A longtime Sikorsky employee has alleged the Stratford-based aircraft company has not followed federal disabilities rules, claims the company denies.
James Cadoret, a deaf employee who is considered disabled under federal antidiscrimination laws, was demoted after repeated requests for accommodations, according to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut against Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
Eisenberg & Baum LLP, a Manhattan-based law firm, is representing the plaintiff.
“We believe these claims are meritless,” Sikorsky spokesman Paul Jackson said. “Sikorsky provides reasonable accommodations for any disabled employee. We intend to defend this case vigorously.”
Cadoret started work with the company in 1987, according to his lawsuit. He was promoted over the years and was eventually responsible for overseeing between eight and 16 installers. As responsibilities of the job increased, so did the complexity of the information he had to convey and understand, the lawsuit reads. Cadoret was allegedly given an inadequate text-to-speech transliteration program instead of an interpreter.
The lawsuit demands Sikorsky develop, implement and comply with a policy preventing future discrimination against Cadoret or other future deaf employees and notifying those individuals of their right to effective aids and services. The suit also wants Sikorsky to train other employees about those rights under the American With Disabilities Act.
Cadoret is also seeking damages, court costs and attorneys’ fees pursuant to the ADA.
