Shannima Yuantrell Session, DOJ, Florida, Department of Justice
by Keka Araújo

September 25, 2024

Florida Man Convicted Of Sex Trafficking Nearly A Dozen Women And Girls

Session’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19.

Shannima Yuantrell Session, also known as Shalamar, was found guilty by a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida on 13 charges of sex trafficking involving nearly a dozen women and girls.

On Sept. 23, the 47-year-old predator from Lake Placid, Florida, was convicted of forcing his victims into performing sex acts for pay from July 2011 to July 2013 and again from February 2016 to February 2019.

Session preyed on vulnerable women and girls, many of whom were dealing with housing instability, substance abuse, and neglect. He manipulated the survivors with false promises of work and housing, only to exploit their circumstances and coerce them into prostitution. His victims were forced to endure degrading and dangerous conditions, such as performing sex acts in squalid trailers and orange groves frequented by migrant workers.

During the trial, evidence revealed that Session controlled his victims by withholding food and shelter. Some victims were denied meals unless they complied with his demands. In addition, he sexually assaulted the women himself after they had been forced into commercial sex with multiple men —some with as many as 18 men in one night.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division condemned Session’s actions, stating, “The defendant used despicable and horrific means to terrify and coerce nearly a dozen women and girls to engage in commercial sex. The Justice Department is committed to protecting vulnerable victims from such cruel exploitation.”

Clarke continued, “This prosecution reflects that commitment. It is a testament to the courageous young women who cooperated with law enforcement to expose, prosecute and hold accountable this defendant for the years of misery he inflicted on scores of women.”

“Vindicating the rights of human trafficking victims and other vulnerable persons ranks among the highest priorities of our office,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Human trafficking is a crime of exploitation. We will not allow human traffickers to prey upon others for profit, as humans are not commodities but rather demand our united protection. Our office’s dedicated prosecutors, victim witness coordinators, and support personnel will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat human trafficking and bring offenders to justice.”

“Today’s verdict is a step towards justice for the nearly dozen victims who were forced by Shannima Yuantrell Session into sex trafficking and endured his reign of horrendous and abusive control,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. “This verdict is a testament to the cooperation and commitment of several law enforcement agencies, including the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. We will continue working with these and other partners to dismantle human trafficking networks that operate in the shadows and brutalize their victims.”

Session also used extreme physical violence to maintain dominance over his victims. Testimony detailed instances where he hit victims in the back of the head to avoid visible bruising. In one example, he dragged a woman into a shower and beat her with a metal nutcracker. He also choked another victim into unconsciousness and beat several others with a baseball bat.

In addition to physical abuse, Session employed firearms to intimidate his victims. In one particularly chilling incident, he threatened to kill a victim after she questioned his treatment of her. When she attempted to flee, Session fired a shot into the air, further terrorizing her.

FBI Special Agent Jeffrey B. Veltri of the Miami Field Office praised the victims for their courage in exposing Session’s crimes. “This verdict is a step towards justice for the nearly dozen victims who endured his reign of horrendous and abusive control,” Veltri said.

The trial also revealed that Session exploited victims’ drug dependencies, supplying them with cocaine and methamphetamine to compel them into continuous commercial sex with migrant workers.

Session’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19. He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life behind bars, and mandatory restitution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover and Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Matthew Thiman prosecuted the case.

RELATED CONTENT: Texas Rapper Slando Kareem Sentenced To Life In Prison For Sex Trafficking

first black football player, University Of Georgia
by Daniel Johnson

September 25, 2024

The University Of Georgia’s First Black Football Player To Be Honored

Hurley’s path to making the team was made more difficult by the fact that the university did not recruit or offer scholarships to non-white players, but this did not deter him from trying to make the team.

James Hurley, the first Black player to make the University of Georgia football team’s roster, will be honored at an award ceremony on Sept. 29. 

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History will award Hurley the Uncommon Valor Award because of his impact on the history of Georgia football and his resilience. 

Hurley’s path to making the team was more difficult because the university did not recruit or offer scholarships to non-white players, but this did not deter him from trying to make the team. In 1967, Hurley walked onto Georgia’s first-year football team and started at defensive end, breaking a barrier. 

