### F I LE D U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E LEVE NTH CI RCUI T A ugus t 30, 2005 T HOM AS K. KAHN C L E RK [ 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. 04- 10629

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 2 - 0 1 6 8 3 - CV - T- 2 7 - TBM C R I S D ’A N G E L O , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s C O N A G R A F O O D S , I N C ., d. b. a. S i ng l et on S ea food F l ori da S e a M e r id ia n P r o d u c ts , 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

_________________________ ( A u gu s t 30, 2005) B efo re B L A C K , M A R C U S an d F A Y , C i rcu i tJu d g es. M A R C U S , C i rc ui tJudg e: A pp el l antC ri s D ’ A ng el o, w ho suff er s f rom vert i go , sued her f

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em pl oyer , C on A gra F oo ds, Inc. , (“ C on A gra” ) a rgui ng thatshe w as t erm i nat ed f r om he rj ob a s a pr oduc ttr a ns por t e ron the ba s i s of a di s abi l i ty , i n vi ol a t i on of T i t l e I of the A m e r i c a ns w i th D i s abi l i t i e s A c t( A D A ) . D ’ A nge l o m a i nt a i ns tha ts he i s di sabl ed un der the A D A bo th b ec ause she s uffe rs fr om an i m pai rm ent-- her vert i go cond i t i on -- thatsubst ant i al l y l i m i t s herabi l i ty t o p er form the m aj or l i fe funct i on of w orki ng , and b ec ause her e m pl oyerre garded her as suff er i ng fr om such a n im p a ir m e n t. T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t g r a n te d s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t f o rC o n A g r a o n b o th is s u e s . W e now a f

f i r m a s t o the f

or m e r , s i nc e D ’ A nge l o’ s ve r t i go pr e ve nt s he ronl y f r om h o ld in g a n a rr o w c a te g o ry o f jo b s a n d th u s d o e s n o t s u b s ta n tia lly im p a irh e rab ility t o w ork. W e r ever se , ho w ever , as t o D ’ A ng el o’ s c l ai m thatshe w as re garded as ha vi ng s uc h a n i m pa i r m e nt . T he r e a r e ge nui ne i s s ue s of m a t e r i a l f

a c tc onc e rni ng w h e th e rC o n A g r a r e g a r d e d D ’A n g e lo a s d is ab le d a n d w h e th e rs h e w a s ab le to p e r f o rm th e e s s e n tia l f

u n c tio n s o f

h e rjo b in s p ite o f

h e rv e r tig o c o n d itio n . M o r e o v e r , w e c o n c lu d e th a t th e A D A , b y its p la in la n g u a g e , r e q u ir e s e m p lo y e r s to p r o v id e r e a s o n ab le a c c o m m o d a tio n s f o re m p lo y e e s th e y r e g a r d a s d is ab le d . A c c or di ngl y , w e a f

f i r m i n pa r t , r e ve r s e i n pa r t , a nd r e m a nd f orf ur the rpr oc e e di ngs c o n s is te n t w ith th is o p in io n . I.3

T h e e s s e n tia l f

a c ts a r e th e s e . C r is D ’A n g e lo b e g a n w o r k in g f o rC o n A g r a , in i t s S i ng l et on S ea food (“ S i ng l et on ”) proces si ng pl ant , i n O ct ob er19 98 . S he w as hi r e d a s a “ s pr e a de r ” - - a n e ntry - l e ve l pos i t i on r e qui r i ng he rt o s t a nd a ta m ovi ng c o n v e y o rb e lt ( c a lle d th e “s p r e a d e rb e lt” ) a n d s p r e a d s h r im p w ith h e rf in g e r s to pr e ve nti tf

r om s t i c ki ng t oge the r . S he a l s o w or ke d a tt i m e s a s a “ pa c ke r , ” pa c ki ng s h r im p in to b o x e s . D ’A n g e lo w a s p r o m o te d tw ic e d u r in g h e rte n u r e a t S in g le to n . F i rs t , i n F ebruary19 99 , she w as prom ot ed t o the po si t i on of “ st ac ker, ” w hi ch r e qui r e d he rt o t a ke s e a l e d boxe s of f of a m a c hi ne a nd s t a c k the m ont o a pa l l e tf or a f or kl i f tope r a t or . D ’ A nge l o w a s the n pr om ot e d t o the pos i t i on of “ tr a ns por t e r ” or “p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te r ” in M a r c h 2 0 0 0 . A s a tr a n s p o r te r , s h e f ille d b o x e s w ith shri m p and tra nspo rt ed them ar ou nd the pl antusi ng a pal l etj ac k o r by hand. In a ddi t i on, s he pe r f

or m e d va r i ous othe rt a s ks i nc l udi ng f or m i ng, pa c ki ng, a nd st ack i n g b o x es. D ’ A nge l o w a s i ni t i a l l y e m pl oy e d i n S i ngl e t on’ s “ s hr i m p di vi s i on, ” unt i l s he w a s tr a n s f

e rr e d to th e “f

is h d iv is io n ” a r o u n d J u n e 2 0 0 0 , w h e r e s h e c o n tin u e d to w ork as atra nspo rt er . U po n tra nsfe rr i ng t o the fi sh di vi si on , D ’ A ng el o t ol d h er s upe r vi s ortha ts he w a s a pr oduc ttr a ns por t e ra nd e xpl a i ne d: “ I c a n do a ny thi ng e xc e ptw or k ove rthe s pr e a de rbe c a us e w he n I s t a nd the r e s t a r i ng a ti tf ora ny pe r i od of t i m e , I s t a r tge tt i ng s i c k a nd di z z y . ” A s a tr a ns por t e ri n the f i s h di vi s i on,4

D ’ A nge l o s t a c ke d; pul l e d pa l l e t s w i th a j a c k; pa c ke d; w or ke d i n a n a r e a above the p la n t f lo o rc a lle d “th e tr ia n g le ” m a k in g s u r e th a t f is h tr a v e lin g d o w n a c h u te d id notc l og the m a c hi ne s ; w e i ghe d pr oduc t ; a nd “ onc e ortw i c e ” w or ke d on the boxf o r m e rm a c h i n e a n d th e s a w. G en eral l y, w h en D ’ A n g el o cam e t o w o rk sh e w as assi g n ed a p art i cu l ar d u ty, w hi c h s he pe r f

or m e d thr oughouthe re nt i r e s hi f t . O n oc c a s i on, how e ve r , s he a nd other e m pl oyee s w er e a sked t o ass i stw i th o ther dut i es . T he em pl oyee kn ow n as th e “lin e le a d e r ” a s s ig n e d th e p a r tic u la rjo b th a t a n e m p lo y e e w a s r e q u ir e d to perf orm . T he avai l abl e j ob s i n the fi sh di vi si on i ncl ud ed st ac ker, prod uct tr a n s p o r te r , s a w o p e r a to r , s te in o p e r a to r , c h e c k e r , f o r k lif t d r iv e r , a r e a s p e c ia lis t, lin e le a d e r , m a c h in e o p e r a to r , p a c k e r , a n d s p r e a d e r . E a c h jo b w a s c la s s if ie d a t a part i cul arl evel betw ee n I and V -- prod ucttra nspo rt er , for e xam pl e, w as L evel II I -

- a nd e m pl oy e e s w e r e c ons i de r e d qua l i f i e d t o w or k i n a ny pos i t i on a torbe l ow the l e ve l of the i row n j ob. I n S e pt e m be r1998, s hor t l y be f or e s he be ga n w or ki ng a tS i ngl e t on, D ’ A nge l o w a s di a gnos e d w i th ve r t i go. S he a w oke one m orni ng a nd, s he e xpl a i ne d, “ e ve ry thi ng w a s s pi nni ng, . . . I c oul dn’ te ve n l i f tm y he a d up. I gotup a nd tr i e d t o . . . w a l k, a nd I w a s thr ow i ng up. ” S he w a s tr e a t e d by a doc t or , w ho pr e s c r i be d the a nt i - ve r t i go m e di c a t i on A nt i ve r t , a pr e s c r i pt i on D ’ A nge l o s a y s s he5

d id n o t f ill b e c a u s e s h e s ta r te d to f e e l b e tte r . D ’A n g e lo d id n o t m e n tio n h e rc o n d itio n w h e n s h e w a s h ir e d a t S in g le to n . S ever al m on ths i nt o h erj ob , ho w ever , D ’ A ng el o exp er i ence d epi sodes of ver t i go at w ork, and i nform ed her co-w orkers and sup ervi sor thatw orki ng ov erthe spre ader be l tw a s m a ki ng he rf

e e l s i c k a nd di z z y . A tt i m e s , D ’ A nge l o e xpl a i ne d tha ts he suff er ed fr om vert i go , and o ther t i m es she t ol d p eopl e onl y thatthe w ork m ade her di z z y a nd s i c k. D ’ A nge l o onl y be c a m e s i c k w or ki ng on the s pr e a de rbe l tw he n s he ha d “ t o s t a r e a ttha tm ovi ng be l t . ” S he e xpl a i ne d: “ I f i t ’ s a be l tw he r e y ou’ r e not s ta r in g a t it c o n tin u o u s ly , y o u ’r e lo o k in g a w a y s o m e tim e s , . . . th a t’s n o t a p r o b le m . O rif

it’s m o v in g n e a rm e b u t I ’m n o t m o n ito r in g it, th a t’s n o t a p r o b le m .” T h e o n ly p r o b le m f o rh e rw a s w h e n s h e h a d to s ta r e a t th e b e lt “[ c ]o n tin u o u s ly w ith o u t a b r e a k .” D ’ A nge l o’ s ve r t i go c ondi t i on r e s ur f a c e d i n S e pt e m be r2001 - - a y e a ra nd a h a lf in to h e rte n u r e a s a p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te r- - w h e n a n e w s u p e r v is o r , H ip o lito M endo za , as si gn ed her t o m on i t or a c on veyor bel tkn ow n as the “ bo x-form erbel t . ” T hi s j ob , as D ’ A ng el o d es cr i bed i t , ent ai l ed “ w at chi ng the bo xes go . . . i n a l i ne” t o m ake s ure they w er e f orm ed prop er l y a nd no tm angl ed. T hi s w as a t as k that D ’ A nge l o ha d ne ve rpr e vi ous l y pe r f or m e d, a nd doi ng i t , s he e xpl a i ne d: I s t a r t [ e d] f

e e l i ng l i ke I ha ve a f

e ve r , a nd I s t a r t [ e d] f

e e l i ng s or tof lig h t- h e a d e d a n d o f

f b a la n c e a n d n a u s e o u s . . . . I w a n te d to try to6

m a ke i tw or k, butI f

e l tm y s e l f

ge tt i ng s i c k, a nd I thought , “ I t ’ s not w or th i t . ” A nd I w oul d try t o l ook a w a y , y ou know . I f I c a n s t a nd ov eron e of these bel t s a nd be l oo ki ng aw ay a l ot , i t s okay, bu tt o st ar e cont i nu ou sl y a ti ti s w hatget s m e s i ck. A nd the nature of the bo xes c om i ng dow n the l i ne , y ou ha ve t o s t a r e c ont i nuous l y be c a us e i f y ou do n’ tyou m i gh tm i ss on e. D ’A n g e lo to ld h e rlin e le a d e r , D a r le n e , th a t m o n ito r in g th e b o x - f o r m e rb e lt w a s m a k in g h e rs ic k a n d d iz z y , a n d a s k e d f o ra d if f e r e n t w o r k a s s ig n m e n t. D ar l ene t ol d D ’ A ng el o t o g o m ake box es , w hi ch D ’ A ng el o d i d u nt i l M endo za i ns truc t e d he rt o r e turn t o the c onve y orbe l t . D ’ A nge l o e xpl a i ne d tha tthe conv ey or bel tm ade her s i ck, and M endo zaas ked for “ do cum ent at i on ” of her c o n d itio n . A pp roxi m at el y aw ee k l at er , D ’ A ng el o g ave M endo zaa c op y of her p rescri p t i o n fo r A n t i v ert . T h en , o n S ep t em b er 2 0 , 2 0 0 1 , sh e g av e T h o m as C o rd y, the pl a ntm a na ge r , a not e f r om D r . A r thurE . H e ng, w hi c h s t a t e d: T hi s pa t i e nts houl d notw or k m or e tha n 5 ni ght s a w e e k be c a us e of h e rm e d ic a l c o n d itio n . A ls o , s h e h a s a v e r tig o c o n d itio n . T h is a f f e c ts he rw he n he re y e s ha ve t o l ook a tm ovi ng obj e c t s s uc h a s be l t s . S he s h o u ld a v o id th is s itu a tio n s in c e it c o u ld c a u s e h e rto f a ll a n d s u s ta in i n j u ry. D ’ A nge l o e xpl a i ne d i n he rde pos i t i on tha tthe r e s tr i c t i on on the num be rof da y s s he c oul d w or k w a s unr e l a t e d t o he rve r t i go c ondi t i on, butr a the rw a s a r e s ul tof a bout w ith h e p a titis a n d a p r o lo n g e d c a s e o f th e f lu . A f t e rr e c e i vi ng the doc t or ’ s not e , C or dy m e tw i th S i ngl e t on’ s V i c e P r e s i de ntD’ Ang e lo alsoc ontin ue d tobetre ate d b y

Dr . H e ng , who wroteher a se c on d n otein 1 J anu ary 2 0 0 2 , s t at i n g: This person should not work morethan 5 nights a week beca use of her medical c on dition . Patient i s a

bleto w or

k a roun d me c ha

nize d e quipm e nt, but is un a bleto wo rk at a c onveyor be lt f or a longperi od

of tim edu eto v e rtig o, be c a us eit c ould 7 of H um a n R e s our c e s , M a r k R i c ha r d Y a t e s , t o di s c us s w he the rthe r e w e r e a ny a va i l abl e pos i t i ons tha tw oul d notr e qui r e D ’ A nge l o t o l ook a ta nd w or k a r ound m ovi ng e qui pm e nts uc h a s c onve y orbe l t s . T he y de t e r m i ne d tha tno s uc h pos i t i ons w er e a vai l abl e. T he ne xtda y , D ’ A nge l o w a s t e r m i na t e d. C or dy ga ve he ra l e tt e rof t e r m i na t i on, da t e d S e pt e m be r21, 2001, s t a t i ng:

