INDIANAPOLIS -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against St. Vincent Hospital on Tuesday alleging the organization improperly filed a worker with disabilities.
The suit was filed on behalf of Latoya Moore, a former St. Vincent employee who was placed on permanent lifting restrictions due to unspecified disabilities.
The EEOC claims that when St. Vincent learned Moore’s restrictions would be indefinite, the hospital required her to take leave a reduced pay, “even though Moore was interested in continuing to work.”
The EEOC also said St. Vincent failed to transfer Moore to vacant positions she was qualified for and could perform despite her disabilities. The hospital later fired Moore, according to a release from the EEOC.
The lawsuit was brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employers from discriminating against any individual because of disabilities.
The EEOC said it filed the suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement with St. Vincent.
“It’s especially distressing when a hospital or other health care operation, of all places, discriminates against an employee because of a health condition,” said Kenneth Lee Bird, regional attorney of the Indianapolis District Office.
A spokesman for St. Vincent declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying the hospital is unable to discuss pending litigation.
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