# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 1- 22 02

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Terri Kall ai l

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

ff - App el la nt

v.

All ia nt Ener gy Corp or at e Ser vi ces , Inc

.

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

an t - Ap pe ll ee

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Nor th ern Dis tri ct of I owa - Ced ar Ra pi ds

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Jan ua ry

12 , 20 12
Fil ed : Se pt em

be r 4, 2 01 2

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re BYE, SMI TH, and COLLOTON, Cir cu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

COLLOTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

Terri Kall ai l su ed he r em

pl oyer, All ia nt Ene rg y Co rp or ate Serv ic es (“ All ia nt ”),

al le gi ng di sa bi li ty di sc riminat io n, in vi ol at io n of th e Am eri can s wit h Dis ab il it ie s Act
(“ ADA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12 10 1- 12 21 3, an d th e Io wa Ci vi l Ri gh ts Act (“ ICRA” ), Io waCo de § 21 6 et se q

. The di st ric t co ur t gr an te d su m m ary jud gm en t in fav or of All ia nt 1

an d d is m is se d t he co m

pl ai nt . Kall ai l ap pe al s, an d we a ffi rm

.

I.

Bec au se we are rev ie win g a gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t, we de sc rib e th e fact s

in th e li gh t m os t favo rab le to Kall ai l. Kall ai l beg an wor ki ng at All ia nt in 19 96 as a

Cu st om er Serv ic e Co ns ul ta nt in All ia nt ’s c us to m er se rv ic e cen te r in Ced ar Rap i ds

, Io wa. Sh e was pr om ot ed th ree ti m es , ul ti m at el y ris in g to th e po si ti on of Res ou rce

Co or di na to r at th e Dis tri bu ti on Dis pa tc h C e n t e r (“ DDC”) in Ced ar Rap id s.

Em pl oyees in th e DDC m on it or th e di st rib ut io n of el ect ric it y , ga s, an d st eam

t h ro ug ho ut th e se rv ic e te rri to ry , s ch ed ul e an d ro ut e res ou rces to res po nd to ro ut in e

an d em erg en cy wor k, an d ha nd le ou ta ge an d ot he r em erg en cy si tu at io ns so as to

res to re s erv ic e an d m ai nt ai n s y st em in te gr it y

.

To pr o v id e co ve rag e twen ty-fou r ho ur s pe r da y , se ve n da y s a week

, All ia nt

req ui res Res ou rce Co or di na to rs at th e DDC to w o r k a ro ta ti ng sc he du le

. Res ou rce

Co or di na to rs wor k in te am s of two on n i n e

- w e e k sc he du le s th at ro ta te be twee n

twel ve -h ou r an d ei gh t-h ou r sh ift s, an d da y an d ni gh t sh ift s. Dur in g th e fir st week

, th e

te am as si st s wit h st or m wor k or ou ta ge s an d fil ls in fo r ot he r Res ou rce Co or di na to rs

who are ab se nt fro m wor k. The se co nd week is fo r tra in in g; th e te am t r a v e l s t o

di ffer en t se rv ic e area s to le arn ab ou t th e area s an d m eet th e em pl oyees who wor k in

th em

. In th e rem ai ni ng week s, Res ou rce Co or di na to rs wor k sh ift s di ffer in g in le ng th

, ti m e o f da y , and da y

of t he week

.

The Hon or ab le J o n St ua rt Sco le s, Uni te d St at es Mag is tra te Ju dg e fo r th e 1

Nor th ern Dis tri ct of Io wa, si tt in g by co ns en t of t h e p a r t i es pu rs ua nt to 28 U.S.C. § 6 36 (c).

-2

-K a l l a i l ha s Ty pe I di ab et es an d is de pe nd en t on in su li n. To m ai nt ai n

acce pt ab le bl oo d su ga r le ve ls

, Kall ai l m us t te st he r bl oo d su ga r si x to ei gh t ti m es pe r

da y , an d m

us t care fu ll y m an ag e th e ti m in g, freq ue nc y , qu an ti ty, carb oh y dr at e co un t,

an d qu a li ty of th e fo od an d dr in k th at sh e co ns um es

. Kall ai l al so su ffer s fro m

Peri ph eral Vas cu la r Dis eas e ( “PV D ”), whi ch si gn ifi can tl y li m it s ci rcu la ti on to he r

le gs an d feet

. As a res ul t of he r PVD, it is di ffi cu lt fo r Kall ai l to walk or do an y th in g

el se th at cau s e s h e r t o lo se bl oo d flo w to he r le gs

. By th e fal l of 20 04

, Kall ai l ha d

in crea se d di ffi cu lt y m an ag in g he r di ab et es whi le wor ki ng a ro ta ti ng sh ift

. The

ro ta ti ng sh ift was cau si ng he r to ex pe rie nc e erra ti c c h a n g e s in bl oo d pr es su re an d

bl oo d s ug ar, an d i t p ut he r at a hi gh er ri sk for di ab et ic co m

pl ic at io ns an d d eat h.

