Opinion ID: 162537
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Disability Under the Americans With Disabilities Act

Text: 21 Mr. Rakity argues the district court erroneously overlooked material facts that indicate Mr. Rakity has a disability under 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). Specifically, Mr. Rakity asserts he has a record of and has been regarded as having an impairment that substantially limits the major life activities of performing manual tasks, lifting, reaching, and working. We review de novo the district court's grant of summary judgment. Sorensen v. University of Utah Hosp., 194 F.3d 1084, 1086 (10th Cir.1999). Summary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). A fact is material if, under the governing law, it could have an effect on the outcome of the lawsuit. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A dispute over a material fact is genuine if a reasonable jury could find in favor of the non moving party on the evidence presented. Id. 22 Where the nonmoving party will bear the burden of proof at trial on a dispositive issue that party must go beyond the pleadings and designate specific facts so as to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case to survive summary judgment. 23 Sorensen, 194 F.3d at 1086 (quotation marks, alterations and citations omitted). 24 The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from discriminating against a qualified individual with a disability because of the disability of such individual in regard to ... advancement. 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a). Under the Act, a disability means: (A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (B) a record of such an impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an impairment. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). A major life activity is a basic activity that the average person in the general population can perform with little or no difficulty.... The touchstone for determining an activity's inclusion under the statutory rubric is its significance. Pack v. Kmart Corp., 166 F.3d 1300, 1305 (10th Cir.) (quotation marks, alterations and citations omitted), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 811, 120 S.Ct. 45, 145 L.Ed.2d 40 (1999). Major life activities include such functions as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, sleeping, sitting, standing, lifting, reaching, and working. Doyal v. Oklahoma Heart, Inc., 213 F.3d 492, 495-96 (10th Cir.2000). We analyze only the major life activity or activities asserted by the plaintiff. Id. at 496. 25 In general, 26 [t]he three factors that should be considered when determining whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity are: (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 the expected permanent or long term impact, of or resulting from the impairment. 27 Bolton v. Scrivner, Inc., 36 F.3d 939, 943 (10th Cir.1994) (quotation marks and alterations omitted), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1152, 115 S.Ct. 1104, 130 L.Ed.2d 1071 (1995). The Supreme Court and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have provided more specific guidance with respect to the major life activities of performing manual tasks and working. [T]o be substantially limited in performing manual tasks, an individual must have an impairment that prevents or severely restricts the individual from doing activities that are of central importance to most people's daily lives. The impairment's impact must also be permanent or long-term. Toyota Motor Mfg., Kentucky, Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184, 122 S.Ct. 681, 691, 151 L.Ed.2d 615 (2002). In the case of the major life activity of working, the term substantially limits means significantly restricted in the ability to perform either a class of jobs or a broad range of jobs in various classes as compared to the average person having comparable training, skills and abilities. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(3)(i). 2 Whether a given impairment substantially limits a major life activity are determined on an individualized case-by-case basis. Pack, 166 F.3d at 1304. We also take into account the effects of mitigating or corrective measures when judging whether a person is substantially limited in a major life activity. Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471, 482, 119 S.Ct. 2139, 144 L.Ed.2d 450 (1999). Mr. Rakity concedes he does not currently have an actual physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one of his major life activities under § 12102(2)(A). Rather, Mr. Rakity maintains he has a record of such an impairment under subsection (B) and King Soopers regarded him as having such an impairment under subsection (C). 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(B) & (C).
