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. U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E LEVE NTH CI RCUI T D E C E M B E R 19, 2006 T HOM AS K. KAHN C L E RK [ DO NO T 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

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________________________ D . C . D ocketN o. 05 -003 84 -C V -J O F -1 T E R R A N C E K . D A U G H E R T Y , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s M I K A R T , I N C ., 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 o rth e N o r th e rn D is tr ic t o f G e o r g ia

_________________________ ( D e c e m b e r 19, 2006) B efo re B IR C H , B A R K E T T an d H U L L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: T erra nce D augh erty f

i l ed an act i on agai nsthi s f orm erem pl oyer , M i kart , Inc. ( “ M i k a r t ” ) , p u r s u a n tt o th e Fa mi l y a n d M e d i c a l Le a v e A c t( “ FM LA ” ) , 2 9 U . S. C. § 2 6 1 5 ( a ) ( 1 ) , a lle g in g r e ta lia tio n f o rh is u s e o f

m e d ic a l le a v e . D au g h e r ty ap p e a ls2

th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s o r d e rg r a n tin g M ik a r t’s m o tio n f o rs u m m a ry ju d g m e n t o n h is F M L A r e ta lia tio n c la im . W e r e vi e w adi s tr i c tc our tor de rgr a nt i ng s um m a ry j udgm e ntde novo, vi e w i ng a l l the f

a c t s a nd r e a s onabl e i nf

e r e nc e s i n the l i ghtm os tf a vor abl e t o the non- m ovi ng pa r ty . I m a gi ng B us . M a c h. L . L . C . v. B a nc T e c , I nc . , 459 F . 3d 1186, 1189 ( 11th C i r . 2006) . S um m a ry j udgm e nti s onl y appr opr i a t e w he n the m ovi ng p a r ty h a s d e m o n s tr a te d th a t th e r e is n o g e n u in e is s u e a s to a n y m a te r ia l f a c t. B r ooks v. C ounty C om m ’ n, 446 F . 3d 1160, 1162 ( 11th C i r . 2006) . T he r e m us tbe e n o u g h e v id e n c e s u p p o r tin g th e o p p o s in g p a r ty ’s p o s itio n th a t aju ry c o u ld r e a s o n ab ly f

in d f o rth a t p a r ty . I d . A m e r e “s c in tilla ” o f e v id e n c e is in s u f

f ic ie n t. Id . In th e co n t ex to f su m m ary j u d g m en t , th e co u rtm u stl o o katth e reco rd as a w hol e , r e vi e w i ng a l l of

the e vi de nc e i n the r e c or d. R e e ve s v. S a nde r s on P l um bi ng P r ods . , I nc . , 530 U . S . 133, 150, 120 S . C t . 2097, 2110 ( 2000) . W e m a y a f f i rm the di stri ctcourt ’ s j ud gm ent“ on any groun d thatfi nd s s up po rti n the re cord. ” L ucas v . W .W . G r a in g e r , I n c ., 2 5 7 F .3 d 1 2 4 9 , 1 2 5 6 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . W here a pl ai nt i ff

al l eges an F M L A re t al i at i on cl ai m w i tho utdi re ctevi dence of the em pl oyer ’ s di sc ri m i nat ory i nt ent , w e app l y the bu rden shi ft i ng fr am ew ork e s t ab l i s h e d b y th e Su p r e me Co u r ti n M c D o n n e l l D o u g l a s Co rp . v . G r e e n , 4 1 1 U . S. 792, 93 S . C t . 1817 ( 1973) . H ur l be r tv. S t . M a ry ’ s H e a l th C a r e S y s . , I nc . , 439 F . 3d3

1286, 1297 ( 11th C i r . 2006) . “ T o e s t abl i s h apr i m af a c i e c a s e of

r e t a l i a t i on, the pl a i nt i f f m us ts how tha t : ( 1) he e nga ge d i n s t a tut or i l y pr ot e c t e d a c t i vi ty ; ( 2) he e xpe r i e nc e d a n a dve r s e e m pl oy m e nta c t i on; a nd ( 3) the r e i s ac aus a l c onne c t i on betw ee n the prot ec t ed ac t i vi ty a nd the advers e a ct i on . ” I d. “ C l ose t em po ra l p r o x im ity b e tw e e n p r o te c te d c o n d u c t a n d a n a d v e r s e e m p lo y m e n t a c tio n is general l y s uffi ci entci rc um st ant i al evi dence t o cre at e agenu i ne i ss ue of m at er i al f a c t o f ac au s a l c o n n e c tio n .” I d . a t 1 2 9 8 . I f the pl a i nt i f

f m a ke s outapr i m af

a c i e c a s e , the n the bur de n s hi f t s t o the defe nd antt o p utforth a l egi t i m at e, no n-re t al i at ory, re as on for the chal l enged act i o n . Id . at1 2 9 7 . If th e d efen d an tp u t s fo rth su ch a reaso n , th e p l ai n t i ff m u st s how tha the w i l l be abl e t o de m ons tr a t e a ttr i a l tha tthe de f e nda nt ’ s s t a t e d r e a s on f orthe a c t i on i s pr e t e xtua l . S t e w a r tv. H appy H e rm a n’ s C he s hi r e B r i dge , I nc . , 117 F . 3d 12 78 , 12 87 (11th C i r. 19 97 ). P re t exti s onl y proven i f “ i ti s s ho w n b oth that the r e a s on w a s f

