Gerton v. Verizon S Inc , 145 F. App'x 159 ( 2005 )

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 05a0725n.06
Filed: August 18, 2005
No. 03-6674
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
WANDA GERTON, )
)
Plaintiff-Appellant, ) On Appeal from the United
) States District Court for the
v. ) Eastern District of Kentucky
)
VERIZON SOUTH INC., )
) OPINION
Defendant-Appellee. )
Before: COLE and CLAY, Circuit Judges; and HOOD, District Judge.*
HOOD, DENISE PAGE, District Judge. Plaintiff-Appellant Wanda Gerton appeals the
district court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of Defendant-Appellee Verizon South,
Inc., a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) on Gerton’s
disability discrimination claim. The district court found that Gerton was not disabled, and, even if
Gerton were disabled, Verizon provided a reasonable accommodation to Gerton. For the reasons
set forth below, we affirm the district court’s decision.
I.
Gerton began working for General Telephone and Electric Corporation (“GTE”) in 1975, as
an hourly Directory Assistance Operator. GTE later merged with Bell Atlantic Corporation to form
* The Honorable Denise Page Hood, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Michigan, sitting by designation.
Verizon. Gerton worked as an operator for 26 years, at the company’s Lexington, Kentucky
Operator Center. The Operator Center was divided into two departments: Directory Assistance
(“DA”) and Toll Operations. DA Operators find telephone numbers by typing in names and
addresses on a full keyboard computer, whereas Toll Operators handle collect calls by typing in the
numbers using the computer number pad. During her career, Gerton worked as both a DA and Toll
Operator.
In November of 2000, Gerton was diagnosed with “carpal tunnel issues” but could still
perform her job as a DA Operator. (J.A. 402). On March 19, 2001, her right arm started tingling,
became numb, and “just [went] completely out.” (J.A. 403) The next day, March 20, 2001, Verizon
sent Gerton to MedWorks, Verizon’s medical provider for employees with work related injuries.
(J.A. 406) Gerton was told by her supervisor, Barbara Anderson, that Gerton could not go to her
primary physician. (J.A. 405, 407) She was seen at MedWorks by Beth Jones, a Physician’s
Assistant. Gerton was diagnosed with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand greater than the
left hand. (J.A. 490, 492) Jones approved Gerton to return to work with the following restrictions:
a 10 pound weight restriction; no use of right hand; a 5 minute break every hour; and change “to toll
for now (off DA).” (J.A. 492)1 Gerton brought her restrictions to work that day. Anderson told
Gerton that she would not be transferred to Toll but to work the DA Operator position with only one
hand, with hourly breaks. (J.A. 408, 417) Anderson called MedWorks for more information
regarding Gerton’s restrictions and to see how long the restrictions were to last. (J.A. 494)
On March 23, 2001, Gerton returned to MedWorks and saw Marguerite Mueller, M.D. (J.A.
1
It appears the form outlining restrictions was signed by both Beth Jones and Dr.
Marguerite Mueller.
2
493-94) Dr. Mueller referred Gerton to a specialist, Dr. Einbecker, for an appointment on May 10,
2001. In the meantime, Dr. Mueller approved Gerton to return to work, with the following
restrictions: a 10 pound weight restriction; no use of right hand; and a 5 to 10 minute break every
hour, until cleared by Dr. Einbecker. (J.A. 491) These restrictions did not require that Gerton be
transferred to Toll Operations.