28 Mr. Rakity argues past medical and employment documents showing impairments to his hands, wrists, shoulders, and back demonstrate a record of substantial limitation in performing manual tasks, lifting, reaching, and working. To have a qualifying record of impairment, a plaintiff must have a history of, or have been misclassified as having, an impairment that has substantially limited a major life activity. Sorensen, 194 F.3d at 1087. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has explained [t]he intent of this provision, in part, is to ensure that people are not discriminated against because of a history of disability. 29 C.F.R. pt. 1630, App. § 1630.2(k). 29 The most favorable interpretation of Mr. Rakity's medical and employment records does not suggest he is substantially impaired in performing manual tasks. All of Mr. Rakity's arguments on appeal address his ability to fulfill various grocery store clerk duties. For instance, Mr. Rakity points to a 1993 doctor's letter questioning Mr. Rakity's ability to continuously stack small grocery items on store shelves. However, [w]hen addressing the major life activity of performing manual tasks, the central inquiry must be whether the claimant is unable to perform the variety of tasks central to most people's daily lives, not whether the claimant is unable to perform the tasks associated with [his] specific job. Toyota Motor Mfg., 122 S.Ct. at 693. [H]ousehold chores, bathing, and brushing one's teeth are among the types of manual tasks of central importance to people's daily lives and should [be] part of the assessment of whether [a plaintiff is] substantially limited in performing manual tasks. Id. The manual activity of continuously shelving groceries is not centrally important to most people's daily lives. Mr. Rakity has presented no records or documents indicating his impairments are severe enough to prevent basic daily manual activities such as household chores, bathing himself, or brushing his teeth. In fact, two occupational therapists recently found Mr. Rakity's normal activities of daily living are not impaired. Moreover, when applying to the Social Security Administration for permanent disability benefits in February 1993, Mr. Rakity admitted he did light housework, such as cleaning and laundry, prepare[d][his] own meals, and grocery shopped [o]nce or twice a week. 30 Mr. Rakity's medical and employment records also fail to demonstrate a triable issue of fact concerning his ability to lift. After Mr. Rakity's 1992 U-Boat accident, doctors temporarily restricted Mr. Rakity to lifting five pounds. As a result, Mr. Rakity underwent minor surgery on his shoulder. With this corrective measure, it is undisputed that by November 1992 Mr. Rakity was able to work full time unloading groceries weighing over forty pounds from King Soopers' delivery trucks. In December 1992, Dr. Evans found the surgery quite obviously improved [Mr. Rakity's] shoulder function. Dr. Evans also found no medical cause for Mr. Rakity's hand, neck, or back problems and refused to recommend permanent restrictions despite Mr. Rakity's multiple requests. 31 Mr. Rakity's October 1993 water jug accident also led to short-term lifting restrictions. In 1994, a different doctor, Dr. Primack, restricted Mr. Rakity to lifting ten pounds frequently and fifteen pounds occasionally. Once again, the impairment proved temporary and not severe. After receiving a second settlement in 1996, again for $25,000, Mr. Rakity agreed he didn't have any physical limitations that [he] considered to be substantially limiting in any way. By 1996, Dr. Primack's medical records indicate Mr. Rakity's shoulder ached after excessive motion, but this [did] not appear to impede [Mr. Rakity's] job performance. Moreover, it is undisputed Mr. Rakity worked a second job at All City Pools from 1989 to 1997. During this period, Mr. Rakity regularly lifted ten, twenty-five, forty, and fifty pound packages of whirlpool and spa chemicals while stocking shelves in this second job. Mr. Rakity also admits he helped deliver spas and whirlpools to residences for All City Pools. 