According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency has filed a lawsuit against a Tennessee newspaper for unlawfully eliminating a former worker’s position in 2008.
The lawsuit claims The Jackson Sun allegedly terminated an employee after he returned to work following a medical leave of absence for back surgery. The plaintiff then needed rest following the procedure. However, when he returned, the newspaper terminated the worker.
Officials at the newspaper have declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Eastern Division, and seeks an injunction against the newspaper from terminating other employees with disabilities.
The plaintiff seeks lost wages and other out-of-pocket expenses in addition to compensatory and punitive damages.
The case highlights the importance of companies recognizing fair practice laws and adhering to them. Any perceived discrimination can land a company of any size in an expensive professional liability lawsuit. Furthermore, such lawsuits can be damaging to a company’s reputation and result in client loss as well.
