Gregory Kennedy v. Office of Administration, Division of Design & Construction George Riedel Richard Hansen Robert W. Whitehead

112 F.3d 513

9 NDLR P 349

NOTICE: Eighth Circuit Rule 28A(k) governs citation of unpublished opinions and provides that they are not precedent and generally should not be cited unless relevant to establishing the doctrines of res judicata, collateral estoppel, the law of the case, or if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue and no published opinion would serve as well.
Gregory KENNEDY, Appellant,
v.
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION, Division of Design & Construction;
George Riedel; Richard Hansen; Robert W.
Whitehead, Appellees.

No. 96-2419.

United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.

Submitted Jan. 17, 1997.
Filed May 5, 1997.

Before RICHARD S. ARNOLD, Chief Judge, ROSS and BEAM, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

1

Gregory Kennedy, who had a history of back problems dating back to 1987, began working as a Custodial Worker I for the State of Missouri Office of Administration in 1989. In 1991 he injured his back while on the job, and required surgery. When he returned to work his doctor restricted him to lifting under twenty-five pounds and limited bending. After about a month, his doctor released him from these restrictions. Kennedy reported for work but still asserted that there were tasks he could not do. He sought accommodation by doing other employees' light work and, presumably, shifting the heavier work to them. After his request was refused, Kennedy asked for a leave of absence, claiming that his personal physician had told him to abstain from all work pending additional testing. This request was also denied. Kennedy then refused to report to work and was terminated.

2

Kennedy sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act,1 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. The district court2 found that Kennedy had not established his substantial limitation in a major life activity as required by the ADA and granted summary judgment to the Missouri Office of Administration. In reaching this conclusion, the district court relied on the testimony of Kennedy and his doctors along with an analysis of Kennedy's current work detailing cars. A careful review of the record leads us to conclude that the district court was correct in all respects. We therefore affirm. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.

1

Kennedy also pled numerous state claims that were dismissed and were not appealed

2

The Honorable D. Brook Bartlett, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri