UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO

WESTERN DIVISION

Michael Arthur,

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Plaintiff,
vs.
American Showa, Inc.,
Defendant.

Case No. 1:13-cv-382

ORDER
Before the Court is Defendants motion for summary judgment. (Doc. 23)
Defendant seeks judgment on Plaintiffs claims under the American with Disabilities Act
and analogous state law, and argues that Plaintiff cannot establish a prima facie case.
Plaintiff opposes the motion (Doc. 27), and Defendant has filed its reply. (Doc. 31) For
the following reasons, the Court will grant Defendants motion.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, Michael Arthur, began working for American Showa, Inc. (ASI) in
March 1999. ASI manufactures parts for power steering systems and shock absorbers
used in various types of motor vehicles. It has a manufacturing plant in Blanchester,
Ohio where Arthur worked in several departments, including machining, casting, and
assembly. Sometime in the 1990's when he worked for a previous employer, Arthur
injured his back and filed a workers compensation claim. He testified that during this
time, he was diagnosed with spina bifida occulta. He could not recall the name of the
physician who diagnosed this condition.
According to the Mayo Clinic, spina bifida occulta is the mildest form of spina

bifida, a birth defect that causes malformation of the spinal cord. Spina bifida occulta
does not usually involve the spinal nerves, and most children with this form of the defect
have no signs or symptoms and experience no neurological problems. It is typically
discovered on an x-ray or other imaging tests done for unrelated reasons.1
In early 2002, Arthur had surgery to fuse some discs in his spine. He returned to
work at ASI but had continuing difficulties with his back. ASI granted him leave from his
job under the Family and Medical Leave Act, and he received short term disability
benefits for a period of time. Sometime in early 2004, with his back troubles continuing,
Arthur requested that ASI accommodate his condition by limiting certain job functions,
including heavy lifting. ASI sent Arthur for an IME performed by Dr. Randolph, who
specializes in disability evaluations and occupational medicine. In his April 20, 2004
written report to ASI, Dr. Randolph opined that Arthur
... will likely have chronic low back pain and require chronic and
permanent restrictions with respect to his work activities. ... It is highly
unlikely that he will ever be able to return to unrestricted work activities
and in my opinion the need for restrictions is permanent. I would
specifically indicate that bending, twisting and stooping should be
performed on an occasional and not repetitive basis. It is my opinion [that]
lifting and carrying up to a 20 pound maximum would be adequate. He
should be permitted to change positions on an as needed basis. There is
no foreseeable time in the future at which those restrictions would be
reconsidered.
(Doc. 27, Ex. 2 at 6-7)
Arthur concedes that ASI accommodated these restrictions, and placed him in a
position as a calibration associate in the quality department at the plant. He remained

See www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spina-bifida, last accessed

October 10, 2014.
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in that job until 2011. On occasion, Arthur agreed to drive parts from the Blanchester
plant to ASIs customers (such as a Honda plant in southern Ohio). Greg Harvey,
Arthurs manager in the quality department, testified that this was not a permanent
position. If ASI needed someone to deliver parts on an expedited basis, and if Arthur
was available, he agreed to perform that task. Arthur does not dispute that throughout
this period, ASI accommodated Arthurs restrictions and permitted him to take FMLA
leave as needed for his back. He does not allege that ASI discriminated against him or
failed to accommodate him prior to the events of December 2011, which give rise to his
lawsuit.
After the economic downturn hit the automotive industry in 2008, ASI embarked
on a reduction in its workforce in 2009. ASI first eliminated a number of temporary
positions at the plant, and then reduced the number of its full-time employee positions.
According to the testimony and affidavit of LoAnn Burt (ASIs Administration General
Manager), the Blanchester, Ohio plant reduced its staff by over 50 full-time employees
and 100 temporary employees by 2011. (Doc. 23, Ex. A at 10-11; Burt Dep. at 5253.)
Greg Harvey and Arthur were friends and they socialized together outside of
work. Harvey testified that ASI created a matrix to guide department managers in
making decisions about positions that would be eliminated in the RIF that began in
2009. The matrix identified four criteria for evaluating and ranking employees in each
department. These four criteria were the employees current performance review; past
performance; technical knowledge; and length of service. (Harvey Dep. Ex. 1) Harvey
also created his own matrix, which he used to directly compare and rank each of his
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employees. (Harvey Dep. Ex. 2) Harvey managed three types of employees:

