Sanders-Lee v. County of Clark, No. 2:2021cv00019 - Document 31 (D. Nev. 2023)
Court Description: ORDER Granting 22 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and Closing Case. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, the Clerk of the Court enter judgment accordingly and CLOSE THIS CASE. Signed by Judge Cristina D. Silva on 5/4/2023. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - ALZ)
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Sanders-Lee v. County of Clark Doc. 31 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 1 of 17 1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA 2 3 4 5 Veronica Sanders-Lee, Case No. 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Plaintiff 6 Order Granting Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Closing Case v. 7 8 Clark County, Defendant 9 [ECF No. 22] 10 This is a civil-rights action brought by plaintiff Veronica Sanders-Lee, alleging that she 11 12 was wrongfully terminated from her position with the Clark County Department of Family 13 Services, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 1 Sanders-Lee further alleges 14 that Clark County’s actions also violated Nevada’s anti-discrimination laws. Clark County 15 moves for summary judgment, arguing that Sanders-Lee fails to meet the prima facie elements of 16 her discrimination claim because she is not a qualified individual under the ADA. I find that 17 there is no genuine dispute that Sanders-Lee would not have been able to perform the essential 18 functions of the Senior Family Services Specialist position, either with or without a reasonable 19 accommodation, and that she has not demonstrated the existence of a position to which she 20 should have been reassigned. For those reasons, I find that Sanders-Lee was not a qualified 21 individual under the ADA and that summary judgment in Clark County’s favor on all claims is 22 appropriate. I direct the Clerk of Court to close this case. 23 24 25 26 1 Sanders-Lee also brings a retaliation claim, which she now voluntarily dismisses. ECF No. 28 at 19. Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 2 of 17 1 I. Background 2 a. Sanders-Lee is hired as a Senior Family Services Specialist (SFSS). 3 Sanders-Lee was hired as a SFSS with the Clark County Department of Family Services 4 (DFS) in September 2018. Compl., ECF No. 1 at 3. The SFSS “performs a variety of professional 5 child welfare and protection duties to support the safety, permanency[,] and wellbeing of 6 children.” ECF No. 22 at 3 (citing Ex. A, Job Posting Listing, ECF No. 22-2; Ex. R, Nellis Decl., 7 ECF No 22-19). The SFSS position requires the employee to meet certain minimum employment 8 qualifications. The job listing stated that a qualified individual must be willing to work under 9 potentially abusive, hazardous, or emergency conditions, and that she must provide proof of a 10 valid driver’s license. ECF No. 22-2 at 3. 11 Some examples of SFSS duties include home visits, regular monitoring, crisis 12 intervention, home studies, driving a motor vehicle to transport children, and going to court or 13 detention facilities. Id. at 2–5. Requirements for the job include “standing and/or walking for an 14 extended period of time” and “strength to restrain and/or eject individuals.” Id. Other physical 15 demands described in the job posting include “being capable of commuting to various off-site 16 locations in order to attend meetings or make on-site visits,” and “mobility and stamina to assist 17 families experiencing crisis and support child safety and well-being.” Id. at 4–5. The SFSS job 18 listing also provides different examples of duties that a SFSS may be assigned to complete or 19 staffed to accomplish. Id. at 3–4 (citing ECF No. 22-2 at 3–5; ECF No. 22-19). Those duties were 20 listed as “Child Protective Services (CPS) & Hotline”; “Child Receiving/Placement”; 21 “Shelter/Family Visitation Services”; “Permanency Case Management (Out of Home, In-Home 22 and Adoptions)[,]” and “Foster Parent Recruitment and Licensing.” Id. at 4 (citing ECF No. 22-2 23 at 3–5, and ECF No. 22-19). 24 While Sanders-Lee does not dispute these facts, she states that she did not see the 25 details of the job description prior to getting hired. ECF No. 28 at 6. She claims that she did not 26 see the details of the job description online, that she was made aware of her job title only after 2 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 3 of 17 1 she was hired, and that she did not learn of her specific job location until the end of the 2 prerequisite training academy. Id. Sanders-Lee also states that when she was hired, she did not 3 know that Clark County was filling an open position in the Child Protective Services 2 and 4 Permanency Case Management team. 3 Id. She also submits that she did not know the specifics of 5 the SFSS position and was not made aware of the physical requirements of the job during her 6 interview or throughout her four-month training academy. ECF No. 28 at 8. 