a l s e , a nd tha tdi s c r i m i na t i on w a s the r e a l r e a s on be hi nd the c h a l l e n g e d a c t i o n . ” St . M a ry ’ s H o n o rCe n t e rv . H i c k s , 5 0 9 U . S. 5 0 2 , 5 1 5 , 1 1 3 S. C t . 2 7 4 2 , 2 7 5 2 (1 9 9 3 ). “ T h i s ev i d en ce m u strev eal su ch w eak n esses, im p lau sib il it ies, in co n sisten cies , i n co h er en cies o r c o n trad icti o n s in th e e m p lo ye r’s pr of f e r e d l e gi t i m a t e r e a s ons f ori t s a c t i ons tha tar e a s onabl e f a c t f i nde rc oul d f

i nd the m unw or thy of

c r e de nc e . ” V e s s e l s v. A t l a nt aI nde p. S c h. S y s . , 408 F . 3d 763,4

771 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( quot a t i on m a rks om i tt e d) . T he pa s s a ge of as hor ta m ountof t i m e be tw e e n the pl a i nt i f f’ s r e que s tf

orl e a ve a nd hi s t e rm i na t i on m a y notbe s uf f i c i e nt , by i t s e l f

, t o e s t abl i s h pr e t e xt . S e e H ur l be r t , 439 F . 3d a t1298 ( hol di ng tha tthe pa s s a ge of

l e s s tha n tw o w e e ks be tw e e n the pl a i nt i f f’ s r e que s tf

orl e a ve and h i s t erm i nat i on w as “ prob abl y i nsuffi ci entt o est abl i sh pret extby i t se l f” ). In addi t i on , an em pl oyerm ayfi re an em pl oyee base d u po n err on eous fa ct s, as l on g as i ti s notf oradi s c r i m i na t ory r e a s on. S e e A be l v. D ubbe r l y , 210 F . 3d 1334, 1339 n. 5 (11 th C i r. 20 00 ). U pon r e vi e w of

the r e c or d a nd c ons i de r a t i on of the pa r t i e s ’ br i e f

s , w e f i nd n o r e v e r s ib le e rr o r . W e d o n o t n e e d to d e c id e w h e th e rth e d is tr ic t c o u r t p r o p e r ly de t e rm i ne d tha tD aughe r ty di d notm a ke outapr i m af a c i e c a s e be c aus e w e f

i nd thatD augh erty f

ai l ed t o sho w thatM i kart ’ s s t at ed re as on for t erm i nat i ng hi m w as p r e te x tu a l. S e e L u c a s , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 5 6 ; s e e a ls o C u d d e b a c kv . F la . B d . o f E d u c ., 381 F . 3d 1230, 1236 ( 11th C i r . 2004) ( a f f i rm i ng the gr a ntof

s um m a ry j udgm e nt despi t e the di stri ctcourtbasi ng sum m ary j ud gm entup on i t s m i st aken fi nd i ng that th e p la in tif

f f a ile d to m a k e o u t h e rp r im af a c ie c a s e b e c au s e th is C o u r t c o u ld d e te rm in e , b a s e d o n th e r e c o r d , th a t th e p la in tif f f a ile d to s h o w p r e te x t) . D au g h e r ty c la im s th a t M ik a r t’s s ta te d r e a s o n f o rte rm in a tin g h is e m p lo y m e n t – s ubm i tt i ng af

r audul e ntm e di c a l c e r t i f i c a t i on – w a s pr e t e xtua l be c aus e : ( 1) the5

do ct or subsequent l y ver i fi ed hi s s i gn ature on the m edi ca l ce rt i fi ca t i on ; (2) M i kart di d notr a i s e the i s s ue of the f a l s e f orm unt i l a f

t e radi s put e a r os e r e ga r di ng D au g h er ty w ea rin g a m as kan d co n ti n u in g to w o rk in th e lab ; an d (3 ) M ik ar t’ s S i e gf r i e d e xpr e s s e d hos t i l i ty t ow a r ds D aughe r ty be c aus e s he di d notbe l i e ve he w a s r e a l l y s uf

