Crothall Healthcare, Inc., a medical laundry and linen service, will pay $37,500 and provide other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, applicant Billy Pack, who suffers from cerebral palsy and deafness, was interviewed by Crothall for a laundry services worker position at the company’s Rome, Ga. location. Pack came to the interview with an American Sign Language interpreter and mobility aids and asked for a stool as an accommodation for his disability. Crothall refused to extend an offer to Pack and claimed the position had been filled but hired more than 80 non-disabled workers for the position shortly after Pack applied, according to the EEOC’s complaint. This alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which prohibits discrimination based on a disability.
Under the consent decree resolving the lawsuit, Crothall will pay $37,500 in monetary damages to Pack. Crothall will also conduct regular reporting, monitoring, annual training, distribution of anti-discrimination policies, and notice posting.
