A Manhattan jury has awarded $4 million to Dr. Habeeb Ahmad, an eye doctor from Long Island, who accused NYU Langone Health System of discrimination following his disability due to COVID-19. The jury’s decision outlines significant financial compensation, including $2 million for emotional distress, $1.775 million in back and front pay, and $250,000 in punitive damages against both NYU Langone and NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine. Ahmad’s direct supervisor, Dr. Doug Lazzaro, and labor relations manager Scott Mellynchuk were also named in the lawsuit.
NYU Langone expressed disappointment with the verdict, with spokesperson Steve Ritea indicating plans to appeal the decision. Ahmad’s legal team at the Derek Smith Law Group characterized the ruling as a pivotal moment in the advocacy for disability rights in the workplace, emphasizing employers’ obligations to engage in good faith regarding accommodation requests.
Ahmad contracted the coronavirus in March 2020 and faced severe health challenges, including spending 54 days in intensive care. His ordeal included pneumonia, organ failure, and various other complications. According to the lawsuit, upon his discharge from rehabilitation in August 2020, he was still unable to walk.
On October 6, 2020, shortly after his medical leave expired, Mellynchuk inquired about Ahmad’s return to work. Ahmad requested to work from home due to his ongoing health issues, which were communicated by his physician, Dr. Jason Karp. Karp outlined Ahmad’s limitations, indicating that remote work was feasible for his roles in teaching and research.
However, NYU Langone denied the request, citing Ahmad’s clinical responsibilities as predominantly in-person tasks. Additionally, Ahmad alleged that the organization falsely claimed he owed them $125,030 for overpayment during his medical leave, which he contended occurred while he was incapacitated.
Ahmad’s termination came on January 4, 2021, following what he characterized as a humiliating and degrading treatment from his employer. He reported experiencing significant emotional distress alongside severe anxiety and depression, leading to difficulties with basic everyday functions like eating and sleeping. He also claimed the experience inflicted lasting damage to his professional reputation.
In the wake of the verdict, many advocates view this case as a critical affirmation of the rights of disabled employees, with hopes for prompting better practices around accommodations in workplaces across the country.
This article was automatically written by Open AI and the people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by writing an email to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.