Deaf

Deaf Cheerleader’s Mother Files Lawsuit Against Elite Gym for Discrimination

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PLANO, Texas– A Plano-based cheer program is facing a lawsuit from a mother who claims her deaf daughter is being discriminated against. The operators of the gym, however, deny the allegations. Alicia Mims, the mother, filed the lawsuit on behalf of her nine-year-old daughter Ari, who has been involved with Cheer Athletics for the past three years. The program is known as one of the largest cheer and dance facilities in North Texas. Though Ari loves cheerleading and finds it to be her favorite sport, she has been facing increasing challenges in understanding her coaches … Read more

Landmark Verdict: Deaf Job Applicant Awarded $1.7 Million After Company’s Discrimination

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SYRACUSE, New York – In a recent case, a jury awarded a job applicant a staggering $1.7 million in damages after a distribution company refused to interview her upon discovering her deafness. The verdict against McLane Co. Inc., a subsidiary, included $25,000 in back pay, $150,000 in damages for emotional distress, and a remarkable $1.5 million in punitive damages. The lawsuit, titled “U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. McLane/Eastern Inc. D/B/A McLane Northeast,” was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York in 2020. According to the complaint, McLane violated … Read more

Denver Judge Violated State Law by Dismissing Deaf Juror, Court Rules

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Denver, Colorado – A Denver County Court judge has been found to have violated state law by dismissing a hearing-impaired man from serving as a juror due to his disability, according to a ruling by a Denver District Court judge. The decision came in a lawsuit brought by Spencer Kontnik, an attorney specializing in disability law, against the Denver District Court. Despite the violation, the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed on the grounds that the court cannot be held liable for the judge’s decision and that the judge is protected by judicial immunity. Judge Judith Smith … Read more

Werner Enterprises and Drivers Management Ordered to Pay Deaf Truck Driver Over $335,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Case

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OMAHA, Nebraska – Trucking companies Werner Enterprises, Inc. and Drivers Management, LLC have been ordered by a federal judge to pay $335,682 to a deaf truck driver, following a jury’s decision in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on disability discrimination claims. The judgment also requires the companies to provide semi-annual reports to the EEOC for the next three years, detailing information about deaf truck driver applicants and new hires. The verdict comes after a jury awarded $36 million in punitive damages and $75,000 in compensatory damages to truck driver Victor Robinson. … Read more