Southeast ADA Center
2014
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Anthony Rorrer was a firefighter for the City of Stow (Ohio). After a non-work related accident, he lost vision in his right eye. After initially being cleared by doctors to return to work without restriction, he was told he was unfit to continue as a firefighter because it was determined that his monocular vision prevented him from driving fire apparatus during an emergency. Rorrer requested two possible accommodations: 1) continuing his current duties without the need to drive the fire apparatus, or alternatively, 2) transferring to a position as a fire inspector. These requests were denied and Rorrer was terminated.
He brought suit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the District Court granted summary judgment for the city, finding that Rorrer could no longer perform the essential functions of the position and that his requested accommodations were unreasonable. Summary judgment is a finding by the court sought by parties in a legal case where the moving party (in this case the defendant) asks the court to rule in their favor without a full trial. In order for the court to grant summary judgment, there must be no remaining issue of material fact to dispute. Rorrer appealed this decision, and the Sixth Circuit reversed the District Court's decision and sent the case back to the District Court, finding that there was a genuine issue of fact as to whether driving the fire apparatus was an essential function of the position and if the accommodations proposed by Rorrer were reasonable.
https://adasoutheast.org/court-decisions/rorrer-v-city-of-stow
Keywords: ADA Title I, Americans with Disabilities Act, discrimination, employment, essential function, reasonable accommodations, state & local government