{ "attribution": { "source": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20", "cite_as": "NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20)", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision", "version": "legal-2026-10-12", "fingerprint": "ewai:us:2a3d67", "proof": "sha256:0ae3db88b9833bbf308ea8baf2bce56fd9c979635d393fdf7cf7cec6cd5b97c6", "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:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20", "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": "Front matter", "paragraphs": [ "para_1", "para_2", "para_3", "para_4", "para_5", "para_6", "para_7", "para_8", "para_9", "para_10", "para_11", "para_12", "para_13", "para_14", "para_15", "para_16", "para_17", "para_18", "para_19", "para_20", "para_21", "para_22", "para_23", "para_24", "para_25", "para_26", "para_27", "para_28", "para_29", "para_30", "para_31", "para_32", "para_33", "para_34", "para_35", "para_36", "para_37", "para_38", "para_39", "para_40", "para_41", "para_42", "para_43", "para_44", "para_45", "para_46", "para_47", "para_48", "para_49", "para_50", "para_51", "para_52", "para_53", "para_54", "para_55", "para_56", "para_57", "para_58", "para_59", "para_60", "para_61", "para_62", "para_63", "para_64", "para_65", "para_66", "para_67", "para_68", "para_69", "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", "para_89", "para_90", "para_91", "para_92", "para_93", "para_94", "para_95", "para_96", "para_97", "para_98", "para_99", "para_100", "para_101", "para_102", "para_103", "para_104", "para_105", "para_106", "para_107", "para_108", "para_109", "para_110", "para_111", "para_112", "para_113", "para_114", "para_115", "para_116", "para_117", "para_118", "para_119", "para_120", "para_121", "para_122", "para_123", "para_124", "para_125", "para_126", "para_127", "para_128", "para_129", "para_130", "para_131", "para_132", "para_133", "para_134", "para_135", "para_136", "para_137", "para_138", "para_139", "para_140", "para_141", "para_142", "para_143", "para_144", "para_145", "para_146", "para_147", "para_148", "para_149", "para_150", "para_151", "para_152", "para_153", "para_154", "para_155", "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", "para_170", "para_171", "para_172", "para_173", "para_174", "para_175", "para_176", "para_177", "para_178", "para_179", "para_180", "para_181", "para_182", "para_183", "para_184", "para_185", "para_186", "para_187", "para_188", "para_189", "para_190", "para_191", "para_192", "para_193", "para_194", "para_195", "para_196", "para_197", "para_198", "para_199", "para_200", "para_201", "para_202", "para_203", "para_204", "para_205", "para_206", "para_207", "para_208", "para_209", "para_210", "para_211", "para_212", "para_213", "para_214", "para_215", "para_216", "para_217", "para_218", "para_219", "para_220", "para_221", "para_222", "para_223", "para_224", "para_225", "para_226", "para_227", "para_228", "para_229", "para_230", "para_231", "para_232", "para_233", "para_234", "para_235", "para_236", "para_237", "para_238", "para_239", "para_240", "para_241", "para_242", "para_243", "para_244", "para_245", "para_246", "para_247", "para_248", "para_249", "para_250", "para_251", "para_252", "para_253", "para_254", "para_255", "para_256", "para_257", "para_258", "para_259", "para_260", "para_261", "para_262", "para_263", "para_264", "para_265", "para_266", "para_267", "para_268", "para_269", "para_270", "para_271", "para_272", "para_273", "para_274", "para_275", "para_276", "para_277", "para_278", "para_279", "para_280", "para_281", "para_282", "para_283", "para_284", "para_285", "para_286", "para_287", "para_288", "para_289", "para_290", "para_291", "para_292", "para_293", "para_294", "para_295", "para_296", "para_297", "para_298", "para_299", "para_300", "para_301", "para_302", "para_303", "para_304", "para_305", "para_306", "para_307" ], "kind": "front_matter" } ], "paragraphs": [ { "text": "FOR PUBLICATION", "paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "In the", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "United States Court of Appeals", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "For the Eleventh Circuit", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "No. 25-10656", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "ANNETTE KINGSOLVER,", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "Plaintiff-Appellant,", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "versus", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS,", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "Defendants-Appellees.", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "Appeal from the United States District Court", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "for the Southern District of Georgia", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "D.C. Docket No. 2:23-cv-00058-LGW-BWC", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "Before WILLIAM PRYOR, Chief Judge, and JILL PRYOR and BRASHER,", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "Circuit Judges.", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 1 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "2 Opinion of the Court 25-10656", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "BRASHER, Circuit Judge:", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "This appeal is about an employee’s request for accommoda-", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "tion under the Rehabilitation Act. Annette Kingsolver was a gov-", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "ernment employee who suffered from depression and cardiac ar-", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "rhythmia. As an accommodation for these conditions, she re-", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "quested unpaid leave, a lateral transfer to a comparable position, or", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "other undefined help. In response, her supervisors offered her flex-", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "ible use of her accrued paid leave and, because there were no com-", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "parable positions for which she was qualified, offered her a demo-", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "tion instead of a lateral transfer. She then requested and received", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "the demotion, which accommodated her health concerns.", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "Kingsolver filed an Equal Employment Opportunity com-", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "plaint and later a judicial complaint alleging disability discrimina-", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "tion. She argued that she was coerced into requesting the demotion", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "and that her supervisors failed to offer her reasonable accommoda-", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "tion. The district court granted summary judgment to the govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "ment, concluding that Kingsolver had received the accommoda-", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "tion that she requested and her request had not been coerced. King-", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "solver appealed, arguing that there were disputes of material fact", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "about whether she experienced disability discrimination and", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "whether her demotion request was coerced.", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "We must answer two related questions. Did the govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "ment have a duty to offer other accommodations to Kingsolver in", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "addition to the flexible