In Nov em

be r 20 04

, Kall a i l c o nt act ed so m eo ne in th e co m pa ny’ s hu m an

res ou rce de pa rtment ab ou t a po ss ib le acco m m od at io n rel at ed to he r di ab et es

. On

Nov em be r 17

, 20 04

, Heid i Hof l a n d

, a Sen io r Hum an Res ou rces Gen eral is t fo r

All ia nt

, req ue st ed th at Kall ai l’s ph y si ci an co m pl et e a m ed ic al cert ifi cat io n fo rm an d

ret ur n it to th e co m

pa ny. Kall ai l’s ph y si ci an , Dr. Mel an ie St ah lb erg , co m pl et ed an d

su bm it te d th e fo rm , reco m m en di ng th at Kall ai l wor k on ly st rai gh t da y sh ift s. At on e

po in t, Dr. St ah lb erg sp ok e wit h Hof l a n d a n d to ld he r th at a ro ta ti ng sh ift “ cau se d

erra ti c ch an ge s in [Kal la il ’s] bl oo d pr es su re an d bl oo d su ga r an d cau se d he r to be at

a h ig he r ri sk for di ab et ic co m pl ic at io ns an d o ve ral l m or ta li ty.”

On Apr il 1 2

, 2 0 0 5

, All ia nt

, in a le tt er fro m Ji ll Brei tb ach

, Sen io r Hum an

Res ou rces Gen eral is t, de ni ed Kall ai l’s req ue st fo r a st rai gh t da y s h ift as an

acco m m od at io n. Th e le tt er st at ed th at “ [t]he Res ou rce Co or di na to r’s es se nt ia l

fu nc ti on s req ui re ro ta ti ng sh ift s an d em erg en cy cal l-i ns to su pp or t da il y el ect ric an d

ga s op erat io ns 24 ho ur s a da y 7 da y s a we e k t o m eet co m pa ny an d pu bl ic sa fet y

req ui rem en ts .” As an al te rn at iv e acco m m od at io n, All ia nt sa id it wou l d c o n si de r

reas si gn in g Kall ai l “ to an ot he r va can t po si ti on wit h a st rai gh t da y sh ift fo r whi ch sh e

was qu al ifi ed .” Brei tb ach as ke d Kall ia l to e-m ai l a req ue st if sh e wan te d “ to pr oc eed

wit h id en ti fy in g po ss ib le va c a n t p o si ti on s fo r reas si gn m en ts .” On May 12

, 20 05

,

-3

-Kall ai l req ue st ed th at Su e Klei sc h, Hum an Res ou rces Co m pl ia nc e Man ag er, rev ie w

th e d eci si on

.

On Au gu st 9, 20 05 , i n res po ns e to th e Apr il 12 let te r fro m Brei tb ach , Kall ai l

no ti fie d Brei tb ach th at sh e wou ld co ns id er reas si gn m en t to an ot he r po si ti on

. Kall ai l

to ld Brei tb ach th at sh e ha d req ue st ed rev ie w of th e Apr il 1 2 d e c i s i o n, bu t ha d

rece iv ed no res po ns e fro m Klei sc h. Kall ai l th en sp ok e to Klei sc h ab ou t he r req ue st

fo r reas si gn m en t. The co m pa ny la te r pr ov id ed Kall ai l wit h a l is t of th ree op en

po si t io ns fo r whi ch sh e co ul d ap pl y th ro ug h th e no rm al pr oc es s. Kall ai l in fo rm ed

Klei sc h th at sh e was no t in te res te d in an y of th e th ree po si ti on s be cau se on e req ui red

walk in g, whi ch sh e was un ab le to do

, on e pa id le ss th an he r cu rren t po si ti on , an d on e

wou ld ha ve req ui red he r to rel oc at e o r to co m m ut e a s ig ni fic an t d is ta nc e to work

.

Due to su rg ery on he r le g, Kall ai l co m m en ced le av e un d e r t h e F a mily an d

Med ic al Leav e Act on Sep te m be r 1 2, 20 05

. Dur in g he r reco ve ry fro m su rg ery,

Kall ai l su ffer ed an in fect ed to e th a t d oc to rs ul ti m at el y am pu ta te d. Kall ai l was

in it ia ll y sc he du le d to ret ur n t o w o r k on Decem be r 5, 20 05

, bu t All ia nt gr an te d he r

req ue st to ex te nd th e le av e th ro ug h F eb ru ary 13 , 20 06

.

W hi le on l e a v e , Kall ai l ap pl ie d fo r a DDC Adm in is tra to r po si ti on

. The

po si ti on ha d a st rai gh t ei gh t-h ou r da y sh ift sc he du le

, an d was two job gr ad es hi gh er

th an Kall ai l’s cu rren t Res ou rce Co or di na to r po si ti o n

. K a l la il was on e of si x

ap pl ic an ts to rece iv e an in te rv ie w, bu t Al li an t h ire d a no th er ca nd id at e.

