Myvett v. Kraft Heinz Foods Company, LLC

Court Ruling Summary: Myvett v. Kraft Heinz Foods Company, LLC

What Happened

An employee filed a lawsuit against Kraft Heinz Foods Company, claiming she was fired because of her disability. She also claimed the company failed to provide reasonable accommodations for her condition that would have allowed her to work.

What the Court Decided

The court split its decision. The judge allowed the discrimination claim—that she was fired because of her disability—to move forward to trial because there are genuine questions about whether disability was the real reason for her termination. However, the judge dismissed the failure-to-accommodate claim, finding insufficient evidence on that issue.

Why This Matters for Workers

This case shows that courts take disability discrimination claims seriously. If you believe you were fired because of a disability, a court may allow your case to proceed even if the employer claims other reasons. However, workers must present sufficient evidence that disability actually caused the firing. The case also signals that companies must be careful about how they document reasons for firing employees with disabilities, as courts examine whether the stated reason is the true reason.