use of paid leave and a demotion? Did the", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "government discriminate against Kingsolver when it demoted her", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 2 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "25-10656 Opinion of the Court 3", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "because of her disability? We answer both questions in the nega-", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "tive, and, accordingly, we affirm.", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "I.", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "Annette Kingsolver was an employee at the Bureau of Alco-", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "hol, Tobacco, and Firearms who suffered from clinical depression", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "and cardiac arrhythmia. For several years, she worked in a GS-7", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "position. But after a desk audit found that Kingsolver was working", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "above her grade level, she was promoted to a GS-9 position. Both", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "positions required her to use the Financial Resource System.", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "After that promotion, Kingsolver began experiencing in-", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "creased stress related to the Financial Resource System and her job", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "duties. She complained to her supervisors, explaining that the Fi-", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "nancial Resource System was worsening her depression and car-", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "diac arrhythmia. During a meeting with one supervisor, Abra Lat-", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "tany-Reed, Kingsolver asked for leave without pay, a lateral trans-", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "fer to a comparable position, or anything else that would help.", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "Reed told Kingsolver that she could not take leave without pay;", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "instead, she had to exhaust her roughly 240 hours of paid annual", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "and sick leave. Kingsolver responded that she wanted to save her", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "annual and sick leave in case of a family emergency.", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "Kingsolver continued to ask Reed and her other supervisor,", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "Thomas Brandon, for one of three accommodations (leave without", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "pay, lateral transfer, or anything else that would help) over the next", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "several months. At first, Reed and Brandon responded by telling", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "Kingsolver that leave without pay was not an option and that the", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 3 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "4 Opinion of the Court 25-10656", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "only available position for which she was qualified was a GS-7 po-", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "sition (a demotion from her current GS-9 position).", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "Eventually, Kingsolver provided Reed with letters from two", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "of her doctors that described the link between work-related stress", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "and her conditions. One of the letters relayed Kingsolver’s asser-", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "tion that her windowless office had caused some of her stress and", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "depression. In response to that letter, Reed offered to move King-", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "solver to an office with a window and to permit her liberal use of", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "her accrued annual and sick leave.", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "But these accommodations did not resolve Kingsolver’s", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "work-related stress. She continued to complain to Reed and Bran-", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "don about the link between the Financial Resource System and her", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "health, but she also learned that new GS-9 positions might become", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "available in several weeks. She decided to wait to see if the posi-", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "tions became available before she submitted a written request for", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "accommodation.", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "While she was waiting, her stress did not resolve. At one", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "point, she had to leave work due to chest pains. She continued ask-", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "ing her supervisors for leave without pay, a lateral transfer, or any-", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "thing else that would help. Her supervisors responded by reassur-", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "ing her that new positions would soon be available.", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "After several weeks passed and no new GS-9 positions be-", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "came available, Kingsolver filed a written request for accommoda-", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "tion, requesting a transfer to a comparable position. Two days", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "later, Kingsolver was assigned new duties that she felt were appro-", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 4 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "25-10656 Opinion of the Court 5", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "priate for a GS-12 level. She called Reed crying, and she again re-", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "quested leave without pay or a lateral transfer. Reed responded", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "that only a GS-7 position was available and that Kingsolver could", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "not take leave without pay. Kingsolver left work to see her cardiol-", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "ogist, who told her that she was a candidate for a heart attack and", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "that she had to make a choice between her health and keeping her", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "GS-9 position.", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "The next week, Kingsolver again asked Reed for leave with-", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "out pay, a lateral transfer, or anything else. Reed again denied her", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "leave without pay, responded that the only transfer option was to", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "take the GS-7 position, and told Kingsolver that she needed to give", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "her an answer by the end of the day if she wanted the transfer.", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "Kingsolver waited to talk with her husband that evening and did", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "not provide an answer