Kall ai l ret ur ne d to wor k on Feb ru ary 13

, 20 06

, pu rs ua nt to a rel eas e fro m he r ph y si ci an , wit h a res tri ct io n th at sh e wor k on ly an ei gh t-h ou r da y -s hi ft sc he du le un ti l
May 13

, 20 06

. All ia nt ga ve Kall ai l a te m po rary li gh t-d ut y as si gn m en t, su bjec t to he r ph y si ci an ’s res tri ct io ns , in whi ch sh e pe rfo rm ed cert ai n ad m in is tra ti ve ta sk s. The

ta sk s— tra in in g ne w hi re s a n d dr aft in g tra in in g m at eri al s, am on g ot he rs —wer e

di ffer en t fr om

he r no rm al work res po ns ib il it ie s as a Res ou rce C oo rd in at or

.

-4

-On Mar ch 20

, 20 06

, K a l l a i l su bm it te d to All ia nt a se co nd req ue st fo r

acco m m od at io n, and ag ai n req ue st ed a pe rm an en t d ay sh ift

. Kall ai l th en su bm it te d

a pr op os ed sc he du le in whi ch sh e, a l o n g w i th a te am m at e, wou ld wor k a reg ul ar

ei gh t-h ou r da y sh ift

, whi le th e rem ai ni ng Res ou rce Co or di na to rs co nt in ue d to wor k

ro ta ti ng sh ift s.

W he n Kall ai l’s te m

po rary li gh t-d ut y as si gn m en t ex pi red

, Dr. St ah lb erg ag ai n

reco m m en de d th at Kall ai l be pe rm an en tl y li m it ed to st rai gh t da y sh ift s to pr ot ect he r

fro m co m pl ic at io ns an d ris k th ro ug ho ut th e res t of he r li fe. Bas ed on th is res tri ct io n,

All ia nt di d no t rei ns ta te Kall ai l to he r Res ou rce Co or di na to r po sitio n, an d al lo wed he r

to us e pa id le av e be ne fit s whi le All ia nt ex pl or ed po ss ib le op en po si ti on s fo r whi ch

sh e was qu al ifi ed an d t o wh ic h s he co ul d b e rea ss ig ne d.

O n Ju ne 19

, 20 06

, All ia nt of fere d Kall ai l reas si gn m en t to a Cu st o mer Ope rat io ns Ass is ta nt II po si ti on in Ced ar Rap id s. Kall ai l de cl in ed th e po si ti on , an d

ap pl ie d fo r an d rece iv ed sh or t-t erm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s be gi nn in g Ju ne 23

, 20 06

. Ove r

th e fo ll owi ng se ve ral m on th s, Klei sc h an d Brei tb ach co nt in ue d to wor k wit h Kall ai l

to fin d a po si ti on at All ia nt

. The y fo rward ed he r in fo rma t io n ab ou t a Team Lead

Bi ll in g po si ti on , bu t Kall ai l de ci de d no t to ap pl y fo r th e po si ti on be cau se sh e wou ld

no t ha ve be en qu al ifi ed

. B rei tb ach an d Klei sc h al so of fere d Kall ai l a po si ti on as a

Co ns tru ct io n Sp eci al is t, bu t sh e de cl in ed th e of fer be cau s e of ne w he al th

co m pl ic at io ns

. Kall a i l di d no t ap pl y fo r an y ot he r po si ti on s wit h All ia nt

, an d,

effe ct iv e J a n u a r y 1, 20 07

, sh e be ga n to rece iv e lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s un de r

All ia nt ’s di sa bi li ty pla n.

Kall ai l fil ed ch arg es ag ai ns t All ia nt wit h th e Ced ar Rap id s Ci vi l Ri gh ts

C om m is si on (“ CRC RC” ), th e Io wa Ci vi l Ri gh ts Co m m is si on (“ ICRC ”), an d t h e Equ al Em

pl oym en t Opp or tu ni ty Co m m i ss io n (“ EEOC”), al le gi ng th at All ia nt

di sc riminat ed a g a i n st he r ba se d on di sa bi li ty by fai li ng to pr ov id e he r wit h a

reas on ab le acco m

m od at io n. Afte r th es e ag en ci es to ok no act io n an d ad vi se d Kall ai l

-5

-of he r rig ht to su e, sh e fil ed a co m pl ai nt in Io wa Dis tri ct Co ur t, al le gi ng th at All ia nt

fai le d to m ak e reas on ab le acco m m od at io n fo r Kal la il ’s di sa bi li ty. All ia nt rem ov ed

th e cas e to fed eral co ur t. All i a n t t h e n mo ve d fo r su m m ary jud gm en t, arg ui ng th at

Kall ai l was no t a qu al ifi ed in di vi du al un de r th e ADA, be cau se sh e co ul d no t pe rfo rm

an ess en ti al fu nc ti on of he r po si ti on

. The di st ric t co ur t g ran te d s um m ary jud gm en t

in fav or of Al li an t.

II.

W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t’s gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t de no vo , vi ewin g th e

ev id en ce an d dr awin g al l reas on ab le in fere nc es in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Kall ai l,

th e no nm ov in g par ty. Ki rk eb er g v. Ca na di an Pac

. Ry. , 61 9 F .3d 89 8, 9 03 (8 th Ci r.