7 In support of its motion, Clark County cites to the results of a 2005 SFSS position job 8 analysis, the results of which determined that there were eight essential functions of that job: (1) 9 conducting child abuse investigations; (2) interviewing children, parents, neighbors, school 10 representatives, medical providers, and others; (3) developing treatment plans; (4) teaching and 11 modeling parenting skills; (5) working with community members, to include testifying in court 12 and enforcing court orders; (6) developing and maintaining records; (7) working with office 13 equipment (such as a computer) and driving a vehicle to conduct home visits and transport 14 children or family members; and (8) completing other work-related activities, as needed. ECF 15 No. 22-3 at 2. That same job analysis identified the SFSS position as having a number of physical 16 demands, such as standing for between three and six hours a day, lifting between 26 and 50 17 pounds, and pushing and pulling between 76 and 100 pounds. Id. at 3. The activities that 18 correlate to these demands are lifting and carrying children, installing car seats, carrying boxes 19 of paper records, restraining clients, and assisting during emergency situations. Id. at 2–4. 20 b. Sanders-Lee advises her supervisor that she has a disability. 21 Sanders-Lee’s training required her to take a “lengthy and unusual field trip and take a 22 public bus so [she could] know what it [was] like to do so.” Id. at 4. She struggled to walk to 23 several locations and requested that her training academy “coach” (identified as Roscoe) pick 24 her up—instead of riding the bus—so that she would not have to walk. ECF No. 1 at ¶ 14; ECF 25 26 2 This is called “Nevada Initial Assessment” today. 3 Sanders-Lee does not indicate what position or role she believed she was being hired to fill. 3 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 4 of 17 1 No. 28 at 33–34. After having issues with the bus segment of the training academy, Sanders-Lee 2 informed Roscoe that she had a disability that prevented her from walking long distances. 3 Sanders-Lee admits that she contacted Roscoe after a full day of walking to and from bus stops 4 and three different locations. ECF No. 28 at 11; 34–36. Sanders-Lee confirms that she said her 5 “legs would probably be physically exhausted and give way if [she] was required to make 6 multiple home visits or carry a ‘kid’ as [her] job requires,” but that such exhaustion would only 7 happen during a flare up. 4 Id. at 11–12. She submitted to Roscoe a doctor’s note indicating that 8 she could neither climb stairs nor stand or walk for prolonged periods of time. Id. at 16; ECF No. 9 28 at 39. 10 On December 7, 2018, the day after Sanders-Lee informed Roscoe of her knee injury and 11 made the request to no longer be required to walk long distances, Clark County’s Office of 12 Diversity started the interactive process required by the ADA. 5 ECF No. 22-20 at 2–3. As part of 13 that process, Sanders-Lee saw Dr. Roslyn Weingarten to complete a medical certification for an 14 ADA Accommodation. ECF No. 22-8 at 2–3. Clark County also sent a letter to the doctor 15 advising that Sanders-Lee was seeking a work-related accommodation under the ADA and that 16 the doctor must review the SFSS job duties and provide a medical opinion regarding whether 17 Sanders-Lee could perform her job duties with her medical condition. Id. at 7; Ex. S, ECF No. 2218 20 at 2–3. Dr. Weingarten examined Sanders-Lee and determined that she suffered from 19 bilateral knee pain and as a result, was unable to (1) safely lift children, (2) walk up stairs, or (3) 20 stand and walk. Weingarten Evaluation, ECF No. 22-8 at 2–3. Dr. Weingarten found that 21 Sanders-Lee needed employment at which she could sit without weight bearing and concluded 22 that this restriction would be a permanent lifelong restriction. Id. at 3. 23 Sanders-Lee also states that her knee can buckle and that walking long distances is difficult, but only during flare ups. ECF No. 28 at 11. Sanders-Lee defines a long distance by her “level of pain,” but she uses 25 the example of a “1/2 mile on a rocky sidewalk[.]” Id. 5 The Office of Diversity is the department within Clark County that evaluates and determines whether 26 an employee is disabled and whether that employee can perform the essential functions of her job, either with or without an accommodation. Bonilla Decl., Ex. S, ECF No. 22-20 at 2. 24 4 4 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 5 of 17 1 While Sanders-Lee had issues after the field trip requirement of her training academy, 2 she submits that she was able to perform the other essential duties of a field worker during the 3 job training. Such training occurred every Friday and included shadowing “staff in the field as 4 they went to various visits (i.e., home, school, jail, court and other locations).” ECF No. 28 at 12. 5 Sanders-Lee also contends that she was able to “stand, walk, climb stairs[,] and on one occasion 6 [she] sat on the floor because the family did not have any furniture.” Id. 7 c. Additional information about the parties’ interactive process. 