Fourth Circuit ruling shows exactly when medical restrictions exceed accommodation requirements
Court affirms termination when worker's medical restrictions made essential job functions impossible, giving employers clearer guidance on accommodation limits.
In a decision dated February 4, 2026, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that Mountaire Farms of North Carolina acted lawfully when it terminated Craige Robinson, a rehang supervisor who could no longer meet the physical demands of his job after being shot at a cookout in 2021.
Robinson had worked at the chicken processing plant since 2016 and earned a promotion to rehang supervisor two years later. The job was physically demanding. He supervised six production lines, managed staffing, handled administrative tasks, and oversaw the ice house. Most critically, he spent three-quarters of every shift on his feet, walking the floor to keep operations running smoothly. The plant floor had no chairs.
Everything changed on August 29, 2021, when an unknown shooter wounded Robinson at a neighborhood gathering. Bullets struck his elbow and hip, requiring two surgeries and weeks of recovery. The company placed him on family and medical leave.
When his doctor cleared him to return in October 2021, the restrictions were extensive. Robinson could only do seated work. He could not use his left arm at all. His right arm could handle no more than five pounds. The clearance was temporary, pending another evaluation.
Robinson came...
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