Casey A. Kennedy v. Superior Printing Company Local 419m Graphic Communications International Union

Kennedy v. Superior Printing Company - Court Ruling Summary

Casey Kennedy, an employee at Superior Printing Company, sued his employer claiming wrongful termination and failure to accommodate his disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Kennedy had previously gone through union arbitration over his termination and lost that case.

The federal appeals court ruled against Kennedy on all claims. The court found that his ADA claim was blocked because he had already lost a prior arbitration hearing on the same issues - a legal principle that prevents people from relitigating the same dispute twice. His wrongful discharge claim also failed to meet legal requirements.

What This Means for Workers:

This case highlights an important limitation workers should understand: if you lose a union arbitration over your termination, you may be barred from later filing a federal lawsuit on the same issues, even under disability rights laws. Workers with potential ADA claims should carefully consider whether to pursue arbitration or federal court, as choosing one path may close off the other. It's also a reminder that union arbitration decisions can have significant consequences beyond the immediate workplace dispute. Workers facing termination should understand all their options and potential limitations before deciding how to proceed.