Bank of America sued after firing of deaf employee
Bank of America sued after firing of deaf employee in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Bank of America Corp. faces a lawsuit after federal officials say the company failed to provide a sign language interpreter for a deaf employee in Las Vegas and eventually fired her due to her disability.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of Melchora Lee, who was dismissed from the bank in 2010. The suit seeks back pay and unspecified damages.
Commission officials say Lee started working as a cashier in 1998 and had a supervisor who could communicate with her in sign language. But starting in 2003, she was supervised by managers who didn't know ASL.
The suit claims the bank ignored her requests for an interpreter, hurting her performance and leading to her firing.
Bank of America didn't respond to a request for comment.
