Brown v. Farmland Foods, Inc. (178 F. Supp. 2d 961, 2001)

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER REGARDING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

BENNETT, Chief Judge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.INTRODUCTION. 965

A. Procedural Background. 965

B. Disputed And Undisputed Facts. 965

II. DISCUSSION.968

A. Standards For Summary Judgment.968

1. Requirements of Rule 56 .968

2. The parties’ burdens.969

3. Summary judgment in employment discrimination cases.969

B. Brown’s Disability Claims.971

1. Actual disability claim: 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A).972

2. Perceived disability claim: 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(C).974

3. Failure-to-accommodate claim.978

C. Discharge In Violation Of Public Policy Claim .978

1. Analytical framework ..979

2. Prong one: Protected activity.980

3. Prong two: Adverse employment action.980

4. Prong three: Causal connection.981

5. Farmland’s stated legitimate reason for dismissing Brown.984

6. Pretext .