{ "attribution": { "source": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca7-25-1933-2026-03-03", "cite_as": "NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca7-25-1933-2026-03-03)", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision", "version": "legal-2026-09-28", "fingerprint": "ewai:se:3cf8a5", "proof": "sha256:13b5a0d14fb980a7be8d9fedd62f4edd633754e173f01549caf0b1438a524aca", "jurisdiction": "se", "lang": "en", "publisher": "NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal", "terms": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om" }, "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "brand": { "product": "NovaCopilot", "platform": "ExploreWorldAI", "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal", "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB", "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot", "source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor", "contact": "stig@valkiv.com" }, "item": { "schema_version": "1.0.0", "id": "us:ca7-25-1933-2026-03-03", "jurisdiction": "us", "lang": "en", "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "brand": { "product": "NovaCopilot", "platform": "ExploreWorldAI", "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal", "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB", "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot", "source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor", "contact": "stig@valkiv.com" }, "sections": [ { "title": "In the", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "United States Court of Appeals", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "For the Seventh Circuit", "paragraphs": [ "para_4" ] }, { "title": "No. 25-1933", "paragraphs": [ "para_6", "para_7", "para_8", "para_9", "para_10", "para_11" ] }, { "title": "Appeal from the United States District Court for the", "paragraphs": [ "para_13", "para_14", "para_15" ] }, { "title": "ARGUED DECEMBER 16, 2025 — DECIDED MARCH 3, 2026", "paragraphs": [ "para_17", "para_18", "para_19" ] }, { "title": "TAIBLESON, Circuit Judge. Elizabeth Chitwood worked as a", "paragraphs": [ "para_21", "para_22" ] }, { "title": "Medical Leave Act (“FMLA” or “the Act”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 2601", "paragraphs": [ "para_24", "para_25", "para_26" ] }, { "title": "2 No. 25-1933", "paragraphs": [ "para_28", "para_29" ] }, { "title": "Ascension fired her. The next day, Chitwood attempted to ret-", "paragraphs": [ "para_31", "para_32", "para_33", "para_34", "para_35", "para_36" ] }, { "title": "We affirm the district court’s judgment. To prevail, Chit-", "paragraphs": [ "para_38", "para_39", "para_40", "para_41", "para_42" ] }, { "title": "I. Background", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Chitwood began working for Ascension as a human re-", "paragraphs": [ "para_45", "para_46", "para_47" ] }, { "title": "Ascension’s third-party leave administrator, Sedgwick", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Claims Management Services, Inc., on “the same day the ab-", "paragraphs": [ "para_50", "para_51", "para_52", "para_53" ] }, { "title": "In late August of that year, Chitwood stopped reporting to", "paragraphs": [ "para_55", "para_56", "para_57" ] }, { "title": "No. 25-1933 3", "paragraphs": [ "para_59", "para_60", "para_61", "para_62", "para_63" ] }, { "title": "When Chitwood’s continuous FMLA leave expired in No-", "paragraphs": [ "para_65", "para_66", "para_67", "para_68" ] }, { "title": "Chitwood that if she did not return to work as instructed, As-", "paragraphs": [ "para_70", "para_71", "para_72" ] }, { "title": "November 15 came, and still Chitwood did not return to", "paragraphs": [ "para_74", "para_75", "para_76", "para_77", "para_78", "para_79" ] }, { "title": "Ascension terminated Chitwood’s employment later that", "paragraphs": [ "para_81", "para_82" ] }, { "title": "Chitwood attempted to report intermittent FMLA leave to", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Sedgwick for her absences on November 11, 12, and 15. Sedg-", "paragraphs": [ "para_85", "para_86", "para_87" ] }, { "title": "4 No. 25-1933", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Chitwood then sued Ascension, alleging that her termina-", "paragraphs": [ "para_90", "para_91", "para_92", "para_93", "para_94", "para_95", "para_96", "para_97", "para_98", "para_99" ] }, { "title": "II. Discussion", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "We review the district judge’s ruling on a motion for sum-", "paragraphs": [ "para_102", "para_103", "para_104" ] }, { "title": "(7th Cir. 2012). Summary judgment is appropriate when", "paragraphs": [ "para_106", "para_107", "para_108" ] }, { "title": "The FMLA grants eligible employees the right to take up", "paragraphs": [ "para_110", "para_111", "para_112", "para_113" ] }, { "title": "1 Chitwood also sued Ascension for Title VII retaliation, claiming that", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Ascension terminated her in retaliation for seeking a religious exemption", "paragraphs": [ "para_116", "para_117", "para_118" ] }, { "title": "No. 25-1933 5", "paragraphs": [ "para_120", "para_121", "para_122", "para_123", "para_124", "para_125", "para_126", "para_127", "para_128", "para_129", "para_130" ] }, { "title": "A. FMLA Interference", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "To succeed on her FMLA interference claim, Chitwood", "paragraphs": [ "para_133" ] }, { "title": "Ascension was covered by the FMLA, (3) she was entitled to", "paragraphs": [ "para_135", "para_136", "para_137", "para_138" ] }, { "title": "Chitwood can make almost none of these showings. Her", "paragraphs": [ "para_140", "para_141" ] }, { "title": "2021. But at the time Chitwood attempted to retroactively re-", "paragraphs": [ "para_143", "para_144", "para_145" ] }, { "title": "188 (7th Cir. 2018) (affirming summary judgment for em-", "paragraphs": [ "para_147", "para_148", "para_149" ] }, { "title": "(7th