According to reports, a Maryland-based health magazine will pay $58,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The suit has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

The EEOC has noted that a local health magazine company had a policy of forcing employees to sign a "health warranty." This warranty forced employees to validate their health and ensure that they did not use any medications. Furthermore, the EEOC also alleges that the company harassed and fired an employee with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Auditory Processing Disorder (ADP).

This conduct violates the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Under this law, it is illegal to discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability. Furthermore, it is unlawful to inquire about the existence, nature or severity of one's disability. The EEOC filed a suit after attempting a pre-litigation settlement.

The judgment settling the suit provides monetary relief of $58,000 to the fired employee and prevents the company from continuing its "health warranty" policy. The company must comply with the ADA.

A spokesperson from the EEOC has made a statement: "This case shows that employers continue to make employment decisions based on uninformed prejudices and irrational fears." It is imperative that employees with disabilities are treated with the same respect as other employees. Representatives from the EEOC have noted that they will continue to enforce the ADA as a method to protect the rights of disabled persons in the workforce.

Source: U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, "Professional Media Corporation to pay $58,000 to settle EEOC disability bias suit," Feb. 7, 2012