In Illinois, Federal Judge Keri L. Holleb Hotaling has sided with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit brought forward by a former courthouse deputy. The plaintiff, Nicholas Adduci, has Type I diabetes and claimed that necessary social distancing accommodations for his condition were not provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judge Holleb Hotaling granted summary judgment to Cook County and Sheriff Thomas J. Dart, indicating that as a courthouse deputy, the nature of Adduci’s work necessitates operating in close proximity to other people. The judgment was inferred on the basis that Adduci could not carry out the main duties of his role within the restrictions prescribed by his doctors according to the April 26 opinion.
The attorney for the courthouse deputy, Cass T. Casper of Disparti Law Group, commented on the case. He said that the ADA, as currently written, is replete with loopholes and disclaimers that employers can manipulate to sidestep its mandate to lighten the burden placed on disabled workers to remain employed. This decision serves as a prominent example of employer’s use of the law to bypass their corporate duty to support their employees with disabilities. More details regarding the lawsuit can be found on Law.com.