Michigan manufacturer sued for wrongful firing of employee due to disability

Navitas Systems, LLC., an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based comprehensive energy storage solutions and battery manufacturing company, violated federal law by using an illegal company policy to deny a reasonable accommodation to an employee with a disability and then fired the employee. , the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, Navitas maintained a policy that required an employee returning from any type of sick leave to have a “100 percent work release.” The former employee, who was employed as a division controller, suffered a severe rotator cuff injury and fractured his wrist in April 2020. His doctor restricted him from using his left arm, but allowed him to return to work with restrictions. He requested permission to return to work despite Navitas’ policy because he could perform all the essential functions of his position using his right arm. Navitas enforced its policy, refused to allow him to work and then fired him.

Such alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability. The EEOC filed suit (Case No. 2:24-cv-12478-BRM-APP) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan) after first trying to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation. The EEOC is seeking back pay, compensatory damages, and punitive damages on behalf of the former employee, as well as injunctive relief to prevent future discrimination.

Source: EEOC

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Michigan Manufacturing Processes