{"attribution":{"source":"legal.exploreworldai.com","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11","cite_as":"NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11)","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision","version":"legal-2026-10-13","fingerprint":"ewai:us:97516d","proof":"sha256:670abfce71ddc8bf30632d56899f9b9d7ad2de76ef3ba5aeaca504a8c8ae5bf0","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","publisher":"NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal","terms":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om"},"brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","item":{"schema_version":"1.0.0","id":"us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11","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"},"sections":[{"title":"United States Court of Appeals","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"For the Eighth Circuit","paragraphs":["para_3"]},{"title":"No. 22-2922","paragraphs":["para_5"]},{"title":"Colleen M. Johnson","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Plaintiff - Appellant","paragraphs":["para_8"]},{"title":"Midwest Division - RBH, LLC, doing business as Belton Regional Medical","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Center; Patrick Avila; Nicole Pasley","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Defendants - Appellees","paragraphs":["para_12"]},{"title":"Appeal from United States District Court","paragraphs":["para_14","para_15"]},{"title":"Submitted: September 21, 2023","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Filed: December 11, 2023","paragraphs":["para_18","para_19","para_20","para_21"]},{"title":"After nine months on medical leave, Colleen M. Johnson told Midwest","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Division-RBH, LLC—doing business as “Belton Regional”—that she could not","paragraphs":["para_24","para_25","para_26","para_27","para_28","para_29","para_30"]},{"title":"Johnson suffers from heart-related issues, necessitating a cardiologist’s","paragraphs":["para_32","para_33","para_34","para_35","para_36"]},{"title":"A year later, Johnson notified Belton Regional’s leadership and human","paragraphs":["para_38","para_39","para_40","para_41"]},{"title":"Action Form and a Performance Improvement Plan about staff communication","paragraphs":["para_43"]},{"title":"Four days later, Avila gave Johnson a final disciplinary warning, citing her","paragraphs":["para_45","para_46","para_47","para_48","para_49"]},{"title":"1The Honorable Brian C. Wimes, United States District Judge for the","paragraphs":["para_51","para_52"]},{"title":"Within five days, Johnson requested short-term disability leave. Belton","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Regional approved it. Three weeks later, she called Belton Regional’s ethics","paragraphs":["para_55","para_56"]},{"title":"While on leave, Johnson wrote the investigator identifying others who had","paragraphs":["para_58","para_59","para_60","para_61"]},{"title":"While Johnson was on leave, Nicole Pasley began performing Johnson’s","paragraphs":["para_63","para_64","para_65"]},{"title":"After Johnson had been on leave for a total of nine months, Belton","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Regional’s vice president of HR asked Johnson when she might be able to return","paragraphs":["para_68","para_69"]},{"title":"Johnson sued in state court. After the case was removed, the district court","paragraphs":["para_71","para_72","para_73","para_74"]},{"title":"Johnson argues that the district court erred in denying remand and ruling that","paragraphs":["para_76","para_77","para_78","para_79","para_80","para_81","para_82","para_83","para_84","para_85","para_86"]},{"title":"Diversity jurisdiction requires an amount in controversy greater than","paragraphs":["para_88","para_89","para_90","para_91","para_92","para_93"]},{"title":"(8th Cir. 2003). Joinder is not fraudulent if state law might impose liability on","paragraphs":["para_95","para_96","para_97"]},{"title":"The MHRA says: “This [Human Rights Act] chapter, in addition to","paragraphs":["para_99"]},{"title":"Compensation Law], shall provide the exclusive remedy for any and all claims","paragraphs":["para_101","para_102"]},{"title":"Johnson seeks remand of this case, asserting that the three common law","paragraphs":["para_104","para_105"]},{"title":"Pasley was “acting within the course and scope of her employment with","paragraphs":["para_107","para_108"]},{"title":"6538332, at *3 (W.D. Mo. Nov. 6, 2020) (remanding where the plaintiff","paragraphs":["para_110","para_111"]},{"title":"T.F. v. BB St. Louis, LLC, 2021 WL 494795, at *2 (E.D. Mo. Feb. 10, 2021)","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"(remanding where plaintiff did not allege the tort was “in the scope of” the","paragraphs":["para_114"]},{"title":"Pharmacy, LLC, 2020 WL 2319882 (W.D. Mo. May 11, 2020) at * 2","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"(remanding where the plaintiff alleged that the conduct occurred “outside and","paragraphs":["para_117"]},{"title":"Also, Johnson brings these two claims against both her employer and","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Pasley, based on the same facts. See Winfrey v. Ford Motor Co., 2020 WL","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"1558117, at *2 (W.D. Mo. Apr. 1, 2020) (ruling that common law claims were","paragraphs":["para_121","para_122","para_123","para_124","para_125","para_126"]},{"title":"Johnson’s third common law claim (against Avila alone) also arises out of","paragraphs":["para_128","para_129","para_130","para_131","para_132","para_133"]},{"title":"The district court properly ruled that joinder of Avila and Pasley was","paragraphs":["para_135","para_136","para_137","para_138"]},{"title":"City of Rochester, 643 F.3d 1031, 1042 (8th Cir. 2011) (en banc). Summary","paragraphs":["para_140","para_141"]},{"title":"R. Civ. P. 56(a). To create a genuine dispute of fact, “the mere existence of a","paragraphs":["para_143","para_144"]},{"title":"Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252 (1986). “On a motion for","paragraphs":["para_146","para_147","para_148","para_149"]},{"title":"Johnson alleged two counts of hostile work environment, based on age and","paragraphs":["para_151","para_152","para_153","para_154"]},{"title":"2Johnson, in passing, asserts that the district court should have allowed an","paragraphs":["para_156","para_157","para_158","para_159","para_160","para_161","para_162","para_163","para_164","para_165","para_166","para_167","para_168","para_169"]},{"title":"For her disability claim, Johnson relies on these comments: Almost two","paragraphs":["para_171","para_172","para_173","para_174","para_175"]},{"title":"While on medical leave, Johnson sent multiple anonymous letters","paragraphs":["para_177","para_178","para_179","para_180","para_181"]},{"title":"A successful claim of a hostile work environment requires the plaintiff to","paragraphs":["para_183","para_184","para_185","para_186","para_187","para_188"]},{"title":"A prima facie case of age discrimination requires the plaintiff to show: (1)","paragraphs":["para_190","para_191","para_192","para_193","para_194","para_195"]},{"title":"Here, Johnson needed to identify evidence that her age was the","paragraphs":["para_197","para_198"]},{"title":"Johnson refused to provide a date. She provides no evidence that she