To golf or not to golf: CCI lab tech – with a penchant for the links – accuses CCI of violating the federal medical leave act

U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 1-14-18 – 6:25 p.m. ET

At issue: Can the lab tech therapeutic play golf while on occasional medical leave for a repetitive work injury?

Did CCI hit a shot in the rough when it fired Kevin LaBelle – whose love for golf is not a secret

Its either a CCI bogey – or a swing and a miss by one of their lab techs – all played out in a federal civil suit

If you are you are on medical leave – can a company tell you what you can and cannot do – or is that up to your doctor.

By Greg Peterson
Upper Peninsula Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

Editor’s note: This story is my Amen Corner: A former resident of beautiful Augusta, GA, was blessed to cover the Master’s Golf Tournament as reporter for years – and as a teen working in the lunch tents peddling ham/cheese sandwiches and brew.
Was told by Master’s press folks I was only person in history to decline an invite to play 18 holes at the Augusta National Golf Club – it wasn’t a statement- I just did not my pitiful golf skills to ruin a golf course that has world-wide acclaim.
I had declined an invite to play with rest of the press – an annual event then. As a teen driver with friends in my car, I confess I almost crashed head-on into Jack Nicholas – who always stayed at a home in our neighborhood during the tournament. He was kind about the near disaster. Thank you to our creator we all survived that near head-on meeting on a small bridge.
https://www.thoughtco.com/why-is-amen-corner-called-that-1564582

(Marquette, MI) – If you search for social profiles belonging to Kevin L. LaBelle – there is no question he loves golf. A gold course photo is even his main header on Twitter. Especially this time of year, LaBelle would probably love living in Augusta, GA – the world’s golf capital.

A former Cleveland Cliffs Inc. lab tech, the 41-year-old LaBelle is suing his employer of a decade – for allegedly firing him because he asked for medical leave a few days a month – time he sometimes spent golfing.

LeBelle and his Marquette attorney Sandra Hanshaw Burink filed the six-page three-count civil federal suit during late December 2017 at the U.S. District Court in Marquette, MI. In the suit, LaBelle says his need for occasional time off is caused by a repetitive work during his job as CCI lab tech – repetitive work duties that has caused him a severe and specific injury.

LaBelle is suing CCI alleging the mining company violated his right to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act – that he needs due to a repetitive work causing injury and a degenerative arthritis. At issue – whether he abused that leave by playing the game he loves – spending time on the links on his medical days off.

LaBelle and his doctor say the work injury has nothing to do with him playing golf. In fact LaBelle apparently finds golf therapeutic. CCI has not filed its reaction to the LaBelle civil suit.