Opinion
Civil Action No. 1:04-CV-0716.
May 17, 2005
MEMORANDUM
Presently before the court is a motion (Doc. 16) in which defendants, Penn National Insurance ("Penn National") and Hoover Rehabilitation Services, Inc. ("Hoover"), seek summary judgment on the claim of plaintiff, Linda M. Kozlowski ("Kozlowski"), of wrongful discharge under the American with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101- 12213. Defendants argue that plaintiff cannot demonstrate that she is a "qualified individual" under the ADA. The court agrees, and will grant the motion.
The pleadings also raise a claim of wrongful denial of benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001- 1401. However, Kozlowski concedes in her brief in opposition (Doc. 23 at 3-4) that the "salary continuation program" on which the claim is based does not qualify as an "employee welfare benefit plan" covered by ERISA.See 29 U.S.C. §§ 1002(a), 1132(a) (providing cause of action to recover benefits under an "employee benefit welfare plan"); 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-1(b)(2) (providing that an "employee benefit welfare plan" does not include "[p]ayment of an employee's normal compensation, out of the employer's general assets, on account of periods of time during which the employee is . . . absent for medical reasons"); see also Stern v. Int'l Bus. Machs. Corp., 326 F.3d 1367, 1371-74 (11th Cir. 2003) (stating that a "salary continuation" program does not qualify as an "employee welfare benefit plan") (citing Capriccioso v. Henry Ford Health Sys., 225 F.3d 658 (6th Cir. 2000) (unpublished)); Greenwald v. Phillips-Van Heusen Corp., No. 97-1992, 1998 WL 103382, at *1 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 25, 1998) (same). Summary judgment will accordingly be granted on these claims. See D'Angio v. Borough of Nescopeck, 34 F. Supp. 2d 256, 265 (M.D. Pa. 1999).
In accordance with the standard of review for a motion for summary judgment, the court will present the facts in the light most favorable to plaintiff, as the non-moving party. See infra Part II.
Kozlowski was employed by Penn National as an insurance underwriter from 1998 until 2003. Her position involved review of coverage applications, entry of this information into computer databases, and, after a promotion in 2002, supervision of other employees. Kozlowski suffered from various medical problems, including "degenerative joint disease" and "fibromyalgia," and she was forced to take leave for several brief periods in 2002 and 2003. However, she was able to return to her job full-time following treatment. (Doc. 17 ¶¶ 1, 3-17; Doc. 22 ¶¶ 1, 3-17).
See STEDMAN'S MEDICAL DICTIONARY 671 (27th ed. 2000) (defining fibromyalgia as "[a] syndrome of chronic pain of musculoskeletal origin but uncertain cause").
Her medical problems escalated in the latter part of 2003. On November 4, 2003, Kozlowski sought emergency treatment for immobility and severe pain in her legs. The next day, she forwarded to Penn National a physician's note indicating that she was "totally incapacitated" and "unable to work." She requested that she be granted paid medical leave from her position pursuant to the Family Medical Leave Act ("FMLA"), 29 U.S.C. §§ 2601- 2654, and Penn National's "salary continuation program." These requests were approved. However, Penn National notified Kozlowski that her leave under the FMLA would expire on December 8, 2003, and that the company would "be unable to provide [her] with continuing job protection" after that date. (Doc. 17 ¶¶ 18-29; Doc. 21, Tab B, Exs. 38, 41; Doc. 21, Tab F, Ex. 3; Doc. 22 ¶¶ 18-29).
The salary continuation program was administered by Hoover (Doc. 17 ¶ 2; Doc. 22 ¶ 2). See also supra note 1 (noting entry of judgment on claim of wrongful denial of benefits under ERISA).
The pleadings do not raise any right to relief under the FMLA. (Doc. 1).
On December 5, 2003, Kozlowski delivered to Penn National records detailing her medical history for the past several years. The records indicated that her condition was worsening and did not show signs of improvement despite treatment. A representative of Penn National replied that these materials would be considered in assessing Kozlowski's continuing eligibility for salary benefits during her leave, but did not suggest that the information altered the expiration date of her leave under the FMLA. (Doc. 17 ¶¶ 26, 30; Doc. 21, Tab B, Exs. 44, 46, 48; Doc. 22 ¶¶ 26, 30).
On December 9, 2003, Penn National issued a letter to Kozlowski stating that her leave under the FMLA had expired, that her former position as insurance underwriter had been filled, and that the company could no longer offer her "continuing job protection." The next day, Kozlowski notified Penn National that her condition was "permanent." She did not suggest that a period of leave or any other accommodation would allow her to return to work. On December 19, 2003, Penn National notified Kozlowski that, because she was "unable to return to work," the company was terminating her employment. (Doc. 17 ¶¶ 31-37; Doc. 21, Tab B, Exs. 48-51; Doc. 22 ¶¶ 31-37).
The position was offered to and accepted by the individual who had been assigned to the job temporarily while Kozlowski was on approved leave. (Doc. 17 ¶¶ 32-33; Doc. 21, Tab B, Exs. 48-51; Doc. 22 ¶¶ 32-33).