Gerton returned to MedWorks on March 29, 2001 and was seen by Dr. Mueller. (J.A. 492)
Gerton was experiencing increasing pain in her left hand as a result of the one-handed duty
restriction. (J.A. 425) Dr. Mueller diagnosed Gerton with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, right
greater than left, and chronic tendonitis. (J.A. 492) Dr. Mueller’s examination found that Gerton
was “intact to light touch on the left.” (J.A. 496) Gerton was returned to work with restrictions of
5 pounds, one-handed duty and 10 minute stretch breaks every hour. (J.A. 492) Dr. Mueller’s notes
indicate that although Gerton should continue with single-handed duty, she may have to alternate
her hands. (J.A. 496)
In late April 2001, Gerton was temporarily transferred to Toll, which she had requested as
an accommodation. (J.A. 186-87, 410) Gerton was able to perform her duties with one hand while
working in Toll Operations. (J.A. 187)
Verizon contends that one of its supervisors, Judy Perkins, gave Gerton an ADA
Accommodation Request Form at Gerton’s request on July 11, 2001. (J.A. 179-80) Gerton does
not recall if she received the form. (J.A. 191) Perkins sent an e-mail to Lexington Operator Center
management on July 13, 2001 explaining that Gerton had requested an ADA accommodation to
remain in Toll and asking that Gerton be left in the temporary Toll assignment until a decision from
the ADA group was received. (J.A. 569) Gerton had not submitted supporting documents and, on
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August 14, 2001, Perkins sent an e-mail to Lexington Operator Center management asking if Gerton
should be moved back to her DA position. (J.A. 302) On August 22, 2001, Perkins provided Gerton
with another Job Modification Form instructing Gerton to forward the completed form and
supporting documents to the Absence Management Department within one week. (J.A. 296, 302)
Gerton submitted the form to her personal physician, W. Travis Lawson, M.D. (J.A. 262) As of
September 4, 2001, Verizon had still not received the required form and documentation. (J.A. 302)
On September 10, 2001, Gerton was transferred back to DA because Verizon had not
received the form and supporting medical documents. (J.A. 64, 144, 187, 201-02, 296) Anderson
told Gerton that because her condition was not work-related, she would have to go back to DA.
(J.A. 188) At that time, Gerton was given an information booklet about the ADA. (J.A. 189-90)
Gerton claims that Verizon never told her that it was moving her back to DA because the medical
documentation of her condition was insufficient. (J.A. 438) Cynthia Reber, a nurse for Verizon’s
Absence Management Group, received the Job Modification Form signed by Gerton’s physician on
September 10 but with no records to substantiate the request. (J.A. 500) After Gerton called her
physician’s office on the afternoon of September 10, 2001, the signed Job Modification Form and
medical documentation was faxed to Verizon’s Absence Management Department. (J.A. 147, 192,
199-200, 262, 313, 316) Unaware that the records had been faxed to Verizon on September 10,
2001, Perkins e-mailed Reber on September 12, 2001 indicating that due to the chaos of September
11, she was unable to contact Gerton to advise her that her medical records had not been received
and gave Gerton an extension until September 21, 2001. (J.A. 501)
On September 13, 2001, William Kammeyer, M.D., a physician retained by Verizon,
reviewed the paperwork received by Verizon from Gerton’s personal physician, Dr. Lawson, and
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conferred with Dr. Lawson about Gerton’s wrist condition. (J.A. 313, 319) Dr. Kammeyer
thereafter recommended to Reber that Gerton’s accommodation request be granted. (J.A. 313, 319)
Reber forwarded to Verizon’s ADA Group the Absence Management Department’s recommendation
that the request be granted. (J.A. 313, 323) The Verizon ADA Group processed Gerton’s
accommodation request and notified Perkins on September 20, 2001 that Gerton’s request for
permanent assignment to Toll had been approved as an accommodation of her right wrist carpal
tunnel syndrome. (J.A. 296, 306) Perkins notified Gerton’s supervisor on September 21, 2001 that
the permanent transfer had been approved. (J.A. 296)
Gerton claims that she worked on September 21, but was never told that her accommodation
request to be assigned permanently to Toll had been granted. (J.A. 446) The last day Gerton was
at work was on September 21, when she “just couldn’t bear it anymore.” (J.A. 448, 451) Gerton
claims her “hand wouldn’t do it.” (J.A. 451) Gerton was scheduled to begin her permanent
assignment to the Toll Department effective September 25, 2001. (J.A. 65, 296) Gerton did not
report for work on September 25, 2001, and did not report thereafter. (J.A. 452) Prior to September
10, Gerton felt that she was capable of doing the Toll job. (J.A. 156) Gerton claims that her left
