1 ... S eeT EX . R. A PP . P. 47. 4. 

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH
NO. 2 - 0 7 - 3 0 6 - CV
P AM E L A I NGR AM AP P E L L ANT V . W H I TE SETTLEM EN T A PPELL EE I ND EP ENDENT SCH O O LDI STRI CT

----- ----- -- FR O M THE 67TH DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT CO UN TY

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### M E M ORANDU M OP I NI ON 1

----- ----- -- I . I nt r oduc t i on I n t w o i s s u e s, A ppel l antPam el a I ngr am ( “I ngr am ”) ar gues t hatt he t r i al
c o urt e r r e d ( 1) by gr a nt i ng a di r e c t e d ve r di c t i n f a vo r of Appe l l e e W h i te S e ttlem e n t In d e p e n d e n t S c h o o l D i s tri c t (“ W S IS D ” ) a n d (2 ) b yg ra n ti n g W S IS D ’s p re tri a l p l e a to th e j u ri s d i c ti o n . W e a ffir m .2 II . F a c tu a la n d P ro c e d u ra lH i s to ry In g r a m w a s e m p lo y e d f o rs ix t e e n y e a r s a tW S IS D ’s c e n t r a l o f f ic e u n t il J u n e 2 1 , 2 0 0 4 . T h e r e is a d is p u t e a st o w h ys h e w a s l e tg o . W S IS D t o ld In g ra m s h e w a s te rm i n a te d d u e to c e n tra l o f f i c e re s tru c tu ri n g . H o w e v e r, I ngr am w as t he onl y em pl oyee l etgo and, t her ef or e, bel i eved i tw as due t o her
m e d i c a l c o n d i ti o n . W S I S D cont ended t hatI ngr am chose t o i gno r e t he r eal r eason she w as l et go. I n t he su m m er o f 2 0 0 4 , I ngr am ’ s su pervi so r , M r . W el ch, be ca m e t he execut i ve di r ect orofa m ul t i m i l l i on do l l ar( $1 72 m i l l i on) bon d pr ogr am . N ei t her M r . W el ch, nor t he super i nt enden t of W S I S D , Su san Si m pson, t hou ght I ngr am had t he nec es sa r y s ki l l s t o as si st M r . W el ch i n t hi s new pr ogr am ; t her ef or e, s he
w as l et go. I ngr am agr eed t hat t he duti es ofM r . W el ch’ s new secr et ar y af t er t he r es t r uct ur i ng w er e “ di f f er ent ” t han he r dut i es and t hatW SI SD ’ s r ea so n f or t er m i nat i on w asa val i d one , i ft hatw asw hatha ppe ned . H ow ever , I ngr am al l eged t hatshe w as t er m in a t ed due t o a pr ol ong ed
m edi ca l co ndi t i on. I ngr am cl ai m ed t hats he w asatt ac ke d ve r bal l y f ort ak i ng ti m e o ff a n d th a t h e r s u p e rv i s o r b e c a m e i n c re a s i n g l y“ h o s ti l e ” to w a rd h e r. Furt her m or e, I ngr am s t at ed t hat on t he day sh e w ast er m i nat ed hers upe r vi so r t ol d her“now she coul d go ho m e a nd t ake car e ofherheal t h. ” She al so a s s e rt e d t ha ti n he rp os t - t e r m i na t i on i nt e r vi e w , s hew a s t ol d t ha tW SI SD3

t er m i nat ed herf or“m i ssi ng t oo m uch t i m e” and f orper f or m i ng per sonal busi ness on com pany ti m e. I ngr am ’ s pert i nen tm edi ca l pr obl em s beg an i n Decem ber2002 , w hen s he began havi ng m edi cal pr obl em s t hatw er e event ual l y di agno sed as art hriti s. O vert he next yearand a hal f , she saw f ourdoct or s, under w entnum er ous t est s, had t w o M RI ’ s, r ec ei ved a se r i esof epi dur al i nj ec t i onsi n he rba ck , t ookdi f f er ent
m e d i c a ti ons( i ncl udi ng s t er oi d i nj ec t i ons ) , an d w aspr es cr i bed t en w ee ksof phys i ca l t her apy . Dur i ng 2 0 0 3 , s he had t o t ak e t i m e o f ff orhe rnum er ous doc t orvi si t s, an d s he w oul d oc ca si ona l l y t ak e a n e xt end ed l unc h br ea k, ar r i ve l at e, orl ea ve ea r l y du e t o t he pai n a nd m edi ca t i on r egi m en. In g r a m d e s c r i b e d h e rc o n d it io n a s a s e v e r e b u r n in g p a in t h a tra d ia t e d in her sh oul der and ar m ca us i ng num bne ssi n he rhi p. Bot h s he and he rhus ban d t est i f i ed t hatt he pai n pr event ed her f r om per f or m i ng nor m al househo l d duti es. Furt her m or e, I ngr am co nt end s t hats he w asab se n t d u ri n g t he w or kda y “ f or
m i n ut est o a n hou r ” bec aus e s he w asi nca pac i t at ed by h erco ndi t i on orf or t r e a t m e nt . How e ve r , W SI SD as s e rt e d t ha tI ng r a m t ol d he rd oc t or i n M a y 2003 t hats he co u l d d o a n um beroft hi ngsw i t h l i t t l e o rno d i f f i cul t y, i ncl udi ng perf or m i ng he rj ob, j oggi ng t w o m i l es , an d pa rt i ci pat i ng i n s port s. Al t hough s he
w a s i n vol ved i n a t en- w ee k t her apyco ur sei n Sept em ber2003 , s om e n i ne4

