Mail Hauler Trucking, LLC., which delivers mail for the United States Pos
tal Service in North Dak
ota and South Dakota, will pay $45,000 and provide other relief to settle a U.S
. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) disability discrimination l
awsuit, the federal agency announced.
The EEOC’s suit charged that Mail Hauler Trucking fired an employee bec
ause of his disability and/or because the company regarded him as disable
d. The employee has a phy
sical impairment that causes weakness, muscle spasms and stiffness in his legs, and he walks on his toes.
He worked as a driver delivering mail between various post offices on a route between Watertown and Corona in northeastern Sout
h Dakota. The employee was never disciplined for performance during his em
ployment. Howeve
See more beautiful photo albums Here >>>
, the company fired him despite his ability to perform the essential functions of the job, the EEOC said.
Such alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability. Th
e EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Mail Hauler Trucking, LLC., Civil Action No. 1:24-CV-01
uth Dakota after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its ad
ministrative conciliation process.
In addition to the $45,000 in monetary relief to the employee, the thre
e-year consent decree resolving the lawsuit enjoins Mail Hauler Trucking from discriminating against employees because of their disability
es prohibiting disability discrimination and policies to ensure that employees are not terminated because of their disabilities.
The company will train all employees, including managers, supervisors and human resources personnel at its locations in South D
akota and North Dakota on the ADA. The decree also requires the company to repor
t complaints of disability-based termination or disability discrimination to the EEOC.