U.S. Supreme Court Urged to Extend ADA Protections to Former Employees
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Jan. 13, 2025, in Stanley v. City of Sanford (No. 23-997), which addresses whether former employees have a right to sue their former employer under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for discrimination relating to receipt of post-employment fringe benefits. Factual Background Karyn Sanford is a former firefighter for the City of Sanford, Florida. In 2016, Sanford was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Two years later, in 2018, she retired from the fire department as a result of her condition. During her employment with the City, the City’s benefit policy provided a health insurance subsidy to employees until the age of 65 who had retired after 25 years of service or because of a disability. In 2003, the City’s policy was amended to provide this subsidy until the age of 65 only to employees who retire after 25 years of service . The policy was further changed to provide the subsidy to those who retire as a result...