20 10 ). Su m

m ary jud gm en t is ap pr op ria te if “ th e m ov a n t s h o w s th at th ere is no

ge nu in e di sp ut e as to an y m at eri al fact an d th e mo v a n t is en ti tl ed to jud gm en t as a

m at te r of law.” Fe d. R. C iv . P. 56 (a).

Kall ai l al le ge s di sa bi li ty di sc riminat io n un de r bo th th e ADA an d th e ICRA.

“ [D]isa bi li ty cl ai m s un de r th e ICRA are ge ne ral ly an al y zed in acco rd wit h th e ADA,”

Gre ti ll at v. Ca re In it ia ti ves , 48 1 F.3 d 64 9, 65 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ), an d Kall ai l do es no t

ur ge an y di st in ct io n b et ween th e two cla im s.

The ADA m ak es it un la wfu l fo r a pr iv at e em pl oyer to di sc riminat e ag ai ns t an y

“ qu al ifi ed in di vi du al on th e ba si s of di sa bi li ty.” 42 U.S.C. § 12 11 2( a).

“ Dis cri m in at io n” is de fin ed t o i nc lu de “ no t m ak in g reas on ab le acco m m od at io ns to

th e kn own ph y si cal or m en ta l li m it at io ns of an ot he rwis e qu al ifi ed in di vi du al wit h a

di sa bi li ty.” Id

. § 12 11 2( b) (5 )(A). To es ta bl is h a pr ima fa ci e cas e of di sc riminat io n

un de r th e ADA, an em

pl oyee m us t sh ow th at sh e (1 ) is di sa bl ed wit hi n th e m ean in g

of th e A D A, (2 ) is a qu al ifi ed in di vi du al un de r th e ADA, an d (3 ) ha s su ffer ed an

ad ve rs e em

pl oym en t d eci si on be cau se of th e d is ab il it y

. Hub er

v. W al -Ma rt St or es
, In c. , 48 6 F.3 d 48 0, 48 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ). To be a qu al ifi ed in di vi du al un de r th e ADA,

-6

-an em

pl oyee m us t “ (1 ) po ss es s th e req ui si te sk il l, ed uc at io n, ex pe rie nc e, an d tra in in g

fo r [h er] po si ti on ; an d (2 ) be ab le to pe rfo rm th e es se nt ia l job fu nc t i o n s , wit h or

wit ho ut reas on ab le acco m m od at io n.” Fen ne

y v. Dak ot a, Min n. & E. R.R. Co

. , 32 7

F.3 d 70 7, 71 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 ) ( i n t e rn al qu ot at io n om it te d) ; se e al so 42 U.S.C.
§ 1 21 11 (8 ).

Kall ai l cl ai m s th at All ia nt vi ol at ed th e ADA by refu si ng to acce pt he r pr op os al

to wor k a reg ul ar ei gh t-h ou r da y sh ift as a Res ou rce Co or di na to r. Fo r pu rp os es of

th is ap pe al , All ia nt do es no t di sp ut e th at Kall ai l is di sa bl ed or th at sh e h as su ffer ed

an ad ve rs e em

pl oym en t ac ti on

. All ia nt al so do es no t d is pu te th at Kall ai l p os se ss ed

th e req ui si te sk il l, ed uc at io n, ex pe rie nc e, an d tra in in g fo r he r po si ti on

. The di sp ut ed

is su e, th en , is whe th er Kall ai l was ab le “ to pe rfo rm th e es se nt ia l fu nc ti on s of he r job

, wit h o r wit ho ut reas on ab le acco m m od at io n.” Fenn ey , 32 7 F .3d at 7 12

.

Kall ai l arg ue s th at th e di st ric t cou rt erred in co nc lu di ng th at th e ro ta ti ng sh ift

was an es se nt ia l fu nc t i o n of th e Res ou rce Co or di na to r po si ti on

. Sh e co nt en ds th at

sh e was ab le to pe rfo rm th e es se nt ia l fu nc ti on s of th e po si ti on , whi ch di d no t in cl ud e

th e ro ta ti ng sh ift , wit h a reas on ab le acco m m od at io n.

W e fir st ad dr es s whe th er th e ro ta ti ng sh ift was an es se nt ia l fu nc ti on of Kall ai l’s

po si ti on . Al th ou gh an em pl oyee ret ai ns th e ul ti m at e bu rd en of pe rs ua di ng th e tr ie r

of fact th at he or sh e can pe rfo rm th e es se nt ia l fun ct io ns of a po si ti on , “ m uc h of the

in fo rm at io n whi ch de te rm in es th os e es se nt ia l fu nc ti on s li es un iq ue l y wit h th e

em pl oyer

. ” Ben so n v. Nw. Air li ne s, In c. , 62 F.3 d 11 08

, 11 13 (8 th Ci r. 19 95 ).