Y ou r not e f

rom D oct or H eng, pres ent ed t o m e on S ept em ber 20 , 20 01 , w as the fi rs tei ther the H um an R es ou rc es D epar tm entor I w a s m a de a w a r e of

y ourm e di c a l c ondi t i on. W e ha ve e va l ua t e d y ourpos i t i on a s i tr e l a t e s t o the r e s tr i c t i ons tha tD oc t orH e ng ha s pl a c e d upon y ou. U nf or tuna t e l y , y ourpos i t i on a s a pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rr e qui r e s y ou t o w or k a r ound m ovi ng c onve y or s a nd m e c ha ni z e d e qui pm e nt . T hi s i s a n i nt e gr a l por t i on of the po si t i on . A dd i t i on al l y, ov ert i m e i s are qu i re m entre qu i ri ng w ork f orm or e tha n f

i ve ( 5) ni ght s pe rw e e k; thi s t oo i s a n i nt e gr a l pa r tof the j ob. B a s e d upon the r e s tr i c t i ons tha tha ve be e n pl a c e d upon y ou by your ph ys i ci an, w e a re un abl e t o al l ow you t o con t i nu e t o w ork at S i ngl e t on S e a f

ood be c a us e y ou pos e a s a f e ty ha z a r d t o y our s e l f

a nd yo u r co -w o rk ers. A ft er h er d i sch arg e, D ’ A n g el o fi l ed a u n i o n g ri ev an ce, al l eg i n g u n j u st t erm i nat i on . S he never re ce i ved a res po nse. 1c a

u s eh e r t o f al lan d s u s t ai nani n

j ur y. D’Ang elo’s ver

tigo c ondition persisted, and she be g an takingthe medication Meclizi ne to treat it. The district cour

t corre ctly

observe d that disability-discrimination claims under the 2 Florida Civil Rights Act a

re a naly zed under the same fra

mework a s ADA c laims, see Chanda v. Eng leha rd /I CC, 23 4 F .3 d 1 21 9, 12 21 (1 1th Cir . 2 00 0) , a

nd c on side re d b oth

se ts o f c laims together. 8 D ’ A nge l o f

i l e d s ui ta ga i ns tC onA gr a i n the U ni t e d S t a t e s D i s tr i c tC our tf or the M i dd l e D i stri ctof F l ori da on S ept em ber 16, 20 02 . D ’ A ng el o al l eged that t erm i nat i ng her - - r ather than reas on abl y a cc om m od at i ng her by e xem pt i ng her fro m w o rk i n g o n th e sp read er b el tan d th e b o x -fo rm er b el t-- co n st i tu t ed d i sab i l i tybase d d i sc ri m i nat i on , bo th b ec ause she w as ac tual l y di sabl ed as a r es ul tof her ve r t i go c ondi t i on a nd be c a us e he re m pl oy e rr e ga r de d he ra s di s abl e d, i n vi ol a t i on of the A m e r i c a ns w i th D i s abi l i t i e s A c t( A D A ) , 42 U . S . C . §§ 12101 e ts e q. , a nd pa r a l l e l pr ovi s i ons of

the F l or i da C i vi l R i ght s A c t , F l a . S t a t . § 760. 01 e ts e q. S oon 2 there af t er , C on A gra m ov ed for s um m ary j ud gm ent , ar gu i ng thatD ’ A ng el o w as nei ther di sabl ed no r r egar ded as di sabl ed w i thi n the m ea ni ng of the A D A , and t hat she w as no ta “ qu al i fi ed i nd i vi du al ” s i nce s he w as un abl e t o p er form the es se nt i al f unc t i ons of

he rj ob. T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t g r a n te d s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t f o rC o n A g r a . A s to D ’ A ng el o’ s a rgum entthatshe w as ac tual l y di sabl ed, the courtfoun d thatshe w as no t , si nce her vert i go cond i t i on di d n otsi gn i fi ca nt l y l i m i ther i n the m aj or l i fe9

act i v i ty o f w o rk i n g . A s t o D ’ A n g el o ’ s arg u m en tth atsh e w as “ reg ard ed as” di s abl e d by C onA gr a , the di s tr i c tc our tde t e r m i ne d ( 1) tha tthe r e e xi s t e d a ge nui ne i s s ue of m a t e r i a l f

a c tc onc e rni ng w he the rC onA gr a r e ga r de d he ra s di s abl e d, but ( 2 ) s o m e o n e w h o is m e r e ly “r e g a r d e d a s ” d is ab le d ( a s o p p o s e d to a c tu a lly di s abl e d) i s note nt i t l e d t o a r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on unde rthe A D A , a nd ( 3) even i f r egar ded-as pl ai nt i ff s w er e e nt i t l ed t o such accom m od at i on , D ’ A ng el o w as n o t a “q u a lif

ie d in d iv id u a l” a n y w a y , s in c e e v e n w ith a n a c c o m m o d a tio n , s h e c o u ld n o t p e r f o r m th e e s s e n tia l jo b f

u n c tio n s o f

a p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te r , o n e o f w h ic h is w o r k in g o n a c o n v e y o rb e lt. Iti s fro m th i s o rd er o f fi n al su m m ary j u d g m en tth atD ’ A n g el o n o w ap p eal s. II . D ’ A ng el o m akes three general ar gu m ent s on app ea l . F i rs t , she c on t ends that the di stri ctcourti m prop er l y c on cl ud ed she w as no tac tual l y di sabl ed, si nce her vert i go cond i t i on i s a n i m pai rm entthatsubst ant i al l y l i m i t s herabi l i ty t o p er form the m aj or l i fe funct i on of w orki ng . S ec on d, she c l ai m s thatthe di stri ctcourterre d in d e te r m in in g th a t th e A D A d o e s n o t r e q u ir e e m p lo y e r s to m a k e r e a s o n ab le ac com m od at i on s f

or i nd i vi du al s r egar ded as di sabl ed. F i nal l y, D ’ A ng el o say s that th e d is tr ic t c o u r t in c o rr e c tly f o u n d th a t s h e w a s n o t a q u a lif ie d in d iv id u a l ab le to perf orm her e ss ent i al j ob funct i on s, si nce there i s agenu i ne i ss ue of m at er i al fa ct10

as t o w hether w orki ng on a c on veyor bel ti s a n ess ent i al funct i on of the prod uct tr a ns por t e rpos i t i on. W e r e vi e w the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s gr a ntof s um m a ry j udgm e ntde novo, vi e w i ng th e m a te r ia ls p r e s e n te d a n d d r a w in g a ll f a c tu a l in f

e r e n c e s in a lig h t m o s t f a v o r ab le t o the non- m ovi ng pa r ty . B oc he s e v. T ow n of P onc e I nl e t , 405 F . 3d 964, 975 ( 11th C i r . 2005) . S um m a ry j udgm e nti s pr ope r l y gr a nt e d w he n “ the r e i s no ge nui ne i s s ue a s t o a ny m a t e r i a l f a c t ” a 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 ). “ T he m ov antbear s the bu rden o f d em o n strat i n g th e sat i sfact i o n o f th i s st an d ard , b y p resen t i n g ‘ p l ead i n g s, de pos i t i ons , a ns w e r s t o i nt e rr oga t or i e s , a nd a dm i s s i ons on f i l e , t oge the rw i th the af fi davi t s, i f a ny’ thates t abl i sh the abse nce of any genui ne, m at er i al fa ctual d is p u te .” B o c h e s e , 4 0 5 F .3 d a t 9 7 5 ( q u o tin g F e d . R . C iv . P . 5 6 ( c ) ) . A. W e be gi n ourr e vi e w of D ’ A nge l o’ s c l a i m s w i th a n ove r vi e w of the r e l e va nt pr ovi s i ons of

the A m e r i c a ns w i th D i s abi l i t i e s A c t . T he A D A ’ s ge ne r a l pr ohi bi t i on o n d i sab i l i ty-b ased d i scri m i n at i o n u n am b i g u o u sl y says: N o cov er ed ent i ty s hal l di sc ri m i nat e a gai nsta qual i fi ed i nd i vi du al w i th a di sabi l i ty bec ause of the di sabi l i ty of s uch i nd i vi du al i n regard t o j ob appl i c a t i on pr oc e dur e s , the hi r i ng, a dva nc e m e nt , ordi s c ha r ge of em p l o yees, em p l o yee co m p en sat i o n , j o b trai n i n g , an d o th er t erm s, c o n d itio n s , a n d p r iv ile g e s o f e m p lo y m e n t.11

4 2 U .S .C . § 1 2 1 1 2 ( a ) . T he A D A proceeds t o i dent i fy three types of “ di sabi l i ty” thatpl ac e a n i n d i v i d u al w i th i n th e st atu t e’ s p ro t ect i o n s: T he t erm “ di sabi l i ty” m ea ns, w i th res pectt o an i nd i vi du al -- ( A ) a phy s i c a l orm e nt a l i m pa i r m e nttha ts ubs t a nt i a l l y l i m i t s one or m o r e o f th e m a jo rlif e a c tiv itie s o f

s u c h in d iv id u a l; ( B ) a r e c or d of

s uc h a n i m pa i r m e nt ; or ( C ) b e in g r e g a r d e d a s h a v in g s u c h a n im p a ir m e n t. I d . § 1 2 1 0 2 ( 2 ) . T h e st atu t e p ro t ect s, h o w ev er, o n l y q u al i fi ed i n d i v i d u al s w i th d i sab i l i t i es, w h o are d efi n ed th i s w ay: T he t erm “ qu al i fi ed i nd i vi du al w i th a di sabi l i ty” m ea ns an i nd i vi du al w i th a di sabi l i ty w ho , w i th o r w i tho utre as on abl e a cc om m od at i on , ca n perf orm the es se nt i al funct i on s of the em pl oym entpo si t i on thatsuch in d iv id u a l h o ld s o rd e s ir e s . I d. § 12111( 8) ; s e e a l s o, e . g. , D a vi s v. F l a . P ow e r& L i ghtC o. , 205 F . 3d 1301, 13 05 (11t h C i r. 20 00 ). A n em p l o yer’ s fai l u re t o m ak e reaso n ab l e acco m m o d at i o n fo r an o th erw i se qu al i fi ed di sabl ed em pl oyee const i tut es di sc ri m i nat i on un der the A D A , w hi ch s ta te s , in p e r tin e n t p a r t: T he t erm “ di sc ri m i nat e” i ncl ud es --

. . . .12

(5)( A ) notm aki ng re as on abl e a cc om m od at i on s t o the kn ow n p hysi ca l orm e nt a l l i m i t a t i ons of a n othe rw i s e qua l i f

i e d i ndi vi dua l w i th a d is ab ility . . . . 42 U . S . C . § 12112( b) ; s e e a l s o L uc a s v. W . W . G r a i nge r , I nc . , 257 F . 3d 1249, 1255 (11t h C i r. 20 01 ) ( “ A n em pl oyerun l aw ful l y di sc ri m i nat es agai nsta qual i fi ed in d iv id u a l w ith a d is ab ility w h e n th e e m p lo y e rf a ils to p r o v id e ‘r e a s o n ab le a c c om m oda t i ons ’ f

orthe di s abi l i ty - - unl e s s doi ng s o w oul d i m pos e undue hardshi p o n the em pl oyer . ”) . T hus , t o e s t abl i s h a pr i m a f a c i e c a s e of

e m pl oy m e ntdi s c r i m i na t i on unde rthe A D A , a p l ai n t i ff m u std em o n strat e “ th at(1 ) h e h as a d i sab i l i ty, (2 ) h e i s a

‘ qua l i f i e d i ndi vi dua l , ’ w hi c h i s t o s a y , abl e t o pe r f or m the e s s e nt i a l f

unc t i ons of

the e m p lo y m e n t p o s itio n th a t h e h o ld s o rs e e k s w ith o rw ith o u t r e a s o n ab le a c c o m m o d a tio n , a n d ( 3 ) th e d e f e n d a n t u n la w f

u lly d is c r im in a te d a g a in s t h im because of the di sabi l i ty. ” R ee d v . T he H ei l C o. , 20 6 F . 3d 10 55 , 10 61 (11t h C i r. 2000) ; s e e a l s o, e . g. , L uc a s , 257 F . 3d a t1255. B. D ’ A nge l o f

i r s ta r gue d i n di s tr i c tc our ttha ts he ha d a “ di s abi l i ty ” both i n the s e n s e d e f in e d in § 1 2 1 0 2 ( 2 ) ( A ) - - a n a c tu a l p h y s ic a l im p a ir m e n t s u b s ta n tia lly l i m i t i ng her i n a m aj or l i fe ac t i vi ty - - a nd i n the se nse def i ned i n § 12 10 2(2)(C ) - -

“ b ei n g reg ard ed as h av i n g su ch an i m p ai rm en t . ” (W e w i l l refer to D ’ A n g el o ’ s §As an initial matter, ConAgra a rgues that D’Ang elo aba

ndoned her

actual-impairment 3 claim on appe al, since shedid not clearly asser t it in her openingbrief. A lthough the primary fo c us of D’ Ang e lo’ s initi al brie f i s undou bte dly her re g arde d- a s c laim, wefind her ac tualimp air ment c laim ade qu ate ly

-- albe it ina

rt fully -- raise d o n a

pp e al. D ’Ang e lo a ssert s at le a st twice in her

initial brief that she suff

ere d from a disa

bility , which wa s the basis for her firing . See B r. at 12 (“ The re cord evidencewas suff icient to lead a

rea sonable jury

to conclude that APPELLANT’S physical disability was the likely

motivational factor in APPELLANT’S terminatio n. ” ); B r. at 27 (“ [A] re a so na blejur y c ould e a sily

inf e r t hat APPELLAN T’ S di sa

bil ity was a fac tor in the termination of APPELLANT . . . .” ). More over, in re sponse to ConAgra’ s abandonment argument, D’Ang elo, in her reply brief, c larifies that she did not intend to waive thi s c laim. D’ Ang e lo f

ile d h e r a pp e llatebrie fspro s e , a

nd wethink it a pp ropriate , in

thi s c a se , to a dd re ss h e r ac tual- imp air

ment c laim, pa

rticula rly sin c ewehavelittletrou

blec on c ludingthat it fails on themerits. 13 1 2 1 0 2 ( 2 ) ( A ) c l a i m a s h e r“ a c tu a l - i mp a i rme n t ” c l a i m, a n d t o h e r§ 1 2 1 0 2 ( 2 ) ( C) c la im a s h e r“r e g a r d e d - a s ” c la im .) 3 D ’ A nge l o’ s a c tua l - i m pa i r m e ntc l a i m i s s i m pl y tha the rve r t i go c ondi t i on c ons t i tut e d a n i m pa i r m e nttha ts ubs t a nt i a l l y l i m i t e d he rabi l i ty t o pe r f or m the m a j orl i f e a c t i vi ty of

w or ki ng. S he e xpl a i ne d: I t ’ s notpos s i bl e t o f

unc t i on nor m a l l y dur i ng a ve r t i go a tt a c k. F or A pp el l antsuch epi sodes have been as shortas se vera l se cond s a nd as l on g as s ever al w ee ks. M edi ca t i on for vert i go has s om et i m es st op ped the sy m pt om s a nd som et i m es has not . S om e m edi ca t i on adm i ni st er ed f o rv e r tig o h a s b e e n a s d is ab lin g a s th e v e r tig o its e lf . R e p ly B r . a t 1 . T he di s tr i c tc our tc orr e c t l y c onc l ude d tha tD ’ A nge l o’ s ve r t i go doe s not qua l i f y a s a n a c tua l - i m pa i r m e ntdi s abi l i ty unde rthe A D A , s i nc e i tdoe s not