Hurley spent two seasons at Georgia before he was offered a scholarship to Vanderbilt University, where he would become a letterman in football. Although Hurley was the first Black football player to play for the university, he was on the freshman team and thus was not honored when the University of Georgia honored The First Five, Horace King, Clarence Pope, Richard Appleby, Larry West, and Chuck Kinnesbrew in 2021. The First Five were the first Black players to sign with and play varsity football for the university. 

Kinnesbrew praised the decision of then-head coach Vince Dooley, telling Rivals, “Coach Dooley made a courageous decision to do what was best for himself, the athletic department, and the school,” Kinnebrew said. “Coming to Georgia could have been much harder, but I think Coach Dooley and his staff did a good job of looking at our backgrounds, academics, and bringing us in as a group. We were lucky to be chosen the first [Black players] to participate.”

According to Fox 5, Hurley currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and told the ASALH that despite the racial tensions of the Jim Crow South, he believes that the football staff at the University of Georgia, as well as several other students at the university, tried to do right by him and made him feel welcome. The award is scheduled to be given to Hurley at First AME Church on Athens’ North Hull Street. 

RELATED CONTENT: Quavo To Enroll At UGA, Announces Lids Collab With News

Sybil Haydel Morial
by Stacy Jackson

September 25, 2024

New Orleans Commemorates Life Of Civil Rights Activist Sybil Haydel Morial

During the service, loved ones reflected on the impact Haydel Morial left on the New Orleans community as an activist and educator.

The New Orleans community and loved ones gathered on Monday to commemorate the life of the city’s first Black first lady, Sybil Haydel Morial.

The Sept. 23 memorial service, held in Xavier’s Convocation Center, celebrated the legacy of the Xavier University administrator, who was an activist, educator, and author.

According to Fox8, attendees observed a stage decorated with colossal photos of the notable Louisiana leader framed by flowers and heard reflections from her seven grandchildren. “As the oldest grandchild—the only one for 17 years—I shared a special bond with my grandmother,” said Kemah Dennis Morial. “This bond was special to me for many reasons, but mostly because I felt that she was the only person who truly understood my dual heritage, my Liberian side.”

Haydel Morial’s children also spoke during the ceremony and reflected on how the activist “brought out the best in people” as she partnered with others in the community on the “good and noble deeds over the years.” Her children described her as “petite in stature,” “mighty and strong,” a “trusted confidante,” and a “fierce” supporter.

“She found and used her voice early in life,” said Cheri Morial Ausberry.

The family informed the public of the civil rights activist’s death on Sept. 4 in an announcement by the National Urban League, an organization led by her son and former New Orleans mayor, Marc Morial.

Haydel Morial made history in New Orleans with her late husband, Ernest “Dutch” Morial, after they became the city’s first Black mayor and first lady. The public school educator studied at Xavier University, Boston University, and Tulane University. She advocated for Blacks voting and for school teachers as they fought for integration.

City officials and U.S. leaders, including New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell and former U.S. ambassador Andrew Young, also attended Monday’s service. “All of us are better because she decided to join a struggle to make the country better, racially and gender-wise,” said National Action Network president, Rev. Al Sharpton.

Haydel Morial’s life was also commemorated with messages and letters from Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“Every student who stands a little taller because you helped them find their voice. Every New Orleanian who works for justice because they were inspired by you,” first lady Jill Biden said in a video statement.

Haydel Morial’s coffin was carried by her grandchildren and buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. The funeral procession and burial were followed by a traditional second line.

Watch the full funeral service via the WDSU News YouTube channel.

RELATED CONTENT: 60th Anniversary Of March On Washington Commemorated

Marcellus Williams, execution, Missouri
by Keka Araújo

September 25, 2024

Marcellus Williams Executed Despite Family’s Objections In 1998 Stabbing Case

This case marks the third execution in Missouri in 2023 and reflects a broader national debate on the fairness and future of the death penalty.

