Case Name: Jeremy W. BENZ, Plaintiff, v. WEST LINN PAPER COMPANY, Defendant
Court: United States District Court for the District of Oregon
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-07-20
Citations: 803 F. Supp. 2d 1231
Docket Number: No. 3:10-cv-519-ST
Parties: Jeremy W. BENZ, Plaintiff, v. WEST LINN PAPER COMPANY, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Supplement 2d
Volume: 803
Pages: 1231–1259

Head Matter:
Jeremy W. BENZ, Plaintiff, v. WEST LINN PAPER COMPANY, Defendant.
No. 3:10-cv-519-ST.
United States District Court, D. Oregon, Portland Division.
July 20, 2011.
Elizabeth Farrell Oberlin, Attorney at Law, Hillsboro, OR, for Plaintiff.
Stacey E. Mark, Ater Wynne, LLP, Portland, OR, for Defendant.

Opinion:
OPINION AND ORDER
MOSMAN, District Judge.
On June 20, 2011, Magistrate Judge Stewart issued her Findings and Recommendation ("F & R") [32] in the above-captioned case recommending that I grant the defendant's motion for summary judgment [17]. Plaintiff filed objections [34], and the defendant responded [35], I adopt the F & R as my own opinion.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The magistrate judge makes only recommendations to the court, to which any party may file written objections. The court is not bound by the recommendations of the magistrate judge, but retains responsibility for making the final determination. The court is generally required to make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified findings or recommendation as to which an objection is made. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). However, the court is not required to review, under a de novo or any other standard, the factual or legal conclusions of the magistrate judge as to those portions of the F & R to which no objections are addressed. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149, 106 S.Ct. 466, 88 L.Ed.2d 435 (1985); United States v. Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1121 (9th Cir.2003). While the level of scrutiny under which I am required to review the F & R depends on whether or not objections have been filed, in either case, I am free to accept, reject, or modify any part of the F & R. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C).
DISCUSSION
Mr. Benz makes two objections to the F & R. First, he objects to the finding that the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") requires economic damages. Second, he objects to the finding that the West Linn Paper Company (the "Paper Company") was not required to accommodate his alleged disability.
I. Economic Damages Are Necessary Under the FMLA
Mr. Benz argues without citation to authority that no economic damages are necessary under the FMLA. Objections [34] 3. Economic damages are required under the FMLA. Nevada Dep't of Human Res. v. Hibbs, 538 U.S. 721, 739-40, 123 S.Ct. 1972, 155 L.Ed.2d 953 (2003) ("[T]he cause of action under the FMLA is a restricted one: The damages recoverable are strictly defined and measured by actual monetary losses."). Because Mr. Benz has presented no evidence that he suffered economic damages from his change in job duties, this claim under the FMLA cannot survive a motion for summary judgment.
II. The Paper Company Was Not Required To Accommodate Mr. Benz's Alleged Disability
Mr. Benz argues that the Paper Company discriminated against him based on his throat impairment. This objection attacks three findings in the F & R, any of one of which, standing alone, would support the F & R's conclusion. These findings are (1) that his throat polyps are not a disability under the Oregon Discrimination Act; (2) that there was no causal connection between his throat impairment and his reassignment and termination; and (3) that the Paper Company was unaware of his need to "rest his voice."
A. Throat Polyps Are Not a Disability Under the Oregon Discrimination Act
Mr. Benz argues that the F & R incorrectly determined that his throat impairment did not constitute a disability under Oregon's disability discrimination statutes in place at the time. In determining whether a person is disabled, the F & R properly considered "(i) The nature and severity of the impairment; (ii) The duration or expected duration of the impairment; and (iii) the permanent or long term impact, or expected permanent or long term impact of or resulting from the impairment." 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(2); see also Or.Rev.Stat. § 659A.139(1) (requiring Oregon's disability discrimination statutes to be "construed to the extent possible in a manner that is consistent with any similar provisions of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990").
Mr. Benz argues in his objections that because he was limited in his ability to speak for several months, he meets the definition of disability. The record shows that from as early as January to August of 2008, from mid-November to December of 2008, and from late March to late April of 2009, Mr. Benz suffered from a hoarse or "weird" voice and had difficulty sleeping. The F & R correctly concluded that this is not enough to constitute disability under the law in place at the time. See Becerril v. Pima Cnty., Assessor's Office, 587 F.3d 1162, 1164 (9th Cir.2009) (per curiam) ("Beeerril is not substantially limited in speaking because she is limited only in talking constantly, for a long time, and under stress.... She has produced no evidence besides conclusory assertions on how her impairment substantially limits her seeing or sleeping. And though her pain and grogginess limited her thinking and concentrating at times when she was working, Beeerril has not raised a genuine issue of material fact on whether her intermittent symptoms substantially limited her ability to think and concentrate not just at work but outside of work as well."); see also Fraser v. Goodale, 342 F.3d 1032, 1044 (9th Cir.2003), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 937, 124 S.Ct. 1663, 158 L.Ed.2d 358 (2004) (finding intermittent inability to think was not a disability); Sanders v. Arneson Prods., Inc., 91 F.3d 1351, 1353-54 (9th Cir.1996) (finding psychological impairment lasting four months was not a disability).
B. Causal Connection Between Throat Impairment and Termination
Mr. Benz claims he was terminated and given different responsibilities because of his throat impairment and his use of leave. "[Wjhen evidence to refute the defendant's legitimate explanation is totally lacking, summary judgment is appropriate even though plaintiff may have established a minimal prima facie case based on a McDonnell Douglas type presumption." Wallis v. J.R. Simplot Co., 26 F.3d 885, 890-91 (9th Cir.1994).
The only evidence Mr. Benz has presented to prove a causal connection is the timing of the events. In contrast, the record shows a remarkable amount of patience in light of Mr. Benz's poor performance and misbehavior. See F & R [32] "Facts" Section, Parts II.C, G; III.B, C, D, E, F, H; V.A.; VI.A, C, E. These continuous and costly incidents of misbehavior and poor performance provide a legitimate explanation for Mr. Benz's termination. They also explain why Mr. Benz was disciplined the day he returned from surgery: he had used expletives in an argument with a coworker during his last shift then walked off the job hours before his shift ended. Mr. Benz has not refuted this evidence, so summary judgment is appropriate.
C. There Is No Evidence That the Paper Company Was Aware Of His Need to Rest His Voice
Mr. Benz argues that the Paper Company failed to accommodate his throat impairment. Objections [34] 5.
An employer generally does not have a duty to acconamodate an employee until the employee asks. Brown v. Lucky Stores, Inc., 246 F.3d 1182, 1188 (9th Cir.2001). The exception to this general rule arises "only when the employer (1) knows that the employee has a disability, (2) knows, or has reason to know, that the employee is experiencing workplace problems because of the disability, and (3) knows, or has reason to know, that the disability prevents the employee from requesting a reasonable accommodation." Id.
Mr. Benz does not argue that he meets this standard; instead, he argues that a facsimile sent by his doctor put the Paper Company on notice—in effect, he argues that his doctor acted as his agent in requesting the accommodation. After Mr. Benz's third surgery, Dr. Zamudio sent a facsimile to the Paper Company indicating that Mr. Benz could return to work on May 18, 2009, and recommending that he "focus on voice rest" until his next appointment. But Mr. Benz admits that he did not know he had any medical restrictions when he returned to work, which belies any claim that Dr. Zamudio was acting as his agent.
It is not clear what Mr. Benz believes the Paper Company should have done. When Mr. Benz returned to work the Paper Company asked him whether he could do the repulper job and abide by his medical restrictions. Mr. Benz responded that he could. Oregon law prohibits an employer from "mak[ing] inquiries of an employee as to the nature or severity of any disability of the employee, unless the ex amination or inquiry is shown to be job-related and consistent with business necessity." Or.Rev.Stat. § 659A.136. After asking Mr. Benz if he could do the job of a repulper, it is not clear what else his supervisors might have legally asked.
Because Mr. Benz did not request an accommodation, and, in fact, denied the need for an accommodation when asked by his supervisors, the Paper Company is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.
D. Conclusion
Because each of these three findings— that he was not disabled, that there was no casual connection between his impairment and his termination, and that he denied the need for accommodation — is sufficient to support the F & R's conclusion that the Paper Company did not violate Oregon's disability discrimination statutes, Mr. Benz's objections fail.
CONCLUSION
Upon review, I ADOPT Judge Stewart's F & R [32] as my own opinion, and I GRANT the motion for summary judgment [17].
IT IS SO ORDERED.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION
STEWART, United States Magistrate Judge:
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff, Jeremy Benz ("Benz") originally filed this action against his former employer, West Linn Paper Company ("WLPC"), in Clackamas County Circuit Court on March 25, 2010. See Notice of Removal, Ex. 1, Complaint, filed in Benz v. West Linn Paper Company, Case No. CV1003-0792. Benz alleges claims for violation of: (1) Oregon law on Unlawful Employment Practices, O.R.S. 659A.112(2) (failure to make reasonable accommodations for disability and termination due to disability) (First Claim); (2) the Family Medical Leave Act ("FMLA"), 29 U.S.C. § 2601-2654 (Second Claim); and (3) the Oregon Family Leave Act ("OFLA"), ORS 659A.150-.186 (Third Claim).
On May 4, 2010, WLPC filed a Notice of Removal to this court. This court has federal question jurisdiction over the federal statutory claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and supplemental jurisdiction over the related state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a). WLPC has filed a Motion for Summary Judgment (docket # 17) against each of Benz's claims. For the reasons that follow, the motion should be GRANTED and a judgment should be entered in favor of WLPC.
STANDARDS
FRCP 56(c) authorizes summary judgment if "no genuine issue" exists regarding any material fact and "the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." The moving party must show an absence of an issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Once the moving party does so, the nonmoving party must "go beyond the pleadings" and designate specific facts showing a "genuine issue for trial." Id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, citing FRCP 56(e). The court must "not weigh the evidence or determine the truth of the matter, but only [determine] whether there is a genuine issue for trial." Balint v. Carson City, Nev., 180 F.3d 1047, 1054 (9th Cir.1999) (citation omitted). A " 'scintilla of evidence,' or evidence that is 'merely colorable' or 'not significantly probative,' " does not present a genuine issue of material fact. United Steelworkers of Am. v. Phelps Dodge Corp., 865 F.2d 1539, 1542 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 809, 110 S.Ct. 51, 107 L.Ed.2d 20 (1989) (emphasis in original) (citation omitted).