m ont hs be f or e s he w asl et go, her con di t i on had i m pr ove d byab out25% att he t i m e o fhe rt er m i nat i on. In g r a m s t a t e d t h a ts h e o n lyu s e d f o u ra n d a h a lfd a y s o fs i c k l e a v e in 200 3 and t hats he us ed h e rac cum ul at ed com p t i m e o rm adeup t he w or k f or any ot her t i m e m i ss ed. W SI SD st at ed t hats he w asnotab se ntf r om w or k m uch , a n d in 2 0 0 4 , h e ra b s e n c e s d e c r e a s e d ; in f a c ts h e u s e d o n lyt h r e e a n d a h a lf d a y s o f v a c a ti o n ti m e , c o m p ti m e , o r b o th . A f t erbei ng t er m i nat ed, I ngr am f i l ed a gr i evance und er W S I S D ’ s gr i evance pol i cy al l e g in g u nl aw f ul t er m i nat i on du e t o age di scr i m i nat i on, vi ol at i on of her
r i ght t o si ck l eave gr ant ed by S t at e l aw , and vi ol atio n o f th e Fam i l y M edi cal Leave A ct( “FM LA ”) . She ap peal ed t o t he B oar d ofT r ust ees w her e her gr i eva nce s w er e e ven t ual l y de ni ed. I n 2006, I ngr am br oughts ui tunde rf our separ at e cl ai m s; onl y t w o ofw hi ch ar e on appeal . I ngr am al l eged i n one of her causes ofact i o n th a tW S I S D had f ai l ed t o noti f y herofherr i ght t o t ake i nt er m i t t entl eave und ert he FM LA ( t he i nt er f er ence cl ai m ) , i n r esponse t o w hi ch W SI SD f i l ed a p l ea t o t he j ur i sd i ct i on. The t r i al co urt g ra n te d th e p l ea t o t he j ur i s di c t i on a nd d i s m i s s e d I ng r a m ’ s i nt e r f e r e nc e c l a i m , h ol di n g i n i t s M a r c h 5, 20 07 or dert hatI ngr am had “f ai le d to exhaustheradm i ni st r at i ve r em edi es agai nst ” W S I S D and t hatt he tr ia l c o urtt her ef or e l acked subj ectm at t er j u ri s d i c ti o n . T h e re m a i n i n g c a u s e s o f a c ti o n w e re tri e d , b u t t h e tri a l c o u rt5