Ess en ti al fu nc ti on s of a po si ti on are t h e f u n d a ment al du ti es of th e job

, bu t no t it s

m arg in al fu nc ti on s. Ca nn y v. Dr. Pep

pe r/ Se ven -Up Bot tl in g Grp

., In c. , 43 9 F.3 d 89 4,

90 0 ( 8 t h Ci r. 20 06 ). In de te rm in in g whe th er a job fu nc ti on is es se nt ia l, we m us t

co ns id er, am on g o th er ev id en ce, t he fol lo win g:

-7

-(i) [t]he em pl oyer’s jud gm en t as to whi ch fu nc ti on s are es se nt ia l; (ii ) [ w] rit te n job de sc rip ti on s pr ep ared be fo re ad ve rti si ng or in te rv ie w i n g

ap pl ic an t s f

o r th e job ; (ii i) [t]he am ou nt of ti m e sp en t on th e job

pe rfo rm in g th e fu nc t i o n ; ( iv ) [t]he co ns eq ue nc es of no t req ui rin g th e in cu m be nt to pe rfo rm th e fu nc ti on ; (v ) [t]he t e rm s of a co ll ect iv e ba rg ai ni ng ag reem en t; (v i) [t]he wor k ex pe rie nc e of pa st in cu m be nt s on th e job ; an d/ or (v ii ) [t]he cu rren t wor k ex pe rie nc e o f in cu m be nt s in
si m il ar job s.

29 C.F.R. § 16 30 .2( n ) ( 3 ) ; se e al so Reh rs v. Ia ms Co

. , 48 6 F.3 d 35 3, 35 6 (8 th Ci r.

20 07 ).

A rot at in g sh ift can be an es se nt ia l fu nc ti on of a po si ti on , Reh rs , 4 86 F.3 d a t

35 9, an d we ag r e e wit h th e di st ric t co ur t th at it was an es se nt ia l fu nc ti on of th e

Res ou rce Co or di na to r po si ti on at All ia nt

. All ia nt ha s de te rm in e d t h a t t he ro ta ti ng

sh ift is es se nt ia l to th e Res ou rce Co or di na to r po si ti on , an d li st s it as a req ui rem en t on

th e writ te n job de sc rip ti on fo r th e po si ti on

. Acco rd in g to All ia nt

, th e ro ta ti ng sh ift

pr ov id es en ha nc ed ex pe rie nc e a n d t r a in in g fo r Res ou rce Co or di na to rs by al lo win g

th em to be co m e fam il ia r wit h al l ge og rap hi c te rri to rie s in All ia nt ’s se rv ic e area , an d

to rece iv e on -th e-jo b tra in in g by wor ki ng wit h di ffer en t pa rtn ers an d Sen io r Res ou rce

Co or di na to rs

. Thi s en ha nc ed tra in in g also al lo ws All ia nt to ha nd le em erg en ci es m or e

effe ct iv el y , be cau se each Res ou rce Co or di na to r su m m on ed du rin g an em erg en cy wil l

ha ve ex pe rie nc e wor ki ng in al l ge og rap hi c area s an d wit h al l pe rs on ne l. Sh i f t

ro ta ti on al so en ha nc es th e no n- wor k li fe of Res ou rce Co or di na to rs by sp read in g th e

le ss de si rab le sh ift s— ni gh ts a nd week en ds —am on g al l Res ou rce Co or di na to rs

. If

Kall ai l were swi tc he d to a st rai gh t d a y s h i f t an d no t req ui red to wor k th e ro ta ti ng

sh ift

, th en ot he r Res ou rce Co or di na to rs wou ld ha ve to wor k m or e ni gh t an d week en d

sh ift s.

Kall ai l arg ue s th at th ere i s a g e n u i ne is su e of m at eri al fact as to whe th er a

ro ta ti ng sh ift was an es se nt ia l fu nc ti on o f th e Res ou rce Co or di na to r po si ti on

.

-8

-Acco rd in g to Kall ai l, All ia nt ’s pr io r co ns id erat io n of a pr op os al to crea te st rai gh t da y

sh ift s, th e W is co ns in DDC’s u se of st rai gh t da y sh ift s, an d st at em en ts f r o m All ia nt

em pl oyees ab ou t th e po ss ib il it y of Kall ai l wor ki ng a s t r a i g h t sh ift al l un de rcu t

All ia nt ’s cla im

th at th e ro ta ti ng sh ift was a n e ss en ti al fun ct io n.

Kall ai l fir st po in ts to All ia nt ’s 20 02 co ns id erat io n of a pr op os al to crea te two

pe rm an en t st rai gh t da y sh ift s fo r Res ou rce Co or di na to rs

. Acco rd in g t o Kall ai l, a

c o mm it te e co ns id ered th e co st s an d be ne fit s of ad di ng th e sh ift s, an d a co ns e n s u s

em erg ed th at th e ad di ti on wou ld be tt er se rv e th e bu si ne ss ne ed s o f All ia nt . Al li an t

was pr ep ared to ad d th e sh ift s, bu t t h e c o mpan y ab an do ne d th e pr op os al aft er

e mp lo y ees ob

jecte d to th e pr op os ed m et ho d fo r de te rm in in g whi ch Res o u r c e

Co or di na to rs wou ld rece iv e th e sh ift s. Kall ai l fau lt s th e di st ric t co ur t fo r pl aci ng to o

m uc h w e i g h t on te st im on y fro m All ia nt em pl oyees th at th e co m

pa ny m ad e th e

de ci si on to co nt in ue wit h ro ta ti ng sh ift s ba se d on All ia nt ’s bu si ne ss ne ed s. Kall ai l’s

ex pl an at io n fo r th e ab an do nm en t of th e pr op os ed ad di ti on of th e da y sh ift s, ho wev er,

do es no t co nf

li ct wit h th e ex pl an at io n fro m All ia nt

. To avo id em pl oyee co m

pl ai nt s

an d m ai nt ai n m or al e are le gi ti m at e bu si ne ss reas on s fo r a sc he du li ng de ci si on

