man denied employment cause of his weight

[.gene.]

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit against McDonald's, filed by a New Haven man who claims he was not hired because he is overweight.
Joseph Connor had filed the lawsuit last year against the fast food chain, claiming that it discriminated against him, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act.
Connor, who weighs 420 pounds, claims that McDonald's violated the laws when it regarded him as morbidly obese and refused to hire him based on that perception.
Further, he alleges that his obesity is a disability, and the restaurant chain violated the CFEPA by deliberately not hiring him.
U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill concluded that Connor must be given the opportunity to prove that he is protected under the law.
McDonald's had argued that obesity, except in special cases where the obesity is due to a physiological disorder, is not a "physical impairment" within the meaning of the ADA.
"The judge's decision is a very important one," Attorney Gary Phelan, who is representing Connor, said Wednesday. "This is the first time a Connecticut court is saying that obesity may be a disability under state discrimination law."
Attorney Lawrence Peikes, who is representing McDonald's Corp., said the judge's decision was not on the merits of the case.
"It in no way indicates how the judge views the case factually," Peikes said. "McDonald's is confident there is no merit to the claims and looks forward to having the matter resolved."

[joeyjoey]

This happened once before dealing with NYC subways. Some guy that weighed over 400 lbs wasn't hired to drive the trains because he was too big.

Anyway, if I owned a fast food place or even diner I wouldn't want a 400 lb-er working there. It makes weight-conscious people think twice about ordering food. Also in general, I would find then to be 100-times more unhealthy than the average person and I wouldn't want to waste the benefits.

[James Maxx]

Not only that but imagine him working the register with other workers during a busy rush. He would take up TOO much space!

Sorry but I do think obescity is a disability and causes way too many problems. 400lbs is not a just a little belly flab.

[joeyjoey]

I think the reason many people frown upon it being considered a disability is because obese people should be able to do something about their weight. I'm aware that genetics plays a big role in obesity, but is eating 5 boxes of doughnuts a day a really an essential part of their diet? I agree that extreme obesity can be disabling, but so too can purposfully glueing my ass to the chair. It's such a waste of disability pay when someone doesn't have the willpower to eat like a more average human being.

[James Maxx]

I love it when a fat-ass walks into the train trying to find a seat and has this disappointed look on their face as if "why arent the seats 3 feet wide?"

[joeyjoey]

Originally posted by James Maxx
I love it when a fat-ass walks into the train trying to find a seat and has this disappointed look on their face as if "why arent the seats 3 feet wide?"

Until they try to squeeze in next to you and accidentally sit on you lol (qt cow)