until Reed asked again the next morning,", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "when Kingsolver accepted the demotion. Reed dictated to King-", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "solver what to write on her accommodation request form, which", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "stated that she would “accept another program area position com-", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "parable to the Management Analyst position . . . or the GS 07-06", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "Management Assistant position that [she] previously held.” Dkt.", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "21-14.", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "Kingsolver was eventually transferred to the GS-7 role,", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "which did not involve the Financial Resource System, and her de-", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "pression and cardiac arrhythmia improved.", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "Kingsolver contacted the Equal Employment Opportunity", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "office, filing a formal complaint alleging that her demotion was dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "criminatory. An EEOC Administrative Judge concluded that the", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 5 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "6 Opinion of the Court 25-10656", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "ATF had failed to accommodate Kingsolver, but on appeal the Of-", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "fice of Federal Operations reversed the damages award and re-", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "manded for a liability hearing. A different EEOC Administrative", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "Judge agreed with the first judge, but on appeal the Office of Fed-", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "eral Operations again reversed and denied Kingsolver’s motion for", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "reconsideration.", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "Kingsolver filed a complaint in federal district court against", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "the Attorney General, the Department of Justice, and the ATF. In", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "the complaint, she alleged that the government violated the Reha-", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "bilitation Act by failing to reasonably accommodate her.", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "After discovery, the parties both moved for summary judg-", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "ment. The district court granted the government’s motion and de-", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "nied Kingsolver’s motion. The court assumed without deciding", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "that Kingsolver was a qualified individual with a disability but con-", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "cluded that she had failed to prove that she was subjected to disa-", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "bility discrimination. The court held that her demotion was not dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "criminatory because Kingsolver had not been coerced into request-", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "ing it. The court added that her request for a lateral transfer was", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "unreasonable because it would have required the ATF to create a", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "new position, and her request for indefinite leave without pay was", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "also unreasonable.", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "Kingsolver appealed.", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "II.", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "We review de novo the district court’s grant of summary", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "judgment and apply the same standard used by the district court.", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 6 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "25-10656 Opinion of the Court 7", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "Burton v. Tampa Hous. Auth., 271 F.3d 1274, 1276–77 (11th Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "2001). All evidence and factual inferences reasonably drawn from", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "the evidence are viewed in the light most favorable to the non-", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "moving party. Id. at 1277. Summary judgment may be affirmed “if", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "there exists any adequate ground for doing so, regardless of", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "whether it is the one on which the district court relied.” Fitzpatrick", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "v. City of Atlanta, 2 F.3d 1112, 1117 (11th Cir. 1993).", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "III.", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "The Rehabilitation Act bars the federal government from", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "discriminating against people based on their disabilities. 29 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "§ 794(a). The Act incorporates by reference substantive standards", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "from Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 29 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "§ 791(f); see 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a). To bring a successful Rehabilita-", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "tion Act claim, a plaintiff must prove the elements for an ADA", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "claim: namely, that (1) she is disabled; (2) she was a “qualified indi-", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "vidual” at the relevant time, meaning that she could perform the", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accom-", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "modations; and (3) she was discriminated against because of her", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "disability. See Lucas v. W.W. Grainger, Inc., 257 F.3d 1249, 1255 (11th", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "Cir. 2001); Gaston v. Bellingrath Gardens & Home, Inc., 167 F.3d 1361,", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "1363 (11th Cir. 1999).", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "The district court assumed without deciding that Kingsolver", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "is disabled and a qualified individual. For the sake of this appeal, we", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "do too. But Kingsolver argues that there were disputes of material", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "fact about whether she experienced disability discrimination be-", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 7 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "8 Opinion of the Court 25-10656", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "cause the ATF failed to provide her with a reasonable accommoda-", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "tion. She also argues that there was evidence that her request for", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "the GS-7 demotion was coerced. This appeal thus turns on two is-", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "sues: First, whether the ATF had a duty to offer other accommo-", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "dations