hand worsened between September 10 and September 25 to such an extent that she could no longer
perform either of the DA or Toll Operator positions. (J.A. 440)
Wanda Corman, a Toll Department Supervisor, called Gerton at home while she was off
from work to let her know that she had been transferred to Toll. (J.A. 142) Gerton did not return
to work to do the Toll job because she could no longer perform the Toll job. (J.A. 156) Gerton
remained off work on paid sick leave, and, after her paid sick leave ran out, remained on personal
leave until June 14, 2002, when her personal leave ran out. (J.A. 267) Based on the Personal Leave
5
of Absence policy, the effective date of her termination was December 15, 2001, the last day Gerton
was paid. (J.A. 267)
On May, 22, 2002, Gerton filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Fayette County,
Kentucky, naming Verizon and Perkins as defendants. Gerton claimed Verizon discriminated
against her due to a disability, in violation of Kentucky’s Civil Rights Act, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344 et
seq. Against Perkins, Gerton claimed intentional infliction of emotional distress. Defendants
removed the matter to the Eastern District of Kentucky, stating that the district court had subject
matter jurisdiction because Perkins had been fraudulently joined in order to avoid subject matter
jurisdiction by the federal courts. Gerton filed a motion to remand which the district court denied,
finding that Gerton failed to state a cognizable intentional infliction of emotional distress claim
under Kentucky law against Perkins. The parties thereafter stipulated to dismiss the intentional
infliction of emotional distress claim against Perkins, with prejudice. Verizon filed a motion for
summary judgment on the remaining disability discrimination claim, which the district court
granted. Gerton timely filed a notice of appeal.
II.
A. Standard of Review
A district court’s order granting summary judgment is reviewed de novo. Kiphart v. Saturn
Corp., 251 F.3d 573, 581 (6th Cir. 2001); Bush v. Dictaphone Corp., 161 F.3d 363, 367 (6th Cir.
1998). Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c) provides that summary judgment be entered only where “the pleadings,
depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show
that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a
judgment as a matter of law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S. Ct. 2505,
6
91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986). A dispute about a material fact is “genuine” only if the “the evidence is
such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. Although the court
must view the motion in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, where “the moving party
has carried its burden under Rule 56(c), its opponent must do more than simply show that there is
some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. Zenith
Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S. Ct. 1348, 89 L. Ed. 2d 538 (1986); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett,
477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 265 (1986). Summary judgment must be entered
against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an essential
element of that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. In such
a situation, there can be “no genuine issue as to any material fact,” since a complete failure of proof
concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts
immaterial. Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 322-23. A court must look to the substantive law to identify
which facts are material. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248.
B. Americans with Disabilities Act
1. Prima Facie Case
On appeal, Gerton claims the district court erred in granting summary judgment because she
has presented sufficient evidence that her disability substantially limited a major life activity and
Verizon failed to reasonably accommodate her wrist condition during two time periods, from March
19, 2001 through April 26, 2001, and, from September 10, 2001 until September 25, 2001.
(Appellant’s Brief, p. 26) Gerton does not challenge the district court’s ruling that, after September
25, 2001, Gerton failed to demonstrate a viable claim of disability discrimination based on Gerton’s
inability to use either hand, because Gerton did not request any specific accommodation for work
7
without using either hand.
Gerton claims Verizon violated the Kentucky’s Civil Rights Act, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344 et
seq., in failing to accommodate her disability. Because the language of the Kentucky Civil Rights
Act mirrors the language of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et
seq., ADA jurisprudence may be relied upon to analyze disability discrimination claims brought
under Kentucky Law. See Brohm v. JH Properties, Inc., 149 F.3d 517, 520 (6th Cir. 1998).
