Deaf Job Applicant Sues Steak n Shake for Discrimination

From: WISH - Indianapolis,IN,USA - May 21, 2004

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit Thursday against Indianapolis-based Steak n Shake for allegedly refusing to hire a deaf job applicant.

The suit was filed in federal court for the eastern district of Missouri in St. Louis and seeks unspecified damages. An EEOC attorney says a deaf man was told he could not be hired because he wouldn't hear a bell to know when to add soap to a dishwasher or might be hurt due to his lack of hearing.

The EEOC says that alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on a person's disability. Steak n Shake did not return a call seeking comment.

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