Caldwell v. Holland of Texas, Inc.
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
208 F.3d 671 (2000)
Caldwell's (plaintiff's) three-year-old son developed a persistent ear infection requiring two separate 10-day antibiotic courses and, when medication failed, surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids and insert ear tubes to prevent deafness; he was bedridden and needed constant care throughout. Caldwell was fired by her employer, Holland (defendant), shortly after taking time off to bring her son to an emergency clinic; she sued alleging the termination violated the FMLA, and the district court granted Holland summary judgment.
Whether an employee stated a valid FMLA claim based on evidence that her young child's ear infection caused incapacitation for at least three consecutive days and required continued, supervised medical treatment.