The ADA requires employers to provide “reasonable accommodations to the known physical
or mental limitation of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant or
employee, unless such covered entity can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an
undue hardship.” 42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(5)(A). In order for Gerton to prevail on an allegation of
discrimination by way of failure to accommodate, she must establish a prima facie case by showing
that: (1) she is disabled; (2) she is otherwise qualified for the position; (3) her employer was aware
of her disability; (4) an accommodation was needed, in that a causal relationship existed between
the disability and the request for accommodation; and, (5) the employer failed to provide the
necessary accommodation. Gaines v. Runyon, 107 F.3d 1171, 1175 (6th Cir.1997) (quoting Kocsis
v. Multi-Care Management, Inc., 97 F.3d 876, 882-83 (6th Cir.1996)). “Once the plaintiff has
presented a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the employer to demonstrate that the employee
cannot reasonably be accommodated, because the accommodation would impose an undue hardship
on the operation of its programs.” Gaines, 107 F.3d at 1176. “If the plaintiff fails to establish a
prima facie case, it is unnecessary to address the question of reasonable accommodation.” Id. (citing
Jasany v. United States Postal Service, 755 F.2d 1244, 1250 (6th Cir.1985) (citations omitted)).
Proof of a disability is a threshold requirement to prove a violation of the ADA. Burns v.
8
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., 222 F.3d 247, 253 (6th Cir. 2000). A disability, with respect to an
individual, is defined within the ADA as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
one or more of the major life activities of such individual.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A) (italics added).
“Merely having an ‘impairment’ does not make one disabled for purposes of the ADA.” Toyota
Motor Mfg., Kentucky, Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184, 195, 122 S. Ct. 681, 151 L. Ed. 615 (2002)
(internal quotations added). “Substantially limits” has been suggested to mean “considerable” or
to “a large degree.” Id. at 196. “Major life activities” refers to those activities that are of central
importance to daily life. Id. at 197. Although there is no exhaustive list of activities, the Supreme
Court has cited to the Rehabilitation Act regulations, which defines major life activities to include
“functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing,
speaking, breathing, learning, and working.” 45 C.F.R. § 84.3(j)(2)(ii); Williams, 534 U.S. at 195.
These terms must be interpreted strictly to create a demanding standard for qualifying as disabled.
Id. The Act requires the existence of a disability to be determined on a case-by-case manner. Id.
at 198; 42 U.S.C. § 12101(2).
The parties do not dispute that Gerton’s wrist condition qualifies as a physical “impairment”
under the statute. Gerton argues on appeal that the impairment is a “disability” because it
substantially limits her major life activities of lifting, performing manual tasks and working. We
address each activity below.
2. Lifting
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Interpretive Guidance specifically
includes “lifting” as a major life activity. 29 C.F.R. pt. 1630, App. § 1630.2(i); see Penny v. UPS,
128 F.3d 408, 414 (6th Cir. 1997); see also, Mahon v. Crowell, 295 F.3d 585, 591 (6th Cir. 2002).
9
Gerton argues that because a Verizon doctor restricted her from lifting more than 10 lbs. (later 5
lbs.), this is evidence of the “employer’s” state of mind that the employer “regarded” Gerton as
disabled and that she is disabled since “lifting” is a major life activity, citing Ross v. Campbell Soup
Co., 237 F.3d 701 (6th Cir. 2001)2 and Hayes v. United Parcel Service, 17 Fed.Appx. 317 (6th Cir.
