Murphy v. Samson Resources Company , 525 F. App'x 703 ( 2013 )

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT May 8, 2013
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
REBECCA M. MURPHY,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 12-5084
(D.C. No. 4:10-CV-00694-GKF-TLW)
SAMSON RESOURCES COMPANY, (N.D. Okla.)
a Domestic For Profit Business
Corporation,
Defendant-Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
Before LUCERO, Circuit Judge, PORFILIO, Senior Circuit Judge, and
MATHESON, Circuit Judge.
Plaintiff-appellant Rebecca M. Murphy (“Murphy”) was formerly an employee
of Samson Resources Company (“Samson”). Samson terminated Murphy in
December 2008 for job abandonment. Murphy brought suit alleging violations of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12112 and the Family and
*
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously to grant the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding
precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral
estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with
Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), 29 U.S.C. § 2615. She also alleged state law claims
for breach of employment contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and
violation of the Oklahoma Anti-discrimination Act (“OADA”). Murphy appeals the
district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Samson on the ADA, FMLA,
and breach of contract claims. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we
affirm.
I. Background
In September 2006, Murphy became employed by Samson as an accounting
assistant. Her duties included preparing vouchers and journal entries to record
invoices, timely processing payments to third-party landmen, and ensuring that all
transactions were properly approved, coded, and paid on a timely basis, under close
supervision. Additionally, Murphy’s job description stated that regular and punctual
attendance was an essential function of the job.
During her employment at Samson, Murphy experienced migraine headaches
that at times required her to leave work. Samson permitted Murphy to “make up”
time missed for unplanned absences resulting from personal or family emergencies or
due to her migraines. Aplt. App. at 156, 185-95. But by April 2008, Murphy was
unable to make up all her time missed from work and had a negative paid time off
balance.
Additionally, there were some performance issues regarding Murphy’s work.
Performance issues including keying errors, coding errors, payments to the wrong
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vendors, and untimely payments were documented in March, May, and August of
2008. Murphy also applied for an internal position as a Land Technician on June 11,
2008. Murphy’s supervisor, Janice King, signed the application on that date. Brenda
Bacon, Murphy’s manager, however, declined to forward Murphy’s application to
Samson’s human resources department. Bacon did not endorse Murphy’s application
because of performance and attendance issues.
Due to her migraines, on June 19, 2008, Murphy filed her application for
FMLA leave. Samson approved her application on June 23, 2008. Murphy thereafter
intermittently used FMLA leave when she needed to leave work due to a migraine.
Samson also had a Short Term Disability (“STD”) Policy providing for payment of
benefits for up to twenty-six weeks of disability leave. Samson’s STD leave ran
concurrently with FMLA leave. In September 2008 Murphy requested, and Samson
approved, STD leave. She executed an STD agreement. The STD policy required
that employees submit a doctor’s certification explaining the necessity for the
employee’s absence. Murphy complied with this requirement in October and
November 2008.
On November 10, 2008, Murphy submitted a doctor’s certification from her
neurologist, Keith Simmons, D.O., excusing her from work until November 20, 2008.
On November 21, 2008, she emailed Samson, promising to submit a new doctor’s
certification after her appointment with Dr. Simmons the following week. When
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Murphy did not submit any updated doctor’s certification extending her STD leave or
return to work, Samson terminated her for job abandonment on December 1, 2008.
Murphy then brought the instant suit. Her ADA claim alleged that she was
discriminated against on the basis of her migraines and that Samson did not consider
reasonable accommodations. Her FMLA claim alleged Samson retaliated against her
for her exercise of FMLA rights. Her breach of contract claim alleged Samson
violated the STD agreement. We review the district court’s grant of summary
judgment de novo, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
non-moving party. Robert v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs, 691 F.3d 1211, 1216 (10th Cir.
2012).
II. Discussion
A. ADA Discrimination Claim
The ADA prohibits covered employers from discriminating against “a
qualified individual on the basis of disability.” 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a).1 The
burden-shifting framework set forth in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
411 U.S. 792 (1973), applies to ADA discrimination claims. Carter v. Pathfinder
Energy Servs., Inc., 662 F.3d 1134, 1141 (10th Cir. 2011). Under this framework, a
plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case of discrimination by showing that she
1
In 2008, Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act, Pub. L. No. 110-325,
122 Stat. 3553, which did not take effect until January 1, 2009, which is after the
alleged discrimination in this case. Because the Amendments Act does not apply
retroactively, we apply the law as it stood in 2008. See Carter v. Pathfinder Energy
Servs., Inc., 662 F.3d 1134, 1144 (10th Cir. 2011).
