Kaiser Pulls Employment Offer Over Skin Condition, Woman Says
5-28-2015 22:00:00


LOS ANGELES (CN) - Kaiser offered a woman employment and then recanted after she disclosed that she suffers adverse skin reactions to certain chemicals, she claims in a Los Angeles Superior Court complaint.

In July 2013, Kaiser extended a “conditional offer of employment” to plaintiff Sudarshna Prasad who says she would have made $14.50 per hour working as a storeroom worker at its Sunset Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Kaiser, however, withdrew its offer after she disclosed that she suffers from atopic dermatitis, “which causes her to break out into rashes when exposed to certain open chemicals and solvents.”
Prasad submitted a doctor’s note to Kaiser administration prior to her Aug. 20 start date, explaining that she could do the job, but should not be exposed to open chemicals and solvents.
Kaiser claimed it was unable to accommodate her disability, notifying Prasad on Sept. 20 of its decision not to hire her after all.
“As a result of defendant’s actions, plaintiff has suffered, and will continue to suffer, general and special damages, including emotional distress and other physical ailments, as well as medical expenses, expenses for psychological counseling and treatment, and past and future lost wages and benefits,” the complaint states.
Prasad says Kaiser acted maliciously and broke the law by discriminating against her based on her disability.
“Because the acts taken toward plaintiff were carried out by managerial employees acting in a deliberate, cold, callous, cruel and intentional manner, in conscious disregard of plaintiff’s rights and in order to injure and damage her, plaintiff requests that punitive damages be levied against defendants,” the complaint explains.
Prasad sued Kaiser Foundation Hospitals for discrimination, retaliation, failure to provide accommodations, failure to engage in a good faith interactive process and wrongful termination. She seeks compensatory, general, punitive and special damages for lost wages, earnings, commissions and retirement benefits, as well as an injunction barring Kaiser from its discriminatory practices, and attorneys’ fees.
Prasad is represented by Ramin Younessi, in Los Angeles.
BC582504