EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: Supermarket Giants Agrees to Settle $3.2-M Disability Discrimination Suit

January 5, 2011

Chicago, Illinois – A Chicago-based company has recently signed a consent decree agreeing to pay $3,200,000, including extensive remedial relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a statement from the agency website said.

Case records showed that supermarket giants SUPERVALU INC., American Drug Stores LLC, and Jewel Food Stores, Inc. were charged for their policy and practice of terminating employees with disability after taking medical leaves rather than bringing them back to work by reasonable accommodation.

According to the federal agency, the policy had been practice by these companies since 2003 and has affected nearly 1,000 stores employees. Although not all of these former employees participated in the suit or were qualified to be part of it, the agency pursued the case.

The agency filed the suit in the federal District Court for the northern District of Illinois after the first attempt to reach a pre-litigation settlement with the companies.

The consent decree was signed by Federal District Chief Judge Ronald Guzman. Under this agreement, each claimant will receive approximately $ 29,000.

The companies also pledged to ensure to have employees undergo training on the requirements of the ADA and the types of accommodations that are available to employees who are returning to the workplace after their leaves of absence.