An Omaha jury awarded more than $36 million in a disability discrimination case against Werner Enterprises.The jury ruled in favor of Victor Robinson and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, finding that Omaha-based trucking company and Drivers Management violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.According to the ruling, the truckload carriers failed to hire and failed to accommodate Robinson, who is deaf, for a truck driving job in 2016.Robinson was awarded $75,000 in compensatory damages and $36 million in punitive damages.Evidence showed that Robinson applied to work at Werner after completing training at one of the company’s truck driving schools and getting his commercial driving license, according to the EEOC. The EEOC also said that Robinson received an exemption from the hearing regulation for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.After Robinson applied, he was told by Werner that the company would not hire him because he couldn’t hear, according to the EEOC.Werner’s vice president of safety testified at trial that they continue to deny employment opportunities to new deaf drivers, the EEOC said.Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
An Omaha jury awarded more than $36 million in a disability discrimination case against Werner Enterprises.
The jury ruled in favor of Victor Robinson and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, finding that Omaha-based trucking company and Drivers Management violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the ruling, the truckload carriers failed to hire and failed to accommodate Robinson, who is deaf, for a truck driving job in 2016.
Robinson was awarded $75,000 in compensatory damages and $36 million in punitive damages.
Evidence showed that Robinson applied to work at Werner after completing training at one of the company’s truck driving schools and getting his commercial driving license, according to the EEOC.
The EEOC also said that Robinson received an exemption from the hearing regulation for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
After Robinson applied, he was told by Werner that the company would not hire him because he couldn’t hear, according to the EEOC.
Werner’s vice president of safety testified at trial that they continue to deny employment opportunities to new deaf drivers, the EEOC said.
Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
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