The substantive law governing a claim or defense determines whether a fact is material. Addisu v. Fred Meyer, Inc., 198 F.3d 1130, 1134 (9th Cir.2000) (citation omitted). The court must view the inferences drawn from the facts "in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party." Farrakhan v. Gregoire, 590 F.3d 989, 1014 (9th Cir.2010), citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). In employment discrimination cases, "very little evidence" is required to survive summary judgment "because the ultimate question is one that can only be resolved through a searching inquiry — one that is most appropriately conducted by the factfinder, upon a full record." Schnidrig v. Columbia Mach., Inc., 80 F.3d 1406, 1410 (9th Cir.) (internal quotations, citation omitted), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 927, 117 S.Ct. 295, 136 L.Ed.2d 214 (1996).
FACTS
Because all material facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-movant, this court views the evidence most favorably to Benz. A review of the parties' submissions reveals the following-facts:
I. WLPC Operations and Policies
A. Operations
WLPC specializes in making glossy paper used primarily in magazines and catalogs. WLPC's production process consists of three departments: (1) Stock Preparation (Stock Prep); (2) Coating; and (3) Paper Processing. Konen Deck, ¶ 2. The plant operates continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Benz Depo., pp. 83-84; Dunlap Deck, ¶ 3. The make-up of a particular grade of paper is determined by the stock preparation. The Stock Prep Department is responsible for mixing the pulp that is pumped to the Paper Processing Department where it is used to make paper. Konen Deck, ¶ 3.
The Paper Processing Department has three process lines with paper machines ("PM") #1, #2, and # 3. The process starts at the "wet end," where wet pulp is sprayed onto a wire mesh screen and the water drains out below it. From there, the paper goes through a series of rollers. During this process, the pulp fibers are compressed into sheets and the moisture content of the paper is reduced. When the paper gets to the "dry end," coating is applied. Thin blades scrape off the excess coating to insure a smooth, level finish or profile. The coated paper then goes to the Supercalendar machine where a series of rollers apply heat and pressure. The Supercalendar controls how glossy the paper finish will be. From there, the paper goes to quality control, after which it is cut, wrapped and shipped to the customer. Id, ¶ 4.
B. Employee Handbook
WLPC employees are not guaranteed a specific job. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 5. Employees are assigned a job classification and then assigned to different roles based on business needs. Id, Ex. 1, p. 7, & Ex. 2, p. 7. Employees are expected to help out in any area as needed. Id. WLPC maintains an Employee Handbook that it updates periodically. Id, ¶ 4. Employees receive their own copies of the handbook and sign an acknowledgment when they receive the handbook and any updates to it. Id. The current version of the handbook is always available to employees at the work site. Id.
Benz received an employee handbook when he started work. Benz Depo., p. 29 & Ex. 1. He understood that WLPC could move employees around for business reasons and cross-train them for the efficiency of the mill. Id, pp. 38, 41. He was familiar with the family medical leave ("FML") policy and knew when and how to ask for FML. Id, pp. 41-44. Benz understood that FML and pre-arranged time off were excused. Id, pp. 108-09; Dunlap Deck, Ex. 1, pp. 14-15, & Ex. 2, pp. 16-17.
C. WLPC Work Schedule and Leave Requests
During Benz's employment, the work schedule at WLPC was set for the entire year. Benz Depo., p. 86. In one year, WLPC shift employees only work about six months. Id; Dunlap Deck, ¶ 3. Shift employees in Paper Processing work rotating 12-hour shifts for a total of 14 shifts. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 3. The shift schedule rotates between days and nights and over weekends, with either four or five days off between each rotation. Id. The schedule repeats every 28 days. Id. Due to the extensive amount of time off, WLPC expects employees to schedule personal appointments on their days off whenever possible. Id.
Employees needed sufficient accrued paid time off ("PTO") to cover their absences and usually could not take unpaid time off. Benz Depo., p. 89. They were expected to request PTO in advance when possible, preferably with two weeks' notice, although short-notice requests were allowed. Id, pp. 87-88; Dunlap Depo., p. 70. For short notice requests, an employee had to be available to fill in. Benz Depo., pp. 88-89. There was a short-notice form for less than three days notice. Id, p. 88; Dunlap Depo., p. 73. Team leaders had the authority to grant or deny PTO'. Dunlap Depo., pp. 71-72. One such person was Steve Kendig ("Kendig"), the Team Leader for PM # 3. Id, p. 87. Only two people (or three in the summer) per week could have time off at any one time. Id, p. 88.
Employees were not supposed to take unpaid time off unless it was an emergency. Id, p. 89. An employee called the guard shack at the gate to report an immediate time off due to an illness or similar emergency. Id, p. 107; Dunlap Depo., p. 75. The employee was to inform the guard of his name, where he worked, what process lines would be impacted by his absence, and the reason for missing work. Benz Depo., pp. 107-08. In the event that an employee called in to report an absence, Kendig made the decision about whether to call in someone else or run the shift as is. Id, pp. 83, 86. Either Kendig or Jeff Kestek ("Kestek"), then Superintendent of PM # 3 and supervisor on all shifts, was responsible for approving time off not scheduled in advance. Id, pp. 83-84, 87.
In general, supervisors talked to employees about having more than five unprotected absences in one year. Dunlap Depo., p. 76. Unprotected absences are defined as those absences which are not protected by the medical leave laws, jury duty, or the bereavement policy. Id, p. 77. The communications between the supervisors and the employee with respect to five or more unprotected absences were supposed to be documented in the employee's file. Id, pp. 79-80.
II. Prior to Development of Throat Condition
A. Initial Employment
Benz started working at WLPC on July 4, 2005, as a Repulper in the Stock Prep Department. Benz Depo., p. 17. After two weeks of hands-on training with the other employees in the department, he was proficient and did not need anyone to work with him. Id, pp. 20, 27-28, 53. As a Repulper, Benz was responsible for loading pre-baled pulp onto a conveyor, cutting and disposing of the wires that hold the bales together, maintaining consistency of the pulp once it went into a repulper, turning off and draining the repulper in the event it became plugged, and maintaining pulp inventory, which sometimes included unloading the truck. Id, pp. 20-21. He could change the mix in the repulper with the push of a button. Id, pp. 49-50. To switch the mix in the repulper from one type of pulp to another, Benz would enter a new recipe or different consistency in a computer located in the cool shack. Id, pp. 50-51. The Repulper worked alone in the cool shack which was a separate building. Id, p. 21. If Benz needed to contact someone, he used a radio or a telephone located in the cool shack. Id, pp. 48-49.
B. Advancement
New hires at WLPC are assigned a pay rate or "Tech level" that initially advances based on tenure. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 11. After achieving Tech level 2, employees cannot advance without going through a process that involves a written test, a demonstration of skills, and a peer evaluation. Id. Each department has a compensation/Tech level range. Id.
Benz received automatic pay increases when he advanced to a Tech 1 after 30 days and to a Tech 2 after 60 days. Benz Depo., p. 28. To advance to a Tech 3 or higher pay level, Benz had to pass a three-part test that included a demonstration of skills, a written test, and a peer evaluation. Id; Dunlap Deck, ¶ 11. Benz took the test and progressed to a Tech 3 when he was still in Stock Prep. Benz Depo., pp. 29, 75.
To bid on a job opening, employees submitted a letter of interest and then interviewed, usually with the crew. Id, p. 77. Employees who advanced a position in their own department retained the same Tech level. Id, pp. 75-76. However, to promote the retention of employees in jobs for which they were already trained, employees who switched departments were usually moved back to a Tech 3. Id.
C. February 2006 Move to Rereeler Position & Disciplinary Suspension
In February 2006, about seven months after his initial employment with WLPC, Benz successfully bid on the Rereeler position in Paper Processing on PM # 3. Id, pp. 26-27. The Rereeler was responsible for pre-shift inspections of the overhead crane and transporter, re-reeling the paper that came off the machine, slabbing paper, changing paper knives, running a transporter, checking for defects on the rereeler, assisting with threading the paper machine, and cutting out any holes in the sheet. Id, pp. 92-94, 96-97. Benz received no change in pay. Id, p. 27.
While Benz worked as a Rereeler on PM #3, Reed Rotondo ("Rotondo") was the Coaterman; Mike Long ("Long") was the Backtender; Kendig was the Machine Tender; Roland Bugni ("Bugni") was the Stack Operator; and, Tom Cook ("Cook") was the Winderman. Id, pp. 89-90. Ken-dig was the Team Leader. Id, pp. 83-84; Kendig Deck, ¶ 1. Kendig could approve requests for time off, but did not make Benz's schedule, did not conduct performance evaluations and had no authority to threaten or impose discipline. Benz Depo., pp. 86-87; Kendig Deck, ¶ 2; Konen Deck, ¶ 5.
Shortly after the move to Rereeler, Benz received his first disciplinary suspension for placing rotted food in a co-worker's knife scabbard as a prank. Benz Depo., pp. 97-98 & Ex. 6. Benz's co-worker, Rotondo, brought out a stinky concoction of rotted food and took the knife scabbard of another employee, Joe Sullins ("Sullins"), out of an unlocked locker. Id, pp. 97-98. Rotondo encouraged Benz to put the concoction in Sullins's knife scabbard, which Benz did. Id. Sullins reported the incident to Brian Konen ("Konen"), WLPC's General Manager. Id. When efforts to identify the responsible employees proved unsuccessful, Konen called the team to a meeting in his office. Id, pp. 101-02; Konen Deck, ¶ 7. WLPC ultimately suspended Benz for his role in the incident, effective May 13, 2006. Benz Depo., pp. 97,109 & Ex. 6.
Benz had unexcused absences the next day, May 14, and again on May 21, but was not disciplined in any way for those absences. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 16 & Ex. 6, pp. 1-2; Benz Depo., pp. 107,110-11.