. The

fact rem ai ns th at

, de sp it e co ns id eri ng th e pr op os al

, All ia nt ch os e no t to ad d th e da y

sh ift s fo r rea so ns un rel at ed to di sa bi li ty. So lo ng as All ia nt ’s dec is io n i n 2 00 2 was

no t di sc riminat or y , “ [i]t is no t th e pr ov in ce of the co ur t to

. . . de te rm in e wha t is th e

m os t p ro du ct iv e o r effi ci en t s hi ft s ch ed ul e fo r a fac il it y .” Rehr s , 48 6 F .3d at 3 58

.

Kall ai l ne xt po in ts to th e fact th at th e All ia nt DDC op erat in g in W is co ns in us es

pe rm an en t ei gh t-h ou r sh ift s. Bu t th e DDC faci li ty in W is co ns in m ak es it s sc he du li ng

de ci si on s ba se d on a di ffer en t se t of ci rcu m st an ces

. It pr ov id es em erg en cy

di sp at ch in g in a di ffer en t m an ne r by tu rn in g th e ta sk ov er to fie ld op erat io ns du rin g

al l st or m s, whi le th e DDC in Ced ar Rap id s sh ift s th e res po ns ib il it y to fie ld op erat io ns

on ly fo r m ajor st or m s. The two DDC faci li ti es ha d in de pe nd en t bu si ne ss reas on s fo r

th ei r di ffer en t sc he du li ng de ci si on s. The di ffer en ce in sc he du li ng is th us in su ffi ci en t

-9

-to sh ow th at th e ro ta ti ng sh ift at th e DDC in C e d a r R ap id s was no t an es se nt ia l

fu nc ti on of t he Res ou rce C oo rd in at or po si ti on

.

Kall ai l al so po in ts to a se rie s of st at em en ts m a d e b y A ll ia nt em pl oyees

reg ard in g th e po ss ib il it y of Kall ai l wor ki ng a st rai gh t sh ift in st ead of a ro ta ti ng sh ift

. The se st at em en ts in cl ud e (1 ) a le tt er fro m Kall ai l’s do ct or , Dr. St ah lb erg , th at All ia nt

to ld he r a st rai gh t ni gh t sh ift was av ai la bl e fo r Kall ai l, (2 ) a st at em en t fro m a hu m an

res ou rces em

pl oyee at All ia nt to Dr. St ah lb erg th at All ia nt “ m ay be ab le to

acco m m od at e a st rai gh t ev en in g/ ni gh t sh ift ” fo r Kall ai l

, ( 3 ) a st at em en t fro m Vern
Gep ha rt, a Vice Pres id en t at All ia nt

, to Kall ai l’s h u s b a nd th at a “ ne w job ” wit h

st rai gh t da y sh ift s wou ld be av ai la bl e to Kall ai l whe n sh e ret ur ne d fro m he r m ed ic al

le av e, (4 ) a st at em en t fro m Mar k Reynol ds , Ka ll ai l’s su pe rv is or , th at a st rai gh t da y

sh ift wou ld ha ve be en po ss ib le in 20 05 wit h so m e crea ti vi ty in craf ti ng th e sc he du le

fo r th e y ear, an d wou ld no t ha ve be en a pr ob le m in 20 06

, an d (5 ) a st at em en t fro m Gary Hein ric hs

, DDC Man ag er, t h at Kall ai l’s pr op os ed st rai gh t da y sh ift was

di sm is se d b ecau se All ia nt di d “ no t wan t t o” do it

.

Kall ai l arg ue s th at th is ev id en ce sh ows , acco rd in g to All ia nt ’s own st at em en ts

, th at a st rai gh t sh ift was po ss ib le

, an d th a t a r ot at in g sh ift was th eref or e no t an

es se nt ia l fu nc ti on

. Ka l l a i l do es no t cl ai m , ho wev er, th at All ia nt pr ov id ed a fo rm al

of fer th at sh e co ul d wor k a st rai gh t sh ift in he r Res ou rce Coo rd in at or po si ti on

. The

st at em en t fro m Gep ha rt th at a po si ti on wit h st rai gh t da y sh ift s wou ld be av ai la bl e to

Kall ai l whe n sh e ret ur ne d fro m med i c a l l eav e refe rred to a “ ne w job ,” no t to th e

Res ou rc e C oo rd in at or po si ti on

. At m os t, th eref or e, th e st at em en ts of All ia nt

em pl oyees sh ow th at th e co m pa ny co ns id ered th e po ss ib il it y of pr ov id in g a st rai gh t

da y sh ift fo r Kall ai l in th e Res ou rce Co or di na to r po si ti on , bu t ch os e no t to do so

. As

wit h All ia nt ’s 2 00 2 co ns id erat io n of a pr op os al to crea te pe rm an en t da y sh ift s, it is

no t th e ro le of th e co ur ts to qu es ti on All ia nt ’s le gi ti m at e bu si ne ss reas on s fo r m ak in g

th is de ci si on

.