8 As part of the interactive process, Sanders-Lee was interviewed by the Office of 9 Diversity. At the beginning of the interview, the interviewer informed Sanders-Lee of the 10 possible outcomes of her ADA accommodation request. Audio Rec., ECF No. 22-18 at 0:30–1:53. 11 Sanders-Lee responds that she understood that the job requirements would include working 12 with families and children in the system, going in to the field to make visits, attending court, and 13 doing lots of movement and walking. ADA Interview Notes, ECF No. 22-9 at 2. 14 Sanders-Lee adds that she decided to inform her supervisor of her disability after the 15 “bus ride” that involved “a lot of walking.” ECF No. 22-18 at 6:45–7:30. Sanders-Lee also advised 16 that she started having trouble walking and standing for long periods in 2014 after she broke 17 some toes. ECF No. 22-9 at 2, 5; ECF No. 22-18 at 8:23–9:44. Thereafter, she had a flareup with 18 her sciatica and hip. ECF No. 22-18 at 9:17–9:26. Her inability to stand for a long time became an 19 issue because her leg would go numb. Id. at 9:27–9:34. As a result, she began using carts to help 20 her get around supermarkets, and she continued using the carts through the date of the 21 interview. Id. at 9:35–9:44. She stated that since 2014, she had been to the doctor numerous 22 times to address issues relating to the numbness in her legs. Id. at 11:16–11:30. 23 Sanders-Lee also states in the interview that she was previously employed in California 24 as a therapist and was required to work in the field, outside of the office. Id. at 12:00–12:10. But 25 after her 2014 injury, she got a promotion that involved a desk job supervising individuals, which 26 naturally made that position more accommodating. Id. at 12:11–12:22. Sanders-Lee disputes that 5 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 6 of 17 1 she was promoted as part of her accommodation; rather, she argues that she was qualified for 2 the promotion, and the accommodation for her injury was purely incidental to the promotion. 3 ECF No. 28 at 11; ECF No. 22-18 at 17:55–18:11. 4 During the interview, Sanders-Lee also shared some of the ways in which she modified 5 her physical activity after her 2014 injury. Id. at 17:55–18:11. She advised that some personal 6 modifications included using a cane while walking long distances. Id. at 14:20–14:26. She had 7 recently opted not to attend her nephew’s college graduation because it would have involved a 8 lot of walking for her. Id. at 16:20–16:34. Sanders-Lee also stated that depending on her level of 9 pain, she might, at times, consider one block a long distance to walk. Id. at 20:15–22:29. She also 10 acknowledged that during her training, she observed employees performing activities that 11 required a lot of physical abilities. Id. at 25:12–27:05. 12 The interviewer asked Sanders-Lee if she knew that her job would 6 require her to walk 13 long distances. Id. at 22:45–23:40. Sanders-Lee responded that her ability to perform would 14 depend on each assignment, such as whether she would need to make numerous home visits in 15 one day or any home visits that involve using stairs. Id. As an example, she expressed concern 16 with her ability to carry an infant. Id. Sanders-Lee and the interviewer also discussed the 17 findings by Dr. Weingarten. When asked if she was seeking an accommodation, Sanders-Lee 18 responded that she sought “not a lot of long-distance walking or in & out of car; a seated desk 19 job (possibly intake).” 7 Id. at 35:40–35:55; ECF No. 22-9 at 3, 7. Sanders-Lee also discussed a 20 “hotline” position that would not require going out into the field as a possible reasonable 21 accommodation. ECF No. 22-18 at 35:55–36:24. When asked what Sanders-Lee would consider 22 The question was posed in the future subjunctive tense (i.e., the job “would” require her to walk) rather than the present (i.e., the job “does” require her to walk) because Sanders-Lee had not yet been officially 23 assigned to a particular job; she was still in the training academy at the time of the interview. 6 24 7 In response to interrogatories in this case, Sanders-Lee added that she requested a position that would not require picking up children. ECF No. 22-17 at 7. In her affidavit, Sanders-Lee states that when posed 25 the question about what accommodation she was seeking, the interviewer was asking a “hypothetical question,” as part of a brain-storming conversation, and ultimately that her response to the question was 26 based on her concerns about issues during “flare ups.” ECF No. 28 at 12. 6 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 7 of 17 1 to be a reasonable accommodation if a seated or desk job were not available, Sanders-Lee 2 responded that perhaps a “perm” (construed as a “permanency” position, i.e., a position with the 3 “Permanency Case Management” team, whose job functions included “on-going assessment of 4 the future risk of harm to children,” “crisis intervention,” and conducting “home studies to assess 5 placement options for children being adopted”) would work. Id. at 36:15–37:30; ECF No. 22 at 6 13–14. 