D.Advancement to Tech 4 and Move to Coaterman
About seven months later, Benz advanced to a Tech 4 with no change in his duties, effective December 31, 2006. Benz Depo., pp. 111-13; Dunlap Deck, ¶ 17. In late 2006 and early 2007, PM # 3 was short handed and Benz began to fill in as the Coaterman. Benz Depo., Ex. 9. The Coaterman is responsible for maintaining the sheet profile and paper quality by making adjustments while coating is applied to both sides of the paper and for helping the Rereeler and Backtender. Id, pp. 82-83.
In March 2007, Benz put in a bid to become the Coaterman on PM # 3. Id, p. 115. By that time, Benz had been performing the Coaterman job between four and six months. Id. Sometime in the late spring or summer of 2007, Benz was awarded the bid for the Coaterman job on PM # 3. Id, pp. 118-120; Dunlap Deck, ¶ 17. Although the Coaterman position is more complicated, Benz stayed at the same tech level and his pay stayed the same. Benz Depo., p. 117.
E. 2007 FML
In January 2007, Benz took FML in connection with the birth of his child. Id, pp. 113-14, & Ex. 8. He was not disciplined or retaliated against in any way for taking the FML. Id, p. 114.
The following summer, in July 2007, Benz called in sick due to an off-work injury to his wrist. Id, pp. 120-21. He returned to work with a partial cast but no doctor's note. Id, pp. 121-23. Benz's uncle, Bill Benz (the Production Manager in charge of all three paper machines), told Benz he could not return to work without a note explaining his restrictions. Id, pp. 18-19, 124. Benz obtained a doctor's note restricting him from lifting anything over two pounds, and returned to work at his regular job within his restrictions. Id, pp. 123-24 & Ex. 11. He was not disciplined or retaliated against in connection with his wrist injury. Id, p. 126.
F. December 2007 Tech 5 Test
In December 2007, Benz took the test to advance to a Tech 5, but did not pass. Id, pp. 126-27 & Ex. 12. Benz also failed to meet expectations in several categories of his peer evaluations. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 18 & Ex. 7.
G. 2008 Unexcused Absences
Benz had unexcused absences on January 29 and March 4, 2008. Benz Depo., pp. 130-31; Dunlap Decl., ¶ 19 & Ex. 8. He was not disciplined for those absences. Benz Depo., p. 131. Kathy Lakey ("La-key"), the individual in HR who is primarily responsible for administering WLPC's FML policy, told Benz to fill out an FML request for absences due to his wife's illness on April 12 and 13 because his time off qualified for FML and would be excused. Id, PP- 46, 131-33 & Ex. 14. Benz was not disciplined or retaliated against in connection with those absences. Id P-134. Benz had another unexcused absence on June 4, for which he was not disciplined. Id.
III. Development of Throat Condition
A. Initial "Voice" Change
Some time between January and May 2008, Benz began to experience difficulties with his voice. Id PP- 139-43. By mid-July 2008, his coworkers and WLPC management knew he was having throat difficulties. Id PP- 140-43. He could hardly talk, was not sleeping well, and was very difficult to understand. Id P- 139. Over the course of about three months, his "voice changed," he became hoarse, and he was "having issues with people understanding [him] at work." Id, PP- 139-43, 174, 199. Benz did not know what was causing the problems with his voice. Id P-140. Although he had health insurance, he avoided going to see a doctor to avoid the associated out-of-pocket costs. Id, p. 174.
Despite the fact that his "voice was gone" and he was not getting enough rest, Benz continued working. Id, P- 139. When asked what was wrong with his voice, he would respond that he had "no idea" and thought that he was losing his voice. Id P- 140. This went on for "weeks on end." Id, p. 142. With the exception of Bill Benz, who laughingly told Benz that he had a "cure for that" (id), Benz's coworkers and WLPC management uniformly expressed their hope that Benz's voice would "get better." Id, pp. 142-43.
B. Summer 2008 "Horseplay" Incident and Absence
On June 9, 2008, Benz was involved in a reportable safety incident in which Brian Viera ("Viera") (Bill Benz's son-in-law) cut his finger and required stitches. Id, pp. 116, 134. Viera's utility knife came out of its scabbard when Benz tugged on his shirt to get his attention. Id, P- 135. Although Benz was not disciplined for his role in the incident, WLPC management believed it was the result of horseplay. Id, p. 137; Dunlap Deck, ¶20, 26 & Ex. 11 (9/9/08 meeting with Kendig; 9/26/08 conversation with Bill Benz); Konen Deck, ¶ 8; Bill Benz Deck, ¶ 4.
On July 12, 2008, Benz missed work because he had to take his son to the emergency room for a head injury. Benz Depo., p. 137. He used PTO to cover his absence. Id P- 138. WLPC was unable to find someone to work during that absence and Benz's crew had to run the machine short-staffed. Id However, Benz was not disciplined for missing that shift. Id. He sent an email to Konen, apologizing for the difficulties caused by his absence on July 12 and letting him know he would "give 120% effort" to his job. Id, pp. 138-39 & Ex. 15.
C. "Pole Incident" and Production Issues After Rotondo's Departure
Rotondo, the Backtender on Benz's crew, left WLPC's employ on August 1, 2008. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 21. Shortly thereafter, Benz and another employee, Scotty Stewart ("Stewart"), dropped a heavy pole and caused significant damage to a mesh screen or "wire," an expensive piece of equipment on which the pulp is sprayed. Id; Benz Depo., p. 145. Benz heard "through the grapevine" that the accident was believed to be his fault, but was not disciplined for it. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 21; Benz Depo., pp. 145^46. WLPC contends that Benz's work performance went into a "downhill spiral" following Rotondo's departure and the "pole incident." Kendig Deck, ¶ 4.
D. August 11, 2008 Paper Loss and Damage
On August 11, 2008, Benz filled in as Backtender on the night shift. Id, ¶ 5; Benz Depo., p. 146 & Ex. 16. During the shift, the sheets coming from the machine had holes in them, the result of holes in the wire. Benz Depo., pp. 148-49. This resulted in a large loss of paper and damage to the Supercalendar machine which required a shut down of the entire PM # 3 process line in order to make repairs. Kendig Deck, ¶ 5-6. Kendig felt Benz shirked his responsibilities and was ticked off at Benz for failing to notify him of the problems so that the loss of paper and required repairs could have been minimized. Id.
This was not Kendig's first concern over Benz's performance. Id, ¶ 7. He witnessed and received complaints about Benz talking on his cell phone when he should have been working. Id. Kendig would find Benz on the phone, in the lab, not making rounds, doing everything but what he should have been doing. Id. He spoke to Benz repeatedly about being on the phone and adjusting his coating profiles, which were worse than when Benz first started as Coaterman. Id. Kendig felt the downturn in Benz's performance was because Rotondo had been doing Benz's profiles for him. Id, ¶ 8. Benz made excuses for his profile problems, denying the issue was his problem and blaming others. Id. Benz would say he was taking notes while training, but Kendig never saw it and did not believe him. Id. Rotondo had complained to Kendig that Benz did not take notes and refused to give Benz his notes when he left. Id. Kendig's issues with Benz's performance echoed the concerns that Benz's peers had identified back in December 2007. Dunlap Deck, Ex. 7.
Kendig had previously discussed his concerns about Benz's performance with both Kestek and Bill Benz. Kendig Deck, ¶ 9; Kestek Deck, ¶ 7; Bill Benz Deck, ¶ 6-7. They told Kendig to keep coaching Benz. Kendig Deck, ¶ 9. Kendig and Bill Benz also talked about moving Benz to the Rereeler position for a couple of rotations because of the performance issues. Id; Bill Benz Deck, ¶ 7, 9. After the problems on August 11, 2008, word traveled that Bill Benz did not want Benz filling in as Back-tender any more. Konen Deck, ¶ 10 & Ex. 2.
E.August 18, 2008 Suspension
Benz was originally scheduled to work August 18 through 21, be off for five days, and return on August 27, 2008. Benz requested Monday, August 18, off work as vacation time for a trip he planned to take to Idaho. Benz Depo., p. 158. Kendig, Kestek, and Bill Benz told Benz that he did not have enough PTO to take the day off. Id, pp. 158-59. They called the payroll department and learned that Benz did have enough PTO to take off the Monday he requested. Id, p. 159. They then told Benz he could have the day off, but Benz told them that if it was that big of a hassle, he did not need to take the day off and said he would be at work on the Monday, August 18. Id.
On Sunday, August 17, while Benz was returning to Oregon, his motor vehicle broke down in Connell, Washington. Id; Kestek Depo., p. 31. Benz had to wait until Monday for the vehicle to be repaired and finally made it home Monday evening. Benz Depo., p. 159.
On Tuesday morning, August 19, Benz reported to work and worked all day. Id, p. 160. At the end of his shift, Kestek called Benz into his office and told Benz he was being suspended, effective the following day, for missing work on Monday. Id, p. 166 & Ex. 19. Benz was suspended without pay for Wednesday night and placed on a six month reprimand. Id. Benz did not challenge the suspension. Id, pp. 165-66. Bill Benz was out of town at the time and knew nothing about the suspension until after the fact. Bill Benz Deck, ¶ 5,12.
F. August 19, 2008 Paper Loss
On August 19, 2008, when Benz was working as a Coaterman on the day shift, there were nine breaks on the line which required the Rereeler to sandpaper the rolls where the ringer was causing coating lumps. Benz Depo., pp. 166-167. The problem with coating lumps resulted in a huge paper loss. Kendig Deck, ¶ 10 & Ex. 2. Between the two shifts, PM # 3 lost 19 tons of paper that day with over 16 tons lost on the day shift. Id. Coating lumps may have caused the damage, but they normally do not damage the rolls because they can be washed out and watered down. Benz Depo., p. 169.
Kendig was the first to hear from management about a production loss of that size, and he was not happy about it. Ken-dig Deck, ¶ 10 & Ex. 2. Since Benz was the Coaterman that day, coating lumps were his responsibility. Id; Benz Depo., pp. 166-67. Kendig talked to Benz about the coating lumps, but Benz denied responsibility, saying that he had not been properly trained. Kendig Deck, ¶ 10. Kendig knew this was not true as he had coached Benz repeatedly on this issue. Id.
