Document: 534 U.S. 184122 S.Ct. 681151 L.Ed.2d 615 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the preliminary print of United States Reports. Readers are requested notify Reporter Decisions, Supreme Court States, Washington, D. C. 20543, any typographical or other errors, order that corrections may be made goes press.TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING, KENTUCKY, INC., PETITIONERv.ELLA WILLIAMS No. 00-1089. Argued November 7, 2001Decided January 8, 2002 Syllabus Claiming disabled from performing her automobile assembly line job by carpal tunnel syndrome and related impairments, respondent sued petitioner, former employer, for failing provide with a reasonable accommodation as required Americans Disabilities Act 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12112 (b)(5)(A). The District granted petitioner summary judgment, holding respondent's impairment did not qualify "disability" under ADA because it had "substantially limit[ed]" "major life activit[y]," §12102(2)(A), there was no evidence record substantially limiting regarded having such an impairment. Sixth Circuit reversed, finding impairments limited major activity manual tasks. In demonstrate she so limited, said court, show disability involved "class" activities affecting ability perform tasks at work. Respondent satisfied this test, according ailments prevented doing associated certain types jobs require gripping tools repetitive work hands arms extended above shoulder levels periods time. reaching conclusion, court found could tend personal hygiene carry out household chores affect determination range job. partial judgment on issue whether ADA. Held: apply proper standard determining analyzed only class failed ask restricted central importance most people's daily lives. Pp. 7-18. (a) Court's consideration what individual must prove substantial limitation guided ADA's definition. "Substantially" phrase limits" suggests "considerable" "to large degree," thus clearly precludes interfere minor way Cf. Albertson's, Inc. v. Kirkingburg, 527 555 , 565. Moreover, "major" means important, activities" refers those life. fit into category, question To specific tasks, therefore, have prevents severely restricts impairment's impact also permanent long-term. See 29 CFR §§1630.2(j)(2)(ii-iii). It insufficient individuals attempting status test merely submit medical diagnosis Instead, requires them offer extent caused their terms own experience substantial. Id., 567. That defines "with respect individual," §12102(2), makes clear Congress intended existence determined case-by-case manner. See, e.g., Sutton Air Lines, Inc., 471 483. An individualized assessment effect particularly necessary when one syndrome, which symptoms vary widely person person. 11-14. (b) erred suggesting that, plaintiff involves activities, Nothing text, opinions, regulations class-based framework should outside context working. While addressed different its analysis erroneously circumvented Sutton, supra, 491, focusing inability Rather, inquiry claimant unable variety Also without support Circuit's assertion constitutes answered analyzing workplace. Act's definition applies portion dealing employment, but provisions public transportation accommodations, demonstrates cover disabling regardless they connection unique particular necessarily important parts lives, occupation-specific relevance task inquiry. case, periods, relied, part Household chores, bathing, brushing one's teeth, contrast, among disregarded do these activities. 14-17.224 F.3d 840, reversed remanded. ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT APPEALS FOR SIXTH CIRCUIT O'Connor, J., delivered unanimous Court. Opinion Justice O'Connor 1 Under (ADA Act), 104 Stat. 328, 12101 et seq. (1994 ed. Supp. V), physical limits more "disability." 12102 (2)(A) ed.). Respondent, claiming §12112(b) (5)(A). limit Appeals therefore granting We conclude making 2 * began working petitioner's manufacturing plant Georgetown, Kentucky, August 1990. She soon placed engine fabrication line, where duties included pneumatic tools. Use eventually pain hands, wrists, arms. sought treatment in-house service, diagnosed bilateral tendinitis. consulted physician who restrictions precluded lifting than 20 pounds "frequently carrying objects weighing up 10 pounds," engaging "constant flexion extension [her] wrists elbows," "overhead work," using "vibratory tools." Brief 2; App. 45-46. 3 light restrictions, next two years assigned various modified duty jobs. Nonetheless, missed some leave, filed claim Kentucky Workers' Compensation Act. Ky. Rev. Ann. §342.0011 (1997 2000). parties settled claim, returned unsatisfied efforts accommodate however, responded bringing action Eastern alleging violated refusing disability. suit settled, settlement, December 1993. 