Soon thereafter, Kozlowski submitted an application for benefits to the United States Social Security Administration. The application, completed and executed by Kozlowski on December 29, 2003, stated that she "became unable to work because of [a] disabling condition on [November 3, 2003,]" and that she was "still disabled." She confirmed in supplemental documentation that her condition was "worsening" and that treatment had not led to any improvement. The agency found that Kozlowski was "totally disabled" and awarded her benefits effective as of November 3, 2003. (Doc. 17 ¶ 39; Doc. 20, Ex. B; Doc. 21, Tab B, Ex. 2).
She commenced the case sub judice in April 2004. Defendants filed the instant motion for summary judgment one year later, in April 2005. (Docs. 1, 12, 16).
II. Standard of Review
"Summary judgment serves as a minimal but important hurdle for litigants to overcome before presenting a claim to a jury."Pappas v. City of Lebanon, 331 F. Supp. 2d 311, 315 (M.D. Pa. 2004). Faced with such a motion, the adverse party must produce affirmative evidence, beyond the disputed allegations of the pleadings, in support of the claim. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986); Corneal v. Jackson Township, 313 F. Supp. 2d 457, 464 (M.D. Pa. 2003), aff'd, 94 Fed. Appx. 76 (3d Cir. 2004). "Such affirmative evidence — regardless of whether it is direct or circumstantial — must amount to more than a scintilla, but may amount to less (in the evaluation of the court) than a preponderance." Saldana v. Kmart Corp., 260 F.3d 228, 231-32 (3d Cir. 2001) (quoting Williams v. Borough of West Chester, 891 F.2d 458, 460-61 (3d Cir. 1989)). Only if this burden is met can the cause of action proceed. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250-57 (1986); Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587-89 (1986); see FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c), (e).
III. Discussion
The ADA prohibits employment discrimination against a "qualified individual with a disability." 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a);see also Buskirk v. Apollo Metals, 307 F.3d 160, 166 (3d Cir. 2002). A "qualified individual" is one who, "with or without reasonable accommodation," can perform "the essential functions of the employment position that such individual holds or desires." 42 U.S.C. § 12111(8); see also 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(m). The burden is on the plaintiff to show that he or she is "qualified" for the position at issue under this definition.Buskirk, 307 F.3d at 168; Deane v. Pocono Med. Ctr., 142 F.3d 138, 146-49 (3d Cir. 1998) (en banc).
Kozlowski cannot satisfy this prerequisite. She has admitted, in depositions and several letters, that she was and is "totally disabled" and that she "cannot work" as an insurance underwriter or in any other position. Records from her physicians verify that she is "totally incapacitated" and is not "employable at even a sedentary level of employment." Nothing in the summary judgment record suggests that she has any foreseeable chance of improvement in the future, or that any accommodation would allow her to work in any capacity. There is simply no basis on which a trier of fact could find that Kozlowski was or is a "qualified individual." See id.
(E.g., Doc. 21, Tab A at 244).
(Doc. 21, Tab B, Ex. 51).
This conclusion is confirmed by records of the Social Security Administration. Sworn statements in an application for disability benefits are binding on the applicant in subsequent judicial proceedings, and may preclude relief under the ADA unless a "sufficient explanation" for the contrary position is offered.Cleveland v. Policy Mgmt. Sys. Corp., 526 U.S. 795, 805-06 (1999); see also Detz v. Greiner Indus., Inc., 346 F.3d 109, 115-21 (3d Cir. 2003). Kozlowski represented in her application for social security benefits that she was "unable to work" as of November 3, 2005, and that she remained disabled as of December 29, 2003, when the application was submitted. These statements supported the agency's finding that she was "totally disabled," and Kozlowski offers no reason why they should not be given conclusive weight here. By her own binding admissions, Kozlowski is not a "qualified individual." See id. at 119-21. She cannot maintain a claim under the ADA. IV. Conclusion
The only potential claims remaining in this case are those under state law for the allegedly wrongful denial of salary continuation benefits. However, the parties offer no reason for the court to entertain these matters in the absence of a federal cause of action, and the court declines to do so. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c) ("The district court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a [state law] claim . . . if . . . the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction."); Borough of West Mifflin v. Lancaster, 45 F.3d 780, 788 (3d Cir. 1995) ("[W]here the claim over which the district court has original jurisdiction is dismissed before trial, the district court must decline to decide the pendent state claims unless considerations of judicial economy, convenience, and fairness to the parties provide an affirmative justification for doing so.") (emphasis added). The state law claims will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, and this case will be closed.
See supra note 1 (noting entry of judgment on claim of wrongful denial of benefits under ERISA).
The court assumes without deciding that it could exercise supplemental jurisdiction over these claims. See Lyon v. Whisman, 45 F.3d 758, 759-60 (3d Cir. 1995) (quoting United Mine Workers v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 725 (1966)).
An appropriate order will issue.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 17th day of May, 2005, upon consideration of defendants' motion for summary judgment (Doc. 16), and for the reasons set forth in the accompanying memorandum, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion (Doc. 16) is GRANTED as follows:
1. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter JUDGMENT in favor of defendants and against plaintiff with respect to the claims under the American with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101- 12213, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001- 1401.
2. The claims against defendants under state law are DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.
3. The Clerk of Court is directed to CLOSE this case.