Lenker v. Methodist Hospital

Lenker v. Methodist Hospital,
No. 98-4183 (7^th Cir. Apr. 26, 2000)

Plaintiff, a nurse suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS), sued defendant hospital under
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), claiming that the hospital failed
to accommodate his disability and that the termination of his employment violated
the ADA. The plaintiff’s physician restricted the plaintiff from lifting heavy
objects. As a result of this restriction, the hospital granted him a one-year
leave of absence. The defendant also removed the plaintiff from his position
because the hospital considered lifting to be an essential part of his employment
which could not be reasonably accommodated. The Circuit Court affirmed the trial
court jury verdict in favor of the defendant. The court held that the jury heard
sufficient evidence to both conclude that lifting was an essential element of
a nurse’s job and that the hospital had made reasonable efforts to accommodate
the plaintiff such as allowing the plaintiff to take a long leave of absence
and to have access to internal job postings in order to find a less taxing position
within the hospital.