Supreme Court Rejects ADA Suits
n the case most crucial to the industry, the court ruled unanimously that a truck driver who is nearly blind in one eye cannot sue his employer for discrimination, after the grocery store chain fired him because of his disability.
In a related case, the justices said a mechanic fired by United Parcel Service because his high blood pressure exceeded U.S. Department of Transportation standards could not sue the company under ADA. And in a third case, the court held that twin sisters deniedpilot jobs by United Air Lines because of their severe nearsightedness also were ineligible to bring suit under the statute.
The court’s primary thrust in its three rulings: ADA does not apply to people who can treat their condition with medication, eyeglasses or other means.
In reversing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the high court held that Albertson’s was within its rights to hold the truck driver to Department of Transportation vision standards, even though he later obtained a vision waiver.
“The waiver program was simply an experiment with safety,” wrote Justice David Souter for the unanimous court. “It was not intended to supersede the DOT’s vision standards, and Albertson’s was within its rights to hold Kirkingburg to the basic federal safety requirements.”
Officials at the Federal Highway Administration could not be reached for comment on whether they expect this ruling to affect the way the agency administers the vision waiver program.
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