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Pre-Law: Medical Related Cases

Interested in pursuing family law? Read below for more facts and information about it!

These cases highlight how the law applies to individuals with mental health conditions in the workplace, focusing on the rights of employees to receive reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In each case, employees with mental health conditions requested support or adjustments to their work environments, but faced challenges when their employers failed to provide these accommodations. 

Case 1: EEOC v. Greektown Casino LLC (2016) – Failure to Provide Accommodation

Summary:
In 2016, the EEOC filed a lawsuit against Greektown Casino LLC after a pit manager, who suffered from stress and anxiety, requested an additional four weeks of leave to recover. After his Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave expired, the casino fired him instead of accommodating his request. The EEOC argued that this violated the ADA, as the casino failed to provide a reasonable accommodation.

Legal Impact:
The case was settled, with Greektown Casino agreeing to pay a monetary settlement and adopt new policies to better support employees with disabilities. The ruling emphasized the importance of employers providing reasonable accommodations to employees suffering from mental health conditions, such as extended leave, to ensure workplace inclusivity and compliance with the ADA.

 

Case 2: Silva v. City of San Antonio (2020) – Denial of Accommodation

Summary:
Silva, a firefighter with anxiety and panic disorder, requested a transfer to a less stressful role within the City of San Antonio as an accommodation. His request was denied, and when his condition worsened, he was terminated. Silva filed a lawsuit, claiming that the City had violated the ADA by failing to provide necessary accommodations for his disability.

Legal Impact:
The court ruled in Silva's favor, requiring the City of San Antonio to compensate him for wrongful termination and implement policies to ensure proper accommodations for employees with disabilities. The ruling reinforced that employers must assess and provide reasonable accommodations to employees dealing with mental health conditions to prevent discrimination in the workplace.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
A law requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, including mental health conditions.

Reasonable Accommodation:
Adjustments made by employers to allow employees with disabilities to perform their job, such as extended leave or modified work duties.

Mental Health in the Workplace:
Employees with mental health conditions are entitled to accommodations, such as modified tasks or schedules, to ensure they can work effectively without discrimination.

Employer’s Responsibility:
Employers must assess requests for accommodations fairly and work with employees to provide appropriate solutions without discrimination or termination.