United States Fourth Circuit

Elimination of bodily waste is a "major life activity" within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Summary judgment for defendant-employer on an ADA claim alleging a failure to promote is reversed where plaintiff presented a strong prima facie case of disability discrimination and considerable evidence of job qualifications superior to those of the person selected in his stead.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/25/2005
• Decided 01/10/2006
• Published 01/10/2006

Judges

• Before WILKINS, Chief Judge, and WILKINSON and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Stephen Zak Chertkof, Heller, Huron, Chertkof, Lerner, Simon & Salzman, P.L.L.C., Washington, D.C., for Appellant.  Barbara L. Sloan, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Curiae.  Katherine Kristin Brewer, Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard, P.C., Washington, D.C., for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  Douglas B. Huron, Tammany M. Kramer, Heller, Huron, Chertkof, Lerner, Simon & Salzman, P.L.L.C., Washington, D.C., for Appellant.  Gary L. Lieber, Anessa Abrams, Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard, P.C., Washington, D.C., for Appellee.   Eric S. Dreiband, General Counsel, Lorraine C. Davis, Acting Associate General Counsel, Vincent J. Blackwood, Assistant General Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Curiae.