Caldwell v. Holland Of Texas, Inc.

208 F.3d 671 (2000)

Purchase the Printed Copy at bsmsphd.com

Nature of the Case

To access this section all you need to do is click here and register.

Facts

P is a single mother, working to support herself and her three-year-old son, Kejuan. P worked for D, which owns and operates several Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Texarkana, Arkansas. P worked for D for three years, and during that time, she developed an excellent record. On Saturday, June 7, 1997, Kejuan awoke with a high fever, pain in his ears, and congestion. P promptly notified Assistant Manager Loyce, prior to the start of her morning shift, that she would be absent because Kejuan required immediate medical attention. Loyce gave P permission to miss her shift. Kejuan was diagnosed with having an acute ear infection. Later that Saturday night, upon the request of an assistant manager, P worked an evening shift at one of D's other restaurant locations. P did not have any shifts on Sunday. When P returned to her regular work on Monday morning, June 9, 1997, Mark Monholland, a manager at the Hickory Street restaurant, abruptly fired P without discussing her absence of June 7, 1997. Eventually, Kejuan’s condition required surgery. P sued in that her termination violated the FMLA. The district court dismissed the suit because it concluded that, although the Act generally protects employees when their immediate family members have a 'serious health condition,' Kejuan's condition did not qualify. P appealed.