Source: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1025206.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 13:36:34+00:00

Document:
Charles GELFO, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION, Defendant and Respondent.
Law Offices of David H. Greenberg, David H. Greenberg, Beverly Hills, and Roslynn E. Anderson for Appellant. Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Elena R. Baca, Los Angeles, and Katherine C. Huibonhoa for Respondent.
Appellant Charles Gelfo sued his former employer, respondent Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, a division of Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed), alleging disability discrimination in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) (Gov.Code, § 12940, subds. (a), (m), (n)),1 and wrongful termination in violation of public policy. Gelfo was laid-off as part of a reduction in force while suffering from a workplace injury. Lockheed later offered Gelfo a different position, but rescinded its offer after determining medical restrictions imposed as a result of Gelfo's back injury rendered him unable to perform the essential functions of the new position, and no reasonable accommodation was possible.
The trial court found the common law cause of action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy was time-barred, and granted Lockheed's motion for summary adjudication as to that cause of action. After the parties rested following a jury trial on the remaining issues, the court granted partially Lockheed's motion for directed verdict. It concluded: (1) Gelfo was not “actually” disabled; (2) Lockheed owed no duty to provide a reasonable accommodation to an applicant who was not “actually” disabled; (3) Lockheed owed no duty to engage in an informal interactive dialogue with an applicant or employee who was not “actually” disabled; and (4) Gelfo failed to establish an entitlement to punitive damages. The sole cause of action submitted to the jury alleged Lockheed violated FEHA by refusing to hire Gelfo based on its perception he was physically disabled. (§ 12940, subd. (a).) The jury returned a verdict against Gelfo.
We conclude the trial court correctly determined the common law tort claim was time-barred, and Gelfo failed to demonstrate an entitlement to punitive damages. We also conclude the trial court did not err in finding Gelfo was not “actually” physically disabled, based on his express concessions to that effect. However, the court erred in failing to determine, as a matter of law, that Lockheed regarded Gelfo as physically disabled, and compounded the error by submitting an erroneous instruction and verdict form to the jury. Finally, we conclude an employer must engage in an informal interactive process aimed at effecting a reasonable accommodation, and provide a necessary and reasonable accommodation to an applicant or an employee whom it regards as physically disabled.
1. Gelfo's employment history with Lockheed and the workers' compensation action.
Gelfo began working for Lockheed as a metal fitter in 1980. He was laid off in 1984, re-hired in 1997, and later promoted to senior metal fitter. Throughout his employment, Gelfo belonged to a labor union that was party to a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Lockheed.
In September 2000, Gelfo injured his lower back at work. Although Gelfo continued to work, he retained counsel, filed a workers' compensation claim, and began seeing Dr. Brent Pratley, an orthopedic surgeon. Gelfo was laid off in October 2000. Under the terms of the CBA, Gelfo was placed on a recall list making him automatically eligible for rehire as a metal fitter or in a related job classification for up to five years.
In November 2000, Pratley diagnosed Gelfo as “permanent and stationary” for workers' compensation purposes.2 Pratley restricted Gelfo from heavy lifting, bending or stooping. In May 2001, Pratley released Gelfo to return to his position with a restriction on repetitive lifting of items over 50 pounds. However, Lockheed had no metal fitter positions available at the time and Gelfo was not recalled.
Pratley re-examined Gelfo in September 2001. Gelfo told Pratley he had difficulty sitting or standing for “any great length of time,” and found it hard to “bend over and lift.” Gelfo also said it was periodically necessary for him to wear a back brace in order to stand for any length of time, since he continued to experience varying degrees of pain during certain activities and numbness in his leg. Based upon his re-examination, Pratley concluded Gelfo was a “qualified injured worker” who had lost approximately 75 percent of his pre-injury capacity for lifting. Pratley did not recommend any specific workplace modifications or preclusions, but said Gelfo should do “no heavy lifting, no repetitive bending, and no prolonged sitting or standing.” Pratley said Gelfo would not be able to return to his position as a metal fitter, and recommended his enrollment in a vocational rehabilitation program. Gelfo participated in a vocational rehabilitation program from October 2001 to January 2002.
Gelfo's workers' compensation action was settled in January 2002. His injuries were deemed permanent and stationary, and he received a permanent disability rating of 42.2 percent and an award of approximately $36,000.
2. Gelfo completes Lockheed's training program and is offered a job as a plastic parts fabricator.
In mid-September 2001, Lockheed invited Gelfo to participate in a composite training class (training). The class was designed to train each participant to be a plastic parts fabricator and assembler (fabricator). Lockheed's invitation informed participants the company anticipated job openings by the completion of the training, but noted “completion of the class [did] not guarantee employment.” Gelfo did not tell anyone connected with the training he was involved in an active workers' compensation action, had any physical limitations, or was under any workplace restrictions.
The training began on October 22, 2001. It ran for 10 weeks, two days a week, three hours a day. Each training class involved “hands on” instruction and classroom lessons. During the “hands on” portion, Gelfo performed the regular physical duties of a fabricator, including bending, stooping, sitting and standing, all of which occurred in a simulated setting. The tools used and projects completed by trainees were significantly smaller than those employed and completed by actual fabricators, and the work was performed on tables rather than a shop floor. Gelfo was able to complete the training and perform the required tasks without adverse consequences to his back. At a graduation luncheon on February 12, 2002, Lockheed offered each trainee a position as a fabricator. Lockheed did not mention its job offers were contingent upon the trainees' obtaining a security and a medical clearance. Based on his past experience with the company, Gelfo knew he would be required to obtain a security clearance. For previous positions, Gelfo also had been required to pass a medical examination.
3. Gelfo's offer is revoked.
On February 14, 2002, Erica Matthews, an employee in Lockheed's Labor Relations Department, called Gelfo to inform him Lockheed had revoked his job offer. Matthews told Gelfo a review of his file revealed medical restrictions imposed by his physician that were incompatible with the physical demands of the fabricator position.
At the time, Gelfo said his back “[felt] great” and he believed there was “nothing that [he] couldn't do.” Gelfo told Jan Taylor, who was handling his workers' compensation action on Lockheed's behalf, “that he really didn't have any limitations.” Gelfo also went to Pratley, told him his back felt better and was not bothering him as it had before, and said he felt able to perform the fabricator job without restrictions. Gelfo said Pratley agreed the work restrictions were no longer necessary. Gelfo claimed he obtained a complete release from Pratley's office on February 11, 2002. However, Gelfo said his attorney had advised against providing it to the company. After February 2002, Gelfo had no further discussions with Lockheed regarding the fabricator position or any workplace accommodation until he received a letter from the company in July 2002.
In early July, Lockheed's Placement Review Committee (committee) met to consider whether an accommodation was possible to enable Gelfo to perform the fabricator job, consistent with the restrictions in his medical file.3 To facilitate the process, the committee had earlier forwarded a job description to Joe Ruggles, the manager in charge of the fabricator position to obtain a breakdown of the position's essential and nonessential functions, and an estimate of the time spent performing each function. The committee discussed the matter, reviewed a summary of the Pratley and Paul reports prepared by Lockheed's medical unit, compared the reports' conclusions with Ruggles' assessment and job description, and considered possible accommodations. The committee consulted with Ted Santos, Lockheed's in-house physician, to obtain clarification of terms in the doctors' reports, and reviewed a summary of Pratley's deposition testimony given in the workers' compensation action.4 The committee determined Lockheed could accommodate Gelfo's lifting restriction. However, it determined the company could not accommodate Gelfo's other restrictions, and no reasonable accommodation or modification was possible which would permit him to perform the work of a fabricator or any other available position within his classification.
