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    "sections": [
      {
        "title": "United States Court of Appeals",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "For the First Circuit",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "No. 25-1404",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_4",
          "para_5",
          "para_6",
          "para_7",
          "para_8"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_11"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Before",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_13",
          "para_14"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Alan H. Crede, with whom Robert S. Mantell was on brief, for",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_16"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Lisa Stephanian Burton, with whom Laurielle M. Howe and",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. were on brief, for",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_19"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "March 24, 2026",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_21"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "KAYATTA, Circuit Judge. Sandy Harris, Jr., appeals the",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_23",
          "para_24"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Grid\"), on his claims of unlawful retaliation under Massachusetts",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_26",
          "para_27",
          "para_28"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Harris's protected activity caused his termination. Our reasoning",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_30",
          "para_31"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "National Grid, a utility company, employed Harris as a",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_33",
          "para_34"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "York -- from his base in Massachusetts. In July 2020, during the",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "COVID-19 pandemic, Harris took time off work to travel to Ohio and",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "California to visit family. On July 28, the day after his vacation",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_38",
          "para_39"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Massachusetts and was looking to work from Ohio or California under",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_41",
          "para_42"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "The company did have a policy allowing employees to temporarily",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_44",
          "para_45",
          "para_46",
          "para_47",
          "para_48"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Judith Dunn, sent Harris an email with a letter stating that he",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_50",
          "para_51",
          "para_52",
          "para_53",
          "para_54",
          "para_55",
          "para_56",
          "para_57",
          "para_58"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Harris has conceded that it was not until his July 30",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_60",
          "para_61",
          "para_62",
          "para_63",
          "para_64"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "1 The policy also required employees to continue to perform",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_66",
          "para_67",
          "para_68"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "2 Harris initially expressed interest in a severance",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_70",
          "para_71",
          "para_72",
          "para_73",
          "para_74",
          "para_75",
          "para_76",
          "para_77",
          "para_78",
          "para_79",
          "para_80",
          "para_81",
          "para_82",
          "para_83",
          "para_84",
          "para_85",
          "para_86",
          "para_87",
          "para_88"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "3 Harris nevertheless argues that, separate from this July 30",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_90",
          "para_91",
          "para_92",
          "para_93",
          "para_94"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Indus. Demolition LLC, 138 F.4th 17, 34 (1st Cir. 2025) (requiring",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_96",
          "para_97",
          "para_98",
          "para_99",
          "para_100"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Harris did not supply the requested documentation. Nor",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_102",
          "para_103",
          "para_104",
          "para_105",
          "para_106"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "While Harris's complaint sought to advance several",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_108",
          "para_109",
          "para_110"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "F.4th 153, 161 (1st Cir. 2024) (\"Summary judgment is appropriate",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_112",
          "para_113"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "He does not press any claim that National Grid improperly failed",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_115",
          "para_116",
          "para_117"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151B, § 4(4)–(4A); 29 U.S.C. §§ 2601–2654.4",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "Harris's retaliation claims require him to prove a",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_120",