“ s ubs t a nt i a l l y l i m i t [ ] one orm or e of the m a j orl i f e a c t i vi t i e s ” of

D ’ A nge l o. 42 U .S .C . § 1 2 1 0 2 ( 2 ) ( A ) . D ’A n g e lo s a y s th a t h e rv e r tig o c o n d itio n s u b s ta n tia llyAs weno te d re c e ntly in C arr uth e rs : 4 The SupremeCourt more re cently has expressed its reluc tanceto treat impairment of one’ s ability

to work as a

n ADA disability . See Toyota Motor Mfg ., Ky ., Inc. v. Wil liams, 534 U.S. 184, 200, 122 S . Ct. 681, 692, 151 L . Ed. 2d 615 (2002) (“B eca use of the c onceptual difficulties inherent in the argument that working could be a

major life activity , we have been hesitant to hold as much, and weneed no t de c idethi s dif

fi c ult qu e sti on today .” ). Pre vious ly, h ow e ver, thi s c irc uit ha s, followingthe ADA regulations and Sutton’s [ below]-quoted languag e, tre ated the activity of workingas a ma

jor life ac tivity . See, e.g ., Cash v. Smith, 231 F.3d 1301, 1306 ([11th C ir. ]2000); Gordon v. E.L . Hamm &Assocs., Inc., 100 F .3d 907, 911-12 (11th Cir. 1996). In the absence of a moreexpli cit direc tive from the Supreme Court, wedo not revisit that conclusion here . Carruthers, 357 F.3d a

t 1216 n.2. 14 i m pai rs her abi l i ty t o w ork, w hi ch w e have consi st ent l y tre at ed as a m aj or l i fe a c tiv ity . S e e , e .g ., C a rru th e r s v . B S A A d v e r ., I n c ., 3 5 7 F .3 d 1 2 1 3 , 1 2 1 6 & n .2 ( 11th C i r . 2004) . T he pr obl e m i s tha ts he ha s nots how n a ge nui ne i s s ue of 4 m a te r ia l f

a c t a s to w h e th e rh e rv e r tig o s u b s ta n tia lly lim its h e rab ility to w o r k . T he S up re m e C ou rthas e xp l ai ned t hat“ [w ] hen t he m aj or l i fe ac t i vi ty und er co n si d erat i o n i s th ato f w o rk i n g , th e st atu t o ry p h rase ‘ su b st an t i al l y l i m i t s’ req u i res, a ta m i ni m um , tha tpl a i nt i f f s a l l e ge the y a r e unabl e t o w or k i n a br oa d c l a s s of j o b s . ” Su tt o n v . Un i t e d Ai rLi n e s , I n c . , 5 2 7 U. S. 4 7 1 , 4 9 1 , 1 1 9 S. Ct . 2 1 3 9 , 1 4 4 L. E d. 2d 450 ( 1999) . I nde e d, the E qua l E m pl oy m e ntO ppor tuni ty C om m i s s i on (E E O C ) r egul at i on s i nt erpret i ng the A D A m ake i tabun dant l y c l ea r thatan in d iv id u a l’s ab ility to w o rk is “s u b s ta n tia lly lim ite d ” w h e n th e in d iv id u a l is

“ si gn i fi ca nt l y r es tri ct ed i n the abi l i ty t o p er form ei ther acl as s of j ob s or abroad15

r a nge of j obs i n va r i ous c l a s s e s a s c om pa r e d t o the a ve r a ge pe r s on ha vi ng com parabl e tra i ni ng , ski l l s a nd abi l i t i es . T he i nabi l i ty t o p er form a s i ng l e, p a r tic u la rjo b d o e s n o t c o n s titu te a s u b s ta n tia l lim ita tio n in th e m a jo rlif e a c tiv ity o f w o r k in g .” 2 9 C .F .R . § 1 6 3 0 .2 ( j) ( 3 ) ( i) . D ’ A ng el o h as ar gu ed, ho w ever , on l y thather ver t i go i nt er fe re s w i th h er ab ility to w o r k a s a p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te ra t S in g le to n ’s s e a f o o d p la n t, n o t th a t s h e is r e s tr ic te d in h e rab ility to p e r f o r m “a c la s s o f

jo b s ” o r“a b r o a d r a n g e o f jo b s in va r i ous c l a s s e s . ” M or e ove r , a s the di s tr i c tc our tobs e r ve d: [ D ’ A nge l o] pe r f

or m e d s a t i s f

a c t or i l y w hi l e e m pl oy e d w i th D e f e nda nt for three ye ar s. H erperf orm ance as a s prea der a nd st ac ker e arned h er tw o pr om ot i ons . T he f

a c ttha ts he ne ve rf

e l tthe ne e d t o t a ke m e di c a t i on w hi c h w a s pr e s c r i be d t o c ontr ol orm i ni m i z e he rve r t i go s y mp t o ms i n d i c a t e s th a ts h e ma n a g e d h e rv e r t i g o s y mp t o ms ad eq u at el y. A d d i t i o n al l y, w h i l e sh e o ccasi o n al l y ex p eri en ced d i zi n ess a tw or k, dur i ng the e nt i r e pe r i od of t i m e s he w or ke d a tS i ngl e t on, s he ne ve re xpe r i e nc e d “ f

ul l - bl ow n ve r t i go w he r e thi ngs w e r e s pi nni ng a r ound i n c i r c l e s . ” P l a i nt i f f’ s pr ove n abi l i ty t o w or k c ontr a di c t s a ny c o n te n tio n th a t s h e w a s s u b s ta n tia lly lim ite d in th e m a jo rlif e a c tiv ity of w or ki ng. O r d e ra t 8 - 9 ( c ita tio n s o m itte d ) . In addi t i on , D ’ A ng el o h er se l f has ar gu ed -- i n the cont extof her r egar ded-as c la im - - th a t S in g le to n ’s b e lie f s h e w a s d is ab le d w a s m is ta k e n . S e e , e .g ., O pp osi t i on t o S um m ary J ud gm entM ot i on , at13 (“ D ef endantm i st akenl y bel i eved thatP l ai nt i ff

had a subst ant i al l y l i m i t i ng i m pai rm ent , w hen i n fac tshe di d n ot . ”) .16

W e the r e f

or 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 ntf

or Co n A g r a o n D ’ A n g e l o ’ s a c tu a l - i mp a i r me n tc l a i m. C. W e turn ne xtt o D ’ A nge l o’ s a r gum e nttha ts he ha s a di s abi l i ty w i thi n the m e a ni ng of

§ 12102( 2) ( C ) - - “ be i ng r e ga r de d a s ha vi ng s uc h a n i m pa i r m e nt . ” T he E E O C re gu l at i on s i nt erpret i ng the A D A have expl ai ned t hatt o b e “ re garded as h a v in g s u c h a n im p a ir m e n t” m e a n s th a t a n in d iv id u a l: ( 1 ) H a s a p h y s ic a l o rm e n ta l im p a ir m e n t th a t d o e s n o t s u b s ta n tia lly l i m i tm aj or l i fe ac t i vi t i es bu ti s tre at ed by a c ov er ed ent i ty a s c ons t i tut i ng s uc h l i m i t a t i on; ( 2 ) H a s a p h y s ic a l o rm e n ta l im p a ir m e n t th a t s u b s ta n tia lly lim its m aj or l i fe ac t i vi t i es on l y a s are sul tof the att i tud es of ot hers t ow a r d s uc h i m pa i r m e nt ; or ( 3) H a s none of

the i m pa i r m e nt s de f

i ne d i n pa r a gr aph ( h) ( 1) or( 2) of thi s s e c t i on buti s tr e a t e d by a c ove r e d e nt i ty a s ha vi ng a s u b s ta n tia lly lim itin g im p a ir m e n t. 2 9 C . F . R . § 1 6 3 0 . 2 (l ). D ’ A n g el o arg u es th atsh e q u al i fi es u n d er th e fi rstcat eg o ry: s h e h a s a p h y s ic a l im p a ir m e n t - - h e rv e r tig o c o n d itio n - - th a t d o e s n o t s u b s ta n tia lly l i m i ther i n the m aj or l i fe ac t i vi ty of w orki ng , bu tthatw as tre at ed by her emp l oyer a s th o u g h it d id c o n s titu te s u c h a lim ita tio n . T he S up re m e C ou rthas e xp l ai ned t hat“ a per son i s ‘ re garded as’ di sabl ed w i thi n the m e a ni ng of

the A D A i f

a c ove r e d e nt i ty m i s t a ke nl y be l i e ve s tha ttheConAgra argue s in its brie f t hat it did no t in fac t re g a rd D’ Ang e lo a s disa

ble d. B e c a

us e 5 the district court entere d judgment entirely in ConAgra’s f

avor in spite of f

inding a g enuine issue of material fac t on this i ssue, ConAgra had no basis for a cross-a ppeal. See , e.g ., RTC Transp., Inc . v . Co nagra

Poultr y Co. , 9 71 F .2 d 3 68 , 3 74 (9 th C ir . 1 99 2) (“A p art y c ann ot a pp e al a judgment entirely

in its favor. It may , however, adva nce additional arguments in support of the judgment in its answeringbrief.” ); By ron v. Clay, 867 F.2d 1049, 1051 ( 7th Cir. 1989) (“A c ro ss- a pp e al is an a

pp e al, a nd is there fo rein o rde r o nly wh e n a pa rt y wa ntsto cha ng e(even if on ly c on dition ally

) t hetrial c ourt ’sjudgment. ” ). Ho wever, ConAgra is f re eto raisethi s argument as an additional ground for a ffirmingthe district court’s judgment in its favor, since we may aff irm the district court’s judgment “on any ground that finds support in the re cord.” Lucas, 257 F .3d at 1256 (quotingJ aff ke v. Dunham, 352 U.S. 280, 281, 77 S. C t. 307, 1 L . Ed. 2d 314 (1957)) ; see also, e.g ., Trs. of Atlanta Iron Workers v. S. Stress Wire Corp., 724 F.2d 14 58 , 1 45 9 ( 11 th C ir . 1 98 3) (“Ab sent a c ro ss- a pp e al, a n a pp e lle emay

no t attempt

to enla rg ehis own rights or decreasethe rights of his adversa ry ; however , he may

advanc e a matter in the rec ord which is in support of the district c ourt’s order, includingarguments previously reje cted by the district court.” ). Nevertheless, weagreewith the district court that D’Ang elo has pre sented suff icient evidenc e to createa g enuine issue of material fac t as to whether she wa s reg arde d by

her 17 pers on ’ s a ctual , no nl i m i t i ng i m pai rm entsubst ant i al l y l i m i t s one or m ore m aj or l i fe a c tiv itie s .” M u rp h y v . U n ite d P a r c e l S e r v ., I n c ., 5 2 7 U .S . 5 1 6 , 5 2 1 - 2 2 , 1 1 9 S . C t. 2133, 144 L . E d. 2d 484 ( 1999) ; s e e a l s o H i l l burn v. M ur a t a E l e c s . N . A m . , 181 F . 3d 12 20 , 12 30 (11t h C i r. 19 99 ) ( “ A s w i th actual di sabi l i t i es , a per ce i ved i m pa i r m e ntm us tbe be l i e ve d t o s ubs t a nt i a l l y l i m i ta m a j orl i f e a c t i vi ty of

the i nd i vi du al . ”) . T hu s, “ [a ] n em pl oyerruns af ou l of the A D A w hen i tm akes an e m pl oy m e ntde c i s i on ba s e d on a phy s i c a l orm e nt a l i m pa i r m e nt , r e a l ori m a gi ne d, thati s r egar ded as s ub st ant i al l y l i m i t i ng a m aj or l i fe ac t i vi ty. ” S ut t on , 52 7 U . S . at 4 9 0 . T he di stri ctcourtfoun d a genu i ne i ss ue of m at er i al fa ctas t o w hether S in g le to n r e g a r d e d D ’A n g e lo a s d is ab le d , b u t n e v e r th e le s s d e te r m in e d th a t 5employer a s disabled. D’Ang elo claims only to be limited in her ability to work direc tly

on a conveyor belt for

prolong ed periods of time, but Cordy and Yates both testified that they reg arde d D’Ang elo’s impairment a s substantially more limiting. Cordy

stated that he read D r. Heng ’s note explaining D’ Ang elo’s condition to mean that D’ Ang elo “c an’t bearound moving equipment bec ause shehas ver tigo a nd may fall and hur

t herself .” Cordy then re iterate d that he “knew [D’Ang elo’s condition] was g oing to bea problem,” bec ause D r. Heng ’s letter “ said she had ver tigo a nd that she shouldn’t be a round movingequipment.” When aske d whether it was his understandingthat if D’Ang elo “just happened to be in the same room as a moving be lt she might g e t di zzy

and fall, ”Cordy

repli e d in

thea ff ir mativ e . H ealsoc lari fi e d th at hebe lieve d this limit ation to apply

not only to convey

or belts, but to “all moving e quipment.” In addition, Cordy

testified that he be lieved D’ Ang elo’s condition would prevent her from h oldingany

of thee le ven night- sh if

t jobs at Sing le ton , “ [b]e c a us e[in] every

on eof tho se po sition s th e re ’smov inge quipm e nt. ”Healsostate d th at hebe lieve d D ’Ang e lo w a s una bleto work in any

position i n the fish division, which, he agree d, had “a wide ra ng e of jobs.” At Yates’ reque st, Cordy

considere d “each of thepositions” at Singleton, and c oncluded that he “didn’t think it was possible for [D’Ang elo] to work safely in the plant.” Yate s alsote sti fi e d th at D r. Heng ’sno te“ said s omethingto t hee ff e c t th at Ms . D ’Ang e lo c ould n ot w or

k a roun d mo vinge quipm e nt b e c a us esh ec ould g e t di zzy

and inj urehers e lf

.”Thus , he explained, “Mr. Cordy and I reviewed the jobs that wehave. Every job involves working around movingequipment.” Yates interpreted moving e quipment, he stated, “ to mean conveyors, forklifts, could even be pallet jacks, could beany thing.” Th is c a sethu s st and s in

sh arpc ontra st w iththeSup remeCourt ’sde c isi on in Mur phy , in which it found no g enuine issue of material fac t as to whether the plaintiff’s employer reg arde d him as disabled. The Court e xplained: [I ]n l ight of

petitioner’s skills and the ar ray of jobs availableto petitioner utiliz ing those skills, petit ioner ha s failed to show that heis reg arde d as unableto perfor m a cla ss of jobs. Rather, the undisputed re cord evidencedemonstrates that pe tition e r i s, at mo st, re g arde d a s una bleto p e rf

or m only a pa rticula r j ob . Thisis ins uf fi c ient, a s a

matter o f l aw, to p ro vethat petition e r i s re g arde d a s su bs tanti ally limit ed in the major lifeactivity of working . Murphy, 527 U.S. at 525. D’ Ang e lo, ho wever, wa s re g arde d a s una bleto p e rf

or m any jobthat w ould p la c eher in the vicinity

of any moving e quipment, and thus her employer c ould not find a singlejob in the Singleton plant that it believed shecould perform. Such a f ar- reachingimpairment -- which wo uld dis qu alif y her f ro m th ee ntirec la ss o f f

a c tor y job s, and from m any

oth e rs-- wo uld substantially

limitD’Ang elo’s ability

to work. Thus, the district cour t rightly found a g enuine issue of material fac t as to whether D’Ang elo was reg arde d as disabled.

