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LAW REVIEW continued from page 33

34	 Parks & Recreation   D E C E M B E R

Under the circumstances
of this case, Oakland claimed
Keith's ADA claim should be
dismissed because he had not
shown that he could perform
the essential functions
of the job as a
wave-pool lifeguard.

and determined his deafness prohibited
him from performing the essential functions of a wave-pool lifeguard.

Disability Discrimination?
In his complaint, Keith alleged Oakland
was aware of his disability and rescinded
their employment offer due to his disability without assessing whether he could
" perform the essential job functions of
a lifeguard with or without reasonable
accommodations. "
As cited by the federal district court,
the ADA mandates that " no covered entity shall discriminate against a qualified
individual with a disability. " 42 U.S.C. §
12112(a). Further, the court noted that
a plaintiff seeking relief under the ADA
must establish the following:
(1) he is a disabled person within the
meaning of the ADA;
(2) he is otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of his job
with or without reasonable accommodation; and
(3) he suffered an adverse employment action because of his disability.

The federal district court also provided the following description of the burden
of proof between the plaintiff and employer in establishing or refuting a discrimination claim under the ADA:
Once the plaintiff establishes a prima
facie [i.e., on its face the complaint alleges sufficient facts to support a] case

2 0 1 1    w w w . N R P A . O R G

of discrimination, the burden shifts to
the employer to offer a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its action. If
the employer provides a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason, the burden
shifts back to the employee to show that
the employer's proffered reason is pretextual. An employee can demonstrate
pretext by showing that the stated reasons have no basis in fact, were not the
actual reasons, or that they were insufficient to explain the employer's actions.

Essential Job Functions?
The issue before the federal district court
was, therefore, whether Keith had alleged
sufficient facts to establish a prima facie
(i.e., on its face) case of discrimination
with respect to employment as a wavepool lifeguard. Specifically, the issue was
whether Keith had alleged sufficient facts
to suggest that he was " otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of
his job. " In other words, Keith had to allege sufficient facts that, if proven at trial,
would establish his ADA claim. In the absence of sufficient alleged facts to establish an ADA claim, further proceedings
would be unnecessary and Keith's lawsuit
would be dismissed prior to trial on a motion for summary judgment.
Under the circumstances of this case,
Oakland claimed Keith's A DA claim
should be dismissed because he had
not shown that he could perform the

shutterstock

interpreter/signer. Keith was issued a license by Oakland's instructor which entitled him to perform lifeguarding services
at Oakland's wave pool facility.
After successfully completing his
training, Keith requested the accommodation of an interpreter/signer's presence
for further classroom instruction and staff
meetings to work as a lifeguard at Oakland's wave pool. Oakland's recreation
specialist then notified Keith by e-mail
of the decision to extend an offer of parttime employment as a lifeguard. Keith's
employment, however, was conditioned
on passing a pre-employment physical
arranged by Oakland.
The doctor who conducted the preemployment physical for Oakland (Dr.
W.) found Keith was deaf and incapable
of hearing. The doctor, however, found
Keith could be employed if " constantly
accommodated. " In so doing, the doctor
found Keith could not function as a lifeguard without assistance. In approving
Keith's employment with communications
accommodations, the doctor expressed
some doubt whether communications
accommodations would always be adequate. Despite his doubts, the doctor approved Keith's employment, assuming
necessary accommodations.
After receiving the doctor's report,
Oakland discussed with Keith the qualifications required to be a lifeguard, including the implications to safety of employing
Keith. Oakland again contacted the aquatics safety and operations consulting firm
regarding any modifications or requirements that a facility must have to train an
individual with a hearing impairment as a
lifeguard. Based on the information in the
pre-employment physical, the doctor's
statements, statements from the aquatics
safety consulting firm, and information
from Oakland personnel, Oakland wrote
Keith on July 3, 2007, rescinding the conditional offer of employment.
In February of 2008, Keith applied for
an open lifeguard position with Oakland
County. Oakland did not hire Keith for the
lifeguard position. In so doing, Oakland
relied on their 2007 assessment of Keith



December 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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