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“(1) is a disabled person as defined by the ADA; (2) is qualified, with or without
reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential functions of the job held or
desired; and (3) suffered discrimination by an employer or prospective employer
because of that disability.” E.E.O.C. v. C.R. England, Inc., 644 F.3d 1028, 1037-38
(10th Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks omitted). “In order to demonstrate
discrimination, a plaintiff generally must show that [s]he has suffered an adverse
employment action because of the disability.” Id. at 1038 (internal quotation marks
omitted).
If a plaintiff establishes her prima facie case, “the burden would shift to [the
defendant] to articulate some legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its actions”
and the plaintiff “would then bear the ultimate burden of showing that [the
defendant’s] proffered reason is in fact a pretext designed to mask discrimination.”
Carter, 662 F.3d at 1141 (internal quotation marks omitted). The district court held
that Murphy did not establish elements two or three of her prima facie case of
discrimination.
As to the second element, determining whether an individual is “qualified”
within the meaning of the ADA involves a two-part inquiry: 1) whether the
individual can perform the essential functions of the job; and 2) if the individual is
unable to perform the essential functions of the job, whether any reasonable
accommodation by the employer would enable her to perform those functions.
Mason v. Avaya Commc’ns, Inc., 357 F.3d 1114, 1118 (10th Cir. 2004). “‘Essential
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functions’ are ‘the fundamental job duties of the employment position the individual
with a disability holds or desires.’” Id. at 1119 (quoting 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(1)).
In determining whether a particular function is essential, courts may consider the
employer’s judgment as to which functions are essential and written job descriptions.
See id.; see also 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2 (n)(3) (listing other factors). Considering
Samson’s judgment as to what functions were essential and Samson’s job description
for an accounting assistant, the district court concluded that regular and punctual
attendance is an essential function of Murphy’s position. See Mason, 357 F.3d at
1122 (concluding that physical attendance was an essential function of the position in
question). It further concluded that Murphy could not perform this essential function
and that Murphy did not present evidence of a reasonable accommodation.
Murphy does not dispute that regular and punctual attendance is an essential
function of her position. She argues instead that the district court erred because a
jury could conclude she is qualified because a flexible work schedule is a reasonable
accommodation that would enable her to perform the essential functions of her
position. The district court determined that such an accommodation was
unreasonable on its face, noting the time sensitive nature of the tasks in Murphy’s
position and the requirement for close supervision of her work. It further observed
that Murphy’s request for a flexible schedule would dispense with Samson’s punctual
attendance requirement.
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But Murphy argues that a flexible work schedule is a reasonable
accommodation. In support, she claims the district court failed to consider Valle-
Arce v. Puerto Rico Ports Auth., case law from the First Circuit, which she argues
supported her position that a flexible work schedule is a reasonable accommodation.
See 651 F.3d 190 (1st Cir. 2011). We disagree. The district court considered and
rejected Valle-Arce. It recognized that Valle-Arce was not factually analogous.
There, the plaintiff had been allowed to work a flexible schedule as to her arrival and
departure times for several years and had not been reprimanded for her attendance.
See id. at 194, 200. In the instant matter, Samson permitted Murphy to make up time
she had missed but this situation was not working well as Murphy committed
performance errors and even with a flexible schedule could not make up all the time
that she missed.
We perceive no error in the district court’s rejection of Valle-Arce. To the
extent Murphy otherwise argues a flexible work schedule is a reasonable
accommodation, we agree with the district court that under the circumstances here it
is not. See Mason, 357 F.3d at 1122 (“We have consistently held . . . that an
employee’s request to be relieved from an essential function of the position is not, as
a matter of law, a reasonable or even plausible accommodation.”); Maziarka v. Mills
Fleet Farm, Inc., 245 F.3d 675, 681-82 (8th Cir. 2001) (employee’s requested
accommodation of making up time missed due to disability was unreasonable
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because employee could not perform essential function of regular and predictable
attendance).
