FARGO, N.D. - Mail Hauler Trucking, LLC., which delivers mail for the United States Postal Service in North Dakota and South Dakota, violated federal law by terminating an employee because of his disability, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.

According to the suit, a company driver who formerly delivered mail between various post offices on a route between Watertown and Corona in northeastern South Dakota had a physical impairment causing weakness, muscle spasms and stiffness in his legs. His condition also caused him to have an unusual gait in which he often walked only on the balls of his feet. While the employee was never disciplined for performance during his employment, and despite his ability to perform the essential functions of the job, Mail Hauler Trucking fired him because of his disability, the suit said.

Such alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Mail Hauler Trucking, LLC. (Civil Action No. 1:24-cv-01020-ECS) in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.

"The ADA prohibits employers from terminating employees because of their disability or discriminating against employees because of misperceptions that they cannot perform the job because of a disability," said Gregory Gochanour, regional attorney of the EEOC's Chicago office. "The EEOC will continue to hold employers accountable for violations of the ADA."

Amrith Aakre, district director of the EEOC's Chicago office, said, "The ADA provides equal employment opportunities for disabled employees and the EEOC will vigorously enforce the law."

For more information on disability discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination.

The EEOC's Chicago District Office has jurisdiction over Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota, with area offices in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimin­ation and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.