Marcellus Williams, 55, was executed in Missouri on Sept. 24 for the 1998 stabbing death of Lisha Gayle, despite efforts by the victim’s family and the prosecutor to commute his death sentence to life in prison. Williams, convicted of breaking into Gayle’s suburban St. Louis home and stabbing her 43 times, maintained his innocence throughout his legal battle.

Williams’ attorneys argued for clemency, highlighting racial bias in jury selection and mishandling of evidence. They pointed out that the victim’s family had long supported commuting his sentence to life without parole. “The family defines closure as Marcellus being allowed to live,” stated his clemency petition.

As Williams lay awaiting execution, he spoke with his spiritual advisor. Shortly after, he was pronounced dead. None of Gayle’s family attended the execution. Williams left a final statement: “All Praise Be to Allah In Every Situation!!!”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson supported the execution, stating, “No juror nor judge has ever found Williams’ innocence claim to be credible.” Parson expressed hope that the execution would bring finality to the case, which had lingered for decades.

The execution was the third time Williams faced the death penalty, following reprieves in 2015 and 2017. His final appeals were rejected by the Missouri Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court just hours before his death. Williams became the 100th inmate executed in Missouri since 1989.

Williams was convicted based on testimony from his girlfriend, who claimed she saw stolen items in his possession, and from a fellow inmate, Henry Cole, who alleged that Williams confessed to the crime. Both witnesses had criminal records, and Williams’ attorneys argued they were motivated by a $10,000 reward. Despite this, the jury convicted him.

Questions surrounding the evidence persisted. Fingerprints, a bloody shoeprint, and other forensic evidence from the crime scene did not match Williams. A crime scene investigator testified that the perpetrator likely wore gloves, and the DNA found on the knife did not belong to Williams. Instead, the DNA matched members of the prosecutor’s office, who had handled the knife without gloves after the original crime lab tests.

St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell sought to challenge Williams’ conviction, citing doubts about the DNA evidence. Gayle’s family supported a plea deal that would have commuted Williams’ sentence to life in prison without parole. However, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office appealed the agreement, and the state Supreme Court blocked the deal, ultimately upholding the execution.

Despite the victim’s family supporting a life sentence, the state of Missouri went forward with the execution. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, condemned the decision, stating, “Tonight, Missouri lynched another innocent Black man.”

Racial bias concerns also emerged during the trial. Only one of the 12 jurors was Black, and prosecutors removed six of seven Black prospective jurors. Williams’ attorneys argued that these actions demonstrated racial discrimination in the jury selection process, but the claims were rejected.

Lisha Gayle, 42, was a former reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and had transitioned to social work before her murder. On August 11, 1998, Williams broke into her home, stabbed her repeatedly, and stole her purse and her husband’s laptop. Williams was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.

Social media users on the X platform opined on Williams’ execution, calling  him “innocent.”

This case marks the third execution in Missouri in 2023 and reflects a broader national debate on the fairness and future of the death penalty.

Justin Madubuike, Chris Jones, NFL, CTE
by Daniel Johnson

September 24, 2024

Survey: 1/3 Of Former NFL Players Believe They Have CTE

The Harvard University study surveyed 1,980 former NFL football players who played between 1960 and 2020.

One-third of former NFL players surveyed said they believe that they have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. 

According to NPR, Harvard University conducted a study of 1,980 former NFL players who played between 1960 and 2020, with 681 indicating they believe they have developed the brain disease. Over 230 players said that they had experienced suicidal thoughts while another 176 reported an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis or another form of dementia.

Even after the researchers controlled for predictors of suicidal thoughts or ideation, retired players who believed that they had CTE were still twice as likely as others to report that they had experienced frequent suicidal thoughts or self-harm. The only sure way to diagnose the disease currently, however, is an examination of the brain post-mortem, which is problematic because it is difficult to determine what symptoms are due to the development of CTE in living former NFL players. 

According to Rachel Grashow, a Harvard University neuroscientist and the lead author of the study, it is key to identify and treat any symptoms before players begin to believe that they have CTE, which could lead them to depression or thoughts of self-harm. 

“A key takeaway from this study is that many conditions common to former NFL players, such as sleep apnea, low testosterone, high blood pressure, and chronic pain, can cause problems with thinking, memory, and concentration,” Grashow said.

