If you drive south of Milwaukee for about 100 miles, you’ll come to the Chicago suburb of Lemont. The city is home to a Citgo Petroleum Corporation crude oil refinery that was recently named in a disability discrimination lawsuit.
The company is accused of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by withdrawing a job offer after it learned that the applicant has permanent vision loss in one eye.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged the refinery with violating the federal law after it offered the position of operations technician trainee and then withdrew it after the applicant had successfully completed a multi-step hiring process.
After he had received the job offer, the applicant was given a routine medical examination during which he disclosed that he had permanent loss of vision in one eye. After Citgo learned of his disability, it rescinded its offer, though the man was experienced and had already been deemed qualified.
According to the National Law Review, the man’s lawsuit asks for back pay, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages.
The EEOC said Citgo violated the ADA, which prohibits discrimination based on disability or perceived disability.
The ADA bans discrimination because of disability across the employment spectrum, including in the following areas:
- Hiring
- Firing
- Compensation
- Benefits
- Training
- Promotions
- Work-related activities
If you believe you have been discriminated against in any of those aspects of employment because of your disability, contact an attorney experienced in disability discrimination litigation. The employment law firm of Alan C. Olson & Associates, s.c. can help you pursue justice and full compensation.
