Court Opinion

ID: 9498970
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 17:33:54.764948+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:59:11.909068
License: Public Domain

BYE, Circuit Judge.
Steven A. Breitkreutz appeals the district court’s1 adverse grant of summary judgment on his Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213, and Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA), Iowa Code Chapter 216, claims against Cambrex Charles City, Inc. (Cambrex).2 We affirm.
I
As the non-moving party at the summary judgment stage, we recite the facts in the light most favorable to Breitkreutz. See Kincaid v. City of Omaha, 378 F.3d 799, 803 (8th Cir.2004). In 1994, Breit-kreutz began working at Cambrex’s Charles City plant. Breitkreutz became a *782Reactor Operator in April 1995 and worked as such until his termination on July 31, 2002. In November 1999 he experienced back pain and was off work for nearly two weeks. In December 1999, Cambrex’s company doctor examined Bre-itkreutz and released him to full duty on December 23, 1999, without restrictions. From then until his termination, Breit-kreutz continued to experience incidents of back pain and was examined by numerous doctors.3
The series of doctor appointments immediately preceding Breitkreutz’s termination began in October 2000. At such time, the company doctor, Dr. Royer, referred Breitkreutz to Dr. Bengston at the Mayo clinic. Dr. Bengston saw Breit-kreutz on numerous occasions, his last visit occurring on August 6, 2001. On such occasion, Dr. Bengston reported Breit-kreutz could return to work with a fifty pound lifting restriction. In response to Bengston’s report, Cambrex then had Bre-itkreutz see two more doctors: Dr. Royer and Dr. Kirkle, an Occupational Medicine Specialist. Both agreed Breitkreutz could return to work. Dr. Kirkle suggested several additional restrictions regarding Bre-itkreutz’s position. Those restrictions included he lift no more than fifty pounds on an occasional basis, twenty-five pounds on a frequent basis, he should not fill more than ten barrels with sand per shift, and he should not move barrels or buggies because they fall outside his weight restriction. Cambrex allowed Breitkreutz to return to work with numerous restrictions in place.4
On June 4, 2002, Paula Kruthoff, Cam-brex’s Manager of Human Resources, sent Breitkreutz a letter placing him on leave and stating Cambrex would be unable to continue to employ Breitkreutz with the restrictions in place, because with those restrictions he could not perform all the functions of his position. The letter gave Breitkreutz until July 31, 2002, to improve his strength or be terminated. On June 17, 2002, Paula Kruthoff clarified her previous letter by writing if a physician of Breitkreutz’s choosing reduced or eliminated the working restrictions he could continue his employment with Cambrex. On July 31, 2002, Dr. Nelson wrote such a letter stating Breitkreutz could return to work with a'permanent lifting restriction of seventy-five pounds on an occasional basis. However, the record shows the letter was not faxed from Dr. Nelson’s office until August 1, 2002, and then only to an attorney handling the worker’s compensation case — and it was not received by Cam-brex until sometime thereafter. Having not received the letter by July 31, 2002, *783Cambrex terminated Breitkreutz on such date.
On March 24, 2003, Breitkreutz filed an action in federal court alleging Cambrex violated the ADA, the ICRA, and the Family Medical Leave Act.5 He alleged he was capable of performing the essential duties of the Reactor Operator position but Cam-brex nonetheless regarded him as disabled for the purposes of the ADA.
On January 3, 2005, Cambrex filed a motion for summary judgment on all claims. Cambrex argued it did not regard Breitkreutz as someone with an impairment substantially limiting a major life activity, but merely as someone who could not perform the essential functions of the particular job. On June 9, 2005, the district court granted Cambrex’s motion for summary judgment. It concluded no question of material fact existed as to Bre-itkreutz’s claim. Accordingly, the district court granted summary judgment on Bre-itkreutz’s ADA and ICRA claims.
II
We review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Kincaid, 378 F.3d at 803. The moving party is entitled to summary judgment only “if the record, viewed in a light most favorable to the non-moving party, contains no questions of material fact and demonstrates that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Id. The party moving for summary judgment has the burden of proof to show there is no genuine issue of material fact. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986), Get Away Club, Inc. v. Coleman, 969 F.2d 664, 666 (8th Cir.1992).
III
The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified disabled employees based on the employee’s disability. 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a); Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471, 475, 119 S.Ct. 2139, 144 L.Ed.2d 450 (1999). The ADA defines “disability” as: “(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (B) a record of such an impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an impairment.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A)-(C). In this case, Breitkreutz must show Cambrex mistakenly regarded him as having an impairment substantially limiting one or more major life activities, or mistakenly believed he had an actual, non-limiting impairment which substantially limited one or more major life activities. See Sutton, 527 U.S. at 489, 119 S.Ct. 2139. He alleges Cam-brex regarded him as substantially limited in the major life activities of working and lifting, and terminated him due to those misconceptions.
A
With regard to the activity of lifting, we have noted a restriction on lifting alone is not a major life limitation. See. e.g., Nuzum v. Ozark Auto. Distribs., Inc., 432 F.3d 839, 844-45 (8th Cir.2005). “[RJather than viewing lifting as a major life activity in its own right, it is more accurate to say that it is part of a set of basic motor functions that together represent a major life activity.” Id. at 845. “[A] limitation on lifting together with limitations on other basic motor functions may create a triable issue of disability if in the aggregate they prevent or severely restrict the plaintiff from doing the set of manual tasks that are of central importance to most people’s daily lives.” Id. at 847 (citations omitted). Breitkreutz does not allege Cambrex perceived him as unable “to do the manual tasks central to most peo-*784pie’s lives” where “[t]he type of evidence most relevant to establishing a substantial limitation in the major life activity of performing manual tasks; includes, for example, an individual’s ability to do household chores, bathe, brush one’s teeth, prepare meals, do laundry, etc.” Philip v. Ford Motor Co., 328 F.3d 1020, 1025 (8th Cir.2003). Regarding an employee as having a limitation that is not itself a disability cannot constitute a perception of disability. See Conant v. City of Hibbing, 271 F.3d 782 (8th Cir.2001).
B
Breitkreutz also argues Cambrex perceived him as disabled in the major life activity of working. See Nuzum, 432 F.3d at 844 (noting working is a major life activity). Breitkreutz claims this is shown by Cambrex refusing to allow him to work despite his being able to perform the essential functions of his job and because Cambrex placed additional restrictions on him beyond those recommended by doctors.
Initially, we note, finding a plaintiff is substantially limited in working “requires a showing that [his] overall employment opportunities are limited. Thus, the employer would have to regard [him] as limited in that capacity. The inability to perform a single, particular job does not constitute a substantial limitation in the major life activity of working.” Miller v. City of Springfield, 146 F.3d 612, 614-615 (8th Cir.1998) (citations omitted). As we held in Nuzum, 432 F.3d at 848:
While a lifting restriction standing alone is insufficient to demonstrate that [the plaintiff] was substantially limited in the life activity of working, the inability to lift heavy objects can translate across a broad spectrum of physically demanding jobs. Even if such a result is possible, it would depend on proof that the limitation forecloses the broad category of jobs for which [plaintiffs] background and skills otherwise would fit him. [Plaintiff] has not attempted any such proof.
Similarly, here, Breitkreutz has not attempted to show defendant viewed him as incapable of performing a broad category of jobs other than making the conclusory allegation: “Having such restrictions would also prevent [plaintiff] from performing a broad class of occupations.”
Additionally, “[t]he provision addressing perceived disabilities is intended to combat the effects of archaic attitudes, erroneous perceptions, and myths that work to the disadvantage of persons with or regarded as having disabilities.” Brunko v. Mercy Hospital, 260 F.3d 939, 942 (8th Cir.2001) (citation omitted). If a restriction is based upon the recommendations of physicians, then it is not based upon myths or stereotypes about the disabled and does not establish a perception of disability. See Brunko, 260 F.3d at 941-42. Breitkreutz argues Cambrex imposed more restrictions on him than the fifty pound lifting restriction the doctors advised. However, the record shows Dr. Kirkle recommended other restrictions such as he lift no more than twenty-five pounds on a frequent basis, he not fill more than ten barrels with sand per shift, and he should not move barrels or buggies because they fall outside his weight restriction. Cambrex imposed restrictions as to Breitkreutz’s lifting, pushing, and pulling. The record indicates Cambrex took Dr. Kirkle’s suggestion Breitkreutz not move buggies or barrels because they fell outside his weight restriction and applied such a limitation on pushing and pulling to all aspects of his position. Given Dr. Kirkle’s recommendation as to the buggies and barrels, Cambrex’s additional restrictions are insufficient here to create a genuine issue of material fact as to *785whether Cambrex perceived Breitkreutz as disabled.
IV
For the foregoing reasons, the district court’s grant of summary judgment is affirmed.