          "para_121"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "4 Harris acknowledges that these claims are \"largely",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_123",
          "para_124",
          "para_125",
          "para_126",
          "para_127",
          "para_128",
          "para_129",
          "para_130"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Indeed, it so informed him on July 30, and it was only in response",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_132",
          "para_133"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Given this chronology, Harris's assertion to National",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "Grid that he had some medical condition requiring him to work",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_136",
          "para_137",
          "para_138",
          "para_139",
          "para_140"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "F.3d 36, 42 (1st Cir. 2013) (finding there was \"no causal link\"",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_142",
          "para_143",
          "para_144"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Nationwide Life Ins., 696 F.3d 78, 90 (1st Cir. 2012) (\"When an",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_146",
          "para_147",
          "para_148",
          "para_149",
          "para_150",
          "para_151",
          "para_152",
          "para_153",
          "para_154"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Nor is there otherwise any indication that Harris would",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_156",
          "para_157"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "(holding plaintiff had not shown causation where, although only a",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_159",
          "para_160",
          "para_161",
          "para_162",
          "para_163"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Grid considered that request. The company's medical department",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_165",
          "para_166",
          "para_167",
          "para_168",
          "para_169",
          "para_170",
          "para_171",
          "para_172",
          "para_173",
          "para_174"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Similarly, the fact that National Grid checked to ensure",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "Harris had not submitted a request for FMLA leave on the eve of",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_177",
          "para_178"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Instead, Dunn's August 18 email to National Grid's medical",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_180",
          "para_181",
          "para_182",
          "para_183"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "National Grid was on alert for any medical documentation or leave",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_185",
          "para_186"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "We therefore agree with the district court that Harris",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_188",
          "para_189",
          "para_190",
          "para_191",
          "para_192"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "We affirm the district court's grant of summary judgment",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_194"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "paragraphs": [
      {
        "text": "United States Court of Appeals",
        "paragraph_id": "para_1"
      },
      {
        "text": "For the First Circuit",
        "paragraph_id": "para_2"
      },
      {
        "text": "No. 25-1404",
        "paragraph_id": "para_3"
      },
      {
        "text": "SANDY HARRIS, JR.,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_4"
      },
      {
        "text": "Plaintiff, Appellant,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_5"
      },
      {
        "text": "v.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_6"
      },
      {
        "text": "NATIONAL GRID USA SERVICE COMPANY, INC.,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_7"
      },
      {
        "text": "Defendant, Appellee.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_8"
      },
      {
        "text": "APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT",
        "paragraph_id": "para_9"
      },
      {
        "text": "FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS",
        "paragraph_id": "para_10"
      },
      {
        "text": "[Hon. Angel Kelley, U.S. District Judge]",
        "paragraph_id": "para_11"
      },
      {
        "text": "Before",
        "paragraph_id": "para_12"
      },
      {
        "text": "Montecalvo, Kayatta, and Rikelman,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_13"
      },
      {
        "text": "Circuit Judges.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_14"
      },
      {
        "text": "Alan H. Crede, with whom Robert S. Mantell was on brief, for",
        "paragraph_id": "para_15"
      },
      {
        "text": "appellant.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_16"
      },
      {
        "text": "Lisa Stephanian Burton, with whom Laurielle M. Howe and",
        "paragraph_id": "para_17"
      },
      {
        "text": "Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. were on brief, for",
        "paragraph_id": "para_18"
      },
      {
        "text": "appellee.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_19"
      },
      {
        "text": "March 24, 2026",
        "paragraph_id": "para_20"
      },
      {