gr ant ed a d i r ec t ed ver di ctast o he rr em ai ni ng c l ai m s, i ncl udi ng he rr et al i a ti on al l egat io n undert he FM LA ( t he pr ot ect i on cl ai m ) . Speci f i cal l y, W S I S D m oved f ora di r ect ed ver di cton t hi s cl ai m on t w o gr oun ds, t he f i r st of w hi ch bei ng t hat t her e w as “no evi dence t hatt h e pl ai nt i f fhad a ser i ous heal t h cond i t i on t hat
m akes t he em pl oyee un abl e t o per f or m t he f uncti ons ofherposi t i on. ” The t r i al
courtgr ant ed t he di r ect ed ver di ct , appar ent l y on t hatgr oun d, st at i ng as f ol l ow s: T h e r e is n o F M L A v io la t io n u n d e rt h e f a c t so ft h e c a s e . A tn o t im e hast her e b ee n a ny e vi den ce t hats he had an i nab i l i t y t o w or k d ue t o a s er i oushe al t h con di t i on. . . . I t ’ s got t o be due t o t hats er i ous heal t h cond i t i on. Just because t hey t ake of f , I don’ tdi sagr ee t hat sh e to o k . I d o n ’t d i sa g ree w i th tha t at all . B u t at n o ti m e , i n fac t, t he evi dence i s o p p o s ite even f r om herow n m outh t hatshe w as abl e a tal l t i m est o w or k. And i n al l t he ot her ca se s t hat ar e c i t ed, p e o p l e c o u l d n ’t w o rkb e c a u s e o f th e d i s a b i l i ti e s . T h e yc o u l d n ’t w or k bec aus e of w hat eve r con di t i on. I n t hi s si t uat i on, s he st at ed, I , at al l t i m es , cou l d w or k. She t ookof ff orphy si ca l t her apybuts he sa i d I c a n w o rk . And bec aus e o ft hat , t her e w asno F M LA. The FM LA does n’ tap pl y. Ther e i s no l e a v e . Ther ef or e, I gr antt he di r ect ed ver di ct . A nd w i t h t hat , t hi s case i s now com pl et e. Th i s appeal f ol l ow ed onl y as t o t he FM LA i nt er f er ence and r et al i at i on cl ai m s. I I I . Fi r stI ss ue — R e t a lia t io n C la im I n he r f i r st i ss ue, I ngr am co m pl ai ns t hatt he t r i al co urter r ed i n gr ant i ng a di r ec t ed ver di cton her FM LA pr ot ec t i on cl ai m ba se d on t he i deat hats he had no pe r i od o fi nc a pa c i t y. Th i s c l a i m i nv ol ve d he ra s s e rt i on of r e t a l i a t i on b y W SI SD
a g a i n s t h e r fo r i n v o k i n g h e r F M L A ri g h ts .6

A . St andar d ofRev i ew A di r ec t ed ver di cti s pr ope ronl y un derl i m i t ed ci r cum st anc es : ( 1) w hen t he evi dence con cl usi vel y est abl i shes t he r i ght of t he m ovant t o j udg m entornegat es t he r i ght oft he opp onen tor( 2) w hen t he evi dence i s i nsuf f i ci entt o r ai se a
m a te ri a l f a c t i s s u e . See Pruden ti al I ns. Co. v. Fi

n. Revi ewServs. , I

nc. , 29 S .W .3 d 7 4 , 7 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 0 ); Ray v. McFa r l and , 97 S. W . 3d 728 , 729- 30 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h 2 00 3, no pet . ) . I n r evie w in g a di r ect ed ver di ct , w e m ust
c re d i t fa v o ra b l e e v i d e n c e i f re a s o n a b l e j u ro rs c o u l d a n d d i s re g a rd c o n tra ry e v i d e n c e u n l e s s re a s o n a b l e j u ro rs c o u l d n o t. See City of Kel ler v. W i l so n , 168 S .W .3 d 8 0 2 , 8 2 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 5 ). I ft he que st i on t o bede ci ded i s w het hert he l os i ng pa rt y a tt r i al r ai se d a
m a teri a l fac t i ss u e , w e co n side r al l th e ev i d e n c e i n the l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e to th e p a rtya g a i n s t w h o m th e v e rd i c t w a s i n s tru c te d a n d d i s re g a rd a l l c o n tra ry e v id e n c e a n d in f e r e n c e s ; w e g iv e t h e lo s in g p a rt y t h e b e n e f it o fa ll re a s o n a b le i n fe re n c e s c re a te d b yth e e v i d e n c e . Coa s ta l Tra nsp. Co. v. Crown Cent. Pe tro le um Co rp . , 136 S. W . 3d 227 , 234 ( Tex. 200 4) . I f w e d et er m i ne t hatan y c o n fl i c ti n g e v i d e n c e o f p ro b a ti v e v a l u e ra i s e s a m a te ri a l fa c t i s s u e o n a n yth e o ry ofr ec ove r y, t hen t he di r ec t ed ver di ct i s i m pr ope r bec aus e su ch an i ss ue i s f or th e j u ryto r e s o l v e . Szczep a n i kv. F i rs t S . T rus t Co ., 883 S. W . 2d 648, 649 (T e x . 1 9 9 4 ).7