managers, engineers and line associates (or techs). He testified that he wanted to
protect his line associates, which included Arthur. In the 2009 implementation of the
RIF, Harvey decided to eliminate three of his departments management positions. He
believed that he could absorb the duties of those individuals more easily than other
positions. The three managers he laid off were ranked lowest on his matrix, were not
disabled, and have not returned to work for ASI.
In late 2011, ASI determined that additional positions would have to be
eliminated to meet budget projections for 2012. Harvey testified that his direct
supervisor, the plant manager Iwan Gibby, gave him a target to review and to
determine what [I] could do to reduce head count. ... [T]he reduction was mandated.
The number was still open for discussion. (Harvey Dep. at 18) Harvey believes that
the same directive was given to all plant departments. Harvey used the same matrices
he prepared and used in 2009 because nothing had substantially changed in his
department since then (other than the elimination of three management positions in
2009). He testified that he had three line associates in the calibration area, and Arthur
was the lowest ranked of the three. He was doing the simplest work and had the least
seniority in the department. Harvey decided to eliminate Arthurs position and divide his
work between the other two line employees.
Harvey informed Ginny Whiting, ASIs HR manager at Blanchester, of his
decision. Harvey described it as a matter of fact conversation and said that Whiting
did not ask him any questions about the decision. Whiting arranged a conference call
so that she and Harvey could inform Arthur that his job was being eliminated. That
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telephone call occurred on Friday, December 2, 2011, and Whiting wrote a letter the
same day to Arthur confirming the conversation and informing Arthur about
unemployment benefits and his recall rights. (Whiting Ex. 3)
After this conversation took place, Harvey learned that another employee in the
production control department had been laid off. Because this employee had originally
worked in a job on the manufacturing floor before going to production control, ASI
decided to offer that employee a manufacturing position. Harvey testified that ASI
decided to move this employee ... from the indirect department back to a direct
manufacturing department. At that time Ginny and I discussed [that] out of fairness and
out of consistency, we should make that same offer to [Arthur] since he had come from
the manufacturing department initially. (Harvey Dep. at 38)2 Whiting asked Harvey if
Arthur would be interested in a machining position. The majority of jobs at the
Blanchester plant are in the machining department, and those jobs varied widely in their
physical requirements. Whiting knew that Arthur had some previous medical issues, but
Harvey was unaware of this; he testified that medical restrictions had never been a
problem for him or Arthur while Arthur worked in Harveys group. Arthur confirmed this,
testifying that he could do his regular job as a calibration associate without any
restrictions. On occasion, if something heavy needed to be picked up, his boss (Ken
Ledford) would simply do it. (Arthur Dep. at 77)
Whiting and Harvey reached Arthur by telephone the following Monday,
2

Harvey explained that a direct position is in manufacturing, including

machining. Indirect positions are all the support jobs, including quality, production
control, and office staff. (Harvey Dep. at 51-52) Arthurs calibration position was an
indirect position.
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December 5, and Whiting asked Arthur if he would be interested in a machining

position. Harvey does not remember Whiting describing a specific position during the
conversation. Arthur said he would have to think about it and would get back to her.
Harvey did not talk to Arthur again after that telephone call. A few days later, Whiting
told Harvey that Arthur had declined the machining position.
On December 9, Whiting sent a letter to Arthur summarizing their discussions
from December 2 to the date of the letter. Arthur concedes that the letter accurately
describes what occurred during these conversations. (Arthur Dep. at 89) Whitings
letter states that during the December 5 telephone call, Whiting asked Arthur if he would
be able to perform a machining job with or without accommodation, and he said he
would have to think about it. On December 8 and December 9, Whiting tried to reach
Arthur and left voice messages on his cell phone, asking him to let her know if he was
interested in the machining position. On December 9, Arthur came to the Blanchester
plant and met with Whiting. He told her that he decided not to accept a machining
position. (Arthur Dep. at 89, and Ex. 9) He did not ask for a copy of the job description
for the available machining positions, or go to a doctor to find out if he would be able to
do the job with or without restrictions. He testified that he made his decision based on
what Whiting told him. (Arthur Dep. at 88-89)
Arthur believes that there were jobs in the plant that he could do that were filled
by employees with less seniority. He believes that ASI should have given him one of
those positions and transferred that employee into another one. He said that ... there
were jobs that I could do that I told them about, and they just stated, Were not bumping
people. He admitted that in order to be placed into one of those jobs, that employee
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would have to transfer to another position. (Id. at 89) He identified racking room
associates, forklift associates, and analysis associates as potential candidates. He
conceded that those positions were filled by regular employees and were not being
eliminated in the RIF. (Id. at 84) He said there had been a big move before his layoff
when ASI transferred about 30 employees from assembly into the machining
department. Those employees were moved when ASI closed down one of the plants
assembly lines. And Arthur conceded that he was offered a machining position, as
were those employees. Arthur did not know of any other available open position at the
plant at the time he was laid off. (Id. at 85) And he admitted that he did not know of any
facts suggesting that his layoff was due to anything other than ASIs reduction in force.
(Id. at 88)
Arthur filed a charge of disability discrimination with the EEOC on or about July
21, 2012. He received a notice of his right to sue in March 2013, and filed his complaint
in this case on June 5, 2013. He alleges claims for disability discrimination under the
Americans with Disabilities Act and Ohio Rev. Code 4112, alleging that ASI knew of his
disability, and refused to accommodate him. He further alleges that ASIs decision to
terminate him was motivated by his disability.
DISCUSSION
Standard of Review
The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no
genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). An assertion of a undisputed fact must be
supported by citations to particular parts of the record, including depositions, affidavits,
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admissions, and interrogatory answers. The party opposing a properly supported

