sentences:  He requested leave from the Department under the FMLA in order to care for his wife, who had been in a car accident and undergone neck surgery.The Department granted the request and told Hibbs he could use the full 12 weeks of FMLA leave intermittently as needed between May and December 1997.He used the leave intermittently until August 5 of that year, after which he did not return to work.