Gutridge v. Clure, 98-1189

• Decision Date: 11 December 1998
• Docket Number: No. 98-1189,98-1189
• Citation: 153 F.3d 898
• Parties: 8 A.D. Cases 705, 13 NDLR P 144 Gavin GUTRIDGE, Appellant, v. Wayne CLURE, as president of Computerland, Individually; Midland Computer, Inc., doing business as Computerland of Nebraska, also known as Computerland, Appellees.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

Page 898

153 F.3d 898

8 A.D. Cases 705, 13 NDLR P 144

Gavin GUTRIDGE, Appellant, v. Wayne CLURE, as president of Computerland, Individually Midland Computer, Inc., doing business as Computerland of Nebraska, also known as Computerland, Appellees.

No. 98-1189.

United States Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit.

Submitted June 12, 1998.

Decided Aug. 26, 1998.

Rehearing Denied Dec. 11, 1998.

Adam J. Sipple, Omaha, NE, argued (Phillip G. Wright, on the brief), for Appellant.

Jeffrey Craig Miller, Omaha, NE, argued (Duncan A. Young, on the brief), for Appellee.

Before BOWMAN, Chief Judge, LOKEN, Circuit Judge, and MAGNUSON, ¹ District Judge.

BOWMAN, Chief Judge.

Gavin Gutridge sued Midland Computer, Inc., doing business as Computerland of Nebraska, and its president, Wayne Clure (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Computerland"), for discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 to 12213 (1994). Both parties moved for summary judgment. The District Court ² granted Computerland's motion, denied Gutridge's motion, and dismissed the suit with prejudice. Gutridge appeals, claiming that the District Court erred in finding that he was not disabled under the ADA.

I.

Computerland sells computers and related products to businesses and provides maintenance for those computer products almost exclusively at the customer's place of business, or on-site. Computerland hired Gutridge as a computer service technician in October 1990. Gutridge's duties included the installation, repair, and service of computer equipment sold to Computerland's customers. In performing these duties, Gutridge was required to lift computer equipment both at the store and on-site, transport computer equipment between the customer site and Computerland's shop, and move on-site objects such as desks, shelves, and chairs.

In March 1993, Gutridge was lifting a computer monitor when his left wrist snapped, causing pain and numbness in his wrist, hand, and fingers. Gutridge received medical treatment and was eventually diagnosed with carpel tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome in both his left and right wrists. Thereafter, through June 1995, Gutridge underwent five separate surgeries on his left and right wrists and elbows. After each surgery, Gutridge was placed by his doctors on various lifting restrictions and returned to work. During this time, Computerland assigned Gutridge to a temporary position requiring only light duty, in-shop services. On June 19, 1995, Gutridge's treating physician issued a written release to return to work with the permanent restriction that he may lift forty-five pounds 5% of the work day, thirty-five pounds 33% of the work day, twenty pounds 20% of the work day, and ten pounds consistently. A few days later, Computerland terminated Gutridge's employment. In its letter of termination to Gutridge, Computerland stated:

We have been informed that your rehabilitation program has ended and that the medical restrictions as identified by Dr. David Clough are now rated as permanent. That condition unfortunately prevents you from being able to fully accomplish the tasks necessary to perform your job functions.

J.A. at 24. Three and one-half weeks later, Gutridge was hired as a computer service technician by a company that repaired computers both in-shop and on-site.

II.

We review de novo a district court's grant of summary judgment. See Wooten v. Farmland Foods, 58 F.3d 382, 385 (8th Cir.1995). We affirm the judgment if "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c).

The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating "against a qualified individual with a disability because of the disability of such individual." 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a). To establish a claim under the ADA, a plaintiff must show "that he has a disability as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2); that he is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation; and that he has suffered adverse employment action because of his disability." Benson v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 62 F.3d 1108, 1112 (8th Cir.1995) (citing Wooten, 58 F.3d at 385). "Disability" is defined as "(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (B) a record of such an impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an impairment." 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2).

Gutridge first claims that he is disabled under § 12102(2)(A) because his permanent lifting restriction, he argues, substantially limits one or more of his major life activities. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations define "major life activities" as "functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working." 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(i) (1997). Gutridge argues that his carpel tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome, which resulted in him being placed on a permanent lifting restriction, substantially limits his major life activity of working. "Substantially limits" with respect to the major life activity of working means "significantly restricted in the ability to perform either a class of jobs or a broad range of jobs in various classes." Id. § 1630.2(j)(3)(i). The regulations further state that "[t]he inability to perform a single, particular job does not constitute a substantial limitation." Id.

Gutridge has failed to present evidence that he is substantially limited in the major life activity of working. See Robinson v. Neodata Servs. Inc., 94 F.3d 499, 501-02 (8th Cir.1996) (finding that a permanent lifting restriction, which rendered plaintiff unable to perform the primary function of her previous position, did not substantially limit her major life activity of working). Gutridge's carpel and cubital tunnel syndromes have left him unable to perform the job of a Computerland service technician given the nature of Computerland's exclusive on-site repair business. He is still able, however, to function as a computer repair technician for other employers who either do not require lifting as part of their job duties or can provide assistance. Indeed, Gutridge has found such employment.

Gutridge also contends that his permanent lifting restriction substantially limits his major life activity of lifting. The EEOC regulations include lifting as an example of a major life activity. See 29 C.F.R. Pt. 1630, App. § 1630.2(i). A permanent lifting restriction of not more than 45 pounds, however, neither renders him "[u]nable to perform" nor "[s]ignificantly restrict[s]" his activity of lifting. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(1)(i), (ii). Further, we have held that, "[w]hile lifting is noted under the regulations as a major life activity, a general lifting restriction imposed by a physician, without more, is insufficient to constitute a disability within the meaning of the ADA." Snow v. Ridgeview Med. Ctr., 128 F.3d 1201, 1207 (8th Cir.1997) (citing Helfter v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 115 F.3d 613, 617 (8th Cir.1997) and Aucutt v. Six Flags Over Mid-America, Inc., 85 F.3d 1311, 1319 (8th Cir.1996)). We find that Gutridge's permanent lifting restriction does not impose a substantial limitation on his major life activity of lifting.

Finally, Gutridge argues that he disabled under ...