Yesterday, the 7th Cir. issued a ruling in Ekstrand v. School District of Somerset, No. 11-1949 (June 26, 2012) upholding a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff (teacher) in an ADA claim.
The Court held that the record contained sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict. The teacher claimed that her employer failed to accommodate her disability by denying her request to switch to classroom that had exterior window to alleviate her symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. While the school pointed to certain evidence that supported its claims that (a) the teacher was not qualified individual with disability and (b) that decision-maker was unaware of the teacher's disability, the jury was free to credit the contrary testimony presented by the teacher and her expert witness.
The Court held that the record contained sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict. The teacher claimed that her employer failed to accommodate her disability by denying her request to switch to classroom that had exterior window to alleviate her symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. While the school pointed to certain evidence that supported its claims that (a) the teacher was not qualified individual with disability and (b) that decision-maker was unaware of the teacher's disability, the jury was free to credit the contrary testimony presented by the teacher and her expert witness.
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