A court has approved the distribution of a $6.2 million compensation fund after Sears, Roebuck & Co. was found to be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In the lawsuit, the United States Equal Employment Opportunities Commission accused Sears of maintaining an inflexible workers’ compensation leave policy. The company was terminating employees instead of providing them with reasonable accommodations as required by law. The $6.2 million settlement is the largest Americans with Disabilities Act Lawsuit in Equal Employment Opportunities Commission history.

The terms of the accord asked that employees terminated by Sears under the workers’ compensation policy to report the extent of their impairments, their ability to work, and whether Sears made any attempt to return them to work. The EEOC determined that 235 individuals were eligible to share in the settlement. The average award was just above $26,000.

In North Carolina our workers’ compensation program is based on the belief that employees should be able to receive full medical treatment for their injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, the Raleigh workers’ comp lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC can help. Please call our offices at 919-851-3311.