An employee seeking a discrimination settlement might be discouraged by the seemingly low potential of financial compensation when filing a lawsuit against their employer. However, there have been several high disability discrimination settlement amounts won by employees. Here are 9 high disability discrimination settlement amounts won by employees.
These cases involve an employee who was either denied employment, not accommodated for their disability, or was otherwise discriminated against by their employer because of their disability.
1. $950,000 Disability Discrimination Settlement for a 29-year-old restaurant manager in New York City.
The client was a 29-year-old restaurant manager in New York who was severely injured after being struck by a bus late one night walking home from work. His serious injuries caused him to be hospitalized for 1 month and unable to work for several months after. During his recovery, the restaurant group terminated his employment. The trial decision was in favor of the plaintiff. Although the initial settlement offer at the beginning of the trial was only $10,000, the case was ultimately settled for $950,000.
Related: Workplace Disability Discrimination in California
2. $750,000 disability discrimination of a disfigured amputee by a major corporation.
This individual has previously suffered burns, both losing his hands as well as disfiguring his face, and was denied employment because of his burns. This individual claimed disability discrimination and was eventually settled with $750,000 after trial.
3. $545,000 disability discrimination settlement for a 60-year-old employee with depression.
This 60-year-old employee is employed at a major financial institution and was diagnosed with depression. Upon diagnosis, his work failed to provide medical leave, failed to accommodate (including providing time off of work for hospitalization), and wrongfully terminated him. He was denied the right to take time off to seek psychiatric help for his depression. Additionally, after he requested time off, disciplinary action followed as a result. This ultimately led to his termination of employment. The plaintiff’s settlement resulted in a $545,000 reimbursement.
4. $160,000 disability discrimination settlement for an applicant who was denied employment for a planner/scheduler position from DynMcDermott Petroleum Operations Company because of his age and association with his wife who has cancer.
A previous DynMcDermott Petroleum employee re-applied for a position with the same company as a planner/scheduler and was denied due to his age and the fact that his wife was cancer-stricken. The applicant filed a disability lawsuit with the EEOC under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The case was settled for $160,000.
5. $186,295 disability discrimination settlement for an applicant being denied employment for being blind.
A blind individual applied as a night warehouse loader after his company eliminated his previous position as a driver’s aide. The plaintiff was able to file a lawsuit against this company with the help of the EEOC and was given a $186,295 settlement amount. Additionally, the court ruled that the company must hire him as a night warehouse loader.
6. $130,000 disability discrimination settlement for an applicant who was denied employment for an instructor position because of her physical disability.
The application was denied employment as an instructor because she has partial paralysis in her left hand. The applicant also had successfully completed all of the defendant’s pre-employment tests and had been cleared for the job position by the brown health provider. The applicant filed an ADA lawsuit with Pace Solano and the case was settled with $130,000.
7. $100,000 disability discrimination settlement for an employee who suffered disabling injuries while riding his motorcycle and had his employment terminated.
After getting in a motorcycle accident, this individual suffered from life-threatening injuries, including being in a coma for 4 days after the accident. When he was released from the hospital, the plaintiff visited his place of employment and provided them with all of the information about his disabling injuries. He was promised job security and was told to focus on recovery. However, his employment was terminated only weeks prior to his return. The plaintiff submitted a demand letter and the case was solved, pre-litigation. The initial settlement offer was $7,500, but because the plaintiff was able to contact another manager who confirmed that the management knew of the plaintiff’s injuries prior to termination, the case was eventually settled with $100,000.
8. $75,000 disability discrimination settlement for an applicant with cerebral palsy after she was denied employment because of her disability.
Osceola Community Hospital denied a qualified woman applying for their daycare department on the basis that her cerebral palsy rendered her unable to properly care for children. The woman applicant filed an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit through the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and was able to reach a settlement of $75,000.
9. $35,000 disability discrimination settlement for a deaf applicant who was denied accommodation and then employment following her interview.
A deaf applicant applied for employment at Toys “R” Us and was denied an interpreter at her interview. After she was denied employment as well, she filed an ADA lawsuit against Toys “R” Us with the help of EEOC. She was able to reach a settlement amount of $35,000.
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