-RSB Brushwood v. Wachovia Bank, N.A. et al, No. 7:2010cv00565 - Document 52 (W.D. Va. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 2/28/12. (eot)

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rap< s OFFI U. DI . COURT CE s. sT ATROANOKE, VA FI ED L I TH E UNI N TED STATES DI STRI CO URT CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A R O AN O K E D I I O N V SI LY NN H . U SH W O O D , BR FEB 23 2 1 22 J A C. ULI DOD E CL X ERK BY; Ci lA c i N o.7: 0- 00565 vi ton 1 cv- Pl ntf ai if, M EM O R AN D UM O PI I N N O V. W AC H O V I BAN K , . . e a . A NA,tl Defendant . s By:Sam ue G . is l W l on U ni St es D itri Judge ted at s ct TheFamiyM e c Le Actof1 ( LA) 29U. C.j2611ets q.( l dial ave 993 FM , S. e 2006) , r quiesaco e e oye t g a al a ofa e et a e oye wihoutpa f rup t e r ver d mpl r o r nt e ve bs nc o n mpl e t y o o t e ve w e ksdurng a t e ve- ont pe i f va i r a ons i l ng s roushe lh w l e i ny w l m h rod or rous e s nc udi e i at c tons i a cia i il s orc tonst tl tf m or t n t e co e tve da . ondii - nc pa t tng lnes es ondii ha as or e ha hr e ns cu i ys The FM LA pr ec s a e pl ot t n m oyee who haspr de G uf i i nti or a i ' orhe e pl r ovi d û fc e nf m ton' f s r m oye çoras bl dee mi whehe t FM LA ma a yt t (mpl e')la r ues'fo t e ona y tr ne t r he t y ppl o he e oye s e ve eq t' rm he e oye' i efr ewihhe rghtt tket r quetdl ve. C. R.j825. 1 r mpl rs ntreenc t r i o a he e se ea 29 F. 30349. F lwiga iju t he f o , an ifLy nBr s wo dn tfe he e o e, el F r o ol n n nty o r o tplitf n u h o o iid r mply r W l a g o s Baz , NA ( e1 Far , ta s woul beabs ntf rmor t n one da butwoul beuna e l k d e o e ha y d bl W 1 go)1 h t he s t obt n adocorse us t te end be o ai t ' xc e ha xt ed yond asng eda Hers r s i or he t t i l y. upe vior nf med r ha W e l Fa go w o d t r i t he f ran une us a e s W he Bnz hw ood f ied t r por ls r ul e m na e r o y xc ed bs nce . n s al o e t 1Br hwood began herem pl oymentw ih a W a t chovi Bank,N .A.pr a us edeces orba W elsFar s nk. l go pur ed W a chas chovi i lt 2008,and t dealcl ed on Decembe 31 toft ye . The pl ntf names a n ae he os r s hat ar ai if bot W achovi Bank,N. and W elsFar Ba N. .TheFM LA expr sy defnesEempl 't h a A. l go nk A es l i d oyer' o i ldes c so si it r t 29U. C. 261 ( )A)i)I) seas Co v. ta tTr n p.I .45 ncu uc e s r n n ees. S. j 14 ( (i(l; e lo bb Conr c a s .nc, 2 F. 5 ,5 ( hCi. 6) Thu , ehe W a h i orW elsFa g e o e Bnlhwo a a y 3d 43 51 6t r200 . s wh t r c ova l r o mply d s od t n gi tm ei ir e ven i s r elvantf t pur esoft scas and t def or he pos hi e, he endant w ilber ered t asW elsFar s l ef r o l go t oughout hr . r t wor ont s c day,W elsFar t r nae he e oy e . Them at ri be or t o k he e ond l go e mi t d r mpl m nt te s f e he c u t nt ep ris co smo in f rs mmayj d me t Thsc s r ie teq eto o o r o h a t ' r s - to s o u r u g n . i a e as s h u sin f e whehe Br hwood' sa e e t he e oye ,c ryi a i di t i plctm e s et the t r us s tt m nt o r mpl r ar ng s t d he m i i s ag ha r d co di n t eiv h rc n iint b s fkinl s ro st j tf he a e c frmo eta o tr d o b le e e o dto o e u t e ty eiu o usiy r bsn e o r h n a sngl da wass fcintnotcet s wastki pr ecedm e c llav Thecour fnds i e y, ufi e i hat he a ng ot t di a e e. ti t a i wa n t n g a t W el Fag ' mo inf rs mmayj d me t h tt s o a d r ns ls r o s to o u r u g n . 