Opinion ID: 1042298
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Conversation with James Peel

Text: The same day as the clinic incident, March 25, James Peel, Ion’s office mate, approached Dressler about statements that Ion had made to him on March 12, 2009. In a follow-up e-mail to Ogborn, Peel claimed that Ion had come back from meeting with Ogborn and Dressler about his lunch hour absences “in an angered state of mind.” “He openly shared with me his frustrations,” Peel wrote. “He spoke of quitting his job. Then he mentioned faking a nervous breakdown related to his divorce so he could take a leave of absence with FMLA and EAP benefits. He also boasted about how he could get paid for being at home.” Peel explained in his deposition that he had not told Ogborn or Dressler of the 9 Chevron attached Christophe’s affidavit to its “Reply in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment,” filed February 3, 2012. The affidavit was sworn to on February 2, 2012. 10 Case: 12-60682 Document: 00512388400 Page: 11 Date Filed: 09/26/2013 No. 12-60682 conversation earlier because he “feared that . . . something bad would happen and [Ion] would get fired or whatever.” He changed his mind, however, because, as he testified, “I have a problem, a philosophical problem with doing somebody else’s work when I know they’re sitting at home sipping beers watching Oprah or The View or whatever.” Peel also testified that Ion “sounded . . . like he . . . probably would” follow through with this plan.