Grashow continued, “While we wait for advances in CTE research to better address living players’ experiences, it is imperative that we identify conditions that are treatable. These efforts may reduce the chances that players will prematurely attribute symptoms to CTE, which may lead to hopelessness and thoughts of self-harm.”

More than 300 former NFL players have been posthumously diagnosed with CTE, and many of those players had allegedly developed symptoms of cognitive decline like memory loss and mood swings. 

Former University of Southern California and San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau, who shot himself in the chest in 2012 and died by suicide, was declared to have CTE after his brain was examined by the National Institutes of Health. 

According to ABC 10, Seau spoke to The Athletic’s Jim Trotter when he was still working for ESPN, and Seau cautioned tha f football needed more focus on player safety. Trotter now believes that Seau’s comments about former players were actually about him. 

“Those who are saying that the game has changed for the worst; they don’t have a father that couldn’t remember his name because of the game. If everybody had to wake up with their dad not knowing his name, not knowing his kid’s name, being able to function at a normal rate. I mean, they will understand that the game needs to change,” Seau told Trotter in the interview. 

Although the relationship between CTE and suicidal thoughts is still unclear, Dr. Ross Zafonte, one of the study’s authors and a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, told NPR that the suicidal thoughts experienced by players could be from other symptoms and not necessarily CTE. 

“It may be related to things like isolation, chronic pain, depression, cognitive impairment, or even cardiovascular disease—all of which have relationships in former players, all of which could contribute to making any pathology worse, all of which can actually produce problems,” Zafonte said.

Zafonte continued, “So to assume everyone gets it is a problem. People are very obsessed, appropriately, with their concerns about CTE. We’re not trying to invalidate that in any way. But treating people for the common things that can only make that pathology worse might make your symptoms better.”

RELATED CONTENT: Testimony From O.J. Simpson In 1970 Trial May Have Set CTE Research Back Decades 

Georgia, white woman, Black boyfriend
by Daniel Johnson

September 24, 2024

James Whitner Cleared Of Federal Money Laundering Charges

Whitner's company, The Whitaker Group, announced on Sept 23 that Whitner was cleared of all charges.

James Whitner forfeited $1.2 million in cash that was seized by federal prosecutors in connection with an investigation into money laundering charges.

However, Whitner’s company, The Whitaker Group, announced on Sept. 23 that Whitner was cleared of all charges. 

“Following a thorough investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina (USAO) into James Whitner and The Whitaker Group,” The Whitaker Group said in a statement. “The office has declined prosecution based upon, among other things, the sufficiency of admissible evidence to support prosecution. This outcome reaffirms our stance all along of the integrity of our business, the transparency of our operations, and the regulatory compliance of all our tools, platforms, and processes that allow us to serve both community and consumers effectively.”

In November 2023, a civil asset forfeiture lawsuit filed in North Carolina claimed that Whitner was a participant in a “trade-based money laundering network” in which he helped to move millions of dollars to Chinese nationals under the cover of reselling shoes and apparel. 

According to the complaint, Whitner was accused of selling millions of dollars worth of shoes and apparel to a Chinese national, who then resold those products in China and other places. After this was arranged, the complaint alleged, a broker in China would direct couriers to collect large sums of money from illegal activities and this cash would be delivered to Whitner. 

The complaint also described the nature of Nike’s contract with Whitner without directly mentioning Nike by name, referring to the shoe giant as “an Oregon-based manufacturer” that expressly forbids the products in question from being resold to a broker or distributor outside of the United States. 

According to Hypebeast, although there was speculation after the details about the complaint surfaced regarding Whitner’s relationship with Nike and Jordan Brand, Whitner and Jordan Brand maintained their relationship.

In November 2023, shortly after the details of the case became public knowledge, The Whitaker Group addressed the investigation in a statement, calling the the allegations “unfounded, unrelated to our business or this community, and unjustified.”

RELATED CONTENT: Nike Collaborator Forfeits $1.2M To Government Amid Money Laundering Lawsuit

Mark Robinson
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2024

Mark Robinson Claims Alleged Online Porn Scandal ‘Possibly Happened 15 Years Ago’

Mark Robinson is denying and seemingly admitting to his alleged online activity all at the same time.

