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Coleman v. Swift and Company3/15/2000
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Marshall County, David R. Danilson, Judge.
Byron Coleman appeals the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendants in his employment discrimination action. AFFIRMED.
Byron Coleman filed a disability discrimination claim against meat packer Swift and Company, pursuant to the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of Swift. On appeal Bryon asserts the court erred in concluding he did not suffer from a disability. We affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings
On January 4, 1984, Coleman began working at Swift's Marshalltown pork plant. He worked various hourly jobs until his promotion to a quality control position in 1986. Coleman continued to receive promotions and became operations manager in 1993.
On July 28, 1994, work-related stress Coleman had been experiencing culminated in an episode during which he began shaking and could not speak to his co-worker. He later advised Swift's nurse he could not take the pressure anymore. Coleman took two weeks of paid sick leave, saw a psychologist, then returned to work. At that time, Swift granted his request for a transfer, and he began filling in for supervisors who were gone. Several months later, Coleman requested another transfer, which Swift granted, and he began working as a break-up table supervisor.
On March 26, 1997, Coleman visited Swift's nurse a second time, with complaints of stress. The nurse advised Coleman to see his physician that day. Coleman did so. Coleman reported that his physician diagnosed his condition as anxiety, prescribed a medication, and suggested he take two or three days off work.
Coleman began taking the prescription drug a few days later but did not take any days off work because he feared he might lose his job.
At about the same time, Coleman's father was diagnosed with cancer. On April 3, 1997, Coleman's father suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Coleman contacted his supervisor and told him he would not be in the following day. Coleman also maintains he had previously advised his supervisor he might need time off to help his parents and his supervisor had approved this request. Swift denies any time off was approved beyond April 4, 1997. Coleman took the following week off. On April 10, 1997, he went to work to pick up his check and was informed he no longer had a job.
Coleman filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, obtained a right-to-sue letter, and filed suit against Swift on January 20, 1998. Swift moved for summary judgment, which the district court granted. This appeal followed.
II. Standard of Review
Our review of a summary judgment ruling is for errors of law. Bennett v. MC # 619, Inc., 586 N.W.2d 512, 516 (Iowa 1998). Summary judgment is appropriately granted when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Iowa R. Civ. P. 237(c). The moving party bears the burden of proving no genuine issue of material fact exists. Lewis v. AALFS Mfg., Inc., 489 N.W.2d 47, 50 (Iowa App. 1992). The evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Id. A material fact exists when reasonable minds could differ on how the issue should be resolved. Id. A factual dispute will preclude summary judgment only if the disputed facts would affect the outcome of the suit. Howell v. Merritt Co., 585 N.W.2d 278, 280 (Iowa 1998). If a conflict in the record is a legal question arising from undisputed facts, summary judgment is proper. Lewis, 489 N.W.2d at 50.
III. Disability Claim
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