Murphy additionally argues that extended leave pursuant to Samson’s STD
policy constitutes a reasonable accommodation. The district court stated that a leave
of absence is not a reasonable accommodation where, as here, an employee continues
to seek leave and it is uncertain if or when she will be able to return to work. We
agree. An allowance of time for medical care or treatment may constitute a
reasonable accommodation. See Cisneros v. Wilson, 226 F.3d 1113, 1129 (10th Cir.
2000), overruled on other grounds by Bd. of Trs. Of Univ. of Ala. v. Garrett,
531 U.S. 356 (2001). But an employee must provide an expected duration of the
impairment. Id. at 1130. “Without an expected duration of an impairment, an
employer cannot determine whether an employee will be able to perform the essential
functions of the job in the near future and therefore whether the leave request is a
‘reasonable’ accommodation.” Id. Murphy failed to present evidence of the
expected duration of her impairment. Indeed, the evidence shows it was uncertain if
or when Murphy would be able to return to work given the sporadic nature of her
migraines.
Accordingly, we conclude the district court did not err in finding that Murphy
did not establish that she was a qualified individual within the meaning of the ADA.
Murphy’s discrimination claim thus fails. Because we agree that Murphy is not
qualified, we do not address the other requirements.
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B. FMLA Retaliation Claim
“The FMLA makes it unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an
employee for exercising her rights to FMLA leave.” Khalik v. United Air Lines,
671 F.3d 1188, 1193 (10th Cir. 2012); see also 29 U.S.C. § 2615(a). Murphy’s
FMLA retaliation claim, like her ADA claim, is subject to the burden-shifting
analysis of McDonnell Douglas. See Khalik, 671 F.3d at 1193. “[T]o establish a
prima facie case of retaliation under the FMLA, a plaintiff must show (1) she
engaged in protected activity, (2) the employer took a materially adverse action, and
(3) there is a causal connection between the two.” Id.
Murphy asserts that Samson retaliated against her for taking protected leave
under the FMLA. In the district court, Murphy asserted that Samson took adverse
actions by refusing to allow her to apply for an internal transfer, giving her a negative
performance review, and terminating her. In addressing causation, the district court
first recognized that Murphy submitted the internal job application on June 11, 2008,
before she applied for FMLA leave on June 16, 2008. It concluded Murphy’s
manager’s refusal to submit the job application to Samson’s human resources
department could not have been because Murphy requested FMLA leave. The record
supports this determination. Murphy’s manager discussed with Murphy her
attendance and performance issues as the reason for declining to forward the internal
job application. Further, a note dated June 11, 2008, indicates Murphy discussed her
manager’s concerns and the refusal to forward the application with her supervisor.
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But based on temporal proximity, the district court determined that Murphy
established a causal connection between her protected FMLA leave and her
performance evaluation and termination, and, thus established a prima facie case of
retaliation. Samson proffered that the negative performance evaluation was based on
unsatisfactory work performance. It further proffered that it terminated Murphy
because she failed to return to work following the expiration of her short-term
disability leave and did not provide a doctor’s certification to extend the leave.
Because Samson proffered legitimate non-retaliatory reasons for Murphy’s
performance review and termination, the burden shifted back to Murphy to present
evidence to suggest Samson’s stated reasons were pretextual. See id. at 1192. The
district court determined that Murphy failed to establish that Samson’s adverse
employment actions were pretextual.
On appeal, Murphy argues the district court failed to view the evidence in the
light most favorable to her. To survive summary judgment, Murphy must show that
there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Samson’s proffered reason for
the challenged action is pretextual – i.e., unworthy of belief. Kendrick v. Penske
Transp. Servs. Inc., 220 F.3d 1220, 1230 (10th Cir. 2000). She “can demonstrate
pretext by showing weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or
contradictions in the employer’s reasons for its action, which a reasonable fact finder
could rationally find unworthy of credence.” Richmond v. ONEOK, Inc., 120 F.3d
205, 209 (10th Cir. 1997) (internal quotation marks omitted). But “mere conjecture
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that the employer’s explanation is pretext is insufficient to defeat summary
judgment.” Etsitty v. Utah Transit Auth., 502 F.3d 1215, 1225 (10th Cir. 2007)
(alteration and internal quotation marks omitted).
Regarding the denial of her internal job application, Murphy claims that her
alleged performance issues were pretextual because there was evidence that Samson
did not forward her application due to her frequent absences. But as we have
previously determined, Murphy has not established that Samson’s refusal to forward
Murphy’s application was done in retaliation for requesting or exercising FMLA
leave. In other words, again, Murphy’s internal job application was not forwarded
even before she requested FMLA leave. Accordingly, this fails to establish pretext.