G. August 21, 2008 — First Throat Surgery
During his vacation in Idaho the weekend of August 16-17, 2008, Benz ran out of breath and could not breath while swimming. Benz Depo., pp. 158-59, 174. After he came home from his shift on August 19, 2008, his wife noticed that he stopped breathing in his sleep. Id, p. 160. She made him a doctor's appointment for the following morning. Id. At the August 20, 2008 appointment, Benz's breathing was "wheezy," and Dr. Kelly Rydland discovered what he thought was a fatty tissue tumor in Benz's throat that was "blocking most of his airway." Id, pp. 173, 175 & Ex. 21, p. 1.
After leaving the doctor's office, Benz called work to advise he would be out for surgery on August 21, 2008. Id, pp. 162-63, 173. Kestek told Benz to contact La-key to arrange for FML. Id, p. 173. Benz did not turn in his FML request until after he returned to work. Id, pp. 189-90 & Ex. 25 (9/8/2008 FML request); Dunlap Deck, ¶ 23.
Benz had surgery on August 21, 2008. Benz Depo., p. 177. He recovered in less than a week and had no reason to believe he would experience a recurrence. Id, pp. 176-77. He returned to work without re striction six days post-surgery on August 27, 2008. Id, p. 178. Dr. Rydland did "not expect long term need of medication or [treatment] after surgery." Id, Ex. 21. When he returned to work, Benz told his coworkers that he had a benign fatty tissue tumor removed from his airway. Id, p. 179. WLPC had no other information about Benz's condition other than his medical certification which indicated he would not need medication or follow-up treatment. Id, pp. 171, 189 & Ex. 21; Dunlap Deck, ¶ 23-24.
H. Reassignment to Rereeler Position
For Kendig, the August 19, 2008 paper loss was "the last straw" in what Kendig viewed as a series of performance issues. Kendig Deck, ¶ 11. Kendig had already initiated discussions with Bill Benz about moving Benz back to the Rereeler position and, after the August 19 paper loss, was "pushing to get it done." Id. Bill Benz and Kendig agreed that Benz should be moved back to Rereeler for one or two rotations, but Bill Benz left it to Kendig to decide how long Benz should stay as a Rereeler. Id.
On August 27, 2008, Benz's first day back after his throat surgery, Bill Benz notified him that he was temporarily being moved to the Rereeler for quality issues. Benz Depo., pp. 158, 161, 193. Benz's schedule stayed the same with no change in his pay or benefits. Id, pp. 157, 201.
WLPC had previously assigned Benz to Rereeler after moving to Coaterman which Benz did not consider a demotion. Id, pp. 157-158 & Ex. 5, pp. 1-6; Bill Benz Deck, Ex. 1 (2/22, 2/23 and 3/22/08 entries). However, this time Benz complained to Dunlap about the move because he thought the reassignment to Rereeler was related to his surgery and use of FML. Benz Depo., pp. 158, 191 & Ex. 26. Dunlap was off work and unaware of the circumstances of Benz's move, but said he would investigate when he returned to the office. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 25 & Ex. 10.
Dunlap learned that the decision to move Benz to the Rereeler was based solely on his performance. Id, ¶ 26 & Ex. 11. Benz had six unexcused absences in the past 12 months, five of which were since the first of the year. Id. There were complaints about his coating profiles, his ability to trouble shoot coating issues, and his working relationships with his team. Id. The move was temporary to give Benz a chance to sharpen his skills. Id.
Dunlap and Lakey met with Benz on September 8, 2008. Id, ¶ 26. Although Benz acknowledged that Bill Benz had spoken to him about his performance, Benz felt he was doing a good job and was surprised to hear the crew felt otherwise. Id, ¶ 27. He blamed the problem on his lack of experience and Viera's failure to notify him of quality issues. Id, Ex. 11, pp. 3-4; Benz Depo., pp. 191-92 & Ex. 27.
After meeting with Benz, Dunlap continued his investigation. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 28. He confirmed with Kendig that Benz was moved back for performance reasons and was unreceptive to coaching. Id. Benz said he felt the criticism of his performance was undeserved — that he was being picked on by Bill Benz. Id.
Kestek reported to Dunlap that he and Bill Benz had jointly agreed to move Benz back to Rereeler prior to his suspension and left it up to Kendig to determine when. Id, ¶ 29, 31 & Exs. 12 & 13; Kestek Deck, ¶ 9; Bill Benz Deck, ¶ 7. Kendig said he was prepared to move Benz back to Coaterman after two weeks, but after talking to Benz, agreed to leave him on Rereeler until Benz decided whether or not he wanted to stay in the department. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 28-29 & Ex. 11, pp. 2-3 & Ex. 12. In all, Benz was on the Rereeler for about two and a half weeks before being moved back to Coaterman. Id, ¶ 31; Bill Benz Deck, ¶ 9 & Ex. 1; Benz Depo. Exs. 5 & 6
IV. December 2008 Second Surgery
Benz had no further issues with his throat for the next three months. Benz Depo., p. 211. By mid-November 2008, Benz thought the mass was coming back in his throat and again saw Dr. Rydlund on November 25, 2008. Id, pp. 204, 208. Dr. Rydlund was still uncertain what the growth was and advised Benz he would remove it again, but if it grew back, would send Benz to a specialist at Oregon Health Sciences University. Id, pp. 204-05.
Benz had a second surgery on December 1, 2008. Id, p. 205 & Ex. 28. WLPC has no record of Benz requesting FML for his second surgery, and no one in Benz's chain of command or Human Resources has any recollection of it. Dunlap Deck, ¶ 32; Kendig Deck, ¶ 18; Kestek Deck, ¶ 5; Bill Benz Deck, ¶ 11. After that surgery, Dr. Rydlund advised Benz to avoid vigorous activity for a week. Benz Depo., pp. 209-10 & Ex. 28. Benz returned to work on December 8, 2008, and experienced no further symptoms until late March 2009. Id, pp. 210-13.
V. 2009 Leave Dispute, Recurrence of Throat Lesion and Third Surgery
A. January 2009 Leave Dispute
On January 4, Benz reported that he was taking three days off for the death of his grandfather, starting January 5, 2009. Id, pp. 214-15; Dunlap Deck, ¶ 33 & Ex. 14. The person who passed away was actually Benz's step-grandfather. Benz Depo., p. 214. According to Benz, his grandmother's husband, or step-grandfather, "was the only grandfather he had known — since his birth 28 years ago this was his grandfather." Dunlap Deck, Ex. 16.
WLPC's bereavement leave policy permits up to three days of leave for the death of an immediate family member, including a "parent, stepparent, parent in-law, child, stepchild, [and] grandparent," but says nothing about leave for the death of a "step-grandparent." Id, Ex 1, p. 8. Benz and Bill Benz got into a dispute over whether Benz could use bereavement leave for the death of his step-grandfather, and Benz turned to Dunlap with the dispute. Id, ¶ 34 & Ex. 15. Eventually, Benz was granted time off without pay by Konen, who is the only person who can grant such time off and who does so only on rare occasions. Konen Deck, ¶ 11.
B. April 2009 Third Surgery
In late March 2009, Benz began to experience "weird talking again." Benz Depo., pp. 212-13. At an appointment for his son, an ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Suzanne Cleland-Zamudio asked Benz about his hoarse voice. Id, p. 212. When he told her he had already had two surgeries for the problem, she suggested he make an appointment with her. Id, pp. 212-13. On April 3, 2009, Dr. Zamudio examined Benz and determined that he needed a third surgery on his throat. Id. She told Benz that the growths he was experiencing were vocal chord polyps that were recurring, possibly due to his vocal chords hitting each other too hard or due to the presence of inhaled irritants that were retraumatizing the area of polyp growth. Id; Zamudio Depo., pp. 23-24, 50.
At the April 3, 2009 appointment, Benz scheduled surgery for April 30, so that his recovery would be on his days off. Benz Depo., pp. 219-21. Dr. Zamudio advised Benz not to eat or drink anything after midnight before the operation, how much time he would need to be off work, and about post-operative care, which included wearing a mask at work and resting his voice (i.e., speaking at a conversational tone, not raising his voice, not whispering). Zamudio Depo., pp. 38-39, 50-52. Benz told Dr. Zamudio he would ask about voice rest, but his job required that he yell over machinery, so he was more concerned about having adequate time off. Id, p. 39.
When Benz returned to work the following week, he advised Kestek that he would be having surgery on April 30, 2009. Benz Depo., p. 221. He told the crew that he was having surgery for same thing with a new surgeon who seemed to be more knowledgeable. Id, p. 222. On April 22, 2009, Dr. Zamudio faxed a FMLA health care certification to WLPC, stating that Benz was having surgery on April 30, 2009, and would be "incapacitated until post surgical clearance [was] given." Id, Ex. 30, p. 2.
VI. Events Resulting in Termination
A.April 29, 2009 "Walk off"
Benz was scheduled to work the night before his surgery from 5:00 p.m. on April 29 until 5:00 a.m. on April 30, 2009. Id, p. 228. Sometime on April 29, Benz called Kestek and requested that he be allowed to have the night off, explaining that, because of his surgery, he would not be able to eat or drink anything during the last six or seven hours of his shift. Id, p. 225. Benz considered seven hours at work without eating or drinking to be a safety hazard because he works in a hot environment and has to drink a lot of fluids to keep hydrated. Id. He told Kestek that he did "[not] feel it would be a great idea . to come in and work . roughly six or seven hours without food or water." Id, pp. 225-26. Kestek told Benz they were shorthanded and did not think Benz could take the entire shift off, but would ask Kendig (Team Leader for PM #3) if he could leave after half a shift. Id, pp. 226, 228. Benz agreed to that proposal. Id, p. 226.
After arriving at work, Kendig told Benz that he may be able to leave between 11 p.m. and midnight. Id, p. 228. At around 7:00 p.m., Benz got into an altercation with Bugni. Id, p. 231. Benz called Kendig and told him he was going home because he was "pissed," "flaring," "mad," and "angry," had another surgery in the morning, and there was "no way [he could] work with [Roland Bugni] the rest of the night . under these terms." Id. Kendig responded "Okay. I'll see you next week," which Benz interpreted to mean he could go home. Id, pp. 231-32. Benz walked upstairs, changed his clothes, and left. Id, p. 231.
