Federal authorities accused a St. Paul printing and packaging company of ordering a longtime employee to see a doctor for his depression and then firing him for his disability.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Impressions Inc. in federal court in St. Paul under provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Impressions is denying the EEOC's allegations.
Before his firing, Justin Cadmus worked for 10 years as a press helper for Impressions and was rated a top performer, said Julianne Bowman, director for the EEOC's Chicago District office, who supervised the investigation for the suit.
In 2014, a family doctor diagnosed the 32-year-old Cadmus with depression, the federal agency said. His supervisor became aware that Cadmus had stopped taking his antidepressants and in April 2015 told him to see a doctor, then a psychologist and go back on medication, the EEOC said.
Although Cadmus, of Hudson, Wis., complied with "these unlawful directives, which were not justified by business necessity, he was fired because of his depression," the EEOC said in a statement.
Impressions co-owner Mike Jorgensen said Wednesday afternoon that the accusations against his company "are unfounded. We've been in this business for 50 years and we've never had a single problem. I can't believe what the EEOC [is alleging]."
The conduct alleged in the suit violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability, which can include requiring unnecessary medical examinations and firing an employee because of disability.
The EEOC said it sued after first attempting to reach a settlement with Impressions.
"Mr. Cadmus should not have been asked to take the two examinations in the first place, but he did so, and yet he was fired anyway," said Greg Gochanour, the regional attorney for the EEOC's Chicago District office. "This company's behavior was inexcusably callous as well as unlawful, and the EEOC is here to combat such unfair conduct."
Company attorney Steve Cerny said he's disappointed that the EEOC called Impressions callous and is "confident that the facts will dispel any notion that the company discriminated against Mr. Cadmus in any way."
The suit seeks back pay with interest for Cadmus along with unspecified punitive damages from Impressions. The agency also wants the court to order Impressions to change its practices in this area of employment law.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