Th e m ot i on m ustspeci f i cal l y st at e w hatg r oun ds m er i tt he di r ect ed
v e rd i c t. T EX . R. C IV . P. 268. How eve r , t he f ai l ur e t o s p e c i fy a g r ound i n t he
m ot i on i s notf at al i ft her e a r e n o f ac ti ss uesr ai se d byt he evi den ce an d t he p re v a i l i n g p a rty i s e n ti tl e d to j u d g m e n t a s a m a tte r o f l a w . D e u ts ch v. Ho o ver, Bax & Slova cek, L. L. P. , 9 7 S .W .3 d 1 7 9 , 1 9 5 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] 200 2, no p et . ) ( ci t i ng Tex. Empl oyer s I ns . A ss ’

n v. Pag e , 553 S. W . 2d 98, 102 ( Tex. 1977 ) ) . W e c an co ns i deran y r ea so n t he di r ec t ed ver di cts houl d ha ve b e e n g ra n te d , e v e n i f n o t s ta te d i n th e p a rty ’s m o ti o n . Ib a rrav. Na t’l Co n s tr. Rental s, I nc ., 1 9 9 S .W .3 d 3 2 , 3 7 (T e x . A p p .— S a n A n to n i o 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t.). W e
m ustaf f i r m a di r ect ed ver di cteven t hou gh t he tr ia l court ’ s r at i onal e w as e rro n e o u s i f th e d i re c te d v e rd i c t c a n b e s u p p o rte d o n a n o th e r b a s i s . Can o v. N. Tex . Nep h ro l

og yA ss o cs ., P.A . , 9 9 S .W .3 d 3 3 0 , 3 3 9 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 3 , n o p e t.). B . R e t a lia t io n C la im s I n cases such as t hi s, t he i ni t i al bur den i s on I ngr am t o pr ovi de evi dence ofea ch el em entofhe rr et al i at i on c l ai m . T he el em ent s ofan FM LA r et al i at i on cl ai m ar e t hat t he em pl oye e a vai l ed her se l fofan FM LA pr ot ec t ed r i ght , t hats he
w as adver sel y af f ect ed by an em pl oym ent deci si on, and t hat t her e w as a causal
c o n n e c ti o n b e tw e e n th e e m p l o y e e ’ s p ro te c te d a c ti v i tya n d th e e m p l o y e r’s
a d v e rs e e m p l o y m e n t a c ti o n . Bor i ski v. City of Col

legeStati

on , 65 F . Su pp . 2d8

4 9 3 , 5 0 2 (S .D . T e x . 1 9 9 9 ); se e al so Chaf f i n v. John H. Carter

Co. , 179 F. 3d 3 1 6 , 3 1 9 (5 th C i r. 1 9 9 9 ); Ho d g en s v. G en . D yn a m i csCo rp . , 144 F. 3d 151, 161 ( 1stCi r . 1998 ). N e x t, W SI SD m us tde m ons t r at e a l egi t i m at e a nd no nd i s c ri m i n a to ryre a s o n fo r i ts e m p l o y m e n t a c ti o n a g a i n s t In g ra m . S e eCh a f f in , 17 9 F. 3d at 32 0. A ssum i ng t he second st ep has been m et , I ngr am m ustt hen show t hatt he r eason of f er ed by W S I S D w as a m er e pr et extf ort he pr ohi bi t ed
re ta l i a ti o n a d v e rs e e m p l o y m e n t a c ti o n . S e e i d.; s e e a l

s o S t. Ma ry ’sHo n o r C tr.
v. Hi cks , 50 9 U . S . 50 2, 50 6- 08 , 11 3 S . C t . 27 42 , 27 47

- 48 ( 19 93 ) ( st at i ng t hat t he pl ai nt i f f r et ai ns t he ul t i m at e bur den of per suasi on on t he i ssue ofi nt ent i onal d i s c ri m i n a ti o n ). C . W SI SD ’ s Pos i t i on W S I S D assert s t hatt he di r ect ed ver di ct on I ngr am ’ s r et al i at i on cl ai m w as pr operf ort hr ee r easons. Fi r st , I ngr am had no pr ot ect ed r i ght und ert he FM LA because she had no per i od of i ncapaci t y. S econd , I ngr am pr esent ed no evi dence t hatex er ci si ng he rr i ght s unde rt he FM LA caus ed t he adv er seem pl oym e nt act i on byW S I S D . Th i r d, I ngr am pr esent ed no evi dence t hat t he r eason of f er ed by W SI SD f orI ngr am ’ s t er m i nat i on w asa pr et extf orpr ohi bi t ed r et al i at i on. I ni t a l l y, w i t h r e s pe c t to W S I SD’ s f i r s ta r gu m e nt , w e m us tl oo ka t29 C . F. R . § 82 5. 11 4( a) , ent i t l ed, “W hat i s a ‘ ser i ous heal t h cond i t i on’ ent i t l i ng an em pl oyee t o FM LA l eave?” I tpr ovi des i n partas f ol l ow s:9