        "text": "- 2 -",
        "paragraph_id": "para_21"
      },
      {
        "text": "KAYATTA, Circuit Judge. Sandy Harris, Jr., appeals the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_22"
      },
      {
        "text": "district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of his former",
        "paragraph_id": "para_23"
      },
      {
        "text": "employer, National Grid USA Service Company, Inc. (\"National",
        "paragraph_id": "para_24"
      },
      {
        "text": "Grid\"), on his claims of unlawful retaliation under Massachusetts",
        "paragraph_id": "para_25"
      },
      {
        "text": "and federal law. The district court found Harris had failed to",
        "paragraph_id": "para_26"
      },
      {
        "text": "show the causal nexus required to sustain his claims. We agree",
        "paragraph_id": "para_27"
      },
      {
        "text": "that the clear chronology of events precludes any finding that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_28"
      },
      {
        "text": "Harris's protected activity caused his termination. Our reasoning",
        "paragraph_id": "para_29"
      },
      {
        "text": "follows.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_30"
      },
      {
        "text": "I.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_31"
      },
      {
        "text": "National Grid, a utility company, employed Harris as a",
        "paragraph_id": "para_32"
      },
      {
        "text": "\"Change Analyst,\" which required him to travel throughout his",
        "paragraph_id": "para_33"
      },
      {
        "text": "service territory -- Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and part of New",
        "paragraph_id": "para_34"
      },
      {
        "text": "York -- from his base in Massachusetts. In July 2020, during the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_35"
      },
      {
        "text": "COVID-19 pandemic, Harris took time off work to travel to Ohio and",
        "paragraph_id": "para_36"
      },
      {
        "text": "California to visit family. On July 28, the day after his vacation",
        "paragraph_id": "para_37"
      },
      {
        "text": "ended, he informed his boss that, because he was not required to",
        "paragraph_id": "para_38"
      },
      {
        "text": "be on-site \"due to COVID-19 concerns,\" he had not returned to",
        "paragraph_id": "para_39"
      },
      {
        "text": "Massachusetts and was looking to work from Ohio or California under",
        "paragraph_id": "para_40"
      },
      {
        "text": "a company policy permitting employees who would not be appearing",
        "paragraph_id": "para_41"
      },
      {
        "text": "on-site to work outside their service areas on a temporary basis.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_42"
      },
      {
        "text": "The company did have a policy allowing employees to temporarily",
        "paragraph_id": "para_43"
      },
      {
        "text": "work from outside their territories, but only if they had the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_44"
      },
      {
        "text": "- 3 -",
        "paragraph_id": "para_45"
      },
      {
        "text": "approval of their supervisors.1 Harris had not received that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_46"
      },
      {
        "text": "approval.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_47"
      },
      {
        "text": "On July 30, National Grid's Director of Human Resources,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_48"
      },
      {
        "text": "Judith Dunn, sent Harris an email with a letter stating that he",
        "paragraph_id": "para_49"
      },
      {
        "text": "had \"violated company policy by not seeking management approval to",
        "paragraph_id": "para_50"
      },
      {
        "text": "work out of state at the completion of [his] vacation\" and that he",
        "paragraph_id": "para_51"
      },
      {
        "text": "would be deemed to have resigned unless he returned to his",
        "paragraph_id": "para_52"
      },
      {
        "text": "territory immediately. Dunn also offered Harris the possibility",
        "paragraph_id": "para_53"
      },
      {
        "text": "of a severance agreement.2 Harris replied to Dunn's email that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_54"
      },
      {
        "text": "same day, stating that he did not intend to resign but was",
        "paragraph_id": "para_55"
      },
      {
        "text": "\"requesting to work out of state on a temporary basis.\" He vowed",
        "paragraph_id": "para_56"
      },
      {
        "text": "to return to his service territory immediately if his request was",
        "paragraph_id": "para_57"
      },
      {
        "text": "not approved.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_58"
      },
      {
        "text": "Harris has conceded that it was not until his July 30",
        "paragraph_id": "para_59"
      },
      {
        "text": "reply to Dunn -- sent after he received Dunn's letter telling him",
        "paragraph_id": "para_60"
      },
      {
        "text": "he had to return to his territory or be deemed to have",
        "paragraph_id": "para_61"
      },
      {
        "text": "resigned -- that he \"stated, for the first time, that he had",
        "paragraph_id": "para_62"
      },
      {
        "text": "preexisting conditions\" placing him at a \"higher risk for COVID\"",
        "paragraph_id": "para_63"
      },
      {
        "text": "and that he was requesting a \"reasonable accommodation\" allowing",
        "paragraph_id": "para_64"
