Hepner v. Thomas Jefferson Univ. Hosps., Inc. (Summary)

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Hepner v. Thomas Jefferson Univ. Hosps., Inc., No. 12-5443 (E.D. Pa. May 29, 2013)

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denied a hospital’s motion to dismiss a former employee’s complaint alleging that the hospital violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), among other things, after he suffered a work-related injury.

The district court found the employee suffered an injury sufficient to support a claim of disability under the ADA and dismissed the hospital’s motion to dismiss on that ground.  The district court found that the employee, by alleging that he was subjected to hostile treatment, involuntary medical leave, and termination close to the time he was injured, was adequate to show that the hospital regarded him as disabled and such perception caused adverse employment actions.