Mark Robinson appears to be denying a shocking CNN report linking him to lewd and racist comments posted on a pornographic website.

The North Carolina GOP gubernatorial nominee fired off at reporters on Sept. 23 in response to “the false lies” he claims CNN included in an investigative report released on Sept.19, Huff Post reports. While denying the comments he’s accused of having made in the online forum of a porn site called Nude Africa, Robinson also seemingly owned up to making the alleged disturbing remarks.

“You’d better understand I am coming after CNN full-throttle,” a visibly angry Robinson said about taking legal action against the news network.

However, his next comment, Robinson seemingly alluded to the strong possibility he made the vulgar statements online.

“We’re not here to talk about 15- or 20-year-old salacious, false lies,” he continued. “They want to talk about what possibly happened 15 years ago.”

Robinson’s rant was his first public appearance since CNN’s scathing report. The report accused him of referring to himself as a “black Nazi,” describing his alleged experiences of sexual arousal from secretly watching women in public showers, and calling himself a “perv” who enjoys pornography featuring transgender individuals—a stark contrast to his current transphobic rhetoric.

While Robinson claims CNN’s report is “salacious, tabloid trash,” reporters offered extensive research into how they linked the username on Nude Africa directly to many of Robinson’s biographical details and his shared email addresses.

The allegations come as Robinson campaigns to become North Carolina’s next governor. Since the report was published, Robinson has lost eight campaign staffers, including his campaign manager and the Republican Governors Association announcing an end to ad buys for Robinson in North Carolina. The Cook Political Report also changed its forecast for North Carolina’s gubernatorial race from “leans Democrat” to “likely Democrat.” Robinson running against the state’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein.

In a Sunday interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) cited the “unnerving” nature of the report, adding that if the claims are false, Robinson has a strong case for libel. However, if the claims are true, “he’s unfit to serve in office,” Graham said.

RELATED CONTENT: NAACP PRESIDENT URGES MARK ROBINSON TO SUSPEND NORTH CAROLINA CAMPAIGN

James earl jones, James Earl Jones
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2024

Broadway Will Dim Its Lights In Memory Of James Earl Jones

This honor is set to take place Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6:45 p.m. Eastern.

Broadway is set to dim its lights in memory of James Earl Jones on Sept. 26 at 6:45 p.m. Eastern.

The Broadway League made the announcement on Sept. 23, exactly two weeks after Jones died at age 93 from unknown causes, Deadline reports. This traditional tribute sees the marquee lights of Broadway theaters dim for one minute to honor its fallen stars.

“James Earl Jones was a true pillar of the Broadway industry, providing unforgettable experiences to multiple generations of theatergoers–all while accumulating many well-deserved honors, awards, and achievements for his iconic performances in other entertainment fields,” said Jason Laks, interim president of The Broadway League.

“While we acknowledge and celebrate Mr. Jones’ significant legacy across multiple mediums, we are particularly proud of his legacy on Broadway and are grateful for the many memorable performances with which he graced our stages.”

Jones’ contributions to Broadway include his 1957 debut as an understudy in The Egghead. He won his first Best Actor in a Play Tony Award in 1969 for The Great White Hope, a role he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation, which earned him an Oscar nomination. His second Tony Award came in 1987 for his performance in August Wilson’s Fences.

Throughout his Broadway career, Jones starred in stage productions such as The Iceman Cometh, Of Mice and Men, Othello, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Driving Miss Daisy. His last Broadway credit was in 2015 when he performed in The Gin Game alongside Cicely Tyson.

Jones gained Best Actor nominations for On Golden Pond in 2005 and The Best Man in 2012. Jones received his flowers on Broadway prior to his death with his third Tony, a Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2017 and having the Cort Theatre renamed as the James Earl Jones Theatre in September 2022.

RELATED CONTENT: James Earl Jones Had A Delayed Diagnosis Of Type 2 Diabetes Decades Before His Death

Florida, Rep. Angie Nixon, Cafe Resistance, Book Ban
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2024

New Report Shows Over 10K Books Bans Occurred During 2023-24 School Year

The bans mostly target works centering on people of color and women, especially those who experience sexual abuse or rape.