Cir. 2018) (affirming summary judgment on FMLA", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "6 No. 25-1933", "paragraphs": [ "para_152", "para_153", "para_154", "para_155" ] }, { "title": "Chitwood contends that she was entitled to retroactively", "paragraphs": [ "para_157", "para_158", "para_159", "para_160", "para_161", "para_162", "para_163" ] }, { "title": "C.F.R. § 825.303(a). Ascension policy, in turn, required Chit-", "paragraphs": [ "para_165", "para_166", "para_167", "para_168", "para_169", "para_170", "para_171", "para_172" ] }, { "title": "No reasonable jury could find the notice requirements sat-", "paragraphs": [ "para_174", "para_175", "para_176", "para_177", "para_178", "para_179", "para_180", "para_181" ] }, { "title": "12, and 15. Nothing in the record suggests that Chitwood was", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "No. 25-1933 7", "paragraphs": [ "para_184", "para_185", "para_186", "para_187", "para_188", "para_189", "para_190", "para_191", "para_192", "para_193", "para_194", "para_195", "para_196", "para_197", "para_198", "para_199", "para_200" ] }, { "title": "B. FMLA Retaliation", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "To prevail on an FMLA retaliation claim, Chitwood must", "paragraphs": [ "para_203" ] }, { "title": "Ascension took adverse action against her, and (3) the pro-", "paragraphs": [ "para_205" ] }, { "title": "Park, 888 F.3d 895, 901 (7th Cir. 2018). This “claim requires", "paragraphs": [ "para_207", "para_208" ] }, { "title": "(citation omitted). 2", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "2 Our cases have not been fully consistent about the causation stand-", "paragraphs": [ "para_211" ] }, { "title": "Hosp., 147 F.4th 817, 830 (7th Cir. 2025) (“To make out an FMLA retaliation", "paragraphs": [ "para_213" ] }, { "title": "8 No. 25-1933", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Chitwood claims that Ascension retaliated against her for", "paragraphs": [ "para_216" ] }, { "title": "November 11, 12, and 15 absences, because Chitwood was ter-", "paragraphs": [ "para_218", "para_219", "para_220", "para_221", "para_222", "para_223", "para_224", "para_225", "para_226" ] }, { "title": "When Chitwood failed to return to work as instructed, she", "paragraphs": [ "para_228", "para_229", "para_230", "para_231" ] }, { "title": "Chitwood attempts to gin up pretext on Ascension’s behalf", "paragraphs": [ "para_233", "para_234", "para_235", "para_236" ] }, { "title": "Cir. 2023) (“To succeed in showing causation, a plaintiff must demonstrate", "paragraphs": [ "para_238", "para_239", "para_240", "para_241", "para_242", "para_243", "para_244", "para_245", "para_246" ] }, { "title": "No. 25-1933 9", "paragraphs": [ "para_248", "para_249" ] }, { "title": "Chitwood first points to an internal email chain between", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Godsey and another Ascension employee prior to her termi-", "paragraphs": [ "para_252", "para_253", "para_254", "para_255", "para_256", "para_257", "para_258", "para_259" ] }, { "title": "At most, this email thread establishes that Ascension em-", "paragraphs": [ "para_261", "para_262", "para_263", "para_264", "para_265", "para_266" ] }, { "title": "F.4th 787, 800 (7th Cir. 2025); Juday, 57 F.4th at 595–96, and", "paragraphs": [ "para_268", "para_269" ] }, { "title": "FMLA requests. Paterakos, 147 F.4th at 800 (affirming sum-", "paragraphs": [ "para_271", "para_272", "para_273", "para_274" ] }, { "title": "Chitwood’s reliance on a second set of messages between", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Ascension employees fares no better. After Ascension decided", "paragraphs": [ "para_277" ] }, { "title": "Jeanine Guzik, that the termination reason should be", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "10 No. 25-1933", "paragraphs": [ "para_280", "para_281", "para_282", "para_283", "para_284", "para_285", "para_286" ] }, { "title": "Guzik thus did not follow Godsey’s recommendation, and", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Chitwood’s termination notice listed “Leave Exhaust/Failure", "paragraphs": [ "para_289" ] }, { "title": "An after-the-fact attempt to concoct nonretaliatory reasons", "paragraphs": [ "para_291", "para_292" ] }, { "title": "987, 996 (7th Cir. 2010). But pretext requires a “lie, specifically", "paragraphs": [ "para_294" ] }, { "title": "Cts., 860 F.3d 502, 506 (7th Cir. 2017) (citation omitted). That", "paragraphs": [ "para_296", "para_297", "para_298" ] }, { "title": "Instead, Ascension remained steadfast in its basis for termi-", "paragraphs": [ "para_300" ] }, { "title": "Godsey’s statements indicates that Ascension’s proffered rea-", "paragraphs": [ "para_302" ] }, { "title": "Chitwood’s termination. Tibbs, 860 F.3d at 506. And terminat-", "paragraphs": [ "para_304", "para_305" ] }, { "title": "3 The record supports Guzik’s concern about Chitwood’s attendance", "paragraphs": [ "para_307", "para_308", "para_309" ] }, { "title": "No. 25-1933 11", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "As is often the case, the simple story is the one borne out", "paragraphs": [ "para_312", "para_313", "para_314", "para_315" ] }, { "title": "AFFIRMED", "paragraphs": [] } ], "paragraphs": [ { "text": "In the", "paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "United States Court of Appeals", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "For the Seventh Circuit", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "No. 25-1933", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "ELIZABETH CHITWOOD,", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "Plaintiff-Appellant,", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "v.", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "ASCENSION HEALTH ALLIANCE, doing business as ASCENSION,", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "Defendant-Appellee.", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "Appeal from the