to Kingsolver in addition to the flexible use of her accrued", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "leave and a GS-7 transfer. Second, whether Kingsolver’s decision to", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "accept the GS-7 transfer as an accommodation was coerced such", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "that it was an act of disability discrimination. We discuss each issue", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "in turn.", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "A.", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "As to the first issue, we conclude that the ATF did not have", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "a duty to provide the other accommodations that Kingsolver re-", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "quested because they were either not specific or not reasonable. An", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "employer’s duty to provide a reasonable accommodation is trig-", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "gered when an employee makes a specific demand for an accom-", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "modation and establishes that the requested accommodation is rea-", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "sonable. Owens v. Governor’s Off. of Student Achievement, 52 F.4th", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "1327, 1334 (11th Cir. 2022). The plaintiff bears the burden of prov-", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "ing that a reasonable accommodation exists. Terrell v. USAir, 132", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "F.3d 621, 624 (11th Cir. 1998). Kingsolver alleges that she made", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "three kinds of accommodation requests in addition to her demo-", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "tion request: (1) general “help,” (2) lateral transfer to a comparable", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "position, and (3) leave without pay.", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "We will address each request in turn.", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 8 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "25-10656 Opinion of the Court 9", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "First, Kingsolver’s request for “help” is not a specific request.", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "An employer has a duty to engage in an interactive process to pro-", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "vide a reasonable accommodation, but that duty is triggered only", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "when an employee makes a specific demand. Owens, 52 F.4th at", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "1334; 42 U.S.C. § 1981a(a)(3). Requesting undefined “help” is not", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "specific and therefore does not trigger this duty.", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "Second, Kingsolver’s request for a lateral transfer to a posi-", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "tion that did not exist is also unreasonable as a matter of law. For", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "reassignment to a new job to be a reasonable accommodation, the", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "employee must be qualified for that new job. EEOC v. St. Joseph’s", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "Hosp., Inc., 842 F.3d 1333, 1344 (11th Cir. 2016). An employer is not", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "required to create a new position or displace other employees to", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "accommodate a disabled employee. See Terrell, 132 F.3d at 626–27.", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "The record contains no evidence that comparable GS-9 positions", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "for which Kingsolver was qualified existed when Kingsolver re-", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "quested a lateral transfer. A lateral transfer would thus have re-", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "quired the ATF to create a new position, which is unreasonable.", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "Third, Kingsolver’s request for additional leave without pay,", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "instead of using her available leave with pay, was unreasonable. In", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "response to Kingsolver’s request for leave, her supervisors offered", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "her flexible use of her existing 240 hours of paid annual and sick", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "leave. Kingsolver had requested leave “simply to get away from the", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "stress and get herself together.” Dkt. 30 at 16. The ATF’s offer of", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "paid leave under its existing policies was a reasonable accommoda-", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "tion to that request. See Lucas, 257 F.3d at 1255.", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 9 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "10 Opinion of the Court 25-10656", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "Nothing about Kingsolver’s disability required the ATF to", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "offer her unpaid leave in addition to her existing paid leave. King-", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "solver never suggested that her 240 hours of paid leave were insuf-", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "ficient; she just preferred not to use those hours.1 Whether King-", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "solver’s leave was paid or unpaid also had no bearing on the use-", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "fulness of the leave as an accommodation; the category of leave did", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "not affect Kingsolver’s ability to “get away from the stress and get", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "herself together.” Dkt. 30 at 16. And Kingsolver’s reasons for refus-", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "ing the offer of paid leave (e.g., wanting to preserve it for vacations,", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "family emergencies, and the like) had nothing to do with her disa-", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "bility.", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "The ATF offered Kingsolver a reasonable accommodation", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "when it offered her flexible use of her paid leave, but she declined", "paragraph_id": "para_252" }, { "text": "to take it. The ADA and Rehabilitation Act do not demand that an", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "employer create a disability-specific program to accommodate an", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "employee when an existing program already provides the accom-", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "modation that the employee needs. See Stewart v. Happy Herman’s", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "Cheshire Bridge, Inc., 117 F.3d 1278, 1286 (11th Cir. 1997) (“[U]nder", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "the ADA a qualified individual with a disability is not entitled to the", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "1 Because Kingsolver never used her existing leave or suggested that she", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "needed more time than she had accrued in