syste m em ai l to Pi on te k an d as ke d hi m to s en d Bal la to ’s em ai l to th e cal l cen te r.

Howev er, Bal la to ’s ori gi na l em ai l was no t at ta ch ed to th e syste m em ai l, so Pio nt ek

was un ab l e to de te rm in e wha t Bal la to ha d at te m pt ed to se nd to th e cal l-c en te r

em pl oyees.

On Ju ne 4, Bal la to em ai le d Pi on te k an d as ke d, “ wha t’s m y st at us as a Co m cas t

em pl oyee? ” Pi on te k re pl ie d t ha t ev en in g, “ You are s ti ll em pl oyed b y Co m cas t an d

we lo ok fo rward to y ou r ret ur n.” Bal la to res po nd ed

, “ Tha t’s gr eat ! I can ’t wait to ge t

ba ck on th e p ho ne s t o t ru ly edu cat e o ur cu st om ers !”

Ph an rece iv ed se ve ral of Bal la to ’s em ai ls

, ei th er di r e c t l y fro m hi m or

fo rward ed to he r fro m ot he rs , an d sh e fo un d th em to be “ ve ry di st ur bi ng , co nc ern in g

em ai ls .” On th e m or ni ng of Fri da y , Ju ne 5, Ph an fo rward ed so m e of th e em ai ls to he r

su pe rv is or , Hum an Res ou rces Man ag er Ja m es Ran dl e, an d st at ed sh e wou ld arra ng e

to de a c ti va te Bal la to ’s acce ss to Co m cas t’s co m pu te r syste m s an d em ai l. Sh e al so

su gg es te d th at “ we co nt act hi m be fo re hi s sh ift st art ed [s ic ] to pu t hi m on ad m in pa y .”

-3

-Afte r rece iv in g th e fo rward ed em ai ls fro m Ph an , Ran dl e se nt an em ai l to a

di rect or an d a vi ce pr es id en t of hu m an res ou rces

. In th e em ai l, Ran dl e ex pr es se d hi s

co nc ern fo r th e “ he al th an d safe ty of th is em pl oyee . . . and ot he rs

. . . .” (el li ps es in

th e or ig in al ). Ran dl e wro te Bal la to di d no t se em st ab le an d su gg es te d th at th ey no ti fy

se c ur it y ab ou t th e si tu at io n. Co m cas t su bs eq ue nt ly de act iv at ed Bal la to ’s acce ss to

Co m cas t’s co m

pu te r syste m s an d t he bu il di ng

. Ran dl e al so cal le d B al la to twi ce o n

th e aft ern oo n of Ju ne 5 an d le ft Bal la to a vo ic em ai l as ki ng fo r a ret ur n call

. Bal la to

rece iv ed th e v oi cem ai l t ha t d ay , bu t d id no t ca ll Ran dl e b ack be cau se he was a frai d

Ran dl e h ad cal le d t o t erm in at e h im

.

Bal la to was sc he du le d to wor k fro m 4: 30 p.m

. to 1: 00 a.m

. on Ju n e 5

, 2 0 0 9

. Aro un d 3: 30 p.m ., Bal la to cal le d th e Res ou rce Cen te r to req ue st FMLA le av e fo r hi s

s h i f t t h a t ev en in g. Howev er, th e pe rs on at th e Res ou rce Cen te r co ul d no t fin d hi m

in th e at te nd a n ce syste m an d to ld Bal la to th at he sh ou ld ta lk to hi s su pe rv is or

. Bal la to di d no t at te m

pt to co nt act hi s su pe rv is or aft er he cal le d th e Res ou rce Cen te r.

Tha t aft ern oo n, Bal la to al so wen t to th e Co m cas t bu il di ng whe re he wor ke d.

W hi le ot he r Co m cas t em pl oyees ha d no tro ub le en te rin g, Bal la to ’s ba dg e di d no t

wor k. Una bl e to acce ss th e bu il di ng , he de ci de d to ret ur n ho m e. Bal la to di d no t as k

an y on e to as si st hi m wit h en te rin g th e bu il di ng , n or di d he cal l an y on e at Co m cas t

ab ou t t he is su e wit h h is ba dg e.