2001) (unpublished). (Appellant’s Br., pp. 17-18)
Gerton analogizes her claim involving “lifting” to a case involving “sitting.” She cites
Hayes, an unpublished decision, which involved an individual who claimed that his back injury
rendered him unable to sit, where “sitting” is a major life activity. Hayes, 17 Fed.Appx. at 320. The
district court ruled that the plaintiff was required to compare his ability to sit with the average
person’s ability to sit and that he had failed to provide such evidence. The plaintiff in Hayes
presented evidence that he participated in an occupation readiness program for four months where
he was evaluated and his sitting capability was measured at 20 or 25 minutes. Id. at 320. On appeal,
we determined that the plaintiff was not required to present evidence comparing the average
person’s ability to sit with his own ability to sit, stating, “[c]ommon sense and life experiences will
permit finders of fact to determine whether someone who cannot sit for more than this period of time
is significantly restricted as compared to the average person.” Id. at 321. Gerton argues that
because she has presented evidence that she was restricted at work from using her right hand and
lifting not more than 5 lbs., she is also unable to perform any lifting activities in her daily life
2
Although Gerton raised the major life activity of “lifting” in her brief before the district
court, Gerton did not raise the “regarding as” argument below. This court need not address
arguments not presented to the district court. Fed. R. App. 10(a); United States v. Bonds, 12
F.3d 540, 552 (6th Cir. 1993). We note Ross addressed the issue of the “regarded as” theory
under the ADA which directs the courts to look to the state of mind of the employer against
whom a plaintiff makes a claim. Ross, 237 F.3d at 706. Ross will not be considered since the
issue was not raised below.
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outside work and is therefore disabled based on the major life activity of “lifting.”
Hayes is distinguishable. Unlike Hayes, Gerton did not submit any evidence which
measured her inability to lift at work, other than Dr. Mueller’s restrictions not to lift 5 or 10 lbs. Dr.
Mueller restricted Gerton to lifting 10 lbs., and later, 5 lbs., between March 20 and 29, 2001. (J.A.
490-96) The medical records do not show that she was unable to lift more than 5 or 10 lbs., nor do
they show that she was required to demonstrate her ability to lift. (J.A. 490-96)
Even if Hayes was applicable, that decision was issued before the Supreme Court’s opinion
in Williams. In the context of the major life activity of performing “manual tasks,” “the central
inquiry must be whether the claimant is unable to perform the variety of tasks central to most
people’s daily lives, not whether the claimant is unable to perform the tasks associated with her
specific job.” See Williams, 534 U.S. at 200-01; see also, Equal Opportunity Employment Comm’n
v. Daimler Chrysler Corp., 111 Fed. Appx. 394, 399 (6th Cir. 2004) (unpublished opinion). Gerton
points to no evidence that her impairment substantially limited her ability to lift in her daily life
outside work. Even if Gerton was unable to lift more than 5 or 10 lbs., she has not presented any
evidence to show that the inability to lift this amount substantially limits her ability to lift anything
else she requires in her daily life outside work. Gerton has not submitted sufficient evidence to raise
a genuine issue of material fact that her impairment limits her major life activity of lifting.
3. Manual Tasks
“When addressing the major life activity of performing manual tasks, the central inquiry
must be whether the claimant is unable to perform the variety of tasks central to most people’s daily
lives, not whether the claimant is unable to perform the tasks associated with her specific job.”
Williams, 534 U.S. at 200-01. “It is insufficient for individuals attempting to prove disability status
11
under this test to merely submit evidence of a medical diagnosis of an impairment.” Id. at 198. In
Williams, the plaintiff was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, and, due to her impairment, she
could not perform “repetitive work with hands and arms extended at or above shoulder levels for
extended periods of time.” Williams, 534 U.S. at 201 (quotation omitted). Even though the
plaintiff’s impairment in Williams caused her “to avoid sweeping, to quit dancing, to occasionally
seek help dressing, and to reduce how often she plays with her children, gardens, and drives long
distances ... these changes in her life did not amount to such severe restrictions in the activities that
are of central importance to most people’s daily lives that they establish a manual task disability as
a matter of law.” Id. at 202.
Gerton argues that because of the nature of her impairment and her work restriction that she
cannot use the right hand and can only lift 5 lbs. with her left hand, one can infer a broader limitation
on the major life activity of performing manual tasks, such as the inability to care for herself, or to
do all of the variety of tasks central to most people’s daily lives, that require the use of two hands.
