Opinion ID: 161448
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: ADA and FMLA Claims

Text: The parties are familiar with the facts, which are set out and fully addressed by the district court in its order filed January 25, 2000. We review a grant of summary judgment de novo, applying the same legal standard as used by the district court. Anderson v. Coors Brewing Co. , 181 F.3d 1171, 1175 (10th Cir. 1999). The analytical framework set forth in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green , 411 U.S. 792, 802-04 (1973), governs our review of plaintiff’s ADA and FMLA claims. Morgan v. Hilti, Inc. , 108 F.3d 1319, 1323 (10th Cir. 1997). Once plaintiff has established a prima facie case of an ADA discrimination claim or a FMLA retaliation claim, the burden shifts to defendant to offer a legitimate, nondiscriminatory or non-retaliatory motive for its employment decision. Id. If -2- defendant meets that burden, the burden then shifts to plaintiff to show that “there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether the employer’s proffered reason for the challenged action is pretextual--i.e., unworthy of belief.” Id. (quotation omitted). Pretext can be demonstrated by “showing such weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or contradictions in the employer’s proffered legitimate reasons for its action that a reasonable factfinder could rationally find them unworthy of credence.” Id. (quotations omitted). The district court concluded that plaintiff failed to establish the last element in the analysis--namely, an inference that defendant terminated his employment based on his disability or in retaliation for his taking leave under FMLA. Defendant presented evidence that plaintiff was discharged because it had evidence that he altered a medical release form to reflect that he was sick on days that he was actually on vacation. We have carefully reviewed the parties’ briefs and the entire record in the case. There is ample evidence in the record to support defendant’s claim that it honestly believed that plaintiff had committed the alteration. We find no evidence in the record that creates a genuine issue of material fact suggesting that defendant’s explanation was unworthy of belief. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of defendant. -3-