NEW ORLEANS The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit this week against a Sonic Drive-In franchisee in New Iberia, La., claiming a job applicant was denied a job because of her speech impediment.
The EEOC’s lawsuit alleges that Gravlee’s Sonic of New Iberia Inc. violated federal law by discriminating against Shanna Proctor, who sought employment as a car hop or a cook. The suit says she did not get the job because of her speech impediment.
“This is a troubling case of discrimination against a qualified disabled applicant because of stereotypes and bias,” Keith Hill, director of the EEOC’s New Orleans Field Office, said in a statement.
Disability discrimination, including the refusal to hire an applicant because of an actual or perceived disability, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The civil lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The EEOC is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the company from engaging in disability discrimination, as well as back pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