(Appellant’s Br., p. 21) As the Supreme Court noted, the ADA did not intend to allow “everyone
with a physical impairment that precluded the performance of some isolated, unimportant, or
particularly difficult manual task to qualify as disabled.” Williams, 534 U.S. at 197. Other than by
inference, Gerton points to no evidence that she was unable to care for herself or to perform any
household tasks or any activities that were of central importance to her daily life in March 2001 or
September 2001. Gerton has not submitted any evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact
that her impairment substantially limits her ability to perform manual tasks in her daily life outside
work.
4. Working
12
Because Gerton is unable to show that her impairment substantially limits her major life
activities of lifting and manual tasks, we turn to her claim that she is substantially limited from the
major life activity of working.
The major life activity of “working” has been treated as a residual category resorted to only
when a complainant cannot show she is substantially impaired in any other, more concrete major
life activity. Mahon, 295 F.3d at 590 (citing Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471, 492, 119
S. Ct. 2139, 144 L. Ed. 2d 450 (1999)). An individual is substantially limited in the major life activity
of working if the claimant is precluded from more than one type of job, a specialized job, or a
particular job of choice. Mahon, 295 F.3d at 591 (citing Sutton, 527 U.S. at 492). If jobs utilizing
an individual’s skills are available, one is not precluded from a substantial class of jobs. Id. In order
to show that a claimant is precluded from a substantial class or broad range of jobs, courts must
compare the claimant’s access to jobs to the access available to a non-injured individual with similar
training and experience, looking specifically to the labor market in the claimant’s geographic
vicinity. Id.
Gerton claims Verizon failed to accommodate her on two occasions, after March 19, 2001,
and, after September 10, 2001. The question then is whether Gerton was disabled on March 19 and
September 10.3 Other than the diagnosis on March 20, 23, and 29, 2001, indicating that Gerton had
3
There is evidence on the record which may raise a genuine issue of material fact as to
whether Gerton was disabled after she failed to return to work on September 25, 2001. (See
January 13, 2003 Opinion, Order and Award by Kentucky’s Department of Workers Claims and
Gary A. Shaw’s April 28, 2003 Evaluation; J.A. 513-521) Gerton does not challenge on appeal
the district court’s ruling that she could not prevail on a disability claim after September 25,
2001. Although the Opinion and Evaluation note Gerton was disabled, there is no determination
in the Opinion and Evaluation that Gerton was disabled on March 19 and September 10, 2001.
Even if this evidence raised a genuine issue of material fact regarding Gerton’s disability on
March 19 and September 10, 2001, Gerton failed to show that Verizon did not reasonably
13
carpal tunnel syndrome on her right hand, Gerton has not presented any evidence that she was
unable to perform a substantial class or a broad range of jobs in various classes. Gerton specifically
admits she was able to perform the Toll Operator position, requested such a transfer, and, was
performing fine as a Toll Operator with one hand. (J.A. 186-87, 410) Gerton has only claimed that
she was unable to perform the DA Operator position. Even though Gerton continued to perform the
DA Operator position from March 19, 2001 through April 26, 2001, she was able to perform the
duties of that position, by using her left hand. (J.A. 412) Gerton is unable to show that she was
disabled from working on March 19, 2001 because she has not shown that she did not have the
ability to perform a substantial class or broad range of jobs.
As to whether Gerton was disabled on September 10, 2001, Gerton admits that she was
working “fine” as a Toll Operator with one hand. (J.A. 187) Gerton was still able to perform the
DA Operator position until her last day at work, September 21, 2001. It was not until that day that
Gerton “just couldn’t bear it anymore” and her “hand wouldn’t do it.” (J.A. 448, 451) Gerton did
not return to work after September 25 because she could no longer perform either the DA or the Toll
job. (J.A. 156) Disability claims by Gerton after September 25 are not before this court. As noted
above, Gerton does not challenge on appeal the district court’s ruling that Gerton failed to
demonstrate a viable claim of disability discrimination based on Gerton’s inability to use either
hand, because Gerton did not request any specific accommodation for work without using either
hand.