4 Upon return, team Quality Control Inspection Operations (QCIO). QCIO responsible four tasks: (1) "assembly paint"; (2) "paint second inspection"; (3) "shell body audit"; (4) "ED surface repair." 19. initially performed first couple years, rotated weekly basis between them. paint, visually inspected painted cars moving slowly down conveyor. scanned scratches, dents, chips, flaws occurred during painting process, rate car every 54 seconds. When inspection members were open shut doors, trunk, and/or hood each passing car. Sometime tenure, position include visual few Paint membersto use wipe glove moved along 21-22. agree physically capable both performance satisfactory. 5 During fall 1996, announced wanted employees able rotate through all processes. received training shell audit job, highlight oil hood, fender, rear quarter panel, trunk approximately per minute. has viscosity salad oil, spread sponge attached block wood. After inspect flaws. Wiping hold around height several hours 6 A short while after added rotations, neck shoulders. again care myotendinitis periscapular, inflammation muscles tendons blades; myositis forearms nerve compression causing median irritation; thoracic outlet compression, condition causes nerves lead upper extremities. conditions allowing herto return original QCIO, claimed still difficulty. 7 disagree about happened next. According respondent, refused request forced continue even greater injury. simply missing regular basis. Regardless, 6, last day worked plant, no-work-of-any-kind restriction treating physicians. On 27, 1997, letter terminated citing poor attendance record. 8 charge discrimination Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). receiving right sue letter, against Kentucky. Her complaint alleged Civil Rights Act, §344.010 2000), reasonably terminating employment. later amended allege violation Family Medical Leave 1993 (FMLA), 107 amended, 2601 V). 9 based "disabled" ground tasks; housework; gardening; playing children; (5) lifting; (6) working, which, argued, constituted alternative, (2)(B-C) motion claims, petitioner. Civ. A. 97-135 (Jan. 26, 1999), Pet. Cert. A-23. been disabled, defined ADA, time refusal her, covered protections construed consistently A-29, A-34 A-47. held suffered impairment, (2)(A). A-42. rejected arguments gardening, housework, children A-35 A-36. Although agreed lifting, A-36 "irretrievably contradicted [respondent's] continual insistence [paint] paint [second] difficulty." id., A-43, A-46 11 termination if assumed termination, "qualified disability," 12111 (8) ed.), because, time, physicians kind, A-47 A-50. Finally, FMLA failed, presented damages available FMLA. A-50 A-54. 12 appealed playing-with-children rulings. ruling accommodation, affirmed rulings wrongful claims. 224 840 (2000). due request, "show involve[d] 'class' work." 843. Appeals, "prevent[ed] jobs, product handling building trade (painting, plumbing, roofing, etc.) thegripping time." Ibid. "ten[d] [and] carr[y] chores," "does limit[ed] job," ibid. Because concluded and, reason, entitled need determine ibid., "record of" "regarded as" 844. 13 certiorari, 532 970 (2001), consider assessing now reverse Appeals' decision grant accommodation. express preserved below ruled upon Appeals. II 14 entities, including private employers, "reasonable accommodations known mental limitations otherwise qualified applicant employee, unless entity can would impose undue hardship." (b)(5)(A) ed.); see §12111(2) ("The term 'covered entity' employment agency, labor organization, joint labor-management committee"). disability" "an who, essential functions holds desires." §12111(8). turn, is: 15 "(A) individual; 16 "(B) impairment; 17 "(C) being impairment." §12102(2). 18 There potential sources guidance interpreting Rehabilitation 1973, 87 361, 706 (8)(B) (1988 EEOC drew almost verbatim "handicapped individual" §706(8)(B), Congress' repetition well-established generally implies accordance pre-existing regulatory interpretations. Bragdon Abbott, 524 624 631 (1998); FDIC Philadelphia Gear Corp., 476 426 437-438 (1986); ICC Parker, 326 60 65 (1945). As we explained 631, suggest construction; adopted statutory provision directing follows: 19 "Except provided chapter, nothing chapter shall lesser standards applied title V 1973 ( 790 seq.) issued Federal agencies pursuant title." 12201 ed.) persuasive authority less clear. previously noted, 479 (1999), agency given done so. §§1630.2(g)-(j) (2001). accept reasonable, assume deciding are, occasion decide level deference, any, due. 480; 563, n. (1999). 