On July 12, 2002, Shirley Harbeson, Lockheed's Senior Manager of Equal Opportunity Programs and the committee's chair, wrote to inform Gelfo of the company's decision. Her letter indicated Lockheed's belief that Gelfo was restricted from “bending, stooping, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, or other activities that involve comparable physical effort,” “lifting heavy objects over 50 lbs.,” and any prolonged sitting or standing. Harbeson told Gelfo Lockheed could accommodate his heavy lifting restriction, but was not able to accommodate his other physical limitations because the job description required him to perform certain prohibited tasks for three to six hours a day.5 Harbeson invited Gelfo to notify Lockheed if he became aware of a reasonable accommodation that would permit him to perform the essential functions of a fabricator, consistent with his medical restrictions.
On July 24, 2002, Gelfo wrote to Lockheed requesting that the company reconsider its decision. Gelfo said Lockheed was misinformed about his medical restrictions, and reiterated he had successfully completed the training without incident.6 Gelfo informed Harbeson he and his doctor agreed he could perform the job. Gelfo also told Harbeson he had recently accepted a position with another company that required him to perform the same functions as a fabricator and was currently performing the same job functions without accommodation or incident.
Harbeson responded to Gelfo's letter on September 4, 2002. She noted her earlier letter had mistakenly relied on an outdated “limits” list. Nonetheless, based on the Pratley and Paul reports and Pratley's deposition testimony, Lockheed adhered to the view that Gelfo's inability to sit or stand for more than three hours a day was a physical limitation for which no reasonable accommodation was available.
After exhausting his administrative remedies, Gelfo filed this action on March 30, 2003. He alleged causes of action for: (1) disability discrimination in violation of FEHA; (2) failure to accommodate in violation of FEHA; (3) failure to engage in timely good faith interactive process in violation of FEHA; and (4) wrongful termination in violation of public policy.
In due course, Lockheed moved for summary judgment or, in the alternative, summary adjudication, arguing the common law cause of action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy was time-barred. Summary adjudication was granted.
A six-day jury trial was conducted in July 2004 on the three remaining claims. After the parties rested, Lockheed sought a directed verdict on all causes of action and the claim for punitive damages. The motion was partially granted, and all but one portion of Gelfo's first cause of action for disability discrimination was dismissed. By directed verdict, the trial court found Gelfo did not have an “actual” disability. Based on that finding, the court concluded Lockheed had no legal duty to provide a reasonable accommodation to Gelfo or to engage in an interactive dialogue with him, and dismissed his second and third causes of action. The court also found Gelfo failed to establish an entitlement to punitive damages. The sole claim remaining for the jury's determination was whether Lockheed violated FEHA by refusing to rehire Gelfo in February 2002 because it “regarded” him as a person with a physical disability.
Following deliberations, the jury returned a special verdict stating Lockheed did not “mistakenly believe that [Gelfo's] low back injury limited his ability to work.” From a judgment entered in favor of Lockheed, this appeal ensued.
1. Gelfo's cause of action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy is time-barred.
Lockheed sought and obtained summary adjudication on Gelfo's common law cause of action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy because it was barred by the statute of limitations. The ruling was correct.
Gelfo was laid-off from his position as a metal fitter in October 2000 as part of a reduction in force at Lockheed. Gelfo does not claim his lay-off was discriminatory or unlawful in any respect. Nor does he claim any reason to believe Lockheed's layoff decision was anything other than “final.” Nonetheless, Gelfo argues that, because the CBA gave him a right of recall for five years, he remained technically employed by Lockheed when it refused to place him in the fabricator position in February 2002. Gelfo's argument lacks merit.
Gelfo's employment at Lockheed ended when he was laid-off in October 2000. Under the express terms of the CBA, “[t]he word ‘layoff’ refers to the termination of an employee from the active payroll of the Company as a reduction of the total number of people within a classification in the Company ․,” and “[l]aid-off employees are rehired from the recall list in order of seniority․” Gelfo concedes he has no reason to believe his October 2000 lay-off was anything other than a final decision terminating his employment as a Lockheed metal fitter.7 Moreover, the right of recall under the CBA was limited to the position Gelfo held when he was laid off or to a job classification he had held before. The fabricator position does not fall within either category, and Gelfo concedes he was not recalled when offered the position. Because Gelfo ceased being a Lockheed employee in October 2000, his claim for wrongful discharge, filed nearly two and one-half years later, was untimely.
