By: Elizabeth Lopez

AT&T Services, Inc., doing business as Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, L.P. (AT&T), a major telephone company, violated federal law by refusing to hire an applicant simply because he is an insulin-dependent diabetic, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit.

According to the suit, AT&T violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to hire an applicant as a cable splicer technician only because of his “insulin use” for type 2 diabetes.

The applicant indisputably had the necessary experience and expertise to perform the job and had previously safely performed a similar job for AT&T for many years after he was diagnosed with diabetes, however he was still denied employment. Refusing to hire a qualified individual because of his or her disability, record of disability, or because the employer perceives a person as being disabled, violates the ADA.

After the EEOC’s San Antonio Field office determined that AT&T had violated the law, it filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. The EEOC seeks back pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages for the victim, as well as injunctive relief.

Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC is an established employment and civil rights law firm representing victims of discrimination throughout Long Island, the entire New York City area and nationwide. We understand the distinction between the words, “inability” and “disability” and have been working to get that message across to employers for more than two decades.

If you believe you are a victim of discrimination call Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free and confidential consultation.

By Karen Best

In less than a week, two separate juries found that Suffolk County discriminated against two of their own officers. On Thursday a Central Islip jury awarded former Suffolk County police officer, Mathew Sforza, $450,000 in compensatory damages. Sforza’s lawsuit alleged he was discriminated against because of his disability.

Over the course of his 15 year career, Sforza suffered back injuries in the line of duty. During the time of the injuries Sforza did take necessary leave off from work. When Sforza returned he not only wanted to continue doing his civic duties but he also wanted to be promoted. He took the necessary civil service exam to become a sergeant and scored higher than the majority of his fellow officers. Sforza had no civilian or interoffice complaints and he was just as productive as his colleagues.

To Sforza’s surprise he was passed up for a promotion not once but three times. Officers who scored lower on the exam and had spotty work records were given promotions over him. When Sforza inquired about the situation he was told he might get injured again and if promoted would retire with a disability pension.

Shocked and devastated Sforza turned to Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC. Represented by Rick Ostrove, the lead trial counsel for the firm, Sforza had his day in court and a jury of his peers also believed he was discriminated against.

Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC is an established employment and civil rights law firm representing victims of discrimination throughout Long Island, the entire New York City area, and nationwide. We understand the distinction between the words, “inability” and “disability” and have been working to get that message across to employers for more than two decades. If you believe you are a victim of discrimination call Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free and confidential consultation.

Legal Law Firm Blog
CNN is reporting that two veteran’s groups filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, November 10, seeking to force the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide expedited hearings for disabled Veterans’ seeking assistance. www.edition.cnn.com/2008/US/11/10/veterans.lawsuit. The groups are also asking that appeals of decisions issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs be handled in a timely manner, and that interim benefits be provided to veterans while decisions are pending. According to John Rowan, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the failure of the Department of Veterans Affairs to rule on veterans’ compensation claims creates “the impression that the nation does not respect its veterans.” Read the rest of this entry »

Last month, a kindergarten student named Alex Barton was “voted out of his class” by his classmates. His teacher, Wendy Portillo, urged the children in the class to tell Barton, one-by-one, what they did not like about him, prior to organizing the vote. Barton lost, 14-2. Read the rest of this entry »

El mes pasado, un estudiante de kindergarten llamado Alex Barton fue “Elegido fuera de su clase” por sus compañeros. Su maestra, Wendy Portillo, urgió a los niños de la clase que uno por uno, le dijeran a Barton, que no les gustaba sobre el, antes de organizar el voto para sacarlo de la clase. Barton perdió 14-2. Read the rest of this entry »

Disabilities can be physical or mental, temporary or permanent. Leeds Morelli & Brown has received an increasing number of calls regarding requests for accommodations or appealing denial of requests for accommodations from students with learning disabilities ranging from early child hood to adulthood. The Americans with Disabilities Act forbids employers from discriminating against an individual on the basis of a disability, perceived disability, or a record of disability. Read the rest of this entry »