was","paragraphs":["para_200","para_201"]},{"title":"Johnson believes there is an inference. Yet, with a single exception, all the","paragraphs":["para_203","para_204","para_205","para_206"]},{"title":"Johnson was on leave. Avila does not mention anything about age in the","paragraphs":["para_208"]},{"title":"For disability discrimination, a prima facie case requires the plaintiff to","paragraphs":["para_210","para_211"]},{"title":"Inc., 673 S.W.3d 537, 544 (Mo. App. 2023). “[T]he employer has an affirmative","paragraphs":["para_213","para_214","para_215","para_216"]},{"title":"Johnson cannot demonstrate that her disability was the motivating factor","paragraphs":["para_218","para_219","para_220","para_221","para_222","para_223","para_224"]},{"title":"Johnson asserts that she was constructively discharged. In her opposition","paragraphs":["para_226","para_227","para_228","para_229","para_230"]},{"title":"(8th Cir. 2020). The failure to oppose summary judgment with a constructive","paragraphs":["para_232","para_233","para_234","para_235"]}],"paragraphs":[{"text":"United States Court of Appeals","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"For the Eighth Circuit","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"___________________________","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"No. 22-2922","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"___________________________","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"Colleen M. Johnson","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"Plaintiff - Appellant","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"v.","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"Midwest Division - RBH, LLC, doing business as Belton Regional Medical","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"Center; Patrick Avila; Nicole Pasley","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"Defendants - Appellees","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"____________","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"Appeal from United States District Court","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"for the Western District of Missouri - Kansas City","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"____________","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"Submitted: September 21, 2023","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"Filed: December 11, 2023","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"____________","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"Before LOKEN, GRUENDER, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"____________","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"BENTON, Circuit Judge.","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"After nine months on medical leave, Colleen M. Johnson told Midwest","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"Division-RBH, LLC—doing business as “Belton Regional”—that she could not","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"give a date when she would return to work. The next day, Belton Regional fired","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"-2-","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"her. She sued in state court. After the case was removed, the district court1","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"dismissed the common law claims and later granted summary judgment on her","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"claims under the Missouri Human Rights Act (“MHRA”). Having jurisdiction","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"I.","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"Johnson suffers from heart-related issues, necessitating a cardiologist’s","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"care for more than a decade. Belton Regional knew of her condition when hiring","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"her, at age 61, to lead its Oncology Department in January 2017. Three months","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"later, Patrick Avila became Chief Operating Officer, and thus Johnson’s direct","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"supervisor. Within a year and a half, he presented her with a “coaching","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"document.”","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"A year later, Johnson notified Belton Regional’s leadership and human","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"resource officers that Avila created a toxic environment, specifically by bullying","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"employees. Two months later, he gave her a disciplinary warning. They","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"discussed the expectation that she would not foster a “we/they environment”","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"between staff and administration. Avila also issued her a Disciplinary/Corrective","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"Action Form and a Performance Improvement Plan about staff communication","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"and managing labor.","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"Four days later, Avila gave Johnson a final disciplinary warning, citing her","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"effort to “effectively shut down any attempts at the communication process”","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"during their disciplinary meeting. This final warning stated that her acts ran","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"“counter to the Behavioral Standards set by Belton Regional” and she was","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"expected to listen to feedback and be more receptive to coaching. Further:","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"“Failure to adhere to these requirements will result in termination.”","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"1The Honorable Brian C. Wimes, United States District Judge for the","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"Western District of Missouri.","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"-3-","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"Within five days, Johnson requested short-term disability leave. Belton","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"Regional approved it. Three weeks later, she called Belton Regional’s ethics","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"hotline. She did not refer to any discrimination, though she did tell the","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"investigator that Avila had engaged in bullying.","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"While on leave, Johnson wrote the investigator identifying others who had","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"voiced concerns about Avila’s workplace behavior. The coworkers were of","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"various ages, with unknown disability statuses. According to her written","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"statement, she was subject to a hostile work environment based on Avila’s","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"workplace conduct (she did not reference anything about age or disability).","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"While Johnson was