Murphy further claims the reason for her unfavorable performance review was
pretextual because the evidence established that Murphy informed King during her
review that she had been trained to perform her job responsibilities in a different
manner. She also claimed that King failed to consult Murphy’s previous
performance review. Despite these assertions, no evidence suggests Samson’s
legitimate reason for giving an unfavorable performance review was a pretext for
retaliation.
Murphy’s 2007-2008 performance review indicated that she did not pay certain
invoices in a timely manner. The record establishes that Murphy committed
performance errors including keying errors, coding errors, and payment to the wrong
vendors before she requested FMLA leave. And performance errors after taking
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FMLA leave were also documented. By August 2008, Murphy’s approval authority
to pay invoices was lowered due to the continued volume and significance of her
performance errors. Accordingly, the evidence supports Samson’s honest belief that
Murphy was not performing her job accurately. See Johnson v. Weld Cty., 594 F.3d
1202, 1211 (10th Cir. 2010) (requiring employer to honestly believe reasons it gave
and to act in good faith based on what it believed). No evidence suggests that
Samson’s criticism of certain aspects of Murphy’s work in the 2007-2008
performance review was based on her exercise of her FMLA rights.
Similarly, to the extent Murphy argues that the alleged difference in her
training is the reason for untimely payment of invoices, again there is no evidence
that Samson did not honestly believe that Murphy was performing her job
inaccurately.
Finally, Murphy contends that her failure to submit an updated doctor’s
certification for her STD leave is also pretext for retaliation. She claims Samson
terminated her prior to placing her on a no-pay status as indicated in her STD
agreement. She also claims she was diligent in her efforts to submit her doctor’s
certifications to Samson. As to her first claim, the STD policy requires a doctor’s
certification explaining the necessity for the employee’s absence. The policy further
states that if an employee does not return to active employment after STD benefits
cease, the employee will be considered to have abandoned her job and will be
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terminated, unless a claim for long term disability benefits is pending. Murphy’s
STD agreement similarly imposes this requirement.
The record establishes that Murphy was approved STD leave through
November 20, 2008. On November 21, 2008, Murphy sent Samson an email stating
that her neurologist was going to keep her off of work and promising that she “will
get another note or letter for you next week when I meet with Dr. Simmons . . . [and
that] I’ll get a new note to you ASAP.” Aplt. App. at 232. But as of December 1,
2008, Murphy had not submitted an updated doctor’s certification extending her
leave of absence or returned to work at Samson. Accordingly, on December 1, 2008,
Samson terminated Murphy for job abandonment.
We conclude the record does not demonstrate evidence of pretext in Samson’s
termination of Murphy. The district court correctly entered summary judgment for
Samson on the FMLA retaliation claim.
C. Breach of Contract Claim
Murphy next argues the district court erred in dismissing her breach of
contract claim. She claims there is evidence Samson breached the STD agreement by
failing to allow her time on a no-pay status and by terminating her when her doctor’s
certification was still in effect. We disagree.
The STD agreement provides “[i]f you do not submit an updated physician’s
certification you will be placed on a no pay status until the certification is received
by the Samson HR Department.” Aplt. App. at 222. It further states “[i]f you do not
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return to active employment after your STD benefits cease, your employment will be
terminated, unless your Long Term Disability . . . application is pending.” Id. As
previously discussed, Murphy did not provide an updated doctor’s certification or
return to work after November 20, 2008. Because Murphy did not apply for long
term disability benefits, pursuant to the express terms of the STD agreement, Samson
was entitled to terminate Murphy for job abandonment.
We further agree with the district court that Murphy’s last doctor’s
certification only excused her from work until November 20, 2008. Although that
note also indicated Dr. Simmons checked the “pending” line which provided
“pending tests, treatment, and followup [appointment with] specialist in Oklahoma
City,” Id. at 231, this does not abrogate the need for a specific return date. And
importantly, the record establishes that Murphy obtained an updated doctor’s
certification from Dr. Simmons as of November 26, 2008, but did not submit it to
Samson until December 2, 2008, after she had been terminated. We conclude, as did
the district court, that Murphy’s breach of contract claim fails.
III. Conclusion
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Entered for the Court
John C. Porfilio
Senior Circuit Judge
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