f e r i ng f r om am e di c a l c ondi t i on. D au g h e r ty d id n o t s h o w th a t M ik a r t’s s ta te d r e a s o n w a s p r e te x tu a l. W h ile th e c lo se tem p o ra l p ro x im ity b etw ee n M ik ar t’ s ter m in atio n o f D au g h er ty’s e m pl oy m e nta nd hi s appl i c a t i on f orF M L A l e a ve i s e vi de nc e of pr e t e xt , i tm a y be i nsuffi ci entt o sho w pret extby i t se l f. A s w e not ed i n H url bert , a s pan o f l es s than tw o w e e ks i s note nough. S e e H ur l be r t , 439 F . 3d a t1298. T hi s i s pa r t i c ul a r l y true w he r e , a s he r e , the e m pl oy e rha s ahi s t ory of gr a nt i ng F M L A l e a ve w i thout p e n a liz in g its e m p lo y e e s , in c lu d in g D au g h e r ty . T h e r e f o r e , D au g h e r ty n e e d e d to pr e s e ntothe re vi de nc e s uppor t i ng hi s c l a i m tha tM i ka r t ’ s s t a t e d r e a s on f or te rm in a tin g h im w a s p r e te x tu a l. T he doc t or ’ s ve r i f

i c a t i on tha ti ti s hi s s i gna tur e on the m e di c a l c e r t i f i c a t i on do es no thel p D augh erty bec ause M i kartw as no tqu es t i on i ng w hether the si gn ature w a s a c tu a lly th e d o c to r ’s , b u t w a s q u e s tio n in g w h e th e rth e d o c to rh a d a c tu a lly s i gne d the pa r t i c ul a rf

orm tha tD a ughe r ty ha d pr ovi de d t o M i ka r tori f ac opy of th e d o c to r ’s s ig n a tu r e h a d b e e n f a ls e ly p u t o n th a t f

o rm . T h e lin e s o n th e f o rm d id6

no tm at ch up and g ave a n app ea ra nce of havi ng been al t er ed. T he fi rs ttw o p ages of the s ubm i tt e d f

orm w e r e or i gi na l , butthe l a s tpa ge , the pa ge tha tc ont a i ne d the d o ct o r’ s si g n atu re, w as a co p y. I n a ddi t i on, M i ka r t ’ s t e rm i na t i on of D aughe r ty ’ s e m pl oy m e ntonl y a f t e rhe r e turne d t o w ork on A pr i l 15 a nd r e que s t e d m or e F M L A l e a ve doe s notunde r c ut M ik a r t’s s ta te d r e a s o n f o rth e te rm in a tio n . T h e d a te th a t D au g h e r ty r e tu rn e d to w o rk , A p r il 1 5 , w a s a ls o th e f ir s t o p p o r tu n ity th a t M ik a r t’s S ie g f r ie d h a d to q u es ti o n D au g h er ty ab o u t th e a ll eg ed ly fa lsified d o cu m en t. T h er ef o re , M ik ar t’ s t erm i nat i on of D augh erty’ s e m pl oym enton A pri l 16 , 20 03 , do es no tshow that M ik a r t’s r e a s o n f

o rte rm in a tin g D au g h e r ty w a s p r e te x tu a l b e c au s e M ik a r t o f f ic ia ls w i shed t o speak w i th D augh erty a nd gi ve hi m a c hance t o exp l ai n the appearance of the form before t erm i nat i ng hi m . F urtherm ore, evi dence s ho w ed thatM i kart of f i c i a l s a tt e m pt e d t o m e e tw i th D aughe r ty pr i ort o hi s r e turn t o w ork, but D au g h e r ty f

a ile d to s h o w a t th e s c h e d u le d m e e tin g . T h e r e is s o m e e v id e n c e th a t S ie g f r ie d d is p la y e d h o s tility to w a r d s D au g h e r ty w hen h e r eturned t o w ork. H ow ever , even i f s uch h ost i l i ty w er e pre se nt , i tdo es no ti nd i ca t e thatM i kart ’ s s t at ed re as on for t erm i nat i ng D augh erty w as pret extual be c aus e the hos t i l i ty oc c urr e d a f t e rD aughe r ty s ubm i tt e d the m e di c a l c e r t i f i c a t i on f o rm a n d M ik a r t q u e s tio n e d its au th e n tic ity . S ie g f r ie d ’s h o s tility , th e r e f

o r e , c o u ld7

have been cause d b y herbel i ef thatD augh erty had subm i tt ed a f al si fi ed form . In a n y e v e n t, S ie g f

r ie d ’s h o s tility , e v e n w h e n c o m b in e d w ith th e te m p o r a l p r o x im ity b e tw e e n D au g h e r ty ’s le a v e r e q u e s t a n d f ir in g , is in s u f

f ic ie n t to a llo w ar e a s o n ab le tr ie ro f f a c t to f in d th a t M ik a r t’s b a s is f o rf ir in g h im w a s p r e te x tu a l. T he r e f or e , D aughe r ty f

a i l e d t o s how tha tM i ka r t ’ s s t a t e d r e a s on f or t e rm i na t i ng hi s e m pl oy m e ntw a s pr e t e xtbe c aus e he di d nots how e i the rtha tthe r e a s on gi ve n w a s f

a l s e , ortha tdi s c r i m i na t i on w a s the r e a l r e a s on. S e e H i c ks , 509 U . S . a t515, 113 S . C t . a t2752. A c c or di ngl y , w e a f f i rm the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s gr a ntof M ik a r t’s m o tio n f

o rs u m m a ry ju d g m e n t. AF F I RME D.