FedEx on violation of ADA Grants $100, 000 to Employee

October 8, 2008

Washington - The Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), a Memphis, Tenn-based global shipping giant, will award $100, 000 punitive damages to an employee after being charged of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

According to the suit charged by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), FedEx violated the ADA by failing to provide reasonable accommodations to a profoundly deaf employee named Ronald Lockhart.

Lockhart, who is working as a package handler at FedEx’ Baltimore Ramp, located at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, repeatedly requested for American Sign Language interpreters and notes for mandatory employee meetings and trainings but the company failed to provide it.

Evidences showed that the global shipping giant delayed Lockhart’s requests for nearly two years.

According to EEOC report, FedEx provided the said employee with some accommodations after he filed a charge of disability discrimination, but it never provided accommodations in a consistent and reliable manner.

The jury also found that the company managers did not respond in “good faith” when Lockhart requested accommodations.

With such grounds, they held the company liable for punitive damages in the amount of $100, 000 as well as compensatory damages of $8, 000 to Lockhart.