Pa. turnpike worker's drunk firing suit rejected
September 26, 2012
Associated Press
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PITTSBURGH (AP) — A federal judge in Pittsburgh has rejected the disability discrimination lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania Turnpike worker who was fired two years ago when he missed work to seek alcohol treatment.
The turnpike commission argued the judge should dismiss Mark Schmidt's lawsuit, in which he claimed turnpike officials used his work absence as a pretext to fire him instead of accommodating his disability — alcoholism.
But U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon noted that Schmidt, of Mars, had gone through alcohol treatment seven times before, including several times on paid leave. She says the turnpike commission had no obligation to accommodate his unannounced decision to enter treatment without taking leave.
The judge's opinion says "there comes a point where demanding an employer to offer multiple, if not unlimited, opportunities for recovery veers outside the realm of reasonableness."
September 26, 2012
Associated Press
Save |
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A federal judge in Pittsburgh has rejected the disability discrimination lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania Turnpike worker who was fired two years ago when he missed work to seek alcohol treatment.
The turnpike commission argued the judge should dismiss Mark Schmidt's lawsuit, in which he claimed turnpike officials used his work absence as a pretext to fire him instead of accommodating his disability — alcoholism.
But U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon noted that Schmidt, of Mars, had gone through alcohol treatment seven times before, including several times on paid leave. She says the turnpike commission had no obligation to accommodate his unannounced decision to enter treatment without taking leave.
The judge's opinion says "there comes a point where demanding an employer to offer multiple, if not unlimited, opportunities for recovery veers outside the realm of reasonableness."
Good to see for a change.