United States District Court for the", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "No. 1:23-cv-00563-RLY-CSW — Richard L. Young, Judge.", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "ARGUED DECEMBER 16, 2025 — DECIDED MARCH 3, 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "Before BRENNAN, Chief Judge, and SYKES and TAIBLESON,", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "Circuit Judges.", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "TAIBLESON, Circuit Judge. Elizabeth Chitwood worked as a", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "human resources specialist at Ascension. In 2021, Chitwood", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "was approved to take intermittent leave under the Family and", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "Medical Leave Act (“FMLA” or “the Act”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 2601", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "et seq., for her serious health condition. Later that year, she", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "was also approved to take continuous FMLA leave for a two-", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "month period to care for her son. When Chitwood’s", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "2 No. 25-1933", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "continuous FMLA leave ended, Ascension instructed Chit-", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "wood to return to work. But Chitwood did not return, and", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "Ascension fired her. The next day, Chitwood attempted to ret-", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "roactively report intermittent FMLA leave for her absences af-", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "ter her continuous leave ended—to no avail. Chitwood then", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "sued Ascension, claiming that Ascension had interfered with", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "her FMLA rights and retaliated against her for using FMLA", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "leave. The district court granted summary judgment to Ascen-", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "sion, and Chitwood appeals.", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "We affirm the district court’s judgment. To prevail, Chit-", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "wood needed to present evidence that would permit a reason-", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "able jury to find that Ascension denied her FMLA leave to", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "which she was entitled, or that Ascension terminated her for", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "legitimate use of FMLA leave. Chitwood failed on both", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "grounds.", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "I. Background", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "Chitwood began working for Ascension as a human re-", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "sources specialist in March of 2019. In July of 2021, Chitwood", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "was granted intermittent FMLA leave for her migraines. She", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "was required to report her intermittent FMLA leave usage to", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "Ascension’s third-party leave administrator, Sedgwick", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "Claims Management Services, Inc., on “the same day the ab-", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "sence occurs.” Chitwood was also required to notify her su-", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "pervisor of “any time taken under the FMLA … as soon as", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "practicable.” Chitwood used her intermittent FMLA leave at", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "least eight times during the summer of 2021.", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "In late August of that year, Chitwood stopped reporting to", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "work entirely. She requested continuous military leave under", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "the FMLA from August through December of 2021 based on", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "her ex-husband’s military orders. Sedgwick denied that", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "No. 25-1933 3", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "request as unauthorized by the FMLA, but Chitwood did not", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "return to work. Instead, in October of 2021, Chitwood applied", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "for retroactive continuous FMLA leave to care for her son,", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "who had a serious health condition. Sedgwick approved that", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "request for August 31 through November 3, 2021.", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "When Chitwood’s continuous FMLA leave expired in No-", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "vember, however, she did not return to work. Ascension em-", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "ployee Scott Godsey contacted Chitwood about the conclu-", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "sion of her leave. Godsey instructed Chitwood at least three", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "times to return to work on November 15. Godsey also told", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "Chitwood that if she did not return to work as instructed, As-", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "cension would fire her. Chitwood applied for a personal