( a) . . . [ A ] “ser i ous heal t h cond i t i on” ent i t l i ng an em pl oyee t o FM LA l eave m e a n s an i l l ness, i nj ur y, i m pai r m ent , orphysi cal orm ent al cond i t i on t hati nvol ves:

. . . . ( 2) . . . . A s e r i oushe al t h c ondi t i on i nvol vi ng c ont i nui ng tre a tm e n t b ya h e a l th c a re p ro v i d e r i n c l u d e s a n yo n e o r m o re oft he f ol l ow i ng:

. . . . (i i i ) A n y p e ri o d o f i n c a p a c i ty o r t rea tm e n t f o r su c h i n c a p a c i ty due t o a chr oni c se r i ous hea l t h con di t i on. A chr oni c s er i ous h e a l th c o n d i ti o n i s o n e w h i c h : (A )R e q u i res p e ri o d i c v i sit s fo r t rea tm e n t bya h e a l th c a re p ro v i d e r . . . . ( B) Cont i nue s ove ran ex t end ed per i od of t i m e . . . an d ( C ) M ay ca us e e pi so di c r at hert han a con t i nui ng pe r i od o f i n c a p a c i ty [.]

. . . . (v) A n yp e ri o d o f ab se n c e to re c e i v e m u l ti p l e tr e a tm e n ts

. . . by a heal t h car e pr ovi der. . . f ora condi t i on t hat w oul d l i kel y r esul ti n a per i od of i ncapaci t y ofm or e t han t hr ee c o n s ec ut i ve ca l end arda ysi n t he abs enc e o f m edi cal i nt er vent i on or t r eat m ent , such as cancer (c h e m o t h e r a p y , r a d ia t io n , e t c .) , s e v e r e a rt h r it is (p h y s i c a l th e ra p y ), k i d n e yd i s e a s e (d i a l y s i s ). 2 9 C .F .R . § 8 2 5 .1 1 4 (a ) (2 0 0 5 ). Thus , f orpur pos esoft hi s ca se , I ngr am w asen t i t l ed t o FM LA l ea ve i fs he had an i l l ness t hati nvol ved con t i nui ng t r eat m entby a heal t hc a re p ro vi der , ( a)10

w h i c h en c o m p a ss e d an yp e ri o d o f i n c a p a c i ty d u e to a ch ron i c se ri o u s h e a l th cond i t i on, t hati s, one t hatr equi r ed per i odi c t r eat m entby a heal t hcar e pr ovi der
w hi ch conti nued overan ext ended per i od of t i m e and w hi ch m ay have caused epi sodi c i ncapaci t y i n l i eu of conti nui ng i ncapaci t y, or ( b) w hi ch encom passed a p er i od ofab se ncet o r ec ei ve m ul t i pl e t r ea t m ent s f ora con di t i on t hat , w i t hout such t r eat m ent , w ould l i kel y have r esul t ed i n i ncapaci t y ofm or e t han t hr ee c o n s e c u ti v e c a l e n d a r d a y s , su c h a s p h y s i c a l th e ra p yfo r s e v e re a rth ri ti s . “I nca pac i t y” i s def i ned i n th e s a m e s ec t i on a s “i nab i l i t y t o w or k, att end
sc h o o l o r p e rf o rm o th e r reg u l a r d a i l y a c ti v i ti e s d u e to th e se r io u s h e a l th cond i t i on, t r eat m entt her ef or e, or r ecover y t her ef r om . ” Id . § 8 2 5 .1 1 4 (a )(2 )(i ). I tappear s l ogi cal t hat f or a w or k- r el at ed FM LA l eave, t he cl ai m antm ust
s ho w t ha th e rc on di t i on a f f e c t e d he ra bi l i t i e s a tw or ka s s e tf ort h i n 29 C. F. R. § 8 2 5 .1 1 4 . T h e e v i d e n c e c l e a rl ys h o w e d th a t I n g r a m w a s a b l e to w o rk t hr ougho uthe ri l l nes s, pa rt i cul ar l y i n 2004 w hen s he w as ter m i nat ed. She t est i f i ed as f ol l ow s: Q . But you’ r e, i n f ac t , ar e a bl e t o do yourj ob, you w er e a bl e t o do yourj ob, w er en’ tyou ? A . I di d i tt o t he bestofm y abi l i t y, yes.

. . . . Q . So yo urt es t i m ony i s t hatyou w er e a bl e t o do t he f unc t i onsof yourj ob?11

A . Y es.

