Disability discrimination lawsuits are on the rise. If you think that you may be a victim of discrimination based on your medical condition, you are not alone. The Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has received a growing number of complaints throughout the years. In 2006, the EEOC received 15,575 complaints. This number rose to 17,734 in 2007. The number of complaints jumped again in 2008, totaling 19,453.

The EEOC recently brought a suit against a large supermarket chain, Jewel-Osco. The corporation had discriminated against individuals with disabilities by prohibiting workers on a one-year paid disability leave from returning to work unless they could commence work without any mental or physical restrictions or accommodations. If the employees could not meet this standard, they were terminated after their one-year disability leave was over.

If you have also been a victim of disability discrimination, you should know that both California and federal law protect you. Under the law, an employer may not discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability. An individual is considered disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, if they have a record of having such an impairment, or if they are regarded as having such an impairment. An individual is considered a ‘qualified individual’ with a disability if they are able to perform the essential tasks of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations include modifying work schedules, acquiring or modifying equipment or devices, making existing facilities usable by persons with disabilities, job restructuring, etc.

If you believe that your employer has treated you differently because of your disability, or if you have been denied a job that you were qualified for because of your disability, you should speak with our team of experienced attorneys. The attorneys at Law Offices of David H. Greenberg are here to help you. You can reach us at 1-888-204-1014 for a free consultation. You can also visit us at www.discriminationattorney.com to learn more.