leave, she seems to be requesting", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "indefinite leave, which would have been unreasonable. See Wood v. Green, 323", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "F.3d 1309, 1314 (11th Cir. 2003) (holding that a request for leave without an", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "end date is unreasonable). But we will assume without deciding that her re-", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "quest contemplated some kind of end date.", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 10 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "25-10656 Opinion of the Court 11", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "accommodation of her choice, but only to a reasonable accommo-", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "dation.” (citation modified)).", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "In sum, the ATF did not have a duty to provide the other", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "accommodations that Kingsolver requested.", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "B.", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "We also conclude that no reasonable jury could find that", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "Kingsolver was demoted as an act of disability discrimination. An", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "employer may not take an adverse employment action against an", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "employee “because of [her] disability.” Greenberg v. BellSouth Tele-", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "comms., Inc., 498 F.3d 1258, 1263 (11th Cir. 2007) (citation modi-", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "fied); see also 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a). Kingsolver argues that she was", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "discriminated against because she was coerced into accepting a de-", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "motion because of her disability. We disagree.", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "No reasonable jury could conclude that Kingsolver was co-", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "erced into accepting a demotion. We consider several factors when", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "evaluating whether an employer coerced an employee, including", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "whether the employee had any alternatives, whether the employee", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "understood the nature of the choice, and whether the employee", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "had advice of counsel and time to decide. See Hargray v. City of", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "Hallandale, 57 F.3d 1560, 1568 (11th Cir. 1995). The undisputed", "paragraph_id": "para_286" }, { "text": "facts establish that Kingsolver had at least one alternative accom-", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "modation, i.e., using her paid leave. The record also reflects that", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "she understood the nature of the choice because she had been", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "aware for several weeks before accepting the demotion that there", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "were no available GS-9 positions. When a GS-7 position eventually", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "became available, Kingsolver’s supervisor gave her several hours", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 11 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "12 Opinion of the Court 25-10656", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "to consider it. Ultimately, Kingsolver requested the transfer to a", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "lower-level position, was happy when it was granted, and experi-", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "enced improved symptoms upon receiving the demotion.", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "Kingsolver protests that she was coerced into requesting a", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "demotion by the ATF’s decision to deny her request for unpaid", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": "leave. But, again, that argument wrongly presupposes that her em-", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "ployer had a duty to provide unpaid leave. See Stewart, 117 F.3d at", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "1286. No reasonable jury could conclude from this record that", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "Kingsolver was coerced into accepting a demotion as an act of dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "ability discrimination.", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "IV.", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "The district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 25-10656 Document: 55-1 Date Filed: 08/20/2026 Page: 12 of 12", "paragraph_id": "para_307" } ], "word_count": 2847, "cites": [ "271 F.3d 1274", "2 F.3d 1112", "257 F.3d 1249", "167 F.3d 1361", "52 F.4th\n1327", "132\nF.3d 621", "842 F.3d 1333", "117 F.3d 1278", "323\nF.3d 1309", "498 F.3d 1258", "57 F.3d 1560" ], "cited_by": [], "sha256": "70580478cdb6886c08b357d6d9cc33bff176300141995016f8e40f2a7ccd911c", "source_url": "http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202510656.pdf", "fetched_at": "2026-10-11T11:00:32.2+00:00", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20", "risk_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20", "relations_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20", "changes": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes", "agent": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20", "verification": { "stored_sha256": "70580478cdb6886c08b357d6d9cc33bff176300141995016f8e40f2a7ccd911c", "recomputed_sha256": "70580478cdb6886c08b357d6d9cc33bff176300141995016f8e40f2a7ccd911c", "intact": true, "checked_at": "2026-10-12T09:43:49.044Z" } }, "hash": "sha256:0ae3db88b9833bbf308ea8baf2bce56fd9c979635d393fdf7cf7cec6cd5b97c6", "version": "legal-2026-10-12", "expires": "2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z", "dependency": { "index_version": "legal-2026-10-12+legal-2026-10-12+2026-10-12T09:37:21", "content_hash": "sha256:0ae3db88b9833bbf308ea8baf2bce56fd9c979635d393fdf7cf7cec6cd5b97c6", "revalidate_after": "2026-10-12T10:43:49.472Z", "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:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20", "follow": [ { "rel": "risk", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20" }, { "rel": "relations", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20" }, { "rel": "agent", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca11-25-10656-2026-08-20" }, { "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. Not legal advice and not a compliance decision.", "content_notice": { "legal_advice": false, "nature": "Source register. Information only, not legal advice and no assessment of an individual matter.", "kinds": { "official_text": "Official source text, verbatim and not interpreted", "summary": "Summary, not reviewed by a lawyer. Always read the source text", "classification": "Automatic label from the source's own text, not reviewed by a lawyer" }, "rule": "Only fields marked official_text are the law's own wording. Everything else points to it.", "report_error": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/corrections", "ai_act_declaration": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/ai-act-declaration" }, "usageInfo": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/citering", "access_class": "public", "access_view": "public" }