Today’s case is a case out of the Sixth Circuit, Ferrari v. Ford Motor Company, decided June 23, 2016. It deals with the issue of what happens when an employer perceives an opioid addiction. As is typical, my blog entry is divided into categories: facts; court’s reasoning; and takeaways. The reader is free to
Final Federal Regulations
ADA and ADA Related Cases at the Supreme Court: Where They Have Been and What Is Next
Did you know that persons with disabilities are undefeated at the Supreme Court when it comes to title II and title III matters? It’s true.
Let us explore the ADA and ADA related cases that have been before the United States Supreme Court since the ADA went into effect. If I have this figured right,…
Fisher II and Its Impact on Affirmative-Action Programs for Persons with Disabilities
I am a member of the Society for Human Resources Management. The manager of workplace law content for the Society for Human Resources Management is a gentleman named Allen Smith, J.D. He wrote an excellent article a few days ago discussing Fisher II, the affirmative action case in academia just decided by the United States…
Side Effects of Medication, Bad Conduct and ADA Protection
It has been awhile, almost 3 years, since I visited the issue of bad conduct v. having a disability. This particular case explores what happens when the side effects of medication leads to bad conduct and the person is terminated. The case is Capporicci v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS…
ADA and Landlord-Tenant obligations
Just what are the obligations of landlord and tenant with respect to ADA compliance? Does it matter if an architectural issue is involved or if it is an issue involving practices, policies, and procedures?
Our case of the day that answers this question is Supancic v. Turner, 2016 Cal. App. LEXIS 4235 (Cal. App.…
EEOC Final Rule on Interaction of ADA with Wellness Plans
Today’s blog entry continues my string of weeks where I have not been dissecting cases. I had a case all lined up for this week and was excited about getting back to my dissection. However, yesterday, the EEOC decided to issue final rules detailing how wellness programs relate to the ADA. Those rules can be…
Is an Underlying Condition Required for Obesity Being Protected under the ADA?
The labor and employment blogosphere, see this excellent blog entry of Robin Shea and another excellent, and always provocative, blog entry from Richard Hunt for examples, have been talking about a recent case from the Eighth Circuit holding that obesity by itself is not a disability under the ADA. Normally, if a bunch of people…
If You Are Alleging Associational Discrimination in the Employment Context, Odds Are You Will Have To Fit the Facts into Certain Boxes
I potentially have jury duty on Monday. It is hard to believe that I would be selected. However, Georgia has no exemptions for attorneys serving on juries. I think like most attorneys, I would love to have the opportunity to serve on a jury. On the other hand, attorneys are paid to persuade. Also, I…
You’re Not Going to Believe This, but I Say Appeal This One to the Supremes before, after, or In Lieu of an En Banc Hearing
First off, I hope that everybody who celebrated Good Friday and Easter had a happy one. Today’s case, Gentry v. East-West Partners Club Management Company, Inc. is a published decision from the Fourth Circuit, which came down on March 4, 2016. I don’t believe in all my blog entries that I have ever taken the…
Labels Are Everything: Characterizing Essential Functions of the Job Is a Critical Question
Today’s case is a case originating in Winston-Salem, NC that I have been following for some time. I want to thank Robin Shea, who actually works in Winston-Salem, for alerting me in a recent entry to her blog (see my blogroll), that the Fourth Circuit decision came down. The case is Stephenson v. Pfizer, Inc.…