18 D ’A n g e lo w a s n o t e n title d to a r e a s o n ab le a c c o m m o d a tio n f o rtw o r e a s o n s : f

ir s t,19

b e c a u s e s h e wa s n o ta “ q u a l i f i e d i n d i v i d u a l ” ; a n d s e c o n d , b e c a u s e th e AD A m a n d a te s a c c o m m o d a tio n s o n ly f o re m p lo y e e s w h o a r e d is ab le d in th e a c tu a li m pa i r m e nts e ns e . W e c ons i de re a c h i n turn. 1. T he A D A proh i bi t s e m pl oym entdi sc ri m i nat i on agai nsta “ qu al i fi ed in d iv id u a l w ith a d is ab ility ,” d e f in e d a s a n “in d iv id u a l w ith a d is ab ility w h o , w ith orw i thoutr e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on, c a n pe r f or m the e s s e nt i a l f

unc t i ons of

the e m p lo y m e n t p o s itio n th a t s u c h in d iv id u a l h o ld s o rd e s ir e s .” 4 2 U .S .C . § 1 2 1 1 1 ( 8 ) . A cc ordi ng l y, an A D A pl ai nt i ff “ m ustshow ei ther thathe ca n p er form the es se nt i al funct i on s of hi s j ob w i tho utac com m od at i on , or, fa i l i ng that , show thathe ca n perf orm the es se nt i al funct i on s of hi s j ob w i th a re as on abl e a cc om m od at i on . ” D avi s, 20 5 F . 3d at13 05 . If the i nd i vi du al “ i s unabl e t o p er form an es se nt i al f u n c tio n o f

h is . . . jo b , e v e n w ith a n a c c o m m o d a tio n , h e is , b y d e f in itio n , n o t a

‘ q u al i fi ed i n d i v i d u al ’ an d , th erefo re, n o tco v ered u n d er th e A D A . In o th er w o rd s, the A D A doe s notr e qui r e [ the e m pl oy e r ] t o e l i m i na t e a n e s s e nt i a l f unc t i on of

[ the pl ai nt i ff’ s] j ob . ” I d. (c i t at i on om i tt ed). T he di stri ctcourtfoun d as am att erof l aw thatD ’ A ng el o w as no ta qual i fi ed i nd i vi du al si nce w orki ng on a c on veyor bel tw as an es se nt i al funct i on of her pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rpos i t i on, w hi c h s he w a s unabl e t o pe r f or m e ve n w i th a20

re as on abl e a cc om m od at i on . A ft ertho roug hl y r evi ew i ng thi s r ec ord, w e di sa gree , a nd c onc l ude tha tthe r e i s a ge nui ne i s s ue of m a t e r i a l f

a c ta s t o w he the rw or ki ng on a c onve y orbe l tw a s a n e s s e nt i a l f unc t i on of

the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rj ob. T he A D A ’ s i m pl em ent i ng re gu l at i on s provi de that“ [t ] he t erm es se nt i al f unc t i ons m e a ns the f

unda m e nt a l j ob dut i e s of the e m pl oy m e ntpos i t i on the i nd i vi du al w i th a di sabi l i ty hol ds or desi re s, ” a nd “ do es no ti ncl ud e the m ar gi nal f u n c tio n s o f

th e p o s itio n .” 2 9 C .F .R . § 1 6 3 0 .2 ( n ) ( 1 ) . “W h e th e ra f u n c tio n is es se nt i al i s e val uat ed on a c as e- by-c as e bas i s by e xam i ni ng a num ber of f ac t ors. ” D av i s, 2 0 5 F . 3 d at1 3 0 5 . In m ak i n g th i s d et erm i n at i o n , th e st atu t e p ro v i d es,

“ consi dera t i on shal l be gi ven t o the em pl oyer ’ s j ud gm entas t o w hatfunct i on s of a j ob ar e e ss ent i al , and i f a n em pl oyerhas pre pare d a w ri tt en desc ri pt i on before a dve r t i s i ng ori nt e r vi e w i ng appl i c a nt s f orthe j ob, thi s de s c r i pt i on s ha l l be consi dere d evi dence of the es se nt i al funct i on s of the j ob . ” 42 U . S . C . § 1 21 11 (8); s e e a ls o H o lb r o o k v . C ity o f A lp h a r e tta , 1 1 2 F .3 d 1 5 2 2 , 1 5 2 6 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 7 ) .

“ T he A D A r e gul a t i ons pr ovi de tha tothe rf a c t or s t o c ons i de ra r e : ( 1) the a m ountof t i m e s pe nton the j ob pe r f or m i ng the f

unc t i on, ( 2) the c ons e que nc e s of not r e qui r i ng the i nc um be ntt o pe r f or m the f unc t i on, ( 3) the t e r m s of the c ol l e c t i ve ba r ga i ni ng a gr e e m e nt , ( 4) the w or k e xpe r i e nc e of pa s ti nc um be nt s i n the j ob, a nd (5) the curre ntw ork exp er i ence of i ncum bent s i n si m i l arj ob s. ” D avi s, 20 5 F . 3d at21

13 05 (c i t i ng 29 C . F . R . § 1 63 0. 2(n)(3)). T he s e r e gul a t i ons a l s o i de nt i f y thr e e ( none xc l us i ve ) ba s e s on w hi c h a j ob funct i on m ay be deem ed es se nt i al : “ (1) the re as on the po si t i on exi st s i s t o p er form the f unc t i on; ( 2) the r e a r e a l i m i t e d num be rof e m pl oy e e s a va i l abl e a m ong w hom th e p e r f o r m a n c e o f

th e jo b f u n c tio n c a n b e d is tr ib u te d ; a n d ( 3 ) th e f u n c tio n is hi gh l y s peci al i ze d so thatthe i ncum benti n the po si t i on w as hi re d for hi s or her expert i se or abi l i ty t o p er form the part i cul arfunct i on . ” H ol broo k, 11 2 F . 3d at 15 26 (c i t i ng 29 C . F . R . § 1 63 0. 2(n)(2) (1996 )) . N o t ab l y, th e fi rsten u m erat ed fact o r -- th e em p l o yer’ s assessm en t-- atl east a r guabl y s ugge s t s tha tw or ki ng on a c onve y orbe l ti s nota n e s s e nt i a l f unc t i on of th e p ro d u ct tran sp o rterjo b . T o b eg in w ith , th e tes ti m o n y o f D ’A n g elo ’s s u p e r v is o r s a t S in g le to n is a t b e s t in c o n c lu s iv e o n th is p o in t. M a r k R i c ha r d Y a t e s , S i ngl e t on’ s V i c e P r e s i de ntof H um a n R e s our c e s , a nd T hom a s M i c ha e l C or dy , the pl a ntm a na ge ra tS i ngl e t on, both t e s t i f i e d aboutthe nature of the prod ucttra nspo rt erpo si t i on w i tho utm ent i on i ng conv ey or bel tw ork as an es se nt i al funct i on of thatj ob . Y at es , i n res po nse t o the qu es t i on , “ W hatar e the e s s e nt i a l f

unc t i ons of

[ the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e r ] pos i t i on? ” s t a t e d: O ne of the e s s e nt i a l f

unc t i ons w oul d be abl e t o m ove pr oduc tf r om o n e en d o f th e l i n e t o an o th er i n an d o u to f freezers, st ack i n g p al l et s, b e w o rk in g ar o u n d m o v in g eq u ip m en t. P re tty m u ch -- I th in k th at’s p r e tty m u c h it.22

C o r d y e x p la in e d th e e s s e n c e o f th e jo b in th e s e te r m s : P rodu cttra nspo rt eri n the stri ct es tse nse operat es an el ec tri c pal l et j ack o r a h an d j ack t o m o v e p ro d u ct . A n d i n th e fi sh d i v i si o n i tal so m e a ntthe y c oul d be a c a s e ope ne r , ope ni ng c a s e s a tthe be gi nni ng of th e fry l i n e o r w o rk i n g th e b l o ck p ress. C ordy al so l i st ed a num ber of other f un ct i on s aprod ucttra nspo rt erm i gh tbe as ked t o pe r f or m , i nc l udi ng ope r a t i ng the box- f orm e rm a c hi ne , s t a c ki ng pr oduc t , ope ni ng bags, and “ du m p[i ng ] prod ucton conv ey or bel t s. ” J oa nne S c ottB r i s t e r , D ’ A nge l o’ s s upe r vi s ori n the s hr i m p di vi s i on, una m bi guous l y s a i d tha ta s a pr oduc ttr a ns por t e r , D ’ A nge l o “ w oul dn’ tw or k on a co n v eyo r b el t . ” H er ex ch an g e w i th D ’ A n g el o ’ s co u n sel w en tas fo l l o w s: Q . W o u ld y o u s a y th a t a s a p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te r[ D ’A n g e lo ] w o u ld r a r e ly w o r k o n a c o n v e y o rb e lt? A . R i g h t , yes. Q . M a y b e n o t a t a ll? A . N o , s h e w o u ld n ’t w o r k o n a c o n v e y o rb e lt. B ri st erfurther c l ar i fi ed thatthe po si t i on of prod ucttra nspo rt er“ do es no tre qu i re yo u t o w o rk o n a b el t . ” T h e ex ch an g e w i th D ’ A n g el o ’ s co u n sel w en tl i k e th i s: Q . S o a s a p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te rf o rth e f is h d iv is io n M is s D ’A n g e lo w oul dn’ tbe w or ki ng on c onve y orbe l t s f ora ny s i gni f

i c a ntpe r i od of tim e , c o rr e c t? [ O b je c tio n b y d e f

e n s e c o u n s e l.]23

A . N o. Q . O k ay. In fact , th atw o u l d n ’ tev en b e o n e o f h er req u i rem en t s as a p r o d u c ttr a n s p o r t e r , c o rr e c t ? [ O b je c tio n b y d e f

e n s e c o u n s e l.] A . C o rr e c t. Q . O ka y . S o w he n y ou’ r e l ooki ng a tthe f unc t i ons of

the j ob f or p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te rit d o e s n o t in c lu d e w o r k in g o n a c o n v e y o rb e lt, c o rr e c t? [ O b je c tio n b y d e f

e n s e c o u n s e l.] A . N o , it d o e s n o t r e q u ir e y o u to w o r k o n a b e lt. M oreover, S i ng l et on ’ s w ri tt en desc ri pt i on s of the po si t i on -- w hi ch w e a re st atut ori l y bou nd t o con si der a s e vi dence of w hether aj ob funct i on i s e ss ent i al -- a l s o s ugge s ttha tw or ki ng on a c onve y orbe l tm a y notbe a n e s s e nt i a l f unc t i on of the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rpos i t i on. A the rde pos i t i on, D ’ A nge l o i ntr oduc e d, a m ong othe re xhi bi t s , a ha ndw r i tt e n not e c opy i ng i nt o a not e book a w r i tt e n j ob de s c r i pt i on o f th e p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te rp o s itio n th a t s h e h a d s e e n p o s te d o n a c o m p a n y b u lle tin b o ard . T h e n o t e read s:

“ P rodu ctT ra nspo rt er ” 1. M ustB e A bl e t o o pera t e handj ac k/po w erj ac k 2 . E n g l i sh 3. M us tbe abl e t o l i f

t50 l bs D u t i es: tra nspo rtprod uctfr om deptt o fre ez er s m i sc .24

N othi ng i n thi s de s c r i pt i on e ve n m e nt i ons w or ki ng on a c onve y orbe l t , l e ta l one c ha r a c t e r i z e s i ta s a n e s s e nt i a l f unc t i on of

the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rj ob. I n a ddi t i on, D ’ A nge l o i ntr oduc e d i nt o the s um m a ry j udgm e ntr e c or d a doc um e nte nt i t l e d, “ J ob S a f e ty A na l y s i s ” f

orthe pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rpos i t i on, w hi c h D ’ A nge l o a nd he rs upe r vi s ors i gne d a nd da t e d M a y 9, 2001. T he doc um e nt l i s t s va r i ous f

unc t i ons of

the tr a ns por t e rj ob, the s a f e ty ha z a r ds the y pos e , a nd m etho ds of avoi di ng these haza rds. T he j ob funct i on s l i st ed ar e these : W orki ng i n p rodu ct i on ar ea s W or ki ng i n w e ts l i ppe ry c ondi t i ons W ork i n fre ez er s O pera t e pow er ed st ac ker W or ki ng a r ound runni ng e qui pm e nt R e m ove e m pty pa l l e t s f r om l i ne S h r in k w r ap f

u ll p a lle ts Tr a n s p o r tp a l l e t s t o A CS W o rk i n g i n w areh o u se W or k ne a ra m m oni a & ni tr oge n r e f r i ge r a nt W o r k a r o u n d h o t o il, th e r m a l f lu id A gai n, thi s docum enti n n o w ay i nd i ca t es thatw orki ng on a c on veyor bel ti s a n e s s e nt i a l f

unc t i on of

the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rj ob. N o othe rw r i tt e n j ob de s c r i pt i on w a s e ve rof

f e r e d by the e m pl oy e r . T hus , appl i c a t i on of the f i r s tf a c t ori n our a na l y s i s - - the e m pl oy e r ’ s ow n a s s e s s m e nt- - s ugge s t s the e xi s t e nc e of a ge nui ne i s s ue of m a t e r i a l f

a c taboutw he the rc onve y orbe l tw or k w a s a n e s s e nt i a l f unc t i on of the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rj ob.25