2. The trial court's determination that Gelfo was not “actually” physically disabled was not erroneous.
(3) Is “regarded or treated by” the individual's employer as having, or having had, any condition that makes achievement of a major life activity difficult, or as having, or having had, a physiological condition that is not presently disabling, but that may become so.
Gelfo prosecuted this action on the alternative theories that he either had an “actual” qualifying physical disability or that Lockheed “regarded” him as having one.8 On appeal, Gelfo insists the trial court erred in granting Lockheed's motion for a directed verdict on the portion of his FEHA claim of employment discrimination based on an actual physical disability. Gelfo maintains the issue should have been submitted to the jury for determination. Lockheed argues the evidence was uncontradicted, and the directed verdict on this aspect of Gelfo's claim was proper. “A directed verdict may be granted only when, disregarding conflicting evidence, giving the evidence of the party against whom the motion is directed all the value to which it is legally entitled, and indulging every legitimate inference from such evidence in favor of that party, the court nonetheless determines there is no evidence of sufficient substantiality to support the claim or defense of the party opposing the motion, or a verdict in favor of that party. [Citations.]” (Howard v. Owens Corning (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 621, 629-630, 85 Cal.Rptr.2d 386; Newing v. Cheatham (1975) 15 Cal.3d 351, 358-359, 124 Cal.Rptr. 193, 540 P.2d 33.) This court decides de novo whether sufficient evidence was presented to withstand a directed verdict. (Brassinga v. City of Mountain View (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 195, 210, 77 Cal.Rptr.2d 660.) In that sense, we stand in the shoes of the trial court. Applying this legal standard, we conclude Lockheed is correct.
To qualify as a member of the protected class under FEHA, Gelfo must demonstrate his impairment constitutes a disability according to the statutory definition. (Jensen v. Wells Fargo Bank (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 245, 257, 102 Cal.Rptr.2d 55 (Jensen ).) It is insufficient for Gelfo simply to allege a disability or to identify an injury or physical condition. To proceed as a physically disabled person under the first prong of the statutory definition, Gelfo must demonstrate his injury or physical condition (in this instance, a low back injury, whose existence is undisputed) makes “difficult” the achievement of work or some other major life activity. Gelfo failed to make this showing.
3. Having found as a matter of law that Gelfo was not “actually” disabled, the trial court was obligated to make a similar finding with respect to the “regarded as” aspect of Gelfo's disability claim.
After determining, based on his own admissions, that Gelfo was not “actually physically disabled,” the trial court was obligated to determine, based on Lockheed's similar factual admissions, that the company had in fact “regarded” him as such.10 Lockheed never maintained its decision not to hire Gelfo was premised on anything other than its belief that medical restrictions imposed as a result of Gelfo's lower back injury rendered him unable to perform the essential functions of a fabricator. Lockheed's consistent position that it withdrew Gelfo's job offer because it perceived he suffered from a disabling physical condition limiting his ability to perform is the functional equivalent of an admission the company withdrew the offer because it “regarded” him as limited in his ability to work.11 (See Rodriguez v. ConAgra Grocery Products Co. (5th Cir.2006) 436 F.3d 468, 480 [reaching a similar result under the ADA after the court found plaintiff was not actually disabled based on his admissions, but also concluded there was no question his employer had perceived him as such based on its unequivocal statement that it withdrew plaintiff's job offer after plaintiff's preemployment medical exam allegedly showed he had “uncontrolled diabetes.”].) Accordingly, no factual question remained for the jury to decide. Gelfo satisfied FEHA's definition. To paraphrase the statute, a person is disabled if he is “regarded or treated by the employer ․ as having, or having had, any physical condition that [currently] makes [or, in the future may make] achievement of a major life activity difficult.” (§ 12926, subd. (k)(4), (5).) On this record, Lockheed unquestionably regarded Gelfo as a person with a back injury sufficiently debilitating that it either made his ability to work as a fabricator difficult when he was denied the job, or was likely to do so in the future. Accordingly, the undisputed issue of whether Lockheed “regarded” Gelfo as physically disabled should not have been submitted to the jury in the first place.