      },
      {
        "text": "1 The policy also required employees to continue to perform",
        "paragraph_id": "para_65"
      },
      {
        "text": "\"storm duty assignments,\" which require employees to work during",
        "paragraph_id": "para_66"
      },
      {
        "text": "certain storms, and to consult with a tax advisor before working",
        "paragraph_id": "para_67"
      },
      {
        "text": "from out of state.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_68"
      },
      {
        "text": "2 Harris initially expressed interest in a severance",
        "paragraph_id": "para_69"
      },
      {
        "text": "agreement but eventually rejected the offer.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_70"
      },
      {
        "text": "- 4 -",
        "paragraph_id": "para_71"
      },
      {
        "text": "him to work off-site.3 Harris also does not contend that he in",
        "paragraph_id": "para_72"
      },
      {
        "text": "any way suggested that he suffered any condition that prevented",
        "paragraph_id": "para_73"
      },
      {
        "text": "him from returning to his territory and working off-site from",
        "paragraph_id": "para_74"
      },
      {
        "text": "there. In response, Dunn reiterated that Harris had not sought or",
        "paragraph_id": "para_75"
      },
      {
        "text": "received managerial approval prior to working from outside of his",
        "paragraph_id": "para_76"
      },
      {
        "text": "service territory and again directed him to immediately return.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_77"
      },
      {
        "text": "Harris did not return to his service territory. Instead,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_78"
      },
      {
        "text": "he filed and then withdrew a request for leave under the Family",
        "paragraph_id": "para_79"
      },
      {
        "text": "and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). He also provided National Grid with",
        "paragraph_id": "para_80"
      },
      {
        "text": "a brief letter from his doctor stating merely: \"It is my medical",
        "paragraph_id": "para_81"
      },
      {
        "text": "opinion that Sandy Harris would benefit from an accommodation to",
        "paragraph_id": "para_82"
      },
      {
        "text": "work remotely during the COVID pandemic.\" The letter did not",
        "paragraph_id": "para_83"
      },
      {
        "text": "suggest that there was any medical reason why Harris could not",
        "paragraph_id": "para_84"
      },
      {
        "text": "work remotely from his home in his territory instead of from Ohio",
        "paragraph_id": "para_85"
      },
      {
        "text": "or California. On August 12, National Grid notified Harris that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_86"
      },
      {
        "text": "this letter was insufficient and asked for more documentation by",
        "paragraph_id": "para_87"
      },
      {
        "text": "August 18.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_88"
      },
      {
        "text": "3 Harris nevertheless argues that, separate from this July 30",
        "paragraph_id": "para_89"
      },
      {
        "text": "reply to Dunn, he also made a \"general request for reasonable",
        "paragraph_id": "para_90"
      },
      {
        "text": "accommodation\" on July 22. Appellant's Br. 36. But Harris does",
        "paragraph_id": "para_91"
      },
      {
        "text": "not elaborate on what accommodation he requested, and the record",
        "paragraph_id": "para_92"
      },
      {
        "text": "is bereft of evidence that any request he purportedly made that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_93"
      },
      {
        "text": "day meets the legal standard for protected conduct. See Moore v.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_94"
      },
      {
        "text": "Indus. Demolition LLC, 138 F.4th 17, 34 (1st Cir. 2025) (requiring",
        "paragraph_id": "para_95"
      },
      {
        "text": "a reasonable accommodation request to \"[a]t the least . . .",
        "paragraph_id": "para_96"
      },
      {
        "text": "identify some desired accommodation and explain how the desired",
        "paragraph_id": "para_97"
      },
      {
        "text": "accommodation is linked to some handicap\" to qualify as protected",
        "paragraph_id": "para_98"
      },
      {
        "text": "conduct under the Massachusetts law on which Harris relies).",
        "paragraph_id": "para_99"
      },
      {
        "text": "- 5 -",
        "paragraph_id": "para_100"
      },
      {
        "text": "Harris did not supply the requested documentation. Nor",
        "paragraph_id": "para_101"
      },
      {
        "text": "did Harris ever assert that there was any medical reason why he",
        "paragraph_id": "para_102"
      },
      {
        "text": "could not return to his territory, whether or not he appeared",
        "paragraph_id": "para_103"
      },
      {
        "text": "on-site at the workplace. National Grid then terminated his",
        "paragraph_id": "para_104"
      },
      {
        "text": "employment on August 19.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_105"
      },
      {
        "text": "II.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_106"
      },
      {
        "text": "While Harris's complaint sought to advance several",
        "paragraph_id": "para_107"
      },
      {
        "text": "claims, he challenges on appeal only the district court's grant of",
        "paragraph_id": "para_108"
      },
      {