National Banned Book Week spreads awareness of controversial novels that are at risk of being removed, if they haven’t already, from school libraries. A new report estimates that over 10,000 bans happened in the last school year.

Pen America, a freedom of expression advocacy group, released the report on Sept. 23. Its findings detailed a “dramatic” rise in book bans, leading to fewer books available to students that often explore subjects such as race, feminism, and sexuality.

The number of book bans that occurred during the 2023-2024 nearly tripled the 3,362 recorded the year prior.

“In part due to the targeting of sexual content, the stark increase includes books featuring romance, books about women’s sexual experiences, and books about rape or sexual abuse as well as continued attacks on books with LGBTQ+ characters or themes, or books about race or racism and featuring characters of color,” the organization said on its website.

However, this number is only growing, as an updated tally will be released in the upcoming months to accompany a public Index of School Book Bans. Most of these bans occurred in states already eliminating DEI curriculums, such as Florida and Iowa, accounting for 8,000 of the book bans confirmed.

The report also noted that anti-DEI movements and legislation passed in the states greatly contributed to this increase. Florida’s HB 1069, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, required that all books challenged for “sexual conduct” be banned from school libraries while under review. Moreover, the group emphasized that these numbers underestimate the wide-ranging bans taking place across America.

PEN America added, “These numbers also do not account for the many reports of soft censorship, including increased hesitancy in book selection, ideologically driven restrictions of school book purchases, the removal of classroom collections, and the cancellations of author visits and book fairs.”

New additions to the books currently banned across school districts nationwide include Alex Haley’s Roots: The Saga of an American Family, James Baldwin’s Go Tell It On The Mountain, and W.E.B. DuBois’ Black Reconstruction in America, 1860-1880.

As book bans continue to spread, DEI-focused lessons and literature also remain at risk, limiting the education children can receive in certain school districts.

RELATED CONTENT: New College Of Florida Trashes Hundreds Of Books On Race, Sexuality, And Feminism

Enterprise, EEOC, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Age discrimination
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2024

Company Sued By EEOC After Refusing Remote Work To Woman Who Had A Stroke

The EEOC is going after one company who allegedly fired a woman for requesting remote work after suffering a stroke.

A utility company is being sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for terminating a woman who requested to work remotely after suffering a stroke.

The EEOC filed a lawsuit against Osmose Utilities Services on Sept. 16 for allegedly refusing to accommodate an employee by allowing her to work remotely following a stroke, HR Drive reports. The employee’s role involved handling customer inquiries, including submitting service tickets by phone or electronically.

According to the lawsuit EEOC v. Osmose Utilities Services, Inc., following her stroke, the woman requested to work from home full-time due to her inability to drive and the office lights worsening her stroke-related headaches. However, management allegedly denied her request and a separate request to work remotely on the two to three days a week she had medical appointments.

Osmose allowed her to take leave for the appointments but ultimately allegedly fired her after her supervisor questioned her absences and pressured her to stop attending them, per the filing. Now the company is facing a lawsuit from the EEOC on claims of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying the employee a reasonable accommodation and retaliating against her.

Central to most remote work accommodation claims is the principle that, under the ADA, a person with a disability is not considered a “qualified individual” if they cannot perform the job’s essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation, according to guidance. These cases often hinge on whether the job’s essential functions must be carried out on-site.

More companies have been requiring staff to return to the office in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced many into remote styles of work. In September 2023, research found that 90% of companies planned to return to work in the office by the end of 2024.

In Osmose’s case, the employee had previously worked remotely, along with others in her department, for several months during an office relocation. After the office returned to in-person work, the employee suffered a stroke, which led to vision impairments, memory loss, and headaches.

The lawsuit asserts that the woman’s role as a “One Call Locator”‘” could be performed with the reasonable accommodations she requested. However, Osmose failed to demonstrate any undue hardship these accommodations would cause and is accused of firing her unjustly.

RELATED CONTENT: Asphalt Paving Systems To Pay $1.25M To Settle EEOC Racism Lawsuit

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