. . . . Q . . . . A nd ou r r ec or d s how s t hatyou m i ss ed abo utt hr ee an d a h a l f da y s, d o e s th a t so u n d ri g h t? A . Y e s , sir. I ngr am t es t i f i ed t hats he t ol d he rdoc t ort he f ol l ow i ng: Q . You co ul d r un orj og t w o m i l esw i t h s om e d i f f i cul t y? A . W el l , I di dn’ tdo t hatof t en, yes.

. . . . Q . You co ul d c l i m b up a f l i ghtofs t ai r s w i t houtan y di f f i cul t y? A . U m- h u m. Q . I s th a t co rr e c t? A . W el l , I di dn’ thave any st ai r s, butI guess I coul d have.

. . . . Q . P a rt i c i p a te i n sp o rt s a n d g a m e s a s y o u w o u l d l i k e , c o rr e c t? A . R i g h t.

. . . . Q . A nd yo u coul d do yo urw or k? A . Y es. Q . Y ou w er en’ tdi sabl ed f r om doi ng any t hi ng atw or k?12

A . N o. I coul d do m y w or k. S he al so t est i f i ed as f ol l ow s: Q . A nd yo u t est i f i ed ear l i ert hatt hi s 20 03 , Sep t em ber20 03 , w hi ch is about ni ne m onths bef or e you w er e t er m i nat ed, t her apy w as a t en- w eek cour se? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. Q . So yo u w er e gone - -you t ook of f e a rly t w i ce a w eek f ort en w eeks? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m.

. . . . Q . And t hen l i ke w i se , you j us tt es t i f i ed abo u t hav i ng s om e epi dur al s i n M ay of2004 , M ar ch, A pr i l an d M ay? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. Q . And you s ai d t hos e w er e s che dul ed f orw hatt i m e o fda y? A . I be l i evei tw as7: 15 i n t he m or ni ng. Q . Y ou cam e i n l at e t hose days? A . Justabout 15 , 30 m i nutes .

. . . . Q . S o y o urt es t i m ony i s t hatyou w er e l at e b ec aus e y ou ha d a d o c to r’ s a p p o i n tm e n t? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. Q . A n d th i s l u n c h h o u r, y o u to o ka l o t o f l o n g l u n c h e s , I unde r st and ?13

A . No, notr ea l l y. Q . S o me t i me s y o u ’ d s t a yt wo h o u r s , y o u l e f t a t 1 1 : 0 0 o r y o u c a me back at2: 00 , I t hi nk? A . I fI di d t hat , i tw asI -- g o i n g hom e, t ookm y m edi ca t i on. The m e d i c a ti o n m a d e m e fe e l fu n n yri g h t a t fi rs t o r to m a k e i t w o rk . I ’d go ho m e, t ak e i t , l ay d ow n f ora l i t t l e b i t , l eti tge tt o w or k, an d th e n c o m e b a c kto w o rk . B u t I a l w a y s m a d e u p m yti m e .

. . . . Q . S o j u st so th e j u ry h a s so m e i d e a , h o w o ften w o u l d y o u d o i t, onc e a m ont h? A . M aybe. Q . So w hatab outt w i ce a m ont h? A . M ayb e, pos si bl y. Q . Wh a ta r e we t a l k i n g a b o u tn o w? A . M a y b e g o i n g h o m e a n d , y o u k n o w , ta k i n g m ym e d i c a ti o n -- h a v i n g to ta k e m y m e d i c a ti o n d u ri n g th e m o st i n ten se p e ri o d o f m y i l l nes s. Yeah, i tm ay hav e b ee n t w i ce a m ont h. Q . A n d w h a t oth e r pe ri o d o f t i m e are w e tal k i n g ab o u t? A . O n l unc h. Q . N o , w h i c h p e ri o d o f ti m e -- A . O h, I w oul d say pr obab l y January t o - -w el l , m aybe D ecem ber o f 2 0 0 3 , o r I ’m s o rry , o f 2 0 0 4 . U n d e r t h e ap p rop ri a te s tan d a r d o f rev i e w , w e h o l d tha t I n g ram fai l e d to show t hatshe w as i ncapaci t at ed as t hatt er m i s def i ned i n t he st at ut e.14

