Attorney Carney Shegerian Comments on Recent EEOC Settlement in Genetic Information Case
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has settled a discrimination lawsuit against three Southern California seed and fertilizer providers for $187,500. The class action suit represented a class of applicants allegedly subject to illegal medical and genetic employment inquiries in violation of federal law.
Under federal law, certain inquiries about an applicant's medical condition and family medical history are illegal. This information, also known as genetic information, is also protected from the scrutiny of employers under strict guidelines set by the EEOC.
Attorney Carney Shegerian, founder of Santa Monica based law firm Shegerian & Associates, says the settlement demonstrates that the EEOC is prepared to uphold an employee's right to keep certain protected information private.
"The implications of this settlement are that employers must be extremely careful when inquiring about the past medical history and disabilities of job applicants. Certainly, employment decisions such as the decision to hire or fire should not be based on the illegal information obtained from such inquiries. These inquiries could be violations of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act as well as other federal laws."
Attorney Shegerian went on to state that the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) could become a vital asset to employees in the future. "As improved technology facilitates the process of obtaining genetic information for employers, employees may need to rely more and more on the protections of GINA as well as EEOC guidelines to obtain justice for illegal employment inquiries."
An award winning trial attorney, Shegerian has tried a number of employment discrimination cases successfully, with a growing track record of winning key employment rights jury trials. Shegerian has won over 68 jury trials, including over 28 seven- and eight-figure verdicts.
Located in Los Angeles County, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged by their employers. Shegerian & Associates is dedicated to serving the needs of its clients, and has won over 68 jury trials, including 28 seven- and eight-figure verdicts. For more information, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com or www.GotFired.com.
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SOURCE Shegerian & Associates
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