FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 11, 2019
Jury Awards $5.2 Million Against Walmart in EEOC Disability Discrimination
Case
Jury Finds Retail Giant Suspended and Failed to Accommodate Longtime Deaf
Employee With Visual Impairment
MADISON, Wis. - Late yesterday, a jury determined that Walmart violated
federal law when it refused to accommodate the disabilities of a longtime
employee, and awarded $5.2 million in damages, the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today.
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, an employee, who has a developmental
disability and is deaf and visually impaired, worked as a cart pusher in the
Beloit, Wis., Walmart for 16 years before a new manager started at the
store. In his first month, the new store manager suspended the employee and
forced him to resubmit medical paperwork in order to keep his reasonable
accommodations. Prior to the suspension, the employee performed his job with
the accommodation of assistance from a job coach provided by public funding.
The employee's conditions had not changed, the EEOC said.
When the employee and his legal guardian submitted new medical paperwork,
requesting the continued accommodation of assistance from a job coach, the
store cut off communication and effectively terminated him, the EEOC
charged.
After a 3?-day trial, the jury found in favor of the EEOC and awarded the
employee $200,000 in compensatory damages and an additional $5 million in
punitive damages.
"Employers have a legal obligation under federal law to work with employees
who need accom?modations for disabilities," said Gregory Gochanour, regional
attorney for the EEOC's Chicago District. "When companies shirk that
obligation, the EEOC will fight to uphold the rights of disability
discrimin?ation victims. In this case the jury sent a strong message to
Walmart and to other employers that if they fail to live up to their
obligations under the law, they will be penalized."
The case was tried for the EEOC by Laurie Vasichek, Carrie Vance and Jean
Kamp.
The EEOC's Chicago District is responsible for investigating charges of
employment discrimina?tion, administrative enforcement, and the conduct of
agency litigation in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and
South Dakota, with Area Offices in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
Sincerely,
Olusegun
Denver, Colorado
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