DOE Technologies and doeLegal Agree to Pay $130,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

DOE Technologies, Inc. and doeLegal, Wilmington-based companies that specialize in computer programs for law firms and corporate legal departments, have agreed to pay $130,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that alleged disability discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA mandates that employers provide a reasonable accommodation to any disabled employee.

The EEOC alleged that DOE had at first provided a sales representative, Christopher Vely, who has conductive hearing loss, with an accommodation that allowed him to make calls from home where it was quieter; but, according to the EEOC, DOE withdrew the accommodation and refused to work with Vely to find a suitable alternative accommodation that met both his and the companies’ needs.  When Vely requested another reasonable accommodation, the companies fired him. 

In addition to the monetary relief to Vely, the companies must provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, modify their ADA reasonable accommodation policies, train their managers on the ADA, and post a notice regarding the suit. The EEOC will monitor the companies’ compliance with these requirements.

Debra M. Lawrence, an EEOC Regional Attorney, said:

 "This settlement, and in particular the extensive training requirements and expanded company policies on providing reasonable accommodations and preventing retaliation, should protect all employees and applicants at these companies from any disability-based discrimination."

The Employment Law Group® law firm has an extensive discrimination practice and has broad experience fighting for the rights of employees who have been victims of discrimination and retaliation by their employers.