. The Honorable Edward J. McManus, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Iowa.

. "Disability claims under the ICRA are analyzed in accordance with federal standards.” Brunko v. Mercy Hosp., 260 F.3d 939, 941 (8th Cir.2001). The parties do not contest parallel treatment of the claims.

. These examinations include: On January 18, 2000, Dr. Gibbons released Breitkreutz to return to work without restrictions. On January 25, 2000, Dr. Royer released him to return to work on January 31, 2000. On June 12, 2000, Dr. Alexander released Breitkreutz to full duty on the condition he first visit the company doctor. On August 6, 2001, Dr. Bengston released him to work with a fifty pound lifting restriction. On August 27, 2001, Rich Green, M.S.P.T., concluded Breit-kreutz could return to work at the medium-heavy physical demand level with a fifty pound lifting restriction. On June 4, 2002, Dr. Royer released Breitkreutz to work with existing conditions.

. Those restrictions included: Generally a fifty pound restriction for lifting, pushing, or pulling; a twenty-five pound restriction for frequent lifting; no pushing or pulling buggies if force exceeds fifty pounds; no moving fiber drums if the force exceeds fifty pounds; no rolling or tipping full metal drums but moving them if the force does not exceed fifty pounds; no lifting manway covers over fifty pounds; no shoveling any material; no adjusting fork life tines; no restrictions on press frames if force does not exceed fifty pounds; and no restrictions on empty drums if force does not exceed fifty pounds.

. Breitkreutz subsequently dismissed his Family Medical Leave Act claim.