Opinion ID: 2774268
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Interference Claim

Text: In order to state an interference claim under the FMLA, an employee need only demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that he was entitled to a benefit the employer denied. Strickland v. Water Works and Sewer Bd. of City of Birmingham, 239 F.3d 1199, 1205 (11th Cir. 2001). An employee has the right following FMLA leave “to be restored by the employer to the position of employment held by the employee when the leave commenced” or to an equivalent position. 29 U.S.C. § 2614(a)(1)(A); see also 29 C.F.R. § 825.214(a). But, an employer can deny reinstatement following FMLA leave if it can demonstrate that it would have discharged the employee even if he had not been on FMLA leave. Martin v. Brevard Cnty. Public Schools, 543 F.3d 1261, 1267 (11th Cir. 2008); see 7 Because the “no current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism” criterion is decisive in this case, we express no opinion as to whether Crete could or did apply more stringent internal criteria to Jarvela’s situation. Nor do we address Jarvela’s arguments that he did not pose a “direct threat” to himself or others, see 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(r) (employer may defend employment decision if employee poses “a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of the individual or others that cannot be eliminated or reduced by reasonable accommodation”), or that the district court “sidestepped” the direct threat analysis by couching as a prima facie qualification Crete’s drivers’ being able to meet the “no current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism” criterion. Crete’s correct determination that Jarvela had a “current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism” ended the ADA discrimination inquiry in this case. 17 Case: 13-11601 Date Filed: 01/28/2015 Page: 18 of 20 also 29 U.S.C. § 2614(a)(3); 29 C.F.R. § 825.216(a). Jarvela contends that Crete improperly denied him the benefit of returning to the same or an equivalent position following his FMLA leave. Crete, instead, contends that it would have discharged Jarvela because he had a “current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism” regardless of whether he had taken FMLA leave. The district court found that, “Regardless of whether Mr. Jarvela had taken FMLA leave, there [was] ample, unrebutted evidence in the record to indicate that Crete would have discharged him upon learning of his diagnosis of alcohol dependence.” (Doc. 40 at 19). Crete put forward evidence that it would have discharged Jarvela regardless of his FMLA leave, and Jarvela presented no evidence disputing it. Consequently, we agree with the district court’s determination that Jarvela’s interference claim fails.