1. Br hwood s r d i varouspostonsa W e l Fa go,a W el Fa go empl d he as us e ve n i ii t ls r nd ls r oye r ape s ls r c r pr s nt tve whe i tr na e he i M a 201 f re es i a en e im . rona e vie e e e ai n t e mi t d r n y 0 o xc sve bs t e s W el Fa gous d apoi s tm t tr r c itnta tnda ls r e nt yse ha ewa ded onsse te nce a punc ua iy a nd t lt nd p n l e t c e ulda snc sa dtr ie s ( n De . 0 1 Aug 29 201 . W el Fag e ai d msh d e b e e n a dn s .Ke t p 3 :, . , 1) ls r o z de t dpoi sf uns he e a e esa t r ne sa ad poi sf e h mont i duc e nt or c dul d bs nc nd a di s nd ded nt or ac hn whc teewe en u s h d lda s n e o lt arv l.Br s woo De 1 6 1 -2 , g ih h r r o n c e u e b e c s r ae rias ( u h d p. 4 :5 2 Au . 22,2011)Ne tvef t onepoi sti rd a i oma wnni a ne tveffy-e n . gai orynt rggee n nfr l r ng nd gai it sve poi stigerdtr nai ( uhwoodDe 1 11 9. Ce ti tpe ofa e es s ha nt rg e emi ton.Br s p. 47: -1 ) ran y s bs nc , uc s FMLA la ,rggee nopoitrduci whas e r2( r s ood Dep 1 1 e ve ti rd n e ton to ve. B u hw 45:2-23. W el ) ls . Far docke Br hwood' poi son t e s pa aeoc so fom J go d us s nt hr e e r t ca i ns r anua y t ough M a c of r hr rh 201 no o whih s cai t r al ( us dDe 1 -711 -1 1 11 6,1 3, 0, ne f c he l ms o ec l, Br hwoo p. 70 :8 9, 75: -1 78: 1 1 -2 , ipe lz dhe f f c e utveda oft c ulda enc si Aprlof 87:8 4) and t naie r or our ons c i ys mshed e bs e n i 2D urig hert e a W elsFar , Br n enur t l go ushwoodt FM LA l veon t e s at occasons i ook ea hr e epar e i :n 1998 t r coverf om s ger i 2001t r o e r ur y, n o ecoverfom s ger and i 2009 durng tea mentf r ur y, n i r t or d pr so ( u h odDe 1 9:-24. Br s wo p o d dW e l Fagowihad t rsnoef re c e esin.Br s wo p. 5 1 ) u h od r vie ls r t oco ' t o a h o c son.Br h dDe 1 0:-8. c a i ( us woo p. 6 1 ) t tye r3( us ood Dep 1 -90:76. Thoug Br hwood' poi balnc ha rac d ha a . Br hw 89 1 ) h us s nt a e d e he . ne tve62.,W elsFagoga he awani i ta oftr nai he .( us odDe gai 5 l r ve r r ng nse d emi tng r Br hwo p. 1 8 2. 94:-1 ) Upon be ng wa ne Br s i r d, u hwood e es e c e n t he i m e a e s pe v s ,Dor s xpr s d onc r o r m di t u r i or i Ke ,a t Ke ' s pe vio , t e n J on,t ti wa pos i et ts t ng es mi nt nd o nts u r s r Ka hle ohns ha t s sbl ha ome hi le ght ha n be ppe yond he contolt twoul c us he t miswor r r ha d a e ro s k.Ac or ngt Bnzhwood, c di o s J on r ple t tBnzhwood wa agood e oye a t ti a hi c m eup s s d ohns e i d ha s s mpl e nd ha f nyt ng a he houl dic si wihKe t ( u