American Airlines Sued

Drug Testing News

American Airlines Sued For Discriminatory Employment Practices.

From Airline Industry Information, Sept 28, 2000

American Airlines is being sued by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for allegedly discriminating against job applicants by asking illegal medical questions. The lawsuit, filed by the EEOC on 26 September in Providence, Rhode Island, states that American Airlines refused to hire a qualified applicant for a ramp clerk and cabin cleaner position because of the person`s mental disability. The disability was apparently discovered during improper questioning by the airline`s medical department during a drug test. The EEOC claims that this method of questioning was often also used to deny other applicants work according to Reuters. The lawsuit is seeking back wages, compensatory damages for the job applicant and other disabled individuals, punitive damages as well as a change in the airline`s employment policy.