T he ne xtf

a c t or- - the a m ountof

t i m e D ’ A nge l o s pe ntw or ki ng on a c onve y orbe l tdur i ng he rt e nur e a s a pr oduc ttr a ns por t e r- - f ur the rr a i s e s a ge nui ne i ssu e o f m at eri al fact . D ’ A n g el o ’ s d escri p t i o n o f h er ex p eri en ce w o rk i n g as a prod ucttra nspo rt eri nd i ca t es thatw orki ng on a c on veyor bel tw as atm ostan oc c a s i ona l f

unc t i on of

he rj ob. R e ga r di ng he rdut i e s a s a pr oduc ttr a ns por t e ri n the s hr i m p di vi s i on, D ’ A nge l o s t a t e d:

A c c or di ng t o the [ pr oduc ttr a ns port e r ] j ob de s c r i pt i on, y ou tra nspo rtprod uctusi ng a pal l etj ac k. A nd so w hatI di d a l otw as s ta n d n e a ra c h u te w h e r e th e s h r im p c o m e s o u t w h e n th e m a c h in e g e ts m e s s e d up, a nd the s hr i m p i s c om i ng outba c kw a r ds a nd i tf a l l s i nt o a bo x. A nd w hen t he bo x i s f i l l ed up , I m ov e a no ther box un der there a nd f i l l tha tone up. A nd the n thos e boxe s w oul d ge ts t a c ke d on a pa l l e tby m e , a nd I w o u ld e ith e rp u ll th e m a w a y w ith a ja c k o ra f o r k lif t d r iv e rw o u ld g eti n th ere an d p u l l th em aw ay. D ’ A ng el o ackno w l edged t hat , i n add i t i on t o thi s pri m ary f un ct i on , she s om et i m es p erfo rm ed o th er t ask s i n cl u d i n g tran sp o rt i n g b o x es o f sh ri m p o n h er sh o u l d ers; w o rk i n g as a st ack er; w o rk i n g as a p ack er; an d m ak i n g b o x es. W h e n D ’A n g e lo tr a n s f

e rr e d to S in g le to n ’s f

is h d iv is io n , s h e c o n tin u e d to w ork as aprod ucttra nspo rt er . A ft erher tra nsfe r, her new supervi sor a sked her, “W h at d o yo u d o o v erth er e? W h at ca n yo u d o ? ” to w h ich sh e r ep li ed , “ W ell, I’m a p r o d u c t tr a n s p o r te r . I c a n d o a n y th in g e x c e p t w o r k o v e rth e s p r e a d e rb e lt because w hen I st and t here st ar i ng ati tfor a ny peri od of t i m e, I s t artgett i ng si ck26

a nd di z z y . ” H e rs upe r vi s ors a i d, “ O ka y , ” a nd a s ke d he r , “ C a n y ou go up i n the tr i a ngl e ? A r e y ou a f

r a i d of he i ght s ? ” t o w hi c h D ’ A nge l o r e pl i e d, “ N o, I ’ ve gotno prob l em w i th that . ” D ’ A n g el o t est i fi ed th ath er resp o n si b i l i t i es as a tran sp o rt er i n th e fi sh di vi s i on di f

f e r e d f r om thos e of

he rtr a ns por t e rpos i t i on i n the s hr i m p di vi s i on. S he s a id : “[ I ]t w a s n ’t th e s a m e a s th e s h r im p d e p a r tm e n t w h e r e th e m a c h in e s w o u ld b a c k u p a n d d u mp o u ts h r i mp a n d n e e d s o me b o d y mo n i t o r i n g th a tc o n s t a n t l y . So the r e w a s n’ tthe ne e d f

orthe s a m e ty pe of

w or k. T he m a c hi ne s w e r e f unc t i oni ng b e tte rin th e f

is h d e p a r tm e n t.” D ’A n g e lo d e s c r ib e d h e rty p ic a l r e s p o n s ib ilitie s in the fi sh departm enti n these t erm s: “ [M ] y t i t l e w as prod ucttra nspo rt er . S om et i m es I s ta c k e d . S o m e tim e s I p u lle d th e p a lle ts a w a y w ith a ja c k . S o m e tim e s I p a c k e d . S om e t i m e s I w e ntup i n the tr i a ngl e . . . w he n the f i s h w a s c om i ng dow n, j us tki nd o f [t o ] m ak e su re i td o esn ’ tcl o g u p th e m ach i n e. ” O n o ccasi o n , D ’ A n g el o al so w e ig h e d p r o d u c t, u n lo a d e d b o x e s o f f is h , a n d d u m p e d f

is h in to a g r in d e r . I n d e e d , th e r e c o r d b e f

o r e u s r e v e a ls o n ly o n e tim e d u r in g th e y e a ra n d a h a lf D ’ A nge l o w or ke d a s a pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rtha ts he w a s a s s i gne d t o w or k on a c onve y orbe l t . D ’ A nge l o w a s pr om ot e d t o the tr a ns por t e rpos i t i on i n M a r c h 2000, a nd w a s appa r e nt l y nota s ke d t o w or k on a c onve y orbe l tunt i l s hor t l y be f or e s he w a s f i r e d s om e e i ght e e n m onths l a t e ri n S e pt e m be r2001, w he n a ne w s upe r vi s or27

t oo k o ver i n the fi sh di vi si on . D ’ A ng el o’ s deposi t i on t es t i m on y m ent i on s no o ther i ns t a nc e i n w hi c h s he w a s a s ke d t o w or k on a be l t , a nd C onA gr a ha s of f e r e d no evi dence t o the cont ra ry . In the abse nce of any i nd i ca t i on thatD ’ A ng el o w orked on a c onve y orbe l tm or e tha n onc e dur i ng he rpr oduc ttr a ns por t e rt e nur e , the se cond fa ct or i n o ur anal ys i s - - the am ou ntof t i m e D ’ A ng el o spentperf orm i ng that f unc t i on - - a l s o a r guabl y w e i ghs a ga i ns tf i ndi ng i tt o be e s s e nt i a l a s a m a tt e rof l a w. T he thi r d f

a c t ori n oura na l y s i s - - the c ons e que nc e s of notr e qui r i ng the em pl oyee t o p er form the di sput ed funct i on -- cut s both w ay s. C on A gra s ay s that the c ons e que nc e s of

e xe m pt i ng D ’ A nge l o f

r om c onve y orbe l tw or k w oul d be se ri ou s, si nce m ai nt ai ni ng the fl exi bi l i ty t o m ov e e m pl oyee s a roun d the fa ct ory f l oort o pe r f

or m di f f e r e ntf unc t i ons t a s ks i s vi t a l t o the e f f i c i e ntope r a t i on of

the p l an t . B o th C o rd y an d Y at es t est i fi ed th atS i n g l et o n em p l o yees are “regu l arl y” m ov ed ar ou nd i n thi s f

as hi on . W hi l e the em pl oyer ’ s vi ew i s e nt i t l ed t o sub st ant i al w e i ghti n the c a l c ul us , on thi s r e c or d w e a r e notpe r s ua de d tha tthi s f a c t or c o n c lu s iv e ly tip s th e b a la n c e in f a v o ro f f in a l s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t. F orone thi ng, a l l S i ngl e t on e m pl oy e e s a r e qua l i f i e d t o w or k on a c onve y or b e lt. I t is n o t a s p e c ia liz e d f u n c tio n , a n d in d e e d , D ’A n g e lo te s tif ie d th a t a ll em pl oyee s a re re qu i re d t o st artatthe entry -l evel po si t i on of spre ader , w orki ng ov er28

the s pr e a de rbe l ts e pa r a t i ng pr oduc t . S i nc e e m pl oy e e s a r e e l i gi bl e t o w or k i n a ny jo b a t o rb e lo w th e le v e l o f th e irp r im a ry p o s itio n , a ll c a n w o r k o n a c o n v e y o rb e lt. T hu s, vi rtual l y a ny em pl oyee i n the pl antapparent l y c ou l d fi l l i n o n the bel tas n e e d e d , m in im iz in g a n y c o n s e q u e n c e s o f D ’A n g e lo ’s in ab ility to w o r k o n th e b e lt. I n a ddi t i on, w hi l e D ’ A nge l o’ s t e s t i m ony c onf i r m s tha ts he pe r f

or m e d a va r i e ty of

di f f e r e ntt a s ks w i th r e gul a r i ty a s pr oduc ttr a ns por t e r , w or ki ng on a c onve y orbe l tw a s notone of the m . S he he l d the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rpos i t i on f r om M a r c h 2000 unt i l S e pt e m be r2001 w i thoute ve rbe i ng a s ke d t o w or k on the c onve y orbe l t , s ugge s t i ng tha the rdi f f i c ul ty w or ki ng on a c onve y orbe l tm a y ha ve b e e n o f little , if a n y , c o n s e q u e n c e to h e re m p lo y e r . T h e r e m a in in g f

a c to r s in o u re s s e n tia l- f

u n c tio n a n a ly s is a r e in ap p lic ab le he r e . T he c ol l e c t i ve ba r ga i ni ng a gr e e m e nts a y s nothi ng aboutthe f unc t i ons of

the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rpos i t i on, a nd the r e c or d c ont a i ns no e vi de nc e r e ga r di ng the w or k e xpe r i e nc e of

e i the rpa s tpr oduc ttr a ns por t e r s ( othe rtha n D ’ A nge l o) or i nc um be nt s i n s i m i l a rj obs . M or e ove r , none of the c i r c um s t a nc e s w e ha ve previ ou sl y i dent i fi ed as base s on w hi ch a j ob funct i on m ay be deem ed es se nt i al -- ci rc um st ance s the di stri ctcourtdi d n otac kn ow l edge -- i s f ou nd here . T he fe dera l re gu l at i on s i m pl em ent i ng the A D A es t abl i sh -- and o ur ca se l aw af fi rm s - - that“ [a ] j ob f unc t i on m a y be c ons i de r e d e s s e nt i a l f ora ny of s e ve r a l r e a s ons , i nc l udi ng but29

no tl i m i t ed t o the fol l ow i ng ”: (1) “ the re as on the po si t i on exi st s i s t o p er form that f unc t i on” ; ( 2) the r e a r e a “ l i m i t e d num be rof e m pl oy e e s a va i l abl e a m ong w hom the p e r f o rm a n c e o f

th a t jo b f

u n c tio n c a n b e d is tr ib u te d ” ; o r( 3 ) th e f u n c tio n is “h ig h ly s pe c i a l i z e d s o tha tthe i nc um be nti n the pos i t i on i s hi r e d f orhi s orhe re xpe r t i s e or ab ility to p e r f

o r m th e p a r tic u la rf

u n c tio n .” 2 9 C .F .R . § 1 6 3 0 .2 ( n ) ( 2 ) ; s e e a ls o , e .g ., H ol br ook, 112 F . 3d a t1526. A s t o the fi rs tpo ss i bi l i ty, i ti s und i sput ed thatthe po si t i on of prod uct tr a n s p o r te rd o e s n o t e x is t to p e r f o r m th e f u n c tio n o f

w o r k in g o n a c o n v e y o rb e lt. T he j ob desc ri pt i on and t he t es t i m on y of C ordy, Y at es , and D ’ A ng el o sug gestthat the pr i m a ry f

unc t i on of

the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rpos i t i on i s t o m ove pr oduc ta r ound th e p l an tu si n g a j ack . O n th i s reco rd , w o rk i n g o n th e co n v eyo r b el tatl east a r g u ab ly ap p e a r s to b e n o m o r e th a n a s e c o n d a ry r e s p o n s ib ility . A s t o the se cond po ss i bi l i ty, the re cord revea l s no sho rt age of emp l oyee s am o n g w h o m co n v ey o r b elt w o rk co u ld b e d istrib u ted . A cc o rd in g to C o rd y’s te s tim o n y , ap p r o x im a te ly 3 0 0 p e o p le w o r k in th e S in g le to n p la n t, in c lu d in g 1 9 to 2 0 o n th e n i g h ts h i f

ti n th e f i s h d i v i s i o n - - th e s h i f

tD ’ A n g e l o w o r k e d a tth e t i me she w as fi re d. A l l S i ng l et on em pl oyee s a re re qu i re d t o st arti n the spre ader pos i t i on, a nd thus a l l of the s e i ndi vi dua l s a r e qua l i f i e d t o w or k on the c onve y or bel t . A s t o the thi rd po ss i bi l i ty, w orki ng on the conv ey or bel ti s nota s peci al i ze dConAgra also seems to argue morebroadly that D’Ang elo is not a qualified individual 6 beca use she is unableto perfor m the undisputedly

essential job func tion of workingaround moving e quipment such as conveyor belts. ConAgra takes Dr. H eng ’s note -- which says that D’Ang elo’s ver

tigo “ aff ects her when her eyes haveto look at moving objec ts such as belts,” a nd thu s “ [s]hesh ould a

vo id t hissit uatio n s inc eit c ould c a

us eher to f

all a nd su stain inju

ry”-- to mean that D’ Ang elo ca

nnot work even in the vicinity of movingobjects. B eca use thereare un do ub te dly

many su c h obje c ts o n th efl oo r o f t heSin g le ton

pla nt, ConAgra

argue s, D’ Ang e lo i s unqualified to work there a s a produc t transporter . However, even under ConAgra’ s broader for mulation of the function at issue in this case , summary judgment is inappropriate on this point, since substantial rec ord evidence indicates that D’Ang elo could wor

k around movingequipment, and wa s limi ted only in her a bility to work direc tly on a conveyor belt. D’Ang elo testified that her only difficulty was with tasks that re quired her to stare direc tly at a c onveyor belt for

prolong ed periods; accordingly, the only acc ommodation she sought from ConAgra w as an e x emption from workingon the spreader be lt (separatingshrimp as they trave l down the line) a

nd on the box-former be lt (watchingbox es trave l down the line to see if they areproperly

formed) . As D’Ang elo explained in her deposition, she only beca me sick wh e n s hehad tosta

reat a c onveyor be lt “ [c]o ntinu ou sly

wi thout a

bre ak, ”and

that “ [i]f i t’ s a be lt whereyou ’reno t st aringat it c ontin uo us ly, you ’reloo kingawa y so me tim e s, . . . th at’ s n ot a 30 f u n c t i o n , b u tr a th e re n try - l e v e l wo r k r e q u i r i n g n o p a r t i c u l a re x p e r t i s e . As D ’A n g e lo te s tif

ie d , a ll S in g le to n e m p lo y e e s s ta r t o n th e s p r e a d e rb e lt a n d m a y b id o n o th e rjo b s o n ly a f

te ra c q u ir in g s o m e s e n io r ity a t th e p la n t. T hus , appl y i ng the f

a c t or s w e ha ve pr e vi ous l y i de nt i f i e d doe s notpoi nt d e c is iv e ly to th e c o n c lu s io n th a t, a s a m a tte ro f la w , w o r k in g o n th e c o n v e y o rb e lt i s a n e s s e nt i a l f

unc t i on of

the pr oduc ttr a ns por t e rpos i t i on. W hi l e thi s m a y trul y be a n e s s e n tia l f

u n c tio n - - a n d th e e m p lo y e r ’s ju d g m e n t o n th e m a tte ris e n title d to s ubs t a nt i a l w e i ght- - on thi s r e c or d w e s e e a ge nui ne i s s ue of m a t e r i a l f

a c t , a nd a c c or di ngl y r e ve r s e the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s gr a ntof f i na l s um m a ry j udgm e ntf or C onA gr a on thi s que s t i on. 6problem. Or if it’s moving nea

r me but I ’m not monitoring it, that’s not a problem.” Dr . H e ng , in

a no tewritt e n in

Janu ary 20 02 , alsoc on firm e d th at D ’Ang e lo “ is a bleto work a round mec hanized equipment, but is unable to work at a conveyor belt for a longperiod of time due to vertig o” (emphasis added) . Indeed, it is undisputed that in spite of the fact that the fac tor y fl oo r w a s an e la

bo ratemaze o f c onveyor

be lts and oth e r m e c ha

nize d e quipm e nt, D’Ang elo was a

ble to perf

orm her w ork satisfac torily duringthreeyear s of employ ment at Singleton, and even re ceive d two promotions. D’Ang elo’s own testimony and her prior job performanc e at Sing leton cre ate a g enuine issue of material fac t as to whether D’Ang elo was a

ble to perf

orm the essential function of workingaround movingequipment, renderingsummary judgment inappropriateon this point . 31 2. I n di s pos i ng of