hwoodDe 1 s us t t n .Br s p. 97-9823-7. Br s 1 ) u hwood a knowl ged, ve ,ha c ed howe r t t s unde soodt ts wasnote mptdfom W el Fago' atnda epolc ( u h he rt ha he xe e r ls r s te nc iy.Br s wood De 1 13 ) p. 98: -15. On Sa ur y,M a 1 201 Br hwood washa ng c ti whie sa ngon a t da y , 0, us ngi urans l t ndi r lni s aa he hom ewhe s se d bewe n t s a' c hi a c he f on t eci ng of t r n he t ppe t e he of s us ons nd ut r oot he mea rcie me h n s ( u h o De 20 4 . Th u hh rc twa ble i g tl e ln r c a im. Br s wo d p. 9:-9) o g e u s e d n , Bz h o d cd dt ce na dwrpi rte ta g t t eh s tl( u h o De . 0 us wo d e ie o la n a t ah r h n o o h o pi . Br s wo d p 2 9 a 1 25 ) Howe r s a ke di pan,a he h ba t he t Caii Hos t on 0: -5. ve, he wa ne n i nd r us nd ook r o rlon pial Sunda ( us y. Br hwoodDe 21 6-11. Ac or ngt t me ca rpol t c wa t e p. 0: ) c di o he di l e t he ut s hre c ni tr ln a dd dn tr s l i afa t r .Pls M o .o Pat l J, . , No. 3 e t es o g n i o e ut n r cu e ( '. t f r ri S..Ex 5 ECF 3 me a 5. Thete tngphyscana t hos t cea dt c ,ga Br hwood attnuss , oe ) r ai ii t he pial l ne he ut ve us ea hotwrt he apr c i i f apankil ,a ga he anot i c i t s woul beuna et r es rpton or i ler nd ve r e ndiatng hat he d bl o wokf ro ed y.Br s wo dDe 21 :0 4. s wo dr s nd di s t iet t r o n a ( u h o p. 02 -2 )Bnlh o e po e n uw s o he te tngphysca sas e ton t ts c ul r t nt wor o Tue da butt doc o wo d no rai i in' s ri ha he o d eur o k n s y, he t r ul t 3BIIhW ood i ca est i washe under t ng t tpoi swoul notac QS ndi t hat t r sandi ha nt d cumult be a e yond t he Gr tday m is f muli econs i abs esf m e calr onsand t adoct ' not woul not s s ed or tpl ecutve enc or di eas hat ors e d af c t a sg me tofpon s ( uhwoo De 1 2: 1 ) fe t he s in n it. Br s d p. 9 * 6. 3 c ngehe opi on orpr dehe a e ef beng a e fom wo k beyond asngl day. ha r ni ovi r n xcus or i bs nt r r i e ( us Br hwoodDe 21 -1125 240:9-23. p. 0 : -2, 1 ) Br s u hwood cal d Ke Sunda mor nga a i e ry M onda m or ng,l vi voie le nt y ni nd ga n a l y ni ea ng c mal i cai s woul notbea wor o M onda ( s is ndi tng he d t kn y. BnzhwoodDe 211:0 4,229:9 4; p. 1 -1 1 -2 2318 29Ke De 33: 1 4, :-1 nt p. 1 -1 34-35:9-2. Shealocaldt hos tlonM onda a t 1 ) s le he pia y, nd he hos t lco im e t t doc o woul notpr dehe wih a e us be pia nfr d hat he t r d ovi r t n xc e yondM onda y. ( s BnzhwoodDe 240 24-2. Ke caldBnzhwoodba konM onda a t dhe t t p. -41: ) nt le s c y nd ol r ha W el Fa go lkel wo d fr he i s di nots ls r i y ul ie r f he d how up f wor on Tue da a as d he i or k s y nd ke r f t r wa a ways c dc i Tue d ( us hee s ny he oul ome n s ay. Br hwoodDe 239:1 6. Bnzhwood p. 1 -1 ) s i c tdt ts coul notc i ( s dDe 239: ,a Ke e our dhe So ndiae ha he d ome n, Bnlhwoo p. 3-6) nd nt nc age rl t g t he per o doc o t s ei hewoul kee he o l rt n oneday wher s woul be o o r s nal t r o e f d p r ut onge ha e he d abl t quaiyfrs ttnn dia