-1 0-In su m , th e ev id en ce pres en te d by Kall ai l— All ia nt ’s 20 02 co ns id erat io n o f a

st rai gh t da y sh ift pr op os al

, th e fact th at th e DDC in W is co ns in us es a s t r ai gh t da y

sh ift

, an d ev id en ce th at All ia nt co ns id ered a st rai gh t da y sh ift fo r Kal l a i l

— is

in su ffi ci en t to rai s e a g e n u in e is su e of m at eri al fact

. W e th us co nc lu de th at th e

ro ta ti ng sh ift was a n e ss en ti al fun ct io n o f th e Res ou rce C oo rd in at or po si ti on

.

Bec au se we co nc lu de th at th e ro ta ti ng sh ift is an es se nt ia l fu nc ti on of Kall ai l’s

po si ti on , an d Kall ai l co nc ed es th at sh e is un ab le to wor k a ro ta ti ng sh i f t w i t h o u t a

reas on ab le acco m

m od at io n, we ne xt ad dr es s whe th er Kal l a i l c o ul d pe rfo rm th e

es se nt ia l fun ct io ns wi th a reas on ab le acco m m od at io n. Se e Fjel ls ta d v. Piz za Hut of

Am., In c. , 18 8 F.3 d 94 4, 95 0 (8 th Ci r. 19 99 ). Kall ai l m us t “ m ak e a f

a c i a l sh owi ng

th at reas on ab le acco m

m od at io n is po ssible an d tha t th e acco m m od at io n wil l al lo w he r

to pe rfo rm th e es se nt ia l fu nc ti on s of th e jo b

. ” Bur ch et t v. Ta rg et Co rp

. , 34 0 F.3 d

51 0, 5 17 (8t h C ir. 2 00 3)

.

Kall ai l in it ia ll y so ug ht a st rai gh t da y sh ift as an acco m m od at io n fo r he r

di sa bi li ty. Thi s acco m

m od at io n wou ld no t ha ve al lo wed Kall ai l to pe rfo rm th e

es se nti al fu nc ti on s of he r cu rren t po si ti on , ho wev er, be cau se it wou ld ha ve el im in at ed

on e of th os e f

u n c t io ns —t he ro ta ti ng sh ift

. W hi le job res tru ct ur in g is a po ss ib le

acco m m od at io n un de r th e ADA, an em p l o ye r “n e ed no t real lo cat e or el im in at e th e

es se nt ia l fu nc ti on s of a job to a c co m m od at e a di sa bl ed em

pl oyee.” Fjel ls ta d

, 18 8

F.3 d at 95 0; se e al

so Reh rs , 48 6 F.3 d at 35 8; Ben so n , 62 F.3 d a t 1 1 1 2

- 1 3

. K a ll ai l

th eref or e fai le d to m ak e a faci al sh owi ng th at sh e can be acco m m od at ed in he r cu rren t

po si ti on

.

Eve n th ou gh an acco m

m od at io n was no t po ss ib le in he r cu r r e n t p os it io n,

reas si gn m en t to a va can t po sition m ay be a reas on ab le acco m m od at io n. Bur ch et t

, 34 0

F.3 d at 5 1 7 ; s e e al

so Cr av en s v. Blu e Cr os s & Blu e Sh ie ld of Ka n. Ci ty

, 21 4 F.3 d

10 11

, 10 18 (8 th Ci r. 20 00 ). All ia nt of fere d to reas si gn Kall ai l to an ot he r po si ti on as

a Cu st om er Ope rat io ns Ass is ta nt I I. If an em pl oyer ha s of

fere d reas si gn m en t as a

-1 1-r eas on ab le acco m m od at io n, th en “ th e em

pl oyee m us t of fer ev id en ce sh owi ng bo th

th at th e po si ti on of

fere d was in feri or to [ h e r ] fo rm er job an d th at a co m pa rab le

po si ti on fo r whi ch th e em pl oyee was qu al ifi ed [] was op en .” Reh rs , 48 6 F.3 d at 35 9.

K a l l a il di d no t pr es en t su ch ev id en ce. Kall ai l do es arg ue th at All ia nt sh ou ld h a v e

acco m m od at ed he r by hi rin g he r fo r th e DDC Adm in is tra to r po si ti on , bu t a co m pa ny

ne ed no t m ak e a p ro m ot io n t o s at is fy th e ADA. Cr av en s , 21 4 F .3d at 1 01 9.