D ’ A nge l o’ s c l a i m tha ts he w a s “ r e ga r de d a s ” di s abl e d, the d is tr ic t c o u r t h e ld a ls o th a t a n in d iv id u a l lik e D ’A n g e lo , w h o d o e s n o t a c tu a lly su ffer fro m a d i sab l i n g i m p ai rm en t , b u trath er i s d i sab l ed o n l y i n th e “ reg ard ed as” s e ns e , i s note nt i t l e d t o a r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on unde rthe A D A . T hus , the d i stri ctco u rtreaso n ed , b ecau se D ’ A n g el o co u l d n o tp erfo rm h er j o b as a tr a ns por t e ra tS i ngl e t on w i thouta n a c c om m oda t i on - - na m e l y , a n e xe m pt i on f r om w o r k in g o n th e s p r e a d e ra n d b o x - f o r m e rb e lts - - s h e h a d n o c la im u n d e rth e A D A . W he the rthe A D A ’ s r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on r e qui r e m e ntappl i e s t o the r e g a r d e d - a s c a te g o ry o f d is ab le d in d iv id u a ls is a n is s u e o f f ir s t im p r e s s io n in th is C i rc ui tand a qu es t i on on w hi ch ou r s i st erC i rc ui t s a re spl i t . T he di stri ctcourt ba s e d i t s hol di ng tha ti tdoe s noton the de c i s i ons of the F i f th, S i xth, E i ghth, a nd N i nth C i rc ui t s. S ee K apl an v. N . L as V egas , 32 3 F . 3d 12 26 , 12 33 (9th C i r. 20 03 ); W e be rv. S tr i ppi t , I nc . , 186 F . 3d 907, 916- 17 ( 8th C i r . 1999) ; W or km a n v. F r i t o-32

L a y , I nc . , 165 F . 3d 460, 467 ( 6th C i r . 1999) ; N e w be rry v. E . T e x. S t a t e U ni v. , 161 F . 3 d 2 7 6 , 2 8 0 (5 th C i r. 1 9 9 8 ). T h e T h i rd C i rcu i th as p art ed w ays w i th th ese c o u r ts , h o ld in g th a t u n d e rth e p la in la n g u a g e o f th e A D A , e m p lo y e r s a r e o b lig e d to pr ovi de r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i ons f ori ndi vi dua l s f

a l l i ng w i thi n a ny of

the A D A ’s d e f

in itio n s o f

d is ab le d , in c lu d in g th o s e “r e g a r d e d a s ” b e in g d is ab le d . W illia m s v . P h ila . H o u s . A u th . P o lic e D e p ’t, 3 8 0 F .3 d 7 5 1 , 7 7 2 - 7 6 ( 3 d C ir . 2 0 0 4 ) . T he F i r s tC i r c ui tha s a l s o a ddr e s s e d the i s s ue butonl y i ndi r e c t l y , a s s um i ng w i thout e xpr e s s l y hol di ng tha tthe A D A r e qui r e s r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i ons f or em p l o yees reg ard ed as d i sab l ed . K at z v . C i ty M et al C o . , 8 7 F . 3 d 2 6 , 3 2 -3 4 (1 st C ir . 1 9 9 6 ) . B e c a u s e a r e v ie w o f

th e p la in la n g u a g e o f

th e A D A y ie ld s n o s ta tu to ry b a s is f ordi s t i ngui s hi ng a m ong i ndi vi dua l s w ho a r e di s abl e d i n the a c tua l - i m pa i r m e nt se nse a nd tho se w ho ar e di sabl ed on l y i n the re garded-as se nse, w e j oi n the T hi rd C ir c u it in h o ld in g th a t r e g a r d e d - a s d is ab le d in d iv id u a ls a ls o a r e e n title d to r e a s o n ab le a c c o m m o d a tio n s u n d e rth e A D A . I n in te rp r e tin g a s ta tu te , it is b y n o w a x io m a tic th a t o u rf ir s t s te p “is to de t e r m i ne w he the rthe l a ngua ge a ti s s ue ha s a pl a i n a nd una m bi guous m e a ni ng w i th r e ga r d t o the pa r t i c ul a rdi s put e i n the c a s e . ” R obi ns on v. S he l l O i l C o. , 519 U . S . 33 7, 34 0, 11 7 S . C t . 84 3, 13 6 L . E d. 2d 80 8 (19 97 ); se e a l so, e. g. , C ou ntry33

B e s t v . C h r is to p h e rR a n c h , L L C , 3 6 1 F .3 d 6 2 9 , 6 3 2 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 4 ) . W e th e r e f o r e tu rn to th e te x t. A gai n, the A D A bars em pl oym entdi sc ri m i nat i on “ agai nsta qual i fi ed in d iv id u a l w ith a d is ab ility ” o n th e b a s is o f s u c h d is ab ility . 4 2 U .S .C . § 1 2 1 1 2 ( a ) . A “q u a lif

ie d in d iv id u a l w ith a d is ab ility ” “m e a n s a n in d iv id u a l w ith a d is ab ility w ho , w i th o r w i tho utre as on abl e a cc om m od at i on , ca n p er form the es se nt i al f u n c tio n s o f

th e e m p lo y m e n t p o s itio n th a t s u c h in d iv id u a l h o ld s o rd e s ir e s .” I d . § 12111( 8) . A c c or di ngl y , r e a di ng the pr ohi bi t i on a nd the de f i ni t i on t oge the r , the A D A ba r s di s c r i m i na t i on “ a ga i ns ta n i ndi vi dua l w i th a di s abi l i ty w ho, w i th or w i thoutr e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on, c a n pe r f or m the e s s e nt i a l f

unc t i ons of

the e m p lo y m e n t p o s itio n . . . .” A “ di s abi l i ty , ” i n turn, i s de f i ne d by the s t a tut e a s e i the r“ a phy s i c a l or m ent al i m pai rm entthatsubst ant i al l y l i m i t s one or m ore of the m aj or l i fe ac t i vi t i es of such i nd i vi du al , ” or “ a r ec ord o f s uch an i m pai rm ent , ” or “ bei ng re garded as ha vi ng s uc h a n i m pa i r m e nt . ” I d. § 12102( 2) ( A ) - ( C ) ( e m pha s i s a dde d) . I ns e r t i ng thi s de f i ni t i on i nt o the s t a tut e ’ s pr ohi bi t i on, the A D A c a n onl y be r e a d a s ba rr i ng di sc ri m i nat i on “ agai nstan i nd i vi du al w i th a ph ys i ca l or m ent al i m pai rm entthat s u b s ta n tia lly lim its o n e o rm o r e m a jo rlif e a c tiv itie s o f

s u c h in d iv id u a l w h o , w ith orw i thoutr e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on, c a n pe r f or m the e s s e nt i a l f

unc t i ons of

the34

e m pl oy m e ntpos i t i on, ” a nd a s ba rr i ng di s c r i m i na t i on “ a ga i ns ta n i ndi vi dua l w i th a r e c or d of s uc h a n i m pa i r m e ntw ho, w i th orw i thoutr e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on, ca n p er form the es se nt i al funct i on s of the em pl oym entpo si t i on , ” a nd , fi nal l y, as barr i ng di sc ri m i nat i on “ agai nstan i nd i vi du al re garded as havi ng such an i m pa i r m e ntw ho, w i th orw i thoutr e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on, c a n pe r f or m the es se n ti al fu n ctio n s o f th e e m p lo ym en t p o siti o n .” In o th erw o rd s, th e s tatu te’s p r o h ib itio n o n d is c r im in a tio n ap p lie s e q u a lly to a ll s ta tu to r ily d e f in e d d is ab ilitie s . M o r e o v e r , “d is c r im in a tio n ” in c lu d e s “n o t m a k in g r e a s o n ab le acco m m o d at i o n s t o th e k n o w n p h ysi cal o r m en t al l i m i t at i o n s o f an o th erw i se q u a lif ie d in d iv id u a l w ith a d is ab ility .” I d . § 1 2 1 1 2 ( b ) . T h e A D A p r o h ib its di s c r i m i na t i on “ a ga i ns ta qua l i f i e d i ndi vi dua l w i th a di s abi l i ty . ” A c c or di ngl y , the s t a tut e pl a i nl y pr ohi bi t s “ notm a ki ng r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i ons ” f ora ny qua l i f i e d i ndi vi dua l w i th a di s abi l i ty , i nc l udi ng one w ho i s di s abl e d i n the r e ga r de d- a s s e ns e no l e s s tha n one w ho i s di s abl e d i n the a c tua l - i m pa i r m e ntorthe r e c o r d - o f

- s u c h - a n - im p a ir m e n t s e n s e . T he t e xtof

thi s s t a tut e s i m pl y of

f e r s no ba s i s f

ordi f f e r e nt i a t i ng a m ong the th r e e ty p e s o f

d is ab ilitie s in d e te r m in in g w h ic h a r e e n title d to a r e a s o n ab le a c c o m m o d a tio n a n d w h ic h a r e n o t. A c c o r d W illia m s , 3 8 0 F .3 d a t 7 7 4 ( “[ A ]s a ll w o u l d ag ree, th e st atu t o ry t ex to f th e A D A d o es n o ti n an y w ay d i st i n g u i sh35

be tw e e n a c tua l l y di s abl e d a nd ‘ r e ga r de d a s ’ i ndi vi dua l s i n r e qui r i ng a c c o m m o d a t i o n . ” ( a l t e r a t i o n a n d i n t e rn a l q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i tt e d ) ) . C f . US A i rw a y s , I nc . v. B a rne tt , 535 U . S . 391, 398, 122 S . C t . 1516, 152 L . E d. 2d 589 (200 2) (hol di ng that“ the [A D A ] ’ s s i l ence abou tthe exem pt i ng ef fe ctof neut ra l rul e s ” f a vor e d f i ndi ng no e xe m pt i on f

r om r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on r e qui r e m e nt e v e n w h e n a c c o m m o d a tio n s in te r f e r e d w ith e m p lo y e r ’s n e u tr a l s e n io r ity s y s te m ) . T h u s , th e A D A ’s p la in la n g u a g e - - w h ic h tr e a ts a n in d iv id u a l w h o is d is ab le d in the a c tua l - i m pa i r m e nts e ns e i de nt i c a l l y t o a n i ndi vi dua l w ho i s di s abl e d i n the r e g a r d e d - a s s e n s e - - c o m p e ls u s to c o n c lu d e th a t th e v e ry te r m s o f th e s ta tu te r e qui r e e m pl oy e r s t o pr ovi de r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i ons f ori ndi vi dua l s i tr e ga r ds a s d is ab le d . Itbear s not i ng thatthi s s tra i gh t forw ar d rea di ng of the A D A i s a l t og ether c ons i s t e ntw i th the S upr e m e C our t ’ s i nt e rpr e t a t i on of a ne a r l y i de nt i c a l pr ovi s i on of the R e habi l i t a t i on A c tof 1973, 29 U . S . C . § 701 e ts e q. , i n S c hool B oa r d of N a s s a u C o u n ty v . A r lin e , 4 8 0 U .S . 2 7 3 , 1 0 7 S . C t. 1 1 2 3 , 9 4 L . E d . 2 d 3 0 7 ( 1 9 8 7 ) . I n A r lin e , th e C o u r t c o n s id e r e d th e c la im o f a s c h o o l te a c h e ra f

f lic te d w ith tub er cul osi s w ho ar gu ed thatshe had been fi re d b ec ause her e m pl oyerre garded her a s ha ndi c appe d, i n vi ol a t i on of the R e habi l i t a t i on A c t ’ s pr ohi bi t i on on e xc l udi ng otherw i se -qual i fi ed hand i capp ed i nd i vi du al s f rom part i ci pat i on i n federa l l y f un ded36

st at e program s. T he A ct ’ s def i ni t i on of “ hand i capp ed i nd i vi du al , ” then cod i fi ed at 29 U . S . C . § 7 06 (7)( B ), i ncl ud ed “ any per son w ho (i ) has a physi ca l or m ent al i m pai rm entw hi ch subst ant i al l y l i m i t s one or m ore of s uch p er son’ s m aj or l i fe a c t i vi t i e s , ( i i ) ha s a r e c or d of s uc h a n i m pa i r m e nt , or( i i i ) i s r e ga r de d a s ha vi ng s u c h a n im p a ir m e n t.” F in d in g th e tea ch erto b e a h an d icap p ed in d iv id u al w ith in th e A ct’s

“ r e ga r de d a s ” de f

i ni t i on, the C our tr e m a nde d f orthe di s tr i c tc our tt o de t e r m i ne

“ w hether the sc ho ol bo ar d cou l d h ave r ea sonabl y a cc om m od at ed her, ” s i nce