leave", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "of absence for November 4 through December 1, 2021, but that", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "request was denied.", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "November 15 came, and still Chitwood did not return to", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "work. Instead, she left a voicemail on Ascension’s attendance", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "absentee line that morning, stating that she had been unable", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "to log into her computer and assumed she had been termi-", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "nated. Chitwood said that “it was a pleasure to work with you", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "all,” thanked Ascension “for the opportunity,” and expressed", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "her intent to return company property.", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "Ascension terminated Chitwood’s employment later that", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "day, citing the reason as “Leave Exhaust/Failure to Return to", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "Work.” On November 16, the day after she was terminated,", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "Chitwood attempted to report intermittent FMLA leave to", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "Sedgwick for her absences on November 11, 12, and 15. Sedg-", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "wick notified Ascension of Chitwood’s requests, but Ascen-", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "sion considered them invalid since Chitwood had been termi-", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "nated the previous day.", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "4 No. 25-1933", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "Chitwood then sued Ascension, alleging that her termina-", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "tion amounted to interference with and retaliation for her ex-", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "ercise of FMLA rights. The district judge granted summary", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "judgment to Ascension, holding that no reasonable jury could", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "decide in Chitwood’s favor. The district judge determined", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "that Chitwood had been terminated and was no longer enti-", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "tled to FMLA leave at the time she attempted to retroactively", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "report her November absences. The judge also found that she", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "had not reported those absences as soon as “practicable,” as", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "required by FMLA regulations and Ascension’s policy. This", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "appeal followed. 1", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "II. Discussion", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "We review the district judge’s ruling on a motion for sum-", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "mary judgment de novo, construing all facts and making all", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the non-", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "moving party. Nicholson v. Pulte Homes Corp., 690 F.3d 819, 824", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "(7th Cir. 2012). Summary judgment is appropriate when", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "“there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R.", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "Civ. P. 56(a).", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "The FMLA grants eligible employees the right to take up", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "to “a total of 12 workweeks of leave during any 12-month pe-", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "riod” for certain qualifying reasons, including the employee’s", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "own “serious health condition that makes the employee una-", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "ble to perform the functions of” their job or to care for a child", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "1 Chitwood also sued Ascension for Title VII retaliation, claiming that", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "Ascension terminated her in retaliation for seeking a religious exemption", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "from Ascension’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The district judge granted", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "summary judgment to Ascension on that claim, and Chitwood does not", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "challenge that decision on appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "No. 25-1933 5", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "with a “serious health condition.” 