B. Third Throat Surgery
The following morning, on April 30, 2009, Dr. Zamudio performed the third surgery on Benz's throat by excising the growth and injecting an anti-inflammatory steroid into the vocal chord to reduce the risk of recurrence. Zamudio Depo., p. 50.
C. May 5, 2009 Disciplinary Meeting and Suspension
After Benz left work on April 29, 2009, Brandon White ("White"), a helper, told Kendig that Benz had called Bugni a "dumb ass" which started the altercation between them. Dunlap Decl., Ex. 17; Kendig Decl., ¶ 17. Kendig reported the incident to Kestek, Bill Benz, and McGuigan (WLPC's Operations Manager) by email. Kendig Decl., ¶ 16-17 & Ex. 4; Dunlap Decl., ¶ 36 & Ex. 17.
A few days later, Dunlap asked Benz to attend a meeting to discuss the April 29 incident. Dunlap Decl., ¶ 37. On May 5, 2009, McGuigan, Kestek, Konen, and Dunlap convened a meeting with Benz. Id, ¶ 37 & Ex. 18. Benz denied calling Bugni a name; instead, he claimed that Bugni instigated the dispute by getting in his face, yelling and screaming at him. Id. WLPC management asked Benz to leave the room and called White at home. Id. White again relayed the story that Benz had called Bugni a "fing dumb ass," noting that Benz and Bugni had previously had disagreements, but never any so bad as the one on April 29.. Id, Ex. 18, p. 2.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Benz was placed on suspension pending further investigation, with approval to use PTO to cover the suspension. Id, Ex. 19. On May 8, 2009, Benz attended a follow-up meeting with Dunlap and Konen. Id, ¶ 38 & Ex. 20. Benz was given a Last Chance Agreement ("LCA") that required him to contact the Employee Assistance Program ("EAP") by the end of the day, undergo an assessment early the next week, follow through with all recommendations made by the EAP, and transfer to the Stock Prep Department with no change in pay or benefits. Id; Konen Decl., ¶ 14; Benz Depo., p. 246 & Ex. 33. In order to save his job, Benz did not challenge any of the statements in the LCA. Benz Depo., pp. 249-50. He had no concerns about his ability to do the job in Stock Prep, other than not having done it for a while. Id, p. 253. To lessen the financial burden on Benz, who did not have sufficient PTO to cover the full suspension, WLPC paid him two days pay and left him with 12 hours in his PTO bank. Id, p. 264; Dunlap Decl., ¶ 39 & Ex. 21.
D. May 2009 Return to Work
A patient undergoing vocal chord surgery typically would be fully healed in two to three weeks. Zamudio Depo., pp. 39-40. At his follow-up appointment on May 12, 2009, Benz's throat was still sore and his voice was still slightly hoarse. Id, p. 46.
When Benz returned to work, he met with Dunlap and Dave Robertson. Benz Depo., pp. 266-67. Although Benz does not recall what Dunlap said during that conversation {id, p. 267), Dunlap testified that he reviewed the medical visit note and asked Benz whether he could do the Repulper job and abide by his restrictions, to which Benz responded that "it would not be a problem." Dunlap Decl., ¶ 43.
E. Last Chance Agreement and Termination
The LCA required Benz to make contact with EAP before 5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2009. Oberlin Decl., Ex. 9, p. 2. Benz did so and the EAP counselor reported to Dunlap that Benz had presented himself well and seemed to want to complete the EAP procedure. Dunlap Depo., p. 192. Benz attended two more appointments with the EAP counselor on May 14 and 21, 2009. Oberlin Decl., Ex. 11. Benz rescheduled his next appointment to Wednesday, June 10, 2009, but forgot to write it on his calendar and consequently "spaced" going to it. Benz Depo., pp. 273-74. He did not think it would be a "big deal" if he rescheduled the missed appointment. Id, p. 274. However, that same day, Dunlap contacted the EAP counselor and was told that Benz had missed his appointment and could not be reached. Dunlap Decl., ¶ 46. Another WLPC employee told Benz that Dunlap was trying to get a hold of him, so Benz contacted him the next day. Benz Depo., p. 273. Benz offered to immediately reschedule the appointment for as soon as EAP could see him. Id, p. 274. Dunlap told Benz not to reschedule until WLPC decided what to do. Id.
The following Monday, June 15, 2009, Benz met with Dunlap and Tom McGuigen ("McGuigen"), the Operations Manager, to discuss the situation. Id, p. 275. Dunlap and McGuigen terminated Benz for missing the EAP meeting, explaining that it was like missing work and, therefore, violated the LCA. Id; Dunlap Depo., p. 208. Konen and Dunlap were the only two individuals who had input into the decision to terminate Benz, and Konen had ultimate authority to terminate Benz. Konen Depo., p. 94.
F. Post-Termination
Benz had another appointment with Dr. Zamudio on June 26, 2009. Zamudio Depo., p. 53; Benz Depo., p. 279. At that appointment, Dr. Zamudio prescribed a medication to make Benz's throat less irritated and hopefully prevent the lesion from coming back. Benz Depo., p. 281. Benz made another appointment with Dr. Zamudio "some time in the winter" of 2009-10, but had to reschedule. Id, p. 279. He has been unable to afford further treatment with Dr. Zamudio Id. As of the date of Benz's deposition on September 28, 2010, the residual symptoms were "hit and miss." Id, p. 281. His voice had not changed, but sometimes his throat "bugs [him and] sometimes it doesn't." Id.
FINDINGS
I. Statutes of Limitations
The First Claim, brought under ORS Chapter 659A, alleges that WLPC refused to accommodate and terminated Benz based on his difficulties with and need to be absent for work for treatment of his recurring vocal chord lesion. The two additional claims under the FMLA (Second Claim) and OFLA (Third Claim) similarly allege that WLPC took various adverse actions against him which interfered with his right to take medical leave protected under federal and state law. In that sense, the Second and Third Claims parallel the specifications of Benz's discrimination claim because they rely on allegations that he engaged in protected conduct by applying for and taking medical leave and suffered adverse employment actions as a consequence.
Benz's three claims span the time period after he first became aware of his throat condition in early to mid-2008 through his termination on June 15, 2009. Benz relates a hodge-podge of events that took place during that year and a half period, several of which he asserts constitute adverse employment actions causally tied to unlawful discrimination or interference with protected medical leave. Benz relies heavily on the temporal proximity between various events to support his claims. However, several of the alleged adverse employment actions are time-barred for purposes of his claim under the OFLA.
Oregon law imposes a one-year statute of limitations on Benz's discrimination claim. ORS 659A.875, 659A.885 (incorporating one-year limitation for claims brought under ORS 659A.100 to 659A.145 (disability discrimination) and ORS 659A.150 to 659A.186 (OFLA)). Only the FMLA claim provides a longer statute of limitations of two years. 29 U.S.C. § 2617(c).
WLPC terminated Benz on June 15, 2009. Benz filed this action in state court on March 25, 2010. While WLPC's termination of Benz took place less than a year prior to the filing of this action, some of the other alleged adverse actions fall out side of the one-year window. As a result, that earlier conduct may provide relevant background information, but will not independently support Benz's disability discrimination or OFLA claims.
II. FMLA and OFLA Claims (Second and Third Claims)
As just noted, Benz's FMLA and OFLA claims allege violations that to some extent parallel the types of violation alleged in his unlawful employment practices claim. However, because the FMLA and OFLA claims address a narrower range of allegedly improper conduct, they are addressed first.
At the outset, it is worth noting that Benz does not contend that WLPC denied him any protected medical leave. Instead, Benz's FMLA and OFLA claims assert that WLPC took a variety of adverse actions against him in retaliation for using medical leave, and that, as a result, WLPC is liable for FMLA and OFLA violations. As discussed below, Benz's FMLA and OFLA claims fail either because: (1) the alleged adverse action is outside of an applicable statute of limitations; (2) Benz has failed to show any prejudice flowing from the alleged adverse actions (the position reassignments); or (3) Benz has failed to show the necessary causal link between his use of protected leave and the remaining adverse actions he complains of, including the alleged denial of a half shift off on April 29, 2009, issuance of the LCA, reassignment in May 2009 to Stock Prep, and termination. Accordingly, WLPC should be granted summary judgment against the Second and Third Claims.
A. Legal Standards
The Second and Third Claims allege that WLPC retaliated and discriminated against Benz by taking adverse actions against him, including "refusing to allow [him] time off of work without retaliation," "creating a hostile work environment," "demoting" him, and "terminating" his employment. Complaint, ¶ 26, 34. The Ninth Circuit recognizes three types of claims under the FMLA: (1) interference claims, when an employer interferes with an employee's exercise of rights under the FMLA, 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(1); (2) retaliation claims, when an employer discriminates against an employee for instituting or participating in proceedings or inquiries under FMLA, 29 U.S.C. § 2615(b); and (3) discrimination claims, when an employer discriminates against an employee for opposing any practice prohibited by the FMLA, 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(2). Bachelder v. Am. W. Airlines, Inc., 259 F.3d 1112, 1124 (9th Cir.2001). Although styled as a "retaliation" claim (Complaint, ¶ 26), Benz's FMLA claim — as well as his OFLA claim — are more properly analyzed as claims for "interference" with his FMLA rights because they rely on allegations of chilling Benz's statutory right to take FMLA (and OFLA) leave. See Xin Liu v. Amway Corp., 347 F.3d 1125, 1135 (9th Cir.2003); Bachelder, 259 F.3d at 1124.
It is "unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under" the FMLA. 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a)(1). To establish an interference claim under the FMLA, Benz must show that: (1) he exercised his rights under the FMLA; (2) WLPC subsequently engaged in conduct that tended to chill the exercise of his FMLA rights; and (3) WLPC's conduct was motivated by the exercise of his FMLA rights. Bachelder, 259 F.3d at 1124-26. In addition, Benz must show that the interference caused him prejudice. Downey v. Strain, 510 F.3d 534, 540 (5th Cir.2007) ("the FMLA's remedial scheme . requires an employee to prove prejudice as a result of an employer's noncompliance"), citing Ragsdale v. Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 535 U.S. 81, 89, 122 S.Ct. 1155, 152 L.Ed.2d 167 (2002); see also Pacosa v. Kaiser Found. Health Plan of the Nw., 2011 WL 208205, at *10 (D.Or. January 21, 2011) (same). Benz may make a showing of prejudice by establishing that the FMLA violation "rendered him unable to exercise [his FMLA rights] in a meaningful way, thereby causing injury." Conoshenti v. Public Serv. Elec. & Gas Co., 364 F.3d 135, 143 (3rd Cir.2004).
