Medical Provider Fired Employee with a Disability, Federal Agency Charges

DETROIT - Muskegon Family Care, a medical services provider located in Muskegon, Heights, MI, violated federal law by firing an employee due to a disability, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleged in a lawsuit filed today.

According to EEOC's suit, Avis Lane worked for Muskegon Family Care as an outreach enrollment coordinator for over a month when it fired her based on information obtained during her pre-employment physical.

Firing an employee due to a disability violates the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). EEOC filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan (EEOC v. M.G.H. Family Health Center d/b/a Muskegon Family Care, Civil Case No.: 1:15-CV-00952) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. EEOC's lawsuit seeks back pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief -- including a court order prohibiting Muskegon Family Care from firing disabled employees in the future.

"Firing a qualified employee, who successfully performed the job for over a month, based on information obtained during a physical violates the ADA," said Laurie Young, regional attorney for EEOC's Indianapolis District. "Employers cannot use recommendations from a third-party health examiner without determining for itself whether the employee can actually do the job."

EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.