Steel Manufacturer Loses Epilepsy Discrimination Lawsuit

Carpenter Technology Corp. is liable for intentionally discriminating against a plant worker with epilepsy, after a federal court in Pennsylvania said its stated reason for firing him, a serious safety violation, was a pretext.

Machine operator Branndon Hoch began to experience seizures in his sleep and was diagnosed with epilepsy, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said. Carpenter approved medical leave for Hoch, and granted his transfer to a position which accommodated his permanent medical restrictions against night shifts or shifts exceeding ten hours.

Carpenter fired Hoch, purportedly for committing a catastrophic safety violation by failing to follow the lockout procedure ...