OFLA is to "be construed to the extent possible in a manner that is consistent with any similar provisions of' the FMLA. O.R.S. 659A.186(2). Consistent with this legislative directive, Oregon courts look to federal law when interpreting the OFLA. See Yeager v. Providence Health Sys. Or., 195 Or.App. 134, 140-41, 96 P.3d 862, 866 (2004); Centennial Sch. Dist. No. 28J v. Or. Bureau of Labor & Indus., 169 Or.App. 489, 500-01, 10 P.3d 945, 951 (2000).
B. Position Reassignments
In August 2008, WLPC temporarily reassigned Benz to work as a Rereeler. Benz retained his bid as a Coaterman and stayed at the same Tech level despite the reassignment. He worked the same shift and had no change in his pay or benefits. In May 2009, WLPC reassigned Benz to work in Stock Prep. Again, he suffered no decrease in pay, loss of benefits, changed status, or lost promotional opportunities as a result of that reassignment. WLPC contends that it is entitled to summary judgment that Benz may not premise an FMLA or OFLA claim on the August 2008 and May 2009 reassignments. Benz concedes that his reassignment from Coaterman to Rereeler in August 2008 cannot be basis for an OFLA action due to the one-year statute of limitations applicable to that claim. WLPC contends that, in addition to that time bar, Benz is unable to show any prejudice flowing from the reassignments sufficient to sustain an FMLA or OFLA claim. WLPC is correct.
In order to prevail on an FMLA claim, "an employee must prove, as a threshold matter, that the employer violated § 2615 by interfering with, restraining, or denying his or her exercise of FMLA rights. Even then, [the damages provision of FMLA] § 2617, provides no relief unless the employee has been prejudiced by the violation." Ragsdale, 535 U.S. at 89, 122 S.Ct. 1155. Furthermore, the "FMLA provides only actual economic damages, and no damages for emotional distress." Davis v. Pac. Saw and Knife Co., 2009 WL 936471, at *14 (D.Or. April 6, 2009). Benz seeks $55,554.00 in economic damages on his FMLA claim (Complaint, ¶ 28) and the same amount in "lost wages, fringe benefits and future lost wages and fringe benefits" on his OFLA claim (id, ¶ 36). At oral argument, Benz's attorney clarified that this damage figure is based on Benz's termination and includes only the approximate amount of his lost wages and benefits through the filing date of this case.
Benz contends that neither the Rereeler position nor the Repulper position had the same privileges, prerequisites, or status as the Coaterman position. He also contends that the move to the Rereeler position was not as "desirable" as the Coaterman position. However, other than those conclusory assertions, Benz has wholly failed to explain how he was prejudiced' — and in particular how he was economically prejudiced — by the August 2008 and May 2009 reassignments. His subjective beliefs that he was prejudiced or that the positions to which he was reassigned are somehow less "desirable" than his job as a Coaterman are an insufficient basis on which to premise either an FMLA or an OFLA claim. Accordingly, the reassignments do not, in and of themselves, constitute a basis for either claim.
C. Events Leading to Termination
In addition to his two reassignments in August 2008 (Rereeler) and May 2009 (Stock Prep), Benz cites two other employment actions as support for his contention that his taking of medical leave constituted a negative factor in WLPC's decision to terminate him. Those are the alleged denial of half a shift off on April 29, 2009, and the issuance of the LCA on May 8, 2009. However, the record simply does not support the conclusion that either of those events were related to Benz's use of medical leave.
It is undisputed that Benz was never denied any medical leave, and Benz cites no evidence that WLPC considered his use of medical leave in any of its employment decisions. Nevertheless, he contends that WLPC denied him half a shift off the night before his third surgery. WLPC points out that despite the eleventh-hour nature of Benz's request, Kestek and Benz jointly agreed that Benz's supervisor (Kendig) could try and get Benz off work early that night. WLPC also offers ample documentary and testimonial evidence that the LCA resulted from its belief that Benz had ongoing performance issues and had walked off the job. In addition, WLPC has submitted undisputed evidence that the purpose of the reassignment to Stock Prep was to remove Benz from what had become a tense working environment on PM # 3 and give him time to reestablish himself as part of the paper machine crew. Finally, WLPC submits that it fired Benz for failing to comply with the terms of the LCA which required him to "follow to successful completion all [the] recommendations" of the EAP. Oberlin Deck, Ex. 9.
Benz testified that he thought he had been given permission to leave his shift when Kendig said "Okay, I'll see you next week" in response to Benz's statements that he was angry and could not work with Bugni after their altercation. However, this apparent misunderstanding is not sufficient to save Benz's claims. Kendig's statement is at best ambiguous, and Benz testified that he never asked Kendig for permission to go home. Within a few hours after Benz left work, Kendig wrote an email to McGuigan, Bill Benz, and Kestek advising that Benz had called him "in a very pissed off manner [and said] that he was going home." Dunlap Deck, Ex. 17. Kestek considered Benz to have walked off the job. Kestek Depo., p. 46.
At the May 5, 2009 meeting, Benz told WLPC management that he "thought he had the OK from [Kendig]" to leave work early. Dunlap Deck, Ex. 18, p. 1. Ultimately, however, they did not believe Benz. The LCA clearly identifies Benz's action as walking off the job without authorization, and Benz never challenged any of the statements in the LCA prior to his termination. Oberlin Deck, Ex. 9; Benz Depo., pp. 249-50. In other words, all the evidence in the record indicates that every WLPC supervisor and manager involved in the decision to issue the LCA and reassign Benz to Stock Prep believed that he had walked off the job. Issuance of the LCA was a legitimate response to the concerns raised by Benz's prior performance record and apparent job walkoff which provides no traction to Benz's argument that it was related to his use of medical leave.
Similarly, Benz's termination is connected to his surgery by nothing more than circumstantial timing. It is undisputed that Benz violated the terms of the LCA by failing to show up for an EAP appointment. Although Benz did not think it was a "big deal" to have missed an EAP appointment and thought he would be allowed to reschedule it, WLPC viewed his missing that appointment as tantamount to missing work. In short, the record overwhelmingly supports WLPC's contention that its employment actions were taken to address legitimate concerns and not to discourage Benz from taking medical leave.
Although he has provided no direct evidence that WLPC interfered with his use of medical leave, Benz cites several other events as evidence of WLPC's intent to interfere with his taking of medical leave or evidence discriminatory intent for purposes of his discrimination claim, namely: (1) a comment by Bill Benz some time prior to Benz's first surgery in August 2008 that he "had a cure" for Benz's throat condition; (2) the January 2009 dispute over whether WLPC's bereavement leave policy applied to the death of a step-grandparent; and (3) the requirement that he provide a medical release before returning to work in May 2009. However, the single comment by Bill Benz is neither connected by content to Benz's use of medical leave nor sufficiently close in time to Benz's termination to provide the necessary link. The remaining two events simply evidence actions by WLPC to either interpret or enforce the provisions of its leave policies. Whatever the relative merits of Benz's contention that he should have been allowed PTO for his step-grandfather's death, there simply is no evidence that the denial of that leave was in any way connected to his throat condition or the exercise of his right to take medical leave. That dispute arose over four months after Benz's first throat surgery and a month after he returned to work from his second throat surgery. Benz has provided no evidence that Bill Benz's act of challenging his use of bereavement leave was in any way related to his medical condition or taking of medical leave. Finally, Benz has cited nothing to support the conclusion that WLPC's requirement that he provide a medical release before returning to work after his third surgery interfered with his use of medical leave. WLPC's policies required work releases following a return to work after FML. Dunlap Decl., ¶ 10; Ex. 1, p. 11; Ex. 2, pp. 11-12; Ex 3, p. 1. Enforcement of that policy reflects nothing more than an employer ensuring that an employee is able to return to work and assisting in arranging for any necessary work modifications.
In sum, Benz has provided insufficient support for his leave act claims because the events he cites are either too remote in time to support his claims, do not establish any prejudice to him, or because the record does not support the conclusion that the adverse actions taken against him were in any way causally related to his use of medical leave. Accordingly, WLPC should be granted summary judgment against the Second and Third Claims.
III. Disability Discrimination Under ORS Chapter 659A (First Claim)
Benz's remaining claim is for disability discrimination in violation of O.R.S. Chapter 659A. Benz alleges that WLPC failed to accommodate his recurring vocal chord lesion by providing him with a work environment "which did not require him to speak frequently and/or loudly." Complaint, ¶ 13. Benz also alleges that this medical condition rendered him a "person with a disability" for purposes of O.R.S. 659A.100(l)(c) (2007) and that his disability was a motivating factor in WLPC's decision to terminate him. WLPC moves for summary judgment against this claim because: (1) Benz did not suffer from a "disability" for purposes of O.R.S. Chapter 659A; (2) it could not have discriminated against him because it was unaware of his alleged disability and need for accommodation; and (3) there is no causal link between his medical condition and any of the disciplinary actions taken by WLPC.
A. Legal Standard
Although Benz brings no claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), Oregon's disability discrimination statute, O.R.S. 659A.112(2), is to be "construed to the extent possible in a manner that is consistent with any similar provision of' the ADA. O.R.S. 659A.139 (2007). A prima facie case of disability discrimination requires proof that the plaintiff: (1) is a qualified individual with a disability; (2) suffered an adverse employment action; and (3) that a causal connection exists between the adverse employment action and the disability. Austin v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2008 WL 4936480, at *11 (D.Or. Nov. 14, 2008). WLPC contends that Benz cannot meet any of the elements necessary to establish this claim.