lt a FM LA. ( ntDe 37: ) Br hwoode ane e o lf o hor-e s biiy nd ' Ke p. 3-6. us ' xpli d t ts ha t ve c l ove t Ca ii a s i ...tsnotgoi t beac e a e a wo k; ha he d t n aled r o rlon nd ad i' e ng o c pt bl t r a dCaiin glo ptl . s i gh te tn e r e c r o p y iin p tta o ed y' n rlo lq s i . . ad t e raig meg n y o m h sca ) u i s n a , a ' ( u h o De 2 9:9 25 , n wh nKe t n o r g dBr s wo dt c na tBr s wo d' Br s wo d p. 3 1 - ) a d e n e c u a e u h o o o tc u h o s pe s lphysc a Br s r ona ii n, u hwood i it d t tç rdocorwo d no ove rdewha t e r e y nsse ha t he t ul t ri t he me g nc r docorhadt dhe .' ( e tD ep 37: 8. oom t ol r'4 K n 6- ) . Br hw o di notg i t w o k on Tues y,M a 4 h,a s ca l d K e t t l he t t us od d o no r da y t nd he le nt o e l r ha s wassiluna et wok.( us he tl bl o r Br hwoodDe 211:5-1 ) Ken c ld Br hwoodba kt t p. 1 8. t ale us c ha da a i or dhe t tW elsFagowasfrnghe .Ke tDe 31: y nd nf me r ha l r ii r ( n p. 20-23;Br hwoodDe us p. 21120 2. J o ( ntss vio) Ke ' st l de,a HR a s sma t de son : -2 ) ohns n Ke ' uper s r, nts ie ea r nd dvior de he cii 4I herdeposii , Br hw ood s d s di notr al dicussng obo i ng anot fom her ton us n ai he d ec l s i ni er pe s na do t r t ug s edi n tc nr ditKe tsa c un i a ywa ( us woo De 2419 0 ro l co ,ho h h d o o ta c n ' c o t n n y. Br h d p. :-1 ) ((' no g nasy ta c s r ai din' tk pa e ld n'r c lt a c n rai ' ; 2 : 7 (E & m t on a h t on e v ton d t a e lc . o t e al h t o ve s ton.l ( 411 ) t l ' l d n'r c l ta c nv ra i ' o t e a lh t o e s ton.) ' t fr Br hwood.( De 24:2 4. Br s o ie us Kent p. 1 -1 ) uhwoodca i ot ofiet Frda t me nt he fc hat i y o r m ove he pe s lpos e s ons a wasgi wrte notc c i ng t tW e l Fa go ha e r r ona ss i nd ven it n i e onf nui ha ls r d frdh rf ri te d nc p i vo ainll'( n De . :- ) ie e o û tn a e ont ilto s. Ke t p 422 4. a ' Afe he i ta M a 2, 0vii t t hos t ,Br hwoodne v st a docoron tr r nii l y 201 st o he pial us xt i ied t Frda M a 7,201 ( us i y, y 0. Br hwoodDe 257:4 5. He docorga he a he pr citon p. 1 -1 ) r t ve r not r esrpi f rapai le .Bnlhwo De 25 7 ) Thr monhsltrBnzhwood' f tha silno o nkilr ( s od p. 9:-9. ee t ae s s oo d tl t pr peryheae a s madea a nme wihas ge ( us o l ld, nd he n ppoit nt t ur on.Br hwood De 26 7 ) The p. 2:-8. slge i or e he t a c tha f tr on nf m d r hat ys d onne a afe t uns ce s u nons gi a pr ed es d nd, tr wo uc s f l ur c l oc ur , peronne s g r on Aug t20t t rmovei.BnlhwoodDe 263:-7,265: 1 ) f d ur e y us h o e t( s p. 1 * 0. Ac r ngt Br hwood,he f tha ye t hea e iey.