Heinsohn v. Carabin & Shaw PC
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
832 F.3d 224 (2016)
- Written by Kyli Cotten, JD
Facts
Cynthia Heinsohn (plaintiff) worked as a legal assistant for Carabin & Shaw (the firm) (defendant). During Heinsohn’s maternity leave, she was fired. Heinsohn brought suit in federal court, alleging violations of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and relevant state law. Heinsohn alleged that she was discriminated against based on her sex. In her deposition, Heinsohn stated that her firm asked her to provide a guaranteed return date from her maternity leave. However, email exchanges between Heinsohn and the human-resources department directly contradicted this testimony. The trial court struck Heinsohn’s testimony, stating that the emails were the best evidence of the interactions between the parties. With the evidence stricken, the firm moved for summary judgment, and the trial court granted the motion. Heinsohn appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Wiener, J.)
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