summary judgment motion may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his
pleading, but ... must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for
trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986) (internal quotation
omitted).
The Court is not duty bound to search the entire record in an effort to establish a
lack of material facts. Guarino v. Brookfield Township Trs., 980 F.2d 399, 404 (6th Cir.
1992). Rather, the burden is on the non-moving party to present affirmative evidence
to defeat a properly supported motion for summary judgment..., Street v. J.C. Bradford
& Co., 886 F.2d 1472, 1479-80 (6th Cir. 1989), and to designate specific facts in
dispute. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250. The non-moving party must do more than simply
show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts. Matsushita
Electric Industries Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). The court
construes the evidence presented in the light most favorable to the non-movant and
draws all justifiable inferences in the non-movant's favor. United States v. Diebold Inc.,
369 U.S. 654, 655 (1962).
The court's function is not to weigh the evidence and determine the truth of the
matter, but to determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial. Anderson, 477 U.S.
at 249. The court must assess whether there is the need for trial whether, in other
words, there are any genuine factual issues that properly can be resolved only by a
finder of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party. Id. at
250. If the evidence is merely colorable, ... or is not significantly probative, ... the court
may grant judgment. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50 (citations omitted).
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Disability Discrimination
The Americans With Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) prohibits
discrimination on the basis of disability in regard to the terms, conditions, and privileges
of employment. 42 U.S.C. 12112(a). To establish a prima facie case of disability
discrimination under the statute, Arthur must show: 1) he is disabled; 2) he is otherwise
qualified for the position, with or without reasonable accommodation; 3) he suffered an
adverse employment decision; 4) ASI knew or had reason to know of his disability; and
5) Arthur was replaced, or his position remained open after he was terminated.
Whitfield v. Tennessee, 639 F.3d 253, 259 (6th Cir. 2011)(internal citations omitted).
As the elements of a disability claim are essentially the same under the ADAAA and the
Ohio statute, the Court will address them together. Brenneman v. MedCentral Health
Sys., 366 F.3d 412, 418 (6th Cir. 2004).
ASI does not dispute the second and third factors of Arthurs prima facie case.
But ASI contends that Arthur has not shown that he is disabled within the statutes
meaning; that Harvey (the sole decisionmaker) knew about Arthurs alleged disability; or
that ASI replaced Arthur or held his position open. ASI contends that Arthurs position
was eliminated as part of an objective reduction-in-force, and was not in any way based
on his alleged disability. ASI further notes that there is no dispute that throughout
Arthurs employment, ASI accommodated Arthurs job restrictions and provided FMLA
leave whenever he requested it.
Arthur responds that there are genuine factual disputes about all three of these
factors. He claims that he is disabled, and that Whiting should have determined if there
were any open positions at the plant before the December 2 telephone call. He
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suggests that if she had done so, he would not have been laid off. He also contends
that a jury could reject ASIs contention that an RIF caused the loss of his job.
Disability is specifically defined by regulations adopted under the ADAAA. 29
C.F.R. 1630.2(g)(1) defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits the individual in a major life activity; or having a record of such an
impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment. Major life activities are
broadly defined: Caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating,
sleeping, walking, standing, sitting, reaching, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing,
learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, interacting with others, and
working.... 29 C.F.R. 1630.2(i)(1)(I). The term substantially limits must be
construed broadly in favor of coverage under the statute. 29 C.F.R. 1630.2(j)(1)(I).
That regulation further states:
(ii) An impairment is a disability within the meaning of this section if it
substantially limits the ability of an individual to perform a major life activity
as compared to most people in the general population. An impairment
need not prevent, or significantly or severely restrict, the individual from
performing a major life activity in order to be considered substantially
limiting. Nonetheless, not every impairment will constitute a disability
within the meaning of this section.
(iii) The primary object of attention in cases brought under the ADA should
be whether covered entities have complied with their obligations and
whether discrimination has occurred, not whether an individual's
impairment substantially limits a major life activity. Accordingly, the
threshold issue of whether an impairment "substantially limits" a major life
activity should not demand extensive analysis.
(iv) The determination of whether an impairment substantially limits a
major life activity requires an individualized assessment. However, in
making this assessment, the term "substantially limits" shall be interpreted
and applied to require a degree of functional limitation that is lower than
the standard for "substantially limits" applied prior to the ADAAA.
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Arthur cites a specific section from the Interpretive Guidance on Title I published
with the ADAAA regulations, that discusses coverage under the Act for an individual
with lifting restrictions:
Thus, for example, someone with an impairment resulting in a 20-pound
lifting restriction that lasts or is expected to last for several months is
substantially limited in the major life activity of lifting, and need not also
show that he is unable to perform activities of daily living that require lifting
in order to be considered substantially limited in lifting.
29 C.F.R. Part 1630, Appendix at Section 1630.2(j)(1)(viii).
ASI relies on Arthurs concessions that he was able to work at ASI, that he took
care of his home and helped friends with various manual chores, and that he ran a
seasonal landscaping/mowing business, to argue that Arthur is not disabled. But ASI
does not dispute that Dr. Randolph opined that Arthurs lifting restriction was chronic
and permanent. The fact that these restrictions were imposed in 2004 does not
mandate a conclusion that they no longer applied. Arthur testified that on occasion, if
there was something heavy that needed lifting, his boss would do it for him. This
suggests that the restrictions were in effect in 2011.
The Court will assume that Arthur can establish that he is disabled within the
meaning of the ADAAA, as it is clear that the burden is not intended to be a heavy one.
Regarding the fourth prong of his prima facie case, ASIs knowledge of this disability, it
is clear that ASI knew about Dr. Randolphs opinion on Arthurs restrictions. But
Arthur has not challenged Harveys testimony that Harvey was the sole decisionmaker
regarding the RIF job eliminations within Harveys own department. And Arthur has no
evidence contradicting Harveys testimony that he had no knowledge that Arthur was
disabled or had any physical impairment. A disability plaintiff must show that the actual
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decision-maker knew of his disability, or regarded him as being disabled. It is not

