New York Paralegal Blog

A recent lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Champion Media, LLC has been settled, with the North Carolina-based publishing company agreeing to pay $102,500 and implement other significant changes. The lawsuit accused Champion Media of disability discrimination for refusing to provide a sign language interpreter to a deaf job applicant. The incident occurred at Champion Media's printing facility in Lumberton, North Carolina. A qualified deaf applicant was selected for an in-person interview after an initial phone conversation assisted by a video relay service. The applicant simply requested a sign language interpreter for the interview as a reasonable accommodation. Instead of providing the interpreter, Champion Media canceled the interview and ultimately did not hire the applicant. The EEOC stated that this action violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA makes it illegal for companies to discriminate again...

FORT SMITH, Ark. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced Gerber Products Co. has agreed to settle findings of hiring discrimination against 1,912 rejected minority and female applicants for entry-level positions. The agreement settles the department's allegations that Gerber engaged in hiring discrimination against minority and female applicants for one year. "This administration is committed to ensuring that all Americans are hired, promoted, and compensated fairly, without respect to their race, gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, or veterans' status," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This settlement of $900,000 on behalf of more than 1,912 minorities and females should put all federal contractors on notice that the Labor Department is serious about eliminating systemic discrimination." During a scheduled compliance evaluation of Gerber Products in Fort Smith, OFCCP investigator...