( s co di o us r oo s t o l ntr l BnzhwoodDe 266: p. 22-23. ) I l. Br hw ood c a m st t i vi a i oft FM LA ,W els Far i er e e w ih he r g us l i ha , n ol ton he l go nt f r d t r i ht t tkepr eced la by frng he whe s f ld t s f wor wihoutamed c le us oa ot t e ve ii r n he aie o how or k t i a xc e. W el Fag h smo e f rs mmayj d me to t g omd .Fis,tc n e d t a ls r o a v d o u r u g n n wo r t s rti o tn s h t Br s u hwood' sa e ntt ts woul be a e tmor t n ada wihoutamedia e us wa s t t me ha he d bs n e ha y t c l xc e s nots t i ntt puti on no i e t ts w ast ki pr e t m e ca l a a s c ufk e o t t c ha he a ng ot c ed di l e ve, nd e ond,i t c ne d t a s e i fc, i n t v at eiu h at c n io 'ta j siidh ra e c . o tn s h t h ,n a t dd o ha e t ro s e l o dt n'h t u tfe e bsn e s h i Br s u hwood' sae e t W elsFa go, c e s ntal co s t tm nt o l r whih s e i ly nveye t m es a t the te tng d he s ge ha r r ai p y iindi no b le eh rc n iint b sro se o g t j tf h ra e efo wokf r h sca d t eiv e o d t o e ei u n u h o usiy e bsnc r m r o o m o et n asngl da a t tBnzhwo bele d i t bef ie f hert a tmptt obt n a r ha i e y nd ha s od ive t o utl or o te o ai n e xcus f om he f m iy phys c a wasnots fci ntnotce t ts w ast ki pr e t d m e ca er rn l i i n, uf i e i ha he a ng ot c e di l la e Co s q e ty,h c u t l g a tW el Fag ' moinf rs mmayj d me ts Un e e v . n e u nl t e o r wi r n ls r o s to o u r u g n. d r l 5Su s oprat çhe eadi , h s o r nd s l u e tras mmayj dg enti appr i e when Et pl ngs tedic veya dicos r maeil r u m on fie,a any af i t s l nd fdavis how t t e i no genui isue ast a mat i f ctand t t movant hat her s ne s o ny eral a hat he t cic sa s t c tne no r a h W el Fa go' c e i n t tBr hwood di no ,i he r um t nce , he our ed t e c ls r s ont nto ha us d t n f c ,s f rf om a s roushe t co ton. a t uf e r ei alh ndii TheFMLA a isi e ntngr ultons629CFR j825.00e s q.r uiea nd t mplme i eg ai , 1 t e ,eq r c r e pl rt gr nta l ve ofa e e t a c r d e pl e wihoutpa f rup t t l ove ed m oye o a ea bs nc o ove e m oye t y o o we ve wee durnga t l mont pe i f rvarousr as i l ng s rousil s e ks i ny weveh rod o i e ons ncudi e i lne s s i pa iai il s esorco ii nst tl tf mor t tze c ns utveda .See29 nca ct tng lne s nd to ha as or e han lr e o ec i ys C. R.j825. 1 a.çfheAc ma siunl ulf a e oye t çne f ewih,esri o F. 1 5() t' t ke t awf or n mpl r o itrer t r tan, r - d n t ee rieo >t e erg t, 2 5 a( ) a dvoao sa es j c t c nsq e ta e y h xecs f h s ih s j 61 ()1, n ilt r r ube t o o e u n il da esan a opraee tbl rle,j261 a) )'Raas l v.W ol rneW ordW ie. mag d ppr it quia e eif 7( (1. ' dae vei l d l ,535U. 81 86( nc. S. , 2002) t n e oyeei ma tdt pr denotc t he e oye whe . i mpl A. s ndae o ovi ie o r mpl r n s r quie FM LA l ve. Rhoa v. C, F.d373,382( hCi. ) Ane o e he e rs ea ' ' ds FDI 257 3 4t r 2001. mplye who t ke l a f ra qua iyi m edi alc ton m us notf hi e pl rû s n a a s e ve o lf ng c ondii t iy s m oye t oo s as p a tc b e' n û r v d s fiin i fr to fr(h le ly rt ra o a yd tnnie r cia l'a d t o i e u fce t n omain o t e mp o e o e s n bl ee n p wheh rteF LA ma a pl t t la rq et'2 C. R. 8 5.0 4 & () C h l n tc te h M y p y o he e ve e u s. 9 F. j 2 3 3 $ b . t ie oie ' W t t e oye m a bei or a a ne d noti ket FM LA byna t e o r a a o he mpl r y nf m l nd e nvo he me, he