on leave, Nicole Pasley began performing Johnson’s","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"job. Shortly after Pasley began, Avila asked Human Resources when Johnson","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"would return to work. When Avila learned Johnson would not be back for","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"months, he called it the “best case scenario/result.”","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"After Johnson had been on leave for a total of nine months, Belton","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"Regional’s vice president of HR asked Johnson when she might be able to return","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"to work. She replied that her medical providers had not released her to return.","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"The next day, Belton Regional terminated her employment.","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"Johnson sued in state court. After the case was removed, the district court","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"dismissed the common law claims, then granted summary judgment on the","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"MHRA claims.","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"II.","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"A.","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"Johnson argues that the district court erred in denying remand and ruling that","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"the MHRA preempted her common law claims. Johnson asserted three common","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"law claims: intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress against Avila;","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"-4-","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"defamation against both Belton Regional and Pasley (her replacement); and","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"conversion/destruction/trespass of personal property against both Belton Regional","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"and Pasley. Johnson, Avila, and Pasley are citizens of Missouri. Belton Regional","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"is a citizen of Louisiana and Tennessee. This court reviews de novo the district","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"court's denial of the motion to remand, as well as the denial of the motion to","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"dismiss. In re Prempro Prods. Liab. Litig., 591 F.3d 613, 619 (8th Cir. 2010),","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"quoting Menz v. New Holland North America, Inc., 440 F.3d 1002, 1004 (8th Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"2006).","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"Diversity jurisdiction requires an amount in controversy greater than","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"$75,000 and complete diversity of citizenship. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). Fraudulent","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"joinder is an exception to the complete diversity rule. Prempro, 591 F.3d at 620.","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"“Fraudulent joinder occurs when a plaintiff files a frivolous or illegitimate claim","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"against a non-diverse defendant solely to prevent removal.” Id. “Where","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"applicable state precedent precludes the existence of a cause of action against a","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"defendant, joinder is fraudulent.” Filla v. Norfolk S. Ry. Co., 336 F.3d 806, 810","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"(8th Cir. 2003). Joinder is not fraudulent if state law might impose liability on","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"the resident defendant under the facts alleged. Id. “All doubts about federal","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"jurisdiction should be resolved in favor of remand to state court.” Prempro, 591","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"F.3d at 620.","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"The MHRA says: “This [Human Rights Act] chapter, in addition to","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"chapter 285 [Employer and Employees Generally] and chapter 287 [Workers’","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"Compensation Law], shall provide the exclusive remedy for any and all claims","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"for injury or damages arising out of an employment relationship.” § 213.070.2,","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"RSMo Supp. 2017.","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"Johnson seeks remand of this case, asserting that the three common law","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"claims are “independently actionable” and thus the Missouri defendants were not","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"fraudulently joined. In two of her common law claims, Johnson alleges that","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"Pasley was “acting within the course and scope of her employment with","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"defendant” Belton Regional. Cf. Matthews v. Syncreon, US, Inc., 2020 WL","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"-5-","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"6538332, at *3 (W.D. Mo. Nov. 6, 2020) (remanding where the plaintiff","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"“sufficiently alleges, in the alternative, that his assault and battery allegations","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"occurred outside the scope of his employment relationship with Defendants”);","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"T.F. v. BB St. Louis, LLC, 2021 WL 494795, at *2 (E.D. Mo. Feb. 10, 2021)","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"(remanding where plaintiff did not allege the tort was “in the scope of” the","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"individual defendant’s (or the plaintiff’s) employment); Alst v. Mo. CVS","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"Pharmacy, LLC, 2020 WL 2319882 (W.D. Mo. May 11, 2020) at * 2","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"(remanding where the plaintiff alleged that the conduct occurred “outside and","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"beyond the scope of her employment”).","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"Also, Johnson brings these two claims against both her employer and","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"Pasley, based on the same facts. See Winfrey v. Ford Motor Co., 2020 WL","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"1558117, at *2 (W.D. Mo. Apr. 1, 2020) (ruling that common law claims were","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"preempted by MHRA where they arose “from the same factual allegations","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"underlying Plaintiff's MHRA claims”). By the pleadings and the facts, Johnson’s","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"claims against Pasley and Belton Regional for defamation