32 Currently, Mr. Rakity's most restrictive lifting limitation permits him to lift up to forty pounds occasionally and ten to fifteen pounds frequently. We recently held medical records with a similar forty pound lifting restriction do not establish a history of substantial limitation on the life activity of lifting. Lusk v. Ryder Integrated Logistics, 238 F.3d 1237, 1240-41 (10th Cir.2001). Our sister circuits have found even more stringent lifting restrictions do not rise to a substantial limitation on the major life activity of lifting. See, e.g., Pryor v. Trane Co., 138 F.3d 1024, 1025 n. 2 (5th Cir.1998) (upholding jury verdict that found twenty pound repetitive lifting restriction from back injury was not substantially limiting); McKay v. Toyota Motor Mfg., U.S.A., Inc., 110 F.3d 369, 373 (6th Cir.1997) (holding restriction limiting frequent lifting to ten pounds due to carpal tunnel syndrome was not substantially limiting); Wooten v. Farmland Foods, 58 F.3d 382, 384, 386 (8th Cir.1995) (holding ten to twenty pound lifting restriction with minimal overhead reaching due to carpal tunnel syndrome in hands and tendinitis in shoulder was not substantially limiting); Thompson v. Holy Family Hosp., 121 F.3d 537, 541 (9th Cir.1997) (holding twenty-five pound repetitive lifting restriction from back and neck injury was not substantially limiting). Mr. Rakity's lifting restrictions have been relatively moderate in nature and severity, short in duration, and do not suggest a severe long term impact. 33 Mr. Rakity's briefs on appeal do not explain his history of limitation in reaching, nor do they point to any records explicitly discussing this impairment. Although [w]e view the evidence and draw any inferences in a light most favorable to the party opposing summary judgment, ... that party must identify evidence which would require submission of the case to a jury. Aramburu v. Boeing Co., 112 F.3d 1398, 1402 (10th Cir.1997) (emphasis added; quotation marks and citations omitted). Nevertheless, our review of the approximately one thousand pages of record and argument submitted on appeal reveals no records which indicate a substantial impairment in the major life activity of reaching. Mr. Rakity's carpal tunnel impairment to his hands and wrists has limited his ability to perform repetitive movements over extended durations. But, these records do not indicate an impairment limiting Mr. Rakity's ability to reach. Following his June 1992 and December 1993 accidents, doctors found Mr. Rakity had a normal or nearly normal range of motion in his upper extremities and shoulders. In 1998, Dr. Brainbridge stated Mr. Rakity should limit far forward or overhead reaching because of injuries from his 1997 car accident. Nevertheless, the same record indicates Mr. Rakity is capable of far forward and overhead reaching on an occasional basis. Thus, the severity and long term impact of Mr. Rakity's reaching impairment are only minor. Under these circumstances, Mr. Rakity has not demonstrated a triable issue of fact concerning his ability to reach. 34 Finally, Mr. Rakity's medical and employment records do not show a substantial limitation in the major life activity of working. Mr. Rakity's record of missed work due to surgery, short hospital stays, and rehabilitation does not, by itself, imply he has a record of substantial limitation in working. See, e.g., Sorensen, 194 F.3d at 1087 (five day hospital stay from multiple sclerosis did not create record of substantial limitation where there was no long term impact on major life activity). Moreover, a history of light duty restrictions does not necessarily demonstrate a record of substantial limitation in working. See Gutridge v. Clure, 153 F.3d 898, 901-02 (8th Cir.1998) (five separate surgeries, numerous temporary lifting restrictions, and permanent forty-five pound lifting restriction from carpal tunnel syndrome did not establish triable record of substantial limitation), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1113, 119 S.Ct. 1758, 143 L.Ed.2d 790 (1999). We have previously relied on a Second Circuit decision that held a recorded impairment was not substantially limiting where a police officer was hospitalized for a month, remained at home for six months, and was restricted to light duty for seven years after returning to work. Pack, 166 F.3d at 1305 (citing Colwell v. Suffolk County Police Dep't, 158 F.3d 635, 646 (2d Cir.1998)). Mr. Rakity is less limited than the police officer in Colwell. In fact, records show Mr. Rakity remained employed at a second job throughout the period of time in question. At his All City Pools job, Mr. Rakity sold spas to the public, ran the store cash register, waited on customers, answered telephone calls, completed paperwork, cleaned display spas on a daily basis, stocked heavy chemical containers on store shelves, and helped deliver spas to residential homes. These work activities tend to show Mr. Rakity does not have a record of substantial impairment in the major life activity of working. We also note on at least one occasion Mr. Rakity appears to have actively concealed his second job at All City Pools from those attempting to resolve his employment related claims. 