Louisiana Painting, Sandblasting Company to Pay $90K to Settle Disability Lawsuit

The U.S. employment practices watchdog agency says a Louisiana company will pay $90,000 to settle a federal disability discrimination lawsuit.

Tamco Professional Coating Services Inc. (Tamco) has agreed to pay a foreperson $90,000 to settle the lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Tamco, which is based in Houma, Louisiana, performs sandblasting, painting, soda blasting, pressure washing, water blasting, cleaning, coating, and minor fabrication and repair services.

The EEOC’s suit alleged that Tamco told the foreperson that its insurance costs would increase because of the foreperson’s hearing loss and that, soon after, Tamco fired the foreperson. According to the lawsuit, Tamco discharged the employee without following its own progressive discipline process. This alleged conduct is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which makes it unlawful for an employer to fire an employee because of disability.

The EEOC filed its suit (Civil Action No. 19-cv-10775) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana earlier this year. Under the three-year consent decree, Tamco will not only pay the foreperson $90,000 in back pay and damages, but also conduct training.

Source: EEOC