“ [ e ] m pl oy e r s ha ve a n a f f i r m a t i ve obl i ga t i on t o m a ke a r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i on f o ra h a n d ic ap p e d e m p lo y e e .” A r lin e , 4 8 0 U .S . a t 2 8 8 - 8 9 & n .1 9 . T h e C o u rtex p l ai n ed th e rat i o n al e fo r th e reg ard ed -as d efi n i t i o n i n th ese te r m s : B y a m e ndi ng the de f i ni t i on of “ ha ndi c appe d i ndi vi dua l ” t o i nc l ude n o to n l y th o se w h o are actuall y p h ysi cal l y i m p ai red , b u tal so th o se w h o a r e r e g a r d e d a s im p a ir e d a n d w h o , a s a r e s u lt, a r e s u b s ta n tia lly li m it ed in a m ajo r life a ctiv ity, C o n g re ss ac k n o w led g ed th at so ciety’s ac cum ul at ed m yths and fea rs abou tdi sabi l i ty a nd di se as e a re as hand i capp i ng as ar e the ph ys i ca l l i m i t at i on s thatfl ow fr om ac tual i m pai rm ent . . . . T he A cti s c ar ef ul l y s tructured t o repl ac e s uch re fl exi ve re ac t i on s t o actual or perc ei ved h andi caps w i th act i on s bas ed on r e a s one d a nd m e di c a l l y s ound j udgm e nt s : the de f i ni t i on of “ hand i capp ed i nd i vi du al ” i s broad, bu ton l y tho se i nd i vi du al s w ho ar e b o th h a n d ic ap p e d a n d o th e rw is e q u a lif ie d a r e e lig ib le f

o rr e lie f . I d. a t284- 85. E xc l udi ng i ndi vi dua l s r e ga r de d a s di s abl e d f r om the c ove r a ge of

the37

R e h ab ilita tio n A c t, th e C o u r t r e a s o n e d , w o u ld le a v e th e m “v u ln e r ab le to d i scri m i n at i o n o n th e b asi s o f m yth o l o g y -- p reci sel y th e typ e o f i n j u ry C o n g ress s oughtt o pr e ve nt . ” I d. a t285. W e a g r e e w i th th e Th i r d Ci r c u i tth a ti n l i g h to f A r l i n e a n d th e Su p r e me C our t ’ s s ubs e que ntde c i s i on i n B r a gdon v. A bbott , 524 U . S . 624, 118 S . C t . 2196, 1 4 1 L . E d . 2 d 5 4 0 (1 9 9 8 ), “ th e co n cl u si o n seem s i n escap ab l e th at‘ reg ard ed as’ e mp l o y e e s u n d e rth e A D A a r e e n t i t l e d t o r e a s o n ab l e a c c o mmo d a t i o n i n th e s a me w ay as ar e tho se w ho ar e a ctual l y di sabl ed. ” W i l l i am s, 38 0 F . 3d at77 5 In B r a gdon, the C our te xpl a i ne d:

T h e A D A ’s d e f

in itio n o f d is ab ility is d r a w n a lm o s t v e rb a tim f r om the de f

i ni t i on of “ ha ndi c appe d i ndi vi dua l ” i nc l ude d i n the R ehabi l i t at i on A ctof 19 73 . . . . C on gres s’ re pet i t i on of a w el l -e st abl i shed t erm ca rr i es the i m pl i ca t i on thatC on gres s i nt ended the t erm t o b e c on strued i n acc ordance w i th p re -e xi st i ng re gu l at ory in te rp r e ta tio n s . I n th is c a s e , C o n g r e s s d id m o r e th a n s u g g e s t th is c o n s tru c t i o n ; i ta d o p t e d a s p e c i f i c s t a tu t o ry p r o v i s i o n i n th e AD A di re ct i ng as fol l ow s: “ E xceptas otherw i se prov i ded i n thi s c hapt er , no thi ng i n thi s c hapt ershal l be construed t o app l y al es se r s t andard tha n the s t a nda r ds appl i e d unde rt i t l e V of the R e habi l i t a t i on A c tof 19 73 (29 U . S . C . § 7 90 etse q. ) or the re gu l at i on s i ss ued b y F eder al a ge nc i e s pur s ua ntt o s uc h t i t l e . ” 42 U . S . C . § 12201( a ) . T he di r e c t i ve re qu i re s us t o con strue the A D A t o g ra ntatl ea stas m uch p rot ec t i on as p r o v id e d b y th e r e g u la tio n s im p le m e n tin g th e R e h ab ilita tio n A c t. I d . a t 6 3 1 - 3 2 ( c ita tio n s o m itte d ) . Mo r e o v e r , th e AD A’ s l e g i s l a t i v e h i s t o ry e x p r e s s l y s t a t e s th a t“ [ t ] h e AD A i nc orpor a t e s m a ny of

the s t a nda r ds of

di s c r i m i na t i on s e touti n r e gul a t i ons38

i m pl e m e nt i ng s e c t i on 504 of the R e habi l i t a t i on A c tof 1973, i nc l udi ng the ob l i gat i on t o p rovi de re as on abl e a cc om m od at i on s unl es s i tw ou l d res ul ti n an u n d u e h a r d s h ip o n th e o p e r a tio n o f th e b u s in e s s .” S . R e p . N o . 1 0 1 - 1 1 6 , a t 2 (198 9); se e a l so i d. at31 (“ T he du ty t o m ake r ea sonabl e a cc om m od at i on s app l i es to a ll e m p lo y m e n t d e c is io n s , n o t s im p ly h ir in g a n d p r o m o tio n d e c is io n s . T h is d u ty ha s be e n i nc l ude d a s a f or m of non- di s c r i m i na t i on on the ba s i s of di s abi l i ty f

or a l m os tf i f t e e n y e a r s unde rs e c t i on 501 a nd s e c t i on 504 of the R e habi l i t a t i on A c tof 1973 a nd unde rthe nondi s c r i m i na t i on s e c t i on of the r e gul a t i ons i m pl e m e nt i ng s e c tio n 5 0 3 o f

th a t A c t.” ) . S i nce the R ehabi l i t at i on A ctre qu i re d em pl oyer s t o acc om m od at e e m pl oyee s w ho w e r e di s abl e d i n the r e ga r de d- a s s e ns e , w e c a n f i nd no pr i nc i pl e d ba s i s f or c o n c lu d in g th a t th e m o r e e x p a n s iv e A D A d o e s n o t. A t a ll e v e n ts , th e p la in l a ngua ge of

the A D A y i e l ds thi s c onc l us i on. T he C i r c ui t s r e a c hi ng the oppos i t e c onc l us i on ha ve r e a s one d tha tr e qui r i ng e m p lo y e r s to a c c o m m o d a te in d iv id u a ls th e y m e r e ly r e g a r d a s d is ab le d w o u ld p r o d u c e a n o m a lo u s r e s u lts th a t C o n g r e s s c o u ld n o t h a v e in te n d e d . A s th e E ig h th C i rc ui tpu ti t , prov i di ng ac com m od at i on s t o i m pai re d i nd i vi du al s w ho ar e

“ r e ga r de d a s ” di s abl e d w oul d “ c r e a t e a di s pa r i ty i n tr e a tm e nta m ong i m pa i r e d but non- di s abl e d e m pl oy e e s , de ny i ng m os tthe r i ghtt o r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i ons but39

g r a n tin g to o th e r s , b e c a u s e o f th e ire m p lo y e r s ’ m is p e r c e p tio n s , a r ig h t to re as on abl e a cc om m od at i on s no m ore l i m i t ed than t ho se af forded actual l y di sabl ed e m p lo y e e s .” W e b e r , 1 8 6 F .3 d a t 9 1 7 ; s e e a ls o K ap la n , 3 2 3 F .3 d a t 1 2 3 2 . T hi s r a t i ona l e , w e thi nk, i gnor e s the vi t a l pr i nc i pl e tha t“ [ c ] our t s a r e not a uthor i z e d t o r e w r i t e a s t a tut e be c a us e the y m i ghtde e m i t s e f f e c t s s us c e pt i bl e of i m pr ove m e nt . ” J ove E ng’ g, I nc . v. I R S , 92 F . 3d 1539, 1552 ( 11th C i r . 1996) ( quot i ng B a da r a c c o v. C . I . R . , 464 U . S . 386, 104 S . C t . 756, 78 L . E d. 2d 549 ( 1 9 8 4 ) ) . A s th e S u p r e m e C o u r t e x p la in e d in T e n n e s s e e V a lle y A u th o r ity v . H ill, 43 7 U . S . 15 3, 98 S . C t . 22 79 , 57 L . E d. 2d 11 7 (19 78 ): O ur i nd i vi du al apprai sa l of the w i sdom or un w i sdom of a par t i cul ar c our s e c ons c i ous l y s e l e c t e d by the C ongr e s s i s t o be puta s i de i n the p r o c e s s o f

in te rp r e tin g a s ta tu te . O n c e th e m e a n in g o f a n e n a c tm e n t is d i scern ed an d i t s co n st i tu t i o n al i ty d et erm i n ed , th e j u d i ci al p ro cess c o m e s t o a n e n d . We d o n o ts i ta s a c o m m i tt e e o f r e v i e w, n o ra r e we ve s t e d w i th the pow e rof ve t o. . . . [ I ] n ourc ons t i tut i ona l s y s t e m the c o m m itm e n t to th e s e p a r a tio n o f p o w e r s is to o f

u n d a m e n ta l f

o ru s to pr e - e m ptc ongr e s s i ona l a c t i on by j udi c i a l l y de c r e e i ng w ha ta c c or ds w ith “c o m m o n s e n s e a n d th e p u b lic w e a l.” O u rC o n s titu tio n v e s ts s u c h r e s p o n s ib ilitie s in th e p o litic a l b r a n c h e s . I d. a t194- 95; s e e a l s o C ountry B e s tv. C hr i s t ophe rR a nc h, L L C , 361 F . 3d 629, 632 (11t h C i r. 20 04 ) ( “ W e pre sum e ‘ thatC on gres s s ai d w hati tm ea ntand m ea ntw hat i tsa i d. ’ ” ( qu ot i ng U ni t ed S t at es v. S t ee l e, 14 7 F . 3d 13 16 , 13 18 (11t h C i r. 19 98 )) ). T hu s, as a c ou rt , w e a re no tfr ee t o q uest i on the ef fi ca cy of l egi sl at i on that C on gres s val i dl y e nact ed. W i thi n con st i tut i on al l i m i t s, C on gres s m ay40

“ i m p ro v i d en t l y” el ectt o l eg i sl at e w h atth e N i n th C i rcu i th as ch aract eri zed as a “w in d f a ll” f o re m p lo y e e s r e g a r d e d a s d is ab le d , o rm a y “c o m p e l e m p lo y e r s to w a s t e r e s our c e s ” tha t , i n ours i s t e rC i r c ui t ’ s j udgm e nt , “ w oul d be be tt e rs pe nt a s s is tin g th o s e p e r s o n s w h o a r e a c tu a lly d is ab le d .” K ap la n , 3 2 3 F .3 d a t 1 2 3 2 . W e do no tthi nk thatthese j ud gem ent s a nd the com pl ex l egi sl at i ve ca l i brat i on s that u n d erl i e th em are fo r u s t o m ak e. Q u i t e si m p l y, w e are w i th o u tau th o ri ty t o p ass ju d g m e n t o n th e w is d o m o f a c o n g r e s s io n a l e n a c tm e n t. T he N i nth C i r c ui t , i n r e a c hi ng the oppos i t e c onc l us i on, r e a s one d: “ T he abs e nc e of

a s t a t e d di s t i nc t i on [ be tw e e n the thr e e a l t e rna t i ve pr ongs of the

‘ d i sab i l i ty’ d efi n i t i o n ] . . . i s n o tt an t am o u n tt o an ex p l i ci ti n stru ct i o n b y C o n g ress tha t‘ r e ga r de d a s ’ i ndi vi dua l s a r e e nt i t l e d t o r e a s onabl e a c c om m oda t i ons . ” K apl a n, 3 2 3 F .3 d a t 1 2 3 2 . W e d is a g r e e . T o s a y th a t th e s ta tu te c o n ta in s n o s u c h “e x p lic it i nstruct i on ” f

rom C on gres s s i m pl y bec ause i ti s nec es sary t o p l ug the st atut ory d e f in itio n s in to th e s ta tu te ’s s u b s ta n tiv e p r o h ib itio n o n d is c r im in a tio n in o r d e rto u n d e r s ta n d th e p r e c is e c o n to u r s o f C o n g r e s s ’ d ir e c tiv e w h o lly d is r e g a r d s th e p la in m ea ni ng of the st atut e’ s l angu age. Mo r e o v e r , b e c a u s e we c o u l d c r a f ta h y p o th e t i c a l th a tp r o d u c e s a r e s u l twe m i ghtf i nd a nom a l ous i s i ns uf

f i c i e ntr e a s on f

ordi s r e ga r di ng the t e r m s of the s t a tut e . T he S upr e m e C our tha s a dm oni s he d tha t“ [ t ] he pl a i n m e a ni ng of41

l egi sl at i on shou l d b e c on cl usi ve, exce pti n the ‘ ra re ca se s [ i n w hi ch] the l i t er al appl i c a t i on of

a s t a tut e w i l l pr oduc e a r e s ul tde m ons tr abl y a todds w i th the i nt e nt i ons of

i t s dr a f t e r s . ’ ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. R on P a i rE nt e r s . , I nc . , 489 U . S . 235, 242, 109 S . C t . 1026, 103 L . E d. 2d 290 ( 1989) ( a l t e r a t i on i n or i gi na l ) ( quot i ng G r i f f i n v. O c e a ni c C ontr a c t or s , I nc . , 458 U . S . 564, 571, 102 S . C t . 3245, 3250, 73 L . E d. 2d 973 ( 1982) ) ; s e e a l s o S hot z v. C i ty of P l a nt a t i on, 344 F . 3d 1161, 1167 ( 11th C i r . 2003) ( “ [ C ] our t s m a y r e a c h r e s ul t s i nc ons i s t e ntw i th the pl a i n m e a ni ng of a s t a tut e [ onl y ] ‘ i f

gi vi ng the w or ds of

a s t a tut e the i rpl a i n a nd or di na ry m e a ni ng p r o d u c e s a r e s u lt th a t is n o t ju s t u n w is e b u t is c le a r ly ab s u r d .’” ( a lte r a tio n s in or i gi na l ) ( quot i ng C B S I nc . v. P r i m e T i m e 24 J oi ntV e ntur e , 245 F . 3d 1217, 1228 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) ) ) . T h is is d ec id ed ly n o t o n e o f th o se ra re ca se s. F o r o n e th in g , th e A D A ’s l a ngua ge i s una m bi guous , a nd none of the c ourt s t o de pa r tf

r om i t s pl a i n m e a ni ng have po i nt ed t o anythi ng -- cong re ss i on al fi nd i ng s, l egi sl at i ve hi st ory, or ot her m a t e r i a l s - - s ugge s t i ng tha tthe s o- c a l l e d “ bi z a rr e ” r e s ul t s y i e l de d by a f a i thf ul r e a d in g o f

th e A D A a r e c o n tr a ry to C o n g r e s s ’ p la in ly e x p r e s s e d in te n t. W e a l so qu es t i on w hether the re sul t s m ay be as “ bi za rr e” as ou r s i st er C i rc ui t s m ake them ou tt o b e, for tw o rea sons. F i rs t , the no t i on thata l i t er al r e a d in g w ill p r o d u c e a d is p a r ity “a m o n g im p a ir e d b u t n o n - d is ab le d e m p lo y e e s ,”42

