The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (EEOC) filed a disability discrimination lawsuit today against Staffmark Investment LLC and Sony Electronics, Inc., following allegations that they terminated temporary employee, Dorothy Shanks because of her disability, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (EEOC v. Staffmark Investment LLC and Sony Electronics, Inc, N.D. Ill. No. 12-cv-9628).

According to the EEOC, they found reasonable cause to believe that Staffmark and Sony fired Dorothy Shanks because of her prosthetic leg. Staffmark, a staffing agency, assigned Dorothy Shanks to work on a temporary project for Sony.

On her 2nd day of employment on with Sony, a Staffmark employee told her that she was being removed from her assignment because they did not want anyone bumping into her, and that they would find her another assignment where she could sit. However, Staffmark never gave Shanks another assignment even though she repeatedly called them seeking work.

“The ADA requires that individuals with disabilities be judged on their ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation,” said Rowe. “Ms. Shanks performed her job with no difficulty, but was fired because of unjustified fears about her having a prosthetic leg. Firing employees because of baseless fears and stereotypes about their disabilities is illegal, and the EEOC will defend the victims of such unlawful conduct.”

If you have been discriminated against or wrongfully terminated, please give my office, The Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman a call at (877) 449-8898.