186
Syllabus
tions, demonstrates that the definition is intended to cover individuals with disabling impairments regardless of whether they have any connection to a workplace. Moreover, because the manual tasks unique to any particular job are not necessarily important parts of most people's lives, occupation-specific tasks may have only limited relevance to the manual task inquiry. In this case, repetitive work with hands and arms extended at or above shoulder levels for extended periods, the manual task on which the Sixth Circuit relied, is not an important part of most people's daily lives. Household chores, bathing, and brushing one's teeth, in contrast, are among the types of manual tasks of central importance to people's daily lives, so the Sixth Circuit should not have disregarded respondent's ability to do these activities. Pp. 199-203.
224 F. 3d 840, reversed and remanded.
O'Connor, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
John G. Roberts, Jr., argued the cause for petitioner. With him on the briefs were Jeffrey A. Savarise, John A. West, and Katherine A. Hessenbruch.
Barbara B. McDowell argued the cause for the United States as amicus curiae in support of petitioner. On the brief were Solicitor General Olson, Acting Assistant Attorney General Schiffer, Deputy Solicitor General Clement, Malcolm L. Stewart, Marleigh D. Dover, and Charles W. Scarborough.
Robert Leslie Rosenbaum argued the cause and filed a brief for respondent.*
*Briefs of amici curiae urging reversal were filed for the American Trucking Associations, Inc., et al. by Evan M. Tager and Miriam R. Nemetz; for the Equal Employment Advisory Council et al. by Ann Elizabeth Reesman, Katherine Y. K. Cheung, Jan S. Amundson, and Quentin Riegel; and for Levi Strauss & Co. by John C. Burgin, Jr.
Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations by Jonathan P. Hiatt, Michael H. Gottesman, and Laurence Gold; for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America by Jeffrey Robert White; for the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law et al. by John Townsend Rich; for the National Council on Disability by Arlene Mayerson and Nancy L. Perkins; and for the National Employment Lawyers Association by Noah D. Lebowitz and Paula A. Brantner.
Page: Index Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: October 4, 2007