equal employment opportunity commission new orleans

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Sues Eagle Marine Services for Disability Discrimination in New Orleans

In a lawsuit filed on Thursday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged that Eagle Marine Services Electrical & Refrigeration, LLC, a marine services company based in Berwick, Louisiana, violated federal law by refusing to hire or accommodate an individual because he used medication prescribed by his doctor to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, the company withdrew its offer of a marine electrician position after the worker revealed, as part of a company-ordered medical examination, that he had ADHD and took prescribed medication to treat it. The alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination against an individual because of disability.

The EEOC alleges that Eagle Marine Services failed to make any individual assessment of the worker's medication use or whether it would affect his ability to safely perform the marine electrician position. Instead, the company relied on general stereotypes about disability and medication use to justify its decision not to hire him.

In an effort to resolve the dispute before litigation, the EEOC attempted to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. However, after failing to reach a resolution, the agency filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Civil Action No. 22-cv-3443).

The EEOC's lawsuit seeks relief for the worker, including back pay, compensatory damages, and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief to prevent future discrimination.

This case highlights the importance of employers complying with federal anti-discrimination laws and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. The EEOC is committed to protecting the rights of workers with disabilities and ensuring that they are treated fairly and respectfully in the workplace.

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Equal employment opportunity commission new orleans