7 Clark County argues that, prior to terminating Sanders-Lee, it intended to hire her for 8 the Permanency Case Management team, which makes frequent home visits. ECF No. 22-2 at 4; 9 SFSS Academy Roster, ECF No. 22-6. It states that all of the other individuals who participated 10 in and graduated from the same training academy as Sanders-Lee were assigned to either 11 “Permanency Case Management” or “Nevada Initial Assessment”; both assignments require 12 fieldwork and frequent home visits and would not be considered sedentary or “desk jobs.” See 13 ECF No. 22-6 (listing the employees as being placed with either “perm” or “NIA,” with two 14 exceptions). Clark County states that the two exceptions involved individuals from the same 15 class that were hired for specific grant positions with the “Differential Response” team, but that 16 such positions also required fieldwork and frequent home visits. Id.; ECF No. 22-19 at 4–5. 17 d. Clark County finds that Sanders-Lee is disabled but is not a qualified individual under the ADA. 18 At the conclusion of the interactive process, the Office of Diversity determined that (1) 19 Sanders-Lee was disabled but was not a qualified individual under the ADA because she was not 20 able—nor was she ever able—to perform the essential functions of the SFSS job for which she 21 was hired, and (2) there were no accommodations that could assist her in performing those 22 essential functions. ADA Determination Letter, ECF No. 22-10 at 2–3; ADA Reassignment 23 Letter, ECF No. 22-1 at 2–4; ECF No. 22-20 at 3. Sanders-Lee was terminated from her SFSS 24 position via mail sent by DFS. See ECF No. 22-12 at 2. The letter stated that she was terminated, 25 effective December 18, 2018, because she failed to complete her probationary period. Id. Sanders26 Lee argues that the Office of Diversity did not allow her to complete her probationary period, 7 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 8 of 17 1 that she was advised that she could apply for other positions, and that she did not receive any 2 responses for the additional positions to which she applied. ECF No. 28 at 12. 3 e. 4 On June 21, 2019, Sanders-Lee filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Sanders-Lee files a complaint with the EEOC and then brings this action. 5 Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for disability discrimination. ECF No. 22-13. After an 6 investigation, the EEOC determined that it was unable to conclude that there was any violation. 7 ECF No. 22-14. On January 5, 2021, Sanders-Lee filed the instant complaint against Clark 8 County for wrongful termination under the ADA, 8 retaliation under the ADA, and for violation 9 of Nevada’s antidiscrimination statutes. ECF No. 1. 10 II. Legal standard 11 Rule 56(c) provides that summary judgment must be granted when there exists no 12 genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of 13 law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986). Material facts are those which may affect the 14 outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). In determining 15 whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the court must not make credibility 16 determinations or weigh conflicting evidence. Id. at 255. Rather, the court must view the 17 evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, drawing all “justifiable inferences” 18 in its favor. Id. (internal citation omitted). The movant bears the initial burden of identifying 19 those portions of the pleadings, discovery, and affidavits which demonstrate the absence of a 20 genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323. Once the moving party has met its 21 burden of production, the nonmoving party must go beyond the pleadings and, by its own 22 affidavits or discovery, set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Id. If 23 the nonmoving party fails to produce enough evidence to show a genuine issue of material fact, 24 then the moving party wins. Id. Conclusory, speculative testimony in affidavits and moving 25 26 The complaint references the “ADAA,” in referring to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and amendments thereto; I use the initialism “ADA,” but intend it as a reference to the same legislation. 8 8 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 9 of 17 1 papers is insufficient to raise genuine issues of fact and defeat summary judgment. Thornhill Publ’g 2 Co. v. Gen. Tel. & Elecs. Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979). 3 III. Analysis 4 a. Summary judgment on Sanders-Lee’s ADA & state-law discrimination claims is appropriate 5 6 because she cannot establish a prima facie case of disability discrimination. Sanders-Lee brings a claim alleging wrongful termination in violation of the ADA, as well 7 as a state-law discrimination claim. See generally ECF No. 1. “A claim for disability discrimination 8 under the Nevada [anti-discrimination] statute is evaluated under the same standard as a federal 9 ADA claim.” Ramirez v. Wynn Las Vegas, LLC, 2022 WL 3715751, at *7 (D. Nev. Aug. 29, 2022); see 10 also Littlefield v. Nevada, ex. rel. Dep’t of Public Safety, 195 F. Supp. 3d 1147, 1152 (D. Nev. 2016) 11 (“Nevada courts apply the ADA approach to plaintiff’s state law claims.”). I thus analyze 12 Sanders-Lee’s state-law and ADA claims together. 