Opinion ID: 200493
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Retaliation Under the ADA and Workers' Compensation Act

Text: 40 Finally, Benoit argues that the district court erred in granting TMC summary judgment on his claims of retaliation under the ADA and Workers' Compensation Act. We evaluate each of these arguments in turn. 41 Under the ADA, as with claims of retaliation under Title VII, Benoit must establish that (1) he engaged in protected conduct, (2) he suffered adverse employment action, and (3) there was a causal connection between his conduct and the adverse action. Soileau v. Guilford of Me., Inc., 105 F.3d 12, 16 (1st Cir.1997). As Benoit's claims of retaliation under Title VII failed on the third element, so too do his claims of retaliation based on disability. 4 42 We have previously stated that it is questionable whether a plaintiff who merely requests an accommodation fits within the literal language of 42 U.S.C. § 12203(a). Soileau, 105 F.3d at 16. At the same time, we observed that it would seem anomalous ... to think Congress intended no retaliation protection for employees who request a reasonable accommodation unless they also file a formal charge. Id. Accordingly, as in Soileau, we shall assume arguendo that such behavior on the part of a plaintiff brings him within the ambit of 42 U.S.C. § 12203(a). See id. 43 Benoit has established that he complained about his injuries to his superiors at TMC. He complained to Eugenio when he requested simple stands, when he informed Eugenio of the injury he sustained at work on March 25, 1998, and again when he complained to Hansen on March 27, 1998, the day after his doctor's appointment. Benoit has further established that he was fired the next working day after his last complaint, on Monday, March 30, 1998. However, it is undisputed that Drelick was solely responsible for the decision to fire Benoit, and that Drelick was unaware of Benoit's injury and recent doctor's appointment at the time of that decision. Thus, no reasonable fact-finder could conclude that TMC retaliated against Benoit for complaining about his impairment. 44 These same facts underlie Benoit's failure to establish a trialworthy issue as to retaliation under the Workers' Compensation Act. 5 Drelick fired Benoit without any knowledge of his injury, let alone any knowledge that Benoit might avail himself of his rights under the Workers' Compensation Act. As such, Benoit's final claim of retaliation fails.