What Happened in Felix vs. Weber Metals Reconsideration?
This case involves Josh Wheeler's claims against his former employer, Jackson National Life Insurance Co. (JNL), for disability discrimination, retaliation, and FMLA violations. Wheeler, suffering from narcolepsy and bipolar disorder, alleged JNL discriminated against him and failed to reasonably accommodate his conditions, which impacted his attendance as a Floating Internal Wholesaler (FIW). The court found that regular, on-site attendance and taking calls in the Queue were essential functions of Wheeler's FIW position, which he could not reliably perform due to his unpredictable medical flare-ups, as evidenced by his physicians' updated prognoses. Consequently, the court concluded that Wheeler was not a qualified individual under the ADA, his requested accommodation of indefinite intermittent leave was unreasonable, and his claims of failure to engage in an interactive process, retaliation, and hostile work environment lacked merit. The court granted JNL's motions for summary judgment and denied Wheeler's motion.