4. The legal error was compounded when the jury received an erroneous and confusing instruction and verdict form.
The trial court erred by failing to decide the definitional issue whether Lockheed regarded Gelfo as physically disabled as a matter of law. The error caused the submission of the issue to the jury, a problem which was compounded when the court modified CACI No. 2540 and the verdict form, in a confusing and erroneous way.
Defendant's decision was a substantial factor in causing Plaintiff's harm.
“1. Was Plaintiff an applicant to Defendant for a job?
“If your answer to question 1 is yes, then answer question 2. If you answered no, stop here, answer no further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form.
“2. Did Defendant mistakenly believe that Plaintiff's low back injury limited his ability to work?
The jury unanimously answered “yes” to the first question, and “no” to the second. The jury then ceased deliberating, and signed and returned the verdict.
The problem with the instruction and verdict form lies with addition of the word “mistakenly” to the second element of proof in the instruction and Question No. 2 of the verdict form. By adding “mistakenly,” the legal standard was impermissibly altered, and the jury given a confusing questionnaire and implicitly forced to decide an irrelevant issue.13 The sole issue under the “regarded as” definitional prong is whether the employer believes an applicant or employee is physically disabled. By adding the modifier “mistaken” to the instruction, the jury was asked to decide whether Lockheed believed Gelfo was actually disabled and whether that belief was wrong. To respond to the question, the jury was implicitly compelled to decide if Gelfo had an actual disability. That factual inquiry had already been resolved by the court.
More importantly, forcing a plaintiff to show an “actual disability” to prevail on a “regarded as” theory is antithetical to the purpose of the statute. In essence, it renders “regarded as” definitional protection available only to those who are actually disabled and who do not need the protection. Lockheed conceded it rescinded its job offer on the belief that work restrictions engendered by Gelfo's back injury limited his ability to perform the essential functions of a fabricator. In view of Lockheed's explicit concession and the trial court's factual findings, whether Lockheed's perception was mistaken was irrelevant.
Lockheed asserts the statute's “regarded as” protection is limited to persons who are denied or who lose jobs based on an employer's reliance on the “myths, fears or stereotypes” frequently associated with disabilities. Some support exists for this view. (See Diffey v. Riverside County Sheriff's Department (2000) 84 Cal.App.4th 1031, 1037, 101 Cal.Rptr.2d 353 disapproved on another point by Colmenares v. Braemar Country Club, Inc. (2003) 29 Cal.4th 1019, 1031, fn. 6, 130 Cal.Rptr.2d 662, 63 P.3d 220 [“[T]he purpose of the ‘regarded-as' prong is to protect individuals rejected from a job because of the ‘myths, fears and stereotypes' associated with disabilities”].) By delineating the protections afforded in section 12926 to persons “regarded as” disabled, the Legislature intended “to provide protection when an individual is erroneously or mistakenly believed to have any physical or mental condition that limits a major life activity.” (§ 12926.1, subd. (d).) However, the statutory language does not expressly restrict FEHA's protections to the narrow class to whom Lockheed would limit its coverage. To impose such a restriction would exclude from protection a large group of individuals, like Gelfo, with more mundane long-term medical conditions, the significance of which is exacerbated by an employer's failure to reasonably accommodate. Both the policy and language of the statute offer protection to a person who is not actually disabled, but is wrongly perceived to be. The statute's plain language leads to the conclusion that the “regarded as” definition casts a broader net and protects any individual “regarded” or “treated” by an employer “as having, or having had, any physical condition that makes achievement of a major life activity difficult” or may do so in the future. (§ 12926, subd. (k)(4), (5).) We agree most individuals who sue exclusively under this definitional prong likely are and will continue to be victims of an employer's “mistaken” perception, based on an unfounded fear or stereotypical assumption. Nevertheless, FEHA's protection is nowhere expressly premised on such a factual showing, and we decline the invitation to import such a requirement.