W i t h r ega r d t o 29 C . F. R. § 825 . 114 ( a) ( 2) ( v) , r ega r di ng abs enc e i nvol vi ng
m ul t i pl e tre a tm e nt s, i tw asne ce ss ary f orI ngr am t o s how t hathe rco ndi t i on, abs entm edi ca l i nt erven t i on ort r ea t m ent , “ w oul d l i k e l y r es ul ti n a pe r i od of i ncapaci t y ofm or e t han t hr ee consecut i ve cal endardays. ” S ee2 9 C .F .R . § 82 5. 11 4( a) ( 2) ( v) . I ngr am m a k e s t he bl anketst at em entt hatt he “m edi cal
r ec or ds a n d t e s t i mo n yo fI n g r a m a n d h e rh u s b a n d a r e mo r e t h a n s u f f i c i e nt evi dence t o suppo rt a j ur y i nf er ence t hat I ngr am ’ s condi t i on w oul d have r esul t ed i n t h r e e d a y s o rmo r e d a y s o fi n c a p a c i t yi n [ t h e ] a b s e n c e o fmed i cal i nt erven t i on. ” Fi r st , I ngr am doe s notpoi ntt o a ny i t em i n her f i f t y- pl us pa gesof
m e d i c a l rep o rt s to su p p o rt h e r a ss e rt i o n . A n ap p e l l a te c o u rti s n o t r e q u i red to
se a rch the ap p e l l a te rec o rd, w i th n o g u i d a n c e fr o m the b r ie f in g p a rt y , to d e te rm i n e i f th e re c o rd s u p p o rts th e p a rty ’s a rg u m e n t. Hal l v. Steph ens on, 919 S . W . 2d 45 4, 46 6- 67 (T e x . A pp. — FortW ort h 1 99 6, w r i tdeni ed) . A l so, “w e kno w of no aut hor i t y obl i gat i ng us t o bec om e adv oca t es f or a p art i cul arl i t i gan t th ro u g h p e rfo rm i n g th e i r re s e a rc h a n d d e v e l o p i n g th e i r a rg u m e n t fo r th e m .” Te l lo v. BankOne , N. A. , 218 S. W . 3d 109, 116 ( Te x. App.

— Hous t o n [ 1 4 th D i st . ] 2007 , no pet . ) . Thus , an i nad equ at el y br i ef ed poi ntm ay be w ai ved on a p p e a l . Ha l

l , 919 S . W . 2d a t467 ; s e e a ls o F re do n ia S tate Ba n k v. G en . A m . L ife I ns . Co. , 88 1 S . W . 2d 27 9, 28 4- 85 ( Tex . 19 94 ) ( di scussi ng “l ong - st andi ng r ul e” t hatpoi ntm ay be w ai ved duet o i na deq uat e b r i ef i ng) . Sec ond, t her e i s no15

expertt est i m ony w i t h r egar d t o any un t r eat ed cond i t i on r esul t i ng i n a t hr ee day
a b s e n c e . A n d th i rd , In g ra m d o e s n o t p o i n t u s to e v i d e n c e i n th e re c o rd w h e re a n yl a yte s ti m o n yi n d i c a te s a th re e d a ya b s e n c e w o u l d re s u l t. She a l so di r ec t s us t o t he l a n g u a g e i n 29 C . F. R. § 825. 114 ( a) ( 2) ( v)
re g a rd i n g “ s e v e re a rth ri ti s (p h y s i c a l th e ra p y ).” A fa i r re a d i n g o f th a t s ta tu to ry se ct i on i n i t s e n ti re ty i ndi ca t est hatt hi s port i on ofpa rt( v) i s i ndi ca t i ve of
exa m pl esof“ t r ea t m ent , ” su ch asch em ot her apy f orca nce r , phy si ca l t her apyf or sever e art hr i t i s, and ki dney d i al ysi s f ordi sease. A ny per i ods ofabsence al l uded t o by I ngr am di d not i nvol ve physi cal t her apy f orsever e art hr i t i s. A s such, her
ar gum enti s a non- st art er . Ther ef or e w e hol d t hat t her e i s i nsuf f i ci entevi dence th a t s h e w a s e n ti tl e d to a n F M L A l e a v e u n d e r s u b s e c ti o n (v ). C ons equ ent l y, w e c ann ots ay t hatt he t r i al co urter r ed i n g r ant i ng t he di r ect ed ver di cton herr et ali a tio n ( pr ot ect i on) cl ai m si nce t he evi dence d e m o n strate s th a t I n g ram w a s n o t i n c a p a c i tate d d u e to a c h ron i c se ri o u s h e a l th cond i t i on, norhas s h e show n t hatsubsect i on ( v) w as appl i cabl e t o her . That bei ng t he ca se , W SI SD co ul d notr et al i at e aga i ns t her r ega r di ng an FM LA l ea ve to w h i c h s h e w a s n o t e n ti tl e d . I n g ra m ’s fi rs t i s s u e i s o v e rru l e d . I V . Sec ond I ss ue — In t e rf e r e n c eC la im A s setoutby I ngr am , t o pr evai l on an FM LA i nt er f er ence cl ai m , she m ust est abl i sh t he f ol l ow i ng: ( 1) she w as el i gi bl e f or t he FM LA ’ s pr ot ect i ons, ( 2) her16

