Stola v. Joint Industry Bd.

• Decision Date: 10 July 1995
• Docket Number: No. 94 Civ. 2222 (LAK),94 Civ. 2543 (LAK).,94 Civ. 2222 (LAK)
• Citation: 889 F. Supp. 133
• Parties: Edward J. STOLA, Plaintiff, v. The JOINT INDUSTRY BOARD, et ano., Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York

889 F. Supp. 133

Edward J. STOLA, Plaintiff, v. The JOINT INDUSTRY BOARD, et ano., Defendants.

Nos. 94 Civ. 2222 (LAK), 94 Civ. 2543 (LAK).

United States District Court, S.D. New York.

July 10, 1995.

William M. Laviano, for plaintiff.

Douglas Menagh, Menagh, Trainor, Mundo & Falcone, P.C., for defendant The Joint Industry Bd.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

KAPLAN, District Judge.

The Joint Industry Board ("JIB"), the only remaining defendant, moves for summary judgment dismissing these actions, which seek backpay and reinstatement of plaintiff, who was terminated as an apprentice electrician. Plaintiff claims that the termination violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq., although plaintiff expressly has abandoned the Title VII claim.

Facts

Without unduly prolonging this memorandum, the record demonstrates that plaintiff had a tumultuous career as an apprentice. Over the period August 9, 1990 through September 15, 1992, he was assigned to numerous contractors and terminated, often after only brief work periods, by many of them. Evidence suggests that he was a troublesome, sometimes insubordinate employee and that he had difficulty, at least on some occasions, comprehending the work required. Toward the end of this period, the JIB claims, plaintiff engaged in threatening and menacing behavior on several occasions, necessitating his removal from the premises by security personnel. On one occasion, he allegedly tried to attack the business representative of Local 3 by climbing through the opening in a barred window similar to a bank teller's station. While plaintiff's Rule 3(g) Statement states that he disputes the alleged conduct, see ¶ 5, plaintiff has submitted no affidavit or other evidentiary material. Indeed, plaintiff states that "the issue is not what happened and the seriousness of the conduct which may have occurred without reasonable accommodation, but rather whether plaintiff can perform with accommodations which are reasonable." (Pl.Br. at 3) The JIB's factual contentions with respect to plaintiff's alleged conduct therefore are established. See Granoff v. Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 775 F.Supp. 621, 626-27 (S.D.N.Y. 1991), aff'd without opinion, 962 F.2d 2 (2d Cir.1992); Herrera v. Scully, 815 F.Supp. 713, 727 (S.D.N.Y.1993).

Plaintiff claims that the behavior complained of, if it occurred, was the product of a mental disorder known as general anxiety disorder. He contends that he is able to perform the essential functions of the apprenticeship program with reasonable accommodation for his disability, specifically psychotherapy and medication. Indeed, he states that the only issue of fact presented "is whether the plaintiff can perform the essential functions of a job, with reasonable accommodation." (Pl.Br. at 2) He has submitted the affidavit of a psychiatrist to the effect that he can. (See Benton Aff.) Significantly, however, plaintiff admits that he was unaware of his own condition during the period prior to his termination and that he therefore did not inform the JIB of it or seek reasonable accommodation. (Pl.Br. at 2) Despite the fact that he submitted a note from a physician at one point attesting to his ability to return to work without restriction, he contends that the JIB was "on notice of a disability involving a mental disorder through his conduct." (Id.)

Discussion

The ADA prohibits employment discrimination against persons with disabilities who are able to perform the essential functions of their jobs, either with or without reasonable accommodation. The term "disability" includes "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual...." 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2)(A).

Plaintiff claims, and the Court assumes arguendo, that plaintiff suffers from a mental impairment known as general anxiety disorder and that it was responsible for his aberrant behavior, thus substantially limiting one or more of his major life activities. In consequence, the Court assumes, without deciding, that plaintiff was terminated for behavior that was the direct result of a "disability" within the meaning of the Act. But this is only the starting point for analysis. The JIB here was confronted with an apprentice who repeatedly engaged in inappropriate, offensive and, on occasion, dangerous behavior. The real issue is whether the JIB was obliged at its peril to determine whether this behavior was the product of a disability and, if so, whether plaintiff could perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.

The interpretative appendix to the regulations under the ADA addresses this issue, albeit inconclusively:

"Employers are obligated to make reasonable accommodation only to physical or mental limitations resulting from the disability of a qualified individual with a disability that is known to the employer. Thus, an employer would not be expected to accommodate disabilities of which it is unaware. If an employee with a known disability is having difficulty performing his or her job, an employer may inquire whether the employee is in need of reasonable accommodation. In general, however, it is the responsibility of the individual with a disability to inform the employer that an accommodation is needed. When the need for an accommodation is not obvious, an employer, before providing a reasonable accommodation, may require that the individual with a disability provide documentation of the need for accommodation." 29 C.F.R. § 1630.9 (1994).

This guide establishes the general proposition that the employer is obliged to accommodate only those disabilities that are obvious or called to its attention by the employee. As it is undisputed...