mpl ye , t m i m um ,m us r ce ve i or a i n s fc e t m ake i e de t tt l ve r ques e i ni t e i nf m t o ufi i nt o t vi nt ha he ea e td s i e ildt ud n asamatro lw. Fe R. v. 56c() Th pat mo ngf s s ntte oj gme t te f a ' d. Ci P. ()2. e ry vi or ummay ' r j dg n be r t bu de o if nni t c ur o t b i f rismo in, ndi n iyi tos p rsof u me t a s he r n f n o ng he o t f he ass o t to a de tf ng h e a t t r d whih demonsr t t a ence ofagenui i ueofm a e i f .Cel ex Cor v.Ca r t he ecor c t a e he bs ne ss t ral act ot p. tet 4 U. 3l 3 (98 .I rve ngas mmayj d n moi u e Rul 5 ,h c u tt t 77 S. 7, 23 1 6) n e iwi u r u gme t ton nd r e 6 te o r t mus drw a1utfa ei ee c si fv oft no vigpat ' Unie Sttsv. r i Trnfr r a lj siibl nfrn e n a or he nmo n ry. td ae Caol a some ' na Co.978F. 8 8 ( t Ci.1 92 (ii And ro v. b rvLo v.nc, 7U. 2 ,25 , 2d 32, 35 4h r 9 ) ctng e s n Lie t bb l .47 S. 42 5 (1 6 98 :. Sufi ency ofnotc i pa i l a quesi off ctand pari l a quesi ofl SeeK & M fci ie s rtaly ton a taly ton aw. J itVe t ev. t I tll .6 F.d 1 06 1 11( t Ci. 98 )(t- hequ sinofwh t ra y on nur Smih n '. nc, 69 2 1 , 1 6h r 1 2 igl e to f ehe n notc wasgi and i s whatt notceconssed ofand when i wasgi i one off .However ie ven, f o, he i it t ven, s act , t q e tono wh t rt no ies tsidtesa oyr q rme i o of1w.) he u si f ehe he tc aife h tmt r e uie nt s ne a ' . ' 6The Sec et y ofLa hasde s an adm i sr i sr ur pur uantt Congr ' diectve r al bor vied nitatve tuct e s o esss r i t is r atons6necess y t cary out' he Ac .Se Rags ev.W ol i W ord W i I ,535 o s ue egul i t ar o r 't t e dal verne l de. nc. U. 81 8 ( 00 ( uo i 29U. C.j2 4 . S. , 6 2 2) q tng S. 65 ) quaiyngla u rt FM LA.'Satril v.W a- atSt e .l 1 F. 973,981( h lfi e ve nde he ' tefed lM r ors nc. 35 3d 5t Ci.1 98 ( i Ce sv. Ohi Alhei rRe e rhCt.959F. r 9 ) quotng hr Ne. o z me s ac r, Supp. ,449n. ( D. 441 9 N. Oho 1 9 :; e as J h s n v P i rc , 9 c 4 6 ,1 9 W L 3 48 a * ( D. Y. i 9 7 s e lo o n o . rmeia No. 4 v 8 9 9 6 41 , t 5 S. N. J n. 1 (ç hiea e oye ' dut t i r ma beprdiae onsae nt ma by a 30, 996) tW l n mpl rs y o nquie y e c td ttme s de tee ly e t ee o e i no rq ie t b car o a t'; ihv. iwe t a tcEn c h mpo e ,h mply r s t e urd o e liv y n . Rec M d s Plsi c'. l I c, .19 c 5 5 1 9 W L 51 51 a * ( . Mih J l 2 ,1 9 )(( t mii l a n .No :4 v 2 , 9 5 48 , t 3 W D. c . uy 6 9 5 iA1 a nml n ( m, e o mus i or he e oye ofhe co ton wih s f i tdeai t ma i e de tt t mplyee t nf m r mpl r r ndii t ufk en t l o ke t vi n ha t r uesedla i pr ece a FM lA-uaiyi l ve' . he eq t e ve s ot td s v q lf ng ea .' ) The FM LA a is i pl m e i r gul tons d notpl c a one ous ort c c lb de nd t m e ntng e a i o ae n r e hni a ur n o a e pl yee s e ng t t ke FM LA pr t c e l ve The e pl e sm pl m us ç o d n n m o e ki o a o e t d ea . m oye i y t û vi e pr s fce i or tonf (heje o t r a o bl deemi 't tt FM LA mi a yt ufiint nf mai or t mplyer o e s na y tr ne'ha he ght ppl o t l verque t29C. R.j825. 