Union Carbide Corporation v. Mayfield, Delfa

**What Happened** Delfa Mayfield sued his former employer, Union Carbide Corporation, claiming the company discriminated against him because of his flat feet and wrongfully fired him. Mayfield argued that the company failed to make reasonable accommodations for his condition and that he was treated unfairly due to his disability. **What the Court Decided** A jury initially sided with Mayfield and awarded him damages. However, Union Carbide appealed the decision to a higher court. The appellate court reversed the jury's verdict and ruled in favor of Union Carbide. The court determined that Mayfield's flat-footedness did not qualify as a legal disability under Texas law because it did not substantially limit him in any major life activities. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling highlights an important limitation in disability discrimination protection. For workers to successfully claim disability discrimination, they must prove their condition significantly impacts major life activities like walking, working, or caring for themselves. Having a medical condition alone isn't enough—workers need to show how it substantially limits their daily functioning. This case demonstrates that courts will closely examine whether a condition truly qualifies as a disability under the law.