Federal Suit Says GBMC Hospital Discriminated and Retaliated Against Registered Nurse Because of Disability
BALTIMORE – GBMC Hospital violated federal law when it discriminated against a deaf employee because of disability and retaliated against her for asking for an accommodation, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.
According to the lawsuit, GBMC hired a registered nurse (RN) who is deaf to work at its main hospital. When GBMC learned that the RN is deaf after she requested accommodations, GBMC rescinded the offer of employment and terminated her without engaging in the interactive process required by law.
Such alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits disability discrimination and retaliation and also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities unless it would cause undue hardship. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. GBMC Healthcare Inc., et al., Case No. 24-cv-02803) in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.
“The EEOC is committed to enforcing the rights of people with disabilities,” said EEOC District Director Jamie R. Williamson of the agency’s Philadelphia District. “Employers are required to interact with employees when accommodations are requested and cannot deny accommodations based on fear of disability.”
Philadelphia District Office Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence said, “The ADA protects workers with disabilities from discrimination, including employment decisions based on myth, fear, or stereotypes associated with disability.”
The EEOC’s Philadelphia District Office has jurisdiction over Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and parts of New Jersey and Ohio. The legal staff of the EEOC also prosecutes discrimination cases in Washington, D.C. and parts of Virginia.
More information about disability discrimination is available at https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-related-resources.
The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.