13 In resolving summary-judgment motions for ADA claims, courts apply the burden- 14 shifting analysis derived from McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973); see also Raytheon 15 Co. v. Hernandez, 540 U.S. 44, 49–50 (2003) (applying McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting 16 framework to ADA disability-discrimination claim). Under that burden-shifting analysis, a 17 plaintiff must establish a prima facie case by showing three factors: (1) she is a disabled person 18 within the meaning of the statute; (2) she is a qualified individual with a disability; and (3) she 19 suffered an adverse employment action because of her disability. Kennedy v. Applause, Inc., 90 F.3d 20 1477, 1481 (9th Cir. 1996). Failing to establish any of these elements is fatal to an ADA claim. See, 21 e.g., Bradley v. Harcourt, Brace & Co., 104 F.2d 267, 272 (9th Cir. 1996) (affirming grant of summary 22 judgment when plaintiff “failed to produce evidence showing that she has a disability”). If a 23 plaintiff establishes her prima facie case, the burden then shifts to the defendant to articulate a 24 legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its employment action. Raytheon, 540 U.S. at 49 n.3. If a 25 defendant proffers a nondiscriminatory reason for termination, “the presumption of intentional 26 9 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 10 of 17 1 discrimination disappears,” but the plaintiff can still prove disparate treatment by offering 2 evidence that a defendant’s proffered reason is pretextual. Id. (citation omitted). 3 Applying this legal framework, I find that Sanders-Lee’s ADA wrongful-termination 4 claim fails because she cannot establish a prima facie case of disability discrimination. However, 5 as for the first prong of the analysis, she has met her burden in demonstrating that she is a 6 disabled person within the meaning of the statute. The ADA defines “disability” as “a physical or 7 mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such 8 individual.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). When deciding whether an impairment is substantially 9 limiting, courts “must consider the nature and severity of the [plaintiff's] impairment, the 10 duration or expected duration of the impairment, as well as the permanent or long-term impact 11 of the impairment.” Fraser v. Goodale, 342 F.3d 1032, 1038 (9th Cir. 2003) (internal citations 12 omitted). The defendant does not dispute that Sanders-Lee has a disability (namely, her inability 13 to walk long distances or lift significant amounts of weight). Indeed, the Office of Diversity itself 14 determined that Sanders-Lee was “an individual with a disability within the meaning of the 15 ADA.” OOD Letter, ECF No. 28 at 41. I agree. 16 Sanders-Lee must next demonstrate that she is a qualified individual. A “qualified 17 individual” with a disability is “an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable 18 accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the employment position that such 19 individual holds or desires.” 42 U.S.C. § 12111(8). Determining if a person is a “qualified 20 individual” under the ADA is a two-step inquiry. Bates v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 511 F.3d 974, 990 21 (9th Cir. 2007). First, the court must determine if the plaintiff “satisfies the ‘requisite skill, 22 experience, education[,] and other job-related requirements’ of the position.” Id. at 990 (quoting 23 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(m)). The court then considers whether the plaintiff can, with or without a 24 reasonable accommodation, perform the essential functions of the employment position that 25 such individual holds or desires.” 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(m); 42 U.S.C. § 12111(8); Johnson v. Bd. of 26 Trustees of Boundary Cnty. Sch. Dist. No. 101, 666 F.3d 561, 565 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing 29 C.F.R. § 10 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 11 of 17 1 1630.2(m)). Essential functions are the “fundamental job duties of the employment position . . . 2 not including the marginal functions of the position.” 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(n)(1). The court shall 3 consider “the employer’s judgment as to what functions of a job are essential, and if an employer 4 has prepared a written description before advertising or interviewing applicants for the job, this 5 description shall be considered evidence of the essential functions of the job.” 42 U.S.C. § 6 12111(8). “Such evidence, however, is not conclusive: ‘an employer may not turn every condition 7 of employment which it elects to adopt into a job function, let alone an essential job function, 8 merely by including it in a job description.’” Rohr v. Salt River Project Agric. Imp. & Power Dist., 555 9 F.3d 850, 864 (quoting Cripe v. City of San Jose, 261 F.3d 877, 887 (9th Cir. 2001)). 