Gerton claims that given her physical impairment, her education and work experience, she
was significantly limited in her ability to pursue employment in any other sector of the economy.
accommodate her, as more fully discussed below.
14
Gerton submits the opinion of Gary A. Shaw, a Certified Employment Consultant, to support her
claim. (J.A. 520-21) Mr. Shaw opines that considering Gerton’s “age, education, limited
transferable skills, and physical impairments, it is unlikely that she can successfully compete in the
job market today.” (J.A. 521) “Employers have shown reluctance to employ workers who cannot
fully comply with the job description and who need special concessions, or those who work with
the distraction of pain.” (J.A. 521) Mr. Shaw’s opinion did not compare Gerton’s access to jobs to
the access available to a non-injured individual with similar training and experience, looking
specifically to the labor market in Gerton’s geographic vicinity. Gerton has not presented sufficient
evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact that her impairment substantially limited the major
life activity of working.
We affirm the district court’s finding that Gerton failed to submit any evidence tending to
show that her wrist condition impeded her ability to perform other jobs, and, therefore, is not
disabled within the meaning of the ADA.
5. Reasonable Accommodation
In a claim for discrimination based on disability, “[if] the plaintiff fails to establish a prima
facie case, it is unnecessary to address the question of reasonable accommodation.” Gaines,107
F.3d at 1176 (citing Jasany v. United States Postal Service, 755 F.2d 1244, 1250 (6th Cir.1985)
(citations omitted)). Even if Gerton could show she was disabled, as the district court noted, Gerton
does not dispute that Verizon provided her the only accommodation she ever specifically requested.
Gerton performed as a Toll Operator from late April 2001 to September 10, 2001, and, Gerton’s
request to be assigned permanently to Toll was approved on September 20, 2001. Gerton is
apparently claiming that Verizon did not reasonably accommodate her because it did not
15
“immediately” move her from the DA Operator position to the Toll Operator position upon her
request, specifically, on March 19 and September 10, 2001. Gerton has not cited any authority to
support her argument that an employer must “immediately” act on an accommodation request by an
employee. We have held that an employee cannot base a disability discrimination claim upon an
employer’s delay in providing a requested accommodation where the delay is due to internal
processing or to events outside the employer’s control. See Kaltenberger v. Ohio College of
Podiatric Medicine, 162 F.3d 432, 437 (6th Cir. 1998); see also Selenke v. Med. Imaging of
Colorado, 248 F.3d 1249, 1262 (10th Cir. 2001).
As to the March 19, 2001 date, Verizon waited until the end of April 2001 to move Gerton
from the DA Operator position to the Toll Operator position. However, while a DA Operator,
Gerton was able to perform the job by using one hand and taking frequent breaks.
Regarding the September 10, 2001 claim, Verizon submitted evidence that it was not until
later in the afternoon of September 10 that it received the fax from Gerton’s personal physician
regarding the medical records to support her request. Less than two weeks later, on September 21,
2001, after consultation with Verizon’s retained physician, Gerton’s personal physician, and the
review by the Verizon ADA Group, Gerton’s supervisor was notified that her request for transfer
to the Toll group was approved. September 21, 2001 was the last date Gerton physically worked
at Verizon.
Gerton has not shown sufficient evidence that any delay in her request for accommodation
was unreasonable. Gerton admits that she was able to perform the DA Operator position with one
hand, and, it was not until her last day of work on September 21, 2001 that she was unable to use
both hands. The district court did not err in finding that, even though Gerton failed to prove a prima
16
facie case, Verizon reasonably accommodated Gerton, even though the accommodation was not at
the exact time of her request.
III.
For the reasons set forth above, we affirm the district court’s order granting summary
judgment in favor of Verizon.
17