U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Roosevelt Care Centers

NEWARK, N.J. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a proposed consent decree today to resolve its lawsuit against Roosevelt Care Centers (RCC) for violating Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

According to the complaint, which was filed in federal court on March 20, 2023, Roosevelt Care Centers unlawfully terminated a dietary worker whose disability inhibited her ability to lift objects heavier than 20 pounds. Prior to her termination, the employee had been successfully working at RCC for approximately 18 years and remained able to perform the essential functions of her position. Nonetheless, Roosevelt Care Centers terminated the dietary worker’s employment due to her disability without engaging in an interactive process to provide her with a reasonable accommodation.

“Qualified individuals with disabilities must be given an equal opportunity to be part of the workforce. This settlement reflects the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to ending discriminatory employment practices and protecting the civil rights of all employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

Under the terms of the consent decree, which must be approved by the court, RCC has agreed to pay $50,000 in compensation to the complainant. The settlement also requires RCC to train its staff on the ADA and to periodically submit reports about its compliance with the consent decree.

Title I of the ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against a qualified individual on the basis of disability. An employer may not demote, terminate, or deny employment opportunities to an employee who is otherwise qualified if the demotion or termination is based on the need to make reasonable accommodations for the employee. 

U.S. Attorney Sellinger created a Civil Rights Division with the sole focus on enforcing federal civil rights laws, including the ADA, with the goal of protecting and upholding the civil rights of those in our community. This matter was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s newly formed Civil Rights Division based on a referral from the Newark Area Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may file a complaint with the U.S Attorney’s Office at http://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement/complaint or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339.  Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thandiwe Boylan of the Civil Rights Division in Newark.