10 Here, Clark County has the burden of production in establishing what job functions are 11 essential, as “much of the information which determines those essential functions lies uniquely 12 with the employer.” Bates, 511 F.3d at 991 (citing Benson v. Nw. Airlines, Inc., 62 F.3d 1108, 1113 (8th 13 Cir. 1995)) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). To meet its burden of production, 14 Clark County “must clearly set forth, through the introduction of admissible evidence, reasons 15 for its actions which, if believed by the trier of fact, would support a finding” favorable to them. 16 St. Mary's Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 507 (1993) (internal quotation marks omitted). The 17 evidence that Clark County provides identifies the essential functions of the SSFS job to include: 18 (1) conducting child abuse investigations; (2) interviewing children, parents, neighbors, school 19 representatives, medical providers, and others; (3) developing treatment plans; (4) teaching and 20 modeling parenting skills; (5) working with community members, to include testifying in court 21 and enforcing court orders; (6) developing and maintaining records; (7) working with office 22 equipment (such as a computer) and driving a vehicle to conduct home visits and transport 23 children or family members; and (8) completing other work-related activities, as needed. ECF 24 No. 22-3. An analysis of the job’s duties identified that the SFSS position had a number of 25 physical demands, such as standing for between three and six hours a day, lifting between 26 26 and 50 pounds, and pushing and pulling between 76 and 100 pounds. Id. at 3. Clark County 11 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 12 of 17 1 argues that Sanders-Lee cannot perform the essential functions of the job because of her physical 2 limitations—as according to Dr. Weingarten, Sanders-Lee’s knee injury prohibits her from safely 3 lifting children, walking upstairs, and standing and walking. ECF No. 22-8 at 7. 4 Sanders-Lee contests whether walking, climbing stairs, standing, picking up children, 5 and the other job requirements are, in fact, essential functions, and whether the physical 6 requirements of the SFSS position as advanced by Clark County are accurate. ECF No. 28 at 17. 7 Sanders-Lee claims that walking long distances or prolonged standing was “likely marginal” and 8 “likely out of the ordinary.” ECF No. 28 at 16. She also claims that she could have been “easily 9 assigned to work a desk job[,]” an argument I address further infra. Id. 10 Sanders-Lee has failed to meet her burden of demonstrating that she was a qualified 11 individual because, even if she meets the first step of the qualified-individual analysis in 12 demonstrating that she had the skills, experience, and education necessary to act as an SFSS, she 13 merely speculates as to the second-step of the analysis: namely, that she could perform some of 14 the essential functions of the job, like walking and standing for a long periods of time. Her 15 affidavit in support of her opposition to the motion is insufficient to create a genuine dispute of 16 material fact as to that second step. FTC v. Publ’g Clearing House, Inc., 104 F.3d 1168, 1171 (9th Cir. 17 1997) (“A conclusory, self-serving affidavit, lacking detailed facts and any supporting evidence, is 18 insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact”). Similarly, a plaintiff’s opinions and 19 speculation about the essential functions of the position are insufficient to create a genuine issue 20 of material fact. Nelson v. Pima Cmty. Coll., 83 F.3d 1075, 1081–82 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[M]ere allegation 21 and speculation do not create a factual dispute for purposes of summary judgment”). On the 22 other hand, Clark County has identified the essential functions of the job—which include 23 walking and standing for long periods, as well as other physical activities that would limit 24 Sanders-Lee’s ability to complete her SFSS duties. There is no requirement that an employer 25 exempt an employee from performing the essential functions of a job. Dark v. Curry Cty., 451 F.3d 26 1078, 1089 (9th Cir. 2006). 12 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 13 of 17 1 In addition, Sanders-Lee’s opinions that “five-year-old children often do not need to be 2 picked up” and that “a social caseworker is not a peace worker who may be needed to use 3 physical strength and exertion on a regular basis” (ECF No. 28 at 16), directly contradict the 4 agency’s determination that SFSS employees, in fact, do need to pick up or restrain children on a 5 regular basis. Notably, Sanders-Lee was never actually employed as an SFSS, but DFS is 6 presumably aware of what sorts of activities its employees routinely perform. There is thus no 7 genuine dispute that Sanders-Lee could not have performed the essential functions of the job 8 without a reasonable accommodation. I therefore evaluate whether she could do so if she had a 9 reasonable accommodation. 