em pl oye rw asco ver ed by t he FM LA, ( 3) s he w asen t i tl e d to l e a ve unde rt he FM LA , ( 4) she pr ovi ded suf f i ci entnot i ce ofheri nt entt o t ake l eave, and ( 5) her
e m p l o y e r d e n i e d h e r F M L A b e n e fi ts to w h i c h s h e w a s e n ti tl e d . Hogev. Honda of A m . Mf

g. , I nc. , 3 8 4 F .3 d 2 3 8 , 2 4 4 (6 th C i r. 2 0 0 4 ). I t i s a x i o m a ti c tha t su b je c t m a t ter j u ri sd i c ti o n i s e ss e n ti a l for a co u rtto d e c i d e a c a s e b e fo re i t. Bl and I ndep. Sch. D i

st. v. Blue , 34 S. W . 3d 547, 553- 5 4 (T e x . 2 0 0 0 ). I f a p a rtya l l e g e s th a t s u bj e c t m a tte r j u ri s d i c ti o n i s a b s e n t, a p l e a to th e j u ri s d i c ti o n m a yb e th e a p p ro p ri a te v e h i c l e to ra i s e th a t i s s u e . Id . at 554 . Exha us t i on of adm i ni st r at i ve r em edi esi s a p r er equ i si t e f ora cou rtt o ha ve s u bj e c t m a t t e r j u ri s d i c ti o n . W i l m er-Hutchi

ns I ndep . Sch . D i

st. v. Sul

l ivan , 51 S .W .3 d 2 9 3 , 2 9 4(T e x . 2 0 0 1 ). I n t he ca sebe f or e u s, W SI SD as se rt s t hatI ngr a m b r oughta cl ai m f or
r et al i at i on a gai ns tW SI SD i n h e r g ri e van ce pr oce ssbutdi d notas se rtan y i nt er f er ence cl ai m , t hat i s, t hat she w as not i nf or m ed of her r i ght t o FM LA l eave. Ther ef or e, be ca us e t he i nt er f er enc e c l ai m w asnotbr oughtdur i ng t he
a d m in is t r a t iv e c la im p r o c e s s , t h e t r ia l c o u rtw a s w it h o u tju r is d ic t io n t o e n t e rt a in th e i n te rfe re n c e c l a i m . I ngr am r es pondsw i t h a t w o- f ol d a r gum ent . Fi r st , s he ar gue s t hati ti s not
nec es sa r y t o ha ve as se rt ed t he i nt er f er enc e c l ai m be ca us e t hatcl ai m i s “l i keor
r el at ed t o” her r et al i at i on cl ai m . S econd , she i s not r equi r ed t o have exh aust ed17

h e ra d m in is t r a t iv e r e m e d ie s w it h r e s p e c t t o t h e in t e r f e r e n c e c la im b e c a u s e itis
a c l a i m b a s e d o n fe d e ra l s ta tu to ryri g h ts . S ee Tex. Educ. A gency v. C ypress F a i rb a n ksI. S .D ., 8 3 0 S .W .2 d 8 8 , 9 0 -9 1 (T e x . 1 9 9 2 ). W e have pr evi ousl y det er m i ned t hatI ngr am w as notent i t l ed t o FM LA l e a v e b e c a u se sh e w a s n o t in c a p a c i tate d d u e to a ch ron i c se ri o u s h e a l th
c o n d i ti o n an d tha t su b se c ti o n ( v ) o f 2 9 C .F.R . § 8 2 5 .1 1 4 (a)( 2 ) d i d n o t ap p l yto her . Th at bei ng t he case, t her e can be no i nt er f er ence by W S I S D w i t h herFM LA
r i ghts , t hati s, W S I S D cannot have f ai le d to i nf or m herofherr i ght t o FM LA l ea ve bec aus e sh e w as not ent i t l ed t o su ch. H enc e, herar gum entr ega r di ng t he gr ant i ng oft he pl ea t o t he j ur i sd i ct i on i s f ut i l e and m oot ed by o urpr i orhol di ng. In g ra m ’s s e c o n d i s s u e i s o v e rru l e d . V . Concl us i on H a v i n g o v e r ru l e d In g ra m ’s tw o i s s u e s , w e a ffir m th e tri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t.

B OB M CC OY J U S T I C E PA N EL B: D A U PH I N O T, G A RD N ER, an d M C C O Y, JJ. DEL I VERE D: M a y 1, 2008