3 In 1997 Mr. Rakity's own doctor, Dr. Hamlin, explained Mr. Rakity has no physical limitations at all. Dr. Hamlin opined Mr. Rakity is physically capable of performing in a great variety of occupations including construction worker, dentist, all-purpose clerk, even professional wrestl[er]. 35 Mr. Rakity does present employment records from 1996 when King Soopers determined he was no longer qualified to work as a clerk at the grocery store service desk. At this point, Dr. Primack determined for every sixty minutes of repetitive motion, Mr. Rakity should do fifteen minutes of rotational-type work in which he is not incurring the same type of repetitive motion tasks to avoid the risk of exacerbating his carpal tunnel syndrome. In 1993, Dr. Primack also recommended Mr. Rakity no longer stock even small groceries, such as candy, because of the risk of further injury. From this evidence, Mr. Rakity claims King Soopers determined he was unable to perform any job. However, this assertion is contradicted by King Soopers' written offer to conduct both internal and external job reassessments in order to identify positions that would be employment alternatives. It is also undisputed Mr. Rakity continued to perform a broad range of tasks for All City Pools. Moreover, the Social Security Administration's investigation determined Mr. Rakity should be of performing light duty work. Finally, Mr. Rakity has not provided a single document or record helpful in addressing his vocational training, the geographical area to which he has access, or the number and type of jobs demanding similar training from which [he] would also be disqualified. Bolton, 36 F.3d at 944. Thus, the most favorable interpretation of Mr. Rakity's history does not show a triable issue regarding a record of a substantial limitation on his ability to work. 36 Under these circumstances, the district court did not err in finding Mr. Rakity failed to present a genuine issue of material fact concerning whether he has a record of substantial limitation in the life activities of performing manual tasks, lifting, reaching, or working.
37 Mr. Rakity next argues he qualifies for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act because King Soopers regarded him as having a substantial limitation in his major life activities under § 12102(2)(C). The Supreme Court has explained there are two ways an individual may qualify for protection under this subsection: (1) a covered entity mistakenly believes that a person has a physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or (2) a covered entity mistakenly believes that an actual nonlimiting impairment substantially limits one or more major life activities. Sutton, 527 U.S. at 489, 119 S.Ct. 2139. These misperceptions often result from stereotypic assumptions not truly indicative of individual ability. Id. (quotation marks, alterations and citations omitted). Nevertheless, an employer is free to decide that some limiting, but not substantially limiting, impairments make individuals less than ideally suited for a job. Id. at 490-91, 119 S.Ct. 2139. Under this rule Mr. Rakity can only survive summary judgment if he presents triable evidence indicating King Soopers regarded him as substantially limited in one or more of his affected major life activities of performing manual tasks, lifting, reaching, or working. 38 Initially, no evidence indicates King Soopers mistakenly believed Mr. Rakity could not perform manual tasks that are centrally important to most people's daily lives. Mr. Rakity presents no evidence regarding King Soopers beliefs with respect to centrally important tasks such as household chores, bathing, or brushing his teeth. 39 Moreover, the undisputed evidence indicates King Soopers regarded Mr. Rakity as impaired in his ability to lift, but only to the extent indicated in his medical and employment records. For instance, Mr. Rakity relies on correspondence between Mr. Brink and Dr. Primack concerning Mr. Rakity's lifting and repetitive motion restrictions. But, in these letters, Mr. Brink was only attempting to clarify whether Dr. Primack's restrictions precluded Mr. Rakity from certain grocery store clerk activities. The focus of these letters is upon Dr. Primack's restrictions, which we have already determined do not show an impairment which rises to a substantial limitation in the activity of lifting. Recognition of Dr. Primack's restrictions does not by itself imply King Soopers regarded Mr. Rakity as substantially limited in his major life activities. There is simply no evidence that suggests Mr. Brink disregarded Dr. Primack's medical evaluation and substituted his own judgment about how much Mr. Rakity could lift. On the contrary, King Soopers' perception of Mr. Rakity was not based on speculation, stereotype or myth, but on the doctor's written evaluations of [Mr. Rakity's] condition. Lusk, 238 F.3d at 1242. 40 Mr. Rakity also points to a confusing passage from the deposition of Mr. Brendlinger, a manager who supervised Mr. Rakity at a King Soopers store location. Mr. Rakity argues Mr. Brendlinger stated he believed Dr. Primack's restrictions precluded Mr. Rakity from lifting any weight at all, even as little as zero to ten pounds. Mr. Rakity's reliance on this statement is misplaced for several reasons. Initially, it is not clear from the record on appeal this is what Mr. Brendlinger intended to say. Mr. Rakity only provides a short excerpt of the deposition transcript in the record on appeal, which limits our ability to determine the context of Mr. Brendlinger's statement. Our rules require a party asserting an issue provide a record sufficient for considering that issue. 10th Cir. Rule 10.3(B). Moreover, Mr. Brendlinger later clarified he merely intended to say Mr. Rakity was not allowed to perform essential job functions listed for some clerk positions which were not within Mr. Rakity's current job classification. Mr. Brendlinger explained, [i]n no way did I state or intend to imply that my testimony in this regard was based on my personal knowledge or belief I had regarding [Mr. Rakity's] physical abilities. Under these circumstances we are not persuaded Mr. Brendlinger's comments raise a genuine issue of material fact. 41 Even if Mr. Brendlinger did believe Mr. Rakity was not capable of any lifting at all, this is immaterial, since Mr. Brendlinger was not responsible for making the decision to deny Mr. Rakity's promotion request. The undisputed evidence indicates Stephanie Bouknight, a labor relations manager, and Marc Gallegos, a risk management manager, made the decision to refuse to promote Mr. Rakity. Mr. Rakity cites no legal authority and makes no factual argument explaining how the views of a non-decision maker, such as Mr. Brendlinger, could prove King Soopers regarded him as disabled for purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Cf. Standard v. A.B.E.L. Servs., Inc., 161 F.3d 1318, 1328 (11th Cir.1998) (holding administrative staff member's beliefs regarding plaintiff's back injury were not attributable to employer where staff member had no authority to make employment decisions). In comparison, Ms. Bouknight and Mr. Gallegos refused to promote him because Dr. Primack's lifting restrictions and the essential job functions of the position were incompatible. This decision was made within the employer's freedom to prefer some physical characteristics over others, provided those characteristics do not substantially limit a major life activity. Sutton, 527 U.S. at 490-91, 119 S.Ct. 2139. Since Dr. Primack's restrictions are not so limiting and since the decision to refuse Mr. Rakity's promotion request was based upon those restrictions, the allegedly more severe views of Mr. Brendlinger are not material. 42 With respect to the life activity of reaching, Mr. Rakity again fails to make a specific argument or point to any evidence at all. There is simply no evidence in the record on appeal which would require a trial concerning King Soopers' beliefs about Mr. Rakity's ability to reach. 43 Mr. Rakity does present evidence indicating King Soopers believed Mr. Rakity was impaired in his ability to work. However, King Soopers' belief that [Mr. Rakity] could no longer perform a job that required lifting in excess of [his] capabilities does not mean that [King Soopers] regarded [him] as disabled. Lusk, 238 F.3d at 1241. King Soopers' continuing willingness to employ Mr. Rakity in his current general grocery clerk service desk position amounts to undisputed evidence King Soopers does not regard Mr. Rakity as unable to perform a broad class of grocery clerk jobs. Mr. Rakity's interpretation of the record requires the absurd conclusion King Soopers believes Mr. Rakity is incapable of performing the job which he currently performs. Thus, there is no genuine issue regarding whether King Soopers mistakenly believed Mr. Rakity's impairment rose to a substantial limitation on his ability to work. 44 Therefore, we hold Mr. Rakity has also failed to demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact concerning whether King Soopers mistakenly regarded him as substantially limited in the major life activities of performing manual tasks, lifting, reaching, or working.