On Sat ur da y , Ju ne 6, 20 09

, Bal la to cal le d Ra n d l e ’s of fic e li ne

. He le ft a

m es sa ge st at in g he ha d sp ok en wit h an at to rn ey an d was ad vi se d to no t ha ve co nt act

wit h an y on e fro m Co m cas t. Bal la to al so req ue st ed “ th a t y ou ceas e an d de si st al l

co m m un ic at io n wi th m e.”

Bal la to be li ev ed he ha d be en fir ed by Co m cas t. Bal la to was sc he du le d to wor k

Ju ne 8 an d 9, bu t di d no t cal l in to req ue st FMLA le av e, co nt act an y on e at Co m cas t,

or sh ow up fo r ei th er sh ift

. On Ju ne 9, Bal l a t o se nt a le tt er to Ph an req ue st in g a

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-reas on fo r hi s te rm in at io n. Ph an rece iv ed th e le tt er th at da y an d no ti fie d Ran dl e. The

fo ll owi ng da y , Ph an ch eck ed th e at te nd an ce da ta ba se an d sa w Bal la to di d no t cal l in

o r s ho w up fo r hi s sh ift th ree da y s in a ro w—J un e 5, 8, an d 9. Und er Co mca s t ’s

at te nd an ce gu id el in es , t hr ee co ns ecu ti ve u ne xc us ed ab se nc es wit ho ut no ti fy in g th e depa rtment is co ns id ered “ job ab an do nm en t” an d Co m ca st w ill co nsi de r the em plo y ee

to ha ve vo lu nt ari ly resi gn ed

.

Ph an rece iv ed in st ru ct io ns to se nd Bal la to a le tt er no ti fy in g hi m of th e th re e
ab se nc es an d th at Co m cas t co ns id ered hi m to ha ve vo lu nt ari ly resi gn ed . Pha n s en t

th e le tt er Ju ne 11

. The le tt er al so in fo rm ed Bal la to hi s res ig na ti on was effe ct iv e Ju ne

10

, 20 09 an d pr ov id ed a ph on e nu m be r to cal l if he ha d a n y qu es ti on s. Bal la to

rece iv ed th e le tt er aro un d Ju ne 15

, bu t di d no t at te m pt to co nt act an y o n e fro m

Co m cas t to co nt es t hi s te rm in at io n or cl ari fy wha t ha pp en ed

. Hav in g no t he ard fro m

Bal la to , Com cas t o ffi ci al ly term in at ed hi s emplo y m en t o n J un e 2 4, 2 00 9.

On Au gu st 26 , 20 09 , Bal la to fil ed su it ag ai ns t Co m cas t al le gi ng in te rfer en ce

an d ret al ia ti on wit h hi s FMLA l e a v e

. In Nov em be r 20 10

, Co m cas t m ov ed fo r

su m m ary jud gm en t on bo th cl ai m s. The di st ric t co ur t gr an te d th e m ot io n an d is su ed

a jud gm en t on Ju ly 13

, 20 11

. Bal la to no w ap pe al s th e di st ric t co ur t’s jud gm en t

reg ard in g h is cla im

ba se d o n i nt erfe ren ce wi th hi s ri gh t t o o bt ai n F MLA le av e.

II . Disc us si on

“ W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t’s gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t de no vo .” Bac on

v. Hen ne pi n Cn ty

. Med

. Ct r. , 55 0 F.3 d 71 1, 71 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). “ Viewi ng th e

ev id en ce an d dr awin g al l in fere nc es in fav or o f t h e no n- m ov in g pa rty, su m m ary jud gm en t i s ap pr op ria te if t he re is no ge nu in e is su e of m at eri al fact an d t he m ov in g

pa rty is en ti tl ed to jud gm en t as a m a t te r of la w.” Id

. W e m ay affi rm th e di st ric t

co ur t’s jud gm en t b as ed on an y ev id en ce t ha t ap pe ars in th e rec or d. All en v. Uni te d

St at es , 59 0 F .3d 54 1, 5 44 (8t h C ir. 2 00 9)

.

