Houston Oil and Gas Exploration Companies to Settle $54,500 Disability Claim

Two oil and gas explor­ation companies — Vantage Energy Services, Inc. and Vantage International Management Company Pte. Ltd. — will pay $54,500 and provide training to its managers and human resources staff to resolve a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Oppor­tunity Commission.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, an employee suffered a heart attack while working aboard one of the defendants’ drill ships off the coast of West Africa. Just days before his scheduled return to work from leave, he was discharged.

Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits employers from discharging employees because of their disability. The EEOC filed its lawsuit on Jan. 26, 2018 after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its voluntary conciliation process.

The district court approved the two-year consent decree settling the suit on Dec. 20, 2021, awarding $54,500 in monetary damages to the employee. The decree also requires the Vantage entities to train their employees and human resources staff on the requirements of the ADA.

Source: EEOC

Topics Energy Oil Gas