Takeaway: Employers may take adverse action against employees with disabilities or members of other protected categories if they are insubordinate.
A federal district court in Connecticut granted summary judgment against disability and gender discrimination and failure-to-accommodate claims brought by a seasonal campground worker who was fired after she was involved in a public altercation and slapped her supervisor's hand.
The plaintiff worked as a temporary, seasonal employee during the employer's camping season from 2012 through 2016 and returned after a two-year hiatus in 2019. Prior to the 2019 camping season, a manager contacted the plaintiff, who was a licensed bingo caller, to hire her to help with bingo, to design medals and certificates, and to schedule employees and camper activities.
The plaintiff had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder. The manager who contacted her to return to work in 2019 was aware the plaintiff was diagnosed with PTSD and depression.
The plaintiff made several accommodation requests relating to her disability, including asking for time off for medical and therapy appointments and informing the manager that she had "an issue with being around big crowds of people." The plaintiff admitted that she was never promised she could avoid working with others altogether.
In April 2019, the plaintiff began working at the campground fulfilling the responsibilities discussed above and, in addition,...
One repeated detail in the stories stood out: fictional encounters often featured people addressing Trump as “sir” and asking for help. In 2016, a Washington correspondent for the Toronto Star beg...