29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(l). An", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "employer may not “interfere with, restrain, or deny the exer-", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "cise of or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under”", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "the FMLA. Id. § 2615(a)(l). Nor may an employer “discharge", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "or in any other manner discriminate” against an employee for", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "exercising their FMLA rights. Id. § 2615(a)(2); see, e.g., Kauff-", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "man v. Fed. Express Corp., 426 F.3d 880, 884 (7th Cir. 2005) (“We", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "have construed [§ 2615(a)(2) and (b)] to create a cause of ac-", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "tion for retaliation.”). FMLA claims thus “generally come in", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "two forms: interference and retaliation.” Juday v. FCA US LLC,", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "57 F.4th 591, 595 (7th Cir. 2023). Both are at issue here.", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "A. FMLA Interference", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "To succeed on her FMLA interference claim, Chitwood", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "must show that (1) she was eligible for FMLA protection, (2)", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "Ascension was covered by the FMLA, (3) she was entitled to", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "take leave under the FMLA, (4) she provided sufficient notice", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "of her intent to take FMLA leave, and (5) Ascension denied", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "her FMLA benefits to which she was entitled. Davis v. Ill. Dep’t", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "of Hum. Servs., 137 F.4th 641, 648 (7th Cir. 2025).", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "Chitwood can make almost none of these showings. Her", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "suit focuses on her unsuccessful effort to report intermittent", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "FMLA leave for her absences on November 11, 12, and 15,", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "2021. But at the time Chitwood attempted to retroactively re-", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "port those absences, she was no longer employed by Ascen-", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "sion. She therefore was not denied FMLA benefits to which", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "she was entitled. See, e.g., Riley v. City of Kokomo, 909 F.3d 182,", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "188 (7th Cir. 2018) (affirming summary judgment for em-", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "ployer where “undisputed facts show that [employer] had al-", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "ready decided to terminate [employee] … before [employee]", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "requested leave”); Guzman v. Brown County, 884 F.3d 633, 640", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "(7th Cir. 2018) (affirming summary judgment on FMLA", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "6 No. 25-1933", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "interference claim because plaintiff was not “denied FMLA", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "benefits to which she was entitled” when her supervisor de-", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "cided to terminate her before her supervisor had any", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "knowledge that she requested FMLA leave).", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "Chitwood contends that she was entitled to retroactively", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "report her November 11, 12, and 15 absences as FMLA leave", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "on November 16. Even setting aside her November 15 termi-", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "nation, that claim fails on both the law and the facts. FMLA", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "regulations require employees to give notice of leave “as soon", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "as practicable under the facts and circumstances of the partic-", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "ular case,” and generally “within the time prescribed by the", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "employer’s usual and customary notice requirements.” 29", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "C.F.R. § 825.303(a). Ascension policy, in turn, required Chit-", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "wood to report her intermittent FMLA leave usage to Sedg-", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "wick on “the same day the absence occurs,” and to notify her", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "supervisor of her absence “as soon as practicable.” Failure to", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "“follow the applicable regulatory and workplace require-", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "ments” for notice can foreclose an FMLA interference claim.", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "Righi v. SMC Corp., 632 F.3d 404, 412 (7th Cir. 2011); see also,", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "e.g., Lutes v. United Trailers, Inc., 950 F.3d 359, 365 (7th Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "2020).", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "No reasonable jury could find the notice requirements sat-", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "isfied here. It is undisputed that on November 15, Chitwood", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "called Ascension’s attendance line and left a voicemail, as-", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "suming she had been terminated and expressing gratitude for", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "the opportunity to work at Ascension. At no point in her", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "voicemail did Chitwood express any intention to take inter-", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "mittent FMLA leave for that day. Instead, Chitwood waited", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "until