Asantewaa v. Robert Wilkie

**Asantewaa v. Robert Wilkie - Employment Discrimination Case** This case involved a job applicant who claimed disability discrimination after being rejected for a physically demanding laborer position at Hibbing Taconite Company. The applicant had a low back condition, and the company refused to hire them based on medical concerns about their ability to safely perform the job duties. Initially, an administrative law judge ruled in favor of the applicant, finding that the company had discriminated against them. However, an appellate court reversed this decision. The higher court determined that the company had a valid defense for not hiring the applicant. The court found that Hibbing Taconite had relied on legitimate medical advice showing that people with low back problems like the applicant's would face a "reasonably probable risk of serious harm" if they worked in this particular laborer position, which required intense physical demands. **What this means for workers:** This ruling shows that employers can sometimes legally refuse to hire someone with a disability if they can prove, with proper medical evidence, that the person would face serious safety risks in that specific job. However, employers must base such decisions on genuine medical advice, not assumptions or stereotypes about disabilities.