Shirk v. Trustees of Indiana University

Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Employment Discrimination
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 22-3212
Decision Date: 
February 12, 2026
Federal District: 
S.D. Ind., Indianapolis Div.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Judge: 
SYKES

Plaintiff filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging that her employer discriminated against her for taking medical leave and requesting accommodations for her mental-health conditions under the Rehabilitation Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. The defendant contended that plaintiff’s employment was terminated due to insubordination and breach of professional protocol. The district court entered summary judgment for the defendant and plaintiff appealed. On appeal, plaintiff argued that the judge used the wrong causation standard. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, finding that even under the correct causation standard the record did not support plaintiff’s claim that she was fired in retaliation for asserting her statutory rights. (LEE and FLAUM, concurring)