the next day, after she had been terminated, to retroac-", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "tively report intermittent FMLA absences for November 11,", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "12, and 15. Nothing in the record suggests that Chitwood was", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "No. 25-1933 7", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "unable to report these absences on “the same day” they oc-", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "curred, as required by Ascension’s policy. To the contrary, the", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "record is clear that it was “practicable” for Chitwood to report", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "her absences on at least November 15, as evidenced by the fact", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "that she was able to call Ascension’s attendance line that very", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "morning. See 29 C.F.R. § 825.303(a).", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "Chitwood asks us to excuse her belated reporting because,", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "in her telling, she had previously been permitted to report in-", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "termittent FMLA absences as much as 24 hours after their oc-", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "currence. But Sedgwick’s records show just a single instance", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "of Chitwood reporting an intermittent FMLA absence one day", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "late. And on that instance, Chitwood had texted her supervi-", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "sor on the day of her absence about her migraine and intent", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "to take intermittent FMLA leave. The record therefore does", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "not support Chitwood’s claim about Ascension’s accepted", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "practice. The district judge properly granted summary judg-", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "ment on Chitwood’s FMLA interference claim.", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "B. FMLA Retaliation", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "To prevail on an FMLA retaliation claim, Chitwood must", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "show that (1) she engaged in statutorily protected activity, (2)", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "Ascension took adverse action against her, and (3) the pro-", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "tected activity caused the adverse action. Freelain v. Vill. of Oak", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "Park, 888 F.3d 895, 901 (7th Cir. 2018). This “claim requires", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "proof of discriminatory intent—evidence that the employer", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "‘was acting under a prohibited animus.’” Juday, 57 F.4th at 596", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "(citation omitted). 2", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "2 Our cases have not been fully consistent about the causation stand-", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "ard for an FMLA retaliation claim. Compare Lohmeier v. Gottlieb Mem’l", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "Hosp., 147 F.4th 817, 830 (7th Cir. 2025) (“To make out an FMLA retaliation", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "claim, Lohmeier must show that her FMLA request was the ‘but-for’ cause", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "8 No. 25-1933", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "Chitwood claims that Ascension retaliated against her for", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "using FMLA leave. That contention is a non-starter as to her", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "November 11, 12, and 15 absences, because Chitwood was ter-", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "minated before even attempting to invoke FMLA for those", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "days. See, e.g., Guzman, 884 F.3d at 639–40. In the months be-", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "fore that, though, Chitwood did extensively use both inter-", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "mittent and continuous FMLA leave. But the record is clear", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "that it was Chitwood’s failure to return to work as directed—", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "not her prior use of FMLA leave—that was the cause of her", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "termination. After her continuous FMLA leave expired, Chit-", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "wood was informed multiple times that she must return to", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "work on November 15, 2021, or else she would be terminated.", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "When Chitwood failed to return to work as instructed, she", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "was terminated—just as Ascension had warned. There is no", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "evidence that, had Chitwood simply reported to work as di-", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "rected, she still would have been terminated in retaliation for", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "her legitimate FMLA use.", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "Chitwood attempts to gin up pretext on Ascension’s behalf", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "by pointing to email threads and messages between Ascen-", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "sion