Bryan Schwartz Law Negotiates Historic $37.5M Settlement with the Department of State to Redress those Denied Employment
OAKLAND, Calif., March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, a settlement was approved in the historic Meyer, et al. v. Blinken (Department of State) case. This landmark settlement overhauls a medical clearance system in place for decades which led to unlawful disability discrimination in the US Foreign Service.
The case commenced in 2006 and continued through contentious litigation until the settlement was signed in December 2022. Today, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) approved the class settlement.
Lead Class Counsel Bryan Schwartz of Bryan Schwartz law said it plainly. "In the past, people with disabilities were stereotyped as unable to serve their country in the Foreign Service. They were considered too risky to send abroad. They were, in fact, able and willing to serve with distinction. Through this important case, we have given them that opportunity."
The class included all qualified applicants to the Foreign Service beginning on October 7, 2006, who were denied employment, or whose employment was delayed pending application for and receipt of a waiver, because the State Department deemed them not "Worldwide Available" due to their disability.
The class settlement delivers a sweeping policy change netting over 100 immediate job opportunities to class members. It also means a $37.5M payment to the class in this case – which...
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