and","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"conversion/destruction/trespass of personal property arise out of the employment","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"relationship, and are thus preempted by the MHRA. See § 213.070.2, RSMo","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"Supp. 2017.","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"Johnson’s third common law claim (against Avila alone) also arises out of","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"an employment relationship. In this claim for unlawful infliction of emotional","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"distress, Johnson alleges that Avila inflicted “discrimination and harassment” by","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"“criticism and harassment.” Because these are the same factual allegations","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"underlying the MHRA claims, the common law claim against Avila is preempted","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"by the MHRA. See § 213.070.2, RSMo Supp. 2017.","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"-6-","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"The district court properly ruled that joinder of Avila and Pasley was","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"fraudulent, resulting in complete diversity. The district court correctly denied","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"remand and properly dismissed the common law claims.2","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"B.","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"“This court reviews de novo a grant of summary judgment.” Torgerson v.","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"City of Rochester, 643 F.3d 1031, 1042 (8th Cir. 2011) (en banc). Summary","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"judgment is proper “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"R. Civ. P. 56(a). To create a genuine dispute of fact, “the mere existence of a","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"scintilla of evidence in support of the plaintiff’s position will be insufficient;","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the plaintiff.”","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252 (1986). “On a motion for","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"summary judgment, facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"nonmoving party only if there is a genuine dispute at those facts.” Torgerson,","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"643 F. 3d at 1042 (internal quotations omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"i.","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"Johnson alleged two counts of hostile work environment, based on age and","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"disability. For her age claim, she relies on these comments: After about a year","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"as her supervisor, Avila began asking Johnson about her retirement plans,","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"commenting on who might replace her as Director, and joking that she “wasn’t","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"getting any younger.” Johnson says she overheard the Chief Nursing Officer say","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"2Johnson, in passing, asserts that the district court should have allowed an","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"amended complaint—first requested after the district court ruled on the motions to","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"dismiss and to remand. The district court did not abuse its considerable discretion","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"in refusing a post-ruling motion to amend. “District courts ‘have considerable","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"discretion to deny a post-judgment motion for leave to amend because such","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"motions are disfavored.’” Schnuck Markets, Inc. v. First Data Merch. Servs.","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"Corp., 852 F.3d 732, 740 (8th Cir. 2017), quoting United States ex rel. Roop v.","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"Hypoguard USA, Inc., 559 F.3d 818, 824 (8th Cir. 2009).","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"-7-","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"she wanted to “change the face of Belton by getting rid of some of the older","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"employees.” Avila made derogatory comments to Johnson about a 72-year-old","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"receptionist and asked Johnson to downgrade her rating, and that of the oldest","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"nurse. Avila discussed terminating an older employee and Johnson objected,","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"claiming it looked like age discrimination. Avila replied: “If you’re not on","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"board, you’ll be next.”","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"For her disability claim, Johnson relies on these comments: Almost two","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"years into her job, Avila told Johnson that he would no longer accommodate her","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"ability to work from home and said: “I’m sick of hearing about your","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"accommodations.” Later, during a heated discussion, the vice president of HR","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"told her to calm down because “you don’t want to have another heart attack.”","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"Avila also asked who would replace her if she had another heart attack.","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"While on medical leave, Johnson sent multiple anonymous letters","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"addressing how she and other employees were treated. The letters did not","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"mention age or disability but focused on bullying. Her letters did not suggest","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"that the work environment was hostile because it was discriminatory. Even when","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"she spoke with a Belton Regional investigator about her experiences, she did not","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"assert that her treatment was based on discrimination.","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"A successful claim of a hostile work environment requires the plaintiff to","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"show: (1) she is a member of a group protected under the MHRA; (2) she was","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"subjected to unwelcome harassment; (3) the plaintiff's membership in the","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"protected group was a motivating factor in the harassment; and (4) a term,","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"condition, or privilege of the plaintiff's employment was affected by the","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"harassment. Eivins