TRUCKING COMPANY ORDERED TO PAY $477,399 FOR DISABILITY CASE

PAM Transport, Inc. has been ordered to pay 12 of its former truck drivers a total of $477,399 in a disabilitydiscrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the EEOC announced. (U.S.District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Civil Action No. 4:09-13851).

In its lawsuit, the EEOC alleged that PAM violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by subjecting its entireworkforce of truck drivers to overly broad medical inquiries. The lawsuit arose from PAM’s medical clearance policy,which required all drivers to notify the company whenever the driver had any contact with a medical professional,including a routine physical.

Such alleged conduct violates the ADA which prohibits employers from making medical inquiries of employees unlessthe inquiries are job-related and consistent with business necessity. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reacha pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

On Feb. 26, the court entered an order which requires PAM to $225,998 in back pay and interest, $49,114 incompensatory damages, and $202,287 in punitive damages to 12 of its former truck drivers.