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EEOC Sues JC Penney for Firing Cancer Patient
26 Nov
Summary
- EEOC sues JC Penney for alleged ADA violation against employee with breast cancer.
- Employee was fired after denial of medical leave for cancer treatment appointments.
- EEOC seeks back pay, damages, and injunction against future discrimination.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has initiated legal action against Penney OpCo, LLC, doing business as JC Penney. The lawsuit asserts that JC Penney violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by terminating a warehouse employee who was battling breast cancer.
According to the EEOC, the employee requested medical leave to attend necessary cancer treatment appointments. Despite providing required documentation, her request was reportedly denied. Her absences were then counted against the company's attendance policy, culminating in her dismissal on July 3, 2023.
The EEOC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, seeks financial remedies including back pay, front pay, and damages for the former employee. Additionally, the commission is pursuing an injunction to prohibit JC Penney from engaging in similar discriminatory practices in the future.
