News Notes: Need To Relocate Child Doesn’t Qualify For Family And Medical Leave

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that time spent moving a family member because of concern for the person’s well-being does not fall under the family and medical leave laws. Fe Castro Marchisheck submitted an emergency request for time off from her medical technician job at San Mateo General Hospital so she could take her troubled 14-year-old son Shaun to live with family members in the Philippines. But the hospital denied Marchisheck’s leave request and terminated her when she left anyway. The Ninth Circuit ruled that moving Shaun did not qualify as caring for a child with a serious health condition because he wouldn’t be receiving ongoing treatment at his new home.