21 subsection (A) disability, he Department Health, Education, Welfare (HEW) 1977, appear change current Health Human Services, define "physical impairment," type relevant mean "any physiological disorder condition, cosmetic disfigurement, anatomical loss following systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, speech cardiovascular; reproductive, digestive, genito-urinary; hemic lymphatic; skin; endocrine." 45 84.3 (j)(2)(i) HEW significance issued, coordinating implementation enforcement §504 794 prohibits disabilities recipients federal financial assistance. 632 (citing Consolidated Rail Corporation Darrone, 465 634 (1984)). 22 Merely does make purposes Claimants activity. list examples activities," includes "walking, seeing, hearing," here, "performing tasks." (j)(2)(ii) 23 further "substantia[l]." Unlike impairment" limits." Nondiscrimination Basis Handicap Programs Activities Receiving Benefiting Financial Assistance, Fed. Reg. 22676, 22685 (1977) (stating Welfare's possible time). EEOC, created regulations, "[u]nable average general population perform"; "[s]ignificantly manner duration compared manner, same activity." 1630.2 (j) activity, instruct factors considered: "[t]he nature severity [t]he expected long-term impact, resulting §§1630.2(j)(2)(i)-(iii). III 24 case properly dispute conditions, myotendinitis, amount impairments. question, correctly Answering us address silent: establish 25 Our foremost words itself. "[S]ubstantially" degree." Webster's Third New International Dictionary 2280 (1976) (defining "substantially" "in manner" "substantial" "considerable amount, value, worth" "being specified degree main"); Oxford English 66-67 (2d 1989) ("substantial": "[r]elating proceeding essence thing; essential"; "[o]f ample considerable quantity, dimensions"). word qualifying disabilities. U.S., 565 (explaining "mere difference" "significant restric[tion]" satisfy EEOC's interpretation limits"). 26 "Major" important. Webster's, 1363 "greater dignity, rank, importance, interest"). "Major category basic abilities walking, hearing If independently then together 27 interpreted strictly create demanding confirmed section lays legislative findings motivate . enacted 1990, "some 43,000,000 disabilities." §12101(a)(1). everyone isolated, unimportant, difficult number surely much higher. 487 (finding 100 million people corrective lenses properly, "[h]ad persons corrected undoubtedly cited higher [than 43 findings"). 28 §§1630.2(j)(2)(ii)-(iii) "claiming protection offering [caused impairment] substantial." 567 (holding monocular vision invariably basis, taking account individual's compensate impairment). (2), 483; 566; cf. 641-642 (relying unchallenged testimony HIV infection controlled child, declining se ADA); pt. 1630, §1630.2(j) (2001) name has, rather individual"); basis"). 30 whose Carpal just condition. cases severe characterized muscle atrophy extreme sensory deficits, mild either effects intermittent numbness tingling. Carniero, Tunnel Syndrome: Cause Dictates Treatment 66 Cleveland Clinic J. Medicine 159, 161-162 Studies shown surgical treatment, resolve month, percent cases, eight longer. DeStefano, Nordstrom, & Uierkant, Long-term Symptom Outcomes Syndrome Treatment, 22A Hand Surgery 200, 204-205 (1997). pregnancy cause normally within weeks delivery. Ouellette, Nerve Compression Syndromes Upper Extremity Women, Journal Musculoskeletal 536 Given differences diagnosis, own, indicate meaning IV 31 suggested "plaintiff "affec[t] F.3d, Both ideas lack support. 32 relied our idea implicated But "[w]hen 'substantially limits' plaintiffs broad jobs." 491 (emphasis added). conceptual difficulties inherent argument hesitant much, today. noted assuming "broad jobs," 492. Nor regulations. defining limits," mention concept (j)(3) ("With working[,] significantly classes comparable training, skills abilities"). text previous 33 error. addressing Otherwise, Sutton's claims will rendered meaningless always recast 34 Indeed, fact Title I -12117 deals portions deal subjects transportation, §§12141-12150, 12161 -12165 privately §§12181-12189, 35 Even critically, result, "repetitive time," 843, considered specialized sufficient proof 36 At appears very focused upon. treated irrelevant [respondent] ten[d] chores." Yet teeth 37 admitted QCIO. addition, deposition testimony, worsened, brush wash face, bathe, flower garden, fix breakfast, laundry, pick house. 32-34. indicates avoid sweeping, quit dancing, occasionally seek help dressing, reduce how often plays children, gardens, drives long distances. 32, 38-39. changes lives manual-task matter law. record, inappropriate reversed. 38 brief merits, asks reinstate issue. petition judgment; argued reasons unsound. Rule 14(1)(a) provides: "Only questions set petition, fairly therein, Court." us. Irvine California, 347 128 129-130 (1954). 39 Accordingly, remand proceedings consistent opinion. 40 So ordered.

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