10 A request for accommodation by an employee triggers the “interactive process” under the 11 ADA. Humphrey v. Mem’l Hosps. Assoc., 239 F.3d 1128, 1137 (9th Cir. 2001). Then, the “employer must 12 engage in an interactive process with the employee to determine the appropriate reasonable 13 accommodation.” Zivkovic v. S. Cal. Edison Co., 302 F.3d 1080, 1089 (9th Cir. 2002). “Reasonable 14 accommodations” may include “job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, [or] 15 reassignment to a vacant position.” 42 U.S.C. § 12111(9)(B). “The interactive process requires: (1) 16 direct communication between the employer and employee to explore in good faith the possible 17 accommodations; (2) consideration of the employee’s request; and (3) offering an 18 accommodation that is reasonable and effective.” Zivkovic, 302 F.3d at 1089. 19 Here, the evidence shows that Clark County engaged in the interactive process in a 20 good-faith effort to reasonably accommodate Sanders-Lee. It had her evaluated by a doctor to 21 determine the scope of her injury and to assess what job functions she could perform. It engaged 22 in direct conversation with her about possible accommodations. Sanders-Lee argues that she 23 could have been accommodated with a desk job or reassignment to a “hotline position,” or by 24 not requiring her to walk, lift children, or stand. ECF No. 28 at 17. To avoid summary judgment, 25 Sanders-Lee “need only show that an ‘accommodation’ seems reasonable on its face, i.e., 26 ordinarily or in the run of cases.” U.S. Airways, Inc. v. Barnett, 535 U.S. 391, 401–02 (2002). But 13 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 14 of 17 1 Clark County proffers evidence showing that the SFSS position requires an employee to walk 2 and stand for long periods—as well as to perform other physical demanding duties, such as 3 picking up children and loading them into vehicles—thus making Sanders-Lee’s requested 4 accommodation unreasonable. DFS’s job posting, the analysis of the job’s requirements, and 5 common sense all dictate that a social worker, working with children and families that are 6 sometimes in crisis, would need to be able to walk or stand for long periods of time, assist with 7 moving children as needed, and perform other physical activities to ensure the safety and welfare 8 of those children and families. I therefore do not find any genuine dispute that it was reasonable 9 for Clark County to reject Sanders-Lee’s suggested accommodation and turn to Sanders-Lee’s 10 argument that she could have been reassigned to a “hotline” position. 11 Sanders-Lee argues that she was cross-trained 9 during the academy for a desk job that 12 did not require any walking and did not involve any of the essential functions contained in the 13 job posting for which she was hired. Clark County disputes Sanders-Lee’s allegation that she 14 was “cross-trained” to assist with an intake or “hotline” and argues that even if she did receive 15 some training, the role she was hired to fill was that of an SFSS. It also asserts that no individual 16 who was part of Sanders-Lee’s training class was hired as or assigned to “the hotline” because (1) 17 there were no openings for that team (ECF No. 22-6 at 2–3) and (2) “hotline” positions were 18 given to experienced individuals, not new employees. See ECF No. 22-19 at 4 (“None of these 19 [hotline] positions were open when [p]laintiff was hired or employed by [DFS] . . . [f]urther, the 20 hotline positions are almost always filled by transfer employees before new employees are 21 hired.”). 22 23 24 25 In her affidavit, Sanders-Lee submits that she received a full day of on-the-job training with the hotline (intake) unit, during which she learned that there was an opening for “senior staff” and that “they were 26 filing positions for other staff” but did not provide any information regarding such positions. ECF No. 28 at 12. 9 14 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 15 of 17 1 The EEOC offers the following guidance concerning reassignment as a reasonable 2 accommodation: The longer the period of time in which an employee has adequately performed the essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation, the more likely it is that reassignment is appropriate if the employee becomes unable to continue performing the essential functions of the current position due to a disability. If, however, the probationary employee has never adequately performed the essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation, then s/he is not entitled to reassignment because s/he was never “qualified” for the original position. In this situation, the employee is similar to an applicant who applies for a job for which s/he is not qualified, and then requests reassignment. Applicants are not entitled to reassignment. 