Brundage

Plaintiff and appellant Catherine Brundage appeals from the summary judgment in favor of defendant and respondent County of Los Angeles Office of the Assessor in this employment discrimination action. Brundage sued County for terminating and refusing to reinstate her because of a mental disability. We conclude Brundage was terminated and not reinstated because she abandoned her job. That this job abandonment may have been the result of a previously undisclosed manic-depressive (bipolar) disorder does not constitute either disability discrimination or a refusal to provide a reasonable accommodation to a mental disorder. We affirm.

Facts and Procedural Background

Brundage was employed by County as a deputy assessor from June 1988. Brundage was often absent from work for medical appointments, and received medical leave for a 14-day drug rehabilitation program in July and August 1993. She requested and received emergency vacation from November 22 to 24, 1993. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, she was not due to return to work until November 29, 1993. She did not return.

A County employee telephoned Brundage’s mother on December 2, 1993, and was told Brundage was still…