Las Vegas: Downtown Grand casino agrees to $720K settlement over disability discrimination claims

Downtown Las Vegas hotel-casino Downtown Grand has reached a settlement of $720,000 to resolve allegations of disability discrimination and retaliation in a lawsuit with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The agreement stems from claims that the establishment discriminated against its employees on multiple occasions dating back to at least 2018. Among the cited infractions were failures to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities and the termination of an employee suffering from colon cancer for wearing an ostomy bag.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Nevada after initial attempts to resolve the matter through conciliation proved unsuccessful, reports Las Vegas Review-Journal.

In addition to the financial settlement, Downtown Grand's management has agreed to implement various measures to address the allegations. These include appointing an external equal opportunity monitor to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the terms of the consent decree; establishing effective protocols for handling reasonable accommodation requests and disability discrimination complaints; and conducting training sessions for managers and employees on disability antidiscrimination laws.

Anna Park, the regional attorney for the EEOC's Los Angeles District, which encompasses Las Vegas, emphasized the significance of protecting workers with disabilities. In a statement, Park underscored the agency's dedication to enforcing the rights guaranteed by the ADA.

"The ADA protects workers with disabilities from discrimination and guarantees them the right to a reasonable accommodation in order to ensure their equal access to employment," Park stated. "This case demonstrates the EEOC’s commitment to enforcing these rights, including in the hospitality industry."