W e b e r , 1 8 6 F .3 d a t 9 1 7 , f a ils to ap p r e c ia te th a t th e A D A d e f in e s in d iv id u a ls w ith i m pai rm ent s thatdo no tsubst ant i al l y l i m i tthei r abi l i ty t o p er form a m aj or l i fe ac t i vi ty, bu tthatar e non ethel es s tre at ed by the i nd i vi du al ’ s e m pl oyeras const i tut i ng such a l i m i t at i on , as di sabl ed. T he so-c al l ed “ re garded as” pl ai nt i ff s a r e not“ i m pa i r e d butnon- di s abl e d” i ndi vi dua l s , butr a the ra r e di s abl e d w i thi n the m e a n in g o f

th e s ta tu te . S e c ond, i ns of

a ra s the A D A w i l l s om e t i m e s e nt i t l e one e m pl oy e e w i th a pa r t i c ul a ri m pa i r m e ntt o a n a c c om m oda t i on w hi l e note nt i t l i ng a nothe rw i th the sa m e i m pai rm entt o the sa m e a cc om m od at i on , i ti s bec ause these i nd i vi du al s a re nots i m i l a r l y s i tua t e d: the e m pl oy e e e nt i t l e d t o s t a tut ory pr ot e c t i on w i l l ha ve suff er ed som e w rong ful advers e e m pl oym entac t i on thatthe ot her e m pl oyee has no t . A s one courthas puti t , “ an em pl oyee w ho i s s i m pl y i m pai re d and an em pl oyee w ho i s i m pai re d and ‘ re garded as ’ di sabl ed ar e notsi m i l ar l y s i tuat ed s i nc e the ‘ r e ga r de d a s ’ di s abl e d e m pl oy e e i s s ubj e c tt o the s t i gm a of the di s abl i ng a nd di s c r i m i na t ory a tt i tude s of othe r s . ” J a c que s v. D i M a r z i o, I nc . , 200 F . S upp. 2d 15 1, 17 0 (E . D . N . Y . 20 02 ). T hu s, “ [t ] he em pl oyee w ho se l i m i t at i on s a re perc ei ved a c c ur a t e l y ge t s t o w or k, w hi l e [ the pl a i nt i f f ] i s s e nthom e unpa i d. ” W i l l i a m s , 380 F . 3d at77 5. C f. B arnett , 53 5 U . S . at39 8 (ho l di ng thatthe A D A re qu i re d a c c o mmo d a t i o n e v e n w h e n i ti n t e r f e r e d w i th th e e mp l o y e r ’ s s e n i o r i ty s y s t e m,43

re as on i ng , “ [t ] he si m pl e f ac tthatan ac com m od at i on w ou l d p rovi de a ‘ pref er ence ’

-- i n the se nse thati tw ou l d p erm i tthe w orker w i th a di sabi l i ty t o v i ol at e arul e that othe r s m us tobe y - - c a nnot , i n a nd of i t s e l f , a ut om a t i c a l l y s how tha tthe ac com m od at i on i s not‘ re as on abl e’ ” ( em ph as i s om i tt ed)) . L i ke the T hi rd C i rc ui t , “ [w ] hi l e w e do n otrul e outthe po ss i bi l i ty thatthere m a y b e s itu a tio n s in w h ic h ap p ly in g th e r e a s o n ab le a c c o m m o d a tio n r e q u ir e m e n t in f a v o ro f a ‘ r e g a r d e d a s ’ d i s ab l e d e m p l o y e e wo u l d p r o d u c e ‘ b i z a rr e r e s u l t s , ’ we perc ei ve no basi s f

or an acr oss- the-board ref usal t o app l y the A D A i n acc ordance w i th the pl a i n m e a ni ng of i t s t e xt . ” W i l l i a m s , 380 F . 3d a t774. B a s e d on the t e xt o f th is s ta tu te a n d th e ab s e n c e o f a n y c o n tr a ry e x p r e s s io n o f c o n g r e s s io n a l in te n t, w e h o ld th a t a n in d iv id u a l f a llin g w ith in th e “r e g a r d e d a s ” c a te g o ry o f d is ab ility un der the A D A i s e nt i t l ed t o a re as on abl e a cc om m od at i on no l es s than an i n d i v i d u al sat i sfyi n g th e actu al -i m p ai rm en td efi n i t i o n o f d i sab i l i ty. II I. B ec ause D ’ A ng el o’ s vert i go cond i t i on do es no tsubst ant i al l y i m pai r her ab il ity to p er fo rm th e m ajo r life f u n ctio n o f w o rk in g , w e a ff irm th e d istrict co u rt’s or de rof f i na l s um m a ry j udgm e ntf orC onA gr a on D ’ A nge l o’ s a c tua l - i m pa i r m e nt c la im . A s to D ’A n g elo ’s re g ar d ed -a s c laim , w e a ff irm th e d istrict co u rt’s44

c onc l us i on tha tthe r e i s i nde e d a ge nui ne i s s ue of m a t e r i a l f

a c ton the que s t i on of w h e th e rC o n A g r a r e g a r d e d D ’A n g e lo a s s u b s ta n tia lly im p a ir e d in h e rab ility to w o rk . W e al so fi n d a g en u i n e i ssu e o f m at eri al factas t o w h eth er D ’ A n g el o w as a qu al i fi ed i nd i vi du al abl e t o p er form the es se nt i al funct i on s of herprod uct tra nspo rt erj ob i n spi t e of heri nabi l i ty t o w ork o n a conv ey or bel t , and t here fore r e v e r s e 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 f

o rC o n A g r a o n th is qu es t i on . F i nal l y, w e c on cl ud e thatthe A D A , by i t s pl ai n l angu age, re qu i re s em pl oyer s t o p rovi de re as on abl e a cc om m od at i on s f or em pl oyee s they r egar d as di s abl e d, a nd r e ve r s e the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s c ontr a ry hol di ng. AF F I R ME D I N P AR T , R E VE R S E D I N P AR T , a n d R E MAND E D.45

F A Y , C i r c ui tJ udge , di s s e nt i ng: M os tr e s pe c t f

ul l y , I di s a gr e e w i th the m a j or i ty ’ s r e a di ng of

thi s r e c or d a nd d i ssen t . In m y o p i n i o n , th i s i s n o ta “ reg ard ed as d i sab l ed ” case. In reali ty, i ti s a fa i l ure t o com m un i ca t e c as e. A s s e t f o r th b y th e m a

jo r ity , C h r is D ’A n g e lo s u f f e r s f r o m v e r tig o . N o , s h e is n o td i s ab l e d u n d e rth e A D A , b u ts h e h a s a me d i c a l c o n d i t i o n th a ti s a p r o b l e m. W hi l e s he w as w orki ng i n the “ shri m p d i vi si on ” of C on A gra, she t al ked abo uther prob l em s on the conv ey or bel t , and accom m od at i on s w er e m ade f or her. S he w as pr om ot e d a nd unf

or tuna t e l y tr a ns f

e rr e d t o the “ f

i s h di vi s i on, ” w hi c h w a s unde rthe s u p e r v is io n o f

d if f e r e n t p e o p le . E a r ly in h e rte n u r e in th e “f is h d iv is io n ,” s upe r vi s orM e ndoz a a s s i gne d he rt o w or k on a box f or m i ng c onve y orbe l ta nd s he e xpe r i e nc e d di f

f i c ul ty . W he n s he di s c us s e d thi s di f f i c ul ty w i th M e ndoz a , he s i m pl y a s ke d f

ors om e doc um e nt a t i on aboutthe c ondi t i on. I n r e s pons e , s he ga ve hi m her pre sc ri pt i on for A nt i vert(w hi ch she had never fi l l ed) a nd a not e f rom her doc t orw hi c h r e a d: T hi s pat i entshou l d n otw ork m ore than 5 ni gh t s aw ee k b ec ause of her m edi ca l cond i t i on . A l so, she has a ver t i go cond i t i on . T hi s a ff ec t s herw hen h e re y e s h a v e to lo o k a t m o v in g o b je c ts s u c h a s b e lts . S h e s h o u ld a v o id th is si tu at i o n si n ce i tco u l d cau se h er t o fal l an d su st ai n i n j u ry. M e n d o z a p a s s e d th e s e a lo n g to th e P la n M a n a g e r , C o r d y , w h o im m e d ia te ly tho ug hti tnece ss ary t o d i sc uss the si tuat i on w i th the V i ce P re si dentof H um an46

R es ou rc es , Y at es . C ordy and Y at es re vi ew ed the no t e f rom D r. H eng and then t our e d the pl a nt . R e l uc t a nt l y , the y both a gr e e d tha tthe r e w a s l i t e r a l l y no a r e a of the p la n t w h e r e D ’A n g e lo c o u ld w o r k a n d n o t b e a r o u n d m o v in g e q u ip m e n t, i nc l udi ng, butnotl i m i t e d t o, c onve y orbe l t s . I tw a s the i rj oi ntc onc l us i on tha ts he w a s s im p ly “u n q u a lif

ie d ” to w o r k in th e p la n t. T h is is e x a c tly w h a t th e y to ld h e rin th e Se p t e mb e r2 1 , 2 0 0 1 , l e tt e ro f t e r mi n a t i o n . Th e y a l s o e x p l a i n e d th a to v e r t i me w a s e s s e nt i a l a nd tha ti f s he c oul d w or k onl y f

i ve ni ght s a w e e k, the n s he w oul d be unabl e t o pe r f

or m a n i nt e gr a l pa r tof

he rj ob. M y r ea di ng of thi s r ec ord con vi nces m e thati ti s asi m pl e c as e of a n em pl oyerdeci di ng thati thad t o t erm i nat e a n em pl oyee because of am edi ca l c ondi t i on tha tm a de i tda nge r ous f orhe rt o w or k i n the pl a nt . B a s e d upon the d o ct o rs n o t e, sh e w as n o tq u al i fi ed t o w o rk fo r C o n A g ra i n th i s faci l i ty. T he m a j or i ty r e f us e s t o a c c e ptthi s ve r s i on of the unc ont e s t e d f

a c t s by re l yi ng up on other f

ac t s thatar e s i m pl y i rr el evant . T he fa ctthatshe had w orked there for abo utthree ye ar s w i tho utbei ng i nj ured changes nothi ng . T he em pl oyer di d n otkn ow abou tthe ri sk. N ei ther D ’ A ng el o n or D r. H eng h ad ever a dv i se d th o s e w ith th e a u th o r ity to e v a lu a te s u c h r is k s o f D ’A n g e lo ’s c o n d itio n . I t is fortun at e thatshe di d n otexperi ence an att ac k o f ver t i go thatre sul t ed i n i nj ury d u r in g th is p e r io d . I n a d d itio n , to r e ly u p o n a n o te f r o m D r . H e n g w r itte n inIt is not hard to know what her lawyers would bearguing had Conagra ignored the 1 doctor’s note , and allowe d D’Ang elo to continue wor king, ultimately

beinginjured af

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2 0 0 2 , a s th e m a

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o o tn o te 6 , is r e a lly c o m p a r in g ap p le s to or a nge s . D ’ A nge l o w a s t e r m i na t e d i n S e pt e m be r2001. M or e ove r , i t ’ s i m por t a ntt o not e tha tthr e e m onths a f t e rhe rt e r m i na t i on, D ’ A nge l o a s ke d D r . H e ng t o w r i t e a not e c l a r i f y i ng hi s e a r l i e ri ndi c a t i on tha ts he co u l d n o tb e aro u n d b el t s i n o rd er t o h el p h er i n h er g ri ev an ce acti o n ag ai n st C o n A g r a . A lth o u g h D ’A n g e lo c a n n o t r e m e m b e rw h e th e rs h e g a v e th a t n o te to anyone atC on A gra, i ncl ud i ng her uni on re pres ent at i ve, she w as cl ea r i n the fa ct tha tthe not e w a s m e a ntt o e xpl a i n t o C onA gr a the j ob f unc t i ons s he c oul d a nd coul d n otperf

orm . A tno t i m e, ho w ever , di d D ’ A ng el o ever s ee k re- em pl oym entat the pl antaf

t ershe had thi s not e. T o the cont rary , D ’ A ng el o sec ured ot her e m p lo y m e n t a t T a r g e t a s a s h e lf s to c k e ro n th e n ig h t s h if t in J u n e o f

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i l e d unt i l S e pt e m be r2002. A s I st at ed ea rl i er , thi s i s r ea l l y aca se of fa i l ure t o com m un i ca t e. If D ’ A nge l o ha d t ol d C onA gr a of he rpr obl e m w he n s he f i r s tappl i e d, i tc oul d ha ve been expl ored and cl ar i fi ed. If D ’ A ng el o h ad ob t ai ned a cl ar i fy i ng no t e f rom D r. H e ng be f or e s he w a s t e r m i na t e d, pe rhaps i tc oul d ha ve be e n r e s ol ve d. O r , on the othe rha nd, m a y be i tr e a l l y i s da nge r ous f orhe rt o w or k a r ound m ovi ng e qui pm e nt be c a us e s he m i ghtha ve a n a tt a c k a nd be i nj ur e d. 1of ver

tigo. 48 In any e vent , i tse em s t o m e thatthe sum m ary j ud gm enti s f ul l y s up po rt ed b y th is r e c o r d a n d th e la w . C h r is D ’A n g e lo is n o t d is ab le d u n d e rth e A D A . C h r is D ’ A ng el o w as never r egar ded as di sabl ed by her emp l oyer . T he autho ri t i es at C on A gra m ade asoun d b usi ness deci si on w hen t hey t erm i nat ed D ’ A ng el o b as ed u p o n th e iro p in io n th a t s h e w a s n o t q u a lif ie d to w o r k in th is p la n t. Co n s e q u e n t l y , I w o u l d a f f i r m.