-5

-The FMLA pr ov id es em pl oyees wit h twel ve wor k- week s of le av e du rin g an y
twel ve -m on th pe rio d if th ey ha ve a se rio us he al th co nd it io n th at m ak es th em un ab le

to pe rfo rm th e fu nc ti on s of th ei r po si ti on

. 29 U.S.C. § 26 12 (a)( 1) (D). The le av e m ay
be ta ke n in te rm it te nt ly if th ere is an ag reem en t wit h th e em pl oyer. Id

. § 26 12 (b )(1 ).

The FMLA reco gn iz es two types of cl ai m s by em pl oyee s: in te rfer en ce an d

ret al ia ti on

. Ph i l l i

ps v. Mat he ws , 54 7 F.3 d 90 5, 90 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). Bal la to on ly

ap pe al s th e gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t ag ai ns t hi s in te rfer en ce cl ai m

. Und er th e

st at ut e it is “ un la wfu l fo r an y em pl oyer to in te rfer e wit h, res tra in

, or de ny th e ex erci se

of or t h e a tt em

pt to ex erci se , an y rig ht pr ov id ed un de r [th e FMLA].” 29 U.S.C.
§ 26 15 (a)( 1)

. “ An em

pl oyee can pr ev ai l un de r an in te rfer en ce th eo ry if he was de ni ed

su bs ta nt iv e rig ht s un de r th e FMLA fo r a reas on co nn ect ed wit h hi s FMLA l e a v e

. ”

St al li ng s v

. H u ss man n Co rp

. , 44 7 F.3 d 10 41

, 10 50 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ). An em pl oyer

“ can no t us e t h e t a k in g of FMLA le av e as a ne ga ti ve fact or in em pl oym en t act io ns ,

su ch as h iri ng , pro m ot io ns or d is ci pl in ary act io ns ; n or can FMLA leav e be co un te d

un de r ‘no fau lt ’ at te n d a n c e po li ci es .” 29 C.F.R. § 82 5.2 20 (c). In te rfer en ce al so

in cl ud es “ m an ip ul a t i o n b y a co ve red em pl oyer to av oi d res po ns ib il it ie s un de r

FMLA.” 2 9 C .F.R. § 8 25 .22 0( b)

.

The in it ia l b ur de n o f pr oo f in an FMLA in te rfer en ce ca se is on th e em pl oyee

to “ ‘sho w on ly th at he or sh e was en ti tl ed to th e be ne fit de ni ed .’ ” St al li ng s , 44 7 F.3 d

at 10 50 (q uo ti ng Rus se ll v. N. Bro wa rd Hos p. , 34 6 F.3 d 13 35

, 13 40 (1 1t h Ci r.20 03 )).

Fo r an in te rfer en ce cl ai m , th e em pl oyer’s in te nt is im m at eri al

. Id.

Howev er, th e FMLA d o e s n ot im po se st ric t li ab il it y on em pl oyers fo r

in te rfer en ce cl ai m s. Th ro ne be rr y v. McGeh ee Des ha Cn ty

. Hos p. , 40 3 F.3 d 97 2, 97 7
(8 th Ci r. 20 05 ). If th ere ex is ts a sh owi ng of in te rfer en ce, t h e bu rd en sh ift s to th e

em pl oyer to pr ov e th ere was a reas on un rel at ed to th e em pl oyee’s ex erci se of FMLA
rig ht s fo r te rm in at in g th e em pl oyee. Id

. at 97 8– 79 ; 29 C.F.R. § 82 5.2 16 (a)( 1)

. “ An

em pl oyee who req ue st s FMLA le av e ha s no gr eat er pr ot ect io n ag ai ns t te rm in at io n fo r

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-reas on s un rel at ed to th e FMLA t h a n s h e d i d be fo re ta ki ng th e le av e.” Est ra da v.