        "text": "summary judgment for National Grid on his retaliation claims, which",
        "paragraph_id": "para_109"
      },
      {
        "text": "we review de novo. See Alam & Sarker, LLC v. United States, 113",
        "paragraph_id": "para_110"
      },
      {
        "text": "F.4th 153, 161 (1st Cir. 2024) (\"Summary judgment is appropriate",
        "paragraph_id": "para_111"
      },
      {
        "text": "if the moving party shows that no genuine issue of material fact",
        "paragraph_id": "para_112"
      },
      {
        "text": "exists and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.\").",
        "paragraph_id": "para_113"
      },
      {
        "text": "He does not press any claim that National Grid improperly failed",
        "paragraph_id": "para_114"
      },
      {
        "text": "to accommodate any disability. Instead, he contends that he was",
        "paragraph_id": "para_115"
      },
      {
        "text": "fired because he asserted his right to seek accommodation of a",
        "paragraph_id": "para_116"
      },
      {
        "text": "disability under Massachusetts law and/or relief under the FMLA.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_117"
      },
      {
        "text": "See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151B, § 4(4)–(4A); 29 U.S.C. §§ 2601–2654.4",
        "paragraph_id": "para_118"
      },
      {
        "text": "Harris's retaliation claims require him to prove a",
        "paragraph_id": "para_119"
      },
      {
        "text": "causal connection between conduct protected by those laws and his",
        "paragraph_id": "para_120"
      },
      {
        "text": "termination. See Moore v. Indus. Demolition LLC, 138 F.4th 17, 32",
        "paragraph_id": "para_121"
      },
      {
        "text": "4 Harris acknowledges that these claims are \"largely",
        "paragraph_id": "para_122"
      },
      {
        "text": "duplicative,\" and, accordingly, we address them together.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_123"
      },
      {
        "text": "Appellant's Br. 56.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_124"
      },
      {
        "text": "- 6 -",
        "paragraph_id": "para_125"
      },
      {
        "text": "(1st Cir. 2025) (Massachusetts law); Stratton v. Bentley Univ.,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_126"
      },
      {
        "text": "113 F.4th 25, 48 (1st Cir. 2024) (FMLA). The record is clear,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_127"
      },
      {
        "text": "though, that before National Grid learned Harris was going to apply",
        "paragraph_id": "para_128"
      },
      {
        "text": "for any accommodation or other relief, it had already decided to",
        "paragraph_id": "para_129"
      },
      {
        "text": "fire him if he refused to return to his territory immediately.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_130"
      },
      {
        "text": "Indeed, it so informed him on July 30, and it was only in response",
        "paragraph_id": "para_131"
      },
      {
        "text": "to that ultimatum that Harris first claimed to have a preexisting",
        "paragraph_id": "para_132"
      },
      {
        "text": "condition requiring some accommodation.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_133"
      },
      {
        "text": "Given this chronology, Harris's assertion to National",
        "paragraph_id": "para_134"
      },
      {
        "text": "Grid that he had some medical condition requiring him to work",
        "paragraph_id": "para_135"
      },
      {
        "text": "off-site cannot have caused National Grid to issue the ultimatum",
        "paragraph_id": "para_136"
      },
      {
        "text": "that Harris return to his service territory or be let go.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_137"
      },
      {
        "text": "\"Causation moves forward, not backwards, and no protected conduct",
        "paragraph_id": "para_138"
      },
      {
        "text": "after an adverse employment action can serve as the predicate for",
        "paragraph_id": "para_139"
      },
      {
        "text": "a retaliation claim.\" Pearson v. Mass. Bay Transp. Auth., 723",
        "paragraph_id": "para_140"
      },
      {
        "text": "F.3d 36, 42 (1st Cir. 2013) (finding there was \"no causal link\"",
        "paragraph_id": "para_141"
      },
      {
        "text": "between an employee's protected conduct and his termination for",
        "paragraph_id": "para_142"
      },
      {
        "text": "the \"obvious\" reason that his employer \"recommended firing [him]",
        "paragraph_id": "para_143"
      },
      {
        "text": "before\" the protected conduct occurred); see also Jones v.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_144"
      },
      {
        "text": "Nationwide Life Ins., 696 F.3d 78, 90 (1st Cir. 2012) (\"When an",
        "paragraph_id": "para_145"
      },
      {
        "text": "employee requests an accommodation for the first time only after",
        "paragraph_id": "para_146"
      },
      {
        "text": "it becomes clear that an adverse employment action is imminent,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_147"
      },
      {
        "text": "such a request can be too little, too late.\" (cleaned up)); Mesnick",
        "paragraph_id": "para_148"
      },
      {
        "text": "v. Gen. Elec. Co., 950 F.2d 816, 828 (1st Cir. 1991) (explaining",
        "paragraph_id": "para_149"
      },
      {
        "text": "- 7 -",
        "paragraph_id": "para_150"
      },
      {
        "text": "that, \"[w]ere the rule otherwise, then a disgruntled employee, no",
        "paragraph_id": "para_151"