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 9 EEOC Enforcement Guidance No. 915.002 (Oct. 17, 2002). 10 Sanders-Lee never fully performed the essential functions of the SFSS role because she 11 was still on probation and in the training academy when she requested accommodations. 12 Rather, up until the bus-training day when her knee pain flared up, she performed the functions 13 of a trainee, not of the SFSS role. Consequently, she was not qualified for the SFSS position and 14 is therefore not entitled to reassignment. See O'Brien v. Napolitano, 2012 WL 423732, at *16–17 15 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 8, 2012) (granting employer’s summary-judgment motion because there was no 16 issue of fact that plaintiff was entitled to reinstatement when employee was on probation, did 17 not pass the training requirement, and never adequately performed the essential functions); see 18 also Kennelly v. Penn. Turnpike Comm’n, 208 F. Supp. 2d 504, 512 (E.D. Pa. 2002) (granting employer’s 19 motion for summary judgment in part because the plaintiff was a probationary employee who 20 never adequately performed the essential functions of the job). 21 Even if Sanders-Lee could demonstrate that she was able to perform the essential 22 functions of the SFSS position—which would then trigger reassignment—the Ninth Circuit’s 23 rule provides that when “considering reassignment as a reasonable accommodation, an employer 24 must consider not only those contemporaneously available positions but also those that will 25 “As an administrative interpretation of the Act by the enforcing agency, these Guidelines, while not controlling upon the courts by reason of their authority, do constitute a body of experience and informed 26 judgment to which courts and litigants may properly resort for guidance.” Meritor Sav. Bank, FSB v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 65 (1986) (internal quotations omitted). 10 15 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 16 of 17 1 become available within a reasonable period.” Dark v. Curry Cnty., 451 F.3d 1078, 1090 (9th Cir. 2 2006). An employer need not create a new position to accommodate a disabled employee. 3 Wellington v. Lyon County Sch. Dist., 187 F.3d 1150, 1155 (9th Cir. 1999) (“[T]he ADA does not impose 4 a duty to create a new position to accommodate a disabled employee.”). Ultimately, other than 5 her self-serving affidavit, Sanders-Lee offers no evidence that there were available “hotline” 6 positions or any other open positions that she could have filled as a reasonable accommodation. 7 Because Sanders-Lee cannot perform the SFSS position with or without a reasonable 8 accommodation, she is not a qualified individual under ADA. I need not reach the third prong of 9 the discrimination analysis, involving whether she suffered an adverse employment action. So 10 because Sanders-Lee cannot demonstrate that she qualified for reassignment or that 11 reassignment was even available, I grant summary judgment in Clark County’s favor on Sanders12 Lee’s claims of discrimination under the ADA and Nevada law. 13 14 15 b. Summary judgment on Sanders-Lee’s ADA retaliation claim is appropriate because she cannot establish a prima facie case of retaliation. A prima facie case of retaliation under the ADA requires a plaintiff to demonstrate (1) 16 involvement in a protected activity, (2) an adverse employment action, and (3) a causal link 17 between the two. Coons v. Sec’y of U.S. Dep’t of Treasury, 383 F.3d 879, 887 (9th Cir. 2004). Sanders18 Lee can demonstrate that she was disabled and that she suffered an adverse employment action, 19 but for the reasons described supra subsection a, there is no genuine dispute that Sanders-Lee 20 was terminated for reasons other than her disability (namely, her inability to perform essential 21 functions of the job to which she had applied). Clark County’s justification for terminating 22 Sanders-Lee is supported by the overwhelming weight of the evidence before the court; it is 23 clear that Clark County attempted to engage in an interactive process with Sanders-Lee to work 24 with her in spite of her injury up until the point at which the parties realized that she would not 25 be able to fulfill the physical demands of the position. Sanders-Lee does not provide any 26 evidence suggesting that DFS terminated her because of her accommodation request or 16 Case 2:21-cv-00019-CDS-BNW Document 31 Filed 05/04/23 Page 17 of 17 1 establishing a causal link between her disability and her termination, and for that reason, I grant 2 Clark County summary judgment on Sanders-Lee’s claim of retaliation under the ADA. 3 IV. Conclusion 4 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that defendant Clark County’s motion for summary 5 judgment [ECF No. 22] is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment 6 accordingly and CLOSE THIS CASE. 7 DATED: May 4, 2023 8 _________________________________ Cristina D. Silva United States District Judge 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17
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