v. Missouri Dep't of Corr., 636 S.W.3d 155, 179 (Mo. App.","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"2021).","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"A prima facie case of age discrimination requires the plaintiff to show: (1)","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"she suffered an adverse employment action; (2) her age was the motivating","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"factor; and (3) she suffered damage as a result. Id. at 166. A “motivating factor”","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"-8-","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"requires that age “actually played a role in the adverse action or decision and had","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"a determinative influence on the adverse decision or action.” § 213.010(19),","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"RSMo Supp. 2017.","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"Here, Johnson needed to identify evidence that her age was the","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"“determinative influence” on her termination. When Belton Regional requested","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"that she give a return date, she had been on medical leave for nine months.","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"Johnson refused to provide a date. She provides no evidence that she was","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"terminated based on her age, as opposed to her refusal to provide a date when she","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"would return.","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"Johnson believes there is an inference. Yet, with a single exception, all the","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"comments she cites occurred before her leave began, more than nine months","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"before her termination. The exception is an email six months before her","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"termination between Avila, Pasley, and two Belton Regional employees. Avila,","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"the sender, is complimenting the three team members who assisted while","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"Johnson was on leave. Avila does not mention anything about age in the","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"message. This is not evidence of age discrimination.","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"For disability discrimination, a prima facie case requires the plaintiff to","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"demonstrate: “(1) she was disabled, (2) she was discharged, and (3) her disability","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"was the motivating factor in her discharge.” Ashby v. Woodridge of Missouri,","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"Inc., 673 S.W.3d 537, 544 (Mo. App. 2023). “[T]he employer has an affirmative","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"duty to reasonably accommodate an employee’s handicap but the burden is on","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"the employee to establish that with reasonable accommodation he could perform","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"the job.” Medley v. Valentine Radford Commc'ns, Inc., 173 S.W.3d 315, 321","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"(Mo. App. 2005) (internal quotations omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"Johnson cannot demonstrate that her disability was the motivating factor","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"for her discharge. As discussed, the determinative influence on her discharge","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"was her refusal to provide a date when she would return. Though Missouri law","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"requires a reasonable accommodation, employers are “not required to provide","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"-9-","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"indefinite leaves of absence.” Id. at 323. Johnson did not provide evidence that","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"she was terminated based on her disability.","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"ii.","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"Johnson asserts that she was constructively discharged. In her opposition","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"to summary judgment, she said only that “this is not a conventional wrongful","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"discharge case, nor is it a conventional constructive discharge case.” She thus","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"“failed to provide meaningful legal analysis” that applied to the facts and","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"supported her claim. See Johnson Tr. of Operating Engineers Loc. #49 Health","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"& Welfare Fund v. Charps Welding & Fabricating, Inc., 950 F.3d 510, 523","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"(8th Cir. 2020). The failure to oppose summary judgment with a constructive","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"discharge argument waives that argument.","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"* * * * * * *","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"The judgment is affirmed.","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"______________________________","paragraph_id":"para_235"}],"word_count":2294,"cites":["477 U.S. 242","591 F.3d 613","440 F.3d 1002","336 F.3d 806","643 F.3d 1031","852 F.3d 732","559 F.3d 818","950 F.3d 510"],"sha256":"1df5568b52035481dd726682b869a8aa471a663b3be75b6eb3e4183793bdadad","source_url":"https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/23/12/222922P.pdf","fetched_at":"2026-10-02T23:20:31.18+00:00","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11","risk_graph":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11","relations_graph":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11","changes":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes","agent":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11"},"hash":"sha256:670abfce71ddc8bf30632d56899f9b9d7ad2de76ef3ba5aeaca504a8c8ae5bf0","version":"legal-2026-10-13","expires":"2026-10-14T00:00:00.000Z","dependency":{"index_version":"legal-2026-10-13+legal-2026-10-13+2026-10-13T12:55:18","content_hash":"sha256:670abfce71ddc8bf30632d56899f9b9d7ad2de76ef3ba5aeaca504a8c8ae5bf0","revalidate_after":"2026-10-13T14:24:27.799Z","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:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11","follow":[{"rel":"risk","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11"},{"rel":"relations","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11"},{"rel":"agent","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca8-22-2922-2023-12-11"},{"rel":"obligations","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/obligation-chain"},{"rel":"changes","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/whats-new?jurisdiction=us"}],"disclaimer":"Source reference with official identifier. 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