FLORIDA – A shipbuilding company that designs and builds a wide range of oceangoing vessels for private, government, and military customers, violated federal civil rights laws when it fired a vision-impaired employee who required accommodations to do his job, a new lawsuit being handled by Jim Garrity alleges. Garrity is an employee rights lawyer representing employees in workplace issues in Florida and Georgia.
Our client’s vision impairment meant that he could easily perform certain jobs, but not others, while performing a range of tasks in the shipbuilding process. At one point he was transferred from the position he could perform into a welding job that, because of super bright welding sparks, prevented him from seeing well enough to perform the tasks. When he asked for accommodations, his bosses laughed at him, said, “This is some funny sh*t,” and told him to “Pack up your sh*t and get out the gate.” In other words, rather than accommodate him, they just fired him.
The lawsuit alleges disability discrimination and retaliation.
Unfortunately, this experience is all too common. Many employers simply fire disabled employees rather than doing what the law requires, which is providing reasonable, low-cost accommodations that allow disabled employees to continue working and supporting their families.
Have you encountered similar treatment? Call us for a free private consultation at 800-663-7999. Or email us directly at Jim@JimGarrityLaw.com.
Categories: Accommodations, ADA Retaliation, Disability Accommodations, Disability Discrimination, Discrimination
Jim Garrity, Esq. - Employee Rights Lawyer 
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