GBMC Hospital violated federal law when it discriminated against a deaf employee because of disability and retaliated against her for asking for an accommodation, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, GBMC hired a registered nurse (RN) who is deaf to work at its main hospital. When GBMC learned that the RN is deaf after she requested accommodations, GBMC rescinded the offer of employment and terminated her without engaging in the interactive process required by law. Such alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits disability discrimination and retaliation and also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities unless it would cause undue hardship. The EEOC filed suit in US District Court for the District of Maryland after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.
