Feds sue Vegas taxi company over refusal to hire driver

Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 | 3:04 p.m.

A federal agency said Monday it's suing a Las Vegas taxi company after the firm allegedly refused to hire an applicant for a driver position after learning the applicant has an artificial arm.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said it sued Vegas Western Cab Co. in U.S. District Court. A message for comment was left with Vegas Western Cab's executive offices.

The EEOC said the company violated federal law in refusing to hire Joel Walden for the driver position.

Walden is a single-arm amputee, the agency said. Federal and state regulations allow an amputee to be employed as a driver if he or she uses a prosthetic arm and passes a physical examination, the agency said.

The EEOC, citing the Americans with Disabilities Act, said it attempted to reach a voluntary settlement with the company before filing the suit. The action seeks back pay, compensatory and punitive damages and an injunction "that will ensure a discrimination-free workplace going forward."

Discussion: 9 comments so far…

By dan2548

9/28/09 at 3:49 p.m.

Suggest removal

The driver is white. Vegas Western only hires Somalians and Ethiopians.
By afveteran

9/28/09 at 5:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Does it hire Somalians or Ethiopians with one arm?
By lcdrmandingonamvet

9/28/09 at 6:48 p.m.

Suggest removal

Will Gibbons (NAM draftdodger)give this disabled vet $125K like he did recently for an Israeli student? This student was teased by his clasmates because of his accent. I'm tired of being pimped and exploited by Israel.

Using their American-supplied weapons, the IDF attacked the U.S.S. Liberty in international waters, where they murdered 38 U.S. sailors and severely injured another 174, during this illegal attack. Most of the Liberty survivors are dead today, due to those injuries. Israel gave the Liberty families "DA BIRD". Even Gadhafi would have given those families a much better financial deal. The North Koreans (IDF copycats) attacked the U.S.S. Pueblo in international waters too. The commies murdered "ONE" U.S. sailor during an air-sea attack. The commies made Pueblo's surviving 82 crewmembers POWs for 11 months. Again, most of these survivors are dead, because they were severely TORTURED by Russians, Chinese, North Koreans, and North Vietnamese.
By afveteran

9/29/09 at 4:04 p.m.

Suggest removal

Please leave useless rants and raves for another website, Mr Anti-Semite.
By Brianlv

9/30/09 at 10:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

Gee Whiz, The trolls on this site are amazing to take an article about a driver denied a job and stretch it to the attack on the USS Liberty is an amazing feat of illogic.

Though the attack on the Liberty was a tragedy, to extend that to his reason of why he doesn't get $125k and to exemplify his blatant anti-semitism is just another reason why 95% of the people that post on this site are intellectually challenged and bereft of the abilty to form a cogent argument.
By David1961

9/30/09 at 10:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

To Brianlv.....

....Too hilarious...I agree....
Good for entertainment value though, you gotta admit....
By LV4LIFE

9/30/09 at 12:10 p.m.

Suggest removal

Hey Brianlv, you sho do talk pretty! You must be one of them college edu....edju....educated people. I gotta get me some of that book learning!
By bldblu

9/30/09 at 1:58 p.m.

Suggest removal

I just have one question? if he wasnt initially hired,,how in the xxxx do the feds know he was refused employment for being an amputee.

Also,if personnel let the reason out in anyway,,then they deserve to be sued.

peace out