B. No "Disability"
WLPC first argues that Benz's throat condition does not constitute a disability for purposes of O.R.S. Chapter 659A. Benz contends that his throat lesion was an impairment which episodically substantially interfered with his ability to communicate, speak, sleep and breathe normally. A "disability" is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and "communication" is a major life activity. O.R.S. 659A.100(l)(a) & (c) (2007). Prior to the 2009 amendments, O.R.S. 659A.100(d) (2007) provided that "substantially limits" means:
(A) The impairment renders the individual unable to perform a major life activity that the average person in the general population can perform; or
(B) The impairment significantly restricts the condition, manner or duration under which an individual can perform a particular major life activity as compared to the condition, manner or duration under which the average person in the general population can perform the same major life activity.
At all relevant times, the regulations interpreting the ADA advised that certain factors "should be considered in determining whether an individual is substantially limited in a major life activity," including: "(i) The nature and severity of the impairment; (ii) The duration or expected duration of the impairment; and (ni) The permanent or long term impact, or the expected permanent or long term impact of or resulting from the impairment." 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(2). Based on those interpretive factors, federal courts considering ADA claims have found episodic or recurring impairments to not constitute disabilities for purposes of the ADA unless they recur with sufficient regularity. For instance, in Fraser v. Goodale, 342 F.3d 1032, 1044 (9th Cir.2003), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 937, 124 S.Ct. 1663, 158 L.Ed.2d 358 (2004), the Ninth Circuit found that the plaintiff failed to create an issue of fact as to whether she was substantially limited in the major life activity of thinking where the evidence showed that she had suffered insulin reactions sufficiently severe to limit her thinking only three times in a five month period. See also, Sanders v. Arneson Prods., Inc., 91 F.3d 1351, 1353-54 (9th Cir.1996) (noting that "[s]everal courts have held that a temporary injury with minimal residual effects cannot be a basis for a sustainable claim under the ADA" and finding that a psychological impairment lasting just under four months did not qualify as a "disability" for purposes of the ADA) (citations omitted); Burns v. Snow, 130 Fed.Appx. 973, 982 (10th Cir.2005) (finding that "lupus flare-ups" resulting in "difficulty walking and standing on three or four occasions [over the course of] eleven months of employment" are insufficient to establish a disability).
In contrast, two years after its decision in Fraser, the Ninth Circuit found that a plaintiff had created an issue of fact as to a disability where he asserted that his mental disorder:
greatly affected my short-term memory and ability to concentrate both before and after I was hospitalized. I could not stay focused on something for more than brief periods. I did not have much of a short-term memory at all. I had to be repeatedly reminded of appointments, or tasks I had to do.... If I looked at written material for too long things just got jumbled in my mind and I would have to stop. I could not sit and focus on an entire television show. In the fall of 2001 I quit school because of my inability to focus or concentrate adequately.
Head v. Glacier Nw., Inc., 413 F.3d 1053, 1061 (9th Cir.2005) (ellipsis in original).
Unlike Fraser, Head involved a plaintiff who missed nearly two months of work due to his disability. He suffered from a "much more persistent problem with his ability to think than that found insufficient in Fraser," and his "ability to think was almost constantly impaired at some level." Id.
The record in this case falls much closer to the scenario presented in Fraser than in Head. Benz contends that he suffered from difficulties speaking and communicating for as many as six months in the beginning of 2008. His throat lesion flared sufficiently in August and November 2008, and again in late March 2009, to require three surgeries. For the weeks preceding those surgeries, Benz had a "changed" voice, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty catching his breath, all of which interfered with his ability to communicate with coworkers and management at WLPC. However, once Benz had surgery, he recovered within a week or two, with no further symptoms until another flare up about three months out. In sum, Benz had three flare-ups of his vocal chord lesion between mid-2008 and mid-2009. Initially those flare-ups caused voice changes and hoarseness, but did not prevent Benz from working. Post-surgery recovery took two to three weeks and imposed no need for follow up treatment other than for Benz to "focus on voice rest" and avoid exposure to "secondary irritants" (either inhaled or acid reflux) which might cause the lesion to recur. Zamudio Depo., pp. 24, 40 & Ex. 13 (released to work May 18, 2009).
Benz contends that his condition qualifies as a disability under an Oregon statute which provides that an "impairment that is episodic or in remission is considered to substantially limit a major life activity of the individual if the impairment would substantially limit a major life activity of the individual when the impairment is active." O.R.S. 659A.104(3) (2009). However, that statute was not enacted until 2009 and did not become effective until January 2010, some six months after Benz's termination. At the time of Benz's termination, it is clear that interpreting O.R.S. 659A.112 consistently with the ADA results in a finding that Benz's vocal cord lesions did not occur with sufficient regularity to render them disabling for purposes of Oregon's disability discrimination statutes.
Even were this court to conclude that the number or duration of Benz's flare-ups of his throat lesions sufficient, case law suggests that his longer lasting restrictions in speaking and communicating also do not qualify him as disabled. Benz testified that his voice became hoarse and difficult to understand as a result of his throat lesions. However, a substantial limitation in speaking or communicating requires more than being limited in "talking constantly, for a long time, and under stress." Becerril v. Pima County Assessor's Office, 587 F.3d 1162, 1164 (9th Cir.2009) (citation omitted). Thus, while Benz's symptoms of hoarseness and a "weird" voice lasted a longer period of time than the few incidents of breathing and sleeping difficulties he recounted, they are not severe enough to be considered substantially limiting for purposes of a disability discrimination claim.
C. Remaining Arguments
The conclusion that Benz's throat lesions do not qualify as a "disability" for purposes of the relevant version of O.R.S. Chapter 659A is sufficient by itself to grant summary judgment in favor of WLPC. However, this court briefly touches WLPC's remaining arguments, namely that there is no causal connection between Benz's alleged disability and any adverse employment actions and that, in any event, Benz failed to request any accommodation, thus triggering no interactive process. These arguments provide further support for granting summary judgment to WLPC.
1. Lack of a Causal Connection
First, WLPC argues that Benz has failed to establish a causal link between his alleged disability and any adverse employment actions. Benz has offered no direct evidence of discriminatory intent. Instead, Benz relies entirely on the timing between his third surgery and four related events (alleged denial of half a shift off before surgery, issuance of the LCA, reassignment to Stock Prep, and termination) to support his claims. However, just as the circumstances surrounding these events do not support the conclusion that they interfered with Benz's use of medical leave, they also fail to support the conclusion that they were motivated by unlawful discrimination against Benz due to his medical condition.
In a variety of contexts, the Ninth Circuit has declared that "proximity in time may support an inference of retaliation sufficient to survive summary judgment." Anthoine v. N. Central Counties Consortium, 605 F.3d 740, 751 (9th Cir.2010) (citing cases in First Amendment retaliation and Title VII context); see also Hodgens v. Gen. Dynamics Corp., 144 F.3d 151, 168 (1st Cir.1998) (noting in FMLA context that "close temporal proximity between two events may give rise to an inference of causal connection," and citing cases in FMLA and Title VII context). However, the surrounding circumstances may sufficiently undermine any inference of discriminatory intent to render summary judgment appropriate. In particular, where the employer offers legitimate reasons for its actions and "evidence to refute the defendant's legitimate explanation is totally lacking, summary judgment is appropriate even though plaintiff may have established a minimum prima facie case." Wallis v. J.R. Simplot Co., 26 F.3d 885, 890-91 (9th Cir.1994); see also Otsyula v. Oregon Dept. of State Lands, 2008 WL 5246092 (D.Or. Dec. 16, 2008) (citing Wallis and granting summary judgment in race and national origin discrimination case where plaintiff failed to counter evidence of a "well documented progressive disciplinary history"). This is such a case.
As adverse actions to support his disability discrimination claim, Benz points to the denial of half a shift off the night before his third surgery on April 29, 2009, the issuance of the LCA and related reassignment to Stock Prep, and his June 2009 termination. Benz has offered no direct evidence that any of these adverse employment actions were causally linked to discriminatory intent related to his throat condition. The only circumstantial evidence he offers is the temporal proximity between his third surgery in late April 2009 and these events. However, just as these events evidence no intent to interfere with Benz's use of medical leave, they evidence no discriminatory intent related to Benz's medical condition.
As discussed above, after Benz called shortly before the start of his April 29, 2009 shift and related his concerns about not being able to eat or drink for the hours before his surgery, Kestig and Benz agreed that he would go to his assigned shift and see if Kendig could release him after half a shift. However, before reaching that midway point, Benz left work after getting into an altercation with Bugni. The record reveals that Benz may have misunderstood Kendig's ambiguous statement that he would "see [him] next week." However, all subsequent evidence indicates that WLPC's supervisors and managers interpreted Benz's conduct as a job walkoff and either did not believe Benz's explanation or viewed Benz as responsible for any misunderstanding, prompting them to issue the LCA. The language of the LCA reflected this decision and was not challenged by Benz. The related reassignment to Stock Prep did not prejudice Benz in terms of pay or benefits, and all evidence indicates that it was designed to calm the tensions that had developed on the PM # 3 shift crew. His June 2009 termination followed what Benz acknowledges was a violation of the terms of the LCA, although he quibbles with the gravity of his offence.
Nothing in the record — other than the timing of the adverse actions in relation to Benz's third surgery — supports any inference that they were driven by discriminatory animus. Instead, the remainder of the record overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that the timing of these events was purely coincidental. In sum, Benz has wholly failed to provide evidence to establish any inference that WLPC's disciplinary actions were premised upon discriminatory intent related to Benz's throat conditions or the associated impairments. Accordingly, for this additional reason, WLPC should be granted summary judgment against the First Claim.
2. Failure to Engage in Interactive Process and/or Accommodate
Benz alleges that WLPC failed to provide "the reasonable accommodation of being permitted to work in an environment which did not require him to speak frequently and/or loudly." Complaint, ¶ 13. WLPC argues that, to the extent the First Claim is premised on a failure to accommodate, it fails for lack of proof that Benz made any request for an accommodation. Once again, WLPC is correct.
