• 21
  • February
    2012

A lawsuit has been filed in California against Starbucks that alleges disability discrimination. The incident arose during a job hiring interview that a one armed man attended as he attempted to gain employment with Starbucks as a server. In the lawsuit, this man claimed that the sole reason the interviewer dismissed his attempt to apply for work was based on his visible disability, rather than his work history or any qualifications needed for the position.

In addition, the man was embarrassed by comments the hiring manager made to another employee about his previous employment with Victoria's Secret. The manager allegedly stated that the applicant would be unable to perform required duties of the job without even asking questions about the applicant's physical abilities as they might apply to those job duties. In California and other states, disability discrimination is against labor laws.

As part of his complaint, the applicant alleges that the hiring manager offered no discussion of any type of accommodations that could be made or required to allow the man to perform the job, and there was no discussion of his previous relevant experience. In the lawsuit, the man alleges that he was summarily dismissed due to his appearance, the missing arm, and whatever disabilities were perceived to be there by the hiring manager.

Violations cited in the lawsuit include wrongful failure to hire, discrimination under the Federal Employment and Housing Act, failure to try to prevent discrimination in hiring according to FEHA, failure to offer reasonable accommodations and interaction, plus inflicting emotional distress intentionally.

Damages sought in this California disability discrimination lawsuit include payment of all penalties required by law, lawsuit costs, loss of income incurred or to be incurred plus other claims.

Source: kiiitv.com, "California Man With Half an Arm Sues Starbucks, Alleging Discrimination," Feb. 15, 2012