# CV 090177, Maureen Beaulieu v. State of Calif. Men’s Colony et al. filed 3/20/09

Defendant’s Attorney: Karen L. Donald

Verdict: Defense                                 Dept. 9: Hon. Charles S. Crandall

Plaintiff worked for nearly 6 years as a mental health coordinator for the State of California, first at the Atascadero State Hospital and later at the California Men’s Colony. At no time was Plaintiff required to work overtime. In 2007, Plaintiff was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis that required certain work restrictions, including working no more than 40 hours per week. Thereafter, Plaintiff alleged that Defendant required that she work unlimited overtime as an essential function of her position or be subject to demotion. Plaintiff alleged discrimination, harassment, retaliation and violation of California Family Rights Act (CFRA) as Defendant refused to allow her to use CFRA time in lieu of mandatory overtime.  Plaintiff claimed she was medically demoted by being forced to accept a lower paying job, and she eventually left her position. Defendant claimed that because overtime was an essential function of Plaintiff’s position the State was not required to accommodate Plaintiff’s medical disability by waiving this essential job function.  Defendant disputed timeline onset of medical condition. Defendant further denied they harassed or retaliated against Plaintiff based on her medical disability and her requests for accommodations, but rather that Defendant had attempted to engage in an interactive process regarding the dispute. Jury found that Plaintiff was not able to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodations, that Plaintiff was not willing to engage in the interactive process, and that Defendant did not violate Plaintiff’s CFRA rights or demote her based on her request for CFRA time or requests for reasonable accommodations. Defendant filed a cost bill of $39,168.73.