Wilfert Bros. Realty Co. v. Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

# Wilfert Bros. Realty Co. v. Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination ## What Happened David Keeling worked for Wilfert Bros. Realty Co. when he experienced a disability. The company fired him, and Keeling believed his termination was unlawful discrimination based on his disability status. ## What the Court Decided The Massachusetts Supreme Court sided with Keeling. The court confirmed that the Commission Against Discrimination was correct: Wilfert Bros. Realty had indeed discriminated against Keeling because of his disability and wrongfully fired him. The company was ordered to pay Keeling $65,294.07, which included his lost wages, compensation for emotional distress, attorney fees, and court costs. ## Why This Matters for Workers This ruling reinforces that employers cannot legally fire employees because of a disability. Companies must follow the law protecting workers with disabilities from discrimination. If a worker believes they've been fired unfairly due to disability, they can challenge the decision through proper legal channels and potentially recover lost income and other damages. The ruling sends a clear message that disability-based termination has real financial consequences for employers.