Button v. Board of Regents of University & Community College System of Nevada

Button v. Board of Regents of University & Community College System of Nevada

This case involved a worker who claimed their employer, the Nevada university system, failed to provide proper workplace accommodations for their disability and discriminated against them. The employee sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, arguing the university didn't do enough to help them perform their job despite their disability.

Initially, a lower court ruled in favor of the university without going to trial, deciding there wasn't enough evidence to support the worker's claims. However, the worker appealed to a higher court (the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals).

The appeals court disagreed with the lower court's decision. They found there were genuine questions about whether the university provided reasonable accommodations and whether they deliberately ignored the employee's needs. Because these important facts were still in dispute, the case was sent back for a full trial where a jury could hear all the evidence and decide.

What this means for workers: This ruling shows that courts take disability accommodation claims seriously. Even if an employer thinks they've done enough, workers have the right to challenge inadequate accommodations in court. The case demonstrates that disability discrimination claims deserve careful examination, not quick dismissal.