Tuesday, September 29, 2009

EEOC sues Las Vegas cab company for rejecting driver applicant with one arm

From The AP:

LAS VEGAS — A federal agency is suing a southern Nevada taxicab company, alleging that a driver applicant was rejected for a job because he had an arm amputated.

The lawsuit filed Sept. 28 in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas accuses Vegas Western Cab Co. of refusing to hire single-arm amputee Joel Walden in February 2006.

The EEOC identifies Walden as a former military reservist, and says federal and state regulations allow an amputee to be employed as a taxi driver if he or she uses a prosthetic arm and passes a physical examination.

Western Cab in Las Vegas did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The lawsuit seeks a court order prohibiting disability discrimination by the company, plus unspecified monetary damages for Walden.