In a notable affirmation of disability rights in the workplace, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a previous judgment favoring the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Werner Trucking. The appellate court stood by the decision made by a Nebraska jury, which concluded that Werner violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not hiring a deaf truck driver despite his qualifications, as reported by the EEOC yesterday.
The jury originally awarded the plaintiff $75,000 in compensatory damages and a staggering $36 million in punitive damages back in September 2023. However, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, citing statutory caps, reduced the payout to a maximum of $300,000 and included back pay, with prejudgment interest, set against Werner. Alongside the monetary judgment, the court also instituted injunctive relief measures requiring Werner to submit detailed reports on deaf applicants to the EEOC. Despite Werner's appeal, which highlighted several perceived legal oversights such as the granting of a directed verdict on causation, summary judgment in favor of the EEOC on certain defenses, and a host of evidentiary and procedural complaints, the appellate court saw no reason to overturn any part of the district court's rulings.
The EEOC website quoted Jennifer Goldstein, associate general counsel for the EEOC, stating, "The ADA was signed 35 years ago, and it remains an important protection for people with disabilities in the workplace." Goldstein hailed the appellate court's unanimous decision as a solid endorsement of the trial court and jury's conclusions, deeming it a victory in the enforcement of federal employment law.
This legal triumph concludes nearly seven years of litigation initiated by the EEOC in 2018, after efforts to reach a pre-litigation settlement through administrative conciliation failed. Gail Coleman, the EEOC's lead appellate attorney, underscored the importance of the court's decision, telling the EEOC Newsroom, "Deaf and hearing people alike should be able to work free from stereotypes and unfounded fears. The Court’s decision will help ensure employees are judged on their merits, and help ensure that the rights secured by the Americans with Disabilities Act continue to have meaning."
