Opinion ID: 708160
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Disability Leave

Text: 8 Andre Grenier worked as a shift electrician for Cyro at its plant in Sanford, Maine, from 1980 to 1989. Grenier's technical skill as an electrician was good. In 1989, Grenier and several other employees were questioned about vandalism of plant machinery that had occurred during their shift. Grenier responded to the questioning in a highly emotional and irrational manner and failed to report to his next scheduled shift. He informed his supervisor, William Kennedy, that he was afraid to be on a shift without an alibi, and that he was losing it. Stating that Grenier's behavior was very disruptive and potentially dangerous, Kennedy placed Grenier on medical leave in November 1989. This leave was explicitly until such a time when you can be cleared by our medical department to return to work. Kennedy informed Grenier in writing that in order to return he would have to go through the standard reentry screening process, including permitting his doctors to discuss the specifics of his case with the company doctor. 9 In August 1990, Grenier mailed the first of a series of letters to Cyro, including a one-page letter received September 27, 1990, and a six-page statement of April 11, 1991. In these letters, Grenier criticized the plant manager Skip Brogli and complained that company actions in investigating vandalism at the plant and placing him on medical leave had caused him to suffer increased anxiety. He attacked several policies of the plant that he claimed were a constant source of aggravation to him. He also discussed in detail various collateral issues, such as the criminal charges faced by the son of a Cyro manager, a sexual harassment investigation of a fellow employee, and various transfers of Cyro managers. 10 Grenier informed Cyro in his letters that his analyst Dr. Stewart describes me as being Narcissistic, but noted that I prefer the word 'proud.'  He stated that Dr. Stewart also describes me as having 'somewhat paranoid beliefs concerning the malevolent intent of the (relatively new) management.'  He also noted that [a]fter a year and a half of being unable to work, my analyst feels that it would be in my best interests to quit my job and find another ... that I've become obsessed with this Skip guy [manager Skip Brogli]. He stated repeatedly, however, that he refused to quit his job. 11 As a final note, wrote Grenier in one letter, dated April 11, 1991, I want to point that [sic], although Dr. Stewart is indicating that he feels that I am not totally disabled, I still feel convinced that I am. Grenier realized his statement had some strong elements of paranoia, but claimed that the paranoia is not just my own ... it has become fairly rampant throughout the workforce. And: 12 The continuing incidents of vandalism, recently, should be a clear signal to Corporate headquarters that Cyro Industries, in Sanford, Me. is still more than just a little bit sick. 13 There is still some hope, however, if only the right steps are taken. And unless the right steps are taken, somebody else is going to be hurt, maybe even killed. Of that, I am sure. 14 Grenier would not voluntarily terminate his employment. He remained on indefinite disability leave until May 12, 1991, when his employment at Cyro terminated automatically as a result of the expiration of his continuous service credits. Cyro informed Grenier of his termination by letter May 15, 1991. 15 Grenier received disability benefits from Cyro for a two-year period ending December 31, 1992. Under the company's plan, benefits were payable for up to two years if Grenier was under the regular care of a licensed physician and unable to perform the duties of his specific job, but benefits would have continued beyond this period only if the Disability Department determined that his medical condition prevented him from working at any job for which [he was] reasonably qualified to perform. On December 4, 1992, the Cyro disability department wrote Grenier that based on information received from an independent medical examination of July 30, 1992, he was not disabled to this extent and, therefore, no benefits were payable after January 1, 1993.