Regions Bank Sued for Age and Disability Discrimination

Regions Bank

Tayeb Hyderally is an expert in matters concerning employment law. He shares his expertise with employers and employees across the nation who wish to become informed on various aspects of employment law. Mr. Hyderally works closely with those on the corporate level to help them establish anti-discriminatory policies and procedures. As a NY lawyer, he is knowledgeable of employment law cases and how they affect local and national laws and works diligently to inform both employees and employers of their rights and responsibilities to maintain a safe environment in the workplace. In this case, a bank was in violation of federal laws because of discriminating against an individual based on her age as well as her disability.

EEOC vs. Regions Bank

Regions Financial Corporation does business as Regions Bank. According to the EEOC, the bank refused to make reasonable accommodations for an employee with a disability and fired her because of her age. The employee had worked for the bank’s predecessor for over 30 years and since 2005 had been working for Regions Bank in Memphis, Tennessee. The employee suffered from hyperthyroidism and asked for what were reasonable accommodations for her disability. The disease causes debilitating fatigue as well as heightened anxiety. The bank did not engage the interactive process needed to accommodate the manager. The employee alleges that younger managers are treated more favorably than she was and that the bank fired her because of her age. She is 61.

Laws Violated

The bank has allegedly violated two major employment laws. Regions Bank violated Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide the employee with reasonable accommodations as a disabled individual. They also violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967. The EEOC filed a law suit in the US District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Western Division. This action was taken after they unsuccessfully attempted to reach a pre-litigation settlement with Regions Bank through its conciliation process.

Details of the Law Suit

The lawsuit filed by the EEOC is asking the court to grant permanent injunctions against Regions Bank. These injunctions will ensure that the bank will not deny reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. They will also ensure that the bank will not engage in further actions that will discriminate based on one’s age. The EEOC is also asking the court to order the bank to compensate the bank manager for lost pay as well as damages. They are requesting that Regions Bank pay compensatory as well as punitive damages. The EEOC’s director in the Memphis District office, Katharine W. Kores, stated, “Reasonable accommodations allow most people with disabilities to work successfully. Employers should understand that ignoring an employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation is unlawful.” The EEOC works on behalf of individuals to ensure that their rights are protected. In this case, they are committed to protect an individual whom they feel was the object of age discrimination as well as disability discrimination. Mr. Hyderally and other legal experts will be monitoring this case closely to see what the courts will decide.

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