Opinion ID: 162081
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gary Bristol

Text: 2 Gary Bristol worked as a jailer for the Sheriff of Clear Creek County, Don Krueger, from February 1990 to March 1996. On March 23, 1996, Bristol suffered chest pain after he and other officers had to restrain forcibly a combative prisoner. Bristol was taken by ambulance from Georgetown, Colorado — where he was working — to St. Anthony's Hospital in Denver. Hospital employees treated and tested Bristol's heart condition 1 for two to three hours, but he was not hospitalized. 3 Bristol's doctors decided to treat his worsened coronary condition with medicine, rather than surgery. Dr. Jerry Sam Miklin, Bristol's cardiologist, wrote to the Sheriff's Office stating that Bristol's weakened heart required him to receive light-duty assignments. The Sheriff complied by assigning Bristol to work first in the evidence vault for a week, and then on light-duty in the jail, doing paperwork, monitoring cameras, and opening cell doors. After Bristol took a stress-test in early April 1996, Dr. Miklin again wrote the Sheriff's office, explaining that Bristol's heart condition was indefinite and that he should not have contact with inmates or any other job that might lead to severe or strenuous activity. By indefinite, Dr. Miklin meant permanent, cardiac-related problems. Specifically, Dr. Miklin prohibited Bristol from lifting more than fifty pounds on a continuous basis, being exposed to cold weather (except infrequently), and being in situations that would cause emotional or physical stress. 4 Bristol continued doing light-duty work in the jail from mid-April 1996 to May 20, 1996. On May 20, 1996, however, Bristol was discharged. The termination notice stated: Upon review of your doctor's orders it is apparent that you can no longer perform the essential functions of a Confinement Officer.... I can not accommodate this restriction on an indefinite schedule.... You have the right to appeal this decision as outlined in the Clear Creek County Personnel Policy Manual adopted on April 5, 1994. 5 Bristol appealed his termination to the County Personnel Review Board (PRB). The hearing took place on July 11, 1996, and the PRB upheld Bristol's dismissal. The PRB encouraged Bristol to apply for available County positions and stated that he might be given a hiring preference if he was qualified for a job opening. 6 There were at least two job openings within the County at the time of the PRB hearing in mid-July 1996: equipment operator in the road and bridge department, and appraiser-trainee. Bristol interviewed for both jobs. Shortly thereafter, however, Dr. Miklin told Bristol that he could not work as an equipment operator because that job could involve shoveling, lifting heavy objects, or clearing obstructions off the blades of the equipment. 7 The County Assessor, Diane Settle, was responsible for hiring the appraiser-trainee. The appraiser-trainee was one of five positions in the Assessor's office. The job description for appraiser-trainee states that the person holding that position is responsible for: (i) assessing the value of County property by physically inspecting it and by reviewing market data on similar properties; (ii) researching and keeping current the Assessor's computer database; and (iii) responding to questions and complaints in person, by phone, and through correspondence. The job description also lists Required Experience, which is described as: [A] level of knowledge and ability to handle all routine tasks with considerable assistance in the full range of job duties. Such a level is generally acquired through up to two (2) years experience in a related field. The required education is described as a high school diploma or equivalent, and the required skills are described as (i) proficient in communications and in public relations and (ii) moderate skill in typing, the use of PCs, ten-key calculators, and copiers. 8 Following standard procedure within the County, Buckley reviewed Bristol's resume and forwarded it and the other applications to Settle. She interviewed nine applicants for the job, including Bristol. Her interview with Bristol lasted ten to fifteen minutes, about as long as every other interview. Settle believed Bristol was not interested in the job because his wife had scheduled the interview and because he gave short, minimal answers to her interview questions. He seemed like he was just going through the motions. Settle testified that she hired a man with three years of experience in an assessor's office. According to Buckley, Bristol was not given preference when he applied for this job. 9 After he interviewed for the position of appraiser-trainee, the County did not inform Bristol of any other job openings from 1996 to 1998-until he filed this lawsuit in 1998, at which time the County told him about a bookkeeping position, but before he could respond that job was filled. Gail Buckley was not instructed to keep Bristol advised about other job openings. 10 In October or November of 1996, the job of dispatcher II came open in the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office had three types of dispatchers: dispatcher I (starting dispatcher with no experience); dispatcher II (experienced dispatcher); and dispatcher III (supervisor). The dispatcher II job required two years previous experience as a dispatcher and skills to use a dispatcher's equipment, including specialized software, and to prioritize incoming calls by importance. Bristol had received some training as a dispatcher when he was jailer at the Sheriff's Office, when he had relieved other dispatchers for short periods of time. Nevertheless, the Sheriff did not contact Bristol when the dispatcher II job came open because, as he testified, it had been so long since we'd heard from him that I had forgotten about Mr. Bristol. 11 After being fired by the County, Bristol worked nights for about a year at a part-time computer job he found through a temporary agency. He also worked for two months transporting prisoners within Colorado for a private company, but quit that job because he was dissatisfied with how the company sought to ensure the safety of its workers. At the time of trial, Bristol was working part-time for a rental car company driving rental cars to their outlets. He applied, but was not hired, for positions with the Cities of Lakewood and Aurora and the Colorado State Patrol, among others. He also received disability benefits from the County. 12