enough to show that someone at his employer may have known about it. See Nilles v.
Givaudan Flavors Corp., 521 Fed. Appx. 364, 368. 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 6416 (6th
Cir., March 29, 2013), and cases cited therein. Arthur testified that he and Harvey were
friends, and they often went fishing together. Arthur does not claim that he ever told
Harvey about his disability or his restrictions. There is nothing in the record raising a
genuine factual dispute that Harvey knew that Arthur was disabled, or was aware of his
impairments or the restrictions recommended by Dr. Randolph.
In addition, Arthur has not come forward with evidence raising a genuine factual
dispute about the fifth prong of his prima facie case, that ASI replaced him or held his job
open after he was laid off. Harvey testified that Arthurs duties were absorbed by two
more senior co-workers. Arthur has no admissible evidence that challenges Harveys
testimony. He testified that someone told him that Maria Brooker had taken his old job.
He does not know how that person may have learned this information. Arthur knew that
Brooker worked at ASI before he was laid off, and the person who told him that Brooker
took his job also said that she was doing Arthurs job and her own. (Arthur Dep. at 6466) This does not create a genuine factual dispute about whether ASI replaced him
after he was laid off.
But even if Arthur could establish a prima facie claim, ASI contends that an
employers implementation of a reduction-in-force is a legitimate, non-discriminatory
reason for an employees termination. In RIF cases, the Sixth Circuit has held plaintiffs
to a heightened burden of proof to demonstrate that the RIF was not the true reason for
the termination. Generally, to meet this heightened standard, the plaintiff must provide
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additional direct, circumstantial, or statistical evidence tending to indicate that the