Kall ai l al so arg ue s th at All ia nt fai le d to en ga ge in an in te ract iv e pr oc es s wit h

he r to de te rm in e whe th er a reas on ab le acco m m od at io n was po ss ib le

. The re is no pe r

se li ab il it y un de r th e ADA if an em pl oyer fai ls to en ga ge in an in te ract iv e pr oc es s, bu t

“ th e fai lu re of an em

pl oyer to en ga ge in an in te ract iv e pr oc es s to de te rm in e whe th er

reas on ab le acco m

m od at io ns are po ss ib le is pr ima fa ci e ev id en ce th at th e e mp l oyer

m ay be act in g in ba d fai th .” Fjel ls ta d , 1 88 F.3 d at 95 2. To sh ow th at an em pl oyer

fai le d to pa rti ci pa te in th e in te ract iv e pr oc es s , a n e mplo y ee m us t sh ow th at : (1 ) th e

em pl oyer kn ew of th e em pl oyee’s di sa bi li ty; (2 ) th e em pl oyee req u e s t e d

acco mm o d a t i o n s or as si st an ce; (3 ) th e em pl oyer di d no t in go od fai th as si st th e

em pl oyee in se e k i n g a c co m m od at io ns ; an d (4 ) th e em pl oyee co ul d ha ve be en

reas o n a b l y a c co m

m od at ed bu t fo r th e em

pl oyer’s la ck of go od fai th

. Bal la rd v.

Rub in

, 28 4 F.3 d 95 7, 96 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 02 ). K a l l a i l is un ab le to m eet th e fo ur th

req ui rem en t, be cau se All ia nt di d reas on ab ly acco m m od at e Kall ai l by of

feri ng he r th e

po si ti on of Cu st om er Ope rat io ns Ass is ta nt II. W e th eref or e co nc lu de th at Kall ai l ha s

fai le d to sh ow th at All ia nt di d no t en ga ge in an ap pr op ria te in te ract iv e pr oc es s wit h

he r.

Bec au se Kall ai l was un ab le to pe rfo rm th e es se nt ia l fu nc ti on s of he r po si ti on , wit h or wit ho ut reas on ab le acco m m od at io n, sh e h a s f

a i l e d to m ak e a pr ima fa ci e
sh owi ng of d is cri m in at io n u nd er t he ADA.

-1 2-III.

Kall ai l al so arg ue s on ap pe al th at All ia nt vi ol at ed th e ADA by refu si ng to hi re

he r as th e DDC Adm in is tra to r be cau se of he r di sa bi li ty. Apa rt fro m an em pl oyer’s

du ty to m ak e reas on ab le acco m m od at io ns to th e di sa bi li ty of an ot he rwis e qu al ifi ed

ap pl i c a n t o r em

pl oyee, an em

pl oyer m ay no t refu se to hi re a qu al ifi ed in di vi du al

be cau se sh e ha s a di sa bi li ty. Ch al fa nt v. Ti ta n Dis tr ib

., In c. , 47 5 F.3 d 98 2, 99 0 (8 th

Ci r. 20 07 ). Kall ai l, ho wev er, di d no t rai se a cl ai m ba se d on th e la tt er pro hi bi ti on in

th e di st ric t cou rt, and th e di st ric t co ur t ne ve r ad dr es se d it

. In he r co m pl ai nt

, Kall ai l

li st ed on ly on e co un t of di sc riminat io n, an d de sc r i b ed it as fo ll ows : “ Defen da nt

All ia nt Ene rg y Co rp or at e Serv ic es , In c. was aware th at Pl ai nt iff ha d D i ab et es , an d

Pl ai nt iff so ug ht to be re as on ab ly ac co mmod at ed fo r he r di sa bi li ty. Defen da nt fa il ed

to re as on ab ly ac co m m o d a t e P la in ti ff.” R. Doc

. 2, ¶ 50 (em ph as es ad de d)

. In

res po ns e to All ia nt ’s m ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t, Kall ai l di sc us se d th e co m pa ny’ s

refu sa l to hi re Kall ai l fo r th e DDC Adm in is tra to r po si ti on , bu t on ly in th e co nt ex t of

All ia nt ’s al le ge d fai lu re to m ak e reas on ab le acco m m od at io n fo r Kall ai l. Sh e arg ue d

th at “ [r]efu si ng to hi re th e su pe rio r ap pl ic an t be cau se of a di sa bi li ty can no t be

co ns tru ed as a reas on ab le acco m m od at io n.” The di st ric t co ur t un de rs ta nd ab ly di d no t

ad dr es s a se pa rat e cl ai m th at All ia nt vi ol a t e d th e ADA by refu si ng to hi re Kall ai l

b e c a u s e o f h e r di sa bi li ty, an d we de cl in e to co ns id er it fo r th e fir st ti m e on ap pe al

. Se e Orr v. W al -Ma rt St or es , Inc

. , 29 7 F .3d 72 0, 7 25 (8t h C ir. 2 00 2)

.

* * *

Fo r th es e rea so ns , th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t i s af fir m ed

.

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

-1 3-