Hooper v. Proctor Health Care Inc. — Oct. 2015 (Summary)

DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION

Hooper v. Proctor Health Care Inc.
No. 14-2344 (7^th Cir. Oct. 26, 2015)

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court’s grant of summary judgment on disability discrimination claims made by a physician, who was hired to work in outpatient clinics. The physician was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was required to regularly see a psychologist to maintain his medical license in Illinois. After an incident, the physician was given time off and was placed on an immediate paid medical leave of absence. After a psychiatrist determined that the physician could return to work, the employer left messages but the physician did not respond. He was sent a termination notice. The court reasoned that the failure to accommodate claim was meritless because the employer undertook numerous efforts to notify the physician that he was cleared to return to work. Therefore, no reasonable juror could find that the employer acted in a discriminatory manner.