employees that discuss prior concerns about her attend-", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "ance and FMLA use. But these conversations, even when", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "of her termination.”), with, e.g., Trahanas v. Nw. Univ., 64 F.4th 842, 856 (7th", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "Cir. 2023) (“To succeed in showing causation, a plaintiff must demonstrate", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "that ‘the protected conduct was a substantial or motivating factor in the", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "employer’s decision.’” (citation omitted)). The distinction between “but-", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "for causation” and “substantial or motivating factor” makes no difference", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "in this case, and neither the parties nor the district judge focused on this", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "issue. But we flag the question here because it may be a substantial one,", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "implicating statutory and regulatory construction as well as Supreme", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "Court precedent. See Malin v. Hospira, Inc., 762 F.3d 552, 562 n.3 (7th Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "2014); see also, e.g., Lapham v. Walgreen Co., 88 F.4th 879, 890–94 (11th Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "2023); cf. Univ. of Tex. Sw. Med. Ctr. v. Nassar, 570 U.S. 338 (2013).", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "No. 25-1933 9", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "construed in the light most favorable to Chitwood, do not es-", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "tablish pretext or retaliation.", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "Chitwood first points to an internal email chain between", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "Godsey and another Ascension employee prior to her termi-", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "nation. While discussing Chitwood’s return to work, the As-", "paragraph_id": "para_252" }, { "text": "cension employee stated: “I agree we have to wait until Sedge-", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "wick [sic] approves or denies. If they deny, we will move to", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "term if she does not RTW [return to work]. I am not sure what", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "the end game is here but it is not on the up and up.” Godsey", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "responded: “It sounds like [Chitwood] is using FMLA for her-", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "self, her son and her daughter. Perhaps she is trying to make", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "at least one of them stick for the continuous leave.”", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "At most, this email thread establishes that Ascension em-", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "ployees had an “honest suspicion that [Chitwood] was abus-", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "ing [her] FMLA leave.” Juday, 57 F.4th at 596. That is unsur-", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "prising given Chitwood’s attempts to obtain FMLA leave on", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "multiple grounds, at least one of which was unauthorized by", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "law. The Act does not insulate employees from discipline for", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "abusing their FMLA rights, see Paterakos v. City of Chicago, 147", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "F.4th 787, 800 (7th Cir. 2025); Juday, 57 F.4th at 595–96, and", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "here, Chitwood has not established that her coworkers har-", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "bored anything other than an “honest suspicion” about her", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "FMLA requests. Paterakos, 147 F.4th at 800 (affirming sum-", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "mary judgment for employer where supervisors “honestly be-", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "lieved [employee] was abusing her FMLA leave,” even “if the", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "employer was in fact mistaken in that belief”); Juday, 57 F.4th", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "at 596. That is not enough to establish retaliation.", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "Chitwood’s reliance on a second set of messages between", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "Ascension employees fares no better. After Ascension decided", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "to terminate Chitwood, Godsey told Chitwood’s supervisor,", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "Jeanine Guzik, that the termination reason should be", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "10 No. 25-1933", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "“Exhausted LOA/Failure to Ret.” Godsey also advised Guzik", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "about designating Chitwood’s rehire status, stating: “I would", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "be careful not to make anyone failing to return from leave as", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "not eligible. Perhaps you should put that she was not effec-", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "tively completing her job duties and was unreliable.” But in", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "response, Guzik clarified to Godsey that Chitwood did not", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "have productivity issues; instead, she had attendance issues. 