Justice Department Files Lawsuit Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

By Marat Gaziev

Published on September 10, 2009

Ventura County, California was charged earlier today by the Justice Department for refusing to hire a qualified applicant because she is deaf.

The lawsuit was filed earlier today in the federal court in Los Angeles to enforce employment rights under the ADA. After successfully completing her initial interview for a children's social services position, the applicant was denied employment during a second interview because of her disability.

Employers are prohibited under Title I of the ADA from discriminating against qualified applicants on the basis of their disabilities. An employer cannot refuse a qualified applicant based on the need to make reasonable accommodations.

Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, released a statement earlier today. "The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted to protect individuals with disabilities from exactly this kind of discrimination. The ADA prohibits employers from making hiring decisions based on stereotypes and unfounded assumptions about how a deaf employee will perform the job, or about the costs involved in providing reasonable accommodations for a deaf employee."

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