employer singled out the plaintiff for discharge for impermissible reasons. ... [T]he
evidence must be sufficiently probative to allow a factfinder to believe that the employer
intentionally discriminated against the plaintiff on the basis of his disability. Yost v.
Henkels & McCoy, Inc., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85302, at **16-17 (S.D. Ohio 2013),
quoting Geiger v. Tower Auto., 579 F.3d 614, 623-24 (6th Cir. 2009). There is nothing in
this record giving rise to a reasonable inference that ASI singled out Arthur for
termination because of his job restrictions or his disability.
Arthur contends that ASI lacked an objective plan for conducting its reduction-inforce, and therefore it cannot serve as a legitimate explanation. But Harvey explained
that ASI distributed a matrix of factors for use by its managers in the RIF. The factors
used in that matrix were objective, based on current and past performance reviews, the
extent of an employees technical knowledge, and years of service. Harvey also
developed his own matrix, directly comparing each of his employees on a one-to-one
basis, to assist him in making a decision about which position to eliminate. Arthur
proffers no evidence suggesting that Harvey failed to adhere to the results of his
objective evaluation in reaching his decision. Moreover, Arthur freely admitted that his
job was eliminated as part of the RIF (Arthur Dep. at 66), and that he knew of no facts
suggesting it was for some other reason. (Id. at 88) He suggests that a jury could
reject ASIs explanation. But in the absence of any admissible evidence to contradict
ASIs explanation, the jury would simply be speculating on that possibility.
The Court concludes that Arthur has not established a prima facie case of
disability discrimination. Even if the evidence is sufficient to satisfy that burden, ASI has
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offered a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for Arthurs termination. And Arthur has
not come forward with evidence raising a genuine dispute about pretext. In order to do
so, Arthur would have to show that ASIs proffered reason had no basis in fact, did not
actually motivate his termination, or was insufficient to motivate his termination. Imwalle
v. Reliance Med. Prods., Inc., 515 F.3d 531, 545 (6th Cir. 2008) (citing Manzer v.
Diamond Shamrock Chems. Co., 29 F.3d 1078, 1084 (6th Cir. 1994)). The evidence in
the record fails to establish a dispute about any of these factors. ASI is entitled to
judgment on Arthurs disability discrimination claims.
Failure to Accommodate
Arthur describes his primary claim as one based on ASIs failure to accommodate
him by offering him another position within his restrictions. An employer has a duty
under the ADAAA to reasonably accommodate an employees disability, unless the
employer can show that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the
operation of its business. See, e.g., Smith v. Ameritech, 129 F.3d 857, 866 (6th Cir.
1997), quoting 42 U.S.C. 12112(b)(5). A failure to accommodate claim requires Arthur
to show that he has a disability; he was qualified for the job with or without restrictions;
and ASI refused his request for an accommodation. Hedrick v. Western Reserve Care
Sys., 355 F.3d 444, 452 (6th Cir. 2004).
Arthur has demonstrated, for purposes of summary judgment, that he has a
disability. And ASI does not dispute that Arthur was qualified for the job it offered him on
December 5. ASI notes that it had no duty after December 2, when Arthurs position was
eliminated in the RIF, to accommodate Arthur or to offer him any position. And Arthur is
not alleging a claim stemming from ASIs failure to re-hire him. Nevertheless, ASI did
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contact Arthur after his position was eliminated and did offer him a job in the machining
department. Arthur contends that ASI failed to accommodate his restrictions when it
offered him this position, and failed to engage in the interactive process in good faith.
As noted above, Arthur conceded that Whitings December 9, 2011 letter
accurately described the discussions that took place about Arthurs employment between
December 2 and 9. According to the letter, during the second conference call among
Arthur, Harvey and Whiting on Monday, December 5, Whiting told Arthur that there were
positions available on second or third shift in the machining area, and she asked him if
he could perform this job with or without accommodation. Arthur did not respond at that
time, saying he would have to think about it. Whiting tried to reach Arthur by telephone
to follow-up on the job offer. Arthur came to the plant and met with Whiting on
December 9, and told her he did not want to accept the machining position. Arthur
testified that ASI offered him a machining job and he refused it, saying I knew there was
just no way ... I went and talked to [Whiting] and she told me what position it was.
(Arthur Dep. at 67) He thought about it for a day or two and then told Whiting that he
wasnt interested. (Id. at 68)
In a declaration filed in opposition to ASIs motion for summary judgment, Arthur
