The Downtown Grand refused to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

The Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas has agreed to pay $720,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit claims that the casino, located about a block off the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas, violated anti-discrimination laws multiple times since 2018, “including failing to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities and terminating an employee with colon cancer because he wore an ostomy bag.”

employees quit their jobs because of the conditions

In some instances, employees quit their jobs because of the conditions. Some employees who stayed faced retaliation – including discipline, worse working conditions, and firing – for trying to stand up for their legal rights.

The EEOC originally attempted to work with the Downtown Grand through a conciliation process to avoid legal action, but when that failed, it filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Downtown Grand will pay the $720,000 in relief and implement measures to prevent disability discrimination. Said measures will include disability antidiscrimination law training, procedures for handling “reasonable” accommodation requests and discrimination complaints, and the use of someone external to the company to monitor compliance with all ADA rules.