Ruling for Obese Driver Would Lead to Untenable Result: 7th Cir.

An appeals court found obesity alone can’t be considered a disability under federal law, a decision that lines up with several previous appeals court rulings. But it also clashes with guidance from the EEOC and a growing body of research that counters a long-held belief about severely overweight individuals.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit found that former Chicago bus driver Mark Richardson, who was nearly 600 pounds and considered severely obese, couldn’t sue the Chicago Transit Authority under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Severe obesity unaccompanied by an underlying physiological condition isn’t protected by federal law, ...