contends for the first time that during the conversation on December 5, Whiting said I
would have to give up my restrictions. (Doc. 27-1, Arthur Declaration at 10.) Arthur
did not recall Whiting making this statement when he was asked about their discussions
during his deposition. In his testimony, he admitted that he was offered a machining
position, that he thought about it, and he rejected it without asking for a job description or
visiting the department. Arthurs declaration attempts to bolster his deposition testimony;
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he was asked repeatedly about the conversation and he never made the claim that
Whiting or ASI told him he would have to give up his restrictions. The Court will not
consider this statement in considering ASIs motion. See, e.g., Upshaw v. Ford Motor
Co., 576 F.3d 576, 593 (6th Cir. 2009)(internal citations omitted)(the district court should
use a scalpel, not a butcher knife in striking portions of affidavits that fail to comply with
the Rules of Civil Procedure).
Arthurs main contention, as he admitted in his deposition, is that ASI should have
placed him into another employees position, such as in the racking room or a forklift
associate, instead of offering him the machining position. By failing to do so, Arthur
contends that ASI failed to accommodate him. ASI responds that the ADAAA does not
require an employer to displace another regular employee, as that is not a reasonable
accommodation. Arthur cites US Airways, Inc. v. Barnett, 535 U.S. 391 (2002), where
the Supreme Court observed that in some special circumstances, an employer may
have to make an exception to an established seniority system in order to accommodate
a disabled employee. That case does not assist Arthur. There, the plaintiff (Barnett)
injured his back while handling cargo for US Airways. He invoked his seniority rights
under the airlines established seniority system to transfer to a less demanding position
in the mailroom. The seniority system also provided regular opportunities to all
employees to bid on jobs based on seniority. A few years later, two more senior
employees bid on Barnetts mailroom position, and Barnett asked for an accommodation
by allowing him to keep the position despite the bids. The airline refused, and Barnett
brought an action under the ADA. The Supreme Court held that the airline had no duty
to accommodate Barnett by making an exception to its seniority-based bidding system,
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unless Barnett could show that some special circumstances would require a different
result. The Supreme Court did not attempt to define what those special circumstances
might be in all cases, but offered an example of an employers seniority system that gave
the employer the unilateral right to change the system, and the employer frequently
exercised that right. Another special circumstance could be a system so riddled with
exceptions that one more exception was unlikely to affect the interests of both
employers and employees in uniform enforcement of seniority rights. Id. at 405. But the
court stressed that it would be plaintiffs burden to show the existence of such special
circumstances.
Arthur claims that special circumstances exist here, and that ASI should have
given him another employees job, and transferred that employee to the machining job
Arthur was offered. ASI does not dispute that from time to time, it transfers employees
internally. It did so in December 2011, when ASI shut down one of the production
assembly lines and transferred those employees to other open positions in the
machining area. ASI offered that same opportunity to Arthur, and he rejected it. But
Arthur has not shown that ASI permitted employees whose jobs were eliminated (either
by the RIF, or by ASIs business decision to close an assembly line, or for any other
reason) to bump other regular employees out of their jobs. The only evidence in the
record shows that ASIs internal transfers were to open positions, or to positions that
were filled with temporary employees. And Arthur has not identified any open positions
or positions occupied by temporary employees, in any of the departments that he
contends he should have been transferred to, such as operating a forklift or working in
the rackroom.
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The Court concludes that Arthurs contention that ASI should have required
another regular employee to transfer to another job so that Arthur could fill that position
is not a reasonable accommodation that is required by the ADAAA. For this reason, as
well as those discussed above, the Court concludes that Arthurs claim that ASI failed to
accommodate his disability lacks merit.
CONCLUSION
For all of the foregoing reasons, the Court finds that ASI is entitled to entry of
summary judgment on Arthurs claims of disability discrimination and failure to
accommodate his disability. Arthurs complaint is dismissed with prejudice.
SO ORDERED.
THIS CASE IS CLOSED.
DATED: November 4, 2014

s/Sandra S. Beckwith
Sandra S. Beckwith, Senior Judge
United States District Court

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