EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: John Muir Health to Pay $340,000 as Settlement in EEOC Disability Suit

March 18, 2011

San Francisco– A medical health care system in Contra Costa County is required to pay $340,000 to eight health care employees as resolution for a disability discrimination case filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency said Wednesday.

According to the suit, John Muir Health, a non-profit medical care system, refused to hire seven nurses and a lab technician because they were infected by life-threatening latex allergies.

However, all eight employees said they underwent evaluations conducted by board-certified allergists who certified that they are not suffering from any allergies that may cause safety risks in the hospital.

The EEOC suit required the health care system to provide compensation for damages, conduct training and revise policies to avoid disability discrimination.