Former employee of the mega real estate firm Corcoran Group has filed a lawsuit against the company claiming he has fired because president and CEO Pamela Liebman does not like “fat people.”  Describing himself has an “overweight gay male,” Jason Riggs claims that Liebman “constantly talked about weight, diets, gym, and the like in the office” and “was fairly obsessed with these issues.”  Nearly a month after reporting the discrimination to human resources, Riggs was fired from his position as manager in the firm’s executive offices on Madison Avenue, having been with the firm for over ten years. Read more.

In a society that is obsessed with looks and image, it may feel very isolating to be overweight.  Topics of gym work outs and latest diets are discussed around almost every office water cooler.  If an employer discriminates against an overweight employee because of his weight, it remains questionable whether the overweight employee is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).  ADA provides that employers covered by the statute may not discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability with respect to employment matters.  However, it remains unclear whether obesity is covered by the ADA.  The ADA states that morbid obesity, which is defined as weighing more than 100 percent over the norm, is considered a disability if it substantially limits, has limited, or is viewed as substantially limiting a major life activity.  As far as those who are not morbidly obese, courts are reluctant to extend ADA protection to these individuals.  For more information:  http://www.ada.gov/

Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC is a nationally recognized firm in the area of employment law.  Our firm has had considerable success in matters of employment discrimination throughout Long Island and the New York City area.  For more information, contact Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free consultation.