Opinion ID: 170590
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ms. Satterlee’s Suit Against AP

Text: Under the FMLA, eligible employees of certain employers may take unpaid medical leave for up to twelve work weeks during any twelve month period for a serious health condition, as defined by the Act. 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a). Title 29 U.S.C. § 2617(a) authorizes employees to sue to recover damages for particular types of violations of the Act. Ms. Satterlee filed suit against AP in federal district court, alleging that AP violated her rights under the FMLA by terminating her employment and then failing to rehire her. Her complaint articulated three separate claims. First, she contended that AP’s termination of her employment impermissibly interfered with her right to take FMLA leave, in violation of § 2615(a)(1). Second, she argued that AP fired her in retaliation for her decision to take leave under the FMLA, in violation of § 2615(a)(2). Finally, Ms. Satterlee claimed that under § 2614(a)(1) she was entitled to reinstatement under the FMLA, and that AP’s decision not to hire her in September 2003 amounted to interference with her right to take leave under the Act. Ms. Satterlee also asked the district court to take supplemental jurisdiction over two claims under the Kansas Workers’ Compensation Act. The district court granted summary judgment to AP as to each of the three claims and declined to exercise jurisdiction over the state law claims. Ms. Satterlee has appealed the order granting summary judgment to AP, but she has not appealed the district court’s decision not to grant supplemental jurisdiction. -4-