REFUSED TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE DISABLED EMPLOYEES
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced that it had reached a settlement with DTG Las Vegas, Fifth Street Gaming, LLC and DTG Las Vegas – operators of the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas – to resolve a disability discrimination lawsuit which had been filed against the entities.
Apparently, since 2018, the hotel is said to have engaged in a series of violations of the law, by denying reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities -- like terminating an employee with colon cancer because he wore an ostomy bag. And when others sought to enforce their rights under federal law, they were also met with termination or “undesirable working conditions and discipline.”
Believing that such conduct violated violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada (Case No. Case No.: 2:23-cv-00510), seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief,
In addition to a $720,000 payment, the entities in question have agreed to modify their employment related polices and practices and will work with an external monitor to ensure compliance with all laws.
In a written statement, Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District, which includes Las Vegas, noted that, “The ADA protects workers with disabilities from discrimination and guarantees them the right to a reasonable accommodation in order to ensure their equal access to employment …. This case demonstrates the EEOC’s commitment to enforcing these rights, including in the hospitality industry.”
They sure made a bad bet there!
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EEOC PRESS RELEASE 04-25-2024