Anthony Buczek-Booth v. Kraft Heinz Foods Company

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri granted Kraft Heinz Foods Company’s motion for summary judgment in an alleged disability-discrimination action under the Missouri Human Rights Act. The court held that Plaintiff Anthony Buczek-Booth failed to establish that he was disabled or that disability was a motivating factor in his termination for violating the employer’s attendance policy. The opinion was issued per curiam by Judge Henry Edward Autrey.

Holdings

1. Plaintiff failed to establish that his heart condition or sacroiliac-joint condition constituted a statutory disability because he presented no evidence that either condition substantially limited a major life activity, that he was regarded as having such an impairment, or that he had a record of such an impairment.
2. Plaintiff failed to establish the elements of his MHRA disability-discrimination claim, including that his alleged disability was a motivating factor in his termination.
3. Summary judgment was proper because no genuine dispute of material fact existed and Defendant was entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Plaintiff presented sufficient evidence to establish that he had, was regarded as having, or had a record of having a disability under the Missouri Human Rights Act.
2. Whether Plaintiff presented sufficient evidence that disability was a motivating factor in Kraft Heinz's decision to terminate his employment.
3. Whether Defendant was entitled to summary judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56.

Disposition

other