Opinion ID: 161479
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: 2 On May 26, 1999, Cornforth was terminated from her position as a medical staff secretary. Cornforth thereafter filed a complaint in federal district court naming both the University and Barringer as defendants. In the complaint, she asserted three claims against the University and three claims against Barringer, individually. Cornforth's claims against Barringer consisted of (1) a state law claim alleging intentional interference with an employment relationship, (2) a constitutional claim arising under 42 U.S.C. 1983, and (3) a claim that Barringer acted in violation of FMLA. 3 The University and Barringer filed separate motions to dismiss. The district court concluded that the FMLA claims Cornforth raised against the University were barred by the Eleventh Amendment and granted the University's motion to dismiss those claims. 1 The district court's conclusion was based on its determination that FMLA does not abrogate the states' sovereign immunity because it is not a valid exercise of Congress' enforcement powers under Section Five of the Fourteenth Amendment. In his motion to dismiss, Barringer argued that he is not an employer as that term is used in FMLA and thus cannot be held liable in his individual capacity for violations of FMLA. Barringer also argued that the Eleventh Amendment bars a federal court from hearing the FMLA claims Cornforth has asserted against him. 2 4 The district court concluded that any FMLA claims asserted against Barringer in his official capacity were barred by the Eleventh Amendment. The court then concluded that Barringer was an employer under the FMLA and could be held individually liable for violations of the FMLA. The district court denied Barringer Eleventh Amendment immunity from the FMLA claims asserted against him in his individual capacity.