Cyp re ss Se mico nd uc to r (Min n.) In c. , 61 6 F.3 d 86 6, 87 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ). If th e

em pl oyer can pr ov e th at it wou ld ha ve te rm in at ed th e em pl oyee ha d th e em

pl oyee no t

ex erci se d FMLA rig ht s, th e em pl oyer wil l no t be li ab le

. Th ro ne be rr y , 40 3 F.3 d at

97 7. The em

pl oyer is al so no t bo un d st ric tl y to th e reas on pr ov id ed to th e em pl oyee

fo r th e te rm in at io n. Se e Est ra da

, 61 6 F.3 d at 87 1– 72 (u ph ol di ng su m m ary jud gm en t

in fav or of th e em

pl oyer in an FMLA la wsu it whe re th e em pl oyer pr ov id ed a va li d

al te rn at iv e rat io na le fo r th e te rm in at io n, th ou gh di ffer en t fro m th e rat io na le gi ve n to

th e em pl oyee at t he ti m e o f te rm in at io n)

.

Bal la to arg ue s Co m cas t un la wfu ll y in te rfer ed wit h hi s FMLA rig ht s whe n th e

Res ou rce Cen te r fai le d to reco rd hi s requ es t for FMLA le av e on Ju ne 5, and he was

su bs eq ue nt ly te rm in at ed

, in pa rt, fo r no t cal li n g i n o r s h owi ng up fo r hi s sh ift th at

da y

. Co m cas t arg ue s th ey di d no t in t e r f e r e wit h hi s FMLA rig ht s be cau se th e

Res ou rce C e n t e r a sk ed Bal la to to co nt act hi s su pe rv is or an d, in th e al te rn at iv e, hi s

te rm in at io n was un rel at ed to th e ex erci se of h is FMLA ri gh ts

.

A s we ha ve ob se rv ed

, Bal la to st op pe d sh owi ng up fo r wor k or cal l i n g i n t o

req ue st FMLA le av e be cau se he in co rrec tl y be li ev ed Co m cas t ha d te rm in at ed hi s

em pl oym en t. As th e reco rd di sc lo se s, th is be li ef res te d on th e fact Bal la to was lo ck ed

ou t of Com cas t’s com

pu te r syste m s, he cou ld no t ent er the bu il di ng wit h hi s bad ge ,

an d a pe rs on at th e Res ou rce Cen te r to ld Bal la to hi s na m e co ul d no t be lo cat ed in th e

at te nd an ce reco rd

. Bal la to ’s arg um en t th at Co m cas t ’s co nd uc t in te rfer ed wit h hi s pl an ne d req ue st fo r FMLA le av e on Ju ne 5, 20 09

, ha s so m e in it ia l ap pe al

. Howev er,

ev en as su m in g Co m cas t’s co nd uc t was in te rfer en ce, Bal la to was no t fir ed on Ju ne 5

an d he st il l ha d th e res po ns ib il it y to cl a rif y th e si tu at io n, req ue st FMLA le av e, or
sh ow u p fo r hi s s ub se qu en t s hi fts

.

W hi le Bal la to be li ev ed he ha d bee n fire d from hi s em pl oym en t, he had m an y

op po rtu ni ti es to co rrec t th is erro ne ou s as su m pt io n. On th e ev en in g of Ju ne 4, Pi on te k

-7

-as su red Bal la t o t h a t h e s ti ll ha d a job at Co m cas t an d th ey lo ok ed fo rward to hi s

ret ur n. Ran dl e cal le d Bal la to twi ce on Ju ne 5 an d le ft a m es sa ge as ki n g B a l l a to to

cal l hi m ba ck

. Bal la to rece iv ed th e m es sa ge , bu t de cl in e d to ret ur n th e ph on e cal l.

W he n Bal la to di sc ov e r e d h e d id no t ha ve acce ss to th e bu il di ng , h e di d no t in qu ire

wit h an y on e why hi s ba dg e di d no t wor k, de sp it e se ei ng se ve ral Co m cas t em pl oyees

en te rin g an d le av in g th e bu il di ng

. He ne ve r at te m pt ed to cal l an yo n e t o c la rif y th e
si tu at io n. Ove r th e week en d, Bal la to cal le d Co m cas t on ly to le av e a m es sa ge th at he

ha d sp ok en to a la wy er an d t o re qu es t Co m cas t ce as e an d de si st al l co m m un ic at io n
wit h h im . Yet Bal la to fai le d to id en ti fy hi s la wy er, or pro vi de hi s l awy er’s ad dr es s

or ph on e n um

be r, cl os in g d own th at po te nt ia l ro ut e o f co m m un ic at io n.