1 Hee, u hwoodi or Kenthe s r iort t he ea e s. F. 30349. r Br s nf med , r upe vs ,ha t e e ge y r he m r nc oom docorha r us d t gi he a e us t te e d be t d ef e o ve r n xc e ha xt nde yond asngl da i e y, a Br hw ood r s s e K e ' s nd us e it d nt s ugge ton t tBr hwood c a tBnz hw ood' pe s l s i ha us ont c s s r ona physc a smpl r po ng t tt rdoc o woul notove d wha t e r nc r m ii n, i y es ndi ha t he tr d ni e t he me ge y oo d co ha t l h r'( n De 3 6 ) ne d do n tBnlh o sme sg o j ciey o t r d od e . Ke t p. 7:-8 .I tn e r o , s wo d' sa e b e tv l ' vi wedditlst t s: u hwood' teai physcin di no bei veherc ton t be e sil o hi Br s s r tng i a d t le ondii o s fiinl sro t j siyh ra s n efo wokf rmo et a asnged ya Br h o u fce t eius o u tf e b e c r m r o r h n i l a nd us wo d y t houghti f ie a woul notr que t a e us fom he pe s t utl, nd d e s, n xc e r r r onalphysc a Und rt s ii n. e he e cic s a s t c ttndst tBr hw oo f l d t pr de W e l Fa go s f c e r um t nce , he our i ha us d aie o ovi ls r uf i i nt i or a i t m a i e de t tt l a s w a r nf m ton o ke t vi nt ha he e ve he s eque tng w a qua i yi l ve unde t si s lf ng ea r he FM LA . Afe r c vi ade t no i e a e oye i ( xpe t d t ob an a a tona tr e ei ng qua e tc , n mpl r s t c e o t i ny ddii l e rquiedi o mai t oughi oma me ns'See29C. R.j825. e r nfr ton hr nfr l a . ' F. 303*) Br hwoodag s . us rue t tW elsFa go ha a oblgai t i r f t r Tho h t c tc l st t ha l r d n i ton o nquie urhe . ug he our onc ude ha Br s u hwood' notc w a nots fc e t ti rt FM LA oblg i nsa s ie s ufi i nt o r gge he i ato dequa e no i e woul t tc d ha ti r ;i i cea t tKe di notltt m a trr twih Br hwood' r pr s ntton ve rgge ed, t s l r ha nt d e he te es t us s e e e ai t the tea i em e ge y r ha r r tng r nc oom phys c a w oul notgi he a e us f m or t n a s ngl ii n d ve r n xc e or e ha i e da Ke , t ts c s, nc ur d Bnlhwoodt s kan e us f o he pe s l y. nt wihou uc es e o age s o ee xc e r m r r ona physcan.Br s ii u hwoo sf l r t s e s h a e us duet aper ei d f iiy ofs h an d' aiu e o e k uc n xc e o c ve utlt uc efor sym i d W elsFa go' f t ri i y. A c or ngl W e l Fa go di notha an f tt e l r s urhe nqu r c di y, ls r d ve oblg i t i r f rhe whe i t r i t Br s iaton o nquie u t r n t e m naed u hwood' empl e whe s f ie t s oym nt n he a ld o r t t wor f t s c da e um o k or he e ond y. I a e oye hasgi n a uaenotc a e oye ma i iti wrtng on r c vi f n mpl e ve deq t ie, n mpl r y ns s n ii e ei ng a c rii a i w ihi ffe da f om a he t c r pr de t tt e pl e tfc ton t n i t en ys r alh a e ovi r ha he m oyee ha a qua iyi s lf ng, i a cttngil s . C. R.j825. /)& ( ;s eas Rhoa ,257F. a 38 nc pa iai lne s 29 F. 305( b) e lo ds 3d t 3. Br s u hwood a guest tW e l Fa g a t d pr m aur l whe i t r naed Bnzhwood be or t r ha ls r o c e e t ey n t e mi t s f e he ffe n- ype i t pr deace ttc ton ha r Shes esst thad W elsFa g