5. An employer must explore reasonable accommodations for and engage in an interactive dialogue with applicants or employees whom it regards as disabled.
Two principles underlie a cause of action for failure to provide a reasonable accommodation. First, the employee must request an accommodation. (Prilliman v. United Air Lines, Inc. (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 935, 954, 62 Cal.Rptr.2d 142.) Second, the parties must engage in an interactive process regarding the requested accommodation and, if the process fails, responsibility for the failure rests with the party who failed to participate in good faith. (See Jensen, supra, 85 Cal.App.4th at p. 266, 102 Cal.Rptr.2d 55.) While a claim of failure to accommodate is independent of a cause of action for failure to engage in an interactive dialogue, each necessarily implicates the other.
Relying on federal authorities interpreting the ADA, Lockheed maintains the right to reasonable accommodation flows only to an applicant or employee who is “actually” disabled. Lockheed also asserts that requiring an employer to participate in an interactive process with an individual “regarded as” disabled promotes form over function. Such a requirement, in its view, compels employers to engage in an expensive but futile process, because employees merely “regarded as” disabled do not qualify for a reasonable accommodation. (See Gilday v. Mecosta County (6th Cir.1997) 124 F.3d 760, 764 [a person without an actual disability needs no accommodation].) The trial court agreed and directed verdicts against Gelfo on his causes of action for “failure to accommodate” and “failure to engage in the interactive process.” The directed verdicts were a mistake.
On these issues, which are novel to California and on which the federal courts are divided, we conclude that employers must reasonably accommodate individuals falling within any of FEHA's statutorily defined “disabilities,” including those “regarded as” disabled, and must engage in an informal, interactive process to determine any effective accommodations.
a. An employer must reasonably accommodate an applicant or employee whom it regards as disabled.
The Ninth Circuit followed suit in Kaplan v. City of North Las Vegas (9th Cir.2003) 323 F.3d 1226, 1232-1233 (Kaplan).16 In Kaplan, a police officer, unable to hold a gun or grasp objects with one hand, was misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Based on the misdiagnosis, the employer believed the injury was permanent, concluded he would not be able to hold or use a gun effectively or perform other essential job functions, and fired him. While the court found Kaplan was not “actually disabled,” it determined he was “regarded as” disabled because his employer believed he was permanently disabled by arthritis. Relying primarily on Weber, the court held “regarded as” plaintiffs are not entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. (Kaplan, supra, 323 F.3d at pp. 1232-1233.) The court acknowledged the ADA's definition of a “qualified individual with a disability” (i.e., those to whom reasonable accommodation is owed under the ADA) does not differentiate among the three disjunctive prongs of the “disability” definition. (Id. at p. 1232.) Nonetheless, it concluded, “[t]he absence of a stated distinction ․ [was] not tantamount to an explicit instruction by Congress that ‘regarded as' individuals are entitled to reasonable accommodations.” (Ibid.) Because a formalistic reading of the plain language of the statute would lead to “bizarre results,” courts must look beyond the literal language of the ADA.
Weber and Kaplan were decided under the ADA. No published California case has considered whether an employer has a duty under FEHA to provide a reasonable accommodation to an applicant or employee who is not “actually” disabled, but is “regarded as” having a disability.17 Because the ADA and FEHA share the goal of eliminating discrimination, we often look to federal case authority to guide the construction and application of FEHA, particularly where parallel statutory language is involved. However, because FEHA “provides protections independent from those in the [ADA]” and “afford[s] additional protections than the [ADA]” (§ 12926.1, subd. (a)), state law will part ways with federal law in order to advance the legislative goal of providing greater protection to employees than the ADA. (See Diaz v. Federal Express Corp. (C.D.Cal.2005) 373 F.Supp.2d 1034, 1053-1054.) To that end, we are unpersuaded by the reasoning of Weber and Kaplan, whose shortcomings are explored in the better-reasoned decision of Williams, supra, 380 F.3d 751, and its progeny.
b. An employer must engage in an informal dialogue to determine effective reasonable accommodations with an applicant or employee regarded as disabled.