Bal la to rece iv ed no co m

m un ic at io n fro m Co m cas t th at he ha d be en te rm in at ed

be fo re hi s ne xt sc he du le d sh ift on Ju ne 8. As of Ju ne 8, Co m cas t st il l co ns id ered hi m

an act iv e em

pl oyee. Bal la to

, ho wev er, st il l fai le d to cal l in or to at te m pt to sh ow up

fo r hi s Ju ne 8 sh ift , o r an y su bs eq ue nt sh ift

. Ba l l a t o d i d no t rece iv e th e le tt er fro m

Co m c a s t i n d ic at in g he ha d be en te rm in at ed un ti l aro un d Ju ne 15

. Yet ev en aft er

rece iv in g th e le tt er, Bal la to di d no t co nt act C o mca s t to co nt es t th e de ci si on or

ot he rwis e in qu ire why he ha d b een un ab le to req ue st hi s FM LA leav e.

Co ns is te nt wit h it s at te nd an ce po li cy , Co mca s t co ns id ered Bal la to to ha ve

vo lu nt ari ly res ig ne d fro m h i s po si ti on aft er he di d no t cal l in or sh ow up fo r th ree

co ns ecu ti ve sh ift s. Eve n ass um in g Com cas t in te rfer ed wit h B al la to ’s FMLA rig ht s

on Ju ne 5, Bal la to st il l ha d th e res po ns ib il it y to at te m pt to req ue st hi s in te rm it te n t

FMLA le av e, sh ow up fo r hi s sh ift

, or co nt act Co m cas t in so m e fas hi on to res ol ve an y

co n f u s i o n as to hi s st at us be fo re th e sh ift st art ed

. Co m cas t co ul d st il l co ns id er

Bal la to to ha ve vo lu nt ari ly resi gn ed fo r an y ot he r se rie s of thr ee co ns ecu ti ve sh ift s,

n o t in cl ud in g Ju ne 5, whe re Bal la to di d no t cal l in or sh ow up fo r wor k. By n o t

sh owi ng up or co nt act in g Co m cas t fo r hi s sh ift s on Ju ne 8, 9, an d 10

, Bal la to ’s fai lu re

to act se rv ed as a res ig na ti on of hi s em pl oym en t un de r Co m cas t’s at te nd an ce po li cy

. Fi na ll y , Ph an no te d th e at te n d a n c e s yst em of th e Res ou rce Cen te r is co m pl et el y

-8

-se pa rat e fro m th e h um an res ou rces syste m an d n o e vi de nc e ex is ts in th e reco rd th at

th e de ci si on m ak ers in vo lv ed wit h Bal la to ’s te rm in at io n ha d kn owl ed ge of Bal la to ’s

wis h t o t ak e FMLA l eav e o n J un e 5

.

II I. Co ncl us io n

Viewi ng th e fact s in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Bal la to

, th e se rie s of ev en ts th at

le d to hi s te rm in at io n do no t po rtr ay a sm oo th fir in g pr oc es s. Howev er, th ey al so do

no t sh ow in te rfer en ce wit h Bal la to ’s FMLA right s. Bal la to ’s un il at eral de te rm in at io n

th at he was fir ed di d no t ex cu se hi m fro m hi s res p on si bi li ty to ret ur n Co m cas t’s
ph on e cal ls or ot he rwis e co nf irm hi s em

pl oym en t st at us be

fo re he st op pe d sh owi ng

u p t o w or k or cal li ng in to req ue st ad di ti on al FMLA le av e. Bal la to ha d m an y

op po rtu ni ti es to co rrec t hi s m is pe rcep ti on th at he ha d be en te rm in at ed be fo re m is si ng

th ree co n s e c u t i v e wor k sh ift s. The reco rd in th is cas e do es no t su pp or t Bal la to ’s

cl ai m of in te rfer en ce ag ai ns t Co m cas t, an d th eref or e, w e a f

f i rm th e de ci si on of th e
di st ric t co ur t.

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