nota t d ite da rod o ovi rii a i d un. ugg t ha l ro ce s quikl s woul hav s ppled ac riia i .B How ever W el Fa go ne rr que t d t t o c y he d e u i e tfc ton ls r ve e se ha , 7Abs nts cintnotce, t r ponsbiiy oft empl rt obt n a tonali onna i i e um e i he es i lt he oye o ai ddii nf ton s n trj ee , n tee ly rcnd n la ee e iitrso th e ly eh sasro sh at o tig rd a d h mpo e a e y ev v n f tu n u te mpo e a eiu e l h c dil Rod iue v. t il Pa kl Co, 4F. up 2d50 51 -1 ( M d 200 ) Aub h n on ton. rg z Smihfed c nc .45 S p. 8, 5 6 D. . 8 ; uc o v. a Fie ml s Gmb l 35 F. 9 , (t Ci. 00 . Kn uf b r as. l, 9 3d 50 951 7 h r 2 4) 8Thatr es a i sandsi s p contas t Kentsuncontadi ed de ii t tmony t epr entton t n har r to ' r ct poston esi hat Br hwood woul noteven s a excus fom he per onalphyscin becaus Br hwood t us d eek n er r s ia e us houghti t woul bef ie. Br hwood' r d utl us s espons gave no i c i t s needed orwass ngtme t obt n e ndiaton hat he eeki i o ai medi verfca i ofa s i medi condii Ra her Br hwood' r ponseconveye t clar cal ii ton erous cal ton. t , us s es d he e mess t t e er y r physi a had notand woul nots y he wih anot rmedial age hat he m genc oom cin d uppl r t he c excus and s woul notbe s ng one fom herperonalphysci e he d eeki r s i an. 8 Br hwoodpr vi a c rii to no wa W el Fa go u ra oblgai t do s bec us us o de e tfcai n, r s ls r nde ny i ton o o a e Bnlhw o f l d t gi a qua e notc s od aie o ve de t i e. Fi l Br s naly, u hwood contndst t a rW elsFar t r naed he a s r t nwdt e ha , he l go e mi t r nd he e u o he ofie o cr c t c lc he pe s nale f ct,i ha t be obvi t W elsFa got ts r fc n uthes o ole t r r o fe s t d o ous o l r ha he i fc h das ro sme c l o d t nu d rteFMLA j siyn h ra e c s Asu n n a t a eiu dia c n ii n e h o u tf ig e bsn e . s mig wihoutde i ng t the a a a ea t ofieon c u c si caed t ts ,i f c , d a t c di ha r ppe r nc t he fc r t he ndi t ha he n a t ha s rousmedia c ton,4 ie t tcome a t analeg d i ere e e wih a empl e' ei c l ondii ç c ha not s fer l e nt f r nc t n oye s FM LA rg si i fe tve,e n i t c e woul ha b n s fc e .' i ht s ne f c i ve f he ont nt d ve ee ufii nt'Couik v. or a c M g n, No. l vl 201 W L 51 206( D. De 1 201 ;s as Ha 4:0c 53, 0 58 S. Ga. c. 4, 0) ee lo mmonv. DHL Aiwa s I c,1 5F.d4 , 51( t Ci.1 9 )(ee t FMLA cam wheeteplitf r y .n . 6 3 41 4 6h r 9 9 rj ci ng li r h an if fie t n tf hi e ly ro hsq aiyn c n i o d rn h se ly n) ald o o iy s mp o e f i u lf ig o dt n u ig i mpo me t. i 11 1. Thenotc t tBr hwood ga W elsFa g be or W el Fa go t nni td he wasno i e ha us ve l r o f e ls r e nae r t s fce t makei e den t tt la s wa r q tng wa quaiyi l veunde t uf int o t vi t ha he e ve he s e uesi s lf ng ea r he F LA.Ac o dn l t ec u t l ga tW el F r o' moinf rs mmayj me t M c r igy,h o r wil rn l ag s to o u r u n . s Ent r:Febr r 28,201 e ua y 2. UNI TED STATES DI STRI J CT UDGE

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