Under section 12940, subdivision (n), it is an unlawful employment practice “[f]or an employer ․ to fail to engage in a timely, good faith, interactive process with the employee or applicant to determine effective reasonable accommodations, if any, in response to a request for reasonable accommodation by an employee or applicant with a known physical ․ disability․” The statute provides an independent basis for liability. (Claudio v. Regents of University of California, supra, 134 Cal.App.4th at p. 243, 35 Cal.Rptr.3d 837.) Nonetheless, an employer's duty to accommodate is inextricably linked to its obligation to engage in a timely, good faith discussion with an applicant or employee whom it knows 21 is disabled, and who has requested an accommodation, to determine the extent of the individual's limitations, before an individual may be deemed unable to work.
Lockheed argues an employer owes no duty to engage in a “futile” discussion with an applicant or employee who is merely “regarded as” disabled and to whom no duty of reasonable accommodation is or will be owed. This argument is rejected for the same reasons we rejected the argument an employer need not accommodate an employee who is “regarded as” disabled. Indeed, the argument for enforcing a duty to engage in a discussion may be more compelling in the context of the interactive process.
6. Gelfo failed to establish an entitlement to punitive damages.
The trial court granted Lockheed's motion for directed verdict on the ground Gelfo failed to present sufficiently clear and convincing evidence to permit the jury to find a corporate decision-maker was involved in rescinding his job offer.
The judgment is reversed as to: (1) the cause of action for disability discrimination in violation of Government Code section 12940, subdivision (a), based on the allegation Lockheed refused to hire Gelfo because it regarded him as a physically disabled person; (2) the cause of action for failure to provide reasonable accommodation in violation of Government Code section 12940, subdivision (m); and (3) the cause of action for failure to engage in the interactive process in violation of Government Code section 12940, subdivision (n). The matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed. Each party is to bear his or its costs of appeal.
1. All statutory references are to this code unless otherwise specified.
3. The committee, which is part of Lockheed's Equal Opportunity Programs Department, meets with managers who have indicated they cannot accommodate an individual's workplace limitations. The committee reviews the requirements of a particular job and assess the possibility of job modifications or reassignment of duties within an employee's classification to determine if the individual's medical restrictions can be accommodated.
4. In that deposition, Pratley testified Gelfo could not perform the functions of a fabricator.
5. Those tasks were bending at the neck and waist, kneeling, twisting at the neck and waist, leaning, repetitive use, manipulation, and pushing and pulling of hands.
6. Gelfo spoke with Harbeson and one of her employees on two occasions in July, repeating his claim to have an unequivocal medical release freeing him to return to work without restrictions. Harbeson testified Gelfo refused to furnish the release on advice of counsel. Gelfo testified he gave the release to a Lockheed representative and “certain people,” and also sent it by certified mail to Harbeson and one of her employees. No one at Lockheed ever received the release.
8. Gelfo has never asserted he was physically disabled because Lockheed knew he had “a record or history of” a covered physiological condition, and may not do so now. (See Cinnamon Square Shopping Center v. Meadowlark Enterprises, supra, 24 Cal.App.4th at p. 1844, 30 Cal.Rptr.2d 697.)FEHA does not employ the term “actual” disability. We use the term for clarity to distinguish a circumstance involving an individual who is or may be deemed physically disabled because he or she satisfies both requirements of the first prong of FEHA's definition, from those involving an individual considered physically disabled under the “regarded as” and/or “record of” definitional prongs.
10. Gelfo raised this point repeatedly throughout the trial, and unsuccessfully moved for directed verdict on this issue once the court granted Lockheed's directed verdict on the issue of actual disability.