An employer may be held liable where it fails or refuses to engage in an "interactive process" with a disabled employee to identify reasonable accommodations which would allow the employee to perform essential job duties. Humphrey v. Mem'l Hosps. Ass'n, 239 F.3d 1128, 1137-38 (9th Cir.2001) (ADA); OAR 839-006-0206(6). The interactive process is triggered by an employee's request for an accommodation: "the interactive process . is triggered by an employee or an employee's representative giving notice of the employee's disability and the desire for accommodation." Barnett v. U.S. Air, Inc., 228 F.3d 1105, 1114 (9th Cir.2000) (interpreting ADA), vacated in part on other grounds by U.S. Airways, Inc. v. Barnett, 535 U.S. 391, 122 S.Ct. 1516, 152 L.Ed.2d 589 (2002). As does federal law, Oregon law places the burden of initially informing the employer of the need of an accommodation on the employee:
Once a qualified employee . with a disability has requested reasonable accommodation or otherwise disclosed to the employer a disability that may require reasonable accommodation, the employer has a duty to initiate a meaningful interactive process with the employee . to determine whether reasonable accommodation would allow the employee . to perform the essential functions of a position held or sought.
OAR 839-006-0206(4).
"Employers cannot assume employees are disabled and need accommodations." Taylor v. Phoenixville Sch. Dist., 184 F.3d 296, 313 (3rd Cir.1999). The standard for putting an employer on notice is fairly low, requiring the employee to only "inform the employer of a need for an adjustment due to a medical condition using plain English and need not mention the ADA or use the phrase reasonable accommodation." Barnett, 228 F.3d at 1112. However, the employer's duty is not triggered unless the employee or his representative "provides the employer with enough information that, under the circumstances, the employer can be fairly said to know of both the disability and desire for an accommodation." Taylor, 184 F.3d at 313; see also Summers v. A. Teichert & Son, 127 F.3d 1150, 1153 (9th Cir.1997) (no triable issue of fact where employee did not request accommodation); Wells v. Mut. of Enumclaw, 2005 WL 2035066, at *6 (D.Idaho Aug. 22, 2005) (plaintiffs "limited statement regarding his illness does not rise to the level of establishing a need for accommodation.") It is undisputed that Benz never requested any accommodation for his vocal chord lesion. As a result, WLPC was never under any obligation to engage in an interactive process with Benz in an effort to identify a workable accommodation.
Following his first two surgeries, neither Benz nor Dr. Rydland knew what was causing the recurring growth in Benz's throat. The health care certification for the August 2008 surgery indicated that Benz might need only a few days to one or two weeks off or light duty, and that Dr. Rydland did not expect any long term need for medication or treatment after surgery. Oberlin Deck, Ex. 6. Benz knew of no restrictions on his ability to work from Dr. Rydland. Benz Depo., p. 180.
The doctor's note from the second surgery similarly does not indicate any work related restrictions. Instead, it simply says that Benz "is to avoid vigorous activity" for one week. Id, Ex. 28. Again, Benz was not advised to avoid any other activities and returned to work a week post-surgery. Id, p. 210. There is simply no indication that WLPC received any information from Benz or Dr. Rydlund that Benz's recurring throat condition imposed a need for an accommodation following his return to work.
Two weeks after Benz's third surgery, Dr. Zamudio signed a medical visit report indicating that Benz could return to work on May 18, 2009, with an instruction to "focus on voice rest" until his next appointment. Dunlap Deck, Ex. 25. Benz contends that he did not know he had any medical restrictions when he went back to work on May 18, 2009, because he never saw the May 15, 2009 medical visit report. Benz Depo., pp. 72-74, 263, 265. Nevertheless, Benz seems to contend that the May 15, 2009 report triggered WLPC's obligation to follow up by initiating a good faith interactive process, which it failed to do. However, Benz did not request — and the report from Dr. Zamudio does not specify the need for — any particular work accommodation. Instead, the report simply advises that Benz should "focus on voice rest" to avoid a recurrence. WLPC was under no obligation to engage in an interactive process with Benz unless and until he took the preliminary step of asking for an accommodation. He did not do so.
When Benz arrived at work, he met with Dunlap, but does not recall what Dunlap said. Id, p. 267. However, Dunlap recalls asking Benz whether he could do the Repulper job and abide by his restrictions in the May 15, 2009 report, to which Benz responded that "it would not be a problem." Dunlap Deck, ¶ 43. Whatever can be made of that conversation, the record is devoid of evidence that Benz requested any accommodation during the weeks that followed. To the contrary, Benz continued working for WLPC into early June 2009. Whether Dunlap actually discussed the "focus on voice rest" restriction with Benz (which he does not recall) and whether Benz saw the May 15, 2009 report (which he denies), the ball was in Benz's court. He did not ask for an accommodation and cannot now fault WLPC for failing to engage in an interactive process which his silence did not trigger.
The May 15, 2009 medical visit report is insufficient as a matter of law to constitute a request for an accommodation which triggered an obligation by WLPC to initiate an interactive process. Accordingly, for this additional reason, WLPC should be granted summary judgment against the First Claim insofar as it is premised upon an alleged failure to reasonably accommodate.
RECOMMENDATION
For the reasons stated above, defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (docket # 17) should be GRANTED, and Judgment should be entered in favor of defendant.
SCHEDULING ORDER
These Findings and Recommendations will be referred to a district judge. Objections, if any, are due June 20, 2011. If no objections are filed, then the Findings and Recommendations will go under advisement on that date.
If objections are filed, then a response is due within 14 days after being served with a copy of the objections. When the response is due or filed, whichever date is earlier, the Findings and Recommendations will go under advisement.
. The parties have submitted documents with various attachments. Citations to affidavits, declarations, and depositions are identified by the last name of the affiant, declarant, or deponent, and citations are to the paragraph(s) of the affidavit or declaration or to the page(s) of the deposition transcript.
. Benz's peers were critical of his perform-anee, commenting as follows on the following skills areas: (1) Quality Skills: "Does testing but needs to be better about follow-up. Has a habit of asking 'How much paper have we lost' before working on issues" (Dunlap Deck, Ex. 7, p. 1); (2) Safety Skills: "Does a little moaning and groaning when asked to do monthly safety inspections. There's little or no follow up after the inspection. Rarely does much cleaning unless asked, but getting better about cleaning around coaters." (id, p. 2); (3) Team Skills: "He has gotten better about time management but still has room to grow. There have been some issues with his behavior. Reluctant to listen to authority. Takes criticism to heart and easily offended when corrected." (id, p. 3); (4) Team Skills: "Needs to communicate issues with people on this crew a little better. Picks and chooses what info to relay occasionally. He asks a lot of questions, but asks the same questions over and over. Needs to be shown certain things over and over." {id, p. 4); and (5) Team Skills: "Does not lead by example. Needs to be better at working as a team instead of being the " 'leader.' " " {id, p. 5). Benz either did not understand or did not agree with any of his co-workers' comments. Benz Depo., pp. 128-30.
. Benz later testified that his voice was hoarse for "three to five months" before his August 20, 2008 doctor's appointment, then clarified that it was "[p]robably close to three months." Benz Depo., pp. 173-74.
. WLPC denies that the move had anything to do with Benz's surgery or use of FML. Kendig Deck. ¶ 12. 18: Bill Benz Deck. ¶ 9-11: Kestek Deck, ¶ 8-9; Dunlap Deck, ¶ 6, 24, 26-28, 31; Ex. 10.
. WLPC asserts that, when asking for time off, Benz said that his surgery had been moved up two hours (Oberlin Deck, Ex. 9, p. 1), an assertion that Benz denies (Benz Depo., pp. 247-48).
. Kendig denies telling Benz he could go home, and instead claims he told Benz to wait in the cook shack for him. Kendig Deck, V 16. When Kendig went to the cool shack, Benz was gone. Id.
. At oral argument, Benz's attorney clarified that references to these three events are not cited only as evidence of intent and not as separate adverse actions on which Benz bases any claim.
. O.R.S. Chapter 659A underwent substantial revision in 2009, with the amendments effective January 1, 2010, nearly six months after Benz's termination by WLPC. All citations to sections of O.R.S. Chapter 659A are to the 2007 version.
. Although Benz was released to work a week after his August and December 2008 surgeries, at that point, the actual cause of the lesion was undiagnosed and both Benz and his doctor thought the growth was a fatty tissue tumor. Given Dr. Zamudio's testimony, this court assumes in Benz's favor that full recovery from the first two surgeries was closer to two or three weeks.
. As discussed above, the reassignment back to the position of Rereeler in August 2008 is time-barred because it took place more than one year prior to the filing of this action.
. As discussed above, the reassignments caused no economic prejudice to Benz. The record also indicates that the reassignments did not affect Benz's ability to advance within WLPC. Accordingly, it is debatable that they qualify as "adverse" actions sufficient to support Benz's claim for violation of O.R.S. Chapter 659A. See Steele v. Mayoral, 231 Or.App. 603, 616-17, 220 P.3d 761, 770 (2009) (discussing requirement that employment actions must be "materially adverse" in order to support discrimination claim).
.Although not specifically identified in his pleadings as an accommodation he was denied, Benz contended that WLPC also failed to allow him half a shift off the night before his third surgery. Complaint, ¶ 6 (describing incidents of April 29, 2009). However, as previously discussed, Kestig authorized Ken-dig to determine whether he could let Benz off early, but Benz left before working half a shift after getting into an altercation with Bugni.
. In limited circumstances, the interactive process may be triggered by the employer's recognition of the need for an accommodation. Brown v. Lucky Stores, Inc., 246 F.3d 1182, 1188 (9th Cir.2001) (analyzing ADA claim). However, as in Brown, the record in this case "does not show that [Benz] was unable to request a reasonable accommodation, or that [WLPC] knew or had reason to know that [Benz] had a disability preventing h[im] from making such a request." Id. Accordingly, the exception to the general rule is inapplicable here, and the onus was on Benz to request a reasonable accommodation.
. Dr. Zamudio testified that she repeatedly advised Benz that he needed "voice rest," meaning no whispering and no talking louder than a conversational tone. Zamudio Depo., pp. 38-40, 47-51, & Ex. 12, p. 3 (5/12/2009 follow up appointment, advised to "focus on voice rest"). They discussed Benz returning to work and they discussed him using a microphone to communicate with the people he supervised. Id, pp. 47-48. Benz assured her he would find out what he could do at work to avoid exposures to irritants and maintain a quiet voice. Id, pp. 39-40, 47-48.