Disability Discrimination

A Man Won a Lawsuit for an Unwanted Office Birthday Party: What it Means for Workplace Discrimination

Like the infamous McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit, this is one of those cases that leaves an absurd first impression but earns sympathy when its details are explored. In April, a jury awarded a man $450,000 after he sued his former employer for throwing him a birthday party at work.  However, there is more to the …

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Failure to Accommodate is Disability Discrimination

Many people with disabilities face barriers before they even get their foot in the door. But the hiring process is only one form of disability discrimination. Employers — including federal agencies and government contractors — are legally obligated to accommodate disabilities. But what is considered a “reasonable” accommodation? What if the employer says no? What …

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Mental Health and the Workplace: How Can We Change the Stigma?

I suffer from depression and anxiety. In our constantly-moving world, this is not uncommon. However, it is rarely acceptable to discuss. When I was first diagnosed with depression, I was a young working 20 year old in college. The depressive episode had hit me pretty hard and – being in a retail business where customer service was …

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Starbucks Served Venti-Sized Discrimination Lawsuit

Twenty-five year old Eli Pierre has only one full arm, but he says he’s never been told there was something he couldn’t do. That is, until last month, when a San Diego, California Starbucks interviewed and then refused to hire him. Mr. Pierre is now suing the Seattle-based company in California state court alleging discrimination …

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Cancer Victim Fired For Disclosing Brain Tumor Has Claim For Disability Discrimination

A U.S. District Court in Texas ruled that a  Houston P.F.Chang’s restaurant may have violated the Americans with Disability Act when it fired one of its restaurant managers three days after he disclosed that he had a brain tumor. On June 8, 2009 Jason Meinelt was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He told his boss, …

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Employee Rights Short Takes: Scalia’s Impartiality Questioned, Two Punitive Damage Awards, Disability Discrimination And More

Here are a few employee rights Short Takes worth noting: Scalia Says Due Process Clause Does Not Prohibit Sex Discrimination For those who may have missed it, Justice Antonin Scalia recently expressed his view that neither women nor gays are protected against discrimination under the 14th amendment of the Constitution. The statement was made in …

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Employee Fired Because Of Depression Wins Right To Jury Trial

Banker Terminated When “Regarded As Disabled” And Because Of Perceived Mental Impairment Has ADA Claim Disability claims involving mental impairments can be tough. That’s why this recent case from a federal district court in the Eight Circuit is an important and helpful read. Here’s what happened in the case of Lizotte v. Dacotah Bank.* Facts …

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Madeline Messa

Madeline Messa is a 3L at Syracuse University College of Law. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. With her legal research and writing for Workplace Fairness, she strives to equip people with the information they need to be their own best advocate.