13. Two constructions of Question No. 2 are logically plausible. The first is based on the implicit premises that (1) Gelfo's back injury did not limit his ability to engage in a major life activity, but (2) when he was denied the fabricator position, Lockheed believed Gelfo's back injury limited his ability to engage in the major life activity of work. The issue for the jury was: Was Lockheed's belief mistaken? To be consistent with the facts as found by the trial court, the jury's answer to this question would have been “yes.” It was not.But the same question could rest on different implicit premises, namely: (1) Gelfo's low back injury limited his ability to work as a fabricator; and (2) Lockheed believed Gelfo's low back injury limited his ability to work as a fabricator. The issue for the jury: Was Lockheed's belief mistaken? The jury's “no” answer meant it concluded Lockheed was correct to believe Gelfo's low back injury limited his ability to work, a conclusion directly contrary to the court's finding.Lockheed posits an alternative construction in its supplemental brief. However, that construction is contingent on the jury's awareness the trial court had determined Gelfo was not actually disabled, a finding about which it was not informed.
14. Gelfo need not show Lockheed “had it in for him.” To support a claim of disability discrimination, a plaintiff need only show “animus” directed at the disability. (See e.g., Rodriguez v. ConAgra Grocery Products Company, supra, 436 F.3d at p. 480) [ADA]. It is of no moment that the employer has no ill will against the plaintiff (or anyone else with a bad back).
16. The Fifth and Sixth Circuits have reached similar conclusions, but the cases contain virtually no legal analysis on the issue. (See Newberry v. East Texas State University (5th Cir.1998) 161 F.3d 276, 280; Workman v. Frito-Lay, Inc. (6th Cir.1999) 165 F.3d 460, 467.)We adopt the opposite view, as have the First, Third, Tenth, Eleventh and, to a limited extent, the Second Circuits. (See Katz v. City Metal Co., Inc. (1st Cir.1996) 87 F.3d 26, 33; Williams v. Philadelphia Housing (3d Cir.2004) 380 F.3d 751, 772-776, (Williams), cert. denied (2005) 544 U.S. 961, 125 S.Ct. 1725, 161 L.Ed.2d 602; Kelly v. Metallics West, Inc. (10th Cir.2005) 410 F.3d 670, 675-676 (Kelly); D'Angelo v. ConAgra Foods, Inc. (11th Cir.2005) 422 F.3d 1220, 1235-1239 (D'Angelo); Jacques v. DiMarzio, Inc. (E.D.N.Y.2002) 200 F.Supp.2d 151, 163-169, (Jacques), affirmed in pertinent part, 386 F.3d 192, 204.) The Fourth and Seventh Circuits have not yet taken a position. (See e.g., Cigan v. Chippewa Falls School Dist. (7th Cir.2004) 388 F.3d 331, 335).
20. Lockheed maintains it did everything within its power to accommodate Gelfo's medical restrictions, but was unable to accommodate the restrictions against prolonged sitting and standing. Gelfo insists that, had Lockheed discussed the matter with him, it would have learned his restrictions-to the extent they required any accommodation at all-could easily have been accommodated by permitting him an additional break or two, or allowing him to occasionally sit on a stool. These are factual questions properly decided on remand in the first instance.
21. FEHA's reference to a “known” disability is read to mean a disability of which the employer has become aware, whether because it is obvious, the employee has brought it to the employer's attention, it is based on the employer's own perception-mistaken or not-of the existence of a disabling condition or, perhaps as here, the employer has come upon information indicating the presence of a disability.
23. Lockheed asserts that, if it had a duty to engage in the interactive process, the duty was discharged. “If anything,” it argues, “it was Gelfo who failed to engage in a good faith interactive process.” Gelfo counters Lockheed made up its mind before July 2002 that it would not accommodate Gelfo's limitations, and nothing could cause it to reconsider that decision. Because the evidence is conflicting and the issue of the parties' efforts and good faith is factual, the claim is properly left for the jury's consideration.
We concur: COOPER, P.J., and RUBIN, J.

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