      },
      {
        "text": "matter how poor his performance or how contemptuous his attitude",
        "paragraph_id": "para_152"
      },
      {
        "text": "toward his supervisors, could effectively inhibit a well-deserved",
        "paragraph_id": "para_153"
      },
      {
        "text": "discharge by merely\" engaging in subsequent protected conduct).",
        "paragraph_id": "para_154"
      },
      {
        "text": "Nor is there otherwise any indication that Harris would",
        "paragraph_id": "para_155"
      },
      {
        "text": "have retained his job if he had not requested accommodation or",
        "paragraph_id": "para_156"
      },
      {
        "text": "exercised his rights under the FMLA. See Pearson, 723 F.3d at 42",
        "paragraph_id": "para_157"
      },
      {
        "text": "(holding plaintiff had not shown causation where, although only a",
        "paragraph_id": "para_158"
      },
      {
        "text": "recommendation to terminate and not the final decision to do so",
        "paragraph_id": "para_159"
      },
      {
        "text": "predated his protected conduct, he \"point[ed] to no evidence that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_160"
      },
      {
        "text": "this recommendation would have been rejected\" if not for that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_161"
      },
      {
        "text": "conduct). Instead, it appears Harris's request for an",
        "paragraph_id": "para_162"
      },
      {
        "text": "accommodation actually postponed his termination while National",
        "paragraph_id": "para_163"
      },
      {
        "text": "Grid considered that request. The company's medical department",
        "paragraph_id": "para_164"
      },
      {
        "text": "provided Harris with detailed guidance regarding the medical",
        "paragraph_id": "para_165"
      },
      {
        "text": "documentation necessary and the deadline to submit the same. It",
        "paragraph_id": "para_166"
      },
      {
        "text": "was only when Harris failed to submit appropriate documentation to",
        "paragraph_id": "para_167"
      },
      {
        "text": "support his claim that National Grid finally terminated his",
        "paragraph_id": "para_168"
      },
      {
        "text": "employment, almost three weeks after the company told him his",
        "paragraph_id": "para_169"
      },
      {
        "text": "failure to return immediately from outside his territory would be",
        "paragraph_id": "para_170"
      },
      {
        "text": "considered job abandonment. This sequence of events manifests",
        "paragraph_id": "para_171"
      },
      {
        "text": "bend-over-backwards respect for, rather than retaliation against,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_172"
      },
      {
        "text": "Harris's assertion of his rights.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_173"
      },
      {
        "text": "- 8 -",
        "paragraph_id": "para_174"
      },
      {
        "text": "Similarly, the fact that National Grid checked to ensure",
        "paragraph_id": "para_175"
      },
      {
        "text": "Harris had not submitted a request for FMLA leave on the eve of",
        "paragraph_id": "para_176"
      },
      {
        "text": "his termination does not suggest they were \"dedicated to ending",
        "paragraph_id": "para_177"
      },
      {
        "text": "his employment before he would file.\" Appellant's Br. 59.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_178"
      },
      {
        "text": "Instead, Dunn's August 18 email to National Grid's medical",
        "paragraph_id": "para_179"
      },
      {
        "text": "department, asking for an update regarding whether Harris had",
        "paragraph_id": "para_180"
      },
      {
        "text": "submitted medical documentation or had requested FMLA leave,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_181"
      },
      {
        "text": "explicitly stated that she \"want[ed] to ensure [National Grid]",
        "paragraph_id": "para_182"
      },
      {
        "text": "ha[d] given [Harris] the agreed time to respond.\" The fact that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_183"
      },
      {
        "text": "National Grid was on alert for any medical documentation or leave",
        "paragraph_id": "para_184"
      },
      {
        "text": "requests from Harris again suggests they were being sensitive to,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_185"
      },
      {
        "text": "rather than antagonistic toward, his rights.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_186"
      },
      {
        "text": "We therefore agree with the district court that Harris",
        "paragraph_id": "para_187"
      },
      {
        "text": "has not produced evidence from which a reasonable jury could",
        "paragraph_id": "para_188"
      },
      {
        "text": "conclude that he was terminated for requesting reasonable",
        "paragraph_id": "para_189"
      },
      {
        "text": "accommodation under Massachusetts law or for exercising his rights",
        "paragraph_id": "para_190"
      },
      {
        "text": "under the FMLA.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_191"
      },
      {
        "text": "III.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_192"
      },
      {
        "text": "We affirm the district court's grant of summary judgment",
        "paragraph_id": "para_193"
      },
      {
        "text": "in full.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_194"
      }
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