Fast Food Franchisee Pays $100K to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit

See this press release, which begins:

Alia Corporation, a franchisee with over 20 fast-food chain restaurants throughout Central California, agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. 

The EEOC originally filed suit against the Merced, Calif.-based company in 2011 on behalf of Derrick Morgan, a former floor supervisor with an intellectual disability (EEOC v. Alia Corporation, Case No. 1:11-cv-01549-LJO-BAM, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California). Morgan was known to be a good employee and promoted by previous management from crew member to super­visor in 2008. The EEOC contends that once Alia took over, Alia management demoted Morgan to a janitorial position, cut his hours and reduced his hourly wages, thereby forcing him to find other employment and resign by June 2009. The EEOC's lawsuit argued that Alia Corporation thus engaged in disability discrimination that violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

As part of the settlement announced today, the parties entered into a three-year consent decree requiring Alia to hire an equal employment opportunity (EEO) monitor to create anti-discrimination policies and procedures; a complaint process and impartial investigations; a centralized tracking system for discrimination complaints; a system to hold employees accountable for discrimination; and, annual live disability discrimination training for all management and human resources employees. The $100,000 in monetary relief shall be paid entirely to Morgan. The EEOC will monitor compliance with the agreement.