Ballard v. Chicago Park District
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
741 F.3d 838 (7th Cir. 2014)
Beverly Ballard (plaintiff) worked for the Chicago Park District (CPD) (defendant) and was the primary caregiver for her terminally ill mother, Sarah. When Sarah received funding for an end-of-life trip to Las Vegas, Beverly requested unpaid leave to accompany her and continue providing care; CPD denied the request. Beverly went anyway, performed her usual caregiving duties during the trip, and CPD later fired her for the unauthorized absence. Beverly sued under the FMLA, and the district court denied CPD's motion for summary judgment, prompting an interlocutory appeal.
Whether the Family and Medical Leave Act covers an employee's leave to care for a terminally ill parent while the parent is traveling away from home.