disability News

Judge Upholds $24M Award in Suit by Employee with Social Anxiety Disorder

A federal district court judge in Massachusetts has upheld a $24 million jury award for a woman who sued her employer for retaliation and discrimination because of her social anxiety disorder. The employer, PPD Development, has criticized the outcome handed …

Employee with Overactive Bladder Sues State Farm for Discrimination, Retaliation

A Georgia woman who was employed by State Farm Automobile Insurance Co. for 20 years is suing the insurer alleging she was discriminated and retaliated against because of her bladder disability. The employee, Elisa Brown, was diagnosed with overactive bladder …

Viewpoint: COVID-19 Not a Disability Under N.J. Discrimination Law

In what appears to be the first time, the New Jersey Appellate Division considered whether contracting COVID-19 or exhibiting its symptoms is sufficient for an employee to claim they qualify as an individual with a disability or a perceived disability …

Disqualified for Disabilities, Railroad Workers Fight Back

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — After Terrence Hersey had a stroke on the way home from his railroad job in 2015, he underwent months of therapy to learn how to put words together in sentences and learn to walk again. He …

Supreme Court Rules Against Discrimination Claim for Emotional Distress

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the dismissal of a discrimination lawsuit filed by a deaf, legally blind woman against a physical therapy business that wouldn’t provide an American Sign Language interpreter for her appointments. In a 6-3 ruling with …

Man Paralyzed in Uber Vehicle Crash Sues For $63M

BOSTON (AP)–A Massachusetts man who was left a quadriplegic when his Uber vehicle crashed last year is seeking $63 million in damages in a negligence lawsuit he has filed against the ride-hailing platform. William Good, 31, of Somerville, alleges in …

NCCI Report Warns of ‘Alarming and Sobering’ Impact from Long-Haul COVID

About 10% of people who contracted COVID-19 continue to suffer persistent symptoms months later, creating the potential for millions of people to suffer functional impairment for extended lengths of time, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Council …

Disability Benefits a Relief to People Infected With COVID

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Biden administration says some long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms can be considered a disability under federal law. The White House held a virtual presentation earlier this month for people affected by so-called “long-haul” COVID-19 to explain how …

U.S. Railroad Workers Charged in $1 Billion Fraud

U.S. prosecutors charged 11 people Thursday in connection with an alleged $1 billion fraud involving hundreds of railroad workers filing false disability claims. In some cases, workers claimed they were unable to work even while they played golf, shoveled snow …

Jury Acquits Boston Bodybuilding Firefighter of Fraud Charges

A Boston firefighter who claimed disability benefits due to a back injury but still competed as bodybuilder has been found not guilty of fraud by a federal jury. Albert Arroyo was acquitted on two counts of mail fraud by a …