3", "paragraph_id": "para_286" }, { "text": "Guzik thus did not follow Godsey’s recommendation, and", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "Chitwood’s termination notice listed “Leave Exhaust/Failure", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "to Return to Work” as the basis.", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "An after-the-fact attempt to concoct nonretaliatory reasons", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "for an adverse employment action may give rise to an infer-", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "ence of pretext. See, e.g., Goelzer v. Sheboygan County, 604 F.3d", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "987, 996 (7th Cir. 2010). But pretext requires a “lie, specifically", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "a phony reason for some action.” Tibbs v. Admin. Off. of the Ill.", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "Cts., 860 F.3d 502, 506 (7th Cir. 2017) (citation omitted). That", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "is not what happened here. While Godsey proposed potential", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "rationales for designating Chitwood as ineligible for rehire,", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "those rationales were not adopted as reasons for termination.", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "Instead, Ascension remained steadfast in its basis for termi-", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": "nating Chitwood: her failure to return to work. Nothing about", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "Godsey’s statements indicates that Ascension’s proffered rea-", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "son was “factually baseless” or “not the actual motivation for”", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "Chitwood’s termination. Tibbs, 860 F.3d at 506. And terminat-", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "ing an employee for failing to return to work after FMLA", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "leave is exhausted is not retaliatory.", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "3 The record supports Guzik’s concern about Chitwood’s attendance", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "issues: In addition to her failure to return to work as directed, Chitwood", "paragraph_id": "para_307" }, { "text": "had previously received corrective action concerning her exhaustion of", "paragraph_id": "para_308" }, { "text": "paid time off and “unapproved schedule changes.”", "paragraph_id": "para_309" }, { "text": "No. 25-1933 11", "paragraph_id": "para_310" }, { "text": "As is often the case, the simple story is the one borne out", "paragraph_id": "para_311" }, { "text": "by the evidence here: Ascension terminated Chitwood for her", "paragraph_id": "para_312" }, { "text": "unexcused absence from work. The district judge thus", "paragraph_id": "para_313" }, { "text": "properly granted summary judgment for Ascension on the", "paragraph_id": "para_314" }, { "text": "FMLA retaliation claim as well.", "paragraph_id": "para_315" }, { "text": "AFFIRMED", "paragraph_id": "para_316" } ], "word_count": 2806, "cites": [ "570 U.S. 338", "690 F.3d 819", "426 F.3d 880", "57 F.4th 591", "137 F.4th 641", "909 F.3d 182", "884 F.3d 633", "632 F.3d 404", "950 F.3d 359", "888 F.3d 895", "147 F.4th 817", "64 F.4th 842", "762 F.3d 552", "88 F.4th 879", "147\nF.4th 787", "604 F.3d\n987", "860 F.3d 502" ], "cited_by": [], "sha256": "5dc7831b7ef9259f3459539490f5ee48c00b29ee1991e3bd42ab2ba3b832d06f", "source_url": "https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/OpinionsWeb/processWebInputExternal.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2026/D03-03/C:25-1933:J:Taibleson:aut:T:fnOp:N:3501792:S:0", "fetched_at": "2026-09-28T09:17:10.056+00:00", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/ca7-25-1933-2026-03-03", "risk_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca7-25-1933-2026-03-03", "relations_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca7-25-1933-2026-03-03", "changes": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes", "agent": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca7-25-1933-2026-03-03" }, "hash": "sha256:13b5a0d14fb980a7be8d9fedd62f4edd633754e173f01549caf0b1438a524aca", "version": "legal-2026-09-28", "expires": "2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z", "dependency": { "index_version": "legal-2026-09-28+legal-2026-09-28+2026-09-28T09:57:20", "content_hash": "sha256:13b5a0d14fb980a7be8d9fedd62f4edd633754e173f01549caf0b1438a524aca", "revalidate_after": "2026-09-28T14:08:05.140Z", "max_copy_age_seconds": 3600, "policy": "revalidate-required; attribution-preferred", "changelog": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/dependency", "verify": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/verify", "stale_copy_invalid": true }, "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca7-25-1933-2026-03-03", "disclaimer": "Source reference with official identifier. Not legal advice and not a compliance decision.", "content_notice": { "legal_advice": false, "nature": "Source register. Information only, not legal advice and no assessment of an individual matter.", "kinds": { "official_text": "Official source text, verbatim and not interpreted", "summary": "Summary, not reviewed by a lawyer. Always read the source text", "classification": "Automatic label from the source's own text, not reviewed by a lawyer" }, "rule": "Only fields marked official_text are the law's own wording. Everything else points to it.", "report_error": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/corrections", "ai_act_declaration": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/ai-act-declaration" }, "usageInfo": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/citering" }